Pith and Point.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2280, 29 September 1899, Page 6

Pith and Point.

Japan took C4.♦»!4,517 worth of goods from Kngland during In'.M.

'Dn* United States uses nearly one-half of the (luinlne used in the world.

The coal production of the world last year amounted in weight to r>SH,7(KI.(HiO tons.

Coal gas was described and manufactured by Dr. Clayton, of Kngland. as early as 17:59.

Sixty thousand acres of land are devoted to celery growing in the I'nited States.

The drinking of buttermilk is said to be greatly beneficial in rheumatic and kidney troubles.

Aluminum is likely to be employed largely in the near fututv for the manufacture of travelling trunks.

A raw potato will remove mud marks from black clothes. It should be cut In half, and rubbed on the marks.

In marching soldiers take seventy-live steps per minute, quick marching 1 US, and in charging 150 steps.

Always put the sugar used in a tart in tlie centre of the fruit, not on the top ; it. makes the crust sodden.

Liberty has no rights which ale not grafted on justice ; and the chief duty ot liberty is to defend justice.

Riches have wings, but, unfortunately, they seldom use them except to travel in the wrong direction.

More than 8000 persons In a single year are admitted to the accident wards of the London hospitals.

Do not soak fresh lish in water In-foro cooking, as this treatment only ruins the llavour, and makes it soft.

Two rings are employed in the uwrri;i£'e ceremony of the (.'.reek Churchone of gold, the other of silver.

You can't he sure that a man is lazy simply because he gets another man to do his work for him. He may be only shrewd.

The independent State of Tavolara* an island situated to the north-east of Sardinia, has a population of only ltiS souls.

The average time occupied in the conveyance of the mails between London and Sydney, via the Suez Canal, is thirty-four days.

1 know a wise man who had for a byword, when he saw man hasten toaconclusion, " Stay a little, that we may come to the end sooner.—Bacon.

Spectacles were worn only by people of means in the sixteenth century, a; they cost not less than £3 a pair, am the larger the lenses and heavier the rims the more they were sought after.

" Mr. Editor, 1 want to advertise for a wife." Editor : " Well now, young man, let me give you a little advice. Don't advertise for a wife. Advertise for a gill who wants to marry."

The Due D'Aumale is credited with the intention of buying the historic chateau of Amboise, and using it as a soldier's home for the benefit of such of his old companions-in-arms in Africa at* may need it.

An unprecedented feat of travel in Alaska was the recent journey of nearly 4000 miles during the coldest period of the year by Guy Merriam, a United! States Customs inspector, with only a canoe and a dog-sled.

Doctor Johnson's opinion of drinking may be gathered from a brief but excessively antithetical passage. He says:: —" In the bottle discontent seeks for comfort, cowardice for courage, and bashfulness for confidence."

A loving heart carries with it, under every parallel of latitude, the warmth and light of the tropics. Itjdants its Fden in the wilderness and solitary place, and sows with flowers the gray desolation of rock and desert.

The Boston Board of Aldermen has given permission for pneumatic tube.to be laid under the streets of that city, and it is expected that they wilt be used for the delivery of both letter:! and parcels. The first use made of 1 them will be to connect the Boston Post Office with its sub-stations.

Chicago is now experimenting with garbage crematories, and a Ohicagt Committee is visiting Allegheny City, Pa., to Inspect a crematory in operation there. They report that it destroys garbage completely, and without making any odour. It is said that similar crematories can be constructed for £2OOO each.

Harper's " Round Table" gives some extracts from the examination papers recently handed in at a Connecticut public school " (1) From what animals do we get our milk ?—From the camel and the milkman." " (2) The hen is covered with feathers. With what is the cat covered '.'—The cat is covered with ileas." " (3) Name an animal that has four legs and a long tail. —-A mosquito." " (4) Name two kinds of nuts.— l'ea-nuts and for-get-me-nuts."

" This is a funny world," said LI Hung Chang. "Yes, sir," said his syco pliant dutifully, " a very funny world. Ha, ha !" " 1 did not mean funny in the sense of humorous," rejoined the great general severely. " 1 was pondering over the fact that with our cautious and fleet-footed soldiery a great many men oan make war without anybody getting hurt, while one man can't make peace without getting severely wounded before lie roally meets the enemy."

The Postmaster-General of Kngland has from time to time received suggestions of several methods for conveying the royal mails besides locomotives. Among otheiti was one made by a royal engineer, who advised that the mails should be inclosed in shells and tired from one stage to another. A good bombardier would be able to drop a shell within a few feet of the mortar or cannon which would be required to s.-nd it on to the next station.