Evening journal., 1919-03-07
WEEKLY TOPIC
and
SOCIETY ITEMS
Of lbe
CITY AND STATE UNIONS

Topic: Lost by Looking. prov %;
29-S5, written by Dr. Watt.
These words quaint and picturesque
though they be. teach withal a philoso-
my no less practical than profound. IL
Is not simply the verse and striking
phraseology employed. but the truth it
cmbodles. That truth is not obscure,
it lies on ths surface. Il is this the
act of .oday becomes the FACT Of to-
morrow. The present is related 10 tho
future as cause Is related t0 effect. And
40 is apparent that the real slgnincance
w this truth Is found in tho phrase
look not FOR al The LAST
70 is like ihe bcll buoy which night and
DAY lifts up rs voice warning the
mariner If the hidden rock which it
unheedcashells disaster 70 his craft.
Since. then. tie trend OF this truth
has to do With the future. since con-
duct is 20 be measured by its outcome,
q glance ahead is IN order. Where does
this road end is the one question we
need 90 emphasize? We know how ana
where 70 begins often under a smiling
sky with seductive odors Of bloomne
flowers, With gay laughter. with prom
iso Of a good time, freedom from care
unfettered by foEgyish notions or views
too strict. But where does 70 end
That Is the vital question. For we are
forcbly reminded Of another striking
word by the author Of this truth when
he says "let not him who putteth on
his coat boast himself as he that put
telh Il or"
And the answer to our question will
have nothing TO do with idle or curious
speculation. The past Is eloquent with
instances In proof Of the disasters that
follow a life under the thrall Of an un-
brlddled appetite. The chamber Of hor-
rors connected with such a life is not
the creation Of a fanatics imagination,
but an awful, crushing reality.
Should some thoughtless youth re-
mind us that this is not the inyariable
outcome, that moderate drinking Is
possible, that excess In the eratifca-
iion Of ones appetite is not a neces-
sary accompaniment Of a moderate use
Of stimulants But a sufficient answer
is that the margin is so narrow be-
tween moderation and excess when
dealing with this advice "look out
that il is downright foolhardlness for
any voting man 20 take the chances
when as o matter Of fact subsi0ntiated
by the experience OF a multitude, are q
thousand 20 one in favor Of excess. Let
no one be beguilcd by SO insiduous an
argument as moderation being q safe
guide. certainly not a safe guide when
one Is dealing with an enemy that
taken into the mouth steals away the
brainsn for when wine Is In vii IS
out"
What. then, in the presence Of facts
borI Of human experience, is the safe
and wise course to pursue? There are
gofd many folks with whom we count
ourselves 10 perfect agreement, who
ne old fashioned enough 10 believe
iaat time and human experience have
iot yet found any safe substitute for
ne advice OF he author who says
look NOT" C1ll this fanaticism, II
you VIII judge 10 the creed of weak
minded. ovorilmcd folks still in lead'ng I
strings, what matters it? Better be I
weak minded and M leading strings I
han the slave Of an inlamed and mer-
'iless appetite that wrecks the Will and
lebauches the soul. Better be old
ash oned than TO follow q course that
eludes and degrades and robs OF self
aspect, self control, health, hope and
appiness. Better be old fashioned
han fooled by new fashion Better be
coward than q fool II Is scarcely
N evidence Of intelligence 60 thrust
lnes hand into the fire Just 70 prove
that one is free and independent
fear is an attribute Of cour-
age
Meanwhile do not lose sight Of the