TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14917, 16 March 1914, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Urban Eye. The study of evolution shows that use of au organ causes it to develop and extend its capacities in a certain direction, that direction being dictated by its environment. There may, therefore, be something more than mere theory in the contention of a writer in the "Cologne Gazette," who notes a differentiation between tho country eye and tho town eye. Habit and environment, he explains, make tho city man's eye eeek out and perceive a different class and range of objects from that of the country man. Hundreds of things iselp m th ; s; tho traffic of the streets exercises an enormous influence, and the daily use of railways, buses, trams, ar.d other rapid means of transport, lend a >ision txeeptionally precise. The city man surveys dozens of things, draws the necessary conclusions, regu-

lates his actions uy his conclusions, quickens or slacken* his walk —all in the course of a single minute. "He can distinguish the lights of a railway station at a great distance. He judges whether a cart is going slow or last, and whether the sudden interruption of a long line of street lamps means that another vehicle is crossing the street. The lights of tho city at night are always for him so many signposts, on which he bases his calculations." City life trains the eyo to estimate fairly accurately the number of persons in the crowds that throng streets and squares, or crowd about ticket offices. The city man is forced t\> interest himself in such estimates, for every crowd means for him so much ii.ierruution of his progress, and so much loss ol time. -Not only his travelling, but hi, shopping, his reading, makes him acquire ;i mechanical prec'sio'i »iiid v ]&i'jn whic'i tho countrvdwellcr lacks. One thing, however, he tend* U> Jose, a:i-J that is tho art of reading: faces quickly and correctly, doubtless as a direct, eonsequeneo of tho tendency to embrace a number oi objects in a single glance, to the exclusion of the individual object. According to the •α-gnineius put forward by tins writer, thocity man seems to have tho host of it in the matter of visici. . but probably a counsel for the defence could demonstrate very effectively that the urban eye rnissea a great deal which is as clear as day to tho dweller of tho countryside.

Big Cats. Sotno remarks by Herr Sawade, who looked after the tigers at a recent exhibition of animals in London, and is known as tho "Tiger King, ,, will not pleaso cat-lovers. '"Tigers are nob baalambs," he says, in defending his us© of the whip, and expresses tho firm conviction that the fondness of tho members of the cat family for their human owners is a pure myth. "A cat lines its home, its fireside, the softness of a girl's lap, perhaps, and that's all, but never its owner, whom it is willing to bite or scratch at the slightest provocation.' Mr Sawado's life-work has lain among cats of one sort or another, so he speaks with authority. The whip is a necessity for his big striped cats, ho declares; if he did not crack it now and again, they would soon bo tearing either him or each other to ribbons. As for hurting a tiger, that, he assures us, is next door to impossible, and he describes a combat between a fierce wild bull and a tiger at a Mexican circus to emphasise his point. The fight was a fast and furious one, yet not onco did the bull's sharp horns succeed in penetrating tho tiger's hide. The fight was finally given up by mutual consent, and with mutual respect. If an infuriated bull cannot inflict serious damage, Mr Sawado argues, a man is not likely to be able to. As a matter of fact, tigers, and wild beasts in general, lie claims, receive far more kindness ard attention than dogs, horses, or any other domestic animal. For one thing, a good tiger is far too valuable to ill-treat seriously. Mr Sawade says that the tigers he has, trained have a sort of affection for him. but there is nothing sentimental about a tiger, as about the lion, which took a fancy to Androcles. The brute will come up docilely enough to be fed, or have its head scratched by its tamer, as pretty and gentle as puss to all appearances, as one would wish to meet. But the fang and claw are always ready for use, and the trainer is wise it' lie relies on the sharp iron and loaded pistol rather than on the conquering power of love.