"without solicitation from friends, and unbiassed by unworthy motives," I am induced to make the following propositions:

1. I will suspend two dollars by a ring from a second person's nose, so as to bring the coins within three-fourths of an inch from his face, and with a double-barreled shot-gun, at a distance of thirty feet, will blow dollars, nose and man at least thirty feet farther, four times out of five. I will add, in expla

nation, that, San Diego containing a rather intelligent community, I can find, at present, no one here willing or ready to have his nose blown in this manner; but I have no manner of doubt I could obtain such a person from St. Louis, by Adams & Co.'s Express, in due season.

2. I will hit a dollar, or anything else that has been tossed in the air (of the same size), on a wheel, on a pole or axle tree, or on the ground, every time out of five.

3. At the word, I will place five balls on the blade of a penknife, and split them all!

4. I will hit three men out of five, sprung from obscure parentage, and stand within ten feet of a steel-trap (properly set) while shooting!

5. I will break at the word, a whole box of common clay pipes, with a single brick, at a distance of thirty feet.

6. I engage to prove by a fair trial, that no pistolshot (or other person) can be produced, who will throw more apples at a man's head than I can. Moreover, I can produce in this town more than sixty persons willing and ready to hold an apple on their heads for me provided they are allowed to eat the apple subsequently.

7. I will wager, lastly, that no person in the United States can be produced, who, with a doublebarreled shot-gun, while throwing a back-handed summerset, can hit oftener, a dollar and a half, on the perimeter of a revolving wheel, in rapid motion, than I can.

Anyone desiring to take up any of my propositions will address me through the columns of the

Pioneer Magazine. Propositions will be received on

the first of April next.

JOHN PHOENIX.

1384 Seventeenth Street, Vallecetos.

"Se compra oro aqui, up stairs."

P.S.-Satisfactory references given and required.

A bet from a steady, industrious person, who will be apt to pay if he loses, will meet with prompt atten

tion.

J. P.

ANTIDOTE FOR FLEAS

THE following recipe, from the writings of Miss Hannah More, may be found useful to your readers:

In a climate where the attacks of fleas are a constant source of annoyance, any method which will alleviate them becomes a desideratum. It is, therefore, with pleasure I make known the following recipe, which I am assured has been tried with efficacy:

Boil a quart of tar until it becomes quite thin. Remove the clothing, and before the tar becomes perfectly cool, with a broad flat brush, apply a thin, smooth coating to the entire surface of the body and limbs. While the tar remains soft the flea becomes entangled in its tenacious folds, and is rendered perfectly harmless; but it will soon form a hard, smooth coating, entirely impervious to his bite. Should the coating crack at the knee or elbow joints, it is merely necessary to retouch it slightly at those places. The whole coat should be removed every three or four weeks. This remedy is sure, and, having the advantage of simplicity and economy, should be generally known.

So much for Miss More. A still simpler method of preventing the attacks of these little pests is one which I have lately discovered myself;-in theory only—I have not yet put it into practice. On feeling the bite of a flea, thrust the part bitten immediately into boiling water. The heat of the water destroys the insect and instantly removes the pain of the bite.

You have probably heard of old Parry Dox. I met him here a few days since, in a sadly seedy condition. He told me that he was still extravagantly fond of whisky, though he was constantly "running it down." I inquired after his wife. "She is dead, poor creature," said he, "and is probably far better off than ever she was here. She was a seamstress, and her greatest enjoyment of happiness in this world was only so, so."