RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 437, 7 February 1912, Page 3

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker

The ancient Pharisee doubtless had some grounds for his assumption of superiority. He made the foolish mistake, however, of applying the idea personally, thereby becoming a weak and odious egotist. Applied in a broader national sense the feeling might have been labelled patriotism. The foregoing is a necessary prelude to the Fharasaical expression "Thank God, we are not as other men are"; a fervent outburst induced by leading the cabled news of how the Latin and Asiatic races settle their arguments. Possibly we descendants of Northern Europeans are becoming over civilised, but who can repress a shudder at the mob vengeance in Ecuador; the horrors of the Chinese revulution; or the manner in which Italian soldiery dealt with their foemen at Tripoli; while a strike in Portugal is sufficient to let loose the gay and festive anarchist upon society in general. The Britisher may take his pleasures sadly, but he is rather more dependable in a crisis than his Latin neighbour, and his poitical arguments don't usually run to bloodshed.

Indications are not wanting to emphasise the fact that the Home Rule campaign in the Old Country is far from being ended. Ulster has yet to be reckoned with, and when Ulster moves she usually does so in an unmistakable manner. Enormous quantities of eloquence, impassioned appeal and denunciation have been squandered over the announcement that Mr Churchill would deliver a Home Rule address at Belfast. After the bulk of the preliminary objections had been disposed of the objectors stood firm against the use of the historic hall being granted for the purpose of allowing Mr Churchill to paint the beauites of Home Rule to loyal Orangemen. It is now announced that the address will be delivered on a football ground. The choice of place may be significant, or it may not. Still there are manifest advantages in having room to manoeuvre when a certain tune is whistled at a Home Rule meeting.

So much progress is being made in Te Kuiti that I am seriously expectnig to awaken some morning and find myself lost. Such a remark may lead callous minded people to smile grimly, and murmur something about it being a common occurrence in the King Country. However, secure in the knowledge that healthy minded citizens will take my meaning, I venture the statement in good faith. Buildings are being erected with fervish energy, electric light is being installed, a drainage scheme is under way, races, agricultural show, political rally, to say nothing of innumerable features of less importance than those specially mentioned, are all happening in quick succession. In fact building is going ahead so fast that it is quite on the cards that a ps r son's residence could be built round in a night, and his outlook so altered that he would not recognise his surroundings. As a matter of fact, lam led to believe that something like this has already occurred. Still, it does seem strange.

"A suffrage deputation interviewed the Secretary for the Colonies, Mr Lewis Harcourt, at Waterfoot, in Lancashire. Mr Harcourt stated that he was dissatisfied with the opposition to women's franchise. It promised to make his life miserable." Poor man! Widespread sympathy will be extended to the harried secretary. In view of the intimate connection between Mr Harcourt and the Colonies in general, it has been suggested that a combined vote of condolence should be passed by the Chamber of Commerce, the Railway League, and the Domain Board and forwarded through the High Commissioner to the afflicted gentleman. It seems a piity to ignore the A. and P. Society and sundry other bodies of more or less importance, but to include too many would probably be cumbersome. Beside, the man is a politician and would not fail co recognise the great weight of public feeling which such a resolution would indicate.

Mr Harcourt is manifestly of a confiding and ingenuous nature. He has evidently not learned the old, old lesson that it is woman's prerogative to make man"s life miserable, just as it is her joy to make it happy. From time immemorial woman has been engaged in the fascinating pastime of turning the heads of the poor male creature, and the occupation never seems to pall. Mr Harcourt should remember that in the scheme of things in general, from woman's viewpoint, man's misery does not matter. That is, providing she is the cause of the dejection. It is a distinct tribute to feminine power and is decidedly useful in keeping man in his place. It would be interesting to know whether Mr Harcourt was a married man with a family.