Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 310, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1912 — LOGIC AND REASON [ARTICLE]

LOGIC AND REASON

An Instance Where Logical Man Gave the Impression of Being, in Earnest.

By CLAUDINE SISSON.

“In case war Is declared, what is the logical conclusion?" asked the professor of his class. “That some one is going to get hurt,” was the reply. “And in case of an earthquake?” “That buildings will be shaken down.” “And in case of love?" “That matrimony will follow.” “And in case of pinching the tiger’s tail at the too?” “You get the bounce.” “Correct, gentlemen. Always reason from logic and you will always be right.” Mr. Fred Clihton, a young man of 24, had been using logic for many months when he set out to walk the country, a distance of 30 miles, for a visit jto his old aunt. He found nothing to reason about until within four miles of his journey’s end. Then, as he was passing a farmhouse of the better class, he saw something that halted him. A young girl was on the roof of the tool-house mending a leak. Her back was towards him, but he saw that she had three or four shingles and a hammer and nails. There might have been men-folks working in the field, but they were not in sight. There might have been a mother in the house, but if so she gave no sign. “Now, then, here is v logic, and here are conclusions," said the wayfarer as he sat down to watch and wait. “A girl on the roof with shingles, hammer and nails means that the roof leaks. It also means that she is taking a risk. “If she pounds her thumb, which she is almost sure to do, she will yell out ‘Darn it!’ and roll off the roof. “If her foot slips she will clutch and claw and scream, but go down Just the same. “No girl will climb up on the roof of a shed if she knows there’s a man around. If she sees one after she gets up there she is startled and in her haste to get down slips, slides, and comes down ker-plunk. “Any way you fix it, the logical conclusion is that there is sure to be a fall here. Now, then, the girl is perched about 14 feet from the ground, and the ground is hard. There are nine chances in ten that she breaks a bone. any rate, she will get a hard Jar. She will need some one to hold the camphor to her nose and call some one from the field. It may be' necessary to telephone or send , for a doctor. “I am at hand. lam the it. It’s for use to do and dare. I don’t save her Hfe, but she thinks I do, so it’s all the same. When a girl thinkß she owes her life to a young man what does she do? The logical conclusion is admiration, gratitude, love. “And when a young man has been called upon to save the life of a staving-looking girl the same emotions are aroused and the same conclusions must prevail. If I go on and she does not see me I Won’t be at hand when she falls; if I remain I add to her risk. There is no logic here, and there are no conclusions to be drawn. It is a case of even up, and I shall stay." Five minutes after the young man had finished his soliloquy the girl changed her position to get at her work the better* and there was a scream and she went sliding. Her fingers dragged over the dry shingles, and when the edge was reached she took a drop. “Conclusion the first is all right!” said Mr. Clinton as he started on the run to the rescue.“l must tickle the professor by writing him a letter.” He found Miss Amy Logan in a huddle on the ground and insensible. The fall had dislocated her shoulder. Mr. Clinton dashed into the house by the kitchen door and shouted. No one at home. He ran through three rooms and came to the camphor bottle. It is among the equipment of every farmhouse in the land.' He returned to the girl and held it to her nose and then sprinkled her face with It. By and by she opeped her eyes and looked at him wonderingly. “Hart?” he asked. “Shoulder.” “I was in the road when you fell. Are you all alone here?” “Yes.” “Telephone in the house?” “Yes.” “I don’t know beans about first aid, but something must be done. I thtnk you have a broken arm and I shall telephone the doctor.” “Doptor Arnold —three rings.” . In five, minutes Mr. Clinton was back again to say: “Now we must get you into the house and onto the lounge I saw In the Bitting room. Careful, now. Put your arm well around me and walk slow.” “But I don’t know you!” protested the girl as she hung back. * “That’s logical. Since I live miles away and never passed this place before it follows that you don’t know my name is Clinton. Keep inhaling the camphor and brace up against any faintness. Here we are, and now let me get you a drink of water. Is It the arm or the shoulder?” “Shoulder.” “It's dislocated, but that’s a heap better than a broken arm. There’s a house a quarter of a mile back.

Let me run there while waiting for the doctor and fetch a woman.” “If you would be so kind, but I don’t quite understand yet.” “Oh, you will lgter on. I’ve got it all figured out. It’s a case of logic.” The young man returned, accompanied by a farmer’s wife, Just as the doctor drove up. “What’s up?” asked the M. D. “Girl got a dislccated shoulder.” “Who telephoned?" “I did.” "What did you want to swear for?” “Logic. The man who swears over the telephone wire gives the impression to the receiver that he is very much in earnest, and that he’d better do sojie hiking." Mr. Clinton sat on the veranda while the doctor and the woman cared for the patient. By and by the girl’s thanks were Bent to him, and he was asked to call in a week’s time, If he could make It convenient, and he wen»t away whistling and not even posted as to the girl’s name. “But odds is the difference,” he said to himself. “It may be Jones or Brown or Baker now, but it’s sure to be Clinton after a while.” When the aunt was told the adventure she replied: “Why, that’s the Logan girl!” “But why the exclamation?” "Because they are the nabobs of the country/’ “Well?” “And she turned down several offers of marriage.” "Well, again?" “And you are no nabob. Don’t be foolish, Fred, and fall In love.” “I’m not a nabob, but I’m a logician, and thd logical conclusion is that I shall marry her. Can’t beat logic, Aunty.” He managed to hear from some one every day as to Miss Logan’s improvement, and when he was told that with her arm in a sling she was walking about the house and grounds, he drove over to pay his call. When he had been received in a very friendly spirit and identified himself Miss Logan said: “Did you tell me that you were passing by as I fell?" "Not exactly passing by, but sitting down and waiting for theological “And they came?” “They did. The girl who mounts a roof to make repairs will not escape a fall one time in fifty.” “How silly of me to get up. there! The roof leaked, but the idea of repairing it was a sudden freak. Did your logic tell you what to do after I fell? I’ve been thinking it over, and I wonder that you got along so well.” “I knew there would be logical conclusions,” laughed the young man. “Oh. I’m very, very thankful.” “That’s one conclusion.” “And grateful.” “That’s number two.” v "And —and I really admire the calm way you managed things.” “That’s number three.” “But —but is there any more?” He said there was, but he would delay the telling of it until some other time. Several months later he said, "It’s only logical that I want you for a wife.” "Then you must look out for consequences!” she laughed as she gave him her hand. “Logic and its consequences make happiness!” said the professor when he had read the letter. (Copyright, 1912, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)