Odds and EndS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42781, 21 September 1905, Page 4

Odds and EndS.

Cycling Among the Ancients. When cycling up a very steep incline a youth.overtook ;*an old countryman 'working hard on a not too ;modem . . tricycle, :and making but little progress. As he passed him the young /cyclist noticed that the countryman had his brake firmly down on the wheel. Thinking he was unaware of this, , he called . . his attention to the fact when to his , surpris?, the old man replied. 1 . knows, but I be af eared o’ the thing goin* back’ards.

An Imperial Pawnbroker.—The most illustrious pawnbroker was the Roman Emperor Augnstiis. He con-* verted the surplus arising to the State from the consficated property of crimm*. «Is into a fund from which stims or 1 money were lent?! without ! interest to those who could pledge valuables equal to the The-pledge system, by the wayj had its origin m Italy when the Monts de Piete were established by the 'authority of the Popes for the benefit of the poor. The Story of a Bailed Pudding, " Smith was particularly fond of a boiled pudding. His wife 1 left one in the ' saucepan when she went put. ' * How • did you like the-pudding?” was her . first question on returning. ‘ Splendid! ’ was her husband’s answer; “ As-good a pudding as ever you made; my dear.”" ! ; X’ui so glad you liked it; What; did I ’, you do with the oioth?’V Mr Smith / surveyed his wife 1 solemnly, l and' theu v , said: “What? Hid that pudding" have a cloth on ? I never noticed it !” Smart Mrs. Siddons/;—The father of Mrs; Siddons had forbidden her to > marry an actor.' -/ Notwithstanding /// his injunction; she-married one of the p 1 profession, When Rodger Kemble heard of it he was ifurious and askedher how she dared disobey him. She asserted she had not disobeyed him. •< Why,?’ said he, “ you have married * he worst performer in my company.” /‘Exactly so,” murmured 1 the bride, “ nobody can call him an actor.” The Largest. Kitchen—What is said ro be theilaigestikitch’en in Eng'and is that of;Raby Oastle* Durham. It is thirty feet square, has three chimneys* and five windows.-A galleryriinsround the whole interior of the build*; ing. The ancient oven has -a diameter of fifteen! feet. Vast as this kitchen is, it must have been sometimes taxed- - by the hospitality of former ages. In/p one of the apartments ;of:the castle 700 ; ? knights were entertained at the same I time.