RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 649, 7 March 1914, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker.

The strangeness of the creature called man has moved the gods to laughter sinc« the time of the first literary mortal. Sometimes the laughter is akin to tearß, but it is only the angels who weep when he plays fantastic tricks before high heaven. Angels are alm>iy:4 "represented as feminine, which p.-tr. :;bly accounts for them not being :o laugh. It was established by the fust literary person long ago that woman had no sense of humour, hence, being unable to laugh, the angels are moved to tears, while masculinity, represented by the gods, sees the tumour of the situation, and appreciates it in truly masculine style. This is nicely settled to the smug satisfaction of the average man, but being a peace loving individual I wish to make it clear that conditions may have altered since the first literary person formed his impressions. There is just a possibility that the one sex has not continued to. monopolise the humour of man's exploits.

Ever since I can remember I seem to have been concerned in a controversy as to whether man's tricks should be attributed to original sin, or to a desire to entertain the gnds and the angels, or whether he was merely deficient in humour. A Presbyterian with Calvanistic tendencies naturally inclines towards the original sin bug. as the Americans would put it, but a profound study of mankind inevitably leadt> to the conclusion that nothing is lurther from the average man's thoughts than the commission of sin. In the breaßt of every individual who has received a mother's care lies the seed, which, under proper condition, will spring to life, and vitalise the individual into a reformer of some sort or other. In fact, a calm survey of the position impels one to the belief that the chief curse of mankind is not original sin; it is the evangelist; the uplifter; the reformer; the person who is so grief stricken at seeing the mote in his brother's eye that he cannot rest until motes are banished from the planet.

They run in all shapes, and apply to all spheres of existence. They made their appearance on earth with the dawn of history, just about the period ac which bowls were introduced. Unfortunately, they have thriven on the changing conditions of the world, which have provided an.

illimitable field for their activities. In Eastern countries where the people have been accustomed to the prophet mania in virulent form since before the dawn of Western history, these reformers are allowed to get to the frenzy stage before notice is taken of them. When they have finished foaming at the mouth the worst of the attack is over. It must be chiefly Western methods which inspire the gods to laughter. The man with a mission doesn't often enter the realm of sport, but occasionally the alarm is sounded. At present a steward of the Te Kuiti Racing Club and an Auckland sporting writer are apparently bent upon purifying the turf. So absolutely certain are they tha': the mission is theirs that they are prepared to discredit everything, except their own opinions. This i<3 the chief objection to the reformer.

Social reform is an entrancing subject to many people. It, is great and noble ideal to leave the world better than you found it. In order to accomplish the fulfilment of any great objective, however, the safe course is to deal with principles, and leave the individual as much alone as possible One realise? that in attacking certain principles for the purpose of Buhatituting certain others more in accord with one's own private ideas a collision with individuals is bound to occur. The enthusiast will tell you that in such cases the better and more altruißtic cods mußt prevail, and the upward march of evolution continue until man has become regenerated,and fitted for a plane of existence undreamed of on this terrestrial sphere. It is a high and beautiful belief calculated to inspire action which would make neither angels nor gods smile. Perhaps, of this character is the enthusiasm of our turf reformers.

The only thing nec6B3ary to a complpte existence locally is the ownership of a motor car. Some people substitute membership of the bowling club, but that is a very unconvincing method of seeking excitement compared with motorirg. After all, sensation is what ore lives for after one has earned the customary crust. The person who rhymed "A crust of bread a flask of wine—and Thou," must have been apostrophising a car. It is quite understandable—in connection with some people, but for a sensitive, self-reßpecting member of the County

Ratepayer's Association to get stranded jn a main thoroughfare and have to get towed home is beyond the limit. The apostrophe to the car after that would probably be couched in language more fit for the camp than for the drawing room. There is a rumour to the effect that the person referred to contemplates buying a new ear. Personally, I cannot credit it.