The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-10

Australia is in itself a monstrous con-
tiuent 1t is as large as the United
States; its four millions Of people are
scattered In narrow fringe along the
streams and shores OF the southern and
eastern seabOard. The vast interior
the dead heart OF Australia region
as large as the Mississippi Valley. writes
David Starr Jordan In Appieton.s for
November. is a trackless, rainless waste
Of sand and alkah. while the Intervening
hills. the bush and scrub. are scantny
occupied BY sheep stations and BY mining
camps. The vast north OF Australia Is in
part a tropical jungle-in part a blister
ing Sahara.
The fates denied to Australia the gift
81 high mountains. 10 catch the snow
and hold the water. hence her rivers are
few and precarious Hence a. too fre-
Quent intervals the great drouth comes
and the desert spreads its smothering
arms, crowding man and his dependents
backward toward the sea II is a n1orot-
onous country in It's physical aspects, the
forests on hill, valley. rock. and swamp
are All OF one pattern, Eucalyptus, Euca-
lyptus-the gray trunks Of the gum trees
Of many species-as far as the eve can
see. Without mountains and streams
there Is little room for variety. Il IS
monotonous IN its industries-cattIe.
sheep. horses: its one fne art. the breed
Ing Of the perfect merino sheep. Il is
monotOnoUs ~ its towns. One story. light
brown. with implanted roof OF corrugate5
iron, IS the description OF nine-tenths of
the Australian homes. Corrugated iron
means clean rain water, and Australia
can afford 10 waste none Of IT,
Alien Immigrants Barred.
II is monotonous as 20 population. The
Englishnen came first 10 Australia. and
they are still holding il against all corners.
The way Is made rough for immigrants
who do not speak English. and fo- well
or Hin many ways for each-the ruling
minority. the labor vote, Is sternIv set on
White Australia with all which II i'm
plies.
Tie history OF Australia is mOnOt0nous.
Il contains the story Of hard struggles.
OF bitter sufferings, deserved and unde-
served. OF lawless courage and reckless
bravery, but the causes served were indi-
Yidual Australians never had common
enemy, and their records show no glorious
war and no uprising Of common feeling.
The achievements Of Australia belong 10
the category Of individual deeds Of peace.
With all this, the color Of Australia is
gray; the land. the towns. the spirit OF
her people Her literature has a sober
touch, and this difference in tone shows
itself IN its way IN the life Of the uni
versities. In America. as in BrOWning's
verse, 'the flower Of life is red The
American student knows that the world
IS his oyster He knows that he can
get what Is coming to him." that in pro-
portion 20 his talents, his training his So
briefly and persistency Of purpose. Will
Be his success IN any affair he undertakes.
Gray, but Fascinating.
But though Australia may be gray and
monotonous. she is vast. patient. fascinat-
ing. The mightiness OF the land to be
conquered. the huge roominess Of the con-
tinent, the vistas OF future national great
ness, all these grow on one. and all these
fine their reflex IN the student life. and in
the rising literature OF the commonwealth
That Australia viii be the birthplace OF
great men in the future no one can doubt
Their coming viii not be due 70 the lOp-
sided political administration, nor 20 state
ownership. nor 20 the cOddling Of the
labOrer. but 10 the persistence or her fine
old English stock, under man making
and msn-inspiriag conditions.