Salt Lake Telegram | 1935-05-21 | Page 4 | Heath and Tomfoolery

Health and Tomfoolery MAYOR MAYOR CHARLES L. L SMITH of Seattle has broken into the news oftener than many other mayors because he is disinclined to preserve preserve preserve pre pre- pre pre- serve the tradition that a chief magistrate must always be garbed in the dignity of his high office He recognizes the potency of the sense of humor He knows that if play is a fine thing to preserve individual health mass play even even plain tomfoolery tomfoolery-is is good for a The wholehearted way in which Seattle- Seattle ites enter into the fun of the mayors mayor's program is a fair sign that troubles are not weighing on their minds If they can refuse to take matters too seriously why cannot all others The country as a whole divides itself into two fringes One believes devoutly that a Utopia Utopia Utopia Uto Uto- pia is being created synthetically the other that all Gods God's arc are headed for the bow In Seattle apparently both the prophets of doom and the gilders gliders of the lily r rate only a laugh the people well content that somewhere between the extremes is a happy land in which they will find their fill of satisfaction Mayor Smith h has hs s staged a relay race for married married mar mar- ried ned women wearing gaudy pajamas and carrying carrying carry carry- ing rolling pins Another race was for antiquated horses the third one to cross the line being the winner Icemen will race with blocks of ice iceon iceon iceon on their backs the winner to get a kiss from a beauty contest winner The prize event though is the Put out th the cat derby All these jolly contests are staged in iri the city park In the derby fifty beds will be set up in each a gentleman in a nightshirt clutching a cat to his bosom At a signal all jump out of bed run 70 yards and deposit their cats in a basket The first man back in bed is the winner People who indulge in larks of this kind make fools of themselves of course But what dignified cri critics ics fail to realize is that the participants participants participants par par- make fools of themselves knowingly and as long as a man is willing to make a fool of himself himsel to provide a little fun iUn there is hope for him It is the preternaturally serious and long-faced long who is in a bad way Once the Capacity ca capacity capacity ca- ca for shedding dignity and enjoying rowdy horseplay is lost the great sin of taking oneself oneself oneself one one- self and ones one's ideas too seriously is committed A community that can turn out and have fun with silly stunts like this Put out the cat derby is still under the protection of that most saving of all graces graces graces-a a sense of fun and a willingness willingness wil wil- to laugh at itse itself f. f