BY THE WAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14162, 11 September 1909, Page 9

BY THE WAY.

Tf I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me; I had it from my father.—' Henry VIII.’

Granted that I am a long way farther from tho heavens than is my prophetic friend Mr Clement Wraggc; but it must Iki admitted that, after all, we are really together as reliable prophets. A fortnight ago I advised readers to forget- the humdrum wagging of tho world and to “ watch the cablegrams,” as something was sure to happen. That something has happened. How hard it is not to say: I told you so. I knew tho faith that is in me, and there an end on’t. This is an ago of self-adver-tisement. Give honor unto whom it is due. I? an excuse for this apparent boasting bo required, please accept as the best ever offered tho news of tho American corner in North Poles. Talk about your common gift in tho matter of forecasting weather and foretelling earthquakes’ Some rivals may bo disposed to challenge my claim of being the only prophet to prepare tho minds of tho people for tho announcements of the discoveries of the North Pole. They have no case. If tho prophetic words “ Something is sure to happen ” did not include these announcements, they included nothing. [ admit that the prophecy was a hit indefinite on the face of it. A true prophet only hints—that and nothing more. Definiteness is dangerous. Persistent prophecy is a sure way to accuracy. “ There is nothing so tmo as habit.” Emboldened by past success, I venture to be prophetic again : Continue to watch the cablegrams. Something else will happen. ******* Tho discovery of tho North Pole should increase tho faith of Spiritualists and the like. A world of hoary mystery has been broken into by men of great heart and will, and tho need of new worlds to conquer is obvious. From a mother’s, lap to the lap of Mother Earth man has ever sought, and forever will seek, what Robert Louis Stevenson calls tho Somowhere-elso of the imagination. Rebellious discontent at one time or another enters into the minds of men, and it is good for them to go and lose it in tho unknown wilds. Now that Americans have found the North Pole, no doubt it will only be hut- a matter of detail and time until the place becomes a pleasure resort for millionaires. An American Aviators’ Exposition may yet be, held at tho North Polo. Already a great American statesman has had visions of Constitution following the flag that was "nailed to the North Polo” by Lieutenant Peary. In order to keep burning the sacred fire of hope in the hearts of explorers, let these who speak with the dead prove the existence of countries undiscovered. but discoverable by ordinary mortals. Tho politician who first sets foot on Mars or in a heaven and returns with the knowledge that he has discovered a perfect land policy shall bo greater than the Polo-finders. ******* Lieutenant Peary or Dr Cook; Dr Cook or Lieutenant Peary ? To whom shall immortal fame be given ? To whomsoever you like. That is tho only way at present. Tho true teat will he the choice of generations unborn. Dr Cook recorded Ids claim _ first, hut lie has roused scepticism, which will nevor be laid. Lieutenant Peary appears to be as C.icsar’s wifo—above suspicion. And for that reason alone tho chances are that he will bo Forever remembered as the first man to reach the North Pole. Dr Cook asserts that ho found the Pole; but Lieutenant Peary did more than that. He not only found tho North Polo, but to it “nailed tho Stars and Stripes.” That is tho true American completeness. It is well that both claimants arc citizens of America. Americans have tried often enough to achieve tho honored distinction, and it is not for Britons to begrudge the honor. We cannot get everything. Let a British explorer bo the first to nail the Union Jack to the South Pole. After that to the next world. ******* Some estimable people seem placed in this world to help their needy neighbors. Consider the match-givers ; how thev give matches and never grumble And so many smokers are forever see Icing light. True ;t is that not a few men deliberately hinder 'he development of their natural'kindness of heart by the exercise of a restraint that is terribly in keeping with the spirit of the age. Ihey give matches to tobacco smokers, but only the striko-on-their-own-box sort. It would bo interesting to kr.ow why so many men have no hesitation in buying costly tobacco, but simply will not buy cheap matches. Sometimes a buyer of matches for himself and neighbors - is tempted to advocate the installation of pipe-lighters at convenient corners in the City. In commercial circles man's generosity to man is a delight. Think of how many shopkeepers who have taught themselves to believe that they are in business solely for the benefit of'the community. They merely play at keeping shop! Of all tho kindly men—moneylenders, house agents, cheap Jacks, and so on—who live to aid their less enterprising fellows, not one of the great army is so thoughtful in their giving to man as that far-sccing gentleman who walks abroad prepared for eveiy contingency. He is the wise man who goes through life ever armed with a corkscrew. Have you ever enjoyed Ins usefulness? ******* A Fable—Once Upon a Time there was in the Ministry in New Zealand a man nailed Hogg. Now. he was a Talkative Person. It is true there were in the same Ministiy other Talkative Persons, but they were Astute Men, and when they talked limy were careful to s;i.y Nothing. It was thought that Mr Hogg would follow t-ho example of his Seniors, but the Habit of a Lifetime was too strong, and ho Continued to Talk, not as one having authority, but as in the days when he was a Private berTho Man in the Street said This Will Never Do; this is Rot, and will bring the Dominion No Credit- But the Common People heard him gladly, and cried: Lo! here is a Prophet. The Prime Minister was Very Angrv, iund Before he Took, his Departure for'a Far Country he Bumped Mr Hogg out of (he Cabinet with Great Suddenness. Mr Hogg was Disagreeably Surprised. And what do you Think Happened? Ho went Up and Down the Country saying that Ho was a -Martyr to Principle, and that Paper Money for the People was dearer to his Heart 'than the Sweets of Office. It is Well to Make the Best of a Bad Job. ******* When the Prohibitionist has reached his goal in what direction is he to turn his energies? Probably he will wage war against tobacco. It "is a fact that tho majority of Prohibitionists aro non-smokers. More, they look on the habit with distinct aversion. The old Puritan idea still survives. Anything that gives pleasure to others should bo eyed with suspicion. The Now Englanders, it will be remembered, objected to bear-baiting—not because it gave pain to tho bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators. Wo have the anti-cigarette leagues in existence, and are threatened with the operation of the Curfew Law. Very good things, perhaps, in their way. But is there not a danger of their extending past the childhood stage? Is it the thin end of tho wedge? Is tho day coming when we shall all be put to bed at ten o’clock by the operation of some new Early Closing law, and when all the tobacco in the Dominion will go up in one hi,,, last smoke? It seems within the bounds of possibility, but let us hope that when the blow does fall we shall have “crept silently to rest.” ****** * An attempt was made once to put a stop to smoking. Shortly after its introduction into the Old World tobacco in England and many other parts of Europe. Doctors pronounced it harmful to health, priests declared its use sinful, a Pops issued a Bull excommunicating all persons found taking snuff in church, while to be caught smoking in Russia meant having your nose cut off. The worthy James I. of England, in hia “ Cbunterblaste to Tobacco,” declared smoking “ loathsome to the eye, hurtful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black stinking fume thereof nearest roawnblkig the boniblq Stygian gmoke .of

the pit that is bottomless.” That is probably itho hardest tiling said of the weed. How many will agree with it to-day? The answer is that in those days tobacco was a luxury; to-day it is one of the necessaries of life. Most drinkers will grant that alcohol may be, and often is, a dangerous thing. No true smoker will admit that of the fragrant weed. Wc .are peaceable in these days, not because we are civilised, but because we smoke. Take away tobacco to.morrow, and the dogs of war may be let loose nest week. The Red Indians unconsciously, or sub-con-seiously, realised this; hence the Pipe of Peace. Everyone has read Salvation Yeo’s opinion of tobacco: “ A lone man's companion, a bachelor’s friend, a hungry man’s food, a sad man’s cordial, a wakeful man’s sleep, and a chilly man's fire.” Hear Sam Slick on the virtues of a pipe: “ The moment a man takes to a pipe ho becomes a philosopher. It has made urn re good men, good husbands, kind masters, indulgent fathers, than any other blessed thing on this universal earth.” Tho Prohibitionist taclded a big proposition when lie made bis onslaught on tht Demon Drink, but he will come in for a rough time if ha attempts to banish “My Lady Nicotine” from these shores. Mojius.