THE EDITOR'S SCRAP BOOK.

Southland Times, Issue 19264, 30 January 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE EDITOR'S SCRAP BOOK.

Interesting Gleanings from Various Sources. Aluminium shoes for horses have oeen tested in the Russian cavalry. Each tesi was made with one aluminium shoe and three of iron. In everj case the aluminium shoe outlasted the others. » » # Mr. W. C. Fuchs, of the X-ray experiment station, has announced the discovery of a process by which he claims to be able to change a diamond to any color by the use of the rays directed through substances from which the required color is to be obtained. » # * A movement has been started in France to put to practical use the illustrated post-card craze. Sympathisers are invited to send such cards to poor village sohools, where theyare hung on the walls to give the youth there an idea what the cities and " show places " of the world are like. » * * The ocean contains several fish which clothe or adorn themselves, the most conspicuous of them being the antenarius, a small fish frequenting the Saragossa Sea, which literally clothes itself with sea- weed, fastening the pieces together with stioky, gelatinous strings and then holding the garment on with its fore fins. • # * The loss incurred by the wearing of coins in circulation has been made the subject of a number of precise experiments, from which it was ascertained that £100 worth of sovereigns lost £8 9s 4d of their value in a hundred years ; similarly, £100 worth of half-crowns lost £18 lis Sd ; £100 worth of shillings, £36 14s id ; and £100 worth of sixpences lost £50 18s 8d in value, or moro than one-half, in the hundred years. • » • The Berlin streets are about to be supplied j with perambulating restaurants of the size of furniture vans, fitted up with small tables. \ The prices will vary from 4d to Cd for a hot dinner, consisting of soup, meat, vegetables. These perambulating restaurants are intended for shop assistants and young clerks, who are only given a brief period for the ' mid-day meal. When the lunch-time is ■ over, coffee and cake will be supplied, and in the evening hot sausages and cutlets. Through the night and in the early morning, hot soups will be available. • « • Precious stones are subject to serious changes. The discoloration which attacks them when they have been exposed to tho J air for a long time is spoken of as a malady. The influence of light makes itself felt plainly on topazes and garnets. The garnet turns much paler in a short time, whilo tho topuz assumes a darker shade, and oven loses tho brilliancy possessed by it when freshly cut. The most sensitive stone in thi6 respect is the opal. This stone draws its marvellous rainbow reflections from numerous little clefts which allow the light to pass aDd to be refleoted in different directions. • • • The proprietor of a certain barber's shop in the Midlands has fixed up in his establishment a musioal-box which he regulates to suit the times. On Monday, for instance, he restricts the machine to light opera airs, just fast enough to keep his assistants shaving customers at a nice steady pace. Tuesday being a quiet day, "Home, Sweet Home," and " Dolly Gray " are good enough. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday the barber confines the musioal-box to popular selections of a rather lively nature. But on Saturdays he turns on nothing but reels or jigs, and every barber in the place works at a rim. • • ♦ Hands show the ravages of Time moro than any other part of the body. Scientists attest the fact, and the hands of celebrated beauties prove the theory beyond argument. Between the ages of seventeen and eighteen the hand develops into the maturity of beauty and symmetry. Until almost thirty the hand, if subjected to rigid care, practically remains unchanged. At thirty an almost imperceptible change begins, and despite constant attention the beauty wanes. The skin wrinkles and grows dry, the joints grow shapeless and enlarged. The fingers are no longer nimble, and the muscles begin to stiffen with increasing age. • • • The theory of the influence of sun spots upon the weather is perhaps not so generally entertained as it was a few years ago, but if such meteorological extravagances as the world has seen of late recur next year the lay public, at least; will accept the theory without further argumont. For the eleven-year cycle of sun spots which began in 1900 has been steadily reaching its maximum, whioh should come next year, after which there will be a long decline. Next year, then sbould bring forth some really frightful weather, while those who have the hardihood to survive it may look for a slow rsturn to better times. •» # # The moon now revolves round the earth at a distance of 240,000 miles, but thero wns a time when that distance was no more than 200,000 miles- There was a. timo, millions of years ago, no doubt, when the moon was but 100,000 miles away. And as we look further and further back, we see the moon over drawing closer and closer to the earth, until at last we discern the critical period in earth-moon history when our globo was spinning round in a period of about five or six hours. The moon, instead of revolving where we now find it, was then actually close to the earth. Earlier still it was, in fact, touobing our globe ; and the moon and the earth were revolving each around the other, like a football and a tennis ball actually fastened together. It is impossible to resist taking one step further. We know that the earth was, at that early period, a soft, molten mass of matter, spinning round rapidly. The speed seems to bave been so great that a rupture took place, a portion of the molten matter broke away from the parent globe, and the fragments coalesced into a small globe. That the moon was thus born of our earth uncounted millions of years ago is the lesson whioh mathematics declares it learns from the murmur of the tides. » » » Just before the Kaiser sets out on a railway journey extraordinary precautions are taken lest any mishap should befall the august traveller. Evory stage is minutely examined, and in particular tunnels, bridges, etc, as well as the state of tho rails the engineer is made responsible for their being in a fit condition. On the day of the journey itself, and shortly before the train starts, a pilot train or locomotive with an engineer is sent on ahead for a short distance, and the line of route again gone over and examined. If there are sleeperß, loose rails or stones lying in the vicinity of a building-place, they aro watched during darkness by people specially deputed for that purpose. On the approach of the train the number of men sot to watch the line of route is increased, while others are placed before and in the tunnels, at level crossings, and on the larger bridges. Several officials, who are made answerable for everything being in order, as well as for any delays, accompany the train. The travelling and non-travelling public is kept at a distance from the train at stations where stoppages are made for any purposes whatever. Signal? at night are avoided, so ns not ,to disturb the reposo of the monarch. The railway officials are kept in a state of feverish anxiety; telegrams are flashed to and fro, and the least delay is*ftnnouncod. In short, every conceivable measure ib taken ; to cause tho Emperor's journey to pass off