ECLIPSE LOVE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 5, 30 September 1922, Page 17

ECLIPSE LOVE

Therg was a great deal of enthusiasm shown in connection with the eclipse of tho sun last Thursday. Not only the young and tho energetic scaled tho hills around Wellington but so equally did the elderly and tho rotund, and discussed Einstein’s theoiw (these latter to the last word). People were indeed intensely learned and scientific all that week, and talked of little else but what would happen if his theory was correct. Apparently the whole of the astronomical world will be revolutionised, and all their records brought to nought if Em stem is correct. Life always seems to be an affair of readjusting theories and statements. One day an epoch-marking discovery is made, and all sorts of deductions are made from it. Along comes someone a year later with a fresh discovery, bearing on the’ lash and everything has to be readjusted again. It is like the game that children play of building castles on the sea beach. An hour or so the tidp comes, they are washed away, and again the children, set to work to build another castle. There is nothing absolute. It is extraordinary how many superstitions and beliefs are attached to an eclipse of the sun, and that there is something uncanny about it is shown by the behaviour of the animal world. Drgs are very unhappy where the eclipse is properly experienced, and as for the fowls they at once go to roost regardless of what hour it may be. Astrologers hold that there are always portentous happenings after an eclipse. We shall seel Tho Hindus of course attach great things to these solar happenings, much more than “that tho sun was in the grip of a demon.” Always they are feared by the native races of the world. With civilisation they become a little more sceptical, or make out that they are. The next eclipse of the sun, I believe, is due about 200 years hence—too far off for us to contemplate.

STAINLESS. STEEL < Knives made from stainless steel should lie as thin as those made in the ordinary way. This steel is very hard to grind, but cutlers have how become more accustomed to working it, and can produce wafer, blades. . The fact that stainless steel is so hard means that a sharp edge will be retained for a long time ; but in the process of cleaning an ordinary knife is practically stropped daily, which helps to keep it sharp. But a_ stainless knife is only washed and the brisk rub on the knife-board. Stainless knives can bo sharpened on any one of the many knife-sharpen-ers that are sold. The steel is stainless right through, and sharpening’ does no harm. A drop of vinegar is the best test for- stainless steel; the vinegar should be left on the blade until dry. If there is any. stain after the knife has been washed, the blade is detective. Vitriol might mark stainless steel, but nothing edible will do so.