MULTUM IN PARVO

Otago Witness, Issue 3309, 15 August 1917, Page 45

MULTUM IN PARVO

The most valuable almanac In tho world is preserved in tho British Museum. It is written in red ink on papyrus, and is believed to be about 3000 years old. The largest wooden statue in existence is that of a woman. It is in Tokio, the capital of Japan, and is dedicated to Hacheman, the Goddess of War. All the walls, ceilings, and floors in an eight-story building that will be erected in New York for music studios will be mado sound-proof to prevent occupants disturbing one another. "Britain "need only sell Canada to us in order to pay her war expenses, and also tho war indemnity due to Germany and her Allies." Thi3 astonishing suggestion was made in all seriousness a few days ago by Prince Frederick zu .Lowcnstein in an address on " Germany's .Economic Future and the German Peace " in Munich. —ln Norway the average length of life is greater than in any other country on the globe. This is attributed to the fact that the temperature is cool and uniform throughout the year. A device to save carpenters from picking up nails has been invented. This consists of magnetised clips, which the carpenter fastens to his fingers, and which draw the nails to his hands. Green uniforms have replaced white ones among Btitish hospital surgeons, and British hospitals are also being fitted in green instead of white, because _ this colour is easier upon the eyes of patients —Plate glass invented by a Philadelphian, made by welding a thin sheet of celluloid between two panes of ordinary glass, _is pullet-proof, and cannot be splintered with powerful blows by a hammer. What does it cost to kindle a fire in a locomotive? A railway investigation shows that dry shavings_ furnish tho least expensive kindling, costing 63 cents for a small engine, and 1.14d0l for one with a large grate, for each fire kindled. This includes labour cost. —Dr Brewster, of New York, has dovised a bullet-proof armour for the use of the American army which can stop the high-power bullet with ease and effectiveness—an armour light enough for a man to wear in a charge, and flexible enough to permit him to handle his rifle for a bayonet attack or to shoot at the enemy from any position. —ln a long and fatiguing march the tall men in the army usually fall out first or succumb to campaigning, unless, as is very rarely the case, they have well-knit < and symmetrical frames. A soldier between sft sin and sft Bin or 9in is usually the man most capable of bearing the strain of life.

Tame elephants are used in India to capture wild ones. California has a "d'ving horse" that is used, to encourage others horses to leap from a high platform into a tank. The animals that are in framing watch their "teacher" make several plunges from a platform 30ft high ; they are then made to leap from a platform 15ft high; after a few trials they seem to lose their fear, and make the leap from different heights without hesitation. The gorgeous gold-lace frock-tunics of tho drum-majors of the five Guards' bands in France have entranced everyone over there, from generals to midinettes.' Each of these coats costs tho State £l2O, and there is about as much gold lace on one coat (says tho Daily Sketch) as on all the uniforms of British Staff officers. An American who saw a Guards' drum-major in full war-paint remarked: " Gee, I don't see why this old country wants any financial aid from U.S. Look at your durned gold reserve." A striking instance of the fierce and fatal competition which goes on amongst plants is found in the case of the Brazil nut. This fruit contains from 15 to 24 seeds, which all germinate at one time. The most vigorous one gets first hrough a small hole at the top to the open air, and thereupon it strangles the rest and feeds upon them. A new automobile garage in New York City has room for 600 cars on its four floors, and all the floors ai;o connected by ramps, up which the cars run, thus dispensing with elevators and their inevitable delays. Each car has its own numbered space, with concrete bumpers that prevent collision with another car. Overhead rails carry a portable washing apparatus that may be run to any automobile. A largo clubmom is provided for chauffeurs.

The National Museum of Copenhagen possesses n rare collection of musical instruments belonging to the prehistoric age of bronze. These instruments are a species of bronze trumpets called "lurs." They were discovered in the middle of the eighteenth century in several parts of Denmark, and they are so well preserved that they can be utilised musically. They have an exteus ; on of 22 notes, and contain four and a-half octaves.

Spurgeon's Orphanage, "which celebrated its jubilee recently, owes its origin to a letter receiver! by Mr Ppurgeon in 1866 from Mrs Hillyard offering Ivm £20.000 to found a home for destitute orphan boys. Mr Spurgoon was too amazed to believe this clergyman's widow's offer, and called on her "to confer about the £2OO she wished to place in his hands." But securities for £20.C00 were soon handed over, and the orphanage cam" -nto being. The noble benefactor, Mrs Hillyard, died in 18°0. Her last words were, "My boys, my boys!" The most expensive feast ever Riven bv a Lord Mayor was not a Lord Mayor's Day dinner, but a banquet in celebration of the victory of the allied nations over Napoleon. It took place on June 18, 1814. when Lord Mayor Donville entertained the ("tear, the K>'ng of Prussia, the Prince Regent, Wellington, Blueher, and a srrcat company of officers nnd statesmen, all the guests befnor served on silver plates, valued at over £200,000, with delicaciea 'which, cost 25,000.