THE DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1928, Page 1

THE DAILY MESSAGE

DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE Am, dogs 'bark—have fails—-and wag ’em—but it isn’t normal for a dog to hark and wag his tail at one and the same time. It simply isn’t done; that’s not dogology, t*e once had a little dog, and it harked while it wagged its tail. That dog had no sense; wo never knew which end to believe. So in time we came to believe neither.’ We had lost confidence in both ends.

When a dog harks and wags his tail at the same time, you know he lacks stability. JJe is a bluffer—he is two-faced-—he is easily put off—lie is easily led on—he is not sure of himself—he has no decision of character.

There are many humans just like this little dog. They don’t now what they want; they’re not sure where they’re going; they are easily led on; they’re easily put off. Sometimes they bark feebly against things with which they do not agree; Imt for fear you might bank on that hark, and expect them to follow it up with a bite, they hasten to assure you that they really didn’t mean it—far be it from them to want to, lie in any fuss or fight about anything. If they had really thought you’d take notice, they would’nt have barked at nil.

These are the human equivalents of the little dogs who hark and wag their tails at one and the same time. Nobody knows where they stand—what they stand for—what they believe in. They are cyphers in the scheme of things who could die to-morrow and the world would lose precisely—-nothing. You meet them in social life, where they are all things to all men, and deceive none but themselves. They want to please everybody. They are a prey to the last word, pitiful driftwood. Determined to be in perfect agreement with everybody, they are in real agreement with nobody. They never take sides, tor that would involve decision. II unhappily tlidfe should be a conflict of opinions, they slip away unnoticed until the going is easier ain't the way more smooth. All through life they refuse to declare themselves on anything. They sliilt, shuffle, and side-step—they avoid, avert, and evade every issue. They walk in the middle of the road, and keep an eye on each side of the street, ready to support the stronger side. They run with tho hare, and hunt with the hounds. If society emits a lew snappy barks, they hark too, hut it is only a “ pack ” bark—nothing individual about it—quite friendly—with no bite to follow. And in the end what are they? Just the human equivalent of the amiable little dog who had no. character, who harked and wagged his tail* at one and the same time. If you believe in a thing, fight for it. if you don’t believe in it, fight against it. But don’t sit on the fence. —M. PRESTON STANLEY.