HERE AND THERE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17030, 2 May 1923, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING. VIRTUE’S REWARD. A fitting reward for long years of public service performed under the shadow of a great affliction is the knighthood conferred on Mr Henry Studdy Theobald, K,C., who at the age of 6eventy-four has just retired from the office of Master in Lunacy, a position which lie has held for fifteen 3 ears—thirteen of them spent in total blindness. That he has been able to carry out the onerous duties of his position is due in a great measure to the help and devotion of hie wife. When sight first began to fail him, she came to read to him and act as his secretary. Then, as the years went on, she was able- to help him more and more with his work. They y-ere married three years ago. “She is my guiding hand,” he has said. “I hardly knoAv how 1 could manage without her.” A TALL STORY. Mr Harry Furniss. that popular artist, tells an amusing story of hia experiences as a lecturer. He was .ecturing in a small country town, and was asked by one of the committee where the manuscript of his lecture was. He replied that he never used one. “ Oh, th'i-t will never do,” he was told. “ The audience expect to see one in your hand. You had better take this sermon of the vicar’s, and flourish it about on the platform.” He did so, and the reporters, seeing the manuscript, were comforted, and laid down their pencils. When the lecture was over, they sent round icr the manuscript, and in Saturday’s papers there duly appeared, instead of a lecture on “ Peace with Honour,” the identical sermon which the vicar had contemplated preaching on the morrow. START EVEN. Nobody who has witnessed on the screen Miss Violet Hopson’s marvellous equestrian “ stunts ” would imagine that when she first started to act for the pictures she—to use her own words —“ hardly knew one end of a hors* from the other.” So when, very early in her career, she came to be cast for a part that meant her riding a broncho barebacked she was more than a little nervous, “ Please pick me out a nice, gentle, peace-loving horse,” she said to the Producer, smiling at him wistfully. But the Producer was not sjmpathetic. They seldom are with unknown actresses. “ D’ja ever ride a horse beforeP” he asked. “ No,” answered Violet. “ That’s all right, then,” oa-me th® gruff reply. “ Here’s just the animal for you. He’s never been ridden, so 3'ou both start even.” ALL TEETOTALLERS. Once there was a dear old lady who was staying near a prison, and who was exercised in her mind as to the physical and spiritual health of th* convicts confined within the walla. One day she persuaded an official inspector to allow her to accompany him during his visit to the gaol. A squad of convicts were at open-air exercis®, and she asked the warder in charge if she might present them with some delicacies she had with her, and a few tracts. Tlie warder replied in the negative. Then, she pleaded to be allowed to speak one word of admonition and comfort. “ No, ma’am,” said the warder. “ It’s against the regulations.” “ Oh. dear, dear,” sighed the old lady; “ but tell me, do you think they are all converted?” “ Well, ma’am, I shouldn’t like to say that,” he answered. “ But there’s one thing I will say for them; they are all teetotallers.” And the old lady departed quite satisfied. PRISON LECTURES. The Rev. W. L. Cottrell, Chaplain to Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight, recently gave an interesting address on £risons and prisoners at the Newport iterary Society. In every prison, he said, there was a well-stocked library, and at Parkhurst they had 7009 volumes. Dickens and Scott were popular among the men. The rule as to silence was more often broken than observed. Debates and lectures took plaoe in every prison. Giving a description of a prison debate. Mr Cottrell said that after the work of tlie day a group of men representing- various classes would gather together, under the chairmanship of a prison official. for a debate on some such topics as “ Is Prohibition desirable? ” and “Are trade unions useful?” Among those taking part would be solicitors, bankers. soldiers, and labourers. Bhch sjieaker had his time allotted, and at the end of the debase a vote would be taken. MISSED THE DINNER HOUR. Mr Norman MeKinnel. the actor, onoe astounded his hostess by his appetite. but it was not really his fauit. A lady and her sister had asked him to come t-o dinner at their flat one Sunday evening, and, having no maid, they had to run the establishment themselves. They were surprised to se» Mr MeKinnel arrive just before four, and they thought ; “How nice of him to come to tea as well as to dinner!” They hastily provided cakes and sandwiches, and were somewhat concerned to note that their guest finished every dish, and even took potted meat with his bread and butter. Shortlv after the meal bis hostess rose and said: “Nov. if you’ll excuse me I’ll go and see about the dmner. ’ • “Dinner!” exclaimed MeKinnel. “ Haven’t we bad it?” And then it was discovered that th* clock in the flat was. just four hour? slow ! BLOWN OUT. It is generally known that Mr Jam; Jones, "West Ham’s Labour member, has a pretty gift of humour. One he is fond of telling conoerns a certain M.P.—not a Labourite— who, when the House rose unexpectedly one day at the abnormally early liour of 6 p.m.. celebrated the “ night off ’* so successfully that he arrived home about 7 a.m. Not unnaturally, his wife asked for an explanation. “ Another of those beastly all-night sittings, mv clear, due to the Labour members’ policy of obstruction.” he told her. The l;;dv, having regard to his somewhat dishevelled appearance, looked at him doubtfully. Quite true, mv dear. T assure you,” he proceeded glibly, and pointed to a line in the morning paper, which ran: “ The House rose at «iv o clock.”