HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12754, 25 September 1919, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

No doubt the peat attachment which exists between Mr Lloyd George and his daughter Megan explains her early precociousness in regard to politics. As a child of seven—she is now nineteen—she busied herself in her father’s elections. It was in the days when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer that Megan made a remark which has caused Mr Lloyd George many a chuckle. They were walking through St James’s Park one day at a time when a new Budget was being discussed, and in answer to a juvenile request for money, the Premier had to admit, after feeline- in his pocket, that he had none " Then put on another penny, father,” retorted Megan. A new Guards’ Club is shortly to he started in the Gxosvenor Square district of London. The officers of a certain brigade are interesting- themselves in the scheme, and an old-established hostelry has been acquired for the clubhouse. It will be a very exclusive affair, and already the list of members (including royalty) is complete. It is stated that the Blarney Stone inscription is to be rccut, as it is getting so dim. It reads: Cormach MacCarthy: fortis me fieri facit, A.D. 1149.’’ It is interesting to recall the tradition about the stone, which is to the effect that when the Spaniards were urging the Irish chieftains to harass the English, one, Cormach M’Bermond Carthy, who held the castle, had concluded an armistice with Lord President on condition of surrendering it to an English garrison, Carthy put off his lordship day after day with fair promises and false pretexts, until the latter became the laughing stock of his acquaintances, and the former’s honeyed and delusivo speeches were stamped. with the title of Blarney. The Rev William Ewing, in his book, ‘From Gallipoli to Baghdad,” tells an amusing story, _ illustrating the good fellowship existing between our officers and their men. The reverend Gentleman accompanied Colonel Boswcli. of the Ayrshire Yeomanry, to the sector held by his men. At the junction of several trenches he hailed a smilingfaced youngster a® follows; “110110. Alison, what’s wrong? You’re rather white about the dlls.” “Ay, sir, I hae just washed' masel’.” was the reply, spoken in all seriousness, followed by loud laughter a.lono- the hollow ways from men who knew how complete!v a good wash alters the aspect of the trench dwellerSir Robert Hadfield is one of tho clearest thinkers of the day, and one . of the staunchest supporters of theprinciple of co-partnership. He believes that yon obtain the best work by allowing the worker to reap some direct benefit from his indnstry. “ When i was a hoy in Sheffield,” he said recently, to illustrate ‘his point, “wo to have a day once in every fortnight we called Mark Holiday. Every Monday afternoon before being dismissed for' lunch our total number of marks during the preceding fortnight was announced, and those who had gained 60 marks out of a possible 130 were given the afternoon off. I have often wondered if the Mark Holiday idea could not he applied just as successfully to industry.” Mark Twain met Mr Chanucey Depew at dinner one evening, while the former’s “ Joan of Are ” was being published serially. Mark thought he would like to find out what people thought of it, so he said to Mr Depew, “ P don’t suppose yon ever read novels, do you, Depew?’’ “Oh, yes, I love . them,” answered Depcw. “I don’t suppose you’re following that anonymous novel, ‘ Jem of Arc,’ in ‘ Harper’s,’ are you?” asked Twain. “I certainly am. Reading every line of it,” answered Depew. “ Well, what dp yon think of' it? Think it ut any good?” asked Twain. “Well,” answered Depew, who, unknown tP Mark, knew thp authorship, "that’s hardly a fair question to ask me.” "Why?” asked Twain. "You see, Mark” answered Depcw in a whisper, " I wrote the darned thing myself and am trying to keep it quiet.” The American Waiters’ Union, has declared its intention to abolish the tipping practice, and replace it by appropriating 10 per cent of the amount , of the hill. _ "Accepting tips,” says the union, "is essentially unAmerican, and places the stamp of servitude upon the dining-room salesman’s profession-” A rare and thrilling sight was witnessed at Sponge Bay recently (says the Gisborne paper). A resident, noticing tremendous commotion in tho water, proceeded to the beach, and to his amazement discovered a largo shark and huge sunfish engaged in * mortal combat. Becoming exhausted they got stranded in shallow water, and with the help of some Maoris were finally captured. Some rather unique causes for the death of half the pheasants in tho vicinity of Bombay and of a trout in the Waikato River were given by tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society’s ranger at a meeting recently. Reporting to the council he said that he had! ' found dead a very fine cock pheasant. He examined the bird, and found that it had died from the effects of (poisoning by phosphorus, which was laid in the district to kill rabbits. With the trout tho cause of death was benzine, evidently from an exhaust pipe of a launch. Quite a little arsenal of arms has been collected from poachers detected by the ranger of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The most general form of poaching is the shooting of pigeons and deer out of season, n.nd 6 when offenders are caught their guna are taken possession of by the ranger, and if on being prosecuted convictions are secured the arms are confiscated The arms are then held at.the disposal of the Gorernor-in-Council, who lias deputed his powers to the Minister of Marine, who, in turn, has asked the Acclimatisation .Society to deal with them at its discretion. As to what plan should he followed came up for consideration at the general conference, and the question was held over, so the line of action to be taken by societies will not he determine.] until next February’s conference.