The mirror., 1920-01-01

HKNMMRH time. You will never regret it
BNzgb and in the later years when you
have grown up you'll be able to horn into
the general conversation.
There is a sort of free-masonry about
this thing of being born and bred in small
country town. Why I've seen strong grown
up men (and women too, for that matter,
though it's mostly the men) go nearly dippy
over the fact that they have come from the
same rural locality. That's one of the ways
they get acquainted and long and lasting
friendship is cemented
Take couple of travelling statesmen, for
instance. They are both hung up in small
jerk-water station for hours waiting for the
next train to take them any place in the
world, just so it's away from there. There
is absolutely nothing to talk about, and be-
sides they don't feel like it. In fact neither.
one is particularly stuck on the others looks.
One of them, however, may have occasion to
make mention of certain town thousand
miles away-his dear old boyhood home.
Can you imagine the scene that then ensues?
AnsVer-You cannot unless you have ex-
perienced it yourself, the discovery that you
came from the very same locality as the other
fellow.
1t sure makes for comradeship and two
or more men from the country town can do
more frst-class Cabling in one evening than
like number of city-born men can put
across in year. Just coming from the same
state, even, will often cause men to tear
right out of their shell and tell all their past
life. Coming from the same county has
caused men to break their rules of conduct
and cast discretion to the winds. But to
find man who came from the same burg
Oh, what a night! ! |! /! And what a sad
spectacle is the innocent bystander of city
man, if he has had the nerve to confess it.
He may just as well 60 right away from
there. He generally does. He is thing
apart, a pathetic figure in history.
l have given rather facetious reason
for being small town slicker. think to
have a well-rounded and true Americanized
existence, to get all there is in life before
you take the famous hop-of, you ought to
get out with the small-town folks. You'll
feel whole lot better for it in after years,
even if you never meet another soul that
came from your home town so that you
could talk the matter over.
1t has always seemed to me that you get
nearer to folks out in the country. Every
thing seems to be more on the square.
Everybody has kinder word and is doing
less cheating and is always glad to see you
back. There is a wonderful sensation in
going back to the old home town after
you've spent weary years in the city. There's
cordial and honest welcome and grip of
the hand that gives you courage to 60 back
and continue the struggle. wouldn't take
anything for that back home welcome. 1t
isn't brass band welcome at all, and thank
Heaven for that!
On an occasion of my returning to visit
my mother, who is still living in the town
of my birth, the return was most startling
in its simplicity. Not that expected to be
escorted to the public square to make a
speech and hear addresses of welcome.
just shook the horny hands of a few of the
old timers who still remembered me as
"Will Briggs's boy" "Now, let's see, were
you the Oldest? No? Oh, now place you
Yes, yes, yes, you was born up there on the
hill. The old place is still standing, too
Well, we'll, well, how long you going to b.
with us? Where are you living now! II
the newspaper business, hey? Well, well
well" ETC., ETC., etc.
Friend Wife accompanied me and tn
local paper had an item that read as follows
"Mr. and Mrs. Clare Briggs and daughte
are here from Chicago visiting the gentle
mans parent, Mrs. Ella Briggs" And tina
was all there was to that as piece of news
People who live in small country tow
are never visibly impressed with the fac