FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 718, 18 July 1929, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN.” THE PAGAN GUEST Figures of Buddha will look down from niches when the new Civic Theatre is opened in Auckland: So here in Auckland Buddha will look down On jostling multitudes without a frown, While talking films present their latest cast. And speaking shadows flicker strangely past — The ancient Buddha summoned to the feast, Far from his native temples in the East. Deaf, mute and blind will he be to the play Of jest, and mime—the fashion of the day — For greater offerings his eyes have scanned, When souls have trembled in his pagan hand... The prayer-wheels turn for men of flesh and blood. Where heaven still lingers in the lotus bud. W.S.T. THOSE HEEBIE-JEEBIES Recent reference herein mentioned the perplexity of German cadets confronted with a notice, “No heebiejeebies,” in the Scots Hall. Last night the same notice puzzled an old lady at the evolution lecture. It had her, metaphorically speaking, up a tree, which is a sad state for an antievolutionist to be in. So she asked a bystander what 4t meant, and he, gazing at another notice of different purport, said at once: “Oh, no smoking.” The dear old soul is still wondering at the unexpected resources of the Scottish lingo. TREASURE TROVE Thex-e are still a few Walter Raleighs about. One of the surviving specimens descended from a Herne Bay car last evening, and was recruited by a distressed lady to aid in a search for a lost ear-ring. Sir Walter lit many matches which were promptly extinguished by the pouring rain. The lost amethyst remained lost, and at last the lady permitted her chivalrous victim to desist. Two hours later, boarding another car at the same stop, he stood on something hard, picked it up, and lo —the lost jewel. Now he is wondering whether ehivalry obliges him to stand the cost of an advertisement in a rather hard week. THE DIVIDEND It would be nice to be a capitalist, and receive thumping big dividends from thumping big mining concerns. An Auckland business man proudly owns one share in a Waihi mining concern, which has lately declared a dividend of one penny a share. So this morning the fortunate shareholder received his cheque for one penny on the Bank of New Zealand. With stamp duty on the cheque, and the stamp on the envelope, payment of the dividend cost threepence in all. Oh, yes, it is a fine thing to be a capitalist. This particular capitalist is rather sorry he doesn’t live in Wellington, so that the company would have had to add exchange. THE HARP THAT ONCE As a source of political reprisals, Hansard is often fruitful. So Mr. A. M. Samuel, who is nimble-witted into the bargain, may be able to respond effectively to the taunts of Mr. J. S. Fletcher. A pity two such estimable gentlemen should cross swords, but it is just part of the political by-play. That phrase of Mr. Samuel’s, “political Lilliputians,” was a characteristic sally. He is among the most telling speakers in the House, and last session threw it into convulsions when, in a hilarious mood, he took advantage of the Music-teachers’ registration bill to press in mock seriousness for recognition of the Jew’s harp. CAMERA’S EYE The way of the transgressor groweth doubly hard. Not only may he have his name and number jotted down by the avenging pencil of traffic officers, but if the advice of Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., is taken seriously, he will be photographed as well. As Mr. Levien sees it, this may help to prevent the deceptions occasionally practised on guileless traffic cops by offenders eager to conceal their identities. On future occasions the Hoganeers will just whip out their little cameras, murmur “Hold it please,” or “Just do 3-our best to look natural,” and the mischief will he done. Possibly it is true that the camera cannot lie, hut it has been known to take liberties with the truth, and slight confusion in the municipal developing and printing room might result in the prosecution of a 15-stone truck driver on a charge of being skittish in charge of a Baby Austin.