THE PASSING SHOW

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 289, 5 December 1936, Page 8

THE PASSING SHOW

M.A.T. REDIVIVUS. M-A-T, letters that stood for "Man About Town," have been missed by thousands of readers of this newspaper since the death of Mr. Claude Jewell, who was responsible for the column. There were many contributors to what was in short an effort to present something of the lighter• side of life, combined with a kindly philosophy. It is due to Ihese writers of unusual episode, anecdote and verse that this column has been revived. In its new form the heading "M.A.T. still applies, but instead of standing for "Man" the first initial will represent "Men." It is anticipated that while the feature will miss something from the absence of the spirit that directed it, the combined efforts of the contributors who arc pledged to maintain its outlook on the less serious side of life will establish it as a popular feature of the newspaper. To those who have a story to tell, or a case to present, this column is open as it was in the past. SHAFTS. American courts are experimenting in a new punishment for drunkenness. Instead of the usual fine the prisoner is ordered castor oil—up to half a pint. One can readily imagine an old "soak" being sentenced to "Three months' H.L. (heavy lubricant)." The British-Israel theme is apparently working to schedule. Simpson and the Philistines, ilr. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, will shortly drive a milk cart through Devonport, vending milk en route. The action is being taken as a, protest against the LION'S MILE. new "zoning" scheme of the Milk Council. Mr. Lyon's demonstration confirms the general opinion that the average politician has a "dandy" job. It is pleasing to note, however, that the'local Press, although featuring the all-important and vital news from Buckingham Palace, can still find space to give publicity to Mr. Lyon's activities. In spite of information The pulsing papers quote. We learn (with approbation) The Lion keeps a-float. —B.C.H. To many of you, Harold Logan is just a name, bereft of any particular significance and incapable of bringing to mind any flood of reminiscence. But down HIS LADY in the South, where the FRIEND'S SHOES, things that really matter in life, are taken a little more seriously, Harold Logan means something of the very best in horseflesh —the type of horse that kingdoms might well be offered for, and, perhaps, offered in vain. He demonstrated to the uninitiated the other day that the size of shoe a horse may wear matters. Vaguely, one had supposed that the blacksmith nailed a piece of iron of approximately correct size to noddy's hoofs, and that was the end of it, and that so far as the horse was concerned so long as the shoes covered roughly the places they were supposed to cover all was well. The disillusionment came when the man who should have known better attached to the feet of.Harold Logan a set of shoes that were made to fit, and, indeed, belonged to Eflle Parrish, a horse of decidedly another colour in the shoe sense. Result, champion Harold acted like something out of the milk cart shafts, denying the reputation of a lifetime. The "heads" were sorely puzzled, and the problem even went to the extent of calling up the vets to have a look at the old lad before somebody decided to look at his feet. The cause of tlie trouble, and of the skips with which Harold Logan had protested against the indignity of wearing a lady friend's shoes, were at once explained. It's reasonable enough, one supposes, when the matter is pondered 011. Put any of tlie bright Harolds of the city' into the shoes of any of the bright Effies and probably you would see something of the same 011 any of the sidewalks where conscious youth so loves to display its pomp and dignity. Harold Logan's view of the mistake was just horse sense after all. —B.O'X. "Touchstone" writes: A young student has . ritten to the "Star" asking whether there is any precedent or justification for the use of the word "handle" in a NOT A HALF- London cablegram 011 HANDLE. stable fibre which reads: "In the latter case it is mostly interlock underwear, with a warm, soft handle, which is expected to be most popular in the men's trade." A precedent is something that comes down from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. Precedent is lacking for such a use of "handle." Justification is ruled out by ambiguity. "Feel" is the noun sanctioned by precedent. It does not, like "handle," suffer from the handicap of a double meaning. Webster gives as its definition: "A sensation communicated by touching! impression made upon one who touches or handles; as, this leather has a creasy feel." Another reader, who has been perplexed by mispronunciation over the air, asks: "What is the correct pronunciation of deficit?" The only permissible pronunciation of the word places the accent 011 the first syllable, "def." There is 110 authority for de-fis-it, which probably owes its popularity to a linking of the word with deficiency. Accenting the wrong syllable is a common fault. Municipal is a greatly-abused word. Xot one person in four seems to know that the only sanctioned pronunciation is mew-nis-i-pal, with the accent on the "nis." In all variants of the word: —municipally, municipality. municipalism and so 011 —the "nis" syllable is not divided, though in municipality greater stress falls 011 "mew" and "pal." A SAVAGE ODE. X sing to-day a fellow philanthropic. Than whom there is no loftier in mind; He's ready to orate on any topic, Expounding his affections for mankind. Though some may think his leanings Socialistic. A peaceful revolution is his plan: A mixture of demagogue and mystic, But how he loves his luckless fellow man! Oh. there are folk who fear The things to Mickey dear. And I will not deny they may have grounds; Yet strives he with a will The troubled heart to still— Oh. he isn't half so savage as he sounds!

His statements come as balm to every reader As he explains the things that he has planned; His followers revere him as a leader. But all the same get often out of hand.-' He bears a mighty hatred of inaction. But action, to his mind, needs lots of cash— How can the Douglas Social Credit faction Team with the sound finance of Walter Nash? Oh. there are folk who state He's anxious to inflate And flood the land with pretty paper pounds; But he'll eschew such things With Walter at the strings— Oh, he isn't half so savage as he sounds! He avoids all things suggestive of the slapstick. Of adders does not speak, nor running shoes; His scruples are the sort that may perhaps stick At methods which less gentle men would choose; His voice is heard throughout the whole Dominion. By radio transported from the House; His speeches tend to foster the opinion That Mickey is as harmless as a mouse. Roaring like a sucking dove In his sympathetic love. He in eloquent high-mindedness abounds. He's a man that should be prized— Though perhaps not civilised, Yet he isn't half so. sa.vage as he sounds! —SINBAD.