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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 10 (January 2, 1939)

The idea of Ideas

The idea of Ideas.

Charlie Chickweed is a philosopher. “It's me animal friends that does it,” he explained. “Every man is the reflecshun of the company ‘e keeps. Daily associashun with these ‘ere little varmints ‘as inflooenced me mind with benefishul results. No ‘uman bein’ can consort regular with animals without bein’ improved in ‘is mental an’ moral conserps. My observashuns ‘ave led me to the conclushun that man lost ‘is ‘appiness when ‘e lost ‘is tail an’ will never regain either until ‘e gets back both. Animals ain't ‘ounded by ideas like ‘umans. Y’ might say that animals are ruled by three N's—eatin', sleepin', an’ courtin'. Slip them an extra idea an’ they get as contrary an’ miserable as ‘uman beings. Take a seal, sir! As ‘appy a bit of streamlinin’ as you'd find anywhere, gettin’ an appetite day by day chasin’ its breakfast in the briney instead of losin’ its appetite wonderin’ where its next breakfast is comin’ from like many ‘uman victims of conflictious ideas. But, take a seal out of ‘is natural element an’ teach ‘im new tricks, an’ what ‘appens? Well, sir, ‘ave you ever noticed the expression on the face of a performin’ seal?