FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 403, 11 July 1928, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

BR-R-R ! All this talk of hardy souls on the North Shore who bathe right through the winter leaves us cold. BA OK TO THE FARM Women’s organisations in Canada are urging young men to adopt the soil as the scene of their endeavours to win prosperity. “We deplore the drift to the cities,” they say. From what the L.O.M. can gather, young men are willing to return to the turnips if women return to the mangles. THE JAVELIN THROWER

New Zealand’s sporting prestige has been further enhanced by the establishment of another world’s champion. As prophesied in The Sun, Lay has eclipsed all expectations on the other side. At Stamford Bridge he succeeded in breaking the world’s record by throwing the javelin 222 feet 9 inches. Lay s name may now be added to the list of champions who have claimed New Zealand as their country of origin. Tennis players, cricketers, footballers, boxers, cyclists, rowers and sprinters from the Dominion have at one time or another headed the list. QUOTING “ SAKI ” Mr. Justice MacGregor, deliberately or innocently, stole one of “Saki’s” mots at the Supreme Court yesterday. It was Reginald, one of “Saki’s” diverting creations, who first observed many years ago “that she was a good cook as cooks go, and as cooks go—she went.” However, the L.O.M. will not be as hard on his Honour as T. W. H. Crosland was on Mr. Justice Darling, when he wrote verses beginning: “You of the usher-tickling mots * * * MENTAL OR PHYSICAL? There have been protests against the regulations barring those who are not considered physically capable, from driving cars. “Mens” writes to The Sun and points out that many drivers who are physically fit may not be mentally so. He adds that London once had a one-legged Lord Mayor, Sir Brook Watson. Josiah Wedgwood, the great potter, had only one leg, and another wooden-legged celebrity was Jenny Cameron. She was a devoted admirer of Prince Charles Edward, and headed 200 Cameronians at the raising of the standard at Glen finnan. Samuel Foot, who lost a leg through a riding accident, wrote plays suitable for a one-legged man. “Isn’t there some hope for a one-armed driver?” asks “Mens.” QUIET AND TACTFUL Tact is a valuable possession enjoyed by few, as witness the following: Falling into conversation with a glazier who had come to repair one of his windows blown out, or rather in, during the recent storm, the L.O.M. was told that the man had recently bought a piano, which, on being examined at home, was found to be riddled with borer. Was there any chance of getting back the £45 he had spent on the instrument, he wanted to know. The L.O.M. suggested that a tactful note stating, without heat, that he had reconsidered the bargain and would like his money back would be the first move to make. “I’ll try it,” said the victimised one; “how do you spell scoundrel?”

OFF TO CANADA The Hon. W. Nosworthy has been chosen by the Reform Party to act as its representative at the Empire Parliamentary Congress in Canada. He will not have to worry about securing the approval of liis electors, for the simple reason that his electorate, by the time the polling takes place, will have gone west. And then, too, he has announced his intention of retiring for a while from the active political arena. Mr. Forbes’s National Party will not be represented and, of course, the Uppos, not having made their official debut, cannot send p. man to Canada. The delegates from the Upper House have not yet been chosen, but it is to be hoped that good bridge-players will have first consideration. It is essential that our politicians should not be bored on the trip to Vancouver. THE SPORTING LIFE The New Zealander has been charged with taking his sport too seriously. We have all met men to whom golf is more than a game, and there are similar sad cases among followers of other sports. Winter skies were cheerless, outside the wind howled and the rain beat a ceaseless tattoo on the windows of the tram. At the foot of Parnell Rise the car was boarded by a number of men, muffled like Arctic explorers. Said one In tones almost indistinguishable owing to his heavy cold: “I didn’t know whether to go to bed or see the game to-day, so I tossed up.” “And won, I suppose,” said his friend, sympathetically. “No,” replied the first, “I lost.”