CORONATION HONOURS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1160, 22 June 1911, Page 6

CORONATION HONOURS.

4 SIR JOHN FINDLAY, K.C. WHO ONCE WROTE A BOOK. » [To the Editor.l Sir,—Dr. Eindlay wrote a l>ook, "Humbugs and Homilies." lleio are some "extracts of Eindlay," Socialist-Demo-crat :— "Tlte bourgeois does not approve of upper circles, he merely seeks admission intn them." Isn't that quaint? ilere's some more: "One would think that men who themselves, or whoso fathers, have had to light the arrogance, contempi, and pretensions of the old privileged orders would not imitate or permit their soils, their wives, or their daughters (n imitato these pretensions." Howvery delightful. Hello! What's this? "Power and social influence are even to-day more certain of respect and admiration than p&rsonal merit, and if they How from rank or inherited position, merit need not bo seriously considered."

Vbii might turn 011 a few italics for a crisp bit like lliis:--"Lordolatory is still a feature of English society, and the CANINE CRINGING T'o THE GENTRY, which largely prevails in rural England even to-day, is but a relic of feudal times." I think this is really good. In tho Socialist Hall, where the Government party usually incuts, this would sound splendid. I believe nothing was said about this, however, when (tie Now Zealand party stayed week-ends at ducal manors.

"the man'" worth in the eyes of the mass is his rank," wrote Mli. Eindlay. "To his rank, submission is due. The common people liave the' honour to be his most obedient, and humble servants." Have they? We shall see.

Sneering at the ostentation of society, the same author says:—"There was a great display of buckles, bows, white silk stockings, and other finery—these were the conventional proofs of respectability." These are what Dr. I'iiullay woro • at Court.

Here, in the light of what has happened, is a most delightful paragraph: "Your Ijest manhood is not produced by privilege or hereditary advantages. Tho world's history is full of proof that society must bo saved, by the moral fibre, the force an;l energy' that reside in what is often called the lower classes. When individual worth has to debase itself upon rank and class distinctions, it has ceased to exist."

"The classes that separate themselves from work upon this earth and seek to livo in (he elevation of rank, wealth, and leisure, lose their vigour, determination,

■and streuuous manhood." This is a deadly knock-out for Sir .lames Carroll, who really has earned Ihe honour conferred. 0, ye baronets and knights, Socialists and Democrats, and aristocrats all, what have yfti done that_ this fearful blight should be set upon Xew Zealand?

This is an attempt to found, or at least continue, those social evils which Dr. Findlay has criticised so-freely, and which make England so uncomfortable a plajce for the Socialist aristocrat to' get ou. It is just a trifle unfortunate that the aristocracy of England had not read Dr. Findlay's book before his arrival. He might have received a much warmer reception. England has now. paid for the Dreadnought. We did not give that away for nothing, after all. She has' the Dreadnought. We have the New Aristocracy. That's fair. ,

In his pssay on "Humbugs," Dr. Eindlay lays down two important maxims: I.'Skilful veneer looks as well as solid mahogany, and costs less. 2. ,Do good for self and. blush to. find it .fame. . "You will find humbugs,, as Thackeray said he founds snobs, like the .stars, the more vou gaze the more you' behold." wrote the Doctor. How true. Knight after knight one sees humbugs. It gats monotonous. But what a chango lias come over our Attorney-General. Well mignt one again (juoto from his own book the linos of Wordsworth's:—,

"The tilings that I liavo seen- I now can "see 110 more. Whither has fled the visionary.gleam; Where is it now, the glory nnd the dream?"

"Title, rank, and social distinction may still confer honour upon their possessors, but let us remember the DIGNITY 01* HONEST TOIL" (concliuling words of essav oil "Respectability"). , ' , Andrew Fisher remembered it. Did John George 1-indlay?—l am, cte., ONE WHO PAID FOR THEM. "RESPECTABILITY-ITS RISE AND REMEDY." [To the Editor.! Sir,—lu 1003 a man wroto a bt-ok on "Humbugs." In that book was a. chapter on "Respectability—lts Rise and Remedy. The writer was one Dr. lindlay, an attorney-at-law. Iu that chapter therewere some passages worth remembering. Said the author:—"Your best manhood is not produced by privilege or hereditary advantages. The world's history is full of proof that society must bo saved by the moral fibre, '.lie force ami energy that reside in what is often called the lower classes.- When individual worth has got to base itself on class distinctions, it has ceased to exist. . . . The van of progress is maintained by reinforcements, not from classes with distinctions, but from the proletariat. . . Let labour—usefulnessthen bo the ornament of the citizen, for it is twice blessed—it blesses him that works and the community in which, he works." The author is now Sir John G. l'indlay, K.C.M.G., the man—l mean, of course, gentleman—who diagnosed ' tlio attitude of politicians in a few outstanding phrases such as:—"Skilful veneer - looks as well as solid mahogany, and costs less"; "Train yourself to keep skilfully on the rails"; and "Do good tor self, but blush to find it fame." "You will find humbugs," said Dr. (now Sir John) Findlay, "as Thackeray says lie found snobs, like the stars, the more you gaze the more you bohold." Oh, my prophetic soul, my uncle!—l am, etc., JUNIUS. Wellington, June 20, 1011. . "TAWDRY GEWGAWS." [To the Editor.l Sir,—The following is from "Scrutator's" notes, published in the "Now Zenland Times" of Januarv 10, 183" ever may be said of Knighthoods being accepted'by English politicians and public men, it ill befits, in my humble opinion, representatives of the New Zealand democracy to bedeck . themselves with these tawdry gewgaws. When Sir Robert Stout, was plain 'Mr.' Stout, and a.true, instead of as nowadays a recreant, Liberal, he spoke with much sound common s?nsc and no small vigour against the system of bringing these wretched titles into a democratic country like this. Sir Robert's own career, ever since he was weakly vain enough to forswear his old allegiance to the democracy and to stick the K.C.M.G. after his name,' proves incontcstably how the acceptance of a title warps and destroys a democrat's fidelity to the cause of the people. It was a huge mistake, and one which T sincerely trust will never bo followed by either Mr. Seddon or Mr. M'lConzie."—l am, etc., CONSISTENT.