FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1036, 29 July 1930, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By

“THE LOOK-OUT MAN."

ins we a knees Counsel in the Police Court said , that his client had an unblemished record, but admitted that he was “horribly drunk.”—News item. For ho la a jolly fellow; Ilia morals are those of a saint. Of iniquity, vice or porruption His character hasn’t a taint Alas, in one single direction. His principles seem to have shrunk. Though he’s upright and good, and does most tilings lie should. Yet ihis man I exalt has just one little fault— I-Ie believes in a spreg and occasionally He goes off and gets horribly drunk He radiates virtue and honour. A righteous and dutiful man. Just look at his previous record. And slander him then if you can! Ilis otherwise worthy affections In one little habit have sunk. He’s an innocent bird and a guy of his word. Reliable, just, and a man you can trust. Well mannered and nice, but for this single vice— He gets most indescribable drunk. FAKITI. EXCITING CYCLING The action of a French cyclist in the Tour de France race who attacked a rival after claiming that he had been fouled provided an extra thrill fof spectators of a famous road contest. Although it is one of the cleanest of sports when properly conducted, cycle road racing cannot be supervised as closely as in the case of track events, with the result that the riders arc sometimes the only witnesses of the actions of offending colleagues. Hence the temptation to take the law into their own hands. Obstruction and “swervtng-in”—both dangerous practices when men are travelling at high speeds on light machines—are less easy on a circular track and under the eyes of thousands. There was an occasion in New Zealand when .he winning methods of a cyclist, already an unpopular figure, so incensed the crowd that, after the race, there was talk of throwing him into a nearby ditch. Nothing came of the proposal, mainly because of the presence of the police who escorted him through a seething throng and advised him politely but firmly to go home and to stay at home until the Great Healer had its soothing effect. ON THREE WHEELS Cycling in the sphere of recordbreaking, incidentally, is by no means limited to the ordinary, every-day machine. Though the tandem bicycle virtually has disappeared from the streets of modern towns, early recoius still stand and there is an unspoken challenge to riders who care to “hunt in pairs.” Then again, the laughter provoking adult tricycle, theoretically, at any rate, is by no means a relic of the past. In September, 1928, a rider named G. C. Bowtle maintained tor 60 minutes a speed of nearly 25 miles an hour (his exact achievement was 25 miles in 56min 59 2-ssec). So he who seeks athletic fame, and the pul»licity of a cinema news reel in full sound, need only unearth a tricycle and pedal ahead. The existing record is by no means iu the superhuman class. MIKE FLYNN It should be explained at once that Mike Flynn, or, rather, this particular Mike Flynn, is not an Irishman. It is a hair-cut—a special sort of haircut. Have you ever seen a man whose hair is cropped short up to a point about level with his ears, then left long on the crown of his head? Well, whether he knows it or not, he is the possessor of a “Mike Flynn.” Several of these peculiarly male coiffures were to be seen in the crowd at Eden Park on Saturday. For the greater part of the afternoon their owners made outward display of the “machine-all-over” cult, but, when the National Anthem was played, each revealed a top-knot of waving locks. This fashion is definitely an Australian one, chosen originally by “tough” Sydneysiders. It is said to be a resurrection of the genuine old prisoners* crop which often remained uncompleted on top because of the custom of placing a round basin on each prisoner’s head and cutting only the hair remaining visible below the rim. CRICKET -TESTS-’ The most ardent advocates of plav ing cricket test matches-to a finish would hardly approve of such long drawn-out cricket as was sometime? recorded in the 18th century In Sep temher, 1792, Middlesex began to play a Sussex team at Brighton in a game which was continued at intervals until May, 1,93, and in July, 1795, team? captained by the Earl of Winchilsea and Mr. Robert Leigh opened a match in which stumps were not finally drawn- until June of the following year. In 1726 the men of Chingford took action against a Mr. Steed’s eleven for refusing to play out a match when the Chingford men had the advantage. The judge ordered the game to be continued and played to a finish. This was done, and the last ball was bowled just two years after the first.