GENREL NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3481, 22 March 1912, Page 3

GENREL NEWS

Tho captain of an Italian steamer carrying a cargo of bones from Buenos Aires,' reported on arrival'.at New York that when the ship was sailing towards a storm the bones creaked and) moaned, and when, fair Weather was ahead 1 they were silent. "

Canon .{Srenside, ‘who has been vicar o.f Melling, Lancashire, .for nearly fit. ty-seven years, celebrated bis ninetyfirst birthday by going the round' of his parish on horseback, in accordance with bis annual custom.

Lord' Kitchener went for 'an hour’s walk in Cairo. This was tK6 first time he lias been able to go for -a. walk since going to Egypt, owing tot trouble with bis leg, which was broken, in India. The limb gave him much less pain than he had anticipated.

When a distinguished French educator arrived in' New York recently a reporter called at his hotel to interview him. “How do you like oui skyscrapers, and do you think cur Women are the most beautiful in the world?” the reporter asked; "and also, Professor, what do you think of our Broadway?’’ "Hah!” exclaimed the visitor, "do not call me ze profeseaire. In France, ah, very well, I am zo professaire. <but here, no, no! lam here only ze plain Monsieur. When I get off ze boat at ze pier I sec it great large sign with this upon it, ‘Professaire Tony! gho-eo Shine, Five Cents.’ No, no; 1 shall not, wliat .you call? Ah, yes, I shall not competition with ze honest shoe shine professaire. No.”

Dr. A. F. Tredgolcl, consulting physician to the National Association for the Feeble-minded, at a meeting of the Eugenics Education Society in London, said no person, should be allowed to marry - without a license, which should be granted only after a medical examination and_ an inquiry into his, or her, family history.

These quaint birds, penguins, provided Dr. Charcot with some amusing material for his lecture at Queen’s Hall, on Antarctic experiences. The explorer said penguins were very much like human beings in. their behaviour. Sometimes a couple tc.f be tret bed penguins could bo seen seated, close together in loverlike fashion in a recess formed .by blocks of ice, and observation had shown that subsequently the same couple attended before a third penguin, who: might be called the clergyman or the registrar, for the positions of all there were similar to those occupied by the minister and the bride and bridegroom at a wedding.

A novel -orchestra lias I con organised in London.. It is the first, professional orchestra of symphonic dimensions comprised entirely of women. Some difficulty was experienced in finding players of the less familiar instruments Fcui lady horn players were eventually found in London. The trombonists, clarionettists and some others all come from the north of England. The rarest thing was a. lady bassoonist. The programmes of the "Femina” will range from, the ■lightest of music to symphonic works. Each programme will contain a symphony. or part of a. symphony, and special attention will he given to English composers.

The world has been mistaken, throughput the centuries, in supposing that the coming of spring is due to the rise in temperature caused by the influence of the sun. Professor Muntz has just explained to the French Academy of Science that tho real cause is the increased activity of the microbes, which simply obey a. certain atavism that makes them increase their nitrifying properties at that- par. ticular period of the year. It is well that we should be put right on this point; but what we are exp * ted to do about it is not quite clear.

The Girl. Pioneer movement, has given a new impetus to girls’.: camps al T ready in operation; /While : the liby scout movement aims to make lvoys more manly, t}ie Girl Pioneer ideal is to make the girls more womanly. This does not mean that the .girl is to forc"go athletics and all out of door sports, such as tramping, swimming and rowing, a knowledge of woodcraft and the like; but it does mean that as endurance and strength .are aimed at with the boys, so Jove cf .beauty and ideals of service a nd helpfulness are to he encouraged in girls. Tire girls will make a.study of .birds and animals, and learn how to use a camera. Their pastimes will include all branches of athletes. They will learn how to swim, to manage* a canoe, and to row a boat. There will he cross country runs,_ basket ball, folk dancing 'and exercises to develop the body. Above all, the girls will become adepts in pioneering. The art of camp cookery is to. be acquired, and. a- knowledge of first aid to. the injured. Of course, certain qualifications cf membership are essential. A girl must he more than'twelve rears of age UeTore she can join. The costume is a middy blouse with full pleated bloomers.