THE OUTLOOK.

Evening Star, Issue 16782, 10 July 1918, Page 8

THE OUTLOOK.

to ran EDITOR. Sir. -]>em.>ci,.ey ha.-, !,..-„ up ;11 .d doing these stretiu m- days. Th" tunes h.ive demanded it. O-enpntmns h.pe been called into existence never dreamt of iu times of peace, attd men and women of ali ranks a i I callings ha\e been "doing things" iu a hundred and one cap.i-rt ies-- all an i -.peri, m . too. that must have au influence in duvs to come. Much has beetr sard and written regarding after-war conditions, idcalUts and opiintists assuring n, that it will be a .;•''- ferent wot Id: but it would be well. I think, not t" be led away hy thos" who have a, te"ch ney to paint things in tos.Mte hue, b.r latlnr face the fiiets. T.ool; at the practical and possible, remembering thai, despite the great sacrifice*, that hive been nude, human nature is real, uot- ideal: aird it is this same elusive thing in the shape of human beings who are the moulders of Ibis country's destiny. Now, the question arises:' How are "we shaping? Many writers and publicists are ailiisrng us what to do in pvepn ration for atter-war e.mdjtmus; but our starting point—that is lire difficulty. New Zealand possesses many organisations and associations doubtless formed to meet the many pro'tib m- confront org us: but tin we re.-illv uudeist.irid essential requirements, nor unmindful of th" far-t that we arc dealing with a "wounded world," socially, industrially, morally; and although the proeess of reconstruction is a national or collectne undertaking, the individual standpoint oftmot, be too strongly stressed, because, with a right, and intelligent: understanding from the standpoint of things as they are, and not obsessed -with extremes, unitedly we are, creating a strong spirit, eliminating tindue pessimism, and keeping an "optimistic balance"—valuable national assets, indeed, when a young country is gradually evolving from troublous rimes. Democracy is a comprehensive word, and should stand for all that is best in the social orgauism and the goal of our peopleoneness "of aim, eliminating various little jealousies and misunderstandings too petty and insignificant indeed in these limes of stress. Of course, opinions differ as to how •tapes the future when ihe day of ''cease firing" arrives: but we enirani shut our ey«s to Ihe fact thai nearly all our leadens m financial institutions without being undulv pessimistic, sound a warning no 1 ", and, bcim' in the swim of things, they kiuea . That deep British thinker, John Riiskin, in a searching' sentence, once said " \ hundred men can talk for one who can think: but a thousand men can think for one who can see." Tt- is this last, quality we all want m these times of national moment.—l am. etc., Elliott Staxdfiiu.p. July 7.