The Washington times., 1928-06-12
CHAM ION
CONTENT IN
ANY, PLACE
BY Gene Tunney
WORLDS Heavyweight champion

Worlds Heayywefght Champion
SPECULATOR, N. X, june
12 Some recent weekend
visitors ii Spectator foune
fault with this place.
The croaIing of the frogs is toe
much for me-. one man said.
must get back to the city. / miss
the concrete sidewalks.
listened to him criticize the
country. I felt sorry for him. He
evidently lacked the capacity OF
cOntentment. No matter where he
goes whether to the largest urban
community where myriad noises are
rife, or the most distant, desert
oasis he viii carry his discomfort
with him.
He has not yet learned though
he Is grown man--that happiness,
contentmentsa satisfaction with ones
environment. call Ii what you will
comes from within. 1t is ones own
thoughts that make happiness not
surroundings.
This critical and caustic city
dWeIler who appreciated none Of
the beauty so dazzingly dis
played I'm the heart of the noun
tains, reminded me of . man I
once met.
/ was driving through the Cats
kin Mountains. Ahead on the road
was ponderous chap plodding
along, well burdened with q coat
and two VaIises. RE was putting
like & windmill when drew up
alongside.
Want d lift?n I inquired.
You're darn right, do," he re-
Piled anything that win take me
away from this spot faster than
I'm going. Another night here In
this dismal camp and will be
bugs
he climbed in and told me his
story. He was d New York police
man on vacation-or at least he had
just started on his annual leave.
Not knowing exactly where he
should spend the time he had ac-
cepted the suggestion of fellow
officer to visit farm house III the
Eatskiils that was highly recon-
nended.
He arrived on Saturday after
noon. This was Sunday, the next
day, that / met him.
Pm not rich, he said, "and the
weeks advance payment made at
that place means something to me,
but just couldn't stand 1t another
night
I attempted to find out why he
was displeased with the place. The
country was In full bloom; no spot
would have been better chosen for a
rest with quiet and solitude aplenty
affafs a xfaar IN Ninu York
Well, you see, I'm used to noise
and lights and movement OF people"
said. live in New York. At
night in that place it was so dark.
you couldn't see your hand in front
OF you. And the quiet-well. IL
dog had barked would have fallen
out OF bed. No, sire-ee, not for me.
That's whysI started to walk. There
IS no bus today-Sunday-bu lust
couldn't stand staying another %
hours. My mind would have left
me.
This policeman and the Specu-
lat0r visitor would have been
pals. They both belong in the
same categOry-ReOpIe who exist
on externals.
Often Lam asked why stay in
the country so much-why do not
? I've In the city where there is more
mental stimulation. greater variety
of pleasures and the company of
brilliant people.
Ny answer is that / am always
contented. no matter where / am.
liz one carries his own thoughts as
he is bound to do-then he should
be happy. Otherwise, it is time for
him to take stock of himself
II he has lost the capacity for
real happiness then he will miss
the returns that nature offers. The
place you make by what you bring
to it.
Healthful response to these nat.
ural stimulants is a sign of bodily
and mental soundness. Nervousness
produced by the croaking of a frog
indicates sickly condition Of mind.
All the jazz bands, entertainers,
light plants and jostling prone
naders in the world will not Grad
icate that condition.
For myself, hope to continue to
! prefer the solitude of the mountains
even the musical piping of the
frogs and crickets-to the roar and
dust Of traffic and poisonous air of
the city streets.
But to find myself ever i'll al
ease in the country or the city, even
with the latter's discomforts, would
indicate that my state of health
was not in order.
A person who is self-contained-
who can be at large In the world
and always a completely contented
unit in himself without artificial
support for satisfaction, is one not
only to be envied, but emulated.
Yet / doubt il the country COM
plainant against the solemn noises
OF the bull frog would recognize
such one, and most certainly he
would nor admire him.
copyright. 1928. by King Features
Syndicate, Incl