BRIEF MENTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 143, 15 June 1909, Page 5

BRIEF MENTION.

"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men.

Blenheim missed Wet Wragge s "Ngata" disturbance. Nelson got the worst of the storm, and Wanganui was. favored with an earthquake. Yesterday was the • anniversary of the Maungatapu murders, perpetrated in 1866. Someone has written a book called "The Meaning of Money." To most of us money speaks for itself.

The denial that Chicago women have the biggest feet in America is distinctly rough on the rest of Uncle Sam's daughters. "Blessed are they who are cheated," remarks Judge 'Willis. But the victim's "Well, I'm blest!" doesn't alAvays mean just that. June 15.—Born: Edward, the Black Prince, 1330; Anthony Francis de Fourcroy, eminent French chemist. Died: Wat Tyler, plebeian insurgent, slain in Smithfield, 1381; Phillip the Good, of Burgundy, 1467; James Short, maker of reflecting telescopes, 1768. London now has its'first petrol fire engine. Competent authorities say that in the event of an outbreak the new engines ,can <be extinguished quite easily. •-■■■.. Mr Taft's Cabinet consists of three membersxover 60 years of age, two of 58, and three, over 50,: and the youngest is 42. There is no word of being too old at .45 over there. The Scotsman reports: "In the forest of , the first stag of the season was killed by Miss , a fine animal with eleven points." We regard this description of the lady as being in the worst taste (says Punch). The nearest approach to a blue rose ever grown was shown by Messrs William Paul at the recent Show, Engj land. The color is so distinctly violet, or blue-purple, that the real blue color will almost certainly be obtained in a few, years. Young Wife: Oh, Edward ; you do J believe that I am always thinking of economy, don't you ? Yoiuig Husband : Mabel, your shilling telegram this afternoon, telling me where to go to save sixpence on a. ; carpet broom warns me that you are thinking too much. The Free Lance is responsible for the erroneous statement that you can usually depend on the shoemaker to put his whole soul into his work. As a matter of fact that functionary more often than not. is content to uplift humanity with but a half-soled effort. "Now, Archie," asked a schoolmistress, dilating on the virtue of politeness, "if you were seated in a tramcar, every seat of which was occupied, and a lady entered, what would you do?" "Pretend I was asleep!" was the prompt reply. From a Surrey' newspaper: — Bachelor, military man, wishes to meet with a widow, view matrimony; abstainer and anti-gambler, but no objection to publican's or bookmaker's widow if lucrative business attached. Reply, Weary, etc.

A good old west country preacher who had decided to leave an unremunerative charge, finding it impossible to collect his salary, said in his farewell sermon: "I have little more to add, dear brethren, save this: You were all in favor of free salvation, and the manner in which you have treated me proves that you have got it!"

An old crofter was standing at a shop window in Glasgow, when a friend came up to him. arid, after some conversation, said Comeawa', Donald, and I'll stand ye a dram." "Och," replied Donald, "I'm no' in the drinking line the noo, but if ye hivnae objections I'll take the tuppence."

A Maori resident of the Manawatu County owns a small piece of land through which it is necessary to take a- road, for his Benefit as- well as for others. He has been approached to give a legal title to the land, but is anxious not to bother the Council, and the last reply he gave was: "Don't bother about me—make the road." Meanwhile the road does not ■get made.