HANDSHAKES AND SMILES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 946, 12 April 1930, Page 8

HANDSHAKES AND SMILES

THE QUIET CORNER.

(Written for THE SUN t>y the Rev. Charles Chandler.) iT'HE world is overrun with persons who belong to some sort of club or association, either absolutely local or universal in extent, whose corporate existence seems to revolve around handshakes and smiles. There seems to be a concerted attempt on the part of these bodies to force the trappings, if not the spirit, of friendship upon a rather cold and inhospitable world. At the centre of each of these bodies there is usually to be found some one person whose job, and even genius, it is to arouse the latent enthusiasm of the rest of the party. It is often very hard going for this human-charging-station to make his clubmen smile as though they meant it. If the peace of the world depended upon these people, the'millenium tcotild have dawned already. unfortunately, our vexed problems of industrial and world peace icill not give way, or become self-elucidated before these organised barrages of geniality. 2-lore than personality is needed to win a game of chess. There are moves to be thought, out and moves to be taken. All that organised good-fellowship can do is to create an atmosphere wherein it is easier to accomplish the practical. By oiling the icheels they ensure smooth running, if not safe, working. Furthermore, they provide a healthy antidote to the somewhat morbid, death and glory . mid-victorian presentation of religion. which looks at sin through a magnifying glass, and at the inmate goodness of human nature through the wrong end of a pair of binoculars. NEXT WEEK: 100 PER CEXT. TALKIES.