HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17177, 22 October 1923, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. QrAfNT INX SIGNS From th— dars of the Puritans has heen hand-d down oil. of rbe most significant and beautiful of inn signs, “ God Kncompasseth t's.” and it is to bo found fairly frequently, although one would hardly think that the Goat and Compasses could have been corrupted from those grand words to hang about a hostel. Probably the most popular sign in England is that of the ‘‘Crown.” but it was not always a fortunate one. There was. ao the storv goes, a hostel of that name in London, and tile landlord thereof in jest declared that bis son wa* “ heir to the Crown.” Edward TV. promptly hanged him for high treason. In suck manner wa* humour rewarded bv our monarch/* in the alleged good old days. WHERE WEALTH WAITS The wealth of a Rothschild is waiting for. the inventor of a satisfactory paving material. At present the rule seems to hold that whet is good for the wheels is bad for the hoofs, and vice versa- That is to say. where the road is smooth and the wheels run easily there is no grin for the hoofs; and where it is rough the vehicle is hard to drag. Then there is the motor. Propelled hy the back wheels, it is bound to skid if the surface be at all greasy. What is wanted is a smooth, hard, absorbent snrface. with at the same time a "perfect grip. If this i* too difficult, try to invent a spike that could be quickly fixed on a horse’s shoes—bv the driver—to give grip in time of hard frost.

SEEING WITHOUT EYES. A Frenchman has lately startled the world with the extraordinary theory that the sightless may yet see—through, their skins! The scientist is Dr Farigoule. and he points out that there ia no scientific law which in itself opposes his theory that man may be made to see through his skin, even though he cannot do xp with his eyes-

There is scientific procnf that two creatures which have no eye 3 at all can yet see. These are the ordinary earthworm and a certain beetle which only comes out at night- Many living things without ears, or any apparatus j corresponding to ears, teem to have a i fine sense of hearing. It is a well- ) known fact that our skin not only feels, but breathes, and to a certain j extent does the same work as the kidneys in expelling waste matter. Dr j Farigoule* states that- the skin is an • organ of sight, not as efficient as the ! eves, but better than nothing. It i« i not suggested that a man may close his eves and suddenly see through hi* skin, hut it is asserted that a man who cannot use his eyes may b* trained to use his skin instead, and bv this means distinguish colours and (Shapes and even read figures and letters. scientists learning new' things about the human skin every year, so that these wonder® may yet come true. A STORY OF CANOSSA. Henrv IV.. Emperor of Germany* was a strong and self-willed ruler, whose reign was marked by continual j resistance to the Papal claims. He fits* j attempted to break the power of the nobles in the land, and had to submit I to humilating terms of peace, but a i year later be succeeded in inflicting a crushing blow upon all who had ven- • tnred to contest his claims. This gar* 1 Pope Gregory VII., a man of bold, i prejudiced, and aspiring mind, the op- ! portunity which he had long desired for interfering in the affairs of Ger—j manv. Henry, on the one hand, dej dared the pontiff deposed : the Pope 'retaliated by excommunicating the i Emperor, and offering pardon = to all his subjects who declined to recognise Ins authority. Then Henry, seeing that his forces were dwindling, and that nobles and princes were refusing alleg-

mission to the Pope. Tt was midwinter, and for thre*» days in January. 1077. th«* once proud king was compelled to do penance in the courtyard of the Castle, of Canossa. standing exposed to the incelmer.cy of th* weather. and clothed onlv in the haircloth shirt of a penitent. Only then did the Pope relent. • HOW OLD IS*THAT BTBD? At first glance it does not alfrava seem possible to distinguish between old birds and their youngsters But really it is quite easy The main things to note are the head and claws. Jn the young birds, these always appear very much out of proportion to the body. Listen to the cawing of the rooks if you wish to know their age. The notes of the young bird are higher-pitched than those of its parents. Young rooks, too. are clumsy in their flight, floundering in the air as if not quite sure of themselves. When all are flying together. the old birds invariably lead the way. Y.oung starlings are drab brown in colour, with none of the wonderful irridescent lights of their parents. Their breasts. to«.. are speckled. When full-grown, wood-pigeons have % white ring round the neck. The young, which are hatched in the spring, do not begin to show this until th* autumn, when the colour of their toes changes from a dull pink to bright red. Young sparrows may be distinguished hy a tail that is stumpy and short. Their flight i® unsteadv. and when they alight- on a twig they have difficulty in balancing themselves The

first- flight, feather of a young partridge has a pointed tip. which in the adult bird is rounded. The legs are yellow. and the beak is more pliant. THE FIRST GUINEAS. The origin of the guinea is generally credited to a company of merchants trading under a special charter granted by the Crown. Jt is said that in 1668 they manufactured coins from gold imported from the Guinea Coact. Thoae bore the representation of an elepba.n* on i one side, and were called guineas Coins were issued to the value of one guinea, two guineas, five guineas ana half a guinea. At first rhe guinea was worth only twenty shillings, but- as tho p liver deteriorated. hi 16Ao the guinea was worth tbirtv shill, ng®. In 16P8 it* -nine fell f<* twenty-one shillings in 1717. remaining at this figure until it- disappeared from the coinage. The laet guinea was coined in 1817. when the sovereign first made its appearance. It is still customary in Great Britirn to evimat* professional fees. priAas cf pictures, complimentary subscriptions, and so on in guineas. Have a left-handed cigar. It is not always because a cigar ia badly made that the wrapper curls up and works off. ft is often because a right-handed man is smoking** lefthanded cigar. A left-handed cigar is one rolled by the maker's left hand, fa* all cigar makers must be ambidextrous A leaf of tobacco for the wrapper is cut on the bias, and is rolled from left to right on the filled. Th* other piece, for reasons of is then used, and must be rolled ths opposite way by the operator's other hand. Hence a smoker who holds hi* ■ igar in hi® right hand sometimes ia twisting it about rubs The wrappajj the wrong way and loosens it* 8 » - JS&LMif