The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-11-27
THE IDLER.

q THE IDLER. 6
3 g" 81 9 9 8 9 9 9 @ q @ 9 @ 9 g 6
wonder if any one in NeWberry laas
ever read the Knockers Prayer.
came across a copy of the Anderson
Intelligencer the other day-I think
it was the Intelligencer-any way il
was an Anderson paper-and | read
this prayer in the editorial columns oi
that paper. 1t seems to me that
ave read or have heard that every
one in Anderson was singing that ole
familiar hymn-"Ande erson is my
town" And l was surprised to find
sucn prayer even quoted in an An
derscn paper Now, in Newberry ii
would make a cap that would fit some
neads-except waen it comes to hos
pitality-especially if our guests are
the good Women-then We can't be
beat and every one stands together
but when it comes to business and the
boosting of the town commercially or
herwise-look out-somebody is go
ing to be hit dead sure. Everybody
mas a hammer or l1atchet or a stick
Or a-tongue--that most dangerous
and most unruly of all things that
knock-and he (s&e) does not fail to
use it. Maybe it will be different
now tat every one got together on
one thing. Let US hope so. Let US
pray so. Here is the prayer, introduc-
ton and all:
The Knockers Prayer.
The following is so good, and is so
much like some people We know in a
city not more than a thousand miles
from Anderson, that it is given for
what it is worth:
Lord please don't let this town
grow. I've been here for thirty years
and during that time I've fought every
possible public improvement. I've
knocked everything and everybody, no
firm or individual has established a
business here without my doing all
I could to put them out of business.
I've lied about them, and would have
stolen rom them if had the courage
have done all I could to keep the
town from growing and never rave
spoken good word for it. I've knock
ed inard and often. I've put ashes on
the caildren's slides and I've made the
marshal stop the boys playing ball
on my vacant lot. Whenever | saw
anyone prospering or enjoylng them
selves I've started a reform to kill
the business or spoil the fun. | don't
want the young folks to stay IN this
town and I will do all | can by Law,
rule and ordinance to drive them
away. 1t pains me, o, Lord, to see that
in spite of my knocking it is beginning
to grow Some day l fear l will be
called upon to put down sidewalks IN
front Of my property and who knows
but tat l may have to help keep UP
the streets that run by my premises
This, Lord, would be more than l
could bear. 1t would cost me money,
though all ] laave was made right
here in this town. Then, TOO more
people might come if the town begins
to grow, which would cause me to
lose some of my pull, ask therefore,
to keep this town at standstill, tat
| may continue to be the chief. Amen"
o.
Then over against this let me make
two ot2er quotations. Have you ever
read about the man who WINS and
thought about how ne WINS and why
he wins 1t is a good lesson and he
is usually an average man. He is
not always looking at the clock If
he is working by the day. He is not
afraid he will do a little more han
his share. Listen. 1t is written by the
Optimist, and only an optlm1st can
win. The man wno is always finding
fault and only seeing the aad can never
accomplish much, Listen at this.
Read it over again. 1t Will do you
good, O, so much good.
The Man Who Wins.
The man who wins is an average man
not built on any particular plan,