THE PASSING SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 206, 31 August 1929, Page 8

THE PASSING SHOW.

(By TrlE MAN ABOUT TOWN.) • ' " ; " : ■■ : •' ':- " ■ ' THE POET'S PtAilfT.' > - • I think that poet never lived who was half as good as I am, . . not.excepting Burns, or Gray, or,even Omar :" Khayyam. « -,■ "The Bubaiyat," "The Elegy," "The Cottar's Saturday. Night," " I reckon just a lot of "tripe" compared with what I write. :', . Yet, strange- to, state,--,my wondrous verse, can '■-■•" never find- a market, . : ■■. '■ •• .• My lyric gem has done the ,rpunds, the editors all mark it. My pearl I've cast before theeeswine and this have I been handed, ■ ''. : "Begrct we cannot use your work, it's not up to our standard." Given but. my just dues I should not have to sweat, shovel in "Mad, for a crust, I'd live jn a palace with flunkies galore, have a '■ sculptor at work on niy bust,. • ■ In :the: gladdest of rags.l would flaunt around, see , my wife largo diamonds fla:'|i.!:ig,., ... But, curse editors all, I'm isi dungarees and the ■■" wife must' take-in -washing. • "•.. •■ } And it's bitter to ,tljirik, not alone of my lack, but the loss that the public sustain, - : Being basely .deprived by' these editor churls !of -.' these wonderful fruits of my :brain, . iTor my themes are so,many.and varied, I'd charm ■■■<" both the cultured and savage, .: ... Could they but read my. lyric on "Murder,", my • ■ epic on "Corped Beef and Cabbage." ';' ;Brßi^l^J^o]f..tte v likes, it", fWhat,do 'you.think of Palestine now?" asked M.A.T. of him. Ernest; smiled and ' ~ ; .' answered with a:-,st6ry. EARNEST various seasons of ;.,..;. •■ ' '".'• the year the Hebrew ■people.hold gatherings peculiar to their faith and c which have deep significance to them. Ithas' been . usual fpr the family to gather together, for- the purpose and to, recite; in Hebrew,, a ritual. : ; This ritual contains Vwords to this effect: "This, year we are in New Zealand. , Next ; year may we be in Jerusalem!" Ernest remarks that on the last, occasion of the domestic gathering a rather loud whisper came from one of:, the participants'in English, "I-hope not!" , .: .••..■>'. .• " .' .'.' '■■''.';'. ; Travellers on the inky way will be .delighteci to. know ;,. that . their fellow, pen Bernard Shaw is-doing rather well. A bit ■ •■ ..: '■:'•! of. his manuscript, part UPPER STRATA, in faint typewriting and . : , part in scribble, lately fetched £1200; .Frantic collectors are offering gorgeous prices..for.a,bit of stuff in his handwriting containing the advice "Be sober, honest, cut your hair; knock down.any man who calls you.an artist." Ought to be worth £1000.a line, what?