Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-24

Gerald Van casteel in New York Times.

Gerald Van Casteel in New York Times.
America is trying experiments at time when
she should be taking business precautions. The
easy victory won by that section of the Organ
lied Uplft which has concentrated its attack
upon the Demon Rum undoubtedly will spur
these and other reformers to greater effort 1t
is worth while to glance at the possible fields
left for their activities
The next stronghold Of evil marked for as
sault is that of tobacco. Its use is pleasure,
therefore may be abused. From the standpoint
of the retormer, appearances are against it.
For instance, the tobacco business is well or
gained; the persons employed in it are pros
porous and contented. There is an atmosphere
of geniality about cigar store, and holders of
stock in such enterprises are said to receive fair
dividends and to pay substantial taxes. | can
not smoke, but l notice that when my friends
indulge in cigar they become more reasonable
they are on better terms with themselves and
the world This unearned felicity is, of course
wrong. 1t is unethical 1t should be abolished
Those who have been sending smokes to the
boys abroad should not be thanked but severely
reprinanded. The weed that makes a man for
get for moment that this is world of busy
bodies is marked for casting into the oven. To-
bacco must go.
Our missionaries have protected China from
the curse of opium; who will protect us from
the curse of tea? School physiologies and the
advertisements of coffee substitutes dwell on the
vous system The very fact that people find
pleasure in these stimuants demonstrates that
they are bad. Did not the best of Americans
confess his weakness for another cup of cof
teeE Where strong men waver, IS it not time
to prohibit? Away forever with these alkaloi-
dial posonsl Rouse public opinion to such
pitch that when an actress makes business"
over tea table, the show shall be banned as
tending to impair public morals
We all eat too much. Therefrom follow null
titudinous diseases. These are avoidable. Ami
mails take pleasure in their food we should rise
above the animals. We should eat only to live.
Cooks should be looked upon with suspicion,
unless very plain. The spices OF life have no
place in a reformed existence. They only make
us eat too much. Let catsup become INSIDE
meanor and the man who passes the mustard
candidate for jail We are nearly ready for the
Society for the Suppression of Spice.
And clothes: They need not be suppressed,
of course, but they should be duly regulated so
that the feet of the brothers and sisters of the
Uplift, treading fatty and firmly the paths of
righteousness shall not be put to shame by
creatures with high heels and adventurous at
fractions. When rouge is raging how perceive
the blush of shame? Costly clothes are un-
democratic; they make one look better than her
fellow voter This must not be. Our rage for
regulation makes it not improbable that a. limit
will be set on the cost Of apparel. It's enforce
ment will afford our policewomen a pleasant
time.
All secret societies will come under the ban,
for reasons readily expoundable by any uplifter.
AS the new revenue bill seems to tax every
thing that makes life worth living, a long gray
dawn of betterment seems in store for us.
believe the directions / have indicated have
been attempted in one form or another before
this. ] now suggest a reform by prohibition far
more fundamental. While we are in the mood
to prohibit. let there be no half measures.
There is one overpowering habit that affects
not only the whole human race, without excep-
ton, but has grown also upon most of the AMI
NAL kingdom. | refer to that form of wasteful-
ness known as sleep. Some eminent scientists
and many college professors tell us that "the
in the later stages of evolution" was nearly
conscious motionless condition hardly ap-
preaching in intensity our cat-naps or forty
winks. This natural or normal rest condition
has been studied and labeled the "hypnoidal or
prmordial sleep state From it by degenera-
tomas grape juice degenerates into cham
pagne-has come upon us habit of suspended
animation that takes at least "a third of our
time and requires a whole paraphernalia of
beds, rooms and alarm clocks. lt +
/ have touched upon only few reformable
evils. We have but nibbled at the great prob
lem of making things different, There is
seeking after new things Every movement for
change-wi get supporters and no one dares to
oppose anything,
In Greece the proposer of new law went
before the assembly with halter about his
neck in token that if his proposal was rejected
he would be hanged. We threaten. on the con-
trary, to use the political halter upon anyone
who dares to oppose change, and prudent poll
tcians have relapsed into acquiescence.