THE PASSING SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 11 July 1928, Page 6

THE PASSING SHOW.

(By THE MAN ABOUT TOWN.)

Young George (himself a married man) was impressed, not to say chastened, by a sight which dawned upon his vision in Queen

Street yesterday. He saw THOSE a fellow sufferer, another "TOY" DOGS, married man, to wit,

pushing baby's pram, whilst Mnma fondled a woolly Pomeranian dog—"Such a darling, isn't he?"—you know the sort. George tottered weakly into the office and told M.A.T. all about it. Who should be there but the Brigadier, who was moved to reminisce about his old pal, Charles Riddell, of the "Birmingham Post." You must know that Birmingham produces an annual dog show, a' very important affair, during which many canine aristocrats peer at a vulgar world through the glass windows of their plush-lined cages. At one of these shows it fell to the lot of poor Charles not only to have to write the story of the toy dogs but also to have to accompany a certain Dowager Duchess for a special inspection of a very special champion. "Now, isn't he a lovely little dog?" gushed the Duchess. Charles, a man of few but vigorous words, replied: "Dog, madam? That isn't a dog; it's a bloomin' insect!"

We have the authority of "Peritus" for a statement that oysters are mysterious creatures and do unaccountable things. So it

would appear. A New NOISY OYSTERS. York cablegram alleges.

in all seriousness, that off the coast of North Carolina certain •wireless under-water experiments have had to be abandoned owing to the humming noise made by the oyster beds. Delicate mechanism has been put out of gear by the noise of the bivalves, which resembles a person humming a tunc-. The wireless experimentalists applied to the Bureau of Fisheries for relief, but that Government office solemnly alleged that they had no remedy that would make the oysters si'ent if they wished to sing. So there you are—first round to the local residents, so to speak. We have all heard that "a noisy noise annoys an oyster," but not until now did we realise that a noisy noise made by an oyster annoys an experimentalist.

The proposed Soccer match between a New Zealand navy team and an eleven composed of the cn*w of the Japanese battleship which

will visit Auckland this ORIENTAL month is attracting a FOOTBALL, good deal of interest.

Several correspondents recall the prowess of the Chinese team which toured New Zealand in 1924, and one or two ex-servicemen wax reminiscent of football as played by members of the Chinese labour battalions in France during war time. Why it should be so is hard to say. but there's something irresistibly funny in the combination of Soccer football and the inscrutable East. What about a faithful report of the match, something like this: "A well-judged pass by Wun Lung set the left wing in motion, and Wing Ho centred prettily after beating all tion, but Hop Hi dashed across and cleared." That's the stuff to give 'em!

The Taj Mahal at Agra—that '"'dream in white marble"' which has, with truth, been described as the most beautiful building in the whole world—is the

BEAUTY.

setting for a new British

film. A Chicago newspaper publishes an excellent photograph of one of the scenes which is being played inside the Taj, with the lace-like screen of carven stone as an effective background for the picturesque Indian actors. Built about the middle of the fourteenth century, the Taj forms a direct link with the Great Mogul, for it was' Shah Jehan, son and successor of that mighty monarch, who decreed its erection. The marble was imported from Europe, and it is said that the architect, Ustad Isa, was an Italian whose restless spirit had brought him far from his native land and whose genius secured for him the favour and patronage of the emperor. A sinister legend attaches to the Taj Mahal, for it is recorded .that the architect was blinded so that he might never again build anything so beautiful. Be that as it may, Ustad Isa gave to the world a masterpiece. To see the Taj as M.A.T. saw it, by moonlight, is an unforgettable experience. A long avenue of cypress trees discloses the glorious building, dome-like and sentinelled by four slender minarets. In general design as well as minute detail it is a vision of loveliness so impressive as to be almost breathtaking. Within the central shrine are two wonderfully carved tombs where, under snowy marble, there sleeps the dead king by the side of Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved wife. The Bay of Naples is a magnificent sight, Philae at dawn rivals the Great Pyramid for grandeur, and Mount Egmont and Rangitoto in our own New Zealand have a spell of their own, but for sheer beauty the Taj Mahal stands alone. It is the most splendidly poetic building on earth. " e

It was reported at the meeting of the executive of the Council of Christian Congregations that favourable replies had been received from all the three "MEN OF political organisations in INTEGRITY." response to the council's advocacy that onlv men of integrity should be nominated for the coming elections. If this kind of thing goes on there won't be any real fun in the elections at all. What's the use of having an opponent you can't villify? If every candidate is beyond suspicion, what can you say about him? Whatever may be the outcome of the fi"ht between Tunnev and Heenev, the American champion may certainly rest* assured that he has been given the fullest PUGILISTIC publicity, not to- say fool - PUBLICITY, ish adulation, by his country's Press. 'Here's the latest subtitle to a picture in the "Chicago Sunday Tribune": "Gene Tunnev, gentleman, scholar and apostle of the art of self-defence, goes into training at Speculator, N.Y., for defence of his heavy-weight, title in July against Tom Heeney, the New Zealand blacksmith." The United States is supposed to be the home of democracy, but there's a priceless touch of snobbery about that "gentleman and scholar" business. How gracious of Gene to condescend to use his patrician fists on a humble Xew Zealand blacksmith! CHAOTICS. "G.M.C.'s" eight-word solution of Strule was Rustle, Rules t, Result, Luster, Lustre, Lures t, Ulster, Sutler (the last being a term for camp follower). He defies the world to find a ninefold entanglement. Any takers? Meantime "J.W.W." gives us U Want A Bon Mot. The answer is given at the top of this column. THOUGHTS FOR TO-DAY. If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon or build a better mousetrap than his neighbour, though he built his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten pathway to his door.—Emerson. • • • • Sink'not beneath imaginary sorrows: Call to your aid yonr courage and your wisdom • Think «n the sudden change of human scenes; Think on the various accidents of war: Think on the mighty power or awful virtue; Think on that Providence that guards the good. —JOHXSOX.