The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-16
GIFT IF ISLAND ID ITS INHABITANTS |S MADE BY MAGNATE
After Fishing Industry Failed, LeVerhulme Gave Isle To
 People Living There


 LONDON. Sept. 15.-(By the Asso- to It's inhabitants in rather unusual but such g gift has just been made of a large part of the islands of Lewis, one of the outer Hebrides, by Lord Leyerhulme. the great soap magnate.
 Lord Leverhulme purchased the island some time ago, planning to Install fisheries and other industries there, under the control of R com nercial company. The project failed being about tho only failure recorded in Leverhulmes expanding and va ried business career.
 The cause of the failure was chiefly that the hard headed and in dependent islanders objected to be- coming. employees of the company: make more money. they preferred to do their fishing and run their small farms as their own master.
 The most valuable feature of the Island is the famous Stornoway castle and it's supporting estate. The islanders, who number about 1000 have been rather undecided about accepting Lord Leverhulme's pres ent, some fearing the castle would become a white elephant on the II the noble lord to submit to the re- port of his revenues from and ex- pendltures on the property in the past few years.
 Now, however. the Stornoway town council has voted to accept the pres ent and doubtless the whole gift will be ratified by the Island government.
 AMERICANS CROSS CHANNEL
 Some of those who take more than a passing interest in English Chan mel swimming are searching for an explanation of the curious fact that three visitors from the American continent have crossed tho channel within the last five weeks while in 1 AS years of previous efforts only two men were able to accomplish tho l feat. 4. Alexander, president Of the channel swimming clug, says the i weather conditions have been aDnor- nal and the water exceptionally warm, and the cooperation among | the swimmers with interchange Of advise and help aided the three re- | cent conQuerors of the channel. The reason the Americans have been more successful than the Eng fish, he believes, is because the na- l tives must practice in natatorium, since the channel water Is far too l cold to enter save for few weeks each year, while the Americans are EDo IO cAJOJ aSo S~|AAAA@ tS tune.
 The Hon. Peter I.arkin. Canadian high commissioner in London brought a most optimistic message to Englishmen after his recent trip i home.
 | Within 50 years Canada undoubt- edly will be one of the most powerful and richest countries in the world Today 1t offers the greatest opportun- | ities of any country In the worlu, said Mir. Larkin, who urges young people, mentally and physlcaIiy III, who are searching for land of milk and honey, to start at once for the l Dominion.
 The Canadian government is co-op- erating closely with the imperial au- rorities to bring about increased em- fgrarion from the British Isles to Canada.
 WEARING HEAVIER FOOTWEAR
 One of the first things noticed by Americans newly arrived in England lis that most of the British wear big 1 ger and thicker soled foot gear than the Americans. While thick soles do | not necessarily mean better boots, | they are considered a safeguard to the health, the Boot Trades associa- ton has discovered after circulariz- ing medical and school authorities all over the kingdom.
 Shoddy footwear, 1t is declared, ac- counts for a large percentage or chest complaints. particularly bron- chitis. and the medical officers in some towns report that from 30 to 50 per cent of illness arises from this cause. Birmingham's medical officer holds that damp feet are chiefly re- sponsible for rheumatism and reduc- tion in power of resistance to other ills.
 The association is planning a cam paeign against the manufacture of | flimsy goods for the purpose of bringing about higher standard.