The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-06-29
Howe About:
Religion
Good Cooks
H. L. Mencken
By ED HOWE
g. Bell Syndicate.-WNU Service.

Ii has always taught morality with IT'S
religious doctrine. In the home, In
the nation, il has been, in way. the
custodian of good behavior. Parents,
especially mothers, are Its sincerest
advocates, and mainly for moral rea-
sons.
But no intelligent man may honestly
say as much of Communism. At least,
the founder of Christianity is called
the Prince of Peace; In his book may
be found the moral teaching found in
every other book of enduring fame. In
it is found the simple admonition to
give unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars. The Bible advises US to do
unto others as we would have others
do unto US, and the advice is found In
a much older book. indicating that In
all times it has been found depend
able and necessary human regulation
for the greatest good of the greatest
number.
But 1t is certainly true that Com
munism is a doctrine of violence, OF
war; of defiance of morality.
In my long life have found nothing
to substantiate the truth of the Chris
tian dogma, but have never denied that
millions of it's followers are good peo-
pie. Most CT them only know Of their
doctrine that it teaches morals; of the
rest of it they know little. Their faith
is faith in the necessity Of good be-
havior, but have never known Com
munist of whom ii might be truthfuly
said he was an honest man.
The next time you sit down to your
newspaper, note the many mentions OF
policewomen, actresses, club women.
social workers, society women, and the
like, and the few mentions Of women
who are good cooks. Even in private
life it Is almost equal to starting a
story" on a woman to say she Is good
cook.
One Of the best things to be said
about a woman is that she is a good
cook; the real scandal is the meals
that are prepared by the ordinary
hired girl
b. l. Mencken has expressed regret
that no one since Huxley has capably
defended himself against the sneers Of
religious sentimentalists.
Why does not Mencken himself do
it7 Why did he twice make the at
tempt, and then drift off into the usual
tip,id;tv2 MapaLop 10 O hattor uyritoY-
than Huxley; not greater man or
thinker, but he is better able to pre-
sent case in simple words easier I'M
derstood by the ordinary reader.
Mencken's best book is least known,
and possibly out Of print: THE PHI
losophy of Frederick Neitzsche." No
other man, living or dead, has more
simply, powerfully or intelligently pre-
scented a summary Of truth, hidden
away in important books written by
great intellectual. 1t is the misfor-
tune of the world today that 81. L.
Mencken has not done as much for
Huxley and a dozen others Of equal
note. 1t is a weary task for an av-
erage reader to wade through all of
Neitzsche's books, important as they
are: joy to read one such book as
Mencken's "Neitzsche."
But In summarizing his own re-
ligious opinions, Mencken is cowardly;
he seems to be as much under the con-
troll of his mother as Mark Twain was
under the control Of his wife.
When he attempted to speak for
himself about religion, Mencken even
expressed the belief there might be
a good deal in it." to satisfy his moth
er, but Huxley didn't talk that way
in his controversy with Gladstone.
What / miss in Mencken's own re-
Hgious books is not his wit or wisdom.
but his great ability as a writer to
present the case truthfully, fairly
and candidly for the benefit of con-
fused and hurried readers. Nothing is
so awkwardly. so confusingly or dis
honestly written. talked, sung or shout
ed about as religion. Everybody is
afraid of the subject, although there is
nothing whatever to be afraid of in
discussing it, except ignorance and
cowardice.
All my life l have heard men say,
as a sort Of apology: 81 am not
money maker" Everyone of any &C
count at all is a money maker; the
rare thing is a money saver. The
maxim l have most solemn regard for
is that declaring it is easier to make
money than it is to save it.
So many impose on me unreasonably
l am especially anxious not to impose
on others. always want what is just
ly my due; ! do not object to this in
anyone-to insist on your plain rights
is a virtue. | refer only TO unneces-
sary annoyances and impositionS
Writing of the late Frank Harris,
a biographer says: He transgressed
all the infiexible rules of the righteous.
He wronged friends, betrayed every
one, and violated every decency. And
yet he was one Of the noblest men of
his day. If this be paradox, it is also
very near the truth. Championing the
helpless and fighting oppression, Har-
ris was magnificent; at his worst, be
was far too close to rascality for the
comfort of his admirers"
This is mere literary piffle. A man
who violated every decency, and be-
trayed every friend, could not have
been one of the nobIest men of his
time; TO say so, or think so, Is silly.
Half the people are creditable, con-
Sidariur fho slime in xvhiah Tho~- ar;ri