AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5155, 25 July 1885, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

[by nemo.] Homo sum, liumani nihil a me alienum puto.

The great G. A. S. about whose advent seems to hare been made, must have been in one of his "happy " moods when he recorded in his note book for future publication that wonderful word " Alloah " which so struck him when he was doing the Pacific Islands. This word seems to tickle tbo worthy and esteemed Sala's fancy, and he plays with it and handles it as frequently as the sportive young feline does the unwary mouse which hf s dropped within its clutches. Did it ever strike the feted S. that these islands of which he has written so much, yet seen so little, hrd not only become anglicised to a areat extent, bafc also ockneyised into dropping h's, and instead of saying "HeHo" or "Halloa" they stuck tha aspirate at the wrong end and said " Alloah." It might be thus G, A.

It is said that the large number of "partnerships" entered into at the Thames lately has caused a rise in rents. "Villa residences in Grahamstown are much in demand ; I hear that arrangements are for the lease of a cottage ornee in the vicinity of the Telegraph Office, which has a most bewitch* ing outlook and a bay-window! Why do ladies hanker after houses with bay-win-dows ? This is one of the things no fellah can understand ; 'tis a fact nevertheless.

Quoad hoc! Now- fhis sounds awfuU Will; anyone translate the mysterious words ? What was the learned judge been giving us, and what has it to do with the divorce case ! When doctors and lawyers want ,io say anything that sounds indelicate they take refuge in " furrin " lan* guage. Those words quoad hoc, however, need uot alarm anyone; the English equiva!?nt is simple, and might have been used by the judge without fear.

''Sleeping partners" are persons who share tho liabilities and profits of a business, but without their names appearing in the management of it. Now, it is not an inappropriate expression for use in tha marriage contract. The partner whose name is hidden in that she assumes, is oftentimes the principal in the business, and though " sleeping," or invisibly active, she lends a liveliness to the establishment which many a plastered pericrauiuni can, attest.- A writer recently said that woman can do everything but climb a tree. He had not been aboard a schooner, as I have, and seen the captain's daughter run aloft and help stow the topsail! How's that for high !

As a rule my correspondents are very clear, and little trouble a given by them'as to the intent of their meaning, but a Tararu resident has sent me a short nursery rhyme commencing " Marr he had a little lamb," now this—if intended fofjp pun is a most atrocious attemptj the corresi pondont goes on to record how the little ovine is no "more. Not seeing the drift of tho argument, and fearing that a-publica-tion of the full poem would lead to trouble, I must decline it.

"Grace 'tis a charming sound, har« monius to the ear." This grace to this end of the globe such a flutter business is often overdone as a cor* respondent of Nemo's hath it. He puts it thusly: " There is grace in all things—even in money, and doubtless the Coroner sees that when he., gets bis guineas for inquests, while unfortunate jurymen receive no such, or any other, solatium for being called away from their legitimate employments. It is a grand thing for a coroner to be under money grace in these hard times, but how about the jurors? There is too much grace for the few in this country, and too little for the many. Retrenchment, if necessary, should begin at the top of the tree.