Miscellaneous.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1583, 26 August 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

Miscellaneous.

THE IRONY OF FAME. In the London City Pm* , we read :—: — "The .author of 'Home Sweet Home,' T. H. Payne, a poor but genial-hearted man, was walking with a friend in London, and, pointing to one of the most aristocratic houses in Mayfair, he said : ' Under those windowa I composed the song of 'Home Sweet Home,' as I wandered about without food, or a semblance of shelter I could call my own. Many a night since I wrote those words, that issued out of my heart by absolute want of a home, have I passed and re-passed in this locality, and heard a siren voice coming from within those gilded walls, in the depth of a dim, cold London winter, warbling ' Home Sweet Home,' while I, the author of them, knew no bed to call my own. I have been in the heart of Paris, Berlin, London or some other city, and nave heard people singing ' Home Sweet Home,' without a ponny to buy the next meal, or a place to put my head in. The world has literally sung my song until my heart it* familiar with its melody. My countiy has tinned me ruthlessly from office, and in my old ajre I have to submit to humiliation for biead.

WILD BIRDS ItACIXU WITH TJIK CARS. Sevebal times I haye noticed wild birla of different species ( 'fly lngf'&l'o'ng 1 parellel with, arid near a railroact'train, in such fi way as to suggest the idea that they were really trying to r distahc'p |th' c. .iron' horse ! One day last spring '1 /wfys, coming east from Sioux 'City^lowa^'on the IlHonis Central R.R., when 1 my attention was attracted to a" couple of turds which seemed to be making us' q, ' Vrial of their speed with the train. ' They' were, as I supposed at the time,, our smallest species of hawks — sharp, alert, poweiful birds, possessed of a high degree of strength und endurance on the wing. They kept steadily on their course a dozen rods from the train for at least a mile and a halt" but the train was too rapid for them, and they finally turned aside and went .back in the direction whence they came. A strong- head- wind was blowing at the time, aud the birds at some moments seemed to sail squarely iv iN tooth without fluttering a "wing. I watched them with much inteiest, and I did not think I could be mistaken in the belief that they were really trying to beat the train in the race. Horses and dogs frequently r.aco A\ith railroad train?, and possibly tho instinct for sjjoit aud excitement may also e3cist"in*the wild birds. — (Iharlcs Ahh'ich in Xadiio.