Social thoughts Series.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 722, 2 May 1914, Page 17

Social thoughts Series.

Practical Methods of Reducing' the Cost of Living: Two Guineas for the Best Fssay.

The next competition under this " . Social Thoughts Series is for the best essay on Practical Methods of Reducing the Cost of Living. This is a live subject of wide interest, concerning all classes of the community, from our politicians down to the mere thirty-shill-ingp-a-week clerks contemplating matrimony. One and. all are invited to compete for the two-guinea prize awarded by the Editor of this Series for the most tnoughtfnl essay on this subject, and incidentally to offer some solutions on an important question. Intending competitors are reminded that this competition closes next Monday, May 4th, * and the Erize essay will be oublished in the Free iAnoe on May Bth. * * * •* As promised last week, the essay .written by Miss E. Wardell, of Te Wniti, of Masterton, placed third in the last eonipetition on "Remedies for the Disinclination of Young Men and Women to Marry," is now published. Miss E. Wakdell's Essay. What inducement is it to matrimony for a man to hear some of his married friends talking of theiit home life? Perhaps the wife does "nag," or perhaps she has run a little bill that is rather unexpected ; how often it is this side of his life that a husband reveals unintentionally enough perhaps.' But still, the hints do not fall unheeded, and the young bachelor begins unconsciously to think more of the troubles than the joys of wedded life. . Again, a man or woman glances through the papers of the day; divorce—a cheerful prospect surely; and - how many other family quarrels and troubles find room in our press? In olden days girls knew very little of wedded . life until their'own marriage: nowadays that life is an open book. Women know too much, and so fear its trials more than if they knew less. Many women mow. sad to say," learn to look on their .children only as hindrances to their own beauty, pleasures, and frivolities. Is it a,ny wonder that a girl asks herself if married life is all that she had once dreamt it to be? If only men would look a little happier when they speak of their homes and their wives; if our press would suppress its tales of divorce and of human Buffering (reading that can scarcely please .anyone); if some fashionable women would try and remember that their children have immortal souls, as well as that they themselves have ? a body to pamper and indulge; if young men and women had less companionship, and had an occasional opportunity to feel lonely, or to miss a home: then perhaps we should not, in a prominent paper, be asked for our opinions on the "Disinclination of Young Men and Women to Marry"—a title which itself is rather a thought-br inger. * * * * Here are a few flashes of thought from other essays: "Many and varied have been the reasons given for removing the disinclination of young men and women to marry. The same likewise can be said of the remedies; each cause requiring its own treatment, and, . like doctor's physic, must be well shaken before taken; for marriage, whether happy or unhappy, means a contract lasting, not for days, weeks, or months, but for all time and to be enjoyed to the last dregs of life." "The State must teach in its schools that the evolution of the soul is of more value than that of the mind or body. It is for our thinkers, just as the Free Lance has set out to solve this problem; for all our editors, teachers, and writers to urge that high ideals and mental mating mean success and happiness, so that people will accept marriage gladly, and so secure protection- for the children of the one they love. Out of a seeming disrespect for women on the part of our men. out of the apparent independent selfishness of our women, there would arise a better way of" living, a finer optimism." "It is with women, as being the finer creatures and nearer the Divine, that the true remedy lies. Women as a whole are already on an equality of thought with men. They must not let men make them what ' they will. A woman must teach her prirl child to be a creature of high impulses and - noble character. Then will shej when grown, h6ld such ideals of courage and purity that she demands the same from men. And when a boy has had a better rearing in honour and courage, he will realise her ideals, and while she points the way he will protect her, and both, being toentally mated, will welcome marriage as the supreme good of life." * * * * Readers of the Free Lance are invited to compete for prizes to be given by the Editor of this Social Thoughts Series for

the best and most thoughtful essay on subjects of general interest to be proposed from time to time. A prize of £2 2s will be given for the best attempt on the subjects suggested. The essay must not contain more than 400 words; must be written on one side of the paper only, and addressed to the Editor of "Social Thoughts Competition," c/o N.Z. Free Lance, 31, Panama-street, Wellington. An entrance fee of Is, together with coupon attached below, must be enclosed. The Editor's decision is final. * This Social Thoughts Series Column is sincerely recommended to the thoughtful readers of the Free Lanoh, and especially to country readers. The "Thoughts" published , will be on live, up-to-date subjects, and should possess considerable interest for the general body of readers. "Whilst the Editor welcomes essays with a spice of wit, he deprecates burlesque. Competitors are asked to suggest any subject in which they are interested. The subject of No. 4 Prize Essay will be "Should Bachelors be Taxed—and How?" The latest date for receiving essay in this particular competition is Monday, May 18th, and the winning essay will be published on May 22nd.