VAIN LABOUR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 129, 7 January 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

VAIN LABOUR.

I ' Sonic years ago the members of an archaeological society had a gathering at the home of a curtain one of their nuuibar. While they were roaming about the house, the hosstx-S+fctT The" attention.of his guests to an old clock, a great tjivourito of his. He told Irs friends of his great attachment to this ancient timepiece and grew quite pathetic at certain points ill hits remark.", which ho lirought 'to a close by saying, in a voice full! of emotion : "Gentlemen, 1 have wound up that dock eve?y night for more than forty wars.' 1 He had! evidently made an impression of iii:- visitors, when our old fellow, who iiad been carefully examining the' clock, turned the tide of feeling evoked by: the story by saying, dryly: •'Well. J always did think you were something! of an idiot! That's an eight-day clock 1" IN -.STRATFORD TOWN. William'' Dean Howells, the wellknown American critic, tells a Shakespeare story. "In Strajtford," ho says, "during one of the Shajki-pearo jubilees, an Aim rican touti : 4 approached an aged villager in a snjock and said : - "Who isftlrs chap, Shakespeare, any way!'" i

•• He ueve n writer, sir.'' " 'Oh, but there are lots of writers. Why do yo'.ii make such an infernal fuss over tlii-* j one. then? Wherever I turn 1 sc*e Shakespeare chocolate--. Khakespearle slioes. What the deuce did ho writ*?— magazine stories, attacks en the (internment, shady novels'' " 'No, -ii/-; oh, no. sir,' naid the aged villager 1 understand he writ for the B'lilo, sir.M"

"Just I'rjun Ireland, arc- you'" observed a frifcnd to a Tommy recently a I Fj- -. ' Alnd were you trained across the water? /' "No. malum, T was slipped across." wa- his refliy.