THE POLYGLOT PAPERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1590, 21 October 1905, Page 3

THE POLYGLOT PAPERS.

I Trafalgar Day I And with muoh band I p'ayjng, flag flying, and patriotio pulse I beating at high pressure, we have been I vigorously reviving tho great Nolsoman I reminder, " England expsots every man I this day w'll do his duty.” Nelson’s imj mortal ond nerve-thrilling signal is one of I the battle slogans that will never perish I out of our patriotio vocabulary, and I every time I hear it said or sung, I am I thrilled with snob martial ardour, that if I war were declared against somobody und

I something while the thrill was on, I would j boldly send all my ablo body relations to I tbo front, specially iuoludiug " uncle,” and I so win tbo distinction of beiDg an unselfish I patriot. Roaring cannon, shot-torn ships

dyed with blood, firo, smoko, and dying groans are not nioo things to commemorate, and none of us have any desire to comI memorate them; but if, at times, a threatened tyranny can only be crushed, aud nalioiel liberty oan only be assured by paying suoh a price of heroic conflict and sacrifice, tbe, as in tho case of Trafalgar, we hail with acclaim tbe heroio victors who fearlessly paid it, and we redouble our acclaims at the Dame of Nelson I the inspiring genius of them all,

for to him and them our empire owes her greatness of to-day. It is quite possible thst if Trafalgar had proved a defoit for England instead of a triumph—and one of the world’s great >tt triumphs—there would h.-ve been no prosperous Gisborne to day, and no happy Gisbornitos disport-

I ing themselves oa shore and river ns I happened yesterday, we'l olad, well fed. I smiling, laughing, brightsome, lightsome, I pleasant, even jubilant, and "ail on I aooount of Trafalgar." Bome grumpy, I down-ia-themonlh oynio may oynioally insinuate that it’s a " far ory ” from Gisborne to Trafalgar, but then the dried-up, prosaic little eoul of a oynio is as impervious to sentimeut as Councillor Whinray is to the notion of fixing the Cook memorial on Cook’s landing place. We have oar Trafalgar victory to celebrate, brave boys, so heave ahead, for through that victory wo are what we are to-day. There has been but one Nelson in the world, brave boys, and England owned him, eo toss up your hats every year and bawl" Hooray 1”

I And the first symptoms of the show I week fever are beginning to show themj selves, and abont 48 hoars henoe they will give fall proof that wo have 11 got ’em bad." It will no doubt be a great foreI gathering of a'l and sundry, from near and far. Everybody will be able to socially and fraternally hob-nob with everybody I else, tbe while thoy knowingly criticise tbo live stock, and asse's tbe worth of the farm produoo. ’Arry and ’Arriet of the town will bo there, he in best boxer aud cutaways, she in lace-trimmed thingumys, and with tho air of an | expert ’Arry will explain to ’Arriet all the technical, merits pertaining to the live stock and produce, also their demerits (if any). Raral Jack and Jill will be there, he in unsophisticated tweeds and gaiters, she in crimson flowered hat and ample • flowing muslins, decorated with ruobed thingumbobs, and with modest air will they parade tbe festive scene. City dames aud city fathers, safeguarding th ir respective ‘quads of sma'l f<-y, will gravely perambulate from stall to stall, varying their gravity with occasional smiles when exchanging greetings with friends not seen since—tbe last time, end there will be side shows and divers diversions to enhance the enjoyment, and tho air will palpitate witn occasional cheers, and vibrate with rippliag laughter, the whole pervaded by the harmonious strains of inspiring music. Id addition to the study of beeves, equine stoek, farm and dairy produce, etc, an agricultural show affords most favorable facilities for the study of hat consequential, many-sided, self-asser-ive quantum known as human na‘ure, which can be studied in all its phases, from grave to gay, from lively to severe, but chiefly, of eonrae, of the lively so<t od such a gala oooasion. Tbe photographio fiend will assuredly be about, snapshotting and photogying everything aud everybody with impish celerity, and a sublime indifferenoe to popular tasto or .personal feeling, though it goes without saying that ’Arry and ’Arriet, and rural Jack and Jill will have no eb jection to attain to a cheap immortality by being gratoitously photogged “in tho open.” Altogether, tbe Show of 1905 promises to ho brisk aud frisky, and will give a fillip to the sight-seeing crowds that will stimulate their energies to accomplish yet greater deeds of industrial derring-do.

And just here, I tender my hunjblo apologies to His Worship tbe Mayor and tbe other Council magnates for the inadvertent statement of last week (not mistake, journalists never make mistakes), referring to the pioposed half-holiday for the “ People’s Day.” I herewith transfer that castigation to those to whom it rightly belongs, and exonerate the Ci:y Father's from all blame, wboreat, do doubt, they will be greatly relieved, aDd go rejoicing on tbeir way free from eorrcCtioa until—they deserve it, which may not be long.

What's tbe mailer with English football '} Oar New Zealand boys are just amply having a go-as-you-please cakewalk through all matches hitherto, and the British Lion is being romped over by her cu'o in a style that makes the whole footba'l world fairly gasp with amazer mens. I'm not in the slightest degree amorous of foot, ft'l, it’s an exercise that has a good deal of tbe savage in it, which'! ever way you toko if, but I am sorry that England is not showing up in better form, if only for the purpose of making the contents keener, and, consequently, more keenly interesting. New Zealand's sixty odd in one matoh to England's nil is ceita'nly a triumph for New Zealand to be proud of, but jußt as certainly it is a defeat for tbe dear old land over which she may well pucker up her eyebrows aid look— bo-so. Wbat's the reason ? Is it that New Zealand muttoa is belter that English beef, that New Zealand kioks are more Maxim like then English ones, or that it's rn “ on ” year for Now Zealand aod an “ off" year for tbo old lei.;, or that tho old Lion has got aweary of football ontics, sernms, and scrimmages, and has got "s<ck, lame, and lazv”witb reference to the whole b

lusioeas ? These are portentous queries, la there ariy fuotbail authority that can set them at rest? Anyhow, cur boys are doing splendid work, and in addition to proving that they are in every way the worthy sons of their grand old historic British sires, they are glorifying New Zealand with such an advertisement as could never be surpassed by the best efforts of an Agsnt.Ganoralship. Continue “ kicking for goa l ,” laddies, while there’s a kick left in you; then come home and we’ll lionise you.

j (By Ali’UA.] I " A chiefs among yo takin’ notos, I An’ faith, he’ll print them." A oorsospondent who avows himself od j 1 admirer" of Mr L’sjant Clayton has i waxed wrath oonoerning the mild, though pointed odtioiems in which I indulgod with reforoDoo fo Mr Olaytoo’s first Gis-

J borne apoeoh. "Admirer" has oorloinly I road the said oritloisms tho wiong way, or I I ho must have pnerod at them through I smoked glaseos. or interpreted them while I passing through tho throes of a Carroll I I panic. If " Admirer ” wi'l again kindly I I scan tho lines with calm judgment and I J dear vision, ho will find nothing " moan ’’ I I or •• joining " in their purport, but a gcod-1 humored, candid reference to oeitain very I obvious dofi’cts that could bo easily I ! avoided, and to every boginuor iu tho art I of public speaking, tho "candid friond ’’ is I tbe best friond. As I formally remarked, I Mr Clayton is a young gentleman of pro I rnise, and while he has a groat deal to I loam from an oratorical pom* of view, no IJ donbt he will learn it, that is it he has the I i good seußO to preserve himself from falling 11 into tho hasty and somewhat intolerant j t imputionco of" Admiror.” I