PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 76

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

THE FOURTH OF JULY.

The July numbers of American periodicals for boys are just to hand, and for red-hot patriotism and jingoism they are a caution — perhaps that term is a little slangy, but let it pass. 1 did think of giving a few quotations to show lowAmericans celebrate that great day in their history as a nation, for we mi^ht learn from them in two ways : To cultivate a 6trong patriotism, based on a knowledge of history, but at the same time not to allow patriotism to degenerate into wild license and a pandering ta mob instincts. Instead, however, I shall give you a letter s>ent from Chicago by the son of a gentleman who follows tins column very closely, though it is for boys. This young man passed through his apprenticeship in Otago to one "of the branches of engineering, and not seeing a good opening here, decided to travel to get experience and a knowledge of the -world. He -went Home, and frun there to America. The letter is the last he has written back to his parents. You will see that he touches on other topics than the Fourth of July: —

Chicago, U.S.A., July 12, 1905. Dear ,— The Fourth of July has jusfe passed. Did you not hear the racket? Pandemonium reigned supreme for a day or two. What with crackers, dynamite caps, torpedoes, revolvers, and all sorts of other explosives there was no rest for the sensitive person.

A favourite amusement of the small boy was to lay small dynamite caps on the ear line for the of a block. When a car came along at a good speed and exploded the caps the noise was deafening. Another was to purchase a cane about the same lengthy, as a walking-stack, with an iron arrangement at the end. A cap was placed in a recess in. .the iron end, and when smartly struck on the sidewalk it would explode with the report of a rifle. Eevolvers were quite freely used. It is needless to say that quite a number of people were more or less injured. In the paper I am sending you will find a brief account. One or two have since died of lockjaw. A partial list published in the Chicago Tribune of July 5 of the killed and injured states that 42 were killed outright, and 2431 were injured (throughout U.S.A., of oourse), and the losses by fire totalled 115,860d01.

The other night I we at to a party, the first since leaving- Xew Zealand, nearly two years ago. It was a pouch party. Here quite a numba: of people live in flats, and very often at the baok of each house there ii an open balcony. They call them porches, because- the hack stairway leads from thena. Well, in this porch, nicely fixed up and hung with Chinese lanterns, we started to amuse ourselves, but a thunderstorm came on and drove us indoors. We enjoyed ourselves though, and bad a feed of watermelon, ice cream, and cakes. Sa-y, would you like a piece of \» atermelon ? Oh, it is good! You should, have seen me last Sunday. I spent the day with some friends, and we had a whole watermelon between us. It weighed cli&e on 251b, and three of us/ ready finished it in one round. Niggers are not the only cues that like watermelons.

Bookmakers are not allowed to pursue, their calling in this town. They have been driven from one hiding- plaoe to another, till they had the law beaten by going out on the lake and having communication with the shore by wireless tele-graph. This worked all right for a while, but the police were not idle, and one clay the steamer could not get an answer from the shore. On returning she found that the shore station had been raided and the instrument taken. This station is used for trade purposes as well, so as not to prevent legitimate business. The instraments were returned on condition that they were, not to be used for gambling purposes. The vessel is laid up now pending an inquiry. I suppose you have heard of our 18-hour train to Xew York. The cost is about 600dol to take the train that distance— 9so miles. The engines consume 40 tons of ccal. One night when going about 60 miles an. hour the monster engine, hauling four or five of the Pullman class of ears, which are the finest I have seen anywhere, was derailed at a switch. Twenty people were killed «nd a number injured. This tram does not carry a great many persons, because they have to pay a tall price for the privilege. We are having- some warm days now, but not quite so warm as they have in New York, where, you will have probably read, many people have died through excessive heat. For my own part, this ia the first time I have had specially light underwear for summer, a,nd I feel the benefit of it. Chicago is not much troubled with excess of heat, like New York. Of oourse we are farther north, but our proximity to

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I<ake Michigan keeps us much cooler, especially- when there is a breeze off the lake. 1 must thank v you all for your kind •wishes on. my birthday. Gee, but I am getting old now ! I must conclude. — The Separation of Norway From Sweden. — This week's Witness tells us that an Overwhelming majority of Norwegians lave decided in favour of separation. I think it is a mistake in these days of consolidation. A federation of Holland, Belgium, Denmark, and the Scandinavian Peninsula would appear to be more sensible than any more splitting up. But I •wasn't intending to take that matter up. The young man whose letter I have just quoted sends a paper with a cartoon en this question of "separation. It is headed, "Let Sweden and Norway Pause," and is thus described : — The cartoon represents Uncle Sam' in dilapidated clothes, battered hat, and a wounded hand, standing in front of a hut. Through the open doorway can be seen Aunt' Sam binding up the wo:mds of % little- boy, tsrho has apparently sat on a powerful cracker. The American eagle is taking shelter in a dog 1-ennel, and is looking out disconsolately upon destroyed, furniture, while Sweden and Norway, in the shape of two small gentlemen, are looking on horrified,' and Norway is saying, "I rever thought of that." Uncle Slam calls out, . remember, the one of you that iicks the other, will have to suffer this Fourth of July sort of business once a year to' the' end of time." ■ 4 '" —The American Bow. — • - . ■ The following, another portion of his letter, is well "worth, thinking over. Thare' is no sight prettier, to my mind, than, to see "boys and girls thoughtful for the care of the sick, the maimed, and the old; and. if reading this portion of his letter will cause ;any of my young readers to show considerafekai/ to such I shall be_ glad: — We sometimes conclude after reading of how they do things in America that the American schoolboy is as near boy-perfeo-tion #s it is possible for a boy to be, but it is worth while to look at the heart side of his character. In the paper before me there is a column headed, "'Day of Anguish For Sick Folks. Patients in Hospitals Are Made Hysterical by Noises in the Streets. Nwses Are Kept Busy. Matrons Com1/elled to Ask Police to Check Firing of Cannon, Oraokers. etc." I quote a few sentences out of tbe_column: "Hundreds of patients were subjected to nervous .shocks. In many cases it was recessary to e?Il upon :the police to disperse the crowds around the hospitals. Appeal to the pity of the noiserafikera wa? useless. While the perpetrators of the noise danced with glee at each explosion of the giant crackers; little children stricken with fever ancf other maladies cried with. fear. One lad of about r 18- years of age insolently replied, ".The United States is a free country, and I guess we can fire off our crackers if we want tol " We are got going to have our- Fourth^poiled just because -some people «re siok." '„ . ' ' ', It jwns a common thing to throw the gienb crackets from windows into the* street. Kb fewer than 327 were killed or injured ty firearms. .It-i» to-i-e hoped ihafc the New Zealand lx>y will grow up with some consideration for the aged, the inurm, and the sick. — Some Interesting Words. — • Now and then I have given Chats on •words. Here is a short article I came across the otiber day. I am sure it will interest some of you: — The original meaning of "awkward" was "going the^wrong way," from Middle English "awk," equal to contrary. The "awk end" was the wrong end. "With awkward ■wmd," equal to with contrary wind. 'he band of lowest servants of a great noaie were termed "the blackguard." Their dut-ias consisted in cleaning pots and pans, looking after the ookking spits, etc. (The story of Lambert Simnel's rebellion, and his serving as scullion in the kitchen of Henry VII, might not inappositely be roughly outlined here, en passant.)> "Bombast," now meaning a pompous or inflated ■ style of writing or speaking, was once the name of cotton-wadding, or any soft material for stuffing garments. "Boudoir," a lady's private room, was originally a room to sulk in! From French "bouder," equal to sulk. ■ In places the' word "brat" is still used to mean a .pinafore or apron; though, of course, it is j generally employed as a contemptuous " term for a child.- Of Gteltio origin, its literal meaning ig "rag." . "Explode,'! -the opposite of "applaud," really means "to drive out by the rQapping of. hands/'. From Latin "ex," equal to out, and "plaudo," equal ~to I clap my hauds. • A literal translation of the title of the Westminster Gazette would be the- Westminster Magpie. The Italian word "gazetarre" means "to chatter like a magpie" ; hence to write tittle-tattle. (Far be it from my intention, however, to imply that tho publishing of tittle-tattle is the function of the Westminster, St. James's, or Pall Mall.) A most interesting word is "gossip," from M.E. gossib (earlier form, "godsib"). Originally meaning a sponsor in baptism, or one related in the service of God, it has in the oourse> of years greatly lost caste, so to speak, and is now used as a designation for an idle chatterer or garrulous bnsybodjy. An ostler (equal to hosteller) is nowadays & person cf but local importance, if that. Once, however, the term was applied to "mine host," the keeper of an hotel or kosfcel. Some writers, evidently trying to "pull the leg" of their more credulous readers, 'say it is a contraction of "oatetealer." A Ba6h. from Persian shasfc, was, to use &n Irishism, onoe a turban. The term "sycophant" is applied to a Jjerson whp~ is a- servile flatterer or common informer. It is usually said to mean x one who informed against persons stealing figa from Attica or plundering the sacred fig trees; or more probably one who brought figs to light by. ehaking the tree; .hence- one who makes rich men yield' up their-fruit '(£ s. d.) by information and blackmail. (From Greek <: sukon," equal to • fig, and "phaino," equal to I show.) A tarpaulin was a sailor, from the tarred canvas suit he wore. Now we speak and smg of our "tars." Vivacity of manner and cheery optimism are undoubtedly fine asset* In these days of

keen competition and frequent disappointment; but vivacity had a far different meaning once. Then it signified "longevity." — H. E. Gowera. — Don't Look for Flairs. — And here is a piece of poetry — rot very classically written, no doubt, but containing a good moral : — Don't look for flaws as you go through life; And even when you find them It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind, And look for the virtue behind them. For the cloudiest night has a hint of the light Somewhere in its shadows hiding ; It is better far to hunt for a star Than the spots on the sun abiding. The current of life runs every way To the bosom of God's great ocean ; Don't set your force 'gainst the river's course And think to alter its motion. Don't waste a curs© on the universe; Remember it liv-ed before you; Don't butt at the storm your puny form, But bend, let it fly o'er you. Ths world will never adjust itself To suit your whim to the letter; i Some things must go wrong your whole life long, And the sooner you know it the better. It is folly to fight with the Infinite, And go under at last in the wrestle, The wiser man shapes into God's great plan As the water shapes into the vessel. ' —Ella Wheeler Wilcox in Progressive Age.