Evening times-Republican., 1903-11-19
OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW
"Familiarity Breeds contempt,u-Not
Alwavs

l"Famliarty Breeds contempt,"-Not
Always.
few weeks ago this scribe was, by
force of circumstances. thrown in con-
tact for several hours with one of the
public men of Iowa. Previous to per-
sonal acquaintance the writer had
formed an opinion of the man. He was
"a chumr," bigoted, boorisf, terri
bly, conceited, sycophant, toady, and
one that money would influence. that
is. the writer had mentally laid all these
things UP against him. And tire writer
was honest in his opinions of The man.
for he had acquired them from read
ing the papers, and also from men who
were acquainted with him. Now add
to this that the writer did not want TO
know the public man and would have
avoided the acquaintance had not been
for the officious mutual friend who
blurted out. Mr. Birdseye, you know
Mr.. Blank MIR. Blank. Mr. Birdseye
is a resident of Nextown, professor of
Rockefeller College And right then
and there the professor almost (not
quite) remarked soto voce:"
Il do not love thee, Doctor Fell
The reason why cannot tell"
or words to that effect.
And now common po1iteness com
PEELED ordinary conversation, on ordi-
nary topics. First we agreed on the
weather. On politics we agreed to dis
agree, and fairness compels the adrnis-
sion. that Mr.. Blanks we'll known po-
litical opinions (entirely antagonstic
to those of the writer) were not nearly
so obnoxious, not to say outrageous, as
the papers and his acquaintanees had
forced the professor to believe. Then
we retrospected. AS boys. a hundred
years ago, our tastes were all in COM
mon. Both OF us owned up to sneak
ing admiration for some things the
young fry" now do, things deserving
severe condemnation,-inp print or pub
lie. Then we got around to religious
subjects and that settled it. Metaphor
ically we fell on one another's necks
and embraced. Probably If we had been
German in descent. osculation would
have followed. We pounded heretics
and hypocrites for thirty minutes and
then, only the renewed entrance of the
mutual friend" sent the conversation
on to general subjects. And so we
parted. Birdseye is sure (now) that
Blank is pretty good fellow. And.
unless all signs fail. 1t seemed as tho
Blank thinks Rockefeller College has
very good professor.
Nevertheless the old saw still holds
good. Familiarity does breed con-
tempt" The writer has met only a
few prominent men and women In this
world. And in all cases. Blanks in
cluded. there was forced on the writer
the old homely phrase that folks are
good deal like the people," The godlike,
the Jupiter, the divinity that doth
hedge about the king, these attributes
always receive rude shocks on such oc-
casions. But while we unconsciously
tear down the pedestal on which these
prominent parsonages stand. while such
interviews always show the common
weaknesses. (mentaD Of humanity, yet
old age brings to the writer for one,
an opinion. that the good qualities at
such time. make Impressions strong
enough to almost obliterate pre-con-
ceived injurious supposed character
istics. Put 1t into smaller words:
There is much more good. than bad,
in the ordinary man. Amend it. This
statement is true OF the public men of