It is as though one’s natural aversion to tomatoes had gradually changed to liking, and then an untimely autumn frost had come, to anticipate the gardener and the air-tight can.

These foreigners are so different from the Americans!

During the Rebellion—­a comparatively staid and respectable affair—­a correspondent, after the first two years, became so expert as to anticipate battles, and knew as much about war as a general.  War news and buckwheat cakes enlivened the matutinal meal.  The chances pro and con gave a zest to conversations else intolerably dull.  The war was an Institution.

But see how it is in Europe.

In ’66, they spirted away for six weeks and stopped.  And now, after a similar splurge, they have as good as stopped once more.  The correspondents just sent over by our “enterprising” newspapers, are hardly yet recovered from their sea-sickness.  Just as they begin to sharpen their pencils, presto! the war is over, and the occupation of these hardy gentlemen is gone.

Can nothing be done about this?  If a protest—­“firm and dignified”—­would really do no good, what about some new excitement, which, as every one knows, we must have or perish!  Will no other jealous contiguous nations fall out?  Must we fall out ourselves?  Election is still a good way off, and, really, we don’t see what’s to be done.  Fights are few, and suicides are falling off.  The Indians are disgustingly peaceful, and even the Mormons have subsided.  It is two years and over to the next Presidential election; and there is no more cholera.

Really, this is too bad!  We must muse on the situation for a season, and, meanwhile, shall confidently expect something or other to turn up almost any day.

* * * * *

PUSS AS A PORT-MONNAIE.

The following eccentric freak of a cat is reported in a daily paper: 

“A two dollar note was taken to one of the Lebanon banks for redemption last week, which had been taken from the intestines of a cat, in Montgomery county.  The cat had stolen the note and swallowed it, was caught and shot, and the note thus recovered.”

There is nothing new in getting notes “from the intestines of a cat.”  PAGANINI got no end of notes from catgut.  So do VIEUXTEMPS, and OLE BULL, and TOM BAKER, and others too numerous to mention.  The cat that swallowed the greenback should have been added to BARNUM’S “Happy Family,” however, instead of being sacrificed to Mammon.  With its two-dollar bill it would have been a formidable rival to the Ornithorynchus Paradoxus, or beast with a bill, of Australia.

* * * * *

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A TREATISE ON THE BANKRUPT LAW, FOR BUSINESS MEN.  By AUDLEY W. GAZZAM, Solicitor in Bankruptcy, Utica, N. Y. New York:  GEORGE T. DELLER, No. 95 Liberty Street.