The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 20, by Various
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Various >> The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 20,
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EFFECTS OF FRUIT AS REGARDS CHOLERA.
We have seen rather a curious document, drawn up by some of the chief
growers of fruit and vegetables in the villages round London. It is
stated on the authority of twenty-one such persons, whose names are
appended, that up to July the 24th (when it is dated,) of 1,010
labourers of either sex employed in their gardens, one only was
indisposed, and not one had had cholera. Their inference is that fruit
and vegetables are not favourable to the production of that disease; but
it does not appear to us that the premises warrant the conclusion. Is it
the fact that those labourers eat a larger portion of fruit and
vegetables than others? It is notorious, with regard to pastrycooks,
confectioners, and such persons, that they do not consume more--if so
much--of their commodities as others; and certainly persons so situated
as the thousand and ten abovementioned are much less likely than others
to commit any excess in regard to the articles in question. It is not
against the use, but the abuse of "the kindly fruits of the earth," that
we protest; and we are quite sure that many cases of cholera have been
produced by unripe fruit and raw vegetables (as cucumbers,) taken even
in moderate quantity; and that great caution is necessary in this
respect, notwithstanding the declaration of the growers.--_Medical
Gazette._
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THE GATHERER.
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_Olive Oil._--The amount of duties paid on olive oil imported into the
United Kingdom, from January 5, 1831, to April 5, 1832, was L76,962. The
quantity of this oil imported in that period was 2,286,629
gallons--_Med. and Surg. Journal._
_Coffee._--The duty on raw coffee is now 6_d_. per lb. on colonial, and
9_d_. on foreign; the retail price is 2_s_. to 4_s_.
_The Irish Bar._--Mr. Dundas, a keen, sarcastic man, who loved his
bottle nearly as well as Sir Hercules Langreish, invited the baronet to
a grand dinner in London, where the wine circulated freely, and wit kept
pace with it. Mr. Dundas, wishing to procure a laugh at Sir Hercules,
said, "Why, Sir Hercules, is it true that we Scotch formerly
_transported_ all our criminals and felons to Ireland?" "I dare say,"
replied Sir Hercules; "but did you ever hear, Mr. Dundas, of any of your
countrymen _returning to Scotland_ from transportation."
_Lord Byron's opinion of Earl Grey._--"Madame de Stael was forcibly
struck by the factitious tone of the best society in London, and wished
very much to have an opportunity of judging of that of the second class.
She, however, had not this opportunity, which I regret, as I think it
would have justified her expectations. In England, the raw material is
generally good; it is the over-dressing that injures it; and as the
class she wished to study are well educated, and have all the refinement
of civilization without its corruption, she would have carried away a
favourable impression. Lord Grey and his family were the personification
of her _beau ideal_ of perfection, as I must say they are of mine,"
continued Byron, "and might serve as the finest specimens of the pure
English patrician breed, of which so few remain." _His_ uncompromising
and uncompromised dignity, founded on self-respect, and accompanied by
that certain proof of superiority--simplicity of manner and freedom from
affectation, with _her_ mild and matron graces, her whole life offering
a model to wives and mothers--really they are people to be proud of, and
a few such would reconcile one to one's species.--_From Lady
Blessington's Conversations--New Monthly Magazine._
_Cats Horticulturists._--Cat Mint is a species of _Nepeta_. It is
covered with a very soft, hoary, velvet-like down, and has a strong,
pungent, aromatic odour, like penny royal or valerian, that is
peculiarly grateful to cats, whence its specific and English names.
These animals are so fond of it, that it is almost impossible to keep
them from it, _after being transplanted_. Ray and Miller, both assert,
however, that cats will never meddle with such plants as are raised from
seed. Hence the old saying,
"If you set it,
The cats will eat it;
If you sow it
The cats don't know it."
P.T.W.
_Beef-eaters_, or yeomen of the guard, are stationed by the sideboard at
great royal dinners. The term is a corruption from the French
_buffetiers_, from _buffet_, sideboard.
_A Lion Killer._--Lions abound in the west of India. A gentleman assured
Captain Skinner that he had, in one season, killed forty-five in the
province of Hissar, alone. None of them were large, but he mentioned
having met with one of uncommon beauty; its skin was of the usual tawny
colour, but its mane a rich glossy black, as was also the tuft on the
tail.
_Vultures._--On passing the carcass of a bullock (says Captain Skinner,)
we had a proof of the keenness of the vulture's scent. An hour before
not one was seen; nor was the place, being so wild and far removed from
all habitations, likely to be haunted by them: yet now they thronged
every tree in the neighbourhood. There could not have been less than
four or five hundred.
_Jackalls._--In some parts of India the howling of innumerable jackalls
is never out of your ear, from the minute night falls to the first dawn
of day. Captain Skinner says, until he became familiar to the screaming
sound, he used to start from his sleep, and fancy some appalling
calamity had driven the inhabitants of a neighbouring town to rash forth
in fear and madness from their homes. Such frightful clamour might
attend an earthquake or a deluge. The animals come up close to your very
doors in large packs, and roar away without any apparent object,
frequently standing a longtime in one place, as a dog does when "baying
the moon."
_Narrow Streets._--In grand Cairo, if you unfortunately meet a string of
masked beauties upon donkies, you must make a rapid retreat, and resign
yourself to be squeezed to a mummy against the wall for daring to stand
in their course, if your curiosity should tempt you to do so.
_Mussulman and Hindoo Religion._--"Where the same village is inhabited
by people of both religions, they occupy opposite portions of it: and
the circumstance may always be known by there being a well at each end
of it; for the Hindoos would not draw water from the same fountain as
the Mahomedans, for all the wealth of this world."
_The only Favour._--At the battle of Spires, a regiment had orders not
to grant any quarter; an unhappy enemy, wounded and disarmed, begged
hard for his life from one of its officers, who touched with his
situation, replied, "I pity your misfortune, and--ask anything else but
that, and upon my honour I will grant your request."
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Printed and published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,)
London; sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; G.G. BENNIS,
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