The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-10-12
Howe About:
Moth and the Flame
New York Men
Question of Truth
Bv ED HOWE
By ED HOWE

oy la 41O w e
a NYONE who reads what write
Will have to stand a good deal
OF repetition. 80 l ask indulgence for
saying again that old maxIms have
significance as representing the best
wisdom there is Another virtue In
maxims Is they are always we'll and
simply written.
A very old one tells of the disposi-
tion OF moth to hover around a can
die. and get Its wings slnged. There
was once a man named Henry Holt
who had high intellectual equip
ment, and as much education as the
best universities. and long association
with the best people. could supply. He
was book publisher, with such rare
critical taste that his firm was out
standing. He owned and edited
quarterly magazine SO excellent have
preserved nearly every issue as an ex-
ample of perhaps the best average
writing ever displayed In magazine.
He wrote good many of the articles
himself. and ranked as one of the
best American writer's.
But In every Issue of Unpopular
Review there was an article usually
by Mr.. Holt himself) about spiritual
Ism. This towering about dangerous
flame finally resulted In the failure of
the best printed and best edited maya
zine In our long list, and bad scars
on the reputation of the brilliant edi-
tor.
In the use OF Ink. pen. type, here
was master comparable to Napoleon
Bonaparte In the use of guns, powder,
soldiers, but Henry Holt could no more
keep from lowering around the fame
OF his most dangerous candle than
Napoleon Benaparte could keep away
from Moscow In the early winter of
1872.
A long time ago a New York man
called on me. and requested that In
troduce him to William Jennings
Bryan. few minutes after the men
met, the New Yorker said something
that Infatuated Mr.. Bryan, and he dis
played a rage did not know was In
him. The encounter took place In the
Bryan home In Miami, Fla. Before |
was out OF bed next morning, Mr.. Bry-
an telephoned, and apologlzed for 50
completely losing his temper. His ex-
PLANTATION was that all New York men
Infatuated him, they so generally be-
lIeved themselves superior to others,
because of their residence In the big
town..
understand that the depression
has greatly chastened New Workers;
travellers inform me they now display
considerable respect for men from
other sections.
once published war story on the
authority of common soldier of 1862.
At the time | wrote the former prl-
vate had become bank president,
and an exceptionally intelligent and
reliable man. The general In command
denied the authenticity Of the incl
dent outlined by the private, who, In
his defense, said he witnessed 1t with
his own eyes, heard with his own
ears the conversation reported. and In
person participated In the charge de-
scrlbed. Was not the evidence OF this
witness worthy OF consideration? !.
In describing famous ancient battle,
d leader reported that a river left Its
bed, and charged uphill after regi-
ment OF retreating soldiers. Had a
hundred reliable common men partici-
pating In the same action declared no
such marvel occurred, ] believe the tes-
tlmony Of the majority should have
been considered with that OF the lead
err who wrote book.
Spartans practlced health, efficiency.
that they might become good soldiers;
history tells some terrible cases OF
bntchery practiced by them.
The Pennsylvania Dutch practice
good habits that they may become
good citizens, and thus avoid war, pow
erty, drunkenness, idleness, and other
of the extravagances OF civilization.
In the upper middle class In the
United States there are millions Oh
men I admire more than any Spar
tan. In cultivating good habits, the
Spartans made too much OF bravery
as exhibited In fighting. The pennsyl-
vania Dutch, and other citizens sue
cessful above the average, are not
fanatical about any one thing, but try
for a reasonable average In all good
habits.
DO You recall how the American
neople we're forced to advance the
money loaned to foreigners during the
| World war, and which the foreigners
now lmpudently refuse to pay DackF
In hundreds of communities the news
papers printed daily lists of those citi-
zens who were slow In producing
money to be loaned abroad, the Amer
| lean who refused to make loan to his
| foreign brother was everywhere de-
nounced by the rabble, and publicly In
suited.