Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1918 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

I stood by Abdul Hamid's grave, far from the world war’s storm, and saw the johnny-jumpups w r ave above his sleeping form. By all the nations lie w r as slammed, "when he was on his throne; the w-orld pronounced him doubly damned, and named him with a groan. Nowall unhonored Abdul lies, in his eternal sleep, and greater criminals arise, and he looks pretty cheap. And Abd'uil had his points, methinks some virtues him adorned; he was not like some royal ginks—hypocrisy he scorned. He did not blush to wade in sin, he wallow-ed in his shame; the did not say, with evil grin, that others were to blame. He did not pierce a countiry’s breast with snickersnee or creese, and swear he always did his best to keep the world at peace, he did not, from his filthy den, watch babes and women shot, and harrow up the so-uls of men with talk of Me and Gott. The dripping sword, the burning brand, were busy ’neath his flag; but not a moment did lie stand to spring the kultur gag. I stoctd by Abdul Hamid’s grave, and said, “I must admit he didn’t piously behave, and failed to make a hit; we should not judge hint here below, lie’s reached a higher court; but,'lined up with one king I know, he was a dead game sport.”