A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1928, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

THE “ HAS BEENS.”

1 was standing in the throng ai a charity hall a few nights ago. when an old gentleman, with an old lady on his arm. jia.ssod bv.

“ I wonder what those old ' Has Reeim ’ are doing here!'" cried one of a, youthful party. " Yes, you might wonder—look at the Old Girl ! Ila! I In! Ha!’.' came in a chorus.

How arrogantly Youth and Ignorance fake the |ilaee of honour on the stage oi life, and how ruthlessly Age and Wisdom tiro pushed and jostled to the rear !

Vet the “ Hits Moons ” and the “ Once We res ” arc entited to a place t.if honour in the world they have made, for they tire the wisest amongst us. Come along, old “ Has Moons " and "Once Weres ! ” Your place is not at the rear; the j>lace of honour in lile is yours; and here’s our toast to von ! Here’s to the “.Has lieens.’’ rich and jioor, known and unknown, women and men—

The bravo old “ Has lieens,'' who organized the world—who helped to eonfilter earth, sea. and sky— Who laid down the highway where we now walk in safety, and who cleared that highway of its morasses and quagmires, ruts and holes, so that the stream of youth following alter them should neither stumble nor lull Who poured their life blood into the channels of the juthlic prosperity— Who imbedded llteir ideals in the foundations of I heir eon.nl ry -

Whose lucks are bent by burdens bravely borne lor us Whose hairs are whitened and whose faces are I'urroweiL not alone hv the kiss of Time, but by the anguish and the tears wrung from their souls by many a youth. For Youth often leaves a sad requiem sighing in the heart of Age*. Here’s to the “ Has lieens ” and the “Once Weres.” to whom we owe everything—life, protection, character, education, progress, liberty, country ! May life for them be a glorious (‘tiding not a sad retreat ! None of tts are insensible to the beauty which old age lends to thingwhich are not human. Who Ims not felt the charm ol an old house?

The romance of till old masterpiece: ' The glory of an old cathedral? The nobility of a grand old tree? Is Nature’s masterpiece Man -the only thing in which old age is unromantic. inglorious, ignoble? No ! Age i is not inglorious ; but Youth is intolerant when Youth forgets the glory o : i Age. May New Zealand’s sous a ml daughters never forget the debt they owe to the " Has Been.-” and the “ Once \\ ores. ’ whom Youth so carelessly ami so ruthlessly jostles to the rent . —,M PRESTON STANLEY.