Evening star., 1923-05-27
Fear Of Being Thought Insane
AS Possible Cure for Folly

the theory that no sound minded
person would devote a life to the
dissemination Of gossip. She was
no less sane, OF course, than the
citizen. himself: merely nervously
Obtaining an inkling of the proposed
proceedings. the woman became
alarmed and volunteered promises
that she would cease her gossiping.
and forever desist and refrain. For
one Of the really esteemed women of
her community I cite this incident
to show the fear OF being thought In
sane. For the proper handling Of q
human nuisance the mere suggestion
Of a diseased mind may be more
dictment, even force.
Every age has had its men whose
Iollies seemed to reveal insanity. 1t
furnishes a rare chuckle to view with
ruler bestowed hts accolade upon the
piece of roast beef in front OF him
"sir Loin." This 'sir," may It be re-
called, was one knight created by
yo royal a, apthori,y hOIiSns who lived up to his
In these days Of democracy as in the
days when knighthood was in flower,
10 the Chevaler Bayard of the animal
Kingdom, the Sir Galahad of every
VIGIL FOunQ table.
Even now, we are creating our
knights. The primary pours the holy
oil of conservation upon the accolyte
and the general election raises him
into the order OF megalomaniacs. The
ballot box has accomplished much in
the affairs of the world. but its
greatest miracle is that of turning a
lanky lout elected to ONCE into an
Abraham Lincoln. The mysterious
potency OF the ballot! How it comes
that one who yesterday was one Of
US. moved with like passions as our
selves, may by a mere election be
lifted from our midst and placed in
a seat on High Olympus. where he
frowns and threatens us. who were
his erstwhile cronies, I cannot say.
Truly. there Is q divinity that doth
hedge public ONCE around. I, myself,
am not immune from the common
fraility. AS a member OF the United
States Coal Commission I have felt
hostess was near the radiator, not in
the cold corner OF the room
Men dressed with a little brief
authority are quite likely TO cut such
CdpeTs OeIOTe nlBn heavens as TO
make the angels weep. / knew a
governor who rebuked his former
law partner for addressing him by
use OF his first name. DO you not
realize" the visitor was asked. that
you are talking to the Governor of
Indiana" Public officials could in
spire public confidence in themselves
by remembering that nothing SO be-
comes a man. particularly an official,
as modesty and humility. One of
the reasons for the swift changes in
official life is the outlook Of ordinary
men who become collosi through the
medium of an election. j wonder IL
the public could not we'll take a hand.
Instead of calling officials of this
type fools, instead Of resorting to
abuse or Laughing at them. perhaps
the public could bring them TO their
senses il IL would begin to SHAKE
its head. and say: Poor fellow. he's
one OF those who the Montreal Lhysi-
clan diagnosed as insane" This
might bring some heads out of the
clouds and plant some feet on solid
ground. This is true from Abou
Ben Adham to Abraham Lincoln. the
record remains the same. Neither
great wisdom nor great power can
survive without humility. 1t was
Lincoln's humility. not the power of
the presidency. that keeps him yet
among US mortals.
Copyrighted. 1923. 21st Century Press.)