The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-08-26
PENDENNIs' CHAT

accidents, war and other sensational occur
renee. Of course test of this kind would
have to include all newspapers, or at least a
majority of them to be complete.
(ust think how unique it would be to have
all newspaper readers cut off from their
regular source of thrills. Perhaps it would
be cruel to deprive them of sensational news,
but still, it might do them good, and who
is so venturesome as to wish to stand in the
way of doing good.
| What delight it wonld be to see a scare-
head running acrost the front page reading
JOHN GOODMAN HAS GIVEN ALL
HIS WEALTH TO THE POOR AND
HAS GONE TO WORK, or to find an
editorial setting forth in stirring sentences
the merits of brotherly love-. Great would
be the feast of the optimist.
Pendennis is aware that circulation would
fall off. but still the experiment would be
worth trying for some idea would be gained,
as to the particular kind of news the public
relishes. Now / know that there is always
some contrariness to everything attempted
that is the least bit original.
do not expect anybody to take this idea
seriously, but do claim that the project
would be worth while and that it would
cause great deal of criticism and also
reveal quite difference of opinion, as to
the value of sensational news as steady
mental diet.
There has been woven into the weave
and web Of our peculiar step mother tongue,
many bright sayings. Most of these maxims
answered excellent purposes in their days Of
usefulness, but the changed conditions Of
the life of today has made some of these
old sayings pointless. One of these grand
old sayings "make haste slowly" is
obsolete in this age of rapid doing. ''make
haste slowly" was first among the maxims
Of the stage coach days of pioneer life. We
live in an electrical age, an age of rapdity.
We cannot make haste slowly. People
could ''make haste slowly" when they were
doing small things in small way, but to
do large things in large way requires
quickness.
Big transactions in business now require
quick accurate thinking and rapid execution.
To keep apace with the times the success
full man of the present makes haste, quick
ly, and accurately and wisely.
In considering the recent disorder in
Hayti it would prehaps be the opportunity
to mention the peculiar military organization
that has been an affection upon the govern
ment of that unfortunate country.
This odd military corps consists of six
hundred and fifty warriors who are COM
manded by ten generals. There is also a
regular army of uniformed troops. The
regular army does the right work of the
revolutions. The "Guard of the Govern
ment" with its ten generals keeps the
regular force supplied with revolutionary
disorders.
| When we consider this inner ring of
expert warriors and their ten ambitious
generals we can, perhaps, realize the
difficulties in the way of peace. The Haytian
people are not inclined to disorder. They
are handicapped in their efforts at self
government by the "Gaurd of the Govern
ment" and its ten revolutionary generals.
The American Review of Reviews for
July is quite caustic in its comment of the
tactics of the press during the recent diplom-
attic crisis.
There has been gradual but profound
change in the attitude of the press toward
war, as an evil in itself. Furthermore, the
public also becomes calloused and loses its
sensiblity, if only the events of war are
far enough away. Thus the sale of large
editions and the demand for 'textras'' began
to wane. War news of the most appalling
kind becomes tame. The only way to
stimulate the appetite for ourself was to
bring things nearer home. Hence the use
of the Lusitania incident in large headlines.
The newspapers seemed intent upon get
ting America into war over that bad affair."
Isuppose when the war budget is figured
tup the air ships will be charged to overhead
expenses.
For long time Pendennis has wished to
write word about feminism, but could
not muster the courage. He has been forced
to make this feeble protest, because a
magazine publisher has taken some of
Pendennis' subscription money and used it
to introduce new lady authors to the readers
of his favorite magazine.
The favorite magazine gave until recently
good live stories written by men, for goo
money paid in advance. Now the ladies
are having their stuff printed in that mag
azine. One with romantic theme is hav-