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(?) tliG Paris modistes have aduptecl this plan, Sbii a ready nieaus^ of 

 obtaining the much coveted birds for various decorative purposes ! 



Anotlier scheme to which electricity lent its name for the purpose 

 of fraud on a gigantic scale, was t])at of the New York Electric 

 Sugar Kefining Company," of which the manager refused to give 

 any further information than that the raw sugar was poured in at 

 tha top of the machine and somehow electriiied, when presto ! it 

 ran out at the bottom in cubes fully formed ! Dupes of this scheme 

 were so readil} found, that the 100 dollar shares ran up quickly to 

 300 dollars. When, however, about 250,000 dollars had been 

 realized, the presence of the said manager was suddenly and 

 urgently required " Out West," whence, I need hardly say, he has 

 not returned ! When the deserted machine in New York was 

 examined, it was found that the sugar puf in at the top was prin- 

 cipally in the form of refined cubes, similar in every respect to 

 those which emerged from the bottom of the machine ! 



In connection with the telephone, the wires of which are being 

 rapidly extended throughout the country, the latest news is of a 

 peculiar complaint it appears to have developed, called characteris- 

 tically " Telephonic Tinitus." This malady attacks those who 

 are much engaged in the use of the instrument, and consists prin- 

 cipally in irritation of the drum of the ear, accompanied by various 

 other unpleasant effects, such as intolerance of sound, giddiness, 

 and neuralgic pains. As, however, only those of a very highly 

 strung temperament appear to succumb to this complaint (which 

 happily disappears after a short period of rest and relaxation) it 

 does not seem likely to assume alarming proportions. There are 

 indeed few callings or trades which do not engender some specific 

 form of disease, such for example as the housemaid's knee, the 

 pulmonary affection of the coal- miner, clergyman's sore throat, the 

 lawn tennis arm, not to mention the corns and bunions entailed by 

 the persistent use of the fashionable pointed shoe ! 



Another dangerous contrivance which science has put at the 

 disposal of the fair sex is the use of glass flux, now so mucli in 

 vogue for giving a glittering appearance to flowers, ornaments, and 

 ball dresses. There are few substances more injurious to health 

 when scattered through the air of a ball-room ; every grain is a 

 sharp particle of glass which is liable to inflame the eyes, and, if 

 inhaled, sets up serious irritation of the bronchial passages, Ground 

 glass is one of the most deadly slow poisons, and was at one time 

 much used as a murderous agent. We may therefore hope that this 

 domestic poison whose dangers so far outweigh its beauties, may 

 be abandoned by the fair sex, who arc, as we know, always ready 

 to discard any foolish fashion at the behest of reason ! 



A simple, but at the same time scientific method of improving 



