Notes

The Rev. Sir James Marchant, Secretary of the National Council for the Promotion of Race-Regeneration, commented upon statistics released last week which showed the birth rate in England to have slumped to 18.8 per 1,000--lowest since the War, lower than that in France. "Had birth rate among the feeble-minded and criminal classes fallen, we should all have rejoiced, but the facts behind the figures are that the birth rate is falling among our better classes and skilled workmen.

Eight months ago Lord Apsley, eldest son of the Earl of Bathurst, set out for Australia as an "emigrant" under the alias "George Bott." Last week, returning to England, he vouchsafed the following statement: "I worked on one farm for 20 shillings a week. . . . So far as my experiences went as an emigrant, I am convinced there is no difficulty in getting a job in Australia. A man can start on his own in a comparatively shorter time than in any other part of the world and make a comfortable living. ... No one should go out there with the idea that he is going to get a fortune at the start. . . . There is practically no unemployment. . . ."

The Hon. Mrs. Richard Norton, prominent member of the Prince of Wales' party during his visit to the U. S. in 1924, announced that she will undertake the management of a London cinema theatre. To reporters she said, "I have had no experience in the film business, but I hope I have some good ideas."

As it comes to all men, the desire to inspect brass knuckles, handcuffs, and rusty instruments of torture came to Edward of Wales last week. He visited the famed "Black Museum" at Scotland Yard. There officials are reported to have "thrilled" him by displaying gruesome exhibits which have figured in various well known trials for every crime from murder to "crippling a baby with a toothpick."

The Prince is said to have examined with particular care a roulette wheel, seized at a London gambling resort, which could be controlled at will by the croupier.