WANDERINGS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 4 January 1910, Page 5

WANDERINGS.

"My pen's my sword; I tilt at all 1

meet."

(By Weary Willie.)

A certain place, of a climate unutterably warmer than Blenheim, will have' received its annual consignment of paving stones by this. One feature about good resolutions is that they wear out so quickly. One man of my acquaintance made a vow on Saturday morning last that he would nob drink anything stronger or more alcoholic than lime-juice and glycerine. Before night he was "boskyeyed," which is good round Devonshire for blind, paralytic drunk. So much for good resolutions which needbacking up by will power. The practice of drinking is, to lapse again into Devon, "awnsalf." I navo never yet run across a drinker who was a drinker in the full sense of th& word who was not also selfish. I beg pardon, I have—once. I remember a married couple on a station whohad congenial habits in this line. No "Johnny Wouldyers" for them. They went put in the coupling. I saw them at a racecourse; at the booth,, for sure. The gentleman was holding, up a post which supported the tent at one end, and his good lady was ditto, ditto at the other end. The two were "shouting" each other in turns, .but. each ai'mid to let go of the friendly support of the post. They were an ideal' coup] o, and were •fully determined to share the weal, as they would (next morning) share, the woe. No selfishness about them.

I think I must, have a strain of Barnaby Rudge about me, inasmuch (I borrow this word from His Washup the Mare) —inasmuch as I start? out-to write: something and wander afar from the original subject. I intended to talk of New Year's Eve ia Blenheim. I don't think I have seen quite so many "alcohlic overcomes" in this insanitary town as were noticeable on Friday night. In fairness it must be said that they were* for the most part, "seasibly" saturated; there was no rowdyism. . .;M few of the revellers Had reached tjia singing stage, and endeavoured tb> emulate Feline Thomas, to the accompaniment of the hundred and one* instruments of torture which delight the' hearts' and ears of. the. 'futuregeneration." , The shopkeepers doing groat business; indeed, one of; our leading mercers let fall the joyous remark that New Year's Eye wa* the best business night he had ha<| for the past seven years. A fcigf <{Say-so';'! The Sons of, Erin were; abroad with their clashing instruments of brass, and added materially/ to the noise—nunno, I mean the en* joyment of the scene. The Salvatioi* Army,, at all. events,,did s not attempt, to enter into competition.

Suffragists are trying to turn Horfield Gaol, Bristol, into a Garden of Eden in some-^vxijs, Mxb the authorities there thjjik,■'-.:.tjbat it was moreEdenlike before tKeir arrival the London Daily Mail), and say that with them there entered" into the gaol the serpent of strifo. The suffragists, in question are to be sitting in their cells like Eve—sans hats, sana clothes, sans everthing except an oo casional blanket. The prison rule* demand that they shall wear prison clothes. They refused to undress,' and when they were compelled to do so they refused to don the substitutesgiven them. So thsy sit coldly contemplating their position.

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