CLIPPINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 6

CLIPPINGS.

HORSE-RACING BY MACHINERY. A book published at the beginning of th* century states that Mr John Allan, of Pennlcuick, near Edinburgh, has constructed a curious machine, which impels two horses round a circle. The horses and riders hare the exact attitude, and apparently all the animated emulation, of a well-contested horse-race, and have this necessary characteristic, that even the maker of the machine cannot say which of the horses will gain. To the curious in horseracing the invention is peculiarly interesting, as in bad weather they can enjoy the pleasure of a good horse* race with comfort at their firesides. With a little more trouble it might, occasionally, be converted into a fox hunt by affixing the necessary appendages of huntsman and hounds.

THE CONVERTED CRICKETER. A recent number of the " Christian Commonwealth " contains the following item of news: —" It may not be generally known that Mr C. T. Studd, the celebrated cricketer,' who went out last year as a missionaryto China, had the large fortune of £100,00(V when he determined to consecrate hithself wholly to God. He went to Mr Addiaoh Taylor, the father of-the China Inland Misaion, and offered him the whole of this great fortune. Mr Taylor refused ; but Studd would not be denied. He put the money in <■ the hands of trustees, and the interest goes to 'the China Inland Mission, while Studd goes to China just to have common fare">with the other missionaries: This is Christianity. Surely Gocb will honour such noble self-sacrifice."

THE YE ABLY FOOD OF ONE MAN. , From the Army and Navy diet scales of France and England, based upon the recognised necessities of large numbers of men in active life, it is inferred that about two and one-fourth, pounds avoirdupois of dry food per day are required for each individual ; of this, about three-fourths are vegetable* and the rest animal. At the close of an entire year the amount is upwards of eight hundred pounds. Enumerating under th& title of water all the various drinks, its estimated quantity is about fifteen hundred pounds per annum. The air,, received by breathing may be taken, at eight hundred .pounds. With, these figures before us, w& are able to show ,how the case stands.. .The food,* , water, and air which a man receives,, amount, in the aggregate, to mora , than three thousand pounds a year—about a ton, and a, half, or twenty times bis .weight. This enormous quantity 9noirs the : expenditure pf material, required for life. , ,. A living being is the result of change on a, great scale. , ■ - , u

, Scotch. dominie,, after relating to hia scholars thg 'story of Ananias and Sapphire, .asked 'them "whytGod .did not- strike eveiyt b(%t'^jid. who, told a u lie?" r a lonjr -sUence one little^f/ellow/got^M^feet and ' exolaimed : sir, -vra'dna b» onybody left." ,