FROM THE ARCHIVES

25 YEARS AGO Prisoners in Scottish jails are to get denim jeans and a better laundry service to boost their self-respect. The “sub-standard” serge trousers they wear are shoddy and “exceptionally unbecoming,” Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland said yesterday in his annual report.

The Government has agreed and some prisoners are already wearing denims.

The budget for training prison staff has been doubled to £100,000 this year. 50 YEARS AGO A good helping of mashed potatoes is a potent inhibitor of alcohol absorption, according to an article in this week’s “The Lancet”.

The journal says that while milk, olive oil, cream, and other fatty foods have been held to inhibit the absorption of alcohol by coating the stomach, other non-fatty foods also had some retarding effect. Among those were mashed potatoes and even beer. 100 YEARS AGO The theatre and the music hall are always willing to give their best when any deserving appeal is made for their help, as was withnesse again this week.

Yesterday afternoon, under distinguished patronage, a company made up of the most brilliant artistes from Glasgow pantomimes and music hall gave a performance at the Alhambra in aid of the funds of the Glasgow Jewish Board of Guardians and Philanthropic Association.

Performers were drawn from the Alhambra, Pavilion, Colisseum, and Theatre Royal. 150 YEARS AGO Mrs Speirs has recently given her annual supply of blankets and clothing to the poor of Elderslie village and neighbourhood, and Captain Speirs, M.P., has also given his annual handsome donation, to enable the minister of the parish to distribute coals among the poor at this inclement season.