The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-10-19
Howe About:
Mr.. Dick
Ones Conscience
Nicholas Murray Butler
By ED HOWE
G. 1854. Bell By ndicst.-wNu Service

by ED HOWE
THE worlds noted are pretty gen
1 orally bores, but II must be ad
mitted they are selected and rated
With considerable discrimination
Among warriors one hears most OF
Napoleon Bonaparte and fairness com
pels the admission be was about the
best of all of them. or writing men
perhaps the name pof Charles Dickens
Is printed most frequently. Again the
world has indged fairly; he was prob
ably the best one.
English speaking people everywhere
have pretty generally read David
Coppertield." and laughed at @Mr.
Dick" an agreeable sort of fellow. ey.
cept that In his conversation he soon
drfted around to King Charles. a
celebrity In whom he was specially
interested. and. In talking of his fa-
vnrite subject was very tireseme.
On all other subjects Mr.. Dick was dis.
posed to be polite and reasonable hut
he could not talk long without King
Charles wandering in and spelling
everything.
Charles Dickens created "Mr Dick"
as warning against very common
human weakness have not known
anyone who did NOT constantly weaken
himself with some sort Of folly.
| often disagree with philosophers.
One OF them writes. Most persons
who talk about their conscience hurt.
Ing them are merely wailIng because
they've been found out In my life
time I've known few men to be re.
pentanf except when discovered doing
things they shouldn't do. am
Inundated no more by faults in which
| have been fonnd our thnn BY faults
unknown to the public. Some OF my
nets ofwhIch am ashamed are still per-
sonal secrets I'll never tell Some are
known to one other who will never
tell: at least, so far rs ! know. they
never have told. | blame warn nv.
faults as because of others which have
been In print or on the lips OF neigh
bors. My greatest wonder Is
proud man. never have been proud
indeed. believe my neighbors rnte me
rather higher than | rate myself.
am not here confessing to any OF the
greater crimes, but to petty faults 50
numerous they greatly hnmfllate me.
Nicholas Murray Butler. president
of Columbia university. sends me cir.
culars regularly without ofrense.
can say this of very few professors
Gentlemen of this trade employ
grandeur In thinking and expression
which preiudices me against them
while considering their product and
their merit read everything Pro
fessor Butler sends me. and am In
debted TO him for this sentence
sFhe oldest lesson which mankind has
had to learn. and which mankind does
not even now fully comprehend is
that the social order rests upon A
foundation which Is not economic at
all. but moral" have long be-
lieved the greatest mistake of men is
that they do not behave better: that
they do, not. without fuss or feathers.
mike behaviorism the basis of the
religion we have long need
ed. am Obliged to Doctor Butler
perhaps the most eminent of otir pro
fessors. for so simply restating my
belief.
II a publisher should ask me to
write, In old age. what think OF life.
think | should ask him to let me at.
tempt II In the manner In which can
write best. All my thoughts are In
can write easiest In fhnr
way. and best express my meaning.
And. providing succeeded In convinc-
ing the publisher. should make sim
lar appeal 70 readers. am unable
20 connect easily long arguments; 1t is
hard work. and | know am weak at
t. There has been no better
than Frederick Keitzsche
but. In trying to connecf them. and
make book. ne made so poor Job
VI "Thus Spake Zarathrustra. | can
1ot read tt, although | delight In his
exhibits of wit and intelligence after
hey have been collected and shortened
~ patient readers. have never seen
/ book sufficiently brief and simple.
except 1.-THE Story OF Philosophy" hy
VIII Dnrant. and this was collection
If the sayings OF others. Had Profes
Tor Durant been writing his own opn-
ons OF life. perhaps he would have
,een less competent In selecting. and
more dullness In writing
,r speaking OF others one is usually |
IN ADLER critic than when writing or
'peaking about himself.
fool here, pauper there, fire.
luently reasonably good citizen who |
,ays his debts and Is respected by his
leighbors. Say what you will
bout human nature, we have gotten |
llong rather well with 1t Always We
rave been able to improve 1t little