The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, MAY 15th, 1924. TO EACH HIS CHANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, MAY 15th, 1924. TO EACH HIS CHANCE.

Silt James Barrie, in speaking at n girl’s school in England upon tho occasion of a recent prize-giving, delivered himself of an address which will compel attention and probably a good deal of criticism. For Ire titled with the lance of sarcasm against the Great. Public .'Schools of England and tho sacred and indefinably superior ‘'something” which is alleged to descend upon all those committed to their caro. Although tho attack says a Sydney paper, is bound to arouse controversy jn England itself, the matter is tpq

local to that country to need any comment here, except to assert our belief that there despite the strictures of Sir .James Barrie, beyond all question some aura sacra which emanates irom such institutions, and which affectsand more or less permanently affects—to their benefit the majority of those who are privileged to have association with them. But there was one port inn of tln> great, dramatist'., address to which we may well make some larger lefcrenre; and that was its conclusion. "I should like," said Sir James i<> his young auditors, “to give you a motto, something to strive for. 1 should like t. : > see blazoned over the entrance to your school the words: ‘Every child horn into the British Empire should get an equal chance.'" And then, as a final after-thought, appniently, the speaker, added: ‘‘And that will need some doing." It will! And. apart from its possibility, the further question arises: Would it he so go good a tiling to do? At liist glance the evident altruism upon which the suggested project is based will tend to carry the argument in its favour. It is a consummation devoutly to he wished, sorely, that no one should start the race «.f life with any handicap removal. Ie by human effort. But consider a moment what such a thing would mean .-if, indeed, it means anything within the grasp of practical consideration tit ail. If evetyone started without the handicaps referred to. some of the si aiders would be so grievously handicap; ed that thev would he out of tho race tiotn the rise of the barrier. This is u.u paradox. although it may scent so. for the handicaps which civiiis.it ion can remove are. unfortunately, but a small I mportion of the weight which many who would run ilte race must carry. They bear the sad burden of natural disadvantages—•‘•enkucsses of mind and body, pathetic handicaps which nr-' ,-ften as fatal i<> the success of their it'.n,,. cut beavers a.s limy ale irremovable. To make all competitors free of all removable handicaps, vep repeat, would lie to place such unfortunates as these at once hors tie. eoneours; for it is often the pressure of some sueli burden upon the hacks of others more mentally alert or physically fit than themselves that gives them their only chance. It is admitted, at once, that to a certain extent this is special pleading; that that which benefits tlio majority must prevail over that which honelits the lew. Rut the pica is urged primarily to show that, even admitting—which we do not —that it might he a good thing for the general community to cancel all removable handicaps and give everyone “an equal clianco,” tho apparent universality of the scheme’s beneficence is deceptive. Many would ho advantaged, doubtless; but that some would unduly suffer is certain. There is another aspect of the question, moreover, which is worth consideration. Ts it so certain that if a thing lie made easy to acquire, it will bo sought after, or so valued or valuable when obtained? It is human nature to work better—and to play better, too —under competition. And competition takes many forms; it is not only human competition that one must strive against, if success is to ne worthily found. Poverty and other hardships are to he struggled with and conquered, 100. 1> il not at least questionable whether, if these harsh obstruct ions were removed from the road, the pathway to success would nut lose half its joys and much of its worth ? The records of our history show that hv the very privations lie has had to undergo many a man has grown to greatness. Sueli a man is. indeed, often the greatest man of all— Who .breaks his birth’s invidious bar. And grapples With his evil star.

And to do such things the man need not he ‘•divinely gifted." as the poet suggests. Many a name now high upon the roll of honour is that of one who breasted the blows of circumstance in bis youth, and with his head “bloody but unbowed” marched forward proudly to his destiny, not despite his handicap, hut because of it. Finally, it may l>e said that even if general equality were to he proved henefieient, it is impossible that it should over le brought about. Tut us all on the one mark to-day as regards environment, education, and what you will, and in a year the old. old differences will have manifested themselves.• Nature is too .strong lor the philosophers. It is not the man to whom the chance is “given" who gains the goal; it. is he who grasps it as it flies, or makes it for himself. He is the true master of his fate, and will ho, while human nature is constituted as it is. And that, despite the theories of all the sentimentalists. A world of equals is just as possible as a world of Peter Tans: and it would lie just as hopeless. For in neither would its inhabitants ever grow up.