SPINDRIFT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16905, 2 December 1922, Page 10

SPINDRIFT.

Readers are inTited to sand ia origins’, topical paragfapis or verses for ’i> colrnrco, -wfeieja is a dli ■-: V featcre of too “ Star ” Accepted oonfcrikntaMw shorurt be cut. out br tie -writers and forwarded to the Editor, rto will remit the amounts payable.

A trily matt is Mr Young Tit® seamen’s advocate. He keeps good held upon his tongue And does not brag or prate. IVba-n first tbo men went out on strike Reporters full of hops Implored Mm for the lore of Mute To give them all the dope. But Mr Young, he mads- no boast Of tvhitt hi-, plans would he Naught spake he to the “ Tunes ’ or ** Pont,” To Norton's naught spake he. And each time that bo's been ap-jiryr-Cried His answer tvae the same, Hi* well of speech remained r.nbroachcd H<- played the silent game. But in the papers now 3 read Thai speech has ecme at last. Not like some mighty river freed Vrrnn what had held it fast, Rut last a tiny trickling stream To say that all is Jake. Xh® strike all over? That’s a dream From which we soon will -wake. ’Tia disappointing ;; cm" 11 admit. That Labour’s silent sphinx Could not have stirred things np a bit By tolling what ha thinks, j Rut hero’:-! a tip for Mr Young, | A proverb old and grey, | lf Tito man who ivittna loose has tongue Has tnebho nowt to say.”

Here is an extract from one of the latest books, “The Grey Charteris ” by Robert Simpson: — “ Catherine Morrison came forward with a sure free swing in her stop that told of golf and tennis and swimming a mi rowing, an intimate acquaintance with stirrups and a carefully careless Jiand upon a steering wheel.” Some walk, i’ll tell the world.

If the Dominions could absorb a few millions of Britishers, they would add immensely to the happiness of the human race. Now, let ns take a broad, a humanitarian view of this immigration problem. New Zealand’s broad acres are almost as many as Old England’s, our population is about one million, England’s fifty times as great. It appears to me that the best scheme is a big exchange. Let the English, Scotch and Melsh quit their overcrowded habitat’, and come here. They could let their abandoned, country to the Dail and the Ulster crowd, thus solving a grave problem of Imperial moment. The trouble, of course, would be in the pertinacity and push of the Scotch. At present they own Dunedin and Otago \ in a few years, they would run New Zealand, in twenty, all Australia. Golf would be the only game; parritch the only food, bagpipes the only music. These drawbacks destroy the value of the scheme, I’m afraid.

“ Massey,” said Dr "Watson sententiously, “is a great man.” _ Shamlock Shears relaxed his impassivity not a whit. ” Alassey,” said Dr Watson, m a slightly louder tone, 11 is a great heard, you,” said Shears, dryly, ‘ But I don’t understand yon.” “ Weren’t you at his meeting at the Theatre Royal on Thursday night? ” asked Watson in surprise. “ I was,” said Shears. “ What’s that got to do with it ? ” <f Everything, ’ said Watson. No one could' have heard that speech without realising what a great genius we have at the head of our government. What telling arguments! What fiery exhortations! What lightning repartee! What grace! What eloquence! What excellences of matter and delivery 1” “Ah,” said Shears tolerantly, “there speaks the ardent Reformer.” “ How did you know I was a Reformer? ” asked Watson in surprise. “It is fairly obvious,” said Shears crushingly. “ You are praising a man who answered a statement that a pouted is not worth as much now as six years ago with the remark that if a pound is taken to the Bank, one can get twenty shillings for it still. I think such a man is a fool, or worse. I need say no more.” And Dr Watson collapsed. Air Alassey, I see. during his speech in the Theatre Royal the other evening, let a page of his notes slip and recovered it only by a great effort*. The paper fluttered to the floor; His face a look of anguish wore— Ho gai&ed at it with glassy eye And heaved a heavy, heartfelt sigh. He stopped—by inches down he went, Time’s portly bulk should not prevent; He stooped —a warning shout arose, But yet there was no rent of clothes. He gasped —from every lip a groan Burst willy-nilly and unknown, Each hand grey cold, each brow grew hot "While Billy breathed “ Forget-me-not.” He puffed, he panted, yet he grasped That erring note in hand at last. A long-drawn sigh from every one Proclaimed the deadly deed was done. “ The time has come.” the AI.P. said, “ To talk of many things, “ Of party pranks and platform planks, “ And revenue with wings.” And so he rambled on and on, Till all his audience were gone. “ I am not’ going to vote this year!” Hating discharged which thunderbolt, Amelia leaned in her chair and stared defiantly at me. Incapable of speech for the moment, T did the only thing possible—gasped. “ Well said she after a moment or two, in a somewhat belligerent manner, “well?” “ Well !” I answered equably. “Yes, well— : well, what about it?” said she sharply; “say it!”

“No, no, my dear,” T replied hastily, pouring oil unon the troubled waters. “ No, no. but really—well, really it is a little astonishing. I thought you were so keen on the ©mancipation of women and the independence of the modern damsel and all that sort of thing, and now ” There was a pause. Curiosity got the better of me, and I ventured to ask the reason of her astounding statement.

“The politician I vote for,” sail this most refreshing young lady calmly. “the politician I vote fo£_must be a striking-looking man. idealistic vet practical, dreamy yet dynamic. Ha must have clear, steady eyes and firm, resolute lips: he must have a square, determined chin, and a high, intellectual forehead. He must have a deep, vibrant voice and a magnetic personality. He ” “H’m,” I remarked, “what you want, my dear, is an angel—an angel with a halo and a dear little harp, not a politician, much less a man. In which case it appears yon will never vote !” “ What cigarettes d<> you smoke? ” “ Mv husband's.” Silence ! BIND AD.