The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-10-21
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 81 1915
The Champion Foley of the
Ages

We are told that our national drink
bill, the total consumption OF wines
and liquors, was s2,252,272,000, for
1914, slight increase over the year
preceding 1t is refreshing to note,
however, that the amount consumed
per individual was slightly less in
gain in total amount made use of did
not quite keep up with the gain in
population. 1t seems that the per
capita use of wines and liquors in
the United States decreased from
$226S in 1913 to s22.50 in 1914. This
reduction is gratifying but does not
seem very important when we note
that, although each individual drank
eighteen cents worth less of wine.
rum, etc, than in the year preceding
the grand total was over two and a
quarter billion dollars. Those of us
who help pay this national booze bill
might gain In our self respect and that
of our friends by substracting our per-
sonal contribution from that awful
total
But drink Is not the only popular
foley Tobacco makes a very re-
spectacle showing with total of
about seven hundred million while
something the same amount Is sup
posed to be spent for cocain, opium
and other deadly narcotics, generally
classed as habit-forming drugs.
All this is pretty bad but goodness,
friends, there exists an evil, some
what less understood, to be sure, but
just as real, which by comparison re-
duces any or all of the above to in
signifcance, in fact, you might COM
bine the whiskey bill the tobacco
money and the dope fund with our
entire military expenditure and yet
be behind the cost of our great ma
tfonal foley, which ID also the ST.
preme foley vi every other nation
and has been since time began.
This championship OF foolishness,
this world beaten of stupidities, this
idiocy of the ages, this universal,
criminal and perpetual blunder, Is
OsTENTATIoN, mere swagser, bluff,
hot air, sordid CUFF and senseless
strut Its emblem is the peacock.
bird with tail enough to cover house
and brain the size of bean. Man
has more brain and less feathers.
Perhaps II he were nearer the fowl as
to both he would have less to apologize
for.
We scheme and plan, sweat and
puff, devoting the chief energies of
life to show rather than substance.
1t is quite appropriate to wish and
strive for a liberal provision as to
food, raiment and houslng-the crea-
ture comforts, to the end that, being
better cared for. we shall be better
fitted to do our part in the world and
for such enjoyments as ought justly to
reward our usefulness. But we look
upon them, for the most part, in quite
another light cultivating a silly pride
In the things we have or the priyil-
eyes We enjoy. If, perchance, they ex-
cell, or we can make them seem to ex-
cell, the possessions and privileges of
others.
There are, of course, exceptions,
beautiful characters who avoid the all
but universal madness. There are
people who would take no more pride
in a castle than a howell and, possess
ing either, would count the ownership
at double worth If no man had n
meaner dwelling. There are men
and women, cast for lowly parts in
the worlds drama. strong in their
self respect never seeking to appear
or possess what they are not or have
not. and others in more exalted sta
ton whose lives are full of kindly
Difference and almost apology because
OF possessions and enjoyments in
which all the world cannot share.
These manly men and womenly wo-
men may make the rest of us little
ashamed OF our shams and pretenses
but rarely humiliated enough to drop
them
Man Ia a rising animal and not n
falling angel and this curse OF crafti-
ness and pretense is pernlcious
legacy from jungle days OF It's
abatement, In our time there Is very
little hope but perhaps We OF this gen.
Grafton could help the next to solve
the riddle II We would learn to rldi-
cule ourselves for wasting the great
sr par, OF llte's precious years aiming
20 Guido In hollow and heeting shAms
cur neishbors who are. In this respect
81 hollow and foolish ~ ourselves