DUMB PROPHETS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 251, 16 February 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

DUMB PROPHETS.

The s'.-uler is an ex'elk lit guidj to tho weather. Not only is ho extreme* ly sensitive to the state of the atmo«I here, but ho talcs a keen interest : n *Jie habits of flying insects. He knows that these do not come out in the wet. When, therefore, he is "resting," you may bo certain that he is expeit ng rain. But should lie be busy constructing a new web it is a sign that ho is looking forward to a fine spell—and hj» i- generally right. If clucks or gce-e are expecting bad weather they dash water over their barks. They do thin to prevent the I r.st few drops of rain penetrating to their bodies through the dry, open leathers.

It is a si_;n that fine weather is going to continue for some tinio when Ic > wander far away from their hives. O.vls screaming in bad weather is * sign that a change for the better is near at hand.

-M i:\ WHO H ATI" MOXEY. I'rohahly no nn.i hatr,s the sijiht of money so much as the croupiers at .Monte Carlo, through whose hina? thousands of pounds pass every vosji !■':nt^r-rlll l-" and < minting money at the Casino requires spcv : a| training, and :w io"dine|y there n ;> school of croupier* in Monai o. licit' there are tah!es similar to t!u'=r> ised in the gamli!ing-rooni». and < -ieh ■'vhular' is taught hy a " ina'-ti r" how to i> \ 01110 a croupier. Iho master"' an.! the "scholars'' personate players while rr "scholar" takes the part of croupier. Metal discs are substitute! for coins and dips of paper for hank-notes. Within a 2.'veil tune the crotipier-scliolar must en!< i'-.ate and pay out the winning stakes, and lie must make no mistakes He lias to learn how to pit-fli money fioni one er.u ol the table to a precise >l x;t at the ( t'u-r end, and a good many other things. When a "-!io!ar ' is pa-vtsl as perlet In- enters the >o!i"ie of the Casino under rn a.gre:ne;it. which stipulates that he can lie dismissed at a 111 micnt's notice uii'ionl any reason given h i in. Alter a Ion" drought there fell a torrent ot ra:n. am! a c.inntrv gentleman e.h-erved to Sir John Hamilton: "Thi* i- a nx-st delightful rain: I lnnv> it will hr ng up everything <ut of the ground. ' "My .love, sir' - si'd Sir .lohn. "T I o]»> net ; tor I have !>urie I three wives.''