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Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 382, 11 June 1918, Page 4

RANDOM READINGS. i. LEGEND OF ST. PETEB. There is & tradition of Rome woicli telle of the flight of St. Peter from martyrdom. It is questionable whether St. Peter was ever in the Bteruai City, and, it is e&id, there is no historical foundation tot the story. St Ambrose tells how St. Peter, as he fled along the Applan Way, was met by a vision of the Saviour travelling towards the city. Struck with amazement, he exclaimed: "Lord, whither goest Thou?" to which the Master, with a look of sadness, replied: "I go to Home to be crucified a second lime," and vanished. Taking it as a sign that he was to submit to the martyrdom prepared for him. St, Peter at once returned to the city. A CHURCH BUILT ON 1,000,00* PILES. Venice, the wonderful city whose streets are canals, and where a boat is more useful than a horse, possesses one of the most curious churches in the world. This sacred edifice is built on 1,000,000 piles, its [emulations are in the bed of the famous Grand Canal, and yet it stands secure and safe, although it has been erected for three centuries. One can only guess at the time and expense required to make the foundations sure, and if only for this fact the church of Santa Maria della Salute is worthy to rank amongst the architectural wonders of the world. This church, however, possesses another distinction. It was built in commemoration of the great plague which swept Europe in the seventeenth century, and it is full of monuments and memorials, and the exterior is covered with designs and mottoes which bear out this purpose. NAMES OF THE MONTHS. It is interesting to know the story of the mouths. Long ago all Romans believed in gods, and from these mythical beings some of the mouths received their names. January got its name from the god Janus, who had two faces. The Hoed that to name the first mouth after him would be very appropriate, for Janus suggested both looking backwards and forwards. Now, everyone knows that the beginning of the year is the time to look back to the past and also to look forward to the future. February comes from a Itoman festiliving in it is towards the end of February that spring cleaning begins, and the Romans, too, considered this a lime for spiritual cleansing, but ihej celebrated it by over-eating. March, the noisy, blustering mouth, was named after Mars, the Roman god of war, for the Romans thought Mars connected with thunder and lightning and other things. We know, too. that March is often a blustering month, so the third mouth was named after Mars. But the next month, April, is entirely different. It opens the gates of spring, and we always associate it with gentleness and kindness. The Romans could never write plain facts, but weaved beautiful stories out of them, with the result that they saw that this mouth opened the gates of birth, and restored to life all the plants which had hidden from winter. Hence they called this mouth April, meaning 'The Opener." The next month received its name from one of Atlas's daughters. Maia. Atlas was the giant who upheld the world, and he had seven daughters, of whom Maia was the most famous, 'or she had a son, Mercury, who was the gods' messenger, and so the Romans called this month after Maia. June may have been called after Juno, the wife of "The Father" of t called after r, who was ■ nth, was forfauiily Junius. Hut it will not matter much, for we rejoice in the pleasant days, and don't mind whose name it U called after. July, the seventh mouth, was formerly called yuiniilu:. liuair.ng the fifth mouth, foi once upon a time the year began iu March. Inn Julius Caesar altered this. He was the greatest of the Romans, and none objected v\hen he called tiiat month July, tor Caesar was greatly esteemed; he was born in that month. August was named after Augustus, the first Emperor, who was an adopted son of Caesar..and he was so loved by the people that lhe\ named this and August er von when October, November, and December, meaning the eighth, ninth, and tenth months respectively, have, like September, kept their old name, for the people could not be bothered thinking out new names, and, as the names had taken a firm hold on the world, they were allowed to pass. Why let your music, books, pieces, etc , remain untidy or torn when the satne can ho rebound "r repaired at the "Times" ofliee. All branches of hook-binding undertaken. Tito only way to secure a copy of the "Times" every issue is by placing an order with your newsagent. Agents have no spare copies for chance 9ales; we print only what are ordered by the agents Give your order NOW if you l >av« iu>t nlready ordered.