AUTHORS AND THEIR VIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18333, 24 February 1923, Page 6 (Supplement)

AUTHORS AND THEIR VIEWS.

IN EASTERN CLIMES. j England, at a price, has given the t teeming millions of India peace, security b and an end of internecine intolerance; 5 this has been a fair transaction, in which, . on the other aide, merchants—very many f of them, by the way, not English 5 got the profits, and our civil servants . have given their lives, careers, and r health. > * MEALS IN JAPAN. j " A low table and a brazier -were I brought. in and set in front of me and my , cushions, and tea was served, with a box ( of marshmallows. Everything was on a P minute scale; six Japanese cups of tea are barely equal in quantity to one elsewhere. Moreover, the tea is not of the strength to which we are elsewhere accustomed. The teapot is filled with tepid water —not even hot. Into this a tiny muslin bag of tea is thrown, and at the same instant, the tea is poured out. The 1 tea in the bag has no time even to tinge the water before the teapot is empty. But the marshmallows were very good . . . 1 "Then the dinner commenced. The wall slid open, and two maids entered bowing, one with some vessels, which she laid upon the table, the other the daughter of the house, with ft large tub of cooked rice. She kneeled down beside me and ; waited my pleasure, for the rice is the ritual part of Japanese . meals. It is handed by the maid to the diner , with a great show of ceremony, and he has to cat it with equal consideration. In one of the little pots there was white mushroom soup, in another some bean soup, arid in another whelk soup, and there were, each in its own vessel, tiny quantities of omlette, vermicelli, boiled fish, lotus roots, edible bamboo, pickled meat, pickled gherkin, mushroom, chestnut, edible seaweed, and a dozen other deli-, cacies. But the masterpiece was a lobster ' and there was an empty blue bowl for rice. . . PRIZE DAY AT SCHOOL. The black and sweltering mass rose behind on the forms and cheered frenziedly as Fortescue, his red face smiling, took a mighty silver cup. He was the champion of the school. The champion retired, but to return again and again for a silver clock, a set of fish knives and forks, an alarm clock, a tennis racquet, a silver butterdish, and a silver plated jam jar, a goldmounted fountain pen, and a silver inkpot, a silver plated teapot, and a pair of nut-cnickers. Once more, for a shilling , pair of blunt scissors, his reward for tug- , o'-war. The prizes on the table having disappeared, the Most Worshipful Master repeated the address that he had given ; them for the past ten years. He was glad, he told them, that the same spirit of exi cellence brooded over the old school. Had | anybody received as prize a copy of that wonderful book, " Smiles' Self Help'"/ That was a fine book, and one that should be by every hearthside. It was that spirit that made the Old Country what it was; "Smiles' Self Help" won the battle of Waterloo. It was that spirit that made Alfred conquer the Danesit was— The Most Worshipful Master spoke some more, but no one listened to him, chiefly because his delivery was so bad. He seemed to be talking through a > mouth- ' ful of mashed potato. Throughout the ' address the ancient Governor snored tran- ' quilly. ' Mr. Rose replied in his incisive, clear ' tones. Every endeavour was made to maintain the traditional tone of the schcjol. ; Every , boy was encouraged to reason for himself. Liar," whispered Elfish in a hollow voice). Every pupil was made to realise the value of work. , "To the stars through difficulties!'' That - was the translated motto of the 'school. . A : The year's work was satisfactory. 'The y efforts of his colleagues were rewarded. Himself was fortunate in having such a brilliant staff. Everyone applauded. "And now we are to bo entertained by our athletes under Sergeant Wellbarrew." Immediately three boys ran on to the platform to move the table. The three boys effaced themselves; the old General was awakened tactfully by a prod in the paunch, and he made a grab at his chain as though fearing larceny.