ART OF LYING

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11648, 12 October 1923, Page 5

ART OF LYING

FIRST USE OF SPEECH KIPLING STRESSES VALUE OF -MAN S INDEPENDENCE. “BLESSED STATE OF HANGING.” Bv Telegraph.—Press As=n.—Copyright. ' Australian and N.Z. Cob!* Afsoiciatioit (Deceived October 10th. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. October 10. Amid familiar scenes of *'under^r^ads’ , stripping off the hoots and socks of on© another during the installation, and throwing them into the air. and other escapades. Mr Kudyard Kipling was installed to-day as Lord Hector of St. Andrew's in ,-uccesrion to Sir J. M. Larrie. The honorary degrees granted included one to Mr Stanley Baldwin, who is Mr Kipling's cousin. Mr Kipling, m a witty address, based c\\ BunrsV lines on the glorious privilege of being independent, said that independence meant “let every herring hang by its own head, and signified a ble-urcd state of hanging on to as few persons and things a s possible.” EARLY HUMAN INSTINCT. “The desire lor independence,” said Mr Kipiing. “was one of the earliest* human instincts. Not until man abandoned his family tree and associated himself with others on the flat for predatory* or homicidal purposes did he sacrifice his personal independence of action Science tells us that man began life- as a rnenkey-like creature< among the treetops. It is interesting \ to recall that when speech was born, 1 the first use man made of his new power was to tell a frigid, calculating lie. Conceive his pride when the firs* liar found that by the mere word of mouth he could send his simpler com< panions -shinning up the trees in searcM of fruit he knew was not there’ The success of hie early lies showed man he was a miracle worker. Can you bl&ra# him for thinking himself a ’god? was only kept within bounds by the ‘ discovery that this art of lying was not confined to himself. Apparently the two first liars were of opposite sex. and they married and had numereua progeny.” “BE GOOD TO ONESELF.” Mr Kipling concluded by urging th# under graduates at all costs to remember that “the one thing that stands outside bclittlement through all* changes is the guidance that drives a' } man to own to himself that no profit * a man makes by concessions to public: opinion can justify his disregard of. that principle. Yourself is Die only person you cannot possibly get away from in this life, and maybe in an-* other. It is worth a little pains and money to be good to oneself.”