THE ENGLISH MILORD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 251, 27 November 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ENGLISH MILORD.

FOUR-SHILLING " TIP " WITHOI'I MEANING IT

The glory of riches caine unsought ti an English visitor to Paiis in a train way-car close to the Arc lie Triomphc one day last month.

Ho had gjven the conductor a D"fraiic gold piece (about lGs. S(L) for hi.j fare, and among his change found a .">. franc piece (Is. 2d.). The Englishman, who lwd been victimised by bad money iii Paris before, was suspicious of this coin. " Hone." he said in English, handing the o-iVaii( piece back to the conductor. "I don't believe that is u good one.' The conductor, who understood not a single word of English, took coin, looked at his passenger for a moment with a puzzled expression, Then a wave of delighted comprehension came over Ids face. This, he realised, was the fabulously rich English milord who is traditional in the French imagination, and he evidently intended the o-franes a, a. tip. The conductor accordingly bowed dec;*ly. expressing his thanks* (o the astonished Englishman in a flood of "Morri. milord; merei hien, milord.'' while tn* other passengers regarded the Croesus who could afford to give such a tip on a penny faro with envy. Tho Englishman himself, overwhelmed by his unexpected prestige, relapsed into an abashed silence and abandoned tho 5 fr.ancs without another word.

legends and epics. Ono popular description represents Peter as snatching a halberd Irom one of his sold lei's, cutting two strips of turf, and, laying them crossways, saying: "Hero tin re -iiall be a citv." As foundation stones

v, iv lacking, sods had to take their l-la.o. I hen. dropping the halberd, ho .s ■".■//■ d a spade and began th ( . first embankment. At tha; moment a huge

tittle was seen hovering over tho hwd < 1 the C zinr. A sliot from a musket ' brought ii down. PeUT took tho i woti:ided biid, Sit it On Ins wrist, and departed in liii, bo;it tu in>sj>c(.\ the neighbourhood. 'J he construction and th« maint< n;ui(f <>f the city niaiii a continuous struggle ;tiid conquest ol iuttu.ro. This soil is a mar>k so deep and spongy Unit , a solid foundation in many pjaces is at- ; tain d only hy a h;ih'< rranoan sonffold- : iii>: of piles. The highest point of the , (iiy i.-> not more than iifteen feet above j ih-e bca level. I But the greatest enemy of Hie city is , .'•< t<T:i')le inundation to which it i> ! subjected ever .so often. The western ■ wi:.ds from t.lie Gulf of Finland drive I the wat i> down the Nava, a ; funnel of it, and Hood the city from end Ito end. A legend has it that PeUr I eho-e tho site of his new capital he j saw a white ring high up on the trunk ! oti a tree. Turning to a Finnish fi.shi rnian Peter asked the meaning of it. "That." replied the fis'aernuui. "is t'le spot to which the Hoods of the Neva j ri ached last voir." i "You're mad." shou.ed Peter. "H <:in't be. It i.s iimw-sihlo." It w.is I not long. though, before Peter was convinced of the truthfulness of tho fisherman's statement. In 1712 a flood swent the tiMvlvdni'l ritv. during which Peler almost !os; his life. Thousands perilled in the inundation, while the whole