The Holiday Crowd

NZ Truth, Issue 997, 3 January 1925, Page 1

The Holiday Crowd

Quietly, steadily, happily they moved along-^-yourig : and old, the prosperous and the poor, fathers ' carrying children, mothers trudging alongside (yes, I saw this more, of ten .t han I. savir in- ; different husbands and Aweary \yiyes), lovers lost m each pother* partiesjof friends gaily chattering or exchanging greetings. ■ ' . ; ••• : . ; : :■•. ■*•'"•. I admit that, like many elderly person, I am : hot fond of. crowds; that is to say, ..-1., dislike having to push my: way through l them, but r am conscious of a strong feeling : of respect arid sympathy for the thousands of defeerit folk on whom my .gaze has fallen to-day. '-\: ■'-"■'■' '/ : . ■'" ■'■■.'■,■.■."'■■..■■'"■ '■" : ■-■..?■:, For this is holiday . time, the brie great .midsummer festival of freedom froth drudgery and; routine. That one single fact Is giving them untold enjoyment. ■■■' ,• "■■:-■' ; -'- ' - ■-■'■ ';■-.■'. ■ ■ '■• ■ ■'.•;■!

Arid , the lesson of the spectacle is* plainly this: People tend to be kind ■when they are happy. To promote happiness is an excellent way of promoting good will. It is possible' to be selfishly happy, but not for long. As surely as an illventilated room breeds disease, so does a selfish heart breed discontent. ; Contrariwise^ the heart whose happiness overflows awakens and attracts love..' -■ : . ..' ' ■'.! . ■ ' .-. . . ' - ■ We like to be with happy people; we pity misery but do not care to dwell with it. . ! Increase the sum of human happiness and you are doing something;/towards increasing the sum of human goodness. . , ■ The ethical value of happiness has I yet to be adequately understood. I • ~Rev. R. J. Campbell.