HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Mail, 30 December 1892, Page 19

HERE AND THERE.

A very old joke in a new dress reaches us from America. At a recent prayer meeting in New Jersey, a Democratic brother prayed that God would cause the Demoorntio party to hang together, whereupon a Republican present shouted, 'Amen, amen.' This led the Democratic brother to make the following emendation in his prayer: • Not, O Lbrd, in the sense our Republican brother means, but in the spirit of accord and consord.' • Any cord will do, Lord ; any cord will do,' interjected tho Republican. The pastor immediately made a rule that hereafter politics should be kept out of the prayermeeting.

Which is the highest mountain in North America. This question has been answered with great positiveness at different times, but scarcely was any peak pronounced the monarch of the New World north of Panama before it bad to hide its humbled head by the claims put forth on the behalf of a rival; Of lste, Orizaba or Citlaltepl in Mexico, Popocatepetl in the same country, and St. Elias in Alaska hate remained the only competitors for this distinction. Unfortunately, the point is still open to dispute, since no measurements of the strictest scientific character hare been made, except in the case of Orizaba. As the result of these, completed by Mr Scovell with the assistance of Mr Bunsen, it is found that this mountain it 18,312 ft high, or 937 ft loftier than Humboldt's estimate, though closely corresponding with the disputed measurement by Kaska and Heilprin. This therefore leaves Orizaba nearly 200 ft higher than Moant St. Elias, if Russell's 1891 calculation is approximately accurate, and 700 ft over Popocatepetl, at one time considered the culminating point of the North American continent.

It appears that we are the only nation who still use quill pens. Which fact is a source of much wonderment to the American, who cannot understand how wo should not have altogether abandoned that ancient use in favour of the manufactured steel. But then we are a strange people in many ways—and quill pens are not the only ' old lamps' which we prefer to the new.

Clothing made in fever dens. Such is the ugly-sounding story told at a London inquest recently. The Duke of York's tailors (says a London paper) did their best to pooh-pooh Miss Hicks' statement about the diphtheria and the trousers, but all the tailors in London will not be able to discredit the horrible story published yesterday at Coroner Danford Thomas' court. A family of young children was down with scarlet fever one of them dead and one recovering, in an attic bedroom, while in an adjoining attic room the father, with two assistants, worked at clothes whieh he brought from the tailors, and the mother came in and handled the clothes and the food after handling the sick children. The whole place, in the coroner's graphic words was, ' warm with scarlet fever,' and there it no better means of spreading the infection than by clothes. In faot, it is impossible to doubt that the epidemic has gone broadcast over a whole London district from that single centre of attraction. It apparently •rose from a drain below the kitchen, and the Holborn District Board can hardly escape • charge of negligence in the matter. But the house, on the authority of the relieving officer, is one o? those that pay the landlord fifty per cent on his investment. This sort of thing—we mean the possibility of such infected workshops—must be stopped at any cost and at once.

Among Lord Tennyson's acquirements was, it seems, a knowledge of astronomy. When the Laureate paid his last visit to London lie sent (the British Weekly says) for Mr Norman Lockyer, as he wished very speoially to see him. Mr Lockyer found, on going to Mr Craik's house in Halkin street, where Lord Tennyson was staying, that his opinion was wanted with regard to the temperature of the sun, a subject in which Lord Tennyson was much interested, and upon which they had a long and most interesting discussion. Mr Lockyer said the poet knew as much about astronomy as he himself.

The first address of Mr Harrison Haytor, the new president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, was (says the Times) of an unusually interesting character. Asa practical man —Sir John Hawkshaw was his partner—his views on such modern developments us tunnelling and canal making are worthy of more than passing attention. He is of opinion that the proposed tunnels between England and Franco and Scotland and Ireland could be made for £10,000,000 each, and be completed in ten years. Taming from these heroic enterprises, however, he stated that three more modest but extremely useful subaqueous enterprises would probably bs undertaken as follows : A tunnel under the Humber to give Hull a terminus for the southern lines; another under tho Thames from a point between Purfleet and Gray's Thurrock ; and a third to connect the Southwestern line with the Isle of Wight railways. Mr Hayter is undoubtedly right in suggesting that the success of the Manchester Ship Canal would give great impetus to the improvement of our inland navigation—a development in which our continental neighbours set us an example.

The Early Closing movement appears to be making headway nt Home. The president and secretary of the National Shop Assistants' Union made out a strong case (says the London Chronicle) in favour of the State regulations for early closing and tho shortening of hours. The average of shop assistants' hours throughout the country is eighty-four a week, a shocking and wholly needless waste of human life. In fact the witnesses added that the better class of shopkeepers actually looked to Parliament to shorten hours and protect them against their unscrupulous neighbours. As for early closing, it is impossible for seven- eighths of the

tradesmen of a district to agree to it if the remaining eighth keep open. The need for parliamentary interference is therefore obvious.

What's in a name ? Would champagne, called by any other name, be as sweet or dry ? The Paris Court of Appeal (says the Paris correspondent of tho ChronicL) is now trying a commercial case, which is not only of great importance to the parties concerned, but of general interest. The syndicate of the winegrowers of Champagne asked for an injunction against the chief houses of Saumur to forbid the use o! the word ' Champagne' upon their labels. Maitre fesjardin, for the defendants, not only clairrs a prescription for the sparkling Saumur wines, but adds significantly that there are now Swiss, Italian, Crimean, and Californian champagnes, and that Saumur wine forms the basis of what Littre" in his dictionary calls a ' fabricated ' wine. Maitre Pouillcfc, who appeared for the Champagne growers, declared that the French courts had established numerous precedents by deciding that the world-renowned wine belonged exclusively to one province. [Che case had not concluded when tho mail left.]

Mixed metaphor! ' When the cat is out of the bag, when the Bill is before the House, it will prove an apple of discord.' So writes the P.M.G. about the Home Rule Bill, in a strain worthy of Sir Boyle Roche. This fruity quadruped will doubtless be christened by the biologists and botanists the Kilkenny Pippin. Auother English paper commenting on the above, eavs we have dog-roses, why not cat-apples ?

Surely the valuo of property in the city of London must be falling very rapidly. In view of the numorous additions that are being made to tho buildings let aB offices and chambers in the City, certain proceedings at Tokenhouae yard on Tuesday are instructive. A block of buildings, covering over half an acre, and with frontages to Billiter and Leadenhail streets, was put up by auction. It is a modern structure held on lease with an unexpired term of seventy eight years, and its erection, together with the prine of the ground, cost, in hard cash, close on £200,000. Those who were present at the sale had it on the authority of one of tho most eminent auctioneers in London that there was nothing, so far as he could see, to ts disadvantage, and as time went on the income derived from the property was bound to increase. Deducting ground rent and othor outgoings, the premises were worth £SOOO net per annum to the purchaser. Twenty.five thousand pounds was the first bid, and there being no other offer tho property was sold at this amount—that is, at five years' purchase. It transpired during the sale that only two thirds of the property were let, and that one of the principal tenants had just given notice ; but, be this as it may, it is evident that the supply of offices and chambers in the City is fast outstripping the demand.

The great soarcb light on the Tower of Transportations Buildings at the World's Fair at Chicago was recently tested, and is believed to be the strongest in the world. It was made by Messrs Sohuckert and Co., of Nuremberg, Germany, and consists of an electric arc of 150,000 candles, and the great magnifying glass which directs the rays is 4 feet in diameter. The illuminating power of the beam is equivalent to that of 160,000,000 candles. The carbons are 12 inches long and 1} inches in diameter.

Sir John Lubbook, the English banker and politician, is a great authority on those interesting little insects, the ants. In the course of a lecture delivered recently by him in London, Sir John Lubbock brought out with great vividness the point that ants recognise and are kind to the members of their own nest, but have an unconquerable dislike to strangers. On one occasion Sir John Lubbock intoxicated some ants and replaced them in the nest, together with a few inebriated strangers. The ants immediately recognised their comrades, picked them up, and carried them away to sleep off the effects of their carouse; but they threw the strangers out of the nest into the water which surrounded it, and would have left them to drown had Sir John not rescued them. Ants, the lecturer showed, have several seuseß although some of tbem vary in degree from those of human beings. They undoubtedly can see colours and distinguish one from another, and it is possible that they can h«nr vibrations which are inaudible to us. That they have some moral senso is undoubted, for they are the only creaturos, except man, so far a 3 our knowledge extends, which aro kind to crippled or weakly members of their race. Ants aro prorerbially industrious, and Sir John Lubbock regretfully observed that they did net pause in their labours even to keep bank holidays.

It is not only in Ireland that evictions take place. A Dover correspondent sends the London Globe the following strange story. A few days ago tho Margate Fire Brigade received an alarm of fire and proceeded to New stacet. On reaching the house indicated the rooms were found to be full of sulphurous smoke, and a woman was rescued in a very exhausted state from' the fumes. It then transpired that, every other device having failed to induce her to give up occupation, a sublandlord had actually ignited a pan of sulphur in an adjoining room, with the view of smoking her out.

Once more the origin of the pennant has formed the subject of newspaper correspondence, and the majority of correspondents are as much at sea as ever in giving the explanation. It really arose at the time when Van Tromp and the Dutoh fleet hoisted a broom, indicative of an intention to sweep the ships of Britain from the seas. This was too great an insult to be passed over lightly by the English Admiral, who at once showed a horsewhip, eloquently significant of his intention towards the Dutch. The pennant which the horsewhip symbolised has ever since been the distinguishing mark of British men of-wtir.

. An amusing story is being told about Mr George Grossmith, the well-known English actor, who is now on tour in America. When on board the Teutonic, Peter Japkson, the pugilist, was also on board, and an attempt was made to arrange a fight between them 1 Mr Grossmith, as everybody knows, is not exactly a giant, and when Jackson was consulted about the fight he said he would meet his proposed antagonist, provided a suitable telescope-holder was appointed. He could not hit him, he said, unless he was sure of seeing him. Then Mr Grossmith said that he must have a telescope, too, so that he could look through the big end of it, and make Jackson, seem farther off. It was decided that the requirements for the fight were too complicated and it was abandoned.

It is a curious story, says the London Globe, which comes from Constantinople. Everyone who knows the Turkish capital knows Dr Mavroyeni, the Sultan's private physician, who is an admirable raconteur, and is, with the exception of Dr Dickson, physician to the British Embassy, the Nestor of local medicos. It seems the doctor, who is the familiar friend of the Caliph, fell, some years ago, under the spell of a French adventuress, whom he ultimately married. Soon afterwards, owing to a scandal, the Sultan exiled the lady of the doctor's affections. On the entreaty of the infatuated old man the decree was revoked, and then, in due course, arose scandal number two. Upon this the doctor applied for a divorce, but the lady had a trump card to play here. The had kept a dairy containing his notes on the state of health, especially the mental health, of the head of the House of Othman. This dairy the lady got hold of and forwarded to the palace with the result that, after vainly seeking refuge at the Russian Embassy, where he had no right of asylum, the doctor was carried prisoner to Yildiz Kiosk, and put to the question. As he is, though of Greek descent, a native Ottoman subject, it may go hard with him in spite of the good stories with which he had for years soothed the waking hours of his sovereign. It was in another part of the same Orient Empire of to-day that a wise sovereign wrote : '' Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed.chamber ; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.' Solomon wrote the moral of the latest incident at Constantinople.

Large cargo steamers (says a writer in Transport) are now the order of the day—so large, indeed, that colossal is perhaps the most appropriate, adjective in which to describe their proportions. Last week I recorded the launching on the Weir of a 9000-ton steamer ; this week I hear that a Tyneside firm are commencing to lay down the keel of an oil steamer to measure 450 ft in length, and to have a dead-weight capacity of nearly 9000 tons. The builders are Messrs C. S. Swan and Hunter, of Wallsend, and the future owners of this huge vessel are Messrs R. M. Hudson and Company, of Sunderland. Of course, in passenger steamers —Transatlantic liners for instance—this size has ceased to bo uncommon; but in cargo steamers it marks a rapid development on the three, four, or five thousand tons, which have, up to the present, been considered large vessels.

Surely tho marvels of the telephone will neror cease. Almost, if not enlire:y, without notice from the English press a remarkable achievement in telephony has just been effected in America. This consists in the opening of a telephone line between New York and Chicago—a distance of 950 miles, or nearly twice the length of any previously in regular operation. Yet it is said by the American journal Science to work quite well. MiGraham Bell was present, and easily conversed with one of his early associates in telephonic work who happened to be in Chicago, readily recognising his voice, while the mayors of the two cities had no difficulty in holding verbal intercourse. For our part, we see no more reason for doubting that wo shall before long telephone from England to Now York than thero was thirty yeari ago for scoffing at the notion of telegraphing across the Atlantic—less, indeed.

The next notable visitor to England is to be tho Khan of Khiva. He is to make a tour of Europe, accompanied by a high Russian official, and London is said to tie one of the places which ho most wishes to see. When the present Tzar was crowned the Khan was one of the Asiatio potentates who attended the festivi'ies at Moscow, but he has never been further west. The Khan dresses like a European, can speak a little Russian, but no other European language, and ia said to be a strict Mohammedan.

Sir Herbert Maxwell contributes an instructive arid amusing article to the November issue of Blackwood's Magazine. The subject is * Clothes.' Inter alia Sir Herbert recalls n curious legend regarding the tattooing ; of tho Tonga Islanders :—The anthropologist will find some analogy in the practice of tho Fiji islanders, whose women are decoralively tattooed, but not the men. On the other hand, among a neighbouring people, the Tongans, it is the men who are tattooed, and not the women. Moreover, the Fijians, who consider themselves much Buperior to the Tongans, have invented a legend to account for this anomaly. It is said that long ago a messenger was sent from Tonga to Fiji to obtain information about the correct fashions among people of social standing. Swinging merrily along on his return journey ho kept repeating aloud the precept he had committed to memory, so as to be sure and deliver his message correctly. 'Tattoo tho women but not the men ; tattoo the women but not the men ; tattoo the—Damn !' he had struck his bare Bhin against a stump in the grass. After some minutes' halt to rub the bruised limb, he resumed his route, but the rhythm of his chant was broken, for by the time ho had arrived at Tonga he had it, ' Tattoo the men, but not the women.' And ever since the Tongese braves have been beautifully ornamented ; but the ladies are allowed to remain as Nature planned them.

Princes in their travels.—ln the field of colonial exploration (says tho Daily News Paris correspondent) the Due d' Orleans and his cousin, Prince Henri do Chartres, are becoming sharp rivals. The Duke started on November 8 from Brindisi for Berbera, via Aden. At the latter place he is to organise an expedition to Somaliland and the territory lying between it and the Victoria Nyanza. He looks upon it as a region practically unexplored, except about Harrar and the route leading to that place from Berbera. It is also his intention, with the help of surveyors and cartographers, to draw maps of the territory lying between Somaliland and Victoria Nyanza, and to plant the French flag in all parts where spheres of influence are vaguely defined. The expeditionary body which he is to lead aro to take all necessary instruments for a geographical survey, and as far as possible for a geological one also. Prince Boris Czetwertynski is to be to the Due d'Orleans what M. Bouvalot was to the Prinse Henri in his tour in Central Asia. Prince Boris may be regarded as an old East African, having often explored between the roast and Somaliland. Lion hunts are to vary the geographical studies, which this timo will not be very deep or extensive, inasmuch as the tour is not to last more than six months

An English paper discourses as follows on the subject of mosquitoes:—Considering tho prevalence of mosquitoes and the large number of their victims, it is remarkable that so little positive is known regarding the nature of their bites—whether the irritation is caused Bimply by the mechanical action of the" sawed proboscis or is due to an injected poison. No poison-gland can be detected. Yet the symptoms of mosquito-bites aro decidedly those of a venom, to which, in timo, the system gets more insensible than at first. It has been lately suggested that it is of the nature of intermittent fever. In very sensitive people the itching seem 3 to return on the third day., and again on the sixth day ; this peculiarity having a strong resemblance to malarious fever, which, considering the materials from which the gnat's juices are elaborated, is not remarkable. It ought, bowever, to be added that the minute blood-worm which causes the 'Congo sleeping disease' undergoes part of the transformation in tho mosquito's intestines.

Mr Charles T. Yerkes, popularly known in America as ' the street railway man,' is to present to Chicago the largest and most powerful telescope in the world. Professors Hale and Burnham, of the Lick Observatory, who have the matter in hand, were explicitly told by Mr Yerkes not to mind the question of costs. Mr A. G. Clark, a famous American telescope maker, has undertaken to cast the glass, which will be 45in in diameter, just eleven inches greater than the glass of the Lick. The outlav is estimated at £IOO,OOO.

The Tarn o' Shanter Inn at Ayr has ju?t been sold by public auction, after very brisk bidding, for £3190. This is is the building where it was supposed— The landlady and Tarn grew gracious Wi' favours seoret, sweet and precious. The property originally belonged to the Weaver's Incorporation, but all the members having died, it became the property of the crown. The Town Council applied for it to be gifted to them, but this was refused.

There was one harrowing feature of the terrible disaster to the Scotch express that many of tho published accounts seem to have noticed. This was tho moans of dogs which were being slowly burnt to death. One of the passengers who, happily, escaped without the slightest injury, Miss Anderson, daughter of Mr Anderson, of the Orient Line —a gentleman eighty years old who, as well as another daughter, suffered no harm—describes the moans of these poor dogs as too piteous for words. Miss Anderson's own dog, which was with her in tho carriage, was un. hurt. Mr Anderson ard his party occupied a sleeping car several carriages behind the Pullman, from under which at least two men were taken dead.

Andrew Shankland, who would have been 101 years of age on the 29th of this month, died at Troon on Friday week. He was not a teetotaler, and took snuff. Poor old follow, drink and snuff killed him at last.

A Melbourne correspondent writes :—The heroic conduct of a boy averted what might have proved a serious accident on the Beudigo and Kilmoro line recently. A. mixed train from Sandhurst to Melbourne, on being pulled on at a siding near the Kilmoro station, broke away from the ODgine, ar>d bolted off in the oppaaiie direction. It contained fifteen passengers, who very qniokiy realised their daagerous predioament, and, to use a mild expression, became alarmed. The train dashed along with increasing ape3d, followed at some distance by the locomotive. The belting train had passed through two stitions, and travelled nearly ten mile 3 bafoie it was gradually stopped by a rising gradient, only, however, to dash off sgiin in the direction of Kilmore. It was a remarkable thing that the train did not get off the line in going down the inoline. but danger was averted by the courageous action of a boy who was among the passengers. He decided to make an attempt to reach the guard's van in the hope of being aVle to manipulate the handbrake. Tho guard got out of the van when the train pulled up at the station, and just before the coupling bjoko. The boy, having olimbed through a window, made his way along the footboard with great ditfioalty. He reached the van in saf.-ty, applied the brake, and then worked his way to each of the trucks and did the same. This act brought the train very soon to a standstill, and won the little hero tho gratitude of all the passengers.

From Indian Planters' Gazette: O'Shaughnessy.—At Bombay, on the 15th instant, the wife of Michael (Mickey) O'Shaughnessy of two daughters (both twins). The Tip. parary Blackthorn and other Irish papers please copy.

At Tenbury (England) an old gentleman named Preston, speaking at a pabiio presentation, had just uttered the words, * I have nothing more to say,' when he fell dead from heart disease, . •

Already (s&ys the Bulletin) oome the small talos cf the Quoenelaud slave tr*de. It is told of the blackbirder Ariel, how two ' toys' were landed as • returns' thirty miles from their own home, aud had to pay toll heavily out of their possessions in order to safely pass through the intervening tribes. The Ariel ' agent' is safe enough, because the captain f>ld the « boys' tho wind was uot favourable for Sah Sun Bay (their destination), and offered them the alternative of remaining on board. So that the ! ' boys' went of their own choice, and everthing is goodly. A few months back a> ' return ' was landed at Wessisi, Tanna, of his own choice, he belonging to a neighbour- " iag village. Within an hour (tells the chronicler) ho was murdered for a cannibal feast, although thero was a missionary living at the placp. A Pentesost Dative shot dead Edward Pasnin, a British (shipowner, flying the French flag and recruiting between the islands, Captain Jumeree, the master of the Constantino (Pasnin's cutter), and two Polynesians—for the same negleot ia respect of being landed at 'home.' Another • boy ' very nearly cooked the goose of Queensland Government Agent Hammond, of tho blackbirder Lochiel. He chased Hammond all over the ship, knifing bini as they ran. The official exouse is th»t the ' boy ' was cranky. The whole slave trade is cranky, and is working up slowly but peroeptibly to what ex Wilberforoe Griffith, the present Minister for kidnapping, once declared 'surpassed the blackest annals of the African slave. trade.

It ia reported (says tho Ofcago Daily Times) that the Lion. R J. Seddon, through hie wife, has oome into considerable property between Melbourne and Wiiliacastown.

A little incident which happened the other day in a certain bank illustrates very aptly the financial position in Melbourne at the „ present time. A client entering one of the binks was politely accosted by the teller and asked if he wished to see the manager. 'No,' was the unexpected reply; 'but he wishes to see me, d n him.'

There are plenty of Yorkshiremsn who read the Mail, so the following from the Yorkshire Post is inserted for their special benefit : When Yorkshire Tykes dine together it is only fitting that they should be merry. And right merry they were when reoently, at their first annual gathering in Natal ia the company of men of Lancashire, they (catted on Yorkshire pudding and other good things in a room decorated with the Ycrkshireman's ooat-of-arms—a flea, a fly, and a flitch of baoon. Mr John Hartley, a typical representative of the county with about as many acres as there are letters in the Bible, was in the chair, and in proposing the toast of the evening, ' Our Counties,' he delivered a characteristic speech in the Yorkshire dlaleot, whioh is reported iu another column. From the ao.ount of the proceedings I extract the very humorous menu, forcibly reminding the reader of the quaint way in whioh Yorkshire anglers set out the items in their festivi. ties : Get thi Driokin*. Soup. Turtle. A sap on't. Fish. Fried Bream. Is 'oo tskin' any ! Entries.—Friooause Sheep Feet. Tripe and Onions (Lancastrian). Gie's a Trotter. Two peeaorth o' th' best. York Ham and Tomato Sanoe. Them's urn, Cbioken ont« lets and Mushrooms. Not much ta.im. Poultry.—Roast Duok. Thro' Aylesbury. Boiled Fowl and Oyster Sauce. TbVs nn chiok6n. , J lists.—Forced Leg of Mutton and Jelly. Yor noan forced to have it. Boiled Por* and Pease Pudding. Cum on, feed thi faaoe. Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding. Hooray for t' Paddin 1 Roast Sucking Pig and Apple Sr.ueo. Noa sacktn' food. Cold. —Brawn and Celery. Entretneats.—Apple Pasty. Awm oppen for a bit o' cheese Wi' this. Charlotte Russe. Ahr Charlotte. Chartreusse Jelly. Aw doan't knaw what it is, but awl tak a bit.

and Almonds. Crystallised Fruits, l'se a bit full, but I'll try. Fruits In Seaion.—An' owt else yo like, an' summat to sup. P.S.—lf the wants owt to sup tha man sine for 't for 't gooid oY haase. Theere 11!

Some men have very busy lives. Speaking at the break up of the Girls' High School in Danedfn, the Hon. R, Oliver said that in his youth he road a poem by Lord Tennyson, bat ho had not had time to read it elnee I

Sir Edward Watkin proposes, if ever he gets hia Channel tunnel out through, to run trains direct from London to Gibraltar, transfer carriages by boat to Tangier, and thence along the north coast of Africa, through Egypt, down the Persian Gulf to Kurraohee, aud so on to Calcutta, without change of carriages.

Further evidence is forthcoming of the effect of the horse tax on the Indian export trade of Victoria. By the Britisb-ludian steamer Waroonga Mr R. J. Hunter shipped, about a fortnight ago 117 horses at Sydney, and a few days later 233 at Gladstone, Queensland, making a total of 350. The Victorian graziers thus lose the grazing of the horses, and the grain and hay grower* lose about £i a head, the value of the feed required for the voyage. It is understood that Mr Hunter had intended to ship from Melbourne this season.

A Melbourne resident, iu a letter to e friend says :—' The post office here is carrying on business with girls, the telegraph office with boys, the railways will hove no one over 35 years of age, the 'Bus or Tram Company will not take any bands over 40 and the warehouse people say, 'We can manage with juniors.' So it is very hard on men of 65.'—Er.oi.ange.