LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 May 1928, Page 4

LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

First Aid! M Atkins: “So Robinson took a course ~ of first aid. Is lie good at it?’’ Willis-: “A little hasty sometimes. A man was nearly drowned yesterday, and the first thing Robinson did was to throw a glass of water in his face!” * * * * Placed! “Now, boys,” said the teacher, “I want you to bear in mind that the affix; ‘stall’ means ‘the place of.’ Thus we have Afghanistan, the place of the Afghans. ’ Can anyone give me example?'” PL' Nobody seemed very anxious to do so until little Jimmy said, proudly: “Yes-, sir, I can —umbrella .stan’ —the place for umbrellas! ” * * w # Quits! Private O’Flaherty: “Oi’ve had a letter from me wife, wanting to know if Oi can get leave for the anniversary oJML our wedding day.” Colonel: “That strange, O’Flaherty. I’ve had a letter from your wife saying you’re such a nuisance she doesn’t want you t-o get leave!” O’Flaherty: “Faith, sorr, thero’s two moighty foine loiars in this regiment, and Oi’m one of thim. Oi haven’t got a wife! ” * * * * Betting. “Give it up—the bookie always wins.” This advice, given by the Rev. James Stephenson, vicar of Dorman’s Land, Surrey, in a sermon, is thought to have -been taken by members of the congregation, for when the church was cleaned a number .of betting slips were found in a pew. The vicar said in his sermon: “Bushels of racing tips, and every one a winner! It is a fool’s game. Alen put money on horses that they ought to be putting on the backs of their families —and they expect to.jfc win. They might win now and again, but the bookie is the only man who makes money out of it. It isr his living.” To the young qieople the vicar said: “If you have started to bet, stop it at once, because it may lead you into crime. Greyhound racing is not a sport; it is simply a mechanical dodge.”

Crooks Converted. “During the war I did hospital work and became friendly with a wounded soldier, who told me he had been released from Dartmoor to join the army. He was a Shoreditch man and had ■spent much of his life in prison for burglary. He said he wanted to play the game, but never had a chance. This gave me the idea” (said Miss EvanThomas, founder of the League of the Straight Road, an' organisation to give reformed crooks a new chance in life). ‘ ‘ When the war was over, the ex-bur-glar became the first member of my league. Other law-breakers who wanted to start afresh heard about me and brought their friends along. Tims wo grew. Now we are forty strong.” It takes a man to belong to the league. \ “Wobblers” won’t do, and Alias Evan- J Thomas is careful to accept only men * who are seriously trying to fight back. There is a six months’ probation for every now member. They are found jobs, their womenfolk looked after, they arc helped In times of illness, and Aliss Evan-Thomas straightens out their legal tangles. If a man lets an employer down lie is fired from the league for life. This has happened only once. A man stole I2s, but his employer did not prosecute, as the man had a record of three years’ excellent work. During 1924 and 1925. every member was employed. The general strike took its tell, however, and now 16 are out of work. Slowly Aliss Evan-Thomas is finding places for them. One ex-bank robber now handles hundreds of pounds a week as wages clerk! * * * * Art of Russia.

One Russian development is particularly noteworthy. I mean the art of' Russia, says Air W. T. Goode in the , “Observer.” A book could be written about it. The Russian has always been appreciative of art, a?id the Western world is familiar with Russian music and Russian ballet. But its place in life can only be estimated after a prolonged visit. Museums have been greatly multiplied, and art collections increased. And they are used. Constantly groups of peasants, workers, women students, soldiers, go round them, under expert guidance. And this is the work of the Soviets. But it is the thetre which shows the impulses most strongly everywhere. Under revolutionary inspiration, the most urgent search for new forms of expression, new subjects for treatment, new ways of production, has arisen. Some of the attempts are weak, others, strong and appealing; some of wondrous beauty. Under leaders like Stanislavsky and Aieyerhold, the search and experiment go on. And it is a fact that I have seen more exciting and interesting theatrical experiments in Aloscow 'in one week than I have seen in London in a year. The search has produced one novelty which has come to stay, “The Blue Blouses, ’ ’ which/ from one group of ten actors who gave topical hits from the daily news, has grown to 7000 groups, who have become the Whip of Folly, for they are the satirisers of follies, social or official, in short, witty, musical sketches; a remarkable body of criticism, most unusual and most unexpected.