The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-03-04
AN ERA OF
SMARTALECKlSN
Something for the Young Smart.
Alecks to Read and ponder
Over While Not too BUSY

ana school today with the assiduity
exercised by parents and teachers OF
even two decades ago. Instruction In
etiquette and courtesy is needed, else
an era of smartaleckism is at hand.
HOW many of the younger generation
measure halfway up to the standard of
George Washington, expressed in his
maxims? The latter, it is feared is
almost forgotten.
Little or no respect is shown for age
and experience. At l3 the youngsters
know too much; at IL they know it all
and alas, they know that they know it
ALL They think the old folks are fools
and the old folks know that the young
sters are fools, as remarked by an
ancient philosopher. Experience is
the school for them--the only one in
which fools will learn. Smartalecks
remind one Of the jackleg carpenter,
who works under skilled mechanic as
saw'and-hatchet man for couple OF
weeks, then graduates" and hangs
out his Single as a contractors; or like
the peewee newspaper reporter, who
cubs for a month or so and is ready
to give pointers to the managing edi.
tor. lie forgets that no matter how
smart he may be, experience is the
thing that counts, and workman's
true measure is taken only in emer.
gencies.
Too many youngsters lack in common
courtesy, the first mark of breeding
and family distinction. An insolent
boy and forward girl are little short
Of abominable. This kind of boy is
too numerous. He is everything that
Washington wouldn't have him be. TO
company he sings or huns to himself,
drums with tigers and feet. He speaks
when others speak, sits when wOmC q
stand Especially in street cars, turns
his back on others speaking, joys when
another reads or writes, leans on one
as if aweary, fatters and fawns when
he desires favor. instead of making
manly request reads in company
when there is no necessity, peruses
what another is writing, paws over
anothers papers and books, occasional
~ "swiping" them; shows himself glad
aud derides the misfortune of others
the meanest sin of all-strves impu-
IDENTIFY in argument with superiOrs, and
submits his infalible judgment without
authority or modesty; mocks and jests
at serious matters, makes sharp and
biting remarks, tells stale jokes and
outlaws thereat, is always reproducing,
cursing, reviling: plays peacock and
struts and stares like a fool, esteems
smart company and "glad rags"
above associates of good quality and
rich. unguady raiment; his converse.
ton is tinged with malice and envy;
he speaks of doleful things in time OF
mirth, aud of joyful news in time OF
melancholy; he SCOTS at sacred things
and speaks injurious words, both in
Jest and in earnest, earning the mod
ern social title, "Knocker'', he is for
ward. uncivil, discourteOus, the last 20
salute. the first to hear and answer,
most difficult creature with whom to
converse: he goes where he is unwel.
come: he reprehends constantly the
imperfections of others, he gazes upon
the marks or blemisbes of others and
asks how they came, he sees, hears,
tells. untold before, all that he knows
and ten times more, as Churchill said.
he pokes his nose into private and deli
cate affairs, earning the modern title,
Buttinsky": he "butts in" when
others speak in private, CABS and
lan0hs when his superors talk; he
.ries To dominate in matters under dis
on.sion and refuses to abide by the will
# The majority; he speaks evil OF the
obsant. speaks hippantly OF God and
~ attributes, and also of his natural
narents without reverence or hOnOr;
pis recreations are unmap y and sinful
lie cna,.lz of celestial Conscience is DOR
,nant and without glow. He Is thor
"mghlv unlikeable, the smartaleck boy,
,vban he could be, by proper training,
loveabIe and attractive. usetui ana
,"nuIa Tbe smartaleck, nndeniable,
tnn nnmerous-the kind that does all
no things Washington IN his Maxims
~. .1;nrad american youth to avoid. He
a. a, a ~, ~ y gentleman. though entitled, by
10 non and citizenship, to be one.
T. p"i il devnnleiy TO be hoped, when ne
nesds tbls he may see himself as Others
s e.'I him aud refvrW -Tacoma TRIBUNE.