FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By the LOOK-OUT MAN

THE RETORT COURTEOUS

The Look-Out Man was yarning about politics and politicians to a man who once had political aspirations, but decided to remain honest. Talk turned on quick platform retort, and the name of Mr. Viv. Potter M.P., was mentioned as the possessor of a particularly effective wit in this direction. “Yes,” agreed the other, “but ‘Rickety’ Russell was the one. He made the most brutally caustic comment I ever heard on the personality of an elector who interjected at one of his meetings. Fixing the unfortunate fellow with a savage stare, he said: ‘You are the kind of man that would sharpen his knife on his fathers’ tombstone to cut his mother’s throat!’” # * * SHOULD WOMEN WORK? It was the old-fashioned idea that the place for woman was the home, to help in the housework and look after the younger children until she got married, and then to have a large number of children of her own to look after. The new idea is that woman should look after herself—and she is doing it pretty thoroughly. Woman is “emancipated”; like the modern Chinese, she has cut off her hair and would make her own way in the world. The British House of Commons has six or seven women members. Viscountess Astor, in “a fighting speech” on the right of women to work, married or unmarried, turns to the interjecting Conservative member, Captain Bourne, with, “I know some women who, if they had twins every year, would be more efficient than many members of Parliament.” The House roars with laughter! A generation back it would have passed a special Act to punish a woman who had the “indelicacy” to refer in public to anybody “having twins.” Now women may say what they like —and they may pretty well do as they like. And man is beginning to be anxious, for no man knoweth how far they may go. * * * A CHANCE FOR DAD Dad is so vehemently dogmatic and inflexibly autocratic when telling Mum how she ought to bring up the children while he is busy on less troublesome matters, that he very often gets a shock to realise that his boy has grown up and that he doesn’t know him. It’s a wise man that knows his own child, and there should be universal interest in the innovation made by St. Thomas’s Hospital, London, which has started “fatherhood classes.” So much has been heard and read of motherhood, that a diversion of interest to fatherhood is a welcome change. It might give Mum a badlyneeded rest. By the way, when is there to be another “Fathei and Son Day” in Auckland? It was understood ’twas to be an annual affair. Dad spent the day with his son, or sons, had a yarn to him (or them) at home, took him (or them) to the office, had a gay old dinner with him (or them) that night, and® took him (or them) to the pictures. It was voted a high old time —but it hasn’t been repeated. The fact is that Dad rather bores his boy these days. Dad seems to need educating in the art of remaining young.

IN TI-IE LONG AGO In quite a decent main line town ' there is a corner section which has apparently been held for the harvesting of the “unearned increment” for quite a generation. Proof of this —a proof in faded paint—is upon the brick wall of an adjacent shop. This is a huge advertisement, done in colours, of somebody’s famous bicycle, and a lady rider stands by this particular world-beating machine. She has her hair piled around her ears, fluffing out from under an enormous hat; a tight blouse with puffed shoulders descends into a V at a waist which resembles that of a wasp; a wide skirt reaches to the toes. Gazing at this sign of a bygone enterprise, and then looking around in the stillness of a Sabbath morn at the scene which this unfortunate lady has been forced to gaze upon ever since the hand of the painter placed her upon that wall, one may easily imagine himself to be living in a past age. It is then that he sighs for Queen Street, and Miss Auckland, 1927. * * * NO BLACK SHIRTS! It was a kind of thoughtful action on the part of Signor Mussolini, Prime Minister (and Dictator) of Italy, to present his photograph to the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association. Signor Mussolini, explained the Italian Consul, in making the presentation, “appreciated and esteemed the valour of the soldiers of another country.” Wonder if Signor Mussolini is sending his photograph to the returned soldiers of all the countries concerned in the Big Scrap! That will be all right so long as he does not follow it up by sending along a parcel of black shirts for the equipment of Fascisti. We don’t want Fascisti here —our police men in their new shakos can keep law and order. In case this should be the thin end of the wedge of peaceful penetration, we’ll have to keep an eye on any fresh parcels from Mr. Mussolini.