The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-02-17

Eating Ones Grandmother
Ethnologists have told of tribe of savages, not
ordinarily cannbastic but which is addicted to the
cheerful habit of making away with the elderly people of
the tribe by eating them.
We civilized people cry out that nothing more shock
ing to the moral could be conceived and rashy base
would be the who should rise to dispute this con-
demnaton yet eating ones grandmother CHANGED to be
the custom among u.s. the people who denounce
the savage below the level of the beast would defend
the custom with all the vgor Of mind of which they are
capable
Or, what would be worse, they would condemn it in
words but support it in deeds.
The ordinary human mind, aye, and often the extra
ordinary one quite incapable of forming it's
judgments 1t follows the judgments of the crowd of
TOM Of environment of heredyof anything except its
independent unbiased carefully studied conclusions
IF the ordinary mind is capable of creating its
Standards then it is unwilling to do When see
whose mind is both capable and wiling who actually
what is right and then strives to follow it, stare
1t him a and dismiss him with word Crank!
AT that moment, did but know it, "eatng
grandmother
That is to say, we choosing to follow custom,
matter how bad how absurd merely because it is
tom.
Does this sound bitter? Does it place too low est
mate upon the race? All you need to do to look about
you-or into yourself.
Why is the Occidental Christian Tor supposed to beg
and the Oriental Buddhist Mahometan2 Because he
believes in Jesus, Buddha Mahomet? Not bit of it.
Bring up the Buddhist in Christian community, the
Christian in Buddhist community without counterac
ing family influences and behold! the Christian is Bud
dhist and the Buddhist christian.
Neither of them takes the trouble to examine
what he believes. It is easier to call the other
heather, dog of infde is easier to 'ea S
grandmother
Again, does anybody believe in war; Incredible.
What A man born of woman, human being with any
element in him above that of the serpent believe in war!
In ifs ran6S
cries, its maimngs and murderngs its watercures and
orders to kill babies of 109
Yet today will tell you solemnly that 'war is
hel and in the same breath boast of the ability of
navy to make hell Our president will bow his knee
to the Prince of Peace Sunday and Monday will urge
greater efficiency in the art of numbering neghbors
Is he hypocre9 Not at all. He is merely eating his
grandmother
He can defend his course? Why, certainly And think
what number of excellent the savage has for
HIS practice
Eating ones grandmother!
"a 1t does away with old age pensions.
(2) 1t simplifes life insurance Companies simply
insure at reduced rates. the eligible age after which
the policy lapses
81 1t forever solves the question agitating ten
derhearted corporations to what to do with employees
out in their service.
az It is factor in the economy of the food supply
90 It is happy compromise of the question Of inter
ment cremation.
6) 1t appeals to the most refined family pride. After
sucking his grandmother's marrow, not more
truly boast of being bone of her bone"?
(7) 1t gratifes the nobest altruism After having
subssted upon the world for three score and ten
say, how natural that the unsesh should desire to
give the world chance to subsst in return.
(8) 1t saves aged and infrm people from neglect
Interested grandchildren will carefully to it that the
old folks are fat and WE'LL fed.
(9) 1t reduces pauperism and abolishes abuses in
homes for the aged by abolshng the homes themselves
These nine and 9999 you would hear
habit of eating grandmothers actual instead
of alegorca And the chances that you would accept
them then easily you rdcule them and easily
you accept lot of the things you "believe" now
The Judges Of a Judge