INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 2261, 22 April 1926, Page 6

INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS.

i'he key-ring s\ nibolises the old cus:om of handing over the keys of the '.ouse to the woman; this was more iften a design used for the weddinging, and occasionally for the betrothal.

There is an electric railway ten miles - :)iig in the . South Tyrol, which is iporated entirely by adhesion, though he maximum gradient is 6.2 per one . .undred.

Prisoners in Morocco are compelled 'o pay the officers for their trouble in arresting and escorting them to This plan makes the police watchful and always alert for business.

Some of the Chinamen in Philadelphia wear wigs. It is their desire to ippear as much like the "Melican nan" as possible. With wigs, and heir hats off, they seem freaks.

Among the highest prices ever paid :nder the hammer for a book in Eng'..ind was £4,950 for the Fust and .'choeffer Psalter, printed on vellum; 1459. The celebrated Mazarian Bible ii vellum brought ,£4,000.

The color of amber is of all shades, from pale straw to deep orange. A species called the Falerian, from its similarity in color to the celebrated rich, golden wine of that nauu\ was the most prized by the Romans.

The teak, which has passed into proverb as the best material for shipbuilding, is superior to all other woods from the fact that it contains an essential oil which prevents spikes and nails driven into*it from rusting.

In Cuba, two hours before a is distributed, a copy must be sent, with the editor's name, to the Government and one to the censor. When the paper is returned with the censor's endorsement the paper may go to the public.

In Paris there is a dog's tailor who does a large business. The tailor is a lady, and in her reception-rooms are fashion-books containing designs for dog jackets in various colors and materials, from cloth to chamois and sealskin.

A new lightning rod, with two milligrammes of radium bromide inserted in its top, has been invented in France. The result of this is said to be that the conductivity of the "cap" or sheath of air surrounding the top of the rod is enormously inc .eased.

In various parts of India otters are used by the natives to catch fish for them. So rapid is the speed of the otters under water that no fish can escape them. When not the otters aro tied to stakes like chained dogs.

At the birth of a Japanese baby in wealthy circles a tree is planted that must remain untouched until the marriage of the child. When the nuptial hour arrives the tree is cut down and the wood is transformed into furniture, which is considered by the young people as the most beautiful of all tha ornaments in the house.

The floors of a building recently erected in Pennsylvania, where heavy material is to be stored, form an experiment. On a five-inch layer of sawdust has been placed a half-inch covering of red cement. The process was discovered in, and the materials are imported from, Greece. It deadens sound and is easier for those who do their work standing.

The audience at an American theatre became habitually impatient between the acts, and frequently hissed when they thought the delays were needlessly long. At length the manager hit upon a way to pacify them. Once in each performance, during the most elaborate change of scenery, he kept the curtain up to let the people see that the stage hands worked as fast aa possible. That part of the show hai become very popular.