The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-23
Howe About:
A Loafer's Utopia
The Final Average
Leading a Normal hife
By ED HOWE


carry along every day suggestion OF
the old conservative common sense
necessary In properly distinguishing
right from wrong. Most newspapers
do this with considerable faithfulness
In spite of the increasing demand for
sensationalism. Some of them call II
humor. but the common sense is sug-
gested, and may be worked out By
those who care for 1t.
AS an example OF this note re-
cent syndicated article by Westbrook
Pegler. and appearing In good
many first rate papers. In introduc-
Ing Mr.. Pegler the paper see regu-
larly says: 'pegler Gives Humorous
Slant on the New Deal"
What Is called humorous slant is
actually the most important piece OF
wisdom l have seen printed In many
months. Mr.. pegler says:
1.-THE trouble with the Russian
Soviet system has been that 1t sought
10 compel the citizens to work, some
times resorting to enforced labor,
whereas under the American plan en-
forced loafing will be held over the
heads Of the comrades as threat to
work hogs who endanger the success
of the new deal by indulging selfish
passion for TOLL
Mr.. pegler works out the idea to
the extent OF column. which Is not
too much; many others would have
made 1t Into book, and thus buried
the good idea.
cast my vote for wreath to
Westbrook Pegler for writing the most
Illuminating piece OF American wis
dom In 1888. possibly for all time.
In being careful I'm rather an en-
thusiast; when In such mood. and re-
eeive an important paper or letter, !
put 1t away so carefully | can't find It
later. Altogether my average In
exercising care is low. although be-
| lleYe such virtue one OF the first
human being Constantly In danger)
should exercise. The time to
| lock the stable door. OF course, Is
| when the thought of thieves first oc-
ours to you, but so many delay that
warning maxim Wns written centuries
ago. The wisdom conveyed by the
maxim Is so important that all care
less men have been familiar with and
| frequently repeated 1t hundreds OF
wears without It doing them any good.
That Ii what disconrages me.
A young man went to doctor for
| advice, and the doctor asked: Have
you been leading normal life7" The
young man replied that he had. "Well,"
continued the doctor. you must cut
out liquor and women for at least SIX
months.n This may be good
1oKe-I confess to smile myself
but 1t displays a fault common TO
most American Jokes, In that 1t gives
/ the Impression that all normal men
drink too much intoxicating liquor.
| Not one In twenty of them do. How
many confirmed drunkards do you
| know? have asked myself the ques-
tion. MY reply lis, do not know TO
exceed three or four, and these so
widely scattered they annoy me rare
". In thinking over that part
of the joke referring to women, be-
come more serious, but risk no figures.
new word lately becoming popular
Ia moron. (Meaning man suffering
from arrested mental development.l
1t Is rather better word than fool
| which seems to mean q man VINO IL
not full shilling who never had any
sense and never win have any. But
moron means one born with sufti-
Client and average intelligence, and
after reaching twenty-five or thirty
becomes shiftless as to his mind, anc
quits developing 1t.
I estimate there are hundreds Of
morons to one fool, the number o.
complete fools Is actually not great
there seems little doubt that the mint
NAV be developed as naturally anf
easily as the muscles, bygproper exer
else. but as we grow older our nat
ural disposition Is to become flabby II
flesh and mind. Millions are toda,
supporting doctrines as foolish as per
petual motion. Unfation, as an ex
ample; 1t Is the same thingo
All such are suffering from ARRESTED
mental development they do not taxi
q proper daily dozen for their heads.
Men die unnecessarily every day be
cause of arrested physical develop
ment. and morons develop In the sam
way: they become poorer thinkers be
cause they do not fairly and properl,
exercise their minds. and shuttle shift
lessly along to the bread line or poo
house when they might have easie
lived fairly respectable and success
full lives. and finally achieved a YER
good obituary in the local papers.
After young men become educate
In engineering they begin clamorin
for Jobs. This clamoring has alread
resulted In the present staggering al
preparations for unnecessary and foo
ish dams. reservoirs, lakes, river In
proyement, etc.