The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-28
SEEING AMERICA FIRST.
~ FRED c. KELLY
Copyright. 1915. By Fred c. Kslly)
prom Diau:

From Diary:
One OF the best things about big exposition.
regardless Of how good an exposition II may
be. is the excuse IL gives thousands of people
to leave home.
Suppose q man were to 20 home from his
office some evening and say 70 his wife:
Wei. were all going to San Diego and Los
Angeles and San Francisco. California. Well
go out there and see the country
extrayagAnt. or crazy. or both. She would
either ignore his remark entirely or else strike
him gently over the brow with handy skillet
But with big exposition going on. an ex-
position 20 celebrate the completion Of the big
gest engineering feat OF all time. there 10 .
chance for patriotic argument man can 20
TO his wife with the assertion that they owe IL
to their children TO show them something that
win impress on their young minds the great.
ness Of a nation that has the enterprise to dig
Panama canal
And what can she say 20 that?
The whole family sets out for the big fair.
puts money in circulation. sees various sights
that set them thinking, and all is well
II Is good deal like going 10 attend the an
nual convention OF a secret order. Every secret
order has great national conventions each year
attended by delegates from every place you can
think Of They meet and elect officers for the
following year and decide on their next meet
ing place In order that stfi more delegates may
again. What good does IL all do, None what
ever. except that Il gives all the various dele
gates an excuse 10 leave home and get a new
shift Of ideas IN their heads.
Imagine Henry Smith. paperhanger, sitting
down 10 his supper and remarking 10 his wife
that he Is fixing 20 set out for Los Angeles or
Seattle-for the reason that he desires 70 see
what there Is 10 see there ask you what would
befall Henry about them
But Henry belongs 20 a lodge He In past
exalted sultan Of the Giraffes
He comes in from lodge meeting some night
and while taking off his clothes for bed-his
wife being already in bed and looking at him
half-suspciousy from the caves OF the coverIets
he breaks a bit Of news TO her
Well" he begins. Il came mighty near get
ting my foot In IL tonight" Brief pause What
do you suppose our lodge wanted me to do! Huh.
They wanted TO elect me delegate to our ma
uonal convention away out TO San Francisco
California. next June. Can you beat n! As
IL had nothing else 10 do but travel away out
yonder TO California to attend convention.
What's that? What did tell them! Oh,
explained 10 them that couldn't do H. They'ye
still got me down but I've told them they'll
have TO get somebody else appreciate the
honor Of IL and all that It's big honor Of
course. But can't 20. I'll get out OF II some
way"
This is along about the fret OF March By
the middle Of May Henry IL remarking that the
lodge seems determined not to let him out OF
going 10 the grand lodge meeting few DAYS
before he Is to start, he sees that there IL no
hope for him He will simply have to go And
the news IL broken 90 gradually that no harm
befalls Henry az home He makes the trim
and II really does Henry a great deal OF good
His absence creates a nice little air OF romance
Tor him about his own nreside When he re-
turns with tales OF the sights ne has seen his
wife wonders how such a fascinating fellow
ever escaped being snatched from her by some
beautiful adventures in the course OF his wan
derings
II "a the same way. in a measure with emo
sittons. Thousands Of folks all over the counp
Try owe the California fairs q great debt.