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tne habits of one and the same individual . AVhen they lie down at night , the same olothes which they have worn during the day are taken from their person to become , with tho quilt of the mattress on which they sleep , their only covering in the shape of bedclothes . Their garments are worn sometimes for months , or even a longer period , without being washed ; and a warm bath for washing the person appears to he with many of the lower classes an economical provision for saving the trouble and inconvenience of washing their clothes . "

In common with all who have recorded their experience ¦ of the public inns of Japan , the good bishop seems to have been much pleased , and it would appear that there are many worse places to be found for a sojourner than in one of the Japanese houses of public entertainment , for Dr . Smith tells us : —

" AVhile my native attendants were resting and refreshing themselves with a meal of rice and potations of sakee in the nei ghbouring ontbuilding , I was escorted by the Japanese proprietor into a suite of elegant saloons , opening one beyond another and capable of being separated into private rooms by closing the folding screens and sliding panels , which extended down the length of the building , and were easily moved in their grooved lines across the several apartments . The walls weicovered with neat whiteflowered

e - silken-grained paper , with native paintings and little ornaments tastefully arranged in each angle ; and the floor was covered with the usual clean matting , padded and fitted into square or oblong compartments . A chair was brought for me to sit in European style ; and the Japanese landlady , a middle-aged black-toothed personage of comel y looks and polite manners , made her appearance . Her husband soon rejoined our party ; and both combined their

endeavours to ascertain our wants and meet our requirements . She was soon followed by three young waiting-damsels , wearing their natural sets of glittering wdiite teeth , with their native ruddy complexion enhanced by a little artificial addition of pearl dust and rouge , and their lips stained with a dark purple crimson . These young waiting-girls are always selected as the most beautiful and prepossessing of their sex , and demeaned themselves with simple , artless modesty . In all parts these public hotels are served by the

most handsome girls ; and I was informed that they are a well conducted class , and that Japanese law rigidly piotects them while filling such a capacity in these houses of refreshment . On this occasion ^ the landlady and her native damsels overburdened me with their attentions , placing my chair in the most convenient spot , rearranging my travelling coverlets , wiping my shoes , placing a cushion on my seat , and anticipating every want . Cakes , soup , rice , and sweetmeats were brought in successionOne

laughingbriht-. , g eyed damsel approached me kneeling , with a cup of tea in her hand ; another held some sugar , kneeling on the opposite side ; while a third from her lowly posture on the ground held to my lips a boiled egg , already broken and peeled , with the spoon containing the inviting morsel , duly seasoned with salt . AVith garrulous vivacity they anticipated every look , and when my wants were supplied , they remained kneeling close to my side , and vying in their endeavours

to be the first to bring me their native dainties . They afterwards examined my dress ; and every portion of my equipment formed the subject of exciting comment and humorous wonder . European shoes , stockings , woollen cloth , and umbrella were eagerly examined , and afforded matter for renewed curiosity and mirth . Even my Chinese servant received his share of observation , and submitted patiently to have his long plaited queue handled and examined by their fair hands . "

We cannot take leave of this work without warmly commending its perusal to our readers , as containing vast stores of knowledge about a country which may bo said to be only just becoming known to us , nor must our extracts be looked upon as showing tho sound knowledge of men and manners contained in Bishop Smith ' s work . " Like all who cater for a particular class of readers , our selections have been made ad

populam ; _ but there is sterner stuff in tho volume before us which will well repay perusal by those interested in the history of peoples and their state of civilisation . AVe have scarcel y ever read a volume which abounds with more information than Ten Weeks in Japan .

The Englishwoman ' s Magazine . S . 0 . Beoton , Strand . Such of the brethren as have wives , sisters , or daughters , cannot do better than present them monthly with this Magazine , which certainl y is a marvel of cheapness , the number now before us containing ( on a- separate sheet ) a full sized engraved pattern of a child ' s frock ; a steel plate

Literature.

of the fashions ; and a ijattern for a black cloth and cloth applique , sofa cushion or table cover , together with , several interesthig tales , notes of the month , an account of the fashions , and various other subjects of interest to the fairer portion of creation . Of the patterns and description of the different kinds of work wc cannot pretend to give any very positive opinion of our own ; but we are informed by

Materfa-milias that any one' of tho patterns , one of which is presented with every monthly number , is worth the whole price of the Magazine , and that the descriptions of the various kinds of p lain and fancy work are thoroughly reliable , and renders this periodical an almost indispensable adjunct to the work table .

The Boys' Own Library—Wild Sports of the World , Nos . 1 and 2 . S . 0 . Beeton . We have before us the first rjarts of a new serial , which is sure to become popular amongst the class to whom it is addressed , for few topics can bo more interesting to boys than a description of sports which are attended with

personal danger , the more especially when accompanied with a good natural history , conveyed in plain language , avoiding as far as possible technical , scientific terms , which tend , for the young , rather to destroy , than to , add to the interest of a work . These two numbers are occupied with a descri ption and anecdotes of the elephant and the lion , well and pleasantly written , and illustrated with excellent coloured engravings , and numerous woodcuts , all admirably executed . A large sale must be secured to render 6 d . a month re-munerative to the publishers .

The Boys' Own Magazine for June . This is another of Mr . Beaton ' s publications , and is published at the low price of two-pence a month . The number at present before us contains , under the title of'Normans and Saxons , ' a good description of the battle of Hastings , and the subsecpient coronation of William tho Conqueror ; the Cold Heart , a tale of demonology , yet having an excellent

moral ; the Life of Bernadotte , a prize paper written by a boy subscriber to the Magazine ; the AVreck of the Pirate , a continuous tale , of which , as we have not seen the previous parts , we can scarcely form an opinion ; an excellent scientific paper , but not too scientific , on the microscope and microscopic objects ; the Eeminscences of a Eaven ; a Life of AVashington , very appropriate at tho present moment ; Elephant Hunting , charades , poetry , & c . ; the whole profusely illustrated with wood engravings—verily , a brave twopenny-worth .

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , AND ART .

The Bev . John Selhy Watson , M . A ., in his Life of Richard Porson , M . A ., Professor of Greelc in the University of Cambridge from 1792 to 180 S , relates the following anecdotes of the intemperance of the greatest Greek scholar which this country has ever produced : — " Home Tooke used to say , as Mr . Malby tells us , that ' Porson

would drink ink rather than not drink at all . ' Indeed , adds Mr . Maltby , lie would drink anything , He was sitting with a gentleman after dinner , in the chambers of a mutual friend , a Templar , who was then ill and confined to bed . A servant came into the room , sent thither by his master , for a bottle of embrocation which was on the chimney-piece . ' I drank it an hour ago , ' said Porson . " On another occasion : —

" AVhen lloppner the painter was residing in a cottage a few miles from London , Porson , one afternoon , unexpectedly arrived there , lloppner said that he could not offer him dinner , as Mrs . Hoppner had gone to town , and had carried with her the key of tha closet which contained the wine . Porson , however , declared that he would he content with a mutton-chop and beer from the next alehouse ; aud accordingly stayed to dine . During the evening Porson said , ' I am quite certain that Mrs . Hoppner keeps some nice bottle for her private drinking in her own bedroom ; so , pray