A Knotty Question.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 199, 30 July 1883, Page 2

A Knotty Question.

It is extraordinary what silly questions stupid conceited people propound at meetings (sometimes. At a Fire Brigade meeting last week, a person rose, and after a few introductory affeoted hems and haws, asked " In the event of the Brigade collapsing for want iof funds, what would become of the surplus funds, if any l" No wonder the meeting laughed, and the silly fellow who put the question was so carried away with conceit, that he lat down quite proudly after his achievement. Some people would seem to talk at meetings just for talk's sake, and take up time, and make themselves a nuisance and don't seem to know it. It iB rarely the practical sensible man that thus makes an ass of himself, but the empty-headed, conceited individual who likes to be thought very wise, an a man of great mental attainments ..and vast experience. The question quoted, which was really asked, m its utter nonsense reminds one one of the little schoolboy rhyme :— Some children wen*, sliding on the ice, All on a summer's day ; It so fell out, they all fell in* The rest they ran away* Te parents who no children have, Nor never shall have none ; I pray ye send them all to school, And keep the rest at home. This is just on a par as regards absolute nonsense with the question, *< In the event of an institution collapsing for want of funds, what is to be done with the surplus funds, if any." Shades of Balaam's Ass I Can the King's fool excel the above?