a sort of umbrella, or fan, which they held so as to protect
their head and shoulders from the violence of the sun. One day I slipped
a brace of large greyhounds at a female who carried one of these useful
appendages, which she soon dropped and escaped: it was formed of a large
bough, over which some large leaves were spread, and fastened on simply
by the shoots of the bough sticking into the leaf."--_From a letter
dated Hobart's Town, February_, 1829.

* * * * *

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD.

"When he was at Westminster School, Lady Kinnoul, in one of the
vacations, invited him to her home, where, observing him with a pen in
his hand, and seemingly thoughtful, she asked him if he was writing his
theme, and what in plain English the theme was? The school-boy's smart
answer rather surprised her Ladyship--'What is that to you?' She
replied--'How can you be so rude? I asked you very civilly a plain
question, and did not expect from a school-boy such a pert answer.' The
reply was, 'Indeed, my Lady, I can only answer once more, 'What is that
to you?' In reality the theme was--_Quid ad te pertinet!"--From
Holliday's Life of the Earl of Mansfield_.

* * * * *

"IN SPITE OF HIS TEETH."

King John once demanded of a certain Jew ten thousand marks, on refusal
of which, he ordered one of the Israelite's teeth to be drawn every day
till he should consent. The Jew lost seven, and then paid the required
sum. Hence the phrase--"In spite of his teeth."

* * * * *

SWAN RIVER.

A gentleman who had just arrived in town met an Hibernian friend, and
with anxious solicitude asked him "where the best bed was to be got?"
"By my soul," said the Emeralder, with a Kilmainham look, "I'm tould at
the _Swan River_, where there's nothing but _down_."

W.C.R.R.

* * * * *

SIAMESE YOUTHS.

QUERY.--Would not the _law_ be the most profitable profession for the
Siamese Youths? They might plead _pro_ and _con_, and take _fees_ from
_plaintiff_ and _defendant_. If raised to the Bench, they might receive
the salary of _one_ Judge, but act as _two_, thereby saving the nation
some money in these _hard_ times of _cash_ payments, and please all
parties, _one_ summing up for plaintiff and the _other_ for defendant.

P.T.W.

N.B. They appear very good natured, although they _huffed_ me _twice_ at
draughts.