GIFTS TO THE FAIR.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 October 1904, Page 61

GIFTS TO THE FAIR.

The Government of France have done a pretty thing in presenting 1 to Miss Alice Roosevelt a unique watch. The latter was one of their exhibits at the famous Exposition of St. Louis. It is a tiny watch, made in the form of a lantern, set with diamonds, and with a dial not as large as a sixpence. The whole thing- is no larger than the end of a man's forefinger. It is a tiny bull'seye lantern, with a tiny golden thread for handle, the top a cluster >of diamonds, and where the lantern •handle is attached at each side is a

tiny diamond. At the back of the bull's-eye, a plain gold -slide hides the works. No less than ten beautifully designed time-pieces were •shown by the French Commissioner to Miss Roosevelt, who thought it was only courtesy. Imagine her surprise, upon indicating' the bull'seye as the most worthy of enthusiastic admiration, to have it presented her as a souvenir !

Among" other dainty things was a watch designed to form the setting <of a ring, and another which, when placed upon a sixpence, left still much room round its edge. And this masterpiece of tininess strikes the hours !

moiselle Madeleine Coche, who has spent years exploring' the unknown parts *of New Zealand, is, so says the Paris " Figaro," to read a paper on her travels before the French Geographical Society. I always think it a pity that this is the kind of thing- which we leave for tourists and other-landers to do for us. So few of our own girls take any intelligent interest in our

natural history ! Perhaps some of them even think we have none ! But we have, and a very curious, and indeed in many respects unique one it is.