The True Harbinger

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 August 1916, Page 3

The True Harbinger

» (IJv Walt Mason). M<ist harbingers of spring are lakes; the man depending on tliern wakes to find they fooled him and he .sees lie luw the grip, or 601)10 disease. lie sees some harbingers on deck, and Kavs "''/ he winter's gone, by heck; a soft •« ind from the southland blows, ami 1 shall chango my underclothes, and put my overcoat in soak, and dance and sing and laugh and joke.'' And then a blizzard come along and shows him where he got in wrong. Oh. don't as6iime that spring is here when jimerow harbingers appear, hut wait until Jig elueking hen is fussing round the yard again, intent mi hatching sundry ehicks into this world of politics. And don't be fooled by pullets young, which cluck around ore spring is sprung: they'up too impatient in the cause: the fire of youth is in their craws: but wait serenely till you've heard the clucking of the wise old bircT, which has outlived the zeal of youth, and long since cut her wisdom tooth. When she getf-. busy, when she begs for nest of .straw and fourteen eggs. then, gentle reader, you may shed your undorweHr of flannel red : for when the old hen plays her game, we realize that spring has came.

The Volunteer Training Corps were iriven the filial seal of Government rrci.gnition nnrl approval in Hyde Parle last .Time, when the regiments of the London area, over 10,000 strong, wore inspected l>v Field-Marshall Tord l''reur!i, Commn.ndinir-in-C'hief of Home Forces. and hailed as part of the Forces of the C'rowti. 'I'lio founder* and orgaj nizers of the corps thus had crowned with complete *'iiccc.vs their efforts to enrol for home defence the manhood of the conntry above, military age or other, wise ineligible for active service. At the Central Station. Glasgow. Harry Bathgate, an artist and coiiscieiitiol : t ~ objector, who had been lined as an absentee and was being taken to his regiment by an escort, lay down on the platform and refused to move. ITe was ultimately handcuffed, placed on a luggage trolley, and wheeled .to the left luggage office. lie was afterwards taken to another station by cab.