“SCHOOL’S OUT!”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 7

“SCHOOL’S OUT!”

STUDENTS’ FESTIVAL.

PROCESSION THROUGH CITY.

Thousands of good citizens wended their way to the city a little earlier than usual this morning so that they j might see-the Canterbury College Stu- j dents’ Capping procession. It is said that the great must occasionally unbend, and in the students’ case the unbending process is a diverting one. There is the end of the term feeling which is so exhilarating as to supply j some motive power to the harmless fes- j tivity. Then again, it is rumoured that I some students make a point of smoking their first cigarette on this day, and , that also is an occasion for rejoicing, j Long before ten o'clock several thou- j sand people had gathered about the ■ centre of the city waiting for the ar- I rival of the Studens Rex and his j riotous courtiers. Traffic- wa£ almost , suspended, and, while the Square itself held a good portion of the crowd. Worcester Street was thickly lined from the Square down to Rolleston Avenue. Just before ten, the King’s police guard lined up on tho Worcester Street bridge, and exhorted the multitude to observe a reverent silence for their Royal master’s passing Great white hands stayed the traffic, ahd balloon batons were used to subdue the disorderly. Then the greatmoment arrived. The Boosey Jazz Band struck up a song *of welcome, and very regal through the fanfare came the King in motley ermine, and at his side was his smiling consort. Travelling with him was the Labour Cabinet, bowyanged and talkative. The procession was really a small one, and no ambitious stunts were undertaken. Bart and Bartley went along in a spring cart loaded with furniture and sundries,, and their motto was, “Marry the Girl, and AVe’ll Find the Furniture.” Behind them and in front of them were jazz bands, which used a nice restraint in their execution, and one might say that the instruments balanced well. Tin Tack' Sam and his merry men from China did not do much in the acrobatic line iu the early part of the morning, but later they climbed about bars, and juggled glassware. Sweet Annette, Venus of the South Seas, gave a privilege performance in among the seaweed, and did not seem in the least distressed by the comments which her cursing director about her acting. Gassey and Goates ran a skeleton railway service, and the first engine, which contained the illustrious pair, bore a legend which was hardly in the best of taste. Saddle and sulky were not forgotten, aud disreputable drivers urged on spavined nags, that could hardly lift a hoof. These were tho central figures in the ‘ r WrungOut ” case. For the rest there was little else, but bold, scantily clad “ girls,” policemen, and green baseball players, very like Babe Ruth in stature, thanks to padding.

The procession went along through the Square, and drew up outside the Grand Theatre, from the verandah of which th© king delivered his oration. A large crowd had gathered, and right back from the theatre to Colombo Street there was a solid block of people. All the vantage points on the different buildings were crowded, and after a modest lubrication his majesty began his address. Having greeted the Mayor, he expressed pleasure at being in Christchurch, and congratulated the city on the way in which Dr Thacker’s dribble through America had been immortalised in a noble city monument. Then 1 ‘y majesty seemed to forget his regal dignity and began a discourse which was more fitted for a tap-room than a public speech. Speaking of Fleet Week, he said that although the Hood could do forty knots an hour, it was not half so fast as his consort. He did not believe that a dry dock should be built at Singapore, because that would be an act of refined cruelty to the sailors. “ I shall see that the brave boys have a wet dock.” he said From his wide and regal experience he told the young men in the concourse that there was only one way to deal with the ladies. “ Treat ’em rough,” he said, “ and if they don’t like that, treat ’em rougher still.” Once again, i.i s majesty lapsed into “ gutter talk.” arid did not quite recover until he had made the mayor’s counterpart a lire member of a certain club. Her majesty, after having taken refreshment and flirted with Mr Ramsay MacDonald, gave a matronly addr©s3 to young girls. She was followed b\ “ Dr Thacker.” who wore a bib with a map of America on it. The procession then moved off, and went around, the city. Generally the conduct of the students was good, but a poor city dustman was indiscreet enough to leave his cart for a moment. and a little later he was stand ing in the centre, of a group wanting to know “where the blessed thing had got to.” He found the “ Messed thing” later still, in a different street. From the high buildings around the Square the best part of the display was the great crowd that gathered to watch it In the sunshine the gay hats and dresses of the ladies made t ivid patches of colouring which easily drowned the colour of the procession itself. After the young gentlemen had fed themselves at the Bcresford they broke up into little lands that preyed harmlessly about the city, stole kisses, and drank lemonade.