NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1922, Page 3

NEWS BY MAIL.

' CUT'OFF ON MOUNTAIN, i PARIS, May 16. , For two months two astronomers and their assistants in the observatory at the summit of the Pic du Midi, in the i French Pyrenees, have lieen cut off from the rest of the world. | During the winter and spring the I servatory is often isolated for months ! by the weather ami the constant avalanches which sweep the pathway dei scowling from the summit of the mountain. The astronomers then communicate with the town of Bugneres-de-Bi-gorre, by means of a telephone. Two months ago, however, this broke down, and tbe first news of the observatory was obtained two days ago, when three guides made a perilous ascent to the top of the Pie du Midi carrying letters ami fresh food. The observatory is always provisioned; so as to be able to stand long [K'riods of isolation. The weather is not sufficiently fine for the repair of the telephone wires, and the astronomers will now have to endure another period of seclusion.

EX-SOLDI ICR’S WOOING. NEW YORK, May 16 A young British ex-Serviec man and amateur wrestler. Alee Robertson, a native of Liverpool, told the New A oi k grand jury that be was kidnapped an 1 made to promise to leave tile country because lie wanted to marry the 23 years-old daughter of Senator Culberson, of Texas. The ease follows by only a few weektliat of a Swiss butler, August Probsl whilst' allegations of a similar kind against tbe parents of a (Tovohiml heiress are still under investigation.

Robertson, who is employed at a garage at Syracuse, came to the United States in October 101!) after his discharge from the Army as unfit. Me alleges that be was taken from his aunt’s house in New Jersey at night hv a party of men employed bv a detective agency.

• Kidnapping, lie states. followed a stormy interview be had with Senator Culberson’s secretary and tbe receipt of a warning letter from Miss CilHierson. Because of the men’s threats that he would be "railroaded” to gaol, be alleges he agreed to go to Buenos Ayres. In the meantime the aunt appealed to lhe British authorities, whereupon the captors, he says, received instructions to liberate him.

From a desire not to embarrass Miss Culberson, lie did not proceed against them, but when, some time after, they again attempted to get in touch with him he set a trap and bad them arrested. 1022 SUNSHINE GIRL. LONDON, .May 17. Time was when 1 thought the ‘‘summer girl. merely n pretty fantasy evolved by the wits of jouriinlisls. that she hail no more tangible existence than on tin- outside ot magazine covers and the inside of fashion papers. This was in the dreary years ol wet Mays and rainy .lines, with which we have SO eflcn In ell afflicted iu this count rv Bui no)' in ibis inn lit e-iG" .uinnter of 1022 I am cm I, anted to iv old that I 1,.-,., sent the ’eat ‘' "iiiiiiiicr giil” a' last. She floated down Piccadilly with a smile that suggested she had bought London. Her frock was frivolously; Hiu'sv. the (berry-red of her parasol rivalled the perfection of her lips. Ln-j fortunately, before I bad time to notice the precise length of her skirt, to determine whether tbe ‘‘summer girl” of 1022 is on tile "long” or the "short’ side, a policeman asked me to move on, as 1 was obstructing the traffic. AMARYLLIS AND HER SISTERS. This was distracting, as I was just turning over in my mind the opening lines of a sonnet to the hmg-looked-for sunmier gill who had at last appeared to brighten London. The name ol the charmer 1 saw must Lave been Amaiyl|j ;l|,,‘igh ,n ,rc::> !<' Hindi's perhaps it was Chine. She would have ' c“n net feet ion in !l punt on i lie river: tn s’*” her-stmt yoiu thoughts living far from the “caliin’d, (ribbed, confined” space ol your office straight to the lawns of Phyllis Court.

Amaryllis was not tbe only perlect summer girl I met : I passed her sisters, d zeiis of them, cadi one more charming than the last, as I wandered down the crowded streets.

On tb ■ whole lit v seemed, these gay enchantresses, to favour the short shirt as against the long, possibly because 11)22 is nmductivc 'of some remarkably neat tiling- in silk stockings —or is it that from a severely practical point of view the short spirt is cooler." GIRL DANCER’S BLUSHES. XKAY YORK. May 17. Immigration officials at Ellis Island, who have so often suffered eundeliiuntion un account oi the tactics they are alleg'd to pursue towards helnloss aliens wins have had the misfortune to

cniue under suspicion, v.ore \e-terday revealed as men of line feeling and mos: delicate disciimination.

T""i special boar I sitting to consider

cases of aliens refuse ! admission fur various causes had to deal with flue of Miss Mildred Collin, the IS-y.ars-old Belgian dancer w''o arrived in the Dutch liner Riiudatn iu company with the Dutch banker M. Tvixoirn do Matins. Tbe admission bv M. Matins tivt lie had paid Miss Collin's tare ami the fact that the travellers bad iiceupcd adjoining state-rooms in the ship caused them to lie out back for quest inning, in spite of M. Mattos’s protest that lie is a friend of the girl’s parents, who were quite aware that lie was escorting her tn ' lie I'ni'cd states.

M ss Collin appeared alnne Itebirc tlu* l onrd and answered the necessarily embarrassing questions with a demeanour which had alt immediate off'ccl. V. * " same time she produced a cablegram she had received from her ini her in Holland confirming the statement of Al. Matins regarding his relations wiG' I'm family. The couple were immediately liberated.

Mr Harry Landis, the Assistant Commissiuiier of Immigration, who presided over the hoard, issued a statement completely vindicating Miss Collin, adding: “Her blushes and general demeanour showed her to be a girl of generous impulses, modesty, and refinement.”