THE HOUR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 253, 4 December 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE HOUR.

We've bluit tlic Pitt's by Dover Straits. Ami North where the tides run free. Cheek hy jowl, our watchdogs prowl. Grey hulks in a greyer sea. Ami the prayer that England prays tonight— Oh. Lord of our destiny!— As the foam of our plungi.i ; ; prows, is white j Wo have stood for peace, and wc war for right. God give us victory!

Now slack, now strung, from tho mainmast flung, The flag throbs fast in the breeze; Strained o'er the foam, like the hearts at home That lieat for their sons on the seas. For mothers and wives are praying tonight— Oh. Lord of our destiny!— But we've no time, for our lips are tight. Our fists are clenched, and we re stripped to fight. God give us victory!

The west winds blow in the face of the fee — Old Drake is beatins his drum— Thoy drank to "The Day." for "The Hour" we pray. The dav and the hour have come. The sea-strewn Empire prays to-night— Oh. Lord of our Destiny!— t Thou didst giv e the seas into Britain s might. For the freedom of Thy seas we smite. God trive us victory! —James Bernard Fagan, in the "Daily Telegraph."

CLEAN YOUR JEWELLERY. Jewellerr can be a great addition to a costume if it is clean and-always well polished: but nothing makes a woman look so badly dressed as dingy ornaments. Girls are apt to get very c&rcloxj about those minor details, because it is too much trouble to attend to them. Precious stones can be kept in as good a condition at homo as they can in the hands of an export. To cleanse it put tho jewellery in puie alcohol for a few minutes, then rub gently with soft tissue paper. Do not use a nail brush or a harsh cloth, as it will scratch tho btones.

THE HORSE IN BATTLE. It was recently announced that the Dutch across the border thought the German.-, had been routed by the riderless horses they saw galloping about in troops. Tho return of riderless horses to camp is an almoat certain t>ign of a rout that amounts almost to annihilation. A horse may lose its trooper, but, unless it is wounded, it will nearly always keep on with the rest.

If the battle is 10-t. and the army is driven from the held in confusion, tiio ownerless horses will return to camp or remain uii the field, often galloping about in military formation, but avoiding the wounded. An arni v horse knows the trumpet call as well as its rider, and when * squattron forms up to charge it will strain at the bit, anxious to be off; but it does not like waiting doing nothing, especially if exposed to fire. Many attempts have been made to extend the Geneva Convention to animals ; the proposal has received sympathy everywhere, but nothing definite has yet been done, though every soldier does his best for his steed so far as in him lies.

BELGIUM AND THE PRUSSIANS. Belgium's dislike of the Prussians is no new thing, for the gallant little country has had a taste of their methods before. Southey travelled in Belgium flithiii a few weeks of Waterloo, and has left on record the local opinion of the armies which noe engaged at that historic fight. At Ghent he wrote: "The Hanoverians are not liked here, but tho Prussians are abominated . We hear of nothing but their insolence and brutality." Brussels was equally emphatic in its opinion. There the Prussians were "as much detested as the British were popular." and he found the same opinion expressed elsewhere.

"Tho behaviour of the Prussians towards the inhabitants i> represented as abominable: nothing but insolence and viokiiee." The experience- of the past few weeks show that their character has nt altered during the past century.

J IST YOU AND ME. Cuddle closer, babe, there arc just you ami nio To keep the tlag fly ins at home, Whilo daddy's away in the wide North So a. Where the wild white horses roam— And ]uw-decked warships slowly roll. As they wait and "att.li on their grim patrol.

from ii> there shall come no whimpering tear. Nor thought of a selfish store; Hut a helping hand and a word of cheer Or a slicker within our door To thoso in need. Thus will we stand And tight for the name of our motherland.

Cuddle closer, kiddie. and go off in hU«cp. Wc'ii' both got our part (<■ play . Hrave hearts and hopes are our a to keep All ready for daddy against the day When—churning up furrows of milky foam — His battleship rolls on htr journey home.

Among*! the native African troops who are fighting in the Kreneli army are tbe n;.'intents of SongalcM' sharpshooters. Tlu\ count among the fine"l fighters in the world. Cienerallv i'i n camnnifzn they take wives and children i< ifb tbam Mil tli.. say the.v alJ '-be better foi- it.