All Sorts

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3, 21 January 1909, Page 118

All Sorts

The first book printed in America was from the press in Mexico, and was entitled 'A Spiritual Ladder to Ascend ■to Heaven.' In a single minute a machine which cuts up wood to make matches, will turn out 40,000 ' splints,' as they are called. The number of - pins manufactured daily in England is 54,000,000 j in France, 20,000,000; in Germany, 10,000,000. It is estimated that about £1000- worth of .pins are daily lost in Europe. The phrase ' castles in the air ' has been attributed io Sir' Philip Sydney, Swift, Fielding, Churchill, and Sheristone. It" was first used more than 250 years ago- by Hobert Burton in his ' Anatomy of Melancholy.' Lady (in quest of information) : ,' Professor, I hear you are a great ornithologist.' Professor : 'lam an ornithologist, madam.' . Lady: Then could "you kindly tell me the botanical name for a whale?' - ' Yes,' remarked a woman of great wealth, but little education, ' we had a lovely time in -Venice. There are no cabs there, you know, because the streets are all full of water. One hires a chandelier, anjl he rows you about in a dongola !' The following extract from a letter -of thanks is cherished by its recipient : — ' The beautiful clock you sent us came in perfect condition, and is now in the parlor on top of the bookshelves, where we hope to see you soon, and your husband also, if he can make it convenient.' ' How nicely you have ironed these things, Jane,'- said the mistress admiringly to her maid. Then glancing at the ' glojssy linen she continued in a tone of surprise : ' Ohj "but I "see they are all your own.' 'Yes,' replied Jane, 'and I'd do all yours just like j" that if I had time.' - . « ! The origin of the Bon Chretien pear, so much prized „in France, is traced -to St. Francis de Paul, who, being summoned to the court of Louis XI. from his home in Calabria, brought with him pear seeds, from which was raised, a variety that eventually was given the name of Bon Chre- " tien, applied at the French court to St. Francis himself. Why, Indeed? — A certain spinster was being condoled with because she had no husband. ' Why,' she said, ' I don't want a husband. I'm just as well off. You see, I have a dog and he growls; I have a parrot and he swears; I have a cat' and he stays out nights. Npw, why should ,1 get married?' In 1503 the first English shilling was minted- .' The firsf^Englisli laws against counterfeiting were issued in 1108 by Henry I. The United States mint was established in 1792, and at once began operations. Silver was first coined in Rome in 269 8.C., when Fabius Pictor set up a mint. Paper money was first issued by the notorious John Law. His issues exceeded £120,000,000.' The recent news of the sinking of the level of' the Sea" of -Azof, threatening some of the commercial interests of Russia, is supplemented by a report that the Aral Sea and Lake Balkash, the first 1000 and the second nearly " 2000 miles east of Azof, are rising^ although up to 1891 the Aral Sea" had for many years been sinking. Some geologists think these changes are due to slow upheavels and subsidences of the earth's crust. Yokohama has its electric tramways. Tokio, the capital of Japan, has a fine system of electric railways. The railway engineers and directors are Japanese. Shanghai has recently completed a splendid system of tramways, and Hongkong has" operated street railways for several years with good results. There are many other .cities in Japan and China which will undoubtedly follow the example of * - these, cities. Small boy' David was from the city. While visiting in the country he was one evening driving along the river bank, when an echo was 'heard, the voices in the^ valley below which produced .-it being scarcely distinguishable. - After listening some time" and being told that the sound he heard was an echo, he turned to his mother and said:' ' " 'Mamma, what is an echo?' " His mother tried to explain at some length, though she felt that her explanation was not being "followed. Suddenly' David broke in. N : . 'Oh, I know all about it!' he exclaimed. 'An echo la the shadow of a voice.' " -^ , . -'-.1-,