THE WISDOM OF THE "TIMES" ORACLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7961, 18 November 1911, Page 19

THE WISDOM OF THE "TIMES" ORACLE.

UREADER” seeks information: How long is tho passage from the YEgciui Sea to the Black Sea?

Tlio winding course of the Hellespont or Dardanelles is about forty-five iniles long; average breadth, three to four miles; width at narrowest point, a little over one mile. The Sea of Marmora is one hundred and twenty iniles long and i fifty miles across at its widest part, ihe Bosporus is eighteen miles in length, one mile and a half wide at its widest and narrows to a little under hundred yards at the most confined portion of its course. "Student” writes to know; Who were the authors of the Geneva Bible? The English exiles Knox, Coverdale, and their companions, when in 1560 they bad taken refuge in Geneva. "Hamlet” asks: Can you say which is the correct spelling: “Shakepore” or “Shakespeare'? This is a matter which will probably never be settled to evori'one's satisfaction. Tn Frisweli’s "Life Portraits of Shakspere” appears a photograph of the dramatist's will, showing that he wrote "Shakspere”—not a letter more Phonographic Wanvickshiremen used to write as their clumsy lips pronouncedsome .Tagsper, Chncsper, ’Snxper, Shikspere, and Shakspoare. Does a man know how to spell his own name? Should we

thrust upon the late Laureate the name of Tennisou because an Archbishop wrote it so? "Octavius” inquires: Has the number eight ever been regarded aa having any special significance? The number nine has always been, and still is, remarked as possessing uncommon powers and producing coincidences in an extraordinary degree. Yet there can scarcely be a greater number of coincidences than were exemplified in the number eight in the life of the Caliph called, from his accidental claims, by the name of "Octouary.” He gained eight battles against the enemies of the Koran; ho was the eighth of the Abbasidos; he reigned eight years, eight months, and eight days; he left eight sons, eight daughters, eight thousand slaves, and eight millions of gold. ❖❖❖ "M” asks: How long will the known sources of coal supply last at the present rate of consumption? About five hundred. years. "Puzzled” makes inquiry; Why is “cheque” so written, and not “check”? If etymology had its own, a man would put a "check” in the pocket of his "cheque” trousers; as it is, with us he does just the reverse, though they manage these things better in America.