Opium-Smoking

in tiie United States.- In his report the drug trade for 1883, Mr. Robbins, of New York, of crude calls attention to the fact that, while the importation opium for medicinal purposes has varied but little (229,012 lbs. in 1883, compared with 227,126 lbs. in 1882), the increase in the importation of opium manufactured for smoking purposes has been enormous. There were imported, in 1883, 298,153'ibs of this vicious preparation, against 106,221 lbs. in 1882 ; and the Government received from it a customs revenue of nearly on

$200,000,000. Durga Pcjja Trip.?One of-the latest proposals of Thomas Cook and Son is a Durga Puja Trip from India to Egypt and the Holy Land extending over lifty days. Passengers may start from any of the principal stations of India, and with their usual enterprise Messrs Cook and Son have made arrangements to conduct members of the party to Khartoum. Here is an opportunity to relieve General Gordon. There may be a sufficient number of martially inclined individuals in India who would be willing to form a relieving force to bring Gordon out of Khartoum. If so, here is their chance. Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son will arrange the transport and commisand the whole the air of a sariat, give expedition holiday trip. Seriously the facilities now offered by the enterprising firm to be taken and one who is in ought largely advantage of, any doubt how to spend his autumn holiday might do worse than consult Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son.?" Englishman."