THIS PASSING SHOW

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7944, 30 October 1911, Page 11

THIS PASSING SHOW

Same little Talk awhile of Mo and Tbco There was—and then no more of Thc-o and Me. —Omar Khayyam. Our next scientific visitors from tho Motherland will prove conclusively that there is no accounting for tastes’ One cannot help awaiting with curiosity the arrival of this littlo group of Oxford enthusiasts, who have conceived an, original method of combining sensation with science. It seems that a littlo island, bearing tho complacent name of "Goodenough," lies off the southeastern coast of British Now Guinea. It is a littlo bit of an island, not fifty miles either way, and climbing to a mountain peak of SOCK) feet. Its chief attraction to tho Oxford anthropologists, however, lies in tho fact that the natives are known to b© quite enthusiastic cannibals : and it is tho intelligent study of cannibals and tueir littlo ways which is tho dcsiro of the Oxford expeditionists. Hcnco the proposed exploration of Goodenough. Tho expedition-—which was to start in tho middle of September—will bo under Mr David Jonncss, of Balliol, and as they wero to sail direct for New Zealand and reach New Guinea early in : November, wo should soon hear of enthusimitic meeting between tho travellers and Dominion anthropologists. A suggestive note creeps into tho explanation of tho unexplored nature of the island in the statement that "Ono or two attempts have been mado—but the explorer never returned/' ♦ • • • ° The work—and play—of tho Competitions -Society in Wellington goes merrily forward. Tho pubiicas interested, the contestants are even more interested, and according to accredited reports tho Christian virtues, though not on the scheduled list, diffuse a pleasing fragrance over tho proceedings. There is the greatest good feeling among the. competitors -even in tho musical sections and if ono may believe enthusiasts these same competitors approach the spirit pt v* iiutier's charming little maid m "Schooldays." I’m sorry that I spelt the word, I hate to go above you Because—tho bluo eyes lower tell— Because you see ... I lovo you. But seriously, you mothers and fathers, you will not forget Wednesday i Ot course wo are all—fathers and mothois especially—in tune with the boy scout movement, and I do hope that the ? sla J}4 Bay, Institute, Boscneath, Kilbirnie and Mount Victoria troops, who have worked so well at shelter construction, will find a big crowd to admire and criticise their work at the competitions on November 4th. „ •** . ; The verb “to, strike” is a pre-eminent-ly interesting ono in whatever sense it is used; whether individually or collectively. as between man and man, or men and men. Interesting, but scarcely entertaining. For though there is always the humorous side to this particular verb os to every other, it so often happens that wo are not in a condition to see it. But a “schoolboy strike appeals to ono straight away. The strike spirit during the recent labour troubles at Home was in the very air folks breathed, liid when the dazzling excitement ot tne Welsh riots with their shooting affrays had filled a thousand penny papers, young England, in fully nineteen or twenty different centres, decided to strike. The principles, for which they struck were full of self-respecting simplicity. They are principles which should endear them to their fellow hoys in this or any otter Dominion. Briefly Masters to be mor© lenient with. the cane. Half-hour's play each day. Half day's holiday every week. Reinstatement of all ' strikers without punishment. Sad to say, though strike etiquette was duly observed, and processions and pickets constituted not the least enjoyable items in the programme, the strikers failed—especially in the final item of. their demands! « * * • • AVhat a topic he is, this "glorious, soaring, human boy,” as Dickens makes tho oily Chadband describe, him in “Bleak House"! And what a time he lias had with the hot summer and the premium on flies in London and New York! The perennial question of whether we at the antipodes follow tho English seasons or not already creeps into conversation even at the stores, where smooth-spoken assistants press new fly traps on the housewife’s notice. A solitary blue-bottle droning on tho window this morning gives point to meditations on summer, on our friend the “human boy,” and on flies. Tho New York figures in lly destruction elude me—too big to remember, no doubt—but “fly paragraphs" may easily be picked up in the English papers. Twelve thousand flies for threepence seems literally "dirt cheap," and in Dublin, though the chief medical officer confessed tho bags were too large for tho payment, enthusiastic small boys were still delivering them at the disinfecting depot. What an object lesson on the comparative value of money to the Irish and , the colonial boy! Incidentally it is curious to hear that a dense swarm of flies took possession of an English country church so successfully that the parson and people wero. completely routed for tho whole day. Then we come bock to the initial question, are wo to follow tho English summer, and experience tho abnormal climatic conditions which have really mado of 1911 an “annus mirabilia”? —ZEALANDIA.