Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1892.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4270, 16 November 1892, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878]

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1892.

BEINQ THE EXTENDED TITLE. OF THE Waiiubapa Daily, with which it is identical i——«a»»innn i, mw ■■■i>imiwi^

There is in the sunny land of France a queer, a very queer institution, entitled the "Parisian Inventors Academy," It is situate in the" rue Semnte," and apparently cotnbines'a dove-like innocence with ophidian wisdom. Its President is a Chevalier of the Legion d'honneur, its Secretary an. extremely civil engineer, and its mission to patronise inventors. It so happens that a resident in Masterton has come within the scope of the patronage oi this distinguished Academy, and although he is not an inventor, never has been an inventor, and never will be, he is offered a decoration for his last invention. The circular letter in which the good news is brought home to our Masterton friend lies before us, and intimates to its recipient that he has had the title of" Honorary member of the Parisian Inventors Academy" conferred upon him, and this not being enough happiness, he is further informed that a first-class diploma, the great gold medal, gilded pasteboard or some? tbing resembling it, awaits him, Then the missive goes on to explain that this honorable title will be no expeme to him, but that belbre he'can obtain the medal he must send &"Post money order," payable in Paris of two pounds, At this point the wisdom of the serpent crops: out on tho surface pretty plainly. It is even stated that for an extra ten shillings a pair of " hmler Bkh " can be added, in which tbe pattern of the medal is reproduced, and that the medal itself is packed "in a fine leather and wkdboxe," also, should the inventor, as he naturally would desire to do, decide to frame his medal, the operation can be facilitated by remitting another ten shillings. The circular is rich in quaint English and curious spelling, and is apparently used with the object of obtaining remittances from all parts of the world for the Academy or for its treasurer as the case may be. At any rate, for the small sum of two or three pounds a man who has not invented anything can obtain an honourable position in a Parisian academy of inventors, wear a great gilded medal and flourish a diploma, Is this we wonder one of tho first fruits of the reduped ppstagpoji opean carried letters, When a sixpenny stamp had to be affixed to a letter posted on the Continent for New Zealand, circulars of this description were unheard of, The two-penny half penny rate now in force possibly enables institutions to sell gilded medals and diplomas in all parts of the globe. The Masterton resident, does not, wa understand, contemplate remitting money to Paris in honour of "Mblast invention" as he is fully conscious that he has not as yet earned distinction.by " a first invention," but no doubt he will introduce any local inventor or non-inventor to the notice of the Academy who niay be willing to expend three pounds in seouring a goldmdal, a diploma and a title,