New Britain herald., 1923-11-24
THE OBSER VER-
Makes Random Observations On the City and Its People

yated with books which see the better
 side of life is the greatest education Schools prepare the brain for the thinking it should do in afterlife They simply prepare. What use mar
 makes of that preparation is up io the man himself. The brain, like the
 body must be developed or become
 flabby. A man who did not exercise
 his body would soon become helpless
 A man who did not exercise his brain
 would become worse. The former does
 harm only to himself. The latter be-
 comes q menace to civilization.
 The brain is life. An athlete cannot
 hope to reach great heights unless he
 complements his physical powers
 with brain work. Read what Knute Rocke says about his Notre Dame eleven. It is not sufficient for can
 didate to be strong physically. Rockne
 wants men who are quick mentally,
 who can study problems and reach a
 decision on the spur of the moment. 1 The driver of an automobile must
 be mentally alert or suffer the conse-
 Quences. His brain must be capable
 of telegraphing orders quickly to his
 feet and hands. If the brain is slug
 gish the feet and hands cannot be
 expected to do the right thing, be- cause they cannot think.
 Brain exercise is the most adyanta-
 geous in the life of man. Quick thinkers are not always the best thinkers. The Observer knows men who reach decisions slowly, but their decisions are usually sound. But the fact remains that they do think.
 The brain will function voluntarily 10 just such a point. To get beyond that point it must be pushed. Think ing makes men climb hills. If their brains did not tell them to climb they would stay at the bottom.
 Think it over.
 Ask the keen observer who has had to do with men who work with their hands, what becomes of the laboring man who has such a strong person. ality and possesses the qualifications Of the leader of men, after he has shown that personality and has be- come a leader of his fellow laborers. This keen observer will tell you that the worker is watched by his em- ployers carefully, and the moment his strength is recognized he will be taken from the ranks and put into "the of- flee" What becomes of him then? Gradually he sees the employers viewpoint, recognizes the employers lfffinDIffAu l,A lah either becomes a most strict advocate Of the prejudices of the employer or, remembering his own experience as a worker with his hands, he becomes a really great man, seeing both the em- poyer's and the workers side of a question and taking a stand as fair to both as possible.
 It is in no spirit of criticism Of Mayor Paonessa that the Observer, any special "keenness," feels the mayor has had the exper- fence of seeing another side to ques- tions Of which, before his elevation to the mayoralty, he was inclined to see but ono side. He has seen, If the Ob- conjectures arc correct, that there are reasons in many cases why the popular appeal has not as much basis of right as that of the officers To whom such appeal is made. It has been noticed that hc has refused 10 | take a stand on some matters, which | be believed did not concern him as mayor, and has refused to take action | md employ the power of his office to | advance some courses with which, he ] : aV,tNf gstag1 |. T not interfere. And this is said with put insinuating that he has lost any of his appreciation Of the rights of the people" or any of his energy in their cause. He has merely seen that circumstances may ,rise which prevent a chief executive 'f city from doing some of the hings many individuals think he ihould do.
 some circumstances oft arise
 To stare you in ihe face. Which make you wish that you were
 in
 Some other fellows place.
 A fire hydrant is an unimpressive ooking thing. Ii stands on the curb tone like a bump on log, as if if rad no aim in life. It is covered with yarts which catch the clothing Of and occasionally it man. gcs to get in the way when an auto- mobile skids, or tries to skid. up on he sidewalk.
 Day and night in all kinds Of weather if remains stolidiy on duty. it is entirely unconcerned yith what is going on in the world. { offers support for men whose legs re weary and who must have some- hing to lean against. Thousands pass daily but do not deign tosgive it ven glance. To the mob it does ot exist Familiarity has bred con ampt.
 But when there's fire in the eighborhood. the hydrant becomes ne Of the big things of the moment. rom it's spouts it sends forth streams water which drown out the flames. Vhen the blaze has been extinguished nd the firemen have departed. the ydrsnt resumes it's humdrum exist nee.
 There's moral hidden someplace ] this. Perhaps it is that we should ot consider our Beighbor a dumb ell because he doesn't go through life eating a bass drum. They also arve who only stand and wait.