RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 87, 6 January 1940, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events

(By

Kickshaws.)

Tlie Nazis claim that British Boy Scouts are responsible for sabotage in Czechoslovakia. Evidently one good turn produces a revolution. * ♦ « Broadcasting, it is stated, has added 500 words to the listeners’ vocabulary. Yes, but how many are printable. It is contended that aeroplanes should be referred to as she. Naturally mail planes are excepted. A writer asks why mutton birds are so called in view of the fact that they bear no resemblance to sheep. One can but wish that things were named in some logical manner, but this is so far from being the case one must just accept a lack of logic. If mutton birds bear no resemblance to sheep, it is just as inexplicable that a Bombay duck bears no resemblance to a duck. Actually, Bombay duck is far from being a bird. It is a species of dried fish eaten with curry and rice. Maybe it was given its curious name just to make it more difficult, like Colonial goose. One must take it for granted that Jerusalem artichokes have no connexion with the Holy Land, and Brussels sprouts come from almost anywhere but Belgium. Swiss rolls, Genoa cake and Madeira cake, as well as Hamburger steak have no relationship to the places from which they take their names. Somebody seems to have been at pains to make these things more difficult.

While on the subject of things which are not what their name states, maybe it is little realized that even sealingwax contains no wax. It is made of shellac, Venice turpentine, and cinne--bar. Moreover, it is open to doubt whether the Venice turpentine comes from Venice. Goodness knows how these errors arise. There is no explanation why kid gloves should be made of sheep skin, and how Irish stew ever got its name in view of the fact that it is entirely an English dish. Maybe It was the sort of dish that folk thought ought to be eaten in Ireland. Even poor old Cleopatra has given her name to a monumental needle which had nothing to do with her. She did not even have it built. Thothmes HI was responsible for 'it. Everyone has seen peanuts and a few have even eaten them. Actually, they are not nuts but beans. Peabeans, however, is rather an ugly name, and it is therefore as well to leave us our peanuts. Those who roll their own imagine that they use a special rice paper for the purpose. Actually, rice does not enter into the recipe at all. The paper is made from a pithy plant called tung-tsau.

Maybe the biggest shock comes when we start to consider accepted facts, such as the fact that Eve gave Adam an apple. There is absolutely no proof that Eve did any such thing. In fact, in those days it is doubtful if apples were particularly attractive as a fruit. The apple as we know it is a modern affair, comparatively speaking. All we know is that Eve gave Adam “the fruit of the tree.” It is more likely to have been a pomegranate or some such fruit or even a peach, according to some authorities. Knowing women as we do, however, it is just as likely a ca ® e of sour grapes. Nevertheless, we still become bewildered when we start t reckon time down the ages. This comes about because we accept as fact that January 1, 1900, was the first day of the twentieth century. This is not coirect. The first century began on January 1 of the year 1. On December 31, year 99, therefore, we had had 99 years* of the first century. A whole year had to pass before the end of that century. The twentieth century therefore, began on January 1, 1901, but nobody acts as if it did.

When one gets down to various historical facts investigation shows that mauv of them are just as wrong as the assumption that chamois leather comes from chamois. We tacitly agree tlrnt Columbus discovered America and of us ever make any eftoit to vent. matter. Our history books however, refuse to go into very g rea t Retail on the subject, because for some reason it is accepted that to have discovered America. Actually, America had been discovered long before. Indeed, history say that Columbus discovered Amenca o August 1, 1498. Sebastian Cabot, hoviever, saw America on June -4, In fact, Cabot received the magnificeu tip of £lO from the Privy Purse of Henry VII for doing so. It was rc corded thus: “Au g ustlo,l49u To him that found the New Isle £iv America had been prev musly dis covered by European pirates lo“ B be fore that, by Mediterranean ers, by the Chinese, and so :1S sub •pected, bv the Maoris. At any rate ft Is significant that the sweet potato is found there. * *

if rnnm the highlights of history, those little' rare bite that make history nncies “Up guards and at em, saia •Stoglon « "•«»!». it was a»l the enanls at all. Mt tu 52nd Licht Infantry which broke the French Imperial Guard . charge Now we can hardly bene that Wellington said, “Up feet, and at style We do not know if little L derella can be termed history or not. Nevertheless, whatever the ougu. it • “ “ as the Original French Ihe sentence ran. u 4-roi-flo vtiir n mistake wm-d “verre” was introduced in later reprints. “Verre” admittedly means X" but “vair” means fur. Surely “ fur slipper is the more likely foot gear on a cold winter’s night, when making an illicit trip to a dance hall. * * * ••Could any reader tell me the correct form of this quotation: Till tnc dnv dawn (or break) and the shadow s flee awav’?” asks “Enquirer.” Couw the context and the name of the author be given? Thanking you, ami. ing you the Compliments ot the 8U son, and continued success to . eolumn.” , „ , When all the world is young, lad, And all the trees are green: Ami every goose a swan, l aa > And every lass a queen ; Then hey for boot and horsy lau, And round the world aw y , Young blood must have its course, lau And every dog his day. When all the world is oH-> ad ’ And all the trees are biown, And all the sport is stale, lad, And all the wheels run down. C.-Xl’J-.n.U"''''!-'!"'!’ I *''; I''-'"’ 1 ''-'"’ The spent and maim d among. God grant y ou find one face there You loved when all was young. —Kingsley.