"Sound is the gauge of short-hand, and connexion the master-key for deciphering." Such is one of the axioms in Mr. Harding's eighth edition of his very valuable little "System of Short-Hand,"--to which, by way of pleasant illustration, he appends, the "Dirge on Miss LN G," copied by us from the "New Monthly Magazine;" but we give Mr. H. credit for the present application. We could write a whole number of the MIRROR on the advantages of short-hand to the community; but as that would not be a practical illustration, we desist. Only think of the "Times" newspaper being scores of miles from town before half London has risen; and the Duke of Bedford, reading the previous night's debates at his breakfast table at Woburn Abbey. What would all Mr. Applegath's machinery do towards producing the newspaper without the aid of short-hand, which makes its expedition second only to thought. Half an hour's delay of "the paper" makes us fret and fume and condemn the fair provider of our breakfast--for over-roasted coffee and stale eggs--all because the paper is not "come;" but when would it come without short-hand? why at dinner-time, and that would make short work of a day--for thousands cannot set to work till they have consulted it as a mainspring of action. People who aim at the short cuts to knowledge should study stenography, and for this purpose they will do well to provide themselves with Mr. Harding's System, which will be as good as "a cubit to a man's height." * * * * * LOVE'S MASTERY. She was his own, his all:--the crowd may prove A transient feeling, and misname it love:-- His was a higher impulse; 'twas a part Of the warm blood that circled through his heart, A fervid energy, a spell that bound Thoughts, wishes, feelings, in one hallow'd round. _The Winter's Wreath._ * * * * * CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. The second edition of a pamphlet, entitled the Voice of Humanity, has just reached us. It contains details of the disgusting cruelties of the metropolis--as bear and badger baiting, dog-fighting, slaughtering- horses, &c.--and reference to the _abattoirs_, or improved slaughter-houses for cattle, which was illustrated in our 296th Number. In the appendix are many interesting particulars of Smithfield Market and similar nuisances. The pamphlet is dedicated to that enlightened friend of humanity, Sir James Mackintosh, and it appears worthy of his patronage. * * * * * WOMANKIND.