“A VICTORIAN RETROSPECT”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 7

“A VICTORIAN RETROSPECT”

ro rue editor

Sir. —I thank you for your leader in your issue of this morning under the above heading, and as one of the older members of the community I would like to say a word or two relative to it 1 do not think there is any one Now Zealand-born subject who has any adequate conception of what England was like in 1837, when Victoria came to the throne, as compared with the England we know to-day. This is much to be regretted, not for one reason only, but for many. If my memory serves me aright, even the telegraph was not in operation, to say nothing of the telephone and wireless. It was a crude world in 1837. as compared with our world of to-day, and if our young people knew more about it, it rmgtu incline them to be more thankful for the many privileges they enjoy to-day —the result of the labours of many noble souls who fought the good fight during this period of time for our benefit. As an instance one might mention the men and women who landed here in 1848, and were subject to discomforts untold in establishing this city which, one might almost say, is oyer supplied with comforts to-day. And what of the women of our nation. Since the beginning of Victoria's reign woman has come into her own rnuen more than in many previous centuries combined, and, if she be wise, she wii. not attempt to “ rush the fences ’ which still present themselves before her. During recent years, unfortunately,! fear one can almost observe a tendency on her part to do so. That she comes into her own some day is certain, and. what is more. . is only when she does so that this world can become, as it was originally intended to become, a world of both good-fellowship and love.—l am, etc., 6 Aged.