INVERCARGILL CLUB DEBATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3061, 13 November 1912, Page 81

INVERCARGILL CLUB DEBATE.

WHICH GIVES THE GREATER PLEA-SURE-PURSUIT OR POSSESSION ? I. By Luceda. Is it more pleasant to have attained or to be striving for attainment? Is it beOer to have or to seek after having ? This is a question which exacts careful and just consideration. It applies to all situations in life and action, at all times and under all conditions. We must deal with the pursuit and possession of the everyday necessities of life, of the luxuries which enhance the comfort and joy of living, of all those physical, mental, and moral qualities and accessories which serve to elevate us above the level of the beasts of the field. With the utmost deliberation and without a suspicion of prejudice we must compare the two sides of our question in all their bearings—the merits of “ pursuit ” to be pitted against those of “ possession,” the demerits of the respective sides to be opposed in like manner. As it has fallen to my lot. in conjunction with my supporters, to take up the cudgels on behalf of “possession,” I shall now endeavour to show you that the superior qualities of “ possession ” far outweigh those of “ pursuit,” while the defects of the former are insignificant in comparison with those of the latter. Pursuit is a striving after some goal without the compensation of assured success. It is a reaching out and struggling towards an end which may or may not be attained. Were the laws which govern our living such that ultimate possession was certain after even long and arduous pursuit, the side of pursuit would be much strengthened. As it is, we must not forget the elusive nature of the goals towards which the pursuers direct their efforts The best qualities of pursuit come into play in so far as they are an incentive to work and action, to the uplifting towards some ideal. To pursuit we must grant credit for acting in a certain degree as astimulus to action. The exponents of the cause of pursuit will naturally make much of this point, and in all probability will level at possession those accusations so often brought forward concerning unwholesome selfsatisfaction and demoralising stagnation. This brings before us a point which must bo specially emphasised. Possession is not conducive to degrading inaction and selfish indulgence. Retention is possession’s twin, and the very name of retention spells conscientious effort and unfailing industry. It is one of Nature’s most stringent laws that an unused or misused nossession is removed, while in the affairs of man the struggle for retention is almost as keen as that of pursuit. Therefore possession does not hinder progress; it necessitates action where pursuit invites if. and the reward is sure. Pursuit is based on hope, and as we know that “ hope deferred maketh the heart sick,” we realise that lengthened pursuit is unhealthy. Unrewarded pursuit breeds cynicism and morbid depression in all but the very brightest and most exceptional natures. So much for theorising. As space is limited some attention, must be now turned to the practical application of our arguments. In all walks of life we shall find that possession far exceeds pursuit in respect to durability. Whether we sneak of mundane affairs or of the embellishments which brighten our lot. we* find that possession reigns triumphant. No doubt primitive map enjoyed chasing the animals of forest and plain. Much fascinating excitement was to be derived therefrom. But this feeling would he as nothing when compared to the joy of returning a proud possessor of the coveted prize. What place does the pursuit of health hold beside the possession of it? Who would pot rathe** possess than pur c ue wealth? What person prefers the pursuit to the possession of happiness, of power, of fame, of love, and of all those other admirable dualities so dear lo the heart of man. It evil] be contended that the joys and good influences of posses“ion are short-lived; b"t is that the ease? Our opponents will tell us that familiarity breeds contempt, and that possession soon leads to discontent. But it is not so. for as surely as " a tiling of heautv is a jov forever.” so surely do we find that the ioys and benefits of norfesston increase with the passing day®. The wisdom of the ancients regarding this has been stored up in the proverb ” A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” All things considered, the peculiar allurements of pursuit granted, and the drawbacks to possession remarked, it seems that we cannot bo gainsaid when we affirm (hat possession is infinitely more desirable than pursuit. IT. By Untie Matty. The question as to whether the pursuit of an object or ;t,s possession yields the greatest pleasure would at first seem rather mixed, but on second thought a sudden key to the elucidation of the problem is presented to the writer in the memory of an incident in the case of a child that fairly touched the root of this question. This was the look of strenuous eagerness on the part of the child seeing a glittering bauble in a shoo window; but on the toy l>eing placed in his hands the speodv indifference to it that followed was sitnp’y remarkable, for affe*. seizing it in his eager clutch and jingling it vigorously for a few seconds, the child belaboured the nurse over the head with it. and then threw the toy away. In thi c instance, therefore, the pleasure of the anticipation, as manifested bv the eager look in that infant’s face, was undeniably greater than the possession that bauble subsequently afforded bin!*, or else why did he throw it so quickly away? Pursuit, which mean® endeavour to attain, rovided it is lawful and just, brings out the very best forces in a man, for having once set his mind on an object, he will u«o all his energy to gain it. No nan or woman ever endeavoured to attain without suffering opposition, which is not removed until possession is gained. Once the goal is reached, is nnvone satisfied? No; they straightway begin to pursue something else. Napoleon was not satisfied after having ton-

quered one nation, but immediately made plans to conquer another. Nor wm Captain Amundsen satisfied with merely reaching the South Pole, but • straightway laid plans to explore in other regions. Alexander the Great, after having conquered the whole world, was told by the philosopher that there were other worlds which he could not conquer. At this news that fresh pursuits were denied him, he sat down and wept. | When a sportsman goes out for a day’s hunting it is simply for the day’s sport and not for the spoil; and he will take a great deal more pride in relating the pursuing of the deer than in merely possessing the head. If we were satisfied with what we possessed, what humdrum lives we would lead! No matter what trade, profession, sport, or pastime we go in for, it would become stale if we were not constantly trying to attain a higher standard in that line. Our schooldays are the happiest of all, and during that time are we not pursuing our education all the while? Then, having received sufficient education to go out in the world, we certainly do not cease pursuing life; therefore it may be said to be one long continuous pursuit. Mark what happens upon the retiring of a man from business, who during his progress in building up his fortune has displayed all the signs—in hearty good fellowship and geniality of disposition of one who was enjoying life wholesomely. When he retires from business, how often does a change of spirits become palpably manifest! In laying aside his business tools, so to speak, the use of which formerly kept his mind in healthy activity, he lacks his wonted habit of mental exercise; consequently the time hongs heavily on his hands, especially if of naturally active habits. He tires of reading the daily papers; perhaps his case becomes extreme, as one I have heard of. Shortly after this man’s retirement from business his unwonted life of indolent ease so lowered his vitality that he soon retired to his grave. In such cases surely the pursuit of wealth gives greater enjoyment than its possession. Let us again, for the elucidation of this problem, try to gauge the thrilling experience of courtship with the sober satisfaction of wedlock, the most momentous of all teats of the joys of anticipation and of attainment. It is only a very exceptional case where the young man and the woman of his choice are of very superior moral endowments, that each recognises in the other their highest ideals of manhood or womanhood, and their wedded experience by consequence is a lifelong honeymoon. Such a case represents the high-water mark of human felicity in comparison with the majority of lovers, with their interludes of quarrels and misunderstandings. In like manner we may feel certain that with the overwhelming majority of people, no matter what the are bent upon attaining, it is in the ■ energy they are expending for that end, and in which they are absorbing cure evidence of their steady progress towards it, that they are heartened with an inward sense of wild joy, to which the satisfaction of its ultimate attainment is but a tame feeling in comparison. Another instance which conies to my mind is that of the women of England who are trying to gain the franchise. If ever the rights of citizenship are granted them the exercising of the vote will be a very mild affair to that of the zest of pursuing it. England would not have been the leading Power of the world to-day had she not expended all her energy for that end. and, having reached her goal, has she not etill to keep pursuing to retain her supremacy ? It may be said, therefore, that it is our nature to pursue. Everything that’s good in civilisation, everything that is good to mankind, all knowledge—are, engineering, literal ture, and all true science—everything that can fill up the mind of man with good thoughts and good ideas and inspire him with hope as far as this world is concerned, and can make his life better and make him happier,—has to be pursued. Once in possession of a thing, as has been the case with all the nations, which, were at time leading Powers of the world, and is the same with individuals, such as our champion scullers, runners, pugilists, singers, players, etc, —so careless and indifferent to that which is possessed do people become that it is ■ not long before it is twisted out of their grasp by other earnest pursuers. 111. By Lex. The first thing in order that we may arrive at a clear solution of this problem is to define the meaning of the term " pleasure.” In my opinion it is the sense of delight or gratification obtained in the endeavour to bring to u successful issue some project on which one’s mind is set, or by the knowledge that this desire has been satisfied. It is by the first that the greater pleasure is obtained, as what calls for exertion is more to be desired than what one already lias. That this is so is evident in almost any walk of life that one cares to examine. In business circles the aim of most men is io amass sufficient wealth to provide for themselves, and to start their families out on life’s journey without the cure and worry incidental to commencing life without capital. As long as exertion is necessary to reach this goal they find all the pleasure required during business hours in the effort to attain their ultimate object. But take away the right to exercise their abilities in this way, without giving them some new object to pursue. That possession itself mint. Recognising this, on retiring from the old strenuous life, most men take up some hobby where they still have some object to pursue. , That possession iitself can give no lasting pleasure is proved in human nature from the cradle to the grave. Let us examine the case of the child who sees some new toy without tire power to obtain it. Nothing seems quite so desirable while it is out of reach. The same thing occurs with the boy in the orchard. The best apple is always the one on the top branch, and so on all through life. When the boy becomes a man. ambitious and hopeful, what Seems out of reach seems the only thing worth striving for. Take the young politician, ambitious for power. He finds a great deal of pleasure in tlie pursuit of his desire; but once in possession he is very often like the child who desired the new top or the boy who coveted the apple on the top branch—the flavour seems to have disappeared. Then, again, if the mere possession of wealth could give pleasure, what untold pleasure should be the lot of the miser with his hoarded gold; yet he is pitied by every sane and healthy-minded person as the most miserable creature alive. If one is content with the mere possession of what can he got without exertion, one ceases to live, and merely exists. A mere state of existence is not conducive to happiness, as it gives no pleasure. On the other hand, in the pursuit of anything all our faculties are called into play, thus giving the only real and lasting pleasure. A lasting pleasure is certainly greater than a temporary one. Even when the pursuit is ended, one still has the pleasure of remembrance, while the pleasure obtained by possession always palls, unless there is something to stimulate it.

Again, in the struggle for social position, the greatest pleasure is to be obtained in the pursuit of the position aimed for. Once the uosition sought is won, it very often

turns out Lead Sea fruit. It looks very tempting at a distance, but, like the boy with the apple, once reached and tasted it is found bitter, or insipid. In the same way the hunter does not find his pleasure in the possession of the game he has killed; it is in the pursuit in which he has been called on to exercise all the skill and ingenuity that he can muster in the effort to capture the quarry -without unnecessarily alarming it. It will probably be argued thift in the case of marriage possession gives a greater pleasure than pursuit. Well, not being married, I cannot speak from personal experience; but observation, as well as experience “ teaches fools,” and there is an old saying that " courtship is bliss, but marriage is blister.” Whether this is true or not I leave for experienced people to decide, as I cannot speak from experience of either one or the other; but if observation goes for anything, there is a good deal of truth in it. Young people seem to extract a good deal of pleasure from courtship or pursuit; but when it comes to marriage or possession, they very often seem to extract anything but pleasure.