without their host. In these swift days we live in, when papers fall over the land by snow-flakes, and this gossip of ours goes to the eye of half a million-there be other arenas than those called parliament houses. that of Arago, for the fear they still have of com- | Nineveh Layard? If they do, they reckon largely ets, we will relieve them utterly by a little bit of information communicated by M. Babinet, at a recent session of the French Academy. A comet may strike us, he says; it is not improbable (the ladies on the upper benches were observed to shudder); but, said he, a comet coming in contact with Opinions, if they be large ones or strong ones, our earth and its atmosphere would have about find their way outside of small men's houses, and the same effect upon the inhabitants that a feath-gather and grow into great popular issues. er, blowing before a gale and impinging upon the ocean, might have upon the mackerel and codfish! And he went on to demonstrate the extreme tenuity of the substance of comets-so great, indeed, that stars of the eleventh and twelfth magnitude were plainly visible through the thickest parts of comets! Herschel, Piazzi, Struve, and Bessel, all have observed this fact. If, therefore, one can find his way through a comet with a good hand-lantern, why not call it fog ?-unless, indeed, (what Monsieur Babinet did not remark upon), it should be somewhat warmer. There are hot fogs in the shape of steam which sometimes, upon some of your Western rivers, are more fatal than comets have ever been. If comets should be steam, heated to such intensity as to be luminous (we beg pardon of the Academy if we are suggesting a novelty), its fiery hair like the breath of a thousand bursting boilers -then, indeed, there would be need for all of Arago's composure, and the false prophets would enjoy the charming consolation of finding "no abuse in the papers." Passons! which means, let the comets go by. Now for Palmerston-the straight, gray-haired, well-preserved old gentleman, who has held his ground bravely, and been bravely backed by British voters; not that he is altogether liberal, not that he is altogether conservative. He is neither one nor the other; and his full support is due only to the appeal made on the China question to oldfashioned British pluck. Our Island cousins have not yet fairly recovered from the taunts thrown at them in respect of Crimean matters. They are smarting for occasion to show British blood and retrieve losses. So when Palmerston asks, as he does now (or did in the elections), shall John Bull tamper with these uncivilized dogs and diplomatize in Paris fashion, or shall he square off and take a good hit at them between the eyes-British yeomanry answer, spite of Cobden, Bright, and Gibson, "Hit 'em again!" Punch put the whole affair, and every question really at issue, in his page wood-cut the other day. Cobden and Derby, in Chinese small-clothes, and with coffee-cups on their heads, stand in the way of British Jack Tar, and go at him with stink-pots and what not. Jack Tar, says: "Put me out, will you? eh!" and squares away at them. Could there be any doubt that the great constituencies would stand by Jack Tar rather than the peer Derby and the economist Cobden ? Appeal has been made to pride, and the election may be regarded as a romantic conquest. But romance will die when the Speaker is elected, and the usher of the black rod comes in. Then, when fig Will the Manchester school amuse its outside hours with looking toward Chartism, and reading up the Alton Locke philosophy? Will my Lord Palmerston have started a bugbear without the palace, now that he has fairly leveled one within ? People gossip in this way in Paris about the late elections of England. Who is Mr. Hume-claiming to be American, and startling all the world here with his command over the spirits of the departed? Whether it be the novelty or the superiority of his gifts, he has certainly wrought up a furore which has never before, in the gay capital, belonged to a communicant with dead men. The Lenten season may have quickened faith; but certain it is that many a man, else sober-minded, has been thralled-thought, hope, and feeling-in the vague ghost-world that grows up under the wand of Mr. Hume. Rumor tells us (and the rumor has ring of true metal) that the Empress, impressible, demonstrative, and enthusiastic, has so far given way to the wonders of the spiritual communications as to wear a cloud upon her heart, and the Emperor en prince, has ordered away the prophet, or the farceur, who beguiled her of her cheer. Mr. Hume has received his passports. So much for the mystic side of Spiritualism. On the practical side we have the Père Ventura; an Italian declaimer, not so persuasive as the honeytongued Spurgeon of London, but far more bitter and indignant. He preaches from time to time in the Imperial Chapel, and hurls his anathemas against the ungodly rulers who have led a great people astray, hidden all modest virtues in the blaze of Imperial extravagance, and debauched morals by the example of princely excesses. He warms-this Italian talker-with this hearty work of his; he foams, he gesticulates, he blazes into splendid euphenism, he mourns, he weeps, he pleads, but most of all he scourges. His pulpit thong cracks and clings around his impassive imperial subjects. But what is the voice of the Father Ventura amidst the junketings and revels of the Mi-Careme? The fêtes blaze; luxury is working out new splendors for Easter; and the rustle of silks, and the clink of jewels outsound the lamentations of the preacher. Even as we close a new illumination of the Palace is begun; there will be a gay revel there to-night, and in the early morning we shall hear the carriages thunder through the archway beneath our window, and, perhaps, in our broken, disordered sleep, shall join our wicked anathema to the righteous ones of the Father Ventura! Editor's Drawer. ures and statistics begin to lord it over free fight, A KENTUCKY correspondent sends us the fol and "hit him fair," we shall ruin such men as Bright, and Cardwell, and Gibson. Meantime what will these strong discarded people do? Does any body reckon upon quietude and unrest as belonging to Richard Cobden or lowing anecdote of a distinguished Presbyterian divine, who has already been found in the Drawer, to the delight of all who appreciate a first-rate article: "The Synod of Kentucky was in session. The COPY. We certify "I do hereby sertify that I arrested the within wiles as I am directed, and should have taken the horses, but they ware with held from me by warren wiles and Biger Wiles by fisical strength, and the defendant Biger Wiles was taken from me by a writ of Habo Scorbous. 66 Cons Table." subject of raising the salaries of certain professors | turned by a constable of that State. was under discussion. The Rev. Robert J. Breck- that the said constable, if not a goose, is certainly inridge, D.D. (of whom his nephew, the new Vice- a Michi-gander. President, said, 'If Uncle Robert had been appointed to a command in Mexico, they would have been fighting till this time!'), was on the floor, making a speech in opposition to the measure. It had been said that ministers of high standing and large means, clothed in fine linen and faring sumptuously every day, did not sympathize with those whose salaries are small. To this Dr. Breckinridge was replying. He scouted the idea that ministers live for money, or desire the luxuries of the world. As for himself, he challenged any man to say that he lived more frugally than himself. Drawing himself up to his full height, and standing six feet high at least, he displayed his proportions, and exclaimed: As to the fine linen, if there is a man on this floor who dresses more plainly than I do, I offer to exchange clothes with him this moment.' "Directly in front of the Moderator, and in sight of most of the members, sat the Rev. Mr. Hopkins, one of the planting clergy-a short, thick-set, and rotund brother, whose circumference exceeded his altitude; and in this respect no man in the house presented so strong and striking a contrast with the tall and courtly Kentuckian. But the proposition to swap clothes had hardly escaped the lips of the speaker before Hopkins wriggled himself out of his seat and on his feet, and cried out, "Mr. Moderator, I'M HIS MAN!' "The effect was instant and tremendous. image of Breckinridge, with his long arms and legs protruding from Hopkins's toggery, was up before the eyes of the Synod. They could see nothing else, think of nothing else; and for a while they gave way to uncontrollable laughter, in which no one joined so heartily as the discomfited speaker." The DR. GROSS, the justly celebrated surgeon of Philadelphia, was once dangerously ill. Shortly after his recovery, he met one of his lady patients -they are not always patient ladies-who remarked to him: "Oh Doctor! I rejoice to see that you are out again; had we lost you, our good people would have died by the dozen!" "Thank you, madam," replied the affable Doctor; "but now, I fear, they will die by the Gross!" THAT was very modest as well as witty in the Doctor, and we are indebted to a correspondent for the anecdote, who also sends the following: Yesterday a good-looking fellow was arraigned before our Police Court, charged with having stolen a watch. It was his first error, and he was ready to plead guilty. The Judge addressed him in very gentle tones, and asked him what had induced him to commit the theft. The young man replied that, having been unwell for some time, the Doctor advised him to take something, which he had accordingly done. The Judge was rather pleased with the humor of the thing, and asked what had led him to select a watch. Why," said the prisoner, "I thought if I only had the time, that nature would work a cure!" A CORRESPONDENT in Michigan sending the following certificate, certifies to it as a literal copy of an indorsement on the back of a warrant re So many lamentable events have been recently published, like the one recorded in the poetical advertisement furnished to the Drawer by a suffering subscriber in the State of Pennsylvania, that we are very confident Mr. Nahum Fay will have the hearty sympathy of at least one million of our numerous readers. He thus advertises his loss to all the world and the rest of mankind: Just eighteen years ago this day, Now where she's gone, I can not say; If Mrs. Fay's mourning friends should bring her remains to "yonder grave-yard" while Nahum is above ground, we beg him to send us the epitaph upon that tombstone. HERE is an old trick, and it still puzzles some people to get the right of it. A Spaniard called at the shop of a Chinese merchant shoemaker and bought a pair of boots at the price of ten dollars, and handed Jimqua, the seller of the boots, an ounce, valued at seventeen dollars. As Jimqua had no change, he stepped over the way to the Palo Gordo and got it changed; returned, and gave the boots and seven dollars to the Spaniard, who took them and his departure. Shortly after this the proprietor of Palo Gordo called on the shoemaker with the ounce, which proved to be a bad one, and the shoemaker was obliged to pay | blow them up; others keep them constantly in het him seventeen good dollars for the good-for-nothing water, while others freeze them by conjugal coldmetal. Now the question is, how much and what ness; some smother them in hatred, contention, did the shoemaker lose by the operation? Some and variance; and some keep them in pickle all say he lost twenty-four dollars, and others twenty- their lives. seven dollars; but to one who keeps a Drawer, it is very plain that he lost just seven dollars and a pair of new boots. Whether they were worth ten dollars or not, is another question. Few things appear so beautiful as a young child in its shroud. The little innocent face looks so sublimely simple and confiding amidst the cold terrors of death. Fearless, that little mortal has passed alone under the shadow. There is death in its sublimest and purest image. No hatred, no hypocrisy, no suspicion, no care for the morrow ever darkened that little face. Death has come lovingly upon it; there is nothing cruel or harsh in its victory. The yearnings of love, indeed, can not be stifled; for the prattle and smile-all the little world of thoughts that were so delightfulare gone forever. Awe, too, will overcast us in its presence for the lonely voyager; for the child has gone, simple and trusting, into the presence of an all-wise Father; and of such, we know, is the kingdom of Heaven. FASHIONABLE people having ceased to marry, and it being customary to form "matrimonial alliances," Susan Jane writes to inquire if such an alliance is to be considered offensive or defensive. She is answered, "Offensive when misfortune or difficulty is to be encountered and overcome; defensive, when sorrow or sickness assails; and expensive according to the number of youthful parties taken into the concern." HERE is something about the great Sea-Serpent-half-and-half, as indeed the Serpent itself is said to be; half sea-weed, and the other half-all in your eye: Sed tempus recessit and this was all over Tunc plumbo percussit thinking he hath him, How TO COOK A HUSBAND.-As Mrs. Glass said of the hare, you must first catch him. Having done so, the mode of cooking him so as to make a good dish of him, is as follows: Many good husbands are spoiled in the cooking; some women go about it as if their husbands were bladders, and These women always serve them up with tongue sauce. Now it can not be supposed that husbands will be tender and good, if managed in this way; but they are, on the contrary, very delicious, when managed as follows: Get a large jar, called the jar of carefulness (which all good wives have on hand), place your husband in it, and set him near the fire of conjugal love; let the fire be pretty hot, but especially let it be clear; above all, let the heat be constant; cover him over with affection, kindness, and subjection; garnish with modest, becoming familiarity, and the spice of pleasantry; and if you add kisses and other confectionaries, let them be accompanied with a sufficient portion of secrecy, mixed with prudence and moderation. We should advise all good wives to try this receipt, and realize how admirable a dish a husband is when properly cooked. IN the good old town of Milford, Connecticut, where the elm-trees are covered with moss, or something like it, and the people are so quiet and stay-at-homeative that some of them have never been out of the town since they were born into it, there lives a dry, sly old Justice of the Peace, named Higgins, who will have a joke when he can, even when dealing out justice according to his notions of right and wrong-for it's little of law that Squire Higgins knows. The other day a loafer was tried before him, and bonds were required for his appearance at the next County Court. "Who is your bond ?" demanded Higgins of the culprit. "I am, Sir," said loafer No. 2, stepping out from the crowd, and looking enough like the prisoner to be his brother. Higgins, the Justice, eyed him a second or so, and thundered out, "We didn't ask for vaga-bond, it's another article we want; you won't answer at all; you can go." He went; and loafer No. 1 went to jail. THE Rev. Mr. Binney's hit at the young men in the pews before him, as published in our March Drawer, recalls the following very personal and characteristic allusion to matters immediately before him or rather behind him-by the Rev. Mr. Axley, a famous Methodist preacher in his day. He was preaching upon conformity to the world in the matter of dress among Christians, and holding a sort of colloquy with an imaginary apologist at the other end of the church, who says to the preach er: "But, Sir, some of your Methodist preachers themselves dress in fashionable style; and, in air and manner, enact the dandy." "Oh no, my friend, that can not be; Methodist preachers know their calling better. They are men of more sense than that, and would not stoop so low as to disgrace themselves and the sacred office they hold by inconsistency of character." "Well, Sir, if you won't take my word for it, just look at those young preachers in the pulpit behind you." Mr. Axley turned immediately around, with seeming surprise, and facing two or three rather fashionably-dressed junior preachers seated in the rear of the pulpit, he surveyed each of them from head to foot; then turning to his imaginary colloquist, replied, with much gravity, "If you please, Sir, we will drop the subject." THE truth of the story we are about to tell is vouched for to us by the correspondent in Missouri who sends it to the Drawer. It is decidedly a novelty in the way of treating a matrimonial adventure, and the issue of the affair is not likely to be repeated by any imitator of the lawyer whose experiences are here recorded. Our friend writes: "Not a hundred miles from here, some six months ago lived a fair widow, possessed of those shining qualities that most dazzle and charm the bachelor. She was young, handsome, and very wealthy. Mrs. Jackson took an Eastern tour last summer, and was beset by many suitors-ardent and anxious lovers-among whom the most persevering and devoted was a Kentucky lawyer, quite a promising man; but so enamored did he become of this fair widow, that he left a lucrative practice at home, and followed her through the entire route of fashionable travel. He met her at Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York; he danced with her at Saratoga and Newport; and when the season was drawing to a close he happened to be with her at Niagara, and on the Ohio River, and even at St. Louis, when she was almost home. He was always pleading professional business as the reason for his excursions here and there; but he managed to plead his own suit out of court when courting the widow, though he saw no evidence of a verdict coming in his favor. At length Mrs. Jackson stepped on board the boat at St. Louis, to go up the Missouri to her own residence, when, to her surprise, the indefatigable advocate presented himself, as fresh as a May morning. The widow exclaimed, as she met him, Why, Mr. Johns, I thought you were going to return to Louisville?' "Mrs. Jackson, my dear madam,' replied the lawyer, 'I am here to renew the offer of my hand, and to beg your acceptance.' 866 'Really, Sir, I think I have been sufficiently explicit, and that you have had no encouragement to pursue the matter.' "But I hoped, madam, that my devotion and perseverance would be finally rewarded-' "And he did take it; and the widow had to borrow money to get home. The widow was taken all aback by the lawyer's cool acceptance of the gold; but he consoled himself with the idea that if she would not be his bride, she was at least fair game." OVER the line, in Canada, they are quite as inquisitive as their Yankee neighbors-probably the south wind carries the infection over-and they are certainly more in danger than the Jersey farmers would be of yellow fever with the Quarantine at Sandy Hook. Some years since, as we learn by letter from a Canadian friend, the Receiver-General was traveling on steamboat with considerable funds for the Government, and for the sake of safety and privacy he engaged the whole of the ladies' cabin. The passengers were all alive to ascertain the reason of this arrangement, and especially to know what business the great man could have on hand to require so much room and money. At length one of them, more bold than the rest, ventured to introduce the subject as the Receiver was walking the deck, and approaching him, asked if he was engaged on a Government contract? "Yes," was the gruff reply. THE Rev. Charles Shorme, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was stationed at New Lisbon, Ohio, a few years ago, and added to his clerical duties the agency for a certain magazine, which it is needless to name. One Sabbath day, at the close of the service, he requested the congregation to tarry a few minutes. He then held up the periodical to their gaze, displayed its varied attractions, and commenced an active canvass for subscribers on the spot. "The price," he said, "would be no object, if you had the desire for knowledge that I had when a young man. Why, my brethren, I "Do you mean, then,' asked the widow, evi-used to work all night to get money to buy books, dently softened,' that you really had no other bus- and get up before daylight to read them!" iness in going this journey with me than to prosecute this suit ?' "None in the world but the hope of winning you.' "Then you shall be rewarded,' she replied, with a merry twinkle in her roguish, beautiful eyes, which the lawyer mistook for a sweeter passion; then, my dear Sir, you shall be rewarded. Tell me now, as a gentleman, how much money have you spent on this tour ?' "Do you really wish to know?' "Certainly I do.' "Mr. Johns took out his note-book, and soon reported that he had spent very nearly five hundred dollars. "Well,' said the lovely widow, 'I do not wish any one to lose by me,' extending her purse to the lawyer. A REVEREND gentleman in Missouri, from whom we should like to hear often, writes the two incidents that follow: "Near the city of St. Joseph's, a few years since, the rite of baptism was performed on a number of females by immersion in the river. As it was winter, it was necessary to cut a hole in the ice; and the novelty of the scene attracted a large crowd, among whom were several Indians, who looked on in wondering silence. They retired without understanding the nature or object of the ceremony they had seen; but observing that all the subjects of immersion were females, and getting a vague idea that it was to make them good, the Indians came back a few days afterward, bringing their squaws with them, and cutting another hole in the ice, near the same place, immersed each and all of them, in spite "Why, what do you mean, Mrs. Jackson?' "I mean what I say; take it, and pay your-of their remonstrances, being very sure if it was self for your summer's work on my account, and good for the whites, it was quite as well for the let us be quits.' reds." "The Rev. Dr. Bishop, late President of the | thing that nobody in my situation could have comUniversity at Oxford, Ohio, was once preaching in a little school-house not far from the college, on a bitter cold day. A man who was much the worse for liquor opened the door several times and looked in, but did not enter. The Doctor's attention was at length attracted, and in his Scotch-Irish way he called out to him, 'Come in, mon! come in, and hear the Gospel!' The invitation was accepted, and the man took a seat by the stove. The heat fired up the liquor with which he was soaked, and he soon gave such signs of drunken sickness that the Doctor, thinking his Gospel was doing no good, cried, "Turn him out! turn him out!' The poor fellow was put to the door, but waked up just enough to sputter out as he went, 'Such preaching as that is enough to make a dog sick." plained of with the smallest reason; something with all the brightness of the old metal about it, but without the sterling old ring; something, in short, which made me take my chamber candlestick early on the first night of my arrival, and say good-night, while the beautiful woman and pattern wife was present with her eye on that occasion!-the volume it spoke in one glance of cruel triumph! "No more sacred secrets between you two," it said, brightly. "When you trust him now, you trust me. You may sacrifice yourself for your love of him over and over again still, but he shall make no sacrifices now for you, until he has first found out how they affect my convenience and my pleasure. Your place in his heart now is where I choose it to be. I have stormed the citadel, and I will bring children by-and-by to keep the ramparts; and you, the faithful old soldier of former years— you have got your discharge, and may sit and sun yourself at the outer gates. You have been his truest friend, but he has another now, and need trouble you no longer, except in the capacity of THE good effects of flogging bad boys are well witness of his happiness. This, you will observe, illustrated in the case of the Lord Chief Justice of is the order of nature, and the recognized fitness Great Britain. When he was a boy, the son of a of things; and he hopes you will see it, and so do plain farmer, he robbed an orchard with another I. And he trusts you will sleep well under his boy, his brother. Their father was fined for the (and my) new roof-and so do I. And he wishes offense of the boys. The little boys did not mind you good-night-and so do I !" that, but their father did, and he had accordingly flogged them so severely that they never once thought of robbing orchards again. Now, if on that occasion, instead of punishing the father, the boys had been committed to jail, was it likely that little Johnny Scott would ever have sat on the woolsack or administered laws for the British Empire? It is calculated that the clergy cost the United States twelve millions of dollars annually; the criminals, forty millions; the lawyers, seventy millions; rum, two hundred millions! Now the moral of this story is, if you wish your boy to become Chief Justice or President, give him a good flogging when he steals apples-or any thing else. HOLY and beautiful indeed is the smile of fathomless and perfect love! Too seldom does it live; too seldom lighten heavy cares and earthly sorrows. Too seldom does it gladden burdened hearts, and give refreshing dews to thirsty souls. Too seldom, indeed, does it have a birth; too often does it soon leave life's pathway, even if fairly born and dearly welcomed there. I HAVE lost a friend! Even while he was courting, I kept my hold on him. Against opposition on the part of his bride and her family, he stipulated bravely that I should be his best man on his wedding-day. The beautiful woman grudged me my one small corner in his heart, even at that time; but he was true to me-he persisted-and I was the first to shake hands with him when he was a married man. I had no suspicion that I was to lose him from that moment. I only discovered the truth when I went to pay my first visit to the bride and bridegroom at their abode in the country. found a beautiful house, exquisitely kept from top to bottom; I found a hearty welcome; I found a good dinner and an airy bedroom; I found a pattern husband and a pattern wife; the only thing I did not find was my old friend. Something stood up in clothes, shook hands with me, pressed wine on me, called me by my Christian name, and inquired what I was doing in my profession. It was certainly something that had a trick of looking very much like my former comrade and brother; some I SORROW'S DISCIPLINE. THE quickened seed o'erpowered the thorn, What gave so soon the harvest pride "The seed was steeped in tears!" THE late Governor M'Nutt, of Mississippi, with his other remarkable peculiarities, was a monstrous eater. The fact we are about to relate we have from an eye-witness, and displays his gastronomical powers. The Governor was on duty reviewing the troops in the town of Fayette; and being ever mindful of the wants of the inner man, made personal application to "mine hostess" for the necessary supplies. Riding up to the hotel, he accosted a boy: "Little boy, I want to see Madame Truly." "I'll call her, Sir." Madame Truly appeared before his Excellency, who thus addressed her: "I am Governor M'Nutt, madam; I expect to dine with you to-day; and, in addition to the dinner you are preparing, I want for myself a peck of waffles." "A peck, Sir, did you say?" "Yes, madam, a peck of waffles. I never eat less." "Jimminetty!" cried the boy, in the background, "there's a man wants a peck of waffles!" And he had them, and ate them, besides fish, fowl, flesh, and trimmings to match; and this was only an ordinary meal for that capacious Governor. What a respectable alderman he would have made! MR. CLARK, a gentleman well known for his propensity to fun and his inability to resist the temptation to joke whenever the opportunity offers, was traveling by stage, a short time since, when |