WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17678, 31 August 1929, Page 5

WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

NOTES BY “CAMEO.” There is a correspondence school of burglary in America, while text-books are procurable on specialised forms of violence. Tit is was revealed through the arrest of two young men at Charleroi,' Pennsylvania, recently. Both were students of the correspondence school and both were taking honours in safe-breaking. One of them, an expoliceman named Spindler, had in his possession a text-book on “Blackjacking and How Best to Subdue Victims.” Botli were equipped with revolvers. false moustaches, lenseless spectacles, rubber gloves and “quickchange” clothes. William Friend, the second, man. told the police that he would reveal the authors of the correspondence course if they would protect him from his confederate Spindler. who measures 6ft. 2in. and can bend iron bars with his bands. * * * •

“Spare Wheel” sends the following fairy tale to a Wellington contemp'orary:—“One day a motorist took a. nice long drive around the streets of Wellington. It was a most enjoyable ride, for in no part of the city or suburbs was he forced to make a detour, or even swerve to one side on account of road repairs or the relaying of tram lines.” • • • •

Irish journalists seem to be having a. good innings in the Old Country. Here are three examples, picked up haphazard, obviously by sons or daughters of the Emerald Isle. The first is : “‘What shall 1 do?’.” she muttered aloud beneath her breath.” The next is an apology in a Welsh paper:— ’

“We would like to give a list hut we are afraid that even if we put everybody’s name down we should he sure to miss a, few.” And the last is culled from the London Evening News:— “Another whman carried a big green hag, which matched in' •colour and pattern, her blue and black frock.”

Notice in a Wellington merchant’s office: “Members jt of the staff who wish to attend .their grandmother’s funeral-will please see that it is postponed until after the football match.”

Few successful men are bachelors, says an exchange. It has long been realised that , a man runs better when there’s someone after him.

They say there are enough motorcars in the United States for everybody to ride at once. Pedestrians would no doubt he safer if they did.

One reason it is difficult for the average family to make permanent and satisfactory economic adjustments is the increasing necessity of some of' our more expensive luxuries.

The following did not happen on the Thames golf course—all Thames players are truthful more or less, but as a matter of fact, it was on a. Scotch golf course that the pair met. “What do you go round in?” inquired the Scot. ‘‘One hundred and fourteen,” said the Jew.

“The last time I did this course T took one hundred and sixteen,” returned the Scot.

They agreed "to play for a pound note, and at the end ,of the game the Jew had done the course in seventy-six and the Scot in seventyfour.

“You’re a liar,” said the Jew

Doctors must be sports. Lfe was medically examined yesterday and the doctor kept on saying, “Say ninety-nine.” I could not make it out till 1 got home and read that the Wairarapa-Canterbury match was.the 99th played for the Ranfurly Shield.

Those who oppose the proposed racing amendments are kill joys, those who favour it are kill joys, and the totalisator is the biggest kill joy of tlie lot. What about the horses?

Humorous and sincere are the reports of England’s Press about the. doings of the “Men’s Dress Reform Party.” At a recent party rally, .we| are told, most striking in the array of reformers weip two women with bobbed hair, who wore creaip-coloured' trousers and sandals, and a man who wore a skirt. The majority of the 150 personages present wore short trousers, woollen stockings and lounge jackets. The opinion has been expressed that only a heat-wave is needed to bring boldly into the open what converts of this dress reform party advocate.

Many a former movie star has talked himself out of a job.

Now that the holidays are here again parents are having a little respite from homework. 1 c « • •

If Russia and China really go to war over the Manchuria Railway, Japan will probably start running the trains.

An explorer reports that he has been robbed in the jungles of Brazil. How civilisation spreads!

Overhearing an Italian woman refer to her party as foreigners, an English woman visitor to Venice exclaimed indignantly: “You are quite wrong. We are English. It is you that aro foreigners.” ■ • • •

Tn view of the activities of the firefiend in New Zealand, the following story, which comes from Austria, is of interest. For over ftwo years a peasant set fire to farm after farm for the mere pleasure of watching them burn. He even burned his mother’s house, which was in due course to come to himself. The craving for a conflagration was irresistible. The incendiary was declared av <T pyromaniac.” In some people it seems that the craze for fire-works is an all-devouring one.