CURRENT TOPICS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 198, 20 July 1935, Page 6

CURRENT TOPICS

tßv “Wavfarer.”) “During the World War Germany employed an army of 100,000 men to wreck a railroad in France. “Yes but it takes only a little bunch ’of directors to wreck a railroad in the United States.”—Texas Su, \ .... The Hollywood film director wanted someone to play a Scotland Tard detective, and the casting office sent, along a possible man. After a very brief interview, the director sent the actor back with a note: “This man won’t, do. He liasn t a trace of a Scottish accent. The innocent replies of a misinformed child not only give rise to many of the chestnuts in schoolboy “howlers, but serve to keep the supply adequate. A teacher of a local school vouches for the declaration of a pupil in a recent test that Lord Nelson lost his eyo in the Battle of Waterloo! Recently a class was being initiated into the mysteries of a sea chanty during a singing lesson, the teacher inquiring from the youthful singers just what a chanty constituted. He hardly expected the reply of one child —“Please sir, it s a shack at the beach 1” » * » * • What must be a unique experiment in the history of Scottish railways is being tried in the Western Highlands this summer. The closing down of the Fort Augustus to Fort William lino some time ago threatened the intermediary stations of Gairlochy, Invergarry and Fort Augustus with decay. That danger has, however, been timely averted, due to the initiative and foresight of the railway officials, who have had the buildings completely, redecorated and transformed into camping quarters for the use of hikers and climbers. The stations lie in the lovely Lochaber district of Invernessshire,'and are ideally placed for exploring the beauties, of Loch Lochy; for wandering in Bonnie Prince Charlie’s footsteps over the “Black Mile.” and. to the more venturesome, for snaring the elusiv.e “monster” of Loch Ness. * * » • •

Dr. Alexandre Gueniot, believed to have been the oldest surgeon in the world, who died this week in his 103rd year, had a reputation as one of the most skilful surgeons of the day, and from 1865 was attached to a number of hospitals in France. At the same time he had an extensive private practice and was a distinguished figure in the social circles surrounding the court of Napoleon 111 and the Empress Eugenie. When well past the age of 90 Dr. Gueniot was still vigorous and active and wrote “The Art of Prolonging Life.” He held the view that, as every creature lived five times as long as the period it took to reach full growth, man’s full term of life was between 100 and 110 years. When he reached his 100th birthday he attended a special gathering of the Academy of Medicine held in his honour. The rules for health he laid down included rising before the desire for sleep had been entirely gratified, washing in cold water, daily friction of the body with a coarse brush, quick walking, moderation in food and little meat, some wine, but no spirits and frequent breathing exercises. * * * * *

The cables on Monday will bring news relative to the famous Bisley rifle meeting at Home. Each July this trial of ballistic skill is held, constituting the acme of perfection in this realm. On an average some 3000 men—and some women as well—take part as the climax to a fortnight’s intensive preparation. There are one hundred competitions, requiring an average of 500,000 bullets to be fired in the rifle shooting, plus 25,000 rounds of revolver ammunition. Well over £3OOO worth of ammunition is blazed away in the fortnight’s shooting. It costs £SOOO to conduct the meeting, apart from the prizes and prize money, which account for another' £IO,OOO in cash and £IO.OOO in gold and silver trophies. The War Office foots the bill, and most of the 1000 men who are employed during the fortnight are supplied by the Army and the Navy. Many of these men work on the targets, in which 30,000 square feet of canvas are shot to pieces during the meeting. An interesting story is recorded concerning the running deer models, big canvas representations that run at full speed. They were designed 70 years ago by Landseer, the famous painter, and the original sketch still hangs on the wall of the National Rifle Association’s office. Landseer was at a dinner party at which Lord Elclio said he was trying to find a subject for a moving target competition. Somebody suggested a deer, and then realised that the man who had drawn and painted more deer than probably anyone else who was present. But Landseer said: “Here’s your stag,” and, clearing a space on the table, drew a piece of charcoal from his pocket and sketched an eight-foot running deer on the table cloth. To-day carpenters still cut out replicas of that stag by Landseer to be shot at Bisley! *****

Air Bernard Shaw, who rivals K. Chesterton in shocking the great English public, has been at it again. AYe had not heard anything of him lor weeks until, the other day, he indulged in an interview concerning the intricate subject of . spelling (writes a commentator). Discussing the criticism made by Dr F. E. England, convener of the Welfare and Youth Council of the Presbyterian Church of England, ot “girls who have achieved real fame b'- writing novels, but who cannot spell,” lie said that spelling, after all, was “ridiculous.” It was so ridiculous that it was impossible to spell his name correctly. “It should be spelt with two letters that we haven’t got in the English alphabet,” he remarked. It was perfectly true the he himself had learned how to spell in the conventional manner, but that was no proof that anyone could decide what was correct spelling and what was not. “1 spell the way in which I think a word ought to he spelled,” he explained, “but who is to say whether it is right or wrong? / English spelling, when you come to think about it, is all stuff and nonsense, and should bo overhauled completely. The fact is that you can’t 6pell in English, so that novelists who can’t spell are perfectly right.” And, surprisingly enough, confirmatory evidence was forthcoming from Sir George Hunter, who is chairman of the Simplified Spelling Society (one of the innumerable organisations • of which one seldom hears). “There are,” he asserted, “many politicians and parsons who cannot spell. And no wonder, for our system is so absurd and difficult and such an impediment to education and the adoption of English as a second world language, that I cannot conceive how we can possibly refrain much longer front simplifying it.” Even the great Sir James Barrie was never quite sure of certain words—a circumstance which may hearten our budding girl novelists. After seeing a performance of “Thunder in tho Air,” he telegraphed that it was “one of the big, unforgetable things.” In using one “t” instead of two, lie was guilty of an error, according to the laws of grammar, but according to Mr George Bernard Shaw, he was “probably quite rite.” Schoolboys have a new patron saint. His name is Shaw.