MULTUM IN PARVO

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 75

MULTUM IN PARVO

—Great Britain is importing more and more eggs every year, the chief foreign sources of supply being Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands. —The largest concrete slab in the world has just been made to form the roof of a Masonic temple at Alexandria, United States. The slab is 78ft Bin wide, 110 ft long, and 3ft thick. It rests on massive beams and columns of reinforced concrete, the beams being 72ft long and 14ft 6in deep, while the columns are 40ft high. —The chair used by Charles I during his trial at Westminster Hall was afterwards in the possession of William Sands Cox, a surgeon, well known in medical circles in Birmingham as one of the founders in 1828 of the School of Medicine. The chair is about to be transferred to South Kensington Museum. —Foreign languages, card games, and so on can now be taught by a mechanical tutor. All that it is necessary to do with this new device, which might be described as a portable professor, is to place an arm with a squared indicator over the line of pictures illustrating whatever game you want to ledrn, and then turn on the power. A synchronising device makes it possible for the points of the game to be explained by phonograph as each picture comes to view.

—The day of the fly-swotter is past! A patent has been taken out for a device for killing flies by electricity. It consists of two bare-wire solenoids. Flies and other annoying insects are attracted by an electric lamp inside the case, beneath which is a trap baited with something that appeals to their appetites. They are then either electrocuted by coming into contact with the solenoid wire or stunned so that they fall into the trap, from which they cannot escape.

—As the earth’s crust is by no means rigid it rises and falls under the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun in a manner similar to that of the ocean’s tide. Various difficulties have so far prevented exact measurements. -The pressure exerted on spots of the earth’s crust by the rising tide of the ocean is another thing that makes it heave and fall. Atlantic tides have caused an observed earth bulge 800 miles away, and it is thought probable that this influence girdles the world. —A _ claim to possess the smallest school in the kingdom comes from Fingland, Lanarkshire, where a long-ago laird was Douglas of Fingland, the rejected of Annie Laurie, and writer of the famous song. There are only three pupils, but they have a fully certificated teacher. —Some of the more enterprising hairdressing establishments now allow their assistants to use their own discretion over some of the charges. As soon as ever short hair became fashionable it also became obvious that the charges for long and short hair treatments would have to be different. But now at most places a trim is cheaper than a cut, and at some you may have the clippers run over your neck at the back for sixpence. This last is really a perfect boon, and all hairdressers should be prevailed upon to follow suit. The ungroomed appearance of many necks and heads is entirely due to insufficient clipping rather than too infrequent cutting. Again, some places will give a slight wave for a shilling or touch up a wave for the same sum. Often enough before a dance or party this is all that is required. Indeed, a freshly waved head so often looks too set. A shampoo,' of course, stands at the same price. Washing is not the sort of thing that may he done by halves! —England's “ Prince of Beggars,” Viscount Knutsford, is soon to retire from the begging business. In his begging career of 32 years as chairman of the London Hospital, he estimates that he has collected £6,000,000, which went towards the institution’s upkeep, rebuilding, and providing research funds. In an article in the Sunday Express, entitled “ How to ‘ Pick ’ Pockets,” Viscount Knutsford says: “This lifelong role of ‘ beggar ’ has embraced all phases of drama, tragedy, comedy, and sometimes melodrama which behind the footlights would stir the emotions of the most blase audience.”

—“ Don't be afraid to speak to a policeman,” was the advice of Head Constable Johnston in the course of a lecture to Belfast school children on road traffic dangers. When children wanted to cross the street be advised them to get hold of the first policeman they saw and tell him so. “If he does not pay any attention to you,” he added, “pull the leg of his trousers. Don’t be afraid of him. He will stop the traffic if necessary so that you can get across the street. It is his duty to do so.” —A new system for detecting crime has been introduced at Sheffield. Kiosks surmounted by blue-coloured Osram lamps have been erected in outlying districts. Immediately the central police station learns of a burglary, motor theft, or other crime, the Osram lamp is switched on, which leads the constable on duty to visit the telephone in the kiosk to receive instructions. The blue lamp was chosen after several experiments. Other colours were tried, hut it was found that blue was the most effecive. .

—When the King travels he always pays the same amount as would be charged to any ordinary individual requiring similar accommodation. The only difference is that his Majesty and the members of his party are not called upon to take tickets prior to starting their journey. The account is rendered in due course to the Paymaster-general . of the Household, who issues his warrant in payment. It is said that only on one occasion did Queen Victoria ever see a railway ticket. This was once when she arrived at Paddington from Windsor, and was told the manner in which her subjects paid their fares. A ticket wasshown to her by one of the officials. She examined it with interest for some moments, and then passed it back with the remark that she “ thought it was • very excellent idea.”