CHRISTMAS, 1918

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26026, 14 December 1945, Page 4

CHRISTMAS, 1918

PARALLEL EVENTS COMPARISONS WITH TO-DAY By J. I. Spedding History, states the familiar platitude, repeats itself. As time marches rather too precipitately on towards Christmas 1945, it is of interest to make a comparison with the last occasion on which the world celebrated a Christmas in theoretical peace after many Christmases under the shadow of war— December, 1918. A check on the newspaper files of the time provides evidence that human nature and its outward and visible manifestations do not change very much. The same things occupy the headlines then as now, and people of prominence pontificated as ponderously on the brave new world which was just around the corner —quite some distance around the corner. Troop ships were arriving from overseas with drafts of the N.Z.E.F., the Tofua and Ulimaroa docking shortly before Christmas. An Auckland correspondent reported that, “ from interviews obtained here, there does not appear to be a prospect of the cost of living decreasing in the near future”; There was a major inquiry in progress in Australia into certain navy matters (paralleling the current Bennett inquiry) ; and a certain Mr R. Semple won the Wellington South by-election as a Christmas present for himself. The Latest Novels Newsagents suggested books as presents for Christmas, and the ‘ latest novels ” listed were Herbert Jenkins s “ The Adventures of Bindle,” Grace Richmond’s “ Red Pepper Burns, Jeffery Farad's “Admirable Betty, Talbot. Mundy’s “ King of the Khyber Rifles;.” - Bertha Ruck’s , “ Years of Rachel,”— nostalgic names to readers of novels —and the poems of Rupert Brooke. The present tramways dispute in Wellington finds its parallel in an Otago tramways dispute, go-slow tactics which were criticised as “ childish and probably illegal ” being in force. The Vigilantes’ fathers were writing irate letters to the editor, pointing out the evils of drinking and exhorting their fellow-prohibitionists to “stick to your guns. We are like the Allies were, fighting on the right side, and must win.” Another All Black military Rugby team was arousing a considerable amount of interest in British sporting circles, particularly a forthcoming match against Wales, to be. played at Swansea. (Wales won the match, 3—nil.) Belated casualty lists were still arriving, then as now, listing for the most part men who had been reclassified for various reasons; military defaulters were a subject for discussion; and pro-Germanism was apparent in Mexico, instead of in Argentina. At Waver ley, a freehold estate of 1822 acres was sold by auction at an average price of £6l an acre, for which no present-day parallel can be discovered. But in the letters to the editor, one writer’s query might be transposed 26 years into the paper of to-day. “ One of the most important questions of the present day,” he wrote, “is what we are going to do after peace has been finally settled. ' We shall have to consider matters relating to the development of our trade resources, the absorbing of our soldiers in civil life, and the prosecution of works which have been abandoned through the war. Entertainment Offering There is little change to be detected in the entertainment offering in Dunedin between Christmas 1918 and Christmas 1945, The sultriest siren of the time, Theda Bara, was lavishly displayed on posters for “ The Vixen,” outside the King’s Theatre. The Empire starred Mary Miles Minter in “ Barbara Frietchie,” while the Queen s and King Edward offered a doublefeature —Norma Talmadge in “The Moth” and Charles (there was a certain good, grey dignity in the advertising of the era) Chaplin in “ The Immigrant.” Peanuts rained down from the “ Gods ” of the Erincess Theatre as Fred Bluett, The Kute Kewpie, Kids, Dozey and Doura, and Tom Haverly offered a variety programme, the star turn of which was the Mystic Woman, Sa Hera, who, according to a theatrical critic of the time, “thoroughly vindicates her claim ... to be a past master in the telepathic art.” For those who desired a quieter evening at home, there were many new Edison cylindrical wax records available. The Edison company, long since defunct, pointed out that they were more than records, they were “ Re-creations.” Employers’ Resolution Apprehensively prophetic is a resolution reported from the Employers Federation conference of December 19, 1918; which suggests that a “clause be inserted in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act providing that any secretary or officer of a union who takes action that leads to a strike of members of the union without the union having authorised such action shall be liable to a penalty.” On the final day of the year, an editorial query was posed. “In the long procession which marks the march of recorded time there are years that stand out conspicuously—ever to be remembered because of the events to which they give date, and which set upon them the seal of great historic landmarks,” the editorial states. “ Emphatically such a year is 1918. What other is so well entitled to be considered par excellence the Annus Mirabilis? ” After 26 years’ consideration, the obvious nomination would appear to be 1945.