PROFITABLE PICTURES.

NZ Truth, Issue 64, 8 September 1906, Page 7

PROFITABLE PICTURES.

At Shoreditch County Court (Eng.)# during the hearing of a claim m reference to picture-postcards, a witness said that people would hardly credit how the fashion m these cards changed. Lovers are particularly fickle m their choice of subjects to send to their adored ones ; but it was stated m evidence that "scenes by moonlight have a steady sale."-

As the picture postcard dealer promenaded m the moonlight,

Making holiday on Hampstead'a breezy

height, He reflected, "Ah, how difl'rent to the mooi and afternoon light

Is the pensive beauty of the orb of

night. How it silvers with its radiance the greensward and the heather ; And m all the world no fairer sight

there is Than a moonlit heath—but, hang it all, it's real summer weather, And I've come down here for pleasure,

not for bja !'' It was strange so fair a prospect should

suggest the sordid drama Of the counter ; but it did, for that

. . mere male Softly murmured, as he gazed upon tha

moonlit panorama, "Such a sce,ne as this would have a steady sale !"

For, although not there at Nature's call, to list to her expoundings, And although inclined' just then for malt and . hop, The romantic scene before him, and his picturesque surroundings, Irresistibly recalled him to the shop. And it happened that there passed close by a young sweethearting couple, A fond lover and his lass, a pigeon pair ; A«nd the young man's arm was twined round the poetically supple And slim waist of his devoted lady fair. And that picture postcard dealer, as he watched the twain, found more ground For bis musings on a speculative scale: "With the moon behind," he pondered, "and that couple m the foreground, That's a picture which would have a steady sale !"

lie stood musing quite "a long time, but a pub. had to be plundered Of some old and mild ; and, gasping for a dram, He made tracks through quiet sylvan nooks to reach .; his bourne, and blundered All at once upon tnat courting pair

again ; ■ But this time 'twas most embarrassing ; for though, when first lie spied 'em. They were courting observation, more or less, They resented it thisi journey, and our hero, as he eyed 'em, Thought of "shop" once more, and business success. Whistling softly, he retreated from the billing and the cooing, And renewed his flight towards the welcome ale. "With that picttire," muttered he, '''what rippin' business I'd be doing, For these moonlight scenes have such a steady sale !"