“POOR FISH.”

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1929, Page 9 (Supplement)

“POOR FISH.”

But there is much that is deplorable in every country—and New Zealand is content to follow the England of its heart. The “talkies” have thrust upon us many curious phrases which may easily become our own, but please Heaven, we never drop the beauty of our language for the street jargon of another. “Don” has written a set of clever verses that are surely more than a warning! We study everything you do; We want to be real proper guys. Say, Uncle, teach us how to chew, And how to make a good home-brew, And look real he-men in your eyes. Oh, Ataboy! We want to be A right one hundred plus per cent. American, an’ white an’ free, With Hollywood’s efficiency, ' And, like it, wise and opulent. - We’re here to say we got a,hunch We’re real go-getters if we try. We want to tie-up with your bunch, An’ learn to eat a one-arm lunch, An’ be like any other guy. We got no ideals of our own, No guiding star to draw us on. We’re just poor mutts when left alone, Who only sit around an’ moan Things like “Goldarn it!” an’ “Doggone!” Were gettin’ wise to all your speech, We gotta have a mentor, shu-er. Aw, teach us, Uncle, how to reach For dollars deftly. Sit an’ teach These poor fish to be strong—but pure. A PLANT THAT KILLS LIONS. A bold plant is the South African grapple-plant. It is well named, for it has been known to choke and cause the death of lions. Its seed vessel is provided with a large number of curved hooks which catch in the coats and hoofs of animals. In trying to tear them out of their coats the animals sometimes catch them in their mouth-, with disastrous results. Thousands ox o-oats and antelopes and other animals are lamed by this plant every year. There are many other plants that kill and torture animals. The Martynias of South America produce fruit with hooks sometimes five or six inches long. These behave similarly to those of the grap-ple-plant. Remarkable stories are told in connection with the dumb cane of the West Indies. It is said that unfortunate slaves were forced to cihew this plant. The lining and throat of any creature eating the plant swells to such an extent that speaking, eating, and even breathing may become impossible. An Indian species of nettle which grows into a great shrub is dreaded by natives. When touched, this p»ant gives one the sensation of being scrubbed with a hot iron. BRIDGES AND ARCHES. For any number of equal teams. Each team divides into half, and players str nd in pairs holding hands, above their heads. When the whistle is blown the first pair divide, run down behind the sides of their team, meet at one end, hold hands and run under the arches made by hands of other players. When they get back to their places, they sit on the ground facing each other with legs outstretched touching. Immediately the next pair jump over their legs, divide and run down sides to end, hold hands, run under arches until they regain their original places. They then sit and touch feet. Then the third couple start, jump over two bridges (made by the first two couples), run to end, hold hands, run under arches and sit and make bridge. Immediately the next couple start, and so on. The first team to be sitting, doyn with feet touching after all have run wins.