NEWS AND NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, 17 September 1902, Page 14

NEWS AND NOTES.

An instance of the King’s memory for faces is told in “M.A.P.” When his Majesty recovered consciousness after the recent operation, a nurso who had been assisting the surgeons witndrew from the room, hut not before ho had caught sight of her face. When she had gone he asked a doctor who she was, for ho had seen her somewhere, and quite lately. The doctor admitted that this was so, for, but a short while before, his Majesty had presented this samo nurse with a medal for her work in South Africa. That gift has been, rendered doubly precious to its recipient, for the King asked for the nurse, shook hands with her, saying at the same time: “I have proved for myself lioav veil you deserved that medal.” • • • • *

Of tho late Mr James Tyson, the New South Wales millionaire squatter, it was often said that his almost phenomenal Success as a grazier was due to a sort of prophetio second sight which he was supposed to possess. Sometimes he would stock his runs so heavily that old and experienced graziers wojuld shake their heads ominously, hut splendid rains followed, which shoved that he Avas right. Again, in the midst of a splendid season he Avould lessen his stock by a half or more, Avliile his fellow graziers Avould add largely to theirs; subsequent dry seasons would again show him to he right. Between three and four years ago he told one of the leading Australian squatters, Avho lh r es near Melbourne, that a. big drought was com-

ing Avliick might last as long as tAventy years, and Avould cause tremendous losses to the Avliole of Australia, making prime stock fetch fabulous prices, and sending meat nip to famine prices hitherto unheard of. His prophecies were smiled at, but recent events have banished these smiles.

A remarkable story, in which the prioo of a lady’s hat appears to have provided the foundation for tho plot, is told by the Ncav York correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” A Mrs Davis Thomas, of Seattle, Washington, it seems, admired a hat in a shop AvindoAV. Tlio price was £3 12s and her husband offered to purchase it. She refused, saying it Avas too extravagant. Her brother, Samuel Lake, urged her to let her husband buy it, but she still refused. Reaching home the discussion continued, and Lake shot Mr Thomas dead, mortally wounded his sister (who told the police the cause of the tragedy before dying), and then reloaded the pistol and killed himself.

A head adorned Avitli shaggy and unmanageable Avhiskers was thmsfc out of the window, and a voice that fitted the beard enquired—“What is it?” “Oh, is this Mr Higgins’s?” came in a still, small voice from the shade of the doorAvay beloAv. “Yes.” “Please come to No. 414, High street, just as quick as you can, and bring your instruments.” “I ain’t no doctor; I’m a carpenter. Dr. Higgins lives in the next street," and the windoAv came doivn with a slam that told of former experiences of the same kind on the part of the humble artisan. .But carpenter Higgins had not got comfortably back into tlie bed before the bell rang again, and, uttering some remarks, he rose once more and Areut to the window. “Well, what do you Avant now?” he ejaculated. “Please, sir,” said the little voice, “it’s you Ave want. Pa and ma is shut up in the foldin’ bed, an’ Ave can’t get ’em out."

It is stated that ‘the young Russian Empress has by her good example initiated a movement in. favour of early rising among the ladies of her Court. When she first arrived in Russia she greatly scandalised her ladies by her habit of always being up before 7 o’clock. They have uoav not only become accustomed to this startling innovation on the part- of the Empress, but *ave naturally ended by following lier *xample. # * * 9 «

The German police are paternally minded in their care for the public. Sometimes their interference is a nuisance; sometimes there is a grain of common sense about it. The last move of tho Berlin authorities is to issue an order to the public houses and traiteurs generally prohibiting them during the excessive hot Aveatlier from selling drinks of a temperature below 10 deg. Celsius! Thero is always a keen desire to take some cool beverage on a tropical day—and plenty of it—and the Berlin sanitary police, Avho have pondered over the question, have come to the conclusion that the Teuton is not very thoughtful on such occasions of the effect on his “innards” of beer or other cooling draughts almost at freezing point.

A theatrical manager says tlio chorus girl must—absolutely must —have a good, set of teeth. He says that the toothful smile is everything in the success of the chorus girl to-day. “We must have good teeth, prominently displayed, in those facial contortions which are supposed to express transitory emotions of the lighter chai’acter, and if we don’t get them. Avhy, our audiences are not satisfied and go away complaining that they are not getting the full gomplement of beauty for which they

have paid. Thus the dentist has come to be ah important factor in the chorus girl’s career. Many and many a yofing woman who possesses a voice of acceptable quality is refused Avork in the choruses of the big opera and musical comedy companies merely because her teeth are bad and not susceptible to dental amendment. We simply -must have good teeth.”

A story is told by “To-day” of an American lady Avho has been entertaining a good deal this season in London. A neAvcomer, she has, like many of ner count-ryAvomcn. placed herself in the hands of a well-known society woman, Avho has issued all the invitations. 1c has followed, therefore, that the real hostess hasn’t known who half her guests have been; but she is the essence of good nature, and the other evening, espying half-a-dozcn good-looking young fellows who Avere lounging disconsolately about the door of the supper-room, told them to “go right upstairs and enjoy themselves.” Great Avas her confusion when one of them sheepishly said, “Please, mum, Ave’re the waiters.”

These are the times in which certain of tho journals of the Continent vie with one another in demonstrating their wide knowledge of British political affairs. The “Neueste Naclirichten” of Berlin is glad Mi Balfour lias become Prime Minister because “he has slioaati both in his own capacity as Speaker of the House of Commons and as a politician that he can loQjr beyond the impression of the moment.” * * • * •

Tliis is a small “ad” in an American paper: “A live, up-to-date hustler wanted to carry cigars as a side line to- sell to southern jobbing trade. No ‘lias been’ or ‘never Avas’ need apply. Communications confidential. Address,” etc. If ke-hasn’t been or never Ava-s, possibly bo isn’t and never will be. * * * « •

The United States battleship Illinois. AA'hich came over to represent tho U.S.A. at tho Coronation NaA’al Review, is the first A\ r arship in any navy to be fitted Avith an apparatus for taking coal whilst steaming on the high seas. The apparatus is termed the “Lidgenvood-Miller marine cable-way,” and it- is also to be fitted on the Imperial Russian battleship Retviyan. Hitherto the marine oabie-Avays liaA-e been placed upon colliers, and experiments have been made in the United States ana in the British Navies. When it Avas proposed to place tho operating Avinches and equipment for a marine cable-Avay on a warship there Avas a great outcry on the part of certain officers, aa'lio declared that men-of-war AA-ere already overloaded AAuth machinery. HoAvever, the problem Avas solved as folloavs. The only machinery required for a marine cable-Avay are two special operating winches, but these have been so designed that they serve a do-able purpose. Upon the superstructure deck of the Illinois there Avere two deck Avincke-s, and these liaA r e been put ashore, and the neAV winches substituted occupying precisely tho same bed, and employing the same foundation bolts. The Illinois can noAv take coal at sea from any masted vessel that it may meet in any quarter of the globe, and in time of Avar this aa'lll bo of immense advantage. • - • •

Maung Hso Pay, a retired Government servant, write-s a curious letter to tlio “Friend of Burma” ; “It appears that in tho Tharra/waddy district, at a place called Okpo. may now be witnessed a strange freak of nature. A bady lias been born there Avith a kind of cow’s head covering its own. The parents are delighted, and they intend to make money out of it by exhibiting the monstrosity. They exhibited it in Okpo without charge, and when the yorang mother is quite well they intend going on tour. The first place they will visit Avill be Rangoon. It is said they were offered 300 rupees for their offspring, but they refused to part with it.” ******

Some interesting experiments are about to be made in the Mediterranean with British men-of-A\-ar and colliers equipped with the “Temperley-Miller Marine Cableway,” and if these are successful this apparatus will be fitted on British battleships. During some recent experiments in the English Channel the collier Muriel, fitted with this cabieAvay, delivered from thirty-five to forty tons per hour' in a moderate sea and a half gale of .Avind to H.M.S. Trafalgar, the battleship towing the collier at speeds varying front eight to eleven knots per hour. The same collier also coaled H.M.S. Empress of India at sea at the same rate. It is believed that Avith the perfected apparatus some fifty tons of coal per hour will be sent from collier to battleship whilst both are moving. * * * *

A description of Rodin in his studio appears in the July number of the “Pall Mall Magazine,” Avith a number of fine photographs of his works, wliicli were specially taken for the article under the direction of the famous sculptor himself and the author, Mr Alderson. “From his most modest abode,” says the author “be leads you across a small gravel patch to the sumptuous neAV studio, the white temple you have seen from beloAv, in which the creations of his brain and Sneers are now royally boused; it is for them- that the sculptor displays all his solicitude. The contrast

is most striking; under the colonnaded portico you enter a lofty hall as spacious as many a pjublio museum. It is flooded with the sunlight Rodin loves, for the roof is of glass and are tall wmdoAvs' all round. Large upright glass cases filled Avith a heterogeneous mass of plaster arms and legs, truncated bodies and detached heads lying together _in picturesque confusion, give you the impression of having entered an anatomical museum.”

Some enormous steam turbines, the largest ever constructed, are iioav being made by the British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. These are intended for the eleotrical generating stations of the Metropolitan and the District Raihvay. The first steam turbines Avere used for driving dynamos, and it Avas not for some years aftenvards that Mr Parsons conceived the idea of devising a marine steam turbine for driving ships.. The' advantages of the steam turbine over the ordinary reciprocating steam engine for electrical AA’ork are said to be: Small size for poAver, high speeds Avhen size and cost per unit output of the electric generator are reduced, absence of vibration, small foundations, etc. * * • fr-

ill a feAV days’ time some submarine manoeuvres aa-111 take place off Cherbourg Avliick promise to be of especial interest and importance, and which are expected to clear up many interesting questions relating to the employment of under-Avater vessels for purposes of offensive and defensive warfare. The programme of the nianouvres, Avkick are to be on a larger scale than any hitherto planned either in France or any other country, offer for solution the following problems: 1. The squadron is moored in Cherbourg Roads, and is attacked qy a flotilla of submersibles (i.e., boats provided Avith two methods of propulsion) and submarines proper (i.e., boats propelled solely by electricity) coming in from the offing. The torpedo-boat flotilla of tho defence-mobile is ordered to protect it ‘and to defend the approaches to the harbour. 2. A hostile squadron is blockading Cherbourg. At the beginning of hostilities the submarines are massed at St. Yaast la Hogue (on the eastern side of the Cotentin), and attack the enemy’s squadron while it is under Avay. » * 9 tf •

Statistics have been collected of the height of 10,000 English boys and men. At the ago of 17 (says the “Family Doctor”! these averaged sft Bin; at the age of 22 sft 9in. At 17 they Aveighed 10st 21b, at 22 lOst 131 b. No nation is increasing in height and weight so rapidly as the British. In 50 years the average lias gone up for the whole nation from oft 7-Jin to sft BJin. The average height of the British upper classes at 30 years of age is sft &Jin, and of the farm labourer sft 7 3-sin. The criminal class brings down the average, as their height- is but- sft 5 4-sin. *»*#■***

An experienced and observant woman declares that the most important moment of the day to a man’s peace of mind is the ten minutes that folloAv his return from the work of the day. At that time one word may change his whole state of feeling. He comes home usually tired. Work or the vexations of business during the day have frequently brought, him to a point of fatigue or nervousness at Avhich a very little thing may decide Avhat his mood Avill be for the rest of the evening. The most important thing for the tactful woman to do is to wait until she sees some signs of his temper before she makes any decided move. Don’t above all things tell him that the plumber has just sent in a terrible bill merely for making that little alteration. Don’t talk too much in tho beginning on any subject. Conversation taken torrent.olly at the outset is likely to upset anybody Avho is a little tired after a day’s work and who wants quiet enjoyment of home. * * * * * * *

In sending Avireless telegraph messages across the Atlantic, Mr Marconi made the remarkable discovery that tho signals Avere -transmitted more fully, and Avere receiveu at a greater distance, by night than by day. This fact suggested to Professor Joly, of Dublin, that the etheric waves might encounter a- contrary ether drift in the daytime, producing a certain retardation, such as sound waves suffer when moving against a gale. Sir Oliver Lodge, however, considers that this explanation will not apply, and that the observed highly interesting effect if confirmed,-, is due to the increased conductivity of the air by sunlight. • * * » m

Egypt is suffering from a new plague, Avhich has come in the form of a small mushroom-like cryptogamous fnmgus and is infesting the cotton plant. As 85 per cent, in value of Egyptian exports consist of cotton and cotton seeds this fresh trouble is a matter, of some moment. Damp and chill, it seems, favour the destroying agent, which is of a rusty colour, and, as usual, is most disastrous on poor soils.

A striking. instance of the cure of lupus by means of X rays is reported from Newcast!e-on-Tyne. A Avoman who had suffered from the disease for over thirty years waa subjected for nearly 200 consecutive days to exposures of fifteen minutes’ duration, and at the end of that time was completely healed.

The face was left free of k™™ the first time for thirty years’ tfc d fo|S man gave up wearing a veil m * cases treated at Newcastle bv th?n ?nfcy ‘ gen rays fifteen were wholly Ihis evidence is important y Jf Ucoess fvil. the two modes ot SXnSrt of light and by the X S^ y , e the more expeditious thi &tter 13 economical. a tfae more

The dynamo ought to have an into* est for the present and future * Hons for the dynamo is tending to b? come the prime factor in our tin™??' and social life. Every village wflf haps, soon have its public station generating and supplying electricitv and Ave shall not only light our houses’ streets and roads, but cook our duS and propel our carts and carriages if® electricity, and look to the same boJS for whatever power is wanted in man.? fortunes workshops or private houses: Electricity Avill become as necessary a, water, and the village dynamo as com! man as the village pump. * » • % To convert a peat bog into electricitv is being seriously contemplated in Ireland. Tho scheme proposes the con struction of a generation station close to the hogs, which would supply the needful fuel. The electricity would then do transmitted over a Avide area of country Avherever it .could be best utilised. It is also suggested it should be used for locomotive poAver over a net Avork of light raihvays.

• « * * , There is a great Avavo of emigration from the Continent to America and s other foreign countries. In tlie last, six months 22,000 more foreigners passed through Great Britain as birds of passage than in the first half of 1901. The figures were.- In 1901, 44,000; in 1902, 664)00. so that the increase Avas 50 per cent'. The arrivals of aliens, not stated to ho elseAvhere, showed an increase of only 9 per cent.— from 33,000 to 36,000. From each of the iatter figures some 7,000 sailors have to he deducted.

If a coronation naval review should take place during the next month it- is extremely probable that one or more of the new British submarine boats will be found in the lines at Spithead. Six vessels are uoav m the AA’ater, and three more are in process of construction in tlie shipbuilding yard of Messrs Vickers, Sons and Maxim at BarroAV-in-Furness. The first five are of the neAvest “Holland” driving torpedo-boat type, and are similar to the six new Hollands just added to- the United States Navy—i.e., Adder, Porpoise. Grampus, Pike, Shark, and Mocassin. The sixth vessel is a great improvement on the first fh r e, and its trials will be watched with interest. The Admiralty’s intention is to go on adding submarines to our fleet year by year. ft « » ft 6

The best and best-known of our good hardy climbing shrubs, says the “Garden,” are by no means lost sight of, bat yet they are not nearly as much or as Avell used as they might be. Such a fine thing as the easily grown Clematis montana will not only cover house and garden walls with its sheets of lovely bloom, but it is Avilling to grow in wilder ways among trees and shrubs, where its natural Avay of making graceful garlands and hanging ropes of bloom slioavs its truest and best uses much better than Arlien it is trained straight along the joints of Avails or tied m more stiffly and closely. Even if there are only a feAV stiff bushes such as gorse or low thorns to support and guide it it gladly covers them just as does the Traveller’s Joy (Clematis Vitalba) of our chalkland hedges. © ft O © -9

The country reporter, Avhen things are dull, is an adept at working up the “what might have been” kind of story, as witness the following: “The judge’s carriage, with Justioe and his retinue had just passed along street from the Sessions House at the opening days of the Assizes, when a horse bolted with a heavy van, and but for a timely collision with a butcher’s cart, would probably have come into unceremonious contact with the judge’s equipage.” contact” is good. It is almost as good as the adjective which describes the collision with tne butcher’s cart. « • • © «

The beauty of tlie sea-birds’ cry is one entirely of suggestion; its appeal is through the imagination not the senses. Speaking in human terms, it occupies musical ground ignored by Mozart, appropriated by 'Wagner. And its suggestions are of desolate seas and savage shores; of an eager, maybe joyous, life; but of one, unlike that of Hie woodland songster, entirely alien from and indifferent to our oAvn. —Sir Geo. Douglas, Bart., in the “Outlook.” « • ft •

Although no one can doubt that certain “cures” for inebriety of which one hears a good deal are based upon deceit. w.e do not Avant to' throAV doubt upon the statement that in certain cases they have helped alcoholics to throw off their evil habits, at any rate for a time. When, however, we are told that these cures, which depend upon the use of certain secret remedies, have a poAver for good which is not possessed by those used by orthodox physicians, it is time to inquire how these vaunted remedies are administered.—“ Hospital ”