TWO PLUCKY BOYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12537, 26 June 1901, Page 4

TWO PLUCKY BOYS.

A few days ago we were told that a couple of Invercargill boys, desirous of seeing the celebrations in connection with the Royal visit, ran away from home and tramped all the way to Dunedin. It was an undertaking requiring considerable grit, end the youngsters trudged on ia spite of cold and hunger, intent only on reaching their goal. Their pluck naturally earned them plenty of praise, and they are being treated as the guests of the city. No doubt they will be presented to the Duke, and in time they may fairly expect to re* ceive knighthoods. Tho Children deserved the attentions paid id them, and we may be excused if admiration of their courage dladsXhsitQ

obedience. But this sort of thing has a habit of growing on a community, and Christchurch, like Dunedin, has had. its “ two plucky boys.” Just where the pluck begins and the dishonesty ends it is difficult to say. It is impossible not to have some sympathy with the lads whose story is told this morning by our reporter, but they cannot be regarded as little heroes. of tramping from Dunedin to Christchurch they came up as stowaways on a train, managing, with the connivance of the passengers, to dodge the railway officials. This was fraud pure and simple, and a sterner-hearted man than the police Inspector would probably have whipped them, not for the crime, hut oli general principles. They evidently needed a little mild correction. They had not even the excuse of the Invercargill boys, for their own city is even now welcoming the Royal visitors. We are afraid that the' free training of the colonial youth does not always produce good' qualities. In one case “ spirit ” led the boys to undertake a really severe journey, in the other it led a pair of imitators to adopt dishonest means of robbing a journey of its hardships. Criminologists would tell us that it is largely a question of environment. Tire qualities which earn- one kd to the very top of a profession cany another to gaol. The four “ heroes ” of this story have taken the first step, two in one direction, two in the other.