GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2343, 18 October 1921, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

The American weakness for having “the biggest ever” of everything has spread even to the musical world: “The biggest ever” xylophone has now appeared, and this is how a New York daily describes it: —“What is said to be the “biggest xylophone ever made,’ has been delivered to George Carey, xylophone soloist of Sousa’s Band, the vast device being the result of a long* cherished plan ‘to produce impact melody of a quality and degree never before derived from this style of instrument.’ ” There was a mock funeral at Cambridge University for two Cambridge men who had been “sent down..” The banished men were naval officers sent to Cambridge for a short course under the Government interrupted education sememe. The mourners arrived at the station first —a choir of ten, wrapped in white sheets, with whitened faces on which violet green shamrock had been painted; then more students with robes and turbans of towels, and in the rear a few score of men on motor cycles. On the way an “unemployed band” was picked up. It was bundled .into a cab, and played wailing music all the way to (he station, conducted by a youth in fantastic white wrappings, who climbed on to the roof of the cab, and swung his arms about in weird style. When the naval officers stepped out of the official cab they were captured by the mourners, and swept on to the platform, where they were feted, until the train went off, by cheers and the strains of “Omaha.”

Chums together in the old home which they have left for a temporary stay at the Zoo, a Tantalus monkey, from Nigeria, and a kitten occupy the same cage in the Lemur House. Mike, the kitten, is an ordinary tabby with extraordinary habits. Following the example of Julia, its simian companion, it spends most of its time clinging to the wires, half-way up the cage. Except'for a little show of jealousy by Julia when attentions are paid to Mike, and a protest by the latter when Julia drinks his milk instead of the water provided for her, the pair are the best of friends. As Julia is a vegetarian, Mike can get on with his meat without fear of losing it, but monkey-like, Julia will interfere, pulling his tail now and again, just to liven things up. Then the two settle- down together until perhaps Julia’s long white whiskers tickle one of Mike’s ears, when there is a pat, a squeal, and much scampering around.