MELBA PHILOSOPHISES.

Otaki Mail, 3 October 1923, Page 2

MELBA PHILOSOPHISES.

LONDON’S DEPRESSING SIGHTS. HOPE IN EMPIRE’S YOUTH. Dame Nellie Melba, in an unLk published in the Weekly Dispatch on the eve of her departure for Australia, records her expel lences during a litre* well walk through London streets. H?he met a soldier selling iuatcliCi aud singing in a trained soprano voict one of her own songs, noted the dmap pmrance of classic poems from huoK shelves, and saw as well Haring poster tellings of disagreements between the Allies —all of which seemed to be symbols of Britain \s discontent, .Dame Nellie wonders whether the nation has forgotten the lessons of the war, and whether the sight of the man who had once grappled with the foe on the western front timidly oiiering a paibtdk box of matches inspired a thrill ol horror. J.t seemed to her paradoxical hat there should he a million unemployed in Britain while Australia was able to absorb more than live times as many more. hi he admitted that there v.ti'j difficulties, but the nation that tm umplied in the war should not Hfid them unsuperable. Though it was ua* pleasant to say it, she felt that “the glory of the spirit ? ’ had departed Iron: Lngiand. which had become disiJlusiuced. Happily', however, the country p>dsessed the infinite confidence of the Lmpirehi youth, who were capable of restoring all the best national characteristics.