IRREVERENT COLONIALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1658, 26 January 1906, Page 3

IRREVERENT COLONIALS.

‘ ‘ Casua l [Chronicler, ’' in the Wellington Post, -writes : The Rev.' Dr Marshall, of Scots Church, Melbourne, attributes the young Australians’ “lack of reverence,” and rather bumptious disregard of authority,” partly “ to the lack in this country of these national monuments and historical relics of great events, splendid heroes, noble statesmen, and wise teachers which are an inspiration to a people, and he believes that where the prowess, piety, and patriotism of Australia have supplied such memorials, the young Australian who gazes upon them will feel that there is a greatness before which he must bow,” etc., etc., etc. Let ns all go into mourniDg, lot us whisper soft and low ; Let’s realise our littleness, and hope that we shall grow. And meanwhile let us practise to excel in flunkeydom ; And, except for modest 11 Yessirs,” let us all be meek and mum. Let a horizontal attitude Express our cordial gratitude To Reverend Dr Marshall and the views he brought from Home. Let us gaze upon the goodness pf the dear old Motherland Where respectful populations spend their lives with hat in hand, And the air is thick with relics, and emotions crowd and come To the gay high-beating bosoms in the dear delightful slum. Let us envy the possessions Of the unemployed processions Tboir monuments aDd heroes, and the grace that springs tborefcom. Of coarse, we’ve Bob Fitzsimmons, Seddon, Carbine ; raise your hat When their noble names are mentioned—we can make a slart with that. And we’ll bow in pious worship of the tourist, for he may Have seen a Duke, and born a breath of sanctity away. For the Reverend Dr Marshall ' Will admit that that’s a partial Form of reverent atonement for bur rude ’ and Gumptious way. It’s a freo wide land we live in, but you { mustn’t breathe a word ; . We lack the inspiration of, say, Eihel--3 wulf the Third. i When inclined to jubilation, it has struck o me with a thud — y We'll never know the glory of a thousand e years of blood, a Ba ashamed and reverential — k It is thoroughly essential e That we realise our meaoness, that we lB know our name is Mud.