Mundane Musings

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 367, 30 May 1928, Page 4

Mundane Musings

Unconquerable Clarence Clarence came into the world under the official classification 10 h.p. twoseater with dickey. He was a nice-looking foal, with a grey coat, four-wheel brakes and a rather pretty bonnet. Unobservant j people might have noticed no particular j difference between Clarence and a | thousand others of his year and class; I but to us it was obvious from the first that there was quality in Clarence. Like most sensitive creatures, he needed understanding. A rough word, we soon discovered, was a blow to him. I Alore than one occasion occurred, in the early months of our acquaintance, when he provided a practical example of the temperament that can be led but not driven. * * * He was a little nervous of hills, and traffic made, him shy. We had to talk to him soothingly, to reason with him, before he could bring himself to go up a hill on second, or not to gasp and stop his engine directly he got behind a. policeman. But when, after a little while, we had made him understand that w r e trusted him, that we were willing to place our own honour and the safety of others in his keeping, he responded in a way that showed that, though his nerves might be a little jumpy, his carburetter was in the right place. I have said that Clarence was a twoseater with a dickey. In other words, Clarence was built to carry two people normally, three people occasionally, and four when there were no polite means of getting out of it. When, therefore, we proposed tentatively to Clarence that he should take five of us for a run into the country, perhaps it can hardly be wondered at that he jibbed a little at first. “Five! I say, clash it!" he protested, scratching his head—or doing whatever is a car’s equivalent to that human action. “It’s a bit thick. Are they thin or fat?” “Well,” we said, hesitating, “it rather depends on what you call thin or fat. Perhaps you’d better look and see.” Clarence looked and saw. “Great cylinders!" he exclaimed, with a jump. “They don’t weigh so heavy as they look, you know.” I explained hastily. “It’s- more plus-fours and fur coats than actual flesh and bone. Besides, one. of us is a little child," I added, looking up at the little ghild brightly as it towered above me. “All right,” sighed Clarence. “I’ll do my best. Jump in.” If there were any doubt in anyone's j mind that there was quality in Clarence—and such a doubt had been expressed more than once by envious j and undiscerning people—it must j surely have been dispelled that after- ! noon. A little nervous to begin with, a little uncertain of himself and aware of the extra weight he was carrying, he was inclined at first to run jerkily and with conscious effort; but a few stimulating words, an appeal to his native British pluck and a little stroking of his neck by a sympathetic hand, stirred all the fine spirit in Clarence. He took the road at a smooth, effortless canter than was a delight to feel. ! He lifted his nostrils to the wind, he sang a light, gay song, some curious old ballad, doubtless, about screws and clutches and gear-boxes. He raced up hills that would once have scared him , to death as though he didn’t know they were there. We wanted to stop and : give him a rest, but he wouldn’t have it. “Rest be bothered!" he snorted. “I’m enjoying myself, I am!” Who shall describe the homeward run, the swift thrust and plunge of , Clarence’s body over the wide, undulating country; the steady poise of the mileage needle as the grey roads passed helplessly under him; the rush past of an occasional windmill, an advertisement for somebody’s beer, a church: the fluttering of terrified poultry from his track, and the gape of astonished cows safe behind hedges? And then, the supreme moment when Clarence touched greatness. . . . There was a massive touring car in front of us or. the hill. The luggage on the carrier, which seemed to include every known size in cabin trunks, suggested the passage of a foreign monarch with suite on a tour round the world. The very sight of it seemed to get Clarence on the raw. “I’ll pass that Swanking Bertram,” he hissed, “or I’ll bust.”

For a few moments there seemed a horrible possibility that he would bust. We hooted hectically, less as a warning than as an entreaty to the Swanking Bertram to go ahead and save Clarence from busting. Then, to our astonishment, Clarence seemed to draw breath, shake himself a little, tighten his muscles for a supreme effort; and suddenly he went forward at a steady gallop, passing the touring car with an expression of exquisite contempt, just before we reached the brow of the hill. * * * « I went to see Clarence in his stable next day. I was afraid he might be suffering some kind of reaction—an enlarged joint ot* swollen glands or something. But Clarence, though tired, was none te worse for his astonishing performance. Have I not said there was quality in Clarence? KING COUNTRY JOTTINGS Women interested in the operations of the King Country Gun Club are taking a keen interest in the matches, and a class is usually provided for fall* “marksmen.” At the last shoot, held on th© property of Air. and Airs. Lund, Airs. R. B. Gibbons succeeded in scoring the highest number of clay birds,. and won us a trophy a handsome bread and b.utter tray presented by Airs. Lund. ALrs. F. Crocker was second, and secured a box of cigarettes. The first meeting of the Taumarunui Debating Club witnessed a very interesting debate on the subject “Have the Results Justified the Russian Revolution?” Air. G. F. Thompson was in the chair, and the affirmative was taken by Air. J. Pattison, with the Rev. J. E. Ward championing the negative. At the close of the discussion a vote disclosed a win for the affirmative. Aliss J. V. Ward is secretary of the new club. Mr. and Airs. J. Kerby Hackett, | who, after having been connected with the Taumarunui railway staff for i a considerable number of years, have been transferred to Auckland, were the guests at several farewell functions. The railway staffs met under th© chairmanship of the stationmaster, Air. E. J. Guthrie, who referred to the guests’ IS years’ residence in the town, and presented Air. Hackett with a silver watch, and Mrs. Hackett with a dinner service. At St. Joseph’s Church, Father van Beck and Air. C. J. Ryan spoke of the many good qualities attributable to Air. and Mrs. Hackett, who were presented with a travelling rug by the parishioners.

Aliss Hazel Corlett, who has left Taumarunui to take up a position on the teaching staff of the Belmont School at Auckland, was, before her departure, given a delightful farewell Ounce evening in the Theatre Royal annexe, which was very prettily decorated. Air. F. Groom referred to the general regret felt at losing Aliss Corlett, but wished her every success and asked her to accept two volumes of poetry as a. memento of her Taumarunui days.

RED-HAIRED GIRLS WHAT TO WEAR The girl who is the possessor of auburn hair must be very careful i» her selection of colours if she is to show to advantage the beauty of her hair and the transparency of her complexion. She must Tegard the colours she chooses as bad grounds to acceituate the lights and true beauty of he: hair. She is always safe in Selecting mauve, green, golden brown, and navy blue. If her skin is very fair, with a delicate pink tinge at her she can sometimes wear blacl , and sometimes white. If she adorns herself with brown furs they wil! catct and reflect the colour of her hair. Because red hair is less frequent than hair of any other colour, women who possess “Titian” tresses must re member that they naturally mat; them conspicuous, and in they are well advised to wear clothe: that are as inconspicuous as pos®“*“ Otherwise their appearance will C: garish rather than distinctive. _ Care should also be taken in tßchoice of jewels. Ornaments Sunn * be as few as possible, or, as in case of bright colours, the effect ~ again be garish. Women should their hair be the one brilliant notei •- their toilette, and avoid flashing sto - ol any kind. Pearls are always pe missible, and their soft sheen is® jjj becoming against the white sKin which red-haired women are us the lucky possessors. - Unfortunately few red-haired w ® are blessed with dark p^e a .j e r ,» a :6 eyebrows, so they should aia by darkening them artificially. j, should, however, use rouge v trT eratelv. If they are naturally js pale, the slightest touch of P B ail that is necessary, but more , than not it is better to rest e<’.'rive* with the complexion nature than to risk spoiling their api * yj. bv applving artificial colour fully. Frequent shampooing necessary to red hair. _