The Days of a Man 1907 



story, with unpainted roof of corrugated iron, for this 

 last means clean rain water, none of which can be wasted . 



Homo- Australia is homogeneous as to population. The 



British arrived first and still hold it against alien 

 comers, "colored" races especially. For the ruling 



ber color minority, the labor vote, is sternly set on a "white 

 Australia" with all this phrase implies. Australian 

 history is unvaried, though made up, to be sure, of 

 the hard struggles, bitter suffering deserved and unde- 

 served, lawless courage, and reckless bra very of individ- 

 uals; but until 1914 the people never knew a common 

 enemy and their annals record no popular uprising. 

 The color of Australia is gray the land, the 

 towns, the spirit of the people; her literature, often 

 powerful and moving, has a somber touch. This 

 difference in tone shows itself in university life. In 

 America "the flower of life is red," and the student 

 feels that "the world is his oyster," that his measure 

 of talent, training, sobriety, and persistence will 

 determine his final status in life. 



To the young Australian these things are not so 

 clear; I noticed a slight drooping of spirit where his 

 higher ambitions are concerned. He is not sure that 



Few "self- Australia means opportunity. He does not educate 

 himself as part of the adventure of life; usually he is 

 sent to college because a university degree is proper or 

 necessary to a man of his social class. Some part of 

 his career is determined before birth, because the 

 English caste system holds even in this pioneer 

 country. To the average youth without backing, 

 Australia looms up huge, gray, and insurmountable. 

 The aims of athletics or of social success are thus 

 likely to appear more important than remote ambi- 

 tions. In recognition of that fact, near and petty 

 C 226 3 



