The chief trouble in the Bahamas seems to be the monotony of the .limate. There is almost no malaria or hookworm disease, two of the chief scourges of more tropical countries. The temperature is not excessive and the hottest days are by no means so warm as in Kansas City, for example. There are few cyclonic storms, however, and therefore few changes, and nothing to stimulate activity. Hence although people may have good ideas and may intend to carry them out, it is very hard to make an effort. When the Bahaman gets up in the morning he feels a sort of dullness. The regular routine of daily life can be carried on without much difficulty, but when a new kind of work is to be done, he says, "Wait till to-morrow." Hence civilization will continue to make little progress until the Bahamans are taught how to overcome their climatic handicap.
The Canadian cousins of Bahamans, on the contrary, make great progress in civilization. They are full of that super abundant energy which makes people want to get out and do something. We all know the feeling. It sometimes leads us to do foolish and even harmful things, but on the whole it keeps us profit ably active and alert. This activity and alertness are one chief reason
why Canada is an important member of the Family of Nations.
The Bahaman should not be blamed for his laziness or the Ontarian praised for his achievements. It is the climate that deserves blame in one case and praise in the other.
Climate only One Factor in Causing Civilization.—It must not be forgotten that a stimulating climate is only one of the conditions which promote a country's civilization. The world may be likened to a canvas upon which several artists are painting a picture of civiliza tion. One artist, called climate, paints a set of colors which may be harmonious in one place and unpleasantly lurid or faded in others. Race adds other tints, sometimes good and sometimes bad. Religion paints still other colors, while institutions, government, and education each add their tints. If all the colors are good in any part of the world, that region will have a high civilization. The United States and western Europe are particularly fortunate in being the two areas where the colors form favorable combinations on the largest scale.