THE " OMNIBUS " SECTION.
Operations are now in full swing at the Paddock Wood Fruit Canning Factory. Large storehouses are being con-structed, and the whole factory is now at least three times its original size. A new chimney-stack of ninety-feet is replacing the old sixty-feet one. Other factories of a similar nature are springing up with amazing rapidity all around. Let us hope they continue to prosper.
F. VIDLER.
An Upper Boy informs us that a Bishop has to be invested with his pall, his ring and his razor. Another tells us that the Pope issues Papal Bulletins. On the analogy of mouse " having " mice " as plural, we learn that the plural of " trout " is " tripe."
A teacher had caught a small boy drawing his portrait in school. " Oh," said he, " if you're an artist in black-and white, I will be one in black-and-blue."
F. E. M. BETTS.
A fond mother, after detecting her son in a lie, asked if he knew what happened to such boys. " Yes, mother," he replied; " they travel for half-fares on the 'bus."
A good example of wasted energy is telling a hair-raising yarn to a bald-headed man.
J. BEALE.
Europe first learned to make paper about the year 700 A.D., the secret having come from the East, where the Chinese had known of the process for perhaps two thousand years. So long ago as 1102 A.D. the King of Sicily set his seal to a deed engrossed on hand-made paper. That deed is still in existence.
Watermarks, which originally were crude pictures of animals, came into use about 1300 A.D,, and it was not until late in the Fourteenth Century that paper-making was introduced into England. From that time until the "beginning of the Nineteenth Century all paper was hand-made.
The best paper is still made by hand, and the watermarks now used in bank-note papers help to stop forgeries.
R. WOOD.
There was silence in the large room. He glanced at his taskmaster and then at his fellow-prisoners. Escape he knew was impossible. He noticed the height of the windows and the strength of the locks on the door.
Should he make a desperate effort? He would surely be caught almost immediately. His clothing, his hat, the arrow pattern on his suit, and a policeman just outside the gates in the stone wall!
His fellow-prisoners were all working obediently. "Ten years more," rang out the sharp voice of his taskmaster.
His heart quaked with fear. He knew what it meant. The same routine all over again to-morrow. He was heartily sick and tired of life. "Ten years more."
"The answer should be 30 years instead of 20 years, but I will work the sum to-morrow," and the teacher dismissed his class.
The Middle School were recently asked to discuss the life and character of Henry VIII. These are some of the gems :-
" Henry VIII wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, but the Catholic Church would not let him, so he became Head of the Church of England and did as he pleased."
" Henry VIII was a splendid king when he was young, but when he got old he got shabby."
" Henry VIII was very popular; he had six wives and was rather a flirt."
" Henry VII went about with feathers and a lot of diamonds."
A boy, asked where Joan of Arc was burnt, put "All over."
Another boy told us " Cardinal Wolsey introduced underwear."
FROM OUR NOTE BOOK.