HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17015, 13 April 1923, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. RIVIERA PAWNSHOPS. Off the beaten track of the visitor to Monte Carlo is the “Mont de Piete, * where the monthly auction of unredeemed jewellery pledged by gamblers attracts dealers from all part* si France, Italy and Switzerland. The majority of these are diamond merchants. As a host of unlucky gamestoi* have discovered to their dismay, coloured precious stones are practically unmarketable in Monte Carlo, imitations gems being now so periect as often to defy detection even to experts. So numerous were the diamond ornaments and pearl necklace* auctioned one clay that the sight would hare made jubilant a shareholder of the Cacnno company, whose cooers had already devoured their pawnable value. The watches seemed to hail from every country on earth. The daimond-mount-ed gold heirloom, emblazoned with th* crest of the aristocrat, alternated with the gun-metal affair whose owner doubtless had taken the viatique. Monte Carlo now boasts a unique establish nient. For the convenience of nocturnal gamblers, a pawnshop remain* open throughout the night, and appears to drive a lucrative trade in the small hours. , “ GEORG IE PORGTE.’’ In a claim at Marylebone Countv Court by William White ley. Ltd., against Dr G. H. Thompson, of Chester House, Buxton, Derbyshire, for £ls 2s 6d for a summer house, stated to have been ordered by Mrs Thompson,, tho following verses written by the wife were read : George Porgie ran away And left his wife his bills to pay. ‘‘l’ll quit the lot.” cried Geoygi*. But Georgie muddled those affairs. His lawyers undertook repairs. And Georgie paid his bills ami their*, Silly Georgie Porgie But, Georgie. though you ran away, You’ll live t-o fight again some day. So buck, up. Georgie Porgie. And state to the Court your hymn of hate. How you left your hills and your little mate, And desire to re-enter the siugle state, “ I’ll quit the lot.” cried Georgie. Dr Thompson said his wife put his portmanteau and hat on the doorstep while he was ordering a taxicab, and when he went to open the door he found it was on the chain. After he lett the house, which belonged to his wife, he found that she had been offering his bicycle for sale for £3. Their joint income was £2900 a year. Airs Thompson said she had spent £IO.OOO on her husband. Judge Scully held that the wife was supplied with sufficient money to pav the account, and gave judgment for Dr Thompson. POISON NURSERY. A moat unpleasant nursery ha-g been, started at the London Zologieal Gardens, where a rattlesnake has produced a family of thirty babies. There nothing of cuddlesome. infant softnes* about these tenfold triplets. The tiny reptiles wriggle round their motionless mother looking keen, efficient and venomous in their snuff anti butter coloured markings. All are fully equipped to kill already. Is not there an old saving to the effect t-hat it is " sharper than a serpent’s thanks to hare n toothless child”? Well, each of these children has a set of poison fangs of which any mother might be proud. Shortly alter they were born, these in dependent infants objected to their birthday suits ami started to shed thenskins. This is still going on. and making an untidy litter in the - nursery. It is very doubtful if the babies can be reared. They may live for a month without food, so there will be time to tempt them with young mice. Each baby has a little button at the end c* the tail, but there is not much hope that thev will live to add the horny rings which turn it into a “ rattle.’* EVOLUTION OF ANIMALS. New types oi birds, beasts and fish** are constantly being produced by the crossing of the breeds already existing. it is almost entirely owing to man’s experiments in this direction that there are now so many different kinds of dogs. According to naturalists, there are almost 200 varieties of this animal. A good example of the “ manufactured ” dog is the whippet, evolved by a crossing of terrier*, greyhounds and Italian greyhounds. Experiments were begun a short time ago with the object of breeding a new kind of poultry by the crossing of turkeys, geese and fowls. Efforts are also being made to produce two new types of bees, one kind to supply more honey and the other more effectively to fertilise the flowers. The breeding of

“fancy” birds is quite a profession, and a paying one, too. A short time ago a particular bird of the pigeon specie* realised £3OO at a sale, while on another occasion £7O was received fo p a pair of canaries. The latest evolution of this kind is the cowlo. This new animal is a cross between ibe cow and the buffalo, and it is being reared in Northern Canada. The cowlo is the outcome of a strenuous attempt W> breed an animal which would withstand the hard climate of those parts and al*o thrive on the native grasses. The effort has been highly successful, and th» cowlo is a fine, hefty beast, weighing something over a ton ! “UNIVERSAL AUNTS” According to the “ Westminster Gazette.” it is a growing custom for women who can no longer afford to keep up fashionable houses to take over charge of those the owners of which are away. One titled woman is s*rid tn have established a considerable «clteu tele. Slie moves from one house to an other fulfilling the offices of. a steward in the master’s absence. Another takes over such duties for six months in the year, and is thus enabled to keep lip her own house during the rest of the year. Associations such as "I niversal Aunts” and “Useful Women. ' wlv* supplv workers for a hundred and one kinds of social work, are constantly re reiving applications from titled peoplefor employment. Chaperoning is another office for which women eager!v offer themselves. Americans, who lik*» to send their daughters to visit Europe frequenilv, make use of the services -if Englishwomen. whose prestige and savoir faire are most valuable on the Continent. There are many duties which reemire no special knowledge with which societies like “Universal Aunts" can nut them in touch. Taking care of children, mending bachelors* clothes, providing emergency bridge players, and exercisin- dogs are among the varied kinds of work given. JONAH! Joan, aged seven, is not without resource. She i*. a terrible flirt, and nabes a heeliu" for every new man win '•a!U. One afternoon she was sitting in tbe knee of a newcomer, making him feel at home with small talk. The ’•-.eshfn! f>ne volunteered the statement lie; be was "..ling to Wales. “Oh. •ried Joan. “ 1 know a man in Wale*. “Really? What is his name?’* “ Jonah!”