GENERAL NEWS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1912, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

A RJiMARKABLE NEWSPAPER. Dr. Jose Paz, the millionaire, who died at Monte Carlo, was the founder of one of tho most reinarkablo newspapers in the world—Lo Prensa, of Buenos Aires—which appeared as a modest newspaper of four pages in 1805. Xow, it nppears with some forty to fifty pages daily, and its advertisements are reputed to briny in £-180,000 a year. It is published in palatial ofiices which cost £400,000, and in which a number of luxuries have been installed for the use of subscribers; such as a free dis- [ pentsary, bureau of aid for the indigent, and the like. Dr. Paz, who was (34 years old, leaves a fortune of £4,000,000. The offices of the paper Hire surmounted hy a gold angel, which catches the sun's rays by day and flaunts an electric an electric torch over the city by night. Below the angel is a searchlight on a Bteam siren. 'Hie siren is used to rouse the city if important news comes when it is asleep, and, although there is a heavy fine when the siren disturbs the peace, tho advertisement thus obtained is thought to be worth the money. The Prenfia offices contain, among other unusual things, an imposing entertainment hall, whore lectures and receptions are held, and a sumptuous .suite of npartments for distinguished visitors to tho city, in which Kir Robert Haden-Powell and M. Clcnu'nccau lately stayed. It provides also a doctor, a lawyer, and a. library for the free use of the public. The staff of tho paper have a gymnasium and a restaurant of' their own, and do their work sit mahogany tables in rooms with highly polished floors, and oil paintings on the walls.

MAGIC AIM , "THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS." Thousands of pounds have heen secured from thousands of willing victims by a Chicago banker and j broker named Pukausky, who has j been arrested charged with pra-ctis-ing Horcery, and of posing as "Grand Vizier of the Prince of Darkness." Charmed money, magic coin niach- | ines, flutes which played by themselves, were said to have Tjoen part of his stock-in-trade. His wife posod as "Mary Pupa, tho greatest witch in the world. . An account of the schemes worked by Pupausky and his wife seems like a humorous parody of the "Arabian Nights." One of the episodes is related by the 1 Government investigation:— A cer- . tain poor man, wishing to get rich quick, visited the "Grand Vizier of the Prince of Darkness." "Your case is pitiful," the wizard said, "but fortunately I have received from Uaglidad j'ist tho thing to do you good," and lie held up to the light a small vial. "This," ho said, "ie the oil of invisibility. To-night at tlio moment when the moon stands in the middle of the sky, roro the oil into the skin of your face three times, each time repeating the magic words which" I shall reveal to you when you pay me £10." The man paid the £10 and departed. That night he rubbed the oil into his face, repeated the magic words, and went to sleep. In the morning, believing the oil had made him invisible, the man ran into a> near by publichouKe and started to open the cash register. "What are yon doing there?" shouted the publican. "Can you see me?" asked the man in greaf surprise. "Sure I can see you. Get out of.here, , responded the publica*. He seized the man. Relieving him to be half-witted, and ran him into the street, administering a shower of kicks. The sorcerer explained to him he must have pronounced the magic words with the wrong accent.