WAIFS AND STRAYS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 152, 31 March 1876, Page 15

WAIFS AND STRAYS.

-H""When a peirfon in society expresses opinions of temporal matters, which he has not studied, he is condemned as presumptuous to unstinted ridicule. Dickens' descriptions of " Fashionable Life in the Kitchen" are among the most humorous of all his I ludicrous pictures. A youth advising a veteran banker how to invest his money ; a civilian instructing an experienced commander how to manoeuvre his troops ; a little son telling his father to take care of his health and beware of pickpockets — are enough to make the gravest lip turn into a smile. Yet substantially the same thing is done by almost every one in matters of religion. Men who have nover read the Creeds, or found out who made them, are continually putting forward their ' views ' on the deepest questions. In this respect the whole age makes itself ridiculous." The following maxims from the ancient Egyptians may be read with profit to-day : — " Do not t.ike on airs. Do not maltreat an inferior; respect the aged. Do not save thy life, at the ex- ' pense of another's. Do not pervert the heart of thy comrade, if it is pure. Do not make sport of those who are dependent upon thec.

Do not maltreat a woman whose strength is less than thine own. Let her find in thee a protector. If from a humble position thou hast become powerful, and the first in the city of opulence, let not riches make thee proud, for the author of these good things is God. If thou art intelligent, bring up thy son in the love of God. If he is courageous and active, and increases thy property, give him a better recompense. But if the son whom thou hast begotten is a fool, do not turn thy head away from him, for he is thy son." The ancient poets of lieland were termed Filedha, that is, philosophers, and while nominally bards, says O'Flanagan, erant re vera philosophi — they were really philosophers. In the public assemblies of the chiefs, they always sat at the monarch's right hand, and it was their privilege to give admonitions to the republic and its president or chosen ruler. In some cases members of the profession occupied this dignity themselves, and were termd righe. They not only composed poetry, they did more ; they knew the sciences, the laws, the customs, and the institutions of their country. In ancient Ireland no man could rise to elevated dignity, says O'Flanagan, unless he possessed learning, science, and literature. One of the privileges or duties of the chief poet was to address the king after his election and instruct him in the duties of government in poetic compositions.