BY THE WAY.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXXI, Issue 4131, 16 June 1920, Page 3

BY THE WAY.

[The Growler.]

In every tpwn, no matter how small it may be, there is always to be found "curious people," In common with other places we have them right here. They are .the true essence of eccentricity; and sometimes these "curious people" would appear to exhibit signs of mental derangement But they are all right. Their extreme shrewdness in business dispels any idea that they are "sort of a little bi.t off the top."

We have one or two of this class amongst us. One is decent enough in a way, and inoffensive. Some people think he doesn't know, enough to get under a verandah when it is raining. But don't be silly. One would wont to be a Philadelphia lawyer or ex-Judge Martin to keep up to him in dealing. He will sell "anything from a wheel-barrow wheel to a herd of hungry cows. Litigation is his •strong point. He ought to have been a lawyer. . Like a magnet he is for ever and anon drawing somebody into his fold.and into tribulation,, which pans out generally that the biter gets bitten. Bii,t he is all right when you know him, but you have got to know him first. The Maoris know him; the kiddies know him, and perhaps if everyone knew him as he knows himself there would not bf much call at P'unnyslde.

That is one class of citizen who is "curious." The other class is of a different nature. There is nothing wanting in his mental faculties. The only uncommon spectacle about him, is that he.is like a little cock-spar-row hopping from tree to tree. He never remains long in the same "nest." Still, he is amongst us 'n sufficient quantity. This class of resident grows prickly-bush and brambl-3 to trudge through himself. The only foundation of imagination that this individual is "'a little bit off the top" is when he is continually getting into a webb and, like the spider, drawing his little flies with him. This class of man is hard to fathom. To steer him would be like steering a ship without a rudder, but he himself could make life's rough way easy if he would only sail with the wind. He knows everybody, and everybody knows him, and that is why he hops from tree to tree. But every ship will find a harbour and every bird a nest. Shakespeare says:, "The world is" a stage, and' the people are but actors."

There is another class of man, ,too, but he is of a totally different bree-I to the foregoing. He is a man of character and integrity, but withal 1 he is "hot understood." He is reserved and sometimes inclined to be sarcastic, which is always bad taste and unbecoming. He has a liver that is a mis: fit, and people are apt to form false impressions. But it is his taciturnity that transforms his true nature. Thi* class of man will commonly pass you iv the street, and if one says "good day" to him he will pass on his way sometimes without the slightest acknowledgment. Another time this self same man will halt and want lo speak; but the slight/or fancied slight, has root. The halt is not made, and very often friendship henceforth ceases to exist. The man with .the mis-fit liver wonders why, and then—

"We move along asunder, Our paths grow wider as the seasons creep;

We marvel and we wonder why this is lite—

And then we fall asleep—Not Understood."

There is still another class of man whose affability is limitless. Such an ene as this is hard to define. He will talk about the weather and crops, land values, farms he has to sell, and lands he is prepared .to buy till he becomes black in the* face,, and shows symptoms of influenza. But he is ?i good sort all round whose company as a rule is a pleasure to be joined up with. But if one is in a hurry the best of friends must part. '"So, so"

see you again, and thus our affable friend with the limitless vocabulary powers -in a happy-go-lucky style, characteristic of his calling, departs to intercept the next man-

Any farms, any l;ands, any houses today

Buyers or sellers coming my way, My terms are easy 4 and bristling with

"snips" So let them all come and get the straight "tips."