On one given him by Victor Hugo we read: “Madame, il fait grand vent et j’ai tué six loups.” On that of Ponsard: “Quand la borne est franchie, il n’y a plus de limites.” On that of Émile Augier: “Ce qui tombe au fossé, Madame, est au soldat.” And so on. In this collection are paper-knives that had belonged to Béranger, Bauville, Autran, Camille Doucet, and many other French writers of fame, each carefully enclosed in a case of its own and labelled. AN ODD LOT There is a well-authenticated case of a wealthy man leaving his riches to deserving old maids, but he let his own daughters pine in single blessedness for want of portions. There was also an individual who desired to set up a lifeboat, compelling his boys to “paddle their own canoe,” and there is yet another testator who, when death approached, bestowed his estate for the planting of a botanical garden, leaving his daughters to fade as wallflowers, and his sons to go to seed in penury; and these testamentary schemes were upheld, notwithstanding the adage that “Charity begins at home.” A BUTCHER MADE HAPPY An old Parisian lady residing in the Rue Fontaine St. Georges, left by will the whole of her fortune to her butcher. Its amount was invested in rentes, and produced $7500 a year. The butcher was in no way related to her, did not even know her by sight, neither had she ever seen him. As the testatrix had no heirs either direct or collateral, and no relations, the will was not disputed, and the butcher glided quite comfortably into his new position. HE USED “PLAIN ENGLISH” The last will and testament of Mr. Daniel Martinett, of Calcutta, in the East Indies. “In the name of God, I, Daniel Martinett, of the town of Calcutta, being in perfect mind and memory, though weak of body, make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.... To avoid Latin phrases, as it is a tongue I am not well versed in, ‘I shall speak in plain English.’ “First. In the most submissive manner I recommend my soul to Almighty God, &c. “Secondly. Now as to worldly concerns, in the following manner:--As to this fulsome carcase having already seen enough of worldly pomp, I desire nothing relative to it to be done, only its being stowed away in my old green chest, to avoid expense; for as I lived profusely, I die frugally.