The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-06-12


Whether Solomon invented all his PROV
erbs, or gathered them from many
sources with a nicer sense of permanent
worth than Mr.. Tupper exercised in his
later compendium, is and ever Will be an
open question. Solomon's copyright ran
out long before Tupper's time. and both
are now pOached upon with impunity by
all classes, from authors TO advertisers.
But, taken by themselves. proverbs well
repay careful study. Students of ethnol-
ogy ind in the proverbs OF the different
races the clearest proofs of their real char
acterIstics, for they are the shrewdest and
yet most intimate expressions of their
daily life.
Judged by the comparison of these
homeIy sayings, it will be found that all
nations are of one kindred, possessing
common needs, common aspirations, and
seeking similar relefs from toll and Ia
Dor. On the dustiest shelves Of our Ii
braries may be found collections OF all
the proverbs of the different nations,
quite a large proportion of the work hav-
ing resulted from the interest which mis-
sloharles have taken in their earnest
studies of the uncivilized peoples whom
they seek to instruct. That the shreWd
sayings of the Scotch or the bright nits
or the Irish should be carefully collected
gives little cause for surprise; but col
lection of Abyssinian proverbs, of those
OF the Tamil language, of lcelandiC lore,
OF the Sanscrit, South Sea Islands, Chin
ese, and Hottentot Solomons does excite
curiosity. The missionaries have found
1t a pleasant as well as a profitable task.
1t delves deep into the idiOms of the Ian
Suage. tells with unerring accuracy the
mental tendency of the people, and by in
Producing the foreigner into the inner
thought of both home and trade shows
nm the real life of those who adopt them
as everyday expressions
II Is impossible to read the wel-col-
lated proverbs of the Chinese without
realizing that n home life exists in that
iioWery kingdom which rivals that of
many more civilized countries. No Solo
mon, 10 descendant of Abraham. could
eclipse the trade proverbs of til" Chinese.
lhey touch on trade with a keenness and
thoroughness which proves them to be
masters in that school. The baser life Of
the Hottpntot, the loose morals of the fel-
lah, the independent spirit of the Briton.
are all crystalliZed in their national prov
erbS.
In England and many other countries
1t was formerly very usual for Il trades
man To select some provcrh as his motto,
and thus post his prluciples plainly over
his shop door. 1t remained. however. for
an American house to appropriate the
proverbs Of the world en- masse and use
them for their own advancement. New
Workers who ride on the elevated roads.
or people who in less favored localities
still jog along in the slow street cars. are
familiar with the blue and white proverbs
which proclaim the merits of SapOlO TO
the world. Every omnibus in London and
almost every tram car" in England is
similarly adorned.
They made their first appearance on the
broadway omnibuses. were gathered out
Of over 1000 pages of the worlds coIlec-
tons, and twisted 10 suit the case Many
Of them are beyond easy recognition in
their new dress. many are entirely orig
inal. but these are also printed between
inverted commas. which lends glamour
of antiquity to them. No-day we are told
that over 2O,n0 of these blue cards are
displayed in public conveyances carrying
over 6nn,uUD passengers daily.
Condensed thought generally requires
padding TO make il intelligibIe to the
masses, just as the stomach of the horse
must be distcndci with hay to make the
oats digest readily; but with proverbs it
is quite otherwise. Their popularity is
only reached because they have passed
muster Is being clear TO every mind They
tel their story with a directness and brev-
ity which pleases the public. as the die
tionary did the old Scotch woman-''Thev
air Draw stories, she said. but unco'
short Turned to tell the practical story
of Sapolio they often acquire new inter
est. Who reads the advice. BE patient
and You will have patient children" with
out an innate respect for the advice which
follows, not TO fret over house cleaning.
but do it easily with Sapolio: And who
can repress smile when the Sapoiiouic
artist pictures tn" patient father and the