VICTORIA HALL SEATING

Southland Times, Issue 23376, 7 December 1937, Page 9

VICTORIA HALL SEATING

To The Editor Sir, —On the strength of the indisputable fact that my mother was a woman, I claim to share the last word with “A Sufferer at Rest.” I must confess to being knocked all of a heap. To think that I offered “a'couple of beers” to a woman, and a maiden at that! For very shame! How most ungallant, or was I unwittingly going modern? I naturally thought that so clever and amusing a pen could be wielded by none other than a man! I hang my head! I will let her into a secret. I am a mariner, or was (poor Jack is come ashore) though definitely not antique, not yet “antient.’ There is plenty of spring in the old dog (sea) yet. Is she young, is she fair ? Has she the walk of a ship running free, with the grace and the beauty of it?

She quotes poetry. So will I. Can this be her, or is she rather a tough old bird? There are maidens and maidens! “I have heard the song of the blossoms, and the old chant of the sea, And seen strange lands from under the arched white sails of ships; But the loveliest things of beauty God ever has showed to me, Are her voice, and her hair, and eyes, and the dear red curve of her lips.” If this be indeed her, then “Barkis is willin.’ ” Our worthy Mayor is to be congratulated upon deseating us, but may I mildly protest against being taken for an old repertorian? I am honoured, but must deny the soft impeachment. As a final ebullition, may I also propose a new home for those stern relics of her bad old days? Would they not look seemly if placed in a circle around those extraordinary “statoos” in the park near the War Memorial?— Yours, etc., NO LONGER SORELY AFFLICTED. December 6, 1937.