Evening star., 1918-08-20
SHRAPNEL
Sidelights on the War
OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

The gas mask which is invulner-
able to poisonous fumes was the re-
suit Of a Canadian soldier imagina-
tion. He thought he saw Germans
wearing strange masks during gas
attack. but this was not 30. as they
] had not yet been invented. Some
French and British scientists took up
the idea however. and developed the
helmets SO largely used by soldiers
on the western front.
Wartime economic demands and
changes have created agitation IN
moro than one country for amplthca-
tion and alterations in prevailing cur
rency systems. particularly in Eng
land. The present system OF coinage
there goes back something like 700
years, and most of US have forgotten
its origin. In the early days the bar
leycorn was a standard for measure.
Three barleycorns laid end to end
made an inch. The wheat corn. at the
same time, became the measure OF
weight. 1t was laid down that an
English penny should weigh thirty
two wheatcorna. each taken from the
middle of the ear and thoroughly
dried.
These. of course. were silver pennies.
Later, when silver pennies were
lSSoAiohA oASS0s 0h oSS " 90 Po~9sSA ~
creeing that twenty silver pennies
should make an ounce. and twelve
ounces one pound. Twelve twenties
equal 240. and we still have $40 pen
nies to the sovereign, while Troy
weight, which jewelers. and goldsmiths
use. perserve the old numeration to the
The reason why Troy weight is SO
called is that the Trench town of
Troyes was. in the middle ages, the
IrfA 80 <At In
cious metals. Troyes had its own sys-
tenn Of weights, and these. or some of
| them. were introduced into England.
British soldiers were made of fiber.
/ These were never popular and metal
was substituted. This kind Of tag Is
generally used today.
The following is q bit Of verse writ
ten by a private in American ranks
in France:
For the service nag Of America.
We looked In vain to find q place,
| In all the world there wasn't space.
So we borrowed the sky and hung 1t wide
Over the world from side to side.
Our Our ssars sr' are ire Aiming = clear ear and bis1h.
They tell the world as they glow and CLEAN.
! While other nations may pause to dream.
That America sends from her treasure store
Millions Of men and will send more.
! So many are going-that Is why
For our service nag We borrowed the sky
God made Americas service nag.
i It is dificult for French troops and
officers to restrain the senegalese on
clare that II the enemy employs
poison gas, grenades and all foul i'm
plements Of war they see no reason
why it should be called barbaric to
slit a German throat or two in at
tack.
| Wireless attracts certain insects.
One American warship of the British
coast found this to be true. A wire
less man in telling Of the strange in
] cident said:
! 'One bright. clear day last week
(March of this year, we were lying
close inshore and sending out inter-
mittently on the low-power wireless
when the air seemed to become full of
butterflies and other winged insects.
The majority of the butterflies were
white with black spots or tortoise
shell. When the wireless stopped they
all dispersed"
with the spirit of comradeship which
exists between the enlisted man and
his superior officers. One British
writer tells of an. incident that oc-
CURED on a certain American warship
In English waters The captain ap-
preached an ordinary seaman and
asked:
| "How's your hand, Johnr'
| It's doing nicely, thank you, SIR"
was the response.
| Well. hit your man in a softer place
next time" smilingly admonished the
captain.
Il will surely" replied the jackie.
laughing.