GENERAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 September 1913, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

OBJECTIONABLE COLOURS.

Bed and white are . the Danish colours, and Genmany wishes to make the people of Schleswig-Holstein, which belonged originally to Denmark, forget them. So the combination of red and white alone is everywhere suppressed, in the hope that red, white, and black will be held in reverence. It is sajd that a SchleswigHolstein farmer kept a black dog in a red kennel. It died, and its successor was white. Two days after the white dog was installed this order was received by tho farmer from the police president: "Shoot the* dog or paint the kennel another colour.'"

A FASTIDIOUS SUICIDE.

The most singular case of attempted suicide which, ever came under the notice of Dr. Balthazard (says the Paris correspoSiHont of the Evening Standard) was that of an imbecile who, being tired of life, evolved a unique means of trying to put an end to it. He bougfifc a dozen nails, and, armed with a hammer, placed himself comfortably before a lookingglass, and proceeded to- drive the nails into his head. He had mismanage his plan in one particular, however. The nails were too short, and after a week's treatment in hospital, he was sufficiently recovered to reflect on the weaknesses of his scheme.

, POETRY IN THE KITCHEN

Knights of the kitchen with literary aspirations are ;to be given an opportunity of indulging their hobby. The Paris publication, "Le Carnet d'Epicure," whilch. is the official organ of the League of Gourmands, has organised a literary competition for its readers. Candidates are invited to send in contributions either in prose or verse on some subject of culinary interest, which will he judged'on their literary and instinctive merits. The prizes will be appropriate, consisting of cases of champagne, liquers, wines, hams, pates de foie graa, and other dainties. The best poet will receive a special prize of a cask of fine old Bergundy, and in addition to all these good things there is the increased prestige in their calling which success an the competition" will bring the prize-wnners. The competition is likely to be popular, and who knows but what it may bring to light the latent talent of some born poets who have mistaken their vocation? ;

A "SPOONING PARLOUR."

. The John Gunn, a New-York Baptist "minister, has inaugurated the* "spooning parlour' for the purpflis» of bringing lonely young people afc both sexes into friendly communion (says Lloyd's -VJfeekly). "There are'/' says Mr Gunn,lFmany working girls living in furnished rooms* wh\> cannot receive -young men in ftiem and keep their reputations. They are entitled to have sonie place where they may enjoy the advantages that help their more fortunate sisters to happy wifehood." Two large rooms/with a wide opening betweea them, in th tho meeting hall of the church, are the "spooning parlours." They are comfortably furnished, and provided with an ample supply of sofas. Tne f® is a chaperone always within call, with expert advice 01 how to propose. Thete is a piano also to stir sentiment. The inauguration of America's latest aid to matrimony took place on Tuesday. Mi-3 Guhti, a charming vocalist, sang approDriate songs, including "Annie Latirie" and "Every Lassie kaa her Laddie." Mr Gunn has drawn large audiences by a series of sermons on the subjects ctf "How. to get a huebaid and keep "How to get a wife and keep her.'

"NO MOUSTACHE" CAMPAIGN

The moustache is going in London police force. A year or two ago a shaven upper" lip was a rare eight, but now the young men in the force have started a clean-shaving campaign, and already they number about 300 strong. The pro-mous-tache party—the older men—-are still ■tit' a large majority, but they view the progress of the new movement with apprehension. "A moustache lends dignity and authority to the face of every man in uniform," an f inspector, told a Daily Mail representative. '"''* 'A fat, red-faced policeman clean-shaven looks a trifle absurd, especially under his helmet. A thin, pale-faced man without hair: on his upper Up looks young and insignificant. It is invariably the smoothfaced policeman who has to put 1 up with banter." There are 1400; City police, of whom approximately 1100 nave moustaches, 300 are clean-shav-en, and 12 Have beards.

.HAPPY "VICTIMS."

Amongst the curiosities of the is an item of £69,082 10s foT indemnities' to the victims of December 2nd, 1851, -when Prince Louis Napoleon was elected President for ten years. Inquisitive persons are asking how old these victims may be, for one, can scarcely be the victim of a coup d'etat before attaining the age and privileges of a citizen and elector." The. Official Journal asserts that the& are still 11,0000 of these poor people, but it is challenged to give a list of ( them with their ages and descriptions of how they became victims. There is a legend that in a village of rthe South of France almost the whole population of electors have been created "victims" who. consequently always vote for the Government, and spend a life of idleness and ease, playing bowls and smoking their pipes, reaching a ripe and happy old age, and transmitting their grievances and claims as well as their electoral Obligations to their sons after them. Electoral reform alone seems likely to eliminate this £70,000 from the Budget..