While The Kettle Boils

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 73, 15 November 1940, Page 48

While The Kettle Boils

Dear Friends, Robert Burns told us how enlightening it would be if we could see ourselves as others see us. But perhaps it would not be good for us. While we cannot see, at least we can reserve a few illusions about ourselves. So many of us are cranks; sane cheerful, friendly cranksbut undeniably cranks. If each of us put ourselves to a strict examination of conscience we would assuredly find one or two points on which we could justifiably be termed cranks. It might be merely a hobby, or a fixed idea-but the fact remains. The one consolation to be gained in this respect is that we rank among the great. Famous men; rulers, statesmen, artists, musicians, authors and scientists, nearly all possess some individual eccentricity. Let us take a look at a few of them -and gain heart. Cornelius Vanderbilt was in the habit of keeping a dish of salt under each leg of his bed to scare away evil spirits. He never owned a cheque book, but always signed on a half sheet of notepaper. Spinoza spent hours catching spiders and making them fight. Florence Nightingale used to carry a pet owl in her pocket. Frederick the (Continued on next page)

‘ (Continued from previous page) Great, it is said, never washed his face. Instead, he dabbed red paint on his checks to make them appear healthy and clean. When Edison was invited out to dinner he either took along with him the food he wanted to eat, or he ate what he wanted before leaving his house. The poet Shelley frequently read 16 hours a day-and preferred standing while doing so. Dante once sat down in the street and read a book for three hours, quite oblivious to the fact that there was a festival going on about him. I suppose they all "got away" with their eccentricities because they were great people. If any of us indulged in such practices we would be considered definitely " queer." But many people have been called queer who have introduced something new. If that is so let us be thankful for those "queer" people, for they have contributed greatly to the progress of mankind. Just recently I read of some inventions which must have earned for their inventors the epitaph of cranks. An airconditioned bed, asbestos-lined and with a knob at the head to control the temperature. This new bed keeps a person warm in winter and cool in summer. An air-cushion under the sleeper, and a new form of air-blanket over him does the trick. These beds were designed specially for use in hotels and large establishments. Then there is rubber furniture, which can be deflated for storage purposes. A mousetrap which lassos the mice. An ingenious rat-trap which shoots a dart through the unlucky rodent. An automatic paper-hanger, which measures, pastes, and places the paper on walls and ceilings. An inflated, shock-absorbing boxing glove. An umbrella which can be strapped to the head, leaving the hands free (hardly suitable for windy Wellington. We’d be losing our heads-along with our hats!) Perfumed matches. A shaving brush that furnishes its own hot water from a tiny alcohol burner concealed in the handle. So living has become smoother and easier. A blessing on all such "cranks." They are contributing something to the world-and they can afford to laugh at petty iibes. Yours cordially,

Cynthia