Evening star., 1925-04-19

tn HE Rambler finds in his mail
letters from men and women
who write better than he. one
A kind of hypocrisy is to pre-
tend belief in your own in
feriority, and a sneaking but success
ful way of scratching another mans
back is to say, Mr.. McMaster,. you
have very much greater ability than
L. OF course, you don't believe 1t,
and you are apt to accompany the
statement with a dependents bow
and smile meant to carry the impress
sion that you are a diplomat, courtier
or something of that kind. and that
beneath the mask of humility you are
really roaring lion.
But about these letters: The Ram
bier thinks them exceedingly good,
first, because they are worth reading.
and, second, because they have the
sound of one human being speaking
TO another. SO many-too many
men write as though they are over
strained by the Importance of the job
and that millions of busy people are
holding their breath and reaching out
their ears to catch the words of the
oracle. Few care a peanut shell or
Canadian dime what another man
says. Please note with what care ]
avoid the word that might be con-
strued as profane.
When I read some articles and
hear some speeches l can't keep the
picture of a certain doctor out of
mind. There was a woodcut that
newspapers used to print as an ad-
vertisement. 1t was the picture of
little man in a senatorial frockcoat,
with pompadour hair. an uplifted
hand and a finger pointing TO Heaven.
Many patients of the doctor went
Nd haIi
that, like many other doctors. he died
of a disease for which he had a sure
cure.
The picture showed the man in a
wise and monitory posture. He
seemed to tell it TO the world that Il
am It. The picture never said any
thing. but it looked a great deal. The
gesture struck you with its wisdom.
Yet / believe that that famous physi-
clan could not fix you up in any bet
ter style than tne work can be done
at Emergency. Garfield or Providence.
Well. there is much public writing
and public speaking which makes me
think of that old picture Of the doc
tor and his gesture.
s. :: =
I HAVE at home an old tomcat. He
came out of the alley when kit
course, 1 could not turn him down.
He adopted me and insisted that the
title to the home be made out in his
name. He soon forgot his alley days
and became portly and pompous- He
orders calves liver boiled to his taste,
and when | hand him a can Of salmon.
he Will not take il until he has read
the label. to be sure it's his favorite
brand. He takes a stroll in the alley
once heard him addressing an assem-
bly, of alley cats. He said: Il pity
you. my poor brethren. but. Of course,
/ cannot share my salmon with you,
nor set you up to catnip cocktails. My
social position forbids that l go fur
ther than TO offer my patronizing at
titude to alley cats. One of my an
cestors was a long-haired Persian and
chief mouse catcher to the SHAH
When this old cat has had two help
ings Of cream and salmon iE the
kitchen, he comes to the dining room.
sits by my chair and reaches up for
more. He has an expression of be-
nightly and deep wisdom. Note that
go no further than saying IAN eX-
preston of deep wisdom" 1 have
had many proofs that he has very
little sense. Because of the solemnity
of his face and his expression of learn
ing | named him Judge. He is also a
very dumb cat.
My reasons for handing you these
letters is not only that l believe them
good. but 1 know they will save me
about two columns of work. The
matter of appropriately illustrating
them is a problem, and the easiest
way to solve that problem is not to do
it. With permission OF the Sunday
editor. If he happens to be in good hui
NOR today, l will introduce among
these letters some old-road pictures
taken at different times within the
past 80 years. 1t has often been said
Of the Rambler's writing that his pho
tographS are very good.
X = x *
FOLLOWING are extracts from a
letter by A. p. Wiggin, an old
MaShington boy LIKING, at IakeMond.