NEWS AND NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 12

NEWS AND NOTES.

Aubrey de Yere spoke to Browning, not long before the latter died, about the obscurity of his poems. “I have heard,” replied Browning, ‘‘that criticism before, and have twice gone carefully through them without being able to detect a singlo obscure expression.”

The poet and divine, John Donne, who became dean of St. Paul’s in 1621, married a daughter of Sir George Moore without the consent of her parents. He was told by liis father-in-law that he was not to expect- any money front hint. The bridegroom went home and wrote the witty note, “John Donne, Anne Donne, undone,” which he sent to the angry father, and this had the effect of restoring them to favour.

The Ohio Experiment Station lias been trying the value cf “sub-irrigation ’ in the greenhouse. The idea of irrigating the soil below the surface arose out of an attempt to prevent the rotting of lettuce by not wetting the foliage. It is cheaper than the old method of surface watering; the soil remains in a better condition, and the plants are less apt to decay. These advantages come from the soil permitting the air to pass freely through it, besides supplying water constantly to the roots. Full particulars of the new system. with drawings of the construction of the* greenhouse, are given in a recent bulletin of the Ohio ExperimentStation. Lettuce grown in the new way are douoTe the size of those grown in the old way.

Sir Richard Green-Price states that without their ponies the Boers would long ago have been conquered, and tnatthose in our colonial and Lovat’s Scouts’ ranks have been of the greatest value to our service. He points out that the future breeding of our ponies is worthy of much thought, that the supply should keep pace with the demand, and above and beyond this, that quality and excellence should go hand in hand with quantity. There are so many parts, of Great Britain that are eminently fitted for breeding ponies that we have a vast field for the exercise of our enterprise. In Radnorshire alone there are at least 100.000 acres of hill-land that hitherto have been given up to sheep f pasturing, and have had only a sprinking of ponies on them. • * * • •

A despatch from Halifax (N.S.) states that the lumber and shipping town of Pugwash was the scene of a conflagration which destroyed twenty-five buildings. Insurances covered one-third of the loss, but many of the sufferers were financially ruined. Pugwash was swept by a similar conflagration two years ago. • * • • *

A New York telegram states that the new pneumatic dynamite gun is declared to exceed in destructive power any gun yet designed. It is 40ft long, and has a calibre of loin. It was experimented with at Fishers Island, and successfully withstood every tes;t. Five shelK weighing over half a ton apiece, were fired in 715 seconds, with an accuracy not exceeded by any large calibre rifled gun. * • «. «

An official despatch to Lisbon from Angola, in West Africa, states that the Portuguese troops have practically exterminated a band of lobbers v.hicii had established a reign of terror in the Mossamcdes district. The leader of the robhor band was a Portuguese ox-crimi-nal, and the bandits had been committing the most daring and horrible outrages, and bad made trading impossible within the scope of their operations. The troops at last got to close quarters with them, and after a desperate fight seventy-five of the robbers were killed and the others captured or scattered. * * • * ,

An elephant, of vicious propensities, bearing the historic name of Jumbo, was to have been killed at Buffalo by elcctricity, but lie gave a practical demonstration of the ability of his race to take a shock of 2200 volts without any apparent concern. Jumbo was chained to a platform, and the electrodes. which were large sponges, were applied behind his ears and at the end of the spinal column. The shock was repeated six times, but Jumbo merely wagged his tail, tore up a plank with his trunk, looked pleased, and trumpeted. The shocks bad simply tickled him.

The sensation caused all over Germany by the recent duel at Insterburg in which a young officer named Blaskowitz was killed, is in no way subsiding. According to the “National Zeitung,” Lieut. Blaskowitz had offered to retiro from active service; but in spite of this, and of bis disavowal of any intention to give offence, a duel was declared necessary' by bis superior officers. Most of the German papers remind their readers of the way in which the late Prince Consort Albert and the Duke of Wellington brought about the abolition of duelling amongst English officers some sixty years ago. * * * •

Important changes have recently taken place in the household of the King of Italy. Formerly all the servants were Italians. Now there are threo English servants and one French-

man. The King’s head cook is a French- / man, but his second cook is an Englishman, and the little Princess Yolaude’s nurse is also English. When the King dines in his family circle the cookery is entirely English. His Majesty does notLike the French cuisine. He also talks a great deal of English in private. When the Queen first went to Italy she could hardly talk English at all.' Now she speaks it fluently. * * ‘ * • -

In the current number of the monthly review of the Italian Alpine Club, at Rome, there is an interesting article by the Duke of Abruzzi—signed Louis de Savoia—on his ascent last August of the “Dames Anglaises,” part of tlie Mont Blanc chain of mountains, which had never hitherto been climbed. It was a very difficult ascent, the last 100fttaking nearly fifteen hours, and this was only possible by means of great nails rammed into the rocks. These nails were used as steps, and the climbers fixed ropes on to the projecting rocks. Eventually the highest point of the Dames Blanches was reached, and the Duke of the Abruzzi christened it “Yolanda Point,” after the little Princess of Italv.

The Hamburg magistrates have given judgment ill a case that should not be without interest for the British epicure. It appears that a dealer placed on the market an article- which he called “Swedish Caviare: Mark Trolhattan,” and analysis showed this to consist of the roes of cod and haddock, incorporated with a mixture of brine, boracic acid, bone-black, and olive oil. Commercial and scientific witnesses stated that true caviare was the properly pickled roes of the sturgeon family alone, and agreed that the incorporation of oil and colouring matter favoured a skilful and fraudulent deception on the consumer. An interesting fact elicited from one of these witnesses was that “Swedish Caviare” made, as in the present ease, of cod’s roe, was a familiar article in the trade, but that it was always sold uncoloured. The Bench fined the delinquent 60 marks, and ordered him to pay the costs of the action. *****

News lias arrived at Constantinople that the Governor of Erzeroum, whilst travelling towards Mush, was assaulted by a band cf Kurds, and stripped of all lie possessed, even to his shirt. *•»***

The new constitution of the State of Alabama, which eliminates 9-5 per cent, of the negro vote from a share in the State policies of Alabama, was ratified by a majority of over 20.000. * * * * *

A bomb was burst in the Hotel de A ille Bazaar, causing a panic among the crowd of customers. No one was insjured. but some damage was done to the building. The act is attributed to some of the employes, who demand the closing of the shops on Sundays. • • i ( ;

The Wur tern burg Ministry of Education has instructed teachers throughout that Kingdom to substitute German words for sporting terms which have hitherto been given in English or German adaptations from the English. It is especially laid down that- German words are to be introduced in connection with gymnastic instruction and games

The reply of Lord Palmerston, then Home Secretary, nearly fifty years ago. to the Presbytery of Edinburgh, who suggested a day of national fast in view of the probable approach of cholera, might well stand as a reply to those who ask for a day of national humiliation. “It does not appear to Lord Palmerston,” wrote that eminently common sensible Minister, “that a national fast would be suitable to the circumstances of the present moment. The Maker of the universe established certain laws of nature for the planet in which we live, and the weal or woe of mankind depends upon the observance or neglectof those laws. When man has done his utmost for his own safety, then is the time to invoke the blessing of heaven to give effect- to his exertions.” ‘ •

The Commercial Pacific Cable Company, organised at New York to lay an American Pacific cable between San Francisco and the Philippine Islands, has awarded the contract for the manufacture and laying of the first section between San Francisco and Honolulu to an English company, who guarantee to complete the said section in ten months. The contract price of this span is nearly £600.000, and manufacture begins this week. * • • • •

At Barri an old man, named Gissi "Vincenzo, aged seventy-eight, has justbeen sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for manslaughter. Vincenzo had only been released from prison a few days when he committed the crime. He declared in court that his object in killing the mail was to get- back to prison. On hearing his sentence, accused said : “It is too little. Five years pass quickly. Sentence me for life Otherwise I shall have to kill another man when I leave prison, in order to be taken back.” Vincenzo, adds a Rome telegram, has spent thirty of his seven-ty-eight years in prison. *«* * * •

The great, building of the DarmstadtGymnastic Societies, which was opened with great ceremony on October 6th last by the Grand Duke i'*» presence of

all the authorities, was on Tuesday destroyed by fire, even the walls of the enclosure in which it stood being seriously damaged. Two servant girls who slept on the premises, which were used as a club, perished in the flames, and a third, who tried to let herself down from a window by a rope, fell and sustained mortal injuries. A waiter who escaped on to the roof, and was then obliged to jump for his life, broke his neck. • • • • •

Dr Pratt, of Chicago, announces that the X-rays will cure baldness. He states that be tried them on a bald man, who has now a plentiful growth of hair. • * • » *

A despatch from Helena (Montana) states that a freight- train came into collision with a work train on the Great Northern Railway near Culbertson recently. Twenty-five Japanese are reported to have been killed. * * # »

News comes from St. Louis that a coroner’s jury has returned a verdict finding the Health Department negligent in the preparation of diphtheria antitoxin, the administration of which recently caused the deaths from lockjaw of seven children.

A Swiss Government report- oil the benefits of allowing smoking in the ranks of troops on the march says smoking made the troops brighter and Jess sensible to fatigue. Tobacco acts as a stimulant and a distraction, and makes the troops forget the monotony of the march.

The Berlin police have introduced an interesting innovation in appointing Herr Joseph Sucher, the well-known conductor of the Royal Opera, official censor of musical performances. It will depend upon his expert opinion whether concerts, sacred or otherwise, will be allowed by the police on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and other high official Prussian holidays. •-‘ « * >

At Athens 1000 I niversity students attacked the offices of the journals “Asty and “Akropolis” as a protest against the articles recently published by those- newspapers in favour of the translation of the Gospels into modern Greek, and some of the more riotous of the students endeavoured to plunder and burn the offices. The mob was dispersed by tlie police. * 6 • * *

Fire broke out on November 16th in one of the carriages of a railway train on the line between Sosnowice Zombkowice. said a Warsaw telegram. It originated in the breaking of some bottles of benzine. Of thirty workmen in the carriage, three were burned to death and eleven were seriously injured. The fire spread to the next carriage, and in a short time both were entirely destroyed.

At Buda-Pest a football match between A ienna and Buda-Pest ended in ar^ot - The A ienna team disputed the goal which their opponents claimed, and tne umpires decided in favour of BudaPest. The A’ic-nna team then refused to continue the match. The spectators thereupon mobbed the A iennese plavers, and would have lynched them all but for the interference of the police. In ihe not eighty were injured. Each mdnbei of the Buda-Pest team challenged one member of the A’ienna team 1o a duel.

A Paris wineshop keeper, whoso wife ' vi * h one of liis assistants and -OGOf in cash, was greatly surprised to see lus errant spouse enter the shop, hue walked quietly to the counter, and placing four bank-notes of 100'Jf Vac'i on the counter before him. explained that she wanted to be reconciled to him. Hie and her lover had gone to London and had saved money, but she still longed for her husband, and took the nrst opportunity of returning with their savings. The reconciliation took place.

. yir A\ . L. Alclen suggested to me some nmmnVt 1116 % g ° in -J ievv °- f the enormous amount of writing signed “Andrew it was only reasonable to suppose that it was the result of a svndio authors, a„d that- „„ sm/rnan as Andrew Lang existed in the flesh ?s h new a w° K St r ry " , Mr Lail g’ s is new. He replies that- not only is he a real man, but that he wrote all the later works of Ruskin and Tennyson, and all of the humorous essays and correspondence of AV. L. A]den.” He . ,•''Peaks of “My pseudonym, ‘W. L. n lden : Hr Alden lias decided to make a collection of certain of his eariy Hliocies (the term is his own), and publish them with Mr Lang’s name on the title page.—“ Sketch.” * * * B

C onsiderable attention is attracted bv a pampMet Just published by Baron von SJf'tW officcp 1,1 ,1 “ ! chirf declares !L? r an army > 111 which he inn non thafc Germany could throw' 00,000 men on the English coast within a very short time. The Baron put for" ward his statement as a matter of absowdiafCerta- nty ’ n ud ifc is considered somewhat curious that he is permitted bv proceeds" 51 “Fn*l to His paper strength rri,„ g i an< i % " Ga kness is our lish arm 1 ; lhe land f °rces of the Engnor In y co , rr /- Spond neit her in strength r. , 1 jpahty with her position as a E -” b,1, ; <1 is “'"-meed iat every hostile invasion can be pre-

vented by her fleet, but this tion is not by any means well founded» —Berlin cablegram to “New York Sun*

Amongst the many things that- J am „ borrowed from China was football to have been introduced as early as th middle of the seventh century tj 9 Emperor Toba 11. was an expert, player and got up a club at his palace. Co ’ sidering how averse most Orientals 3°" to hard work and rigorous exercise "f may be supposed that the game was very different from either “ru»o er ». 8 “soccer.” Nevertheless the Japanese form seems to have been popular and we may trace the beginnings of sionalism to an Emperor and his Court of whom it is told that in a time of poverty they earned -a little extra money by teaching the art of footbalL *

Few people have any idea of the mense animal population of Great Bri* tain. According to the last return of the Board of Trade, there were in the United Kingdom nearly 2,000 Ofin horses, about 10,000.000 cattle than 32,000.000 sheep, and somethin like 4,000,000 pigs. As regards the first item, this was the number used by agri. culturists alone. The number of howes used for carriage purposes in towns regarding which we have no particulars’ must be enormous. The value of this property is estimated at about £9=;n 000,000. U, ‘

Human tears are not- regarded as a specific against disease in any other country but Persia, and there onlv those tears that have been shed at a funeral are supposed to have curative qualities. In the country named, the custom of bottling tears is an important feature of the fuueral ceremony. To each of the mourners present the’master of the ceremonies presents a piece of cotton wool or sponge, with which to wipe away the tears. The contents of the wool or sponge are afterwards squeezed into a bottle, and these tears are preserved as a powerful and certain restorative when all other medicines have proved useless. * * * * ,

To the many uses to vvhich electricity is now put we may soon be able to add that of an ink-eraser—provided the following story be true. Some time since a certain building was struck by lightning and destroyed. Little 'special notice would have been taken of the occurrence had it not been that a number of important documents were stored in an adjoining house. The safety of these was of some importance, and they were hastily removed. But to the general surprise. it was found that the Qeleotric fluid had somehow or other affected the ink with which they were written so as to render each one quite illegible. Fortunately, it happened to be possible to procure copies, so that no lasting damage was done by the lightning’s strange freak.

Although sharks are esteemed the greatest terrors cf the ocean, they are in reality the greatest cowards of the finny tribe. Tlie fiercest shark will get out- of the way Gf a swinim-.r if the latter sets up a noisy splash! g. A shark fears anything that .splashes in the water. Among the South. Sea Islands the natives never go bathi g alone, hat always in pansies of half a dozen or so, in order that- they may make a great hubbub in the water, and rims frighten away the sharks. Once in a while a too venturesome swimmer among these natives foolishly detaches himself from his party-and forgets to keep up his splashing. Then there is a swish, the maneater comes up from under him iike a flash, and he is gone. * s'* *■ •

The habit potentates have of travelling incog, frequently causes suffering where it- is least expected. It is told of the Emperor Joseph 11. that once . while travelling in this fashion, he put up at an inn kept- by an Englishman. After eating a few slices of ham and a biscuit- he went to bed. In the morning he paid his bill and departed. £ few hours after, several of his suite arrived, and hearing tlie rank of his guest, the landlord appeared much troubled. “Pshaw, man!” said one, “Joseph is accustomed to such adventures, and idlj think no more of it.” “But I. shall, said mine host, “and never forgive my* -self for having had an Emperor in m? house and let him off for three and sis* pence!” • • * * *

“I once knew a man who appeared t me an unessential nincompoop, but u became a millionaire in two yearswill tell you how he did it,” said Bee bohm Tree. “One day I met him m " street. ‘How well you’re looking, A said to me. I was flattered, and a«K him to dinner, during which he 00 to me how fortune had come to jjl 1 ' Ho wasn’t looking at all well. *'* the familiarity which is distilled y wine, I asked him how he, a man 01 terly contemptible brains as comp a with the pauper who was entertain him at dinner, had managed to am so large a fortune. ‘I will telly? 0 ’~, clear fellow,’ he replied. ‘lt is , simplest thing in the world I went up to everybody I met ia v. street and said, “How well y° u , r °,, 0 { ing!” 111 that way I made friends. They put me into wgood things, and in two years 1 from business. Thank you for cellent dinner. Good-bye. Ho* .You’re looking 1’”

tt ,„„,h is a moustache worth ? The mice in Berlin seems to be six market P of the largest cates in. « recently engaged thirty-eight th “r liters, and the manager insisted, Kofnre they entered his service, on their sl.aving olt their moustaches After a s ort time they were suddenly dished They went in a bony to the "ilnaner and demanded compensation f'r the loss of their moustaches, and liicceeded in obtaining from him the sum of six shillings for each moustache. * * * *

Few people are aware that Lord Kitchener shares one notable peculiarity ; with the greatest of British naval j heroes. Like Nelson, the present Com- I mauder-in-C'hief in South Africa has o n iv one eve. It was characteristic of liis i’ndaiir.ceu piuck and foresight that as soon as he realised tnat he v, as fated to lose one of his eyes he learnt Braile, and did everything to make himself independent of sight. This was many years acr o .and Lord Kitchener has since proved that. for all practical purposes, his eight is as keen as ever it was. ;

A Flemish artist has produced what is said to he the smallest painting in the world. It is a picture of a miller mounting the stairs of his mill, and carrying a sack of grain on his back. The mill is depicted as standing near a terrace. Close at hand are a horse and cart, with a few groups of peasants idling in the road near by. All this is painted on the smooth side of a grain of ordinary white corn. Those who have seen it are loud ill their praise of it. Though it is drawn with perfect accuracy, ft is necessary to examine it under a microscope. It does not cover a half inch square, and is in many fespects one of the most remarkable art products of the dav. * * * «* *

A young San Francisco woman makes a living by selling her skin for grafting purposes. A year ago she first contributed a little skin to a friend who was iu need of a whole hide, and finding that, she could stand the pain and that her skin was particularly healthy, she concluded to profit by it. She sent a letter to nearly every physician and surgeon in San Francisco and Oakland, calling their attention to the fact that she had healthy skin for sale. Since then the young lady lias had all the orders she could fill at her very reasonable rates. She charges four shillings a square inch, and usually parts with twenty to thirty inches at a time. Altogether she has had nearly seven square feet of her skin removed from her body, and has now got round to the second'growth. * . * • X

The Kin g of Siam is not as yet a Shakesperian scholar. On the recent occasion of his visit to Denmark, he accompanied the Crown Prince Frederick to Helsingfors, and was duly conducted to the grave of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Here lie took off his hat and stood for a moment in reverential silence. Then turning to the Crown Prince, he said, with deep sympathy: “A relation of your Royal Highness, I presume. Has he been long dead?” * * n * #

King Edward, although he has been initiated into the mysteries of motordriving, is seldom his own ohaffeur, but prefers to enjoy his rides without having tiie trouble of guiding the machine. A vpr y long time indeed elapsed before his Majesty could persuade any member of his family to accompany him on his Laimler. Queen Alexandra has finally overcome her nervousness, and now lias a beautiful motor of her own, but Princess I ictoria can scarcely be persuaded to join in the motoring expeditions, preferring her bicycle to any other mode of locomotion. Princess Charles of Denmariv shows much less timidity, and on several occasions accompanied the King oil liis excursions around Fredensbirg. * * » » .

Smallpox played sad havoc among' jiiropoan Royalties throughout the *o seventeenth and eighteenth eent „ U ‘' loS ' ?w° of Charles I.’s children +1 carried off by the scourge, and Mar?- °rv -TiH'iesH.’s offspring, including Phir V L T ,is XIV ’ S (the Dau--1 hie ’ .\e S £ ran A sou (also Dauphin), and YTV 1 n and great-grandson, Louis ' I Josen'li a t ' w f ° f ' sniall P° x - Likewise i 1711 1 - p f" ‘t'oporor .of Germany, in ; 1730 ■ TT? tOl - of Russia, in I I and A] • Pn,,ce of Prussia, in 1767 - 1 S nria S n i 77 Ele °4 or of . Bal i S bad vcrv l m T ° f our Sovereigns , I from thrwi; escapes from death' | Hilt wSom”p,;il 11,0 London ami South- » up Valuable K,f y ’ Jl ° .doubt picked I of his t?, - info ™ation in the course 1 can something 3 ? a +*i . K ' ven the AmeriI statement* fn? - to f t,unk , aboufc - His M d °n and South \v ls .A nce ’ that the Lon- « CO,OOO l)0 estern carries each day 1 of L ° ndoi h | has excited ,« tliem has to stand up,” ft in New YnrV 1 1 1 nterested comment = marks one 3 ° Urnals - "In a city,” reI " hcr ? a thinks \ fcy which ho o hcro 1S a . stra P loft 1 five peonle V V lB on > with four or I body’s elhn standing on his foot, sonmf aocl a co,^ple S 0 f n ch l°l rib ' S ° f , b ° th sidosl"g the buttons ck i < ? r . cn Perhaps clutch- | muttons of his coat behind, the

notion of a seat for each passenger is so engaging that the patient passenger almost wishes himself a Londoner, and begins to believe that there is something to be learned from England after all.”

An ancient coffin has lately been unearthed on the Allerton Park Estate, near Leeds. Workmen were digging a new roadway when, some 2ft. Gin. be° low the surface, they came across a rough stone coffin, containing a gruesome assortment of bones, dust, and corroded ornaments. The interior of the coffin is four-sided, measuring inside sft. thick. The human remains consist of what appear, to be a couple •of thigh-bones, several well-prepared teeth, and a number of trinkets, which now bear some slight resemblance to a collection of very rusty buttons. * ■* * * ft

In an account of the concentration camp at Spriugfontein, the special commissioner of the “Bloemfontein Post” remarks- - —The women, who are generally the most difficult to control, are subjected to a certain number of hours confinement in a tent which is pitched in a square of some 50ft., surrounded by barbed wire, a policeman keeping guard round the enclosure. This treatment is only applied to those viragoes who refuse to submit to any form of control, sanitary or otherwise, and they soon become tired and fall into line with the majority. The police are selected from the most trustworthy camp-dwellers. * * * * *

Paris is about to lose the prince of chefs. Casimir, who for 40 years has wielded autocratic sway in the kitchens of the Maisen d’Or, the world’s chief sanctuary of art in gastronomies. Dumas the elder dined with him; he lias cooked for De Moray, for the then Prince of Wales, great dandies, and for the gouty Duke of Hamilton, who broke his neck in falling down a staircase. Casimir displays the glasses, each holding a bottleful. from which the diners of the great days quaffed choice vantages. Then they never thought of dining under a £5 note ; now 12s Gd has to serve. But Casimir has prospered through all the ups and downs of taste. He now retires. * * * * *

At Petersburg, America, there is said to exist a peculiar organisation called “The Home-makers.” It is a secret institution, existing in the mining and coking districts. The object of the organisation is to aid its members in the building up of comfortable, well-kept homes, and with this end in view the association believes that there are times when it is necessary for the head of the house to correct- his wife, should she neglect her children and household, and spend her time in gossip and idleness. In case a member is prosecuted for wifebeating, the society, it is alleged, will pay his fine, provided he proves to the satisfaction of his associates that he was justified in his action under the rules.

Sir Wilfred Lawson says he never received a knockdown blow till espying a labourer walking along with the old familiar black bottle protruding from his pocket, he entered into conversation with him, and pointed out the misery that had resulted from the bottle, and earnestly exhorted the man to flee from its contents. The man was so overcome that he emptied the bottle in the road, and Sir Wilfrid, beaming with pleasure, handed him sixpence, saying, “Take that; it will buy you something better.” The man took it, and straight away entered a publichouse and spent it on beer. His bottle had contained cold tea. *****

William H. Pearsell, 75 years old, a wealthy farmer of Green’s Farms, Bridgeport. United States, was accidentally shot- in the left shoulder 01 years ago. After an unsuccessful effort was made to extract the bullet the wound healed, and no more attention was paid to it. Mr Pearsell lately complained of a severe pain in the left wrist. In a few days the wrist began io enlarge, and a growth finally developed. Dr R. E. Perdue advised an operation, and when the surgeon’s knife was applied the bullet was taken out. It had travelled from the shoulder to the wrist, where it encountered an obstacle that caused the growth.

An interesting letter has lately been discovered by the Capo Intelligence Department. It was written by the Transvaal commandant. F. A. Grobler, to a Dutch member of the Legislative Council, • immediately after the raid. The following is an extract: —“We are now marching in force against Charterland. Our plan, with God!s help, is to take all that is English in South Africa; so if you true Afrikanders in Cape Colony wish to be released from the English yoke now is th,e time to hoist the Vierkleur at Capetown. You can rely on us. We will push through from sea to sea and wave one flag over the whole of South Africa under an Afrikander Government, if we can reckon on our Afrikander brethren. Read this letter to your true Afrikander friends and keep awake.” * * * * *

A statement recently published regarding flogging in the British Navy, and stating that young men of 18 years of ago were flogged on the bared flesh with a cane, led a correspondent to ask

the Secretary to the Admiralty. Mr Arnold-Forster, M.P., whether he did not think the Government might consider the advisability of abolishing flogging in the navy. The following reply has been received: —“Admiralty. Sept. 24, 1901. Dear Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 13th inst., I am desired by Mr Arnold-Forster to inform you that birching and caning is- confined solely to boys rated as such. Flogging does not take place in the Royal Navy, the power of commanding officers to award corporal punishment being suspended.— Yours truly (signed), W. J . Evans.” * * -J -* *

Many are the curiosities of Japanese railway travelling. In the dining-cars' you eat from tables hardly larger than httle girls have for their dolls. At every station tea may be procured for three-lialfpence— pot, cup, and all. This is taken into the car, the dishes being thrown out of the window usually. Smoking is permitted in all the compartments, for men and women both smoke. All the Japanese sit with feet upon the seat of the car, and not as some Europeans do. The entrance of the ticket collector, in his beautiful blue uniform, is the occasion for much ceremony, for he bows twice and removes liis cap as he comes to each passenger. It. is interesting to note that only 2 per cent, of the people travel first class.

Dr Claudet, an eminent French surgeon, has invented a new medical appliance known as “electric flannel.” The flannel is interwoven with fine threads which have been liberally saturated with metallic products. The material has been submitted to a rigorous examination by M. Drincourt, Professor of Physics at the Rheims Lyceum, and M. Portevin, of the Polytechnic School, who are both satisfied that a Targe amount of electricity is liberated when the flannel is placed in contact with the body. It is asserted that when worn next the skin the flannel will be efficacious in cases of acute rheumatism. * * * * « «

Max O’Rell, who is now a regular member of the staff of the Paris “Figaro,” lias just contributed his second article to its columns, and it consists of a severe lecture to his confreres in Paris journalism on the narrowness of their views of matters in general. They are incapable, he says, of approaching subjects, especially such as foreign politics, from the proper standpoint, because they arc not cosmopolitan. He asks, “W here is the journalist, French or American, sufficiently cosmopolitan to prove to his countrymen that there exists in the world only one true Republic, one country truly and absolutely free, and that country is England ?” There is only one, of course, and his name is Paul Blouet, otherwise Max O’Rell.

It lias been stated that this is Max O’Rell’s first venture in jounialism, but that is not so, for he has been a regular contributor to the columns of the “New ! York Journal,” in which he philosophises on the trifles of life, for a long time past. In the latest arrived copy j of that journal Max O’Rell talks of the j beautiful time that the man who is be- i loved of all women can have. It is ' not likely that anyone has ever doubted ■ this, but one ought not to have to remind Max O’Rell that there is such a , tiling as an embarras des richesses. “The man whom all women like is not only : happy in life,” he says, “but a most successful man, whatever his profession may be.” But he does not ask, “Where ' is this man?” That would be too ab-! surd. There is only one. He is Paul I Blouet, otherwise known as Max O’Rell. ! * * » »

President Roosevelt is said to be as good a preacher as a politician. During a recent Sunday in Chicago he preached in one of the city churches on the text, “Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only.” The following is a sample of his straight talking, says the “Sunday Chronicle” : “In your business and work, if you let Christianity stop when you leave the church-door there is not much righteousness in you. Nor are you any too righteous if your Christianity stops at the threshold of your home. The man who carries Christianity into his everyday work stands a better chance of making a success of life than one who does not. The fellow who works for fee only and does the least he can to got his money will in the long run prove a dismal failure.”

Cleveland lias witnessed the introduction within a year of over 150 smokeless furnaces. The best results, it is said, are obtained from the use of hard coal and coke. Quaintly enough, it seems that while the city authorities liavo been keeping such a strict watch on the methods of furnace-owners, they themselves have been among the worst : offenders, and it is only after others have experimented to a successful issue j that they are about to use smokeless j coal for their City Hall, the police- ’ stations, and the workhouse. * » * *

It has boon a common practice of the education boards in many cities of the United States to discharge from the school service lady teachers who are fortunate or unfortunate enough to get married. It is a practice which does not commend itself to the mind of the freedom and man-

loving Anglo-Saxon girl, and there is much joy in feminine hearts in America just non because it seems likely that a legal check is about to be put to such a reprehensible custom. In San Francisco the city attorney has told the Board of Education that the marriage of a teacher is not a matter of school depart meat business. The board may make rules tending to bring the department under good discipline and system, but a rule forfeiting a teacher’s position upon her marriage is not a valid one, the attorney says. Moreover, the law prescribes the conditions upon which one may secure a teacher’s certificate, and the Board cannot add to the conditions. Inasmuch as a judge of- a San Francisco court has given a like opinion in the suit of a teacher to retain her position, the probability is that in San Francisco, at any rate, marrying teachers may hold their positions to the end of the contract.

The American papers have discovered that the President has a fourteen-year-old boy at Groton, the famous Massachusetts school, and are wild with daliglit since they have found that he is uncommonly like other lads of a similar age. They publish a picture of Teddy junior actually romping with the other boys, and another illustrating a big boy bullying him, and a third showing a master solemnly reprimanding him. A picture of the school is given, a cross marking little Teddy’s dormitory. And even the church, “Teddy junior’s place of worship,” is not forgotten. * . ? * ,

‘The gunnery experiments to be made on the Bellisle hulk with a view to ascertaining resisting power possessed by the hulls of our li-uv armoured cruisers will be carried out, not by the Majestio, the flagship of the Channel Squadron, but by the cruiser Narcissus. The experi meats will be conducted by the experimental staff of the Portsmouth Gunnery School. They are expected to take place shortly. The Narcissus, being a gunnery school ship, is fitted with a great variety of guns, by using her the resisting power of the armour against the attack of guns of various calibres can be tested.

The St. Petersburg papers report that during the recent labour demonstrations the police used the “snapshot” with great success as an aid to the identification of ringleaders and troublesome personages. Whenever a mas 3 meeting was held, police officers in plain clothes and armed with a kodak were stationed at various commanding points, and in this way the crowds were photographed at scores of points, the testimony of the gesticulating figures revealed by the instrument being used to supplement the oral testimony of the police. By this means convictions have recently been secured in the trials of the arrested agitators. One young fellow of 26, condemned to the island of Sakhalin, was married in his cell the day after his conviction to a beautiful young woman who will share liis life ia the penal colony.

A New York journal states that Mark Twain, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, read to the members of a political organisation called The Acorns a magazine article written by himself in which he called attention to the points of similarity between the careers of Warrea Hastings and Mr Croker. The article was of a most serious nature throughout, and those who hoped to carry away some campaign jokes were disappointed. • * * w

Now that we know that consumption i 3 a disease communicable from one to another by contact and breathing the air already breathed by the consumptive, the hygiene of separate beds ought to receive public recognition. In all bedrooms the heads of the beds should be against an inside wall. If this cannot be arranged, then the wall and tho ceiling for a space corresponding to tho bedstead should be covered with a thick serge, loosely attached to the wall, to prevent the formation of cataracts of air chilled by the cold wall which will otherwise fall on the sleeper. Tho worst of colds, are caught in this simple way in the small hours of the morning, and many a fatal senile or infantil© bronchitis might be prevented by this timely expedient. Remember that for %mry old or very young people nocturnal variations of temperature arc extremely dangerous. For the same__reason tho bed must not be placed between a bad-ly-fitting window and the flue or the doorway.

It is not generally known that our King and Queen are superstitious. Both, however, have a firm belief in the “mascot” powers of one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting. This lady lip.s- the enviable reputation of securing, by her presence at the races, victory to tho horse she favours. So firm is the Royal belief in her power that when Diamond Jubilee was to run for the Derby, the Queen then Princess of Wales—requested tho presence of the “mascot,” who was at the time in delicate health. After a great deal of persuasion from the Prince she went, and as we know, the Royal colours scored a victory. The little baby born two days later was christened “Diamond,” and the Prince of Wales’s gift was a diamond brooch with the words large on it, “Diamond Jubilee.”

The proprietor of a chemist’s shop in Omaha, U.S.A., has announced a boycott on shop assistants who part their hair in the middle, and has advertised for a new batch, saying: “Only those who part' their hair on the side need apply.” The chemist says in explanation: “Hair parted in the middle usually’ goes with cigarettes, red waistcoats ana a great faculty of posing and keeping dressed up. I want men to work. Since I inserted the advertisement I have had applications from twenty sensible-look-ing clerks. All of them had their hair parted on the side but one. He was baldheaded.” * * * • •

The lighting of Paris is a work of a magnitude of which the ordinary wayfarer perhaps seldom gives a thought. There are no fewer than 50.000 lamps, and it takes G.OOO men to attend to them. The cleaning alone occupies no fewer than 3.753 men. and the cost of this army of lamplighters, cleaners, and attendants is nearly £’5.000.000 sterling a year.

At a recent examination of 40 collegiates at Toronto. 10 were unable to mention six plays of Shakespeare, 2G could not mention a single book of Ruskin, 35 were as ignorant of Wordsworth and Browning, 14 did not know who wrote “In Memoriam,” 34 were unacquainted with Fa'lstaff. and to 22 Sam Weller was an unknown person-

An aged maiden lady who recently died in Scotland worked all her life as a seamstress and saved £3OO. When her will came to be proved, it was discovered that she was for years heiress to £31.000. without knowing it. She had left all her property, which she thought would not exceed £3OO. to three second cousins—a housemaid and two daughters of a farmer—whose share will be over £IO.OOO each.

A stone house has just been removed from Newcastle to Sharon, both in Pennsylvania, U.S.A.. a distance of 20 miles, the owner. Mr Stevenson, having decided to move his house, which Lad cast him £20.000. A contractor un-dt-rtook the job for £SOOO. The poii-hed hardware fittings were carefully removed. and then the stone blocks were numbered, taken down, and loaded on cars. The house was re-erected at- Sharon. and the total cost is set down at about £OOOO.

doling women ushers at church have been introduced by a Pennsylvania pastor. with the result of greatly increasing his congregation. The girls not onlyescort people to their seats, but pass the collection baskets, and it is .-aid. are careful not to remove these baskets too soon. Although the innovation was begun merely a- a temporary experiment. the church members are much pleased with the arrangement, and now think of making it a permanent one. * * * - *

There is now being observed at Driffield a custom winch ha. prevailed time out of mind, and the origin of which is lost in the mist of antiquity—that of the ringing of what is known as the "harvest bell.” During the harvest month one of the bells of the parish church is rung at 5 o'clock in the morning and at 7 o’clock in the evening, the object being to summon the people to work in the harvest fields and to call them from work at night. *****

The multiplicity of newspapers Las not given rise to many new titles. The old names are used over and over again. There are seven newspaper titles each of which has over 100 adherents in the United Kingdom. “Advertiser” is the favourite, there are IGO newspapers of that designation. “Times” comes next v ith 150*. News'- with 149; “Gazette” with 128: “Chronicle” with 120; “Herald' with 119: and “Journal” with 104. The “Expresses,” “Guardians,” and "Observers” muster over 50 each. There are 48 “Standards” and only 33 "Telegraphs.” The new and original fancynames are mostly reserved for weeklies.

The crown to be worn by King Edward at his coronation will be enlarged but its weight will be kept down ttT its lowest limit. Now that it has become an object of great interest after a long seclusion, many questions are rife concerning ,t. The man in the street who is most impressed by the cash value of an object rather than by its historic or sentimental associations, is particularly anxious to know how much the crown is worth. The question is more easily asked than answered. Sixty years ago the crown was valued at something like £113,000, but it is considered that the gems have a higher value now apart from that which historic importance confers.

“Leslie’s Weekly” gives an interesting account of President Roosevelt’s first, day at the White House. Ordinarily the man chosen to direct the destinies of the Republic is escorted to his official home by fifty thousand uniformed men, and drives under the stately portico his ears ringing with the crash of a hundred bands and the cheers of a third of a million people. The President of the United States arrived early in tlio morning, almost unattended, and thero was only a policeman to receive

him. He sprang up the steps at tne entrance with an energy that betokened the overflowing animal spirits of a boy, entered the elevator and made his way to the business side of the executive mansion, and drawing a chair to a table was immediately busy with a pile of telegrams. A few hours later he sat at the head of the big table in the Cabinet room, and the members of his predecessors official family, which he has adopted as his own, occupied their old seats round the council board. The new President simply explained to his Cabinet advisers that he wished to learn the status of all public business of importance under consideration at this time, and each secretary in turn went over at length the affairs of his department. Thus within twenty-four hours after entering the White House the President had m Ins mind an accurate thumb-nail synopsis of every present-day topic of national importance

"Truth” publishes some amusing revelations concerning area-gate touts, sent linn by a gentleman living in a Southern suburb. This gentleman’s daughter lateiy assumed the role of housemaid on various occasions for the purpose of interviewing some of these gentry. She founu that one of them had been entertained at tea in tiie draw-ing-room by a pievious domestic. Another asked for a bottle of beer and a snac-k of bread and cheese, which no had always been accustomed to receive at the house on previous visits. Most interesting of all was the discovery from one of the men that a previous servant had sold to the wardrobe touts various garments belonging to the family in order to pay her debts to the other gentry who nad supplied her with jewellry, family Bible, sewing machine, or what not.

The Athens correspondent of the “Pail Mali Gazette” relates an amusing adventure experienced by the Crown Prince of Greece while shooting in the preserves on the Royal estates at Delkeiia. Two soldiers. seeing a person in sporting dress, pointed out that shooting on tho royal lands was a trespass. As the Prince paid no attention to the remonstrance. they seized him by the collar and ordered him to accompany them to the nearest police-station. On the way the Prince tendered them a bribe to be allowed to go, with no other result than that his captors literally "ran him in” the rest of the way, and then laid against him before the police official the additional charge of attempted bribery. Asked for his name the Prince revealed his identity, and had the satisfaction -if cheering the two worthy fellows out of their aiam- by presenting each wit.i twice the amount of the bribe thev had refused.

The London correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian,” by the way. reminds us that the custom of searching the vaults does not date from the ac tual time of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. It was not, in fact, until 85 years later, in IG9O. that the custom came regularly into vogue, in consequence of an anonymous warning received by the Marquess of Carmarthen, in November of that year, telling him that there was great cause to believe that a

signed against the King and Parliament. The search of the vaults in consequence of this letter revealed nothing, but the custom has been invariable ever since.

Though the most ardent admirer of the late Amir of Afghanistan would hesi-

’uite to c.oc:are that that potentate had a pretty wit or was a fellow of infinite jest, it is a fact that ho had a sense of humoui. Shortly after Ishak Khan’s retolt. and at a time when Russia was persistently using every occasion to serve her own turn, the Russian Governor of Turkestan sent the Amir a message to the effect that he proposed to exercise a force of some 500 men, cavalry and artillery, at a spot near the Afghan frontier. With characteristic Muscovite politeness—under such circumstances—tne hope was expressed that tlie Amir would not regard such a proceeding in any hostile spirit: it was purely of pacific intent. Abdur Rahman was equally polite—for once. He was almost cordial in his approval of the proposed demonstration, the more so, lie as he intended exercising a force of 5,000 troops of all arms exactly opposite the spot selected by the Russians. The Russian manoeuvres did not come off.

A correspondent states that threefourths of the population of South America cannot read or write. In tho whole of the American continent there are estimated to bo 2,000,000 illiterate which number over 1,000,000 Jive in the South. Among the 2,000,000 mountain whites, at least one-half cannot read and of the 50,000 Indian children inhabiting the mountainous districts, less than 15,000 attend school.

A week or so before the defeat of Tammany Hall, or as tho President calls it “the victory of the forces of decency ” Mr Dooley summed up the famous Boss He said: “Croker’s th’ boy f’r me money or wud be if he knew that I had it. He’s larned that there’s a fam’ly entlirance

to th’ bank as well as to th’ saloon. He’s larned that men can talk thimsilves to death an’ he’s willin’ to let thim do it. He’s heerd iv th’ bond iv love an’ friendship, but lie prefers a cash forfeit. He don’t stay in this country much, an’ I dont blame him. An’ whin he gets to England he don’t sleep in th’ park. T e bet ye. He’s got th’ ajinin’ house to th’ Jook iv Cornwall, an’ him an’ th’ King can be seen ainiy hour iv th’ afternoon on th’ verandah iv th’ Tower iv London, talkin’ it over. But he’s me ideel statesman. Somebody talks about vice, an’ iverybody says, ‘By Jove, let’s suppress it!’ Rayformers, Hinnissy, is in favour iv- suppressin’ ivrything, but rale politicians believes in suppressin’ nawthin’ but ividince.” Peter Dunne has evidently a good deal of his wit uul insight left.

Eugene Sandow lias just undergone a remarkable test of endurance in .having a cast of his whole body taken under muscular strain. The cast was taken for South Kensington by instruction of the British Museum authorities at the instance of Professor Ray Lankester. A mould, considerably larger than the part, was made in wood. This was placed round the part with an inch or two of space intervening, and that space then filled with liquid plaster. The part at full muscular tension had then to t e sustained until the plaster hardened, a period of about 15 minutes. The skin, of course, is well oiled before the plaster is poured in so as to prevent it adhering. Even then the disagreeableness is very great. ’When all parts are taken they are fitted together and make a mould of the entire form.’ It must be remembered that it was necessary to keep up the full muscular tension not only in the part but also throughout tho whole body whilst the plaster was hardening, or the symmetry of the cast would be seriously affected. The ordeal lasted for one month, daily sittings being taken.

Toy ships and boats were once made in England, but ail old man who held the secret died, and now they come from Germany. Penny watches are now made in Germany, though originally a French production. 11l tin toys we are told there is a good trade to be done, and English firms could do well if they would but- try. Formerly tin toys were hand-coloured: then the colours were put on before the tin was made up, and it. was this that necessitated the use of tangs instead of solder. Mechanical toys are almost exclusively made in Birmingham, but- dolls are a German monopoly. No one can touch the Germans in doll-making, not even the Americans, though they have tried hard to enter the field. Stamped tin articles, boats, engines and railway carriages of the best quality, far superior to any Continental goods, are. we are pleased to learn, manufactured by a firm in Hackney. * * * e »

The only woman who ever held a commission in the United States Army has just retired into unofficial life. FirstLieutenant Anita Newcomb McGee was appointed acting assistant-surgeon al the beginning of the Spanish War, and lias since had control of the Army Nurse Corps. On her resignation she has received the warmest- thanks from the Government for her services. She is the daughter of Simon Newcomb, the astronomer. Her husband is chief of tho bureau of American ethnology.

When we read of such picturesque old customs as the hourly announcement of the t time and state of the weather by night watchmen, we do not always stop to consider their eminently practical side. At Belvoir Castle, the Duke of Rutland’s demesne, this particular old custom is still faithfully kept up, and those who have been guests there v >.iH readily admit that, while the practice is quaint and picturesque enough, it has its drawbacks. We do not all want to know that it is two or three or four a.m. as the case may bo, nor when we are comfortably sleeping do we care to be roused by a stentorian voice proclaiming the fact that it is “a damp and dismai morning,” or that it is "cold and misty.” The weather has no interest for us at such a time, and nobody can possibly want to know the time between midnight and early-cup-of-tea hour. Were the chrono-meteorolo-gical watchmen to be revived in the metropolis he would probably have a woise time than the belligerent pussy who prowls by night. * * * *

It is quite obvious that even in England there are people who wash too little. It is not so generally recognised that some people wash too much, 'lnc skin is not well adapted to frequent applications of water accompanied by even tne least irritating of soaps. A tendency arises to maceration of the superficial part of the epidermis, which is too frequently removed and occasions probably too rapid a proliferation of : f l,O or the Malpighian layer. There is no doubt- that many cases of roughness of the skin of the face come from | the frequent applications of water. It J ls ?;good thing to rub the face with a soft, clean, dry towel two or three times. a da y- If. in addition, water is i ” s - “Vl" 5 morning and at night, tho sain will be kept in a sounder, smoother, and healthier state than if, as is

often the case, soap and water are used three or four times a day. Men are not often offenders in this respect, most men sparing little time for the refinement of the toilette. Women and child, ren, whose skins are most easily affected by superfluous ablution, are the very persons in whom such excess is too commoil. They should be taught that there are dry methods of cleanliness as well as wet ones.

The glue of wine in Italy i. s assuming serious proportions. There was an enormous vintage last year, but tni s season’s is even larger. The stock t a the Italian cellars amounts to - 000,000 gallons of the 1900 vintage, ail'd 88,000,000 from former years. Prices have naturally fallen proportionately and a gallon of wine is sold retail at "a halfpenny. Representations have been made to the Italian Government to reduce the communal taxes on wines id in the manufacture of alcohol. J IIQ Ministers of War and of Marine have decided that in future soldiers and sailors are to have rations of wine instead of coffee.

For the first time in Australian history, the mayors of the two famous goldfields cities—Ballarat and Bendigo—are teetotalers. Wliat is more, and what will delight the heart of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, botli have publicly declared their determination to carry out their principles while in office, and to have no intoxicants at mayoral functions. At Bendigo, where the Marquis of Salisbury, then Lord Robert Cecil, sojourned for a season in 1852, no objection was raised; but in Ballarat an aiderman with the aggressively-commercial name of Shoppee rose and moved a reduction by one-half in the mayoral salary on the ground that money should not be voted for the gratification of a particular section of the ratepayers. Alderman Shoppee found himself in a minority of one, but he had his little revenge at the close of the meeting. When the toast of “The New Mr’’ was proposed, he produced a flask of whisky from a capacious pocket and ostentatiously drank the health of tha teetotal chief magistrate of the golden city.

Though every brand of tobacco is more or less an amalgam of various leaves, avowed mixtures of dark and light tobaccos are of quite- recent invention. Like so many discoveries, the mingling of strong and dark light and mild tobaccos was the work of necessity. Twenty or thirty years ago a Huddersfield gentleman was travelling home from London. After leaving King’s Cross he discovered that his store of pipe tobacco was nearly exhausted, and would not suffice for the journey. He found, however, that iie had a cake of tobacco which he occasionally chewed. To eke out ammunition for his pipe during the journey he cut up the cake and mixed it with his flake tobacco. The mixture was greatly to his liking; what he had smoked cf necessity he continued to smoke of free choice. Meeting a friend employed in a Liverpool tobacco factory, he offered him his own made mixture, singing its praises loudly, as smokers are wont to laud tlieir favourite brand of burning. The tobacco man smoked thereof, enjoyed vastly, and so realised the value of the idea that within a very short time the first smoking mixture was placed on the market.