HERE AND THERE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4307, 16 March 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

HERE AND THERE

Wellington people ought never to be troubled with indigestion. An article in a medical paper points out that a certain amount of sand must be consumed oy human beings for the purposes of difostion. This is the old, “peck of dirt" efore we die. Tb© writer points opt that fowls are unhealthy without it, sicken and die. “Ammals ; ” he says, “know its value, and he instances the dog, who, if given a piece of meat on a plate, at once pulls it off into the dirt. A wise Providence has sent us wind and dust, which all the efforts of the city corporation and the water carts, cannot allay.

The thirty-two granite columns for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at New York are to be single pieces of stone, each 54ft long by 6ft in dia-; meter and weighing 160 tons. To turn. | these columns to shape and size an exceedingly large and powerful lathe has (been laid down. The lathe is 86ft long over all, and will take between its centres ' blocks 60ft long. The bed of the lathe, is built up of six lengths nolted together. The spindles are hollow, and weigh nine tons each. The tools used for cutting are circular discs of steel, Jin thick, and lOin in diameter, provided with a V-shaped j cutting edge. The disc revolves as it . cuts, or rather splinters the stone off. | The depth of cut taken is about 3m. After cutting, rough polishing is done with hardened steel shot, the final polish, being given by emery. The lathe takes 50 horse-power to drive it, the work being rotated at the rate of seven revolutions in four minutes. About six weeks ■ ar© needed to turn and polish a column | from the rough block. .

Speaking on “Trade Unions, at a meeting of the Glasgow branch of the National Free Labour Association recently, Mr W. Ellis, the district secretary, contended that there was no subject upon which it was so necessary. for the industrial classes to clear their minds of cant as that of trade unions. Many workmen, intelligent enough on many questions, appeared to believe that these were divine institutions that could do no harm, and indulged in language that would not stand the test of adverse criticism. Trade unions had great powers, and were seeking more with fewer responsibilities. He believed the workman was enfeebled and his sense of self-re-liance destroyed by their operation, for restrictions were placed on his. labour, which prevented him from reaping the fruits of the abilities he was endowed with. Ho advocated international and universal Free Trade in labour and its products, which wotdd! do mo: a to accomplish the brotherhood of man than all the trade unions in existence. *•»■ . * *

A Paris correspondent tells the tale of the Castellane bankruptcy. Tne biggest part of the bankruptcy is classed as ‘Tiric-a-brac and bibelots,” whicn figure for about £360,000. One bill is for a pair of candlesticks worth about 300 francs (£l2), which are charged at 13,000 francs (£520). The magnificent mansions of the Castellanea costs, as it stands, about £220,000. Two Rue do la Paix jewellers anu a Place Verdome bric-d-brac dealer' are among the largest creditors. • One said to the correspondent that "the Count had been a good customer.” ••» « * *

The effect of the use of Lyddite by the British at Tientsin had a remarkable effect on the Chinese mind; In its account of the battle of Tientsin the “North China Daily News’’ stated that whole famihes were found within closed doors sitting in their homes as though nothing had happened. On heing approached they were found to be dead. A soldier was seen leaning against a wall, but was also found to be dead, killed by lyddite fume®. The Chinese have read of. all this. They call the weapon the “poisoned gas-can-non,” and are greatly provoked by its use. ‘ They still talk much about it. The long-range guns, rapid-firing guns, and excellent marksmanship they rather admire. But the use of lyddite they consider unpardonable.

Helen Keller, the interesting blind and \ deaf mute, has passed the entrance ex-1 omination to Radcliffe College. She has chosen the French, English, and Gorman courses, and, in addition, the course ,in history. The_ examination papers were made out, using the raised point system, and she wrote the answers upon a typewriter. At the lectures she is accompanied by Miss Sullivan, who sits close behind her and gives her in the manual language whatever the instructor may be saying. ■ __ , In support of the.rather startling announcement that the world is growing smaller, “ Science Siftings *' notes that— In 1850 England was 32 days from India. Now it is but 17 ; a ship ,as fast as the Deutschland could make the journey-in ten. In 1830 New York was from three to six months from China by sailing ship. Now it is 17 days by rail to Vancouver and by ship to grants travelled to America in about 40 days. Often they ran into storms and helped man the pumps. Now they journey hut a week in comfort. The Suez Canal halved the time it took heavy freight to go from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian. The Nicaragua Canal will perform a like service for the Western World. Fifty years ago news from Europe reached America in-two weeks. Now two minutes suffice. « * • . , * • *,

The Parisian paper, the “Seiole," referring to the proposal to form and equip a volunteer force of 20,000 men for the rescue of the Boer Republics from Great Britain, makes the ironical suggestion that the command should be given to General Morcier, and that the force, instead nf sailing for Africa, should be semt to invade England. * * - • • »

It ; is remarkable that Edinburgh, which was regarded as the stronghold of Pro-Boer sentiments in Scotland during the controversial stages of the war, has just established another, record in recruiting. The number of enlistments in the past year was 1136, which is more than 400 in excess of the previous year, and nearly three times as many as in 1898. The cavalry recruits were fairly divided between light and heavy, with a balance in favour of the former; while! the line regiments most favoured by the; 580 men were, of course, the Highland] t corps. Several of the latter, however, j had been closed for recruiting for some] time, on account of being up to the establishment. Militia, and Naval recruiting in Edinburgh has also been on the increase, the number for the Militia last year being 787, as ; compared with 561 in the previous year. Dr Robertson Nicoll, the most distinguished journalist on the religious press, does not agree with Dr Parker that a daily religious paper would he a success. Writing on the subject in the “British Weekly, 1 ' Dr Nicoll says’: “We should rejoice to see such a journal firmlyfounded and circulated, hut the practicability of the undertaking is another matter.” Dr Nicoll thinks the Churches! have great reason to be thankful for the London daily newspapers as , they ! are. “As a rule,” he adds, "news and; comments alike are writteij with full] knowledge, with_ great ability, and in a sympathetic spirit. 1 ' •*• • *

Misunderstandings of familiar forms of words, especially of religions formular-

ies, are universal in nurseries. How I tcommon such confusions are even among; adults of limited! education is perhaps, less realised. So says a clerical corres-i pondent, who sends us the following m-j stances coming under his own-notice; -j “With all my worldly goods, I, thee and thou,” is the popular rendering or 1, thee endow.” “My awful wedded wife supplies an instance of a dropped 1, l as disastrous as any dropped h. Une villager’s version and mental vision or t.,e angel Gabriel’s salutation, “B'essed art 1 j thou amongst women,” was found to be, •(“Blessed are thou, a monk swimming. ;! Otner parishioners have been paruen--1 j larly devout to “Blessed John the Blackr smith,” and to “Holy Michael, the Dark angel.” , ,

The town of Sarnia, Ontario, is noted for its social life, and a good deal of it centres about the inn or saloon. An amusing example occurred in tho town lately. One of Sarnia’s citizens went to South Africa with the first contingent, and was killed by a Boer bullet. The church which he attended when at home decided to put up a tablet to his memory, but this was indignantly objected to by the citizens, who said that in order to be seen it should adorn the walls of one of tho saloons. There is now a keen rivalry in town as to which saloon should have tho honour.

A correspondent in the Klondike writes that to-day Dawson presents a marked contrast to tho Dawson or rods. Then no one except possibly the judge on the bench wore a white shirt, while the streets were mudholes. To-day people dress very much as they do in the cities of America and England, and one can walk over the town with polished shoes without getting them soiled. Outwardly Dawson seems a thriving commercial centre with rows of well-equipped stores, good hotels, substantial warehouses. The streets are lighted by elec+ricity and an electric tramway is being built. Houses are springing up at a rapid rate, while it is satisfactory to report that tho education, of the children is not being neglected, public schools having been opened.

American journals are inveighing against the wearing of coats made from the skins of the unborn lamb. the thoughtless barbarity has bean already checked by publicity. The argument hardly applies to the -incr sorts ot astrakhan, which are the skins of the unborn Persian lamb. Persian dietary customs are different from ours, and if all civilisation ceased to wear astrakhan there would follow no change in Persian practices. But for Western nations to engage in a revolting slaughter that twenty little skins may make a woman’s cloak is a different thing. Tyrannical fashion must bow its head we hope without any regret —to public opinion. # , * The “Now York World” has apparently reached the climax of the eccentric and bizhrre. A page of a recent issue was devoted to the love affairs or a bearded lady, who appeared to have had no lack of suitors from the day when young womanhood and moustache dawned simultaneously. This leads to reflections illustrated as to the effect of beards on the beautiful women of literature and art. Its readers are presented with pictures of a whis- ’ kered Juliet on the balcony, of a bearded Ophelia, of a hirsute Margaret ac--1 cepting jewels, of a Rosalind in need of la razor, fastening a note to a tree; and, final and ultimate crime against good taste, of a Vanns of Milo m search of a barber. If tbe mere reading c.f this catalogue of atrocities makes the , reader shiver—let him be thankful he has not seen the cuts.

For some time past the Raiser has shown special interest in the famous Benedictine Abbey of Maria Ranch, whose Abbott is a frequent visitor to the Court when’ at Berlin. The Kaiser has now accepted from -the fathers a, superb MS volume of 100 leaves el vellum containing the rule of St Benedict in Romanic script. For a whole year the nuns of Maredret, in Belgium, have worked at the gift with pen and pencil. The initial letters are in colours, and the writing is surrounded by richly deeprated biblical and allegorical representations. # # ,

Colonel, Hozier, the secretary of Lloyds, is* very hopeful of the success of the system of wireless telegraphy invented jointly by himself and ,Neville Maskelyne. The brief published accounts of the system scarcely do it justice,' for when fully developed, Colonel Hozier anticipates that it will be able to accomplish as much in the way of distance signalling and telegraphing as has been done by Signor Marconi s invention. The Colonel _ doe*? not believe in the possibility of any system of wireless telegraphy ever supplanting the present method for the rapid transmission of messages. He is also franxly sceptical of the success of any attempt to telegraph across the Atlantic without cables. It will bo interesting to watch the development of the two rival systems, the Marconi and the HozierMaskelyne. * » •

It was a costly century of war that Englishmen had to look back upon a hundred years ago. .The fighting record began in 1702 with the war of the Spanish Succession, which cost 62 i millions. The Spanish war of 1739 absorbed 54 millions before it was settled at Aix-la-Chapelle nine years later. _ The Seven Years’ War cost 112 millions, and the American War 136 millions. Most expensive of all was the French Revolutionary War, begun in 1793, which cost this country 464 millions. If we extatnd the retrospect hack to 1688 and up to 1815, we find there were in that period 62 years of peace, and that the sixty-five yelars of war cost us 2032 millions. The largest item in this vast total was, of course/, the campaign against Bonaparte,_ which in twelve years cost ns 1159 millions.

The-defence of Elands River by the colonials, which has been pronounced the finest performance of the war, is described in a long and graphic letter from Captain Ham, who was in command of the Victorian Bushmen, to his father, the Hon David Ham, a member of the Victorian Upper House. On the third day,of the siege, De la Rey, the Boer general, sent in a white flag with a letter written on three telegraph forms. He asked for a surrender, and congratulated the colonials on their defence under such a tremendous fire. Ha offered to send them back to Zeerust with two days’ rations. After a consultation, surrender was refused, and the Boer General informed that the camp was, and would be, held under instructions by colonial troops of her Majesty. Lord Kitchener, by whose force the brave colonials were eventually relieved, gave them the highest praise, . and was astonished at the amount of defensive burrowing work they had Leon able to do. with the bayonet.

• * .* „ * , * An important piece of news has arrived in Paris from South Oran to the effect that Abou Amama, Marobout of Figuig, one of the most desperate opponents of the extension of French power, has made his submission to the South Algerian military authorities. Abou Amama, whose real name is Mohammed Bel Arbi, belongs to one of the oldest and most respected families in Oran, and althongn his influence was considerably shaken-, by the defeat in 1881, the last twenty years have wit-

nessed a wonderful ex ten*-, .'"I of his power, which reaches to borders oi Tripoli. The submission of Auou An,ama. which puts an end to tho incursions which have continually troubled the French frontier, was due to the labours of Carafand and Bounder, who have been at Figuig negotiating.

Tho making of counterfeit salmon is the newest profitable industry m America. A company of Chicago fisnpackers have established a plant ft Lacrcsse, Wisconsin. Tons of catfish from Mississippi arc- there smoked chemically, treated with a solution which saves the colour .and taste of salmon, and then canned and labelled as a brandy of salmon. A large proportion are then ex ported to Europe. The counterfeit is very difficult to detect. ‘

A telegram from Denver says tno Italian Coi -ul there has asked the Govnor that pressure be brought to bear on tiiu authorities of Fremont County to take ali the precautions in their power to prevent injury to Italians residing in Florence (Colorado!, and if_ necessary to call out tha Militia- The Consul has also telegraphed to Baron Tuva, tho Italian Ambassador at Washington to appeal to President McKinley for Federal aid if tho State authorities are unable to cope with tha situation. The threatened trouble is tl e result of an importation of a number of Italians to work as smelters. The Mill and Smelter Mens’ Union objected to this, but no serious action was tak'-u, although threats are said to have been used. An Italian killed a smelter recently apparently by accident, but this has increased the bitter feeling against tho Italians, and a race conflict is predicted. * » »

The “Daily Mail” has authority for stating that when Parliament meets Lord Wolseley will take the first opportunity that presents itself in the Douse of Lords of making clear his views on tho question of army reform, and on the powers that should be granted to the Commander-in-Chief. There is a growing feeling among those who have worked* for reform in army administration that in order to carry out his great task Eord Roberts must not be hampered by the conditions imposed on the retirement of the Duke of Cambridge in 1895. Mr Brodrick is understood to continue to hold tho view that the sys tern introduced in 1895 is the best lor the army. Lord Robert’s friends—and they are many and ’nfluential—hold tno opposite opinion. As one who has occupied the post of Commander-in-Chief with tho limited powers, Lord WoUeley is in an exceptional x >osl t lo ' a ko throw light on the subject- #

Recently Mr Rockefeller received a nice little cheque for £620,000, his share of Standard Oil profits for 90 da;s He owns £6,200,000 of the stock, and he drew not far short of £3,000,000 in profits last year. , . ,

The “Daily Nows” says; —Mr Chamberlain has given his sanction to the establishment of a botanic station m the Seychelles, which, with the co-oper-ation of the director of Kew Gardens, will bo started on the first day of t*.e coming century. Some people have actually assigned the site of, the yam mi of Eden to the well-known Adalaora group in the Indian Ocean, now famous for little else than the gigantic lard tortoises of which so many have Dean sent to the Zoo through the insertmentality of Mr Walter Itotlischna, MP. Every description of plant.which is likely to be of the slightest economic value will be obtained from other com--tries, and the* treatment of the soil wll be made tbe subject of special experiments. The islands are in direct communication by steamer with Colombo, Mauritius, Aden, Zanzibar and Bomo.vy, a' factor which is likely to play an miportant part in the development oi their internal resources.

The following story, which we take from the “Club Chatter” column of ToDav.” tends to oonfi-m the proverb that “things are not always whirl they seem. A column some 3000 strong, witu eight 15-pounder field guns, wlihe marching upon Heilbron, in our new Orange River Colony, was annoyed by a bakei s dozen ef Free Staters serving a 14-pouncler quick-firer. An ex-Prussian artillery offacer, Captain Max Strydam, let oft six rounds with black powder, then limbered up and galloped to another position, from which a few rounds of the now y• fixed ammunition —which is composed or the smokeless propellant—were- fired. Our ingenious people at once assumed that there were at least two guns °PP OS " ed to them, and that one of these (that which had fired the black powder) had been “promptly silenced by a ■well-direct-ed fire” —on the empty position! In the meantime the erstwhile Prussian officer contrived, with the aid of one Boer, to keep the hand quick-firer pumping forth shell, while at the same tune, the remaining eleven spread themselves oyer a couple of ridees, so that our 3000 imagined that they were dealing with quite a respectable force. After a half-hour of this diversion, the redoubtable baker s dozen moved to pastures now with intact cuticles, and their gun uninjured. Lord Methuen was present at this delightfully comic affair, which, in the dispatches relating to the advance upon Heilbron, is referred to as a “brush with the enemy’s rearguard!’’ #

On the 2nd inst, 1900 poor children, gathered from all parts of London, were entertained by the National waifs’ Association, better known as Dr Barnardo’s Homes. Tea was provided without stint, and succeeded by sundry entertainments. On leaving, each youngster was presented with a new sixpence and a couple of oranges. The following figures will convey some idea of the work done for the children of the submerged tenth by this most valuable philanthropic institution; —The daily cost of food provided is £140; 5400 boys and girls are under the care of the association; between 13,000 and 14,000 cases were dealt with during, the twelve months just terminated, and in the same period 931 trained boys and girls have been shipped to the colonies. *****

The latest addition to the architectural wonders of Chicago is not a sky scraper, but three warehouses, each 5200 feet in length. They are to be built on Chicago Heights, and when complete will form the greatest clearing and distributing point for freight in America. Thev will afford nearly 700 acres of floor space under roof, and their railway yards alone will have a capacity of 5000 cars.

The first example in Southern Russia of an employer’s voluntary granting of an eight hour day to his -workmen has taken place recently in the little town of Kakhovka, Government of Khersan. M. Pankeieff, proprietor of local mills, has, on his own initiative, reduced the hours of labour of his workmen from twelve to eight, without deducting anything from their wages. So far he remains quite content with tha change, and states that the men have become more aleyt, more attentive, and their labours more productive than before. But has not this been the experience of every employer who has given the eight hours’ day a fair trial?

_ * * * • * __ * The recent assertion of Professors Loch and Lingle. of Chicago, that common salt, or chloride of sodium, administered in a certain manner, stimulates the heart and produces wonderful rejuvenating effects, is partly confirmed. The new elixir of life, it appears, has been successfully tested by Abraham Hewitt, a well known millionaire and formerly

Mayor of New 'f ork. Hewitt is nearly 80 ■ years of age, and is a marvel of mental j and physical activity’. It is said that he : owes his remarkable vitality to subcutan- j ecus injections _of glycero-pbosphate of sodium, xirescribed by a celebrated French physician. When Hewitt began the treatment three years ago, he was suffering from general weakness, and could hardly walk, but since then he has never had a day’s illness.

The tobacco and pipes sent to the Scottish soldiers in South Africa by their compatriots have been immensely valued. Letters which have been received from General Hector Macdonald, and the officers commanding regiments testify to this. “It is needless for me,” says the General, speaking for the whole Highland Brigade, “to tell yon how highly the men appreciate the thoughtfulness of their countrymen, and the kindly feeling which prompted them to send such a' handsome and useful gift of remembrance.” It appears that the Boers looted one lot of tobacco from a convoy, but they thoughtfully left the dainty boxes in which it was contained. Those bore a Scottish design and greeting on the lid', and were really meant as keepsakes.

Distinction as an oarsman is a sure stepping-stone to high preferment in the Anglican Church. A fresh illustration of this rule will be found, says the “Daily Chronicle,” in the appointment of the Rev. H. B. Southwell to the second of the newly-endowed canonries in. Newcastle Cathedral. Canon Southwell graduated with honours from Pembroke College, Oxford—where ho was a contemporary of Mr Athelstau Riley, and also rowed “four” in the University eight. A wealthy layman has endowed a fi hostel” at Newcastle for the training of candidates for holy oiders, and of this the new canon, _ who has long been connected with Litchfield Theological College, will probably be the first Principal.

Mr Philip H. Armour, of Chicago, whose death was recently announced, ] owed his magnificence to meat, and he stuck to meat until the end, though he is said to trace his descent to the original of Burns's “Bonnie Jean.” He went West from New York State'when the West was almost unknown, and started -with two companions as a butcher in Milwaukee. His prophetic eye saw the coming greatness of Chicago, ancl he determined to help it on by starting a wholesale business there. And now the offices in La. Salle street and the slaugh-ter-houses at the stockyards are among the famous sights of Chicago. Mr Armour was a munificent giver as well as an untiring accumulator of money. The last memory of him will remain his tremendous fight against young MrLeiters wheat corner, and the generosity with which lie treated his beaten adversary.

In self-complaoeht boldness foxes are really surpassing their proverbial reputation, and the limit of their cool impudence has not yet been fully established. A farmer in the Quern country, Johnstone by name, following a custom generally prevailing in the shires nowadays, had a very targe hen coop, painted red, set up in one of his fields for tho shelter of his poultry by night, and as protection from roving and marauding “varmint.” On going the first afternoon to inspect his new purchase in situ, and to ascertain that all was right for the projected ocoupants, Mr Johnstone was prompted to look inside, and there he found, to his amazement and amusement alike, a fox curled up in one of the corners, fast asleep. Thanks to the agency of a terrier, Reynard’s exit was possibly less dignified' than his entry.

A very young chimpanzee, brought from the West Coast of Africa by an officer, has just been placed in the anthropoid apes’ house at the Zoo, despite the earnest protests of “Mickey,” who strongly objects to form one of the syndicate of public entertainers. The new comer, owing to the difficulty in obtaining proper food and accommodation on board ship—even as a steerage passenger—was in a wretchedly poor condition; indeed, it is certain that had its arrival at Regent’s Park been delayed another day or two it would have succumbed to the effects of its long voyage. A few warm baths, however, administered by its indefatigable keeper, and a constant supply of beef tea and other strengthening delicacies, wrought a wondrous improvement, and High hopes are now entertained of its recovery. t » » « «

The advance of cremation in England, ! shown by the establishment of a munij cipal furnace in the North, and the proi jection of a new crematorium not far ; outside the four-mile radius in London, ! recalls the interesting history of Japan in the matter. Cremation followed Buddhism into Japan about 1200 years ago, but it only partially superseded the Shinto custom of disposing of the dead by interment. In 1873 cremation was totally prohibited by the Japanese Government, whose members seem to | have gome confused notion as to the ' practice being nn-European, and therefore barbarous. Having discovered that, far from being un-European, cremation was the goal of European reformers in such matters, they rescinded their, prohibition before two years bad elapsed. Cremation in Japan is carried- out in a somewhat rough and ready manner. The cheapest process only costs about 4s 6d. This is scarcely adapted to European requirements, and is sufficiently described by the title which the foreign residents of a certain settlement in Japan gave to the native cremation-ground among the hills—“ Roast Meat Valley.” • -**** Dr Eentoul, of Melbourne, has written a hymn, in which he gives the churches “fits” : “The war-gods hypnotise our earth, Hell’s lyddite force and passion Are ■worshipped; ’mid the frenzy mirth Thy Church hath' caught the fashion. She dances in the maudlin throng. Her voice thick and unsteady, Her litany changed to wild war-song. Her hands for Thee unready. She adulates Hie men of blood, She builds gay shrines to Mammon, She chants, while War flings souls as food To Moloch, God of Ammon—•” This is only a sample of the reverend gentleman’s outpouring of ■wrath. Referring more particularly to the war iu South Africa, he says: “Ah! Freedom stabbed by greedy hands, ’Neath'Force’s feet downtrodden, Moans up to God from widowed lands. With her own heart’s blood sodden.”

Bad verse enough, in all conscience; hut the militant doctor, like most of his countrymen, has the courage of his convictions, and would probably eo to the stake for them with the utmost cheerfulness. As it is, he has little more tofear in these enlightened days than a; rotten egg, or some such unpleasant-] ness.