Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-13
REV. H. J. WYckoFF TALKS
TO CRESCENT co. EMPLOYEES
The Subject of the Talk Was "cut 1t
Out"

"Cut It Out" made the subject of
the helpful talk given on Monday at
noon by Rev. III. ]. Wyckon of the
Second Congregational church, in con-
tinuing the series of shop talks at the
Crescent Fire Arms company. Two
solos were sweetly sung by Mrs.
Louis o. Potter, her selections being
The Rosary (NeYin), and Keep Sweet
(BillhOrne).
Rev. Mr.. Wyckoff said in part;
Slang is used IN two ways: with the
significance Of a trune and fitting ap-
plicatien, and as the mere loose repe-
tition of a catchy phrase. 1t is the
latter that makes slang wearisome,
and causes 1t to be constantly changed
so that every new day sees a substi
tute for. the slang of yesterday But
whenever the words are so used as to
fit the occasion the phrase takes on
a new lease Of life. This bit of slang,
Cut it out" is worth saving from
the scrap pile; and before it is sup
planted by some fresher and mere
catchy substitute. l want to try to
give 1t back its original significance,
and, If possible, to fasten that mean
ing SO that neither 1t nor the phrase
itself shall ever be lost to us.
Whoever coined Cut 1t out!" was
probably facing something that was
not right. 1t may have been a de-
cayed spot in an apple. or splinter
in the finger. 1t may have been a
threat OF peril, like a broken machine
still attached to the power shaft, or a
malignant growth in the body. What
ever il was, it was where it should not
be, and it needed to be removed.
Whatever threatens safety must be
cut out
1t is only step from this signifi-
canoe of these words to their lighter
use Not only the things that threat
en- loss, but also the discomfortS and
difficulties of life are thus challenged.
A mans load grows heavier under
some temporary necessity of life, and
he protests, Cut it outl" Advice that
is good because it fits his own case,
but is distasteful because it fits too
close, is met with the growl, Cut
it out!" Yet his judgment ought to
tell him that he ought not so to de-
eide these issues Of life. Laws may
Interfere with personal liberty to guard
the rights Of others; but it Is raving
anarchy that would do away with
law. Our greatest American, whose
birthday is cOmmemOrated this 18th
day Of February. did not consult his
own personal gain or security when
certain issues crowded upon him for
acceptance. He cut out his purely
selfish objections to those things which
ought TO be. And that is the applica-
ton OF Cut 1t out!'' which we must
remember: cut out the narrow, self
ish, personal protests against the big
things that can move us and the world
forward.
One thing more; cut out also the
resistance to these forward movements
of life. You can silence your speech,
and refrain from protest more easily
than you can vote in the affirmative.
You can keep your itching hands
from the bandages that fret you; but
can you suffer the practical acqui-
escence of positive assistance? The
secret of the motion of the trolley
car Is in the action of the controller
lever which notch by notch cuts out
trying to get at the wheels and turn
them ahead. And the only way that a
human life ever gets under Roadway
toward real manhood is by cutting out
its resistance of God. You may cut
out your evil habits; you may cut out
your angry protests against help: but
you viii never move g step toward the
realization of the truest life until you
have thrown a lever Of the will hard
over, and cut out your souls resistance
of the Divine Love that is crowding
the power Of almighty God upon your
inert human lives. Cut that out and
keep it out and you have solved the
riddle of life: How to be the man
you ought to be.