Oddments

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1947, Page 6

Oddments

Sir Luke Fildes, whose famous picture “The Doctor,” now in the Tate Gallery, is being reproduced on a United States postage stamp, had a passion for accuracy of detail. Having decided on a cottage interior as the setting of “The Doctor,” he searched the countryside for a suitable model, which he presently found in a Wiltshire village. He bought the cottage and had it taken down and re-erected in his London studio.

There are 25 baronetcies going begging, according to the new edition of the Official Roll of Baronets. In each, case the holder of the baronetcy has died, but no one has proved his succession. Eight of the baronetcies were created in the 17th century, five in the 18th, 11 in the 19th, and one in 1920. There is no time limit for proving succession. One of the dormant baronetcies is that of Arthur of Upper Canada. The third baronet died last year, and there is no one, it seems ,to claim this resounding title. » :!'• $

Many fantastic projects were suggested for Chicago’s World Fair of 1893. They included: A building, 1000 feet high in the form of an eagle; a building six storeys high resting on metal replicas of the animals mentioned in the Book of Revelations; a tower of Babel 40 storeys high, with a different language spoken on each floor; a colossal globe with two theatres in the interior; a replica of Dante’s Hell; a monument of Lincoln 1000 feet high; a telescope on a tower , powerful enough to discover animals on the planets; a reproduction of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

“Broadcasts of the Government’s economy cuts could scarcely make cheerful listening. But by the time the announcer had said ‘coupong’ for the last time it had become wellnigh unendurable,” comments the London Star, and continues: —

“Why does the 8.8. C. inflict this sort of infuriating, affectation upon us? Nobody says ‘coupong,’ though we know just as well as the 8.8. C. pedants that the word is of French origin. To be consistent they ought to say ‘Paree’ for Paris and ‘Livorno’ for Leghorn. After all, they once made themselves the joke of the Eng-lish-speaking world by giving the Latin pronunciation to the last part of Weston-super-Mare.” * « >?. ❖ ❖

The paper shortage has hit the Bank of England. It has, in sheet form, large stocks of the green £1 notes which were in circulation up to 1940. ' These are now to be .cut and issued.

The value involved is being kept secret, but, says the bank, “It does not mean inflation. A correspondingly fewer number of the present £ 1 notes will be printed.” Most of the “greenbacks” are signed by Sir Kenneth Peppiatt. But some are signed by Mr B. G. Catterns, who was Deputy Governor of the Bank when they were issued. Millions of the green notes went into store in 1940, when the colour of the notes was changed to blue and brown. But they were never withdrawn, and sometimes a sudden increase in note circulation has compelled the banks to dip into these reserves. Disadvantage of the green notes: They get dirty easily.

—The Seeker