HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 7, 19 August 1905, Page 18

HERE AND THERE.

At the Racecourse. Hr thought he'd l»<*t <*n Parlour Match; ll<* had a system hatched To win some money, hut he found That Parlour Match was scratched. Hr then selected (Solden Stream On which to make a bet, Bui (Solden Stream was very slow They say he’s running yer. » His next was Hustle;’ he believed The horse to be a “find”; But at the finish he, of course, Found Bustle was behind. Jle tried once more on Shoemaker; lie thought the* horse was “it,” But Shoemaker <*ame last, of course. That was enough; he quit. Coquelin's Motor Car. With all his tab nt, and all the anxieties involved in its constant exercise, M. Coqnelin possesses a remarkable amount of solid nerve power (remarks a London journal in a paragraph on the famous French actor). Years of hard bVain work, and the stress (ami sometimes the storm!) of stage life haw l done anything to him hut make him the victim of hysteria. His nerves to-day are in such splendid order that he can sleep in his motor-car! ('an reposefillness of spirit go further than that? When sleeping cars were first introduced on railways it was thought they would have to be withdrawn, because the traveller, although he had no objection to falling asleep in a sitting position, showed great reluctance in deliberately going to bed in a train tearing along at the rate of fifty or sixty miles an hour. lie felt somehow that he was giving himself no chance in the event of an accident. What would he have said if lie had been invited to retire to rest on a bed in a motor-car? This is what Poquelin does on long journeys, and he never feels the slightest anxiety. His magnificent “Limousine Pliante*’ has space behind it for two small beds ami a dressing-room. An American Estimate of Oxford. 'l'he “American Review of Reviews’’ publishes a most suggestive and interesting paper by Mr. Paul Nixon, Rhodes Scholar from Connecticut, who is entered at Balliol College. Mr. Nixon’s observations are necessarily the first impressions of a new-comer, but they are all the more interesting on that account. Mr. Nixon says: “If one were to form his conclusions concerning Oxford life from the observation of Oxonians during a single term, ami that the first, of “residence,” those conclusions would inevitably bp that wining, (lining, and athletics were the English undergraduate’s vocation, and his use of books and dons an heroically resisted avocation. To a certain degree this inference is correct. During term the Oxonians are remarkably gregarious animals. I should say that in college the average student does not work three-fourths as hard as th* average American collegian. The intrrm'nablp. breakfast and luncheon parties; the athletic games, in some one of which nearly every Englishman participates for two or three hours in the afternoon; the ensuing ‘teas,’ often protract id t'll. the seven o'clock bell summons hosts and guests to ‘dinner in the Hall:’ the hilarious evening ‘wines'—all these, in addition t > the ordinary informal on friends, consume a prodigious amount of time.” The balance is redressed by the fact that the Oxford student studies in vacation, whereas the American often has to work for his living. Mr. Nixon says: — “Roughly, the American’s woik-time. the college term, is the Englishman’s slightly interrupted playdime; but the American's play time, the vacation, is the Englishman's slightly interrupted work time. During his eight months or more of term, the average collegian in the United States may get in something likd six, seven, or right hours' study a day. including lectures and recital ions, which he must attend; during the vacations, he earns money, “kill's time”—does everything but “read," in the Oxford sense of

the word. The average Oxonian, not usually obliged to attend many lectures, having practically no recitations, and only three real examinations during his three, four.'or liv<* years’ course, spends his six months of term in cultivating the amenities of life, with only a two or three hours’ daily dab at the dusty tonics on l.is shelf. But during the long vacations, covering more than half the year, that Oxonian, free from financial care and surfeited with “slacking,” sows his seed for the harvest of knowledge. Eventually, then, throughout the year. English ami American collegians study approximately the same number of hours.” Mr. Nixon is much impressed by the tact that ’’the amount of information assimilated by American students is not to be compared with that of the brighter of our cousins. It is a fact that in general reading the more studious Oxonian has us at his mercy: in every form of classical scholarship except that of painstaking investigation of minute obscurities, a favourite pastime in Germany ami America, we are ‘down ami out.’ flu* ordinary’ American collegian, maybe, has heard of such names as Murillo ami Titian. He’s an exception if even the names come to his mind spontaneously. If he should bp asked whether they were sculptors or painters, he’d probably think it a ‘catch’ question, and answer, ’musicians.’ ” This comparative scantiness of general reading is due. Mr. Nixon thinks, to the fact that most English graduates come from homes where they have the run of good libraries, into which they are turned loose, while the American boy is set to work in the stable ami garden. Another cause is that, the American scholar is crammed with a little of nearly everything under the sun, and this smattering education ’also tells on classical work. No Cause for Alarm. There were several people in the shop when the stranger entered, ami so he addressed them at large. “Any of you.drive up here in a trap?” “Yes,” said Farmer Crabbe. “1 did. Why?” “An old gre.v horse in the trap?” “Yes; but ” “And an elderly lady on the seat?” “That’s right: but ” “1 suppose she can manage that old horse?” “Bather: I should just about think she could! Why’ she’s drove him since he was a two-year-old.” ’’Oh.” said the stranger, “then it’s all right. I merely' asked because the giey has started up the street like a scarified mad bullock, and the old lady’s hanging on to the back of the trap, screaming ‘Murder.’ Still, if she can manage him. of course, there’s no use getting excited over it- How’s the price of talers down your way?” Contentment. Give me a lawn that cools my feet. Close grown ami fresh ami soft and clean, A clump of trees to check the heat, A Hush of roses on the green: An ancient stream that flows thereby. With all its thousand smiles displayed; A hammock swinging not too high, Well hung within a magic shade; Three little maids with hair of gold. Whose* laughter scarce disturbs my dream; A jug of cider icy cold, A dish of strawberries and cream; And for a guardian of our ground. Well tried through many changing years, A fond and faithful little hound. With handy legs and spreading ears And let the world go ringing past: Let others range from shore to shore; These simple pleasures bind me fast; tJive >m* but these, I ask no more. ••Pnm-h.” Making; Marbles. Germany maintains a monopoly of making stone marbles, in spite of various efforts made to wre*t the trade away. In the marble and agate quarries there are

innumerable chips and bits of stone from the cutting of the large blocks -a*ul this refuse is broken into cubes about, the size of a marble.

All experienced worker produces these cubes of stone at. an incredible speed and with remarkable uniformity. When about a bushel are ready they are dropjied between a grooved bedstone and a revolving runner. Water is kept constantly supplied, ami in half an hour the stones are turned out perfect spheres. With abundant water power the <*o*t is slight, as a couple of men can keep a dozen stones supplied, and the raw material costs nothing at all. In other countries the cost of preparing the blanks eats up the profits amt competition with the German made product is impossible. <•<£«s> The Spirit of the Japanese Navy. The following letter received by a Japanese gentleman in London from a friend in command of- a first-class tor-pedo-boat in Admiral 'Togo's fleet, .is typical of the wonderful spirit which animates the Japanese navy: — Dear (), —A thousand apologies for my lengthy silence. We have been and are still busy, busy preparing a royal reception for the guest,s from the Baltic. When we of Suiraidau (Torpedo Corps) meet ashore, we discuss and often wonder if after all the Russians will come or will they fail us. Do they know that we are ready ? To northwest lies the harbour of Masampho, to south that of Sasebo, while Moji is on our east, and here we arc waiting, waiting, and waiting for the enemy. Will he never come? If you do not hear from me when a meeting has taken place, take this as my farewell. 1 do not expect to see you again in this life, except perhaps in your dreams. When my boat goea.down, -I shall go too and a Russian ship with us. ■ 1 It takes her weight in shells to sink a torpedo-bodt—it’s' marvellous how they, the shells, do not hit. I have seen not one, but many torpedo actions, and I know. With six compartments in the boat we ought to be able Io close in within 20 yards of the target before she is sunk. If we hit, we shall go down with the Russians; if we are hit the Russians shall come with us. for the last man alive will steer the spare torpedo in the water. What is life but a dream of summer's night T (’an one choose more glorious an exit than to die'lighting for one's own country and for the Emperor who is a ruler and leader to the nation's heart? Does not many a worthy man eml his life’s chapter obscure for want of opportunity? Then let us uphold the h’onour and the duty of being Japanese. By going down with them we shall, in a measure, pay the debt we owe for the slaughter of these potr innocent peasants. 'They 100 are fighting for their country, so shall Bushi honour Bushi. There are more torpedo-boats and torpedo-boat destroyers than the number of ships in the whole fleet of Admiral Rozhdestvensky. ami if each of them destroys or disables one of the enemy's vessels, it ought to do. Father Togo, now grey-haired. walks quietly to and fro on the bridge of the Mikasa, and keps silence, so all will go well. Do you remember the story when he went up to Tokio for the first time since the commencement of this war? Some public school boys were determined to unharness the horses off his carriage, at the instigation of the Asahi. I believe, ami themselves draw it up to the gate of the Imperial Palace. Well, Father Togo, got wind of this, ami so he sent his chief-of-staff in the carriage, while he was seen, but not recognised. to be quietly walking towards Nijubashi, with his little daughter’s hand in his. Will he play another trick upon the poor unsuspecting Russians when they come? I bid you again farewell. Work, work, and work, for the coming Japan depends on you young fellows. 1 remain your ever humble brother, T.N. The Trend of Invention. ’The classification of sealed patents at the Patent Office rendered necessary by the Act which came into operation on January I last has shown that the inventiveness of the human mind can be classified in 14G sections (remarks * London journal).

Cooking, it appears, has brought forth in forty-eight years 3575 patented inventions, an average of 'seventy-three every year. Umbrellas have been the subject of 1457 inventions, or an average of thirty per annum. Hats run umbrellas very close with 1411 specifications since 1855. Invention runs in periodic grooves. Thus 189(1 and 18117 reflected the enormous development in cycles. Now the motor vehicle industry is engaging many' ingenious minds. So marked is the development of this industry that the total number of British inventions in this department has doubled since 1900. For half a century the uppermost problem, as indicated by the trend of invention, hits been that of locomotion. That inventiveness is on the increase is evidenced by the fact that last year 15.089 patents were sealed. Ten years ago the number was less than 12,000, ami in 1884 the total only reached 3721. How Mr. Gladstone Became an Anglican. Sir Edward Russell, in a paper in the “Sunday Magazine.” on the religious life of Liverpool, tells this story about Archdeaeon Jones, who lived to be well on to a hundred years old: “Mr. Gladstone’s father, who had been a substantial and actin? Presbyterian,- became inclined to go over to the Church of England, lie was dissuaded, or. at all events, deterred, by the disinclination of his wife. It. was in the rather dead time before McNiele, and Mrs. Gladstone did not find tin? Church of England preaching good enough. Her husband, who usually' liked his own way. took her to hear all sorts of clergymen in vain. At last lie cante to know of Mr.' Jones in some other town. The good pair made a journey to hear him pr.eaeli. They admired him greatly, and the husband proposed to the wife that he should build a church for Mr. Jones, and that they should attend it. The conjugal bargain was struck; and that was how it was that the great Mr. Gladstone was brought up in the Church of-England. He was born a Presbyterian, and was six years old when his father passed from the Scotch to the English Establishment—and brought his wife with him.” laugh and Grow Fat. If it were generally understood how salutary the .act .of laughing is to the bodily health, there might be more laughter than lamentation in the world, and farcical comedies prove more attractive to.Jhe invalid than physicians. ’I he old adage. “Laugh and grow fat.” is founded on a sound physiological basis. It is commonly observed that fat men laugh with considerable facility. But they do not laugh because they are fat. 'They are fat because they laugh, the act of ca-chinnation having a profound influence in promoting appetite, oxidation of the blood, digestion-—in-deed. the entire and complex process of nutrition. Good nourishment produces the contented body, the lit.tern pie of the contented mind, which is. we know on excellent authority, a perpetual feast. 'The immediate physical results of indulgence in laughter are 'numerous. In the first place, the act of laughing involves ihe exercise of a large number of muscles, including many of those in ihe face, neck, chest ami abdomen, which, if they are exercised sufficiently, often become correspondingly well developed. as do also all those glands, blood-vessels, nerves and other tissues in intimate connection with them. 'lhe facial muscles, for example, of the in’an who laughs often and easily are generally developed to a degree which gives him the facial rotundity of a contented child. But laughter accomplishes much more than ihe production of this mere outward appearance of well-being. It has a highly beneficial influence on those two vital organs, the heart and the lungs. During what is called a “lit” of laughter the lungs may be almost completely emptied of their contained air. Fresh air is then drawn in io the fullest extent of their capacity, inflating, perhaps. those little used air cells which contained previously only stagnant air and bacilli—for in the shallow breathing we ordinary practice comparatively large tracts of air cells are not used. During this process the general circulation is aeelerated. impure air is hurried out of the system, and fresh air hurried in. With the leviable ascent and de-

scent of the diaphragm during inspiration and expiration, the liver and other abdominal organs undergo a kind of kneading, not unlike that undergone during massage, and which is of great benefit in rousing them from that tor|x>r to which they are liable. The heart is also stimulated to more vigorous contraction during the active eachinnatory process. Persons who, so to speak, let themselves go. and laugh with a will, sometimes bring almost all t he principal mukeles of Their body into play, twisting, turning, and bending themselves almost double in sheer muscular exhilaration. “Low spirits,” or what is popularly termed “a tit of the blue.” is a mental state often caused by a poisoning of the nervous system with one of those curious toxins which the body occasionally elaborates from the food supplied to it. and which perhaps a sluggish liver (whose duty it is to guard the portals of the system and prevent the entrance of hurtful matters from the alimentary canal) has allowed to pass unchallenged. Laughter alone has been known to dissipate this kind of mental depression- by mechanically rousing the system, increasing the rate of oxidation of the blood, indirectly stimulating the organs by which such poisons: are eliminated. ami by its beneficial action on the liver arresting the absorption into the system of any more poisons. To do this, of course, tlie laughter must be hearty and prolonged —of that kind evoked by the well-play-ed farcical comedy. The Art of Observation. “This Sherlock ’Dimes business is gettin’ too thick for me,” said Bilker tlie Bookie wearily. “Why. what’s wrong?" asked the gentleman with the wall eye. “Hevery thing.” said Bilker. “1 m cleaned out, and all by a bloke as looked as if he didn’t know' a ’orse from a 'ay-stack. I took two quid to 50 from him about Threelegs for the 3.30. Well. Threelegs won. and presently up comes this green for 'is 50. “•you've come to the wrong shop,’ I says, fellin’ the old tale. ‘You must have put it on with ihe chap what was here just before me.’ " 'Nothink ,of . .t he sort. , says e. •‘You’re.my man all, right, even if your ’at 'as changed colour, and you ve.found another eoat. and your eyelashes ’as grown, amt your moustache turns up instead of down, and you've lost three inches of your right shoulder, and —” “But I see ’e was .too thick for me. an’ ’e’ ’ad a fist like a pavement stone, so I 'ande<l over. “ ■ ’Gw did you know me?’. I asks 'im. , ‘“Two buttons oil' the right boot, ■savs ’e. chucklin': ’change your bools Hex’ time.’ Bint Sherlock Dimes, 1 Daffodils. O gay and golden da ft mills! Fair nurslings of the spring. While whispering of her gentle days, How pure a breath ye bring! The praises of your loveliness My raptured soul doth sing. So fresh your deep ami dainty cups Beneath green budding trees. Earth never grew a lovelier host To flutter in the breeze Than this fair crowd that dance and smile Among tail, crispy leaves. My spirit drinketh in your joy, Mv happy heart receives A childlike feeling of delight. As. with your yellow leaves, A memory of life’s fair spring So mystically weaves. The peaceful air is tilled with song. As in the long ago: A vision breaks upon my sight. Dear faces come ami go The loved erewhile forgotten ones Of friends I used to know. O fair ami fragrant daffodils! Around my dwelling stay! I miss you when fleet summer wanes To autumn’s fading day: But most when winter s skies are low. 1 miss your golden ray. The Admirable Ad. The solemn man stopped outside ihe clothiers’ shop, and gazed earnestly at the smiling proprietor. “Good idea, isn’t it?’’ said the latter. “Very good, indeed,” said the solemn man. And he glanced once inure at the three

pairs of trousers which were hanging over the floor, labelled respectively. “Admission ten shillings, twelve shillings, and fifteen shillings.’’ “See,” said the dealer, “you can’t get in without paying the price—ha. ha! My own idea: entirely original. If there’s anything I believe in it’s wit in an advert. Admission fifteen shillings—ha. ha! I thought it would attract attention.” The solemn man lookup again at the garments. “You haven't any reserved seats, have you?” he asked inquiringly. Th? smile failed from the dealer's face, and he took down the tickets and groaned. For this world is hard, indeed, on humorists. How Microscopic Sections Are Cut. ‘•How does a microscopist cut a slice so even and so thin that when it rests on the centre of a little glass slip, three inches by one. it. is to all intents ami purposes transparent?” Mr. Wiltred Webb, F.L.S.. tells us. in an article in ‘•The World’s Work.” “He takes a suitable piece of material, which has l>een hardened by long keeping in strong methylated alcohol, ami embeds it in the centre of a plug cut from a carrot, and split into two for Ihe purpose. This carrot plug is made to tit into a pit in a solid but simple brass instrument, and bv a verv line screw the carrot and the material can be raised to an indefinitely short distance above the edge of the pit. A dexterous cut from a section knife, fashioned in the farm of a large hollow-ground razor, and lubricated with spirit and water, removes a thin slice. The screw is turned slightly, more or less according to the thickness of the sections required, and ihe process can be repeated time after time. “Sometimes the material is too thin or delicate to be cut in carrot, and it mav be necessary to embed it in some substance, like colloidin. which can be hardened round it, cut with it. ami dissolved away from the section when this has been made. Colloid in may be aLo used to keep certain parts in their relative positions before ami after they are cut. Certain structures may be cut, between the fingers with or without the help of carrot or elder pith. ‘•’lhe cutting of animal tissues is not quite such a simple matter as that of slicing up stems and roots, for muscle and connective tissue are more refractory under the knife. A’ general way is to freeze the pieces of tissue on a special microtome by means ot an ether spray which solidifies a solution of gum placed round the object. Another way is’ to embed the material in melted pa ratlin wax, and if the small resulting block is placed in one of the main automatic microtomes, the edges of the para Ilin round each section adhere to those of the one in front and behind, so that a long ribbon is formed, in which the sections are arranged in their proper order. “The cutting of hard substances, such as rocks anil the fossils contained in them, is difficult ; hut slices often less than the two-thousandth part of an inch in thickness can he made. In this case the cutting instrument is a thin revolving disc of soft iron, used with diamond dust, which, becoming embedded in the metal edge, enables the disc to cut its wav through the hardest substance.” The Crime of Idleness. Is it possible Io reconstruct society on a scientific basis? This was the portentous quest ion discussed by Sir Oliver Lodge recently in his presidential address io the members of the Social and Political balneation League of I niversity Col lege. The custom of allowing absolute ownership of land. h<* held, was responsible for many social evils, and to him it was a most extraordinary and amazing thing that any man had ihe right to sell a piece of England. The law of inheritance would also have to be considered. The idea that people might live without working, ami yet without disgrace, was responsible tor much incompetence and some misery. “All should have leisure, but none should he completely idle, save on pain of starvation or the disciplinary drill of prison.” From mere generalising. Sir Oliver passed to specific constructive reform, and expressed ihe opinion that ihe workhoijses and gaols should become manufactories for human beings.

“Paupeis.’’ slid Nil Oliver, ‘\ihid l»u .show ii how |<» live. how to work, how to develop their fiicullir-*. •’At present the pour rate i-> a m »ckery,” he continued. “It does no' help people till they arc quite down ami lies litute. and then it tries to degrade them. “If we could but feel u—aired th.it our contributions went to making happier and healthier and more hopeful the pour folk, who have drifted into a condition of idleness as bad and ii’»eless as that of some specimens of our 'oiling gilded youth, tlie‘ occupants of th* front row of ■stalls at certain theatres, we should be more satisfied.” With regard to the criminal, continued Nir Oliver Lodge, we were working on absolutely wrong lines. We were seeking to punish and nut to educate, stimulate and reform. ’’lhe government of gaols,” said the lecturer with refreshing candour, “is a convenient form of pension for officers retired from active service, and a severe military form of discipline we appear to hope may be the right thing. This is a thoroughly bad and incompetent, system of administration from th.* point of getting any protit able result.” The Grand Passion. If 1 could Mary .Tune, olio! I’<l feel so Auna-ma toil; Because she Isa bed. I know'. Who can’t be dupli-Kate-cd If Famiy-thiug’s a puzzle, quite, ’Tis woman. Tittle tries tier. There's naught to Adn lovelorn wight Who seeks to Aim Eliza. He simply must a-Dora ami Have Faith ami Hope ami. therefore. While he can Sue for tier fair hand. Naught Elsie seems to care for. If Phoebe brave, a lover May Quite Winnie girl nor the her By telling Hulda Jong, they .say. How much, he does ad-Myra. He’ll keep their friendship* Evi gtee 1 * From Ruth-less airs ami frigid. Nor Letta chasm intervene. For he’d propose Bridget. Possessing Prudence he’ll be slow — Devoid of Grace though she be— To Adalim* of grief, for. oh! Without her where would llebe T Fromßrowning's Pen. An English periodical, “(.oimtrv d.ild.” contains a hitlauto unpublished poem by Robert Browning. Ihe first fourteen lines of it. v w'i!h the 'tit le ”A Forest Thought,” and the poet’s signature, with the date. November 4. 1837, are icpro duced in facsimile. This writing negn lives the idea that Browning by hardpolishing upon his MSN., plunged int<» obscurity through the ctl’ort to get His whole thought into his lines. I'roni the note prefaced to the poem it seems (hht Browning had been with some friends to the christening of their son. Ou liis return from tin* church to t.hp house be went into a room by himself, and after a very short absence returned with the poem, fifty-two line 3 in all. complete. The facsimile shows not a single correction. In this short poem tin* thought that seized Browning whs to liken human birth ami growth to that of the fn trees “in far Esthonkin solitudes.” He pictures how the parent trees grow up anil lose their youthful beauty: “But ,’usl when beauty passes away. Ami you half regret it »ould not slay. For all their sap amt vigorous life Fmler the shade, secured from strife, A seedling springs tin* forest true In miniature, and again we sec The delicate I'-aves that will fade on» day. The fan likr shoots that will droop away, The taper stem a breath could strain Which shall one day foil the hurricane: We turn from this infant of the copse To t hi* parent firs, in the waving tops. To find some trace of the light green tuft A breath eonld stir, in the boh* aloft. Column like set against the sk\. 'lhe spire that flourished airily. Ami the marten bent us she rustled by ”