Right Is Not Might In Law Courts

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 7, 25 August 1933, Page 16

Right Is Not Might In Law Courts

Just Case Useless Without Good Counsel -- Will Bishop Was Star Turn of Week — Life of George Borrow, Greatest English Vagabond.

FV is not sufficient to have a. just cas even if the law be perfect, and thiwas the burden of Professor H. H Cornish’s most interesting contributior respecting efficient counsel. No injustice of modern times excited the mus: of the people so greatly as the Archer: Shee case. Concerned with the right: of the subject, many were of the opin ion that haq circumlocution and privi lege prevailed, the Magna Carta would virtually have been rendered ineffec tive, and all classes in England, wher autocracy gets severely handled, were behind Sir Edward.Carson in his figlu to have the case tried before a jury Had a weaker or less astute adyocate been engaged, privilege might have wit-

nessed a gross injustice, done with al! the majesty of legality. ‘The subsequent clearing of an innocent boy’s — name added. respect for law. . ONE of the high spots of the week was Mr. Will Bishop’s fifteen minutes’ foolishness at the piano. Wad it not been for a tonsil in disrepair-probably through want of lubrication-we might have heard an emulation of Tauber singing a duet with himself, for Mr. Bishop possesses the originality to achieve so difficult an accomplishment without. mechanical aid. There is no comic-song writer in this quarter of the globe who can compare with Mr. Bishop, whose intimacy and localisation of his themes make his songs really ‘comical. To parody our conventions in . plain prose is an achievement, but te be able to do it in music and verse is 2 heaven-sent gift. % % * [THE precision and general finish of St. Patrick’s College scholars’ orchestra was quite a revelation, and the performance relayed by 2YA did great credit to all concerned. It is not unusual to hear a boys’ brass band play in tune and show appreciation of musical cadences, but it is seldom one hears 2 youthful orchestra give .o fine a performance. As might be expected, the choir’s numbers were of the highest standard, The dramatic recital of Master Luke and the finished playing _ of Master Johnston added meritorious . variety to a concert that adults might have been proud of. * ‘A LOVE of vagabond life was what might have been . expected of George Borrow, according.-to. Mr. B. R. Bliss.. .His. prediliction: for the fancy was a legacy. During the time that Burope was in the melting not.

his father, the youngest of seven brothers and of gentleman stock, became a recruiting sergeant. Lis duties took him to every corner of the Kingdom and among every type of hardy humanity, and he found a wife in a member of an obseure travelling company. Mr. Bliss recalled Borrow senior's dispute in Hyde Park with Big Ben Brain. They fought for an hour, then shook hands, each having appreciation of the other’s worth. Four months later Brain was declared champion of Hngland, only to ¢dlie shortly afterward in Borrow’s arms. % us y "THE quest for recruits took the Borrow family to every part of the country and George Borrow’s schooling was a very varied one, At 11 years of age he went to the Norwick Graimar School, but he had learned a lot that cannot be acquired at an academy. Ile was then already a vagabond. He was a mere baby when he possessed a

tame viper and met his life-long gypsy friends who recognised a kindred spirit when the boy defied them and produced the viper. Recalling Mr, Petulenvro’s assertion in 1842 that no living remained for the gypsies, Mr. Bliss remarked that their caravans make a not unfamiliar sight in England’s incomparable lanes to-day. Ba % At the age of 14 Borrow was actually present at a prize fight. In those stirring times fistic combats had the approval of every class of society, but public opinion of them changed when ruffians took control and Burojec settled down to peace. Boxing then seryed a national purpose. It was a noble sport that was not animated, by vengeance or easy money, but followed, just for the love of manly prowess, Borrow’s descriptions of his own combats are tantalisingly meagre, said Mr: Bliss. We can feel sure, however, he put up good fights and fair ones. After marriage, Borrow travelled extensively and furthered his knowledge of his fellow -ereatures and eventually retired to a lovely cottage, where the gypsies were always welcome,

N his days of retiremeat, . borrow nursed a grievance. In 50 years only about 3000 of his books had been sold, and yet his discriptions of the countryside of his time, and its life have no equal, It may be assumed his own attitude toward existence was expressed in Jasper’s recital of the joy of living. He would have liked to live for ever, just to. feel the wind on the heath. Although he gave us comparatively little in these days of soft sentiment, we should be glad of what he did give. The normal man will always regard him as unique, for he was deeply religious, and he loved a horse, a fight, and his ale. = "% * HE thumb-nail sketch of Debussy, given by Dr, Cyril Jenkins, should help in comprehension of that composer’s works. Debussy’s themes are of the open spaces, the wind, sky, and water, and every time.one of his compositions is heard something new and original is discernible in it. He never dealt with human emotions, and his only opera was a Maeterlinkian impression, with human names for cor. venience, Dr. Jenkins likened Debussy to a landscape painter, rather in water colours than in oils, and regards the works of the Germans as coarse in comparison. = ¢ OLF didn’t appeal to Mr. Arthur Duncan when he first handled a sjster’s clubs, for there appeared to be no element of danger in the game. Had smacking the ball fairly been as easy as it looks it wouldn’t have appealed at all, but that’s how it captures every player, and while the open spaces, pleasant surronndings, and congenial company attract, it is the long flight of the ball that conjures the subscription. In 1893 there were only two golf clubs (possibly three) in New Zealand, with a total of about 600 mem-

bers. To-day there are 217 clubs and 17,000 members. The increasing popularity of the game is well observed in America, where players on many courses have to be on the field by 6 o’clock in the morning. Golf is even threatening to displace baseball as the national game, Mr. Dunean made a plea for more municipal links, mentioned that all are self-sup-porting, and gave it as a well considered opinion that Berhampore is one of the best courses ins New Zealand for -a beginner to learn om,