AROUND THE TEA TABLE

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 11

AROUND THE TEA TABLE

MATTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST.

(By SHIRLEY.)

One rather wonders at tlio extreme perturbation of Miss Ellen Wilkinson, M.1 , ., at receiving a goat by post—either a very small nanny, or an accommodating post office. It was not very doughty of 111>r to make a fuss. There is nothing, after all. so very terrifying about tliis animal, which anyway was "dead when it arrived."' This suggests that it was alive when posted, in which cace the society to protect all animals, even* goats, sluiuld step in. IVrhap* -Miss Wilkinson perceived a certain symbolism in this message, and was aggrieved. The goat is represented fll old mythology by the great god Pan. the deity of free. uncivilised beings, and dead against civilisation and all its work*. The sender, however, probably took a more domestic view, and by endeavouring to get to Mi>s Wilkinson the one word. Pan. wanted to convey to her an intimation (through word association I that the frying pan was her true implement. This may be far-fetched, but it is by such double meanings that psychoanalysts interpret dreams, or try to discover if at two years of age we hated our grandfathers. This is the more likely, as another lady member lately discovered that she had children, and so could not remain in Parliament. Anyway, Ellen avers that this sort of thing is getting on her nerves—«o evidently the goat has been the last straw. But one wonders what were the other message*. • • • • "<•:

One doesn't want to carp, and there i< a gond deal in the new syllabus for teacher* which will be helpful if tin teachers have time to carry it out. The syllabus is. in fact, an inspiration \ document, and I always turn, to it when I desire to feel a pleasing glow, as if 1 welc in a better world. If it is all carried out. in fact, we may se , ? that better world arrive in a score of yean or so. What is meant, however, by this talk on left-haiidednc«s ? Where does the teacher get out ? Left-handed children are "not to be permitted to drift throw-L the preparatory division," but. on m> account, is the "child to be compelled to use the right hand instead of the left." This somids mysterious. Then what does the writer mean by pointing out that "this is a right-handed world" (true enough i. also that "musical instruments, household furniture, household appliances, surgical and dental tools, labourers" tools, etc.. are made for the right-handed person." Dentists' forceps I don't know about—the kind man always covers them with .something when coining on his dread journey across the room. But how does one construct a broom, or dust pan. or a hammer, or even a desk for the lefthanded person. Perhaps the compilers are thinking of that French detective story of the man who got off because he couldn't possibly have shot the corpse with his right hand, and no one knew he was left-handed. I believe murder really is done differently by a righthanded person. Still, murder is actually a daily occupation of ours.

There is indignation in one New Zealand city. 1 believe, because the women have been refused permission to take part in surf swimming contest-. Ir seems a pity when life savers are few enough, and when women have done something already in that connection. One hopes the temporary failure of Miss Copplestone has nothing to do with it. Women's element is the sea— there is no doubt of that. Here like Byron she can triumph. "Man's control ends with the land." He can beat her there, but on sea? Kven the old legends tell always of mermaids, and of their brethren we scarcely hear at all. As Miss Copplestone found out. however, there is a catch in it—and that is the cold. We can't stand extremes, of heat, or cold as men can. We go on no Polar expedition?, therefore, and are not invited to equatorial expeditions. Within those extremes we seem to do very well, as witness the sheer stockings and bare arms of even winter-time. But evident is it for all that our home is not "the icebergs and the snow.' .