* * * *

ROYAL PLEASURE.

In the midst of the distresses with which France was harassed in the reign
of Charles VII., and whilst the English were in possession of Paris,
Charles amused himself and his mistresses with balls and entertainments.
The brave La Hire, coming to Charles one day, to talk to him on some
business of importance, whilst the luxurious prince was occupied in
arranging one of his parties of pleasure, was interrupted by the monarch,
who asked him what he thought of his arrangement. "I think, sire," said he,
"that it is impossible for any one to lose his kingdom more pleasantly
than your majesty."

J.G.B.

* * * * *

A Lincolnshire farmer on being told that the low countries had risen, said
he "was glad to hear it, for they would not be so often injured by floods."

A.H. R--T.

* * * * *

DEXTEROUS SHAVING.

Despatch is the order of things, and I think the following cannot be
out-done by all the barberizing annals of ancient or modern times, not
even by the Patent Steam Shaving Machine, talked so much of a few years
ago:--There are opposite each other, in George-street, St. Giles's, two
barbers' shops, whose weekly customers average 3,000, and in one of them
is a man who has frequently, on a Sunday, mown the chins of the almost
incredible number, 500, the majority of these being Irish labourers, with
beards of a week's growth. In the other, a woman takes no inconsiderable
share in the arduous but impolite performance--pulling men by the nose.

JAC-CO.

* * * * *

SELF ILLUSTRATION.

In the Jamaica House of Assembly, a motion being made for leave to bring
in a bill to prevent the frauds of Wharfingers, Mr. Paul Phipps, member
for St. Andrew, rose and said, "Mr. Speaker, I second the motion; the
Wharfingers are, to a man, a set of rogues; I know it well; _I was one
myself for ten years_."

* * * * *

A little better taste (were it a very little) in the affair of life itself,
would mend the manners and secure the happiness of some of our noble
countrymen, who come with high advantage and a worthy character into the
public.--_Shaftesbury_.

* * * * *

LORD BYRON.

With the present Number, a SUPPLEMENT of
PIQUANT EXTRACTS
FROM
MOORE'S LIFE OF LORD BYRON,
Vol. II

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