Washington County News | 1927-07-14 | Page 7 | Did you Ever Stop to Think

DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK By Edson R. Waite, Shawnee, Shaw-nee, Oklahoma. Bert A. Teeters, editor of the Springfield, (Ohio) News, says: That once a noted Frenchman remarked re-marked to President Lincoln: "You Americans are so fiery; always so ready to argue or fight." The President pondered a moment and then replied: "Yet that spirit is the biggest asset of American life. We are never satisified to accept things as they are; that is why the United States exists today." After all, the knocker so-called has a real place in the life of every American city. There is a distinct advantage in his presence for he serves ser-ves as a safety valve for the overly-enthusiastic overly-enthusiastic optimist. He holds our activities more or less in check and thereby forces us to attempt to reason rea-son with him, and thereby we unconsciously uncon-sciously absorb fact and theory on both sides of every question. It often does a community good to engage in controversy. A spirited dispute serves to stir us from the lethargy of our daily routine, and to put new life into our activities. Frequently, it is truly "a blessing in disguise." Woe betide any American city, town or village which is so self-satisfied that the passing months fail to make any visable mark on its contentment. con-tentment. The Utopia of perfection is yet far distant; if present condi-ions condi-ions become thoroughly acceptable, then the end is not far away. Copyright 1927.