FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 452, 6 September 1928, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

FESTINA LENTE The League of Nations still persists with its “Hasten slowly” policy. Peace would be assured in the world if nations showed a similar lack of precipitation in their war policies. THE DIFFERENCE An English judge has ruled that a man is 23 until he has passed his 24th birthday. A woman, of course, is 23 until she is 45, but the learned judge ghve no definite ruling on this point. * m * DIFFERENTIALS Inmates of the Waikeria Borstal Institution had an unusual entertainment recently, when they were given a lecture on motor-car differentials. We understand that the lecture was keenly appreciated, and many of the boys intend to take practical advantage of the hints given them by experimenting on their own cars. MUCK Edgar Wallace intends to take proceedings against a Sunday newspaper for alleged libel. A critic described one of his plays, in its columns as “muck.” The hearing of the case should be very trying to the bench. Every 24 hours, as a new thriller from Edgar’s pen issues from the presses, the judge will find himself vacillating in his judgment according to the excellence or otherwise of the “Daily Wallace.” WORKING OVERTIME

A responsible London daily paper has devoted considerable space to a description of the voracity of praying mantids. “One insect,” it was recorded, “was observed with a fly in its mouth, and one under each leg.” From this we gather that the mantids do not. lean to go-slow methods. The Auckland Mosquito Prevention Society might consider importing a prate or so of these indus--trious fellows, and endeavour to wean them from the fly diet. * * * OMINOUS AUTOBIOGRAPHY There used to be a superstition that it was unlucky to make a will, as you thereby hastened your death. It looks as though a similar fatality may soon be held to attach to the writing of one’s autobiography. Sir John A. Kempe’s death is now announced in the month that will see the publication of his “Reminiscences of an Old Civil Servant.” Lord Oxford died when he had just completed hiSj memoirs, all but the writing of the preface. The death of “Keble Howard” has occurred only a few months after the appearance of “My Motley Life,” just as the publication of J. K. Jerome’s “My Life and Times” and Judge Ashton’s “As I Went on -ly Way” anticipated by only a short period the death of their- authors. It will also be remembered that' our own Mr. Justice .Alpers died shortly after concluding his “Cheerful Yesterdays.”

GOING TO THE DOGS Betting at greyhound races is prevalent among the poorest classes in Shanghai, and many suicides have resulted directly from it. The Government views the situation with alarm. We understand that it intends closing the tracks, and making fricassee of the dogs. TROTTERS TO THE FORE The pig is a noble animal, and the mere sight of one ought to act as a sedative. Alas! the choicest gifts may be' abused and the spectacle which ought to have ample power to chasten and subdue may merely serve to rouse unruly passions. Thus a correspondent has carefully clipped out and forwarded the following paragraph from an English paper:— In a litter of Middle White Pigs, bred and reared at Farrar’s Farm, Winstanley, near Wigan, two of the young pigs have five feet each, and another has six feet. The pigs, now ten weeks old, are fine, healthy specimens of their breed, and do not appear to find the supernumerary feet at all detrimental. The additional feet are on the front legs, and each extra one pairs well with the normal foot. “The Middle Whites,” he declares vaingloriously, “appear to be four up on a count. What are you and the Large Black Pig Society going to do about it?” Our first instinct is to do nothing about it at all, but generously to pass it over as an obvious mistake, says the writer of the paragraph. The pigs in question do not scan—they have too many feet. And very sorry we are to see the mistaken principles of vers librc spreading to Wigan and pigsties.