The plea, "I saw it at the Cinema," may be offered by others than those
of tender years in excuse for vagaries of conduct.
Only the other day a young officer, wearing his Sam Browne equipment
the wrong way round and carrying his sword under his left arm, was
seen at King's Cross bidding farewell to his fiancee. As the train
moved out he drew his sword, threw the scabbard away, and, standing
stiffly to attention, saluted the fair lady. On being questioned by
the authorities he said he was not aware that his conduct was unusual,
as he had often seen that kind of thing done at the Cinema.
In view of the popularity of the Cinema to-day, habitues of our more
palatial restaurants cannot be surprised at the growing custom among
men about town of wearing the napkin tucked deeply in at the neck,
cutting up all their food at one time, and conveying it afterwards to
the mouth with the fork grasped in the right hand.
The following incident will show that the Cinema excuse is made to serve
in other lands also. A simple Saxon soldier, in a moment of remembrance,
stooped to pat the rosy cheek of a small Belgian child, then lifted the
little one up and kissed him and kissed him again. A young officer
caught him in the act. "What do you mean, you dog, by treating the
brat so?" roared the lieutenant, who would have struck the man had not
his companion, an older officer, restrained him. Together they waited
for the fellow's explanation. "When I was on leave," said the soldier,
"I--I saw Prussian soldiers treating little Belgian children like that--at
the Cinema."
* * * * *
"The Elements so mixed" again.
"Of two evils always choose the lesser, and on the whole we
think we might fall from the frying-pan into the fire if we
swopped horses whilst crossing the stream."--_Financial Critic._
* * * * *
"Is the German Chancellor alone to be allowed to scatter broadcast
his falsifications of history?"--_Daily Telegraph._
Oh, no! Some Members of the House of Commons have recently given him
valuable assistance.
* * * * *
"How an Irish colleen travelled free from Ireland to London was
explained at the Willesden Police Court yesterday, when she was
charged with not paying her face."
_Daily Sketch._
Rather ungrateful of her, after travelling on it so far.
* * * * *