Evening journal., 1902-04-26
Bill llParSOn'S 'SCOIumn
Published Now and Then.
Government by Maxims

There are many persons who govern
their conduct by maxims and phrases,
and who are skilled in argument only
in the use of some principle or maxim
whidh has more or less application.
Thus the guard stick of some dead
mans thought is brought forth and
our measure taken. We have in mind
certain estimable old ladies who i'm al
perplexing situation open their Bible,
and the first text their eyes light upon
decides their conduct This may be-
taken as an evidence of piety, but i'll
is also an exhibition of superstition
which, leaves much to chance.
Parents keep in stock a collection of
pet sayings which are brought out and
hurled at the heads of their childrenI
at the slightest provocation, and the
youngsters are supposed to chew over
these chunks of wisdom until their
conduct becomes all that is desired.
little folks should be seen and not
heard" Is a favorite; and the healthy,
restless child who has escaped that is
a curiOusity. This means that the lit
tie ones are to get their stools and
sit sedate all in a row. and drink in
the wisdom that drops from the lips
Of their elders. They will be edited,
and their minds will expand while
these elders are talking about shop
ping, and bargains, with an occasional
remark in an undertone rejecting on
someone's character Of course the
silent little chaps take this in, and for
their presumption are Informed with
a sneer THAT "little pitchers have long
ears. So they may infer that little
felix's should not only be perfectly
auiet. but they should be born deaf.
Notwithstanding this, we doubt very
much whether and healthy child ever
passed a day in which it was not
heard AS well ask colt to copy
tho sedate manners of a plow4hOrse, as
toexpcct the healthy boy or girl to keep
quiet And the thing that from the
viewpoint Of the child is illogical is
that at times parents are interested in
the romping, and at others hold it
akin to crime.
The modern psychologist tells us
that the reason the child asks so many
questions is that he wants to know sol
many Things, and that his questions
are for the purpose of finding out. III
he is not to be heard, then the great
est source of his information is sealed.
series of questions like the following
hurled at us: what lis the moon made
out Off" OF how do the angels get upI
TO heaven?" and what makes the
trolley cars go?" and to be conscious
that our answers must be sufficiently
explicit to reach their infant intelli-
gence. But We should be patient and
answer every one possible, for aren'tI
4
haven't we pestered our theologists and
philosophers to tell MS the mysteries
Of life and death and the purposes of
our being? And do we not know what
it is TO appeal in vain for definite
knowledge?
But the grievance of the little ones
does not stop here; there are those who
give this as their first lesson in table
manners, "let your victuals stop your
mouth" While this may be deemed
inelegant, yet it is employed because it
is forceful and appropriate. The aver
age healthy boy tries to live up TO the
injunction, although he knows to do
so literally would interfere with his
respiration, necescitating vigorous
thumps in THE back. 1t is excellent
advice, forsooth, that encourages the
makes it impossible for him to answer
sudden question, but causes him to
roll the eyes and gulp in agony. Need
less to say, too, the injunction is to
apply only to tender years, and soon
the child is trained in another di-
rection-to eat like a human being.
9 9 @
Is there a young girl vino hasn't had
told that beauty is but skin deep2"
Well, suppose 1t Us. Is that any reason
why we should not prize it? Does any
one wish to be ugly as a nightmare or
4 to to gaze on hideous things even if II
is true? But what a restricted idea OF
beauty that isl The heavens at night
are beautiful, so ere the fields and the
lblOssoming trees, and the maxim does
not apply to them. Whoever original
ed that narrow expression must have
been vain. for It shows that whoever il
was was thinking of its restricted
meaning as applying to the human
countenance.
We might go on and quote g
thousand of THESE venerable saying:
which are hauled forth ready-made and
warranted to fit all circumstances anC
ltOnulUUnH. W DIS ultIt ever DtIFOl
who contemplated matrimony who die
not meet the phrase uttered by a gill
) tongue Marry in haste and repent a
leisure?' The word haste in this in
stance is quite flexible and applies t.
3 any case where we are sceptical OF tn
, wisdom of the match. If the sayin
+ were useful at all it would be to brin
p into contempt the sacfament OF mar
;. Iriage.
. o 9 8
SO it goes on, and we have both Ou
\ religion and our politics made to on
4, der. For centuries our forefatheI
a were fed on the phrase ''tihe king ca
, do no wrong" And it was cOnstrue
to include every weakling, every cut
}, throat that ever sat on a throne.
1 took a good many hundred years
break loose from the dominic
. OF that absurd statement an
l. il cost the blood of II
Is best men Of Europe. Indeed a gre'
"