The Selfish System of Society.—The system of antagonism and competition results in a universal system of plunder by exorbitant charges, and each man protects himself by overcharging in return. Plunder by overcharging is so much the custom that no one objects to it. The Boston Herald says: “There is a baker in New York, who sells large loaves of bread of the finest quality for five cents a loaf. The same-sized loaf sells for ten cents in Boston.” In like manner, Americans generally pay ten cents for a loaf about half as large as that sold for ten cents, in London; yet the London baker has to buy the same flour after its cost is enhanced by an ocean voyage. This is the custom of society; the glass of lemonade, costing perhaps two cents, is sold at all prices, from five or ten cents up to twenty-five.

The correspondent of a Denver paper says that lumber costing forty-five cents a hundred feet, is sold at $2.25. These are samples of the financial disorder of life in all departments.

Educated Beetles.—Bridgeport, Conn., Aug. 24. Miss Emily Nelson, of this city, has received a present from Merida, Yucatan, in the shape of an educated jewelled bug. It has a harness of gold and is jewelled with precious stones.

The custom is said to have originated among the Spanish nobility several centuries ago, when the first bug was educated and worn by a princess. The bug became greatly attached to the maiden, and partook of her moods and dispositions. When she was sad or disheartened the bug became sluggish; and when she was joyous and vivacious the bug was likewise lively in its movements. At her death, the bug pined away and died, too.

Miss Nelson is very happy and justly very proud of her present. The insect is about the size of an ordinary black beetle. Around the body is firmly fastened a gold band. A gold strap is riveted to this and passes down the back around and under the body, and is welded upon the under side to the gold belt. Upon the back are tiny jewels set in gold and fastened into the shell. The coloring of the shell is a brilliant Nile green, edged with black. The movement of the bug gives flashes of variegated colors. Upon the under side is fastened a delicate gold chain which in turn is attached to a brooch. It is educated to eat from the lips. It understands various whistles and calls, and appears and disappears at the word of command.—Globe.

Rustless Iron is being manufactured in New York by a new process which, it is claimed, converts the surface of the metal into magnetic oxide of iron. This is done by subjecting it successively to the action of highly heated air and carbonic acid gas from coal fires. The process can be applied with most satisfactory results to water-pipes and architectural work.

Weighing the Earth.—Prof. Proctor proposes to repeat in Florida an experiment to determine the weight of the earth, and mentions the results of the methods heretofore tried. Newton first estimated the weight of the earth to be between five and six times as great as that of water. Such a weight it would have if it were one half iron and the other half limestone, or half copper and half clay. Evidently the metallic weight preponderates.

Weighing the earth is accomplished by comparing the effect of its attraction with that of much smaller bodies. One method is to compare, by balancing the weight of two balls, one above a globe of lead, as large as practicable, and the other below it, so as to have the attraction of the leaden globe pulling up and counteracting the gravitation to the earth. The effect is very slight and requires delicate apparatus.

By another, but more inaccurate method, the attraction of the earth has been compared with that of a mountain—a very indefinite method indeed. A better method was that of Astronomer Airy and Mr. Dunkin, who went down into the Harton coal pit 1,260 feet to see how much difference that depth would make in the movements of a pendulum. It gained 2¼ seconds in 24 hours, and the weight of the earth was inferred to be over 6½ times as great as that of water; but it is manifest that such a method could yield nothing much more accurate than the mountain experiment which indicated a weight 4¾ times that of water. The ball experiment, which is the most reliable, indicated 5½ times the weight of water, thus coinciding with Newton’s astronomical opinion, which is probably true.

Head and Heart.—The popular use of the terms head and heart to represent thought and emotion, which is contrary to physiology, is analogous to Dr. Hartmann’s statement of the oriental doctrine that thought alone belongs to the brain, but life and will to the heart. This ancient speculation (not intuition) is easily refuted. If it were true, the will power and powers of life would be proportional to the development of the heart, regardless of the brain, but the reverse is the fact. Great development of heart does not increase either will power, or life, but is injurious to both. The enlarged (hypertrophied) heart is injurious to vital power and will power, and in proportion to its increase, it tends to shorten life by apoplexy or some other form of cerebral disorder. It produces no increase of either life, will, or love. In fact, the stomach is more nearly associated with love than the heart, for men are much more amiable after enjoying a feast, but the heart, which is a part of the muscular system, is at its maximum of action in combat and war.

The Rectification of Cerebral Science, commenced in this number, will be continued in the November number, bringing the science up to its present condition, and showing how, after the rectification is completed, the science attains a grand simplicity, and, instead of being puzzled by cerebral organology, a very brief instruction will enable us to master the subject. In 1836 I instructed Prof. Cubi at New Orleans in the old organology, giving him six lessons in exchange for his instructions in Spanish. Three lessons would give an equal familiarity with the new system, though it is four times as extensive.