Then and Now.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1741, 23 June 1886, Page 2

Then and Now.

The Rationalist remarks, antnt the terrible Rotorua outbreak, that despite the tons of paper consumed, and the rivers of ink shed ; notwithstanding the quantity of ornate language which has been expended by our local literati, m drawing comparisons between the present terrible volcanic eruptions, and those elsewhere, they have utterly forgot tea or ignored an ancient and wellknown disaster which seems to us to make the most appropriate comparison of any attainable. We allude to the tragedies of Sodom and Gomorrah — the biblical cities of the plain. All our local newspaper gentlemen have iought shy of this analogy. It also wonders whether "the Editors of the Sodom Herald a.ad Gommorah Evening Star spread themselves oat upon sensational head-lines, and raved about " hetacotnbs of slain,' &c, &c. We imagine not. The newspaper men of four thousand years ago were not such talented liars as those of to-day. If you read the biblical account of the ancient catastrophe it strikes you as being remarkably terse : " Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire trom the Lord out of j heaven." Merely that ; no special editions ; no " special correspondents " uni able to write a grammatical sentence of l their language ; no latest telegrams, no I iSunday papers ; not one word about the pink terraces of Gomorrah ; no harrowing of the feelings of survivors. No ! 'The " specials " of the period had just time to finish writing the words " brimstone and fire from the Lord out of 'heaven,'' and there oame another squirt of brimstone and there wsb peace — and cindered correspondents. The article "from winch we quote proceeds to observe : — And yet again, think of Sodom and Gomorrah, and their sins, and think of New Zealand and its righeousness. Behold ! m every city, m each town and hamlet of this favoured country, the tall spires of the steeples which point to heaven. The land is dark with the sad, solemn men, whom we of New Zealand — though some of us are wanting bread — pay and feed to intercede for us ;to keep our records spotless, bright, and shining. Mark how sleek and comfortable we keep them. And surely the people of New Zealand are ever on their knees ; they pay for their seats m church, even if they do not pay their fellowmen.