THE CRITIC CRITICISED.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 126, 14 February 1918, Page 6

THE CRITIC CRITICISED.

Sir,—Your contributor "Wi" is one of the most charming penmen writing for the Press of New Zealand. The delicacy of his wit and the subtlety of his humour are unique. There is a saying somewhere about a galled jade wincing and her withers being unwrung, but the "withers" here mentioned is not "Anna Forbes-Withers," for this lady talks about the joyous "Wi" descending to "miliar innuendo" and "the lowest journalistic tricks." The absurdity of it made me laugh. Then this charming lady, whoso pen is dipped in vitriol for the time being, calls "Wi" a "hired hack" who has sold "his brains to the highest bidder." And' then this delightful lady gives "Wi" a swinging right about "literary prostitution" and a straight left about "London's fallen women" and "tho gutter journalist." And all this to Tiik Dominion' and "Wi"! Of course, "Wi" sells his brains and ability to tho highest bidder. From the watcrsider to the parson, from tho parson to the journalist, from the journalist to tho Minister of the Crown—even the man in pork, as the Americans say, and the Army contractor—all, every ono of them, are selling to the highest bidder. The curse of Mammon is over all, and \vc nil scream about the sordidness of life: and wo all affect to desnise our best friend, Colonial Robert. Yet men and women read books for entertainment t

But. to "AYi's"'humour. Your ladv correspondent; sees in his reference to Harry Holland's "unpleasant associations" an attack upon the puritv of bis home life, whereas it was only another way of saying what Anna* ForbesAYithers says, "that Mr. Holland has suffered on account of his principles." Time was made for slaves, cries the proverb, but the wit replies "And they usually give it to others"—especially those who xro unfortunate enough to need their creditors' consideration! Many men have "done it in" for their principles, and in this respect Harry Holland ranks among the martyrs who have sealed their testimony with their blood._ Already the laurel leaf of victory is on liis brow. Rut there were Rien/.i, Billy Hughes, and other triibunes. But if anyone had a quarrel with "Wi" it should he Mr. Sievwright, for "Wi" asserts that "a restraining hand" has been put upon this "political dictator." Who could do this? Here is a man who has kicked many a Highland cur to his kennel, metaphorically speaking, "restrained." Restraining Mr. Sievwright as an idea is sublime. "A restraining hand on Mr. Sievwright" is the touch of a literary artist. Whose is the restraining hand? —there's the rub. It was Delilah vtho restrained Samson; the valiant Peter with his sword was restrained also; but could "Anna Forbes-Withers" or Dr. Gibb, or Bill Masscy restrain this "political dictator"! "Wi" creates a situation in the imagination by the. subtlety of his suggestion, and loaves us with a delightful picture. You will not find Mr. Sievwright writing and protesting about his being "restrained" or his being a "political dictator," or about being "a gutter journalist," or "selling his brains to the highest bidder." He, like "Wi." will see the humour of tho immaculate doing the same thing. Those with no sense -of humour always condemn others for such sinnings as they live by. We do not condemn Pharisees now: we laugh at them.—l am, etc., J.

Mr. J. P. Luke, the National Government candidate, will, address the electors at Kelburn Kiosk at 8 o'clock to-night. To-morrow night Mr. Luke will 'speak at the Club Room, Pitt Street, AVadestowu.

Mr. Brandon is advortised to speak at Thonidon Methodist Schoolroom, Molesworth Street, to-night at 8 o'clock. Mr. H. E. Holland will address a meeting in Wadestown Church room, Pitt Street, to-night, at 8 o'clock. To-morrow night he will speak in the Kelburn Tea Kiosk at 8 o'clock. Next Monday night Mr. Holland will speak in Northland Methodist Schoolroom, and on Tuesday night in tho Methodist Schoolroom, Molesworth Street. Meetings will be held each day at noon in the Post Office Square. Mr. P. C. Webb, M.P., will arrive in AVellington on Sunday, and will devote all his time to furthering the candidature of Mr. Holland.