WORLD-WIDE NOTES.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 23, 22 March 1918, Page 2

WORLD-WIDE NOTES.

HOW DAVID GARRICK MADE HIS FORTUNE. If David Garrick, had lived no more than his salary as an actor he would have had little to leave at his death. He made his fortune as joint proprietor, and for a time as sole proprietor, of Drury Lane Theatre, so that the amount set down to himself as salary was practically nominal. When he retired from the stage in 1776 he sold half bis share in the theatre for £-35,000. He was probably the only actor who consistently made Shakespeare pay, and like Shakespeare he was actor, author, and proprietor. It may be recalled that Garrick, who had no enemies outside his own profession, was the grandson of a Frenchman exiled at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and that his father was a captain in the Army.

BATTLE-FLAG MENDER,

The appointment of a lady to the new position of Official Battle Flag Mender in America recalls how a British lady once took upon herself a similarly delicate task. She w r as the wife of Colonel Blake, of the old 33rd Foot, who were brought from Glasgow to London for the funeral of the Duke of Wellington,, after whom the regiment is named. Prior to the ceremony the tattered colours excited the pity of Mrs. Blake, and as the regimental .colour was of white,, with a red cross, she utilised her white silk wedding dress to patch them. These colours eventually passed into the possession of the colonel, and later his widow bestowed them on the Royal United Service Institution. ; PRIVILEGES OF CONSULS. Consuls do not occupy the same favoured position as diplomatic agents in the eyes of international law. Their business is not with affairs between State and State, but with protecting the interests of individuals in a foreign .country. Thus, though they enjoy several of the iilimunities of a public Minister, they do so as a courtesy, not as a right. All civilised custom, however, secures them a safeconduct, and their papers and in many* cases the Consular buildings are held inviolable. In practice, though not by law, Consuls themselves are not subject to arrest, save for serious crime, and this exception holds good also in the case of diplomats, though these would probably only be detained until taken into their own country’s custody.

ARE COMPOSERS SHORT-LIVED? It is somewhat striking to note that a number of great musicians were afflicted with physical infirmities. Mozart, who only lived to the age of thirty-five, died of consumption. Schumann, who died at the age of forty-six—was for some years before his death confined in an asylum. Beethoven reached the age of fiftyseven, out for many years previous to his. death this great man of music was quite deaf. Mcnchelssohn died at the age of thirty-six, Schubert at thirty-one, Wtber at forty, Chopin at forty, Purcell at thirty-seven, and Bellinii at thirty-three. There are, of course, a few exceptions. Bach, Haydn and Handel all outlived their threescore years and ten. The latter, however, was for some years totally blind.

DANGER OF HIGH COLLARS. That high collars tend to produce nervous headache among both men and women is the most recent discovery of a well-known Parisian physician. Quite accidentally the doctor’s attention was directed to the very high and very tight style of collar worn by a patient who was always complained of headaches and giddiness. The collar was laid aside, thus removing the compeession of the neck, and the patient’s headaches and giddiness disappeared. Struck by this result, the doctor pjiid particular attention to the kind of collars worn by his “headache’ patients,’’ and in very many instances the change to lower and easier-fitting collars brought immediate relief. In the case of women wearing high, stiff neckbands it was found that doing away with these had a similarly beneficial result. The doctor declares that nobody with any tendency to headache should wear high collars.

SPARTANS OF U.S.A. West Point, the great military academy where all the officers of the United States army receive their,preliminary four years’ training, was, until recently, one of the most Spartan establishments in the world. The discipline was rigid beyond anything since the days of Frederick .the Great, and the smartness and precision of the drilling would have satisfied even his hypercritical eye. The possession of money was regarded as a military offence, smoking was strictly prohibited, no cadet was 'allowed to stray, on any pretext, beyond the narrow limits of the academy grounds, visits from friends were seldom permitted, outdoor sports were discouraged, and there were no short leaves or vacations except at the middle of the four years’ course. In many respects humaner rules are now in force, hut the discipline is still ns stern and the work as strenuous as ever.