Inconsistency—is it a MANLY QUALITY?

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 232, 2 October 1935, Page 14

Inconsistency— is it a MANLY QUALITY?

CONSIDER our' Inconsistencies or, rather, consider other people’s. Very few consider their own for pastime. Inconsistency is no less the spice of life than variety; in fact, there would be no variety without it. It is a trait which provides society in general with a lot of harmless enjoyment, and adds immeasurably to the gaiety of nations. We all know how man’s inconsistency to woman has made countless thousands mourn, but, for all. that, it is considered to be woman’s special monopoly. This idea, of course, originated (like the fallacy about the last word) in some brilliant masculine intellect in the days when super intelligence was supposed to be a man’s copyright, just as flsh and snake stories are at the present day. A little inconsistency is suppose to add to a lady’s charm, and, after a careful investigation, I have discovered the cause—it gives a man a chance to correct a certain outlook on various matters and to contrast it politely with previously expressed statements and to put her right. And everyone knows what a glow of virtuous satisfaction this gives a man. Now, as scarcely any woman objects to a courteously worded correction,. and as practically all men are embyro missioners, this trait, when discovered in the nifigibers of-the fair sex, goes a lopg way to pro-

moting harmony and good feeling in any community. As a matter of cold fact, it is in professions which are practically exclusive to men that inconsistency is most marked. Naval men, for instance, are extremely inconsistent. They take up a lot of one’s more or less valuable time in detailing the hardships and perils that have to be endured by those who go down to the sea in ships, and yet, if they are compelled to remain on dry land for a couple of months, they appear to think that they have a distinct grievance against Providence. The clergy will teach us how to die, and the doctors will teach us how to live, and yet specialists in such widely different subjects are frequently very good friends. And in connection with religious matterf it may be noted that the men (superior beings) who deprecate earth’s vanities and continually exall the other world, may always be depended on to turr down any good opportunity. of going there, that is offered to them. ' " But it is the law, in which profession men largely predominate, that is the most inconsistent of all, foi though it mostly adheres to the traditional customs of the long-eared quadruped, after which it is frequently called, -it still persists in wearing the hair of a much more brainy and intelligent animal on its head.—N.A.E.