THE PASSING SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 126, 31 May 1938, Page 6

THE PASSING SHOW.

(By THE MEN ABOUT TOWN.)

"Touchstone'* writes: Everybody in New Zealand must have heard the word "roughy," in the singular and the plural, but it must

not be imagined that is "ROUGHIANS." anything but slang. It

I ie not related to "ruffian," although the two words are close enough in I meaning. This note is inspired by a. jourInalistic friend, who received a letter in which the word "roughians" was used in all sincerity by the writer. Xo, it. was not an attack on the Press, but on the ruffians who attempt to break up political meetings. The term was not misapplied, for a ruffian is defined as "one who raises tumult." There are, however, other meanings for the word.

Many people who thought that Ministerial dignity had reached its apex with the introduction of such words as "scrounger" have

been disillusioned upon CURRENT reading the Hon. H. T. EVENTS. Armstrong's remark to an

interjector, "Don't tell me that or I will poke you in the nose." The pugnacious threat, couched in such simple and direct terms, must appeal to the hearts of all true citizens, and although the expression may be classed as "the Parliamentary hit of the week," we shall doubtless have it immersed in oblivion as the result of some other Minister of the Crown using the expression "a bash on the chops." The whole thing seems wrong in view of the fact that the present Government disapproves of striking in any form. However, to return to Mr. Armstrong's wise "crack," his outburst at present heads the list —or, as they would say when Mr. Sayegh puts a nption before the Auckland Electric Power Board, "The noes have it."—B.C.H.

I always like a free show, and I saw one on Friday night. A small man in a small car, coming out of a side street into a busy thoroughfare, raised his "YOU'LL PAY!" band in the stop-signal fashion, with the result that a following motorist, apparently not seeing his signal, bumped into the side of the little car. Two angry gentlemen sprang quickly out of their respective cars and faced up to each other, as fighting cocks are wont to do. "Where did you think you were off to?" roared the driver of the big car, getting in first. "You'll pay for the damage done to my car!'| 'TLL pay!" barked the other. "You wait till you're facing the magistrate! You'll soon see who will do the paying, old chap!" Thus the argument waged for quite chap!" Thus the argument waged for several minutes. The time came to th'e damage. There was none. There was not a single dent or scratch on either vehicle. It was a very foolish-looking pair of motorists who quickly resumed their seats, and vanished speedily into the night.—Hortense.

There is no one like a small boy to "give the show away," and His Xibs is true to type —only more so. Coming into town the other

day he put one over his GIVE-AWAY." mother that left her as if she had been caught shoplifting. Sitting on his mother's knee, lie watched with interest her purchase of a ticket, and, when the transaction was completed, piped up with, "Aren't you going to buy me a ticket this time, mummy ?" With her face turning scarlet, mummy hastily returned to the conductor a couple of coppers out of the change she had just received from Mm, and asked for "A half, too, please." To the grinning conductor she explained that the lad had turned three only a week or so before; she had paid his 'fare on the onlyother occasion she had taken him to town since hie birthday, but had, on this day, forgotten for the moment that he had now reached an age when the Transport Board regarded him as a source of revenue. Because her explanation was no more than the truth, it sounded, of course, all the weaker.—l.M. "The hope that springs eternal" is nowhere better demonstrated than in the lists of nominations for the general election. It looks ' almost as if every other PRIDE. person in the community is a potential politician. Optimism is the dominant note everywhere, and the indications are that not one in a hundred of us is able "to see oursel's as ithers see us." If we could those often ridiculous lists would be much smaller. The explanation, of course, is that most of us take ourselves much too seriously. We are great fellows (in our own estimation), and we alone among all the milling mob (still in our own estima" tion) are fitted to lead the nation into the promised land. Of course the gentlemen who are in Parliament (and particularly those who are on the Government side of the House) probably consider that we are already in the promised land and that all is well. 'Perhaps they are right. Who am Ito say otherwise, for I am -neither a politician nor the possessor of a personal ego that urges me to place at the disposal of my fellow countrymen the unique gifts of leadership that doubtless lie dormant within me at present. It is a melancholy fact, however." that nearly every other man you meet would be prepared, on the smallest persuasion, to stand for Parliament, and. what is more, he would firmly believe that he was fitted for the job. Democracv is a grand old institution.—B.O'X. The Innocents Abroad - ' par. a few days afforded me some little satisfaction, and I have gained quiet amusement from all such paragraphs appearing in ITS TRUE. the daily papers as to the reuniting of relations and families after protracted absences overseas or elsewhere. Over the last thirty years to my knowkdjre much ink has been spilt on these "Wandering Jews" and their reunions. And over the same period of time I have been wondering when a halt would be called with the publishing of such doings.* Perhaps your scribes' sensible comment and the elbow" jolt (through the typewriter) that I now propose to deliver might stagsrer these would-be champions for a publication or two. If it does, blame it 011 to "Jelola." if not. then divide the extra sales with me, please? Now then. I for the benefit of all future prodigals and publicity seekers, believe me or not,'there is no necessity to go "to the fnr-flune fields of travel" for stranse facts. But in the dim past at Russell, the first capital of New Zealand, two brothers saw the light of day, and although the yountier of the two is now over 43 years old. neither has seen the other and both are resident in the Dominion, the elder at Waipnkurau and the other at Remuera. 1 am not giving away further details, as mv brother may have contracted for the film and all other rights (we have never corresponded! of this life story. Sufficient to say that so far as I am aware we are on the l>ost of terms, but it is possible we might na c s other in the street without even bidding the time of day should such a phenomenon ever occur.—Chns. W.W. / ______ EIRE. Erin's heart's afire. In sorrow more than Eire. Men are most unfair. Pronouncing: us like "Eire." < Rome sav nought, for fear. But think it may be "Eire." Lest I make you weary. I'll say—it is not "Eire." Neither rhyme with fiery When you speak of Eire. Class us not with -Mary. Who was quite con-tra-ry. For it sounds like Sarah. The Emerald Isle called "Eire." —R.E.B.