meal of the day.  There were, of course, exceptions, for all Germany is not essentially German; yet it must be confessed that the prevailing features were of this guzzling, and, for the want of a more descriptive word, I would add, “sweltering” type, not fully appreciated by the ordinary travelling Briton, who, whatever else he may be, is not a gross feeder, though he does set the proper value on a breath of pure fresh air.

“Get him up?  Of course we can get him up,” rejoined Dr. MELCHISIDEC, warmly.  This in answer to some doubts expressed by one of the more cautions spirits of our party as to the possibility of dragging the Dilapidated One over one of the stock excursions of the neighbourhood, to wit, the Fuerren Alp.  “Why, put him into a chaise a porteur, and we could get him up the Titlis itself, and throw in the Schlossstock, and the Gross-Spannort, for the matter of that, as well. Baedeker makes only a two and a half hours’ affair of it.”

And so we find ourselves in due course, doing the “Fuerren-Alp” in approved style.

“By Jove, I’ll be hanged if I think it’s a bit better than going up Primrose Hill, twenty times running:  and not near such good going either,” observes young JERRYMAN, after we have been struggling up a precipitous mountain path, occasionally finding ourselves sliding and slipping backwards in the bed of a disused watercourse, for about two hours and a half.

And really I think young JERRYMAN’s view of the matter is not so very far out, after all.

* * * * *

ONE RITE, AND ALL WRONG.—­The “Service of Reconciliation” in St. Paul’s seems to have had the effect of setting everyone by the ears.  Quite a muddle,—­a Western Church, and an Easton rite.

* * * * *

SCIENCE AND HEART.

[Illustration]

“A Correspondent of ‘the Field’ records an experiment which he made with a wasp.  ‘Having,’ he says, ’severed a wasp in two pieces, I found that the head and thorax with the uninjured wings retained full vitality....  It tried to fly, but evidently lacked the necessary balance through the loss of the abdomen.  To test the matter further, I cut out an artificial tail from a piece of thin cardboard, as nearly following the shape of the natural body as possible.  To fasten the appendage to the wasp, I used a little oxgall ...; gum or more sticky substances would not do, as it impedes the use of the wings in flight.  Presently the operation was complete, and, to my surprise, the wasp, after one or two ineffectual efforts, flew in rather lopsided fashion to the window.  It then buzzed about for at least a quarter of an hour, eventually flying out at the top ... it was vigorous when it flew away.”—­Extract from an Evening Paper.

  The Benefit of Humour in Philosophers can always do more
  Philosophy.  Assisted