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Show Howe About: Ordinary Men Too Much Charity Parental Love By ED HOWE I RECALL being startled some years ago ca residing a statement in a nook that only the ordinary men have real intelligence; that poets, philosophers, philoso-phers, professors and prophets go so far in their speculations that they finally camp far beyond the truth. I was startled by the statement because be-cause throughout my life I have been reading books of the Intelligentsia declaring de-claring that ordinary people are weak creatures, and must be constantly directed di-rected by preachers and writers. I think this great compliment was paid us by Herbert Spencer; and there is some evidence to warrant it. In Russia the ordinary working Americans Ameri-cans are accepted as superior men, and sent for as foremen in building factories, railroads, power and irrigation irriga-tion dams, etc. But note the contempt the Russian leaders express for our writers and statesmen ! None of their notions are accepted. I give credit above to Herbert Spencer Spen-cer for the compliment. It may have been Samuel Butler; I should have better remembered the name, in gratitude. grati-tude. Anyway, both men have come down to us with reputations for unusual un-usual intelligence and learning; and let ordinary working citizens remember remem-ber that such a man believed they are the source of real intelligence, and in future combat mistaken notions of writers and statesmen with more vigor. The Soviet leaders in Russia have some excellent ideas. One is that the thousands of idle and mischievous men iu the big towns must give good excuse for remaining or get out into the country,' and earn an honest living liv-ing on farms. In every town there are many characters known to police, who live by scheming almost or entirely en-tirely robbery. These men are responsible respon-sible for nine-tenths of the law breaking; break-ing; the ordinary citizen with a good job does not require the attention of police a half dozen times in his lifetime. life-time. . . . The most serious trouble trou-ble in the world today is too much charity for the more than half loafers, dead beats and criminals. And this excessive charity Is a new growth. I distinctly remember a time when all communities had a vagrancy law; vagrants va-grants were arrested with considerable promptness and discretion, and made to work on the rock pile. Nearly everywhere every-where now the vagrants are in charge of public affairs. Writers highly compliment mothers In some ways, and misrepresent them viciously in others. Writers almost universally charge that mothers do not properly educate daughters in sex matters. There never nev-er was a mother who neglected such education. I have long believed the love of parents par-ents for children is the thing that never nev-er fails. And parents add a patience and self-sacrifice in dealing with their children that is about the most creditable credit-able thing to be said of our miserable race. Some parents, poor wretches, have bad judgment, but fierce devotion to children never fails so far as I have observed. If love for our children will save us we will all finally get to heaven. Some children may fail to sit on the right hand of God because of mcan-' mcan-' ness to their parents, but If love of children is sufficient virtue to save us, I expect to find all parents there. An English writer says: "A boy is more often disqualified than qualified in economic life by a prolonged education." educa-tion." II. G. Wells has long been saying say-ing lime spent in a university is wasted, wast-ed, and a training in idleness and rowdyism. England Is deliberately cutting Its educational budget; and it has never been as foolish about education edu-cation as have Americans who have steadily made It more expensive and Ineffective. One of the Impressive incidents of my life has been knowing an old woman wom-an who had had two worthless husbands, hus-bands, several children, and on an average av-erage not more than half enough to eat End wear. She almost worships every man able to make a good living. Such a man Is her Ideal, and a success. I rate men In the same way. Those who make a good living, pay their debts with reasonable promptness, help somewhat In decent human progress, prog-ress, and are In line for honest promo- tion, are our best men. From their ranks come the millions who have slowly Improved their manners and their services, and been able to distinguish distin-guish their race. There are many Urn- nations In the creature called man, hut If he Is ambitious to get ont of life the best, there Is admittedly In It, he Is gootl enough ami a success. I have long believed a majority of the people are good enough, considering consider-ing all their handicaps. . . . Put now that times art; harder than ever before. I am wavering somewhat; honesty hon-esty Is always at a specially low ebb during hard times. One Is most apt to be honest when gelling along fairly fair-ly well; the word of the man In worst (rouble must he discounted most. I have lived a long time In the United Unit-ed Stales, and my wrongs have not been those of a slave, but of a freeman free-man badly managing himself. l), 1 11.13. Hell SylHlleale.-- WNU Servle. |