GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2280, 24 May 1921, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

The recent confirmation of a Warwickshire woman at the age of eighty, and of a Poplar woman at the age of eighty-seven, is eclipsed by the /confirmation in St. James’ Church, Croydon, of a man aged ninety-four. The Bishop of Croydon officiated.

The King of Siam, who some months ago announced his intention of marrying his cousin, the daughter of Prince Naradhip, has now annulled the betrothal on the ground of incompatibility of temperament. It is believed that the announcement may have been prompted by the fact that the princess suffers from ill-health.

The dirigible Rome, which was recently bought by the United States Government, made a successful non-stop flight from Rome to Naples and back (a distance of 300 miles), with 52 persons, passengers and crew, on board, including the American Ambassador to Italy and a number of American officers. Lunch was served on board as the

craft was passing over the Isle of Capri. Are specialists in athletics born, or made? Professor Tbooris, who has been making a special study.of the human skeleton with the aid of X-rays, inclines to the former view, lie said in a lecture delivered before the French Academy of Science that an individual is attracted to a certain form of sport because his organic constitution sub-coiisei-ously impels him towards it, and that it is not the sport practised which moulds an athlete's development.

The suicide of a chauffeur from motives of professional pride is reported from Paris. After driving his employer to a small town not tar from Paris, lie was told to return with the motor ear alone. His employer's brother was passing along the same road that day, and found ilie ear, which lie recognised, lying overturned by the side of the road. He made inquiries at a neighbouring village, where a letter was handed jo him addressed by the chauffeur to his employer. “You confided to me,” lie had written, “a tfew car, which 1 have been unable to keep intact. 1 cannot survive Ibis dishonour.” The chauffeur's body was recovered from the river a few hours later.