Is It The Same To-day?

Cue (NZERS), Issue 14, 31 December 1944, Page 34

Is It The Same To-day?

Idle men in this country (Hew Zealand) are pretty sure to take to drinking. Whether men are rich or poor, there seems a fa-r greater tendency towards drink here than at home (England). SAMUEL BUTLER, iB6O Aew Zealand seems far better adapted to develop and maintain in health the the physical than the intellectual nature. The fact is, people here are busy 'making money,' that is the inducement which led them to come in the first instance, and they show their sense by devoting their energies to the work. Yet, after all, it may be questioned whether the intellect is not as well schooled here as at home though in a very different manner. Men are as shrewd and sensible as alive to the humorous, and as hard-headed. Moreover, there is much nonsense in the Old Country from which people here are free. There is little conventionalism, little formality, and much liberality of sentiment; very little sectarianism, and, as a general rule a healthy, sensible tone in conversation, which I like very much. But it does not do to speak about John Sebastian Bach's Fugues, or pre-Raphaelite pictures.' SAMUEL BUTLER, iB6O. /