FANCIES FROM WAIKATO

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 283, 6 August 1910, Page 5

FANCIES FROM WAIKATO

Hamilton, Friday Night. THE CRIPPEN HUNT. All the elements of a melodrama are contained in the Crippen case, the tawdry details of which have flooded the press of late. A glamour of romance is lent by the fact that wireless telegraphy has played a great part in the apprehension of the principal performers. It has also demonstrated how powerless Scotland Yard has been. Crippen and his paramour had no difficulty in leaving England. Had Crippen possessed the horse-sense of a mosquito he would still be at large with no one the wiser for his whereabouts. It i 3 pathetically amusing to note how the news has been dished up. One journal of this province conscientiously refers to the woman as "Miss Le Neve," it also describes Crippen as "the murderer." Both are overdrawn. Crippen is an innocent man until proved guilty. Ethel Le Neve has forfeited her right to ?ny social distinction by her behaviour. To attempt to whitewash her is as absurd as to attempt to sweep the sands. Probably she will be exonerated from any blame in the subsequent Court proceedings. It is well if that is so. No one will deny that she is possibly the victim of a mad and unwholesome infatuation; certainly a British jury will give her the benefit of the doubt, if there be any doubt. She will have gained notoriety and will possibly have numerous offers of marriage. That is the penalty of fame. It is all very singular. THE GIRL FROM RECTOR'S.

There has been a great outcry against this play; noobdy seems a penny the worse from all the fine fuss and fury; indeed, the management have reaped a rich harvest through the publicity made by the clerical persons who have cried without (ostensibly) having seen. I saw the play when in Hamilton. It was fiat and uninteresting. I could not raise a laugh, and its "blueness," if any existed, was the hue of skim milk. It is said that it made fun of marriage. Let me tell the average parson that I have seen in the homes of people much more trite evidence of the sham of marriage than ever has appeared on the stage. But our friends are most unreasonable: they have considered it necessary to condemn a play which is not worth the exertion of denunciation. That, of course, is their own affair. There are many directions in which their efforts might do good, but they are left unlended. The main object appears to be to gain publicity. To do this requires a skilful man. One often gains publicity but is made to look a double-forte fool in the act. There is no discrimination with some people. "LITTLE BOY BROWN."

I, who hav/e written 30 much for the "grown-ups," have been asked to write something for the children. vVell, it is a pleasant break.: — "What will'oo b'ing me," says Little Boy Brown, Eyes expectant and face aglow; "What will 'oo b'ing me home from town, Boy wants somefing to p'ay wiv so. "B'ing me a drum and a flag so gay, An' a g'eat big horse, to wide off to the wars, B'ing me a boogie—'un 'at will p'ay, An' b'ing me a gun to shoot at the stars. ,

"Buy me a wed coat, papa, do, An' a big cocked hat, an' a sword to fight, An' a Teddy-bear, an' a cockatoo, An' a weal live doggie, 'at wiil not bite.

"An' I'd like a tiger wiv-out any c'aws, Some marbles, a top, an' a big, big kite, An' a smoking pipe, an' a hat like yours— B'ing me, 'ese, papa, all home tor night."

Little Boy Brown, with his wondrous smile, Climbs on my knees and pats my cheek; And with baby lisp, and with baby guile,— "An' I'll be a dood boy for a big long week."