walls which forms the point of comparison, as Greek temples also had a wall enclosing the sacred ground, and the temples and churches of all countries are as a general rule separated from unhallowed ground, if not by strong walls at least by some mark which determines the extent of the sacred precincts.  Yet there is a further resemblance worth noticing between some of these Hindoo pagodas and the great temple of Phtha at Memphis.  The Egyptian temple had four chief entrances, or propyla, turned to the four cardinal points of the compass; which is also the case with the pagoda of Chalembaram, with another at Siringam, and probably others also.  The pagoda of Chalembaram, according to Indian tradition, is one of the oldest in their country, and this opinion is confirmed by the appearance of the principal temple contained within the walls; but other parts, such as the pyramidal entrances, the highly finished sculptures, and the chain festoons, must be the work of a later date.  It seems probable then that this enormous religious edifice was the growth of many ages, each adding something to enlarge and perfect the work of former days.—­Lib.  Ent.  Knowledge.

* * * * *

    I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide; for the man is
    efficiently destroyed, though the appetite of the brute may
    survive.—­Lord Chesterfield.
       * * * * *

THE GATHERER

A true Abernethian.—­“An old country curate,” says Zimmerman, “who had all his life resided upon a lofty mountain in the Canton of Berne, was one day presented with a moor-cock.  A consultation took place in what manner it should be disposed of—­at last it was agreed to bury it in the garden!”

      Epitaph on a notorious Liar.

  I always lied and lied till death,
  But now I lie for want of breath.

Castanets are small wooden rattles, made in the shape of two bowls or cups, fitted together, and tied by a string, and then fastened to the thumbs.  The fingers being rapidly struck upon them, a tremulous sound is produced, which marks exactly the measure of the dance.  Something similar to this was the crotalon of the ancients, who also made use of small cymbals in their dances and festivals in honour of Bacchus.  It is probable, however, that they had their origin in the East, and were brought by the Moors into Spain.  Here too they received their name castennalas, from being commonly made of the wood of the chestnut, (castano) or from their colour.  They are still common in Spain, and here and there in the South of France.  In this country they are common in stage dances only.

Cannon were formerly dignified with great names.  Twelve cast by Louis XII. were called after the twelve peers of France.  Charles V. had twelve, which he called the Twelve Apostles.  One at Bois-le-Duc is called the Devil; a sixty-pounder at Dover Castle, is named Queen Elizabeth’s Pocket Pistol; an eighty-pounder at Berlin, is called the Thunderer; another at Malaga, the Terrible; two sixty-pounders at Bremen, the Messengers of Bad News.