FACTS AND FANCIES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 661, 23 August 1921, Page 8

FACTS AND FANCIES.

Inhere Dusi'Dum is. One wonders How many people knO'W that Dum-Dum is the name of a towa of importance. The town lias been described as tire Woolwich of India, and was for lons - the headquarters of the Bengal Artillery. It was at Dum-Dum that 1757 the treaty was signed by which Nawab of Bengal ratified the privileges of the English and allowed' Calcutta to be fortified. English Signs Seen at Tokio. 1. Shirts, Tailed and Retailed. 2. (Seen over barber shop): “Barbarous Shop-Customers promptly executed.” 3. (Over a place where clothes are renovated) : “Returning and all amendment to woollen cloth.” A similar sign which we pass every day on our way to school is, “Wash and all amendment.” , 4. (Over a guide’s establishment) i “Easily to mostly scene famous place.” 5. (Over a jeweller's): “The watch reparative special.” 6. (Over a place where eggs are sold): “Extract of fowl sold here.” 7. (Over another glairy):' “There i* no diagonisis of our cow to be blamed. - There is ample recreation for the cows. In some dairy’s there is not so much as to swing the tail.” 8. (Over a special delivery place): “If you leave vour parcels with us wa jnll send them in every direction.” Seven Wenders of M&dern World. The question as to what constitutes (die seven wonders of the modern world has been discussed by European publications. A daily newspaper of Berlin submitted the question to its teadeia and received 150,000 replies. JThe lesult of this poll, with the relative im.portance of the different achievements indicated,by the numbers, is as follows: 1, wireless; 2, the Panama Canal; 3, the dirigible balloon; 4, the aeroplane; 5, radium; 6, motion pictures; 7, the ship Imperator. A similar vote taken hy a daily newspaper in Paris gave the following- result: 1, the aeroplane; 2, wireless; 3, radium; 4, the locomotive; 5, the grafting of human bone and organs; 6, .diphtheria serum; 7, the electric dynamo. Neither of these polls was international in scope. In [ the international poll taken by the j “Popular Mechanics Magazine”, the modern wonders selected were: 1, wii e- • less ;2, the telephone; 3, the aero- ! plane; 4, radium; o, antiseptics and antitoxins; 6, spectrum analysis; i, the X-ray. Wireless, radium, and the aeroplane are included in all the groups.

penguin Greohcs. Dr. Levick has made a fine study of the A delie penguins, and gives one much food for fdiectioru Iwo facts stand out among many. I he-first is -the custom of forming ''creches for the chicks whan these reach a certain age, in this way. When the chicks are young they are easily led by one parent at a time. Then the her. .sits and the cock goes down to the sea to fill his crop with Euphausid,Crustaceans. He returns,.and the chicks are fed. Af- ! tc-r some fussing the hen . surrenders i the task of incubation to her—Jriate, I and goes down to the sea; and so it I goes on in .regular 'alternation.. But as I the chicks-grow bigger, they require I more food/and the turnabout method lof collecting tins is inadt quatc. So the | parents “pool” their clucks, and ! form “creches’' which are »» | der the charge of a few old ! birds inclined to 'pedagogics. Inc | young are educated a bit, and pre- | tectcd from the intrusive skuas and i the "hooligan” males, who are even | worse. Tire other exhibition of sociali j t y that gives one pause is a kind of | “drilling'” which was seen only once, i The penguins assembled in bands* j thousands strong, and exnibitcd- re- ! | markable orderly movements, just like : * soldiers ;tt drill* * Lt. Levick. suggests ; | that-this may co:respond to the ‘‘mass--1 j ing” of birds like starlings beloie tins I S autumnal rniglotion.

Omens or Success. • Some of the omens of luck popularly believed to make a curious study when marshalled together If the palm of your right hand itches you arc about to receive money—- “ Rub it o:i wood, "Sure to come good.” To put on a garment accidentally inside out foretells good fortune about to befall you; but the' garment must not be put right. To sec the new moon for the first time over your right shoulder means good luck, especially if silver coins are turned over in the hand and a wish made before speaking aloud. On awakening on the morning- of the first day -of the month it is lucky to exclaim “Rabbit.” Spiders found on the clothing indicate high good fortune. To put your right foot first out of bed is lucky; black cats bring luck to a house, and to find an old horseshoe is lucky. If your right ear tingles, good luck is on the way; so it is when the right eyes itches. It is lucky to stumble going upstairs, and a wish made when you see a piebald horse or shooting stars is said to come true. When wearing new boots, if someone treads updn your foot it brings good luck. To see a very bright glow in .the candle flame means a letter bringing happiness:- If the glow falls from the trick, the letter is to arrive aluroat im* mediately.