BY THE WAY

Evening Star, Issue 19712, 12 November 1927, Page 2

BY THE WAY

[By Q.V.]

“'Ill: time lias come,' 1 the Walrus said, “ To talk of many things. ” Sir Roland Blades—it is a great name, a name one would expect to find in some tale of chivalry, or-borne by one of those cavalie of whom it was written; Their swords were keen and strong, On the right side, or the wrong, And gallantly, gallantly they -Bed What’s in a name? A great deal, fait lady. Consider with what care, with what art, the great masters of drama and of fiction named their characters A whole essay on the subject could be writt- . round the works of Scott alone. It was not for nothing that Conrad called the master of the Nan Shan heroic in his very denseness, whoso sole idea'was to “ keep her facing the seas ” Captain M'Whirr. Sir Roland Blades, Lord Mayor of London—how trippingly it runs!—has signalised the closing period of his office by giving a supper to 850 of the more humble of the corporation employees, and—here is where the nobility of spirit is shown—it was on precisely the same lines as those when Royalty is entertained by Loudon’s chief citizen. Gold plate, flashing crystal, snowy linen, the finest viands, the rarest wines that money or influence can procure. Can you imagine such a thing being done by a person named Peter Macphairson ? Do we hear someone say that Sir Roland would would have clone more wisely had lie given each guest the value of his or her share of tho cost? He would not. He has given them something better than money. He has given them a memory; a glimpse at the glory and pageant of life, and if any of those invited souvonired a bit of the plate, as has been done by much more exalted banqueters, he may have given them something more. >» * * • We are pleased to see that our old friend the Caledonian Society is still alive and doing pretty well, thank yon. It is not so much to the fore now as it was in the days when the world was wide. In those far-off times the Caledonian sports were the athletic feature of the year. They were held at the Caledonian festival of the New Year, when for a Week or so the town was invaded by honest men and bonnie lassies from tho rural parts, the former in kilts, and the latter in garments as near the prevailing fashion as circumstances would permit. Tho sound of the pipes was heard in the land, and the local hotelkeepers laid in extra stocks of tho national drink. Pipers marched with dignity, and preserved their characteristic unnatural solemnity under tho most trying conditions. Wo had not many amusements then. Occasionally the Presbyterians would start a heresy hunt. Once in a way a good theatrical company would try its luck, which was often good. One section of tho community _ attended the performances because it liked them, and the other to see if the show was really as wicked as it hoped. Tennis was considered effeminate, and played by males under protest. In the winter we had football, and in the summer cricket. An attempt to acclimatise lacrosse failed. There was racing, and the bookmaker, not then driven underground, haunted what is now the Grand Hotel Corner. Some of him was quite decent, but for the most part bo was a blot on the landscape, and a discredit to his parents and guardians. But amid all these excitements the Caledonian gathering was acknowledged to he the chief. The world went very well then. • * * * Another promising venture has ended in, disaster. In tho booming war period Mr W. M. Hughes, then Premier of the Australian Commonwealth, was stung by tho splendor of a sudden thought. No longer would his people be subjected to the exactions of the private shipowner. He would acquire a fleet of his own and show the world 'how things should bo run. So ho purchased some steamers and built others, and for a time every tiling went merry as a marriage hell. Freights were reduced. The shippers rejoiced. Shipping, however, is a ticklish business for an amateur to tackle. Soon tho losses began to mount up, till they could no longer bo concealed by the most expert bookkeeping. Exposed to assaults from without, the Commonwealth Line was in even greater danger from enemies on board its own vessels. In every shipping 11 hold up ” —and there were many of them—the Commonwealth steamers were specially selected for attack. Passengers began to fight shy of a line whore at intervals they might be called upon to bear a hand with a coal shove! or prepare their own meals. What tho boats nave cost Australia is not known, and probably never will be known. Augur—who, though he disclaimed being a wise man, seems to have had tho root of the matter in him—pointed out the trouble likely to occur ‘‘when tho servant reigneth,” and the servants of the Commonwealth Lino reigned with a high hand. Such of tho vessels as remain arc to bo sold. There is some talk of imposing terms which will safeguard Australian shippers and importers, but that is merely to save face. Anyone wanting a first-class ocean-go-ing yacht can buy one cheaply by applying to the Commonwealth Shipping Board. Any. offers? * * :'!■ ■■¥ A notable contribution to the cause of peace was given this week by a girls’ secondary school in Dunedin. It was officially described as a Peace Pageant playlet, and incidentally was very well performed. In the early stages of the playlet Humanity was shown as ho has been in the past—fighting, robbing his neighbors, having a riotous time when his wife was away for a holiday, and making good resolutions when she came back. Every now and then someone came along pointing out that the wages of sin were not worth the risk, and urged Humanity to put the peg in; but nothing came of these appeals. When Humanity was not feeling very well or had received a sound thrashing from, someone whose strength ho had underestimated, he made all sorts of promises, and occasionally even kept them for a while. Then some foolish person left tho back door open one night, and in the morning found the dining room clock gone, and simultaneously noticed Humanity making for the pawnbroker’s with something under his arm. The task seemed quite hopeless. But courage—remember the mouse which gnawed through the lion’s bonds and was snapped up by the beast before it could scuttle back to its hole; the spider that tickled Bruce’s nose when the cakes began to burn, and other historic precedents. At the opportune moment tho juvenile League ot Nations turned up, and Humanity gave up the struggle and joined the Salvation Army for keeps. We will not guarantee the accuracy of the details, but such, roughly, was the argument, it is a very good argument, too, and we only wish wo were young enough to believe It. • v ■ * • Although the Summer Time Bill has begun its deadly work, we have not heard the bitter cry of the agriculturist, Perhaps ho exhausted his supply while opposing the Bill. Perhaps he finds the loathsome thing less loathsome than expected. The man on the land, like other men, is a many-sided person. Judged by his public and offi-

cial utterances, ho appears to ho one kind of man; met on his native tussock ho seems quite different, and much more likeable.

Who is our mainstay hero below. The source from which all blessings flow? We answer, though perhaps you know, “Tho cocky.” Who rises'long before the sun, Nor knocks off work when day is done, But keeps on bucking in like fun? The cocky. Who gives his mite to each appeal, And shows much altruistic zeal, A thing which townsfolk seldom feel; The cocky. Who hates tho Arbitration Court, And town-made Jaws of any sort, And yet remains a good old sport? The cocky. Who, should he venture into town, Is genera (Iv taken down, And goes back homo without a brown P Tbe coekv. So, says he, as ho does his dash; Vet others think the person rash Who tried to separate Iron cash The coekv.