The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-05-26
Howe About:
Back to Recovery
Temperance
Hard Times Not Rare
By ED HOWE

can move forward to new system
that will solve our present difficulties,
but cannot move back to recovery"
I admit it is an impressive and
high-sounding paragraph, but denounce
it as nonsense. 1t is precisely back
ward we must go to recovery; back
to the old economy in public and pri-
vate affairs.
In marching forward recklessly we
have reached a dangerous position
we cannot maintain; we must retreat
back to safety, and reform our lines
for another advance.
One of the worst American calam-
tiles was adoption Of the prohibit0ry
law, for the reason that opposition to
it become general, and apparently
Though not actually whisky won a
victory. Whisky is bad stuff, but in
the row over prohibition (really de-
mand of sober men for a sounder
temperance measure) the unthinking
gained the impression that temper
ance is bad idea. The whisky idea
was thus encouraged as never before
In our history.
The wisest and best men of all ages
have placed temperance near the head
of their recommendations Let the
sane remember that temperance is still
the best word in the common sense
language.
Frequent hard times with our
money affairs are no more unnatural
than are frequent hard times with our
stomachs, our love affairs, or hard
times because of too much rain, wind
or snow.
Ours is a hard times world; one
should have cyclone cellar con-
stantly handy to which to retreat.
Every day something happens to cause
all Of us to regret we did not watch
out more constantly yesterday when
the weather was fair.
I hope the sane did not neglect to
note that the oppressed man who at
tempted to kill the President Elect at
Miami, Fla, and wounded four and
killed one in the crowd, gave as his
excuse for the desperate act:
1. He had long suffered Indigestion
pains in his stomach.
2. He hated Presidents and rich
men generally.
He confessed, also to making $50 a
day as bricklayer, to losing 5000 at
the dog races in Miami, and had a
considerable sum of money on his per-
son when arrested.
AS 1900 people witnessed the shoot
ing, the shooter, when arraigned in
court, offered to plead guilty, but the
Judge appointed three lawyers, at pub
lie expense, to attend him; also three
physicians to relieve his Indigestion.
Congress has not been more liberal
and prompt in looking after the OPP
pressed than was this Miami judge.
1t has never been quite understood
in London why Oscar Wilde did not
get along with his wife, who, the wom-
en- have asserted for years, was SO pa
tient, kind and womanly they cannot
understand why any man should re-
fuse to live with her.
A recent English book prints a
story that may explain the mystery.
Oscar Wilde was admittedly a very
brilliant man; wherever he ap-
peared, crowds attended to hear his
conversation. 1t is probable he ire
peated" good deal, as all husbands
do, and this repetition of old sayings
and jokes must have been more ia
miliar to his wife than to others.
Anyway, whenever and wherever
Oscar Wilde began his brilliant con-
versation his wife left the room; she
had heard him so often she was tired
of it. Oscar, being great pet, might
have thought her action insulting, and
started row.
l often say literature Is shiftless
stuff; that no one actually cares
much for it except publishers, and
their hired men, the writer's.
mean no special condemnation Of
writer's or publishers. Everything in
life excites us to frequent fault find
ing. 1t is the fate of men; nothing
among us is very good or satisfactory.
We must select the best in every
thing, and get along with it as COM
fortably as we can.
Lincoln Steffens lately wrote: moth
ing is done finally, nothing is known
positively and completely"
This is good grumbling and good
writing, but cannot see how anyone
will be able to get anything out Of 1t,
beyond a little intellectual thrill.
Mr.. Steffens has again reminded
me of my weakness; again made me
uncomfortable. If this is the object of
writing, then Lincoln Steffens is
good writer.
It is related in sacred history that
the first woman, as soon as God Gre
ated her from one of Adams ribs, had
natural modesty, and wished to clothe
her nakedness This modesty on
y,