PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2010, 1 September 1892, Page 40

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

London Bridge is Broken Down. The other day I came across the origin of this line, made familiar by one of our nursery rhymes. In the olden days the making and the keeping of bridges in order largely devolved on religious bodies, and the Continental Brotherhoods of bridge-making friars that existed seven centuries ago have left as monuments of their work examples of perfect masoncrafb. The bridges were put under the protection of special saints and chapels, and oratories were ereoted on them in which, resided monks who levied toll or col-

lected alms from the piously inclined. Some bridges were exceptionally well provided for by endowments. London Bridge was one of these, and its endowment was supplemented by the rent 3 got from shops builb on it. Now, I dare say you all remeniber reading of the beautiful and accomplished Eleanor, who, though the wife of Henry 111, was disliked by tho English on account of her haughtiness and partiality "for foreigners. Well, to provide her with money to spend on queenly and feminine extravagances, the revenues of London Bridge were diverted from their legitimate use, and consequently the bridge fell into disrepair — became " broken down."

Slug a Song of Sixpence Is another nursery rhyme having, I think, foundation in fact as well as in fancy, its origin being traceable to the sixteenth century. Our forefathers had often enough from 10 to 20 courses to their dinnerscapons, wild boar, venison, peacocks, swans, hares, pasties— have any of you had a Cornish pasty?— pies and so on. One of the courses was, without fail, the pie, large enough at times for almost a small army, and covered with a 11 coffiu " or crust — our modern word " coffin " was not in use in the olden days, for the bodies were not buried in shells, but simply in winding sheets. In aristocratic circles, after the appetites of the company had been pretty well satisfied, it was often customary to create q little diversion by opening a mock pie and liberating a number of blackbirds, thrushes, linnets, and small birds in general, only, however, to be swooped down upon by hawks and falcon?. So much for tho fact connected with this nursery rhyma. Now for the fancy. Wny four-and-twenty blackbirds? To represent the 24 hours of the day ? ( Likely enough. The* crust of the pie is the - sky, and the bottom of the dish the earth; the opening of the pie is the break of day, and the king in the parlour counting out bis money — we'll, imagine sovereigns— is obviously the sun and his golden rays. Following up the analogy, the queen and her honey represent the moon and her silvery beams. The maid is the dawn of day ; the clothes, the clouds; and the bold little blackbird that picks off the maiden's nose is either the warmth of day that dissipates the clouds or perhaps preferably the sunset that hides all from view.

Grindelwald.

Last week's Witness tells us tbat a large part of thi3 pretty Swiss town has just been destroyed by fire. In the last number ofthe Review of Reviews an illustration is 'given showing the snowcapped peaks overlooking the town, and the glacier descending into the valley in which the town lies. But ib is on account of the Conference of the Churches that I refer to the town just now. In the Review of the Churches an outline is given of a co-operative travelling scheme worked out by Dr Lundy, the editor of the Review. When the article was written it was intended to have discussions on the reunion of the churches, the meetings to be controlled by Buch representative men as the Bishop of Ripon, the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, Dr Clifford, the Bishop of Worcester, the President of the Wesleyan Conference, and Archdeacon Farrar. The trip, including 10 days' hotel expenses in Grindelwald, was only to cost 10 guineas, so that, apart, from the religious and educational value of the conference, the excursion will have been extremely interesting and moderate in cost. Co-operative travelling is growing rapidly into favour at Home, and I see no reason why travelling clubs should not be instituted by the elder bojs of the public schools of Otago, and by teachers and others who have lengthened holidays once or twice a year. A teacher formerly located at Invercargill set a good example during exhibition time, bringing up to Danedin a large number of his older boys and camping out, with them. He subsequently took the boys on various expeditions, including one to Stewart Island ; but I have not heard of his example being followed. Perhaps a little later on I'll outline a scheme for local requirements.

A Slagic Lantern Society.

If what I wrote last week and in former notes hag caused any serious thought on the matter, I shall be glad to devote for a week or two a little of my space to the discussion of the Mibjecb. If there is to be a lantern society organised for next winter, the sooner arrangements are made for lanterns, and the importation and interchange of slides, the better. To facilitate matters, then, all in the country districts' who have lanterns and slides might communicate with me on the following points : —

1. On what conditions they will lend, sell, or exchange slides or lanterns. 2. Kind and power of lantern, and what slides they have. 3. What rules they suggest. 4. What lanterns they advise to get or avoid. 5. What slides they wish to have to illustrate Biblical, historical, geographical, or other lessons. 6. Whatever in addition may further the object in view.

I know of two districts where lanterns are being arranged for for next winter, and it has occurred to me that if a dozen or so were to combine and send Home the lanterns and accessories could be indented and landed at almost Home cost, duty of course beiDg excluded.

Correspondence.

" A.8.0." has again written on Prohibition, but has not sent his name, though press rales require the name with letters sent for publication. If "A.8.0." will supply the omission I may then have a word to say on faddists and on mob rule (by Prohibitionists, I presume).

— " Don't; be angry, old fellow — it's only my way," " Well, I wish you would emulate the babes in the wood." " How ? " " Lose your way. It's no good."

— Japan is said to be building a naval steel works for the manufacture of armour plates, for which L 375.000 will be required. The want of a sufficient supply of good quality iron ore in Japan has been strongly urged by the opponents of the scheme, but the great wish of the nobility to make the empire . independent of foreign manufacturers, in case of war, has caused this objection to be over-ruled.

A clear head is indicative of good health and regular habits. When the body is languid, and the mind works sluggishly, Ayer's Cathartic Pills will assist in the recovery of physical buoyancy and mental vigour,