Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1916 — CROWDS. [ARTICLE]

CROWDS.

Crowds vary. When three teams are hitched in front of thp Lanfronia poßtoffice on Wednesday afternoon everybody says: “My! What a big crowd’s in town today!" On the contrary, three hundred interscholastic football teams all yelling wouldn’t make much difference at 6 o’clock p. m. on the Brooklyn bridge. Seventeen people, including two dogs and three small boys, are a loyal, enthusiastic, cheering multitude if the political meeting they are attending is approved by the paper which writes it up. On the other hand, a crowd of two thousand at an unorthodox political rally is merely “a handful of dispirited partisans." When your candidate wins you are glad to learn that an orderly crowd cheered the returns. But when the other fellow gets there you are pained to read that "a mad and drink-crazed mob patrolled the streets all night insulting pedestrians and breaking windows." When is a crowd not a crowd? When you are standing up in a street car. Anybody with eyes can see that the people sitting down might scrooge up a bit and make room for you. If, however, you are seated, it is plain that the crowd sitting down is about all the traffic can bear. Let the Devil and the hindmost stand up together. Keep away from crowds. A crowd has as much sense as a headless chicken. I make that comparison because I know a chicken so dealt with can’t resent it. Keep away from crowds. If you run with crowds you are liable to toll down and be stepped on. If a crowd chases you, sprint for all you are worth. If they are after you with brick-bats it isn’t so bad, but if they want to crown you with laurel you are loßt. Perhaps the safest way is to holler "Stop thief!" for all you are worth. Keep away from crowds. If there weren’t crowds there wouldn't be pickpockets.