The great singer, Jenny Lind, was singing at the moment of her arrival, and so entranced was the audience with the song, that it did not become aware of her presence, until the singer broke off, silenced the orchestra with a gesture, and walking to the front of the stage, made a low curtsey to the Queen's box, and then lifting up her glorious voice, began to sing the national anthem, "God Save the Queen." The effect was electrical. The orchestra took up the strain with her. The chorus rushed on to the stage to join their voices to the hymn. The audience started to its feet, women waved their handkerchiefs and wept with excitement; men shouted and joined their voices to swell the great chorus. The poor young Queen, whose courage had been tried enough during the day, stood in the front of her box, bowing and smiling, until at last the scene became more than she could bear; then she burst into tears, and had to leave the opera-house. * * * * * The Dingley Tariff Bill was reported to the Senate on Tuesday, May 4th. A great many changes have been made in it by the committee; and a great many more are expected to be made before it passes through the Senate. Germany is still declaring that, if the Dingley Bill is passed, she will make such a tariff on American goods that our export trade with Germany will be killed. One of our consuls, however, writes us that there is a very small market for American goods in Germany, and that our trade will not be very greatly damaged if she does carry out her threat. It seems, from the accounts given, that Germany buys very little from us besides the raw material which she cannot get elsewhere; and so, if she does make a tariff against our goods, it may not make much difference to us. * * * * * Word comes from India that the plague is gradually dying out, and it is hoped that the worst is over. The authorities will continue their care in quarantining people from infected districts, and fumigating all the baggage, but the fear that the plague may reach Europe has pretty well died out. * * * * * They make a great deal of use of elephants in India. You know, of course, that India belongs to England. The title of Queen Victoria is Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India. England is obliged to keep a great many soldiers in India, and the elephant has gradually become one of the most important factors in the Indian army. When the British first occupied India, the soldiers used the elephants to work on fortifications, to haul timber, and to do any work that required great strength. After a while, as they began to understand the creatures better, the army officers gave them more important tasks, until at last an elephant artillery corps was formed.