NOTES AND COMMENTS

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 4218, 15 February 1921, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The Chautauqua Season. To-night sees the close of the IDJJJ Chautauqua season in Kcilding. It, has Ix'cn highly successful tor the management (which is now in the hands ol ii New Zealand executive) and wholly enjoyable, for its subscribers. There has been a high quality of lecture and musical ability throughout, and naturally the speakeri; and entertainers have, found the Feilding folks amongst iheir most appreciative audienqw. 'fho keynote ot the Message of Chautauqua for lOiil has been the Unity of the Anglo-Saxon Races. It has been a pleasure (o find Canadian and American alike striking this note with no uncertain sound. Wo have had (be Americans giving us their side of tho case and free criticism. It is to bo hoped that there, are equally candid critics Irdni tile Hritish side expressing similar sentiments from (lie Ghautaui|iian platforms over in the -I* Stales lor the edification ol llrolber .Jonathan, if so, thou Chautauqua is doing soiio really valuable propaganda work in bringing Anglo-Saxons together.

Hisicw'y fjpncating Itself. Ili>- lali-M twyu from (lussin, that the sailors of Kivw.t/i'lf' arts again mind sixain to tlio lessons of hi^i.,., 1 . TJien* is nn causa without tin «-lfi-t;i . Tij*r« js »<) revolt without a countorii'ii^iiii.t. Jlfi'c is no rebel without another relief. I.rnin inav dream and TrnU>k> *n#.\ iujlrijguv, >;iii (lie man undnriU'atli >*ill Kiuirm and s-.'K d means of iiiulrrtniuiii" the iinuillJioris iml d«,«,pot The ft W*s tow are in i-Jin mid-) of their |>fnn niiißs for tlio Bolshevism;; of the I",aM -i..n'i it marvellous how all things with a German taint to bitterly hate

British control, although (or perhaps because) that control is for the freedom of the people?—and at the awkward moment of attending to plots as far-flung as Delhi rnd Teheran mid the Clyde and Sydney, tho ssamcii o. Kronstadt. the great fortress city overlooking Petrograd, must break looso-and ask Lenin and Trotsky when their promised millouiuin is- going .to materialise? Trotsky's reply is to give the sailors bullets for bread and lor tho Sailors' Host he provides deep dungeons! And that is on a par with nil of Russia to-day. A Man Amongst Men.

It is a common plaint to-day I rum tho spineless that opportunity i.u io.iger knocks at tho door ol uioso who are not born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Rubbish! lake tno case of Will Crooks, whom the King has scon 111 io send a message oi regret that he .should have to resign from Parliament. Will < rooks is one of tho most picturesque liguiea in the Labour world. A poor boy. he was brought up by a Poor Law Institution; but by sheer grit and elu.rac.er ho raised himself to the position of n loader lie actually became a 1 nvy Councillor, which is it greater honour than Knighthood. During Ins lone, career he has always hndt.ho respect of the employing class, while he s.i I remains tho idol of Poplar. higat years ago ho visited Now /calami, and those who heard him can readily understand bis popularity. During too war ho was one of the bos! recruiting advocates in London. And yet the secret of his success and popularity ,vas a stock of plain common sense and a deep svmpnUiy for the mas-es From Poor House to Parliament «"'l I'rivv Council what more has OppolLuriifv to offer!