The Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19010, 29 July 1933, Page 11 (Supplement)

The Passing Show.

(By “ Free S TILL THE “LIFE AFTER DEATH” controversy rages. The interest is by no means deplorable, but rather may be regarded as convincing evidence that men and women have not altogether lost their religious sense—a fact whioh should prove cheering to our pessimistic preachers. Although readers ■often express the idea that the subject should be changed, they may be heard almost In the same breath venturing ’Opinions ■on this engrossing matter, and many a halfhour do they spend devouring the erudite expositions of the Bible scholar and imbibing the mysticism of the spiritualist. What are the views of the man-ln-the-street—-that interesting enigma frequently described ■as a person of average attainments, althougn he must be a walking encyclopaedia judging by the variety of subjects upon which he discourses? The writer can almost testify to the fact that the man-in-the-street is concerned with life beyond the veil, because the other morning, at an hour when everyone should he attending to his business and leaving others free to mind their own businesses, there were two men In the street engaged In a discussion which, unless this scribe’-s ears deceived him, seemed to have a distinct bearing on the subject. Even a South Island contemporary publishes a letter In which the correspondent desorlbes how he dreamed a dream, and again he dreamed the same dream, and in this dream he -saw the face, of a departed loved one and the countenance avas bright and happy. He Invites some spiritualist to give him the interpretation thereof. Now, w’hlle history records instances where the destinies of empires have been changed through dreams, only a fool would ignore them entirely. Yet, however -significant dreams may be, there are numerous occasions when they mean nothing more than a heavy supper or an uncomfortable mattress. “Free Lance's" view’s are not very defined, but somehow the prospect of sleeping through the ages seems to suggest waste of valuable time, and the idea of being transported Immediately into a world of indescribable beauty and everlasting happiness is much more alluring. * * * * What a blessing these bad bowlers are “bowling Bolsheviks” and not Bolsheviks. If all bowlers w’ere Bolsheviks what a lot •of Bolshevik bowlers we should have, but they are only bowling Bolsheviks, because there Is a difference between Bolshevik bowlers and bowling Bolsheviks. There are few bowling Bolsheviks and probably no Bolshevik bowlers. These howlers may not

Comment and Criticism.

Lance.”) he blameless, but bald-headed bowler* could not be boisterous bounders, so if they use their brains and keep their balance the bubble will soon burst. * * * * As the week draws to a close business folk may be seen contemplating the sky with anxiety written all over their countenances. How many times is one faced with the question, “Is it going to be fine for the week-end?" Realising how 7 much hangs upon the remark—A Saturday round of golf, a day in the country, or a visit to the city perchance—you hate to cause any disappointment to your inquirer, so you look for any faint gleams of sunshine amid the lowering clouds and endeavour to point out any remote chances of fine w-eather. Awakened on Saturday morning by the deary drip of steady rain you think not only of frustration of your own plans, hut of all the hopes you have raised only to be prostrated by disappointment. Determined to be optimistic you decide that the sun wall be sure to shine in the afternoon. In the afternoon you settle down by the fire with a book, reflecting that adaptation to changed circumstances is one of the secrets of successful Jiving, and of course Sunday will be fine. On Monday you rejoice in the glorious sunshine, but you cannot help thinking that Kipling might have included in his “If” a stanza “If you can smile when rain pours down on Saturday, if you can keep on smiling when the sun breaks through on Monday." The account of the trial of a young Christchurch solicitor on one charge of theft and two of forgery, involving in all £l34s.makes ' sad reading. His defalcations, although they had been practised for years came as a surprise to his fellow-practitioners. Qualifying at twenty-one and practising his profession at twenty-three, the accused had shown promise of a brilliant career. What could be more tragic than a life blighted by such a heinous crime? Reformatory societies may do much and the redemptive possibilities of human nature are unlimited, but nothing can altogether remove such a stain upon the character nor erase the humiliation of the well-merited punishment. Again, how serious a matter it is w-hen those engaged in the battle for justice themselves-fail in the elementary requirements of the law. The increase of these instances of embezzlement of large sums brings one of the most honourable professions into disgrace and one cannot but be convinced that besides the mysteries of torts and contracts and evidence contingent our budding lawyers should have Instilled into them the cqmmon virtues of honesty and temperance.