POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 38, 13 August 1941, Page 6

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment i _____

BY PERCY FLAGE '

What will Noel Coward do now he is back in England? * * * . After many long years the old school tie is wearing to a frazzle. * » * The Dozer, despite his name, is undoubtedly a wide-awake thoroughbred. * * * It is astonishing how the Germans and Russians can kill each other in millions—on paper. * * * Henry: This is the finnish, we suppose, of that barque as far as its foreign ownership is concerned. -* * * UNAFRAID. To commiserating friends in Washington, pro-Hitler flyer Charles Lindbergh recently replied: "Well, there's nothing about being a so-called "Qfth columnist.' I can walk along the street without having the buttons torn from my suits." * * * WOOL-GATHERING. I went into a wool shop . . . Dashed out (no use to stop), Because, just 'tween ourselves, There was nothing on the shelves. I think it must be true That little 80-Peep Has lost her sheep— Don't you? . E.C. » # • VERSE. Dear Mr. Flage,—l would Be grateful to know if the following verse sounds sense to you:— With patience I have waited long On one alone who's all-to me At his own side I crave to be And shower all my affections on. X. It certainly sounds sense to a true blue sentimentalist who means business. * * * ' WAR GAME. Britain's latest game is paraphrasing Winston Churchill's famous tribute to the R.A.F.: "Never have so many owed so much to so few." Her* are some of the paraphrases: _ Petain: "Never havei so many lon so much for so little." Hitler: "Never have so few made so many suffer so much." Stalin: "Never has so much been stolen from so little.". Mussolini: "Never have so many fled before so few." . King George of Greece: "Never have so few pursued so many." Franco: "Never have so many eaten so little." * * • ON DUTY AGAIN. Many retired naval and army officers and others who have served their country with distinction are "doing their bit" in the war as members of the Homd Guard. Major-General J. H Beith, in an address at the Royal Empire Society, told the following story:—Not long ago a brigadier happened to pass a Home Guard sentry post in London. He recognised the sen t r y—his own solicitor, who turned out the guard. They were all elderly, and most of them wore a good many Service ribbons. He asked one man: "What were you before you joined the Home Guard"? "A rear-admiral, sir." He passed to the next. "And what were you?" "A major-general, sir." He moved somewhat hurriedly to the third man. "You are wearing some decorations I don't seem to recognise at all. Foreign, I suppose." "I was an ambassador,, sir." After that the brigadier dismissed the guard. * * * ' ' "OLD GLORY." * It may interest 'scripters to be told that the Stars and Stripes—-"Old Glory" to the Americans themselves— is an older flag than the British Union Jack, which, though originating in the Banner of St. George, first adopted by England in the thirteenth century,s dates back in its present form only to 1801. "Old Glory" has been substantially the same as it is today even since it was first conceived 164 years ago. Its bold red stripes arid neat rows of white stars on a blue ground spell history. The 13 stripes represent the States / which originally formed the Union; the 48 stars the number in the Union today. Like that of most national flags, the design of the Stars and Stripes has been altered from time to time. Known as the Grand Flag or Cambridge Flag, it was first displayed when General Washington took command of the colonists' militia at Cambridge. , v * * * MISSING? Dear Mr. Editor, I crave Your k.ind permission here to ask Attention to a question grave, The cau§e of which we would unmask. Because of circumstances grim "The Post" has been reduced in size Until its form is youthful, slim— • Nor does one murmur with surprise. In spite of this, each reader finds The bill of fare attractive still; Each finds a special part that binds His fealty to art and skill. A team of unseen happy folk Support a part well known ta-all For subtle wit, humour, and Joke; Yet twice the ref's withheld the ball. And so as spokesman for this band, I ask or beg, implore, demand-Black-out the moon, black-out the sun, Black-out the stars—yes, everyone. Black-out the ads., black-out the news, Black-out the photographs, the crews Of ships, and shoes, and sealing-wax, And everything your brain might tax. But leave to us one torch of light To brighten up our lives each nightIt's sometimes known by names sedate, We simply call it "Column Eight. POLLY FLINDERS. « * * COME UP, CHARLIE! Recent mention of former leading iockey Charlie Jenkins brought to mind racing at Otaki a few decades ago and the demonstrations that used to greet successes of this capable horseman on his native heath. It was on the old course out Rangiuru way The twenty-stone Maori starter was on his platform a bit above the rail, release rope in hand. The large field was standing like a troop of cavalry at the barrier with the exception of Jenkins's mount a few yards back and for which a nice wide gap k had been left on the rails. Then came the word of command in even tone, "Come up, Charlie," repeated crescendo as horse and rider edged forward and culminating in a yell "Look out, Charlie," with a mighty pull to release the barrier. The recoil, and excitement, caused.the starter to almost lose his balance and yours truly had to duck in avoidance of the threat of the overhanging avoirdupois. However, there was a good-humoured laugh, from the crowd and Charlie maintained the two or three lengths advantage of the walk-in start all the way to the winning post to the accompaniment of expressions of frenzied delight, incipient hakas, etc., amongst the Maori population. Ah, those were tht days? &