HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17991, 30 October 1926, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. A Pickpocket at Court. The elder Richardson was fond of telling a characteristic story of Charles 11. A cut-purse, or pickpocket, with as much effrontery of face as dexterity of finger, obtained entry to a court held on the King’s birthday. He was detected by the King himself taking a gold snuffbox out of a certain earl’s pocket. The rogue, who saw his sovereign’s eye upon him. put his finger to his nose, and made a sign to the King with a wink to say nothing. Charles took the hint, and watching the earl, enjoyed his feeling first in one pocket and then in the other for his missing box. The King now called the nobleman to him. “ You neecj not give yourself, ” he said " any more trouble about it, my lord, your box is gone; Lam myself an accomplice could not help it, I was made a confidant. ” a « » Westminster’s Jewel Tower. The Jewel Tower, Westminster, is one of London’s mystery buildings. Few people know of its existence, for it is liidden by the offices and residences in Old Palace Yard. No one appears to know by whom or for what purpose it was built. Some think that it was a monastic prison, others that it was a relic of the ancient Royal Palace of Westminster. It has nothing to do with the Abbey. For centuries it has been known as the Jewel Tower, or the King’s Jewel House. Yet there is no record of it ever having been used as a Royal treasure house, though we do know that it was Crown property as early as the reign of Edward 111. A Gulf Stream Fiction. Many have been the reasons advanced for Britain’s temperate climate. The Gulf Stream has always been the chief favourite. “ The Gulf Stream flows across the Atlantic, bringing warmth in its wake, making the West Coast of England the best coast. ” That is the story many learned at school, and it is a belief to which many people still subscribe. The other day, for instance, it was suggested that by diverting huge volumes of water from Lake Michigan into the Gulf of Mexico the United States authorities were definitely chilling v be Gulf Stream, and thus lowering the temperature of Great Britain and the North of France. "Is America responsible for the deterioration of the British climate? ” was the question. The answer is that it isn't The Gulf Stream has nothing to do with it. The fiction that the mild climate of the British Isles is due to the influence of the Gulf Stream has had a long life. Many people talk of the stream without knowing its limitations. The Gulf Stream does not flow from the Gulf of Mexico to Great Britain. It is a body* of warm water which issues from the Gulf of Mexico between Cuba and Florida, and flows northward along the coast of Florida as a distinct current a few miles wide at the rate of about four miles an hour, and, continuing northwards, gradually loses its distinct character and becomes lost somewhere: in the latitude of New York, where jt mingles with the cold waters of the Labrador current flowing southwards. Air that Carries Electricity. Another mysterious ray has been uncovered. No sooner did Millikan an nounce the “ultra-X-rays” that f wiil penetrate six feet of lead, than a young Welsh research worker made public his discovery of a new kind of Tay that transforms air so that it can conduct electricity. It may prove a great help in investigating the structure of levels in certain atoms of which very little is known at present (says Popular Science *’). The First Penny Post. Towards the end of the 18th century a man named Jude began a private enterprise letter service between London and Plymouth. There is little authentic record of the charges. In 1629 the King’s Posts—hitherto conined to State letters—started carrying private letters in opposition to Juuv Six years later a Royal Proclamatim the King's Posts a monopoly, and Jude was driven out of business The monopoly was extended to six main roads; those to Edinburgh. Holyhead. Plymouth. Bristol, Norwich, ancl Dover. When the Commonwealth was set up the Lord Protector made the State postal service a monopoly on all roads. In 1660 the posts were let out to private contract, one Henry Bishop paying a royalty of £21,000 a year to the State. Bishop was succeeded by O’Neale, and O'Neale by the Countesa of Chesterfield. The lease expired m 1677. but some local posts were let out to contractors. In 1690 a London merchant, named Dockwrah, organised a post service under which letters were collected in the City of London as many as nine times a day and delivered eight times daily. In some parts he had as many as four collections and deliveries a day. The charge for a letter or parcel was one penny. The success of the enterprise was such that the State declared it illegal, monopolised the business, and put up the charge to a minimum of 3d for 80 miles. Having set a mileage rate, the State carried letters posted at Plymouth for Bristol all the way via London. Letters were made chargeable by weight on November 22, 1839. But it was not till January 10, 1840. that the State postal service carried a lettcr for a penny.—‘‘London Evening Post. *