Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1916 — Short Furrows [ARTICLE]

Short Furrows

“Abe Martin” in Indianapolis News.

Rev. Wiley Tanger delivered his annual spring warnin' last night, at Melodeon hall, when he addressed th' Skirt Reform league, an’ called attentions t’ th' alarmin' American tendency f desert th' quieter backgrounds o’ life fer th’ false glamor o’ prominence. “Ther’s too many folks tryin’ t’ git away from th’ commonplace in life, too much reachin’ out instead o' stickin' t’ th' duties at hand,” said th’ eminent divine. “Th’ great, allabsorbin’ question thflt is rockin’society t'day is, ‘How Kin I Be It?' Too many of us are no longer satisfied t’ live comfortably an’ quietly, but we want t’ loom up an’ be discussed. We’re growin’ tired o' stickin’ behind the scenes an’ performin’ th’ common, drab duties o’ life an' long fer a tryout before th’ curtain. Publicity an' glamor are so cheap these days that few of us are content t’ plug along unheralded an’unsung. Ther’s already too many people bein’ heard from these days that haint got a message. A few years ago a feller had t’ murder a whole family, or arouse th’ world by some wonderful performance before he wuz pictured an’ discussed. T'day ther’s so many avenues open t’ prominence o’ one kind an’ another that th’ only thing that's perplexin’ th' publicity seeker is which route t’ take. Th’ most ordinary individual kin reach th' limelight if he'll jest neglect his business an' give his whole time U it, an’ many are fakin' advantage o’ th' rates. Ther’s very little glamor attached f* th’ real duties o’ life, an.’ if we perform them well then is little time left t'_ feller th’ band. We must' be content t’ do many things without an’ audience an’ an orchestra accompaniment, Ther’s a happy middle ground between a. spectacular life an’ a colorless life. Those o’ you have not yit heard th’ call t’ th’ limelight, an' are still content t’ perform th’ real, tho’ thankless, duties o’ life may find good, healthy diversion in some o’ th’ milder brands of .club life—clean, social intercourse without music an’ cocktails, an’ bare shoulders an’ th’ huggin’ an’ squirmin' dances. Ther’s nothin’ in bein’ I prominent but primpin’ an’ bowin’ ' an’ scrapin’ an’ bein’ admired by I toadyin’ followers. Ther’s rarely anything genuine an’ endurin’ in th’ average prominent person. Th’really great are t’ be found in th’ background an’ not in th’ pe-rade. Have you ever noticed how late a real luminary arrives at a function an’ hew quickly he leaves?

"Not long ago a very worthy blacksmith said t’ me, ‘I hate th’ very thought o’ bein’ jest a good blacksmith all my life. I don’t mind th’ work, but I’d like t’ git in th’ newspapers once in awhile like other, folks.’ "He had caught th’ spirit o’ th’ times, poor fellow, an’ longed t’ git away from th’ commonplace an’ cause a stir. I hope you will all leave th’ hall t’night thoroughly satisfied with your lot, an’ imbued with th’ one idea that it is better t’ bud along quietly than it is t’ blossom forth an’ fade, fer, my friends, ther’s few sorrier spectacles than a once prominent person.’’