WIDE WORLD NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3143, 13 November 1922, Page 7

WIDE WORLD NEWS.

In the mines of the Colorado Fuel and Iron l Company (U.S.A.)> each man was producing 5.85 tons a day when Prohibition came. In June, after the saloons closed, each man produced G. 20 tons. The American farmer lately successfully sued three aviators for trespassing, by flying over his l ground, probably based hie claim on a case decided some 40 years ago in the City of Cleveland, Ohio. A landowner then sued the municipality for damages because ai swing bridge over the Cuyahoga River 1 , when open, passed above his land, some 70 feet in the air. He won his action, and the municipality had to pay 10,000 dollars for the right to move its bridge through the air, the agreement setting forth that the landlord had a good and indefeasible right to the air above his land to the hiighest limit it extended. If these American legal decisions were generally adopted, aviation would become impossible .'n countries wliere the private ownership of land (and air?) operates.

The English tradition that if it rains on St. Swithin's Day rain will fall for 40 days and nights has its counterpart in other countries. The French accord a, similar influence over the weather to St. Medard, whose festival is on June S; the Ilelgians believe their sacred LadV Godeliove, whoso day is July 6, influences the weather for a month threafter; the Germans attribute a like influence to the Seven Sleepers, whose .anniversary is July 27; and the Scotch St. Switiviu is. St. Martin of Bullions, whoso festival is celebrated on July 4. The real fact is that weather changes are especially apt to occur in June or July, and people can always twist these changes to prove the truth of these old traditions; hence their persistence in many minds. *** ' *

A visitor to Berlin, having occasion to go to the municipal Lost and Pound Office, was. lie writes, astonished at tho extraordinary variety and number of things awaiting their owners there. There were countless gold watches, a little Golconda of diamonds and other precious stones, fashionable furs and hats —all found in taxis, cabs, theatres, and restaurants .and, as far as the authorities know, never sought after. Wedding rings were there by the thousand; they are apparently easily lost when gloves are hastily pulled off. But there were even more remarkable curiosities of carelessness. Within the previous week or so the following ownerless things were found in Berlin .streets: A peramtilator, a horse and carriage, three pigs (alive), a flock of geese and three parrot-cages, each with a parrot. And there had not been a single inquiry after one of them ! Are other big cities equally careless asks the writer.

Many people will be curious to know where the Germany company which: proposes to run a- Trans-Atlantic licet of giant helium-filled airships intends to obtain the huge quantities of helium necessary. An airship with a. gas capacity of 150,000 cubic metres would need some five million cubic feet of gas to fill it, and at present helium costs about 5d a cubic foot, which would represent an outlay of nearly £IOO,OOO in a single airship. But in addition to the cost, there is the enormous difficulty of obtaining largo quantities of helium. So far as is known. tho oilfields in the United States and Canada are the chief sources of supply, but the percentage of helium that can be extracated from tho natural gas in these regions is very small, rarely as much as 1 per cent. The whole of the estimated production of helium in America this year Avould ho barely enough to till two airships of 150,000 cubic metres, and the American Government have the whole of that at their disposal for experimental work with dirigibles. w ** * * Tho announcement of the engagement of the ex-Kaiser to Princess Hermine. of Reuss, is dividing German monarchists into two camps. High-placed personages in the ex-Kaiser's suite declare that they know nothing about it. General von Pommes says:—"So much nonsense, has been published l lately about our imperial master 'that we are unable to take notice of rumors." It is noticeable that monarchist women are more indulgent than the men. Thev consider the proposed remarriage from a "human" point of view, and declare that "the poor exile needs a woman's sympathy and help." Monarchist men, on the other hand, are greatly disappointed. "If the news be true." several ex-officers said to me to-day, "it would not only make the ex-Kaiser unpopular, but it would divert public sympathy from the monarchy." Princess Hermine is the widow of Prince John of Schonaieh-Carolath. She is thirty-four years old, and has five children. There is a legend that Princess Hermine's eldest sister led a most unhappy life as the wife of a grand duke, and that she forced her brother, head of the Reuss family, to allow her two younger sisters to marry as their hearts dictated. * • * * What is termed a school for brides is one of the activities of the Young Women's Christian Association in Detroit. U.S.A. The aim is to educate young married women and brides-to-be in homo-making, and the courses of instruction are comprehensive, with a highly qualified teacher at the bead of each class. One class includes the preparation of three meals daily, canning, and cold-packing. Then there are elapses in sewing, to include cutting, fitting, and finishing of garments. Lessons in piano playing and singing, with special attention to voice culture ivve provided, and then there is a class in "everyday English for the everyday girl." The list of subjects taught are rounded off with millinery, literature, oral expression, Bible study, French, German, storytelling, and psychology. Kvcn a Queen must sometimes dig for change. This was apparent at a Halmoral fete this week when Queen Mary visited a palmist's tent and found that she did not have the silver necessary to cross* the palm of the seer. The Duke of York came to the rescue and banded bis mother a ball-crown, saying. "Here you are. mother, but the risk is yours. I am nol responsible." Later the Queen and the Duke of York paid admission fees to a so-called art exhibition and found the walls decorated '.villi a collection of broken discuits. chunks of cheese and match boxes. They laughed heartily and enjoyed the poke as much as the other victims. The rapid revolution of Italian labor from a Socialist to a Nationalist or Fascist! character, which actually began with the resignation of railway workers from the Socialist Labor Alliance, has now brought about the resignation of the Italian Labor Union from that Alliance. An important manifesto issued to the members of the I'nion declarer that the recent general strike under the auspices of the Alliance demonstrated finally the disastrous effects of an entente between trade unions and politicians. The manifesto calls upon the workers to reorganise upon the following basis:—The recognition of Italian nationalism, with absolute independence of every political party. This is practically the condition outlined recently bv'Henito Mussolini, chief of the Kasei'sti,' as the fundamental priniciple of civil peace in Italy.