The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-18
AS TO PUTTING HANDS IN
POCKETS.

Mr.. VIM. e. Curtis is greatly troubled
because he cannot ascertain why it is
that the mountaineers of Tennessee and
North Carolina have a habit of keeping
their hands in their pockets. Mr.. Curtis
would be better employed in trying to as
certain why certain sharpers are permit
ted to put their hands in other folks
pockets. The mountaineer originally may
have put his hands in his pockets to keep
them warm aud save the expense of
gloves. He may have learned
that the world is composed of
just two classes of people
these who put their hands in their
own pockets and those who put their
hands in other peoples pockets. They are
honest people and, seeing society divided
into these two classe they determined
to let everybody know that they belonged
to the honest class who keep their hands
in their own pockets, resolved neither to
put them into other peoples pockets nor
tc permit other peoples hands to be
thrust into their pockets.
Having enlightened Mr. Curtis on this
point, will he now undertake to find out
why so many people seem resolved to put
their hands in other peoples pockets?
There is more necessity for an investi
curiosity that prompts the inquiry as to
a habit of the mountaineer. 1t is a mat
ter of the widest Importance to prosecute
the second inquiry and ascertain whether
X is due to kleptomania, plain stealing,
or to the assumption that the world
owes every one living If he can get
it by rifing other peoples pockets There
is another collateral investigation Mr..
Cs.tis might proftably undertake, to-
wit: Why is it that many man, who
would not permit any person to put his
hands In his pocket, will support policy
of government that encourages and per-
mits one man to get rich by taking from
others what belongs to them? In the
protection given to trusts, in the Dingley
tariff, in the fast mail subsidy, in the
proposed ship subsidy and in other ways
we find governmental sanction of this
thing of putting ones hands in other
folks pockets. 1t has gone on so long
that people who are robbed seem to think
that they have no redress. They have
got to the pass that when they see the
boi
pockets wrong side out so as to save
them trouble The men who get rich by
putting their hands into the pockets of
other folks actually complain, however.
that the men into whose pockets they
are wont to thrust their hands do not
thank them for doing it.
Since the above was written the fol-
lowing special from Washington city to
the New York World just seen, is added
because It has application:
"A picture of Secretary Shaw by Char
tran, which will be placed in the Treas
ury Department, was received today from
New York 1t shows Mr.. Shaw standing
with both hands in his pockets. a char
acteristic attitude Mr.. Shaw likes the
picture because il shows him in his most
natural position. Mr.. Shaw cannot talk
business a minute without having both
hands plunged deep into his trousers
pockets Some of Mr.. Shaws friends OBJ
jeetcd to the painting because, they said
the attitude was not dignifed enough
for Secretary of the Treasury, Mr..
Shaw listened to their objections until
he got tired Then he declared himself:
Well gentlemen. he said with great de-
cision, my hands are in my own pockets,
anyway That ended II.
Mr.. Curtis might pursue his inyestiga-
ton and ascertain why Secretary Shaw
has the habit of putting his hands in his
pockets.