Something About Tides.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2279, 22 September 1899, Page 4

Something About Tides.

According to the law of universal gravitation the moon attracts matter which stands near to her more strongly than that which is more remote. It follows that the attraction on the ocean, at the side of the ea.-th which is nearest to the moon, must be greater than that exercised on the solid earth itself.

Hence there is a tendency for the sea to depart from its natural spherical shape and to bulge outward towards the moon.

So far the matter is simple, but it is perplexing to many that the moon should apparently repel the water lying on the further side of the earth.

This action, however, is not due to any actual repulsion from the moon, but results from the fact that on the further side the moon must attract the solid earth more strongly than it does the water.

On the nearer side the moon pulls the water away from the earth, and on the further fide she pulls the earth away from the water, thus producing an apparent repulsion of the water to an extent equal to the attraction on the other side.

Was Pilate Scotch? It is claimed by some that Scotland was the birthplace of the famous Pontius Pilate. According to an old Perthshire tradition, the Koman ruler of Judea was born at Glenlyon, not far from the place where the ancient yew tree of Fortiugall has flourished, as say the experts in arboriculture, for 3,000 years. According to the legend, an embassy was sent to Scotland by Cassar Augustus shortly before the birth of Christ. One of the embassadors was the father of Pontius Pilate. The Eomans were courteously received by Metallanus, a Caledonian chief, and were conducted to his residence near Fortingall. By a rather unusual circumstance, it appears that the mother of Pontius Pilate had accompanied her husband on this embassy, and in Perthshire gave birth to the future Governor of Judea.

England's Commodities. England has become the distributing mart for the produce of the world. Ships of all nations are found at her wharves, and commodities from all parts of the world brought in those ships are found in her warehouses. Her mercantile navy numbers 21,000 vessels, and 8,000 of these are steamships. The tonnage of these vessels amounts to over 8,750,000 tons, and of this nearly H.oinnmo is engaged in the foreign trade alone. Her mercantile sailors number over 250,00!> men, and over 150,000 of these are engaged in the foreign trade. London is, of course, the chief gainer from this unrestriction of trade- 27 per cent, of the whole trade of the country is in its hands. Its merchants do business in every seapo't on the globe, and the trade of Great Britain with ports in Europe, the Levant, Kgypt, India, the East Indies, China, Japan, and Australasia is almost entirely controlled by them. Its shipping embraces the Quest trading tleets known to commerce. Its docks and wharves extend on either side of the Thames for twenty-four miles, from London Bridge down to Gravesend, and are the largest and finest in the world.

Chinese Ladies and English Society

Chinese ladies have hitherto not entered London society, and we have rarely had the opportunity of seeing them in our streets and parks. The wife of tlie present Chinese Minister is, however, making a new departure. She is learning English as fast as she can, and is to he formally presented at the next Drawing Room this year. She intends, with the assistance ot Lady Macartney, the wife of the English Secretary, to mix freely in society, and it is to he expected that her plucky action will have the effect of breaking down much prejudice on the part of her compatriots against English customs. Wasn't Having Any. Kentish farm.J Tramp: 'Could you give a poor man a little assistance or find him some employment''' Farmer: ' You can have some work on the spot. I have a heap of wood vonder.'

Tramp: ' Hum—ha, yes—l'll send you the man directly. It's not for myself I am seeking a job, but for a fi.end of mine.'

Promise little and seldom, but what | you Jo promise, perform.