HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9006, 20 November 1907, Page 1

HALCOMBE.

1(From Our Own Corresppondent). We aro not often favoured with decent professional shows. Theie are too many of the variety artists who are under the impression that what will draw a house and elicit applause in tha cities is "good bis" for the country towns and town* ships. This is a mistake. Thero is always a portion of a large city population that prefer things a bit cerulean, and they patronise shows that cater to thoir tastes, but such entertainments are not popular with Mr and Mrs Hayseed and family, and they hesitate to respond to alluring invitations to attend without knowing the company they aro to meet and spend the evening with. The Steele-Payne Family, the Ail Blacks, and others have always been well patronised by our folks, the reason being not because they are extraordinarily clever, but rather because they presented a good clean programme, and I havo much pleasure in placing the Fisher-Wilson combination that visited us last week iu the same category. The pictures were good, the coloured ones particularly so, and the comic business was funny without being vulgar; in short, the whole show was worthy of a better house. What appears to bo a' matrimonial epidemic has assailed our men in business and business men, one of whom entered the holy state last week, another is impatiently counting the days between this and the middle of next month, and still another is indulging iu dreams of the sweet by-aud-bye. To all of whom I wish a merry Kissmas and a happy New Girl. "It is difficult for mo," writes Hall Caino, "to overstate my strong conviction that the whole theory of warfare as a means of settling international disputes is illogical, unchristian, and utterly pagan. It- is hard for me to say how monstrous I think it that man mollis collective character should, settle his quarrels by barbarous means, which have long been disallowed by the first requirements of civilisation to man in his individual character. But for practical uses my peace doctrines end hero. They do not require me to believe that until the time comes for a general retrenchment or even abandonment of armaments among the greater nations of the world, England must lot iter weapons rust while her neighbours are whetting their swords." The above is the text from which I have preached in and out of season, long before it was written by Hall Oaine, Jand while emphasising every word of it I wish to add that I think much more thought, attention, and money could . be profitably expended in the study I of national problems as they are presented to our neighbours with a view to adjustment and the establishment of poace and good will with all nations. Here, in my owu opinion, is the opening for a great crusade by the stupendous fcrces of the Press. Oh, those children! A minister liad been calling on one of his congregation—a lady who had a little daughter of five. On taking _ his leave the minister asked the little girl for a kiss. lhe young five-year-old, clinging shyly to the maternal skirts, said, "You do it, mother." 4 Little Nellie Ooloman, Oliffroad, Marton, lias sent me over 300 stamps for the Halcombe invalid, and I sincerely thank little Nell on his i behalf.