POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 97, 21 October 1935, Page 8

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment

8Y PERCY FLACK

I It is usually the man with a shady j oast who confronts a dark future. * * « I That high exchange racket seems a low-down trick on the consumers, so" far as butler is concerned. We have a suspicion that there was a modicum of diplomatic pretence in that tense Anglo-Italian situation. "Tindill was prominent for fine judgment with line kicks." "Tindill was unconvincing." You pays your money and you takes your choice. *# ■ * The number of games to date the All Blacks deserved to lose but didn't must be a source of considerable comfort to certain overseas critics. * « « FAVOURITE SMELLS. "Amos-'n'-Andy's" list:— Gorse under a warm sun. Breath of cows (!). Bouquet of good old wine. . New-mown hay. Apples in the pantry. Good lighted cigar in a conservatory. Raspberry jam approaching thr bottling stage. But the "odour of sanctity"—-NO! MAYBE WORDS FAIL HIM. Dear Percy,—Why 5s King Selassies opinion of his son-in-law kept from the Groat British public? I don't think it can be just some officious censor. Even if the interpreters cannot turn the Abyssinian adjectives into adequate" English ones, untranslated they might be of considerable assistance in carrying on the great game of golf and other British industries. These colourful Eastern oaths—l am all for them- < so why—l arsk yer? IKA PIRAN. Khandallah. .-.: ■ BOYCOTT. This term, now much in the news, arose in 1881 when Captain Boycott, an Irish landlord, was thus ostracised by the Irish agrarian insurgents. Iri a speech to ,lhe Land League that year John Dillon, M.P., said: One word ai to the way in which a man should be boycotted. When any man has taken a farm from which a tenant has been evicted, or is a grabber, let everyone.' in the parish turn his back on him: > have no communication with ' him; have no dealings with him. You need never say an unkind word to him; but never say anything at all to him. If you must meet him in fair, walk away, from him silently. Do him no violence, but have no dealings with him. Let every man's door be closed against ■ him; and make him feel . himself a stranger and a castaway in his own neighbourhood. "'"' History is striving to repeat itselt today. ' ."-. ' ■ ". AN EMPRESS PLEADS. . "Women of the world, unite with ours your prayers, to the All Powerful that He should prevent the crime of war! Demand of the All Powerful that He inspire the words and acts of statesmen so justice and peace may reign to the ends of the world!" With this,invocation the Empress Menen of Ethiopia closed a plea for her country, via the radio; last ; month., How effective the broadcast from "Addis Ababa was is s\ question. The address was not heard distinctly because of mysterious "interference" in the ether; some radio experts called it an "international interference." Empresses of Ethiopia have a tradition of patriotism to uphold, as Queen Menen recalled in an interview three weeks ago when she completed sixteen' days of fasting and prayer for peace. Should peace not be realised,;. she promised to aid her husband ;in battle as did Queen Taitoi# who led a band of women on the battlefield of Adowa> in, 1896 to cheer their men as ■ they crushed the Italians; it was the worst defeat ever suffered. : by Europeans in Africa. . , : ■* - v ■ ' «-■ : . ■': THAT FATAL FLUENCY. , On Saturday along our way We had a mildish celebration, With all the trimmings (wet and dry*. Belonging to a cold collation. ; And when I went to bed (quite late) I dreamt I stood at Heaven's gate.. St. Peter looked at me with ire, Saying, "You can't sing in' our choir." My hair, it bristled, I quaked at the knees, And I thought with despair, "It's in moments like these," And murmured, "Dear."; Peter, my crime, if you please?" This the indictment (and could it be worse?) • . You've increased the world's output of doggerel verse. Your friends and your neighbours have turned from their labours , To wrestle with rhymes for a "pome," And it's worse than high treason to make one more reason Why husbands should want to leave , home. So therefore, my gel, bid the seraph's farewell, ' And go to that place which rhymes so well with Nell. Now wasn't that simply a terrible . dream Just because of "For he's a " and: lobster and creme? In the meantime, P.F., still your faithful "Clarinda." (I don't yet have to sign t myself "Yours to a cinder"!) ■ ' POSTED . : . . MISSING. "Independence Pays."—Only a smalj dividend, politically speaking. " 'Taint Fair."—lf you knows a better 'ole, go to it. H.A.—Thanks for those- notes.. "Clarinda." —We can't afford a rhyming dictionary. T.D.T.—Those cuttings will come in handy. Our thanks. "Tenterhooks."—Not at all likely to happen unless II Duce's monomania takes a virulent form. "Pensioner."—Would raise political issues, and we should hate to do that. "Sport,"—"Some Tips for Trentham'"? Where's Trentham? Alby Robinson.—lt pleases us that you enjoy this column. The column pleases us, too ... sometimes. ; "Evening Star."—Of about two-candle power only. J.GJVt. (Masterton).—(l) Against the' rules. (2) Verse "is' apparently not your metier.. (3) Will reply by mail —a special concession. "Yes No?"— Let - the w.p.b. supply the answer. "Oscar Rash."—You "don't . think Meredith has the laugh so far on the critics"? Well, we're nonchalant. "Vote-catching."—Suggest you "?oul£. do the same thing if you' were a car*, didate for Parliament. It's humai. .nature. "Bosh."—That's what is called giving it a name. P.T.O.—We did, and . found, alas! little to our liking. "Co-respondent."—Some promise, but your muse seerfis to be lacking, in the rhyme-sense. Thanks for appreciation. "Meths."—Not a propei: subject for levity. "O. B. Gosh.'*—Clever lad! Now what about a really clever jingle for column 8? Please!