ROUND THE COMPASS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 21 December 1928, Page 8

ROUND THE COMPASS.

Adamant Officialdom. THIS morning a cable from the United States relates that Mr; Keith Miller, the Australian aviatrix who, with Captain Lancaster, flew ii a small ’plane from London to Aus tralia, was held up by American Cus toms officers because she wished tc bring ashore a special compass which contained some pure alcohol. Only after an infinite amount of bother was she able to bring it ashore. It waf pointed out that to pour out the alco hoi would ruin the instrument, which was part of her aeroplane equipment This case recalls a recent experience ol another aviatrix. Lady Heath. New York Customs officials on November 9 on the arrival of the Leviathan, re

fused to allow Lady Heath to bring ashore a pint of champagne she had brought with her for the christening of the Moth aeroplane presented to her. She declared that there was no intention to drink the champagne. The bottle would be broken on the hull of her aeroplane during the christening ceremony. The officials decided, however, that it was against the law to bring in the wine, no matter for what purpose it was intended. They therefore solemnly broke the bottle and dashed away the champagne on the spot. XXX Poet and “ Jersey Lily.” PROPOS to the recent celebration in London on her seventy-fourth birthday by Lady de Bathe (Lily Langtry), who in these days lives on the Riviera, Mr Julian Hawthorne, in his recently issued reminiscences, quaintly entitled “ Shapes that Pass,” say-s that he had the pleasure of introducing her whom Mr Matheson Lang characterises as “ The stage’s most beautiful woman,” to Joaquin Miller, the poet of the Sierras: “ She was in her most captivating phase then—a strong, handsome girl, of a healthy country type, her ruddy' cheeks and great blue eyes shown off by her white dress; and she had already acquired a queenly manner. I left them talking prosperously near the entrance of the marquee-tent, but Joaquin came hastening after me in a few moments; ‘ Have you got a bit of paper ? I have a pencil; she wants me to write her a lyric.’ I found an old envelope in my pocket; he seized it and squatted down on the turf, where I left him scribbling, and went back to Lily till he was ready. It seemed hardly five minutes before he came stalking towards us, smiling in his yellow beard and waving the envelope. 4 No, Julian must read it first!’ he said, w r hen she stretched out a hand for it. Except for the Sierra spelling, this is what I read: If all God’s earth a garden were, And all the women flowers. And I a bee that buzzed there Through all the summer hours, Oh, I would buzz the garden through For honey—till I came to you! I approved it, and I suppose Lily has that old envelope still; I don’t think it has been in print till now. Their parting, I believe, was tender, and when I congratulated Joaquin on his promptness he said: 4 Well, I was al-

How Tht “ Whusper.” ’X'H®' n ihman's view of the America,,.veiling revivalist is expressed in t. following from a London correspoent of the “Star”:— Mrs Aimee Mherson. the “ hot Gospeller ” from L Angeles, came to London to “ drive, e devil from Britain in six weeks.” he devil is still here, unfortunately. WO uld have been better if Mrs M’Plson had come with less booming an<f are , or. better still, if she had remai.j on the other side of the Atlantic. There is assured!*’ ample scope for,)! that America's “ hot-gospellers" , do and say in Chicago, Xew Yc Hollywood and elsewhere. We do ,t need to look to American pulpit-tapers, with their sensationalism andmarre appeals to the emotions, to us into the straight path. The t-jvalistic methods of Moody and Sank were far different. I remember Confirmed snufftaker telling me th he could not cure himself of the Ibit of snuff-tak-ing—that he had to t-e a pinch every quarter.of an hour or to give a spurt to his flagging brain.lt is much the same with some rcligio; revivals. The excitement created b. the missioner and the atmosphere ofhc mission act as a spur to the emoms, but when the revival meetings are>ver, and there is a return to the norm conditions of life, the influence wan. Here is a story to illustrate the e*ct which missions exercise with scf* folk. There was a whirlwind misxn in Scotland. A “convert” was asbc what, in his opinion, was the outanding effect of the revival. 44 Weel sir.” was the reply', as faur a ah can obsairve. wailes they , se d tae shout for whuskev, noo tty whusper for it.” K.O. for Nigit Clibs. week hasten published the announcement ’om London that the night club is gt e . Lord Byng has carried out the Pgramme he mapped

out when he became Chief tmrnissioner of the Metropolitan Polu London. He vowed he would wipe »t the night clubs, and with characterise determination he has done it. „ord Byng is a stickler for disciplin«and exactitude. When he was servii in France in the Great War he, with tier officers, received new drafts from -\gland, where they had been in camjto reinforce a Canadian contingent bel*d Arras. One of the platoons did notrrive to be inspected by Lord Byng ad staff until ten minutes after the ti>* appointed. “ What time were you » be here?” Lord Byng asked the youi officer in charge of the platoon. 44 HaJ past two, sir,” was the reply. “ Yoi were ten minutes late,” observed Loro Byng; “-why was that?” “I thought,” replied the lieutenant, “ that I had allowed enough time, sir. I did not read my map correctly.” “You have been taught map reading, I suppose?” was Lord- Byng’s next question. 44 Yes, sir,” the lieutenant replied. 44 Yes,” calmly concluded Lord Byng, “but not well enough. You will at once go back to England for more tuition.” And the youngster was on his way back half an hour later 1