OUR HUMAN FOLLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1939, Page 9

OUR HUMAN FOLLIES

LESSONS FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

The business of living costs money (says an American writer) yet the dumb animals which have no money to exchange, live and feed on nature's bounties. They have their troubles, surely, yet they do not manufacture poison gas and numerous other contrivances to destroy and maim their competing members. For the, humans it costs money at birth to begin this grand business of living and paying. Yet they, which are created by the same Hand, raise their young with nothing but nature’s laws to guide them. It costs us humans money to eat. yet our brute companions in this world manage to get il without paying a cent. It. costs money to sleep, yet the birds have their nests with no rent to pay. . . It costs us humans money when we are sick; for where is the doctor, the nurse or the druggist who doesn’t want for money? Yet our simple friends in the lower form need none of these to care for their ills. The cat when sick will eat grass and go on a fast, but most of us wise humans continue to eat and fill up with gas. Now, which has more sense, the dumb beast or the wiseacre humans?

“It costs money for pleasure when we are well, yet the birds and the beasts have theirs with no taxes or laws or mar their joys. It costs money to grow up in this world of ours. Yet the brute beasts know nothing of costs. The cat does not buy a fur coat each year, neither do the birds pay for transportation. Yet man, the smartest of all, is virtually the biggest fool of all, because with all his knowledge, he does not know how to get on with his fellow creatures. For the humans it costs money to study and prepare to sell and pay and live off others. Yet tne brute animals by instinct build their homes and care for their young with no expense for preparation. It costs money to get married, because the State and the church must live. Yet beasts and birds have no such expenses to pay, and more they have neither priest nor ministers to bid them well, but live in peace in spite of all these men have to sell. It costs money to have children, for lo and behold, we should be glad that we are mortal, because there are some amongst us who would like to live off the people for all eternity. It costs money to raise children to make money for others. Yet if they -were immortal they would continue to pay throughout the future ages of eternity. “It costs money to die, and after it is all over it costs money for a box and numerous other things, depending on the religion or society to which one has the money to belong. Yet the birds and the animals lie down to rest while other members of their flock, not being preoccupied over their destiny, continue to enjoy the wonders of nature. For some of us humans it costs money after we are packed away in the grave, for the good Lord knows that there are some who wish to collect for the sins of the past. We call ourselves civilised and cultured, yet we put into practice laws far worse than those that govern the animal kingdom. They live in peace, and have room to roam, while the human family is forced to live in artificial environments because of a system of gain. In contrast, the brute beasts eat and sleep as favoured guests in a world of plenty. With only nature’s laws to guide them, their home is a paradise compared with that of man. Man, with all his intelligence, education, religion and mortality, not only forms a bad example for others, but does his best to kill his brute companions and other members of his race just because he loves to do it."