HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17880, 23 June 1926, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. First English Wallpaper. China was the first nation to use wallpaper. It was used for ritual purposes 2000 years ago. Skins of animals were the forerunner of the existing wallpaper in England. They were succeeded by tapestries and painted cloths. Wallpaper discovered some years ago at Christ's College, Cambridge, is now believed to be the first specimen of genuine wallpaper made in England. Its date was apparently 1509, for on the other side of the paper appeared a poem concerning the death of Henry VII and a proclamation of Henry Vllt. The paper was found on some old beams. It was carefully collected by the order of Sir Arthur Shipley, Master of Christ’s College, Cambridge, who writes: “I have always thought that what happened was this. King Henry VIII, who was very proud of coming to the Throne as a young man—he was only eighteen—sent down a bundle of his proclamations to his grandmother, and she, as we know, being a very frugal woman, had the patterns stamped on the back and stuck the paper up.” Old wallpaper cost, apparently, Is 2d a yard. The first patent for its manufacture was in 1692. Americans quickly became enthusiastic concerning English wallpaper, and it became the custom for an American bridegroom to give his bride a set of English wallpapers as a wedding present.

Population of Paris. The Paris census this year shows that the population has diminished by 25,017 since 1921. It is now 2,836,416. This decrease is explained by the fact that very many houses which contained apartments are being rejjlaced by banks, hotels, or business premises. While the population of Paris itself is less than five years ago. the population of the suburbs has increased by 200,000. “Sherlock Holmes’ ” Secret. An amusing revelation was made by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lately when he confessed the game of treasure-hunt-ing by clues which has recently been the rage in London and elsewhere. “I invented it some eight or ten years ago,” said Sir Arthur, “to amuse the Boy Scouts. The Society of Bright Young People have since enlarged the game’s scope somewhat, but its rules remain essentially the same.” :: « Leaks Betrayed by Teeth. A foreman of the Galesburg City Water Department can tell the position of leaks "in water mains by his teeth. The man, who is deaf, has been in the water department for more than thirty years. This man developed a system of placing a key, or iron rod, on a water main, and telling the position of the leak. He estimates according to the vibration through his teeth. 2*; x x New Use for Bicycles. A new use has been found in England for the bicycle which may enable it to supersede the coster's faithful friend. Mounted on a cycle, with a cord round his chest for traces, a boy draws a donkey barrow at twice the average donkey pace on the level. With another boy to balance the barrow and help with a push, the new commercial jixi suggested possibilities beyond those of the ice cream chariot. Downhill, the boy running in rear acts as brake.

A Prison Hymn Book. “ T.P.’s and Cassell’s Weekly ” quotes examples of stern verse from a hymn book issued a century ago by “ The Ladies’ Association for Visiting Female Prisoners in Newgate.” A classic in horror begins: There is a dreadful hell. And everlasting pains: Where sinners must, with devils, dwell In darkness, fife, and chains. Another hymn reflects: There’s not a sin that we commit, Nor wicked word we say, But in Thy dreadful book ’tis writ, Against the judgment day. To verses about Ananias this moral is appended: Then let me always watch my lips Lest I be struck with death and hell, Since God a book of reckoning keeps For every lie that children tell. The story of Elisha, the mocking children, and the bears relate realistically the fate of the six mocking children: God quickly stopped their wicked breath And sent two raging bears, That tore them limb from limb to death With blood, and groans, and tears. A hymn cautioning prisoners against dressing above their station reflects: The tulip and the butterfly Appear in gayer coats than I. Let me be dress’d fine as I will, Flies, worms, and flow'rs, exceed me still. There is much about worms in this book. Now the worm has turned, and insisted on being a human being. TUit the. attitude of " The Canaanitisli Woman ” was the popular one at the time: Lord! regard my earnest cry A potsherd of the earth. A poor guilty worm am I, ' A Canaanite by birth. The general attitude of the book is one of a dark and horrible existence, to be trebly darkened in this life ami the next for “ these, our degraded fellow-creatures,” as the preface .a.l* them. *