THE NATION’S COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1926, Page 4

THE NATION’S COMMENT

BEGIN WITH THE CHILDREN.

“If we desire joy and good will upon tho whole wide earth, with the children we must begin. The Citizens of To-morrow are the mightiest community for good or ill. The race marches forward (or backward) on the fee of little children. The health of the nation dwells in tho cradle, the nursery, the school. The first ten years are the destiny years. Let us be kings of springtime! Let us drive ignorance, disease, and shadow away from the realms of childhood I”—Mr Sydney Walton, C.B.E. in “New Health Bulletin.” TEMPER, “ ‘Of all personal and mental attractions,’ says an old essayist too little read nowadays, ‘the two most permanent are undoubtedly smoothness of skin and temper—.a sort of velvet ness of body and mind.’ Both depend a good deal on our physical digestion; both are to some extent natural gifts; but both can be cultivated. For once | that the actions of human beings are guided by reason, niiiety-triid-nine times they are influenced by temper. And it is only an even temper that allows reason her full dominion. Vet firmness as well as smoothness is requisite to the perfect temper,” points ou the “Daily Chronicle:” “just as l>eneatli the smooth skin there should be firm muscles. Nothing makes more mischief in the world than the kind of amiability which is another name for weakness. Temper, in short, though a bad master, is a valuable servant. Temper without reason is heat without light. But reason without temper is light without heat.

Either extreme is inhuman. The best natures blend both, but keep reason always sovereign.” 'FACT AND TALK. “Tact land talk cannot exist together. If you are being merely tactful, then you are not talking. The persons who demand tact, as tho over-sensitive do, should ho shown it, hut they cannot expect talk as well. Talk is for more hardy creatures who only ask that, they may ho (allowed to go where they will, who refuse to be steered clear from this and herded away from that, who are prepared to discuss for hours, if necessary, tho thing that broke Aunt Sophy’s heart or ruined Uncle Jim. Whoever makes reservations, nails up danger notices, stands before hallowed chhmbcrs. may have the warmest heart and the finest intelligence, but is not tougli enough for talk, and must be included, though perhaps reluctantly, among its enemies. The tale of these is a long and formidable one; first the monopolists, then the bnrferers of attention, then the stupid, and finally the over-sensitive ; we begin to wonder how talk contrives to come into existence at all.”—Mr J. B. Priestly in the “Fortnightly Review.” HIGHBROWS AND LOWTSTt OWS. “Who is it tlht love and treasure tlie old songs and melodies of Scotland ? Not, the self-styled ‘plain man,’ hut tho highbrow, who, more than likely has dipped deep into European literature and threaded tho emotional labyrinths of ultra-modern music. Tt. is the highbrows who patronise the drama, that d His simply and truthfully with elemental lhirigs and native themes; the others must have elaborate settings, brilhmt dresses, a beauty chorus, a big hand, and the latest London or New York success. The highbrow’s ideal of ti holiday is to walk amid beautiful scenery, and put up at cottages or modest inns; the lowbrow is not to be tempted into the' wilds unless by a motor-car, golf and swagger hotels. It is the highbrow who contents himself with Nature’s pageantry and music while the others are looking -.it an American film-drama or ‘listening-in’ to tho Savoy Orchestra.’