The Paris correspondence of one of the city dailies has the following
terse, but somewhat equivocal statement:

"Another murder of a brutal character is reported."

At the first glance one is inclined to wonder who the "brutal character"
was, whose violent death is thus referred to. On consideration, however,
it is possible to arrive at the conclusion that no particular character
is pointed at, but only a murder designated as brutal.

It is a way with newspaper correspondents to characterize some murders
as brutal, with the view, probably, of distinguishing them from
benignant murders, which, everybody knows, are of such frequent
occurrence.

* * * * *

[Illustration: A RURAL VIEW OF THE CENSUS.

_Farmer's Wife. (Who mistakes our Artist for a Census-taker.)_ "LOOK A'
HERE, MISTER, IF YOU'VE COME ALONG TO TAKE THE _senses_ OUT OF ME AND MY
OLD MAN, I'LL SET THE BULL-DORG ON TER YER!"]

* * * * *

WESTERN NOMENCLATURE.

Closely allied to the study of history is that of the origin of names,
and there is in it a wonderful fascination. The following brief