Otago Witness Illustrations.

Otago Witness, Issue 2612, 6 April 1904, Page 35

Otago Witness Illustrations.

— Photo by Mr R Chisho m

QUITE a DICKENS PARTY.

If there ever was a Christmas party after the "Founder of Christmas's " own heart, it was that held recenfly in C ixton Hall, Westminster, organised by Father Fletcher, the proceeds of which will help to endow a " Tiny Tim " bed for cripple boys at St. Vincent's Home, Harrow road. A real ** Tiny Tim " — a little cripple — was enthroned amid fitting pomp, and the little monarch pronouncad his speech from the

— Hicks, photo.

throne in tht words of the author, "God bless us, every one." Musical chair, Father Christmas, and charades, all helped to keep the fun going ; but the event of the evening was a Christmas play, " Our Toys." in which five grandchildren of Dickens took part. The cast was as follows : — A f airy, Miss Elliot ; 80-peep, Miss Olive Dickens ; Red Riding Hood, Miss Elaine Dickens ; Doll, Miss Runge; Gentleman Doll, Mr Henry Charles Dickens; Toy soldier, Master Philip Charles Dickens; Noah, Master Cedric Charles Dicken. The five grandchildren of Charles Dickens are the children of Mr Henry Field-

ing Dickens, X.C, and they entered into their parts with the- Christmas spirit of their grandfather, and 6poke with the eloquence of their father. Mr Henry Dickens, as the gentleman doll, wore a dress suit which had belonged to his grandfather. In the hall hung a portrait of Dickens with the almost unnecessary inscription, "Lord, keep my memory green," for was that not the object of the party? Father Fletcher described himself as "saturated with Dickens," and admitted that he had modelled the party on the celebrated jollifications of the Fezziwig family. The motto for the evening, he said,

was the quotation from the "Chimes,' " May each year be happier than the last.'

— Many a room that is notoriously "etuffy" could doubtless be made pleasant to live in by removing the solid paper or impervious coat of paint from the wall and substituting porous paper, or, better still, giving up paper altogether, and using a distemper wash of pleasing tone, cays the Lancet. It is not appreciated as it ought to be that the common brick wall and plaster permit of considerable ventilation.

— Although the sea covers three-fourths of the earth's surface it does not provide in the same proportion for man's wants. Only about 3 per cent, of the people in the world gam their living direotly from the sea.

—G. W. Glover, a sporting man, of Bandis, Ohio, pays 10 per cent, of the winnings of his mare, Florence Nightingale-to the Presbyterian Missionary Society. The horso is known on the turf as the "missionary racing mare."

— Blind men outnumber blind women by two to one.

Bruin "I thought this was a land flowing w^th milk and honey, but I find it is flowing with Japs and honey!"

(Photos by Luscornbe.)

VOLUNTEERS, DUNEDIN.

— From Collier's.

in view No. Lan idea is given of a Japanese skirmishing line advancing under fire, and in the second view the Japanese infantry are seen during one of their irresistible charges. " The Mikado's infantry are trained to deliver a bayonet attack of incredible swiftness. During a gradual advance in opan order, with independent firing from the kneeling position, the men fix bayonets as opportunity offers, without waiting for a general command. Suddenly the officers spring to the front, the men rise, form in two lines, and rush forward with extraordinary suddenness — a manoeuvre most trying to the enemy." — Illustrated London News.

The Russian cavalry consists in war time of sixty-eight regiments and two independent divisions of squadrons. In each cavalry regiment there are two groups -at specially-trained men. One consists of sixteen selected men under an officer, ■who are trained in scouting, longdistance riding, etc. The other is a detachment of two officers and sixteen men, specially trained as pioneers in the destruction of railways and telegraphs, and 'the establishment of telephone and signalling communication. The whole of the cavalry is armed with the sword, rifle, and bayonet. Russia may with justice be proud of her fine cavalry corps. —Prom the Graphic.

MADE At the recent short trial on the beach at Ormond, Florida, Mr W. K. Vanderbilt, jun., broke all automobile lecorda. While going at top speed his companion took the time between two mile posts the watch marking *w Ihe machine was, therefore, travelling at the rate of between ninety and one hundred miles to the hour. waxen marinng 39seo.