IN THE PAPERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19365, 23 July 1925, Page 3

IN THE PAPERS

M. Paul Painlevc (the new Prime ■Minister of France), is one of the few instances of a famous scientist taking to politics. He qualified for his B.Se. before he was 12, was a professor of science at Lille at 23, and wah appointed to a chair at the Sorbonne a few years later. Though delighting in scientific speculation he has been responsible for many valuable contributions to practical industrial science and his interest in aviation has always been particularly keen. He was the first passenger to go up with Wilbur W right.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald, no longer of Downing Street, has returned to Hampstead. There he has bought I'pper Frognal Lodge, a house chosen lor its capacity to hold .Mr .MacDonald’s huge library of books. This house is practically next door to Bav tree Lodge, where another great bookman, Sir William Robertson Nicoll, li\ed and worked for many years. The district is altogether charming—one of the most, delectable bits of old London saved from the speculative builder.

' Most great generals have some little peculiarity or other which is fixed upon by the men serving under them as a sign that things may be expected to happen in the immediate future. Lord ' pres’s peculiarity in this direction used to be a way of opening and shutting Ins mouth many times on the eve ot a battle. Tommies used to sav. "There’s old. French a ilv-catchiiig again,” and when the fl'v-catehing business was much in evidence it was a good sign of warm work in the oiling. Rather curiously, a similar habit used to be noticed of Viscount Cecil in the “Bob” Cecil days at tho Bar when he was getting to an important point.

Various formalities have to be observed by a London rector before he is able to leave the parish in which he works. These formalities become all the more troublesome when it is a case of his leaving the country. The Rev. A. G. B. West, a former rector of Essendon, now rector of .St Dustan's, in East London, has just had an illustration of this. He is about to revisit Australia, and has been told by the Ecclesiastical commissioners that it is not witbin their power to pay his quarterly stipend into his account until he has cabled an assurance of, in his own words, “my deferred decease.”

The Dukes of Hamilton claim three dukedoms. The present Duke is 13th Duke of Hamilton and Kith Duke of Brandon, is premier peer of Scotland, and claims the French Dukedom of Chatelhcrault. The “proud Duke” of Queen Victoria’s reign always signed himself “Ham., Chat., and Bran.,” but, having sent an order to a wine filerchant one day over that signature, he received a reply beginning, “Messrs Hani, Chat, and Bran.—Dear sirs,—. ’ ’

A collection of autograph letters of George Sand, just acquired by the British Museum, was obtained at a cheaper rate than was once paid for a single note from her hand. Tho famous novelist was assisting at a charity bazaar, and Baron James Rothschild, looking round vainly for something he cared to buy, said to her. “Sell me your autograph.” She promptly scrawled on a slip of paper, “Received of Baron Rothschild, one thousand francs, George Sand.” The Baron read, and handed over the money.

President Coolidge’s gift for making his clothes last longer than most men would hiavc interested Tennyson. William Allingham noted in his Dial—a visit to Tennyson, in company wit.. [Browning, when the poet exhibited his [dress boots and averred that he had 'worn them for forty years. “We all looked at them,” said Allinghtim, “and I said it was good evidence of the immortality of the sole.”

The Russell .*mge Foundation has conducted an investigation into the problem of child marriages in the United States, which reveals the steriling fact that 667,000 Americans were child brides less than 16 years old at the time of marriage, or were bridegrooms married to brides under that age.

The glutton for holidays should live in Brazil, which enjoys 11 public holidays and augments this allowance by many unofficial holidays generally or served. Starting well off the mark on January 1 with New Year’s Day. there is an interval for work until January 6, which is Epiphany. Thor, follows a period of “hard slogging” until January 20, when the State of Rio downs tools. Another Stair follows 'suit on January 25, and still another on January 27, which is the last holiday in January. Most months are I’ke that in Brazil. In fact, one or two months are still more bountifully provided with holidays.

Domestic reindeer herds in Alaska arc now worth £310,000 more than the United States paid to Russia in 1867 for the entire territory. The industry now numbers about 350.000 reindeer, of which 235,000 are owned by natives. The deer supply to their owners not only food and clothing, but a livelihood also, and can be found from the Arctic to the Pacific. Already reindeer venison is appearing frequently in highclass restaurants and dining cars of the North-West of the United States, and its general use will soon be merely a matter of transportation.