The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-01
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY E. HOUSE
(From Philadelphia Public Ledger

only four or five hundred such organi-
cations in the country is accounted
for.
We are all agreed there shall be no
such organizations, but practically eV-
cry citizen of this country is eligible
to membership in one or more of
them, and his impulse is to join up.
It is for this reason we object to
the kidding" to which the police
commissioner is subjecting his public.
And we insist that hereafter the kid
ding be done by expert performers.
Our line of communication with
President Harding is casual and I'M
stable. We hear from him directly at
infrequent intervals. But we should
like to know what he thinks of our
suggestion that a brother Elk be ap-
pointed to sit in the disarmament
parley.
We note that the Hon. Elihue Root
lis now mentioned in the connection.
In proportion to the number of things
for which he has been mentioned"
the Hon. Mr.. Root has been appointed
fewer times than any other man in
the world.
Meanwhile, We contemplate the
situation with little satisfaction. What
an unhappy and distressing thing it
would be should something tangible
and fine grow out of the conference!
All Right, All Right!
Sir did not say I had looked the
matter up and that all of the authori-
ties sanctioned Muscle Shoals
Since our original controversy, how
ever, I have looked the matter up for
you. The fifth report of the United
States geographic board says:
Muscle Shoals; series of rapids in
Tennessee river, south border of
Lauderdale county, Alabama. (Not
Mussel Shoals)"
Not quite content with that. wrote
to the geographic board asking if it
could give the origin of the name.
THE rapids do not get their name
| from the mollusk. but from the fact
that considerable muscle is required to
get boat over the rapids"
This authority may not be as good
as the Triton Gazette. but it is the
equal of any know, and in the alb
sence of a better one I feel somewhat
obliged to follow it. I'll agree, tho.
that Old Noah Webster himself was
not always infallible.
| Meanwhile, as 1 need the money, I'd
be almost inclined to take that bet of
the November Is pay check.
PROOFREADER.
| Sir-The word "musSel" the name
of a fresh-water bivale. comes directly
from the Latin musculus, and was
Originally spelled muscle" The two
words, ''musseP and muscle" in
their earlier usages had the same form
of photography, but muscle" as the
name of a fresh-Water bivale is now
obsolete.
Shakespeare in THE Tempest" Act
I, Scene 2, puts these words into
Prospero's mouth:
Sea water shall thou drink; thy food
shall be
The fresh brook muscles withered
roots and husks.
Wherein the acorn Graded"
Several editions of Shakespeare
have consulted give the spelling as it is
tauoted above, so that was evidently
the generally accepted form of or
biography in Shakespeare's time. I
dare say the Gazeteers have very prop
erly followed the earlier form of
/ spelling for the title Muscle Shoals"
/ l don't know if this will entitle me
to your hypothecated pay check for
the week of November Is, but my
wife says she already has spent it.
/ H. E. H.
| SIRE Muscle Shoals'' VS.. Mus
sci Shoals" the history of the place
with origin OF the name is given al
length in the Dearborn Independent
Henry Ford's own paper, of the week
of September 8. The data are very
convincing, and while previously fl
had annoyed me greatly to see the
place spoken of as Muscle Shoals
now I am convinced that it is the cor
rect-spelling, notwithstanding the
Chicago Tribune's scathing remarks Of
some time ago about Henry's lack OF
education. I am with him and for
: him every time, and always have
been. ]. S. g
Probably we shall be unable TO gel
the spelling changed to conform to
our notion, but we leave it to you Il
we didn't stir up a fine and dandy row
about 1t. We care little about tbs
spelling of any word so long as we are
permitted to start the rows. To US
however. Muscle Shoals will always
be a distressing title. Muscle" in
that connection, is as obnoxious as the
word "slob" as objectionable as
"pants" as lacking in fitness as the
word dame" in its modern applica-
ton. We shall never see it in a news
paper without being repulsed by it.
and now that the thing has gone as
far as it has, We shall never pick UP
a newspaper without seeing it.
One other though enchains US. J.
S. says he is with and for Henry every
time and always has been. Is that q
J boast or a confession?
: Bishop Berry disagrees somewhat
yehemently with Bishop Gailor. which
is natural enough. since there are
overwhelming viewpoints on all great
economic and social questions. Whal
we should like to know is whether
Bishop Berry comedies that BishoT
Gailor has a right to have opinions OF
his own in the matter.
That is the really important issue II
this country today. Has man righ
to his own opinion? Should he b,
permitted to express it?
Dinner Stories