A Wayside Sketch.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9253, 1 December 1891, Page 4

A Wayside Sketch.

Perhaps erne of the most remarkable books that has been written of late years ■ comes to us from Africa. It is the work apparently of a Dutch colonist, who, according to rumour, is very yonng, and of the gentler sex. Judging by this and other works of colonial hauds, tho fresh blood which is to invigorate Europe will not proceed from the slums of our great cities, as has beon recently said, but from the new world of colonies. There is a more hopeful look-out in that direction than when we gaze into the turpid depths of out' unsolved East End problem. A large part of our colonies may have sprung originally from that same East End, but if so, it is the weed transplanted into good soil, ami so protected, nourished, and cultivated tliat it has become a robust shrub. The time will come — must come — we suppose, when our European crowns shall slip from the pale foreheads of generations, ever more sickly as they become more royal. la that day we may -be glad to learn the secrets of popular government from strong, young races whose experiments have been put to tho test of yeavs. There is little doubt that fresh blood must be poured into Europe if it is still toehold its own among the striving purposes of t>Wtr Now Wuiltl. Otlici Triao it) -will drup into the effete civilisation of a second Asia, and become a link of the past, instead of a reality of the present. The fine savages who, under N the name 3of Goths and Vandals, once renewed the moral tissues of Europe have almost expended among us the inheritance of their magnificent physique and their indomitable enterprise. So proudly do the traditions of their race still survive that we are apt to yet think ourselves what wo onco were. 15ut the fa«f. crumbling of the feudal system lias forced us to see that \vt have produced nothing to replace it. We arc at a standstill — Republican in sentiment an.l lloyalist at heart, we suffer between tivo influences, which appeal to us with almost equal power. Our head directs us, and our heart restrains ua. It is a time of compromise, but Nature abhors compromises. An old age and ia new age cannot be pieced together* „No wonder, then, that we stand trembling on the brink of the onp, ,and survey with anxious eyes the rising sun of ,the other. It|looks to us bloorl-red, ,that tawny sun, hut we hope amidst our < fears, that.it prove to be the herald of a finer day than Ijas yet dawned upon the world. We are certainly the more hopeful ,that the life of the future seems already ,to have developed itself across the ocean, whether in Africa, America or Australasia. vThe peaceful hordes which have invaded those discovered countries have unconsciously done more than lead the van of civilisation. Formed into industrial communities by the exigencies of their existence, they have been forced into creating Governments suited to their necessities. And so much so is this the case, that even among comparatively ancient olonies, where the status of '* old families" is recognised, these have not by their growth acquired 'any power of depreciating popular government. The peaceful colonisers have taken with them the artisan's tool instead of the sword. Instead of a savage and noble descent, they have carried with them the simple desires of humble birth. Instead of subduing the lower races by a trial of brute strength, they have conquered them mainly by a superior intelligence, which has converted their inferiors into servants of their skill. The new races of the colonies have for years been obscurely developing the problem of industrial life and its government by industrial classes. So quietly has this been clone that we are only lately become aware that the artisans of fifty years ago are governors to-day. The development continues, but the obscurity has c.ea,aed. It is no longer a ; question whether , we think of them. The question is what thoy think of us. They have learned to smile at many of our prejudices, and to smile calmly, without irritation. They laugh openly at our sacred castes, so openly that we begin to perceive something of the ridiculous element which strikes them. Thoy have outstretched us in ideas of government, they j are beginning to emulate us in art ; thuy seem likely to tear our bigotry to tattcr.H They have all the assurance and daring power of youth. I The Old World, unable to meet its Socialist tormentors, tottering with years I which it disowns and infirmities which it! will not acknowledge, finds at its side a i child so like y«t so unlike itself that we can scarce believe Destiny is writ largo upon the youthful brow. But, after much groping in the dark, and frequent putting on of spectacles, wo have been led to perceive those creative indications which assure U8 the world will not die with us If to the indolence of Asia were to succeed tho complete apathy of Europe, there would yet be huge continents where the progress of mankind is t» achieve its highest developments. Wo may perish,

{To be continued)