"THE COMING RACE."

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 20, 18 August 1900, Page 8

"THE COMING RACE."

This is the title of a pamphlet published by Mr B. C. Reynolds, of Akaroa, and formerly in the service of the Bank of New Zealand at Winton. Mr Reynolds is an ardent vegetarian, and his brochure is devoted to an exposition of the evils of flesh-eating, which he considers is “demoralising to our highest aspirations and degrading to those employed in the fiendish work of slaughtering animals.” He goes on to argue—and incidentally cites medical and scientific authorities in support of his contentions —that flesh-eating is not morally beneficial, is a transgression of Nature’s law, is dangerous, and unnecessary, and that the killing of animals is unjustifiable. He also questions the doctrine which asserts that animals have no hereafter—this, he declares, is only the dogma of ignorant selfishness—and in con-

elusion asks his readers to give up the practice o£ eating flesh, “ which should be repellent to refined and cultured people. It is demonstrated to be totally unnecessary, and a habit ■which must inevitably sooner or later work disaster to our race." From the foregoing it will be seen that Mr Reynolds is thoroughly convinced of the soundness of the position he has taken up and no doubt illustrates in his daily life. In brief, his case is that of Goldsmith's hermit— No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn ; Taught by tbat Powe/'that pities me, I learn to pity them. But from the mountain’s grassy side, A guiltless feast% bring ; A scrip with her os and fruit supplied, And water from the spring. There is no doubt something in the vegetarian theory, but when it comes to a matter of practice the advocates of a mixed diet have, we think, the best of it. If everybody imitated Mr Reynolds, and religiously eschewed flesh, and, as a consequence, allowed bunny to spread and multiply at his own free will, this part of the colony at anyrate might have become a huge rabbit warren, incapable even’ of growing the cereals beloved of vegetarians.