The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-05-14
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DAILY
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w TENN
It seems to ne t;iat. there is ut least
one quality which Is daily becoming
less common among US, and that Is nc.
curacy. This is the day OF big things,
of large undertakings, and broad out.
looks and general culture. but 1t Is
most emphatically not the day OF &c.
curate knowledge. II you will take the
paint TO notice, you will find that the
average person knows n great many
things loosely, but very little exactly.
Indeed, It seems 10 be very difficult for
the average person. 10 be exact and
definite about anything
] was anxious 10 hear all about a
certain ,kind OF work which was being
done by woman In nelghboring city.
! was told that friend OF mine could
tell me all about II. When went to
interview her on the subject, she cor.
roborated.this. oh. yes. she knew, all
about It; she had lived next door to
the woman for six months. she assured
me glIbly. II sounded hopeful, but
when We came down to definite facts,
] was less delighted, for the following
is fair sample Of the accuracy OF her
information: How much could Mrs.
A. usually make at this work?" well.
I'm not exactly, sure, II ras either
thirty dollars a, week or,lliyty a month.
I've heard several times. But | can't
seem n,t to rseRmember which ,.,,m
Affriend OF mine was visiting in a
city some miles from home. To get
10 the depot from her hostess's home
she was obliged 10, travel on the trolley
car. When 1t came time for her to 60
home, she Planned on u certain train
which would get her back TO town In
season for an important engagement,
and then asked what time she could
get trolley car TO take her TO the
train. Her friends assured her that
the trolley car, which went past their
street at ten minutes AFTER the hour,
would give her ample time. Unfortu.
rately. ten turned out. to be merely
one OF those round numbers with
which this generation is so prone to
CONTEXT itself. The car actuallys.went
at seven minutes after the hour. She
missed 1t. missed her train, andfcouid
rot keep the important engagement.
r-Ghe man who wears watch that he
is sure is exactly right Is q rara avis,
and n popular one, too, for all the In.
accurate watch carriers are con2tan.ly
dvailing Themselves OF his accuracy
And at least niue homes out OF ten, |,
you ask: ''Ts that clc,ck exactly right
you will he told: mo, | think It is a
little fast--l don't know Just how
much" or I'm not sure-I'm afraid
1t loses Httle," or something Of that
sort.
To be sure, not knowing the aexatt
time or day, or the time trolley cdt
goes. is not wicked. although Il Ger
tainly causes infinite trouble, but
things like these are indications OF oul
national trend towards ineXactness
and inaccuracy.
There is an expression: az wan
what |. want when ! want It," which /:
said TO be characteristic OF the Ameri
can people. wish 1t could also bt
said of us thatywe know what we know
when We know It.
y In the home. In the schools. in public
life. in business Efe. in professional
life. In cur children. IN ourselves. /
certainly behooves us TO fight thi
growing tendency 10 be satisfied Will
carelessness and inaccurate krowl
edge.
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