CURIOSITIES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 15 June 1935, Page 12

CURIOSITIES

From The World’s News BALLOON FLOATS 1200 MILES Released at the People’s Carnival held in Birmingham, England, last October, a toy balloon has just been found hanging to a tree in a forest near Ugalen, Latvia. It had flown I*2oo miles, had braved winter gales, and had crossed seas and mountains, lml was still in good condition.

SAVED BY WIGGLE OP EAR

He was just an ordinary dog, and tjio owner refused to pay the city tax on him. Policemen Lyle Littlefield and Richard Knowles, of McPherson, Kansas, U.S.A., took him to the edge of the city to be shot. As Littlefield levelled his revolver at the animal’s head, the dog cocked its 'head to one side and wiggled his ear. The constable lowered his gun. “I cannot kill him,” }ie -said, as he handed the weapon to Knowles. The dog, jn«t as Kncwles took aim, reared up on his hind legs and began to walk. Knowles gave up, and the two took the dog back to the city, where they found a permanent home for him.

SOME QUEER CHARMS

Mr Justice Hawke confessed in London recently his faith in the efficacy of a nutmeg earned in the pocket as a preventive cf rheumatism. Many people share ]ns belief. Others carry nutmegs as a mascot against boils. A potato is even more popular with those with rheumatic tendencies. The idea is that it absorbs uric acid. Strings of blue glass heads are believed to ward off bronchitis. Seamen and navvies often wear thin gold wire carrings—for their eyesight! Fossilised sharks’ tooth as cure for cramp, calves’ teeth to assist a baby in toothcutting, a piece of dried skin from a tortoise-shell cat worn on the chest to protect the lungs, are other forms of health mascots.

PAID NO RENT FOR 12 YEARS

A man who has lived rent free for twelve years is still mystified about it all. He is Mr H. Taylor ( of Polly Hoad, Plaistow, London. Twelve years ago the landlord, who lived in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, suddenly disappeared. The rent collector did not turn up as usual, and from that day Mr Taylor has nob had to pay a single week’s rent. “We have no idea where he went to,” Mr Taylor said. “The collector used to take our rent each week and send it to the landlord in Norfolk.” Mr Taylor has to pay about £T a week in rates and taxes. STRANGE RATIONS The relief rations station at San Juan, Porto Rioo 3 issued a can of roast beef to Laureano ltuizy Ruiz prepared the beef, with other relief groceries, for supper. After heating the can he had difficulty in opening it. His hungry family gathered round to watch. At last Ruiz got the can open. From the centre of the steaming meat he pulled a pair of workman's gloves of canvas and leather. COUNSEL TURNS PROSECUTOR Attorney William F. Kocgler had boon acting as special prosecutor in the* Miami (Florida) Court' of Crimes all the week. Then he changed his role and defended a youth charged with stealing a watch. He ended his speech to the jury with the words: “There is only one possible verdict guilty!” He sat down without realising his mistake. A bailiff pointed out the error, and the judge permitted Koegler to reopen his argument. The youth was acquitted. CLEANSING HER LANGUAGE Judge Joseph A. Graber, of Chicago, believes in making the punishment fit the crime. Marie Gibson, a rod-headed bombshell of 22, caused a police officer to blush when she made unladylike remarks after t.ho arrest of her male escort for driving a car while drunk. “I shudder to think wliat you must have said toi cause the policeman to blush,” said the judge. “You

can take your choice of six months in gaol or a mouth-wash soap.” Marie preferred to take the cleaning gargle. HIGH NESTING PLACE Mrs G. V. Lovatt was feeding poultry at The Bungalow, Hookagate, Shrewsbury, when she heard chickens chirping. A search revealed that- the sound was coming from a certain tree. Mr Lovatt climbed the tree, and in a fork near the top found three chickens and two unfertile eggs. They had been hatched 30ft. above a brook which ran beneath the tree. The chicks were rescued and reared. Later the hen began to lay her eggs again in the same place, and had to be killed. TANGLE IN RELATIONS The stepdaughter icf Mrs Joseph Mcssner, of Gloucester, X.J.. is her stepmother’s stepmother, and the step-daughter's husband calls his daughter his mother-in-law. The tangle was revealed in a letter Charles T. Decker received from }iis father, Thomas B. Decker, aged fiO. The father had married Emma. Mcssner, aged 20, in New York City. llin 00-vear-old bridegroom is the father of the bride’s stepmother, who married the bride’s father several years ago, after the death of the girl’s mother. LITTLE GIRL’S LAST WORDS Seven-year-old Sheila Doris Matthews, daughter of Mr William Harry Matthews, a jeweller of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, was riding in tho back seat of her uncle’s ear. Her mother sat in front. As the car passed through Shipton, Oxfordshire, she jumped up and exclaimed, “Mummy, I’m going to sleep in granny’s bed tonight.” They were her last words. An instant later she fell from the car and was killed.