HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17189, 5 November 1923, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING.

PAVLOVA. Madame Anna Pavlova, the Queen of Dancers, was deeply impressed with JTondon’s stirring welcome to her on : her appearance at Covent Garden. “It was wonderful,” she said. “ I knew I ! bed a host of friends and admirers in i London, but on this occasion the derrfbnstration exceeded anything T had I experienced.” 'Jdie famous dancer addj ed that she w as the recipient of a large number of letters, telegrams, and other messages congratulating her. It is doubtful if ever the famous Royal Opera House at Covent Garden has witnessed a more rapturous welcome. The stage was strewn with flowers at the close of the new ballet. “ Frescoes of Ajanta.” and the cheering lasted for ten minutes. TO HEAVEN AND BACK AGAIN. Curious shooting-star lore was related by Sir Richard Gregory at the Scien- ! tific Novelties Exhibition, King’s Coli lege. Strand, London. The black felj lows of Australia, he said, believe that ; a shooting star is a rope let down from j heaven, and that whoever is touched I by it dies and climbs up it, carrying the end of the rope with him. When he reaches the vault, he remembers his friends by throwing it down again, and somebody else swarms up it. Once in heaven, the black fellow climbs down the other side of the vault down to earth; and he takes so long that he' is white by the time he arrives, and that is why the first white man was welcomed in Australia as a long-dead ancestor. CRIME IN AMERICA. .Startling disclosures on the extent and rapid increase of crime in the l nitefl States have been submitted to ‘the annual meetig of the America Bar Association by a .special committee deaing with law enforcement in a report which pays special tribute to the superiority of British methods of triaL and criminal procedure. The report declares that since 1910 8*5,000 Americans have lost their lives irorn being poisoned, shot or stabbed, or from otherwise unlawful injuries. It is estimated that during last year there were 7850 murders, and 6790 cases of manslaughter, making a total of over 14,000 of unjustifiable homicide in the United States. POPULAR LORD MAYOR. The late Sir \\ illiam Treioar was the most popular Lord Mayor London ever knew. Dis bonhomie at smoking concerts was proverbial; but he was not always so broadminded as those who met him at these functions imagined- Once during his Lord -Mayoralty he asked for a poem to be written tor a souvenir programme to be sold at a Mansion House concert for fiis Cripples’ Home at Alton- It was called - The Land of No Delight,” and the first • verse was as follows: There is a Land of No Delight Where countless litle children dwell, Their hopes forlorn, their life a Hell. Their faces drawn and wan and white. They call it No Delight because Its gates are closed to Santa Claus. It seemed quite harmless, and simple, and suitable for the occasion. But, lo! and behold, when the programme was printed the poet- found that, without his being consulted. Sir William had altered the verse. Tt seemed that, thinking the word “Hell” not exactly" suitable for a Mansion House programme. he had altered the line. and. in altering it, made it the sheerest nonsense. “ A'ou see, I’m Lord Mayor.” lie explained. “ T wouldn't mind if I were only one of the Sheriffs!” THE ANTIQUITY ~OF SHORTHAND. Shorthand is so intimately associated in our minds with the rusii of modern times and methods that it is startling to learn that some form of it was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Y r et there appears to oe little doubt that the orations Cicero were reported with a skill ami rapidity equal perhaps, to those of many modern stenographers. It is, however, difficult to state just how old is the system of abbreviated writing. The Greeks called it taebygraphy. Xenophon is believed to have employed this system ot taking notes of the lectures of Socrates, which, would take it back to the fifth century before Christ. This is disputed by some authorities, but there seems to be no doubt about its use- in the first century. The. first official appointment of a shorthand writer in this or any other country was instituted at the Old Bailey about 1750, and the first to hold the office was Thomas Gurney, a ciockmaker and teacher of stenography. Gurney’s system, his own invention, and considered one of the best before the advent of Pitman, was published in 1750. under the title of “ Brachygraphy, or swift writing made easy to the meanest capacity.” ARMADA FIRESHIPS. Drake thought he could finish Ins game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe and defeat the Armada; and Drake was ■ light.’ The Armada consisted of 130 ships, 11,000 seamen, and 20.C00 soldiers, and it was to be reinforced by additional troops from the Xetheri lands. It appeared off the Lizard on July 19, 1588. and a few days afterwards it was attacked by the English fleet. There was no line-to-line fighting, but the English ran in and delivered their broadsides against the floating castles opposed to them, and . then steered outside the range of the Spanish guns, which, being high above the water line, flew for the most part over the English without harm. On July 27 the Armada anchored off t Calais, where the additional soldiers were put or. board for the invasion of England. No time was to be lost, and the English, therefore, set about the preparation of fireships, which, on the morning of the 29th were drifted > into the centre of the Spanish fleet. “ Some cut their cables, others let the hawsers slip, and happiest they who could first be gone, though few could tell what course to take.” Many went ashore on the shoals, and others stood out to sea. NOT A AYEALTHY MAN | It is said that Mr Calvin Coolidge. 1 the new President of the United State>. j I is the poorest man in worldly goods I I who has ever occupied the White House, and maintains a very modest . * establishment with liis wife and two » i sons- Mrs C'oolidge cooks the meals. while her husband helpk her to bring 1 in the food- He is not above washing _ up plates and dishes, or cleaning knives - and forks. The President, who was in his youth a farm hand on his father’s - farm, is a silent individual. A woman i who once sat next to him at a dinner - party was afterwards heard to coni- -» plain that she was placed between “ a 8 Frenchman who spoke no English and t an American who would not- speak ai r all.” However, the new President is - universally liked. and possesses the niany as were possessed by Roosevelt - when lie was at the White House. * AY hereby hangs a tale. Two men were e discussing affairs of State at a club, s Said one: “Fine man. Honest Cal !” r AA bo’s that ?” asked the other. * Oh. Coolidge ” A minute late . There's 1 id one to beat. Tron Yank.’’ ' Wfcat’s s ! that®” “ Iron Yank—-Coolidge ” And 3! a minute later : ‘ America will be safe S j io the hands of Go-through Coolidge ” ° I "Go-through who?” ‘‘Coolidge” **Oh. t/Coolidge. Bn the way. who as Coolulge?”