The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-27
Why People Like Jimmy Walker
by N. d. COCHRAN

don't know New York's mayor. Never met Jimmy
Walker, and the only time I ever saw him was on
Lndbergh day in New York City. He was sitting with
Indy the back of open auto will his feet on
the back seat haven't the slightest notion of what
Jimmy and Indy were talking about but it wasn't
hard to imagine the young fellow was terribly bored
and that Mayor Jimmy was kidding him along max
ing funny cracks and keeping the city's guest in
good hunor
Some people may think that the mayor should
have sat stiff general on dress parade-that
his stovepipe hat should have been geometricaily on
straight-and that the mayor should have looked
solemn and uncomfortably dignifed If he had
should have been tempted to throw whole telephone
directory at him from the hotel window, and without
tearing 1t into confetti
The rakish tilt to Jimmys plug hat told story
in itself 1t indicated that it Jimmys hat instead
of the hats Jimmy.
Very few men are masters of their formal cloth
ing, and most Of the few are walters That's why
most men hold walters in awe. An ordinary man
has to have his regular clothes to feel the
social plane with his WAITER and only supermen have
the temerty to to get chummy with head-waiter.
They tell me a lot of gossip about New Yorks
mayor. They say he is always late, that he lives in
dinner coat, sleeps until noon and lot of other
things that don't matter when you really figure them
out-even if the other terrible charge should be true
that Jimmy isn't prohibtionist by inclination, be-
lief or practice.
They all indicate that Jimmys job is like his plug
haiti isn't his master Some of the old fogies may
still believe that early to bed and early to RISE makes
healthy, wealthy and WISE but most Of us just
naturally agree With Harry Lauder'S song that It's
nice to get up in the morning but it's nicer to lie in
bed Anyhow, not many Of us want to get up any
earlier than we have to. Where Jimmy has the
edge on most of is that he doesn't have to get up
until he is ready, and is human enough to stay in bed
Most of us have been taught that we should al
ways be punctual and always keep engagements.
Mebbe SO. But that doesn't necessarily mean that
being punctal is always pleasure or that 1t makes
healthy, wealthy and wise.
There are two sides to that argument about pune
tuality, and good argument can be put up against
punctuality and keeping engagements that you are
not so awf,lly anxious to keep, and know-you won't
get any fun dut of keeping That isn't orthodox vir-
tue. to be sure, but it is quite human.
Being slave to his job and lacking sense Of
humor has hurried more than one president to his
grave Taking himself, his Job and life itself too
seriously has got many laughed at. It is sig
nifcant that the people laugh WITH the light
hearted devil-may care Jimmy Walker and not AT
him. There's difference.
People don't want to be serious and solemn. They
don't want to be reformed uplifted preached at.
If they have 20 be unhappy in order to be good they
don't want to be good The real meaning of BE
good and you viii be happy is to be good In the
way that will make you happy. That is be happy
and you will be good.
Anyhow, most of Jimmy Walkers faults seem to
be little ones, and not cardinal sins They are not
the test of his fitness for his job 1t is possible that
when he tackles serious problems he may know as
well how to be serious he knows how to be happy.
care-free man being political crook.