D.L.F. PASSING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 74

D.L.F. PASSING NOTES.

I By D.L.F. Ctvis 11.

Awkward Ned. ihas very kindly suggested that I should take upon myself the denghtfu! (?) task of criticising the L.F.s letters at least every third week. Although keenly alive to the honour conferred on me by cne so learned in such matters, I am afraid that I shall have tc gently but firmly refuse. Not so much to criticise do I write, but to "show our position," and to make a few passing and, I trust, interesting notes on events that are happening in connection with our page. But maybe I stall not altogether refuse to take advantage of the opportunity of exerting my criticising powers. Who knows but that 1, too, shaul become a severe and much-dreaded critic, and then — don't blame me : blame Awkward Ned! Strange that both my predecessor and I should be lacking in originality. Strange, passing strange; but life itself is strange. Strange that while one is lacking in originality another is lacking in discretion or in common sense. I head my writings lity or in common sense. I head my writings "Passing Notes." I am complying, to the best of my ability, with my predecessor's request — I am keeping up an old custom, so to speak. Do you hang up your stocking (or rather sock) at Christmas, Awkward Ned? ox have you discarded the old custom for oDe more original ? Strange if you have not. And so you are always told that you are original. My youthful friend, remember the old saying, "If you believe all you are told you will eat all you see," and, oh, my boy, take oare, take care, for — indigestion is an awful thing. It is chiefly with L.F.s "writings" tha* I deal; abovit their "sayings" I am somewnat ignorant, so, although I am called 'Tnoriginal," I shall still be D.L.F. Civis of D.L F. Passing Notes. N.B. — Is there enougJi "originality" in 'Le above note?

Dot's L.F., though a clever and famous band of folk, are, after all, "only human," and, like most other mortals, much given to "hobbies" and "crazes." Of these I shall mention a few. The "finding-out" oraze. How L.F. puzzled and worried their brains to discover the identity of other writers. Soon this vcas made comparatively easy for them by Nancy introducing the autograph mania among us. Autographs — oh, those innocent-booking slips of paper which used to haunt our sleeping and waking hours. How they flew on white fluttering wings all over New Zealand, from Auckland to the Bluff, and L.F., like Oliver Twist, kept crying foi more, and would not be satisfied. This mania is still very prevalent among us, mostly, I fancy, among the younger writers. Uruike the older and more experienced writers, they do not yet know how much time and worry and trouble are attached to tile word "autograph." All! experience is a wise teacher. From D.L.F. gatherings and D.L.F. groups we shall pass, and now we confront another popular craze — D.L.F. picnics. The first D.L.F. picnic which Rogue II told us of was heltl at Karnahi on j->ecem-ber 24, 1902. During the intervening two years several very successful picnics have been held, and now November 9 has^seen the largest D.L.F. picnic on record — in fact, "the picnic of a- lifetime." Oh, L.F., would we could ail have been there. Truly, the Dunedin D.L.F. have made a brilliant start this season, and the end has yet to come. May the anticipation not be greater than the actual experience.

— Personal Notes. — It is to be hoped) that the "points whicli caught the eye" at the picnic did not injure the eyesight. Did Texas Jack injure any cherry trees «• ih his hatohet, or did he only take it to the picnic ground to bury it? If Awkward Ned is_thinking of changing his norn de plume, may I suggest that he should use the adjective ''original" instead of "awkward." The change would be suitao-e and — original. Where would the D.L.F. picnickers nave been hadi Paulin (c) predicted rain? This is apparently a puzzling conundrum to solve, though with a, little thought the answer is made very plain. At the picnic ground, of course, not caring who predicted rain so long as it did not come. My notes this time aie already somewhat lengthy, 4 but still I cannot close without piesenting my compliments to one and all, and wishing each one the old, old. wish — a Laupy Christmas and a bright New Year."