The Aged Cynic and the Prize Idiot.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 71

The Aged Cynic and the Prize Idiot.

There had been a somewhat protracted discussion in the smoking-room between the Aged Cynic and the Prize Idiot, ana it had now reached the stage of flickering snappiness, which indicates the beginning of the end. " After all," said the Prize Idiot, " there is no fo"bl like au old fool." The Aged Cynic surveyed him calmly. "There is no ass like a young ass," he ietorted. " A tv quoque is the repartee of tne intellectually destitute," sighed the Prize Idiot, wearily. " When your case is bad abuse the other side," quoted tho other cheerfully. "Wise men make proverbs, and fools repeat them," said the Prize Idiot in his moet hydraulically crushing manner. " And who was the wise man who paid that?" asked the Aged Cynic innocently : and the Prize Idiot i= now making elaborate arrangements for having his seat moved further back.

Over Fifty, but Still at TTork. This is a picture of the oldest engine now at work in the world. It has been christened "Old Coppernob" (No. 3) on account of the old-fashioned copper dome over the fire-box. " Old Coppernob " was born at Liverpool

WORLD. in 1846. and is still doing good work in the hhunting yards at Barrow There was no direct railway communication with Barrow in those days, so the engine had to ho taken to Barrow hy water. But the time Las almost come when the engine must disappear from active work. Its wheels are 4ft 9in in diameter ai.d c\ lintier» 14in dia meter, 24in stroke.