SPINDRIFT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17169, 12 October 1923, Page 6

SPINDRIFT.

1 »r« Invited to -send In original topical paragraph* or verse* for this column, which Is a dally feature of the “ Star." .Accepted contributions should be cut out by the writers and forwarded to the JSdltor, who will remit the amounts payable. Overheard on the Riccarton car last evening : Male passenger sitting with an other member of the same sex happen ing to glance over the .shoulder of u lady in the seat immediately in front caught a glimpse of the following head - ing to a news item in the “ Star .- ” Carried into Church Walked Out.” Turning to his companion, he re marked: “Carried into church and walked out ! That's something new. I have often heard of a fellow walking into a pub and being carried out.” Tn the olden days a girl coloured up when she received compliments. Now she does it beforehand. INTELLIGENT ECHOS. What must be done td conduct a newspaper right?—Write. M hat is necessary for a farmer to assist him ?—System. M hat would give a blind man the greatest delight ?—Light. The Difference.—What is the difference between a successful lover and his rival?—The one kisses his miss, and the other misses bis kiss. Jn a weak moment I allowed myself to bo persuaded by an enthusiastic iriend into taking up trout-fishing. My wife threw cold water on the scheme from the start and bet me a new hat that 1. would not catch a single fish during the first month. The odds are now about J 7.38-3 to 2 in her favour. My friend motored me out to the Wai mak, gave me a demonstration of casting, and then left me to my own resources. saying that J would soon got into the way of it. I didn’t, but I got into the way of nearly every object along the riverside. The very first cast 1 caught something—a flax bush, situated behind me. Jn quick succession I hooked a willow tree, a tussock si nil the back of my trousers: then came mr big catch. I threw back the line, and was just about to cast it forward when I heard a howl, felt a tug and the reel began to sing. The hooks had attached themselves to an inquiring collie dog. which had evidently been attracted hv ray strange actions'and which was now streaking across country at a rate that would have won him the Waterloo Cup. Soon the lino was all run out and the trace snapped, hut the dog continued running under a full head of steam until he disappeared from sight. I cannob help wondering what the clog’s owner thought when he found my sole skin minnow. My friend came to my assistance and put my gear in working order again. The end of the dav found me with tired arms and an e'mptV creel, although mv friend had caught three small fish and said that he had lost two whoppers. My wife was triumphant on my return and offered to increase our bet as far as T liked, but 1 declined, a~ she never pays her bets when she loses. 1 have had several more trips to the river, hut am still a maiden performer, and T should be much obliged if anv reader can furnish me with a full list of the excuses for returning emptyhanded from a fishing trip, as my imagination is feeling the strain. When the great world's war was won and the fighting was all done, we thought that we. as victors of the fray, very soon would count our gains; which would greatly ease our pains, and we reckoned up how much they’d have to pay. Disillusionment soon came, repar at,ion was a name that sounded well but brought in little cash. an#l our debtors now all say that they simply cannot pay and to push them will provoke a might-v smash. Now the wily, wicked Turk has got- in some dirty work, nncl got back all he lost and more besides. Tie's outpointed us all round at bargaining for ground, and back to his an cient capital he rides. Old John Bull is feeling sad and he savs: “This is too bad; T might as well have lost the blessed war. IT T ever fight again they must make the matter plain exactly It's great sport. fishing. (Teat sport. There is always that delightful uncertainty of not knowing what you may catch. Tt may lie an old boot, a sprig of sea wood, or a cold, but it is this uncertainty that makes it so thrilling. Of co-urse I don’t belong to that class of sporting gentlemen who. with an elaborate rot! and line, stand on the bank of a stream, and olavfullv flick the surface- of the .water. I prefer the seashore, where you can get out on sjomo rooks or on the end of a jetty, aficl get yards and yards of line tangled round your logs. Then you fix the bait to your line by means of hooks which are placed there for that purpose. ("It is advisable to have three or four hooks attached so that you can feed several fish at once.) When voui have done this von throw your line into the water.' This requires considerable skill and judgment and looks very well if r**^j>f‘rlv done. I remember my first attempt. I was lucky enough to have a friend with me. a fine fellow named Fred, who was quite an experienced hand at the game. I don't know that he ever caught, anvfching. hut he knew all about hooks and baii. and sinkers. Anvwav. I followed his instructions and swung the line round my head in tine style. A t tl»c right moment I let if go. and after describing a beautiful curve it fell into the sea with a “ chug.” Unfortunately. I hadn't held on to the other end of ir. and the whole lot disappeared into the brinv. 1 looked at Fred in a helpless sort of fashion. ” Never mind.” he said, •• throw another line across it and vou will he able to pull it in.” So the 7>erformanee Mas repeated, ancl I took care- to stand on the latter end of the line, to prevent a repetition of the previous attempt. It sailed out across the.first line all night, but in the excitement of the moment 1 must have lifted my foot. Both lines belonged to Fred, so there was nothing else to do but wade out and rescue them with 1 Tic aid of a. lone stick. Of course things like this all add to one's experience and provide a. great deal of amusement for anv onlookers, but providing that vou cast voiir Tine (1 think “cast ” is the word) without mishap, nothing remains to be done but wait for a bite. Yon may go to sleep if you fee! inclined, or if the company is congenial vou will probabl v enter into a discussion on re lativity, or the latest method of rearing hens. Should you feel a tug on probably find that you have caught something. I have never • ■aught anything yet. hut That is—a mere detail. True sports don't go out to catch fish, but to “ fish.” Someday J. may catch something. but in the meantime. T just “ fish.” SIN BAD.