The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-12
From, Other Pens
RAIN AND HUMAN MEMORY.

Southern California, which is ordi-
narily long on sunshine and short on
rain, has been experiencing a series Of
floods during the past few weeks. Re-
cent dispatches indicate that much
damage has been done. 1t does not
rain often in that section of the coun-
try. Such heavy downpours as have
been recorded recently are not unpre-
cedented, but there are not many rainy
seasons. They come years apart. The
Los Angeles Times says the rains are
80 rare that people forget and place
themselves in jeopardy by moving into
dry beds or by building homes along
the banks Of streams. when the very
fact that high water Is not unknown
to those localities should serve as 4
warning that it would probably come
again. People have short memories
about floods. In fact. they are a good
deal like 1.-THE. bloody. bloomin'- spar
row. ifimortalized in verse for build
Ing his nest in spout. He was
washed out when the first heavy rain
came, but went back to re-establish
his domicile as soon as the clouds roll
ed by and the sun reappeared. Along
the Ohio river We have q flood proba-
bly, once a year. and sometimes more
often. Every time there is an mum
dation of the bottom lands a large num-
Der of the dwellers therein experience
hardships, discomfort and deprivation
by reason of being driven from their
homes. But when the river goes down
they promptly 30 back to their battered
habitations and resume the business
of life as IL a flood we're a mere in
cident instead of a calamity. The av-
erage human being Is a hopeful animal.
When the fuel supply is low he hopes
for mild winter. When provender is
scant he hopes for a good crop year.
When the run of luck is bad he COM
forts himself with the reflection that
it is long lane that has no turning.
When he has been baptized by fire he
looks for a rain. and when he has been
deluged by a flood he confidently ex-
poets a long dry SPELL
To be sure, they build houses in the
creek beds In California. The same
thing Is done everywhere else, even in
places where rain, Is no curiosity and
where it is never safe to bet there will
De three successfully cloudless days
Louisville Courier-Journal.
EUGENrCs AND COMMON SENSE.
The expert" is always willing to
take the human race in hand and do
It good-after his own plan, Of course
This quality has been peculiarly in
evidence Of late because of various
petterment congress sessions. We
have heard much of various schemes
Tor getting a thoroughbred" race.
Now, fdealism is a great social force,
and moral earnestneas IL not to be de-
spised. but it should be remembered
that the existing human race IL the
product OF some 100000 years of dras-
tic elimination. This process Of sur
vival is still going on and will go on.
The notion that the best human be-
ings can be bred IL an exploded fall
lacy. What q man is and does depends
much more on his own independent
choice than on his pedigree. What
humanity needs now In the defafled
application of proved facts concern
ing food. air work and sleep. Our
burden il to get people to do what in
already known to be right, not to
provide them with cross-indexed an
cestorg.-Collier's Weekly.