New-York tribune., 1907-11-03
AUSTRALIA

Australia is in itself a monstrous continent
II It's Is as large as the United States its four
niiIlohs or people are scattered in a narrow
fringe along the streams and shores of the
soulhern and eastern seaboard The vast in
terlor-'the dead heart of Austraiia"-a region
as large as the Mississippi Valley, is a track
leSs, rainless waste of sand and alkali while the
intervening hills, the bush and scrub, are scan
tlly occupied by sheep stations and by mining
camps. The vast north of Australia is in part
a tropical jungle-In part a hlistering Sahara
The fates denied to Australia the gift of high
mountains. 10 catch the and hold the
water, hence her rivers are few and precarious
Hence at too frequent intervals the great drouth
GENES and the desert spreads its smothering
arms crowding man and his dependents back
ward toward the sea. II is monotOnouS
country in its physical aspects; the forests on
NH, valley rock and swamp are all of one pat
tern. Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus-the gray trunks
OF the gum trees of many speCies-as far the
eye can see. Without mountains and streams
there is little room for variety. 1t Is monot-
onous in its industries-catte. sheep. horses;
its one fine art the breeding of the perfect
merino sheep. It is monotonous in it's towns.
One story, light brown, with unpainted roof OF
corrugated iron, is the description of nine
tenths of the Australian homes. Corrugated
IRON means clean ram water and Australia
can afford 10 waste none Of il. It is monoton-
Gus as 10 population The Englishmen came
hrSt 10 Australia and they are still holding IL
against all comers The way is made rough for
immigrants who do not speak English. and for
we'll or ill-in many ways for each-the ruling
minority. the labor vote. is sternly set on
white Australia" with all which 1t implies
The history of Australia is monotonous. II
contains the story of hard struggles, of bitter
suferngs. deserved and undeserved. of lawless
courage and reckless bravery. but the causes
served were individual. Australians never had
a common enemy. and their records show no
glorious war and no uprising of common feel
ing 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 DIFF
ference in tone shows itself in Its way In the
life of the universities. 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 proportion TO his
talents. his training, his sobriety and persist
ency of purpose, viii be his success in any al
fair ne undertakes.
But though Australia may be gray and monot-
onous she IS vast patient, fascinating lhe
mightiness of the land TO be conquered, the
huge roominess of the continent, the Vlstas OF
future national greatness. all these grow on
one and all these find their reflex in the stu
dent life and in the rising literature or the
cornnonw wealth. That Australia Will be the
birthplace of great men in the future no one
can doubt. Their coming will not be due l"
the lopsded political administration nor TO
state ownership TO the coddling or the Ia
borer but to the persistence of her fine oid
English stock, under man making ana man
inspiring condtions.-DaVid Starr JORDAN, III
Appleton'S.