REFLECTIONS IN A LOOKING-GLASS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1922, Page 7

REFLECTIONS IN A LOOKING-GLASS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —At the begining of the war there was a German, who looked into a lookingglass, and when he saw his features reflected, he was struck with admiration of his own noble countenance. He war. ho impressed with what he saw that he could not help explaining; “Mine Gott. Vo? a noble specimen of manhood’ dot vos der superman. Gott vos intend him to rule the world! Hoch der Kaiser! To hell m:t der King’* 1 Then I, an English-born, and just as patriotic and loyal as “Britisher,” who airs his views in your paper, had a look in the same looking-glass; an-i just as the German was impressed, so was I, and exclaimed: “That must be God's mastarpijoe. That is a loyal aad paUdpUQ

Britisher. That is a specimen of the breed that is ordained by Heaven to rule . all other nations. He is the greatest civilising influence in the world; the greatest soldier, the greatest sailor, the greatest colonizer, the greatest explorer, the greatest lover of justice and fair-play, and he is the greatest Christian in the world, and he does not like the Americans because they are the greatest skiters in the world.” But as the war progressed I got hold of another looking-glass: this one, instead of reflecting my features, told me the truth and reflected my character. When I saw my character reflected, I was struck with quivering horror. I was disgusted with what I saw, and for some time I could not be persuaded that I was looking at a Britisher. I was certain that I was looking at the reflection of a beastly, ghastly and atrocious Hun. Then the German had a look in the same looking-glass, and he, in his turn, forgetting that he was looking at his own reflection, was filled with disgust and loathing at what seemed to him to be the reflection of one of those bombastic, egotistical, hypocritical and blather-skiting Britishers.

I want to lend this looking-glass to some iof your correspondents. I should like to lend it to “Britisher,” being sure that he I will cease to admire himself so much. I should like him to see the reflection of the Black and Tans, when he will find that everything that Mr. Diggins says about them is true. 1 should also like him to see the British flag reflected, and he would se that the Black and Tans have befouled it, and covered it with more filth than anyone has since the Chinese war of 1840. As this is partly a sectarian squabble, I should like the Catbohcs to have a peep, when they will discover that they are a superstitious, priest-ridden and servile crew. Then I would like the yellowbellies to have a look, so that they could see themselves as an evil-minded, quarrelseeking lot of bigots. Then, when everybody has had a peep in my looking-glass, he would realise that “ people who live in glass-houses should not throw stones, and everyone should undress in the dark.” This might make them more tolerant of others. It might start them removing the beams from their own eyes instead of plucking the motes from their neighbor’s. It also should remove all discord and dissension, as each would form such a bad opinion of himself that he would find a’! his neighbors agree with him, unless human nature is so depraved that it started them all squabbling and fighting again to decide which was the worst. But everybody being tolerant of each other, we would view things in a better light. If the Sinn Feiners want a republic, let them have it. Why not ? And if the Ulstermen want a monarchy, let them have it. If they want a king let them have one. Let them have half-a-dozen, with a few Czars and Kaisers and a Mikado chucked in, if they want them. Why not ? For the sake of peace and quietness, if they can’t get anybody else, as a great favor I would not mind being their king myself; but, mind, I should want a big pay. I always did think that considering what kings have to put up with they are very much under-paid.— zl am, etc., RATIONALIST. New Plymouth, 13th April.