HERE AND THERE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 86

HERE AND THERE.

Banning "Sherlock Holmes,' ? = A new distinction has been conferred upon Sir Co nan Doyle in the free* and enlightened Republic of Switzerland, The Direction of the first arrondisssment of the Chemins de Fer Fexdbraux has prohibited the-sale at the railway bookstalls of all publications of the Sherlock Holmes order. Several municipalities have applied a similar prohibition in the case of the kiosques litteraires. The reason for the prohibition is the sensational crime recently committed in Franca by two young Swiss who, having engaged themselves as labourers on a farm, murdered their employer, his wife, and their fellowservants, and endeavoured to escape with the small booty they had obtained. The criminals were arrested before very long, and on one ol them was found a diary. Possibly this dairy contained some reference to the writer readina: tales of crime; the only extract we happen to have seen published was a description of the diarist's mother, written with affection, discrimination, and distinct literary ability. . But whatever influence sensational stories may have had on these two gamins resjeneres. ns a Swiss paper points out, in the case of Sherlock Holmes "the celebrated detetive makes all his exploits serve the defence of innocence and the punishment of the evil-doer." Th-3 same paper goes on to sua<rest that the books will now have the additional attraction of forbidden fruit. No doubt the Swiss booksellers, with their usual keen eye to business, will lay in fresh stocks to meet the increased demand. —Automatic Booking Clerk.— The Great Western Railway Company (saw the Dailv Mail) have decided to install at. Snow Hill station. Birmingham, a. railway ticket«prin.tipj7 machine which, it is contended, will render almost superfluous the bookinxr clerk, a.nd will also do away with the somewhat cumbrous system of storing the thousands of different tickets "which may be called for bv the travelling public. The machine is 3ft nin Ion?, barely 2ft broad, and 4ft in height. When a ticket to a certain station is required, an indicator, which carries the name of everv station upon the system, arrarisfed in. .alphabetical order, is touched, the clerk alios a blank into. a. slot in the printiHß carriage, a small handle is turned, and a completely Printed ticket d-rop"> out readv for use. That is all the work required. At the same time, the ticket is 'printed a record of the sale is placed in duplicate uoon a continuous strip of oaoer, together with the fare, and all information • refiinred for bookkeeping. As a result, when the clerk sees off duty, all that ha has to do is to total the continuous strip and to count his cash. The machine is capable of printing 3000 different tickets. Canadian Wheat Fields. — Mr ,F. W. Thompson, vice-president and managing director of the Ogilvie Flour Mills Company of Canada, has made the following glowing statement about the undeveloped wheat fields of Canada : —"I suppose few even of the citizens of the Dominion are aware that arable land of the finest quality extends for 500 miles north of Edmonton, and that the total area of the three prairie province's available for cultivation is over 250,000.000 acres. As a conservative estimate it is, therefore, fair to assume' that the north-west has available for wheat production 100,000.003 acres, of which there has so far been brought under cultivation 7.000,000 only, which area last year produced over 115.000.000 bushels of wheat. On this basis, with the full wheat growing area under crop, the north-west is caoable of producihsr under normal conditions 1.600.000.000 bushels annually, a yield equal to half the present total production of the world, more than three , times the annual renuirements. of the whole British Empire, and more than five times the requirements of that portion of the Empire at present dependent on outside sources its bread, supplies. Ih the face of such acrures. does it not seem ah~ni-d to question the Empire's abilitv to supply its own meeds when Canada alone has an area sufficient to supply them many times over ?" —Electrical Anaesthetic.— According to fcelecuanis from Hartford, Connecticut (savs the "NT.pw York correspondent of the Dsilv Maiß. I)r Louise Rabinovitch, the Russian phvsician. who has for fifteen vears been experimentin;? with methods of electrical anaesthesia, on Jannn.rv 85 supervised an operation on Mr John Grosic, °5 vears old, at St. Francis's Hospital. Three toes were amputated while the patient was under the influence of the current, which was used for practical purposes on a human beincr for the first time. Dr M. Johnson applied an electric current of four milliamoeres and fiftv-fonir volts by nieans of three eV-c-------trodos. one at the ankle, another at the shin-bone, and a third" at the groin, the patient feelina- no pain, and ahsolutelv no after effects. Later, at the Hartford Medical Society's club rooms, Dr Rabinovitch demonstrated the possibilities of her discoverv on a. rabbit, which she subjected to electrical anaesthesia, and, after cutting the spinal cord, sewed up the wound. The rabbit honned freelv about the room, as if nothing bad'happened. —Mr Roosevelt's Humour.— Mr Roosevelt has always been so strenuous that the possession of humour has notbeen generally credited to him. Now, however, comes W. D. Boyce. the Chicago publisher, with this story, which he says Mr Roosevelt told him when he met that mighty hunter in the jungle recently. "I was out hunting lions one day, accompanied by a large number of gun-bearers," said Mr Roosevelt. "We had a rather disappointing day altogether, and had become thoroughly discouraged as evening drew near. Returning to our camp, we were suddenly confronted by a husre lion, which stood dircctlv in the path with mane creel and slowly waving tail. At

this terrifying sight my gun-bearsrs I turned and ran, leaving me without protection. I ran, too. With huge leaps the lion overtook us and sprang at me, who, being stout, was unable to run as fast as the others. I fell flat, and the lion overshot his mark, going completely over and beyond me. I rose, and as he was about to spring again, ran quickly towards him and threw myself flat on the ground. Again he leaped over me. My gun-bearers had continued in their flight, and I was left to shift for myself. Each time as the lion sprang I repeated my former tactics, until the brute fell exhausted to the ground, and I made my escape. The next day when we were again on the trail I saw a huge lion performing strange antics through a, glade in the jungle. I at once recognised the beast as the one responsible for my adventure of the night before. And what do you think he -was doing? The creature was practising short jumps!" —The Electric House.— In London the ideal of the "eleetric" house has moved up a step near realisation. For dwellings where the electric light is already laid on the more prominent electric supply companies are making special rates, so as to induce consumers to install the power for the use of the entire household. The idea is to make a charge of two pence per unit for all current consumed up to a certain quantity, and thereafter a penny per unit, no matter how the current is used. Special appliances have been invented, so that there need be no waste of power, and some of the novelties in the way of tablecookers sound as if no mean part of the problem of housekeeping was .really near a welcome solution. Electric toast-makers, griller's, coffee-makers,, and egg-boilers are all part of the new equipment, a n.d other utensils include footAvarmors, cigarattcligbters, hatpads (that impart a, gloss equal to new on a silk hat), heatpads (which are substitutes for old-fashioned poultices and compresses), vacuum-cleaners, and so on. There is no need to actually purchase these extra" luxuries, for many of them are obtainable on the hire system. —A Story of the King's Speech.— One of the best stories in connection, with the history of the King's Speech, and perhaps the least dignified, is told of George IV when Prince Regent, and recalled by a contributor to a recent Strand. The Prince, as we know, took •" his responsibilities lightly, and on one occasion is said to have bet Sheridan a hundred guineas that, either owing *o the magnetism of his personality or the flutter which the occupants of the Lords' Chamber were in, so tittle attention was really paid to the verbal character of t'ho Speech he was delivering that he could make apy iaterlopatioii he liked, undetected. The bet was. taken, and the Prince Regent agreed to introduce the words "Baa, baa, black sheep" in the middle of the Speech. "If anybody smiles cr looks startled I lose, my bet." This faring and ridiculous exploit actually came <.i;, and at the close of a weighty allusion, (imposed by Lord Liverpool, to Welksley's difficulties in Spam the Regent tieared his throat, said "Baa, baa, black. sheer>," hurriedly, and went on, without apparently exciting any remark. Sheridan related the- royal audacity to Canning. "It is perfectly amazing to me," he said, "that no notice was taken. Didn't you hear him distinctly say, ' Baa, baa, black sheep 1 ?" "I <iid," rejoined Canning; "but as his Royal Highness looked you full in the face at the time I took it as a personal allusion, and my delicacy forbade me to think mora about it." —£looo a Year' at 25. Seven years ago, whilst cycling, a Burnley youth named James Mitchell met with an accident, and sprained his wrist. At that time he was working during the day as a weaver, and in the evening learninb music with the object of becoming a teacher. His accident upset all this, and he devoted his nights to studying seisnee. In the first year he secured seven firstciass passes, and the, next year he won a geology scholarship for South Kensington. At this college he had a successful career, and finished by taking a first-class assoeiateship ana winning the Fortes medal. In September, 1908, he was appointed by a' rubber company in the Malay Peninsula, at a salary of £3OO, for two years, with house and'travelling 'expenses, to go out and investigate the rubber pests and disease, and to advise the company generally. So successful has iie been in thie work that his services at the end of 12 months were in demand by about eight rubber companies. His employers have just increased Mr Mitchell's salary by £SOO, and it is shortly to be raised to £IOOO, with travelling expenses and house. Mr Mitchell is onlv 25 years old.. —Sleep and Brain Experiments.— Experiments regarding the brain and the mysteries of sleep recently made by Michigan University are detailed (says the New York correspondent of the Daily Telegraph) by Professor Weally, who declares authoritatively that the investigations have destroyed many accepted theories. The accepted theory of sleep has been the lessening of the bloodpressure in the brain. The experiments showed directly opposite conditions. By delicate and most' careful measurements the following results were tabulated: The size or volume of the brain increases when the individual goes to sleep, and decreases when he awakens. On this point it was noted that in some cases the brain became smaller at first, and increased as the sleep became deeper. Very striking -vas the evidence that the size of the gpderial pulse in the brain increases steadily with the increase in the volume — i.e., that the dilating of the arteries after each beat of the heart is more pronounced. This is particularly true when the subject is propped up. As the sleep passes off the brain volume decreases, but then .the blood pressure increases. These results show that whatever sleep may be caused by, it is not a lessening of the

blood supply to the brain, for there is no such lessening. The First Clock.— Since celebrations are the order of the day (says a Paris newspaper), why not observe the sixth centenary of the introduction of clocks? It was, we are told, in 1309 that the first clock known to the world was placed in the tower of San Eustorgio, in Milan. The greatest astonishment and admiration were manifested by crowds who came to see the timepiece. In 1344 a clock was installed in the palace of the nobles at Padua. This was a wonder of mechanism, indeed, for besides indicating the hours it showed the course of the sun, the revolutions of the planets, the various phases of the moon, the months, and the fetes of the year. The period of the evolution from the clock to the watch was 71 years, not no very long all thing;; considered, and the record of the first watch is 1380. A. half-century later an alarm clock made its appearance. This, we ars cold, was looked upon by the people of that age as "un instrument gjodigieux." The- fortunate possessor of this clock was Andrea Alciato, a councillor of Milan. The chroniclers have placed on record that this clock sounded a bell at a stated hour, and lighted automatically. How this was done w.e are not told, but it must not be overlooked that until about seventy years ago we had no means of obtaining a light other than the tinder-box, so that the Milanese must have been centuries ahead of us in this respect. Not much progress was made with the watch until 1740, when the seconds hand was added. —Extraordinary Story.— When a man is found hanging the natural course is to take a knife and cut the rope from which he. 5s suspended. But this simple and practical process is not invariably adopted, and the following story, which comes from Cambrai (says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph), shows the absurd lengths t,o which scruple can be carried, there beinjg a rooted idea in some parts of the country that nothing can be done unless an official of that particular commune happens to be present. A young farm servant, after an altercation with his employer, hanged himself f.rom_ a tree overlooking a railway. A passer-' by saw him thus suspended, and walked off to report his discovery to the local guard, who, v/ben he arrived on the spot, found quite a crowd assembled. He felt the body, perceived that it was still warm, but would not interfere, as the tree happened to be standing on the ground of a neighbouring parish. He therefore proceeded to inform its special guard. After the lapse of balf-an-honr this worthy returned with his comrade, and then ensued a loJia" discussion as to whether the tree was situated in one parish or the other, so away they went to consult the ordnance maps. Hours rolled by. and when th*jE at last met a sain on the scene of the tragedy they came to the agreement that the tree was located in a third parish. They then walked off together to inform that particular guard, who. having visited the spot and confirmed the opinion that the tree was in his special domain, started off to renort the suicide to the gendarmes, who finally cut the rope. Need it be added .that long before this hour the unhappy young man was dead? The Oldest Freemason.— Some time ago there was published, in the Weekly Scotsman a photogranb of Mr Kingdom, of Heavitree. near Exeter, who has been regarded as the oldest Freemason in the world. He just celebrated his ninety-sixth birthoav. Mr Kingdom received his initation in; Lodge Canonigate Kilwinning. Interesting as Mr Kingdom's record is. it is sin*na,s&ed by that of Mr James Bellows M'Gregor, of The Maples, near Sunanee; New Hampshire. In the Masonic News, published at Peorid, Illinois, it is stated that Mr M'Greigor celebrated his birthday anniversary. He was born within a mile of where he now lives on Sunday, September 6. 1801. Of Scottish origin, he taboos tobacco and strrong f'rink. but partakes sparingly of "New * Hampshire'* noted beverage,, hard cider, an T eats thr.ee meals a day. His granddaughter, with whom he now resides, Mars 0. J. Clement, savs that he still likes his famo"s N>°w England daintv doughnut for his hreakfnst. In 1827 "Little Man" joined the Masonic order, and for eighty-two years has been a member in good standiiv". Mount; Verooh Lodge, A.F. and A.M., annually makes him a viriita+ ; ' v "> on bis birthdav. and has for years- held a retention at the lodge-rooms, in h/viar of its beloved brother. Frank D. Woodburv. of Concord, the Grand Secret a—- of New Hampshire, baa taken the fro::" le to verify tfe-ft*© ckit.es from the old and sav« there is no doubt in his m : nd that Mi' HtfTixet'ov is the oldest Mnpon in the world. Dr J. Leavitt Cain, of Nev"-lort. his family physician, savs his vit»li*v is remarkable, and Ins ability to read and remember is surprising;., A Bicycle Aeroplane.— Aeronaut ; c circles in Berlin are interesting themselves in an aeroplane of a rather startling pattern™ Instead of the dangerous and powerful petroi engine, it is to be fitted with an arrangement similar to that on an ordinarv bicycle, and the propelW is to be worked by a, man pedalling in the ordinary way. From a hundred hor?p-power to one man-power is a distinctly reactionary step, and it is possible that the great ones of the air would have lifted tl °ir noses at the new arrival were it not th.at the name of the inventor is Lilienthal. All who have followed the evolution of the heavier-than-air machine will recognise- this as an historic name, since Otto Lili p ntbal was the first man to glide through the air without the support of gas-bags. In 1836 he lost his life on the Tempelhofer Feld at Perlin, and was therefore not only the pioneer, but the first victim of the gentle art of flying. Hence Mr Gustav Lilienthal has the benefit of his brother's reputation, rnd fourteen years in the aeronautical world is a verv ancient reputation indeed. If this air

bicycle will work it promises to be as simple and inexpensive a thing as one could wish for, but Ave scarcely envy the man who is to make the initial experiment.. —Brigand at an Opera.— Messages from Lodi, Lombardy (says the Central News correspondent at Rome), state that extraordinary scenes interrupted a performance of Verdi's opera "II Trovatore. " at the Opera House. There was a large house and the perfomianee was going smoothly when a police officer in the building noticed a man answering the description of a well-known brigand, named Ricardo Gerri. He spoke to another officer, who also • recognised the man, and they decided to arrest him, for which purpose they advanced to where he was sitting and quietly requested him to leave the theatre with them. Gerri, however, refused, and immediately showed l fight. Whipping out a revolver, he fired point-blank at his would-be captors, fortunately without hitting them. Then, amidst almost indescribable uproar, he began to empty his revolver all about him. as members of the audience endeavoured to secure him. There was a fierce struggle for som© minutes before the brigand was finally secured, and in the meantime the police superintendent, Ferrari, had been badly wounded. ■ —How John Wilson Croker was Elected.— John Wilson Croker happened to be in Downpatrick in 1806, when an election was in progress, and was asked to go on to the hustings and harangue the crowd pending the arrival of one of the candidates. To entitle him to act the part he was formally proposed and seconded as a candidate. A poll was demanded, and Croker got one vote' in addition to the votes of his proposer and seconder—three in all. Then he spoke against time til,' the proper candidate arrived and was nominated. Croker at this stage retired, and no more was thought of his candidature. There was a, fierce contest and unstinted bribery. The candidate who bribed best was victorious ; but there was a petition, which resulted in the unseating of the successful candidate. The seat was not, however, given to the second candidate, for he had also bribed voters. Then 'it was discovered that there was a third candidate, who had got three votes, and who had bribed nobody. This was John Wilson Croker, and he was declared the member for Downpatrick ! The first candidate asked him to retire, but Croker flatly declined, and so remained a member. —Religious Census of the World.— In a religious oensus of the world which he has just published, Dr H. Zeller, Director of the Statistical Bureau in Stuttgart, estimates that of . the 1.544,510,000 people „in the " world, 504 ; 940,0C0 are Christians, 175,290,000 are Mohammedans, 10,860,000 are Jews, and 823,420,000 hold other beliefs. -Of these 300 million are Confucians, 214 million are Brahmans, and 121 millions Buddhists, with other bodies of lesser numbers. Ir other words, out of evei'y thousand of the earth's inhabitants 346 are Christian, 114 are Mohammedan, seven are Israelite, and 533 are of other religions.