Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-08-13
THE SURRY PHILOSOPHER.
Responds to Appeal of Bald Headed
Man, and Writes Sensibly.

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A while ago a man, long past mid
die life, with high forehead, gray
hair, bald head, asked why it is that
| never write anything sensible. For
the life of me, | can't answer has
question. | told him that long ago
| tried to say something sensible, but
failed. Better try again he said:
mark Twain wrote foolishness most
of his life, but wound up by writing
something sensible, The History of
Joan of Arc.
Yes, this man was bald headed.
Whenever | speak of bald-headed
people, | always speak with rever-
ence. This | was taught during
childhood. What we learn in child
hood usually serves as a guide
through life. This is why only men
and women of the very highest moral
character should be allowed to teach
in our public schools Most OF the
schools and colleges teach the young
men and women to be smart, rather
than good. This is a great mistake.
Good character is just as valuable as
education. Any community is better
off with honest men and women, UNI
able perhaps to read or write, than
with a lot of educated scoundrels.
In Bill Nye's History of the
United States" the author declares
that bald-headed men were never APP
preciated AS proof of this, he shows
the picture of John Adams.
Yes, the man who asked why did
Mt write something sensible had
high forehead, too. People with
high foreheads stand for all that is
best in civilization. They are the in
tellectual leaders. I'm suspicious of
people with low foreheads. In their
brain turks the 'basest instinct of
man. But these people are not to
blame for their low foreheads, nor
for their moral or mental condition.
Society is exactly as we are, for the
illteracy in the world.
The shape of the human head will
be in fifty years slightly different
than what it is to-day. The schools
will be responsible for this, Every
schoolhouse stands for higher fore
heads, better brains.
The man who invited me to write
something sensible suggested that |
write about organic evolution.
Think of that! | know no more
about science than | do about the
hereafter. But I'm like the rest of
humanity, always willing to talk or
write of the things l know the least
about. This is why the most of us
have an ineXhaustable supply of sub
jects to write about.
NJ
"Origin of Species, and Descent of
, Man" When Charles Darwin gave
to the world his theory of evolution
that man had come up from some
lower form of life, the baboon per-
haps-a great many of the folks lost
their temper. | felt sorry, actually
pitied people who haven't anything
to brag about but their ancestors.
1t matters but little what your an
cestors were, it's what you are. This
theory of evolution started a row.
! The church is now in a row over this
same question.
People who believed that the
human race had sprung from a per-
/ feet pair went after Darwin's scalp.
But Darwin was a big man intellectu-
ally-one of the biggest men the
English race has produced. A true
scientist, truth seeker. He cared
more for a single fact than for the
applause of mankind. A man of
Darwins mind cares absolutely
nothing about public opinion. You
see, in this respect there's vast diff
ference between the scientist and the
politician.
Science both enslaves and enamel
pates. Science enslaves the forces of
nature, frees the mind and body of
men, reduces the drudgery of the
world. No twenty years in all history
will equal the next twenty years for
invention and discovery. We are to
learn what these cientists-these
silent, thoughtful men are doing in
the laboratories of the world.