CURRENT TOPICS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 302, 19 November 1938, Page 8

CURRENT TOPICS

(By “Wayfarer.”)

A shopkeeper wants to know th« quickest way to add to Ins collection of foreign coins. He might do worse than instai an automatic sweet machine.

A sporting writer refers to a young boxer’s ability to take punishment, anti predicts that he will go far in the fistic world. The pugilist, in fact, is earmarked for success

In the naming of new battleships by the British Admiralty) there has been a reversion to iormer practice, earlier post-War ships of this class having Deen named either after members . oi the Royal Family or after distinguished admirals. Lion, Temeraire, and also Implacable are famous names of ships of the line in the old sailing Navy, and their revival should be popular. Fifteen ships have been called the Lion since the early sixteenth century, and the last, which was the battlecruiser flagship throughout the War of 1914-18, was disposed of in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, as was the Temeraire, a battleship which had also served in the Grand Fleet .hroughrit the War. It. is just a century ago that the towing of the Trafalgar Temeraire to be broken up inspired Turner’s famous picture. Two ships have been called Implacable, the first, which fought on the French side at Trafalgar as the Duguay-Trouin and was captured later, being still in existence as a youths’ training ship at Portsmouth.

A cable message published yesterday stating that the Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to the Nansen Bureau for Refugees recalls the fact that the prize has been awarded since 1901. The fund from which the prize is drawn was set up under the will of the late Mr A. B. Nobel, a Swedish chemist and engineer, who died in 1896. Actually there are five'Nobel Prizes awarded, according to the wordsVof the-, will, as follow: —(1) To the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention in the domain of physics; (2) to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; i(3) to the person who shall have made the most important discovery in the domain of physiology or medicine- (4) to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most distinguished work of an idealist tendency; (5) to the person who shall have most or best promoted the fraternity of nations and the abolition or diminution of standing armies and the formation and increase of peace congresses.” A committee of five persons elected hy the Norwegian Storting are the judges for the Peace Prize, and it is laid down in each case that no consideration shall be paid to nationality.

Bratislava, which, according to Czech opinion published in last evening’s cable news, "will inevitably pass into German hands,” is situated at the base of the outlying spurs of the Little Carpathians on the left bank of the Danube. This strategic situation has been of prime importance in the life and development of the town. Bratislava was founded about 1000 A.D., but that was doubtless not the first settlement. Strong fortifications were built and with the advance of the Turks and the conquest of Buda it was selected as the Hungarian capital in 1541. This function was retained until 1784, while the Hungarian Parliament continued to meet there until 1848. From the latter date until the end of the World War Bratislava was overshadowed by Vienna, but the creation of the Czechoslovakian republic revived its prosperity and it is now an important Danubian port as well as a great railway junction. Tn 1930 the population was given at 123,852 consisting of 40 per cent. Czechoslovakian, 28 per cent. German and 22 per cent Magyar. Tlie town is the seat of the International Danube Commission, which, under the treaty of Versailles, controls navigation on the Danube.

Some time ago, a news story from East Lampeter Philadelphia, stated that the citizens of this little town had sent a delegation to Washington to ask the Government to please not give them 56,000 dollars. The money had been appropriated to erect a new consolidated sclioolhouse. The spokesman of the delegation said “Borrowing money and accepting gifts are against our traditions.” Since their protest the school has been built, but the Government has agreed to keep open the five one-room schools that the “plain people” wish their children to attend.

Tlie inhabitants of East Lampeter are Mennonites and Amishmen. Their town has no public debt and their citizens owe no money. In the heart of a rich farming country these people have lived a thrifty existence for several generations.'Tlie land is rolling and gently wooded, the water is plentiful and clear, and these benefits produce farm products of finest quality. In the old town of Lancaster, which is the hub of the “Pennsylvania Dutch” section, there is one of the largest of American retail fresh-pro-duce markets. Almost every day is market day here, and the horse and waggon is still supreme, for the “plain people” do not look with favour on cars.

The “plain people” believe in direct selling and control of prices. Tt has made their community better than well to-do, says an American writer. Their wants are simple, however. One will not find a radio in the home, nor, in fact, a musical instrument of any kind. But they are, after a fashion, a musical people. There is always a hymn after prayer at meals. Often on a warm evening the family and friends sit on the long farmhouse porch and sing. Usually one of the older members gives the key and tempo. Theirs is the truly democratic heritage. They are independent but loyal to the. ideals of democracy. And when they refused the benefits of government relief money they said: “We have conscientious scruples against accepting the money. It has been our custom to care for our own poor, which is the Scriptural reading, according to Matthew 26:11. We should prefer to continue to do so.” These are really “plain people” in all that the words imply. And if their buttonless, ornament-bare clothes make outsiders smile, the smile lias a great deal of affection in it, especially if the observer lias lived among them and glimpsed the real sincerity beneath the plainness.