A DIARY OF TO-DAY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 5, 21 December 1928, Page 10

A DIARY OF TO-DAY

(By BYSTANDER.) ! An English paper contains the j story of ail undertaker who took a ' lit whil carrying out his dutis and died at the side of the grave. The scribe, just in case there should he any doubt about it, remarked that the occurrence cast rtuite a gloom over the proceedings, from which I suppose we may take it the funeral up to that point was quite a jolly affair. xx x x Sir Joseph Ward's declared policy of completing the important lines of railway as early as possible, will prohably mean that the Stratford Main Trunk line will be ready under schedule time. Some papers say it may be finished in about 2 or 3 years, which of course may be an optimistic outlook, butt under the circumstances it might be as well' for .the people of Stratford not to lose sight ofv the fact that commencement of the'new railway station for Stratford should not be unduly delayed. A jog to the powers that be might not he out of place. XX X X The recently inaugurated London weekly Britannia, each Issue of which has apparently caused a sensation, is to be edited by Lord Birkenhead. If the intention is carried out the journal should cause a greater sensation than in the past, provided of course that Lord Birkenhead can bite *with his pen as he has with his tongue. Whan he was Mr F. E. Smith he appeared for 'a tramway I company in a case in which a boy had gone blind. The judge said: "Stand him on a chair and let the jury see him." "Perhaps," retort-

ed Mr F. E. Smith, "your Lordship would like to pass him arouud the jury box." "That is a most improper observation," said the judge. "It was provoked by a most improper suggestion," was the return of the barrister. The judge, now furious, remarked: "Mr Smith, you remind me of a saying by Bacon, the great Bacon, that youth and discretion are ill-wedded companions." Birkenhead was still able to meet him upon his"" own (ground, and replied: "Ycu remind me of a saying by Bacon, the great Bacon, that a much-talking judge is like an ill-tuned cymbal." s: x x x The suggestion that Parliament should sit through the day is not by any means a new one, it having been put forward on numerous occasions before. The idea is not so easy to put into operation as it may appear at first glance because a good deal of the most important work accomplished during the session is done in committee and opportunity must be given for the various committees to meet and carry out their functions. This is usually done in (the morning. The only way in which the desired state of affairs could be brought to pass would be for it to be a rule the House rise at' a stated time each night, whether the business being discussed should 1 be completed or not. Of course the Government' whicVi controls the Order Paper could bring the particular business forward next day. Thus the House could rise at 11 p.m. each day, and committees meet the following morning, say, from 9to 12. The House could sit at noon and preliminary business be got through until 1 p.m., leaving the after-lunch period for the big work. XX X X In reading newspaper reports of breaking up functions at different schools, one is struck by the extremely long speeches made to pupils by well-meaning individuals before the ; prizes are distributed, and cannot | help wondering where Ifhe value lies j in many of the efforts inflicted. It I seems that the majority of those ; speaking have nothing worth while j to say to pupils, and so must utter j platitudes, some of the type one can ; get in 'the heavier kind of reviews, ! and some of the ponderous patronisi ing variety about improving minds and so forth. Pupils on the eve of ! going on holidays are not interested !in long, dry speeches. A pleasant | contrast! was provided by Mr N. R. ! McKenzie, chief inspector, when he i spoke at the Technical Hight School 1 break-up on Mr McKenzie's i address was short and pithy, and : his remarks were followed with interest by pupils and adults alike. It was a true and practical message to the pupils, #nd was full of encouragement for the future.