RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 6

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current Events LOCAL AND GENERAL (By Kickshaws.)' A doctor says that excessive motoring tends to give a man a red face. A yachting trib will supply a sultabla colour corrective. • • • “Service" in some parts of the world; according to a travel expert’s remarks in Wellington, meant something which was paid for but not obtained. Tips come under this category in every part of the world. ■ i .• « R Learned counsel at the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court was temporariiy , puzzled by a man who claimed to be a “radiotrician." It transpired that the man in question “mended wireless sets and things." One would have thought that Jn the course of their duties members of the legal profession would come in contact with all manner of curious trades. The fact is that there are literally hundreds of;people earning an honest living in trades utterly Incomprehensible, to most: of us. For example, the profession of “whipping girl” seems to be full of martyrdom. Yet her job in reality Is ho more than binding selvedge on material to prevent it fraying. A “doffing mistress” suggests inexplicable and possibly com- . plicated methods of 'earning a living. The job is simplicity in itself. AH a “doffiing mistress" is called upon to do. is remove full bobbins from spinning machines. ■ Possibly- - some already knew the work Involved in the callings already mentioned. If so, let them ponder the duties of a “wuzzer," a “swlsser," or a “riffler.” ’ y" ' When one studies the strange job# at whicimriany people earn quite comfortable incomes; tea-tasting seems commonplace. Handy : individuals in search of new jobs might well consider the ; possibilities of becoming a “jelly pourer out," a “golden syrup cooler," an “opera hat spring fitter" or. A sorter of dried files for the manufacture of paints. Indeed, It is stated'that body and soul can be kept In'comfort smelling cleaned casks in breweries to see that .they, are sweet Other persons ivith a pronounced sense of smell might well become “ham smellers.” 'lt Is understood that, the last-named job requires, considerable skill, 1 and many years of “ham smelling” experience; to obtain' perfection. It ranks indeed with the noble profession of “tasting,’-’ whether it be tea, beer, coffee, or cheeses, s 11 <

Doubtless many little-known jobs require too long a period of training for anybody to take them up ; off-hand. There are fortunately all. manner’ of novel jobs that almost anybody could undertake with confidence. For example, In some places the larger stores keep a professional “scapegoat.". His job is to be sacked when circumstances demand it Mistakes happen in even the bestregulated stores. When an outraged customer vents his 'wrath at the sympathetic manager he ’phones for the “assistant who handled the order." Actually the professional “scapegoat" comes in. To show how seriously the firm regard the affair, the “offender" receives a severe wigging and is dismissed at a minute's notice in front of the customer. The now satisfied customer may plead for leniency or gloat over the dramatic ending to his complaint But the “offendei;” likes being sacked. It brings him in a good salary.

Bank documents describing New Zealand money are to have the word “sterling" deleted. The word has been a tribute to the recognised worth of the English golden sovereign for many centuries.; . For the last. seven hundred years, except for certain periods, the uniform excellence of British money has been recognised in every/ country. Indeed, the word “sterling" was not only taken; to. represent; the genuine worth of this money itself, but was given a second.meaning in the language as something of. approved' excellence. While the approved excellence of either New Zealand moneys, or. Australian, is not in doubt, it is well that a Moe should be drawn. j

When a party of North German merchants arrived in England nearly eight centuries ago they little thought that tlheir nickname “Easterlings" vifculd go down' to history attached to their coinage, under the guise of “sterling." Their coins were accepted as of exemplary uniformity and ' excellence. Money of the Easterlings was sought after, for it was found to be of desirable material? Originally, the “sterling" was a silver penny, 240 of which went to the pound. These merchants also gave us other well-known words not disconnected with money, including “Or," “Dr," and “bankrupt” About the time that they settled in England the term “L.S.D.” first became used. These three letters are of Roman origin. The “L" stands for the Roman word “Libra"; “S”.stands for “solidus,” and subsequently the Anglo-Saxon word “seining”; and the “D" stands for “Denarius,” the Latin for a penny. The Roman pound was worth far more than what we call a pound—-probably a few “scillings” over £3 sterling.

Considering the way in which sterling has stood the test of so many centuries, it seems a pity that other important units were not placed on a more sure foundation. For example, it was not until 1824 that the mile of 1760 yards became the accepted standard of distance in England. Owing to variations in the mile from generatibn to generation, the distance between Dover and Canterbury varies, according to the date, from twelve miles to fifteen miles. For centuries a mile was only 1500 yards. In the measurements In the Domesday survey the mile was not used at all; the units of length were the leuga, furlong, perch, and foot. .There were 11 furlongs to a leuga. At one time, besides Irish miles and Oxford miles, there were three sets of miles in use in England, known as the greater, the less, and the middle miles. To confuse distances further, when speaking of “ells” one had to distinguish between English , ells of 451 n. and Scottish ells of 37iii., not to mention Flemish ells of 27in. and French ells of 54in. • « • .. It must be nice to be awfully old, • ' And do what you want to do. And never to stop because you’re told—Just play the whole day through; And not have a single soul who care# If you’re in the garden or upstair#. ‘ —W. J. Funk.