Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, MAY 14th., 1925. MODERN STANDARDS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1925, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, MAY 14th., 1925. MODERN STANDARDS.

At times of general mourning, such as to-day, the whole { nation is more or ,les,s seriousjy -minded, for there is nothing like a death to enforce on dhe living the relative values of things. .The comnnuiity. is rarely wanting for?those with, jeremiads regarding, modern, standards, and.indeed such pessimistsdiave proclaimed their lamentations over human failings since the beginning of civilisation. Their allegations should not.be ignored, as the, stratum of truth,.in the accusations makes national introspection worth while. In ; these days, the Jeremiahs often! make much.of little, and by vehemence of, their denunciation, injure: their owni case.; The,, latest attack on modern standards comes from 'Melbourne, where 1 the Rev. I)r. Ureii, nf .Scots ;„Qollege,„ declared that .‘■the homage formerly paid .to was now paid to spreen stars, who were frequently luxurious libertines. These' public -pet's received £3 to £4 a minute, while university men and .teachers ■ cannot afford to buy necessary.-books land instruments. -Thn irottef’T in ■society is' tolerated as a jgood sport.” Surely, a' cleric should be more careful in his statements. There is, no comparison with 1 the consistent respect; .shown - for Royalty -and the./ ephemeral-lauda-tion '. of ’ a few—apW- very' few—, screen favourites. The litters ’ day of popularity is usually soon over, and obscurity becomes their lot;

moreover, ffie interest displayed in them* by ! the public is; of that kind shown in anytliirig abnormal, whether human or animal* and not of the type sought or desired by people ofl .. intelligence. . film favourites supply. ri public want, and ,ar,e ; • highly pai4; biitruj minister jslipuld. be .one of tlie last ta be jealous of such stipends. /.If capable ■ university students and teachers are so poor as Dr. Ureiri decided, there must be- something wrqftg witli college of chui’ehi administration,; The gemera!’, public should hot he' hlaihed. As for‘rotters” being .tolerated in. society; much depends on. the meaning of theterm ‘ ‘ society; ’ ’ but. in ;most circles, t .a “rotter” gets. early Rotice, to quit... 'Moral errors among screen stars must be expected? as .the temptations in that . direction ’ are ’ ! greater . fdr th'eih than 1 ; ’. to’ those t iii other callings,, and,.not.,all' the adtbfs or actresses have the strength to resist. The '.publicity whjch built their success,, in turn,, drags them down. ISacli profession has its . special temptation,; and, it 1 is doubtful’ if any ?. One. calling" can claim a cleaned sheet than another, ih ! the results of the 1 struggles agaipst the rpspehtive" wrdng-do-ihgS.. Everybody, should .admitAhfit' theye is still miich. that" is. regrettable in the state, of society, rich or : . poor, intellectual, or ; otherwise, hut there ought to be : similar unanimity that mankind is on the upward:, grade, ..with’, probabilities, —almost certainty—that each generation. will leave the world a little better'than it found it: Censure's, such as/Dr.; Uren’s, fail ,in their laudable' objects, by* theirexaggeration, anti cause eyes-which otherwise .plight' be - opened, to be shut , to, the jlls:,,aefually existing. Nothing like, specess, and, when humanity is.* made; to realise that .the ea'Use of,good is progressirig, there k is-, more.’ likelihood Of a public rally in support of high ideals, than there is.if it,-is proclaimed as. from the house tops that eviris in'the’ ascendant? Today witnessed the funeral, rites of one who upheld good character as the first' requisite in man, and the national respect in which he was held is proof that,modern standards : are on . right, foundations. No film-star simply because of acting ability or attractions could possibly. hope for such tribute, and What applies to the late Mr. Massey applies similarly to less highly-placed men and women who try to do tluu 1 ’ duty. There are various, ways, of; walking worthy.of .the vocation in which we are called, and the narrow rules of one are not necessarily a fair test for another, less subject to old-time conventions. Eagerness to establish, perfection should not be permitted to ignore the good in mankind, in order, to wail over the mistakes made, and differences in behaviour are not invariably proofs Qf inferior ethics. There is room for . amendment in human conduct, but' some of those whose special task it iti to act as physicians appear to place' their faith in remedies worse than the diseases they seek to elite. Some of the time . now devoted to. .advertising . the . evil in , the world should be devoted to, heralding the good; Tfiere is plenty of material available.