Middletown transcript., 1895-08-03
"LOOK AT ME NOw.o

'L0ok at me now, first farmer boy,
next school teacher, then a member
of the legislature, now an editor, look
at me now!''-Ne,o Era.
The above is quite funny if you only
have the appreciation to understand
it. 1t is told in connection with a
certain Democratic friend of the Ne,o
Era who was ''first constable, next
Squire, now postmaster" and in
the fullness of his joy at his last sue
cess, he exclaimed, "look at me now" "
1t is only necessary to read another
paragraph from the Ne,o Era, given
elsewhere, to learn the EDITORS opin-
ion of his exalted position. He there
compares his Importance to the Presi-
dent of the United States. Nor is he
bashful about it at all. 1t is essential
for one to respect his position, but,
modesty demands that complimentary
comparison be left to other people. The
editor of the Neao Era may be as proud
of his position as is Mr.. Cleveland of
his with his beautiful and accomplished
wife and his three interesting little
girls, but good taste would suggest
that the linking of the names of the
President and the Ne,o Era be left to
others.
But it is the implied slur on "the
farmer boy" that we would resent. An
editor, who is sincere and capable
holds responsible position and his op-
portunities for doing good are many.
If every editor was capable and sincere
many Of the evils that now oppress us
would never have an existence.
"a member of the legislature!' How
great his opportunities for good or evil.
The law calls him honorable" and so
he should be. To him is committed
the authority to make and unmake the
laws and if he is unworthy the posi-
tion the people are responsible. Re-
Gently gentleman said to the writer
that he had supported men for the
legislature of Delaware in his paper
whom he knew justice demanded
should be behind prison bars. Party
exigency required it. Here the editor
failed Of his duty to the public, but
would the public have listened to any
appeal, and who is the party man that
s'shall cast the first stone" at our
friend, the editor? But members of the
General Assembly are honorable men,
the majority of them, and it is a mis-
take to abuse them collectively as the
papers of Delaware have done.
Next school teacherE' That is
a calling that no man shall cast a slur
upon and go unrebuked by us. We
hold that in the formation of character.
in giving direction to the future life of
the young, it is not second even to the
and the man or woman who
would belittle the office and work of a
school teacher is ignorant of the foun-
dation upon which this great Republic
is constructed. The faithful and ac-
complished school teacher holds an
office second to none in Importance, and
the man or woman who leaves it with
an idea that it is unworthy the yery
best efforts, fails in estimating its true
value to the public.
First a farmer boy!" Yes; and
every farmers son may be proud of the |
distinction. There is no calling more
honorable, no man more essential to
The prosperity of the country than the
farmer and his son. 1t is the ssfarmer
boy" that is the hope of the country.
in work and in character, and how in
initesimally small is the calibre of the |
man who refers to the "farmer boy's'
position slurringly as the least desir-
able Of all callings and of all work. |
Boys should be encouraged to stay on
he farm for upon the thrift and pros
perity of the farmer we all depend. To /
'lur al "the farmer boy" is doing him
not only an injustice but the commu-
lity great wrong. We shall gladly
the day when as not only the
most honorable but also the most re-
"the farmer boy'' can ex-
10 i'm xv;fh prido gsT ooL ~ -. -n |