The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1899-10-04
THE SPHINX.


s'Some people talk great deal
about poetry and understand moth
ing about it, others nod knowingly
to comments about the latest books
and would give out the impression
that they had read them all even in
advance of the publisher; others will
agree with you regarding the trou-
BILE in the PHILIPPINES and their know
ing demeanor would lend the i'm
preston that they knew all about
the differences between John But
and Dom Paul in the Transvaal.
Thus sagely spake the Sphinx and
the inquiry naturally followed as to
what kind of a riddle he was propos-
ing now, to which the ball headed
aquarium replied, that he was simply
offering an Illustration leading up to
a dissertation upon the differences be-
tween folks of large and small
towns.
E'Some people are want to rail at
the small towns and provincial ways
of the inhabitants: but lean your
forehead on your left hand, and as
you sit with your feet on the fire
dogs, and rest your elbow on your
knee, and then-if you have fully
realized for yourself the level, pleas
ant landscape, the house, the inter-
Tor the folk within it, their interests,
interests that seem all the larger be-
cause the mental horizon is so limit
ed las a grain of gold is beaten thin
between two sheets of parchment
then ask yourself what human life
is. Try to decide between the en-
graver of the hieroglyphic birds on
an Egyptian monolisk and one of
these folk in provincial town. Peo-
pile of the city may have little
bit more of the fine quality about
them and may be a little bit more
dainty in way and manner, but
it has been demons trated time and
again that the man back in the
woods gets there just the same.
Even our own Dewey does not hail
from such large place, but he is at
tracing a great deal more attention
just now than did even the Prince of
Wales with his gambling tables a
few years since.
"The only trouble with small towns
is that our minds are liable to be
even smaller than the population,
but it does not necessarily follow
that all the great minds exist in
large cities. But there is one thing
about people in cities. or at least it
would appear that way to me-and
that is that they must be impressed
most by their own insignifcance.
one of these city fellows can 60 out
and get full, stay drunk for three
days, finally turn up at home and be
locked up at home in the spare room
by his WIFI and nobody will know
anything about it except his family,
but what commotion a thing like
that would cause in a town of few
thousand inhabitants.
sThe provincial is always deeply
concerned about his neighbors. If a
prominent man in a small town dies
business is suspended for at least
half day in order to allow all the
folks to go to the funeral. or If he
should be Irish an additional allow
ance of time is needed for the wake.
In New York City Mr.. Smith would
read of the death of Mr.. Brown at
No. 1862, goth street, and would
remark, why that is just Lext door.
wonder what the fellow looked like?'
and would then dismiss the matter
forever from his mind.
People of course become interest
ed in base ball and other sports in
the cities, but you never heard of
them standing around on the corners
several days after talking about the
pitchers curves and reading the
'demnition act Of the umpire.
"And they do not have any such |
big times either at their weddings. |
Of course they have some swell |
events, and the newspapers describe
the brides costume and the artistic |
effect of all surroundings, but they
do not have any such breakdown