GENERAL INFORMATION’
A horse‘s strength, on an average, is equal to that of about five men. * Telephone systems in the United States absorb nearly 5,000,000 mikfi of single wire. + According to statistics, people who make breakfast their chief meal are the longest-lived. ,JEvery war balloon has a parachute attached, so that the aeronauts may descend to earth in case of a collapse 4a Pearls which are perfectly round irt shape are the most valuable*; next in order come the pear-shaped, and,, lastly, the egg-shaped. * Every steamship company which carries mails for the British Government is bound in heavy penalties for failing to carry out its contract. For those who aro too thin and angular, cod-liver oil is often recommended. Those who cannot take this should remember that milk containing a pinch of isinglass is fattening. About 11,570 horses drank at eleven troughs belonging to the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association in different parts of London on a recent day during the hours from 9a.m. to 6 p.m. To find out how much paint will cover a given surface, multiply the width by height, and divide by 9? This will give the number of squares yards to be covered. ! For new work 2lb. of paint will cover one square yard with two coats ; lib. will do three coats ; if for old work, the quantity required is $ and slbs. respectively. Five gallons of oil is required to ; 112 lbs. of white lead. Mix a small quantity of patent dryers or turpentine with oil. * For outside work raw linceefl oil is required ;if for inside: use linceed oil. One gallon of oil weighs--9 lbs. One gallon of varnish wBl cover 80 square yards. Among domestic birds not one is more nervous than the duck, which is said to be the most easily excited' of all the feathered ones that contrH bute to our food supply. *— £15,000 is the value of a gokl andH gem-studded thimble presented to the? Queen of Siam by her Royal consort.; The precious stones which adorn itj are arranged to form tho name ofi the Queen, together with the date ofj her marriage.
Teak, which grows in India, in the; Philippines, and other islands of the Malay Archipelago, is deemed the best wood for shipbuilding. It is more durable than oak, more easily, seasoned, lighter for the some strength, and more easily worked,
* A fire will last for hour w s if tb© following plan be adopted : First, let it burn until quite clear and ratner low then put on some big lumps coal. Flatten down and on top heap a good thick layer of dust and ashes, slightly wet, which press down with a shovel as hard as you can. A firo made up like this will last wßhmsrf any more attention through thei greater part of the night. The “shine” can be removed from a serge skirt or, indeed, from an 3' dark material by the application of a sol-, ution of common washing blue inj water. If while still damp ihc article is carefully pressed under a thin: cloth, it will look almost equal to« new. This simple method of treatment is surprisingly efficioue, and can be adopted by anyone. 4*
The German Emperor owns a curious tablecloth, presented long ago by the women of Schleswig-Holstein. It is entirely worked over with morrfl' sayings that include the following : ♦‘Do not believe all you hear, <h> not say all you know, do not do aB" you would like.” “Wilt thou here have spass (fun), be careful with thy, glass.” “First weigh and consider, then dare.” “German house, German land, guard it, God, with mighty, hand.” “Contentment is a rare art.”-
| —+ — i When the King is paying a country-, house visit it is etiquette for the | host and hostess to advance so that’ 1 his Majesty may greet them with a I handshake, but the other guests i stand by and are received with a J genial bow. On leaving the house >*; ! King shakes hands with the other guests, but not in the hall, it being usual for them to pay him a visit in his own quarters by invitation 1 for that purpose. * In America and in Germany railway ambulance trains are now in usa which are kept ready to be sent out for the purpose of affording speedy relief to be maimed. The train, s a far as its narrow limits permit, is as admirably equipped as aDy modern hospital ; its operating-room is fitted up with an operating-table, with all the necessary appliances M antiseptic surgery. + Ten persons out of twelve, perhaps l believe that the leaves of trees turn yellow, red, or purple, or brown/ 1 under the action of the frost ; but t frost has nothing to do with the change. As a matter of fact, it is merely the ripening of the leaves, which are green in spring and suaip mer, because they have in their crib, a substance called chlorophyll, made green by the action of the sunlight. Towards the end of summer, the chlorophyll begins to decay, and the leaves change colour, as the jruanproducing suhothnee i s no longer pre«ent, |IS»
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Bibliographic details
Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 8, 25 September 1906, Page 8
Word Count
860GENERAL INFORMATION’ Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 8, 25 September 1906, Page 8
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