THE HUMAN BEING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5375, 16 January 1929, Page 2

THE HUMAN BEING.

ADVANCING OR RETREATING? COMPARISON OF FEATURES. A contemporary publishes a remark that gives food for much thought, namely, that a comparison of a group of photographs taken years ago. with those of a group of people of the same age taken to-day shows that the faces of the people of 40 or 50* years ago wore an expression of determination and seriousnejss wanting in the faces of the present youth. That means that, so far as character is delineated by the countenance, the moderns show frivolity, or at least a want of weight and gravity. This is an important statement, and one well worth consideration. It means that the; younger generation is wanting in that enterprise, grit, and determination by means of which the pioneers achieved success, and made, New Zealand what it is. This is> a very serious matter, and a gloomy portent for the future. But comfort may be taken from the fact that the stability of human affairs and the general progress of soc.iety depend more upon the character and actions of the chosen few’ whose qualities bring them to the front than upon the opinions or actions of the mass. Yet the deficiency in quality of the latter, may well prevent the former from functioning properly, thereby bringing society to a standstill or a debacle.

It is easy to see why the faces of the present generation show a decrease in power. They have been brought up under too easy conditions. They have not been plunged so early into the conflict, they have not had to fight so hard when in it as their predecessors. Soft living breeds soft minds.

A community that has yet a lot of development work in front of it should be made of sterner stuff. Its members should have hardier face's,, showing more purpose, more determination, more vigour; more of the bulldog, less of the lap dog. They should fee, as the old song says, “Boys of the bulldog breed.” But the camera is not infallible ; and often the weakling justifies himself in the hour of trial. Many a man, deemed too soft for war. proved as hard as nails when the test came.