SELF-INDULGENT BEASTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 78

SELF-INDULGENT BEASTS.

the native is a, self-indulgent be*at^ and, after aa experience of nine years, I uavo neither respect for his character nor hope^ for his futuie."— Colonel Gudgeon, Eesideat Commissioner at R-arotonea, Cook Islands. This is the white man's fardel, lie Must colonise this Southern S«a, Where tepid breeze and tropic growth, j Produce, and' ever- foster, si >tli. j It is the white man's trouble that He can't taboo the sleeping-mat,'* The practice of communal "ways — Still stronger aummenings to gaze. He cannot grasp the open hands. The fair division of the Lands, Who<>e ao 'id ceraintiss defy All woiry abaut " by-and-bye" ; Uncomprehending, bafiUd, wild. He thus denounces Nature's child: "He is a self-indulgent beast; I do not like him in the least!" But I am self-indulgent too Wheii I have cash and titea to -do My will; and I cail take my ease I If Luck allows, and gxeatly please My mind at having had a chance To lag a- little in the dance Through frenzied strife to denih that w» Imagine Man's career should' be. We are all self-indulgent beasts, "Who prate of fast 3. but practise feasts choice letween the two Allemativeu confronts car view. * We rarely w,rk for Work's sole sake. But for the profits we may make; And find: it much less arduous When someone else will gnnd for us. Fcr few men do and few men will WoTk harder than they need until, Transferred to Eome ethereal place— When cur gross world dissolves in space—* Their human nature changes, and They join a- superhuman band. So let us take folk as they are — Their lives arc theirs, to make or mar. And, Colonel Gudgeon, may I ask, Can yours be such an irksome task When through nine years you've been cott« teni With this abused en /iromnenl ? But, doubtless, it is not your posfi Of Resident that frets you most — The people- rued .ire what, in lia3le. You ban as adverse io your fcaste. Well, were these self-controlling, brignf, Earnest anc? pushing, full of fight, Keen patriots, well able 'o Fend for themsclv.-s, would they have you. Fixed thus in power oc-r them To guide, to order an'l condemn? (Mostly condemning, as we see) ; But, were they wise, where would you »eK Then, wherefore should we be sever© On Island mrvn because h-e's queer To us, and, with a. feeble mind, To hustle is quite disinclined? For some men's need is other's meat, We keep the brown skin at our feet; If he were brisk, our reign might ceast'fl Pray that his slowness may increase. - And I would say to brother -whites, Who always want to set to rights The man of cojour, are n<A we. Forgetful of the Phariseo Who thanked his God that he was no* As othar men, and Quito forgot That other men perhaps might Le, Praising tue Lcrd they were not her