The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-21

neceSSlteS OF uIe win the statement
that the Lord will provide" and they
frequently constitute a definite and
impractical element in a community
that retards its progress.
/ is hard enough to extract liv-
ing from the little mountain farms
without having shiftless occupants
developed by religious frenzy. Game
has been practically all killed off in
the mountains and these same fa-
natics. who once roamed the woods
and compensated for not doing other
labor by keeping the larder supplied
weight on an overburdened commu-
nifty.
Practical minds among the noun
taineers have long recognized this.
The superstitious beliefs acquired by
literal Interpretation of every line in
the Bible, frequently twisted by frenzy
into some meaning power never in
tended TO be conveyed, has formed
a stumbling block to relief workers
who have endeavored to improve the
condition Of the people. Superstition
is rampant and the word of some half
craZed evangelist" uttered in mo-
ment of excitement from rule bacli7
woods pulpit, has more weight than
any advice on sanitation or physical
betterment by workers sent from the
outside world.
Moreover, the readiness with which
the corrupt element has recognized
how the mountaineers Of this type
can be approached on the side Of their
religious zeal, is said TO have resulted
in the stirring up of much strife.
The vicious element that wishes GER
tain people removed" for political
purposes or personal vengeance, can
frequently find slayer ready to
hand or can incite trouble between
two factions of mountaineers by
playing on their religious beliefs.
Human nature also figures in the
matter and persons Of shiftless dispo-
stions have been known to fall back
on Biblical quotations and the GER
tainty Of their own salvation" as
an excuse for not paying any atten-
tion TO the trivial matter Of provid-
ing support for themselves or their
families in this life
No one questions the sincerity of
the Rev. DR.. Woodbridge. He has la
bored painstakingly among his peo-
pie, with no hope of earthly reward.
And when he announced that he
would starve himself to death unless
his daughter accepted the only means
which he believed would enable her
TO enter the heavenly kingdom, he
did so in the firm conviction that he
was doing what was right
The mere fact, however, that he
should choose this method of COM
pelling a girl, who, her friends say,
is naturally Of "A devout turn of mind
and Of a religious tendency to go
through AN outward form which she
rejects, is an indication Of the fanat-
icism which this form of religion
develops.
Miss Woolridge, it is supposed, hav-
ing announced her stand on the sub
ject in the interest of the younger
element in the community she is
instructing, felt that to yield would
be an admission that she was wrong
before the scholars whom she is en-
deavoring to fit for a proper view
point OF the world
Frmness in her stand alone, she
realized. was. was necessary in this
case II she yielded, she knew that
much Of the teaching and enlighten-
ment she and her fellow workers
We're trying to bring To the back
woods younger generation would be
wasted. They would be convinced
that the frenzy Of the pulpit was
the real guide.
Accordingly, she kept TO her pur-
pose, although the strain upon her
must have been great. And the sud-
den determination of her father To
eat again gained her point Those
who have watched the case report
that the old man became affected
by his long fast and doubtless he sin
cerely believes that some dream or
vision OF his agitated mind was
divine voice to call off his strike.
Where especial interest centered i'm
the episode was among the scientl-
f'c element When word was brought
that the old man had actually lasted
three weeks In a state o. starvation.
at the same time going through the
most violent physical and mental
strain medical authorities were arous-
ed They believed this beyond the
capacity of human being. despite
the long fast of Mayor McSwincy. For
the Lord Mayor and his associates
we're confined TO their beds and were
the recipients OF the most tender
care. Their temperature was watched
closely and the heat In their rooms
adjusted accordingly; they received
water and some necessary salts and
were massagcd and rubbed at inter.
walls by attendants. Friends OF the
hunger strikers say that only the
devoted attention OF the nuns in at
tendance at Brixton JAN kept the
strikers alive for so long a period
When Dr. Tanner tasted FOR 80