WAIFS AND STRAYS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 13, 1 April 1893, Page 292

WAIFS AND STRAYS.

A <;oot> intention clothes itself with power. A man never forgets how good he is to others. Where there’s a will there's generally a fight.

Good intentions will not justify evil. A man is frequently known by the company he keeps ont of.

How much easier it is to sit by the fire and resolve to do good than it is to go out in the cold and do it.

If you ever feel yourself getting conceited, just remember that the best people are all dead. In these Jin de siecle times the handwriting on the wall is generally the work of the street urchin.

By a * white lie ’ is meant the kind you see on tombstones.

Be choice in your friendships. You can have but few, and the number will dwindle as you grow older. Select minds who are too strong and large to pretend a knowledge and resources they do not really possess. They address you sincerely.

The Newspaper ‘Ad.’—A neat illustration of the value of sagacious advertising was given al the Portland Young Men’s Christian Association meeting recently, when General Secietary McDonald stated that he had some curiosity to know what method of advertising reached the most people. He had circulated thousands of little dodgers, giving notice of the meeting, and he asked those who had seen them and had been moved to come through that means, to rise. The hall was packed as full as it could hold, and of the entire number about fifteen arose. Then Mr McDonald asked all who had read the notices in the newspapers, and had been influenced by them to rise, and the crowd rose in a body.

How to Grow Old.—An essential to longevity consists in regular and temperate habits of living. In studying the habits of persons who have reached advanced age it is found that in the large majority of cases great moderation in eating and drinking has been the rule throughout life. Gluttony is an enemy to both health and longevity, while as to alcoholism we have the testimony of the president of one of the oldest life insurance companies that ‘ among persons selected with care fm physical soundness and sobriety, the death rate is more profoundly alfected by the use of intoxicating drinks, than from any other cause apart from heredity. Another rule which is found to be almost universal among very aged people is that they have all their lives been in the habit of going to bed and getting up early. They have also avoided dissipation and fast living in every form, as must every one who covets longevity, for these burn the candle at both ends, and cause it to be quickly consumed. Another requisite for reaching old age is healthful employment. Idleness is a greater foe to length of days than overwork. That occupation is to be preferred which gives exercise to both body and mind under the influence of pure air and healthful surroundings, without being extremely severe or involving too many hours of work. The final necessity for him who would grow old gracefully is a cheerful disposition and the habit of looking on the bright side. Passion strains the heart to its utmost, melancholy freezes the bio rd, and worry wears out the best years of a man’s life. No one who habitually indulges these or kindred emotions has half a chance of reaching advanced life. It was the advice of a man of ninety not to worry. ‘Don’t worry about what you can’t help,’ he said, 1 for it will do no good. Don’t worry about what you can help, but go to work and help it.’ Sound advice this for all who aspire to become nonagenarians. Atmospheric Electricity.—The upper layers of air are more or less electrified, so as to have a potential differing from that of the earth ; but how their electrical condition has been produced is not at present known. Condensation of water-vapour is known to produce electricity. It is found that there are greater differences of electrical condition at different elevations under a clouded sky than with a clear sky, and it is always clouded when there is a display of lightning. Lamont considers the atmospheric electiicity to be a consequence of the earth’s electiicity. Close to the earth the air has little or no charge ; the farther from the earth the greater the amount of electricity in the air. Many experiments prove that there is a difference of potential between the earth and points in the air above. In fine weather potential is higher the higher we go, increasing usually at the rate of twenty to forty volts for each foot. It changes, however, very rapidly in broken, windy, and rainy weather, and is even at times reversed, becoming for a time negative as regards the earth. The plan adopted to test the potential at any point usually consists in placing an insulated conductor at that point, and allowing for the discharge of free electricity from it, its electrical condition being tested by an electroscope or electrometer. This discharge takes place when mateiial particles are made to leave the conductor. Volta med a small flame at the end of an exploring rod. Sir William Thomson used an insulated water can, from which water was allowed to drip, or an exploring rod with smouldering touch paper at the end. He has also employed with success a portable electrometer, on the same general principle as the quadrant or divided ring electrometer. Peltier used an insulated pith ball electrometer with a metal dome, and means of connecting it for an instant with the earth.