The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-18
From Other
Editorial Pages
Is NO TIME FOR BOASTING; TIME
TO SAY NOTHING md SAW WOOD.

The Red Book: Until four years ago
many Americans actually believed that
all Englishmcn were blonds who wore
monoclcs and exclaimed Bah JOve"
and that all Frenchmen were brunettes
who wore waXed mustacles and corsets
and kissed one on the cheek if one left
ones guard down. And both the Eng
lish and the French believed that all
American talked through their noses,
began most of their sentences with
"Wal, | reckon" and made up their
conversation from braggadocio and bonn
bast.
The war has made us acquainted
with the real Englishmau and the real
Frenchman and before it is over, tney
win know us as We are. They are
learning already that if Dragging was
national characteristic, we have lost
it And strangely enough, not only they
but some Of our own folks seem to be
disappointed.
Reporters who are "oyer there with
the American troops report that our
men are going to the opposite extreme
from Dragging. George Pattullo, writ.
ing recently on this subject said:
The truth is that Americans today
are too dihident about their capacity.
[ found that spirit even among the
men in the camps, They realize what
terrific lot there is to learn so behold
them sitting humbly at the feet of any
nationality which has seen war expert
ence, glumly dubious Of their own fit
ness for the emergency.
"Now that is not the brand Of spirit
which wins. Personally | would rather
see them in the old cocksure mood
| far rather hear them Dragging thar
Uncle Sam could lick all creation with
one hand tied behind his back and hi
eyes shut For the Lord seems to
take care of the cheerful ass who, IN
| his ignorance, can see no reason why
an impossible job cannot be done-and
who goes blithely ahead and does it,"
Mr.. Pattullo's apprehension brings &c
mind a story of Lincoln. Just before the
! first of the Lincoln.Douglas debates, the
| Douglas followers We're boasting thai
Lincoln would not have Il show. Lincoln
said nothing and his friends became
worried. one Of them showed his con
cern. Lincoln asked him if he hat
ever seen two men getting ready t,
fight. lie had, of course.
"Well," said Lincoln, did you eyeI
notice how one Of them is apt t,
brag about what he means to do? Ht
jumps in the air cracking his heels to
gether, smites his fists and wastes hi
breath trying to scare somebody. Th,
other fellow says not a word. Hi
arms are at his sides; his fists ar,
closely doubled up; his head is drawn
to the shoulder, and his teeth are Sc
firm together. lie is saving his win'
for the fight. and as sure as it come
off, he viii win it, or die a.trying."
Lincoln did not win the senatorshir
which was the stake in the debates, bu
he lost because he refused to deviat
from his convictions; he had over
shadowed Douglas as 4 debater. An
liz was the things Lincoln said an
did in the debates which made hir
4 candidate for president
We are entering the fight Of our lives
, And as Lincoln said, that is no tim
8 to waste breath in boasting. Before W
. regret the modesty Of our soldiers let
. remember that the Prussian militar
leaders proclaimed that their troop
would be in Paris before the war wa
three weeks old!
The best possible policy for us is
say nothing and saw wood.