Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-02-06


Guiding myself, came as walking
delegates to the threshing outfit
All of them carried with them the
lessons and memories of many and
various experiences in their wander
ings. A few bore unmistakable evil
dences that they were hopeless dere-
licts on the turbulent sea of life. All
the same, they were men; men of
muscles, bones, nerves, minds, feel
ings, hopes and aspirations like our
selves. They are so numerous that
they have to be reckoned with in our
present complex social and industrial
systems.
One day during the short after
dinner pause in the work, some of
them became talkative. One-a sort
of spokesman for the rest-said he
could summarize the history of the
world in four words. Another DO
hunk challenged him to do it. He
readily accepted the challenge and
these were his four words: Roman
ism, feudalism, capitalism, social
ism" What do you think of them :?
A fellow asked him to define social
ism He said it simply means that
all resources belong to all the peo-
pie; that all industries are ultimate
ly to be carried on for the good of
the whole people; that Nature has
enough power if properly harnessed
to do all the work of all the people;
that the people have intelligence
enough to build machines to make
use of this power, and that after the
machines are made and go to work
then all the dear, long suffering peo-
pie will have to do under the social
list regime will be to sit in the shade
at their ease and "let er buck"
One fellow seemed not to be will
| ing to play second fiddle" to any
body, so he became talkative also.
| He had found out in some mysteri-
GUS way that | was a school dad, "
as he expressed it. He wanted me
to know as soon as possible that
there was still something left for me
to learn and that he was the chap
who could teach it to me. In the
first place he informed me that peo-
pie are just beginning to learn the
a-b-c's of science, and indeed he may
be absolutely correct in this state
ment. I can't just now remember
that I ever disputed it. Far be it
from me to do so now. He covered
the whole ground of human know
ledge in double-quick time, let me
tell you. | think he must have been
taking a flight in some sort of men,
brief dissertation on the new science
of "eyegenics." That is exactly the
way he pronounced the word, the
EYE" being pronounced just like
/ any other self-respecting eye would
wish to be pronounced. I think of
course from what he said that he
| probably meant eugenics, but l am
not sure about it, | did not wish to
expose my ignorance in questioning
him any. Perhaps he has a license
from the shade of old Noah Webster
and has coined a new word. If he
| hasn't, he was an awful example of
| the time honored adage that Fools
sometimes rush in where angels fear
to tread"
| asked another fellow where his
home was and he answered Instant
! ly, "Aw, hell, I haint got any
home. Say, didn't you know that
more than SO per cent of the Ameri-
can people haint got any honest"
certainly did not that's some OF
the work of your id capitalistic
system" he went on, waxing eloquent
as he spoke. Gus poor devils are
better off, though, believe me. 1t
releases us from a whole lot of wor-
ry and care" How I did pity that
poor fellow. | thought him a human
wreck in life's troublous sea, drift
ing from place to place with no def
mite aim in life and no safe haven
in view into which he can enter and
cast anchor after the aimless voyage
is done.
. He asked me where my home was
and | replied that l lived in the
manse next door to the church. He
asked me if | was a preacher and
told him was not guilty, although
l did occupy the house that preach
ers are generally supposed to live in
To this information he made but one
reply and that was, Good for you.
I'm mighty glad you're not. To he'll
with the whole race of them!"
| was so dumfOunded hy his heartIas,