The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-05-08
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment censidered or Ineonsiderafe


There comes now by mail neat and colorful folder
from the Navy explaining the nature of Chaplans
duties and urging clergymen to take them up. The
Government has come full-swing into the spirit of
an advertising age We hope the Navy gets its quota
of Chaplains.
There was time, not long ago when almost
the only government advertising was a poster out
side recruiting station. For the rest Government
held aloof from the hurry y-burly of the hawker's
game Even new issue of bonds was coldy an
nounced in the present indicative with no hint of
hortatory subjunctive. Fuit linn.
Government at that time,-say in McKinleys
day when the l900's were just peekng shyly above
ground like April violets and every commercial
product under the sun heralded as a Twentieth
Century this or that-waS as stiff and formal in its
public notices as its presidents were in public ap-
pearances. Government stiff collar and
vide crayat; II appeared in Prince Albert or tailed
cutaWay, and seemed to have broomsck up its
back. Anything like the common or vulgar forms
OF commercial advertising was, for Government
distinctly mira dig.
But now! Gracious me, but things have changed
In matters Of advertising Government has shueE-
ed the frock coat and the topper The business
sack and Homburg appear, and sometimes the
zootsuit. BY public press and radio and TV Gov
eminent lets us in IFS various businesses and
Whoops up interest like camp-meeting exhorter
And ITS own presses keep pouring out polychrome
pulls TO win the pennies Of small-fry for savings
stamps and daddys dollars for bonds 10 muster
Marines, and wangle Wacs and Waves: and latest
OF all appeals, to corral chaplains for the Nayys
needs.
Well, as the proverb says times do change and
VIC change with them. And once we decide TO change
we surely put our hearts into it, Be not amazed if
you unfold your newspaper one day on some such
appeal as this. TRY Our Genuine Royal Purple
Postage Stamps! More Patriots Use These Stamps
than ANY Other Variety Make Your Correspondence
Count. And Have Fun Doing It, Think of The Merri-
ment Available at Quick Lick Stamp Party Our
Stamps Backed by Government Guarantee and
also by Sanitary Sale.Lckable Glue"
How radio or TV baritone-the slick.trick lad
with the fabricated tonss-could go to work on the
promotion of stamp salesl "And remember-your
Federal Government, having finished its laboratory
tests of New Brass cigarettes now guarantees that
every one OF these three-cent stamps will when
properly attached, carry one ounce of first class
mail 10 any point m The entire country But don't
take our word for il: make your own twenty-one
DAY test. For three weeks, mail out letters daily
with our stamps eXclusively,-to points north east
south, and west; to village and town, to city and
remote rural retreat lR not SINGLE instance will
there be failure throat irritation Remember YOU
can be positive If it's Purple Postage!"
And then the scene in the doctors office The
Whte-coated scientist, clean-iawed and sapent,
will turn from his microscope, stetheScope tele-
scope, and horoscope, to render true and throaty
testimony: "ln 6742 tested and retesed over
period of three months, not case OF malignant
tired tongue has resulted from licking these stamps.
The same result has been reported by welknown
firm OF glue testers. In fact the great majority of
citizens who took this test reported that il gave
new thrill to their tastebuds; many said il added
distinct zest to an Immediately subsequent hooker of
the only beer. Have lick at our stamps to-day.
Get some at your nearest post office or carry-out
drug store"
And isn't il interesting TO see how the doctors,
who, like the oldtime Government, were far above
the sordid business of advertising have been smoked
out tno snde pun nended) by the cigarette-makers?
No ad is now complete without lanterni iawed
physician in IT, No satisfies the eye if il have
not somewhere within the proscenium arch white
coated scientist with reflectorband around his
head. All in the interest of mildness or filtered
smoke
But ourselves of the household of the faith
have 10 strike breasts and cry med calpd for
the most absurd ads of all,the advertisements for
religious vocations and the advertisements of
shrines for special devotons. We might become
accustomed IN time to the prying advertisers who
refuse us privacy al the breakfast table, or who
of breath our cold-cream-war with what is sooth
ngly called perspiration but is in reality sweat
But we shall not and should not become Injured
TO the socalled religious ad. II is an offence to re
igion
This governmental chaplain-ad is interesting
And not the least notable thing about il is its plain
statement TO the accepted candidate "of all the
services YOU perform your first and foremost duty
lies in your Divine Services. II is true you
Naval Officer But before this-and first OF all
you are a minister, priest. rabbi. Your first
responsibility is for the religious life of the Nays
and women" This is a heartening thing to
read in day when people in public nlaces skt
tish about mentioning any other duties than social
democratic activities.
No less heartening are the closing words of
the Nays folder: wherever you serve
YOU can do all manner of things, in all manner Of
places for all manner of people--for the Kingdom
of God"
This is far cry from those religious ads Of
which we have just spoken, the kind that cries,
do You Want to Serve Christi" Join Our Order
BE Muscovte. or Something" If the Navy adj
vertises for Chapains, it does with frankness and