SPINDRIFT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 8

SPINDRIFT.

Header 6 are invited to send in original topical paragraphs of verses for the column, which is a daily feature of the '* Star." Accepted contributions should be «;ut out by the writers and forwarded to the Editor, who will remit the amounts payable. FRAGMENT DISCOVERED IN A TOMB IN A.D. 2123. The Great Flood of 1923. And men were giants in those days, and of the giants one named Billmassi waxed strongest. And it came to pass in the eleventh year of Billmassi’s leign in the fifth month, the fourth day of the month, the same day, did it start to rain, as though the windows of heaven were opened. On the fifth day it raineth, on the sixth day it raineth more, and on the days following it still raineth. And the people murmured that it feeleth like unto forty days and nights instead of four. And they s&ith one to another, “ What have we done that we should suffer like thie? Lo and behold, did not last month we have floods of oratory in Oamaru, the like of which had not been seen before? And were we not patient withal? But we could not help it if Billmassi’s strongest henchman were not elected.” But the rain ab&teth not and the waters still prevailed exceeding upon the earth, so that some could not go to their daily toil. And others who had the grain of the earth in fields awaiting Billmassi’s Wheat Board waxed exceeding wrath, and were sore distressed to see their living substance destroyed and washed away by the raging waters. And others who had cattle and beasts of the field were also sore distressed when the waters swallowed their next season’s profit. But the rain abateth not and the waters still prevailed upon the earth. And at last it came to pass that one fair day the rain ceaseth and mail marvelled thereat, for he had given up hope. And as the w'aters subsided and the sun shined again, 10, it was found that the damage done, though exceeding great in some parts of the country, was not so in other parts,, and. on the whole it was found that things could have been worse. And even as the giants of former days had turned to in time of trouble and distress so did these giants turn to and work hard and counsel together. so that in a few months the flood of nineteen hundred and twentythree tvas but as a memory to the stout inhabitant*; of that country. THE COMPETITIONS. I went to the competitions the other morning, and enjoyed it very much. Ihe recitations were on—at least, that is what it was called years ago, but nowadays maybe it has another name. There is a man lives by me who teaches elocution and dramatic art, but as far as [ can see his pupils just recite. Anyhow . these young ladies came forward and spoke their bits. All about a little child who 'was murdered or deserted or something. It was a teat piece, and each one w hispered the dying part, and there is a loud part where the deceiver or deserter or murderer is denounced and consigned to what is known in the newspapers as H—ll. I was quite charmed with the in genuity by which these sweet young things avoided this awful word/ One called it Herl, another Hail, and yet, another made it Hil. It was quite touching. The one I liked best was a pretty young lady w r hose dimples came and went most charmingly. A little thing, who from her dainty ankles to her pretty neck had fire, and life, and kick. She pronounced it HELL!!! At the sound most every woman in the afidi ence shot her head back two inches; not all. of course; some were married. "Well, as I was saying, this little girl had the rest beaten to a frazzle in wav of looks. She was, believe me. the two ends and middle of a peach, and the nut and the bloom on the skin. I forget how she did her recitation, but every now and then her teeth gleamed white between her eager lips, apd t little smile came and went. With Shel ley I thought— Upon my heart, thy accents sweet Of peace and pity fell like dew On flowers half dead; —thy lips did meet Mine tremblingly; thy dark eyes threw Their eoft persuasions on my brain, Charming away its dream of pain. All this metaphorically, of course. A peach she was, but none of the cat* round me applauded, and 1 think thi* must have influenced the judge, because T see by to-night’s paper she did not get a place. Great Suffering Sousa 1 He ought to get his eyes seen to. I love the falling raindrops That patter to and fro: I love the wet and slushy streets Through which I have to go. I lore the muddy water In every flooded drain; I love the sound of dripping leaves— Oh, how I love the rain ! The sound of falling water Is music in my ear; The promise of a coming storm Will fill my heart with cheer. I love to know that winter Is coming on again; I love the sight of open gamps— I love, I love the rain! I love the weather prophets When they predict a hood ; 1 just adore the jolly fun Of wading through the mud. I love the colds that gather, The chills that give me paiu; I love the feel of garments soaked; Oh, dash the beastly rain! It is stated that a slip has occurred on the Midland railway, and that fifty yards of track, is in mid-air. M hich isn’t surprising, seeing the whole lino has been in mid-air for over twenty The rumour that there had been a tragedy last night at the competitions caused considerable, anxiety. It now appears that the affair has been considerably exaggerated; it was only a song that was murdered. The Canterbury rivers seem to be like some men that I know. They are safe only when they are confined to their beds. Another book, "The Watered Wicket,” is over-ejew A new genius has been discovered in the motion picture world and the thousands of people concerned in th? production and exhibition of pictures are rising up and calling him blessed. It is calculated that his work will have a more far-reaching effect than that of any other single man in the business It will revolutionise the whole trade. I Yet he is neither a producer, a direcj tor, an actor nor a camera-man. His ; work commences only when the picture ! is finished, yet it means more than the \ picture itself. In short lie has inj vented three entirely new adjectives to use in describing the films, and is now I hard at work on a fourth. I SIN BAD