THE OLD MAN.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 65, 7 June 1912, Page 4

THE OLD MAN.

Have you seen the old man of Puponga? This is a curiously natural face marked out on a great rock high upon the hillside overlooking the valley and most of the houses. With certain lights upon it, there almost seems to be life in the rock. We were struck by a weird resemblance to one of the dock laborers' secretaries of far-off England. I was sorry not to have had my camera with mc, and if any comrade lias a picture of the old man."l shall be greatly obliged for a copy of the same sent to Tub Worker, office. Monday it rained, and the prospect of a 17-miles' drive seemed a dreary one, but fortunately the rain ceasod soon after we set out. But it was a cold, wearisome drive. Mr. Allan, editor of tho Golden Bay "Argus," was exceedingly kind and courteous, and wo shall long remember our visit to Parapara. A mountain of iron I It seemed liko the Arabian Nights. All day on Tuesday was spent on the water, and we had magnificent weather. The da-raling bine of oca and sky, the

beautiful hills with their wreaths of clouds, and the snowcapped mountains behind tliom were like dreams from fairyland, while the waters glimmered and "shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow. It is scenes liko this which make one long for the skill and knowledge of the "painter's hand of wonder." We had a day's revel in ever-chang-ing color, the night falling in with a sunset of silver and burnished gold, turning to dull red gold, then crimson, fading away into pink and heliotrope, then a misty, mysterious blue fading to greyish blue, then grey, and at last a chill black until tho moon and the stars added fresh beauty. Oh! the wondrous beauty of the earth, which half of us never see, in the mad rush for gold, for place, for position. When Socialism comes the present murderous navies may become pleasure navies., and every worker have tho opportunity of seeing what the world and his fellowworkers in the world really aro lik^. It is an axiom of the rich that travel broadens the mind, and is the real finisher of the courses and the best educate r. We want the opportunity for education opened to all. and the world will be no worse but infinitely better for a world full of educated men and women. The money at present wasted on war preparation would easily provide a year's tour for every person born. Yet we ax: still told Socialism is unpractical and the present practical persons spend thousands of millions preparing to m-irder each other. "There's a good time conning, boys." Oh, yes. But don't submissively wait for it. Put on your thickest-soled socks and kick for it. Put some solo into it. (N.B. — There's a joke in the last sentence; see a dictionary.)