Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-21
JACK KN|FE IS STUDIED
AS A PREHISTORIC LINK
Fondncss for Whiting Invcsti-
gated Revcrsion Towards Ear
iier Types OF Man.
HY \. i. nAnCOCIS


article on ''Occupat ional literary in
State Hospitals" come upon the fol-
! lowing statement: Possibly IT is a
prehistoric instinct that causes mon
to enjoy whiting"
Naturally. on meeting an obscrva-
tion of this sort, one scans. IN mem
Dry, his list OF friends and acquaint-
ances for persons whos. fondncss
for whiting has seemed most mark
cd The retention ~ a prehistoric
instinct in an age OF advanced civ
iiization is something OF which a MAJ.
ought to he thoroughly ashamed or
exceedingly proud ann not sure
which. at all events. /. its man!fcs-
tation depends upon the use of Jack
knife. j find very little evidence of
Its existence among the mu!utudes
OF men with whom ! Ininglc today.
and indeed must GO baci; TO tho
scenes of my boyhood before the
search IS rewarded.
There stands out the vision OF a
man whose reputation as "A trader In
horseflesh exceeded that Of any other
person for miles around. 1 see him
now At the door of the stable 10 which
has just been returned horse ar
ter its inspection by prospective
buyer. a price has been named and
disputed. but you would think moth
ing on earth engaged the dealers
time and attention gave the little
sli'ers falling from piece OF wood
he has picked UP from the ground.
The customers gesticulations are va
ricd: the ether man merely whites.
. The. h0fh in, no ~, ,f
tive instinct-that of getting the
best of targain-bu; the whittier
VIII win in the end; he always does.
His jack-knife is fashioning nothing
either useful or ornamental. bu; ms
mind Is clearer. his Intelligence
brighter, with it in his hand than in
his pocket.
Can IL be that this renewal of self
assurance through whiting is trace
able back to the stimulating emo
tons his remote ancestors must have
icit when they first began turning
wood into disable shapes by means ci
q shell or sharpened stone? Certain
~, Whatever the source or the habit.
whiting was prevalent among a GER
. tain type % men during my youth.
and although under juvenile persua-
sion they could occasionally be In
duced to let the result of the pas
time take tangible form. for the mos,
part par. and Invariably while awaiting
distribution of mail at the post office.
they merely Whitfield.
My objection to the statement from
a medical journal quoted above Is,
.hat In referring to tho enjoyment
found in whiting. it speaks OF sucn
enjoyment a3 still existing.
II whiting is today being in
au.ged In bv man 20 any large ex-
i nau,r sns in a., must be- IKE
habit. In the privacy OF ones own
residence, as something not neces-
sariiv 10 be ashamed Of. but as likely
70 cause misunderstanding common,
! IN world that is fast outSrowing
all simplicities in human actions.
doubt II the old horse-trader OF
| whom l have snoken. were he alive
today, would whistle rs he dealt, and
| am quite sure did he do so, the
strokes OF his jack knife would be
less slow and rhythmical. and that til
| chins would fan faster.
There may have been some menta
stimulation. moral and philosophical
In the sight of slender pine shaving.
hntteEinG downward from the keer
tail TO see how today. under changed
conditions. such stimulation could i,
accomplished by anything short OF /
pianinf- mill in fun operation.
The day of the whittier, he n,
either Of the caln-rneditative or tn,
fierce spasmodic variety, has passed
prehistoric instinct" IL suc, was tn,
cause OF his fondness. has beer
tartan efficiency and hustle. II 20,
doubt II. look at the boys of today
How many are whiting: How man!
can white? What is the need OF i
when pocket-money is plentiful. anc
stores supply everything they car
possibly use in play?
Alas! old pocket jack-knife. play
mate of my youth and friend OF m,
early manhood. what further uso arr
YOU to me? | turn little crank ant
my pencil attains finer point and