CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 158, 3 January 1912, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

"THE GREATEST LIVING HAMLET." On January 22 Mr. H. B. Irving, "the greatest living Hamlet," will visit New Plymouth and will play that part in Shakespeare's undying work. It is curious that while New Zealanders so frequently swarm to shows of the most evanescent and frothy description, which depend almost entirely for their success on mechanics, they aTe wonderfully correct in their estimate of artistic worth. They are as quick to know the difference in the actor who is a mere machine and the actor whose genius makes him live the part. Mr. Irving is the son of the late Sir Henry Irving, Britain's greatest modern actor, and it has been said of him that his great father lives again in him, for the son is supremely telling in Shakespearian roles. It occurs that Mr. Irving, unlike many of the world's artistic eminents, has Hot left his tour of the colonies until the edge of his genius has been dulled and the fires of his magic art dimmed. He comes when he is at the zenith of his artistic powers. There never was an actor who did not long to play Hamlet. There is no actor now alive who plays it as Irving plays it. Hamlet, as put on by Mr. Irving, is not only a triumph of art, but an historic spectacle. He has his late father's intense love for realism in furnishing a play. He will search London or Paris or Berlin for .an historic sword, a length of tapestry, a. rare drinking vessel, a dagger with a story. New Plymouth is artistically advancing when it can induce the eminent tragedian to show his best here, and it goes without saying that he will see as many of New Plymouth people as can get into the house.

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND. Professor M. B. Hammond, who is Professor of Economics in the Ohio State University, has been in New Zealand for a few months studying the industrial legislation of this country. "What opinions have you formed of the effect of legislation in New Zealand?" he was asked by an Auckland Star reporter. "On that point," was the reply, "I find myself in a more uncertain state of mind right now than I did the week after my arrival. You seem to be in a stage of uncertainty at the present time, more especially since the general election verdict is so undecided. It is a fact that' you have attempted things out here that people in older countries are just talking about. We consider you are Radical—or it would be more correct, judging by older countries, to terra it Progressive Democracy. I have beea

studying nture the Industrial and Conciliation Act, but until I get settled down at home again and have an opportunity of reviewing my notes, I am hardly in a position to pass opinions. I have read a good deal about the people iu Australasia comparing themselves to those of the United States, but so far as I can see New Zealanders are more like their English cousins. I think they are progressive. A good deal is made by the newspapers of the so-called Yankee hustle, but that is more of a machine hustle than a characteristic of the people. It arises from the tendency towards specialisation making it necessary ifor workers—who are allotted small amounts of work each—to keep pace with the machinery. Your people are more fond of amusements; perhaps too much so. This aspect has struck me more particularly because it applies out here to old and young alike. It is quite unusual for people advanced in years to take an active recreation, such as athletics, in the United States. They indulge in such pastimes as driving, of course, but nothing more vigorous." Professor Hammond stated, in reply to a further question, that at the Columbus University this year, there were about 400 students of economic alone. He thought that in a country such as New Zealand, where so much of the practical side of economic was receiving attention, more philosophical education might well be undertaken. The viistors did not evince a desire to discuss the political situation, but in the course of an informal chat, he indicated the belief that a political Labor party would become a factor sooner or later, just as had occurred in Australia.

THE NEW SCHOLARSHIP. In his article on the "Heart of Things," in Chambers' Journal, Mr. Henry Leach takes for his subject the New Scholarship. The present system of examinations, especially in secondary schools, has long been under suspicion, he says. Candidates are crammed with books of facts which are not understood, and the examinations are mere memory tests. Mediocrity is encouraged and individuality suppressed. History books often end at the accession of Queen Victoria, exactly where they ought more properly to begin. It is the events of the modern time that have an immediate bearing on all that we have to do to-day. Students know all about the Reformation, but nothing about the Reform and Education measures of the most tremendous consequence. While they know, or at least once did 'know ,all about the old-time trouble with the barons, they know nothing of the causes which led up to the Parliament Act of 1911. How serviceable it would be to be equipped with a knowledge of the rise of Labor and the history of the Trade Union movement! The knowledge of many of our early wars with France could well be spared to make room for some concerning the progress of Germany in recent years, and knowledge of the Continental alliances of long-gone times, very soon forgotten again, is infinitely less important than knowledge about the Triple Alliance to-day. What do students learn about the British Empire? Can they read with any understanding the money columns of the daily papers? What do they know of the Morocco of to-day ? If only there was such a thing as a school at which those destined for commercial careers could be taught only the things of to-day, beginning English history with the nineteenth century, considering geography only from the point of view of the political and commercial problems of the recent past and the future, being made to speak and read both French and German, and being taught something of the simpler laws of the country as they affect the ordinary doings of the individual in private and commercial life—in short, being made so efficient in knowledge of subjects and matters of current interest and importance, that they could pass an examination based upon the newspaper, surely such a school would succeed amazingly. How a little of such practical knowledge would add to the interest and pleasure and profit of reading the daily paper!