OVER THE TEACUPS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16032, 24 January 1920, Page 10

OVER THE TEACUPS.

MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TESTIMONY. At Acton, where a woman complained of her husband, her mother said she thought quite a lot of him, and was surprised at her daughter’s allegations. The Magistrate remarked that the husband had a good character from his mother-in-law, and no man could have anything better than that—at least, so he had been told. (Laughter.) HEROIC DOCTOR’S PATE. News has been received in London by relatives of Dr. Hearn©, dispensary doctor of Bealadangan, Co. Galway, of his death by drowning on the Connemara coast. Dr. Hearn© received an urgent call to attend a patient on an island of the mainland, and although the weather was stormy ho set out in a small boat, accompanied by two boatmen. The boat capsized, and all three occupants were drowned, 13 SUPERSTITION DEFIED. The founder of the London Thirteen Club, Mr R. W. Bowers, has just died. A remarkable dinner was held by the club on January 13, 1894, at the Holborn Restaurant. It was held in Room 13, there were 13 tables, and 13 guests sat at each. Salt was spilt, ladders were walked under, and looking-glasses were smashed, but nothing untoward has ever been recorded of any of the participants. WHY A MAN WAS DIYORCEtD 14 TIMES. During the prosecution of a man named Karolyi Baozi, in Buda Pest, for being in unlawful possession of 14 flats, the extraordinary fact was elicited that between March and August this year he was married and divorced 14 times, says an Express Vienna telegram. Baczi explained to the Judge that under Soviet rule it was possible to be married and divorced in the same afternoon. The Communists allotted to each newly-married couple three rooms and furniture. Baczi went to each of 14 marriage bureaus in turn, and thus became possessed of 14 flats, which he let out at exorbitant rents to harassed house hunters. Baczi was sentenced to a fine of £SOO and three years' imprisonment. GREEN EYEBROWS APPEAR. Paint as a substitute for stockings is not finding popularity among French beauties because managers of French ■theatres and other public resorts refuse admittance to women who are thus economising. A number of smartly-clad women have recently appeared with their eyebrows coloured a bright green, pink, or yellow. SHIPYARDS BAR WOMEN. The visits of female moving picture and theatrical stars to the yards of the New York Shipbuilding Corporation have been officially banned. Officials estimate that the recent visit of a famous artist© caused a loss of £2OOO through the men watching her instead of working. The men spent two minutes looking at the fair visitor—and fifteen talking about her after her departure, during which time shipbuilding practically ceased, PLAIN WORDS. Adolphus was disgruntled; anyone could see that. “What’s wrong, old son?” asked Percy, as they met in the street. “I have been insulted!” said Adolphus, angrily. “That Milly Smart© was very rude to me.” “That’s so?” said Percy, hiding a grin. What happened?” “I met her down the road, and asked her if I might see her home. She said certainly I could. It was easily seen from the top of the hill, and I needn’t go any further!” “GOLD IN SACKFULS.” Stories of marvellous gold finds have come from the Copper Lake region, 65 miles north of Le Pas, Manitoba, and from Contact, 200 miles east of Winnipeg, writes a correspondent from Vancouver. One man came into Le Pas, it is said, with a canoe-load of sacks filled with gold. He wanted the gold mad© into bricks. Sampeders are rushing to the new fields. Hie story goes that Jacob Cook, an Indian prospector, on his way to his cabin on Copper Lake, tripped and fell ever a rusty spur of quartz. Angered by the fall, he struck the spur with his pick and saw gold. NEEDLE-MAKING PRECAUTION. In factories where needles are made the grindstones throw off great quantities of minute steel particles, although the dust is too fins to be perceptible to the eye. Breathing the dust shows no immediate effect, but gradually sets up irritation, usually ending in pulmonary consumption, and formerly almost all the woilanen died before the age of 40. Ineffective attempts were made to screen the air by gauze or linen guards for nose and mouth. At length the use of the magnet was suggested, and now masks of magnetised steel wire are worn by the workmen, and effectually remove the metal dust before the air is breathed. MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS. “I saw you at the moving picture show last evening,” said the fat plumber, “but when I looked for you a little later I missed jou.” “Yes, I got up and went home.” “When was Hat?” “I left when the villain began to lay a snare for the wife of the man who had to stay at his office on account of business.” “Did you see any more of the picture?” “No.” “And you left at the most interesting part?” “Yes.” “Why?” “I knew if things kept on as they were heading there would be a fuss pretty soon between the two men, or between the man and his wife, and I made up my mind I wouldn’t be mixed up in anybody’s domestic troubles.” PARIS TANGO MAD. Just as La Mode is in a sense a mirror to each period, so in a lesser degree the type of dancing acta as the reflection of each age. The dance of the coming winter in England will undoubtedly be the tango. Paris is already “tango mad,” and the creative dictatorship ever comes from this gayest and most enterprising of cities—-so that we may expect a veritable epidemic of tango in London before long. It will be a very modified version of the original Argentine tango, which will b© wafted to England from South America and Spain, by way of France—a tango adapted to the English temperament ■ Mid tastes.

WEALTH AND HAPPINESS, On the ground of desertion for five years, Mrs Reginald Vanderbilt, formerly Miss Kathleen Neilson, who was married to Mr Reginald Vanderbilt in 1903, has obtained a. divorce in America. She is allowed the custody of her fifteen-year-old daughter. The wedding was one of the most lavish even of American society alliances. Mr Vanderbilt asked for the services of the whole of the New York police force to guard the presents, worth £200,000, which filled the safe deposit vaults of the Newport Bank. For a week twenty florists were hard at work decorating the bride’s home. There were 150 wedding guests, most of whom went to Newport in special trains. “Everything passed off without a hitch at the ceremony,” stated one account, “because there had been an elaborate rehea<rsal of the whole thing the day before.” The bridegroom was then 22, the bride 21, and the engagement had lasted more than two years. AEROPLANES SURVEY FORESTS, Pour aeroplanes are now being used to survey the extensive forests of Labrador to determine the value of the wood pulp represented by the growing trees. Aerial photographs will be taken of many parts of the peninsula for use in compiling statistics. The surveying party, which left the United States recently for Nova Scotia, is composed of 40 persons, and is headed by a man who served two years as a captain in the British air forces. ( WHIPPING A STREAM. Schoolboys with long willow wands played a prominent part at Tiverton, Devon, in a water-bailing ceremony recently. This observance, has taken place every seven years for the past seven centuries, in commemoration, of the gift to the town of a stream of water by Isabella de Portibus, a former Countess of Devon. Following the boys, who whipped the stream incessantly, came workmen with spades, axes, and picks for the removal of any obstacle found in the stream. Behind them walked the Mayor, members of the Town Council, and residents of the town and district. Arrived at the source of the stream at Norwood Common, seven miles from the town, free refreshments were the order of the day, followed by sports and races. NEW USE FOR A PARROT. “Aha!” said the head clerk, “I am glad to notice that you’re arriving punctually now, Mr Slooombe.” “Yes, sir. I’ve bought a parrot.” “A parrot! What ou earth for? I ■told you to get . n alarm clock.” “Yes—l did. But after a day or two I got used to it, and it didn’t wake me. So I got a parrot; and now, when I go to bed, I fix the alarm clock, and put the parrot’s cage on top of it. When the alarm goes off it startles the parrot, and then what the bird says would wake up anybody.” A PRINCE OF WALES STORY. A good story of the Prince' of Wales was told at Ipswich recently by Captain W. D. Joynt, V.C., of the Australian forces. One day, he said, the Prince disappeared from headquarters, and, as was his great delight, he went into the lines with the men. He was hunted for everywhere, and at last he was found with some A.l.F.’s playing a certain harmless game of chance, at which he lost 12 pennies. The staff officer searching for him arrived, and when tire Prince turned to go there were cries of “You’re no sport!” The Prince replied, “What! I’ve lost a bob ! I’ll stop and win it back.” But, added the captain, he lost another shilling, and then he went. Captain Joynt said he could not describe the affection Australians had for the Prince, and. they “were just wanting him ir. Australia.” SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF . A stonemason was in the witness-box, describing the way in which, he had been assaulted by the defendant. “He walked, right into my yard and slammed me up against one of my tombstones,” the witness said. “Did he hurt you?” inquired the Court. “Hurt me!” roared the witness. “Why, I’ve got ‘Sacred to the memory of’ stamped all down my back!” A PITY. Dr. Smythe had been waltzing with bis host’s ugly elder daughter, and was now in a corner repairing damages. Here his would-be papa-in-law espied him and—“Do you know,” he remarked, referring to D© Smythe’s late partner, “that girl is the flower of my family, sir?” “So it seems,” answered the young man. “But it’s a pity she comes off so, isn’t it?” he added as he mad© another vigorous rub at the white spots on his coat-sleeve.

WANGANUI CALEDONIAN SOCIETY. ANNUAL GATHERING, COOK’S GARDENS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY; 7, 1920.. PIPING to commence at 11.30 a.m. LIST OP OFFICERS, 1919-20.; President, N. MacKenzie Forbes, Esq.; Vice-Presidents, Messrs J. Cameron, T. Copland, R. G. McNiven, Doig Scott; Committee, Messrs C. Brodie, A. Strachan, R. MacKenzie, J. McLeod, R. Glasgow, W. Corby, J. Patterson, W. Herd, J. Mac Lean; Auditor, Mr R. Matheson; secretary, Mr J. Syme; treasurer, Mr J. G, Swan. PROGRAMME OP EVENTS.) (Section A). BAGPIPE MUSIC. Marches (open) . Ist £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £l. Entry 2/-. S’peys (open). Ist £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £l. Entry 2/-. Reels (open), Ist £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £l. Entry 2/-. Maiden Marches . Gold Medal, Silver Medal. Entry 1/6. Military (March, S’spey and Reel). Ist £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £l. Entry 2/-. (Medal Most Points). Local Piping, Marches. Gold Medal presented by G. Swan, Esq, Entry 1/6. DANCING, MEN. Sword Dance. Ist £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £l. Entry 2/-. Highland Fling. Ist £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £l. Entry 2/-. Seaun Triubhas. Ist £2, 2nd £l, 3rd 10/-. Entry 2/-. Reel o’ Tulloch. Ist £2, 2nd £l. Entry 2/-. Highland Reel.; Ist £2, 2nd £l. Entry 2/-. Hornpipe. Ist £1 10s, 2nd £l. Entry 2/-. Jig. Ist £1 10s, 2nd £l. Entry 2/-. (Medal Most Points Highland Dancing, presented by N. MacKenzie Forbes, Esq., value 5 guineas). DANCING, LADIES (over 18). Highland Fling. Ist £3, 2nd £2, 3rd £l. Entry 2/-. Reel o’ Tulloch. Ist £2, 2nd £l. Entry 2/-. Highland Reel.; Ist £2, 2nd £l. Entry 2/-. Hornpipe, Ist £1 10s, 2nd £l. Entry If-, (Medal Most Points). '■ DANCING, BOYS (under 18) Highland Fling. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry 1/-. Seaun Triubhas. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry If-. Highland Reel. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry 1/-. Jig. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry 1/-. (Medal Most Points) . DANCING, GIRLS (under 18) . Highland Fling. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry 1/-. Seaun Triubhas. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry 1/-. Highland Reel. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry If-. Hornpipe. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry 1/-. Jig. Ist Gold Medal, 2nd Silver Medal. Entry If-. (Medal Most Points). DANCING, BOYS (under 12). Sword Dance. Ist Medal, 2nd Medal. Entry 6d. Highland Fling. Ist Medal,' 2nd Medal. Entry 6d. Reel o’ Tulloch. Ist Medal, 2nd Medal. Entry 6d. Hornpipe, Ist Medal, 2nd Medal, Entry 6d. (Steps limited to six).; tjgiif (Medal Most Points). DANCING, GIRLS (under 12) * Highland Fling. Ist Medal, 2nd Medal. Entry 6d. Seaun Triubhas. Ist Medal, 2nd Medal. Entry 6d. Highland Reel. Ist Medal, 2nd Medal. Entry 6d. Jig. Ist Medal, 2nd Medal. Entry 6d .■ (Steps limited to six).; (Medal Most Points). Best Dressed Highlander. Trophy. Entry If-. Best Dressed Highland Boy. Trophy. Entry 1/-. Best Dressed Highland Girl. Trophy. Entry I/-., NOTES. All piping and dancing under rules of Pipers’ and Dancers’ Association. Winning Pipers will play for Dancers if requested. Visiting Pipers are requested to assist the Wanganui Pipe Band in parading the grounds, etc. Military Piping for those who were at the war. Points to count 5 3 1. No tuning of pipes in enclosure. SECTION B. .—Throwing the Hammer (Amateur) Handicap. First prize trophy valued i£3, second £2, third £l. Entry 2s 6d. —Putting the Shot (Amateur) Handicap. First prize trophy valued £3, second £2, third Jl. Entry 2s 6d. —Tossing Caber (Amateur) Handicap, First prize trophy valued £3, second £2, third Al. Entry 2s 6d. —Wrestling (Cumberland). First prize cash <£s, second £<>, third £l. Entry 2s 6d. 'Wrestling (catch-as-catck-can). First prize cash .£6, second £3, third £l. Entry 2s 6d. —Tug-o’-War (6 men aside). Catto Cup and Medals. 6s per team. —Putting Shot (open). First prize .£3, second £2,{ third £l. Entry 2s 6d. —Throwing Hammer (open). First prize cash =£3, second £2, third <£l. Entry 2s 6d. —Tossing Caber (open). First prize cash <£3, second £2, third AI. Entry 2s 6d. -Quoits. First prize, trophy; second, trophy; third, trophy. Entry 2s 6d. 42a.—Single Stick Competition. Gold Medal presented by Mr J. Cameron. Entry Is. Fleming Memorial Medal, value 10 guineas, for most points Hammer, Shot, and Caber (open). To be .won twice, not necessarily in succession, NGTES. Tug-o’-War.—Catto Cup to be held by •the winning team till next annual competition. Events 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 41a, 42, throe tries in each event. Wrestling.—Best of three falls. SECTION C. 440 Yards Amateur Handicap. Ist, trophy; 2nd, 3rd, trophy. Entry la. Running High Jump Handicap. Ist, trophy; 2nd, trophy; 3rd, trophy. Entry la--106 Yards Amateur Handicap. Ist, trophy; 2nd, trophy; 3rd, trophy. Entry Is, Running Long Jump Handicap. Ist trophy; 2nd, trophy; 3rd, trophy. Entry Is.. , 880 Yards Amateur Handicap. Ist) trophy; 2nd, trophy.; 3rd, trojdiyC : 'Tkt '

Hop., Step, and Jump Handicap. Ist, trophy; 2nd, trophy; 3rd, . trophy. Entry Is. 320 Yards Amateur Handicap. Ist, trophy; 2nd, trophy, 3rd, trophy. Entry Is. One Mile Amateur Handicap. Ist, trophy; 2nd, trophy; 3rd, trophy. Entry Is. Cup for most points in section C. Points to count 5, 3, 1. Winners of heats or distances when not placed in final to receive a silver mpiah CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. Post Entries. PEIMA.ET SCHOOLS. Open to bona fide pupils. 100 Yards Open Boys). Ist, trophy; 2nd, trophy. 440 Yards Open (Boys). Ist, trophy; 2nd, trophy. Schools' Belay, 400 yards;' teams of four, let, trophies; 2nd, trophies. BOY SCOUT EVENTS, Poet Entries.