RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 81, 30 December 1935, Page 8

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights on Current Events (By Kickshaws.) It is reported that Miss Isbbel MacDonald is to run an inn. No doubt experience gained iu the House will stand her in good stead. * * * A scientist is reported to have discovered a way to cool the air in a house with a special apparatus. A simpler method is to come home on a muddy day and omit to wipe one's boots. A social expert says that all people with inferior mental equipment should bo placed on a lonely island. It is perhaps significant that all the larger islands are already full up. » « • “Will you please tell me through your column, if a farthing of William and Mary, date 1690 or 1694 (figures not plain) is of any value,” asks “E.M.K.” [The question was referred to Mr. Allan Sutherland, Honorary Secretary New Zealand Numismatic Society, who has kindly replied that: —“The value of a 1694 William and Mary farthing ranges from 2/- to 7/6 according to condition.”) » » • Bradman's Christmas gift of 50 runs in 14 minutes in the match, South Australia versus Queensland, although not a record, comes close to that category. However, for fast run-getting Jessop’s 89 in 15 minutes in 1907 will take a lot of beating. But then Jessop when he was in form took a lot of beating even by a Bradman. In a modest seven overs Jessop has been known to make 115 runs. On one occasion he has been known to make 34 in an over In the face of this ope can but wonder if cricketers to-day have become any better than their predecessors. ♦ * ♦ So far as is known no batsman has ever scored a "possible” in an over, at any rate in first-class cricket. Yesterday, as well as to-day, a batsman could make his hundred in under the hour. In fact, on occasion a batsnwn can pile up 150 in that time. As far back as 1902 an old-time cricketer named Hyman made the respectable score of 359 in 100 minutes. As this means over 3J runs a minute it represents a standard that few modern batsmen attain. Possibly modern bowling has something to do with it? » » * In welcoming the Lindberghs to England one is confronted with the fact that that country still continues to represent a harbour of refuge to the rest of the world. Times may change, but England at heart remains the same peaceful England. The fact that n famous millionaire flyer from the new lands in the Americas has seen tit to settle down in England is at least a feather in the cap of the people wtio have made England what it is. The truth is that the troubles that are besetting the United States of America to-day are the same sort of troub'es that beset England four hundred years ago, or even more. The racketeers of America of to-day had their counterpart of the bold, bad barons of England, who racketed with the best, indeed, in those far-off days no man m England was safe unless he placed himself under the protective banner of some powerful baron. It took England centuries to solve her problems so that other countries going through a similar modern process could look to her as a power of peace. » « « In this betwixt and between period between Christinas and the New Year modern counting machines are busv adding up the cost of Christmas. Thanks to their efficiency it is possible to know what has been spent almost as fast as we spend it. The average expenditure of the average community at this time of year is a modest £1 a head. But that total mounts up iu large communities such for example as the 48,000.000 souls of Britain. The Christmas dinner costs that number of people no less than £7,000,000 or in times of prosperity nearly £10,000,000. It is therefore possible to judge a community by the Christmas dinner it eats. Included in the general carnage of this time of the year are at least 600,000 turkeys, slaughtered for the people of Britain, supplemented by 1.500,000 pheasants, ducks and chickens and nearly 1,000.000 rabbits. At least 10,000 tons of meat are required. The British Christmas pudding alone accounts for 1200 tons of currants, 40,000,000 eggs, and 140.000.000 gallons of milk. In addition dainties amounting in value to £5,000.000 disappear in a matter of a day or two. « • « Few people realise indeed how much money is spent at Christmas time which is the great boom period of the year for those who supply the goods. One sends Christmas cards, admittedly, but who realises that England supplies Christmas cards to a total value of £4,000,000 every year (excluding postage) ? The demand is almost constant every Christmas. The people of the United States of America go one better. They willingly pay £.11.000,000 for their Christmas cards. As for Christmas presents it is a curious fact that Londoners, aud of course visitors to London spend £40,000,000 on them. This effort is more than a match for American cousins who between them do not in the whole of America pay more than that for their presents. One may therefore judge the city of London by its Christmas presents. Incidentally dance bauds receive over half a million pounds during Christmas week, the cinemas at least £8,000,000 Christmas boxes aud the like run away with another £3.000.000. So the money circulates.

An encouraging sign of the times was news that Christmas festivities in Sydney had attained almost to pre-slump proportions. One can but wonder if any future Christmas will be able to rival those of earlier days. The “big-gest-ever” Christmas tree, for example, seems to have been one that the la'e Duke of Arundel had cut from his own estate. It was 70 feet high, and its lofty branches were hung with gif's that totalled nearly £5OOO. The most costly tree, however, seems to have been that of Mr. James Clements. New York. This gentleman broke no records as to size. He had his tree hung with gold nuggets, found by himself, to a total value of £15,000. There is some dispute as to the largest Christmas cake. England’s biggest was made by a baker at Clapham, London. It weighed just under a ton, was 12 feet round the base and six feet high. Lord Rothschild used to hold, and possibly still holds, the record for the biggest turkey. His little bird weighed 441 b.; this was flanked by a duckling that weighed 121 b. O man, forgive thy mortal foe. Nor ever strike him blow for blow; For all the souls on earth that live. To be forgiven must forgive: Forgive him seventy times and seven, For all the blessed souls in heaven Are both forgivers and forgiven. —Author unknown.