The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-09-22
Howe About:
Pine Shingles
Not So Crazy
Classical Educations
BY ED HOWE

By ED HOWE
GENERAL years ago had occasion
~ to put new roof on house, and
was talked into buying one Of the best
Of the patent shingles now being Of
fered by enterprising agents as better
than old-fashioned pine. l have had
constant trouble with the roof ever
since. The man who sold me the pat
ent roofing after trying several times
to make it satisfactory, finally admit
ted the best roofing material for the
ordinary cottage is 1.-The old-fashioned
pine single of first grade. Any new
idea is risk until it has been prac-
tically tried out at least hundred
years. will remember that this sum-
mer when tearing off the patent roof
to replace it with old-fashioned pine.
Thus 1 learn; thus everyone learns.
In a certain town there is man
everybody says is crazy. Lately he
wrote a letter for the Public Mind col
umn of the local paper, and the editor
printed it exactly as written, as a
"joke." The man can't spell, but ex-
presses more clear common sense
about public affairs than have known
a citizen to write in years. He OPP
poses the present mania for imitation,
for government help for everybody;
says the only remedy is economy, in
dustry, better behavior, and less poll
tics, and agrees with Europeans gen.
orally that Americans seem deter
mined to commit suicide. A man
knowing that much isn't crazy.
Americans not educated themselves
have a tremendous notion of the bene-
fits to be derived from a classical edu-
cation. ! met a farmer recently who
had lost his farm because Of sending
three sons to college. This father be-
lieved that classical education would
specially arm and equip his children
for their battle with life, but he told
me that, after graduation, his sons re-
turned home, and he could not see
they had been benefited. Employers
even had a prejudice against Them.
and many ignorant foreigners were be-
ing given employment when his sons
could not get it.
In the exchange of every dollar
there is an element of dishonesty on
one side or the other; in every legal
transaction as much dishonesty as the
traffic will bear. The law itself leans
toward dishonesty, as tribute to hui
man necessities. A man may keep
we'll within the law and still exercise
considerable of his naturally roguish
disposition.
What is all this human bargaining
about? In every case man or wom-
an declaring to another he is asking
too much. It is the first job Of all Of
us to become capable traders; If we
are not, we are robbed.
Why do we have locks on all our
doors? Why are taxi drivers, street
car conductors. clerks, compelled to
ring a bell when they take in cash
fare? Why are county treasurers. all
classes of officials, bonded? 1t is ac-
acknowledgement Of the universal belief
In dishonesty.
Just recently twenty of the worlds
most prominent business men were in
vestigated by congress. The first one
called to the witness stand said: I'VE
keep well within the law"
Visit an Indian camp and the bucks
will all say: 'T'm a good Indian"
We all know we are under suspicion
and what is expected of us: to keep
well within the law-to be good In
dians.
Every man handles the women lit
has walked out on three wives ("quit
them cold" as the neighbors say).
Still another man I know we'll has
been thirty-four years getting rid of
one, and isn't entirely out of the woods
yet. In meeting the emer-
gencies of life-and, with men, wom-
en- occupy first place in creating them
Il have come to believe the most hon.
orable way is pretty generally the cas-
lest way. For instance: The husband
who has walked out on three wives
badly crippled himself three times.
whereas the other man, who displayed
more fairness, is still going fairly
good.
After you become old Gas AMI you
will find one of your heaviest burdens
is being regulated too much. We. do
not object to proper regulations, but
I am regulated daily and hourly when
I have not offended. and regulation is
not necessary. 1 try to meet the
natural duties of life with patience,
but am heavily burdened by regula-
tors self-appointed. and who should,
in any fair consideration of fairness
and common sense, let me more quiz
city pursue my natural tasks.
In our attempts to acquire learning,
we have unhappily learned much we
must unlearn.
I have freouentlv noted the man