Here and There.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue III, 18 July 1903, Page 157

Here and There.

New York, in the “Daily Bulletin,” has now an afternoon paper owned and edited by women. The policy is to be woman and her ideals.

One of the biggest ventures of modern times will be the St. Louis Exhibition of 1904, for which active preparations are now being made. According to a St. Louis newspaper this World's Fair will cover an aiea of 1180 acres. A better idea of its hugeness will be gained when it is said that the Chicago Exhibition of 1893 only covered 6-58 acres; Paris (1900) 299 acres; and London (1851), 21 acres.

In East Indian schools mental arithmetic is a vastly more serious matter than it is in the schools of Australia. Catch questions are numerous in the Orient, and the multiplication table is swollen into a mountain of difficulty by native teachers. Pupils of ten years are taught to carry the multiplication table up to forty times forty.

An American paper has been saying things concerning Mrs Lamgtrrts age, and making guesses at it. Says the scribe, “The Lily is now 4T.” Tkis (remarks “The Pelican”) is perhaps not quite polite, but it is certainly not accurate. How old or how young Mrs Langtry is, I shall not be rude enough to attempt to guess; but it is «. fact, unless I am a great deal more mistaken than I believe myself to be, that hi 1882. the year Mrs Langtry decided to take to the stage, she was 35. Anyhow, as we all know, a lady is precisely the age she looks, and no more, just as a man is as old as he feels.

A curious and interesting experiment took place at Aidershot not long back. The guns and carriages of a battery of artillery, having been painted with daubs and streaks of red, blue, and yellow, were placed in position on outlying hills, and artillery officers were sent out to locate them. The odd style of painting made the guns harmonise so completely with the background that at a distance of 3G€O yards they could not be seen even with field-glasses. The officers all. knew in what direction the guns lay, yet not one was able to point them. but. Some horse artillery, sent forward to. engage the guns, advanced within 1000 yards before they discovered the batterv.

Here are some examples of what the schoolboy can do when he tries hard: “John Wesley was a great sea captain. He beat the Dutch at Waterloo, ansi by degrees rose to be Duke of Wellington. He was buried near Nelson, in the Poet’s Corner at Westminister Abbey.” Asked to name six animals peculiar to the Artie regions, a boy replied: “Three bears and three seals.” “The sublime Port is a very fine old wine.” “The possessive case is the ease" when somebody has got yours and won’t give it to you.” “ The plural of penny is twopence.” “ Mushrooms always grow in damp places, and so they look like umbrellas.” Von Bulow, the German statesman, optimistic at times as to the future trade relations with Great Britain, is now and then depressed because of the hostility which certain elements in each nation express towards each other. An Englishman sufficiently prominent to gain admission to Court circles found the German statesman in a dejected mood. The woes of the German manufacturer caused by the British invasion had just been recited to him. Von Bulow repeated what had been said. Unhesitatingly the Englishman adopted n line of argument which abounded in figures.' showing the value of Germany’s exports to England. “As a compliment to your skill and a recognition of Gerntan ingenuity and cleverness we import 9.000 tons of toys each year,” said the Englishman, impressively. “Yes,” said Von Bulow, “but when the children receive the toys they credit them to Santa Claus, and when they are old enough to give us the credit they don’t care for the toys.”; ’ "■

Among inventions that are really wanted, ’’The British Inventor ’ tells us, are a plan to prevent shop windows from being covered with steam: and new letters lor advertising upon windows, tablets, etc. The latest thing of this kind, small silvered glass studs, producing a very brilliant effect, have eaught on well in London, and have already realised a small fortune. A new cycle rest is also required that is not in the way when riding, and can be easily dropped down into position to hold the cycle upright when it stands at the side of the road. There is always an opening for a really good line in mechanical toys.

The “Deutsche Juristenzeitung” records the following instance of Prussian red-tape. A woman who disappeared front her home was adjudged dead after a time, and her name was entered in the list of those who have gone before. Three years later she reappeared, proved her identity beyond doubt, and demanded a passport and other legal documents which Germans are required to possess. The authorities, however, refused to give her the documents, declaring that legally she was dead, and the law courts decided that she could not appeal against the ruling that she was dead, because too great an interval had elapsed for an appeal to be allowable. The courts of appeal upheld this decision, so that the unfortunate woman is still dead, though very much alive to the absurdities of red-tape.

It was raining heavily, and Smilax had not an umbrella. At last a smile fluttered across his rain-swept countenance. “That looks like old Jackson ahead there,” he murmured, “and he’s got a brolly. Oh, joy!” He quickened his footsteps and tapped the man in front on the shoulder. “I’ll thank you for that umbrella, if you please,” he said jokingly. Tile supposed Jackson turned and disclosed the perturbed face of an utter stranger. “Oh! is it yours?” he said. “Well, I wasn’t to know that. You can have it.” And, relinquishing the gamp to the astonished Smilax, off he went. There is a pleasing stir at the tower of London, for the War Office is getting out and the British Museum is getting in, with the Office of Works behind it. Hitherto the Tower has been half an “ancient and historical building.” and half a defensive fortification, and the friction between the military and civil authorities has been like the friction between church and chapel in a country village. But the White Tower henceforth is to be regarded, not as a fortification, but as a museum, and the British Museum officials are taking over its management. It is probable that many places and objects of interest in the Tower closed to the public since the days of Fenian fears will be thrown open by the new managers.

An interesting appeal is forwarded from the head gardener of the general cemetery, Johannesburg. He writes: — “There are a number of graves here of the New Zealand volunteers, and I would be glad if you could let me have some seeds of any suitable New Zealand plants that you think would thrive. The climate here is similar to that of Melbourne. We have splendid soil, and every care will be taken by me to raise whatever you choose to send.—(Signed) Chas. A. White, head gardener.” This letter has come into the hands of Mr W. Goldie. Superintendent of Parks here, and he is willing to undertake the despatch of any seeds adapted to the purpose that may be forwarded him. It is pleasant to find in far-off Africa such a genuine effort to keep in order and decorate the graves of those who have fought for their country on the veldt, and whose last resting place is far from friends and relatives. Such action will be appreciated, not only by those whose dear ones lost their lives on battleground or in fever hospital, but also by, every colonist whose sympathies were with the thousands of our youth and virile maidiood who volunteered for pervice during the Boer War. ”,

The most curious specimens of vegetable or plant life in existence arc the so-called “living stones” of the Falkland Islands. These islands are among the most cheerless spots in the world, being constantly subjected to strong Polar wind. In such a climate it is impossible for trees to grow erect, as they do in other countries, but Nature has made amends by furnishing a supply of wood in the most curious shape imaginable. The visitor to the Falklands sees scattered here and there singularly shaped blocks of what appear to be weather-beaten and moss-covered boulders in various sizes. Attempt to turn one of these “boulders” over, and you will meet with a surprise, because the stone is actually anchored by roots of great strength. No other country in the world has such a peculiar “forest” growth, and it is said to lie next to impossible to work the odd-shaped blocks into fuel, because the wood is perfectly devoid of “grain,” and appears to be a twisted mass of woody fibres. John Alexander Dowie, who is said to be coming out to Australia on a visit, has planned a campaign against sin which concentrates its fcrce on New York. Mr Dowie claims to bo a second Elijah. He has 4000 followers who will assist him in the regeneration of New York. It is reported that he has accumulated from his campaigns in the West money and property to the amount of more than one million dollars. In his church there is but one head and but one cash-box. Converts are required to surrender whatever worldly goods they may possess when they join Zion Church, and in turn are assured of a living. The prospect from a worldly point of view is not alluring, but such of the Zion converts as possess the gift of oratory find the work pleasing. The tongue is a part of the human anatomy that never tires of a job. It can be relied upon to do its work in storm and sunshine. When the gift of oratory is inspired by a desire to save souls, the tongue often becomes eloquent. Dowie does not follow the beaten path. He is a man of infinite resources. He has made mankind, which includes woman, a study. Many of his followers are of the gentler sex, who prove their devotion to the cause by tho sacrifice of their hair.

A couple of bad characters attempted to carry out a highway robbery in conventional style last Tuesday week at a lonely spot on the road mid-way between Hobsonville and Avondale. Mr George Downing, who has carried on a blacksmith’s business at Avondale for many years, commenced a branch at Hobsonville several months ago. He was in the habit of making regular visits to Hobsonville, returning alone on his pony in the evening. It probably occurerd to the would-be-highwaymen that he. would collect accounts in Hobsonville and take the money home to Avondale, and this was the case on Tuesday week, when Mr Downing had several pounds in his possession. When he had passed the black bridge near the camp known as “Dan Buck’s,” a man rushed into the road from behind a ti-tree, shouting “Hands up!” Mr Downing did not put his hands up. but the pony was smartly pulled up and the highwayman failed to secure its head. The animal shied and galloped in the direction of Hobsonville. Mr Downing saw another man lurking in the bush, and thought it wise to continue his retreat to the township. Here he secured an escort and safely reached Avondale the same evening. He escaped without injury or loss, but steps should be taken to clear the district of characters capable of waylaying residents ir this disconcerting manner.

Mr. Coghlan, the New South Wales statistician, is very much concerned to find the birth rate of Australia at a dangerously low ebb, and still dwindling, and side by side with bis lamentations, we read that a prominent Frenchman suggests a new order with a ribbon of honor to be bestowed upon the mothers of large families. According to Mark Twain it is extremely difficult for a Frenchman to be decorated with the ribbon of the Legion of Honor, but it is evident that the craze for decorations is still strong in France, or no sane Frenchman would seriously propose to bring about an appreciable increase of population by the simple device of giving the women a new ribbon for their bonnets. Mr. Coghlan will probably find little or no consolation in the suggestion. Where womau is not to be prevailed up-

on by the feather in her cap a large family confers, she is not likely to be cajoled fcv a new ribbon. Another suggestion that the fathers of large families should be relieved of taxation is much more practical. Judging by the noise the Parliaments of the world are making, nothing is so desirable to man as to be relieved of taxation, and if this idea were put into execution it would certainly have its effect upon the fathers. But as to the mothers, the Commonwealth Government need never think to prevail upon them with a bit of ribbon. At the very least it must go the whole hat.

It is predicted that the American cakewalk will soon give way in Paris to a new dance which an accomplished French dancing master has invented. It is called the “veil-dance,” and is described as follows: “Each lady wears a wrap of mousseline de soie or other filmy tissue thrown around her waist, and waves the free ends as she dances, and the men attempt to look as ‘regcnce’ as possible, and use their closed crush hats as dancers in the graceful old pavane used their three-cornered ones. The dancers form in line, barndoor dance fashion, and to a tune half waltz and half gavotte the room is filled with graceful floating forms, to which the black coats of the men make an effective background. The effect is a pleasing one, and the dance, when well done, is almost stately.”

A performance at the Libertad Theatre, Manila, one day last month, resulted in an extraordinary scene. The company played an exciting melodrama, entitled “Yesterday, To-Day, and ToMorrow,” depicting Spanish corruption and oppression, the Philippine insurrection and victories, and then the American supremacy. In the last phase the ■os are represented as submissive, though nursing dreams of independence. Near the end of the play the leading actress tears down the United States flag and waves the Katipunan emblem, passionately prophesying that the foreigners will soon be expelled. Upon this twenty Americans from the audience rushed on the stage, demolished the scenery, and cleared the house. The play is written by the Philippine ex-Major Tolentino.

Two new books of particular interest are in the English press —Mr Rudyard Kipling’s volume of verse. “The Five Nations,” and Mr Hall Caine’s novel, “Fathers and Sons.” Mr Kipling’s poetry is now so much admired, and it is so long since “The Seven Seas” appeared, that his next collection of poems will be eagerly awaited. There are to be 25 entirely fresh poems in the work, besides those which have appeared in periodicals. “The Recessional” will be included. Mr Caine’s novel will be a character study of a modern millionaire. It will be noticed that for the first time for many years he lias dropped the definite article prefix customary in the titles of his novels.

Mr. Josiah Flint, in an article in the March “North American Review” on “Police Methods in London.” tells incidentally the following remarkable story of how the late Commissioner of Police, Sir Edward Bradford, lost his arm and saved his life: “Sixty odd years ago there was born to a clergyman in England a son, who in course of time elected to try his fortune ir. India. Some years after the birth of inc son there was born to a tigress in the wilds of India a youngster which waxed strong and big. Events so shaped themselves that when the clergyman’s son had grown to man’s estate, and the tigei had been taught to manage for himseli, the two had a meeting. . . ' . The tiger discovered the Englishman, and, springing upon him, felled him to the ground. Remembering a story, heard years before, that so long as a man will keep quiet and does not move, there are chances that an attacking tiger will refrain from further attack, he lay perfectly still. The tiger, however, began to gnaw at the man’s left arm. The pain was intense, and there was nothing to prove that his lege Would not be nibb’ed off next, but the Englishman continued to lie still—and hope. Pretty soon he heard the voice® Of a rescuing party. The tiger heard them also. The rescuing party arrived, and the tiger was slain. The Englishman to civilisation minus hi* left

The bouquet has now reached its apotheosis, for never were more costly and beautiful blossoms used, and never was greater skill and delicacy shown in its making. Flower arranging has become an art of its own, and requires a liberal education as well as a light touch and cool hands. Two to three guineas used to be considered a handsome sum to give for a Court nosegay; but now twice and even three times that sum is not considered out of the way. The flowers are brought into town very early in the morning in specially airexhausted tin cases, and are consigned to rooms below the level of the street, where no sun can penetrate. There a whole army of flower artists manipulate the blossoms into posies that are a thing of beauty, if not a joy for more than a few hours. This season the Court posy is worn very large, with long drooping sprays and streamers of fine French tulle or filmy lace. On presentation nosegays lappets of real lace are sometimes used. —“London Modern Society.”

A Scotch golfer who played golf in 1838, before the railway era and long before the English took up the game, writes the Loudon "Times” that the English are mispronouncing the name of the national game in a way that distresses him. He proceeds to say that among gentlemen who had been in England or India, and were free from the pronounced Scotch accent, the game was called “gofe,” by caddies and those speaking a broad Scotch it was “gowf.” The phrase, “folk play’ golf,” was pronounce,d by gentlemen “foke play gofe,” ‘’gofe” rhyming with “loaf.” By caddies it was pronounced “fowk play gowf.” There was a third pronunciation, but w>s an affectation, “goff.” Those who so pronounced it were supposed to speak high English, avoiding the broad pronunciation of the letter “a,” a prevalent Scotch substitute for “e.” “E” used short is “i,” thus “heffpest sivin,” for half-past seven.” “This peculiar dialect is greatly admired by my fellow countrymen,” he says, “and was known to them as Edinburg English, but even in the unsounded “1” in golf could they have foreseen what the actual future mispronunciation of the English on taking up the game would have been with what joy would they have called it “gawlf.” It would have seemed to them “so English.”

In view of the discussion now centreing round preferential tariffs the information given by the British ConsulGeneral at New York in his last annual report is highly interesting. He states that United States imports from Great Britain increased from £ 19,802,000 in 1901 to £22,169,000 in 1902, or about 12 per cent., while those from British possessions increased from £9,243,000 to £ 10,043,000, or about 81 per cent. The following extracts throw a light on America’s trade with the old country and her Colonies:—

Books. —The largest part of these come from the United Kingdom, notwithstanding the provision of the tariff which imposes a duty of 25 per cent, ad valorem on most British books, while those in a foreign language are admitted free. • Copper.—The United Kingdom is one of the principal sources of supply. China and Earthenware.- —The United Kingdom one of the three principal exporting countries. Furs. —The largest quantities come from Germany and the United Kingdom. Tin-plates.—lmported almost exclusively from the United Kingdom. Tin. —By far the largest quantity is imported from the United Kingdom and India. Woollen Manufacture and Raw Wool. —• United Kingdom sends 40 per cent, of the total imports.

The value of all imports from foreign countries at New York last year was £118,248,000, to which total the United Kingdom and British possessions contributed £32,212,000. Germany and possessions coming next with £ 15,220,000.

A most touching and pretty story comes from the little Scotch village of Croft Head, Bridge of Weir, where a man of 30 years, blind from his birth, has been given sight by Dr. Maitland Ramsey of the Glasgow Ophthalmic Institute. He might have never had the veil of blindness removed had it not been for * student on a vacation passing

through the village. Hearing of the case, he made an examination and thought it possible to give the man, whose name is Carruth, sight. He brought the case to the notice of the institution. Carruth was taken there and operated upon. He is now home again, with good sight. In describing the sensations when light first dawned upon him he said the first face he was that of the doctor. He was bewildered, but thought he must be looking on a face for the first time. Then he saw the face of the nurse and knew she must be a woman, for her face was so pale and smooth. His first meeting under the altered conditions with his mother was the most pathetic incident of the recovery. “Lovely.” was the word he used when he gazed upon her face, and the mother’s joyous cry, “Eh, laddie, you can see! you can see!” made the hearts of those who heard it throb in sympathy.

The British Lord Chancellor’s Bill, which makes it a criminal offence to offer or accept a secret commission, is causing much discussion among West End tradesmen.

A gentleman, who at one time acted as secretary to a large club, declared that the bill would accomplish a muchneeded reform in the management of clubs.

“It is a notorious fact,” he said, “that great expense could be avoided if secret commissions from wine merchants, cigar manufacturers, butchers, and others, were not paid to members of some club committees. The question of choosing tradesmen is often left in the hands of some member of a committee who has his own axe to grind, and who takes, a tradesman under his wing, and receives in return all the necessaries and many of the luxuries of life at his private address. If the tradesman grossly overcharges the club he knows he can do it with impunity as long as his friend and protector is on the committee.”

At seventeen she said: “I want a man who is ardent in all of love’s ways and whose passionate devotion may never flag. He must be tall and broad-should-ered and handsome, with dark, flashing, soulful eyes, and, if need be, go to the ends of the world for my sake.” At twenty she said: “I want a man who unites the tender sympathy of a woman with the bravery of a lion. I don’t mind his being a little dissipated, because that always adds a charm. He must be, however, accomplished to the last degree, and capable of any sacrifice for my sake.” At twenty-five she said: “I -want a man who unites with an engaging personality a complete knowTedge of the world, and if, of necessity, he happens to have a past, he must also have a future; a man whom I can look up to and with whom I can trust myself at all times without the slightest embarrassment.”

At thirty she said: “I want a man with money. He can have any other attributes that a man ought to possess, but

he must have money; and the more ha has the better I will like it.” At thirty-five she said: “I want a man.”—“Life.”

“Daniel,” a curly-beaded Samoan whose face is familiar in the Auckland Police Court, provided an amusing interlude on July 9, when he was charged with assaulting a Queen-street fruiterer named “Hannah” Zainey. The evidence of the prosecutor showed that Daniel became annoyed when he found the price of bananas too high, and struck the complainant twice in the face. Daniel, whose faulty English and explanatory gestures caused a great deal of amusement, alleged that he was first assaulted. He had a beating inside the shop, and had a policeman outside ready for himself. He simply shook up the prosecutor between two fruit boxes. (Laughter.) Daniel held the Bible upside down when in the witness box, and solemnly eyed it while he repeated his evidence. Sub-Inspector Black, in cross-examin-ing him, asked if he knew the nature of an oath? Did he know what he was swearing? Daniel: I know myself, I never swear in my life. The Chairman (Mr P. E. Cheal): Do you understand what that book is? Daniel (turning the Bible over with a critical air) : It’s a Roman Catholic book. I can’t read it. The Chairman: Have you ever heard of a book called the Bible? Daniel: Oh, yes, I might have. The fine was 40/ and costs, or seven days’ imprisonment, and the interesting Samoan gave a very audible sigh after he had searched his pockets and made up his mind to go to gaol.

During the King’s recent visit to Edinburgh, the Royal Company of Archers—otherwise known as the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland—were the most picturesque feature of the various ceremonies. Between 40 and 60 members of the company were on duty during the King’s -visit of four days. To irreverent spectators a body of sedate and middleaged gentlemen, all armed with largo bows and arrows, parading in green and red uniforms, gauntlets, and bonnets adorned with eagles’ feathers, might perhaps appear ridiculous, but most peoplo will be thankful for the survival of anything that is picturesque in these colourless days. Every member of the company, whether he be a lieutenant-general or a private, wears a short sword as well as his bow and arrows. The King’s Bodyguard for Scotland was first constituted in its present form in 1676, since which year minutes have been regularly kept with the exception of a short period at the end of the seventeenth century. It must not be supposed that the Royal Archers cannot use their bows. They hold shooting matches every month, and during the King’s visit the “Musselburgh arrow” was shot for, the distance being 180yds.

The international stamp would not bo a difficult reform to introduce, since we have already international values for stamps, and it would be an inestimable boon. Stamps are very useful for small payments; and at present it is impossible for the casual correspondent abroad to “enclose stamped! envelope for reply.” There is no particular reason why each nation should flaunt its own King or its own President, or its own flag, on all the letters it despatches. And it. should not be difficult to bring the Postal Union into agreement upon a single brand of stamp, good all over the civilised world.

I was shut up in Hongkong for six weeks when it was quarantined against the whole world for bubonic plague. Whilst in Canton, Li Hung Chang gave me a breakfast in the great pagoda. I can never forget tKat breakfast, nor the diplomacy I had to exercise in my endeavours to escape some of the dishes he pressed upon me, and which it would have mortally offended him if I had not freely partaken of. I can remember my dismay when he offered me some boiled puppy-dog, and my absolute horror when he begged me to eat an egg, as black as ink, which, he assured me, was a hundred years old!—Extract from some scraps of autobiography by Mrs Brown-Potter.

A man and his wife went to a dance. They arrived so late that the dressingrooms were empty, but, as the wife was entering that set apart for ladies she noticed a tear in her husband’s coat, and, thinking she could easily mend it, led him into the ladies’ dressing-room. She found, however, she could not mend the rent unless he took the garment off, but just as the husband had disrobed footsteps were heard, and women’s voices. The husband, in a fright, looked round for an avenue of escape, but saw only one other door besides the one by which they had entered, and towards this the footsteps were coming. The wife was still more terror-stricken, and pushed him through the second doorway, turning the lock behind him. At the same instant two women came into the dressingroom, and discovered the wife standing there with the man’s coat in her hands. She attempted to explain, but her words were drowned by a ferocious pounding on the door through which her husband had gone. “Open the door! Open the door!” he shouted. “I can’t!” said the -wife; “there are two women here!” “Hang the women!” shouted the man; “I’m out here in the ballroom!”

The Germans are the originators of the souvenir post card. Nearly ten years ago there began to be printed in Berlin cards showing Unter den Linden, also the Opera House, the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great, the Brandenberg Gate and other architectural masterpieces of the Prussian capital. Then came views from along the Rhine — ißngen, with the memories of the Soldier of the Legion; Mainz and Cologne, with their famous cathedrals, and sketches Of unnamed but romantic looking ruins far up the vine-clad hills. The university towns were immortalized, too. It is estimated that the amount spent in Germany every month in buying souvenir cards reaches millions of marks. The postal authorities say the percentage of sealed letters to cards distributed throughout the empire is rapidly rising in favour of the latter, and that as a matter of fact little correspondence, apart from that relating to business matters, is now carried On by letter. Card collecting has had a very damaging effect upon the business of philately. Several large stamp collectors in Germany have suffered a 50 per cent, reduction in revenues, while smaller ones have either ceased operations entirely or substituted cards for stamps as articles of sale. Every German starting off on a long tour receives this parting admonishment, “Don’t fail to send me some post cards, and the traveller’s importance is likely to be measured by the number and novelty of the cards which he sends back.

A genius hailing from North London has been struck with a brilliant conception for ridding back gardens and outbouse roofs of philandering cats. It consists of nothing less than the invention

of a fearsome automaton tom-cat made up of a tin frame and covered with a fur coat. “Tom” is as black as the darkest night, with a stiff black tail standing up defiantly in the air, and a ghostly look in its sightless eyes, which, when roused to anger, send forth a light calcualted to make even Ulysses tremble. This baneful glare is produced by a four-volt electric battery stowed away in that portion of “Tom’s” anatomy generally occupied by the digestive organs. The general principle of construction, according to the “British Inventor,” is based upon powerful clockwork, released by a lever when the tail of the animal is moved. The clock works a pair of bellows, with two loud screeching reeds, at the same time forming contact to light the lamps in the eyes, and forcing outwards a dozen long needle points which come up through the skin of the back. The tail also acts as a trigger, and releases a hammer formed of the lower jaw of the cat, which explodes two percussion caps in the mouth. One night an experiment was made. The clockwork was wound up, and the beast placed in a back garden. In due course a ferocious tabby of loose character and with chips off its ears walked up to the stranger to give battle, while a dozen of his lady friends sat around to see the fun. In feline language, the tabby appears to have asked his lady friends not to crowd into the ring, and to watch closely while he prepared “Tom” for the undertakers. He began by walking up to a wall and sharpening his claws. Then he came back wagging all that was left of his tail in an aggressive and insulting manner, and took the measure of his silent enemy. Without the slightest provocation he flew at the automatic cat, removed a lump of loose hair from his back, and broke his tail in half. That ended the first round, but it was only the signal for the tin tom-cat to get into action. The tail exploded the percussion caps in the cat’s mouth with a sound resembling that of a 4.7; the electric eyes blazed out like Ladysmith searchlights, while heartrending shrieks rent the air from the bellows inside, and the needle points got their business ends into the tabby cat. Within a few seconds the garden was clear, and pale-faced pussies were tearing off through the quiet streets in search of home comforts. It was more than a month before they ventured to peep over the wall to' see if the “black.terror” was still in possession.

The Sultan of Johore bought a motor car in Sydney for use in Melbourne. “How shall I send it?” asked the shopman. “On the car,” said the Sultan. “But that would cost £25 more. The carriage by train is £35 and that by boat only £ 10.” “What of that ?” replied His Highness. “I shall have it a day sooner. Send it by car.” After this had been noted the Sultan continued, “I shall want a chauffeur. Can I have that man over there?” “Well, no,” replied the manager; “he is employed in our business.” “No matter, I want him. If you like to come into my service I will give you so much (naming a princely sum). “Your salary starts from this instant. Do you accept?” The chauffeur accepted. The Sultan is an only son. The only other child of the late Sultan was a daughter, who recently married an Eastern potentate and is now in England seeing the sights. When he came to the throne and enormous wealth His Highness set about getting together a large stud of horses. He sent an order to Sydney for racehorses and twentyfour unbroken ponies of polo height. He superintended the breaking in of these ponies in person, and trained them himself for the work ahead. They only cost £2O a head landed in Singapore. He selected a dozen of the best for his own riding, and the rest were given to his friends. Two went to an English army officer, a polo enthusiast, where, after the owner’s death in South Africa, they were sold for over £2OO apiece. At Johore His Highness lives unostentatiously in a villa near the palace of his ancestors, and he delegates the duties of entertaining at the palace to trusted counsellors. Society has no charms for him. He prefers a tiring jaunt in the jungle, sharing the rice and dried fish of his retainers to State or society functions.

To-day is the forty-third birthday of Mr J. M. Barrie, who, of all ethers, is the typically successfud English dramatist of the beginning of the twentieth century, says the " Daily Mail ” of May 9 th. “The Admirable Crichton” has

reached its 200th performance, and continues playing to large audiences, and “Quality Street” might quite well fill the Vaudeville for another year to come. Certainly Mr Barrie has caught his public. His success is interesting and of vast importance to the future of the English drama. To begin with, Mr Barrie is an accomplished writer, and his plays have a literary quality not to be found in the work of any of the successful playwrights of the last twenty-five years. Then he stands for the revolt against the eternal sex drama that has so largely engrossed the attention of Mr Pinero and Mr Henry Arthur Jones. In “The Wedding Guest” Mr Barrie, for a moment, turned his mind to what is called the “problem” play, but he soon returned to his true mood, and the two plays of his now being performed are a standing and most salutary example of the possibility of writing clever, interesting plays without the least tinge of the unpleasant. Added to his power of literary expression, and his clear, interesting, pleasantly sentimental view of life, Mr Barrie has a gift of dramatic construction which perhaps reaches its highest point in “The Admirable Crichton,” and he is altogether an interesting commentary on M. Sardou’s remark that the Englishman cannot write drama. Thirty years ago the late T. W. Robertson began a new era of play-writing in England; more recently Mr Pinero used his incomparable craftsmanship to Ibseniseour drama. Now Mr Barrie’s success will almost certainly mark the beginning of another development of the drama, the note of which will be the return to the normal English point of view. This development is an important step towards the goal of a really national drama, not imitative either of the French Sardou or the Norwegian Ibsen, but essentially English.

When a balloon passes over a forest it descends, and ballast must be thrown out to keep it up. This is explained by Professor Mouillefert of the French National Agricultural College of Grignon, as being due to the existence above every forest of a prism of cool, moist air, produced by the abundant transpiration of the trees, and extending to a height of from 3000 to 5000 feet above the treetops. Professor Mouillefert also says that while forests drain the soil underneath them, they keep the upper layer, to a depth of four or five inches, moist.

The Elocutionist is the latest subject chosen by Dorothy Dix in the amusing series of “Natural History” papers she is writing. According to her, the origin of the Elocutionist is not definitely known, but it is believed that the first one was discovered, cycles of ages ago, at a church sociable. It was found, says the legend, standing on a platform, wearing a white dress with blue ribbons, reciting “Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night” and “Lit-tle Ma-a-a-abel with Her Fa-a-a-ace Against the Window Pa-a-ane.” It will thus be seen that the Elocutionist has changed but little in the process of time, if this account of its origin be true. Naturalists have with one accord agreed that the Elocutionist was the finest example extant of the Bore family (genus yawpis). As is the case among many other kinds of animals, the female is much more ferocious than the male, being more persistent and less easily scared off. In this species it accompanies its vocal contortions by weird poses and wooden gestures, and is known specifically as genus feminis Delsartis. One of the chief dangers to be feared from the Elocutionnist arises from being unable to tell it at sight. In appearance, especially when young, it is so mild, pretty and gentle that no one could suspect that it carried a number of humorous and poetical selections concealed about its person. Thus innocent men and women are lured into taking it into their very homes and petting it, only to learn, alas! too late, that they have brought their doom upon themselves and thrust their cars, so to speak, into the lion’s mouth. Of the liabits of the Elocutionist little is known except that it is the most industrious known creature and always wants to be up and at it. Its chief diet appears to be “methods,” and it spends most of its time knocking its fellow Elocutionists. It is also believed that it cherishes a secret ambition to play Hamlet and Juliet, and believes that but for

parental intervention and the rapacity Of the Theatrical Trust it would be famous. Its chief peculiarity is its voice, which has a cracked ice tremble that induces a tired feeling in the listener. It is also extremely complaisant and willing to oblige the company by doing everything but keep quiet. Indeed, when once an Elocutionist gets going, one can never stop it until it gets through its repertoire. In this connection attention should be called to the fact that many people who cherish secret grudges against their friends use the Elocutionist as a

means of wreaking a deadly vengeance, in order to do this they take the Elocutionist while very young—when it is even more terrible than when older—and have it taught “Little Boy Blue,” and kindred pieces, which it recites when unsuspecting people drop in of an evening. Thus again are we called upon to marvel at the inhumanity of man to man.