ROMANCE FOR US.

White Ribbon, Volume 37, Issue 433, 18 August 1931, Page 5

ROMANCE FOR US.

"Romance brought in the 9.15,” sings a poet, who already possibly grows somewhat old-fashioned. If he lived here to-day he would be as confident that Romance drove the milk-carts to and from our dairy factories as surely as business men’s trains into crowded railway stations. And in the same spirit, us surely as we recognise Romance in the lives and work of our pioneer fathers and mothers, it is here, for those with eyes to see, in the fight our leaders are making to-day. But what about us? Here is a great fight on, a strife of giants, and wuf stand by and don’t bother to take part! It must seem incredible to the gallant fighters who have handed on to us their splendid legacy of great achievements. but we don’t. We are "too busy” in our kitchens, our own backyards, or "too hard-up," or "too We can find more reasons than the thirteen I roasted good ones for "spotting.” "I shall not rest from mortal strife. Nor let my sword rust in my hand. Till we have built Jerusalem,” sang one penniless poet. Not for us that spirit. We re "too hard up." Not for us that old “silver and gold have I none, but such as 1 have I give unto Thee” for motto. Rather for us a gloomy pleasure in repeating, “Nothing for nothing, and very little for saxpence," till we live in a world of trivial interests, worth only sixpences, ones worn thin at that. It is too much bother to dwell on that promise, "He that scattereth increaseth." It may l>e so; we have heard it in church, but we won’t risk it, l>ecaUße it’s —well, not the usual thing. That sower’s path is not the groove we’ve accustomed ourselves to walk. We feel we should l>e much more likely to grow footsore along it than in our own buck-yards. No doubt it is all right for our leuders to travel there—they are used to it —but not for us to break away to Join them. Only if w r e don’t, it’s pretty hard on our leaders. Of course, they can’t help joining ir the fight. Its l>orn in th»m, because they are that kind. And don't you think that in the eyes of future generations we—just you and me, the ones with so many good reasons for not doing anything much—we shall look pretty chean not joining in the fight, letting Romance go by without even a hail of recognition while we tidy our back-yards? Why not talk it over with the w’omon next door? Her circumstances are something the same us yours. She might give a lead over some job that turns up at next meeting. She doesn’t go to the W.C.T.U.! Doesn't )>elong to it! Well, whv not? Haven’t you asked her? Why not see if she’ll go with you to the nevt one? KATHERINE MERCER