HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16583, 16 November 1921, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

ANOTHER “ ASHES ” MYSTERY. A bomb scare was caused on Staten Island, New York, Uit it turned out that the “explosive” was a “can” of the shape and size prescribed by Jjw and contained tlie ashes of a man who had been cremated seven years beforeThe “ bomb ” was left in a grocery store by a young Italian, who rushed in without his hat or coat, made b few purchases, and went out after asking permission to leave it “ for a couple <>? minutes.” The Italian was the first customer tlie manager of the store. John AV. O’Hara, had, had that morning. and when he had a chance to look round he began to regard the tin with suspicion. It was covered by a wire mesh, and it looked dangerous to him. Tlie grey powder inside seemed to b© even more dangerous, and recalling that it had been left by an Italian, he had visions of the “ Black Hand,” and telephoned for tlie police. A policeman and a. detective from, the Bureau of Combustibles went to the shop and found an inscription on tho tin. From an undertaker they discovered that the ashes were those of John Aetic, who died and was cremated in April, 1914. The police ore looking for the young Italian, and wondering where be got the ashes. TELLING THE TALE. A Russian writer, M. Itemizoff. who fled from the famine area, has written several stories since the Bolshevist revolution, but, like all writers of the younger Russian school, he has l»een unable to get them printed. These writers spent tlieir time under the “Red Terror” reciting their stories to select audiences. M. Remizoff takes the view of the German writer Dr Lukacs that the modern novel is worn out and that a new and li\ ing method ot self-expression must come from Russia. The leading new architect. M. Remizoff says, is Taklin. who has designed a Bolshevist-Futurist temple something like the Crystal Palace in London, being largely iron and glass. It is moved by machinery, so ns to give an impression of endless motion and energy. The celebrated picture galleries and libraries in Moscow and Petrograd are better looked after now than under the Czars, for the Bolsheviks stint no expense and employ the best artists and authors to rearrange them. Mrs Trotsky is at tho head of tliisj 'department in Petrograd M. JAURES’ ASSASSIN. Raoul Villain, tlie man who shot M Jaures, tjie French Socialist leader, two days before war was declared, attempted to commit suicide at the Paris Palais de Justice. Villain, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment which coincided with his long period of detention during the war, has since been living in Paris under an assumed name. Recently Villain’a father, who is chief clerk at one of the Paiia courts of justice, refused to consent to his son’s marriage to a young girl. Villain went to the Palais de Justice and urged his) father to change his mind. He took out a revolver and aiming at himself, pressed the trigger twice. Villain was taken to hospital with a severe wound in the body. RETURN OF # THE WALTZ. A symposium of New York dancing teachers discloses the interesting belief that, in the words of Mr R. M’ Vizay, their president, “ the day of the silly toddle is passing.” Mr Vizay declares that dancing is wholly a matter of music, and that the reason that the waltz ia out of. date is that there is no Strauss to-day to compose a real one and make people glide to it. A visitor to any modern ballroom, this professor observes, cannot escape the ugly impression made of countless couples all doing difficult things, none of which is graceful or harmonious “ All are at sixes and sevens in higgledy-piggledy or extravagant motion. toddling, shimmying, and what not,” he exclaims. “ Y'et most people thus disporting themselves have been properly taught because teachers do not care to cater for this jazz stuff. But as soon ns the pupils get into public ballrooms, they begin reactiug to jazz tunes and think they are dis graced and out of date if they do uot shimmy and toddle with all the other Nincompoops.” All, however, the professor predicts, will come right agaiu “ when harmonious music ia provided. Then jazz will disappear and once more, instead of the queer perpendicular emphasis which isi so ungraceful we shall have a lateral motion in curves and glides which is soothing aud attractive.” • • LOVE EXPERIMENT ENDS. Tlie war romance of Mr Guy Spiker and Miss Emily Knowles, the English mother of his brother’s child, which became famous over two continents, has been shattered After living happily with Mr G-dy Spiker for more than a year the former Emily Knowles suddenly left home several weeks ago, leaving a note for her husband saying that she did not care to live with him any longer. A friend states that Mr Guy Spiker did everything possible to make tho girl happy. She is now understood to have written to her husband asking him to divorce her. Miss went to the United States early in 1920 at the invitation of Airs Cora Spiker. the wife of Air Perley Spiker, who met Aliss Knowles while serving with the American Army in England and w r as the father of her child. Airs Spiker came to be known as the “ forgiving wife from the kindly and affectionate wel come she gave t 1 © girl. Tn tho end Aliss Knowles became engaged to Air Guy Spiker, the brother of her baby’s, father, and they were married. MAKING A GHOST. For years there have been in the dungdbns of tho Castle of Chillon. nrarks that have always been called the footprints of Bonnivard. These traces have disappeared, and the fact has caused so much commotion that in the Swiss Chamber a deputy once interpellated the Government on the subject. An official answer was returned. based on the report/ of the architect t?hargeJ with the supervision of the castle, that no such footprints ever really existed, but that, to please visitors, thev had been 11 created ” every year by means of a scraper. And 60 is the tourist satisfied.