WIDE WORLD NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3148, 18 December 1922, Page 2

WIDE WORLD NEWS.

Jn some ways Nature is kinder to infects than to men (says the Montreal. Witness). Examine a lamprey or hag fish closely, and voir will find that it possesses, in addition to a pair ol eyes similar to our own. a third eye at the top of its head. It resemble- the ichthyosaurus, an extinct whale-like animal which had an eye at the top of tho skull. The same peculiarity exists in some of the lizards, such as the green variety common in the South of Europe, and accounts for their wellknown acuteness of sight. Insets are even more liberally provided with eyes. In general, they have two kinds of eyes—simple, and compound. Simple eyes are like our own, though less efficient, while compound eyes are '(imposed of numerous facets or lenses. This explains the difficulty in carrying out the injunction. "Swat that llv !" The eye of "that fly" has -1000 facets, and consequently it does not miss much within its range. Large though this number may seem, however, it is by no means exceptional. The dragon-flv's eve has 12.000 facets, and t lie Mordella beetle's eve is made up of no fewer Hferrtß 25,000. While tho compound eyes never exceed two, the single eyes vary

in number from one to 18 or 20. They are situated in groups on each side of the head. Spiders and scorpions have both single and compound eyes, though they appear to derive comparatively little benefit from them.

The last census of London street traffic, taken by the police in the summer, shows some amazing figures and also some unexpected results (observes Everyday Science). The busiest spot in London is usually supposed to lie the crossing at the .Mansion House, on which seven roads converge .but in tin's census it only conies fourth. The busiest centre in London is Hyde Park corner. Here, in 12 hours, .31,000 vehicles passed, or more than 78 a minute for (bo whole period. Nexi comes Piccadilly ( iicus with 40,000 vehicles Trafalgar Square with 38,000, the Mansion House with 30,000, and the Elephant and Castle with 26,000. Clo.se on 200,000 vehicles were counted in the 12 hours at those five points. These "circuses" and converging points, consequences of the fact that London • "growed" like Topsy. instead of being laid out likemodern Paris or New York, add enormously to the attractiveness and interest of the city, but they would break the heart of any other traffic controller than the London police. Six roads, four of them omnibus routes, meet at Hyde Park corner, eight (six 'bus routes) at Piccadilly Circus, seven (four 'bus routes) at Trafalgar- Square, and of the seven at the Mansion House six are 'bus routes. Still streets laid out a I right angles do not eliminate the traffic problem, and there is far more blocking and delay at one or two New Vorw crossroads than at any London "circus."

The serious business formality of one of Northampton'e leading firms of shoo manufacturers! is occasionally enlivened by flashes! of humor, as witness the following application they sent to an Irish customer (says the London Daily Telegraph) : —"What do you do when a firm owes you'a small sum of money— 2s Bd, lor instance—and doesn't respond to bills, statements, and letters? Do you charge it to the profit and loss, or do you spend another 2s 8d sending them letters and more bills? The reason we are asking you is that you received from us on August 22 one gross buttons, and have postponed paying for .same. Our first bill was rendered some time ago. Of course, we know your credit is 0.K., and that you are 'good for it,' but that does not help us out if you do not remit. Won't you kindly attach your cheque, money order, or stamps to this letter, and send it back by return mail? Then you'll feel better, and so will we." The reply—a piquant example of Irish wit and humor- was as follows:—"Received your letter. In Ireland we are so busy asserting our nationality, inaugurating Sinn Fein and Unionist clubs, recruiting special police, attending conferences, inquests, making new States, setting up new governments (we have lour), and deciding which we won't pay income tax to—in fact, doing everything but making money, that a small matter such as you mention in your letter is 'invisible' to any Irishman of only ordinary mentality. Your letter makes us ashamed of ourselves. You. are losing your time in the button trade. Your style has a lure which would make your fortune in the legal profession. If ever you grew tired of writing letters, or even led up with life geen rally, come to Ireland, the only place in the who'e wide world which men are 'dying to live in.' We much, regret overlooking your firm's statement, and' 'rise to the bait' by enclosing 3e, being amount due, plus penance of -Id for our sins of omission We are feeling better already. Ave you?"

The work of widening the main road from. London to Dover is going on apace. Never since the Romans made thi.-J very road, nearly 1900 years ago. lias it been the scene of so much activity and engineering skill. Tin's road was the famous 'Watling street. which started at Ricjiborough. passed/ through Canterbury to London' audi thence by way of St. Alban's, Dunstable, Towsester, and Wellington to Wrixeter in Shropshire, a very important Roman station. At this' point the road split into two. and while one part went north to Chester, the other passed 1 south to a. place near Hereford. The Romans,, (ailed the road the Via Vilelliani. The name of Watling street dares only from Saxon time? When the fierce 1 invaders from over the water settled down they used the Roman road, but called it' alter one of their mythical heroes, Wactla. Waotling street, Wactla ami his kinsmen were supposed to inhabit the Milky Way; that also was called' Watling street. Chaucer refers to it in one of his poems. Forest* covered almost the entire country, and i| was essential, if the Unmans were to move about (|iiickly from place to place anu'i hold the people in subjection, to have good roads («iys Ihe Children's Newspaper). They, therefore, made four main highways. Ihe chief of which was Watling street, and linked t hose up with smaller crossroads. Rut the R<> ii'iiiis did mil realise that in making these line military roads they were conferring a vast benefit on the land they had conquered and faking the first 'step in - making ISritain the world's greate-t commercial countrv. Watling street has been called, the Roman/ London and North-Western main line, and, indeed, when the engineers of /the railway company came to make their railway they could find' ifb better route than by the side of the Roman road, along which, in the year V>'2 marched Suetonius and his legions tr. the defeat of the Druids and their army in Anglesey.

Microbes, of course, vary much in .size, but something like n mil I ion, of ii.veni.gc size, could be accommodated on the head of an average pin. Yet a machine has' been constructed that can cut up these microscopic particles (Everyil'uy Science. 1 ) informs u«. Tho machine Inns two disc's, ;i stationary disc carrying 70 tiny steel knives, and a rotating* di.se. carrying HO. The microbes* suspended in ;i solution are driven at high speed against the discs and between the revolving knives, the blades of which make between them 28,000,000 cubs a minute. The solution is kept circulating pant the blades for 20 minutos, at the cud of which all but the smallest microbes have been minced or broken up. Dr David Thomson, director of tho Pickett-Tbomson Research Laboratory, explains that the use of the machine is in making vaccine*. For inoculations' against such diseases as typhoid fever, much larger doses •of vaccine can he given, and consequently much better protection afforded if the germs in the vaccine have bad all their poison removed. To remove the poison tho germ has to be cut lip.

.More than eighty nations are expected to lie represented at. the convention of tho World League Against Alcoholism, to be held in Toronto (Canada). One of tho important questions is that of international relations regarding, trade treaties and other agreements respecting self-detorinina-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 fliqlior into dry territory, and other issues involvin" protection of internal policies adopted |,\ independent nations also will i« discussed.