THE PASSING SHOW

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1938, Page 6

THE PASSING SHOW

(By THE MEN ABOUT TOWN.)

Reference to mixed metaphors reminds me of several examples desering preservation. It was, I think, Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald who referred to "the empty METAPHORS. graves where our ruined industries lie." Then I there was the speaker who stated that "in the ! untrodden sands of the future he saw the footprints of an unseen hand." Lloyd George was | responsible for the taunt that "it was no use ! for the honourable gentleman to shake his head in the teeth of his own words." The same gentleman also quelled a persistent interjector by demanding a straight yes or no to the question, "Are you as big a fool as you look?" —Eric. The note on the change that may come over the meaning or ]>opular interpretation of a phrase like "a law unto themselves" recalls the famous instance of MISQUOTED. "the exception proves the rule." This seems to be an illogical and nonsensical proverb in the modern interpretation of the words, and so it is. In the Latin version, "Exceptio prolmt regulam," the verb probare means to make trial of or to test. Dr.' Johnson supplied the true meaning of the proverb i.i a discussion as to whether woodcocks migrated in summer. He thought that the evidence of migration was conclusive, and when someone mentioned, donbtfull}', that occasionally they had been found in glimmer in Essex he replied: ""Sir, that strengthens our argument. 'Exceptio probnt regulam.' Some being found shows that if all remained many would be found." — Touchstone. Now that the diet of racehorses has entered this sacred column and that "Johnny" has told us liow Valpeen managed to win the steeplechase on milk, I COMPLETELY feel more disgusted than COVERED., ever that I should have paid a visit to Ellerslie with the object of picking winners. I can understand that a connection exists between racehorses and milk, for the ones that I back invariably run like cows. The statement that the lacteal fluid has proved an efficient food for racehorses suggests a story told of a certain milk bar in Australia. Three immaculate young men, complete with permanent waves, in their hair and judgment summonses in their pockets, walked into one of these establishments. "A milk and raspberry," said Algie dashingly. "A milk and strawberr\%" countered the second with a typical addict's leer. The third member of the party hesitated a moment. "What about you, Fuchsia?" asked his friends. The answer came haltingly. "Better make mine a 'milk straight.' Don't forget that I have to drive the car home."— B.C.H. . Believe it or not, tout this is alleged to be a fact. A motoring party had been out doing the environs of the city. O.ut beyond the remoter suburbs they THIEF! suffered a puncture. There was no spare, and there was no repair outfit in the car. But there was a service station about a mile away; So off they toddled with the punctured tube to have the damage repaired. While the service station attendant did the job they waited over the road, where they had a couple in the local hostelry. The puncture mended, they walked back to the car. They found when they got there that every tyre had been removed from the wheels. There was the car jacked up with the wheels just naked —not a tyre or a tube to any of them. -What to do? Well, they walked back to the settlement again to get a telephone to tell the police the sad story and to call for aid from the city. Then back to the car again. This time there was another and even more dramatic transformation. While they had been away the thieves had returned,*and this time they' completed the job "by taking the wheels as well.—B.O'X.

In a previous brief par. I mentioned that at the time of Queen Victoria's accession Jem Burke was champion of England. To-day we will travel back to" anOHAMPS. other accession—that of • George, the Second in 1727. 111 that year James Figg fought Xcd Sutton for the premier position iu the arena, but, 111 those days, things were slightly different. Not only did a champion have to beat his opponent with his bare hands, but first he had to defeat him with the broadsword, and, if he was dtill alive after the bare-fist "go," there was still another ordeal, the cudgel. Poor Ned Sutton retired defeated in the sixth round in the ring, defeated in the broadsword contest, and with both his knees hopelessly broken after the cudgelling contest. Merry I England made merry and six years later Royalty itself turned up to see the' "fun." This time the cold steel and the quarterstaff gave way to scientific fisticuff*, and it is customary to describe the encounter between .Tack | Brougliton and George Stevenson (in 1733) as the first real bare-fist championship light. After Figg, Brougliton, by his defeat of Stevenson in the third round, was acclaimed as champion in the presence of the Prince of Wales (later to be George III.), and the Duke of Cumberland. Stevenson never recovered froni the fearful battering he received. The fight finished with the announcement of his death, but he lingered 011 for another month, and died with his head on the arm of Jack Brougliton, the same arm that had delivered the death blow. Space forbids details, but over sixty championship fights took place prior to Burke and Bendigo's affair in IS3S. The century between George ll.'s Accession and Victoria's Accession is choekful of fight. Champions came and went. Slack defeated Brougliton (in 1750) in fourteen minutes with <1 "lucky" hit that blinded Brougliton, luckily not permanently. Slack was beaten by Bill Stevens (111 1750), and later made it worth. Stevens' wliile-to sell the championship for a cash payment of fifty pounds 111 a ecrcntcenminutc contest to Dirty Dog Megcs 011 the second of March, 1701. For a decade (1770 to 17S0) the prize ring was under a cloud, filter years produced the great Tom Johnson, MOll- - Belcher. The Game Chicken. John Gully. Tom Cribl). llolyneaux, Tom Spring. Jem Ward and Jem Burke. Now. after a rushed century's review, we're back to Bendigo and the Victorian days again—in our next. —JlaeClure. PLAY THE GAME, YOU CADS! Bai Gad. sir. it's bad. sir. we're sinldnp: so low That England for skipper must call on a 11-0.! How they err a Player to put in command Of Gentlemen nicked from the flower of our land! He's slick at the wicket, liis average is high. But he doesn't wear any Public School tie. A madman like Bradman the Aussies mav lead. But Englishmen call for a sahib indeed. "Burke's Peerage," this queer a fee. in cricket is weak, But surely a sciuire should', be not hard to seek. But no. sir—they pro. sir. and basely kow-tow To one wlio has lived bv the sweat of his brow. The boundahs! At roundahs such conduct might pass. But not at Trent Bridge with its timeliallowed grass. Is Eton now beaten? Shall Harrow be shamed? On conduct like this our defeats can be blamed. A letter I'd better send off to "The Times." Decrying this worst of unspeakable crimes. ■ —SINBAD. j