Here, Leo Bergin, with a deep love for Zelania, “pimples out into poetry”—“on his own,” as follows:—
ZELANIA’S GREETING.
Zelania’s stores are rich in wine,
Zelania’s air is sweet with flowers,
Zelania’s sons are rich in kine,
Zelania’s maidens wile the hours,
’Mid scenes of matchless beauty.
Zelania’s valleys waive with grain,
Zelania’s hills are white with sheep,
Zelania’s sons are skilled in gain,
Zelania’s maidens ever keep
The path that leads to duty.
Zelania’s crown is rich and rare,
Zelania’s laws are wise and free,
Zelania’s sons and daughters care,
Zelania’s door to ever see
Swung open wide, and then—
Zelania speaks across the seas,
Zelania calls in welcome voice,
Zelania sends by every breeze
Zelania’s greeting to the choice—
Of earth’s deserving men.
Well, that is as refreshing as it is novel. Mr. Oseba and Leo are both right, and I say, “Well done!” for a popular gentleman of old said: “He that provideth not for his own household has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel,” and if this was Paul, he was not far “beside” himself on this occasion.
It is very pleasing mental recreation to talk about the “brotherhood of man” and the equal rights of “all the children of God” to play anywhere on the surface of His “footstool,” but Nature suggests that “every living creature” shall hold down its claim or it will be crowded out, and this same cruel, relentless, unsympathising “Nature”—that always “barracks” for her longest-clawed children—helps to shovel the weak into the compost heap.
With the achievements of modern times, with industrial progress, specialised effort and rapid transit, the many-hued people of the earth may enjoy the fruits of all lands without practising at the same bar or sitting at the same table.
That “God made all men equal” is pretty—it is very pretty; but it lacks the merit of scientific truth, and while it may be desirable—profitable—to deal with the outside “barbarian,” and to aid, educate, and elevate him, none but a fool or a fanatic would bring a hoard of park loafers into his dining-room and seat them at his table, to the exclusion of his own children—or his wife’s relations.
We may do justice by a “brother” man without boarding him or converting him into a brother-in-law.
Mr. Oseba said:—