The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-20
THIS BUSINESS
OF BEING A MAN
BY Grover G. Hall.

who knew so much and na0 SO mduy
helpmates to take care OF that ne
later lost his head.
And so it goes. Man has had near
ly all the work to do. He has worked
long hours clearing forests, blazing
the way for civilization, building cities,
shedding blood on the field of battle
to protect the home he loved. dt has
been his lot to write most of our books
on love, sociology, politics, economy,
and what not. 1t has been his lot to
stand up in the nations forum and
contend with an aggressive opposition
on proposition calculated to change
our manner of living for the better.
| He has made all our great speeches,
| held all the best and meanest Offices
in fact, he has done the heavy think
ing and has put his ideas into opera
ton for the welfare of us all, but such
go down to a silent grave, wept, hon.
ored and sung.
| Near-Men.
Now under this nstSye will doubt
less find some peaches. We wiz ind
the drones, the idlers, boot-leggers,
thieves, crooks, criminals and syco-
phantic fiunkeys, the latter being OF a
class that Graves a crum of notice
from their superiors. ,(You know we
have hundreds of near-men who would
prefer being spit on by justice OF
the peace than not noticed at alD.
We see under this list the thin
chinned individual who ducks when
you look him in the eye, who hasn't
gray matter enough in his Uranium to
entertain a sick kitten. We see the
poor, God-forsaken dyspeptic who
knows he isn't much good and persists
in measuring other peoples shoulders
by his tape. The world hasn't dealt
kindly with him perhaps and he is
convinced that all people are hypo.
critics and unworthy of trust.
Then, there is the Smart Alex-e<er
hear of such things? o yes, We have
'em! When kid he snapped at his
mother when she corrected him, and
now when a near-man he is averse tc
the wise counsel of his elders. He is
man enough to take drink when
want it and keep sober" He is also
good at gaming, knowing that he is
running no moral risk in INDUCING
: such amusement.
Out of this class we evolve sooner
or later he who works a lifetime on &
small salary, he who never commands
the confidence of his employer or his
associates. Out of this class We ge1
the swindler, liar, all round crook, anG
from their ranks we recruit the legions
who have filed the drunkard's grave
In other words, there is enough o.
: the bad in some men TO reflect dis
credit on the others who are worthy
From the ranks of this class we ge
only:
The wretch, concentrated all in self,
Living shall forfeit fair renown
And doubly dying shall go down
To the vile dust whence he sprung
Unwept, unhonored and unsung'
After paying respects to the indi
vidua1 from this same class who de
lights to knock and attempt to dras
2 down into the mire the fair name O
S others, let's close this chapter on tn,
: evil side.
Frown Here.
I You have seen the cowardIy, repro
g bate of a near-man who stands on tn
street corners to amuse himself b.
s casting his lustful gaze upon an limo
cent woman as she passes; he turn
q to his friend to make disrespec1A
: observations" on the young woman
e Being shorn of any conjunction G
S conscience he hesitaes not to cast
stigma upon her name though he b
g without excuse for his cowardice.
L He isn't capable of approaching tn
=: truth in the following lines:
q Good name in man and woman, dea
my Lord,
y Is the immediate jewel of their souls
/ Who steals my purse steals trash: II
)! something, nothing;
I Twas his, tbs mine-and shall b
7t slave to thousands,
y But he who filches from me my goo
" name,
e Robs me of that which not enriche
e, him,
d And makes me poor indeed"
: Yes, we have some bad eggs anon
u those who style themselves men, bl
a good men should not be held accour
n able for it. Only those who live Il