NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 14 April 1908, Page 8

NEWS FROM NEAR AND FAR

Japanese physicians declare it is impossible for internal poisoning to occur if powdered charcoal be swallowed as soon as the gastro-intestinal disturbance is felt. French physicians have tested the power of charcoal, and proved that it is the most active of all known antidotes. The charcoal must bo taken as soon as the poison begins to show its effects, and the dose must bo large. Charcoal is in no way injurious, and as much as a soupspoonful may be taken in divided doses mixed with water. It is not generally known, a Nelson paper states, that weasels can catch fish on occasion. A weasel destroyed at Poor Man's Valley the other day dropped a small trout which it bad evidently just captured. The first of the serie.s of Maori busts which Jlr Nelson Illingworth is executing for the (Government is now in plaster, and will ultimately be put into bronze. The subject of the bust (the 'Dominion' states) was a Maori chief of the old school, about eighty-six years of age, living close to Auckland. Though the features have been modified in the bust, the measurements of the old man's head, which were taken very fully and carefully bv Mr Illingworth. arc reproduced exactly, and with astonishing result. The bust shows almost precisely the same conformation as the classic head of Julius Cresar. well known to sculptors as the model head for intellectual development. Mr Illingworth was much struck by the resemblance, which is at once apparent to anyone familiar with the famous "head of Julius Cajsar," of which casts aro seen in manv museums and ait galleries.

Ibis curious statement appeared in the recently issued report of the Director of Criminal Investigation (Scotland Yard) : —" The increase in coining during the past four or five years, though small, is noteworthy as following on a period during which this offence has steadilv decreased. It is unfortunately not improbable that some part of this increase may have been artificially produced by a new and mischievous development of journalistic enterprise. Illustrated articles, describing the process of coining, were published in a monthlv magazine in 1902, and :n a dailv paper in 1904, and at intervals 'in thecourse of the last live years four separate cases liave been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State in which prisoners were convicted of coining, and in which it appeared from, the facts disclosed at the trial that there was good reason to believe that the prisoners had been induced to commit the crimes by reading these articles, and had been aided to do so by the information contained therein."

Manchester will not tolerate La Milo One night the city hoardings were covered with jKjsters announcing her reappearance at the Palace Theatre: next morniim- thev were promptly obliterated. Mr J H Thewhs, chairman of the Watch Committee, on being interviewed, stated that it was a matter of common knowledge that the Committee decided definitely to oppose that particular class of entertainment some time ago. He thought the whole matter had been amicably settled at a conference at which all the halls were represented. An -undertaking was then given that these performances should not continue. He w;is surprised when ho received a wire stating that La Milo was to appear at the Palace. There was only one step for them to take, and the chief constable immediately prohibited the perform;uice taking "place "Wo have not."' said Mr Thewlis, "made a set against. La Mdo as La Milo. There are others giving the same class of performance, and it is to the performance, that we object." La Milo, interviewed in turn, said that she felt very indignant that she should be considered an undesirable by the Manchester authorities. It was very strange that they should object to a draped act which they had not seen.

The Star of Sol way Lodge, 1.0. G.T. No 293. Maryport, has" been dissolved owing to a difference of opinion with the rulers of the Order over the plaving of kissing games. Recently the lodge had a visit from the Energetic Lodge, Workington, and after business and supper a few kissing games were played by the younger members. The riklcs forbid these games, as well as divneing and acting in character But Bro. Beck, the Lodgo Deputy G.C.T., not wishing, as he says, to act "as a wet blanket, put the telescope to his blind eve. The result was that the lodgo was reported for breach of rules by somo member of the Energetic Lodge, and Grand Chief Templar Maiins, of Birmingham, wrote threatening to withdraw the lodgo charter unless Bro. Beck gave an undertaking to stop these kissing games in future. The matter was put before the lodge, who took the side of their deputy, and the charter has been voluntarily returned. 'The Star of Solway was tlto strongest lodgo in Cumberland, having over 100 members.

A further batch of simplified spellings has been issued by tho Simplified Spelling Board, of 1 Madison avenue, New York, and approved by the Advisory Council! The additional modifications are chiefly confined to certain words containing "ph"' changed to f, as " telefone," " fonctie," "sultur," "fotograf," " filosofy," etc.; the omission of final e from the terminals "ive," "ine," " itc," as "activ," "defectiv." "doctrin," '"glycerin," "granit," '" exquisit," etc. ; the dropping of b in "det." "dout"; of s in "ile," "iland"; c in "sissors"; a in " bedsted." "Akc," "tuiig." "siv," •'quire," etc, are also among the form simplified.