The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-07
LET independence be our boast,
Ever mindful what it cost;
Ever grateful for the prize,
Let it's altar reach the skies"
Keep Up With the Times.


ed more deeply than his fellows. is
usually a matter OF conspicuous and
justiiiable pride among all good citi-
zens. Yet there are those who are
Slipping, almost unconsciously, into
the rear ranks who would feel deep
ly hurt if they were confronted with
the statement that they were behind
the times" The popular notion that
such retrogression is a matter that
concerns old age alone should be dis
PEELED at once for many man of sew
enty with his face toward the setting
sun has revealed greater interest
and more accurate accumulation of
information on present-day matters
than a strong-limbed youth OF
twenty or his middle-aged neighbor
who. by force of circumstances,
should have a much greater interest
in what directly concerns their future
living. Many a wrinKled grandmother
has listened in engrossed attention to
the incoherent account of the big
game from the lips of small grand
son whose mother waved him aside
with Don't talk that crazy game to
me-"
Among the great army of pander-
ers, people who chatter unintelligent-
ly on half-digested themes or who are
absolutely Indifferent to all that does
not directly concern them in visible or
tangible manner, it is with positive
relish that one converses with the
man or woman who is well-informed,
that is to say the individual who has
read both sides of the question, dis
cussed both sides with adherents of
each and has then formed an unprej-
udiced and unbiased opinion of his
own. After hearkening to the bigoted
and blind statements of the man who
has not looked beyond his own little
self, it is with delight that one comes
upon the man who has diligently
climbed over his own head and sur
veyed the valley on either side of
him. 1t is especially a matter of re-
BTSl W NE lldJ So many NOlucil wv
not bother" to inform themselves on
matters that interest the public at
large. Anything which concerns any
man or woman concerns all men or
women in greater or less degree. In
the crime of the dissolute there is the
warning for the man on the edge OF
the ravine In the benefaction of the
philanthropist there is the example
for the idler. In the thrift of the
hard worker is the light that should
guide the path of the spendthrift.
Everything that has to deal with the
general good has right to demand
individual attention. In this l firmly
believe and ! would excuse no man or
women who pleaded Lack of time to
acquaint himself or herself at least
in some measure with the more i'm
portant themes Of the day.
Therefore, when ] asked my neigh
Dor yesterday, who would you
choose for Governor of Vermont?'
was greatly disappointed in his care
less reply:
Don't care either way. The mat
ter doesn't concern me-"
1t is this individual spirit of inertia
and Indifference that makes public
laziness and it is not only spirit of
inertia and indifference but a spirit
of selfishness. The man whose soul is
centered on his own ambitions, his
own interests, his own aspirations
headed for some grass grown side
track ignored by his fellows as mer-
cilessly as he now ignores their
movements.
1t is a matter of the highest inter-
est to men and women and youths
and maidens to interest themselves
in the movements OF the entire world
to the highest degree possible along
the line of their chosen endeavor and
to keep an intelligent eye and a wait
ing ear for the latest inventions in
science, the system of taxation, the
good and bad in the tariff, the problem
of the church and the government,
h the school and the home.
They say Vermont Senator has
paid the closest attention to his col
leagues through lengthy and tiresome
debate and is rewarded when his own
efforts are turned to oratory by
equally absorbing attention on the
part OF his neighbors. The man who
pays most attention to other men in
an impersonal and benevolent and
courteous way free from gossip and
impertinences, is the man who may
depend upon the largest share of at
tention when he needs or desires it.
Women especially need to keep q
firm hand on the events of the day
that they may be helpmeets in the
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