FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 576, 31 January 1929, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN.”

MIXED KINGSHIP While the rebel chief. Habibullah Ghazi (Baccasakao), has had himself declared Amir of Afghanistan, ex-King Amanullah, his brother, ex-King Inayatullah, and his brother-in-law. Ali Ahmed Jan, are all said to be preparing to advance against him. Nadir Khan, described as “fearless,” is also reported to be on his way to Kabul from Paris, via Moscow. Habibullah Ghazi’s sitting Un his throne in Kabul Town. While ex-kings and prowling princes Marshal hosts to cast him down . Who will oust this bold usurperT — Ali Ahmed Jan f A manullah t Inayatullah ! Or the fearless Nadir KhanT While his bold , fanatic tribesmen's Rifles guard his palace gate, Son of lowly water-carrier Habibullah sits in state . Jeering at his royal rivals — Ali Ahmed Jan, Amanullah. I nayatullah. And the fearless Nadir Khan. EL KAN TAR A.. SOLOMON MODERNISED Blood is thicker than water, tout post office ink beats both. REPARTEE The scene is Hobson Street, and the time 6.5 p.m. Husky Bill Bowyang addresses a little man who appears to be trailing him; “’Ere, sawed-off, watcher followin’ me for?’’ Little Man: “Followin’ you? Huh! -A. blood ownd would claim dirt money for followin’ you, and bah goom, he’d earn it!” OUTSPOKEN COURT CLERK The spectacular outburst of Mr. Michael Foley, retiring chief clerk of the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court, who described his treatment in the Civil Service as brutal and callous, is remarkable in that it came from a tactful, quiet-tempered man. Pressmen wlo knew Mr. Foley will have a sad feeling that his complaints are not as groundless as justice should make them. Mr. Foley has been clerk of the court in Gore, Stratford, Masterton, Napier, Dunedin, and Christchurch. • * * POLITICAL COURTESIES The President-elect of the United States, Mr. Herbert Hoover, has set a sweet example to the world’s politicians In entertaining his rival. Mr. A 1 Smith, at Miami Beach. It is said that they laughed over amusing features of the presidential campaign. With this courteous precedent, there is no reason why Mr. Coates should not be invited to one of the United Cabinet tea parties. He and Sir Joseph Ward would be ideal companions, and the Prime Minister could cheer the Leader of the Opposition with a: “Don’t worry, old man; I’ve been through it, too.” , THE UMPIRE’S SA Y Freed from the charge of partiality which might be made against such complaint from a player, attention must be paid to the comment of a well known member of the Wellington Umpires’ Association when he suggests that the umpiring in the recent Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Wellington was not all that it might have been. However, he blunted the barb when he added that umpires are not infallible. That umpires, right or wrong, should make quick decisions, was the dictum of one of England’s greatest cricket umpires. It is related that a player once protested against his decision, declaring that he was not out. “Not out. weren’t you? You just have a look at the papers to-morrow!” replied the man whose say was the one that counted

* %• % % sk % % % % THOSE ‘-HIGHBROW" BOXERS Gene Tunney, although he got all the publicity, was not the first world champion fighter to make acquaintance with the classics. He came with uncritical reverence to the works of Shakespeare; but John L. Sullivan, one of the greatest fighters the world has ever known, once made the discovery that Marcus Aurelius had merely paraphrased some of his own “wise cracks.” Sullivan was once discovered poring over the “Golden Book of Marcus Aurelius” in his saloon. “The hick has copped some of my stuff.” he observed. “Listen to this: ‘Fame after life is no better than oblivion.’ It was me who said, ‘Get it note or never.’ Which is the snappiest? Pipe this on page 27: ‘Let nothing be done rashly and at random, but all things according to the exact and perfect rules of art. What the poor slob means is, ‘ Straight Marquis of Queensbury, and no hitting in the clinches’ Who was the best booster of the manly art? Yours truly, John L. Sullivan.”