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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



his legs, when he appeared weak, and staggered 

 at first, but, being supported by the men, soon 

 after recovered himself. — By this, it would appear, 

 Mr. Editor, that a certain and harmless remedy 

 is at hand, in cases where severity and force are 

 useless. Let us hope it will more frequently be 

 resorted to. — William C, Gloucester. 



The Growth of Salmon. — In the year 1850 a 

 number of salmon smolts, says the Berwick War- 

 der, were taken from the river Tweed to stock a 

 pond near Melrose. A few days ago, three or 

 four of these fish were captured with the rod, and 

 although by this time nearly three years old, 

 their average weight was found to be only half a 

 pound. They have all the appearance, however, 

 of full-grown salmon, their stunted growth being 

 no doubt attributable to their being kept in a 

 fresh water pond without ever having an oppor- 

 tunity of reaching the sea. — James L., New- 

 castle. 



Spiritual Manifestations. — That the world is 

 turned upside down, Mr. Editor, appears plain ; for 

 we see that, in addition to the fashionables at the 

 West, many of the clergy are supporters of this 

 crafty deceit. I congratulate you on your remaining 

 true to your principles. I see the conductors of 

 Chambers's Journal are veering round, and giving 

 in their adhesion to the Spirits. It is to be 

 regretted ; but not to be wondered at. Yet is it 

 sad to think that the established Christian Eeligion 

 should be publicly avowed a farce. The idea seems 

 monstrous to a reflective mind, that the Creator 

 should permit any intercourse (at the will of a 

 juggler) to take place between the departed and 

 the living. John Bull will believe anything! 

 But this last American humbug is "too" bad. 

 It proves, as you say, that we are going a-head 

 over fast. Well may we read of so many people 

 going mad after witnessing such exhibitions ! 

 We are getting " wise above what is written ;" 

 and we must take the consequences. — E., Bath. 



[We are weary of commenting on this subject. 

 Infidelity is not to our taste. We have repeat- 

 edly said the world is mad ; and are they not 

 proving it daily ? If the people will give themselves 

 up to such silly bewitchery, let them do so by all 

 means ; but we are sorry to see leaders of the 

 people willing to listen to it ; and still more sorry 

 to observe them treat the imposture with gravity 

 and composure — aye, and even argue upon its 

 truth. We are clear of this.] 



More of the Spirit Ghosts, Spirit Goblins, and 

 Hobgoblins. — Let me compliment you highly, my 

 dear sir, for having so early and so loudly raised 

 your voice against those ghostly impostors, the 

 " Spirit Eappers." I hardly need tell you, that 

 my mind was thoroughly made up, long since, 

 about the absurdity of these catch-penny exhibi- 

 tions ; but not wishing to have it said that I 

 was prejudging the " Spirits " without going to 

 see them " called up,'' I have just martyr'd myself 

 and family for the public good ! Mrs. Hayden 

 has had from me, and mine, five golden pieces ; 

 in exchange for which, we enjoyed a succession of 

 hearty laughs that you might have (almost) heard 

 at Hammersmith. As you have so ably exposed 

 the details of the humbug, in former numbers, I 



will briefly tell you that a more ridiculous piece 

 of imposture — a more gigantic humbug — never 

 was, never could be, palmed off upon a credulous 

 public. I told Mrs. Hayden this, and I promised 

 that she should hear of it through the Public's 

 Own Journal. Placing her tongue in the hol- 

 low of her cheek, she made a peculiar noise, like 

 a stifled whistle, and said, " What do /care ? Do 

 your worst." A rich specimen of American vul- 

 garity is Mrs. Hayden ; but this, I imagine, is 

 only when she finds she is detected. (Let me tell 

 you, we all went on purpose to detect the imposi- 

 tion ; and we said so, boldly, on entering the 

 room.) I asked, first, " What is a Spirit?" The 

 answer was,— " A Soul!" "WhaU'sa Soul?" 

 " Don't know," said the Medium, carelessly. 

 " Thought so ;" said I, " and so it seems, Ma- 

 dame, I have come upon i fool's errand." A ring- 

 ing, roguish laugh (we all could not help joining 

 in it), was the answer. 1 was "done!" No 

 i( Spirits " could be seen or heard. We were told 

 to " try and imagine " that there were Spirits in 

 the room. We said, " We could not." " Then," 

 said Madame, " they won't appear." (! !) The 

 " tappings " under the table were made as usual; 

 and there only. It was not difficult, at all, to see 

 who made them. The best of the joke remains to 

 be told. I imagined one of the party, to whom I 

 had handed the wherewithal, had paid " the fees" 

 on entrance. It seems otherwise. On preparing 

 to leave, my cara sposa was called aside into a 

 private room. She readily went, having no fear 

 of" Spirits" before her eyes. Here she was 

 mysteriously reminded by the petticoated Rap- 

 per, that we had not yet " tipped-up." This was 

 the only " rap " which we perfectly comprehended 

 — an American dodge which has now become 

 thoroughly English ! I of course " bled " to the 

 required amount. I do not regret this visit at all. 

 I love philosophy, as you well know, in all its 

 bearings ; but, like yourself, I detest humbug. If 

 philosophy leads us beyond the confines of truth, 

 what is it worth ? I owe a duty to the public ; 

 and through you, I discharge it. I told Mrs. Hay- 

 den I would do so ; she defied me with an air of 

 excessive vulgarity that " must be seen to be ap- 

 preciated " — I told her, as I now tell you, that 

 my name is John Amor, 135, New Bond Street. 

 June 16- 



[We have made it our business to confer person- 

 ally with all the party who are referred to above ; 

 and they are unanimous on this point — that a more 

 abject piece of humbug was never before intro- 

 duced to an English public. What sane person 

 doubts it ?] 



Trees, or Old Ruins, Covered with Ivy. — To 

 give a picturesque appearance to a tree, or ancient 

 ruin, covered with ivy, or any evergreen climber, 

 clematis montana and a Virginian creeper (am- 

 pelopsis hederacea) should be planted, to run up 

 over the ivy. Do not, however, allow them to 

 cover it all over. The clematis, after reaching 

 the top, will hang down in long wreaths of snow- 

 white blossom to the ground in the month of May ; 

 and in the autumn, the purpleish scarlet tinge from 

 the fading leaves of the "creeper" would be no 

 less beautiful, nor less in contrast to the deep 

 green below it. — Emma G. 



