NEWS AND OPINIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22721, 7 August 1937, Page 2

NEWS AND OPINIONS

THE CART BEFORE THE HMSE The English schoolboy who, on learaing that in most cases the French put the noun before the adjective, declared that he did not want to study a language where they put the cart before the horse might have discovered many; other instances where French and Eng* lish act in opposite manner. . In games we find that where in England, when playing draughts, it is the) player who has black who moves first,, in France “ white ” plays first. Cards! are dealt in England to the left; in France they are dealt to the right. Traffic, which runs on the left hand in England, runs on the right in. France, but the practice is general on the Continent, with very few exceptions. _ When a lady and gentleman; meet in the street in France it is the gentleman Who is supposed to show the first sign of recognition. Although, o& course, not the rule, it is yet quitei common among persons of long-stand* ing friendship for them to shake hand#' with the left hand if the right has just been given to another person. ; HUNDRED YEARS OF COSTUMES , When the crowds of visitors to Hie Paris Exhibition grow tired of seeing, specimens of the production of mam to-day they mil undoubtedly find complete change in one of the most interesting exhibitions organised for many; years. This is the exhibition of One Hundred Years of Costumes, 1800-190#.: Many of the costumes , have been loaned by a French association known as the Societe de I’Histoire du Costume, whose president is M. Maurice Leloir, the leading authority in France on clothes of other days. In this exhibition, housed in the Musee Galliera, there are more than 50 costumes of men and women. Accompanying them is a wonderful collection of objects of personal adornment. In order to give an idea - of costumes seen together, many pictures are exhibited. , A simple robe of the Empress Josephine comes in for, much attention' on; the part of lady visitors. CENSUS Of FIR TPEES An inventory of property of the cityl of Strassburg reveals that the capital of Alsace is the possessor of- a fir tree that is at least 350 years old. It is still hale and hearty. This tree, known as “ The Big Fir,”' is one of the curiosities of Le Hohwald,in the Vosges Mountains, and thousands of visitors go yearly to admire it. Last summer its visitors included Royalty—* Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana; of Holland. For many centuries Strassburg has owned a numiber of fir tree plantations in the Vosges, and last year the municipal forester decided that it was time to take a census and determine Hie age of each tree. This tree census has now; been completed, and “ The Big: Fir ”■ is revealed as the oldest and most unusual specimen. It is 143 ft high ami has a circumference of 18ft. The giant does not stand alone. He is accompanied by lots of little fellows,and. near him stands one that has earned the title of “ The Beautiful Fir.”

SEASIDE HOLIDAYS FDR fiEMAN WORKERS .7.. _ '■£. Germany’s KI>F has to build three more seaside resorts for the German workers. KDF stands for “ Krafb durch Freude,” or “ Strength ThroughJoy.” This is the National Socialist organisation which provides for the leisure time recreation of the worker* of the Reich. Under KDF control a huge seaside resort for the workers is now being built-on the island of Euegen, off the Baltic coast. This will be completed in. about two years’ time, and three other resorts are already planned, one at Kolberg, in Pommeru, one in Fast Prussia, and another near Kiel. Nearly a million workers will then be able to spend a-holiday at tbe seaside at prices well within their'reach.A Berlin artisan can now have seven days’ holiday on the island of Ruegen for 18 schillings, including travelling expenses and board'and lodging. Through KDF it is also possible for the workers to enjoy a cruising holiday. The organisation took over six liners for this purpose, and early this ‘summer the first of the fleet .of four; specially-built KDF liners was launched. In these passengers and crew all enjoy the same standard of comfort. All 10 liners will be going to Tokio for thd Olympic Games in 1940, carrying 12,000 members of the KDF.

HISTORY IN MEDALS

Medals such as the King’s Corona* tion silver medal, issued as “ a personal souvenir,” have been struck since the days of the Romans to mark historic events. One of the earliest celebrated the assassination of Julius Cassar, and for centuries the Italians led the fiel<k in medal-making. Then the Dutch got the medal mania, and in 1666 even went so far as to issue one to com* memorate their “ hearth tax,” which: was to raise money to help to pay for the war against England. 1 Military medals in England were not issued generally to the troops until after the Battle of Dunbar—a gold medal for officers and ,a copper one for. “ other ranks.” * _ But from Dunbar until Waterloo there was no general issue of war medals. Some medals (says the ‘ Manchester Guardian ’) have been struck too soon, as, for instance, that .of the French which was to celebrate Napoleon’s conquest of and on the reverse carried the fictitious claim “ Struck in London.” The French were also premature in 1870, when a “ victory ” medal was prepared in Paris, but never issued. ■ The same thing happened in Germany in 1915, when medals were brought out anticipating the fall of London and Paris