WORLD-WIDE NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2647, 10 November 1919, Page 7

WORLD-WIDE NOTES.

' PADS OF THE FAMOUS. Dickens was fond of wearing gaudy jewellery, and the clanking of bis numerous gold chains announced his coming while he w’as yet some great distance away. Longfellow had a weakness for flowered waistcoats, and he possessed many of gorgeous pattern and colour, whilst Bacon was very fond of fine clothes, and spent much of his leisure in devising new costumes for Court occasions. Doraitian spent a great part of his leisure in catching flies and piercing them through with a needle. Queen Elizabeth was very profane, and when angry would kick and cuif her maids. Queen Victoria shared the common superstition about salt. She would reprimand any guest who was unfortunate enough to spill it, and throughout the remainder of the meal she would be disturbed and in ill-humour.

PUNS AND PUNSTERS. To make a pun with nothing at all to work upon is an exceedingly difficult task, yet lan Maclaren was given this problem once by one or,- two fellow authors. He was given a certain length of time, and his companions naturally did- 1 not fail to let him know how fast the minutes were slipping away. At last, Sir Hall Caine, who happened to be one of the group, struck in with, “Come along, Maclaren, your time is nearly up." But this gave the latter the opportunity he desired, for quick as a flash came the answer ; “Don’t be in such a hurry, Caine." (Hurricane.) Charles Lamb, who w T as rather fond of whist, once noticed that his pax*tncr’s hands were distinctly on the shady side. That called for the following remark : “My word, partner, if dirt w r ere trumps, what a hand you would have !” £1,300 FOR A COAT. “No dress under £50," was the information given at one salon, where expensive frocks and embroideries attracted scores of Mayfair mothers and daughters. “And the most costly ?" was the inquiry. “About £500." was the reply. Other feminine fripperies were being ticketed. Stockings at £5 a pair, night-dresses at ten guineas each, petticoats af twenty guineas, corsets at any price from ten to forty guineas, and wraps up to 100 guineas, were among the trifles offered. The limit was reached, however, in the fur departments, where £SO was being asked for a stole and £2O for a muff., while sable coats ranged from £7OO to £1,300 each. HEALTH AND HEIGHT. Every flying man in the United States Air Service has to undergo,a strict medical test periodically, in order that he may be classified in one of four grades. “A A" men are the few who can stand air woi'k at altitudes above 20,000 feet. “A" men can stand the strain between 15,000 and 20,000 feet, while the ,r B" class consists of pilots for duties between 8,000 and 15,000 feet, and “C" group includes all airmen fit only for service between level and 8,000 feet. It has been found that airmen of most robust physique cannot’ stand the sudden changes of. air pressure, entailed by diving and rapid climbing, for any length of time. Hence the frequent medical examinations, carried out by experts who have drawn up a carefully-calculated standard of efficiency.

BEGINNING OF KRUPrS’

There is no doubt that England started Germany on her industrial way, showed her the ropes, gave her the wrinkles, and generally treated her as a good apprentice ; taut it is not generally known that Krupp himJ self, the man who has enabled the Kaiser to hold out so long, got his first capital in England. Alfred Krupp went to Birmingham in 1840 with an introduction to a great English firm of electroplaters from Dr. Siemens, and offered them an invention of his own for rolling the metal “blanks” from which forks and spoons are made. For once a German indention —for it must be said that the Germans have been good at utilizing but bad at initiating—turned out to be of use, and Krupp got £IO,OOO from the firm for his machine, With this money he returned to Germany, went to Essen. a,nd there laid the foundation of the gigantic business which has since become a menace to the whole world. The latest report of the Commonwealth Government on Australia’s war effort is interesting to the British and Allied peoples generally. The number of Australian soldiers who went to Europe is 321,000 more than the whole Empire sent to the South African War. Over 31,250,000 articles have been used in equipment, and 22,000,000 yards of flannel have been used, the whole of which, with 4,125,000 yards of khaki cloth, has been made in Australia. The Defence Department has purchased' 39,000 horses for overseas service, and has supplied 95,000 horses to the British and Indian Governments. The Australian Government supplied the whole of the ammunition for the campaign in South West Africa, and also all ammunition and explosives for the New 'Zealand forces.