BRIEF MENTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 76, 2 April 1902, Page 3

BRIEF MENTION.

4> Gracious Autumn showers. Loch Tummel, Perthshire, has been completely frozen over for the first ti me since 1895. All persons found playing cards in railway carriages in Russia are subject to heavy penalties. "With a population of only 210,000 Manitoba equals in size the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. In the Bank of England there are many silver ingots which have lain untouched for nearly 200 years. Daring the early part of last week the main rivers of Canterbury were in higher flood than they have been for the past twelve years. At a recent wedding the bridegroom forgot his manifest duty by omitting to carry out the time-honored custom of kissing the bride. A lady guest was quick to notice the omission, and, happening to have a plentiful supply of " conversations" on hand, passed one labelled "kiss-me-quick" across to the bride, who quick as thought handed it to the bridegroom. The newly-made benedict forthwith did his duty like a man. This satisfied the spectators. A policy lately paid by the Equitable (British) Life Insurance Company had been in force 76 years. It was originally for £5000, but, with the bonuses, the amount paid was £23,375. Their Real Victim.—" Yotir husband seems to be a victim of the tobacco habit.'" "No; I'm the victim. He thoroughly enjoys it." A man named Beasley shot a swan onGwydir River, New South Wales, and was drowned while swimming out to get the bird. European scientists have been casting covetous eyes on some of the col« lections in the Colonial Museum, Wellington, but they are not at all likely to have the gratification which comes of possession. An up-country editor announces that, as he has now enough pumpkins for the needs of his large family throughout the winter, subscriptions may be paid in good, sound potatoes. Rabbits have so undermined the approaches to Wollundry Lagoon bridge, New South Wales, in the centre of Wagga township, that it is feared that a rise in the river will cause them to subside. " Who was it said he'd * rather make the songs than the laws of the country ?' " "I don't know; but I'd rather make the laws for the people who make the songs nowadays." The crusade against rats at Newcastle on March 17, was very successful, nearly all the 6000 baits laid under the wharves being taken. At the local incinerator 600 rats are being received daily. Civilian.—"The most terrible charge of all was at Magersfontein, was it not?" Soldier: "No. The most terrible charge I saw was on board the transport. Sixpence for a glass of titter!" Seven years ago the time of the winning automobile car, in the race from Bordeaux to Paris, 327J miles, was 22 hours 25 minutes. Last year the time taken was only 6 hours 11 minutes. The following piece of conversation was heard the other day in the Strand. A certain well-known and very argumentative- novelist, who had managed to board a bus, said irately to the conductor: " Suppose I'd slipped and lost a leg —then what?" " Oh," answered the conductor kindly, "you wouldn't have to do any more running then ; we allers stops for a man with a crutch." In a beauty contest which has just taken place in New York the prize was awarded to a blind young: lady named Miss Clara Prout, aged 17 years. She is described as being marvellously beautiful, and her limpid eyes show no trace of the sad misfortune under which she labors. There is a Sunday school in which the class-rooms are separated by glass partitions. A new teacher was much worried by the noise of the scholars in an adjoining room. At last, unable to bear it any longer, he mounted a chair and looked over the partition. Seeing one boy a little taller than the others talking a great deal, he leaned over, hoisted him over the partition, and banged him into a chair in Ms room, saying: " Now, be quiet." A quarter of an hour later a small {head appeared round the door, and a ■meeklittle voice said: "Please, sir, you've got our teacher.''