time, there are many articles of commerce, in the shape of building materials and fragile goods, in the carrying of which the canals are more suitable. They remain at the present day a lasting and still useful monument to the English enterprise and perseverance of the last century. To turn to the present century: M. de Lesseps has been so successful with the Suez Canal, and promises to be with the Panama one, that it is no wonder that he should have many followers; and it is to be noted that the canals proposed now are all on the large scale—canals for ships of large size. They are mostly through narrow necks of land, although one of them is to connect an inland town, Manchester, about thirty miles from salt water, directly with the sea. The Isthmus of Corinth is the site of another; and still another is to run into the great Sahara of Africa and convert it into a great salt-water lake. How long this lake would take to fill up with solid salt is a nice question, which we have not sufficient means of determining, as the other ‘salt lakes’ of the world are all supplied with fresh water, and have only as yet attained to a more or less briny state. AN IRISH TRAVELLING THEATRE. Many people who have heard of a travelling theatre may find perhaps the following peep behind the scenes somewhat interesting. On a cold, bleak day towards the end of October 1885, I received the following letter: RESPECTED LADY—I is an actress, and has a travelling theatre. We came to this village two days ago; but the times is bad, and business so slack, I has had to sell most all the theatrical wardrobe; and in consequence we has but little left us we can wear. Respected lady, I writes to ask you to have the harte to help me and my company. Any evening dresses, especial _ballett_ dresses, no matter how old, and any artificial flowers, will be thankful received by one who art and health is alike forsakin. Respected lady, I has a large family to provide for, and any old stockings and shoes I pray you to bestow, lady. My daughter is waiting for an answer. We has a benefit for her to-night. Any clothes, lady, looks well on the stage. Reserved seats fourpince, and pit twopince.—Yours respectful to command, MADOLINE EMERSON, or MARY FLANAGAN. I sent for the bearer of the letter, who had, as intimated, waited for my reply. A little girl of about eight years old appeared, and bowed to me very gravely. She was thinly and poorly clad, and looked miserably cold and wretched. Her little feet were without stockings, and red from exposure; they peeped through her broken shoes.