BY THE WAY

Evening Star, Issue 18809, 6 December 1924, Page 2

BY THE WAY

tßj Q.V.] “ The. time has come,’’ the Walrus said, “ To talk of many things.” “ They crept down like a cloud passing over tlto stui,” said an orator at the* Southland Farmers’ Union the other day. He referred to rabbits. If the rabbit has any sense of irony he must sometimes smile when ho thinks of his past and present conditions in this land. Originally imported to be killed for our sport, he has now to be slain in yearly millions lest ho drive us off the face of the country. The hand of every man, the month of every dog, is against him. The pieco of red and succulent carrot left apparently carelessly in the vicinity of his home will poison him. That patch of displaced earth on tho .road ho frequents conceals a trap. Shooters from the city rouse him, front his slumbers at midday in order to miss him at short range. Ferrets invade the burrow where ho lives in domestic felicity with Ids wife and family, like our prehistoric ancestors. And through ,it all hie persists, and even multiplies. You may see his impudent white tail disappearing into Hie Town Belt scrub within 20yds of the houses. Armed only with some fleetness of foot, sharp eyes, and enormous fecundity, he bolds his own gallantly. Moreover, he points a moral. How will we fare in the coming silent, but deadly, economic struggle with the allegedly inferior races, already treading on our heels, which can outwork, under-live, and enormously outbreed us ? * * » * Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a —no, That’s a libel!—Taffy was Our respected foe. We went to Taffy’s land For a little game; Taffy was delighted to Join us in the same. Taffy’s team were training, Practising for days, For to circumvent our sly • Antipodean ways. Taffy’s sons were wearing Patriotic leeks; All their .patriotic songs They rehearsed for weeks. Taffy’s players met us— Fifteen of the best; And in socialistic red Jerseys all were dressed. Taffy’s backers helped them With a gale of song; On its wings the scent of leeks Floated/ hot and strong. Taffy hoped to beat us, With such backing—still, Taffy’s team were beaten by Nineteen points to nil The first question asked by the rescued miners at Dunvant was “ Who won V They had spent a good deal of thentwo days’ entombment in discussing the pros and cons of the great argument, All Blacks v. Wales. One almost wishes that the verdict had been reversed for /heir sakes. But perhaps such enthusiastic “sports” would prefer to put patriotism on one side and see the best team to. Queer things are done in the face of imminent danger. Long ago a steamer hit the New Zealand coast with consideiable violence. The shock throw an officer off watch out of his bunk, but failed to awaken his fellow-mariner in the lower berth. When the latter was roused up sufficiently to grasp the situation, his fiist exclamation was t “ D it, you are putting on my trousers,” nor would he be comforted till the garments were removed and replaced on the proper pair of legs-

» * * * The nows has travelled far and wide, To captivate the countryside; Our mayor, grave and dignified, Has made a proclamation : _ “As councillors wo sympathise With our colleague in his surprise, MacManus has wiped both our eyes; Accept congratulation.” “ Children,” so wrote an ancient king, “ To a strong man more strength will

bring ”; , . But when MacManus does a tiling He ne’er o’er trifles troubles. Single additions to the flock, Are for most men sufficient shockj Of timid souls he makes a mock; Mac’s forte is in doubles. Dunedin matrons who peruse The vital columns, of the news, Marvel what names mamma will choose. This strain of thought pursuin’, For names te fit them when they re grown I make suggestions ray own; Just call one baby— Livingstone, And name the other Lewin. May fate be loth their lives to mar, And, thriving ’neath tho luckiest star, Triumphant over fret and jar, _ May each bright, sturdy laddie Keep the flag flying till tho end, As through life’s devious ways they wend, Be worthy foe or faithful friend, And “ bricks,” just like their daddy. *a9 • .

What an excellent virtue is thrift! By means of it thousands of humble wageearners accumulate in the aggregate enormous sums. They pour thoir small but continuous trickles of pounds into the reservoirs of Savings Banks and similar receptacles. Slowly the golden—or at present paper—lakes rise. At intervals the sluice gates are opened, and the floods pour forth to irrigate all sorts of enterprises. The deposit of an ardent Prohibitionist may help to finance a mammoth hotel. The wash lady may unwittingly be helping to erect a steam laundry, which presently will lake her job away from her. It is a subject which leads far. Let us rather consider the virtue at its source. It is not confined to any one class. The rich may share in its blessings; the poor are not' altogether excluded. Few there aro so indigent that there is not my'hing they can do without and save the cost of. But to see thrift in full bloom one had better study it in the homes of those who, to the unthinking, seem to Have least need to cultivate it. A land t-y/ier who figured lu the Police Court tni.s_ week affords an opportunity. It seems that he procured his meat from his ancestral acres instead of from the local butchers. I his is strong evidence of a thrifty .-pu-it, but not absolute proof. Sentiment may have intruded its influence, or perhaps fne 1 onipraised mutton was sweeter than the Dunedin chops. But he had his parcel reded to him as vegetables. Vegetables are carried at much lower rates ;.hau mutton. Hero is where the forethought, the care, the calculation came in. And the nrgistrate said 40s and costs. Alas, every virtue has its long roll of martyrs, thrift no less than the others. $ * * * Great Britain’s slow /development of wireless is making disadvantages for the Navy. Our silent Navy is our pride, Efficiency personified. Like dogs that bark not, though they bite, Our sailors do not talk, but fight. But now, alas! the latest nows Has made us shiver in our shoes; Our Navy is—wo grieve to tell, Not only dumb, but deaf as well I