CHERISHED ILLUSIONS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4687, 14 April 1924, Page 2

CHERISHED ILLUSIONS.

POPULAR FALLACIES CORRECTED. The now enlarged edition of “ Popular Fallacies Explained and Corrected.” by A. S. E, Ackerman, is a destioyer of cherished illusions. For example, Nero did not fiddle while Rome was burning, for the reason that he was in his villa at Antium, fifly miles away, at the time. Moreover. the violin only dates from the middle of the 16th century. Diogenes did not live hi a tub. The Curfew Bell was not instituted by William the Conqueror, he simply enforced an existing regulation. King John did not .sign the Magna Charta, “ the seal was probably put on in the Chan--eery.” It is even doubtful whether King Jolui could write. The first English Prince of Wales was not born at Carnarvon Castle, for the simple reason that the castle was barely commenced by Edward f and not finished until 33 years after the babyhood cf his fourth son. Blondel, the Mi’istrcl, did not discover the place of confinement in Austria of Richard I, though the story of his .singing outside the. castle to let his royal master know his proximity is charming.' RALEIGH AND COLUMBUS. Sir Walter Raleigh did not introduce either tobacco or the potato into England. Tobacco was introduced by Sir John Hawkins, or Sir Francis Drake, and the potato first reached this country as a result of one of Drake’s expeditions to the New World. Christopher Columbus did not discover America, at least, not North America, which was discovered by John .Cabot, a Venetian, in 1497. Tn 1491 Columbus sighted San Salvador, ami “on-August Ist. 1498, he beheld for the first time the mainland of South America, but does not appear to have landed.” WHAT WATT DID. Watt did not invent the steamengine. but only improved it. The steam engine was invented by Edwar l Somerset, Marquess and Earl of Wot-, center, in 1655. Marconi did not‘invent the wireless telegraph, but developed anil applied it. It was the mathematical work of Clark Maxwell and the scientific experiments. of Hertz which produced wireless telegraphy. Neither did Edison invent th” telephone, which was the discovery of Alexander Graham Bell. It is also a fallacy to believe that gravel soil is healthier to live on than a clay soil. As a matter of fact, when gravel has been rendered foul by inlilteratiop with organiS matters it becomes a very " hotbed of disease.” Jurning to the animal kingdom, it appears that owls do not avoid dayHf’ht. that eats see no better at night thru other animals, that tortoises placed in gardens in the fond belief thaf they will eat up slugs and other garden pests do nothing of the kind, but feast themselves on the good garden stuff. Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand when pursued. A black roof to a dog’s mouth does not denote purity of breed, and a beaver does iiot use his broad flat tail as' a trowel. Moles are not blind, although th' ir sight is not brilliant, and monkevs rarely, if. ever, have fleas. Turning to ourselves, there is no such thing as growing pains, and that " what are called growing pains i*n children are rheumatism,” which is unwise and even dangerous to neglect. Ozone, which we are led to believe is so liealtliful ami invigorating, breathed in even minute quantities, " acts as an irritant to the air passages, and is highly injurious.” The existence of ozone in the air has always been doubtful, and recent research shows that it is never present be’ow altitudes of 804)0 feet. The smell attributed to it at the seaside really arises from decaying seaweed.” ’lancer is not hereditary : brimstone ami treacle is not good for children in the spring or at any time, and the good old linseed poultice beloved of our grandmothers is no good so far as the linseed is concerned (a sponge would do as well), the only virtue in it being the hot water with which it is mixed. THAT GREEN WINTER. A mild winter is healthier than a cold one. and therefore a green winter does not necessarily fill the churchyard. it is a popular belief that ic is bad to bathe in cold water When you are hot, but this it would appeal’ is not so. On the contrary it is better to bathe in cold water when the body is warm provided no time is lost in getting into the water.