be felony."--Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, in his "Inquiry into the effects
of spirituous liquors on the human body, and their influence on the
happiness of society;" says, "Among the inhabitants of cities, spirits
produce debts, disgrace, and bankruptcy. Among farmers, they produce
idleness with its usual consequence, such as houses without windows,
barns without roofs, gardens without enclosures, fields without fences,
hogs without yokes, sheep without wool, meagre cattle, feeble horses,
and half clad, dirty children, without principles, morals, or manners."

P. T. W.

* * * * *

_Shower of Sugar Plums_--Charles XI., attended by his court, had been
hunting in the neighbourhood of Carcassone. After the stag had been
taken, a gentleman of the neighbourhood invited the king to a splendid
dinner which he had prepared for him. At the conclusion of the banquet
the ceiling of the hall _suddenly opened_, a thick cloud, descended and
burst over their heads like a thunder storm, pouring forth a shower of
_sugar-plums_ instead of hail, which was succeeded by a gentle rain of
rose-water.

_The Coin Guinea_--In the reign of king Charles II., when Sir Robert
Holmes, of the Isle of Wight, brought gold-dust from the coast of
Guinea, a guinea first received its name from that country.

_A Motto_.--A constant frequenter of city feasts, having grown
enormously fat, it was proposed to write on his back, "_Widened at the
expense of the corporation of London."_