RANDOM READINGS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 425, 12 November 1918, Page 4

RANDOM READINGS.

THE THRIFTY SWISS. ' f/'\ Switzerland has the distinction <M ' being the richest country in the worij \ In a savings-bank sense. The s-chod 1 bank of the country however, while at interesting institution, is not an un« qualified success. Indeed its succesi i is somewhat sectional, as at Berne thi ; undertaking has been a distinct fal - lure. Deposits in that city are declining each year, and in six of the eigh't school districts it has been neceesftljy to liquidate the hanks. A SAGACIOUS BIRD. A very curious nest is made by the tailor-bird of India, a tiny yellow creature. To escape snakes and monkeys, this bird takes a dead leaf, flies up , into a tree, and with a fibre for a thread and its bill for a needle sews tho leaf to a grejsn one hanging from the tree. The sides are sewn up, an . opening to the nest thus formed being < left at the top. The leaf, apparently hanging from a twig, would never he takeu for a nest, ! HONORS OF WAR. The expression "with the honors of 1 war," which is sometimes used in con- i nection with the surrender of troopssuch as when a beisegod party capitulates—is usually construed to include the right to march with colors displayed, drums beating, bayonets fixed;. and swords drawn; but, of course, the actual details of such arrangements are generally a matter of agreement beforehand between the victor and. vanquished. In the Franco-German war the garrison of Bel fort, under Colonel Dcn-fort-Rochereau. who surrendered under instructions from his Government, were, in recognition of their brave defence, allowed free withdrawal with the honors of war. and they were permitted to take away their eagles, colors, arms, horses, carriages, the military telegraph apparatus, the baggage of the ofUeer*, tho kits of tho men. and, the archives of tin- fortress.. AVIATION COrRTESTES. A well-known Canadian journalist describes a remarkable air duel which he witnessed between a I'.ritish and a German flying man. in which tTie former was the victor. "Our icviator came to earth immediately after bringing down ihe German." he says, "and instantly ran over to the lattery wrecked machine, whoso pilot was. stone-dead. Ho was a giant of a man, and was evidently someone of means, for lie wore a really beautiful fur coat, and on his hands were diamond and other rings which must have been of great value. "A little to my surprise, the British airman proceeded to strip the dead man of his coat, an;] then lo remove his rings and o'her jewellery, which he packed into a sort of tin canister. Just as he had finished, an officer of the corps came up and inquired. Got everything?' 'Yes.' replied the flyer. And the officer said. -Right-o! Off with you.' Then, to my further stirprise." adds the Canadian, "our aviator put the tin canister on his ma- ' chine, and, hardly pausing a minute-, flew straight over the German lines,' keeping so low that he would have hern an easy target even for a rifle, but waving his handkerchief as he went. When lie was over the Huns he dropped the canister, then wheeled and Ih-w slowly hack, while a German pariy ran out to pick up the utensil.. I'm told that a courtesy of this kind nearly always follows the bringing down of a pilot on either side, and that the airman who conveys back his opponent's property *flies in a certain fashion that reveals the nature o!'hi& errand." j THE ACTOR'S WAGER. It is recorded that at an entertainment at which Gainsborough and the famous actor David Garrick were present, an ardent admirer of thegreat artist declared that Gainsborough had never failed to take a person's likeness in a portrait, no matter bow difficult the subject might be. Garrick thereupon asserted that Gainsborough could not paint his likeness, and begged to be allowed 10 sit for his portrait. Gainsborough, pleased at the commission and expecting to find it very interesting to paint the actor's expressive countenance, gladly consented. Garrick then made a secret wager with the artist's friends that he could prove to them that there was one face at least that Gainsborough could not paint. The results of the first sitting were very satisfactory to the complacent artist. At the second sitting, however, Gainsborough was made uncom fortable and nervous at finding it necessary to make several alterations in his work. At the third Bitting hi« displeasure became extreme when, on i-omparing the half-completed wor> with Garrick's face, he saw that th« two bore so little resemblance to eac> other that the portrait had almost t» be repainted. When Garrick appeared <or the fourth time, with the most if aocent expression imaginable, an' begged the painter to begin worl Gainsborough, thoroughly angrs broke out—'l've no use for you! You can api thousands of aces, and never havi one of your own!" Garrick left the studio smiling, l< announce to the artist's friends tha he had won the wager.