OUR MAIL BAG.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 777, 16 August 1900, Page 6

OUR MAIL BAG.

NEWS FROM EVEBYWHEBE. ANIMALS TBAT 11AVE THEIR BIIITII ANNOUNCED. The apes of Gibraltar'live in a little colony on the high eastern part of the Bock, and although they are certainly a branch of the Barbary family, yet how they became immigrants from the mainland across the Strait is likely ever to remain a mystery. Although many years ago the monkey community at Gibraltar was very considerable, their number does not now exceed more than thirty, though the reduction can hardly have been brought about by interference, for a kindly interest has ever been taken by the garrison and local inhabitants generally on their behalf. When Mrs Monkey adds to tho population, an announcement of the birth appears in tho local paper. "Of n son," or "of a daughter " — so the interesting event of the monkey mater finds recording, a distinction not accorded to any other animal in the world. A COW THAT BAB BIOHTEBN HORNS. A cow with eighteen horns is one of the latest freaks of nature which has come to our notice (says 'Pearson's Weekly.') The horns by their appearance deserve their appellation, but by their location had better be called corns, for they are located four on each foot, which, in addition to the two on the cow's head, make the full eighteen. The horns on the feet are in appearance and size similar to those to be found on the head of a welldeveloped ram, and grow spirally from the front and back of each hoof. Owing to the length of the horns on the fore feet, the cow is compelled, when in an upright position, to rest the weight of the front part of the body upon the knees, while the lower part of the legs are bent under the body. The hind feet rest firmly upon the ground. Tho cow was born in Texas, and, when a calf, was branded, and ran with the herd until about eight months old, when it was discovered lying in a neglected part of the pasture with its feet bo encumbered with its horns that it was unable to search for food, and nearly famished. It was taken to the shed, and has since enjoyed good health, though unable to forage on its own account. . THE SOLDIER'S PABOLE. Parole, it must be understood, is a purely voluntary compact. The captor is not obliged to oiler to parole his prisoners — the prisoner is not obliged, and cannot be compelled to give his parole. If he does so, he will probably be released on pledging his word not to serve during the existing war. If he refuses he will remain captive until the war is over or until'he can make his escape. The usual parole pledge extends only to active service against the enemy. A prisoner released on parole is not breaking his contract if he drills recruits, quells civil commotions, or fights other enemies. A soldjer taken prisoner has no authority to pledge himself never to serve against a patticular enemy. He cannot throw off thus lightly the duty he owes his sovereign and country, and if he make any pledge it must be confined to a limited time. Moreover, if a prisoner should make a pledge not approved by his own government his bound to return and surrender himself to the enemy. In the British Army a soldier can only give his parole through a commissioned officer. Even a non-commissioned officer or an officer of inferior rank cannot give parole either for himself or for his men without permission from his commanding officer. The United States authorities, by the way, give greater liberty of parole than is the case with the British Army. A captured prisoner who has violated his parole may be punched with death. GERMAN* AND THE POWERS. In the course of the debate in the Reichstag on the German Naval Bill in June last, Count von Bulow, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, declared that the policy of the Emperor and of the Imperial Government was determined solely by national considerations, and they were pursuing only German aims. The policy of a great country could be influenced neither by sympathy nor by antipathy, and their policy could only be guided from the standpoint of the interests of Germany as a whole, with calm and careful consideration of the question of the direotion in _ which the real advantage of Germany pointed, and from what side disadvantages threatened her. The apprehensions lest German foreign policy might be restless or fanciful were likewise groundless. Adventurous and aggressive plans were very far from their minds, and such tendencies were in contradiction with the traditions of their policy and the charaoter of the German people. They did not wish either to bo pushed aside nor to -fall under the wheels. They wished to have security so that they might go on developing politically and economically, untroubled and in peace. For that reason the Navy Bill has been introduced. The great majority of the House would show the world by their vote that when great national interests were at stake there was always a majority to be found in the Reichstag. The Bill was finally adopted by 201 yotes against -103. N6T ALWAYS THB KOOU. Some years ago a murder was committed in Paris which showed tho wonders tho analyst can work in discovering when death has been brought about by poisons. Dr de la Pommerais insured the life of a lady named Pauw for £22,000, and shortly afterwards she died suddenly. No trace of poison could be found in the body, and it was contended that she died from the effects of ptomaines takon in food. Some of tho food, however, had fallen on the floor, and the annljist bad here a basis for inquiry, He scraped some of the wood, made a decoction of it, and tested it. It answered to the test for digitalin. He then gave some of the brew to a couple of mice, and some digitalin to a couple more, All four died with precisely the same symptoms. Inquiries showed that the doctor had recently bought some digitalin, and, on (his evidence, he was .hanged. The Lamson trial of 25 years ago was of the same kind. A doctor visited his crippled nephew at a boarding school, and in the presence of one of the masters, put some sugar into a little capsule, and gave it to the boy. He pretended to be merely showing him how to take bad-tasting medicines, but fhe boy died with the symptoms of ptomaine poisoning. Analysis, however, discovered aconitine in the stomach, and the doctor was found guilty of murder. But innocent people have been Bayed too. Some time ago a woman was suspeoted of poisoning her husband. His body was exhumed, and a substance like morphia was found in it. She would probably have been hanged if the analyst had not found that it was not morphia at all, but a ptomaine which the man had taken in his food at dinner.-