MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 300, 16 December 1905, Page 10

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

- » A RUSSIAN SPY.

A party of Japanese soldiers in Man* churia had just finished their evening meal when a Chinaman passed them, apparently on his way home from a day's work in the field. One of the soldiers called to him, and said in Chinese, "A cup of water, please! Fetch it here." One of tbe Japanese officers tells what followed, an incident which shows better than any number of sermons or other "preachments" how merciless and horrible war is.

"The Chinaman stopped for an instant. He did not even salute us, and then, as before, he turned his face north, and began walking away. Not that we needed his services so very muchf but the insolence in that haughty and silent air of the native made an impression upon us. One of us who read the full meaning across the back which the Chinaman had turned npon ns, said, "Urn!" and without another word he took after the Chinaman. Without any trouble he caught up with him, and as he laid his impolite hand upon the native of the soil, the Chinese helmet flew away from his head, and before our soldier stood, in the costume of the Chinese, with a Chinese scythe, a handsome soldier of Russia.

Six of us rushed upon him, and a moment later he was our prisoner. He had wandered through the country occupied by our army, and passed and repassed our camps with that sweet air nf saintly innocence of a child, loitering through the roads of his native village. He had made a critical and detailed examination of our defences, of the number of our men, of the trenches, of the position of the main foree — nothing seemed to have escaped him.

"Upon receiving his sentence of death his courage so impressed the Japanese that the captain said, 'Permit mc to say that I am facing this day one of tbe bravest men in any army. We regret that we are compelled to witness your death. As an individual I cannot refrain from presenting to you, humbly, my respect and admiration for your bravery.' The Russian spy replied, 'At the time when I was captured I was thoroughly aware that this moment -would come to mc; nevertheless, your words of sympathy touch mc deeply. This life of mine I have offered to my master, I only thank you for your words of symapthy and tenderness.' And with this he stretched out j his band towards the captain. You can believe that the hand of the captain came out promptly, and there they shook hands on the Manchurian field, a Russian soldier and a Nippon officer."

A NEAT RETORT.

When "Delphine" appeared it was said that Mme. de Stael had described herself as Delphine, and that Talleyrand was the original of Mme. de Vernon. Meeting the author soon afterward. Talleyrand remarked in his most gentle tone of voice: "I hear that both you and I appear in your new book, but disguised as women."

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS.

A terrible shipping disaster, or a fire which involves great loss of life, only conjures up a picture of horror to the average person, and it is almost impossible to realise that anyone could derive satisfaction from. them. Yet such casuallies are net unwelcomed by those who are interested in the insurance business. The destruction of life and property 'stiffens tbe market," to use a market repoit phrase. Long immunity from big accidents makes people careless as to insurance, whereas a big catastrophe will more often than not bring about a revival in personal and property protection. Underwriters are occasionally heavily taxed by the large sums which have to be paid away as the result of a wreck, collision, or fire; but so long as the newspaper reports of the catastrophe stiffen the market, they do not complain.

WXLL IN 43 -WORDS.

Probate was granted recently in London of one of tho shortest wills that has passed the Probate Court. The will is that of Major William Squire-Dawson, of the Lodge, Higham, near Colchester, Essex, and late of the 9 1st (Argyll and Sutherland) Highlanders, who left estate valued at £16,871.

The will consists of only forty-three words, and is believed to be surpassed in its conciseness only by that of the late Matthew Arnold, who omitted tbe words, "This is my last will and testament." It reads as follows:—

"This is my last will and testament. I leave eveiything I possess to my wife, Mary Squire : Dawson, and appoint her sole executrix.—Dated October 6, 1895. Signed by the testator in our presence and by us in his presence: William Squire-Dawson."

Here followed the signatures and description of tbe two attesting witness.**.

THE ALIEN INVASION OF CANADA.

The Canadian authorities estimate the total immigration into Canada up to June 30, the figures for. June and May not being final, at 148,261, as against 130,330 for the preceding fiscal year (says an American paper). In proportion to population this is equivalent to an immigration of about two millions into the United States, or twice the volume the Republic is actually receiving. It represents a foreign dilution of the population of Canalla by two and one-half per cent, of its total amount, and if it were maintained on the same scale it would eventually submerge the na'.ive Canadians in a foreign majority. The evidence of Mr W. D. Scott, Immigration Superintendent, and Dr. P. H. Bryce, Chief Medical Inspector, before a parliamentary committee conveys the rather surprising information that Canada sifts her immigrants more carefully than the United Sates. According to their figures Canada has rejected one applicant in every 290, and the United States only. one'in every 2865.

RUSSIA!. SATIRE.

All the nations, blind to the future, are fawning upon victorious Japan' Great Britain, happy in the fall of Russia, utters satirical expressions of sympathy. America means to send her Secretary of War and a party of eccentric American ladies on a tour to the Mikado's realm. France, fearful of what may be in store for Indo-Cbma, permits Japan to order her here and there. Even the crowded Hohenrollern, who a few short years ago sounded the most solemn of warning- to the white race, makes a dash to the railway station iv Berlin to hail the little yellow prince from Japan and overwhelm him with hia atteatioiis.—"Baaraet," St Petersburg.

HISTORY WRITTEN IN ______ US.

We British have only just discovered that a collection of menus forms one of the most interesting records of important events which could he made — and an artistic record, too. A banquet generally marks a great occasion, and a menu marks a banquet. Keep your menus, therefore. In twenty years it will be a pleasure to you to study them a while.

The finest collection in ihe world is in the Astor library, in New York, and comprises 14,000 menus!

Of the many menus of rulers it contains, only one is printed in the language of the people. With characteristic loyalty to things German, Emperor William requires the Royal menus to be printed in German instead of French. King Edward has adopted a half English half French medium that is an amusing compromise.

The collection shows that we British are much prone to coloured work, the menus of royalty revealing some startling sunset effects, that "of the >Coronation luncheon for King Edward and Queen Alexandra being very striking indeed.

Perhaps the most interesting card is one that reveals the extremities of siege life in Paris in the winter of 1870, when the Germans were stolidly camped before the city walls. Christinas of that year found the Parisians with scarce a delicacy for a holiday feast. But the Cafe Voisin was not to he thwarted.

At a stupendous figure it arranged to serve the zoo for Christmas dinner. When the guests sat down that day they were treated, to such dishes as elephant consomme, roast camel, kangaroo, wolf with deer sauce, and cat flanked with rat.

NO 6__ANCE FOR IMITATORS

Success cannot be copied, nor successfully imitated. It is an original force, a creative process. Every man will be a failure just in proportion as he go's away from himself and tries to be somebody else and to express somebody else instead of himself. Power comes from within or from nowhere. Be yourself. Listen to the. voice within. There is room for improvement in every profession, in every trade, and in every business. The world wants men who can do things in new and better ways. DOn't think because your plan or idea has no precedent or because you are young and that you will not get a hearing. The man who has anything new and valuable to give to the world will be listened to and will be''followed. The man of strong individuality, who dares to think his own thought and originate his own method and who is not afraid to be himself, not a copy of some one else, quickly gets recognition. Nothing else will attract the attention of your employer or the rest of the world so quickly as originality and unique ways of doing things, especial!} if they are effective.

THE COST OF MOTOR RACING

Speaking of the cost of the eliminating trials for the Gordon-Bennett Cup a London motoring paper says: "The ecst of the trials to the French motortrade must be enormous- Each competing car means an entry fee of £400, and as seven out of the ten competing firms entered three cars, their individual payments of £1200 total £8400. Altogether £9600 was received by the Automobile Club of France in entry fees. It is difficult to estimate what a racing car costs—in the factoryso many costly experiments and unforeseen expensearise during its-construction, but £1500 is , certainly below rather than above the mark. This means that at least £36,000 has been spent in building cars for the trials, so that, without counting the cost of the drivers and mechanicians, or the organisation,, on the course, of the armies of work men to tend the ears and their tyres, refilling tanks, etc., as they pass over the course, the bare cost to the trade alone of entering and building the twenty-four cars amounts to at least £46.000. Probably £20,000 was spent on the course in i these extra expenses by the competitors. It has cost £24,000 to put the roads in order for the trials. The figures show the grim earnestness with which France is fighting for the premier position in the automobile industry"