Thoughts For The Times

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1920, Page 2

Thoughts For The Times

When Opportunity Knocks At The r Dooh. In the early days of Koine, so runs the legend ,a sybil came to Tarquin the Proud with nine books in which was written all the wisdom of the ages. These 'she offered to the king, but be refused, saying that the price was too high. Tlie sybil went away, burned three of the books and, returning offered Tarquin the six for the sum she had previously asked for the nine. Again lie refused and again she withdrew reappearing with three hooks for which she still demanded the original price. Tarquin was at last convinced that these books were worth having, and bought them ofl the sybil’s own terms. He had last the six irrevocably; he bad not saved a penny; the net result ol for the three the same amount ior which he could have got the nipe had he not been blind to his opportunity. The moral is so plain that the chronicler does not trouble to draw it and the old Roman fable lias a universal application. Indifference to opportunity shows itself in a thousand forms. See that if docs not rear its head in Westland, in this year of opportunity.