Now it is a very clear case that the mistake in question—­or joke—­may be traced to a deficiency of education on the part of these vigilant and zealous detectives.  Had they been properly cultivated in the various branches of art, the slight blunder to which we refer could not have occurred.  The Spitz-dog noses, instead of smelling Rat, would have smelt its anagram, Art.  Its influence would at once have been acknowledged by them, and they would have backed out from the August Presence with obsequious genuflexions.  It becomes a question of moment, then, whether a course of lectures upon art should not henceforth be considered an indispensable branch of the education of our excellent detectives.  We would not limit the proposed extension of their education, however, to the study of art, alone.  Botany should be insisted on as a necessary accession to the stock of the detectives’ learning; and especially would we have them instructed in a full knowledge of the leguminous vegetables—­such as beans.

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Temporary Obscuration of the “Hub.”

Boston already has the biggest church- organ in all Creation.  She also has the most public Public Garden of modern times.  Last year she had the loudest Musical Jubilee ever organized, and it is further to be noted that she is the proud possessor of the most uncommon of Commons.  Early in October, however, all these cherished immensities of Boston must fall into insignificance and “feel small.”  On the second day of that month, Colonel FISK is to make his triumphant entry into Boston, at the head of the gallant Ninth.  Organ, Jubilee, Public Garden, Big Drum, Common—­all, all of these will then have to subside and fade away into thin air before the stately presence of the Prince of Erie and his valiant command.

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Boy and Man.

“Miss ANNIE P. LADD, of Augusta, Me., has been appointed by the governor and confirmed by the council as a justice of the peace.”

    To be a man and magistrate
      ’Twas natural that ANNIE sighed,
    Since she one phase of man’s estate
      Already as a LADD had tried.

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A Nut for the Ladies’ Club.

Referring to the recent ladies’ boat race at Harlem, a reporter says that “the girls all rowed badly.”  This is a discouraging comment on the frantic efforts now making by women to assume man’s attributes, (not to mention his other “butes” and the what-d’ye-call-’ems generally associated with them,) and it is a very significant fact that the comment can be tersely clinched by the words So rows Sis.

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NEW PUBLICATIONS.