General News Items

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 5 (Supplement)

General News Items

A 47,000-MILE ROMANCE Miss Irene Taylor, of Blundellsands, "England, and Mr. Lewis C. Nelson, of St. Louis, United States, who were recently married, evidently believe in longdistance courtship. Their romance began three years ago 6,000 miles away from Literpool, when they were on a cruise to Honolulu. Twice sinre then Miss Taylor has been to New York to see Mr. Nelson, and the latter has beep once to Liverpool—over 20,000 miles of travel to see each other three times. When Mr. Nelson and his wife returned to America after a honeymoon on the Continent, the total mileage they had together travelled approached 47,000.

BARBERS' " WAVES " FOR MEN French hairdressers have discovered a new and hitherto unsuspected source of income. They are pushing the cult of permanent waves for men. The discovery that it is possiblo to cajole members of the sterner sex to indulge in the cost of " indefrisables " has been made at a moment when the feminine market is almost saturated.

There are now hardly any French women of any means at all who do not have their hair waved not merely " permanently/' but frequently. Barbers' only means of beguiling men who merely wanted their hair cut into extra expenditure has been to press the purchase of hair tonios. Now they are using their uts of persuasion in favour of the wave.

FISHING FOR LOST ANCHORS One of the strangest industries thait has crown up around large harbours in various parts of the world, is that of fishing for lost anchors. So valuable are these anchors that ships often mark tho place where they lose them on their charts, and encage salvage companies to recover them. It°is not at all uncommon for a ship to lose an anchor, owing to the enormous strain upon it and the chain. While modern science has eliminated most of the hazards of tho sea, vessels must still heave-fob when mountainous waves and howling winds put too great a strain on the hull for continued headway. There is then only one thing left for a "vessel to do—drop its heaviest anchors. Despite ail modern devices for ships' safety, the anchor is still the emergency brake.

HISTORIC OLD OAK TREE There was much enthusiasm at Hastings in the Friendship Camp there when the Mayor planted a Peace Oak recently. The tree -was planted close by one of the historic oaks of England, and the Mayor used an ancient spade made entirely of Sussex oak. The historic oak standing by the sapling is a gnarled veteran which is said to have seen the Conqueror, the story being that he mounted his horse in its shade to direct the Norman cavalry up the slopes of Hastings hill. After planting the tree, a little speech was made by the Warden of the Camp, Mr. 'Samson Eelf, who welcomed the French, German and Dutch students as builders of a great tree of Peace. and the Mayor declared his conviction that everywhere there was growing up a majority of people who wished to live peace and quietness. WHEN CURRENTS GO WROIIQ

An amazing chapter in the history Of the English Channel has been revealed. In August last year observations in the Straits of . over showed that the normal flow from the Channel to the North Sea was practically held up. This was extraordinary enough, but there was something still more astounding to come. During September the current started to flow the other way from the North Sea to the Channel and Irish Sea—and continued doing so throughout the month and during October.

Drift bottles, which started their journey half-way between Plymouth and Ushant during the period in question travelled west. Some were found near Land's End and in the Scillies; a few turned up at Anglesey. The dominant winds during the three months were from the north-west, and this is believed to explain this remarkable change in tho habits of the,current. mystery op a tenement house

Relations were recently becoming more and mtire strained among the occupants of a tenement building in a Paris suburb. Morning after morning one tenant or another found that the bottle of milk left outside the door of his flat had been emptied. . ... The whole place became invested witii an atmosphere of suspicion. Accusations were loosely uttered, and threats of actions for slander were made iri retort. One curious point was noted. The thief, aitei emptying a bottle, invariably left it lying horizontally. Early one morning tho marauder was caught. He was a big black cat which, being unable to get his head into the bottle, upset it and lapped up the contents from the floor. Practice had mada him perfect. It was observed that, while overturning tho bottle with one paw, he eased it down with another, thus performing the whole operation noiselessly. MARQUESS DIES IN COTTAGE

The Marquess Siegmund Csaki-Pallavi-cini, once one of the richest members o the Hungarian aristocracy, died recently in diro poverty in a humble cottage a Tavanok, a little township now in Slovakia, aged 90. Once a dashing cavalry officer, owner of thousands of acres in Hungary, an of splendid palaces in Florence and "Venice, the Marquess was well-known as a sportsman in all the European capitals, and spent much of his life in Italy, I'rance and England. He was a friend of lypg Edward VII and of the King of Serbia The consequences of tho .Treaty oi Trianon which dismembered Hungary, deprived the Marquess of his former v.ealth, but ho was never heard to complain of tho privations he endured in his latter years. His sprightly _ and upright bearing did not betray his age or his sufferings. He leaves a widow, formerly Countess Maria Ors;m, who shared with him the sorrows of his declining years. VETERAN CAB-DRIVER'S CAREER

" Ptacing at Brooklands," said,,. Cock Robin,/, "is easier than falling downstairs." Cock Robin is Charles Bobbins a laxi-cab driver, aged 31 years, who, after having won the taxi race in his own ca ) at Brooklands, was introduced to the Duchess of York. " The old ' bus was working up until midnight Jast night. He said to a reporter. " 'Cock Bobin my mates call me, and I'll be cockier than

c\v»r now. _ " Cock Robin " lias }iarl 58 cab ltences, 3fl of them for horse cabs. " What, these racing drivers want to do, ' lie explaine , " is to try taxi-driving when you ve got to race motor-buses, motor-bikes, private cais and beat them to it in Ihe traffic l.iocks so that voii can get, a decent-sized tii. when vou catch the train. But it s to lot, the old ' Inis all out, with no ' hobbies ' to ask for your licence. J vo done a bit of racing in my t me with hoi>c ral»s and taxies, but I did not know cM Lizzie would become a Brooklands rarei. " I started driving an old horse cab, and went on with it for nearly 60 >• * ' J can remember when you could read a newspaper crossing the London sticrl - ftnd witlrjut any danger. I had to g \ up old Dobbin, eventually, and stai tC' with canned horses. I m getting on now but ' Cock Robin is good fm many more miles on the road—or Brooklands.

SAFETY OP POPE'S LIBRARY The Pope has ordered the repair and reinforcement of the fabric of the private library in which he receives visitors in official audiences. This 6tep has been taken as a precaution against further accidents similar to the collapse of tho Vatican library last year. The private library, it was expected, would be in the hands of workmen for about three weeks from Aug. 15, the date on which the official audiences are suspended for tho summer vacation.

WOMAN " TAXED TO DEATH " Mrs. Anita Baldwin, daughter of a luckv American' speculator and one of the richest women in America, recontly announced that she was " fed up with the United States, and will move to Canada. " We are lawed to death, and taxed to death. That explains my decision," Mrs. Baldwin said. "I do not want to come back until the country has been well swept with a good stiff broom." During the Hoover regime, she added, herhoWings declined in value from £7,000,0UU to £3,000,000.

POSTAL COURTSHIP ROMANCE Misu Cecily Moran, who travelled from Lewes Sussex, to Western Canada, lately, to wed a man she had never seen, was married in Saskatoon. Her husband, Mr. William Hepburn Hunter, who lives on a ranch many miles from the nearest town, conducted his courtship by lettei. While in England during the war, Mr. Hunter was at Lewes for a time, and recently ho appealed to a friend in the town for a housekeeper. Tho friend introduced Miss Moran to Mr. Hunter by letter and after the couple had exchanged moie letters and photographs, they agreed to marry. ROMANTIC VISITOR AT PALACE There was a romantic visitor at Buckingham Palace lately, when Baron Rudolf Slatin and Baroness Anna-Mane Slatin had the honour of lunching with tho King arid Queen. Slatin Pasha, as the baron is" bettor known, is one of the most famous men of the Victorian Age. He was 21 when he left his native Vienna to go to the Sudan, where General (then Colonel) Gordon appointed him Governor of Darfur. After taking part in nearly 30 battles in tho Sudan, the baron was compelled to surrender to the fanatical Mahdists and was made a personal attendant of tho Khalifa. Then came the siege of Khartum. He was suspected of corresponding with General Gordon, and was placed in irons. For more thau 10 years he was a slave of the Khaufa. Finally the baron escaped, made his way dcross the desert, and reached civilisation, to be received with high honours. He became later Inspector-General of the Sudan. FROGS LEARNING TO FLY

Describing it as " a striking example of evolution at work " Dr. Remington Kellogg, of the United States National Museum, has presented a report to the Smithsonian Institution on a race of frogs that are learning to fly. These frogs inhabit tree:! in the forests of Mexico. They are enabled to climb by adhesive discs attached to the ends of their fingeis and toes. They have elongated hind legs, and when handled exude a sticky disagreeable fluid which instantly coagulates, it has a strong, unpleasant odour whicli irritates the nostrils.

Experiments have been conducted to test, the flying capacity of" the frogs. One was dropped from a high water tower. It immediately spread out its limbs and sailed'down at a gliding angle, landing uninjured about 90ft. from the base of the 140 ft. high tower. Other frogs thrown into the air always managed to get into a balanced position enabling them to glide to this ground. One species is marsupial, tin!) young being carried in a pouch on the back of the female. lIPEWER VISITORS TO FRANCE

Serious attention is being paid to the problem of restoring the prosperity ot France's tourist industry, which, in the p<i£it year or two, lias declined alarmindv It has been estimated that, by the end of 1932, not more than 250,000 Americans will have spent their holidays in France. The total for last year was about 400,000, and even this figure was comparatively low. Moreover, from countries such as Germany, Czecho-Slovakia, Austria and Hungary, where the export of funds is restricted, very few visitors are coming to France. Although British people continue to cross the Channel in large numbers, the recent campaign in favour of holidays in Britain has struck yet another blow_ at French hotel-keepers and travel organisations. The casinos have suffered greatly, for, in tho old days, 85 per cent of tho gamblers who patronised them came nom abroad. It has been decided, among other things, to offer annual prizes for the books and newspaper articles in foreign languages which are most likely to inspire a desire to visit France. MANNA FOR THE ZULUS

Natives in Natal, South Africa, have been suffering badly recently, for their cattle wero largely destroyed by a long period of drought. One morning they saw ft grcnt area of the veld covered with a milky-white, flaky substance. " Manna! Manna!" they cried, and promptly proceeded to collect it in baskets. It was found to be sweet and pleasant to the taste and in every way like the manna described in the sixteenth chapter of Exodus. A farmer in the neighbourhood who gathered some of the manna describes it as looking like small popcorn and tasting like wafers made with honey Manna has fallen in South Africa and in portions of Australia on previous occasions, and scientists have endeavoured to discover oxactly what it is. It is believed that it originates from a kind of gum secreted by eucalyptus trees. This bocomes light and dry -and is blown from tho trees by the wind. Some years ago there was a fall of manna in Palestine'. An expedition sent by tho University of Jerusalem found that insects feeding on tamarisk secreted drops of honey, which on the ground turned into small white grains and flakes. WORLD'S GREATEST ROAD MILEAGE

Tho country owning the world's greatest road mileage is America, whoso highways total well over three million miles. But the United States is a vast country and, size for size, Britain is twice as well supplied with roads. In the States there is only one mile of road for each square mile of tho country, while Britain possesses double this amount. To be relatively as well equipped with roads as Britain is, tho United States would require nearly seven million miles of highway.

Russia, vvi ;h more than three-quarters of a million miles o! roads, has the second largest total in the world, though she has but one mile of road to every one nnd three-quarter square miles of area. Third on the list is Japan, with nearly 600.000 miles: fourth, France, with over 400,000; fifth, Canada, with 400.000; sixth, Australia, with oOO.UJ, and seventh, India, whose total is only a little smaller. , The country best provided with roads according to its size, is the little State of Luxembourg, with more than two and a half miles of road for every mile of its surface. Northern li-plaiid is a P oocl second, and other countries almost, as weJl found in the matter of roads are Oreat Britain, France and Denmark.

BOARD FOR HOUSEHOLD PETS Boarding establishments for cats and dogs have been doing a roaring trade m London recently. Parrots are boarded out, too. One can hardly expect a woman to take a parrot to the seaside. In Gay Noah's Ark, in Waterloo Road, a Sunday Graphic writer says he saw a woman lead a monkey out on a chain and walk up the street. Mr. Gay said that the monkey had been boarding with him for a fortnight while its owner had been to Brighton. He then showed goldfish in lodgings. While neighbours often did not mind looking after dogs or even cats, goldfish presented an entirely different proposition, ho said.

DUTY PAID ON GIRLS' PRIZES Six London girl athletes, representing the Women's Amateur Athletic Association, were surprised, on landing at Newhaven lately, to find that they had to pay duty on clocks which they had von as prizes in France. At a women's athletic meeting at Dieppe during a week-end, they had won two cups and 16 clocks. Tho cups become the property of the Women s A.A.A., but tho clocks were personal prizes won by the girls. Customs officials told tho girls that the cups were of white silver of no value, and were not dutiable, but insisted on their paying a duty ranging from 3s 4d to 13s 4d on each of their clocks. They paid under protest. UNKNOWN SOLDIER'S FUNERAL A beautiful and romantic incident happened in 'ltaly, recently, in connection with an Italian soldier who had been a foundling. This poor soldier had been killed in a motor accident and was lying dead in tho military hospital of Savigliano. There was not a soul to go to his funeral and no one who cared about him was near, for ho was without any relatives. These sad facts somehow got to the ears of Queen Elena of Italy, and she directed that the soldier's body should be removed from the hospital to the Royal Lodge at Valdieri. "As ho was an orphan, I will be a mother to him," she said. And so tho Queen of Italy, Princess Maria and the ladies and gentlemen-in-waiting joined with the villagers, who copied their example, and followed tho unknown soldier to his grave. There Queen Elena knelt in prayer and laid a bunch of flowers on the coffin.

SAVING THE SUSSEX DOWNS Steps are to be taken to preserve the beauties of the Sussex Downs in accordance with the recommendations in the report of the Brighton, Hove, and District? Joint Town Planning Advisory Committeo published- lately. Local authorities in tho area have been invited to join in the formation of an executive town planning committeo, which, under the now r iown Planning Bill, will bo able to make protective regulations. The committee's aims are to prohibit building above tho 300 ft. contour line, thus preserving 30,000 acres of Downland in its natural state; preserve woodlands; parks, and ancient monuments; control tho appearance of roadside buildings; and prevent tho use of vans, shacks, and railway carriagos s a3 human habitations. FAMOUS OPERA HOUSE One of tho mosfc distinguished members of tho Academic' Francaise, M. Paul Valery, has caused much surprise by suggesting in all seriousness that tho famous Opera House which forms part of tho Palace of Versailles should be rescued from neglect and oblivion. This theatre, started by Gabriel in 1753 and completed nearly twenty year 9 later, is theoretically one of the meeting places of tho Senate. M. Valepy suggests that tho theatre should bo used once more for theatrical and operatic performances. What better setting, ho asks, could be found for the music of Lulli, Gluck, and Rameau, or for tho plays of Rac.'ne and Molicro. Versailles, ho asserts, might easily becomo " the Bayrcuth of Franco." It is pointed out, howover, that State-aided theatres arc already being run at a loss, and are a considerable burden on tho Budget. A second objection raised is that if the Versailles Opera wero used regularly there would bo constant danger of a fire, which might destroy half tho palace in,a few hours. THE " CONVERSATION DANCE " A quick tongue, even more than a light step, is noedful for success in tho latest New York dance, and young men and girls meet a fresh test of popularity in tho " Conversational Dance," now sweeping through England. First tho couple dance a little, then they walk and talk, and if both become engrossed m some light topic such as love, the two partners may halt awhile. Preparatory to introducing the conversational dance to a wider public, a dancing teachers' congress was held in New York from where it was proposed to introduce fo Americans a series of exercises designed to enable couples to weave their way dexterously on _ a crowded floor. These consist of balancing exercises, which give the learner such control of himself that no matter how small tho space in which lie and his partner move, the young man retains complete command in a difficult situation. To supervise. these exercises several English teachers arrived for the congress. Miss Lucille Stoddart, who presided at the congress, said that the technique of the English on a dance floor was wonderful. All over Great Britain people danced alike. Their steps vp'ied but their bodily poise was the same.

SOON SETTLED Mary, tho maid, came downstairs and faced an angry-looking mistress. " Mary," she snapped, " I've just discovered that you wore my blue dress yesterday to go to tho seaside. I don t liko it! ' Mary smiled back innocently. " Oh, madam," sho said, " I just lovo it! So docs my boy! " TRUE TO FORM They wore discussing a friend. " A good fellow, of course," said Hobson, " but very obstinate. Why, he simply wouldn't seo a doctor when his wife wanted him to." " Yes, he was always jike that," said Williams. " As boys wo were out in a boat when a dispute _ arose, and he was thrown overboard with the injunction: ' Sink or swim.' " "What did ho do?" asked Hobson. " Neither. Uo lay on his back and floated," came the reply. KISS FOR UNCLE JOHN The country stationmnster did not wear a uniform, and one day when a traih came in he stood at the platform gate to take tho passengers' tickets. A pretty girl came up to him and when ho held out his hand for her ticket sho seized it, gave it a tight squeezo, and followed by giving him a hearty kiss. The stationmaster was surprised, but managed to say: " That's all f Very well, miss, but I want your ticket." " Oh," replied tho girl, with a blush, " aren't you Uncle John ? " STRIKING LIKENESS Tho court was trying a case which had arisen out of a car accident. " You say you were half scared to death ? " said counsel for tho defence.. " I know very well I was," said the victim, with warmth. " Then," said cdhnsel coldly, " how do you know it was a motor-car, or something resembling a motor-car, that hit you?" Tho victim looked squarely at him. " It resembled one all right," ho replied. " I was forcibly struck by the resemblance." A SLIGHT ALTERATION Tho little man had been gazing for somO' time into the window of a shop whero nil kinds of ready-made clothes were displayed for sale. Tho proprietor of the shop, seeing his interested gaze, came out and invited him inside, where a largo selection of suits were produced for his inspection. After about an hour of hesitating, the customer eventually selected a blue serge coat and trousers. " I'll have those," he cried, " if you 11 make any alterations I require." " Certainly, sir; certainly," beamed the tailor. " All alterations made, sir." "flood!" cried the little man. -Inst, you alter the price from five guineas to two pounds ten and I take tho suit with I me,"

FATHER'S TURN Tho man wearing tha rather frayedlooking suit entered a tailor's shop. " I hear that my son has owed you for a unit for tlireo years," ho commenced. Tho tailor's faco brightened. " That's right, sir," ho replied. " And have you come to pay_ the bill? " " Gracious, no," replied the other. " I want one myself on tho same terms."

WHEN EXTREMES MEET She was trying to " catch " tho very eligible Edgar. But ho would have nothing to do with her. " No," ho said one day, " I will never marry until I .meet the woman who is my absolute opposite." " That shouldn' 4 , bo difficult to find," she returned.

" Eh! What do you mean ? " asked Edgar. Why," sho returned, with a cock of her head, " there aro a number of very intelligent girls in the district."

New Member (ley Nos. 2, 3 and 4, who are awaiting the arrival of No. 1): "I wonder if you gentlemen would care to join me on the far court?" —The Humorist

AN EASY WINNER Tho defendant in the breach of promiso action was a singularly ugly little man. When his counsel rose to address the jury, he' said: "You've hoard tho evidence of tho plaintiff, and you've doubtless admired her. Now, do you believo this enchanting, this fascinating, this captivating, this accomplished girl would favour tho advances or listen, save with scorn, to tho amorous protestations of the wretched and repulsive creature, the deformed and degraded defendant?" His client tried to interrupt.

"Silence, sir!" replied his counsel, in an undertone. " Gentlemen," ho continued, " do you think this girl would ever have permitted an offer of marriage to bo mado her by this miserablo atom of humanity, who would have to stand on a penny In look over twopence? The jury thought not. They gave a vcr'Hf.t for defendant.

.CHEAP "WAY OUT A young brido had four umbrellas given her for wedding presents, and she decided to try to change one. She chose tho only one with a label on it —a gift from a Scots friend. " But I can't change this," said tho assistant in tho umbrella shop when sho handed it across tho counter.

"But why not?" asked the young brido. " Your label is on tho umbrella.'*

" I know," replied the assistant, " but that label was put on for the recovering."

SHE WAS NOT VAIN Emily was a good enough parlour-maid —when she did any work. But she had one great fault —she imagined that she was a beauty. Accordingly, she spent much of her time gazing into the mirror. " You shouldn't bo so vain, Emily," said her mistress to her on one occasion, catching her at her favourite occupation. " You are always inspecting your face in the looking-glass." " I'm not vain, ma'am," was Emily's indignant reply. " Why, I don't think I'm half so good-looking as I am!".

A PRAOTIOAL MIND Amidst tremendous applause tho celebrated professor had distributed the prizes for tho junior astronomers' club, and towards the closo of tho evening he waxed extremely eloquent. " And now, children," he cried, "if you saw your glorious flag waving over tho 'battlefield, whilst tho dead and wounded lay round about, what would you think?"

There was a long pause, and the speaker smiled genially. "Come!" he said. " Won't someone answer?" A voice broke the silence. " Please, sir," it said, I'd think the wind was blowing."

DRESSING THE BABY " John, dear, will you dress Tommy this morning ? I'm in such a hurry, and it won't take you more than a minute or two."

" Certainly," replied John, cheerfully. " I'd just as soon dress the little chap as not. Here, son, como and let daddy dress you. I'll have you as neat as a pin in a jiffy." Tommy, aged four, reluctantly left his playthings, and his father began: — " Now, let's off with your nightgown and—keep still, dear, or 1 can't unbutton it. There, now, wo'll—sit still, child. What makes you squirm like an eel ? Where's your shirt ? Ah, hero it is, and—sit still!

" Put up your arm—no, the other one. and—can't you keep still a second ? Put up your other arm and stop pulling so. No, let's—come here, boy. What do you mean by racing off liko that with nothing on but. your shirt? " Now, come here and let me put the rest, of your clothes on. Put vour leg in here. Not that leg. There you go, squirming around like a worm. Now, if you don't, keep still, I'll—slop pulling at that, chain, and—here Doris, you'll have to chess this wriggling animal yourself. I couldn t do it in ten yeura.".