INTERESTING ITEMS

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 334, 4 February 1911, Page 3

INTERESTING ITEMS

Only 38,176 marriages were celebrated in London last year, representing the lowest rate on record. The constant labour of four persons for an entire year is required to produce a cashmere shawl of the best quality. The lace trade in Calais was originally started by English peopie from Nottingham, and, though there are many less enaggecl in it than formerly, a large proportion of masters and men are still English. The bulk of fine gloves made in Russia are made from foal skins, an industry in which Russian workmen excel. They are generally cut and sewn by hand. Out of 500 skins, from 1200 to 1500 gloves of best quality can be made. The Hindus consider their dead as sacred, and do not allow them to be handled by alien hands, the nearest male relative —son, father, or brother —preparing the body for burial; and if there be none of these relatives, a son is adopted by the family for the purpose. In most countries 1M is always spoken of as "the baker's dozen, but in Italy it is called "a cobblers dozen." There is a tradition in that land that formerly there was a law compelling cobblers to put 12 nails round the edge of a boot heel, and that when nails were cheap a thirteenth wa3 driven in the centre for luck.

The Laii of Crewe has gained the reputation of being one of the most versatile as well as broad-minded of peers. In addition he is one of the best dressed, and the term "Crewe's elegance" is often heard at St. Stephen's, lie is married to the daughter of Lord Rosebcry who, prior to the wedding in ISDSL was known as day "Peggy" Primrose. Lady Crewe has developed into one of the leading political hostesses, and has proved of great service to her husband in his political work. She is an exceedingly clever, tactful, and witty woman. On one occasion at dinner she noticed her father seated between Mrs Asquith and the late Duchess of Cleveland. "Look at papa," she said, "sitting between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries." How very much old glass seems coming into fashion by way of decoration for the dinner table. A writer in the "Gentlewoman" dined recently with some people of taste whose beautifully polished dinner table of old mahogany was entirely decorated with antique even to the central candelabra and the four candle sticks, one at either corner. The effect, with plenty of white flowers, she says, was charming. It is curious though that what was accounted nothing of in one generation becomes a craze in the next. Lady Dorothy Nevill, in her latest book of reminiscences, remarks on the modern craze for old glass, and how some specimens formerly used in the most ordinary way at public houses are now eagerly sought after by collectors.