The which being pronounced, they would frantically take to their heels and scuffle off like mad, to return no more. To preserve beer from being soured by thunder:—_Summa_, it is best to drinke it all off before the storm. They doe practise this in Kent with certainty, and other parts of England. This also on the authority of Mr. Glanville. Men in liquor have droll conceites. 1 knew such a one, being a justice of the peace, who, when tipsie, would take off his peruke to salute the company with obeisance, and then, putting it on a bottle, would sing a song that had neither beginning nor end, but went merrilie on over again: the which he wold never stop until earned awaie to bed. And yet he was well to doe, and a clever man, but lacked prudence. My Lord Saye his gardener tells me that during the late storm he did track a flash of lightning through a gooseberrie bush, which marvel he had often heard of, but never saw before. * * * * * A correspondent inquires, "Why is beer always excluded from the dinner-parties of those who drink it every day when alone?" We pause for a reply. [Illustration: GEMINI—Odd-fellows. ] THE ZODIAC—MAY. GEMINI.—THE TWINS. The new explanation which our artist has put forward, of the origin of the term _Gemini_, so clearly tells its own story, that any further remarks upon the subject from us are unnecessary. The situation of the twins, however, suggests that we should make some allusion to the state of the Clowns of England; on which subject we purpose bringing out a work in the same style as the Wives, Mothers, Queens, and other female facts of the said favoured country. The progress of burlesques at the various theatres has done much to injure pantomimes; and it is feared the race of Clowns will become extinct, unless, in these days of educational enlightenment, some means are taken to train up fresh ones as the old ones drop off. To this end, we mean to establish a school for infant Clowns, who will be taught practical jokes in classes; and old ladies, shopkeepers, lodging-letters, and little boys, will be provided for them to play off their tricks upon. Proper works will be provided for them to study: and from one of the most elementary, not yet published, we make the following extract; premising that the Clown to a travelling circus is the first step on the ladder of pantomimical perfection:— CHAPTER FROM THE MERRYMAN'S MANUAL; OR, CLOWN'S HANDBOOK OF POPULAR HILARITY. CHAP. II.—HOW TO COLLECT THE CROWD IN FRONT OF THE SHOW. [N.B.—_The Performers are to walk about as if they were noble Lords and Ladies._ _The_ Manager, _as a Venetian of high birth, with a whip in his hand, and the_ Merryman, _stand on the steps_.] * * * * *