A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1928, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

A HUMAN EXTINGUISHER CALLS ON ME

A human extinguisher came into my office to-day. I'gli ! She has wealth, education, social position, and—many a beggar is more to be envied.

Her opening remark was an extinguisher. “•Mow can you work in such sordid surroundings?” she asked. " I should simply die.” Now, my office is neither hotter nor worse than a thousand others in the city; hut she only saw wlial she brought with her, and apparently that was sordid.

I asked about her health. “ Oh. I shall never he well-—l’m quite sure ol that.” she added—and. being sure, she never will.

I then asked her Imw her husband was. “Oh. lie’s most difficult, most trying. If ever I want to lie out. that man wants to lie in, and il I want to he in, lie wants to lie out.”

“.I.think you and L too. would want to he in when she was out. and out when she was in. if the Eates had been unkind enough to tie us for lid o to an extinguisher. “ How is vour son? ” I asked next.

“Oil. fie wants to study medicine, and I’ve told him it's ridiculous. Hell never get through a live-year course; lie’ll get tired of it and throw it up. so what’s the use of beginning? I’ve warned his lather not to encourage him.” Poor clmp. to have an extinguisher for a mother ! Anxious to change the subject.

“Well, what do you think ol the political situation?” I asked. "Oh. it s all one to me. I’m not interested. I’m sure they’re all making as much as they can at the game.”

I then asked her about her other son’s beautiful children. “Oh. they’re all right, but their mother is a nasty little cat. I never could stand her. I’ve told my sou so again and again,” Doubtless she had. That’s the way with the discourager: she always tells. “How can that he?” I asked.

“ Isn’t she bringing her children up excellently?” “ Well. I should lit. say so.” she replied. “ Lit tle .1 is the best of them. She takes alter me.” Heaven forbid that the winsome little girl I remember should "take •after ” the family extinguisher. “ 1 believe your husband is taking over larger respojisihilities.” I ventured. “Oli. yes: hut not with my jippvoval. I’ve Old liim Imw f<mli*li |,,. ia ami lie knows I Ain't ii|i)inive."

1 thought she might have added: " H lie wants to do anything in this lil<‘ lie’ll have to do it without my approval, for it isn't in my nature to approve of anything or anybody. Wondering why she had called. I asked her whether she would join :l committee which is doing wonderful work for homeless children. "No! my dear. No ! These women on committees never do any good.” 'I hey re all on the make.” When I expressed resentment at this statement she said: -Oh, well, if not. they’re just alter the limelight, and it amounts to the same thing. I’ve no sympathy with organised charity. A\hat I do, Ith privately:” And she might have added. “And that is precisely nothing. M y patience becoming visibly extintinguishod, she rose to go, hut. wit 1 her hand on the door, said in sepulchral tones: “ You are looking temblv overdone. You’ll lie in hospital soon, with nobody to blame but yourself. She went: and 1 thought, "I here „ f)08 a woman whom the world calls rich and vet she is poorer than a | l( . ( rifai' —more to he pitied than she wlm begs her daily bread ; n him,an extinguisher, whose duel claim to he remembered will be that she quenched hope, discouraged aspiration, ami cx tinguislied ambition in many licai ts. minds, and lives. A„,Must as I was feeling bkt •- sniiffod-oiit candle-in blew a human spark, and lit my wick again. __M PRESTON STAND EA .