AROUND THE WORLD.

Waikato Independent, Volume IV, Issue 239, 14 June 1906, Page 3

AROUND THE WORLD.

bio fewer than twenty thousand persons are reported missing in London every year. Only about one-fifth of these missing persons are ever accounted for. ihe others disappear from friends for e\ei. Many of them arc “wanted” hv the police, which explains why they do not leappear. Numbers of them leave London. The \ icar of Filey, Yorkshire, the Rev. A. N, Cooper, who is widely known as the ‘ walking person,” on account of his long journeys in distant lands, has left to walk to Grimsby, from which port he will sail o Gothenburg. He will walk from there to Stockholm and back. During the month, if his plan is carried out, he will walk six hundred miles. A. Scotch account of the wedding of Lochiel and Lady Hcrmione Graham assures us (says the Westminster Gazette) that one of the officiating clergy was the Rev Dr Inge, vicar of All Saints’ Church, bordered with a full ruche of c nffon, and lined with non-commissioned officers and men of the bridegroom’s Grenadier Guards.” Such a heroic effort to be picturesque, both inside and out, deserves recognition, as well as (we hope) an ample fee. Black hair is stronger than golden tresses, and will sustain almost double the weight. Recently a scientist found by experiment that it is possible to suspend a weight of 4oz by a single hair, provided the hair oe black. Blonde hair will give way at weights varying according to the tint. A yellow hair will scarce support 2oz, a brown will hold up three without breaking, while one of a very daik brown will sustain an additional ioz. The publicans in Carlisle and the neighbourhood have been the victims of a practical joke. Each received a typewritten letter supposed to orignate from a vyell-knevvn host, inviting them to his silver wedding. With three exceptions all put in an appearance, each carrying a useful present, varying from a teapot to a “ Bell ” American organ—the latter as a gift to the worthy host and hostess’s only daughter. Naturally, there was much indignation when it became known that the affair was an elaborate hoax, and that the guests were three years too soon. A French physician (Dr Mangat) declares that the color of the clothes which a consumptive should wear is very important. _ The clothing should be of a kind which allows most light to penetrate it, light having a favourable effect on consumptives. Dr Mangat recommends white stuffs, as they allow the largest number of chemical rays to pass through them and absorb no colored rays. White linen, white velvet, white cotton or cloth, but not white silk, may be used. Next to white the best colors are blue and violet. The Old Gravel-lane Bridge over the Wapping Cut of the London Docks, W'hiclr was mentioned by Dickens, is, says a correspondent of the Daily Graphic, now in course of demolition, It is known locally as “the Bridge of Sighs, owing to the number of suicides that have taken place from it. There is another peculiarity about the bridge ; it is a dividing line between Jew and Gentile. There is an unwritten law that Jew's shall not live in Wapping, or especially in that part of it which is an Island formed by the docks and entrances. Woe betide the Jew who is found on the Island! _ The northern side of Old Gravel-lane is practically a Jewish quarter. A curious fact relative to a woman’s personality is that the two sides of her face are not in accord one with the ofchci. In other words, every woman has two faces, and one shows certain characteristics which the other does not, and each contradicts the other. The left side is nearly always the prettier, although it would take a very keen eye to discern any difference, but it is worth while to remember this when posing for one’s photograph. The moral of this is obvious. The left side of the face showing to far better advantage than the right, it is everyone’s duty to keep the good side turned toward an observer. Oftentimes the prettiest woman makes a bad photograph, while a plain woman with regular features makes a good one. A party of ladies in the house of the Misses Isaacson, in Priory-road, West Hampstead, London, was interrupted in a dramatic manner by the butler snatching up the stakes at the poker table and disappearing. The butler, a German, engaged about a fortnight before, dropped bottles of “ lemon squash ” and glasses with a crash, while the ladies were engrossed in the game. Before they had time to realise what was happening, the butler had made a grab at the °poker table, and had gathered up in one sweep gold, silver, purses, handbags, etc. In another moment the ladies found themselves alone, the thief having locked the door behind him. Instantly they piled the furniture against the door, afraid that he might return. But he disappeared, and the police could not find him. London is paved with tragedies, says the London correspondent of the Edinborough Evening News. For the past week an excellent baritone singer lias been haunting the side streets of suburbandom south of the river, and keeping well in the shadow of the dark bouses as he sings. I have discovered that he is -the son of a famous song-writer, not very

long dead—a composer the copyright of some of whose songs changed hands recently for thousands of pounds between the publishers concerned. The singer is out of “ a shop ” —in theatrical parlance and is earning his family’s bread and butter singing his father’s songs in the streets for coppers. One night, according to his tale, he sang fifty songs at Clapham Junction, and netted elevenpence. Why is he on the streets ? His answer is simple—the stage and musical world is over-crowded. An Australian Society has been formed in Melbourne to carry out the following objects: 1, to cultivate the national spirit within the Commonwealth; 2, to imbue the people with self-reliance; 3, to foster local industry, both primary and secondary; 4, to incite all the people to work for the common weal; 5, to consume and wear local productions ; 6, to conserve the purity of our race; to speak no ill of Australia, but to belief in her first and last.