HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17231, 24 December 1923, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. SECRET OF POPULARITY. Palmerston had fully mastered the secret of popularity. Once when he and Sir J. Paget were walking down Bond Street, a man came up and saluted the statesman. “How do you do, Lord PalmerstonPV “Ah, how do? Glad to see you. How’s the old complaint?” The stranger’s face clouded over, and lie shook his head. “No better.” “Dear me, so sorry; glad to have met you. Good-bye.” Who’* your friend” asked Sir James, when the stranger was gone. “No idea.” “Why, you asked him about his old complaint.” “Pooh!” replied the other unconcernedly; “the old fellow's well over sixty; bound to hare something the matter with him.” And the “old fellow” had thought himself the subject of the stateman’s tender interest. EGONOMY*IN COAL. A fire-brick is a splendid economiser of coal, but most modern fire grates are so small that there is no room in them for a fire brick. "When this is the case purchase a bag of dried Stourport clay from the oil shop (it will cost about sixpence), and empty the contents into a pail. Cover this slatecoloured powder with slightly warm water and allow it to stand about twelve hours. Pour off the surplus water, and a plastic mass will remain. Clear all dust and dirt from fireplace, and well wet the place where you are going to put the clay; this will make the clay adhere. Work the clay into the required place, and when aet bake dry by a coke fire.

PRISON REFORM. To Elizabeth Fry (born Elizabeth. Gurney) posterity owes a heavy debt for the reforms she instituted in prison life, particularly with regard to female prisoners. The condition of Newgate prisoners was entirely improved through her influence and perserverance; she studied prison conditions, and visited prisoners all over Great Britain, and several times was examined by committees of both Houses as an important witness in the cause of criminal reform. She was a devoted Quakerbut a most liberal-minded woman, and in spite of her public duties found time to be an ideal wife and the mother of a large family. A NICE WAY OF •• SACKING.” The famous financial house of Rothschilds are said to exact the strict* est obedience to orders from tlieir employees. They once telegraphed to an agent to sell certain stock, but he knew the price would go higher, and therefore did not sell till four day* later. In consequence he netted an extra profit of ten thousand pounds. When he sent the Rothschilds the money and announced joyously and proudly what be had done, they returned the whole amount with this note: “The ten thousand pounds you made by disobeying our instruction® is not ours, but yours. Take it. Mr Blank, your successor, left London yesterday 1” PRINCE AND PIEMAN. Lord Rosebery is fond of recalling an amusing adventure which he and King Fid ward—then Prince of Wales—enjoyed in their youth. The two, with another friend, were on their way to the Royal Yacht Club, Gravesend, when the Prince, catching sight of.an old hot-pieman, challenged his companions to leap over the can which the man was trundling along. He led the way, clearing the can easily. The others followed, but. alas! the third youth just touched the can with his foot and sent it and the pies inside flying into the gutter. The pieman made a great to-do, but in the end was well compensated. EASTERN TOYS. Japanese toys are rapidly supplanting those made m Germany. Thousands of gross of toy Union Jacks are made in Japan, as are also the majority of the small nodding animals, jumping rabbits and other novelties that are now so common. The chickens, ducks and rabbits sold by hundreds of thousands for the Easter egg trade are now mostly Japanese-made. Japanese baskets and handbags are also a prominent line over all England. During recent years Japan has more than doubled her export of toys and all fancy articles.

BRIDAL WREATHS ABROAD. The bridal wreatli is usually formed of myrtle branches in Germany; it is made of orange blossoms in France, as well as in our own country; in Italy and the French Cantona of Switzerland it is of white roses; in {Spain the flowers of which it is composed are red roses and pinks; in the islands of Greece vine-leaves serve the purpose, and in Bohemia rosemary is employed; in German Switzerland a crown of artiflowers takes the place of the wreath. 120 NOT OUT. ' In the village of Zobair. outaide Basra, there lives a mar-, Abu Seraih Ali ibn Abdullah, who is believed to be 120 years old. Ho Hunks nothing even yet of walking from Zobair to Basra and back, a distance of fourteen miles, in one day. He preserves all bis faculties to a remarkable degree. His teeth are strong and white, and he walks with an upright carriage. He has had fourteen sons and one daughter. and until recently was quite equal to a. full day’s hunting. He lives simply on bread, dates and milk. AMERICA’S LAWYERS. There are in America over 100.000 lawyers, and the Supreme Court bar numbers about 30,000. Each counsel is limited to one hour in which to present liis case, but it. has already been argued in the printed “brief” which is before the Court. During the annual terms from October to June tho Court received 100.000 pages of matter.