GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2166, 23 August 1907, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS.

Erancisco Jose, who was born at Paradella, Amares, in 1788, was recently presented to the Medical Congress on Tuberculosis at Oporto as a fine specimen of a perfectly healthy •old man of the Lusitanian race. Though 119 years old, lie has no symptom of any disease. Jose served in tho Portuguese army, which in 1801 opposed the invasion of the French

under Napoleon 1. He was present at the siege of Oporto in 1832. Ho is still a good shot, and works as a tailor, carpenter, shoemaker, painter and gardener.

To the relieving officer of Barnet. Union, who had been allowing her 6s a week, a poor woman of Walthamstow who earned a miserable pittance by making boys’ blue serge knickers, declared that she would commit suicide if she had to continue at the same task. Her statement revealed a sad case of destitution. She had four children, one of whom earned 4s a week. Apart from one day’s charing a week, for which she received 2s and her food, her time was occupied in making boys’ blue serge kuickers. For this she got the miserable pittance of 9d per dozen pairs, finding all thread. If she had no meals to prepare she could do a dozen pairs between seven a.m.. and mid-

night. Her book showed that her average earnings for eight weeks for this work would be 16 8d a week.

Two or thre’e good stories of children were told at Sydney recently by Dr. Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent of the International Reform Bureau, Washington, in the course of a lecture at the Y.M.C.A. Hall. One story was of a small hoy who was apparently a good deal disappointed with himself, and in his evening prayer tagged on tho following:—“Dear God, make me a good boy, and if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again!” Another story illustrated the trials of a mother who waited with eight children to board a street car. A kindly stranger helped the younsters on hoard, and having bestowed them in their seats, he turned to the lady, and said: “Madam, is this a picnic, or are these children yours?” “Sir,” she replied, “they are all mine, and it is no picnic!”