AT THE TEA TABLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12018, 23 March 1920, Page 5

AT THE TEA TABLE.

SOME TOPICAL TALKS“Football is an exciting game at any time,” remarked the Sport, “but the Irish style of playing it with revolvers has a little too-mnoh ginger in it for my fancy. It seems to me that it is a game that should not be played'by excitable people. If the Irish practice prevails, and weapons are used to send men to hospital it will be better to snbstitute some milder form of contest. ” “It is always possible to invent protective devices,” said the Critic. “For instance the players could be encased in'defensive armour, as they are in America, while the referee could officiate from an armoured turret. The game itself is a good one, and develops both mnscle and brain. As a rule the man of active body has also an alert mind, and skill tells on the football field just as much as it does in the prize ring or any other athletic arena. It was well said that Waterloo was won on the playground of Eton. ’ ’

* “If that is the case,” said the Cynic, “what abont that drubbing the French Army footballers gave the English players the other day? Is that an indication that we are degenerating?” “There are ‘flukes’ in every game,” said the Sport. “At the same time I must admit that it is singular that recently the English have been beaten in two of their own peculiar forms of sport—football and fisticuffs, and the Frenchman, Carpentier, is the foremost figure in the boxing world to-day.” “Judge Darling deserves the applause of the Eugenics,” remarked the Critic, ‘ ‘for his declaration that people should not be allowed to marry if they are not able to show that they can do so without endangering their own lives or running the risk of having idiotic children. In the case be heard be said it was probable that the children would have become a burden if not a danger to the State, giving point to the fact that the State is deeply concerned in preventing the nmon of the unfit. ”

£ ‘The Judge has opened; up a very big question, ’ ’said the Sage. “It is one that cannot be discussed in print so freely as it requires, but it is very clear that there is frequently conflict between sentiment and the interest of tho State. Ido not believe in State interference with the individual, except in so far as his action may affect his fellows, bnt I think parents have a doty to perform to their offspring by trying to ensure that they shall at least be physically and mentally well equipped for the battle of life, and for continuing the race. Whenever one sees a loving young couple he may he excused for thinking of what may be the result—what Sind of future is before it when, as Tennyson says, ‘A soul shall come from out the vast, and strike his being into bounds ’ When one secs a weakly or defective person seeking a mate, in obedience to tne u iversal instinct, ono can only grieve over the possible effect on unborn generations,” “Marriages are made in Heaven,” said the Spinster, “and man should not interfere with the natural course of events. ”

“Chaperons sometimes are not popular, ” said the Cynic, “but they are frequently useful, and so would discreet guardians of the public health be. If marriages are made in Heaven, some of those made, at the registrar’s have devilish results, and there should be some drastic law to prevent the propagation of the unfit. The ancient Greeks, the finest specimens of humanity the world has ever produced, improved the physique of their people by exposing all deficient children and leaving them to perish. That was cruel, and quite unnecessary if judgment had been exercised before union was permitted. ” “It’s no use moralising on that subject,” said the Poet, “Do we not know that ‘Love laughs at locksmiths,’ and did nob Coleridge sing ‘All thoughts, ail passions, all delights, whatever stirs this mortal frame, all are but ministers of Love, and feed his sacred flame, ”

‘•'Let me remind you,” said the Sage, “That the little God of Love, Gupid, is always depicted as a child, and that fact has an inner significance. Though passion in some natures may become riotous, , it does not follow that it cannot be v ell and prudently directed. In the meantime if Judge Darling’s statement can prevent only one unsuitable union he will have done good service to the human race. As lie safd, wo have already quite enough wretched children to be burdens or dangers to the community, and,transmit their defects to succeeding generations. ” “President Wilson-has certainly got an itch for writing that has de veloped inio a disease,’’ said the Critic. “During the war he must have used gallons of ink aud reams of paper in writing Notes, and now he is at it again, pestering Bolivia and Peru this time. He is also telling the Allies how they shall discipline Turkey, but doing nothing to save the unfortunate . Armenians from rapine and slaughter.” “Oh, yes, he is hard at work, ” said the Cynic, ‘ ‘He is creating a peace time army to guard his country against the Japs. The teeming millions of potential warriors in that country will be appalled when they learn that his soldiers number 200, 000. They are likely to indulge in Oriental sarcasm however when they note that this army is to have an officer to every ten men—a truly Yankee arrangement which will ensure tho production of many with military titles.”

‘‘Holland will no doubt now feel safe,”' said the Critic, “for the Kaiser has promised that ha will abstain from any political action, so that she will not become compromised.” “I have a recollection,” said the Cynic, “that he not only .promised but actually' signed a treaty guaranteeing Belgium, but did not hesitate to break. If these Dutchmen are prudent, they will not relax the vigilance of their guards.” A JAYE PENNE.