Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-02
Outside Point of Wen.

One OF the first noticed and mention
! ed characteristics Of the American In
dian was his disregard for business life.
The self suffering as well IS tina, OF his
enemies vas of little nom ent All of
the above applies in full force to all
unciv!lized peoples. AS soon as the
Russo-Japanese war was in full sway.
! the same stoical. lack OF fear OF death
! was remarked Of the Japanese. This
( was explained as love of country great
er than desire 20 live. And in the case
Of our American Indians various rea-
f! sons have been given, why death had
no terror for the brave, or even the
sGuaw. Human life was not sacred
This sentiment showed in the terribly
cruel manner, the aged and the sick.
were deliberately left TO die in solitude
unca-ed for by relatives, young or Old
But II has remained for the civilized
produce of humanity. especially IN
these United States, to astonish even
barba-ious nations with new form
of defiance to the great Reaper.
| 1t comes in the form OF sports. recre-
alton. Our football skirnishes result
! ing in occasional deaths. were too
! tame. Automobile racing fills a long
/ felt want. The recent Long Island cup
race resulting in several deaths Of the
participants in the race and one in
nocen, spectator. an old man OF sew
] enty, was "a most successful meet.
Again travelling thru the air is now
delightful pastime. Already spectators
Of air travel have witnessed over sixty
deaths since such travel was made a
favorite amusement. Walter Nellrnah
and his six brave com panions" are en-
titled to the additional credit OF per
! forming TO a very small audience. Only
small shipload OF appiauding specta-
tors al the finish.
/ But seriously there is more TO this
new reckless disregard of self human
life than appears at first thought. The
motive of Wellman was different from
! that of any Of his party. The Wright
Brothers. all OF the other aviators in
Germany. France. England and the
country have motives entirely different
from the man that voluntarily goes in
to the whirlpool at Niagara Falls. The
circus performer that turns the somer-
! sauIt with the autom obile of course we
class with the lion tanner in the cage
with only whip for a weapon. Roose-
Welt goes to Africa regardless Of
danger. but think Of II. he takes his
son into the same dangers. Roosevelt
is not even content till he. too risks his
! life in the air at 81. Louis Well
mans wife and daughters, no more
4 Than Peary's wife. no more than
Roosevelt's wife. not only aliured these
husbands and fathers to gamble with
death but actually wished them god
speed.
/ Who shall explain this craze? Where
! is the philosopher 10 tell US why not
only Barney Oldfeld races with death
in countless automobile races but thou
sands OF spectators pay big money 70
see the race, and the possible result OF
his foo! hardness OF course every
! American in Cuba or Spain goes at
least once to see a bull fight and
comes away disguised because it is so
! one sided-the bull has no chance. Per
ilaps that explains why we take SO
kindly to our automobile races. Chan-
ces are about even that some Will
be killed and we may be on the prem
:seS when it happens. But this does not
| explain why the actors in these races
are eager to compete. Why the sons
Of the idle class. the moneyed power
are today in bioplanes, aeroplanes. dir
igible balloons. and in racing automo-
biles. Is it glory so-called that should
be spelled notoriety? Does that tell
us why Roosevelt had to travel thru
the air One can understand why
Peary sought the North Pole, why some
titled Englishman climbs the Alps. why
some physician innoculates himself
with a deadly poison why Livingstone
headed for the heart of Africa. why In
battle men lead a foriorn hope" Oh.
yes. we understand these things. One
can understand why every age. every
generation produces few such men.
But the present year has brought be-
fore US hundreds if not thousands OF
men that are willing to shake dice with
death Just for the fun OF the thing. Not
only that but many more thousand are
crowding our places Of resort to see
the gamble and feel little or no con-
spirat!on II death wins.
I a S/.-