Mr. Oseba's Last DiscoveryBell, George W. (George William)
Science
Mr. Oseba's Last Discovery
Bell, George W. (George William)
New Zealand -- Description and travel; Voyages and travels
Summing up for a conclusion, the sage Oseba said that China, even with
"opportunities," presented no varieties; and while Japan had variety,
she had no room. Europe was too strongly wedded to militarism for
healthy mental growth; Britain has become a park for her nobles; Africa
had the black plague; America was owned by the trusts, and was managed
in their interests by the party bosses; and Australia, like a child
crying for bracelets, had put on hand-cuffs.
"So, none of these answer the requirements of our commission," said
the orator, "and I now invite you, my children, to another series of
pictures in our elaborate gallery--'tis of my last 'discovery.'"
Here, pending the re-adjustment of the instruments, the audience
indulged in a few moments of lively conversation, for the promises
seemed to be more encouraging. But soon Mr. Oseba stepped to the front
with a confident dignity, and in a pleasing voice said:--
"My learned colleagues, and you, my beloved countrymen and women, I
have detained you long, and, that you might appreciate my conclusions,
I have gone somewhat into details in my extensive review. I have shown
you many of my discoveries, on the outer surface of our planet; I have
explained the political systems of many peoples, and I have observed
the play of your emotions as the conditions of men were portrayed; but
I now promise you only pleasing revelations, for in beauty, in climate,
in soil and social situation, I am going to show you the paradise of
Oliffa, and this means a portion of Australasia that declined to join
the federation of which I have spoken--it means New Zealand, on the
map, 'Zealandia,' with the poets, but Zelania, as it would be called in
our more musical speech, and by this euphonious title shall we speak
of that charming land. This, my children, was my last discovery, and
while many people on Oliffa don't care to be discovered at all, I hope
the 'Zelanians' will never regret my having landed on their blissful
shores."
_SCENE VIII.--Act I._
ZELANIA--MR. OSEBA'S LAST DISCOVERY.
Blue pencilling several eloquent pages, I am here constrained to use
the discretion generously given me, by choosing for myself the methods
of introducing the scenes of Mr. Oseba's last discovery.
It has been previously mentioned that Leo Bergin had "done newspaper
work in New Zealand," and here seems a proper place to re-refer to this
pleasing fact.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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