HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17042, 16 May 1923, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. AN OLD ANTIQUITY. Princ*is Mary has beoome an “ Otd Antiquity ” by accepting the office of Patroness of the Grand Antiquity Society of Glasgow. She thus becomes the first lady member. Established in 1756 with a Roy al Charter of Incorporation received from Queen ATictoria in 1939, the sooietv—which has charity as its aim—admits only burgesses whose fathers and grandfathers were burgesses and guild brethren of the City of Glasgow. Princess Mary qualifies therefore by reason of King George being a burgess, and her grandfather, King Edward, also being so. CHOKED WITH GOLI>. Reports say that the vaults of the New York Assay Office are choked with the accumulation of gold in bars, strips and coin, and a special force of assayers are working day and night in the endeavour to keep up with the deliveries. railless Vehicles. The recently installed Birmingham railless vehicles, which are running over an old tram route, are said to do doing very well both financially and technically, and, an expert affirms, the same can be said of all the railless vehicle services now running in various parts of the country. Large development of trolley ’buses is predicted not only for passengers, but also for goods carrying, for, whereas the cost of liquid fuel must tend to inciease, as already the demand is increasing more rapidly than are supplies becoming available, the cost of electricity is bound to go clown. TWO HEADS. Brigadier-General Gordon tells that once at a bull-fight in Spain he and other young sports thought it wasn’t fail' to the bull, so they painted a head on the animal’s hind quarters, which so upaet the toreador when the bull raced into the ring that his bravery vanished, and he vanished also —over the barrier into the auditorium. AT HARROD’S. A good story is told by Air Reginald Auberon about H. G. Wells. i±. G., as most people know, is the son of a professional cricketer, and started ilia career in a draper’s shop. Being the least snobbish of men, ne is properly pi*oud of his early days, and is always ready to chat over old times with ins ex-comrades of the ribbons and laces departments when he comes acioas them. It happened that one of tlieae men, who had not kept very close track of H. G.’s famous career, met Him one afternoon coming out of his club. “ They tell me you’ve got on fine, Air AVells, since you left us,” he remarked. “ Thank you, i m not doing so badly,” was the modest reply. “ Yes,” said his former fellow-appien-tice, they tell me you’re at Harrod’i DETECTIA’E TALES IN CABINET. Air Austen Chamberlain presided at a lecture by Colonel John liuenan at Lansdowne House lecently on the American Civil War. The lecture was under the auspices of the Joint F aril a mentary Advisory Council. MiChamberlain introduced Colonel Buchan, who he hoped would continue to amuse them all with historical romances, without which the life of a Cabinet Minister would be unendurable. He recalled one critical Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, wnen tne late of every Minister there assmbled and much greater issues hung in thebalance. They waited in tense excitement to know the result of their labours. They did not, however, sit gravely weighing the two alternatives, out were occupied with hilariously discussing detective romances, of which he believed Cabinet Minister formed the majority of readers. NOT UNDERSTOOD. The vicar, walking along the main street of the village on his way to call on a sick parishioner, met one of the richest men in the district. Putting on his most winning smile, he advanced to him with outstretched hand. “ Ah,” he exclaimed, in delighted ton€s a “Mr Jenks, what a pleasure to see you! How do you do?” ‘‘Not at all up to the mark,” replied the other disconsolately. “AYhy?” asked the good clergyman. “AVhat is the matter? ” “I’m thoroughly upset,” replied Air Jenks. “ That scoundrel of' a son of mine has run off to London and got married without my permission.” ‘Alas!” said the good man sympathetically, “ Alas. ” ** A lass,” retorted the other irritably, “of courss it watt a lass! D’ye think the boy would run away with his grandmother ? ” CHAMPION TYPIST. How many girls have fingers worth £5.000. Such is the value set upon the hands of Aliss Millicent AVoodward, the champion typist of Europe. She can type at the rate of 239 words a minute ! Even when blindfolded she can take down 169 words from dictation without a single slip. She seems to make Ao effort at all. Aliss AVoodward was asked the other day for the secret of her great speed. Bhe believes in thoroughly understanding her machine. A sound knowledge of English she thinks essential. Clumsy fingering makes high speeds impossible, she says, anil above all things, to be a typist of more than usual skill, you. must take a great interest in your work. WIRELESS PIRATES. “ Only about 80.000 wireless licences have been issued; but I think that if those figures were multiplied by four or even five, they would probably be nearer the number of receiving sets in the country,” said Lord Gainford at the statutory meeting of the British Broadcasting Company, Limited. “ There appears to be a wholesale evasion going on.’ he continued. “ Many people possessing sets have not yet taken out a licence, while others ignore some of the terms of the broadcast licence, thus preventing the company from improving the quality of the programmes.” Not only were thousands of people apparentlv content to listen-in for nothing, he said, but there were still in many districts people wholly preventing their neighbours, through reaction, from enjoying what was broadcast. DR ONION. There are few vegetables more useful for first-aid work than the onion. Raw onions, eaten at bed-time, will break up a heavy cold ; thev will also stimulate a tired person. If stung in the mouth or throat by an insect, chew raw onion until the doctor comes. It is not necessary to swallow any of the onion, the juice has the soothing properties. The onion is as valuable for outward application as it is for inward. In case of burns, raw and pounded onion applied to the affected part gives immediate relief. An onion poultice relieves ulcerated throat and bronchitis. To be effective, the poultice must be hot. Similar treatment is good for hoarseness and inflammation. AVhen peeling onions, do so with the hands under water, then you will not be troubled with at-ains or watering eyes.