From AND Tower

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 291, 8 December 1928, Page 6

From AND Tower

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The .Southland Times contains the following advertisement: “Alug, with £5OO, wants someone to show him how to make a living with same.” “Mug” cannot be true to label, or else he is the luckiest man alive to retain possession of £5OO in Invercargill. * # • •

At Kimblton there is a voluntary guide, a line large shape of a man who courteously pilots the visitor around the high and happy township, and points out from the loftiest elevations the beauties of the surrounding district. He can tell you all about farm acreage and fields, the price cf land, wool, lamb, and butter and the joys of agriculture, and many of the things of more than passing interest. Having thus proved a mine of information, he will probably lead you to the township’s pleasant hostel, and see to your refreshment, after which he will shake you warmly by the hand, wish you God speed, and saunter off. Later, you will be informed that your guide and host was Constable Ferguson, the law’s custodian of trie village and thereabouts, whose little district embraces about 500 square miles. I don’t know whether Kimbolton will ever attain to the size, importance and dignity of possessing a mayoral chair; but if it ever does, and Constable Ferguson has by that time retired on well-earned superannuation, he ought to occupy it, for he is a wonderful booster for Kimbolton. * • # • Italy’s boast of a dozen families with over thirty children would have won her the increased respect of Swinburne. Though he lived and died a bachelor, the poet most strongly ap proved of large families for other people, and took great pride in the fact that one of his own ancestresses had borne thirty children. He evidently considered this no small proof of the merits of the Swinburne family, and it was clear that he had no misgivings as to the quality of the breed. Referring to his forbear’s achievement, he remarked, “I think you will allow that when this race chose at last to produce a poet, it would have been remarkable if he had been content to write nothing but hymns and idylls for clergymen and young ladies. ” But, remarks an English commentator, the dig at Tennyson overlooked the fact that he too was a member of a large family. * • • # The definition of eternity has given some trouble at one time or another, and the question is further complicated by an announcement made in connection with some comments of the judge at Cumberland Assizes on a reference to a diamond wedding ring, says a writer in the Alanchester Guardian. The judge, being an old-fashioned person, was under the impression that a wedding ring was a plain band of gold, but a modern jeweller has pointed out A that this is now quite out of fashion. It seems that the popular thing is the “eternity ring.” which is a band of platinum completely surrounded by diamonds. It is possible that some future commentator on new-Georgian manners and customs may find it a little difficult to square “eternity” with modern marriage, which is a contract terminable at short notice at the wish of either of the high contracting parties. Perhaps he will get out of the difficulty on the “hicus a non lucendo” principle, and may define the “eternity ring” of the neo-Georgians as something specifically unassoeiatod with permanence. # * * ♦ Perhaps the most quoted and the best known words ever written about Royalty make up the famous line: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” writes “Bystander,’’ in the Auckland Star. No doubt it is true that even under the most favourable conditions the couch of a monarch is not a bed of roses. But, assuming that circumstances may render it necessary to consider the future of the British Throne, we can at least be certain that, so long as oUr present Constitution stands, the immediate successors of George A.. when their time comes, will find the way made easy for them. In “This King Business,” the interesting notes on European royalties compiled by Air F. Collins, I find these sage remarks on the prospects of his succession: “If the Prince ever does marry and has a son .... the youngster will have been- altogether too fortunate in choosing his ancestors. A dominant and durable great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, made the British Throne a very secure one. A charming and able great-grandfather, King Edward, made it a comfortable one. A conscientious and hard-working grandfather. King George, is making it a useful one. And a gifted potential father, the present Prince of Wales, promises to make it the most popular throne in the long history of monarchy. All the Heir Apparent needs to do to the British Throne is to sit upon it.” But we all continue to hope that the day is yet far distant. **’ • • Thus a correspondent on the FrancoItalian dispute: I am alive for evermore. There is no death. Life is indestructible. As this scientific fact comes home to the consciousness of thinkers the world over, our outlook on life and death is being radically changed. We used to think that persons could be killed, and “general death” was defined as “loss of personality.” Now we know better. From this point of view we see the futility of war as a means of really destroying our enemies; also, we question the supposed efficacy of capital punishment. If, by execution, one is simply translated to another and, perhaps, better, plane of existence, he may be more severely punished by being allowed to face the consequences of his crime iu this world. Justice may seem to miscarry in human courts of justice; but “shall not the Judge of all the earth do rightl” “Vengeance is Aline, t will repay,” saith the Lord So, while we may express no opinion on th(j sentence upon Alodugno, both Italians and Frenchmen may well think along the lines suggested. To our grief we I know how easily we may become involved in European strife, and hope that our friends in Italy will have ' faith in God, for their own sake, as well as for ours. <