The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-04-08

thinking, but is usually false and mean
thinking.
lately experienced a bad night,
and knew my restlessness was due to
too-full flesh pots at dinner the day
before.
After sufficiently cursing myself for
a fool, I tried to read. And under such
circumstances am vicious reader:
an author does we'll to interest me.
/ tried John Cowper Powys, and
begun by dislikIng his name. why
does not this fellow change his name,
as actors dot" l grumbled.
In spite Of my prejudice against John
Cowper Powys, found him interest
ing. Where has he been keeping him
self, that / know so little about him?
Here is one OF the things he says
"The hollow idealism that pretends
that the achievements of literature and
thought enter profoundly into the
daily necessity which prods US for
ward, is a plausible and specious lie.
We do not learn how to deal craftily
and prosperously with the world from
the Machiavels and Tallyrands. We do
not learn how to love the world and
SAVIOUR 1t with exquisite joy from the
Whitmans and Emersons. What we
do is to struggle on, as best we may
living by custom, by prejudice, by
hope, by fear, by envy and jealousy );
by ambition, by vanity, by'love. It Is
nonsense to pretend that the insight
Of philosophers and the energy of
artists help us very greatly in this
bleak wrestling. They are there, these
men Of genius, securely lodged in the
Elysian fields of large and free
thoughts; and we are here sweating
and toiling in the dust Of brutal
| facts"
wish Powys had gone further, and
| inquired into the claim that artists
! and philosophers "are men of genius
securely lodged in the Elysian field"
Are they actually men of genius?
/ Do men living plain, useful, prac-
tical, natural lives actually have bet
ter sense than the philosophers and
artists? Do men toiIing in the dust
of brutal facts actually find more en-
joyment in life than those securely
lodged in the Elysian fields?
/ think it is at least possible.
In the last two notable races, dark
horses" won.
Here is encouragement for every
body except favorites. Who will get
the next big position? Probably a
dark horse.
Who is our greatest manufacturer
A dark horse, about whom jokes were
very generally made few years ago.
The iokers even said he couldn't read,
vet he has just written a book which
is a best seller.
/ Don't be discouraged. Fortify your
self with knowledge of your trade,
and of life; with fairness, politeness,
industry, thrift, see that the neigh
bors speak well of you, and you may
be the next dark horse to win.
.
! Occasionally a reader says fuss
too much.
When / object to thing, what else
Is there to do about it? / cannot go
to Washington, and slap congressman ;
/ cannot invade homes and whip I'M
ruly children, or arrest burglars and
bootleggers.
IL a citizen, husband or father is
imposed upon, there is no other way
of stating his objection than to fuss. ?
The main thing about it is to fuss
as fairly and intelligently as possible,
and only when your cause is just.
Every day / remark that the COM
monpIace begs for more intelligent
attention When man leaves home
in the morning, his days work de-
ponds entirely on the commonplace
If he has functioned well in his bed,
at the breakfast table, in his bath
room, he is better equipped for a
useful and successful day than If he
read good books too late The night
before.
How commonplace the books after
the lies are extracted
/ think every man irritates women
/ know I do.
In my observation of the world some
things stand out large with me that
do not seem to attract the particular
notice Of others.
An example:
The cruel manner in which SONS
women are lately hammering men.
/ know an excellent man who Ii
asking divorce from his wife. / have
not lately, or ever, known husband
to mistreat wife as this woman mis-
treats her husband. The neighbour
are In sympathy with the man, bu
that does him no good, the courts, tn,
laws, are not.
In this case, there Is no suggestion
on either side of the eternal triangle
as is so often the case in cities.
1t is a plain case of the men beinl
too gallant in making the laws.
Another thing / notice good deal
The poor use most Of us make Of tn