THE IDLER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5427, 30 November 1895, Page 4

THE IDLER.

A revolution in Naples, and the cable man told ns nothing- about it. Thia revolution was bloodlesß. Somebody said something about macaroni, tho manufacture whereof waa a big thing in Naples, and the local consumption, whereof waa also great; and what waß eaid wasn't nice. Ifchadtodowithbonei. Thepolioo went to inspect the factories, and they took a professor with them. Thero was no doubt about the boneß. They were ground into powder, and the powder was mixed with the xnaoaroni paste. "It gives tha food a fine, delicate, but sometimes slightly acid flavour," said one maker. Then the Neapolitans began asking one another. "What bones? Whose bones ?" And now they are " not taking any, thank yon," and the macaroni makers mourn their lpat occupation. V Either Mr T. E. Taylor is peculiarly anxious to be wearing another man** bootß, or some of hia friends are itohing to see how he will look in them. There is as yet no vacanoy for the Christchurch seat, and it is possible tbat there may not bo one for weeks or months to oome; but I am told that certain women of the ultra-prohibi-tionist type have been acting as canvassers for some time past, and proving as annoy* ingly persistent aB is their wont. Really thiß iB scarcely decent. One wonld scathingly condemn the tactics of the undertaker .who should obtrude himself before there was a subject ready for hia offices, and it seems to me that it ia hardly less objectionable for persons to be trading upon the possible political death of somebody or other. Anyhow, for electors to dream of pledging themselves jußt yet would be worse than foolish. *** There is a story going the rounds— though I seem to have heard something uncommonly like it a long time ago— about two Chriatchurch dootors. The younger one was bragging a bit about the rate at which his practice was growing, and wound up with, "Why, I was awoke half-a-dozen times during last night." Then the elder man looked him straight in the faoe, and quietly said, " Why don't yon buy some insect powder?" v • ■ According to a larrikin journalist who spreads himself occasionally in the columns of the Oamaru Mail, the carelessness of a printer has lost a West Coast paper its patent medicine advertisement. When the manager read"— — — — V Tonic supplies a Buperb stomach ache," he referred hastily to the copy, and finding tbat "a superb stomachic" was intended, went home and dug fourteen acres of garden, split a ton of kindling wood, rooked the baby to sleep, fervently recited his prayers, counted forty, and wen said " bother." lam afraid that the foregoing must be classed among the tarradiddles. V Perhaps the following poem, whioh was published in the Wellington Post, under the heading "Michael Davitt," will be welcome to many readera of the Star:— " Bold Arthur M"Coy was no bragger, No bull-, no blustering- clown, 'Fore the front of an ale-house to swagger, Or drag his coat-tail through the town." —Old Irish Song, Just now and then, the Power who rules us all Looks down on Earth to summon forth a man Eeady to live or die at duty's call, To lead his fellows, and to head the van Of Justice and of Progress, and to fight With zeal and vigour in the people's cause. The enemy of wrong, the friend of right, The trtern opponent of despotio laws. Where wild Atlantic leaps ap Connaught's coast. And o'er the rooks shoots forth hia boiling foam, Grim Tyranny for ages held his post, And spread his curse o'er many a happy homa, The patriot who honours our young shore Heard the sad sob and saw tho burning tear; As rude hands dragg'd from out the batter'd door The friends and kindred whom he prized moat dear. What wonder that the lightning of despair Flash'd. through the boy's hothe*irt an&braiaand gave The spirit of revenge a dwelling there P His head was never fashion' d for a slave ; Hope gleam'd awhile, misfortune followM faa. And drove him from the island of his birth. But let his sufferings slumber with the past; His name is honour'd now o'er all the Earth. No brawler he, like some who rave and rant O'er "Ireland's wrongs," and yet seek out the way To trudge through mire of treachery and cant, Eager aud ready always to betray The men who trusted them. But, Davitt, thou Hast ** kept the bridge," and nobly fated thy foe's Cead Milo Failtho* is thy welcome now From all who love the Shamrock and the Boss, And also from tho men of that bold land ' Where Highland broadswords, and where Low. land spears Have flash'd and bristled around Freedom's stand, And kept her fire ablaze in ancient years.. Long bloom the Bose, <and may the Shamrock spring Up to its sister's blossoms from the stem. And may tho martial Thistle cloßely cling, An.cL »et as seniinel to hoth of them. Thomas. Brackeh, * A hundred thousand welcomes. Folkestone stands by the sea, and it waa, therefore, only natural that, in the harvest festival which waß given in the fishermen's chapel on v recent Sunday night, those who go down to the sea in ships and live on the produce of tho deep should render thanks for a bountiful season in a becoming, way. Farmers, husbandmen, ftnd horticulturists decorate their churcheß with iio wers, vegetables and fruit. Fishermen have little or nothing to do with these things, and they resolved to decorate their chapel in , their own humble but picturesque and effective manner. Instead of using palms' and foliage, grapes and vegetable marrows, they placed from wall to wall of the odiiice a number of lines, from which were suspended a capital collection of fresh cod, mackerel, plaice, soles, crabs, and other articles drawn from the waves, frothing boiled, fried, or salted waa admitted—everything was fresh and glistening in the gas light. As a spectacle, utility and novelty were admirably combined. During the sermon one of the codfish slipped its mooringß and fell among the audience, but fortunately no lady's bonnet waß under it, so that no damage was done. The congregation took the matter quite calmly, and the fallen cod was not allowed to disturb the general tone of thankfulness which pervaded the meeting. S. Lippkb De&be.