"HUMAN NATUR."

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1820, 2 November 1874, Page 2

"HUMAN NATUR."

" For art may err, but nature cannot miss."— SHAKKSI'ERK. Another wretched mortal—the victim of his owu evil nature—has passed out of this life into obscure eternity. Dyer has been hanged. He has met the just reward of his villainy. May his doom be a lesson to us all. Why to us all ? might be asked. Because layer's life, so far as we have it, shows the consequences, in an exaggerated form, of bad passions unchecked—of a stormy nature which, made no attempt to raise itself out of the bonds of damnable inclinations; and a crime most hideous at last brought to light a course of wickedness wliich should long since have brought ddwn just retribution upon his head—but all too late to save the unfortunate creature who suffered at his hands. A human life (that of a helpless and devoted woman) had to be sacrificed before the sun could shine on deeds which make the heart sick to contemplate. But Dyer was a hero. His precious life was fought for by a member of the liberal press, because Dyer said he was innocent —because a coward murderer—and worse, a torturer — pleaded innocence that he might live. The woman with whom Dyer had been living said on her death bed that she had spilt the kerosene over herself ; and the New Zealand Herald asked, would a woman die with a lie on her lips ? Aye, as many a woman has, perchance, done before. She did tell a lie, as Dyer's confession has subsequently shown. Bat such lies rise on golden wings to Heaven. In this last attempt to screen the man who, by an uninterrupted course of devilish conduct, had shut out the sunshine from her existence, Mrs. Dyer but displayed that " foolish devotion'"' which is only to be found in woman. And Dyer kept up the lie, till, without a hope, lie stood on the brink of the graye —and then, he lied: he said he had no wish to live, while his own black heart had but hidden the truth in the hope of pardon. This man has been buried in consecrated ground. It was his " last request!" To-morrow may see an otherwise innocent man kill another in a moment of passion excited by a wrong, and the chances are that such a request would be refused. It matters little where the " mortal coil " is " shuffled off," especially in view of the introduction of cremation ; but could the small voice of Puck have had any sway, he would have gently protested against this unclean remnant of human perfidy being laid side by side with the body of an innocent babe or its young mother. As it is the grave should be marked with a headstone and the epitaph should be " Died at the hand of Justice."

The gifted individual who said " every man for himself and Grod for us all," gave birth to a moral truth which shall render him immortal. Its application as regards men is general. As a rule we are content —that is, the best of vs —to recognise the right of a fellow creature to eke cut an existence, providing the ekeing out in no way interferes with our own chances in that line. But this beautiful spirit of tolerance ceases he^e. JS umber One is a person who must be looked after abore all considerations. This has been illustrated on the Thames; and I am induced io make this admission, because — although the people of the Thames are undoubtedly superior to any other people under the sun—they still have their prejudices in favor of " self." It appears that certain shopkeepers have determined upon petitioning their Councillorships to expel the gentleman who rejoices in the possession of the remunerative whirligig, because the said whirligig offers such attractions to a certain class of the people as materially to injure the prospects of the shopkeepers aforesaid. One has been heard to complain with great bitterness that before "thatroundabout cencern came here he used to be in the daily receipt of a few coppers, but now his prospects are blighted." This is hard lines on the shopkeepers, but it would be harder lines on the moving spirit of the roundabout if they had the direction of big movements. Let us, therefore, live and let live.

Some people are never in a hurry. They take time to consider, even if the subject under consideration happens to be nothing of greater importance than putting on a new garment. The Union Bank directors are not in a hurry—they havn't been in a hurry for the last four months, and in all probability they won't be bullied into being iv a hurry for the next four months. I should be very sorry, if I had the power, to coerce these people into moving with reasonable activity, but I do think it is time they ceased to let off " mistakes " about the building—the noble edifice—the graceful structure, and "a' that"—-which is ia be the Union Bank. About four months ago I read in the papers that an engineer had been pegging out or pegging off the ground, and that a noble building was to be erected at once! I rather think the ghostly engineer spoken of must have pegged off himself, for lie has nofc been seen pegging at it since. And yet another movement was made. About two months ago or thereabouts, the directors having considered up a little more, some small holes were dug all round this piece of ground, and the spirited manager made an application to the Council to block up that footpath with scaffoldings and things. Gramercy The showers of spring have filled those little holes with water, and the summer dust, carried along by the fragrant breeze, has eddied round those holes in the light of the purple sun, and sunk gracefully to rest therein 5 but nothing more has. been heard of the mystic engineer. The matter is still under consideration. And in the meantime, all business is transacted in the little shop close by the way. ■ Puck.