POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 47, 23 August 1940, Page 6

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment

BY PERCY FLAGE

A rolling stone may gather no moss but it does get round. *'■ * * Fun in the news (etiquette hint, in an Australian weekly): "Never break your bread or roll in your soup/ * * * When Britain sallies out from her fortress we hope that the drawbridge receives the attention that may be necessary. * * # If those concerned with the reclama* tion of waste material think that we are going to sift the various smelly dumps for essential metals—well, there's no harm in thinking. * «- * ■ "PLAY ON WORDS—WEAK I HUMOUR."

Dear Flage,—A few days ago I was visiting a daughter who prides herself on the general condition of her house. I had been doing a bit of gardening, and was washing nay hands at the tap over the laundry tubs. I noticed, that the top of the tubs was higher from the floor than is usual, and said to my daughter: "Your tubs are somewhat high, aren't they?" Immediately she nose-dived into the tubs and said indignantly: "I can't smell anything!" CON. READER Lower Hutt. . * # * BRAIN-TEASERS. Here are the answers to:— (DA bought a book, B a dress, C S handbag, D a necktie, E a lamp, and F a hat. (2) 60 women. Those who scored full marks were Polly Flinders, "Scruffy," Overtonn, C.8., Trentham, Oily, Nice Work, 8., and Kaiwaka. A.PJT., Aussie, Eighth. Columnist, Percy the Second, Trier, and Not Hard are credited with No. 1 only. And then there's tomorrow's job of work. * # * INFORMATION DEPT. Dear Mr. Flage,—As a regular reader of your interesting column, I understand that you answer queries of a general nature. Would you be kind, enough to tell me what the rate of Army pay is for a first lieutenant, married with two children, engaged in. home defence? As regards uniform, is this supplied? I should he most grateful for this information. —Thanking you. (1) He receives ISs a day, plus 3s- a day for wife, and Is 6d each for children under 16. Also, he receives <• 3s a day camp allowance if he lives in camp and 2 S 6d a day if he resides at home. (2) Officers on first appointment to a commission receive a uniform allowance. * # * INTIMATION. O.B.: Publication would land us m a spot of trouble. A.T. ("A Soldier's Thoughts"): Here's one of your uncle's verses: Just in time—l see her smile, I picture her face at a thousand mile, And now I feel her tender kiss. Oh! the world holds nothing as good as this. F.R. ("Again England"): Real feeling in your lines, but there are weak- , nesses here and there which keep it from publication. Khandallah: That story -of ~-.thqs.e transports sailing south, was just scaremongering. No need to worry about that party. Appreciate your kindly references to Col. 8. P.F. ("The Retreat"): Such publicity might make even our Editor envious, and we could not afford that, now, could we? But we are fond of that little "shed." . A.C.F.: We accept your assurance that there is a "Labour Gestapo" in this country, though we have never come across the "gang" ourselves. • R.W.: Sorry, old son, but ballistically you are off the line of fire. E.W.W.: That child's prayer has already appeared in Col. 8. Thanks all the same. „ "Greek to Greek": But what is all the fuss about Greece? Ambrose: Our recalcitrant water- . siders up north are sensitive folk, be- ' lieve us or not. W.W.: Publication would bring the Censor down on our devoted head crashingly. • O. My!: The Government had good reasons, no doubt, for holding up th' news.

THE TOLL OF TIME. Its history well-nigh forgot, So long deserted, the old cot Stands, lost, in its neglected plot. Banksias hide its lintel low While ivy clings and brambles grow About its sills. In springtime blow Wild daffodils Upon the path that weeds efface. Around the chimney's crumbling basi Thyme, rue, and heartsease interlace A creaking poplar, aged and lone, Hard by the cot, seems to bemoan Its sorry fate. All overgrown Beyond the gate, The violets that one time grew s And spread afar their royal hue, Attempt rio more to spring anew. I Barren, now, the orchard trees !Where bloom once lured the- honey(Did scent of musk, too, scent the breeze At limit of dusk?) , The dwelling, with its sagging roof Is sadly silent and aloof. ; A cheerless cotr Yet, there is proof. That folk found comfort rare, inside. As drawn about the hearth-place wid» In'winters past, they, there, defied The cruel blast. But little, now, can any tell Of those who, long ago, did dwell Within the place—or what befell; One knows the old home's day is past And that its doom approaches fast. Yes! razed, the cot will be, at last And sold, the plot. Lower Hutt. * «• ♦

BLESSING. Americans, who find "The StarSpangled Banner" hard on their voices, have found a patriotic song they can sing. Its words are simple, its music has only an eight-note range. Currently it ranks third among sheetmusic best sellers. Irving Berlin wrote the song in 1917, but laid it aside until a year and a half ago. Last month he announced that all royalties—over 40,000 dollars to date—would go into a patriotic trust fund. Radio's Kate Smith, famous for "When the Moon ~ Comes Over the Mountain," got credit for the song's success. She first sang it on November 10, 1938. Since then she has sung it about sixty-five times on the air, has sung it also for newsreels, for the 1940 World's Fair, for records. Only Miss Smith and the G.O.P. have permission to sing "God Bless America" whenever they please. Dance bands can't play it. because Mr, Berlin doesn't consider their purpose patriotic. Out of the tune's success a thriving novelty business has grown. People like to wear buttons, wave pennants, labelled "God Bless America." When the song was played at Brooklyn's Ebbetts Field last Memorial Day the crowd rose and uncovered as if for the National Anthem.