Quote for the day

Quote of the Day…

When a public statement appeared in a Glasgow newspaper claiming that whiskey was in short demand at Otago (2 December 1848), Edward McGlashan in a letter to Thomas Anderson famously said - because it appeared in AH McKlintock’s The History of Otago – and again in the Heinman Dictionary of New Zealand Quotations:  “the principles on which the selection of Emigrants is conducted preclude the idea of whiskey being an article much in demand”.

These days we would have said “substance” rather than “article”.  Notwithstanding, McGlashan clearly was a master of the wry understatement.

According to Wikipedia, Edward McGlashan was an independent member of the third term of New Zealand’s Parliament from 1860 – 1862, and again from 1871 – 1875.  Two stints occurring well after he made his famous observation to his mate Thomas Anderson (who incidentally was a chemist of some note and considering his studies refining the make-up of codeine; could well in a subsequent letter to Edward McGlashen have also referred to the aforementioned whiskey as a “substance” rather than an “article”).

Edward McGlashen was a bit of an adventurer.  I imagine it was quite adventurous being a member of parliament in those days – despite the lack of diversity (and probably foolhardy to have gone back for a second hack at it), but he did marry twice and was unsuccessful at making paper from tussock grasses.

This quote mined from the depths of the Heinman Dictionary of New Zealand Quotations which itself was mined from the depths of my bookshelf during a thorough lockdown cleaning; does invoke a nostalgic recall of the grace of the English language when treated with respect, and the grace of restraint – in itself an artform.

A lesser person might have said “Grog is controversial in New Zealand and we don’t need to encourage moonshiners by importing any further experts in this scourge.  We are after professionals rather than tradespeople”.  Southland at that time, was outspoken on the evils of drink. 

But there was plenty of other entrepreneurial activity during that period – and my second point is that McGlashan clearly had a sense of adventure, experimentation and inquiry.  In those times of austerity, mediocrity, conformity, and limited diversity; he had the imagination and temerity to try his hand at making paper from an abundant commodity existing in Otago which was tussock grass.  He probably became laughing stock for a period.  However; the fact that he failed is secondary to the fact that he tried.

Here is what this wee cogitation reveals to me:

·       It takes guts and resource to try new things – but we shouldn’t be afraid to try.

·       Failure does not automatically consign one to anonymity; it’s a vital step on the pathway to success.

·       And even though they operated in less enlightened times than our own – those who knew the value of elegant use of the language have led by example – entertaining and enlightening the rest of us.