Norwich bulletin., 1920-09-18
THE MAN WHO TALKS

IS often surprised at the vast amount or first class work done by men in the sec ondary places of life This is most con- spicuous and notorious in our political system, and will not be improved as long as We are in the grip of the old slogan Ito the victor belong the spells" Take for instance a state office. The success ful candidate may not be lacking in gen. eral intelligence, but he has had no training for the duties of his new posi- tion, and consequently must lean heavily on some faithful clerk who Knows the ropes" from long years of experience. He does first class work but his position is minor one. The honor belongs to his chief as we'll as the reputation and the salary. Why not advance the wor- thy man to the place of honor, Do we not see the same thing along military lines? Foch and Haig and Pershing may plan, but it is Johnnies and dough- boys who actually push the assassins back.
 But there is a converse side to this proposition, and it may be called the test of the second place. One thing is abso- lutely sure, and that is, all men, how ever great their ambition, cannot attain first class positions. There is not room enough nor ability to satisfy every as- piring disposition And yet there is natural and reasonable disappointment in being doomed to the second place. Political elections bring out the trag- edy of this fact with startling vividness. Two men are up for a certain office, and the one who gets it as everyone in his heart knows is the lesser qualified Of course he is elected for a selfish purpose, but it does not tend to increase respect for our free institutions. As the defeat ;c with his disappointment. Why should he be doomed to the second place. or to no place at all? It is a well known fact that the strongest man does not always occupy the White House. The candidate must be the best vote getter.
 If one was on the trolleys day before Labor day he must have seen, at least, the partial solution of one of our great present problems. The New London trolley on which the writer was riding was not more than half filled whereas fifteen years ago at such a season the car would have been packed. There was scarcely moment, while we were going between the two cities when we did not 1 meet an auto, which was not so fifteen | years ago. This explains why the troll l leys and steam roads are having such a time to live. The problem of transpor- tation is always vital one for civilized peoples. National growth ceases when 1 facilities for Transportation are not
 equal to the national demand But in i these days it would seem that the peo- 1 pie are settling their own transportation problem by taking it out of the hands of companies But will they be able to dc this in the winter season? Will the
 people be able, by the use of tractors, sto handle their own freight? These are 1 still unsolved questions.
 1 Probably you have mary times ob- served when travelling that before the train plunges into a tunnel, the lights | are turned on. You are warned of what 1 is coming and are not "overtaken as a
 thief in the night" Instinct serves the individual the same purpose. The eye | lid closes involuntarily when danger is | near; it is natures way of putting us or | our guard. So deadly a menace as the 1 rattlesnake is not without it's warning and thus nature that is so severe in de l manding obedience is not wholly want ing in kindness. It is a common say. | ing among sailors that If you see 2 l rat jump overheard then follow him. , because a shipwreck follows. What i! | the object of pain? It is not a disease neither is it injurious. It is merely . sympt@~, of something that is injurious
 It mel.4y says: Look out for the en zine when the bell rings" When tn, night of life draws near, ought not son' i preparation be made for the great Here : after?
 There is some sort of a charm in a bi, crowd, otherwise people would not com together in any considerable numbers !, Why did 16,000 people-a record numbe [ tt-come together on Labor day at tn agricultural fair? Was it to see freak in squashes or big potatoes? or was i
 primarily to see one another? Perhap the sportsman went to see some favorit horse tret, but not all of the crowd ha . any interest in the races. Let us sup pose that everyone of those sixtee } thousand entered the grounds with : gfouch. and made it a sort of vinega : exposition, what a sweet time the would have had! How they would hay , fingered far into evening just to ez
 change grouches! What made it a su(
 cess? Exactly what makes any gatl : ering success; the interchange of col t dial feelings. Psychology is teachin r us that the hearty handshake, the. genis s smile and the genuine interest we haE v in one another are the mighty thing il that keep society alive.
 l. Writers on social topics are havin a much to say at present on mob ps.
 x S :, crowds when violently excited how ca U fly great numbers can be urged to ( II utterly unreasonable and cruel thing r as seen in the lynchings that have so d g faced the moral life of the south. MuC
 ! also has been written on the insisten
 of the social instinct Evangelists
 ment the uncrowded condition of o'
 churches today to a departure of o' ,e people from religion. We naturally i n quire if it was wholly religion tn
 brought people to church in the past.
 did they come to church because in tho
 days it was about the only social ce ' ter the people had. Between the ty d services there was the opportunity f
 exchanging their mutual greetings al
 in indulging in a little community gc er sip that did nobody any harm. We mt r. ali recognize that many places vie wi
 the church as a social center. Religi
 and sociability are both instincts tn |, must be recognized.
 yA Speaking of weeds after dealing wi
 psychology may seem like an anti-c
 max, and yet We must deal with wee
 just as truly as social philosophy. The 7r are many lessons for the New Engla sn farmer-and those of us who are T
 farmers-to learn about weeds And
 some respects the immigrants from ft .s eign nations can teach us lessons, pt he sibly due to the fact that there are me
 to cultivate a smaller acreage than
 this country Do we realize how nu be valuable strength of the soil is vast he in the production of weeds2 Many f;
 mers have to now the weeds to f
 where their potatoes are at digging tir - Is this in the line of the highest e ,l" ciency? Not only is the soil robbed ue the strength necessary for the cro IT. but also for sufficient room in which
 grow. Of course the farmer can ius