Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

readers so , seeing that those readers buy the papers to read truth ancl not superstition and falsehood—to be enli ghtened , not misled . It is said thatfifteen millions of steel pens are manufactured Aveekly in Birmingham ,

for Avhich fifteen tons of steel are required every week . From the ironstone in the mine , to the pen in the hand of the Avriter , Avhat glorious triumphs of mind over matter J

At a late meeting of the Linneau Society , a communication was read " On Deep Sea Anemones ( Actinaria ) dredged from on Board the Challenger ; Avith a Description of certain Pelagic Surface-SAvimmhig species , " by Mr . H . N . Moseley . "The occurrence" says the Afheiueum

, , " at great de ]) ths of representatives of ordinary shallow Avater forms of actinia is of profound interest . A species of Edivardsia , from 600 fathoms , has undergone but trifling modification from the littoral form . The Cerianthus , from 2 , 750 fathoms

is chvarfed , but uncommonly like its shore brethren . Thus , it appears , one kind is found in shallow water at the Philippines , under the full glare of the tropical sun , Avhile another species of the same genus exists at three miles' depthAvhere solar

, rays neA'er penetrate , and the water keeps at freezing point . The fact of the deepsea anemones retaining vivid colouring in their dark watery abode is a point of special value as connected with certain other generalizations . The new genus

Corallinomorphus likeivise possesses interest . " AVhat a rich satire on England in the Nineteenth Century the future historian may compile from the advertisements inserted in , our leading periodicals ! A photographer advertisesthat " having succeeded

, in gaining the information from Madame Rachael of how to make all beautiful for ever , and he being determined to use it even under the most unfavourable

circumstances , no person may be afraid of not securing good Photos under his manipulations , " at five shillings a dozen ! Dog cheap , if only the article could be relied on . Hundreds of knavish shopkeepers are unbluskingly announcing their own as the very cheapest bouse in the kingdom . Pateiitiiiedicine-inongcrsinformacrcdulous public that , for a mere pecuniary acknowledgment , they will cure all possible

complaints under the sun . But these are all modesty itself compared to the blatant blowing of their OAVII trumpets now practised by some of the anonymous " gentlemen (?) of the press , " in asking for fresh engagements for their prostituted pens . For myselfI wish that it was

, compulsory on every ivriter , like the printer , to append his name to all his published pieces , or otherwise to adopt some registered signature , and to stick to it , by ivhich public opinion might help to hold him in check . Honest authorship would have all

to gain , and nothing to lose , by such a course . Verily , ours is an age of shams ! I am glad to see that Mr , AVilliam Molyneux , F . G . S ., in his interesting little book 011 " Burfcon-on-Trent , its History , its AYatereand its Breweries" does not

, , fall into the vulgar error of supposing that the few principal military ivays , of Avhich the routes are given by Antonius , etc ., were the ivhole of the Roman Roads in

Britain . Every careful antiquary will be able to give proof of some , perhaps secondary , roads of undoubtedly Roman origin at least—but more probably old British ways , adopted and repaired by the Romans—not to be found in the Itineraries . " I cannot but think" Avritcs

, Mr . Molyneux , " that considering the enormous aggregate population of Britain during the pnincipal part of the time it Avas under the Roman rule , there must have been in its more jwosperous condition , a vast number of townsvillagesand

, , other places of ordinary occupation to contain it , of Avhich there is no existing historical , or even traditional , record to denote the rite . In the present day eA'ery village in Britain has its highway , and there can be no questionthat in this

, respect at least , we are not so much in advance of the Romans to be justified in assigning to them a different condition in respect to the moans of communication between the various places in their occupation , Avhatever may have been the character

of such places , or their position in the country . Probably the prevalent opinion Avhich restricts the Roman Roads to the great trunk or military Avays of the more important cities and stations , established by them for military purposes , is due to xlutonius and others having ignored all save these great permanent Avays and the