The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-09-05
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or lneonsiderate

1ne Oln gentleman AT the DuS SIOp was not only
willing to talk; he was determined upon it, Like
o. Henrys loquscious bartender he found himself
full of synonyms and parts of speech" Consulting
large oldfashioned watch land you knew at once
that this time piece was accurate to the fraction
of a second), he addressed Innocent Bystander.
"That bus is due here this minute You can't
depend on these buses you could on the old
trolley cars. | rode the cars for more than fifty
years. But | suppose have to take what we
get. Nothing but gasoline engines everywhere now,
snortlng and roaring and smoking and smelling
like all get out. Here comes the bus now, two
minutes behind time"
The bus drew up to the curb and the Innocent
Bystander was quick to find seat But the talk
ative old gentleman at his side as he sat down.
The discussion continued Had big argument at
the house last night | said something that started
it, something that | believe is Gods own truth
! may be wrong of course, and I'm willing to be
shown that Pm wrong if anybody can do it. But
said then, and ! say now, that the man who in
vented the gasoline engine inflicted the greatest
curse upon mankind that the human race has sus-
tanned in ITS entire history Do you agree with
that eh?
Il say that the gasoline englne,-and all that
came from It, automobiles, trucks arplsnes, tanks
and the rest--has brought more sin and distress and
destruction the earth than any other agency
it has spread wars all the world; it has just
about put American home life out of existence
And it's day by day killing beats anything that sick
ness pestilenee fires train wrecks earthquakes, and
other upheayals inflict upon humanity.
"Now wait minute know what you're going
TO say You're thinking that I'm seeing only the
bad side and forgetting the good that ! ought TO
weigh advantages against disadvantages Well now
Just what are the advantages in this case? Just
what do they amount to? Bigger cities, faster
travel, even and rapid spread Of commodities
through the whole country, and all such Why do
you call these advantages?
There are bigger cities when people would he
better off in small communities or on the land
There is faster travel for millions of people who
would be far happy and content if they stayed
al home and less by far Of menace to human
life. There is the spread of commodities but this
answers essential need of man. | can 60 down
to the city market and buy the fruits of the earth
al any season of the year But was just as happy,
and healthy by golly, when never saw an grange
except at Christmas, and didn't know the meaning
of avocado.
"The gasoline engine means you might say that
in case of sickness the doctor can he quickly at
the bedside, and that in of fire the big trucks
can be on the spot in a few minutes Well houses
still burn down. And for the doctor, he came
slowly in the horseandbuggy days but he came.
Nowadays you'll spend the whole time II took the
oldfashoned doctor to drive to your house IN
phonng hther and yon to find any doctor that is
free to come, or will consent to come at all.
Even il YOU discount my arguments on these
points. look at the moral side of this question.
Consider the hankypank that goes on in cars to
the ruinaton Of youngsters and the destruction of
marital fidelity know you'll say that badness
comes from human wills and not from machines.
badness not only conUenient for people to commit;
machines can and do make such badness possible.
And of all machines the gasoline engine is the boss
in this business
Henry Ford said, or was supposed to say, that
he had put humanity on wheels and it would never
consent To walk again He might have said, too
that he had put humanity out OF its homes, and
that il would never consent TO live quietly again
and cultivate the domestic virtues. Anyhow. that's
what he has done And do you count this ad
vantage?
we call ourselves a civilized people but I'd
hate to frame definition of civilization that would
fit our case In older day people liked to have
a comfortable and attractive home and worked tc
attain IT, They liked to have decent clothes and to
cultivate little personal dignity But in our en-
lightened day the great majority of Americans are
content to live in shacks and slacks if they can have
a car. Would you consider this state of things ar
advance in culture and civilization?
Look at the streets and grounds around to-day'S
high.schools Cars everywhere, and most of them
shiny and expensive. They represent a lot ol
money-a lot paid and a lot more owed. The young
sers who menace the streets and highways in these
cars haven't time to learn TO read or write or even
spell, certainly they have no time to think They arc
ittery and nervous and all tensed up, never con
tent unless they are whizzing along turnpike OF
making the matters of life and limb CLANCY bus
mess in the city streets That's of the fruits o
the gasoline engine
And the Sociologist and the economist can iustl,
consider that underpaid drivers in overloaded truck
are major factor in industrial upheavals and soca
unrest Well you think ii over and see if I'm no
right The gasoline engine is mans greatest curse
Here's my stop Brought home by gasoline engine
by 9olly and in for argument soon as
get there. My grandson wants the car tonight"