The Lily Pond's Cold Kiss Then and Now

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 6

The Lily Pond's Cold Kiss

Then and Now

By the "Waikato Kiver, near Hamilton, is a pool called the Lily Pond. 'The -name suggests- an attractive spot — m t,hc. daytime, at all '.events.' But on a dark, cold, rainy night the Lily Pool must look black and forbidding. And things must have been at least equally black m. the mental outlook of a down-and-out youth who the other night cast himseir despairingly into the big embrace of the Lily Pond. •' ' , Fortunately, the Pond is not very deep — some five or six feet— and the youth was 1 pulled out, none 1 too so6n. The hospital doctor said he had had a close call. The youth, informed the police that he was utterly "fed up" with 'life. He had tried everywhere about the .place to get a. job, but had failed. He was penniless, hungry, weary, and cold, and he thought the. best, thing under the circumstances was to put an. end to th : ngs. When charged at the.Hamilton. Court; a few days later with attempted suicide, lie was ordered to come Up for f.-enteiiee if called upon. His former employer, a motor salesman* said the young fellow was a good workman, but lie had had to put him off. because he had no work, for- him. However, he was willing to give him another start.-' '■ ■•".-'■-•• ■ The lad seemed grateful for the kindness shown hint all round, and tlie Bencli ordered the suppression of his name. .

Our maids were modest, sweet, and shy, In days gene by. No dresses short or tight were found, They swept the ground. They did not drink or swear or smoke .../". Or crack a joke, And Mary had, like Jane and Pam, . A little lamb. But since that time there's been a change, And maidens range From sparsely clothed to nearly nude-*— ' ' And most are rude. The only lambs that Mary runs Are human oneSjV And this^goes on her epitaph, "She had a calf." "...:.' •—"Artemus H."