The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-06-16
Howe About:
Future Wisdom
Greatest Americans
Your Manners

M/ ~ OfIEN speak or the WISDOM
w Of old men, to compare it with
the recklessness of youth.
But how much wiser is the old
world, with its millions of years, than
an old man, with his possible and pitt
full seventy
such education as the people finally
accept is forced on them by the slow
| grind Of the ages. AS selfish, cautious
creatures always in danger, experience
is the master men finally learn to
fear. 1 expect more wisdom in the
future than we have In the present,
because of the education of experience.
/ often wonder what Is the most
probable development of the future.
The present age has been so bedeviled
by folly that common sense may final
ly be triumphant. The men of the
future who read of the distress of
1888, most of it unnecessary, should
be greatly improved in caution and
behavior.
A man lately asked me to name
the fifteen greatest Americans Of all
time. It would take me a year to
make such a list, and then my list
would be Of small consequence; but l
have been thinking the question over
and writing names on pieces of paper
/ shall probably later use. One name
on the list at present is that of julius
Rosenwald. / admire him because his
concern once got into trouble, and he
worked it out with his own resources,
intelligence and energy he did not un-
load on the public. Another name I
considered was that of Phil Armour;
his concern was very notable while he
was alive. / thought of adding the
name of Glen Studebaker of South
Bend, Ind, but hesitated when the
morning paper announced the com
pany he founded was in trouble. In
fairness 1t should be added that the
name Studebaker was widely respect
ed when old Glen, wagonmaker and
blacksmith, was in control. Many
great Americans have had their fame
clouded by modern sons, sOns-in-law,
promoters, bankers and bond sales
men. l do not know exactly when it
began, but fifteen or twenty years ago
hundreds of the most prominent bust
ness men in America began bonding
their concerns, either from fear of
present conditions, or because Of
greed. Many of these bonds, at first
paying enormous dividends, are now
worthless. When my list Of the fif-
teen greatest Americans is completed,
the name of no man who engaged In
that movement will disgrace it.
In mingling with neighbors or
strangers, wish to conduct myself in
accordance with the accepted rules of
human association, to avoid giving an
impression I am rude, foolish or I'M
fair man.
am equally anxious to make good
impression in what l write for print.
have been terribly punished by the
loose and dishonest manner in which
/ believe our government affairs have
been conducted, and feel strongly that
the politicians are largely to blame,
but in my complaints do not wish to
lead readers to believe am special
" poor loser, or unfair or fanatical
in my charges; in all my appearances.
in print or in social affair, at ticket
window or counter, try to remenf-
Der my manners.
As child, when I became noisy.
rude or unreasonable, my gentle moth
er said: Remember your manners"
This was the severest correction she
ever inflicted on me, and no other has
impressed me more.
One frequently reads that the thing
men most constantly look for is pleas
ure. / have never thought so. The
men have known in long life have
been most active in looking for the
comfortable way; the path with few
est rough and disagreeable places.
There are half a dozen roads from
nv home in the west of Florida, and
have Travelled most of them; never
in expectation of finding pleasure, but
in the hope of finding the easiest way.
never look for pleasure; few do, but
we all look for relief from dull hours,
or discomfort, or threatened danger.
Sir Henry Deterding, director of a
petroleum company, which under his
management has grown in thirty years
from small concern producing cheap
oil in Borneo to a position of world
wide power and Importance, lately
wrote: "All solutions are simple.
The complicated ones belong to poll
ticians, would-be economists, and the
like, and are no solutions. but lead
further into the mire." l beg the
reader to seriously consider this say
ing by a noted and honest man, for I
have long believed, and often said,
that all solutions are simple. When
truth is difficult to get at, it is Ques-
tionable truth.
have heard house agents say they
have little trouble with men renters