The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-05-05
Howe About:
Ordinary Men
Too Much Charity
Parental Love
By ED HOWE

/ book that only the ordinary men have
real intelligence; that poets, philoso-
pliers, professors and prophets go so far
in their speculations that they finally
camp far beyond the truth.
| / was startled by the statement be-
cause throughout my life have been
reading books of the Intelligentsia de-
claring that ordinary people are weak
creatures, and must be constantly d.
rected by preachers and writer's.
l think this great compliment was
paid us by Herbert Spencer; and there
is some evidence to warrant it. In
Russia the ordinary working Ameri-
cans are accepted as superior men,
and sent for as foremen in building
factories, railroads, power and irriga-
ton dams, etc. But note the contempt
the Russian leaders express for our
writer's and statesmen! None Of their
notions are accepted.
| i give credit above to Herbert Spen-
Ger for the compliment. 1t may have
been Samuel Butler; should have
better remembered the name, in graft
tude. Anyway, both men have come
down to us with regulations for I'M
usual intelligence and learning; and
let ordinary working citizens remem-
Der that such man believed they are
the source of real intelligence, and in
future combat mistaken notions of
| writer's and statesmen with more
| vigor.
The Soviet leaders in Russia have
some excellent ideas. One is that the
thousands Of idle and mischievous
men in the big towns must give good
| excuse for remaining or get out into
the country, and earn an honest livs
| ing on farms. In every town there
are many characters known to police,
| who live by scheming almost or en-
| tirely robbery. These men are respon-
| sible for nine-tenths of the law break
ing; the ordinary citizen with good
job does not require the attention Of
| police a half dozen times in his life
| time. The most serious trOu-
BILE In the world today Is too much
charity for the more than half loafers,
dead beats and criminals. And this
excessive charity Is new growth.
distinctly remember q time when all
| communities had yagrancy law; va
grants were arrested with considerable
promptness and discretion, and made to
work on the rock pile. Nearly every
where now the Migrants are in charge
of public affairs.
Writers highly compliment mothers
in some ways, and misrepresent them
yiciously in others.
| Writers almost universally charge
that mothers do not properly educate
| daughters in sex matters. There new
| er was mother who neglected such
| education.
| / have long believed the love of par
ents for children is the thing that new
er fails. And parents add patience
| and self-sacrifice in dealing with their
children that is about the most credit
able thing to be said of our miserable
| race.
Some parents, poor wretches, have
bad Judgment, but fierce devotion to
| children never fails SO far as / have
| observed. If love for our children
| will save us we will all finally get to
heaven.
Some children may fail to sit on the
right hand of God because Of mean
ness to their parents, but IL love of
| children is sufficient virtue to save us,
1 expect to find all parents there.
An English writer says: "a boy is
more often disqualified than qualified
in economic life by prolonged educa-
ton" 81. G. Wells has long been say
ing time spent in university is vast
ed, and training in idleness and
rowdyism. England is deliberately
cutting its educational budget; and it
| has never been as foolish about edu-
| cation as have Americans who have
steadily made it more expensive and
| ineffective.
One of the impressive incidents Of
my life has been knowing an old wom-
an who had had two worthless hus-
bands, several children, and on an av-
erage not more than half enough to
| eat and wear. She almost worshipS
every man able to make good living.
Such a man'is her ideal, and a success.
/ rate men In the same way. Those
who make a good living, pay their
debts with reasonable promptness,
help somewhat In decent human prog
ress, and are in line for honest promo
ton, are our best men. From their
ranks come the millions who have
slowly improved their manners and
their services, and been able to distin-
guish their race. There are many linn
itations in the creature called man,
but II he is ambitious to get out of
life the best there is admittedly In it,
he Is good enough and success.
/ have long believed a majority of
the people are good enough, consider
ing all their handicaps. :, But
now that times are harder than ever
before, am wavering somewhat; hon.