A Question of Power

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 6

A Question of Power

Jones "Not Understood."

The other evening I decided to walk home from the office. The evening was mild and the thought seemed good to me. Anyway I needed the exercise. At our street corner I met Jones, our neighbor. . He seemed slightly perturbed — m fact more, so than usual, for he had always been a nervous, loquacious' individual. I slackened my. pace sbmewhat for t knew I was m for a bad quarter of an hour. • "Ah," he murmured as he buttonholed me, "these roads are m a shocking state, don't you. know. And my bobts; just look l at them!," "Very sad," I sympathised. "Power?s a great thing these busy days," he said going off on a tangent, tiT „ ■ - ' '. ..." "Sorry to hear that you're not feeling up to scratch, old man. Has the wife been neglecting- the festive board, or is it; the strain of the daily office routine that's undermined, your, constitution?" ...'",. He eyed ;me sternly; "I wish I had a little more* I'd— — " "Don't get despondent," T encouraged airily. "Take a course of physical culture — bucks one up immensely." This time he positively\glared at me as he mopped his ! brow and went on. "I've had a hard % day at the office and •now to cap it all -" 4 "There," I cried triumphantly F| "I knew you had been overdoing it." '"Nothing of the " sort," he snapped back. "Business must be attended to. I attend to mine successfully." '- I held my peace this time. Jones prided himself on his business ability and I didn't want to disillusion him just then. "It's those higher up," he gasped fretfully. "Those who guide the destinies of the city— they have the power, but it takes power to control power. Look at this confounded tramway,, breakdown.'- Breakdown! Confounded carelessness I call it," and he snorted fiercely. "Now, look at the result; I've had to walk home." I did. Had difficulty m stifling a grin and then bolted. Poor Mrs. Jones. I pitied her that night. ; ■— "H.G."