GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 852, 29 June 1888, Page 6

GLEANINGS.

THE GREAT' MAN WHOSE NAME

THE WORLD HONORS.

The following, according to the London Standard, is a boy’s composition about «Clumbus ’:— * Clumbus was a man who could make an egg stand on end without breaking it. The King of Spain said to Clumbus : “ Can you discover America ?” “ Yes,” aai< * Clumbus, “if you will give me a ship.” So he got a ship and sailed over the sea in the direction where he thought America ought to be found. The sailors quarrelled, and said they believed there was no such place. But after many days the pilot came to him, and said : “ Clumbus, I see laud.” “ Then that is America,” said Clumbus. When the ship got near, the land was full of black men. Clumbus said : “Is this America: * Y® s » it is,” said they. Then the chief said : “I suppose you are Clumbus?” “You are right,” said he. Then the chief turned to hii men and said : “ There is no help for it; we are discovered at last.” ’ REAPPEARANCE OF A SUBMERGED CITY. A city submerged by the sea for 1000 years has just reappeared above the waters. The town of Haigen, north of Hing-po, in China, was completely overwhelmed during the Sung dynasty, and lay buried till quite re-' cently, when the sea gradually receded apd exposed the remains of buildings. Quantities of vases, plates, and domestic utensils have accordingly been recovered—of the utmost interest to Chinese historians.

Women in New York are taking largely to the business of buyers for firms iu distant places. The choice of dress material is particularly suitable to women, who can judge of its appearance when made up, and its adaptability to various uses, better than men. It seems to be only in this class of goods that the female buyers are adventuring.

In a paper on the strength ef different kinds of wood for building purposes, Professor Johnson calls attention to the fact, as now demonstrated, that many cheaper kinds of timber may prove more valuable for structures than .more expensive varieties which have been supposed to be stronger, and, therefore, more desirable. Thus pine supports or pillars have been found stronger than oak ones, when tested in large samples.

Ten years ago Japanese women were accustomed to wear their hair piled up in a most exaggerated and complicated fashion ; the preparation of their chevelure waß an enormous labor of at least two hours. A Hair Reform Association, however, has done and is doing a great work in the direction of simplicity and neatness.

The Duke of Edinburgh is not an admirer of his more royal brother, the Prince of Wales ; and he has the pluck to show it. At the silver wedding of his Highness, oi lowness, speaking honestly, the Duke sent him a cheap breastpin, and a few valueless trinkets to the Princess. This is pronounced to be a very stingy act by the English press.

Ostrich -farmers in South Africa are at pi esent suffering as much from bad times as our agriculturists at home. Feathers that were formerly worth £25 now only bring 30s, and a pair of birds that could not be bought some years ago under several hundred pounds, would not at present fetch more than £l2. — London Saturday Review.

A French physician, Dr. Feltz, mentions a curious apparent cause of right-handedness. One child in a certain family was lefthanded, and a. second appeared to be so at the age of one year. It was then learned that the mother always carried her children on the left arm. She was advised to change ; and, held on her other arm, the infant, having its right ha; i free to grasp objects, soon became right-handed.