NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2535, 27 January 1923, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

'A neat compliment to the ladies of New Zealand was paid by M. Patrequin of the French Trade Mission in the course of a lecture at Auckland. lie said he had noticed at the civic reception accorded to his party that the ladies’ fashions

here were very much like those of the ladies of France. “As a Frenchman,” he remarked, “I think the ladies in New Zealand, many of whom have been in Paris, and like it, have acquired the Frencb/taste and are continuing in Auckland the

French fashions.” He added that every attempt made to deprive Paris of the sceptre of fashion had proved futile. All efforts during the war to establish seats of fashion in Vienna, Berlin and New York had also been foiled. Lovers of Adam Lindsay Gordon and all associations with his poems may be interested to know that there is in a benevolent institution in Brisbane a man who claims to be “the Strockrider Alee.” referred to by Gordon in “The Hide from the Wreck.” This man, by name Charles Mulaley, is understood to be over 100 years of age, but is active and shows but little evidence of mental senility. He is an interesting figure and an attempt is being made to trace bis earlier life for the confirmation of the story that he is the “Alec.” who got a break from Gordon on the occasion of the ride described in the poem. Under the-heading “For Men,” the following remarks are addressed in a woman’s paper: Be very careful how you laugh—or you may give yourself away. An Italian professor who lms been studying laughter declares that a man’s laugh is a far surer key to his character than ever his handwriting can be. One of the best laughs to hear is the hearty “Ha, ha, ha,” which denotes a frank and open nature. The man who laughs, “He, lie, he,” is invariably gloomy and moody, and ‘Hi, hi, hi,” in laughter language marks the irresolute and undecided man. Strong and generous folk usually laugh, “Ho, ho, ho,” and the worst laugh of all is the “Hu, hu, hu,”; whenever you hear that, take note of the man responsible and avoid him —he is not to be trusted. So take care how you laugh, and try to cultivate a “Ha, ha., ha” or “Ho, ho, ho.”