Miscellaneous.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1026, 23 March 1894, Page 7

Miscellaneous.

It is a strange but authentic fact that sharp clear sounds under the sea can be heard twelve times the distance they could be heard on land. A bell of ordinary size whose sound could be heard five miles on shore, could, if submerged in the sea be heard for more than sixty miles.

Begin the day well by rising early. The universal experience of the wisest men of all ages is in favor of the habit of getting up early in the morning. The practice is closely connected with length of life. It is alsb closely connected with happiness and activity of life. ...

During the most violent gales, when the waves are forty feet high and over a quarter of a aiile broad, no sensible disturbance is felt at a depth of more than 500 ft, while the density of the the water and its power of resistance is so tremendous at the lower depths, that an ironclad, were it to sink in those vast rlppths, would, in all probabilty never reach the bottom.

A singular instance of canine sagacity is recorded in the Hawke's Bay Herald in connection with the recent southerly gale. The surf was breaking in immense waves over the marine parade, when a small dog, to which a little son of Dt Moore is very much attached, went over the seawall just as a wave was receeding. The little boy jumped after his dog, and Mr Leo Von Haast, seeing the child's imminent danger leaped over after him, Just as Mr Von Haast was clambering back over the wall with the child, leaving the little dog to its fatp, a big dog that had run up noted the omission, aud leaping over in its turn seized the helpless little canine, and brought him safely over the wall, human and canine rescuers just getting their burdens into safety as a great wave washed over the spot they had left.

Some excellent Gladstone stories find their way into the London correspondence of the Sheffield Independent. One of these illustrates Mr Gladstone's universal knowledge. Two gentlemen who were invited as guests at a table where Mr Gladstone was expected, made a wager that they would start a conversation about which even Mr Gladstone would know nothing. To accomplish this end they read up in an ancient magazine an article on some unfamiliar subject 'connected with Chinese manufactures. When a favor-

able opportunity came the topic was started, and the two conspirators watched with amusement the growing interest in the subject which Mr Gladstone, betrayed. Finally he joined in the conversation, and their amusement was turned into gnashing of teeth — to speak figuratively — when Mr Gladstone said, ' Ah, gentlemen, I pei-ceive you have been reading an . article I wrote in the Magazine some 30 or 40 years ago.

Some severe cases of insomnia have been cured by the habit of sleeping on the face. This is easy to do and is the most comfortable position if one dispenses with the pillow. One young man who had exhausted all the skill of doctor, fell into this habit of sleeping on his face, with the right arm. under the head which was turned slightly to one side, by this change natural rest soon came to him and he entirely recovered. Whatever position one may choose to take, a little practice will soon make it comfortable and the experiment is well worth trying.

A medical journal thus discourses on the value of buttermilk : — Coneei-ning the remedial value of buttermilk, it is of so much worth that it has gained a place in tnateria medica, and is prescribed by some doctors for chest and lung ailments, and in most' .forms-' of kidney troubles. An exclusive diet of buttermilk has seemed to bring about a cure in a great- many cases of Bright's disease. . A pro pec and constant, use. of it will greatly reduce the craving for alcoholic liquors with which many persons are afflicted.. The craving, may be satisfied andi r the system benefited instead, of. weakened. Buttermilk alone can often remedy the acidity of the stomach. The lactic acid needed' in many cases is supplied by it more than any other drink or food. > It is said to alleviate" the oppression of the heart that sorriany old .people suffer from, and it v should be constantly drunk by i't'benv -'