BY THE WAY

Evening Star, Issue 20440, 22 March 1930, Page 2

BY THE WAY

[By Q.V] “ The time has come,” the Walrus said, “ To talk of many things.” The attraction which draws crowds to the Speedway has not yet affected us, nor do we greatly fear falling under its influence. The call of many modern sports is the loud call and the clear call which summoned the Roman crowds to the amphitheatre when the lions wore hungry and there had been a good catch of prospective martyrs. Wo do not think for a moment that everyone goes to Forbury in hopes of seeing someone killed or seriously injured, but the possibility of such a happening is doubtless a factor, though an unconscious one, in deciding tho form of the evening’s amusement. The greater chance of a spill the better the gate, is a maxim which promoters of these contests ought to paste up in « prominent place for handy reference. You seo the cycles pass along the street, sixty tho minute. What’s to note in that? You see one racing on the cinder track; It you must watch, it’s sure to crash, yet does not. Our interest’s on the dangerous side of things. (If one may profane Browning.) Cycle racing under modern conditions is perfectly safe, they say. It may be so, yet there is always the hundredth chance. As we say, wo ’have not Visited the track yet, but there is a lad who rackets up and down our usually quiet street, particularly, it seems, when we are writing these notes. If ever we hear of his competing it;is just possible that we will bo among those present. Luck migljt be on our side that night. Who knows? • * A * Fantastic as it may sound, .Sir Hubert Wilkins purposes exploring the Arctic Ocean in a submarine. What the sensation of cruising under an iceberg as big as Flagstaff may be, wo do not know, and have ho wish to ascertain personally. It looks to ns like a new and sensational manner of committing suicide, involving also the deaths of other intrepid, if misguided men. Daily many people take their lives in their hands for one reason ,or another. Medical research workers iunoculato themselves with the summer fashions in bacilli, or infect themselves with the latest diseases, hoping thereby to save others. Chemists juggle with forces which could pulverise them in a moment, and " electricians risk the chances of touching one of a maze of death-dealing wires. Women risk pneumonia in order , to display .a few extra square inches of their charms to a. blase public, and the policeman passing on his beat with stately stop and slow knoweth not the moment when some friend of former years may elect to recall himself to memory with a piece of lead pipe. In such cases the motive is more or less plain, the gamble more or less a fair one, but what good may result from exposing oneself to the probability of death, and the certainty of chilblains, fathoms deep under the ice, we cannot even guess at. Submarine Arctic exploration leaves us appropriately cold.

When Howard was Ambassador For Britain, in the States, He kept a good and generous store Of stuff tjiat cheers, and—what' is more— ..... , Inebriates. Of course, I dp not mean to say Ho drank it to excess, But though he kept it put away, Yet somehow it, from day to day, Grew less and less. Well, latterly Sir Esme thought He’d stocked his house enough, Ami swore he’d never more import A single bottle of this sort , Of heady stuff. Which sounded very virtuous, And resolute, and firm;. But really, ho was acting thus— Because he’d got enough (and plus) To last his term. So, when Sir Esme left, as all Ambassadors ' must so leave; If Pussyfoot bad paid a call, That cellar would have made him squall, I well believe. Now Lindsay’s filling Howard’s place, lie’ll fill the cellar too. He’s bought up bottle, cask, and case . (Most reprehensible and base, 1 think—don’t you?). Perhaps ho thinks it best to fill. His collar in this style, Because tho stuff that Yankees swill. Is guaranteed to stun or kill At half a mile. But later, as his term expires, ’Twill make creation think When this is flashed across the wires: “ Sir Ronald Lindsay now requires No' more strong drink.’’ * * # We hope that our father, old John Bull, will not become a second Ring Lear. That monarch, you remember, also had a weakness for magnificent but unprofitable gestures and a blind trust in the goodness of others. Ho handed over Ins kingdom (in the most irregular fashion) to his daughters and their husbands. Out of all his forces ho retained but a hundred knights. By plausible arguments he was induced to reduce these to fifty, then to twentyfive, ami at last to none at all. He then very quickly discovered the difference between a powerful ruler and a penniless outcast. His ultimate fate is the subject of possibly the most powerful tragedy in literature. Ho, however, had the excuse that ho trusted in his own children, bound to him by the strongest ties of kinship and gratitude. Father Bull seems bent on reducing himself—and incidentally us—to impotence to please an alien and not oyerfriendly Power which takes every care not to follow his example. At one time to bo a British subject was to bo respected, if perhaps not loved, everywhere one went. Now, when travelling, tho safest plan seems to bo to conceal one’s nationality _ and accept without protest whatever insults and indignities may be heaped upon one. Poor old Father Bull! Now none so poor as to do him reverence. Some of his own dominions even refuse to speak his language or fly his flag officially. With most the •stoutest tie is tho hope of borrowing more money from him. We feel sorry for Pa. Ho has done good' work in his day, and on tho whole shown more regard for truth and justice than most of bis neighbours. Even to-day his stubborn determination to pay Ins debts extorts unwilling admiration from some who show no desire to pay theirs. If Pa goes down the world will bo a worse place than it Is, if that is possible.

We had not hitherto made the acquaintance •of the Burkes and St. Leonards Progress League, but its report discloses a strong family resemblance to all the clubs, societies, associations, and leagues wo have met. P

Brothers in affliction all of them. The West Harbour concern remarks plaintively; “This year we finish with a membership of twenty-nine. This is accounted for largely because members have not paid their subscriptions.” It adds, with an optimism winch we trust may bo justified; “This will doubtless be rectified at the annual meeting.” These leagues and so forth are born in the brain of some enthusiast “ stung with the splendour of a suddeu thought”—a realisation of what the world at large or some section of it V really needs. When he has ' converted a few of his friends the little band sets forth to found a society. This is not very difficult. Few people have the moral courage to say “ No ” in a firm, decided voice, and believers are converted already. The society starts merrily on its reforming way. Later some of the members- have a feeling that advantage has been taken of their good nature, and the easiest way of entering a protest is to neglect to pay their subscriptions, a course which has also economy to recommend it. Then is the society joined to its fathers, or if it survives it is only by the heroic efforts of its officials. Some poet mentions that he “ would rather be hated .than quite forgot,” and many a society wishes that its members would taka a course of memory training at the beginning of the financial year. Let us hope that the West Harbourites have spotted the silver lining and that all will be well at the annual meeting.

*.* s a There is a little Cornish -tows Where I would like to be. It’s gained an unforeseen renown, And that because, you see. It’s filled with thrifty Cousin Jacks, And consequently no one lacks The wherewithal to clothe the backs Of wife and progeny. It boasts no bloated plutocrat* - No puffed up profiteer, Why buys things cheap and waxes fat By selling them too dear. The'natives live by hewing rock* Of granite into handy blocks, And tending, of their herds and flocks Throughout the rolling year. And, similarly, Stithians Is careful to avoid That inconvenience due to man’s < Becoming unemployed. For though there are no earnings based On millionaires’ ideas of taste, Still, every able man is placed, . And no one’s xnirse is void. Just fancy then, tho vast surprise That came tho other day, And made the wisest rub their eyes, Wien one who went away. (The village cobbler, to wit), Most unaccountably saw fit To leave a tiny little bit For poor folk—so they say, , They searched each cottage in the place, They hunted all around, But not a single “ hard up ” ease Could anywhere he found. And though tho village was possessed Of thirty thousand of the best, They all ejaculated “Blest If we can spend a pound!” I shouldn’t like to face the, task Of hunting jobs, though willing To work for it,.before I ask A fellow for a shilling. I shouldn’t over think it good To lean on charity for, food. Or other means of livelihood. It’s absolutely killing. But oh, if I were broke. And poor 1 ’as Lazarus, I’d look with envy on the folk Of Stithians, who thus Are beneficed with half three score Of thousands for the starving poor, And cannot find an outlet for This useless overplus.