Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1918 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

In olden times, when Peace was waving her bright wings o'er the globe, and all the nations were behaving, and no king tore 'his/robe, whenever people got together, in a'ny mundane clime, they talked about the crops and weather, and had a splendid time. Will such glad tithes come back, 1 wonder?

Will neighbors ever meet, and pass up swords and blood and, thunder, to talk of rain and wheat? My neighbors often, come to see me, to sit upon my porch, when twilight’s hour is soft and dreamy, and smoke the evening torch. They always talk, with lungs of leather, of blood and warfare vile; they never more discuss the weather, although it's well worth while. They speak not of the crop of onions, hut cry, “We’ll win the war! The Prussians trampled on our bunions, and now they'll get whatfor!” I’m sick to hear some fellow talking about the winter wheat; I yearn for him, as I sit rocking, with my rheumatic feet. It seems to me I'd give a dollar to see that gent again, who puts tip an unholy hosier, because we don't get rain. I'd give a dollar and a quarter to meet the gentle flat who says the nights art growing shorter, and talks for hours of that. The dear old jhernes that set us yawning in old times are no more; since battle had its crimson dawning, we talk of bones and gore.