LATE MAIL NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1930, Page 2

LATE MAIL NEWS

7000 BOOTLEGGERS.. WASHINGTON, February 14. MV Walter Liggett, an investigator, for a magazine syndigate giving evidence before the New Congressional inquiry into prohibition, said that there were 700 “speakeasies” (sly grog shops) running day anil night in Washington, with, not less than 7000 bootleggers. Boston, he estimated, contained 4000 “speakeasies,’! • which employed ,15,000 persons.

» A police census showed 20,000 places selling liquor in Detroit, which is, it is alleged, in the grip of “gangsters, racketeers and grafting policemen.”

WALTZ AND TANGO. BACK TO THEIR OWN LONDON, February 14. The waltz and the tango are coming back into their own, according to Miss deannie Bremen, .the Melbourne dancing teacher, who • told the representative of the “Sydney Sun,” before she left for Australia on board the Narkunda, that she had secured the latest ideas in modern ballroom dancing, especially quick-time steps, the waltz and the tango. Charles Scrimshaw, a clever dancer, who has been associated with the Century BAUi’oom, Regent Street, will again accompany Miss Brennn to Australia to *; demonstrate the newest dances, y Miss Brenan, after an investigation of' the various schools of theatrical dancing, is convinced that Australian girls are second to none.

IVORY NOT NEEDED. LONGER LIFE FOR ELEPHANTS. LONDON, February 14. There was a time when the longtusked elephant of the African jungle was the envy of every hunter who had an eye to making a fortune. Men used to dare the perils of the Dark Continent in order to possess the precious ivory and the life of the giants of the forests was perpetually harassed. Now that-is all altered—simply because,, of wireless and gramophones.

“Elephants can keep their tusks longer now,” Mr V. Myers, an ivory merchant, told the special representative of the “Sydney Sun” ruefully. "The sad declines in ;the piano trade has so decreased the demand for piano keys that the price of ivory had fallen 50 per cent. People are not buying pianos' now, as they are getting their music from the wireless and from gramophones. The only hope for the ivory trade is for Lindrum to create a greatly increased demand for billiards balls. But even these are largely made of composition,” he added.

LEFT HANGING-. GIRL SEES LOVER KILLED. NEW YORK, February 14. The most mysterious crime since the New Year had developed in an attempt to solve the identity of a well-dressed young man found hanged, his body frozen stiff overnight, Suicide appears to be improbable, because the hands were tied behind the back. The man was evidently terribly bruised and beaten before death. Police have traced a visit to the man by three other youths, with a girl, in a limousine. The suspect victim was taken for a ride, and the girl was forced to witness the execution of her lover.

UNDRESS REHEARSAL. ACTRESS ON THRONE. LONDON, February 14. The former Savoyard, Jessie Bond, who is now 77, and who created many Gilbert, and Sullivan parts, reveals in her memoirs an almost incredible escapade, when the Savoyards were commanded to play “The Gondoliers” before Queen Victoria and the Empress of Germany at Windsor Castle. The dressing rooms were curtained cubicles in the throne-room, and hers adjoined a high-spiked railing enclosing the throne.

She says: I was an incorrigible joker, and decided that I must sit on the throne, but it was too dangerous to climb the spikes, so I flattened myself out like a. cat, and wriggled beneath them. I caught my clothes and stuck fast, then wriggled on, shedding garment after garment. We wore lots of undies in those days. “The girls looked on half-horrified, and half-amused. I made a. last effort with nothing left hut a tattered vest, in which I clambered on to the golden throne, where I sat shivering with cold and excitement.’’

TELL-TALE EYES. HOW TO KNOW AUSTRALIANS. LONDON. Feb. 14. The directors of the “Times” gave a luncheon to the Australian Minister of Customs, Mr Fenton,