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Show I 1 Howe About- ED HOWE ; I 1 , Belt Syndicate. WNU Service. I lately met a rather noted character charac-ter who was actually an old bum. He did not realize the Importance of being a gentleman. His ideas were those of an old bum ; he regarded eccentricity ec-centricity as genius, and as sufficient excuse for his wasted life. I do not like old bums in literature, politics, or anywhere else. I expect men to realize their responsibilities, re-sponsibilities, and meet them with some success. The undoubted literary ability of Oscar Wilde did not excuse him for his disgusting habits. When a man dies, people should at least be able to forget him, and not recall his immoral atrocities. Collection of alimony has become a business, as has the collection of funds for welfare work. . . . And the collection of alimony has ruined many a useful business concern ; as has welfare work. I know half a dozen business concerns that have been crippled crip-pled by welfare work ; by members of the firm engaging In it, in addition to giving too much, at the instigation of professionals. A business man who engages In welfare work not only causes his neighbors to hate him, and trade elsewhere, but he neglects his business. We cannot possibly accomplish every reform recommended. Of the dozens we are told are necessary to save civilization, what are most important? I should say that as important as any is convincing yourself, and others when possible, that there is nothing in the old preaching that pleasure is found only in the broad road that leads to ruin. That is the most mischievous, mis-chievous, untruthful doctrine that can be taught. The greatest pleasures are found in amounting to something; In the esteem of friends, neighbors. The ' unsuccessful, unreliable know little Jcy or content. There can be no pleasure pleas-ure In being chased by collectors, policemen, po-licemen, or lectured by charity workers. work-ers. A certain expert travels about to doctor sick business houses; he tells me the trouble almost Invariably Is bad management of sons and sons-in-laws, and the clamor of widows for Incomes. The country Is full of business houses founded by hard-working and capable men. Now their concerns are in charge of sons and sons-in-law who have hnd little training except In college, col-lege, golf, tennis or society, and widows wid-ows demanding dividends. When you're having a good time, you are not accomplishing anything else, unless It Is accumulating a bust head for uext day. , 1 often hear that the young of the present generation have more problems prob-lems to meet than I had. There are no new problems; there has not been a new one In a hundred yen rs. Whether one eats from sliver or pewter, lie must not eat too much. Whether a man rides In airplane, automobile or buggy, he must watch out. I remember that In the old-r.orse-and-buggy days, the horse occasionally occasional-ly got the lines under his tail, and ran away. I was lately talking with a cattle man In Texas, and he told me that seven-tenths of men of his calling became be-came bankrupt in the hard times following fol-lowing the war. I nsked him what per cent of bankers went broke as a result of standing by the cattle men. lie thought awhile, and expressed the opinion it was about seven-tenths, also. Are bankers as much devoted to the Interests of their communities as they should be, and sometimes a little more? We hear ot degrees In a college, some of greater Importance than others. Likewise In life there, are slndios of more practical use and Importance Im-portance than others. First of nl' Is Industry. Theodore Roosevelt had n habit of saying good tilings; one of his best was that In all history no Idler Is mentioned as worthily distinguished. distin-guished. Afler Industry comes falr-j falr-j ness, politeness, the accumulation ol useful knowledge, gootl reputation, and a willingness to assist In such charity and progress as ordinary men llntl profitable and possible. A strong Impression In my late years Is 1 have never known anyone to take care of himself as well as lie might have done; there are always shots In every man's locker he has not used In his light with life. Ho will usually assist In efforts to save the world, by means of religion or poll-lies, poll-lies, mill neglect himself. A man's big problem Is himself, and It Is usually the problem he neglects most. tV iY- Ohl Sllerlus, the liomiin, said the best way to convince a man Is lo pro- sent the faets In a simple, logical way; the best way to convince a woman, to He to her. -.V- i iV The duties of a good man are easier liuil pleasiinler than those of a bud mini. Idleness Is finally a greater I tusk 1 1 1 ii 1 1 productive anil gootl work. |