RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 219, 12 June 1933, Page 8

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current Events LOCAL AND GENERAL (By Kickshaws.) Bradman says that body-line bowling will kill cricket. It certainly seems to be very deadly to batsmep. According to one expert electricity may run loose in a radio set until someone is shocked. Listeners may rest assured that announcers have instructions to switch off before that. » • • • News comes from Japan that two suns recently appeared In the Japanese sky side by side. China, we understand, is sending a strong protest to the League of Nations. * * • "Can you please enlighten me as to the following event?” writes “N.Z.R.8.,” Napier. “At what station in England toward the close of 1917 did a train disaster happen to New Zealand soldiers, after landing? What were the casualties?” [The accident occurred on September 24, 1917, at Bere Ferrers, Devonshire. Ten men of the 28th Reinforcements were killed and two were injured.—Kickshaws.] “ Claims that there is no life on Mars because tests reveal Insufficient oxygen to support life seem to take for granted that there could be no other foundation for life than that found in this world. One might as well argue that no Ufe was possible under water because there wasn't any air. When one takes a broad view of the universe it would be absurd to argue that life was impossible except under conditions that make life possible on this world. Admittedly life may not be possible on the sun with temperatures of 6000 degrees or so. Moreover, life might be difficult on , the moon with temperatures that range from boiling point to many degrees below zero. But within certain limits of temperatures life might well adapt Itself to chemical conditions slightly different from those in our own world. If there is very little oxygen in Mars perhaps some system not developed in this world makes life possible.

It cannot be gainsaid that in spite of the fact that Mars is only some 60,000,000 miles away from this world surprisingly little is known about that planet. We know, in fact, just insufficient on the subject to allow latitude for incessant argument. The telescope suggests that, like our earth, Mars has clearly defined land areas and oceans. There are also thought to be ice caps at the poles. Moreover, the telescope reveals that Mars is criss-crossed by a network of fine lines. Research has shown that these lines not only cross land areas but seas as well. This seems In indicate that there are only dried-up sea beds on Mars. Another significant fact about these “canals” Is that during the Martian spring the polar ice melts and the canals become broader. Astronomers are still arguing as to whether the canals are an irrigation system. One line of argument is emphatic that Mars Is inhabited, but that the inhabitants who have dug these canals are fighting a losing battle* against thirst The Cheshire farmer who, among other odds and ends, had swallowed 200 nails and 43 gramophone needles, was well on the way toward the record. But for his unfortunate death after swallowing three door keys there is every reason to believe that in time he could have been proclaimed the world’s mas-ter-swallower. . As it ip, one has to allow the previous record-holder to retain her place. This individual went to a Canadian hospital when she was full up inside. She complained of a slight pain. In the subsequent operation surgeons removed from her stomach 947 pins, 865 pieces of assorted wire, 191 bits of broken glass, 176 safely pins, 85 tin tacks, 54 steel corset supports, 28 garter fasteners, not to mention such odds and ends as a dozen wood screws, a handful of washers, one or two broken keys, several pen nibs, cuff links, and collar studs. This is the sort of thing that makes an ostrich feel ashamed. • » » It is really surprising what a human being can swallow. In one case a boy, six years old, while attempting to swallow a ball-bearing, had the misfortune to swallow it the wrong way. The ballbearing arrived not in his stomach, as intended, but in his lung. It was pulled out by an electro-magnet lowered down on the end of a string. But the most difficult thing to swallow, and certainly the most difficult to recover, is a razor blade. Just why people swallow these two-edged weapons is a mystery, but they do. Single-edged blades have been successfully removed on several occasions. But only once, so far as can be ascertained, has anybody swallowed a double-edged razor blade and had it removed successfully. One may well ask why people do these things. But then one might as well ask why snakes have been known to swallow blankets; goats, gelignite; whales, Jonahs; mules, banknotes ; and young puppies expensive but unappetising diamond rings.

The fact that a cricketer named Walters, of Worcestershire, is the first batsman in England to reach 1000 runs this season does not compare particularly favourably with previous efforts. For example, in May, 1895, W. G. Grace totted up a thousand runs between May 9 and May 30. In 1927, W. R. Hammond equalled this record in exactly 22 days; the same time as that taken by W." G. Grace. Three years ago Bradman made his thousand in 32 days. So far as can be discovered, on only two other occasions have batsmen made 1000 runs in the first month of play of the season in first-class cricket. While on the subject of batsmen, it would be Interesting to discover what cricketer has the honour of having made the most centuries in his life. Among the living the record surely goes to J. B. Hobbs, with 185 centuries to his credit. Even this total pales before that of W. G. Grace, who in his lifetime made the enormous total of 217 centuries and 54,896 runs all told.

J. W. Aston, Waikanae, writes: "What is the word meaning the opposite of ‘destination,’ that is, meaning ‘starting point'? I have looked up synonyms and antonyms without success, and cannot find a word meaning ‘starting place or point.' " So far ns can be discovered, there does not seem to be nny word with a meaning that quite conveys the opposite of “destination." ‘Starting point" is itself one of the nearest word opposites. Such a word as "origination” would possibly meet the case, but is clumsy. Perhaps readers can make other suggestions.—Kickshaws.