Publication: Melbourne Herald
Date: 26 January 1933
"Lay orf it!" I sez to 'im. "Bodyline bowlin'?" ... I'm a peaceable cove. But to see 'is eyes rollin', To 'ark at 'im pratin' An' gistickillatin', To 'ark at 'im 'oller An' splutter an' swaller 'Is great Adam's apple, To look at 'im grapple For 'andfuls of air like a preacher in chapel, It 'ad me fair grinnin' . . . . "Don't matter 'oo's winnin'," I sez to 'im gentle. "Right from the beginnin' I'm peaceable; see? An' tho' cricket I foller, An' barrack an' 'oller, You don't see me gettin' 'ot under the collar An' seekin' to quarrel Concernin' no moral Or physical aspects. It's only a game. I'm a peaceable man; an' I'm wise to the same. It's me objeck an' aim To git slingin' no blame, Nor compliments neither; I don't deal in either. I'm peaceable. Get me?" I sez to 'im quiet. "An' body-line bowlin' don't injer me diet Or trouble me sleepin', I jist keep on keepin' Quite mum. It's a game; an' if Jardine or Wyatt Wants body line bowlin' they're welcome to try it. I don't say it's right, an' I don't say it's wrong. I jist goes along -- An' me language ain't strong -- In me peaceable way. An' I'm neither disputin' A thing that you say, or agreein'. Refutin' I ain't; or advisin', I ain't criticisin', Inferrin', imputin', admirin', despisin', Or nothink. Lay orf it, I ain't interested. Lay orf, till you git all the true facks digested" . . . But 'e won't lay orf. So I quietly backs 'im Close up the the gutter. "Now, look," I sez. "'Paxim." That's Latin for 'peace'; an' it's alwiz me maxim. "Lay orf it, good feller, It's no use to beller" .... But 'e still don't lay orf ... So I ups, an' I cracks 'im.