South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1900.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2950, 23 November 1900, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1900.

Some otherwise quite rational and estimable persons have been so carried away by some features of the war in Soutli Africa as to enter upon a defence of war in general, and some of their arguments are simply marvellous. One of these writers says : “We have had a close view of this problem during the last year. To think of the widows and orphans made, and the thousands of men in the flush of youth and health one hour stretched maimed or dead the next; to dwell mentally upon the spectacle of the stricken field; to look at the pall of sorrow that has descended upon mansion and cottage, is almost to vow for a moment that war is altogether hideous. But there is a reverse side to the picture. What other school would nourish and keep alive the qualities so splendidly displayed during this year of trial? Men young, prosperous, and happy, with the prospect of a bright career before them, have voluntarily quitted home and friends to court death upon the African veldt. . . . The veiy acme of

self-sacrifice, death-defying courage, loyal, tender-hearted comrade-ship, are all precious plants which grow thickly in the crimson soil of the battle-field.” Observe well both sides of the picture here presented. That the first is correct no one can deny. The second is stupidly incorrect, but though it has been often presented, we have not yet met with any criticism of it. Criticism is very easy. Who are the men who, according to all accounts we get, have been the best soldiers in South Africa? Why, the colonials, who showed all the fine qualities the writer praises so much. And as everybody knows that these qualities were not cultivated in the colonials in any school of war, it is ridiculous to argue that war is necessary to their cultivation. One side of the picture is real; the other is only makebelieve, a sham and a fraud.

The biggest banquet on record surely is that which was given by President Loubet to the Mayors of France. Thirty-six thousand chairmen of city, town, and rural local governments were invited, and no less than twenty-two thousand attended. Allowing two and a half feet to each person, and making no allowance for gaps, there must have been over five miles of tables. The banquet was spread in booths in the Tuileries gardens. “ The gigantic repast was admirably and expeditiously served, and the menu was epicurean. Salmon, fillets of beef, capons and pheasants, followed by ices and varied desserts, and bedewed with all the wines of France, made excellent fare.” The President made a speech. As a matter of course, few could hear him, but the 20,000 guests stood up while he spoke, and read printed copies of his speech distributed among them., It is said that the huge affair marks a great change in France. Until recently, Paris has dominated France, politically, and the popular party in the capital led the whole country. At the recent municipal elections, we read, a Radical majority was returned, and the Mayor of Paris invited the Mayors of the country to a banquet, but they did not respond, only 1600 turning up. President Loubet then issued invitations as a counter-demonstra-tion, and the response was a signal victory for the Republic, as it was desired to be. Paris henceforth will play second fiddle to France.

Professor Frederick Storr, of the Department of anthropology in the University of Chicago, has just made the announcement that all American people are becoming Indians, and they will eventually revert to the aboriginal type. His theory is that racial differences are due to physical and climatic conditions of the different continents, and that the same conditions which influenced the earliest dwellers in America arc producing a like result among the present inhabitants. The professor bases his theory upon careful .investigation, having carefully examined and measured the features of more than five thousand children of Pennsylvania Dutch parentage, and has found in most cases a distinct lengthening of the face and broadening of the cheek-bones, in accordance with the characteristic features of the Indian races. He maintains that everybody who goes to America must converge to the laflinn type; some may resist the influence longer than others, but the result will be sure to- follow in time. This we find in an Knglisli journal. We have met with the same conclusion before, and so far as New Zealand is concerned we need not be at. all distressed by it. For if we white successors to the Maoris are to conform (o the Maori type, physically, or even phy--1 ideally and mentally, we shall bo able to measure ourselves against any other people in the world. “By the same token ” the outlook for the future Australian is not so gratifying.