Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-03-15
1917
The Opinion of One Man.

Katherine laid down magazine as her
uncle entered the room.
20 Uncle Will" she exclaimed, 81
have made a painful discovery ltseems
that can't tell mere written trash from
literature ''
"How did you find it out ?" asked
Uncle Will.
From an article in this magazine,
which holds up the works OF one OF my
tavorite novelists as a horrible example
of what many people read and like. The
article analyzes one Of these books, and
finds il full OF crudities and absurdities,
with nothing whatever OF value in it.
"But il is not the book, bad as it is,
that disturbs the essaYist so much. as the
ignorance ofthe people who actually seem
10 enjoy such reading. That is where |
am hit. am ashamed TO confess that |
read that book, and others by the same
author, and never realized that ! was
worse than wasting my time"
al never happened TO read that book"
said Uncle Will, after glanclug over the
magazine article, land so have nothing
to say about the justice of the criticism.
But am reminded of little encounter
that witnessed years ago between two
well-known citizens OF my native village.
"The men, who had met on the street.
were old Colonel Leonard and Simeon
Lowell, the chairman OF our board OF
selectmen.
"The colonel was dissatisfied with the
way in which town affairs were being
managed. He was man OF imposing
presence and powerful voice, and as |
stood among the little company that were
listening 10 his denunciation Of poo
Simeon, was reminded ofone of Cicero's
orations against Catiline, which we were
translating in the high school just then.
AT last the colonel concluded his TRADE
something like this:
"'Your official career, sir has been
characterized by laundering stupidity
unparalleled in our local history, sir; and
it is lasting disgrace to your towns
people that they ever elected you, sir !
"Simeon, who was an lnoffensive- look
ing little man, had listened in silence, and
now the crowd eagerly awaited his reply.
II came.
THAT, said Simeon, in his thin,
squeeky voice, is The opinion Of one man.
Everyone laughed and the colonel moved
on.
81 have thought OF that answer many
times since then. Our age is prolific OF
opinions. They are thrust upon us con-
stantly from the printed page and the
platform, as well as in conversation and
they are often expressed in manner
more vigorous than polite. Many OF
them are worth considering, even when
they run counter 10 our previous notions
but very few of them can safely be taken
as the final word on the subject in hand.
$50 when read or hear some especial
ly sweeping criticism, or dogmatic state
ment OF some new and startling theory,
my first impulse is to quote Simeon
That is The opinion Of one man.
"Ill remember that" said Katherine,
laughing.
"But dropped in," Uncle Will con-
tinued, ITO ask il you would like to 20
with me to the art exhibition this alter
noon."
"Yes, indeed, if you can wait a few
minutes" Katherine answered.
"What DO you think ofmy new gown ?"
she asked, as she reappeared little later.
"Well," he replied with judicial frank
ness, 81 should call il distinctly fashion,
able; which is as much as 10 say that il
seems to be lacking in about every ele-
ment of comfort, and even of beauty,
that a young woman's dress should
possess"
"Oh, thank you, Uncle Will" said
Katherine demurely. 81 suppose am TO
remember that that is the opinion Of one
man."