NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1740, 26 July 1917, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Three hundred nml fifty French artists, among whom are painters, sculptors, engravers, and architects, have been killed while serving with the French array. The toys one sees in shop windows are frequently manufactured from decayed meat, fish, and fruit, whilst skim-milk is sold for sizing for paper, ivory, and horn. The European War of 1089-1097 lasted much longer than the present conflict is likely to last, and, speaking relatively, cost much more dearly all parlies concerned. The albatross has been known to follow a ship for two months without ever being: seen to alight on the water or take a moment's rest. It is believed to sleep on the wing. Having been separated since they played as boys together 35 years ago, two soldiers, who wore horn next door to one another at Birmingham, have just met at a cam]) in France. Pupils of Oehanomizu Girls' School, Tokyo, are sought after'as brides, and there is keen competition for places in the school. Last term only -tO applicants were accepted out of 440. The significance of the entrance of the United Slates into'thc war may be estimated in one way from the fact that her wealth is five rimes Iho wealth of France, and six times that" of Russia. .Many lumvlost their right hand in the wax', and the cultivation of the left hand has had remarkable effects, including the restoration of speech in (vises in which shock had caused dumbness. The adult of an Australian ant does not excrete silk, so when the ant’s leaf-nest is torn ike adults carry larvae to the rent, and move them hack and forth till the rent is mended with a new mesh. To prevent imposture, some French artists are signing their pictures by impressing their thumbprints on the canvas, A man's thumb is the best signet, it seems, for it cannot be successfully imitated. Tattooing is forbidden in -Japan. A teacher of Idzumo explained the law to his pupils recently, and also told them how lalooing was done. Next day four of them appeared liberally adorned with (he forbidden art. Rio de -faniero, the Brazillian capital, with a population of over 1,000,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in South America; it stands on the west side of the bay of Rio de Janeiro, the most magnificent natural harbour in (ho world. Until recently, 1,400,000 tons of flax were burned or allowed to go to waste in the States every year, but now a process has been discovered whereby the 11ax can be used for making paper, with a consequent saving of nearly a million pounds per annum. • Among the effects of a deceased widow-who had been in (he receipt of parish relief at Boston for live years, a relieving officer has discovered Treasury notes and a Savings Bank hook, the total representing nearly £309. The hoard decided to reimburse itself. Every day in the week is a Sabbath for someone. / The Greeks observe Monday; (he Persians, Tuesday; the Assyrians, Wednesday; the Egyptians, Thursday; the Turks, Friday; the Hebrews, and several Christian sects, Saturday; and the remainder of the Christians, Sunday.