RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32885, 7 April 1972, Page 18

RANDOM REMINDER

TWO’S COMPANY .

In the city, personality is usually buried by weight of numbers. In the country, most townships have their particular characters, known to everyone. In a remote North Island district, there was an old man who was very well known to everyone. He had a kind word for all those he met in the course of the day, and if he was a little addicted to the comfort of spirits, there was no harm in him. In his cups, he simply became a little noisy. Everyone understood him and liked him. But it is not possible to play favourites and one evening at the local hostelry, he really got a little out of hand. He insisted on addressing all those around him,, loudly, on a vast array of topics.

It would not have been too bad if this Hyde Park Corner had consisted only of the bar he was in. But those in the dining room were becoming upset by the vigorous flow of language. And as many requests for him to tone it all down were unsuccessful, it was reluctantly decided that it was time for the constable to be called in. The law took the old chap away, walking him to the lock-up, and leading the horse and cart which were as much part of him as his fondness for whisky. Having established the prisoner in the lock-up, the local doctor had to be called, to certify that he was inebriated. The doctor arrived, the policeman took him in to see the prisoner; and the moment this eternal

triangle had been assembled, the horse thought it would be a very good joke to give the door a heave with an ample shoulder and close the three of them in. There was no lock on the inside; it was one of those doors. If the elderly gentleman was in an advanced state of intoxication, the other two very rapidly showed classic symptoms of claustrophobia. And the more they yelled and beat on the door, the more delighted the old man became. He had a ball. Ultimately the racket was heard by a shopkeeper, and two of them were released. The old fellow, no doubt, got his desserts next day; but it is just as certain that he felt the whole thing was very much worthwhile.