Varieties.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 380, 20 August 1903, Page 7

Varieties.

ENGAGEMENT SINGS. SK3KEADEKS ask how a name can be vlcx* represented in a ring. name to be represented, Amethyst, Lynx-sapphire, Idocrase, Chrysoberyl, and Emerald might be chosen; or another group of stones whose initial letters form the neme. There are more precious stones to choose from than most people know. Here is an alphabet complete : Amethyst Jasper Kubj Alexandrite Jargccn Sapphire Beryl Kyanite Spinel Carbuncle Lipia-lazuli Topaz Cairngorm Moonstone Tu-q noise Diamond Malachite Uranite Emerald Natrocite Vesuviasite Felspar Opal Water-sapphiie Firestone Onjx Xanthite* Hyacinth Peridot Zircon Idocrase Quartz This doJB cob exh&u3t, nor nearly exhaust, the list of precious stones. There is a much longer ono in Sireetor's ' Precir.ll3 Stones and Gems.' Then, as to posy rings, about which I am also asked. Here are a few old ' posies.' Our contract Waß heaven's act. In thee, my choice Do I rejoice. God above, Increase our love. Not two, but one, Till life be gonei In'the early part of the last century engagement-rings were sometimes Bet with stones of which the initials formed a word or words, as, for example • L apis Lazuli Opal V erde Antique Emerald

M alachite Emerald. NEWSPAPER FOB ROBBERS. A magazine haa just been started in Belgium to chronicle the doings of the criminal world. It is called 'Robbery' and will appear quarterly. It will contain accounts of famous thefts in days gone by side by side with descriptions of the most up to date methods employed by thieves, burglars, &c. Space will also be devoted to illustrating the various tools and instruments used by the craft on nocturnal excursions in town and country. Altogether the new publication promises interesting reading. SNUFF AND OBSTINACY. Interesting notes on the snuff taking habit are furnished by the authorities of the district known as the Bavarian Forest. The men there consume on an average half a pound of snuff per day, the tabacco. being mixed with ground glass 'to sting better.' The people in this district are much given to violence, and attacks with the knife are of daily occurrence. For years the prison authorities experienced great difficulties with their charges on account of their uniform obstinacy, and finally hit upon the plan of .depriving them of snuff. They say that, after a while, a great change for the- better was noticeable, the men became tractable, and sensible of their degrading inhumanity. CHICAGO'S LATEST FAD. Chicago, it seems, is abandoning culture and going in for fits. It has come about in tHs way. An actor in a popular melodrama had to simulate An epileptic fit. The scene was the making of the play. It convulsed the audience not with horror, but with laughter. The actor found himßelf called upon to throw fits for the amusement of his friends on all occasions. People who had only known him ten minutes asked to see a sample. But it was left for a Chicago 'society leader' to give an official stamp to his performance. This is the note she sent him:—You will pardon me for taking the liberty of addressing you without the formality of an introduction, but a friend of mine residing in Boston has written to rae about you, and says you once entertained her in a unique way by having a fit. Now, what I want to say is this s I am going to entertain a flew friends at a 5 o'clock tea during the holidays, and I would like to ask you if you would be willing to be one of my guests and amuse my friends with one of your fits ? I hope you will not think I am presuming in asking this of you. I would be perfectly j willing to pay for your time and trouble.' \ NOTES. The willow is a good tree to plant in \ moist situations when xapid growth is needed. A willow has been noted to grow 9 lt 3in in its first three years; a poplar to grow 6ft; an elm, SffcSin; but an oak onl.r 2Et 10-Hn. The vitality of seeds may be tested, in the case of large seeds oj.' grain, by placing a few in a hot shovel over the fire. Those of which the vitality is perfect will pop or crack open; the others which are useless will merely smoulder away. Belgium is a country which gives the longest term of protection to inventors. There a patent lasts for -twenty years. It is a curious fact tha»t almost exactly twice as many women as men are employed in dressmaking and tailoring in London. The actual fic-urea are; men, 81,178} women, 150,000.