The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-11
Howe About:
Morality
Behaviorisrn
A Rebel at Heart
Ru ED HOWE
By ED HOWE


ONE of the most disturbing quar-
~ rels among men concerns the
meaning of morality. The dictionary
adds to the confusion by giving doz-
ems of definitions. One of, them is:
"Guidance deducible from fable;
another: Courage to do right I'M
moved by odium or ridicule"; still an
other: Probability that can hardly
fail"
Meanwhile every disputant should
know that the word morality means
only civilization. Our earliest and
rudest ancestors realized the Inn
portance of providing shelter from
storms; the ACCESSIBILITY of adding
comforts and conveniences in their
lives.
If we meet a stranger, and say Of
him he is civil man. 1t means he Is
disposed to be civilized: polite, fair,
educated, reasonable In his judg-
ments; willing to exchange civilities
with his neighbors; to recognize not
only the rights of women and children,
but the rights of men.
If you sincerely wish to be known
as civil man. and make reasonable
effort to deserve that reputation,
will add my voice to that Of the world
in declaring you civilized gentleman.
And civil men practice the rules of
civilization because long experience
has demonstrated it is finally the best
and easiest way, and the most profit
able. If civility did not pay, It would
not have been so long and universally
recommended.
The best word encounter in read
ing is "behaviorism." The new and
intelligent religion we have been hop
ing for might be founded on it. Be
haviorism is the substance Of the adj
vice of parents to children, the best
and most unselfish teaching in the
world. It includes culture, education.
success in life; civilization itself.
Preachers and orators always advo-
cate It.; school teachers recommend 1t
constantly to children; all ladies and
gentlemen practice it-no finer senti-
ment may be used in writing. :.
Yet, the word does not seem popular:
I see it only in an occasional book.
very rarely in newspapers, and never
hear it used in conversation.
Although l cordially dislike the i'm
pudent propagandists who constantly
urge the people to become MASTERS and
enthusiastic fools for wrong measures,
no one more readily submits to them.
When travel know it is an outrage
to pay the sleeping car porter for serv-
ices paid for when bought my tick
ct, but l am always anxious to satisfy
him: no coward worries more from
fear he has not done his full duty as
a slave.
I always take off my hat in pub
lie elevator when s.enographer en-
tiers, and feel foolish. Last winter, in
Florida, occasionally went to a cafe
terra for food. Once forgot to tip
the colored boy who carried my tray a
few feet, and was uncomfortable most
Of the day l am constantly in rebel
lion, but the mildest of rebels.
Privately, my greatest heroes are
those Russians who kicked open the
door of the palace, and pulled the
cZar's whiskers. have always been
so afraid of rulers. so cordially de-
spise their weakness and the unrea-
sonable tasks they impose on me, one
of my secret sins is, l admire these
Russian ruffians. How they put the
preachers and women in their placesi
Having always been a country town
man, the farmers have ruled me. OBJ
serve the bold attitude of the Russian
ruffians toward farmers! know the
Russians are wrong and that they
would be better off If they observed
the conventions, but these scoundrels
are at least not towards; I'm
ashamed / am not as bold for meas
ures / know to be right, as they are
Years ago / knew an old fellow.
smart above the average himself, who
said his daughter Allison was the only
IuCluDCl VI lHC ldiully WIZ IdU any
sense. Once his wife went TO Big Doc
tors to be looked over, and they re-
ported she would not live week I'M
less operated on at once. Allison"
the father said, you go on and see
what sense there is In it." And AL
lison went on, brought her mother
home without an operation. and she
is alive yet. We never had
an Allison in our family; think I'll
ask her husband for permission to APP
peal to her in my graver emergencies.
Plato has been exploited thousands
of years as philosopher; as probably
the wisest man In history. writer
lately sold story to a syndicate of
newspapers declaring that Plato was
not philosopher or thinker. but only
noted in his time as a strong man;
huge fellow who, being attached to
two horses at street carnivals. pulled
them all over the lot. Much in print
is like that: new, interesting, clever,