From The Watch Tower

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 314, 27 March 1928, Page 9

From The Watch Tower

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

STEW! Bitter complaint was made by the men employed on relief ' works on Coromandel Peninsula at having stew invariably served tor the evening meal. Stew does become monotonous. • 2'is admittedly true There is virtue in stew That is stewed in a xvay to delight; But the taste disappears If you eat it for years, And the < menu’s the saytie ev'ry night. By way of a change There's a wonderful range — Roast turkey, some pheasant, or port:, Or lamb's fry and bacon May sometimes be taken With cheese that is learning to talk. The P.W.D. Must learn that at tea (Unless for a folly 3 twould rue) Its men must be wooed With the best of good food, And a studious absence of stew. STRAINING HER PATIENCE Germany considers that general disarmament by the Powers is an obligation toward her, and says that its postponement is heavily straining her patience. When Germany armed to the teeth to beat the world, her patience was strained also, so, to blow off steam, she ravaged inoffensive Belgium. Then, as the Americans picturesquely phrased it, she “lifted the lid off Hell.” This reproach from gentle Germany is something that should cause Old Nick to chuckle right merrily. It is a first class example of that hypocritical humbug that is so characteristic of devils who have been disarmed. * * * THE LOVING CUP When the Prince of Wales drank from and passed on the loving cup at the dinner of the Master Mariners' Company, he participated in the perpetuation of a very ancient ceremony. The loving cup is a form of the old wassail bowl, sometimes called “the grace cup”—so-called, according to an historian, because Margaret Atheling, wife of Malcolm Conmore, in order to induce the Scots to remain at table for the grace after meat, filled a cup of this kind with choice wine, “of which each guest was allowed to drink as much as he liked, after grace had been said.” This effected an instantaneous improvement in the manners of the Scottish guests, who never failed thereafter to wait for grace. THE LEPERS CHRISTMAS “All had something to make them happy and assure them that they were not forgotten; the children especially were lucky, and their Christmas indeed a happy one.” Yes, thanks to generous New Zealanders, Santa Claus visited even the Makogai Leper Station, and Dr. E. H. Neff, the medical superintendent there, most gratefully acknowledges their kindness. There were 60 cases of gifts, including a cinema projector, electric plant and wireless. “Could those who had given been there to see what all these things mean to my patients’ happiness, I know they would be amply repaid,” writes the good doctor, who goes on to say how much it means to the sufferers, both physically and mentally, to be kept busy, amused and happy. Even more comforting to those who helped to brighten the lepers’ Christmas is the knowledge that many of the sufferers will again be free and healthy men and women, for science has found a cure for leprosy in its earlier stages. The leper healed! Truly there are some things for which we can give humble thanks. SK 3K Wt X * SR

WHY DOCTORS DIFFER A corporation employee at Nelson, having fallen 20 feet while “on the job,” was incapacitated for several weeks. Returning to work, apparently recovered from the effects of his fall, he had again to desist owing to exophthalmic goitre. He was medically advised that the goitre had been caused by the fall, therefore he claimed wages for the second period for which he was off duty, and during which he was successfully operated on for the goitre. One doctor told the Arbitration Court he was convinced that the goitre was caused by the fall; another said that if the goitre had been the result of the fall it would have developed much more promptly; a third quoted authorities to show that “a lack of knowledge of exophthalmic goitre precluded the possibility of anyone deciding the causes.” Here was a pretty puzzle for Mr. Justice Frazer, But Mr. Justice Frazer refused it. Feeling himself “incompetent to express an opinion w'hich might obscure the opinions of the medical authorities themselves,” he remarked briefly upon the remarkable differences of these opinions, and adjourned the case for the consideration of a medical referee, “who,” says Sam, “will probably differ from all the other doctors.”