Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-03-30
WE'RE FOOLISH, TOO.

WhAl tools these m0r'a'' be. 80 !,
Wv says Puck. So say we all Of
US, admitting the classification to be
correct, and that we too, are number
ed with the herd. 1t is an old and
true saying that sucker is born every
minute. A remarkable thing about
this is the ardent desire some people
have to be born again. All warnings
against deceiver are unheeded. All
laws enacted for the protection of the
guileless are useless. Credulity is a
common failing. Perhaps the old
Greek was wise who placed the credu-
lous among the good. Guile is natural
but not common; some do not have
it at all. Every mothers son OF us
has weak spot in his armor. He
may rail at superstition, sheer At pre-
diction, laugh at warning and scof at
all in whom pleasant emotions are
aroused by anticipation, but some
where, somehow, he listens to guileful
whispers and takes his place among
the credulous. In business affairs, in
religion, in politics, the one who has
the ability to reason or charm us into
believing that in lotus land all desires
will be gratified, is the one to whom
we turn for guidance. There is none
SO strong but is stronger by leaning
against another. The strength of the
human race is recognized by nations
and men. Combinations can with
stand what, uncombined, can be easily
broken. There are recognized forms
in civil and religious architecture. 1t
has taken ages to produce what en-
du-es, what will last. Knowing as all
men must know who have arrived at
the age OF wisdom, that the building
they erect, to iEhabit, must be con-
structed along right lines, to keep it
from tumbling about their ears, they
are eager to accept new plans for Il
castle which is but shanty when
completed. Many lordly edifce with
spacious halls, gorgeously decorated
rooms, mosaic floors and labarynthine
corridors, when finished, has kitchen,
parlor, bedroom and hall in one, so
small that the children must stay out
if the pig stays in, and you are anx-
ious to be cruel to neither.
The man with a mission comes
along and secures a train of followers.
The fakir vino wraps up imaginary
ten-dollar bills in packages containing
imaginary superior soap finds custom.
ers in abundance. "What fools these
mortals be-" The promoter who floats
imaginary shares in an imaginary
mine, promising rich returns, finds
that kind OF mining pro6table-to
him. The man with scheme finds a
gullible public waiting for him and
his scheme. Recently a promoter
foated stock to over one million dol
lars in London in pneumonatic pave
ment scheme, which existed solely in
his imagination. A colporteur is said
to have taken over ten thousand dol
lars out OF Alabama in small subscrip-
tions to gospel road to Mars. Last
summer and the summer before, a pair
OF fakir Quaker doctors made one hun
dred and fifty dollars per day selling
their medicines and coaxing the raven
tape worm from his lair.
The man who has the goods, es-
peclally green goods, can get rid OF
them.
Politics is favorite vehicle for the
Cheap John to ride in. What a WON
derful assortment OF wares the man
has to offer who wants the support OF
the public! Ii the man has no party
OF his own, or he is unable to secure
anything through the party, with
which he has affiliated, he starts a par
ty. He will have a following. No
man is so crazy but Others will believe
him sane. The religious fanatic has
a fanatical following. The political
fanatic also has a fanatical following,
but the majority of his dupes are just
PLAIN ordinary everyday Tools. The
granger movement at one time was so
large and SO intense ahat many be-
lieved that if 1t were not successful the
wheels Of government would cease to
revolve. 1t didn't succeed. Green
hackers howled long and loud for rag
time currency. Tney didn't get it.
Sllverites predicted general smashup
If BRYAN were defeated. He wasn't