BY THE WAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18581, 2 October 1928, Page 9

BY THE WAY.

SOME COLLECTIONS AND REFLECTIONS. (By One of the Boys.) They’re sending troops to the Deccan to stop Hindii-Moslem riots. In the words of the soldier: “ Deccan to that!” Mr Mosley advises motorists to avoid the “ bottle-neck.” And they might as well keep off the bottle, too, while they’re at it. T . K. K « It is a sad indication of the state of affairs when M. Venifeelos has to go all over Europe explaining his treaty of friendship with Italy. If it was an agreement to bat someone in the eye no one would need any explanation. '« It seems that the only way to stop the fuss over the Frarico-British agreement is for Britain and France to have a darn good row over something. a 35 36 The natives of Mombasa sang soldier songs to the Pri'nce in broken English. I have to sing them in broken English, too—leave out every second word and most of the chorus. ... Jokes arising out of the name of exCouncillor Hunter are hereby barred. “William Milton” is informed that poems about huntsmen and quarries and packs of hounds are not desired. Not even by poetic licence may city councillors be described as a pack of hounds. Nor is it polite to refer to the Mayor as “an Arche)' without an arrow.” The similarity of “Lyons” and “lions” is obvious, but has no significance in this connection. Councillor M’Combs’s name rhymes with “homes” not with ‘dooms,” and Cr Carr has two r’s in his name. K 35 H Mr E. D. Mosley avoids bottlenecks. But they’re not sO dangerous if you wrap a handkerchief of an old glove round them. « » There is reported to be 4 conspiracy in Spain against the Directory. But that doesn't cause me half the concern that the conspiracy of silence among the telephone exchange operators occasions. S 3C SC I read something about snoring in the paper yesterday, which reminded me of a young lady who vowed that she'd never marry a man who snored. “ But,” asked an unsympathetic friend, “how will you find out?” 35 X X An extraordinary aeroplane accident happened in Russia. Two ’planes were flying at different altitudes -when the higher one hit an air pocket and drop* ped right on top of the lower ’plane. Well, I suppose both the pilots, have been shot by the Soviet for carelessness, but in a few years they'll be having statues erected to them as the originators of aerial leap-frog. x x “War is an ugly, disgraceful, dirty and objectionable business,” says Sir Oliver Lodge. “Digging ourselves into the mud, pretending to be civilised people. crawling about under water and sinking one another is no occupation for gentlemen,” The same thoughts have often passed through my mind when I’ve had to use some of our suburban streets in the wet weather. sr x Herewith the whole of an affectionate letter written after the lapse of a week by a boy in a Boy Scouts camp who, the old folks feared, qiight be suffering from homesickness: “Dear Dad: This is one of the rest periods when vou are supposed to rest and write letters home. This is one of the letters. I would probably n6t have written so soon, but to get into the dining room to-night I have to have written a letter home. It is about dinner time, now, so must close. Your son, Bill.” x Friend (eyeing very luxurious car>: But you d.on’t mean to tell me that vou lxmght it just to satisfy a whim of your wife’s? The Other (sadly) : Ah, you don’t know her, old man. She’s got a whim of iron. 35 35 35 The Eight Hour Day procession through Sydney lacked the enthusiaSni of former years, many unions not participating. The more progressive ones being too much occupied, of course, with preparations for the eight hour week. Major Segrave is transferring his attention from speed-cars to speed-poats. Not Segrave for a sea-grave, we hope.