THE ISLAND OF PLENTYO Christ! it is a goodly sight to seeWhat heaven hath done for this delicious land.BYRON.The wealth of Tahiti is on its surface. Its mountains are not pregnant with precious metals nor has nature stored up in their interior material for fuel and illumination, as none of these are needful to make the people content and happy. The Tahitian has no desire to accumulate wealth; the warm rays of the sun reduce the use of fuel to a minimum, and the millions of glittering stars and the soft silvery light of the moon in the clear blue sky create a bewitching light at night, which, more than half of the time, would make artificial illumination a mockery. Then, too, Tahiti is the land of gentle sleep and pleasant dreams, where people do not turn night into day, but rise with the sun and retire soon after he disappears in the west behind the vast expanse of the ocean. God created Tahiti for an ideal island home and not as a place for get-rich-quick methods, speculation and bitter competition for business, forWhere wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,Andhonor lackswhere commerce long prevails.GOLDSMITH.Tahiti's fabulous wealth consists in its inexhaustible soil and the perennial warm, stimulating breath of the tropic sun. It is the island of never-fading verdure and vigorous and never-ceasing vegetation. The fertile soil, the abundant rainfall throughout the year, the warm sunshine and the equable climate are most conducive to plant-life and here these conditions are so harmonious that there can be no failure of crops in the Lord's plantation. There never has been a famine in Tahiti, and there never will be, provided the government protects the magnificent mountain forests—nature's system of irrigation. Tahiti's food-supply is select and never-failing, and is furnished man with the least possible exertion on his part. The bounteous provisions nature has made here for the abode of man are a marvel to the visitor and after he has once seen them and has become familiar with them he can not escape the conclusion that he is inA land flowing with milk and honey.JEREMIAH xxxii:22.The food products and fruits grown in the forests without the toil of man are admirably adapted for the climatic conditions, being laxative and cooling, and undoubtedly account for the excellent health of the natives before the invasion of the island by the Europeans. The island was destined for the natives, and the natives were suited to the island.Man's rich with little, were his judgment true;Nature is frugal, and her wants are few;These few wants answer'd, bring sincere delights;But fools create themselves new appetites.YOUNG.Content with what the sea and forest provided for them, these children of Nature lived a happy life, free from care, free from morbid desires for wealth or fame.O blissful poverty!Nature, too partial, to thy lot assignsHealth, freedom, innocence, and downy peace, —Her real goods, — and only mocks the greatWith empty pageantries.FENTON.No sullen discontent nor anxious care.E'en though brought thither, could inhabit there.DRYDEN.The Tahitian people, before they tasted the questionable advantages of European civilization, had much in common and lived happily in the full enjoyment of Nature's varied and bountiful gifts. Tribal life was family life, and public affairs were managed to suit the wants of the people, and if any one in power failed in his duties, the people took the law in their own hands and corrected the evil, usually without bloodshed. If the people were not prosperous according to our ideas of life, they were at least happy, andWe must distinguish between felicity and prosperity; for prosperity leads often to ambition, and ambition to disappointment.LANDOR.
THE ISLAND OF PLENTYO Christ! it is a goodly sight to seeWhat heaven hath done for this delicious land.BYRON.The wealth of Tahiti is on its surface. Its mountains are not pregnant with precious metals nor has nature stored up in their interior material for fuel and illumination, as none of these are needful to make the people content and happy. The Tahitian has no desire to accumulate wealth; the warm rays of the sun reduce the use of fuel to a minimum, and the millions of glittering stars and the soft silvery light of the moon in the clear blue sky create a bewitching light at night, which, more than half of the time, would make artificial illumination a mockery. Then, too, Tahiti is the land of gentle sleep and pleasant dreams, where people do not turn night into day, but rise with the sun and retire soon after he disappears in the west behind the vast expanse of the ocean. God created Tahiti for an ideal island home and not as a place for get-rich-quick methods, speculation and bitter competition for business, forWhere wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,Andhonor lackswhere commerce long prevails.GOLDSMITH.Tahiti's fabulous wealth consists in its inexhaustible soil and the perennial warm, stimulating breath of the tropic sun. It is the island of never-fading verdure and vigorous and never-ceasing vegetation. The fertile soil, the abundant rainfall throughout the year, the warm sunshine and the equable climate are most conducive to plant-life and here these conditions are so harmonious that there can be no failure of crops in the Lord's plantation. There never has been a famine in Tahiti, and there never will be, provided the government protects the magnificent mountain forests—nature's system of irrigation. Tahiti's food-supply is select and never-failing, and is furnished man with the least possible exertion on his part. The bounteous provisions nature has made here for the abode of man are a marvel to the visitor and after he has once seen them and has become familiar with them he can not escape the conclusion that he is inA land flowing with milk and honey.JEREMIAH xxxii:22.The food products and fruits grown in the forests without the toil of man are admirably adapted for the climatic conditions, being laxative and cooling, and undoubtedly account for the excellent health of the natives before the invasion of the island by the Europeans. The island was destined for the natives, and the natives were suited to the island.Man's rich with little, were his judgment true;Nature is frugal, and her wants are few;These few wants answer'd, bring sincere delights;But fools create themselves new appetites.YOUNG.Content with what the sea and forest provided for them, these children of Nature lived a happy life, free from care, free from morbid desires for wealth or fame.O blissful poverty!Nature, too partial, to thy lot assignsHealth, freedom, innocence, and downy peace, —Her real goods, — and only mocks the greatWith empty pageantries.FENTON.No sullen discontent nor anxious care.E'en though brought thither, could inhabit there.DRYDEN.The Tahitian people, before they tasted the questionable advantages of European civilization, had much in common and lived happily in the full enjoyment of Nature's varied and bountiful gifts. Tribal life was family life, and public affairs were managed to suit the wants of the people, and if any one in power failed in his duties, the people took the law in their own hands and corrected the evil, usually without bloodshed. If the people were not prosperous according to our ideas of life, they were at least happy, andWe must distinguish between felicity and prosperity; for prosperity leads often to ambition, and ambition to disappointment.LANDOR.
O Christ! it is a goodly sight to seeWhat heaven hath done for this delicious land.BYRON.
O Christ! it is a goodly sight to see
What heaven hath done for this delicious land.
BYRON.
The wealth of Tahiti is on its surface. Its mountains are not pregnant with precious metals nor has nature stored up in their interior material for fuel and illumination, as none of these are needful to make the people content and happy. The Tahitian has no desire to accumulate wealth; the warm rays of the sun reduce the use of fuel to a minimum, and the millions of glittering stars and the soft silvery light of the moon in the clear blue sky create a bewitching light at night, which, more than half of the time, would make artificial illumination a mockery. Then, too, Tahiti is the land of gentle sleep and pleasant dreams, where people do not turn night into day, but rise with the sun and retire soon after he disappears in the west behind the vast expanse of the ocean. God created Tahiti for an ideal island home and not as a place for get-rich-quick methods, speculation and bitter competition for business, for
Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,Andhonor lackswhere commerce long prevails.GOLDSMITH.
Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,
Andhonor lackswhere commerce long prevails.
GOLDSMITH.
Tahiti's fabulous wealth consists in its inexhaustible soil and the perennial warm, stimulating breath of the tropic sun. It is the island of never-fading verdure and vigorous and never-ceasing vegetation. The fertile soil, the abundant rainfall throughout the year, the warm sunshine and the equable climate are most conducive to plant-life and here these conditions are so harmonious that there can be no failure of crops in the Lord's plantation. There never has been a famine in Tahiti, and there never will be, provided the government protects the magnificent mountain forests—nature's system of irrigation. Tahiti's food-supply is select and never-failing, and is furnished man with the least possible exertion on his part. The bounteous provisions nature has made here for the abode of man are a marvel to the visitor and after he has once seen them and has become familiar with them he can not escape the conclusion that he is in
A land flowing with milk and honey.JEREMIAH xxxii:22.
A land flowing with milk and honey.
JEREMIAH xxxii:22.
The food products and fruits grown in the forests without the toil of man are admirably adapted for the climatic conditions, being laxative and cooling, and undoubtedly account for the excellent health of the natives before the invasion of the island by the Europeans. The island was destined for the natives, and the natives were suited to the island.
Man's rich with little, were his judgment true;Nature is frugal, and her wants are few;These few wants answer'd, bring sincere delights;But fools create themselves new appetites.YOUNG.
Man's rich with little, were his judgment true;
Nature is frugal, and her wants are few;
These few wants answer'd, bring sincere delights;
But fools create themselves new appetites.
YOUNG.
Content with what the sea and forest provided for them, these children of Nature lived a happy life, free from care, free from morbid desires for wealth or fame.
O blissful poverty!Nature, too partial, to thy lot assignsHealth, freedom, innocence, and downy peace, —Her real goods, — and only mocks the greatWith empty pageantries.FENTON.No sullen discontent nor anxious care.E'en though brought thither, could inhabit there.DRYDEN.
O blissful poverty!
Nature, too partial, to thy lot assigns
Health, freedom, innocence, and downy peace, —
Her real goods, — and only mocks the great
With empty pageantries.
FENTON.
No sullen discontent nor anxious care.
E'en though brought thither, could inhabit there.
DRYDEN.
The Tahitian people, before they tasted the questionable advantages of European civilization, had much in common and lived happily in the full enjoyment of Nature's varied and bountiful gifts. Tribal life was family life, and public affairs were managed to suit the wants of the people, and if any one in power failed in his duties, the people took the law in their own hands and corrected the evil, usually without bloodshed. If the people were not prosperous according to our ideas of life, they were at least happy, and
We must distinguish between felicity and prosperity; for prosperity leads often to ambition, and ambition to disappointment.LANDOR.
We must distinguish between felicity and prosperity; for prosperity leads often to ambition, and ambition to disappointment.
LANDOR.