Two countrymen were paying a visit to the city of Edinburgh recently, when for the first time in their experience they saw a water-cart employed in laying the dust after the orthodox fashion. They had been warned by their friends before leaving home not to be surprised if they saw many wonderful things, and, above all, not to give expression to their astonishment, as they would probably only be laughed at for their ignorance. Hitherto the clodhoppers had attended fairly well to these instructions, and so far at least had not made fools of themselves. But, alas! a water-cart was too much for them. No sooner did their eyes alight on it than Jock, the more enthusiastic of the two, rushed off towards it, shouting to the driver: "Hey, mon! hey, mon! stop, for guidness' sake; yer scaling a' yer watter!" Jim, his companion, was not so easily deceived, however, and, vexed to see Jock make such an exhibition of his ignorance, ran after him, and seizing him by the coat tails, reprimanded him as follows: "What for are you makin' such a fule o' yersel' for, Jock? The man ken's brawly that the watter's scaling. Lo'd, man, if ye had ony sense you could easily ken that it was only a dodge tae keep the laddies aff the back o' the cart." * * * * * A neat little correspondence took place between David Roberts, the artist, and a friendly art critic with whom he was in the habit of hobnobbing. Roberts had painted a number of pictures into which he put all his genius, and upon placing them on exhibition, much to his surprise and mortification his friend the critic severely attacked them. In due time, however, a note arrived, addressed: "MY DEAR ROBERTS,--You have doubtless read my remarks upon your pictures. I hope they will make no difference in our friendship. Yours, etc., ----." This had a tendency to slightly increase the painter's wrath, and he couched the following: "MY DEAR ----,--The next time I meet you I shall pull your nose. I hope it will make no difference in our friendship. Yours, etc., D. ROBERTS." It is not recorded whether they met afterwards, but it is safe to say those erstwhile friends hobnobbed no more. [Illustration: STAMPS] This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department. Three important measures have just been agreed upon by the House of Representatives, and probably will be accepted by the Senate. The first bill introduces the principle of responsibility on the part of the government for the delivery of registered letters and parcels.