Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1917 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

You praise your kid before his face, explain to callers he’s a peach, the pride and glory of the race, the only pebble on the beach. And soon that kid an aleck grows, a smarty all swelled up with pride; and people long to twist his nose;, and lam the sawdust from his hide. The greatest bore that ever was is that obtrusive, forward kid, whose parents gave him wild applause for everything he ever did. When grave and thoughtful people cal’, to talk of weather arid the crops, young Willie grieves and shocks them all, by his persistent, foolish yawps. The grave and thoughtful people look to see the father take a strap, dr strip of board, or shepherd’s crook, and pound that most annoying chap. But father smiles, as does his spouse; he “Our Willie is so gay! He is a sunbeam in the house, he surely drives one’s cares away!” The callers do not tarry long, they hasten from young Willie’s door, and sigh, “How sweet to take a thong, and swat that kid until he’s sore!”