Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1910. NATIONAL HYSTERIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10113, 7 October 1910, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1910. NATIONAL HYSTERIA.

The London Specator indulges in some protest against the national habit of self-depreciation: This tendency to take British self-deprecia-tion seriously is, we are told, and wo do not doubt truly, emphasised by the American newspapers, which paint in. lurid colours the terrible struggle for life that is taking place among the effete nations of Europe. This practice is partly due to sensationalism ; but it is also followed in order that "their readers can hug themselves with delight, thinking how darned sight better off they are than these poor devils." Accordingly the American newspaper correspondents in London cable, out all these "lively howls," only exaggerating them when possible. The American press publishes them, the press agencies rewire the most depressing items to the Canadian papers, and they are thus read in Canada from sea to sea, but always on the authority of the Engish press—an addition which gives them an appearance of

authenticity. "Shrieks that English trade has been captured by Germany; howls that a German war balloon is flying over London by night; facts one day showing that at least 40 per cent ol' the English nation is

'getting ready to go to the workhouse; facts the next day showing that the other 60 per cent, should already he in uu asylum for the insane" —this is the kind of thing, says our correspondent, which kills the faith, and almost the love, that the colonics have for England. "So far has the evil gone, that, even though j

prominent men raise their voices against the practice of declaring that Great Britain is effete, played out, and sucked dry, it will take, we are told, years to convince the Canadian that by remaining in the British Empire he will riot be shackling himself to an old doddering nation shaking with hysteria."