The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-07-21
Howe About:
Better Anlusements
Our Failing Minds
Bernard Shaw
BY ED HOWE


the world, it has finally been agreed
among ourselves we have been work
ing too long hours. and that in future
we must play more.
And now the question comes up for
discussion: What shall we do with
our additional idle time? How find
new enjoyments in our shiftlessness?
Why not try some new amusementsf
Why not rub up our knowledge Of
finance, and less frequently become
the victims of sharpers? Why not
athletic clubs to chase outlaws, now
real menace to our homes? And speak
ing of homes again, why not beautify
them more, and add comforts hereto
fore lacking? Why not clubs of citi-
zens to improve our public affairsf
Half of us are dumb as to the real
value of print: why not read more,
and with greater discretion? Why not
| pay more attention to the joys and
benefits of good health? Most of us
gobble our food like pigs, and, lack
ing their digestion and shorter years,
have become so quarrelsome, inefficient
and dumpy that one-quarter of the pop
ulation is now bowling for public re-
lief, with most of the rest of US look
ing on shamelessly, and thinking It
may be a good idea for everybody.
Do races inevitably run out? Is 1t
hopeless to struggle for their improve
ment and continuance?
| It seems to me l am able to note q
sad deterioration since the Civil war.
| Compare congress now with congress
of rs years ago, and how STABILITY
| 1888 comes off There isn't a man
of ability In the present congress Cor
cabinet, or Supreme court) to COM
pare with dozens who might be named
within ten years of 1858.
The deterioration of races is intel
lectual. We are healthier now than
ever before; we have improved our
lamps and our buggies, but have I
shamefully neglected our minds.
1t may well occur to every man that
he is doing well enough physically, but
that his mind is failing.
Bernard Shaw has his opinion of
mankind, and expresses it publicly, In
stead Of privately. as most other men
do. For this he is cordially hated, al
though everybody knows his opinions
of humanity are sound; at least. sound
er than the opinions of other writing
men,
My relations with Bernard Shaw are
excellent. do not know him, or wish
to know him, and never write him. I
hear he is polite enough to those who
have good reason to call on or write
him:
During recent journey at sea Shaw
went on deck early one morning, and
found an old man leaning indifferently
over the rail.
"How does 1t come" Shaw asked,
shat you are the only man on the
ship who has not annoyed me?'
Because do not want to know
you, or talk to you," the man an
swered
"Ever hear of me?" Shaw asked
again.
II know all about you," the man re-
piled. II have read nearly everything
said about you, or you have written.
You are one of my heroes. admire
you because of your impudence in say
ing what you think of everybody and
everything. I think the same things
and am afraid to say them. You
save me the trouble beg you to pro-
coed with your walk"
SileriuS said In his memoirs: "Tn
all my life have known but one real
ly intelligent and fair woman" :, GAS
every other man will probably say he
has known at least one such woman,
there must be good many of them)
Thousands have known the true
philosophy of life. And been so
whipped by mob men that now no one
dares be sensible. All men are
more intelligent than their actions
indicate. Foolish tradition, and fool
fish, continuous quarreling about it,
have made fools of us all.
Considering the rough manner in
which all men are forever trying to
muss up all women, some women look
very well.
1t is we'll known that most men OF
dscernment have poor opinion of the
people en- masse, because of their low
average in Intelligence, morals polite
ness and fairness; because of their in
sistence on running every civilization
the better men have attempted.
II is often said the English have no
sense of humor. An Englishman
relates that a child on first seeing a
rainbow, asked: "What is it? Ad-
vertising?" Another Englishman
is reported as saying: "The only time
horse scares nowadays is when he
sees another horse" As a con-
trast quote two of the most popular