kitchen with a tin screen placed behind a joint roasting, the tin reflector throws the heat of the fire back again upon the meat, and thus accelerates its cooking, and conduces to keep the kitchen cool. Convection is heat being conveyed to another place or thing; as water being heated at the bottom of a kettle mounts up and carries its heat through the rest of the water as it ascends. Absorption of heat means to suck it up as a sponge does water ;black cloth, for instance, would absorb the rays of the sun, if placed in it; but if one end of the cloth were made hot, it would not convey the heat to the opposite end, cloth being a bad conductor. A new kettle is longer boiling than an old one, because its sides and bottom being bright, they reflect the heat; but on an old kettle the black soot absorbs the heat, and causes the water to boil much quicker. Radiation signifies the emission of rays, The sun emits both rays of heat and light; fire emitting rays of heat warms us when standing before it; in fact, everything radiates heat to a greater or lesser degree. Polished metal is a bad radiator of heat; therefore it keeps the water hot much longer than other compositions. For that reason metal tea-pots are used in preference to black earthenware, except in cases where the teapot is always placed on the hob, when the common black tea-pot draws the tea much better; because it absorbs abundantly the heat, and keeps the water hot; whereas a bright metal tea-pot set upon the hob throws off the heat by reflection.

IN-DOOR PLANTS. As the plants are placed in or near windows, there is no injurious deficiency of light; but as it comes to them most intensely on one side, they should be half turned round every day, that their heads may have a uniform appearance, and the leaves be not turned only in one direction. If the window faces the south, the intense heat and light should be mitigated during the mid-day of the summer months by lowering the blind. Whenever the out-door temperature is

not below 34°, the plants will be benefited by having the window and door of the room open. They cannot have too much fresh air at any season of the year if they are not grown under a Wardian case; for the exterior air always contains a due proportion of moisture, whilst the air of a room is invariably drier than is beneficial to the plants. A due supply of moisture in the air, as well as in the soil, is absolutely necessary to our room plants. To obtain this in the best available degree, little porous troughs, constantly filled with water, should be kept on the stand among the pots; and the saucers of the pots themselves, if made according to Hunt's plan, may always have a little water remaining in them. The application of water to the soil requires far more attention than it usually receives. Room plants mostly are the protegés of ladies, who administer water with their own hands; and so long as the novelty and leisure prompt to this attention all goes well; but no room plant ever existed, perhaps, which was not, at some period of its life, left to the tender mercies of a housemaid, with the frequent usual consequences of a deluge of water, cold from the pump, after the roots had become heated and parched by days of total abstinence. Plants so treated cannot flourish. The water should be allowed to stand in the kitchen for some hours before it is applied to the plants, so that it may be as warm or warmer than the soil to which it is to be added. It may be given in dry, hot weather, every second day, and in such abundance as to pass slightly through the earth into the

saucers.

PLAYING-CARDS.

THE origin of playing cards has never been definitely settled, some claiming the honour for the Spaniards and others for Jaquemire Gringonneur, a painter of Paris; but we may venture to say this much, that the invention, although productive of much evil in itself, was nevertheless indirectly a most valuable one, as it seems to have given the first hint to the invention of printing, as evidenced from the earliest specimens

of that art at Haerlem, and those in the Bodleian library.

For our own part, we feel more inclined, for the following reasons, to favour the opinion that they were invented about the year 1390, by the said Jaquemire Gringonneur, to divert Charles VI., then king of France, who had become melancholic. 1. Because no notice of cards is to be found in any painting, tapestry, sculpture, &c., more ancient than the preceding period, but are found posterior to it. 2. No royal edicts are mentioned prohibiting cards, although a few years before 1390, a most severe one was published, forbidding by name all manner of sports and pastimes except archery, so that the people might be in a condition to oppose the English; and it may be inferred that had cards been known at that period they would have been enumerated with the other games. 3. The ecclesiastical canons prior to 1390, make no mention of cards, but in 1410 we find the clergy are prohibited in indulging in games at cards by a Gallican synod. 4. About thirty years after this, a severe edict was issued against cards in France; and another by Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy; which reserved, however, the privilege to ladies, for pins and needles.

The first recorded notice of their being known in England is in 1463, when the card-makers of London made an application to parliament against the importation of playing-cards; and from the 3 Edward IV. c. 4, it appears that both card-playing and making were practised anterior to this, or about fifty years after the era of their supposed invention. The Chinese are also said by Mr. Gough (Archæologia, vol. viii.), to have known the use of cards, as evidenced from their paintings, and also from a pack of Chinese cards in his possession, though they used different devices from those usually employed.

The inventor designed, by the figures of the four suits or colours, to represent the four states or classes of men in the kingdom. By the cœur, or hearts, are meant the gens de chœur, choir-men, or ecclesiastics; and therefore the

Spaniards have chalices, or copas, in stead of hearts.

The nobility, or prime military part of the kingdom, are represented by the points of lances or pikes, which have been denominated spades through ig-. norance, or a corruption of the Spanish espados, or swords, which they substitute in lieu of pikes.

By diamonds are designed the order of citizens, merchants, and tradesmen; carreaux, or squares, stones, tiles, &c. The Spaniards had a coin, dineros, which answers to it; and the Dutch call the French word carreaux, stienen, stones and diamonds, from the form.

The corrupt term of clubs, which is correctly trfle, the trefoil leaf, or clover grass, alludes to the husbandman and peasantry. Probably, the term clubs was introduced from the Spaniards having bastos, staves or clubs, on their cards.

The four kings are David, Alexander, Cæsar, and Charles; representing the four celebrated monarchies of the Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Franks under Charlemagne.

The queens are intended to represent Argine, Esther, Judith, and Pallas; typical of birth, piety, fortitude, and wisdom, the qualifications found in each person. Argine is an anagram for Regina, queen by descent.

By the knaves were designed the servants to knights. Knave originally meant only a servant, and, in a very old translation of the Bible, St. Paul is called the knave of Christ.

Some fancy that the knights themselves were designed by these cards; as Hogier and Lahire, two names on the French cards, were famous knights at the time cards were supposed to have been invented.

In 1679, historical cards were pub lished, as we learn from an advertisement of that time issued by a certain Randal Taylor, that there were sold by him a pack of cards for one shilling each pack, containing "A History of all the Popish Plots that have been in England, beginning with those in Queen Elizabeth's time, and ending with the last damnable plot against his Majesty

a certain hour either to close the bar gain, or consider the negociation at an end. If neither party should appear at the designated time, the other was at last had agreed upon a certain day and liberty to act as if nothing had occurred. The place of meeting was the Exchange, and the hour twelve o'clock. The one had offered the other an estate in a very central position, for a very inadequate sum, with the understanding that he would take or reject it at any period within the specified limit. Meanwhile, he had a higher offer for the same property, a circumstance having taken place which had materially increased its value. He was bound in honour, however, to wait until the specifled period, and he did wait. Nay, he was scrupulous, conscientious, and sensitive, and lingered for half-an-hour over the time. Then, the other party being in readiness, he accepted the offer, and the affair was closed. Only a few seconds after, and his first customer appeared, but it was too late. He had made up his mind to accept the proposition, but he nevertheless lingered and hesitated, until the golden opportunity had passed away. He was annoyed, irritated and mortified-and yet compelled to confess that the error was all his own.

On another occasion, not long since, several gentlemen met together for the purpose of deciding upon the claims to office of an applicant who was highly recommended, and concerning whom they were all favourably impressed. But it was necessary that he should appear before them in person, and make certain explanations. This he promised to do, and could have done very readily, and the hour for the interview was fixed. For some reason or other, he hesitated, and at last, either from timidity or want of moral courage, he persuaded himself that his presence was not necessary, and that everything was as it should be. The committee were prompt, talked over the matter in a friendly and kindly spirit, were anxious and willing to hear the expected explanations, and ready to confer the place. But, as already stated, the applicant

failed to appear, and this failure was fatal to him. If, they argned, he can not be prompt and punctual in a case in which he himself is so vitally inter ested, how can he be safely entrusted with the business of others? The error was lamented afterward, but it was too late. In social life, the importance of punctuality cannot be too earnestly enforced and incul cated. It is quite a common occurrence for an individual to promise a visit on a certain evening, and thus to enter into a tacit engagement with the family to be visited, that they and theirs will remain at home. Other objects may command their attention meanwhile, but, if they possess a proper sense of propriety, they will refuse, and for the reason that they have no right to trifle with the time or the feelings of another.

THE TRUE OBJECT OF WEALTH. WHAT is success to the merchant? We can readily say what it is not.

1. It is not merely to accumulate a fixed sum, as the ultimatum of his wishes.

2. It is not to gain the control of the market.

3. It is not to hold the rod of power over banking and other corporations, and a host of clerks, sub-clerks, and other subordinates.

4. It is not to lay up immense wealth to leave to thankless heirs.

5. It is not to ride-like Whittington, Lord Mayor of London-in a magnificent coach, with servants in livery, before and behind.

6. It is not to live in a noble man. sion, furnished according to the expensive taste of the most fashionable upholsterer.

7. It is not to hoard gold to gloat over with insane idolatry, as a thing too good to use.

8. It is not to accumulate and to hold on to a vast amount of property with selfish enjoyment, with an iron grasp which death alone can relax, and then to bequeath it to benevolent and religious purposes.

9. It is not to become a slave to carking care, at the expense of body and

mind, heart and soul-wearing out the body, starving the mind, palsying the heart, and ruining the soul.

1. Mercantile success does, to be sure, involve the fact of gaining money hundreds or thousands of pounds.

2. It is a glorious instrument of power, when used to promote the welfare of dependent hundreds of beings.

3. Success secures the approbation of the world; for, as the wise man says, men will praise thee when thou doest well for thyself."

"

4. Success enables the merchant to possess all the means and appliances for his own comfort and that of his family. 5. It gives him the opportunity to gratify his taste,-whether it be for books, pictures, statues, or houses, flowers, music, gardening, farming; and happy is it for him, if he possess taste to to be gratified.

6. Success secures to him the blessedness of giving-the sweet indulgence of alleviating human suffering.

7. It furnishes him with the means of encouraging and promoting art, science, literature, morality, and religion. 8. It secures rest from turmoil and anxiety at the close of life, and leisure to look forward into eternity.

MANAGEMENT OF LIVE STOCK. THE chief principles which should govern the management of live stock must be steadily borne in mind: they may be all summed up in four words—cleanliness, regularity, warmth, quiet. "The treatment of milch cows,' truly remarks Mr. H. W. Keary, of Holkham (Jour. R. A. S., vol. ix., p. 450), "will materially influence the quantity and quality of their milk; and the judicious use of roots and artificial food in moderate quantities during the winter months, generally yields a liberal return. It is, however, extremely important not to overload the stomach, or give anything which may cause indigestion; for so intimate is the connexion between the stomach and udder, that the slightest disorder in the former is Immediately communicated to the latter, to the injury of the milk. Small quantities of food given frequently are more

conducive to health and the production of milk than an unlimited and constant supply of roots, hay, &c. The quality of the water is also a matter of great importance, and one which is frequently overlooked, if we may judge from the filthy compounds which some cattle are allowed to drink."

DISEASES OF HORSES. COUGH, or Colds, are best treated by cold bran mashes, with lb. of linseed, and 1 oz. of saltpetre each mash.

Gripes, or Colic.-In the absence of a veterinary surgeon in this dangerous complaint, the following is the best remedy for a horse:-1 pint of linseed oil, 1 oz. of laudanum, given in a little warm gruel. Some persons assist the operation of the above with a glyster, composed of lb. of Epsom salts, lb. of treacle, dissolved in three quarts of warm water.

Powder Alteative for Diseased Skin or Surfeit.-Mix together lb. of sulphur, lb. of saltpetre, 1 lb. of black antimony. Give a large table-spoonful night and morning in their corn.

Strains and Wounds.-Mix 1 oz. of Goulard's extract, 1 oz. of spirits of turpentine, 1 oz. of spirits of wine, 1 pint of the strongest vinegar. Rub this by the hand, or a piece of tow, gently on the part affected.

A COURT SCENE IN ARKANSAS. JUDGE Q- who is a man possessed of the usual quantum of judicial dignity, and never suffers it to be run over without a word of explanation from the offender, was administering justice in the town of

The court was proceeding rapidly in the despatch of the public business with an unusual degree of quietude, except the steady peals of the full-toned and eloquent voice of Colonel W the zealous State's at

torney, when, all at once, out in the street, hard by the court-house, a loud voice was heard making a horrid use of the queen's English, and threatening great abuse of the human form divine, in this wise:

"Jist hit me if you dare with that stick and I wish I may be chawed up if I