Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-06-04
THE MODERN MAN
Who Is the Modern Misunderstanding
Our Search at Home-The Words
of Life in the Background-The
Ungenerous Spirit of the Revolt
era Formal Definition of Mod
ernity.
w. T. WILLIAMS.

In this day and generation we
should know who the modern man is.
We hear so much about him that we
have become interested in him. For
we cannot turn in any direction with
out we are made to feel that there is
such creature, and while we are
not certain of his abode, yet, we are
assured of his existence. He does ex-
ist in reality, if what we hear is de-
pendable. Then, our curiosity has
been aroused. We have been
made inquisitive. We want to know
everything about him, for, according
to what we have heard, he is a
worthwhile parsonage. His knowl-
edge of things is wide and unuucs-
toned; his experience very deep and
varied; his foresight very keen and
far-reaching; his sympathy unde-
niably established and proven. What
more can we expect? Is this not
sufficient for all intents and pur-
poses? Does this not cover the
ground of our needs? Undoubtedly
it does, and for this reason we want
to find the modern man and make
our acquaintance with him. This is
our desire, and peace with our
selves we cannot have before he has
been found. Our search will be con-
tinued until we are face to face with
him. This is our purpose, and vino
will name the course we should fol-
low? We must be wise in our selec-
ton.
Suppose we start at home-we
mean, in those paths and by-ways
which are not strange to us. This
method has in it's favor a certain de-
gree of safety which we cannot af-
ford to ignore. So, let us imagine
ourselves taking part in a social af-
fair. We will call it party. In at
tendance we see men and women
who are known as cultured ladies
and gentlemen, representing several
walks of life, and in accordance with
the style we will not inquire about
their ages. The term modern" is
used frequently. 1t is modern this
and modern that, and long before the
: refreshments are served we are led
to believe that we are In the COM
pany of group of modern folk
[, They have impressed US with this
idea, and we do we'll to notice it.
Therefore, what have we heard :
To say the least, we have heard what
constitutes a modern person from
several points of view. The mistress
of the home has declared more thar
once in our hearing that she would
|, not sit at, the table, under any cir
cumstances one of thirteen, and she
? is known in the community as one
who is modern in every particular
> She believes it herself, and she looks
upon her superstition as a token OF
her modernity. Again, we hav,
heard another woman saying thai
y she would not walk under a ladder
/ for a great deal. She made thi!
D known with great emphasis, impress
ing us deeply with her sincerity. Be
n sides, enough came to our ears from
). the lips of a man of some learning
to convince us that his ideas of mod
B, ernness hinged on pressed clothes, ;
T, daily shave, and bank account. Il
n the conventions he was we'll informet
! that his manners were well-nigl
J. faultless, but his judgments of hu
manity, the well-being of the world
"a we're so savage that we must refrail
}. from recording them. Moreover, W
h, heard another man speaking in EN-
n, phatic tones of the advantages o
d being modern, when, with ever
breath he convinced us more an
ri more that his motives of life, hi
\. standards of right and wrong, hi
D. understanding of fairness, were SCI
FISH and low-no better than those O
w marauder. So far as we can Sc
n, This company was charming beyon
la the ability of the mind to describ,
er and yet, upon reflection, we are ol
r liged to confess that we did not fe,
n that power coming from its bosol
A. that lifts men and women to tn
VI. realms where one is made to realiz
G. the glory of usefulness.
N, Religiously also we have similar n,
tions and whims to counteract Ides
are held and taught vehementi
when, in fact, they are not worthi'
m. than those of Alb, the cave man. ]
10. all intents and purposes they are
tishism. The unimportant is brougl
to the front while the words of Ii
are left in the background of negleC
* Views of the universe, and of God a
.es cherished which are untenable al
worthless. The superstitions and Il
m credulities of primitive society a
mixed with our complex civiliZatt
,e- in such way that it is difficult f
ay us to discern the voice OF God fro
Ter that of demons. We are bewilder
It'll in the midst of a world which is
Illuminated by the Light of the ages
world in which we ought to enj
ourselves we are perplexed with ia
Of cies which are injurious in the I
,ck most.
tn, Then we have a class of peoI
M who call themselves modern, becau
they are in revolt against the pa
~. By straining little it might be tn