The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-10-29
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or IneonsidsrAts


AdlaD verse, "The world is so full of number of
things you have only TO turn over, piece by piece
the contents of teachers mail-box Mostly second
class to be sure, but amazingly various.
Here for example, is an arty little invitation
sent Ito educators and group leaders throughout
the United States-and perhaps Canada, and lands
beyond the seas The invitation is printed folder
done in two-tone effect of gray and ivory, and
having the wide gray areas mostly blank. 1t is such
thing as to make one murmur, restrained" and
then wonder what the restraint is all about. Who
was it said Of the South African novelist 90 Schren-
er was probably meanD who is constantly praised
for admirable restraint" that her work
Shows the snaffle and the curb all right,
But-wheres the bloody horse?
This solemn burb announces with incredible
dignity what do you suppose? Well, we'll tell
YOU II announces the 28th Annual Soap Sculpture
proiect!!! That's what!
Yes sir! The National Soap Sculpture Commit
tee will be pleased to have your active partcipa-
ton in the Project You send for information, and
blanks, and manual about soap-carving in the class
room, and a tenminute sound film showing "carv-
ing techniques used by three children of different
ages and maturity levels" You are told that there is
to be competition open to amateurs of all ages"
Professional soap SculptOrs appear to be barred
out, if there any professionals. awards to
be given in the form Of cash prizes" And very
pleasing form. too if in notable amount This
folder is so stuffy with dignity that it cannot men
tion dates or amounts All very high class You'll
nave to write 10 get the sordd details. And all
about cutting up soap!
Well, after ALL it is a heartenng thing to know
that in such a day own, when there is
much agitation and dismay and such nsistent
threats of impending wreck OF matter and the
crush Of worlds people 90 placidly on devel-
oping their skill in soap sculpture. The stately fold
charmngly says "As instrument of relaxa-
ton and pure pleasure, carving in soap has brought
lasting reward TO very large group OF partci-
pants who have in this way satisfied the basic crav
ing in all of US for Of creative expression"
So many words about so little have seldom found
their way into print.
So be not dismayed by the state OF the world,
grandpa. Seek little relaxation and pure pleasure,
and satisfy your basic craving for selfexpresson.
Get out your old Barlow knife and cake of soap.
Enjoy little art for lathers sake. Write the TV
and tell him TO add TO his list of intangibles
that make his special soap the wonder of the world,
"a new quality,-the right texture for sculpture.
But oh, what will become of those manufacturers
who 10 up their soap into flakes crystals grains
and powders? No good for sculpture these
erumped ceansers II will likely be long before the
avid amateur professionals need not apply) carves
a man in Ivory Snow The sculptor, knife in
hand, looks with dsmay upon mere detergents.
What to him is the whitest wash in town? He
cares not a whit that the stuff blues as it Shoes
dirt away. His is single quest and query; how
does the SOAP cut2 Does il have that long smooth
texture that invites to pure pleasure and self
preston? If not, Rdus miti
Soap sculpture is not the only thing that the
educators mail suggests, Here is book that will
wlI.W aIrnN fat.f
whether you have anything TO public speak about
not Now you can polish up that final draft of
your speech 10 peak perfection, quickly and easily"
This is book full of words All kinds of words.
Here are cold ruthless words tG0Sh)-Warm,
sympathetic words My)-all types TO get your au-
dience into the proper mood" Any speaker realizes,
of course, that his main business is to get the su-
dience into proper mood Proper mood Is largely
the mood TO stick around and listen, instead of slip
ping quickly out at the nearest exit For those that
stay warm sympathetic words" for those that
sdle out cold, ruthless words" This great book
has them all
Here is another book for speakers. 1t appears
that a very large part of The American people is
gagged in the public speaking business or hopes TO
be For there is no end of these volumes that
train speakers, and furnish them with all they
need, and index topics for them and feed them lists
OF sparkling phrases There must be a hungry
market for such books, for the booksellers eve
going TO say "bookmakerS' but the word has GER
tain overones) are turning them out in millions
In the present book-as advertised by second
class maii-you will find every item specially
indeXed You will find SO pages of thumbnail guild
ance" in speech writing, although you may not need
il all having we'll trained thumbnails to start with.
The book contains SAB wsecrsckS especially count,
ed" you observe and 2ll amusing definitions.
Moreover, there are 1897 selected quotations al
phabetically arranged by subject speake~ who
can't audience with the aid of this precious
volume might we'll hand in his union card.
The publishers ought to issue warning with
this book. It is such big and various storehouse
OF oratorea fireworks that an unwiSe speaker may
easily be led to overdo Think of man. after the
Jokes and tests of his Introductory remark, sud
denly making az Wisecraeks after another, and
adding "a amusing definitions. And before the au-
dience can recover its apomb (or normal eomatose
stae away goes the orator with SO colorfu phrases
% classical expressions and 246 selected quotations
This sort of thing is too rich diet for any auditory
except luncheon club and it would be wasted there
All we'll its good 10 know that culture, and
competence are always Just around the corner
where you will find mail box TO receive your hur.
~ RI,