WIDE WORLD NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3146, 4 December 1922, Page 8

WIDE WORLD NEWS.

Accompanying a heavy fall of rain one night lately there came a swarm of tiny green and black fleis in Central London. Myriads of the insects •suddenly made their appearance. About the same size as gnats, with here and there a larger type* with trailing wings, the flies fluttered around electric lights, writes a Daily Chronicle representative, became entangled in one’s hair, and in various ways caused discomfort. Some were green in color—somewhat similar to the familiar greenfly of the garden, though not so large—while others were black, with iridescent wings and curiously-shaped bodies.

Mure than eighty nations arc expected to he repress ted at the convention of the World League Against Alcoholism, to be held in Toronto (Canada). One of the important questions is that of international relations regarding trade treaties and other agreements respecting self-determina-tion of nations in regard to establishing and maintaining liquor control. The conduct of liquor carrying vessels on the high seas with respect to supplying smugglers o fliquor into dry territory, and other issues involving protection of internal jxdieies adopted by independent nations also will be discussed.

The broadcasting of concerts by radio having practically killed the phonograph business in France, an, ingenious representative of a Drench maker of talking machines has found new clients for the phonograph in clergymen. He suggests to them that henceforth instead of wasting valuable time in making notes for their sermon it- ho spoken into the machine and then on Sunday he can simply put the disk into the machine and sit down and listen to it. like everybody else. Some clergymen even go a stop further and suggest that the whole service be spoken into the phonograph and then all that will he necessary will bo a choir hoy to change the disks.

A hill for .‘id,ooo marks damages for allowing her husband' to die in the bed ol a Berlin pension was lately charged against Mrs Hyman Gild-berg, of San Francisco, who has left for America wit lithe body. In registering a complaint against the exorbitant charge at' the American Consulate Mrs Goldberg declared that wliem her husband became ill lie fell into the hands of a Berlin doctor who conducts a private hospital, -a. hoarding-house, and' an exchange bank all in one. When it became evident that Mr Goldberg could not leave the place. Mr Glodherg says, the physician imposed extortionate extra charges, the total of the bills running to hundreds of thousands of marks. Mr Goldberg died, whereupon the doctor imposed a final charge of To,ooo marks, saying that guests hereafter wouldn’t want tthe room because a death had occurred in it. •X- -X- * *

The Shall of Persia strongly objects to bull lights, and lately he made known to the officials of Bayonne, who had invited him io witness the sport, thax he resented their lack of tact. The Shah, who is travelling through France, received an invitation to the bull light from the Prefect of the Pyrenees Department. The Prefect, wearfull uniform, escorted the Shah to lus box. The fight had attracted thousands of sivitors. A few minutes after the bulls had entered the ring, tho Shah turned to the Prefect and told him that he would not remain. He quite failed to understand the object of the mixture of blood, music, and’ women shouting with delight. * * * •

Agreeing to obtain his food and travelling expenses solely by the sale of post cards, Eredcrico Stanka, holder of the first war cross issued by Czechoslovakia, is now carrying out a wager that ho will travel around the world in. thirty months in this manner. The, conditions make it possible for him to use any means of locomotion ho pleases provided ho pays for it by selling post cards*. In two months Stanks had traversed Jugo-Slavia, Italy and Sicily and Tunisia, and Ids most remarkable exploit was recorded in Italy, when he walked a distance of nine miles in an hour and three-quarters. In crossing Tripoli. Stanka. was seriously handicapped and delayed, being captured by bandits, who kept him confined for several days without food or water. In crossing the desert ho was attacked and bitten by a camel. If ho succeeds in crossing Algeria. Morocco, the Conge. the Transvaal, the Island of Douali near the South Pole, New Zealand, China, Japan, North and South America within the given time lie will get a reward of A,000.000 native crowns. He is confident that lie will succeed.

For o long time past Berlin; has sufI'ered From a despieabletype of vandalism. It consists in damaging in a trilling, lint in many instances irrepar•lihie, manner public statues. Sheer lust of cl us i ruction is the only motive, because the defaced objects enshrine the memories, not of kings or warriors l , whose services may be question, hut of artists. A favorite resort of these vandals is the: hall of marble statues in the famous museum in the Lustgartcn. Here. Daniel Chodowiecki, Beilin's greatest engraver, has been 'deprived of both forearms and sundry toes. Near by stands a painter minus a linger. From the statue of a famous architect. Georg von Knohefedorff. someone has removed 1 a marble tablet on which was,graven bis outline: for the Berlin Opera House. Elsewhere in the city thieves, as distinct from van dak, have been busy removing valuable metal. (bonze crowns are missing from one or two of the statues in the Victory Avenue, as well as other metal parts.' One of the figures flanking the monument to the first HohenzoMerii king is minus his sword. Only vandalism. however, accounts for the smash- * mg of a marble harp in the beautiful) group commemorating Wagner in the Tiergarten. All efforts to trace the evildoers have failed 1 / «*/ « • When broadcasting is general in this country, wireless enthusiasts may got their radio revelry by means of a slot macliiiit 1 . Already a 25 cents slot machine lias been invented in America, and the system oflicially tested by tins Ibirean of Standards. This invention consists of an automatic apparatus with an exterior not unlike a post-office, stamp slot machine. It is surmounted by a revolvablc loop aerial and takes its power from a 110-volts lighting circuit supply. It is claimed that the' machine is “fool proof.” When, the coin is inserted in the slot at the top (at a time when the broadcasting news ini incites a programme is being sent uiit) two lights are automatically switched on ,and the music is heard through a large bom at the bottom of fin 1 instrument. It is already put forward as a suitable .addition to a hotel suite, so Hint for a slight extra, charge on the price of a room the client could enjoy a radio concert whilst he is having a bath!