The Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19399, 27 October 1934, Page 13 (Supplement)

The Passing Show.

(By “Fr Although the participants achieved their ends the Melbourne strike was rather regrettable. Arriving to find the tram services suspended, the Royal visitor might have been pardoned for thinking that these malcontents had chosen an inopportune time for airing grievances. By ’Staging their little scene to synchronise with the Prince’s tour they probably thought they would score considerably. Probably they imagined a greater degree of public would be extended to them at a time when The influx, of immense crowds jmade extraordinaryvdemands upon the long-suffering tramwaymen. In reality, however, they might have commanded more esteem by postponing their appeal until after the Duke’s departure. However, they have achieved their purpose, and “ all’s well that ends well.” But let us hope New Zealanders will show exemplary conduct during such an auspicious occasion in national history. We cannot but be ashamed o the fact that during the tour of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales our railway employees were on strike. We hope that history will be given no chance of repeating itself, and that any suspicious clouds on the Industrial horizon will pass over before the storm breaks. Surely we are not expecting too much of human nature in requesting the practical demonstraion "of that loyalty to the Throne which has ever been Britain’s boast. * * * * A few weeks ago the writer referred to a request ln>the correspondence columns of a reputable English journal for a parody on T. E. Brown’s "A G-arden Is a Lovesome Thing,” and contended that works of a high literary standard should be protected from these parody fiends. The following quotation which appeared in a subsequent issue of the publication aforementioned will be of interest to readers generally, and especially to he correspondent who addressed a letter on the subject to the Times editor: “A garden Is a loathsome thing—eh, what? Blight, snail, Pea-weavil, Green-lly such a lot! My handiest tool Is powerless, yet the fool (Next door) contends that slugs are not. Not slugs! In gardens! when tho eye Is cool? Nay, but I have some brine: 'Tls very sure they shall not walk: in mine.” Amusing and rather clever these lines may be, but they are certainly not edifying to anyone acquainted with the original. • • • * In the spring a young man’s fancy lighlty turns to thoughts of love, but he is also occupied with the latest in bright-hued blazers, and silk tennis shirts with accessories en suite. For instance, at the recent university boat race in the -Ga-thedral- city the coxswain of l one boat shone forth in all the glory of immaculate white flannels', a nice line in silk shorts," a white scarf and a black and white cap, contrasting with the rowing singlets and shorts of the others. The crew decided that quick and deep immersion was the only right and proper punishment.. So they threw him In. Unfortunately the-cox was of the clinging type—and he clung so tightly to his tormentors that he pulled them in .with him. Luckily they had all qualified for their mile in the dim and distant past, and, in any case, remarkable aquatic attainments are scarcely necessary for the Avon.

A Sunday-school teacher was; trying to hold the attention of a class of restless boys on a hot afternoon. Almost exasperated he suddenly exclaimed, “ Now .1 want to ask you bright lads what sort of boys go to heaven?” Immediately an eager hand was waving in his face. “Yes?” he inquired, imagining the arrow of reproof had reached its mark. “ Dead boys, sir,” came the pat response from one young hopeful, conoulsing with delight because he had “ got one on to teacher.”

Asked unexpectedly to reply to a toast at a social function a youthful orator—maybe a budding premier—was as -much taken by surprise as the young lady who murmured, “ But this is so sudden. “ Really, I have nothing to say,” be stated, frankly. There was no awkward pause, for everybody understood the position, and the chairman stated the truth when he said that incorporated in the advide to public, speakers might, be the maxim, “When you have nothing to say, say it," following the well-known counsel. “ Stand up. -speak up, shut up.”

Comment and Criticism.

ree Lance.”) Dissertations upon peace problems and discussions upon international politics were completely eclipsed this week by news of the air race. There was a touch of romance about these 20 contestants setting' out at dawn 'for their distant goal, their course beset with unknown dangers, and the excitement aroused by the commencement of the long-anticipated flight grew more and more tense with every progress report. New Zealand interest was naturally centred on our own representatives. To compete successfully in a long-distance race is an achievement far exceeding the accomplishment of the average solo flight, and the winners have indeed earned their laurels. The race lias done much for the advancement of aviation, the experience being of inestimable value in assisting to link up by modern transport facilities the remote parts of the globe

.The tragic deaths of Messrs Gilman and Bciines cast a. gloom over the contest, so far as the Dominion was concerned. They y strove against stupendous odds and overcame many handicaps, and it was indeed pathetic that they should meet such a fate whilst seeking to uphold the banner of their country hi an epoch-making event. The regrettable feature about the' progress in aeronautics Is that the percentage ■ erf accidents is still far too high to be observed with equanimity. Interested countries might with advantage institute a "safety competition," a substantial prize to be donated to the airman who can claim the minimum of accidents over the longest period of service.

Despise not the day of small things! The purchasing power of the “nimble threepenny” is not large; It is frequently despised, but as an agent in thrift it can-give 'pregnant lessons, as a Hamilton firm recognised this week. A lady- customer appeared ‘ and requested to see baby carriages. Event-, ually she chose one, the price of which'was in- the vicinity of £4. Producing a bag she,, paid the amount forthwith 'in ' threepenny pieces. Upon the tradesman expressing'surprise at such an array of coins, he was ihformed that the purchaser had 'had a baby carriage in her mind for many weeks past and had saved all the "threepennies" that had come her way. The famine in the despised coins, which has been voiced in some quarters of late, will now’ be at an end, as that £4 w’orth is' again in circulation—a development which church treasurers may regret.

It having been decided to film “David Copperfleld” in the United States, it is re-, ported that representatives of the filming company are scouring Canada in the search Tor a boy with an “ English accent" to play ths young David. But it is by no means certain that an English boy of 1934 ..will reproduce the accent of an English boy’ of 1824. Such data as we have leave room for doubt. If, for instance, we read in a u>oqk a conversation between two Whigs ,'rif that period we shall automatically pronounce, the words as we pronounce them to-day; but we shall not be reproducing the language bf 1824. Lord John Russell did not say “lilac” but “layioclc”; he did not say “woman ’ but something like ' “’ooman." Whigs of high degree said “y’eller” for “yellow" and “goold” for “gold" and stressed the second syllable of “balcony.’ Now’ it is often said that ntuch “American slang” is really very goad English which has gone out of fashion' in. England. If the film-makers fail to discover their “ English accent" boy in Canada they might well take the bold line,• put-on a. Hollywood boy’ and challenge England to prove that David Copperfleld did not - talk in his way. * * • • .• t A Bishop was enjoying hospitality in a country parish whence he bad come to conduct ecclesiastical business. Awakening in the morning to the strains of the wellknown hymn, “Nearer My 'God to Thee.” he concluded that bis hostess must have profited from his ministrations. His, toilet completed, he hastened to commend her religious enthusiasm. “!Oh, your Lordship," she replied, “that’s the hymn I boil ’the eggs by, four verses for soft and live for hard.” “Now, can any boy, tell me,"'asked, the teacher, "the story of Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh?” “.Yes,” said the bright lad who had amplified the school curriculum by judicious recourse ito the movies. “ She was hopping off the sidewalk on to a street car, and he spread his oloak in front of her, and said: ‘ Step, on it.