MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1927, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) PAPER’S GLOOMY FORECAST PAIRS. Dec. 2 By the year 2139 the entire human race will be incompetent, as 50 per cent of the world’s population will he mad. asserts the “Figaro.” The newspaper adds that the whole thing is a matter of biological fate, as well as arithmetical progression. It points out in .supporting ite contention that in 1859 only one person was .insane in every 535 who were normal, hut that in 1897 one was mad tf> every 312 .sane. By 192(i the ratio was one in 150. Thus “Figaro” gloomily calculates, in the year 1977—5(1 years lienee —there will he one lunatic per 104 of population. Baulking at naming the year when the birds, beasts and fishes will he the only forms of life not incarcerated in mental asylums, the pajier ends its figuring with 2139. when there will he one who is mad for every one who is sane. “There will lie none left to tell the difference after that,” says “Figaro.” “even though Bedlam houses abound like poor men’s cottages. Life will have become a ‘tale told hv an idiot.’ ”

AMAZING WAR BOOK PARIS. Dee. 2. General Mordaeq, formerly military secretary to AT. Cleniencoau''France’s war-time Premier, is publishing a hook in which ho claims to toll the truth about the armistice. He says that General Bliss, of the American Army, thought that his troops had not achieved sufficient glory. “T myself was anxious to await the French attack on Lorraine, hut Britain pressed for the armistice.” lie adds. “Haig’s army uas exhausted and lie proposed milder conditions than those which were eventually decided upon.” E.S. BEYS ENGLAND’S BEST. LONDON, Doc. 2. England is: threatened with a greyhound famine owing to the demand from abroad for British dogs and the rapid promotion of the new greyhound racing tracks. Tt is estimated that during the past three months 70 dogs a week have been shipped to America from England. Fantastic prices have been offered l>v American buyers, who have given hundreds of pounds for each litter of month-old puppies. Prices for Irish champions sold for racing in the United States during the past fortnight ranged from £250 to £7OO.