Tee Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18809, 3 December 1932, Page 13 (Supplement)

Tee Passing Show.

Comment and Criticism.

(By “Free Lance.”)

THE INTEREST and enthusiasm manifested in connection with the jubilee celebrations of the Hamilton West School must have'been gratifying to those who had spared no time or trouble in arranging the function. In commemorating the foundation of a school we are paying tribute to an organisation second only to the Church in moulding the lives of a'people, Who can estimate the incidence of the teacher? Who can measure the potentialities of a school? Here characters are formed and destinies shaped, not only of future leaders, hut of the. rank and file of 'humble citizens whose Honest toil and whose Integrity makes a nation great. The Hamilton West School possesses a line record. Keeping pace with the town'3 rapid growth, membership increased until the formation of suburban schools created a diminution. The tone has always 'been high, and the educational standard excellent, many of .the past pupils having become distinguished scholars and some having achieved eminence. Among the absent there are no doubt many whose thoughts will turn to-day to this happy gathering which cannot but have been an Inspiration to present and former pupils and teachers, as well as to the community. • * V • The school 'has 'been privileged In numbering upon the staff roll men and women whose character, lability and attainments have 'been high. Perhaps none will be so well-remembered by the present generation of Hamiltonians as .the late Mr W. H. Worsley, who was in charge of the school for twenty-two years at the most critical period. A complete contrast from the village schoolmaster depicted by Goldsmith as "a man severe he was and stern to view.” Mr Worsley was beloved by every scholar and he took a personal interest in each, having an ability for remembering names' that was remarkable. Often, when some offending juvenile was despatched to the headmaster’s study to receive meet punishment for his misdemeanours, he would receive instead of an introduction to the strap a few kindly words of counsel and remonstrance that were a far more efficacious form of chastening. There is no doubt that much of the success of the West School is due to the enthusiastic labours and capable direction of the late 'Mr Worsley, who, with othors who served in a similar capacily, has left an imperishable impression upon the hundreds of men and women who have such happy memories of days passed so pleasantly in sport and study at the largest primary school of our town.

the recoil it ’will inCiot even greater damage upon the wielder. This is the fact the British Government Is emphasising, and it is so obviously true -that even the average man oan grasp it. Had Mr Hoover been reeleoted, It Is certain that he would have faced up to the position, put a bold front on and grasped the nettle—he would have made a virtue of a necessity. Recognising, however, that “moratorium” and “cancellation” are not popular policies with his interested countrymen, all of whom possess votes, he is seeking to postpone the momentous decision until Mr Roosevent l akes over. The President-elect in the meantime will not commit himself as he hopes that between now and March Mr Hoover will be forced to act and shoulder Hie odium of taking a stop which, however, unpopular in America, will have to bo taken if Europe Is to be saved from absolute bankruptcy. It is evident that the idols of United States Republicans and 'Democrats are cursed with clay feet. They are better politicians than statesmen. m 9 • • AH Americans are not blind to the absurdity of the contention that a country can live unto Itself as the following “Fable of -the Self Sufficient” clipped from a New York journal demonstrates. There is much “horse sense” to be gleaned from pondering it. and “Free Lance” makes no apology for inflicting it upon his readers: “Once upon a 'time there were any number of leading nations who were caught in a depression. So they made up their minds that the way to get out of the depression and stay out was by being self-sufficient. They might have to live, of course, in a style lower than that to which they were accustomed, but they would be spared the vicissitudes of the business cycle, arid released -from dependence on Jthe hated foreigner. So the American people decided they wouldn't sell anything more to anybody outside', and they called it the home market. And Ireland decided sire would eat up her own bacon instead of sending it to England, and she called it, perhaps, ourselves alone. And Germany decided to forget there was anything beyond the Rhine, and she called it autarchy. It was the worldwide movement foreseen many years ago by the poet when he wrote that stirring hymn, “I don’t want to play In your yard. I don’t like you any more." « * * * "Now the thing that all the leading nations had in their mind, or proclaimed openly, was the case of the French people. For France had comparatively little unemployment. She had not developed her Industries at the expense of agriculture, but divided up her papulation just nicely into equal parts, factory and farm. 'France had, in other words, a balanced economy. She was sufficient to herself. An 4 she was having a tolerable time of it while all the other nations were on the bread line. So ail the leading nations wrote to the Com-mander-in-Chlef of the French Aoademy—an office specially oreated for the purpose of ■the present fable—land informed him of their intention to become self-sufficient, like the (French', people, and to readjust 'the ratio of factory workers to farmers, and what did he think of the idea?

The desire for thrills, so characteristic of this modern age extends even to small hoys and girls who are probably encouraged in their love for risky adventures by writers of sensational and exciting movie stories. Children love to be daring, but th'&'iif sense of self-preservation! usually prevents them from attempting anything quite as dangerous as the escapade the writer “saw with his own eyes” the other day. A goods train carrying aoout twenty low trucks of the kind -used for the cartage of sand or coal more than for 'live-stock was crossing the subway where about half-a-dozen children were playing. To his amazement one child after another Jumped on and off the moving train. 'Not content with demonstrating .their abilities once, they gave exhibition after exhibition, chasing one another along and leaving their disembarkment until ttie last possible moment. One little girl was an adept at the practice. The spectacle was so hair-raising that steer-riding was not in the same street. “Free Lance” would have liked ail the mothers to have been with him. Their hysterical outbursts would have completed his entertainment. * • • * ■War debts have loomed largely on the political landscape during recent days. It was widely thought that a tier the Unilcd Stales presidential election the matter wovild have adjusted itself; so probably it would had Mr 11. 'C. Hoover been reelected. The.pending change in the tenancy of White House, Washington, however, is having its reflex on the debt payment problem, and the question now is not what will confer the greatest benefit upon mankind, but what will be be the effect on party prospects? It is a delicate subject, _ and the aim of each party Is to dodge the' responsibility of making a definite choice. Mr Hoover and Mr Roosevelt are not such back numbers that they c-annot recognise that America is armed with a double-edged weapon, and that if in wielding it the other party Is slashed, the probability Is that, in

“The 'Commander-iu-Chief of the Frenoh Academy replied .that the scheme seemed to him an excellent one find the French nation was deeply sensible of the compliment. But he said the experiment would stand a belter chance of succeeding if along with the correct ratio 'of farmers to - factory workers the leading nations adopted a few oilier French practices. For any nation anxiOMS to avoid panics and depressions lie begged to suggest the following Gallis set-ting-up exercises; Work ten hours a day in town and eighteen in Hie country, but not 100 fast; , save at least one dollar for every dollar you spend; wear your clothes till they wear through and then put on a neat patch; put every kitchen scrap into a big pot on the 'lire and it will make a delicious slew for dinner; when the temptation to sp/urge grows irresistible, go to the cafe, buy a bock of beer for 6 cents and sit three hours at a 'little table in the sunlight, just thinking; don’t throw away your money on travel; don't throw your money away on automobiles, or big-game shooting in Africa, or climbing the Himalayas, or going to the South Pole, or tearing down buildings that are only 300 years old and will serve for another 200 years; don't kill yourself trying to make 100,000 dollars and spend 99,500 dollars, thus saving 500 dollars. Make up your mind lo earn 3000 dollars and spend 1500, thus saving 1500 dollars.