THE ART OF LIFE.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19459, 26 December 1934, Page 9

THE ART OF LIFE.

1 (To the Editor.) Sir, —In these busy days the closing of the year brings with it a certain relaxation of the ordinary "round and common task.” Recently we have had a Society of Arts founded in this town and a successful exhibition was held. The arts and sciences are coming back to their own. The art of life is a difficult subject, and not an exact science. It would ■surprise many readers that this art is expressed in the word "politics." It is the art of human happiness. The statesman should be an artist, playing with human feelings, searching for human harmonies, and appraised by the degree of happiness or contentment which his measures procure. It is essential that his proposals are not only good but opportune. This season of the year still produces expressions of selflessness, especially in out-of-the-way corners, and it should be fostered throughout the year. f What is human happiness? We hear such a lot of nonsense regarding this topic. Psychology, joy germs, and amusements are among the terms used, as if these things produced happiness. Happiness consists in losing one’s identity in acts that produce lasting results of good fellowship and soul development without advertisement. Politics, commonwealth, charity, are sublime words dragged doVvn by expedients and graftiness. We enter politics via a party system that reduces the man to a cypher and selfish promotion for the benefit of party, with “honours” attached. The commonwealth is 'an organisation for the "gel-ons" lo climb a social scale, and to work for a financial successful end. Charity, the divine word, is abased to a system of giving the tilings “one wants not” to satisfy a “running sore" of poverty in a race for self-advertise-ment and to the degradation of the recipient. Place our politicians and statesmen, if we have any, against the art of life and human happiness, and how many would stand the test? Place ourselves in the same position, and see how far short we fall below the standard. At this time of life-stocktaking may we keep in view .this high standard, and then our New Year will he happy and prosperous, a wish one gives, I trust, with all sincerity at the end of 1934.—1 am, etc., MARCUS JAMES. Hamilton, December 24, 1934.