Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-05-15
Meanderings Of a Mildly
Militant Mind
FIELD MEET FLASHES

The bold faced type featuring the
failure of P. H. S. to capture first
honors in the recent Field Meet as
being due to the poor work of the
girls sends me with tingling fingers
to the relief of tipping the thoughts
it provoked. Possibly the sparks
struck reflect the feeling of some few
others.
Whether they do or not, as a mat
tel of loyalty to the girls, venture
to voice resentment and to call atten-
ton to he fact that losses of the boys
Oh the diamond are recorded in an
entirely different vein. Too, in the dim
recesses of my memory, is the recol-
lection of really splendid editorial
in the columns of The Worcester DEM
ocrat" heartening the professional
Pccomoke nine in the days of their
defeat. 1t stressed the value of good
craftsmanship, the wisdom of judg-
Ing and enjoying the game from 9TH
er points than that of mere conquest.
Why, ask, aren't the same consid-
crate treatment, the same encourage
ment, given "the female of the spe-
cies?" '"''''' .
Our girls and boys entered into
competition with the youth Of other
communities as unit, representing
the Pocomoke High School. 1t is up
to them-and to us-to accept such
recognition as they gain on the merits
of that unit; not to split that unit in
to parts, making the one merely an
auxiliary to the other, and then HUI
initiating the whole by hanging its
reputation on the strength of what is
scathingly scored as it's weakest link.
If the work of the P. A. L. is to be
seized as pretext for perpetuating
the age-old battle between the sexes,
then, despite its benefits, the sooner
its activities are checked the better,
It is an injustice to all concerned. No
good will ever come of lining them up,
one against the other, dividing a.
wards, heaping upon the one all blame
and upon the other all praise.
To do the best one can and be beaten
is disappointing, but not disgraceful.
Loss holds nothing of the sting Of
shame if we admit our fault and do
not try to shift the blame to someone
else. Z =
The only hopeless failure in the
world is he who always explains
1T was not my fault"
Nothing will snap the moral fiber,
make character soft and flabby, more
swiftly and surely than cultivation Of
the alibi habit. It's old as Adam; and
I am inclined to believe his sons have
INDUCED it more freely than his
daughters. I do not mean more fire.
quently, but. with less conjunction.
And, strangely enough, "she" is usu-
ally discovered somewhere in the text
-"She gave me the apple and l did
eat"
It's bad business; no mistake. If
we want to take pride in our victories,
We must accept responsibility for our
failures.
Pluck to persevere, patience to en-
dure, and pride to inspire, are essen
tials in life's big game. And / hold
it the duty of every man and woman
to inculcate and foster these things
in the minds and souls of the youth of
today, boys and girls alike. Neither
sex is more precious in the sight of
the Almighty than the other. Meth
er is more important in the great
scheme of things. Mutual respect
should exist between them.
would, if could, create within the
consciousness Of every boy and girl,
Everywhere, a deep, deathless con-
viction of the need of working to-
gether in harmony for the betterment
Of conditions and the uplift of hu-
manity.
would have all boys manly; all
girls womanly; both doing their part
according to their capabilities; recog-
nizing each others limitations, but
not scorning them; acknowledging
their differences, but not decrying
them; discovering their unanimity of
interests; and courageously giving to
the world the best that is theirs to
give.
EDNA BENTLEY HANCOCK.