PUBLIC OPTNION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 May 1927, Page 4

PUBLIC OPTNION.

THE VISION OF YOUTII

“A youth catches a vision. In it ho as apt to see a panacea for all ills. AVhereas it is only a tiny fragment of the truth, though he cannot recognise it for what it is. Hra littlo church, his little scheme of reform. his puny plans, he thinks to tie the whole and sets out to transliguro the world with them. Happy is he who does not lose the zest an 1 jov of living when he awakes to the magma-, cm e of iiis task and the pettiness ~i the n cans which he would employ. As we grew older we see more clc.r’ly. If wo cease to be world rcttrt’in. ers and most of us start out with that intent—we must not lose our desire for world reformation and <ou_ vci sion.”—Bishop Brent. of New York.

A VINDICATION. “'Twelve years or so ago 1 -stated that in twenty years there was every icasoii to believe that we migfet be telephoning to New Aorlc, while in another moment of technical optimism I suggested that the carve of rapid communication indicated that television over long distances was by no means a remote possibility. Something like 3GO people took the trouble to write telling me that 1 was wrong; they were probably relatives of those who some years before had exploded the possibility that we would ever fly.”—Professor A. Af. Low, I).Sc., in the “Daily Express.”

EVERY DAY IN EVERY AVAY“OIio would like to think that ‘everv day and iu every way’ wo become.' higher: and we could not live happily unless we were eonvin.oed that this is true. Our opportumjes of living life to the full continues to improve. But if we bring a clear and cool judgment to bear on what we know concerning man in past times, wo cannot claim to ho in a- physical 1 letter or higher human beings than the men who founded civilisation 6000 years ago. And yet, when wo go back to still earlier times, and see man merge from u form little higher than an ape and reach his present estate the hone wells up within us that in some way wo may yet circumvent the limitations of civilisation, and rise to the status of super-humanity.”—Sir Arthur Keith, F.R.S. in the London “Evening News.”

AND THE CURTAIN FELL. “The curtain falls upon tho long front in France and Flanders. The soothing hands of Time and Nature. tin l swift repair of peaceful industry have already almost effaced the craterfields and the battle lines which in a broad belt from the Vosges to the sea lately blackened the smiling fields ol Franco. Tho ruins are rebuilt, the riven trees are replaced by new plantations. Only tho cemeteries, the’ monuments, and stunted steeples, with here and there a mouldering trench or huge mine-crater lake, assail the traveller with the fact that twenty-five millions of soldiers fought here, and twelve millions shed their blood or perished in tho greatest of all human contentions less than ten years ago. Merciful oblivion draws its veils; the crippled limp away ; the mourners fall hack into tho sad twilight of memory. Now youth is bore to claim its rights, and the perennial stream flows forward, even in tho battle zone, as if the tale were all a dream.—-Air Winston Chun hill, in his latest war hook.

FIVE YEARS’ INDUSTRIAL TRUCE. “Ho urged an industrial truce lor a period of, say. live years, both sides agreeing during that time to snomit any dispute to arbitration. This would enable us to show what our industries were capable of and would give us a’i opportunity to work out more scientific principles for tin* settlement of industrial problems, lie was convinced that at the end of the jveriod real wages would he far higher than they could possibly he if strikes and lock-outs were to remain the order of the day. —Air AY. L. llichens, in the “Times.”

YOUTH AND ITS OPPORTUNITY. ”our youths must he prepared for self-sacrifice, for arduous disciplne. perhaps for tile most heart-breaking rob nil's, for the stern or e.ven bitter criticism of\their fellows. But there

never was a time so rich in promise, so laden with rewards for those who labour with sincerity and truth. I hc\ will not travel alone. The whole army of science is in league with them, moving forward witk incredible speed, eager to lay at their feet the triumphs of its astounding conquests. 5 lie responsibilities which rest on them, the intellectual accomplishments, and the dedication of their lives demanded of them, arc enough to cause the stoutest heart sometimes to laltor. 1 et, armed with the sword of the spirit and the breastplate of faith, they will iemembur that the happiness of life lies in its respoiisihlities, that true joy is found in the quest tor what may alter a weary journey prove unattainable. —Sir Berkeley Moyuihau, in his “Hunterian Oration” on “Hunter’s Ideals and Lister’s practice.”