PASSING NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 6

PASSING NOTES.

Tliere is always a- certain amount of peril in using the easy phrase of "mea culpa," Every other individual with

whom one lias ever differed appears to scent concession in the air, and advances

his claim to a share therein. Hence 11 suppose the suggestion made by the Dunedin Progressive Society, in sending me a copy of their second annual report, that "a careful perusal of 6ame ma,y help to remove some of Civis's misapprehensions regarding the society." I was not aware that I had any, but I bring an open mind to observe the various details upon which the report enlightens me. For example, I see that the- society, "as a whole," calls in the aid of black letter type to emphasise the fact that it " subscribes to neither political creed nor religious dogma"; also that "the individual expressions of opihion delivered from the society's platform must in no way be identified with the 'views of the society in toto. The only mutual agreement between members ig the somewhat paradoxical agreement to differ," etc. Now, differing in an audible and unfettered manner has always struck me as being such an inexpensive and popular form of ehtertainmelit (hat I am indeed surprised to learn that " the number of members on the roll is not nearly so large as the committee could wish." It is amazing. One can only suppose that there is truth in that vague assertion which has come in, paradoxically enough, with electric trams, drainage schemes, and. water supply, that Dunedin is not progressing—in fact, is "behind the times." No other conclusion can be drawn from the fact that tliere is no eagerness to join a society whose members " asfee to differ, ' for the modest membership of 5s per annum, on such a variety of topics as the last year's syllabus displays. The mere contemplation of the list produces in an ordinary mental equipment what, old Evplyn in his diary defines as " a vertigo." Let me select here and there from the loilg list, j thus:,

Liquor and labour. Tlio miraclo of Christ's resurrection. Omar Khayyam. Mood relationship of man and apes. Domestic service. And so on through a long nnd comprehensive list. Now, as a handsome return for the courtesy of the Progressives in sending me that report, I hereby solemnly request- all chronic and incipient bores and cranks among my acquaintances to join the society, pay their 5s subscription, and find a pleasant and legitimate outlet, for thoso points oil which tiicy nnd CiVis have for long "agreed to differ." Butstay, let me not omit the "only proviso" enforced by the society, for it is a good one, aild elicits my ungrudging approval: "it is that the various addresses delivered from its platform must have a constructive and not merely a destructive aspect."

Mf.i.bouunk, February 15. Permission has beeii given to import 1000 Italians to work the sugar plantations in Queensland.

I find some interesting suggestions in the above cablegram. Slightly exercised sometimes by that insistent Qnil strenuous person known as "the Worker," I find myself captured by a train of pleasant speculations in regard' to these Italian peasants and the, sharp contrasts which will mark their change from past to present. A recent writer on Italy and the Italians describes the condition of the day labourers thtfre as wretched. " Their averago wages are two francs per dieut in Bummer, and one and a-half in winter. They usually live in miserable hovels, often so far from their' work that when' they are engaged by the, week or the month they prefer to camp out- lather than trump the long'distances after hard work done on scant nourishment. They rarely find continuous work, and when working under contract the pay is deducted for wet days.' . . . Small wonder that there have resulted from such conditions those Leagues of' the Labourers which have already organised many strikes: these nearly always proving advantageous to the strikers." Apparently, then, these sons of the Sunny South have rubbed oft' the bloom of Arcadian simplicity in regard to theirday'stoil. That the Italian will find considerably less than " all cakes and ale" we may be sure of: For what of his. village festa?—the joyous ' blending of religious observance and simple merrymaking wlricli ma>rks the fete day of tlio patron saint in every little Italian village. The day which, commencing or ending with its 'picturesque religious procession in which it is a keenly desired honour to, participate, devotes the remainder of the pleasant hours to lighthearted enjoyment, Such village festo usually end in an illumination—from the windows ot every liouso como the 6oft gleam of lighted candles, or of the small terra-cotta lamus whose cost is but a farthing, and whose classic form is identical with that of the lamps unearthed from ancient Ronjan and Ktruscan tombs. Yes, 'tis a far cry from Italy to Queensland! Yet the experiment as embodied in the cablegram cannot fail to he watched with interest by thoso who echo Sir Joseph Ward's last political catchword, "Make Australia white, and keep her white."

It would go hardly, indeed, with our lives had not labour a dignity and beauty of its own npart from ils technical manifestation, otherwise the topic of the

" Domestic Workers' Union" might, in American phraseology, "suffer some" when contrasted with the lliore picturesque ideas suggested by the Italian contadini at work and play. And here I might suggest to the consideration .of the 11. W.U. the wisdom nf a well-known Italian proverb which sets forth that " che va piano va satio," in other words, "who goes softly, goes safely "—leaving the application to their own feminine intuition. A correspondent, however, at once more during and diffuse than myself, enlivens'the fateful problem of the union by "dropping into poetry" expressive of his own private convictions. I quote a verse or so in graceful recognition of his generous offer to present me with the whole: — The servant girls are banded; No longer single-handed; They get the spike, They go on strike, The misseses are stranded.

Some truly Jia-vo been tartars, Unladylike upstnrtsrs! Hut do bo 'rue, I beg of you; Not all tho girls were martyrs. Mrs Civis, to whom I have referred the question, considers this last verse full o! truth and common sense. Indeed, slio has made the generous proposal of taking over Passing Notes for a week so tliat slio may place her own convictions on the great subject before tho public; not in rhyme, she gives me to understand, but in "good, plain English."

The verbal inspiration which coined the word "M'Nabbed," to rhyme with "grabbed," first burst on an astonished world through the medium of Passing Notes of October 12, 1906, It is well to bo accurate in these important matters. A correspondent, in drawing attention to the fact that the leader ot the Opposition adopted the new word in his speech at Pukekohe, adds:—"lt may, of course, bo possible that Mr Jlassey lias himself coined tho word independently, and had not seen the Passing Note of the date in question, in which tlio word first appeared in print. In either case the country correspondent who was good enough to hand over liis private rights in tho word to me will not, I am sure, object to its general adoption. Is not "imitation the sincercst form'of flattery?"

And if the word .prove false coinage from! foTce of beneficent and controlling circumstance, why, many a better word lias gone to the bad. My friend, I see, desires to explain its meaning that all who run may rend. A line or two remains of my allotted space. I make him a present of

it in which to furnish what lie evidently considers a suggestion for tho dictionary of the future: —

M'Nabbsd, the attempt to grab the whole remaining of the State, setting aside and ignoring tho desires and interests of the vast majority of the people.

Too cumbersome, my friend. The kernel

nay ho sound, but the shell wants filing town.

"Words were given ns to conceal our thoughts," said a certain brilliant and cynical 'statesman, expressing the wisdom distilled from experience. No mist of words, however, is so baffling as - the impenetrable veil of silence. The silence to which the [Speech] from (be Throne relegated the , Colonial. Conference struck a note of. surprise .and dismay in .many quarters. Nor .were weinastatetotakeit kindly. The Primo- Ministers' Conference, bulks large upon the oolonial horizon, itud we had but just ceased to plume ourselves on the valedictory functions and iittcronoes of our own Sir Joseph, whose diplomatic coat of many colours never takes moro brilliant sheen than on such occasions. The pleasant utterances of Mr Winstoii Churchill had been accepted by my friend "the man in tlio street" with condescend* • iiig satisfaction. " Practical business men throughout the country brought into closer business relations with the liigh officials of the Oolonial Office" has p agreeable sound, though the succeeding sentence probably appeared too Utopian for absolute belief. "There would be on all sides unrestricted] freedom and frankness at the Colonial Conference." ■ Mow, any one person given over to the freedom of absolute truth, and the perils of unrestricted freedom in expressing it, will probably create " a divarsion" in whatever company he may be. But when that one person is multiplied by many, so will the prospect of "diversions" be multiplied. It was cold water indeed which the silence of his Majesty poured upon the joyous prospect of this politicnl go'-as-you-pleasc. Fortunately Mr Winston Churchill still has tactful phrases and genial confidence wherewith to comfort us, and this time it falls upon a spot vhicli is naturally tender—the defence of the Motherland, and our share in it. There is an old proverb which forbids us to "look a gift liorse in the mouth." Yet when we count the contingents of those gay young troopers who left our shores, and remember the toll that fever and fighting levied 011 their ranks, we need the assurance which Winston Churchill expresses in his last happy phrase as applied to the Motherland and her colonics, "A family, not a syndicate."

In tho older countries this twentieth century might easily bo labelled " tlie club ccnturv," tlie growing tendency towards specialisation in both work and play probably being one very potent factor in the formation of clubs of every conceivable kind, Amorica runs tlie club craze hard: there is 110 study, recreation,_ or philanthropy for men or women which has not its exponent clubs by the score. Physical culture and psychical development, religion or the making or the breaking uf Trusts, all come within the province of modern club exploitation. The individual defends himself from the rivalry of his fellow'unit by making comtnon causo with him,, or surrounds himself with the assurance of nonlinal sympathy by the membership of congenial clubbites. London, as tlie great heart of England, palpitates with clubs, of which the smallest, as it doubtless is the most unique, beans the Gcnsntionnl title of " the Murder Club." What's in n name? According to those grave ecclesiastic seigneurs who debated recently the question of "Archbishop" versus "Primate," much. The llurdcr Club suggests memories of those fateful societies of tha Carbonari —Bona, Dea, and more modern "Klo6 Klux."— something sanguinary and blood-curdling enough to net as "a tit-up" to the monotonv of the commonplace. Yet, once again, "appearances are deceitfiil" It is for tlie detection of murderers, and the perpetration of murder, that the Murder Club exists. Cases which have baffled the police <in<l tvliic.li ha.vv proved bevond even the expert machinery of Scotland Yard are taken up by the members .of the club and pursued with the dual advantages conferred bv leisure and love — for this is a labour of love. If a slight plav of fancy he permitted round so grim a tonic, let us say "love incarnadined." Sir Conan Doyle is an enthusiastic-mem-ber, and "The Chronicles of the Murder Club" may one of these days rival "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" in popularity. Already, it is said, two or three mysterious murders which have completely baffled the most notable Londin detectives have been traced through all their usly complications by members of the Murder Club. They, however, divulge nothing.

Silent as the victims whose murderers they are persuaded they haro discovered, the conviction of success, the sense of power conferred by the ability to sever afi will the hair which suspends the* sword of Damocles over the head of tha criminal, contents them. Cms.