Licking Valley courier., 1921-08-18

ohNh' D'SiJ hoJ
I hear similar remarks concerning him,
and l think 1t poor appreciation of
his generosity. AS you say, he's al
ways giving, and it's a small business
to look a gift horse in the mouth, as
the psalmist says. If he hires a man
with megaphone to announce his
benefacti0ns, he isn't hurting any
body.
"Caustic things are said Of every
philanthropist who manages to get
some advertising out Of his liberality.
but it's my opinion that you'll have to
hunt long time, with searchlight
and a pair Of gumshoes, before you
find the man who enjoys doing good
by stealth. If you do find him, he will
prove to be freak, and 1t will be your
duty to see him returned to the asy-
lum from which he escaped.
"We are all more or less hungry for
the appreciation of our friends and fel-
low citizens. And I am glad it's so.
II we didn't care three whOops what
our friends thought of US, we wouldn't
paint our houses, or NOW our lawns,
or trim our whiskers. We wouldn't
spend any money for flowers or boiled
shirts or any Of the things which make
life beautiful and attractive. If man
spends a lot Of money for a gorgeous
lawn, with real trees and expensive
flowers, and all sorts Of ornaments,
he's doing 1t because he wants to be
praised by the people who see 1t all.
You don't see any such lawns In lone
some rural districts. There the front
yard always is calf pasture.
"The farmer reasons that It's no use
having a pretty lawn, for there's no.
body to admire 1t. Nobody ever goes
past the place except an occasional
lightning rod agent or a man who Il
taking orders for fruit trees.
"Why don't you sneer at the town
man who puts so much money into
beautiful grounds2 It's all a grand
stand play. He expects to get adver
tising out of 1t, and he does. and he
deserves 1t. We shouldn't criticize any
man who Is doing good, even IL We
don't like his methods.
"Some people say that Skimbaek Is
trying to atone for all the sinfulness
OF his past career. 1t is argued that
until recent years he never gave away
anything, but was after the dollars by
day and night, and didn't care who got
hurt so he overlook and captured
them. They tell of mortgages he fore
closed, causing unspeakable suffering
here and there. He is accused of re
sorting to every dark trick to increase
his hoard. Most Of the stories prob
ably are bunk, but what II they ar,
true? Now that he shows signs Of re
pentence in his old age we should en-
courage him in every possible way
and II he gives photograph to tn
high school, or puts up public drink
ing fountain in the public square, W
should tell him he's everybody's dar
ling, and not dig up lot Of anclen
history for his confusion.
II haven't much money to Civ
away, but when l do loosen up TO tn
extent of a dollar or two like to hay
an audience. like to imagine tina
people are saying, What b great-hear
ed, benevolent old geezer he isr TIL
other morning man approached m
and asked me to contribute somethln
toward putting new steeple on tn
church, and l began to explain tha
church steeples are out Of date, whe
he interrupted to say that the name
Of all contributors would be printed
the paper and then dug up 50 will
out further words. And we're a
tarred with the same stick, N
friends"