Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 847, 8 August 1871, Page 3

"Keep your mouth shut," is the advice given by an American write (Catling to those who wish to avoid infection from communicable disease. The author holds that the nose is a veritable air-filter, and he gives an account of ■ the way in which he verified his theory. He was a.passenger on board a steamer from a Southern port when yellow-fever was raging. He kept a list of those who breathed through the nose, and slept with the mouth shut, and he found that all who did so escaped, and all who. slept and breathed open-mouthed fell victims to the disease. It would be rash to become responsible for the truth of the story, and yet the theory is a rational one. One of the most remarkable instances connected with the failure of the firm of Overend Gurney was re-stated with much fulness at the Manchester Bankruptcy Court. The case in its present form arises out of the bankruptcy of a gentleman named Howard, who is now nearly 80 years of a<re. More than half a century ago Mr Howard began business as a cottonspinner at Hyde, Cheshire. In the course of 40 years he had accumulated a fortune exceeding a quarter of a million sterling, when, by the prospect of adding £25,000 to his estate in one month, he was tempted to enter into speculations connected with the purchase of steamers for the projected Graltvay line of packets to New York. The result was the loss of all his property and an amount of indebtedness besides which compelled him to seek the protection of the Bankrptcy Court. Peregrine Pickle tells how he saw a pretty girl dispose of a piece of beefsteak about as large as a small brick. " She plunged her fork into it desperately, lifted it in mid air, gazed upon it pensively, opened that coraline mouth; as if it had been indiarubber, wider and wider. It was a keyhole, a teacup, a well, a by-window, a church door • and into that yawning gulf went that piece of meat entire, and then jaws, thorax, larynx, and .skullbones went to a work on a job. which ought to have been let out by contract." " Ma," said an intelligent thoughtful boy, " I think Solomon was so rich as they say he was." " Why, my clear child, what could have put that into your head ?." asked the astonished mother. "Because the Bible says he slept with his fathers, and I think if ho had beeu so rich he would have had a bed of hia own."