The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-05
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY z. HOUSE
(From Philadelphia Public Ledger.)

Saturday and Sunday, We found some
criticism of the column based ion the
ground that we are overworkinS the
iocutions, laughed his head off" ana
''bores US stiff" The criticism is well
taken. We shall shortly be competed
to find synonyms for those terse ana
expressive phrases WIN the rea9ef rs
who are ever ready to lend a hand IN
time OF need kindly assist IN the
search?
The Gentleman Is Beside the Question
In reply to your request for an ex-
position Of the popular conception of
the Darwinian theory, would state the
public hasn't any conception or IT, ana
if it had one that would be wrong
AS for the facts in the case, can only
saw that the famous Mr.. Darwin said
nothing about man descending or as
cending from the ape. Neither ala
man and woman spring from mon
key, the woman springing farthest-
Men and apes are two branches OF a
common ancestry.
OF course, we cannot make a mon
key out of w. J. B. He is far more
slxiIIful at that himself. The horror
of most people who fancy themselves
inabued with a profound religious spi-
rit is refreshing. They talk about
the disrespect heaped upon what they
are pleased to-call Gods work." and
never stop to think that the most su-
perfic.al familiarity with the wonders
of evolution can only bring with it
tremendous respect and awe for the
wonders of creation. Do we have to
believe unquestionably in the contra
dictory and out-Of-date things in
which the Bible abounds, or are we to
acquire a full appreciation of the
wonders of creation which science
adequately can show US, particularly
in the details of the evolutionary
process? What do you think of this?
j. f. G.
We didn't ask for an argument on
Darwinism. y understand. We can
do all the arguing necessary in one
column. What we want to know is
what did Darwin say. We know, of
course, that the popular conception of
it is wrong Popular conception near
~ always is.
The question as to whether Eugene
O'NeilFs play, THE Hairy Ape" now
on view in New York, is impure, OBJ
scene and indecent has been raised.
O'Neill is one of the soft-handed who
write of callouses, and what they say
seldom is important one way or an
other. But the question raised is
rather interesting in another way.
The ipteresting thing is whether
New York knows what is impure. OBJ
know, whether anybody cares.
And that question Is not so mucn OF
an Indictment of New York as it may
appear. 1t might pertinently be put
in any other city or considerable COM
munfty. All of the worlds standards
are in a state of transition.
That is. all Of them save one That
is the standard of good taste. 1t never
varies.
incidentally, we note that many of
fhnSa wi write the column NOT
only conceal their identity, but labori-
ously remove all signs and insignia
from the stationery employed for the
purpose. What. we are curious to
care who they are. If we knew we
probably should. forget it over night.
Our curiosity about human nature
is Unsuitable; about people almost
negligible. One night aAyear ago last
winter we Were invited to sit into
piquet game in Philadelphia suburb.
They were good fellows and we spent
a delightful evening. Adelaide waited
up. WHO were you playing WITH"
she asked when we came in. 81 don't
know" we replied.
And the curious but perfectly nat
ural thing about it was that we didn't.
We are willing to be consumed by
a reasonable amount of perturbation,
Dut we nate TO worry over anything
as much as the New York World is
worrying over the Harding Admins
tration.
The Socialists are going to wage a
vigorous campaign this fall. If you
wish to learn what a hell hole this
country really is don't neglect to fol-
low it.
Aside from that, the Socialists
should make an interesting campaign
and develop pretty nearly their nor
NAL strength. Most of the Socialists
sent to Jail during the war are out.
Many of the others will have served
their terms before the fall elections.