Thoughts For The Times

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1920, Page 2

Thoughts For The Times

A Tribute to Water. At a meeting of a bar association in Arkansas, says an American exchange, some of Colonel Bob Maxe’s friends thought to confuse him by proposing that he respond to the toast, “Water.’” Dashing off a bumper of the well-known, liquid, he spilled this: “dir Toastmasser, ladies and gentlemen, you have me to respond to the toast, ‘Water,” the purest and best of all the tilings God created. I’ want to say to you that I have seen it glisten in tiny teardrops op the sleeping lids of ipfaney; I have seen it trickle down the blushing clieejjg of youth, and go in rufjhipg torrents, dowp the wrinkled cheeks of age. j liqve seen it in stilly dewjrops pn the blades of grass' and leaves of trees, flashing like polished diamonds when the morning sun burst in resplendent glory o’er the eastern hills. I have seen it trickle down the mountain side in tiny rivulets with the music of liquid silver striking oil beds of polished diamonds. I have seen it in the rushing rivers, rippling over pebbly bottoms, purling about jutting stones, roaring over precipitous falls in its mad rush to join the mighty Father of Waters, and in the mighty Father of Waters I have seen it go in slow and majestic sweep to join the ocean. And I have seen it in the mighty ocean, on whose broad bosom floats the battle fleets of all nations and the commerce of the world, But, ladies and gentlemen, I want to say to you now that as . a beverage it is a damned failure!”