HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17729, 26 December 1925, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING, WHEN CLOCKS STRUCK THIRTEEN. There was a clock which saved a man's life by striking thirteen. During the reign of William and Mar , John Hatfield was in the Life Guards. One night when he was on sentry duty on the terrace at Windsor he was reported to have slept at his post. He would have been sentenced to death, but he pleaded that he was awake at midnight and heard the clock of St Paul’s strike thirteen.' Several witnesses testified that the clock did strike thirteen, and Hatfield's life was saved. There was a discussion before the matter was settled as to whether a clock could strike thirteen, and whether the clock of St Paul's could possibly be heard at Windsor. In those days, of course, London was much quieter at midnight than it is now, and there were people who declared that when weather conditions were suitable they had heard it. In the morning of March 14. 1861. Tom of Westminster, instead of striking six, struck thirteen. The fact caused great alarm to some people in the city, “it having always been considered that such an occurrence was of ill omen to the Royal Family." Their fears were realised: the Duchess of Kent, though well in the morning, died the same day. THE COLOUR OF WATER. To speak of colour in water seems absurd. A tumbler of water from the tap shows no colour at all. How many instances there are, though, where water seems to be coloured, either by reflection of light or by material or organisms contained in it. As a rule, tropical seas appear quite blue. As one travels further from the Equator the blue gradually changes to green. The colour varies according to the amount of salt in solution in the water. As the concentration of salt is greatest when evaporation is greatest. and therefore where the sun is strongest, the blue is intensified towards the Equator. In the case of the Mediterranean the salt is further concentrated owing to the fact that less fresh water flows into it from rivers. The blue sky also increases the colour of the sea by its reflection. HOW GRIEG WAS “DISCOVERED " Grieg, the great Norwegian composer, had his first music lessons from his mother. The idea of the boy’s career as a composer was not thought of. But, fortunately for him—and us —the world-traveiling violinist, Ole Bull, who had been a friend of his parents, made an unexpected call upon them in the course of one of his tours in Norway. They told him that the young Edward was musical, and wrote as well as played music. “ Play me something you’ve written,” said the fampus violinist, and the boy did so, nervously. There was the parents a minute or two. and then, a pause. Ole Bull talked quietly with the parents a minute or two. and then, turning to the boy, said, “ You are to go to Leipzig to become a musician ” He became the representative musician of his country. WHAT A CART-WHEEL DID. Dr Peter Mark Roget, who was born in London in 1779, read before the Royal Society a paper which was destined to lead to the invention of the cinematograph. In the summer of 1821 he was looking through his window' at houses opposite. Passing his eye up and down the slots of a Venetian blind, he received the impression of a stationary wheel, which he saw was revolving when he kept his eyes still. He discovered the cause and effect, and described his findings in his paper to the Royal Society. The publication ©f the paper started a new train of thought among the leading scientists of the day. But for Dr Roget’s data and explanation of the phenomena the invention of the phonakistoscope by Dr Plateau, and of a similar instrument, the stroboscope, by Dr Stainfner, would not have occurred. 3 3 3 A MAGIC LAMP. A lamp which will light at the word of command, and go out when ordered, is the latest electrical wonder. The uncanny device is the invention of Mr L. 11. Pearson, of Nottingham, a keen wireless enthusiast, who made the discover}’ w hile transmitting from his station (SCK' about a year ago. At the time he did not realise its commercial value, but he now has the device provisionally covered under the patents law. Describing his invention, Mr Pearson says: “It is an electrical sw itch, which can be controlled by the human voice, or any vibration or sound.” He produced the wonderful lamp, which looks like an ordinary electric globe. “ On! ” he commanded, and it was at once illuminated. “Off!” he said, and the light immediately went out. The experiment was repeated several times. Xhe current “ jumped to ” the word of command on every occasion, to the astonishment of the gnlookers, manv of whom were not aware that the commands were spoken a microphone. PLACE WHERE CROMWELL SLEPT. A Nottingham correspondent states that Woilaton Hall, which the town has just bought for the people, has fiftv-two rooms to represent the number of weeks in the year, and 365 windows to represent the number of the da}'S. The park is twice the size of Hyde Park It was at Woilaton Hall that Cromwell stayed after the battle of Naseby, and here that the housekeeper found him on his knees in prayer in full armour. A GREAT LOG*RACE A strange race down the Pacific coast of America took place not long ago. from a lumbering port in Oregon to San Diego. California. It was between two great rafts of logs 900 ft long, each containing about 5 000,000 ft of timber. Great chains held the rafts together, and the race was completed in fifteen days. One tug fin* ished ten hours ahead of its rival.