PUBLIC OPINION.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1927, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

LIFE AMD THE LABORATORY. “ And it is sometimes said by students of organic chemistry and by the bio-chemists who study protoplasm, that if we tould contrive in the laboratory to continue the manufacture of theso organic compounds until we had made a mass of protoplasm, and wore able to subject it to suitable treatment, they would expect that artificial protopi’asm to exhibit vitality and to manifest one or other of the forms of life. I. would not in the least seek to deny that proposition: I certainly would not contend against it: I wo aid even regard it as probablo. Indeed,” Sir Oliver continued, “ from some points of view I should regard the contention as inevitable, because o: the undoubted facts, first, that living things have appeared on this planet, and second, that 'this planet was at one time a mass of molten material, or even glowing gas, in which lifo as we know it was impossible.”— Sir Oliver Lodge. THE FUNCTION OF THE ELITE. “ The elite are always and inevitably several generations ahead of the masses. And it is these elite that always carry civilisation ahead—never the masses. The higher types, however. are beginning to come into the 7 '" own. Psychology, psycho-analysis, is already rescuing the unconscious from its long period of repression. The psychic, the spritual side, will become dominant over the technical. Men of superior insight are necessary, and must be evolved. Europe still lacks them.”—Henry James Forman, in the “New York Times Book Review.” THE MODERN “ C.T.” “ I have noticed a change in the whole technique of business in my time,” said Sir Alfred Mond, M.P., in a recent speech. “It is no use now sending round the old typo of commercial traveller. I may describe him as zealous gentleman, very voluble in language, and very pleasant in manner, who sold people things which tlioy otherwise would not have bought. That won’t do to-day. You have to send round now scientific men who understand the scientific aspects or what you have to sell and the technical needs of your customers. You havo to carry the scientific idea right through all business, other,wise you find a great hiatus between tiie factory departments and the selling departments.”

OUR DEBT TO LITERATURE. “Literature not only gilded the dull realities of life with sweet illusion, but taught us to love no darkness, sophisticate no truth, nurse no delusions, allow no fear. Happy wore those who had learned to love this art. There were few griefs in life which could not be cased by an hour’s reading of a good book.”—Sir St. Clair Thomson.

THE “ MITE ” ON THE PLATE. “ There are people who come to church and insult God by throwing a coin into the plate which they would never dare to offer as the price of a programme in the theatre or give as a tip to a cabman. I am fili'ed with indignation sometimes when people give me cheques for a guinea and say it is their ‘mite,’ when they could easily give £IOO or £IOOO. I would bo ashamed,” said the Canon, “to leave £190,000 as somebody did recently. After providing for his family, a man should give himself the joy of helping worthy causes in his lifetime, and rhurchpeople should give according to their means—not their meanness . If the clergy are “always begging,” it is the inult of the laity. Some men give in the collection an amount that does not pay (or their share of tho ei'ectric light, used when they are worshipping in church. Nobody has a religion worth anything unless it touches his pocket.” —Canon Sinker, vicar of Blackburn, preaching recently at St. Nicholas's, Liverpool.

the balance of power. “ it is not the balance of power, that Ipds to war, hut the failure to keep the balance visibly adjusted. It is impossible to say more about this interesting and provocative hook. It is, indeed, in its very provoentiveness that its interest largely lies. It is full of potential controversies, especially the concluding section, in which the author, this time with admirable impartiality, deals with the question of responsibility for the (treat War."—“ The Times.”