According to William of Malmesbury this act was performed on July 15th, and St. Swithin's bones were no sooner lifted from their humble resting-place than the most awful storm of rain that England had ever known burst over the country. For forty days it rained without ceasing, until another flood was feared. The monks were terribly frightened, and expressed great sorrow for the mischief they had done, but they did not give up their prize. The bones of St. Swithin were kept in Winchester Cathedral, rain or no rain. Ever since then, according to the same chronicler, if it rained on the 15th of July, or St. Swithin's day, it was sure to rain every day for forty days. * * * * * A new postal regulation has just come into use. It is at present only in force in thirty-six of our principal cities, but if found to be as satisfactory as it is expected to be, will be used all over the country where there is a free delivery of mail. This new plan provides for a house-to-house collection, as well as delivery of mail, and also for the sale of stamps by letter-carriers. This is accomplished through the use of a combination letter-box, with which each householder is supposed to supply himself. The box is to be placed where the postman can easily have access to it without whistling or ringing bells. Instead he will unlock the mail-box, take from it all the letters that want mailing, and put in their place those which he has to deliver. It will be a very pleasant thing to be able to post letters without going off our own doorsteps, but this is only half of the comfort which the new box is going to be to us. In each post-box will be a special envelope containing blanks, on which the householder can order one and two cent stamps and postal-cards, putting the money to pay for them into the envelope with his order. The postman collects this envelope with the regular mail, and hands it to a special clerk, who takes out the money, fills the order, and drops the envelope in the mail for the postman to deliver on his next round. Unstamped letters can also be posted in this very delightful box, and special delivery stamps can be secured by stating on the blank the number of letters that are to be stamped, and enclosing the money for the same in the special envelope. All unstamped matter is turned over to the clerk who has charge of the envelope department. He buys the stamps, sticks them on, and despatches the letters. This service is only rendered to people who buy their own boxes. The post-office does not undertake to furnish them, but only to give good service with them when they are purchased. * * * * * A wonderful feat of swimming has just been performed in England. A man named McNally, a champion swimmer, and a native of Boston, Mass., has attempted to swim across the English Channel from Dover, England, to Calais, France, a distance of thirty-five miles.