HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16918, 18 December 1922, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING, j

CITIES THAT GO TO SEA. * Each year passenger-carving ships get bigger and more luxurious, and it is a common expression to describe them as “ floating palaces.” In reality they are more like floating cities. Big liners can no longer be worked by sail ors alone, and each of the ocean men sters carries representatives of many professions and occupations. A census of these was taken recently, and it was found that in addition tc* the actual

crew men of no fewer than seventeen occupations were employed t There were gardeners and hairdressers, photographers and printers, librarians and swimming masters. The ship’s magazines have their own /editors and compositors, Musicians and bandmasters have to be carried and in addition to the ship’s surgeon ther© are nurses, hospital attendants and dispensers. Each ship has its chiropodist, and other departments are under the control of bank managers, storekeepers and so on. A special polioe force and a battalion of plumbers are included in this extra ordinary assortment of trades on the sea. In addition, there are numbefs of specialists, such as chefs, electricians, wireless operators, carpenters and the master-at-arms. COFFINS ON HIRE. The formation at Augsburg (Ger many) recently, of a “ Coffin Loan Soci ety,” was a necessary evil, but- if a proposal by the municipal council is adopted steps will be taken to show more respect for the dead than is now the case. The society came into existence owing to th© prices of coffins, which have increased so greatly in value during recent weeks that they ar_ far beyond what the lower classes can afford to pay. When a poor family are bereaved they can. on payment of r small fee. now hire a coffin for the funeral day. and then, after dark, the society’s staff bury the body alone and return the- coffin to a depot. The corporation’s proposal is the result- cf a grea L outcry against this practice. The proposal is that th© dead shall be buried i’ lengthy plain wooden boxes that will fit into the coffins and after the funeral ceremony the coffins shall be return ed to th© society’s quarters* as now. It is suggested, further, to divide fun erahs into four classes, and it is hope ! later t« make no charge for the boxes i in the case of the fourth class—the very poorest cf the town. ALL NONSENSE. One is reminded by the recent death of Sir Charles Santle*r. the great, singer, that he wrote songs under an assumed name. One day he was to sing at a concert where Richter was conducting, and insisted upon singing one of hie own compositions. Richter did not know it was Santlev’s. SantLey orchestrated it. and it had 6ome sort of refrain that “ Christmas comes hut once aj*yeav But when it comes it brings goo 1 cheer. ’ ’ All the time Santley had got the triangle tingling. This was more than Richter could stand. He stopped the orchestra and shouted out: “ What is this P ‘ Christmas comes but. once a vear.’ Ting! Ting! Ting! ‘But when it comes it brings good cheer. Ting! Ting! Ting! It is all nonsense.” All tfie orchestra knew u was Santley s’ own i-jong. and the singer’s confusion can be imagined. FOR THE BLIND. Lord Desborough has given evidence of his fine sportsmanship in a novel and practical manner by insuring has life for £IO,OOO in favour ot St Dunstan’s Institute for th© Blind. Desborough consented to publicity being given to the matter on the suggestion of St Dunstan’s, sf> that possibly further benefactions may accrue to deserving charities through sTmilabactions on the port of others. I learn that a number of other people have executed policies in t favour of charities since hearing of Lord Desborough s generosity. GIRLS TOO MANNISH. ‘‘The importance of athletics is exaggerated in some girls’ schools,” said Mr A. W. Cunningliame. head master of Victoria College. Bath, distributing sports prizes at Duke Street High School recently. “Football, for instance. is not suited to girls.” be proceeded. “ Their charm, balance, anu poise will all be lost, and their dignitc lowered if too much attention be paid to games. Woman is endeavouring toput herself on a level with man. not realising that already she is on a higher level. If she steps flown to a lower level, she will probably forfeit the respect of the men.” He concluded with an appeal to girls not to become mannish. •-* A WELLS STORY. Mr Rcgniald Auberon’s volume of re miniscenoes entitled ‘‘The Nineteen Hundreds" is full of amusing reeoi lections. One of the very best is a story of H. G. Wells, who served in a shop before literature called him away to higher things. ‘He was met one day by on© of his ex-comrades of the ribbon department as he was leaving his club, and bis old friend accosted him. “ How do you do, Mr Wells? They tell mo you’ve got on fine since you left us. Mr Wells smiled. “Thank you, \ am not doing so badly.” was his modest, reply. “ Yes.” said the former fellowapprentice, “ T hear you’re at Harrods now.” Another story deals with Sir J. M. Barrie, whose name, apparently, is not familiar to everybody, although it should he. Th© incident occurred at a certain suburban music-hall where a sketch company were performing Bar rie’s playlet, Ct The Twelve Round Look.” A couple of cross-talk com© dians watched it from the wings and were very much impressed. So impressed were they, indeed, that they deigned to ask who the author was. ‘ J. M. Barrie.” they were told. “Never ’eard of ’ini,” said one of the inquirers. “Well. Alf,” said the other. ‘ what do you think of thi#> ’ere Barrie?” “ Good stuff! Can’t say as ’ov the name’s familiar, but, anyway ’© writes our next!” KILLED BY CIGARETTES. “It is a great pity that the fair sex do> not take to smoking pipes,” said Dr Greenwood, giving evidence ar, an inquest field at Maryletbo**© on a single woman of sixty who was a 1dicted to cigarette smoking. The* woman, Miss Eleanor Catherine Mealy, kept an apartment house, and lodgers stated that w lien indoors she was seldom seen without a cigarette in her mouth. She. did not care for expe.isive brands, and always smoked on * of the cheapest varieties? made. Miss Mealy was found lying fully clothe 9 on the bed in her room. She was dead aud a. half-smoked cigarette w,is found at her side. Dr Greenwood, who made a post mortem examination. said that Miss Mealy seemed to har© Oaten a heavy meal shortly before he" death, and her heart, weakened r»v nicotine, was not equal to the strain imposed on it. “ Cheap cigarettes.” added the doctor, “ are particularly harmful on account of th© very large amount of paper used in their manufacture.” A verdict of “ Death fro i natural causes ” was returned.