The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-08-10
Howe About:
Morality
Behaviorisn
A Rebel at Heart
BY ED HOWE

1--WE 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 un-
moved by odlum or ridlcule"; still an
other: Probability that can hardly
fall
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.
Ii we meet stranger, and say of
him he Is a civil man, 1t means he Is
disposed to be civilized. polite. fair,
educated, reasonable In hfs judy
ments; willing to exchange civilities
with his nelghbors; to recognize not
only the rights of women and children
but the rights of men.
II you sincerely wish to be known
as a 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 1t is finally the best
and easiest way. and the most profit
able. II civility did not pay. 1t 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
havlorism Is the substance OF the adj
vice of parents to children, the best
and most unselfish teaching In the
world. 1t includes culture, education.
success in life; civilization itself.
Preachers and orators always advo-
cate 1t; school teachers recommend 1t
constantly to children; all ladies and
gentlemen practice tho finer senti-
ment may be used In writing.
Yet, the word does not seem popular;
I see 1t oniy.in an occasional book,
very rarely In newspapers, and never
hear 1t used In conversation.
Although / cordially dislike the I'm
-pHdent propagandists who constantly
urge the people to become MASTERS and
enthusiastic fools for wrong measures,
no one more readily submits to them.
When I travel know 1t Is an outrage
to pay the sleeping car porter for serv-
Ices / paid for when bought my tick
eft, but / am always anxious to satisfy
him: no coward worries more from
fear he has not done his full duty as
a slave.
always take Off my hat In pub
He elevator when a stenographer en-
tiers, and feel foolish. Last winter, In
Florida, | occasionally went to cafe
terra for food. Once / forgot to tip
the colored boy who carried my tray
few feet, and was uncomfortable most
Of the day; ! 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
cars whlskers. / 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, | admire these
Russian ruffians. How they put the
preachers and women In their places
Having always been 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 II 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
for measures they know to be wrong.
Years ago / knew an old fellow.
smart above the average himself, who
said his daughter Allison was the only
member Of the family who had any
sense. Once his wife went TO Big Doc
tors to be looked over, and they re-
ported she would not live n week I'M
less operated on ut once. Allison"
the father said, ''you go on and see
what sense there Is In 1t" And AL
llson 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 A writer
lately sold story to syndicate OF
newspapers declaring that Plato was