The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-07-20
Howe About:
Better Amusements
Our Failing Minds
Bernard Shaw
nv En HOWE
By ED HOWE

4 4 leans are the greatest luiers III
the world, 1t 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 timer How find
new enjoyments In our shift@ssnessl
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 a
real menace to our homes7 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 afrairsf
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 or 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 1t
may be good idea for everybody.
Do races Inevitably run out? Is 1t
hopeless to struggle for their improve
ment and continuance7
1t seems to me |, am able to note a
sad deterioration since the Civil war.
| Compare congress now with congress
| OF rs years ago, and how shabbily
1888 comes off, There isn't man
OF ability In the present congress Tor
| 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
shamefully neglected our minds.
1t may we'll occur to every man that
he Is doing well enough physically, but
that his mind Is falling.
Bernard Shaw has his opinion of
mankind, and expresses 1t 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
err than the opinions OF other writing
men.
NV relations with Bernard Shaw are
excellent. do not know him, or wish
to know him. and never write him.
hear he is polite enough to those who
have good reason to call on or write
him.
During recent journey at sen Shaw
went on deck early one morning. and
found an old man leaning indifferently
over the rail.
How does 1t come" Shaw asked
.that you are the only man on the
ship who has not annoyed me7'
Because I do not want to know
you, or talk to you" the man an
swered.
"Ever hear of me?" Shaw asked
again.
u know all about you,y 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. Yol
save me the trouble. beg you to pro
coed with your walk"
Silerius said In his memoirs. I'll
all my life have known but one real
ly intelligent and fair woman" Z. "a
every other man will probably say h
has known at least one such woman
there must be a good many of them.
Thousands have known the tru
philosophy Of life. And been s.
whipped by mob men that now no on
dares be sensible. All men ar
more intelligent than their action
indicate. Foolish tradition. and foo
ish, continuous qnarrellng about 4
have made fools Of US all.
Considering the rough manner |
which all men are forever trying t
muss up all women. some women loo
very well.
1t Is we'll known that most men {
discernment have poor opinion Of tn
people en- masse. because of their To-
average In intelligence. morals, polit
ness and fairness. because of their Il
sistence on running every civillzatio
the better men have attempted.
1t Is often said the English have T
sense OF humor. An Englishma
relates that child on first seeing
rainbow, asked. "What Is 1t? A
vertising7' Another Engllshms
Is reported as saying: THE only tin
horse scares nowadays Is when
sees another horse" (. AS co
trast quote two OF the most popul