RANDOM THOUGHTS.

New Zealand Tablet, 2 March 1877, Page 9

RANDOM THOUGHTS.

In conversation the other night -with my friend Smith, we happened amongst other subjects, to discuss the paper which has the honor of giving to the public the effusions of that eminent contributor X.Y.Z. My friend caught sight of the admirably faithful representation of Dublin, which graces the first page of last week's Tablet, and that gave rise to a train of memories, the relation of which did not tend to keep the flowing bowl idle, or render les9 sweet the taste of the fragrant narcotic weed. But whilst the insinuating poteen disappeared, and the smoke from Smith's meerschaum curled and wreathed itself into fantastic shapes above his head, his memory travelled back many past years to the time when, as the whining schoolboy, he used to creep across Carlisle bridge unwillingly to school, carrying his satchel on his back, and bringing back on that part of his person more, perhaps, than his satchel in the evening. The battles he had fought, the " mitchings" he was guilty of, the orchards he robbed, grew more vivid at every fresh puff. " Just there," he said, pointing to a building close to the bridge on the left hand side of Sackville-street, as you go towards Nelson's Pillar, " was a large confectioner's ; I suppose it was a confectioner's, though, as far as I remember, they sold nothing but lollies, and many a penny's-worth I had there. And what a large place it was. My remembrance is that it was of immense extent, and that crowds of people were going in and out of it all day long. But I suppose if I could see it now, I would be surprised at now small it had become."

But Jwhat Smith was most eloquent upon were his battles. The battle field at his school consisted of a piece of vacant around at the back of the lodge entrance, and when one youthful warrior wished to test his strength in battle against another, the mode of challenge was to demand of his antagonist personally, or by deputy "to come behind the lodge." When this dreadful sentence once' went forth, all peaceable measures were at an end. The rubicon waß then passed, and there was no alternative but a combat to the death. There was one other method of showing your superior courage and hostility to a rival— a method much in vogue with those who were, from various reasons, inclined to look down upon the noble art of pugilism as vulgar, and this was to toll your enemy "to keep his distance." If, after that, either spoke to the other, for the space of three months at least, he was considered as lost to all sense of honor and decency, and as not fit for the company of high-minded gentlemen. After that time they might commence to look at one another, to take part in the same games, and to talk of one another in each other's hearing, but no direct word must pass from one to the other until a formal reconciliation had taken place. This was always a difficult and most delicate proceeding. After the " distance had been kept" for a sufficiently lone time some friends of the sundered twain met and selected a boy, or perhaps two, who had acquired a reputation in the school as bein<r first-rate peacemakers, and they were commissioned to break the charm of silence between the two "distance keepers." Two or three diplomatists who, since those days, have achieved European fame by skill in their profession, owe their success in great measure to their early practice as peacemakers in this verj school. It was a difficult role to fill, and only one or two in my friend's time showed any talent for the position, and in this 6chool there was a great deal of heavy work to be done in this direction. The formality of the reconciliation consisted simply in " touching hands." Once the handa touched, then like an electric shock their tongues unloosed and silence no longer reigned supreme. There was no need to shake, only to touch hands. I am particular about this, because there seemed to be a peculiar charm in it, for when the diplomatists entirely failed in their efforts (as diplomatists sometimes will fail when they have such "Turks" to deal with), and the two belligerents persisted in maintaining a hostile attitude, then, as a last resource, the friends on both sides dragged them together by main force, and when in that position, if their hands barely touched or even grazed, peace was instantly established, and the intervening powers rested happy. But if this magical union did not take place by reason, perhaps, of their hands being kept tightly in their pockets, or that they were strong, and successfully resisted all efforts to bring their hands into contact, then, no matter how closely they might otherwise be brought together, even if their lips met the good intentions of the intervening powers were completely frustrated, and the two hostile forces became more bitter to each other than ever. Indeed, chese efforts sometimes ended in a breach between the two principals and their immediate friends. If for instance, the friends of these silent gentlemen succeeded in bringing their arms only into contact, the result of their kindly intentions would often be an invitation "to come behind the lod-^e" given to one who had used considerable force in trying to establish a peace. On such slight events do peace and war depend ; whereas if hands had once been joined all would have gone as merry as a marriage bell, no matter what amount of roughness mi "ht have been vised, and the invitation would then be to come not ""behind " but " in front" of the lodge, where the event would be celebrated by a liberal patronage of an old apple woman, whose voice was ever raised in the interests of peace.

An one occasion only was Smith aware of a reconciliation beinoeffected in any other way than those mentioned. He had been " keeping his distance" for some time with a boy with whom he had been previously a great chum. This boy left the school without the orthodox reconciliation taking place, and thus rendered the distance very distant indeed. Shortly after, Smith received a letter from him, begging of him (Smith) to touch hands in spirit that he could not be happy with this terrible silence han°in<* over him, and that as he lived many mile* away, he could not come and have the " distance broken" in the proper man«er. This request was laid before tbe leading boys of the school, and after much anxious deliberation it was agreed, under the circumstances to allow " the silence to be broken/ but with a strict proviso that it

was never to be drawn into a precedent; that the boy in the future who erer toft the school in a state of « distance," should go through life with that terrible curse hanging over him. One boy, who was foolhardy enough to quit the school in that state, Smith met many years afterwards m Melbourne, and it was a pitiable sight to bZ him. The curse seemed to be on him, for he did no good? He was XTSi k l e8 v £ after many wanderings through Victoria, he black Eimßelf to F *J*» where he waa killed and eaten by the

An attempt was made at one time to shift the battle ground from the old trysting place "behind the lodge," but it ignominiouslyfaUed. Smith was also the hero of this event. iTsTems there had been three terrible battles between him and another boy —a very big boy far heavier and stronger than Smith— for the position of cock of the school. They were so equally matched that neither of them could be proclaimed conqueror. The school was ma great state of ferment. How was thi« matter to be decided P 1 hey fought and fought, and yet neither could get the better of the other. There could not be two cocks that was quite clear. JNo properly conducted school ever heard cf such a thin** This all important subject was fast engrossing the attention of the school to the exclusion of every other matter—even lessons became a secondary consideration— when one day, at the end of a lesson, a master, the most venerable and beloved of pedagogues, in dismisTl 8 c *l l , ed out ' " Smifch and Jones--' (Jones was the name of Smith s terrible opponent) " remain behind." As soon as all the other boys had disappeared, this wise old gentleman commenced vigorously moving away the desks and forms, and continued until he had a large clear space round him, then he hie* the two boys to take off their jackets and vests, and " Now," said he, " here is a good ring for you, set to and fight it out, and I shall see fair play." bmith and Jones looked at one another for a few moments, felt very stupid, then laughed, and then shook hands ; and that school is not only remarkable in having sent such a man as Smith out into the world, but also as having possessed for a shore period two friendly cocks, reigning at the Bame time ; for ever after that they were firm allies.

X.Y.Z.