From The Watch Tower

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 754, 29 August 1929, Page 8

From The Watch Tower

By

"THE LOOK-OUT MAN."

NEXT DOOR My neighbour trills a daily song; He is a cheerful fellow. He carols all the morning long From his matutinal bellow I memorise his favourite hits Of sentiment—the snappy hits. And yet—mine outlook s yellow. Why am I Jaundiced and morose When listening in my side room? Why should I not be gay, Jocose, And Joyously deride gloom.— Echoing sweetly, tol-de-roL The wedding of the Painted Uoll, “Tra-la, here comes the bridegroom.*' A s warriors to their ladies call His yodellings beseech me. Alas, from that too cheerful bawl It's Just the words that reach me. For though he sings me ditties choice. There’s something lacking in his voice— The tune he cannot teach me ! RIKKO, • • • BEE-HIVE Many a tale is told of the Green Howards, 19th regiment of the line, which is represented in the current Palestine pleasantries by its second battalion. Originally called the Yorkshire Regiment, and then known as the Howards because Sir Charles Howard was the colonel in command, the regiment -wore a conspicuous uniform with vivid green facings. Hence the prized name. Green Howards, bestowed on it after distinguished service during the war. Apparently the troops for Palestine are being rushed there in battleships, among them the aircraft carrier Courageous, a colossal bee-hive that is the mother-ship for 80 planes. Built as a battle-cruiser, the Courageous has only lately assumed her new role. The process of reconstructing her to carry airplanes cost a great deal more than the original cost of the ship. * * • CARNATION ONLY "E.M.G.” (Hawke’s Bay) writes: “Noticing in last Saturday’s Sun a statement that Lord Birkenhead appeared at a midnight revue in a dinner jacket, while Mr. Noel Coward wore a Targe white carnation,’ I am moved to hope that this is not the dress reform we read about. I am a little hazy about the laws of libel, but if you should not be too shocked by the enclosed, you might like to print it, but Just over the initials, as even if you are not shocked, my grandmother might be. Incidentally, if Mr. Noel Coward is a dress reform fiend, we view the future with no little alarm.” The enclosure: Noel Coward has a swift reputation, But it does cause us great consternation To see papers say That he went to a play Dressed up in a large, white carnation. • * * EASY MONEY Big coir'’issions, cafs selling like hot cakes, saturation point years ahead—it must be wonderful to be a motor salesman. An acquaintance who follows that honourable profession recounts with gusto a recent experience. Someone telephoned the garage after hours and made an urgent appointment for a demonstration miles out of town. The man claimed to be wanting a car at once. He would be a certain buyer if impressed with’ the car. So for three days the salesman was at his elbow. He drove him home from work, took his family to the pictures, and called to drive him into the city In the mornings. Then, at the psychological moment, he put the all-important question. "Yes, I like the car very much,” said the prospect, “hut I haven't any money.” The stark truth was revealed, that the heartless fellow had simply been coquetting for as long as his bluff would hold. Thus one more motor salesman was soured for life. A beautiful job, the motor salesman’s. ... WHITEBAIT v Whitebait are in. The price may be a little high as yet, but they are in, just the same, and when the Waikato clarifies a little, and deposits its mud on the sandbanks instead of carrying it on for so many unnecessary miles, they will be in still more. Of course, it is not only from the Waikato that whitebait are harvested. The dear little wriggly things seem quite broadminded in their preferences; but one thing they do like, and that is a slight dash of tide water coming up from the salt sea to put a kick into their old man river. The L.O.M. once In his palmy days lived in a house above a creek that ran down Into a river. If there was ever any difficulty about a midday or evening meal, a short sprint down to the mouth of the creek would usually solve it. The whitebait came in- there, sometimes in a solid mass. You could catch them in your hands, in a handkerchief, or a tin can. But a net is preferable, besides being more orthodox. If any reader should think of sallying forth next Sunday morning with a view to catching whitebait at the mouth of the Whau, the Tamaki. or any other majestic stream, let him first equip himself with a net, and thus uphold the traditions of the ancient and honourable profession of whitebait catching.