POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 110, 5 November 1935, Page 8

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronide and Comment

BY PERCY FLAGR

Says "W;«jsh»:" After all,. the men who will count on November 27 will be the Returning Officers * * *. Then there was a Scot wlio, when the boys called on him with their 'guy" this morning, opened the door and gave them a good talking to * * , ♦ ,- Gcfas are copy cats. The "Fueeer Letters"—the world's first news ser- ■ vice—has an illustration showing a Moorish warrior of 1536- prepared for an attack, sitting, with his musket rest ing between his toes. * . :♦■ •. If, as the imparshall Howard Marshall puts it, the All Blacks played like "somewhat elderly gentlemen," the London Counties must have performed like old women *♦ - • LEW CODY. Dear Percy Flage,—About a week ago a correspondent in your column asked for information regarding Lew Cody, the film comedian.... I've been expecting to see a reply 'from some of the film fans, but so far there has been no response, so I feel constrained to write this note, although writing is my pet hate. Lew Cody died about nine months ago of heart failure. It was not generally known that Mabel Normand, a very popular star of the early picture, days, was his wife. She predeceased him by a year. Best wishes to you and your everbright corner. It is my favourite spot in "The Post." Cheerily yours, . ELSIE. Miramar. * • • ROWDY POLITICS. Worksop's riotous reception to J. H. Thomas recalls the story told of a candidate for one of the Midland '-(England) constituencies. He was a good deal annoyed at one of his meetings by a man in the front row, who howled like a dog. At every .telling point in the speaker's argument the interrupter would emit a lugubrious howl and ruin the effect. The candidate asked the name of the man and was told it was Henry Loff.. Then-he said in his loudest voice: "Mr. Loff, it is plain that our friend Goldsmith- had you in his mind when he said: The watchdog's voice that bayed the whispering wind, .. ■ And the loud loff that spoke the vacant mind. "He said that, did he?" cried Loft furiously, and he turned and struck a fat little man behind him a heavy blow on the face. Only after a five minutes' scrimmage .and much profane abuse was Mr. Loff convinced that the Goldsmith referred to was the lonsdead poet, and not the obese little man of the same name who, by a sad mischance, happened to know him. POT-POURRI. ■■';"■ Dear Percy,—One learns .a lot by travelling. For instance, I used to wonder what was meant by the golfing/expression "addressing the.ball" until one day I heard a golfer doing it, though I don't think you'd print it. Again, I had never actually witnessed a run on a bank before seeing ' the riverside crowd at the last Boat Race trying to pace Oxford. Then, beside such minor things as discovering how to make people happy wherever Invent, and that boxers keep their accounts in- a scrap-book, I invented a neat way of circumventing the sponger. If a feller comes up to< you, Percy, and says, ingratiatingly:. "Can you get me out of a hole, oldchap?" all you need reply is: "Sorry,' old man, but I don't keep ferrets!" I found .out, also, that it-is quite evident many men cannot see what's, right under their noses—or they'd shave it off! But my crowning enlightenment came when I learnt to be envious of the down-and-out man—which happened on my first'aeroplane trip. ' Yep, and I nearly forgot about the waving palms, Perce, not only in the South Sea Islands, but in all places where they also wait who only stand and serve. L.D.A. * * • . BIRDS AT COURTENAY PLACE. (To L.A.M.) In the heart of our fair city kind hands planted long ago Trees for beauty and for brightness nea.r the ceaseless ebb and flow. Dust, today, the hands that planted need no epitaph in words . . . These pohulukawas, standing,' shelter colonies of birds. Roars the north wind; in the morning, tearing madly on its way— Undisturbed, the bird creation greet* » in chorus each new day. Shrieks the south wind in the sunset wild, untamed, and fierce and strong, Yet through all the rain and rattle rises still their evensong. Mates have they in bush and forest, ' but their songs are not so sweet As the music floating downwards ill i this busy city street. Clang of car, the noise and bustle, all their singing cannot stay .... In your passing, pause and listen—then pass, happier, on your way. Colony of feathered singers, born beneath a windy sky, Long, oh, long, may you make music for the toilers going by. With the coming of the springtime let your message fall and flow, Taking this—a benediction, for the pleasure you bestow. JOHN STORM. Hataitai. POSTED .... MISSING. "Tennison."—Netted ... in the w.p.b. "Alby ■ Jones."—"lllustrations" are not published in this column. Drawings show some promise. "Beach Stranded"' (Paraparaumu).— Neat little rhyme. Thanks for appreciative reference. "Aequanimela."—Liked your rhyme, but the occasion—fortunately—does not justify publication. "M.S."—Sorry, but once again you have just missed the bus. Good wishes reciprocated, and congratulations as to the heart cabbages. "Blah."—No further word from Mr. Gosh, who is possibly at work on some Miltonic theme. "Essie." —(1) Not for the moment. (2) Unable to say. (3) That one appeared in col. 8 sev-val months ago. L.B. (Masterton). —"What's wrong with Mussolini?" Probably a bad attack of l. onomania. "Bambino." —See reply to L.B. "Semi-Demicrats." —Trifle cheap, and much too personal. Never take any politicians too seriously. Elder Berry.—That is old stuff —if you will excuse the colloquialism. "Bantry Bay" (Marton).—You are at sea. That disquisition did not appear in Postscripts. "Emily Jane." —But we warned you it was "blatant nonsense." We were not very proud of it. "Nimbus" (Levin), "Attar of Roses," and "Novccn" (Karori). —Too late for that "compettiion." "Gran."—lf you send your name and address we shall forward the informa* tion you want.