TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 87, 14 April 1910, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

There have been many Don Quixotes and Sancho Panzas abroad in Powelka "Powolkaton," but it has Puerilities, been left to the "Dominion Wcouts 1 ' to properly stalk and charge the windmills and fellmongeries. Disgusted by the fact that sixty police and six thousand "vigilantes" had not run one fugitive to earth, the "Dominion Scouts," under Captain Dalrymple, decided to get themselves thrust upon "Powelkaton," but the ungrateful "Powelkatonians" were rather displeased than charmed by the advent of those hawk-eyed rangers, relentless, ruthless white-trackers, with a superhuman Ecent for Powelka quarry. It looked like a vote of no-confidence in the "Poweikatonians." There were already many comical commandos of scouts in Palinerston, bub they were not "the" Scouts. These sure-eyed, sure-nos-sd, sure-'ooted searchers, scoffing at all peril, took charge of the fields and fence*, and the end of one great round-up \sas the terrible surrounding of an amiable carpenter, who was working in a fellmongery. It is hoped that tho bugle will now blow for the "Dominion ScoiUb' " letirement from "Powelkaton." The Palmeretonians, the Bunnythorpeans, and tb? Ashhurstites have abundantly proved that they can be funny enough without aid from the Scouts. They have shown that they do not need ipecial assistance' to scare caipenters, farmeis, and others who are not Powelka. The Scouts have now done their part in adding to the gaiety of nations, and they have done it well. It would be fcolish for them to stay longer and try to improve on perfection. We cannot imagine that the Defence authorities gave the "Dominion Scouts" permission to frighten ! that gentle, law-abiding carpenter. They would surely not be capable of such {silliness, however keen tlieir desiro to (five the forces some "active service." That formidable army of one Powelka does not need the "Dominion Scouts" for ! its suppression. If there is any doubt atk rthe Carpenter — and the 'Walrus. Some of the Carroll "nontenße verses" — "Ho thought he Faw" — will apply to the "Powelkatonians" and the "ocouts." Never was Minister of the Crown more feted, more eenuThe New adored, than the Political Mecca. Hon. R. M'Kenzie, Minister of Public Works, at Te Puke the other day. Pakeha and Maori, of a settlement seldom illumined by Mini&terial sunshine or even moonehine, were as much excited about Mr. M'Kenzie ac Pahnerston has been about M">\ Powelka. Pipers skirled, brass bands blared, some Maori braves yoked thomselvea to the eacred chariot, and others did hakas and "komates," and wahines ("tastefully drei-Bed," cays the telegram to-day) did poi dances, and Te Puke generally \\«s totally delirious. What effect all this fervour of reverence had on Motutka's dictator tho message, unhappily, does not indicate, but one can imagine the stern eye glistening with the dew of emotion 'and the rugged breast 6oothed by the music and the praise. One fears, however, the sequel of such a demonstration. The Motuekan's indifference to expert advice was bad enough prior to Te Puke's adulation, and now? Mr. M'Kenzio went there as a Minieter, but may emerge a Caesar, with a yearning for purple robes rather than sac suits. What will his colleagues think of that Royal Teception? Why did they mire Te Puke? Will Te Puke over be, passed by again? Will Te Puke be overlooked in any fresh controverav about a new site for the capital? One can fairly assume that Te Puke will be hencefortu always a place ©f call for members of Cabinet. The Ministerial head, aching from the buffets of non-worshipping critics, will eyor find Te Puke-'*- breagt ready to furnish a loving resting-place, and Te Puke^s motherly hand eager to aoothtj l;b<J fevered brow. Auckland, not content with the allocations foi that city, may heckle, Wellington may carp, Christchurch may chide, Dunedin may turn dour en the Government, but there will ever be Te Puke for comfort. M>r. M'Kenzie- has stumbled on a •plendid discovery. Psychologists, whether their interest in the subject be literBrigand and ary or scientific, will Philanthropist, look with some interest for details of the remarkable case reported in our cable news to-day. The particulars are just such as to awaken curiosity while omitting one feature essential to any attempt to classify the case or co-ordinate it with others. Forty years ago, it seems, a notorious brigand in Southern Saxony served two penal terms on account of numerous crimes of violence. This month one Karl May, a septuagenarian philanthropist, known as the author of pious books and a prominent figure in the public life of the Fatherland, has been discovered to be the same personage, and has been so completely crushed by the shock of the discovery that he has to be guarded to keep him from suicide. Before one can form any theory it is necessary to know something of the intervening forty years, and particularly -whether at any time May was at the same -time a criminal iri secret and a reputable citizen in public. While much nonsense has been written concerning "dual" or "multiple" personality, it is a fact that Stevenson'f story of Jekyll and Hyde set forth a "psychological possibility thnt has been almost paralleled in real life. In Edmund About's "King of the Mountains" we have an actual life-study of a religious brigand, who mutilated and murdered his captives ; but his "religion was a pure matter of business — a kind of insurance jPremiiim There is the crafty and deliberate hypocrite^ — happily more common in melodrama than in real life— whose piety i« merely a cloak ; there is the only too common ca*e of the respected and once worthy < iti/.on inpidiowly tempted to Fomo dishonest y whith he think* he can "make good," sinking deeper *nd deeper into fraud and deception, until at last exposure comes almost Mft relief. But witb-the imperfect data

by cable it is impossible to "place" Herr May. For in the intervening forty years since he left the prison gates he may have repented and reformed. Some believe there L, no repentance without j public confession, which is a mistake. To retrieve his position the brigand and convict must first conceal his identity and begin a new life. If this, as is possible, was May's experience — if he prospered and made good use of his wealth — he should have the sympathy of rightminded folk, whoso only regret will be that his ancient sins have found him out. Kaiser William has ordered football for the army, "in the hope An Imperial that it will increase Footballer. the physical and moral value of the troops. "■ The brief message rather give& v. picture of players taken to the field by cavalry and infantry and machine guns, and kept there for two "forty-fives" by a cordon of fixed bayonets. The Kaiser merely mentioned football : What sort'/ If he hod ithe American game in mind he could keep his troops on a war footing, but the ambulance and bearer corps would be out of proportion to the combatants. The American game would probably reduce the popularity of duelling with swords. The heavilyarmoured forwards and backs would b« ablo to work off any insults or grudges without recourse ito cold s>tetl, but then this pastime would not accomplish the "moral" ideal of the Kaiser any more than the physical. He probably has a preference for the Rugby or Association style. In his omnivorous reading the Emperor has no doubt encountered the doctrine that tho Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. At all events, he has been impressed by the value of field sports in the making of sturdy manhood. Wilt liis far-ranging eye reach as far as New Zealand for "All Blacks" to teach Germany's young idea how to shocJt goals iwid.get tries? There is a quainit contrast between the two. countries. Germany prepared for football by compulsory military training; New Zealand prepared for compulsory military training by voluntary football. Rome of 'the mow old-fashioned Britons may look with some mipgiving on Germany's invasion of the field of piny, but tho innovation, which is likely to bring Germany prominently into the athletic sphere, should prove a.n excplient factor in the maintenance of pea<;e.