Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-01-03

following bit of advice to Ameri-
cans between the ages of 80 and
! so on how to help win the war;"
"Abe Martin met a Teller down in
Brown County that never heard of Tony
Pastor. and we have taxpayer in our
township who thinks the wor.d is fiat.
and yod can find cabaret performers in
New York City who don't believe there is
such place as Iowa, and clairvoyants
still find customers, and you can name
people who will consult a patent-medicine
lad" in preference to doctor. and Old
Jethro Tilford. over in Shelby Township
carries dried-up potato to keep off the
rheumatism.
In every community. you will find q
contrary-minded sediment of the human
race-..people who keep themselves some
what in evidence by noisily denying facts
which are self-evident to all of their
'neighbors who happen to be in the full
enjoyment Of sanity.
They are somewhat like frogs, /. e,
they make an awful noise in proportien
to their number,
Now, if you will take the trouble to
check up in your immediate neighborhood
the people who, from the beginning of
the war, have been full of doubts and
questions and false alarms you will find
that they are few in number and of pre-
cious little Importance, except as atmos-
pheric disturbances.
Also, did it ever occur to you:
That the man who had bought most
literally of Government bonds never
questions the safety of his security?
That the woman who was knitting the
most socks and sweaters never believed
the silly stories about the Red Cross being
a crooked institution?
That the soldier boy about to board a
transport and join his comrades of France
and Great Britain never was known to
doubt the sincerity of the men with whom
he was soon to join shoulders?
. No. indeed!
All the walls and misgivings and fish
stories are put into circulation by few
picayune outsiders who were just built to
be obstructionists and somehow can't
help it.
They are in a class with the Tories
who Toasted the aristocratic British off
GERS while Washinton's Army starved at
Valley Forge.
They are the kind of people who op-
pose public improvements, will not buy
tickets for the Chautauqua, criticise the
minister if he smiles in public, and at
tach the presumption of guilt to any wom-
an attacked by scandal.
They are the small bores and the two
by.fours, the gnats, the sand flies. the
ticks put on earth to teach good people
the quality of patience.
The time has come to ignore them.
II We can not lock them up for safe.
keeping, at least we can shut them out
from our daily program and go ahead
with the important work laid out for US.
This is no time to waste precious hours
and vocal energy in trying to prove that
two and two make four, and water is
wet, and the sun sets in the West, and
the mad dog of Prussianism must be
muzzlcd.
Do not try to convince the miniature
La Follettes, because they do not wish to
be convinced. They derive a bilious
comfort from being different. They
have learned that no cloud has silver
lining; it is festooned on the interior with
crepe.
If all the optimists along your street
should arise some morning into world
bedecked with dew sparkles and ex-
claim in unison, what beautiful, SUM-
shiny day!" then some two-legged crab
would emerge from behind lilac bush
and say, Eyes, but think it'll rain before
night"
If you find banana skin on the thresh-
hold of patriotic opportunity, kick it aside
and do not permit yourself to become
fused.
The stalwart men and women of middle
age are to keek the home fires burning
during the supreme ordeal now at hand.
They are to raise the crops, speed the
factories, collect the taxes. organize the
home guards, conserve the wheat and
meat and sugar, back up the Red Cross.
peddle the Liberty Bonds, write the let.
tiers, pack the comfort kits, and stand by
for orders at all times.
If busy worker feels some one tug.
ging at his coat tail, the thing to do is te
kick straight back and kick / ID, but de
not waste time in looking around.
4 By the way, here is an important til
for every man past 80. Do not tell arount
that you would be keen to- enlist if you
were just little younger.
Some of the men just under 80 vii
have their doubts, and even those VIII