ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 806, 2 May 1910, Page 4

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

Gambling System, A \tell-known English artist, who had extraordinary luck last season, has returned to lloiiito Carlo, says the "Bystander." He employs a man to take the numbers for a wuple of hours, then goes into the rooms himself and backs those numbers that have appeared the most frequently. This sounds a dangerous "system," but it certainly proved most profitable last year. A Showman's Offer. The money-making value of Mr. Roosevelt is indicated by a remarkable offer which lie has received from tho winter quarters of Buffalo Bill and Barnum and Bailey. A showman resident there named Atlas wrote to tho ex-President suggesting that he should head a Wild West showto be named-"Atlas's Amazing Aggregation of Roosevelt Rough-riders." Tho engagement was to be for thirty week's at tho astounding salary of X2OOO a weektotal, «£G0,000!

Taft the Specchmakcr. President Taft; who'signalised the completion of his first twelve months as President, of the United States by entertaining friends at the White House-, has delivered 318 speeches during tho twelve months—lo6 more than were made by President Roosovelt in his last year of office. He has, furthermore, travelled 20,638 miles by rail and by automobile.. He has served more time in a Pullman berth than any President. "The Order of the Shell."

Employees of the Krupp works can easily bo distinguished, even when, attired in their Sunday best. Every workman oil his enrolment is presented With a curiously-fashioned scarfpin, composed of a miniature artillery shell, made of platinum and set in silver. Aftor twenty years'" service he receives a second pin, modelled on the same lines a"nd mounted ill gold. The higher grades of employees, including the engineers and those employed in tho counting-house, jyear their shells in tho form of sleeve links. The workmen are very pl-oUd of this distinction, which tlity call the Order of the Shell, and wear on every possible occasion. Firing Big Guns. When tlio big guns ou a battleship are fired, tho crew plug their ears with cottoil wool and meet tho shock on tiptoe and with open mouths. If they did not

plug their ears, open their mouths, and ytawl lightly on their toes, the shock would havo a disastrous effect. "When the big guns roar and the quicknrers rattle, the great bultleskip from keel to top, and this vibration raises a milky, spurab on. the sea for many yards around. Volcanoes of water and foam rise near the targets, where the half-ton projectiles vanish. The height of the,volcanoes is 173 feet. They linger a lonj time in the air beforo collapsing thunderously. A seven-inch shell heaves up a waterspout 102 feet in height.

Bloodless Buil-fighting. The Duke of Orleans will take part in a bull-fight, which will be held at Seville in tho near future in the cause of charity. He will ride a superb colt, which belongs to Don Antonio Muira, and which has been trained to face tho

most savace bulls. It is bolicved that the Due do Montpensier will also take part in tlio fight: It is suggested that the Princes Kcniero and Genaro would also liko to participate, but- so many distinguished youiig Sovillians aro anxious to enter tho ring that it' will bo necessary to eliminate some of them. Tlio performance will be merely a display of horsemanship in avoiding" the rushes of tho infuriated- animals, which aro niit killed, as in an ordinary bullfight. '.. . 1

President Taft as a Dancer. ■ President Taft gave, an impromptu exhibition of his dancing, powers in tho White 'House at a dinner, in honour of tho Speaker, "Undo Joe" Cannon. The company, about 50 of tho fashionables of Washington, had adjourned to tho "East Room," and Mr, Cannon began to chaff Mr. Taft about his dancing exploits.. The President replied goodhumouredly, and suggested that at" any rate he had'done more in this line than

"Undo - .Toe." Tho Speaker , promptly volunteered t to danco a Highland fling, which he did, amidst the applause of everyone, including Mr Taft. Challenged to beat this, the President replied with a negro jig, whioli was equally successful and appreciated by thoso present, and tho evening ended in much merriment. '

3000 Francs in an Old Book. The "Book l Monthly" for March tells tho story of a little discovery in Paris. It happened beforo tho floods canio. A wandering book buyer decided to give a couplo of francs for \an old volume which he happened upon in one of tho collections along tho banks of the Seine. He turned over its pages in the ovening at homo, and found two which wero purposely stuck together. He opened them carefully with a knife, and inside three bank-notes of a thousand francs oach. Also this message"Friend, whoever thou art, thou has read this book to tho end; bo legatee, without remorse, of this little; fortune. It is all my pen has brought me in fifty years. May tho Muses bo more favourable to thee, for thou art suraly a man of lottors." Then camo tho initials "H. Z.," tho date January 10, JB-IS, and the number of a street in, Paris. . Post Mortem Sarcasm, Subtloty of sarcasm Was shown in a will proved in 1830, wherein a wife was left ,£. r >ofl, but was only to enjoy it- after her death in order that "she may'be buried suitably as my widow." For elaborate sarcasm, however, says tho "Globe," tho palm must bo awarded to the will of an American miser which was proved in 1888._ After a preamble sotting forth t'he way in which his relatives,'who had formerly shunned him, visited him when thoy found he was about to die, and expressed a wish for some trinket as a remembrance of their beloved relation, tho testator went on to bequeath to brothers and nephews and nieces and cousins various parts of his anatomy. To one he left his right hand and arm, to another his left hand and arm, to others respectively his ears, nose, gums, legs,, and so on. A codicil dated two days later than the original -will kindly remembered a sister-in-law by tho bequest of his liver. To complete tho grim humour of the thing, he loft a doctor one thousand dollars for tho purposo of dissecting his body, while tho rest of the estate went to public charities.