The Arizona copper camp., 1916-06-23
EDITORIAL

Never makes sapdash decision. None of the fly
ing off the handle that young fellows business are
liable to. Sprague'H bear Watchin< I didn't know
he had such stuff in him.
This conversation faxed chesworthv somewhat
Stupidity paradng caution! Having nothing to say
passing muster as conserva tism But, soon be-
gan to feel the bankers attitude was only an indi-
cative straw. A time upon the lawyer when
ne perceived unmistakable evidence that all Weles-
vile was revising it's estim of Ephraim and
salutng his client in a !.
Spragues manner and expression was frequently
grave; Chesworthy understood that sprang from be-
wilderment and perpexty more often than from anv
other cause but Ephraims callers did not weighted
down with thought and responsibility they said.
But II the community was revising it's estimate of
Ephraim Sprague, something occurring more
amazing more puzzng and. to Chesworthy. infinite
y more fArccial STILL Eph aimSprague was apparent
ly revising his estimate Of himself
oh, it's all right Stephen reflected He needed
to buck up but what-what does it signify? 1t can't
mean-its simply, howingly impossible that it should
mean-that he's taking himself seriously. He's stupid
but he's not stupid enough for thati'
But daily this seemed a poorer conjecture A
solemn something had passed the spirit of
Ephraim Sprague and if he did consider himself
very much of worth while person. he gave all ex-
ternal evidences to the contrary.
For every dignity which Sprague assumed no mat
ter how fatuously, others responded in kind The
more ne strutted the more the community believed
he had right to strut; it encouraged strutting
and he strutted again.
Soon Chesworthy heard of Spragues proffering
advice to young men, friends of his son. who CHANGED
to be round the house; presently heard of young
men seeking Sprague Tor helping word in fashion
"sprague. on his part. the lawyer argued, was able
TO play his role only because of unallowed stupid
lty. Out or stupidity his career had sprung upon
stupidity 1t throve Stupidity, incompetence self
deluson all much the same to Chesworthy had at
once brought Ephraim to the brink of ruin invited
the attorneys protecting hand, for Sprague his
reputation for caution ad permitted to indulge
In appraisal OF himself tina scorned a1ie-fhe past
ana present. and with that asnine estimate himself
Stephen certain his client could have acted
up to faculty Of public opinion which made repua-
ton and bestowed honors.
Arizona has stuffed shirt of her own a boob of
luck, child of blind fortune 1t is a political
stuffed shirt but it takes just as seriously as
did the tumefied raiment of the Post story Forced
into public recognition by joke Fate the shirt
has strutted and sweled looked serious until
public opinion to large degree has it seriously
And when the public began to kow-tow the stuffed
shirt began to kow-tow to itself. The result as in
the Mackenzie story has been induce further ko-
towing by the people, Placid dumbness in the face
OF problems they have taken for deep and careful
consideration, funeral mien for the dignity of a
high office, and slow pom pous manner for the silent
consciousness of power.
In 1act the picture of the sober, pompous Ephraim
Sprague who never had idea in his life srutting
on the platform at college commencement posing as
self-made man, and attempting read manu-
scrip composed Of hash of meaningless proverbs
and insane vaculties, bears most striking resem-
blance to Arizonas stuffed shirt