* * * * * [Illustration: THE TRUE TEST. _First Screever_ (_stopping before a Pastel in a Picture-dealer's window_). "'ULLO 'ERBERT, LOOK 'ERE! CHALKS!" _Second Screever._ "AH, VERY TRICKY, I DESSAY. BUT YOU SET THAT CHAP ON THE PIVEMENT ALONGSIDE O' YOU AN' ME, TO DROR 'ARF A SALMON AN' A NEMPTY 'AT, AN' WHERE 'UD 'E BE?" _First Screever._ "AH!" [_Exeunt ambo._ ] * * * * * SCRAPS FROM CHAPS. Is it well to temper justice with jokes? This important question has been settled in the affirmative in many courts of law, but it has been left for his Honour, Judge EDGE, to use his own name (instead of somebody else's) in the playful manner requisite to excite "laughter in the Court." A solicitor recently took upon himself to argue with his Honour in the Plymouth County Court a question of costs in respect of a case heard some months since. He conducted his argument with much warmth and inaccuracy. This combination of bad law and bad temper enabled the Judge to score an easy victory. "Stand down," said his Honour; "if you play with edged tools you must pay for it." Thus triumphed the Law and the Judge, and once more "unquenchable laughter arose amongst the blessed gods" up in the gallery. * * * * * The British earthquake has been sadly neglected. Therefore Mr. CHARLES DAVISON, M.A., F.G.S., of Birmingham, is writing a _History of the British Earthquakes of the Nineteenth Century_. With a view to add to the completeness of this work, he has appealed to the readers of the _Western Daily Mercury_ for "notices of British earthquakes, either past or future, of any kind and from any place whatever." He specially desires to become acquainted with earthquakes "of which descriptions appear in the local press, or entries are made in private diaries." All local papers should at once start a special earthquake column--"Earthquakes Day by Day," or "Yesterday's Earthquakes"--and writers of diaries would do well to dive into the past. There are so many remarkable phenomena not otherwise recorded. Here is one. "Dined with BROWN last night. Insisted on walking home, instead of taking BROWN'S advice and a cab. Had not gone far when strange thing happened. Pavement suddenly upheaved and hit me violent blow on forehead. Fell prostrate. Taken home in dazed condition by friendly policeman. No time to observe affect of earthquake on adjoining houses. Shock very short, but exceedingly severe. In bed all day. Large bruise on forehead. Headache, &c." There must be many interesting entries of this kind in diaries which will afford valuable material for Mr. DAVISON'S work. As to "notice of future earthquakes," which he requests, perhaps the Meteorological Office, the Geological Society and Zadkiel will kindly oblige with probable dates and other information. * * * * *