NEWS OF THE WORLD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 September 1925, Page 13

NEWS OF THE WORLD.

BIRTH OP SALVATION ARMY. The Salvation Amy, wliieh has celebrated its diamond jubilee tins year, did not commence its career under that striking designation. In the early days it was called the Christian Mission, and it was not until 1877 that the Rev. William Booth became a “general” and turned his organisation into an ‘ ‘ army. ” Mr. Booth was writing his annual report one day when his son Bramwell entered, and he asked, “What’s the Christian Mission?” “A volunteer army,” replied Bramwell. The General wrote down the phrase, then, with a flash of inspiration, scored through “volunteer” and wrote “Salvation Army.” tt.aope or PIGEONS. The City pigeons are becoming a nuisance in London.. There are too many of them, and the City Corporation has instructed the Sanitary Cominittee to see what can be done. A practice has grown up in St. Paul s Churchyard of selling bags of food to be thrown to the pigeons; and near Blaekfriars Bridge there is a spot often encumbered with crusts and crumbs, the remains of their ample meals in the neighbourhood. When the pigeons are voracious they fly almost into, the eyes of the passer-by. The front of St. Paul’s would lose somewhat of its charm if the pigeons, whirling white against the darker facade, were not there. They are almost sacred birds, and nobody wants to exterminate them. But probably some will have to go. LONDON’S WATER-TASTER. The water-taster of the London Water Board, whose chief duty, it is said, is to ensure that the water delivered through the household tap has no taste, must have a very perfect palate, and it is probable that his decision is fortified by chemical analysis. Water, of course, varies very greatly in quality, and one of the chief tasks of the tea blender is to provide a mixture that will give the best results when infused in the water of any particular district. Commanders-in-ehief have to. be very particular about the water supply, and in this case the gen. eral officer of a. force is the “taster.” It is recorded that when Sir Francis Grenfell was called upon to report on the nature of the water as Assuan in the campaign of 1885, the following was his telegraphic reply:—“From G.O.C. Frontier Force to C.-in-C. Egypt. I have every reason to believe that the water is excellent, but it tastes strongly of whisky toward evening.” SKYSCRAPER TOR HORSES. Polonius and Candidate, two champion chestnut horses, recently walked down seventy-nine stairs from -theirstable beds in North London and trotted off to the Ilorso Show at Richmond. The well-known catering firm that owns Polonius and Candidate have solved their horse-liousing problem by stabling their animals in a five-storey mansion built of fireproof concrete. A wide concrete staircase, carpeted with soft peat, leads from street to stable. Up this the horses walk to bed, and come downstairs to work in the morning. Each floor is divided into two dormitories—double rows of stalls separated by wide gangways. Here the horses feed, sleep, and are groomed. HOW FOLK KEEP COOL. Nearly two thousand million portions of ice cream are served annually in the United Kingdom in' over 60,000 shops, stalls and kiosks, by nearly 200,000 merchants and assistants.

As there are between, 60 and 70 portions to the gallon, these quantities mean, that in wafers, plain ices, drinks and sundaes there are consumed annually about 6,000,000 gallons of! fresh milk, 30,000 gallons of cream, 15,000 gallons of crushed fruits, 20,000 tons of sugar, and 30 tons o-f flavouring essences—riot to mention whippings and “toppings” to the extent of some 3500 gallons.

STATUE ON MOUNT ARARAT. It is reported from Erivan, in Armenia, that during excavation work -on the slopes of Mount Ararat, where the Ark came to rest after tire Flood, a life-sized statue, of the head of an Armenian king was discovered bearing a second century date. The statue is in the form of a sign of the cross, in evidence of the Armenians’ claim that they were the first nation to embrace Christianity. The statue is of white sandstone, with a crown of elaborate design. The, authorities have ordered the excavation work to be continued in the hope of discovering other important articles. A CHAMPION TEA DRINKER. Bradley Peach, New Jersey, is responsible for another would-be champion in one Lew Meyerson, who claims to be the greatest tea drinker in the United States. This wonderful person says that he drinks an average of 46 to 48 cups of tea each day, and thereby consumes an average of two and a quarter pounds of tea a week; he drinks it with a little milk, but no sugar. Strange to say, the meal which would normally be expected to provide the chief base of operations for such exploits has played no part in them, for the man has never attended an “ afternoon tea” in his life. THE BIBLE IN ESPERANTO. The: Old Testament is shortly to be published in Esperanto. For several years a committee of experts has been engaged upon the work, commenced by Dr. L. L. Zamenhoff, inventor of Esperanto. The cost of the new version has been guaranteed by an anonymous friend' of the Esperanto Association. It is not intended to be Scriptural propaganda in the usual way. The Esperanto New Testament was published in 1912, and it is stated authoritatively that this version has obtained a good circulation. From the point of view of the Esperanto Society the version shortly to be published will be a standard work in the new language. ROSES AND THE HAIR. Roses form the chief ingredient in what is probably the earliest recipe- for a hair restorer on record. According to Pliny “wild rose leaves reduced into a liniment with bear’s grease make the hair grow again in most marvellous fashion. ’ ’ Pliny also recommends “ ashes of roses as serving to trim the hairs of the eyebrows.” Roses figured prominently in certain old-time strong drinks, such as rosa solis. which consisted of rose water mixed with aqua vitae and flavoured witli cinnamon. The favourite morning draught among Elizabethan rovsterers was “rosa solis., to,.wash tire molligrubs out of a moody brain.” INSECTS AND COLOURS. Colours of flowers attract different kinds of insects in varying degrees. Honey bees, for example, appear to have a decided preference for blue and purple. These insects will visit yellow flowers, but are not strongly attracted by them. Butterflies are rather more catholic in their tastes, and seem to go to reds, blues, yellows, and whites indiscriminately, though certain kinds visit bright scarlet and orange blossoms more readily than others. Night moths are especially attracted by white and pale yellow flowers. NAPOLEON’S WILLOW TREE. In 1832 Lieutenant Drouville, of the French Navy, visited the Island of St. Helena, and brought away with him three'slips from the willow which had overspread Napoleon’s tomb for .11 years. Only one of these slips, planted in the. prefect’s garden at Versailles, survived. The slip grew into a tree of respectable size. For some time past it has been showing signs of decay, and now a. gust of wind has laid it low. A slip will be taken from the fallen willow. in the hope of perpetuating it. Slips from this tree were brought to New Zealand about 80 years ago.