NEWS OF THE WORLD

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1920, Page 8

NEWS OF THE WORLD

MARVELS Ox'' RADIOGRAPHY. Many fascinating examples of th»snown by Major G. W. -ivt-yc, at iuj Royal in London i^oehuxy. Lne radiograph of a hand, takon in 1;,y6, with a Ho minutes’ -.xpasaie, w..s cxiiibited side by side witu tuxi M a. nand taken in January last, with an exposure of the 100th part of a second. Tne latter was incomparably the more poixect. Some of Major Kaye’s war radio graphs weie oi fractured skulls and of bullets embedded in the skull and i t..er parts of the body. In future illustration of the medical and surgical b defies of the science he showed slides w ich had detected tuberculosis in j.ints, and the travels of a needle which had penetrated a man’s hand. Another interesting picture was that of the hand of an Egyptian princess of the second dynasty, about 45C0 8.C., taken through the wrappings ‘of her mummified xemains,. showing all the bones with great clearness and a ii’-g on the third finger. Pictures of diamond and paste ornaments proved how useful the science may be to the lapidary and jeweller, and the practical utility cf radiography was further illustrated by slides sh wing faulty insulation in cables us d on a seaplane, which was destroyed bv five in consequence of these faults. T're examination of many miles cf cables by radiographic means almost ceitiinlv prevented similar disaster. Dr. Kaye gave an interesting exhibition of the application of x-rays to the taking of finger prints. Under the old system, he said, a wily criminal could often smudge the wax cast of his finger print, but the radiographic method rendered this trick impossible, and gave the required results in marvellous detail. A SHAKESPEARE- SIGNATURE The discovery of the signature «■! William Shakespeare .scrawled 314 years ago on the wall of the “.Haunted Gallery” in Hampton Court has , just ben made. Shakespeare authorities pronounced it authentic. The discovery, was made when directing renovations. On the wall of an old retiring room, after cleaning, he found +he letter “S” followed by illegible letters anl concluding with “kespeare.” Beneath was a rough sketch of a hand and the date, 1606. It is a matter of history that Shakespeare’s company visited the palace at the date set down, and played “Hamlet” before King Christian of Denmark. The company dressed in the “Haunted Gallery,” near the great hall, where the play was enacted. The gallery, according to ancient tradition, was haunted by the ghost of Catherine PI ward, one of Henry Vll.’s six wives who were imprisoned there. History tells us that she escaped confinement while the King was praying ■in his private chapel, and that her flight was discovered by court guards, who dragged her, screaming, to the King, in-, terrupting his devotions. It has long been said that Catherine nightly walks the gallery shrieking. CHORUS GIRLS STRIKE. CAUSED BY ACTORS’ FEDERATION SYDNEY, August 9. The first production of “Irene’,’ at the Criterion Theatre on Saturday night was slightly interfered with by a strike on the part of the chorus. Stepping to the footlights a little after 8 o’clock, Mr. Westmacott said he supposed they had noticed correspondence lately in the Press carried, on by Mr. Walter Baker, president of the Actors’ Federation. Well, the federation, in spite of word pledged to the contrary, and now caused a

strike. The management had thought everything had been fixed up. . It had grained a bonus for rehearsals. “lu-niJit,” he continued, “t.iefede•ratiju has got. the chorus g r.s away, and is keeping them away.’;' A ’ meeting o. the man and female chorus ot ‘‘lrene”'haa Deem called that afternoon, and five or six of the girls had escaped from the room where they had been detained by force. , “We don’t want,” said Mr. Westmacott, “to bother you any further. A small chorus of five or six has, however, been obtained. If you, like to accept the entertainment in these circumstances we shall be delighted to proceed, and those of you who, don’t care to remain may have your money hack/ ■’ r.; 7; The announcement created not a little excitement among the audience. Some of the occupants of the gallery declared their intention of v leaving, and walked out, but their places were soon taken by others who pressed into the vacated seats from the back. * Outside there were little groups ot those who were evidently interested in the federation, who discussed ' the incident, although the majority of "them appeared to be-disinclined to say much. GIRLS DETAINED BY FORCE. The following statement in connection with the has been made by Mr. E. J. Tait: —V v '‘The chorus was engaged for ‘lrene’ in the usual course of business,- and were all chosen by the producer,'* Mr. Bentley. The understanding was -that they would receive the usual chorus salary. However, it was decided by the management to give the girls an increase on the present ruling rate paid to every other company’-in, the Commonwealth, On .?ulv 9.2 the men of the chorus signed, the agreement at £4 a week, and ou the 23rd the chorus ladies signed an agreement at £3 10/- a week. At the time they signed this agreement they were also notified that they - would be paid a bonus of £4 each for out-of-pocket expenses during the rehearsal period. This £4 was paid to the girls and men this morning by the treasurer of tlie theatre. On Friday morning I was notified by the producer that there were rumours of a strike. At 3 oclock on Friday afternoon I interview ed the chorus in a body. -I asked them if thio was Due. Their repiy was unanimous. ‘No’ We’will nor strike. We do not believe in it, ana we will play in ‘lrene’ until any dispute between the Actors’ ‘Federation and the" various managements is settled.' Mr. Baker arranged that tins girls should attend the federation rooms on Satuixlay night at 6.30, which they did. On reaching 1 the theatre I found that several of the girls bad escaped from the, federation rooms, where they had been detained by force.”