BY THE WAY.

Mataura Ensign, 17 September 1906, Page 4

BY THE WAY.

A boy who climbed a tree at lapping lo secure a raven's nest discovered at I lie bottom of it a complete set of false, teeth. McVheo (whose pocket had been picked of id) : "Jill, yes, its a gr-rcat misfortune ; but it might hae been a calamity, I'd julst chccngcd the sludlin'."

Over ninety years of age, a I'eiinsylvauian woman has just died through falling from a cherry tree which she had climbed to pick the fruit.

In liuvaria there is a law which prohibits "kisses, passionate embraces, pressing her to his breast," and suchlike amorous actions on the stage.

The Chinamen are adepts at tea uduUeration. Iron fillings are scattered over the leaves while they are green, and as the leaves curl up and dry they cover the tilings from sight. Air Saver : "Shall we have to buy new woollen underwear for all the boys this year '!" Mrs Savor : "No, dear ; yonr's have so shrunk that they just fit Jimmy : .Jimmy's have shrunk and will lit Willie ; and Willie's are just right for tlie baby." Five, hundred Chinamen •who were homeless and destitute owing to the eartli and lire in San Francisco, sailed for China a few days ago ut the expense of the Chinese Government . A restaurant has been opened in New York City, one of its special features being a telephone placed on each dining table so that customers can transact business while waiting to bo served. Kniser Wilhelin's keen hatred of cats has been the cause of them being taxed in Germany, and if pussy dues not wear a medal showing she. is fully licensed, an unsentimental policeman hurries her oil' to the leihal chamber. At the celebration of a golden wed; ding in Jingland recently, among the guests were the gentleman who acted as best man, and three ladies who | acted as bridesmaids ut the wedding. I Apparently the parson was the only J missing link.

The dome of the Observatory at Greenwich is made of papier niacin-. This substance is chosen for its lightness, and the who'e dome, including the steel framew'ork, is only twenty tons in weight, -and is so constructed that it can be. removed jjy. a tonclw of the finger. Annoyed by swallows building over his windows, a llaywards ITcath resident knocked down the nest with a prop. The birds replaced the nest, and when the man again attempted to remove it he wasT surrounded by a number of swallows and.martins, who attempted to pick at his eyes and face.

"Speaking of accommodation hotel clerks," remarked u traveller, '"the best I ever saw was in a certain (own. J reached the hotel late in the evening, dust before I retired I heard i\ scampering under the bed, unci saw two iurgii rais just c&caping. J complained at, ,tho- v olllce. The clerk was as serene as a summer breeze. "I'll fix that all right, sir," he said. '•'Frank ! Take up a cat lo room '2' A at once." '