The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-15
Howe About:
Good Writing
Hypocrisy
Conservatives
Bv ED HOWE
@ 1888. Bell syndicate-wNU Service

L lately appearing, and written by an
old man. who begins by saying: Il
have read a great deal, and found
books so bad I am encouraged TO at
tempt one myself. What are the mis-
takes In writing to which | objectf
Usually too great length, lack of clear
ness. and of honesty. (This last fault
is so general it is said there has never
yet been printed an honest book0
have worked a long time at this writ
ing. and. now that It is complete. find
il has the faults of those TO which |
have objected; it is at least no better
than the average. and possibly not so
good. So I have concluded the good
writing long demanded is no more like
~ to become the rule than good be-
havior. good looks. good times, good
sense. or good health. have rewrit-
ten my book three times, having heard
that genius is no more than taking
great pains. but now almost believe
the last draft worse than the first"
Piles begin with charges of hypocrisy
against those who profess to practice
them. Start any man TRADING. and he
viii soon be declaring he is the only
candid. honest man willing and able
to look the facts in the face. and pro-
pose an intelligent remedy.
That Is the way people have always
been; God has been unable TO do any,
thing with ourselves. Why
not try a universal suicide pact? That
might bring about the flow of blood
so long expected of rioters.
Ten members of vigilance commit
tee once caught horse thief, but all
hated to hang him. Finally they went
into a saloon to drink and talk il over.
When all were drunk. including the
prisoner. members of the committee
urged him to shoot himself. They said
they had families. and didn't care to
have blood on their hands TO think
about for years. But the prisoner re
piled that while he wished to be a
good fellow. and reasonable. he could
not go that far. The men finally rode
away, still arguing with the prisoner.
did not hear how 1t finally
came out. but probably the prisoner
continued TO argue be didn't steal the
horse. was generally better man than
those objecting to him. and that the
request to shoot himself was unrea-
sonable
During the present big storm. one
of the sayings heard most frequently
Is that conservative thought has been
given up.
It will return; that is one thing we
may depend upon.
There was never a safe storekeeper,
mechanic. father. banker, husband. cit
lien. farmer, until he had somewhat
learned the truths Of conservatism;
practice of its rules decides the de-
gree of his promotion or failure. Con-
servatism is not doctrine, but prac-
tice nature enforces.
Nature is conservative; its worst
storms blow themselves out Floods
and plaques have destroyed millions,
but soon the sun shines peacefully
again on greater numbers who have
somehow found shelter.
Nothing is permanently radical; al
ways conservatism wins as a natural
law We cannot escape.
- L. - he. lorrr lot
in their contests with outlaws as can
be reasonably expected? Near my
town twelve officers with machine guns
lately surrounded a house in which
were only two outlaws handicapped
by having their women with them.
After considerable firing, the outlaws
got away, wounding three of their as
sailants. Here were thir-
teen officers pitted against two law
violators. The bandits had no advan-
tage except courage; they did not even
have the new steel shields with which
the officers had lately been supplied
by the county, Thirteen Off
GERS to two bandits, and the bandits
won. 1t really seems fresh discourage
ment for law as administered by pol
itics.
Recently while walking on the
streets an old lady timidly approached
me, and asked If I could spare her a
dime. looked at her in establishment.
as she was decently though modestly
dressed. If I know anything about
her sex. she was gentle and good
woman; so gave her much more than
a dime Then she began TO cry and
sob. and l hurried on, or / would have
cried myself. In such help as I am
able to give the worthy poor, l prefer
to exercise my own judgment Last
year there was so much unusual ex-
cuse for such action that I gave more
than usual to charity, all worthily
bestowed. and hundred per cent eff
Gent. hope the good Lord gave me
credit. If members of soliciting COM
mittees did not.
Considering the Indifference of the
public, literary critics take themselves
very seriously. A Swede named Yer
her Won Heidenstam was awarded the
Nobel prize for literature in 1916. Al
fred A Knopf published one of his
books in New York. and in seven
years managed TO sell 1.1S9 copies.
Other books acclaimed by world critics
rs wonderful have sold less than a
thousand.