Random Readings

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7853, 15 July 1911, Page 11

Random Readings

It is very evident that aerial tours from town to town will soon become an cveryuay occurrence, says me “Aero.” VV'itum tlm last few weer:s constructors, especially those on the Continent, havo uuuciuaw)' creaLtHi recorus w.m pu*scn-gtr-carryi*ig Ulaca.uos wn.cu augur tne lonnoum.ng ul the real aud ijracucaJ louring amopiane at a very taiiy ante.

There are pracucu..,iy no Joan of A'ro relics. Alter her martyrdom iho asnos of La Lucerle were thrown into ihe Seme. Tne house at Domremy possesses not a vestige which belonged to tho Maid. But. according to M. E. Metmaa, writing m the “Kovue do Burgogne,” the Museum at Dijon possesses a sword of tne heroine. It will be found near by tne tombs of Fhilippo-ie-Hahri and Jean-saus-Eeur. One does not know whence it came with certainty. Uu one side of the blade is engraved '‘Charles Septieme” aud on the other "Vencolour&” The arms of France and those of Orleans also appear, with the date Uty.

There Is a well-known family, that oi Lord Roberts, owning i»v Victoria Crosses; but the Gough family can boast three, earned by General O. J. S. Gough* General sir H. H. Gough, his brotner, and Coionel J. E. Gough, the latter’s eon. dome years ago, however, a Corporal Taylor was presented with no fewer than live medals at one time, the King's aud for South Alrica, and tho Humane Society’s, Board of Trade’s, and Lloyd’s for an heroic rescue from drowning on tho South Coast—a feat which brongnt him a sixth decoration (or tour for tne same action) in the shape of tho bcannope gold medal tor tho bravest a tea oi the year.

The last survivor ui the ‘"Tools Glor* ieuses” has recently died in Paris. By his death the link with the three days’ revolution in Jury, 1830, which led bo the abdication of Hilaries X., is severed, “ho Pore Lebailly,” as the old man was known, was very popular in the Bastille quarter, where he was employed as a street cleaner. Notwithstanding hia ninety-seven years, he would be seen winter and summer, with broom in hand, at 5 o'clock in the morning, start.ng for his day’s labour. Every year on tne Sunday of the week of the anniversary of tne revolution he would lay his ilorpt tribute at the base of the "Colonuo Juiuot.”

VVV The French papers report a gracious act on the part of the Emperor of Austria. During the troubles in Mex.cop which culminated in the execution of the Emperor Maximilian, - one of His Majesty’s bodyguard was a native of Marseilles, named Etienne. He remained faithtul to his master, and while under arrest, he twice unsuccessfully attempted "to escape, in order to assist his iiuatcd master s cause. For .this he was sentenced to death, but the present President, General Forlirio Diaz, interested himself in the man’s welfare, with tne result that ho was deported to Prance. Recently,-'the fact that he was still livzing was brought under the notice o'f the nmperor Francis Joseph, who has sent me oid warrior a gold watch,' ■ accompanied by a letter in His Majesty s owr Handwriting.

There appears'to be no limit to scientific curiosity, especially in Germany, a scientist of Beipsic, wishing to ascertain whetner fish are warmer tnan the water they live in, stuck a needle connected with a thermo-electric circuit into a living fish in an aquarium. The needle formed one element of the circuit, while .he otner element was immersed in tho same water that contained the fish. The .alter was not seriously injured by the needle, and quickly became iud.hermit to it. Then, a- tne fish swam about, carrythe needle, the ingenious savant closed tne circuit and kept watch, on the gal-vano-meter. It showed no deflection wnatover; from whicn he concluded that the fish and the water were precisely equal in temperature, for had either oeen warmer than tne other a current would have been generated in tho cir cult.

As under the stimulus of practical science the. world’s work widens and intensifies, there is a constant call for better methods of- producing certain substances wmen formerly were little used. Among these is hydrogen, for which there is a rapidly increasing demand for use in dirigible balicons, tor the manulacture of tungsten-famp filaments, and for processes which require the, employment oi cue oxynyarogen blowpipe. Two principal processes are at present used in producing hydrogen, one being electrolytic ana depending upon a cheap suppxy of efectr.c energy to decompose water; tne otner produces the gas by passing steam over rea-hot iron. Tho cecuoiytxc uietnuu has been largely developed in (jerniany, ana tne otner in ei.igi.aud. But me problem oi producing ajdiogcn Cneap.y un a large scaio has not yet been satisiactoniy solved.

Perhaps the tv.u queerest languages vvituout woius used oy human Usings turouguout in uona. are tnose of tno vimacros, a race tuaauit.ng oue of the Canary group ot istunas, ana the Cameroons of West Airtca. Tne Uomero wntsuts what ne nas to say to his ue.ghuour, using botn hugers and tips so expertly as to express ail the signals that are required to make tne conversation inteiligiule. liy this means he can argue, make love, or make inn of anyone, acscribe or explain, coax or threaten. The Cameroon uses a drum. This is rather a peculiar instrument, its sunace being divined into two unequal portions, so that when it ts struck it products twe different notes- With a code in character not unlike our own telegrapaic system, the iieopte make this drum express every syuanie ot tneir language, and thus can be as eloquent as tne Gotnoros. LANTERN FuOT-WARMER An enterprising Canadian concern : has placed a UiiiqUc wjuu iatU iaew.li.-ti LuUiniiiat.Ut' uuViCtt ua viit ll> tiie guise ui a iauteru iovu-waimer. ii ib aua.gmxi, ol cvUtbt. iur uw iu ruia> CominUiiitieo, ceiia curaO.e is necessary dur.ng winter ab well at summer. JrJactd underaeutii ine mp rode, which, it is claimed, mtenereb in no way with proper combUbt.on, the iantern effectively warms the leet and limbs, which means comfort all over. A copper ribbon passes over the burner, and this conserves the heat without ai» fecting the radiation of light. Should light at any time be required, the device is immediately available for such a purpose*