Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1918 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

I often hear 4 fellow say, when pointing to a neighbor, “I really think that idle jay should do some useful labor. He tramps the village selling books, and boring thus his betters; and in these times of war, gadzooks, we have small use for letters. He ought to beg or steal a hoe, and work out his salvation, and make a hill of spinach grow, to help to feed the nation.” Perhaps the neighbor's wearing bells, as on his path he's drifting; perhaps the clothbound books he sells are loyal and uplifting. It well may chance his helpful tomes inspire some husky critter to go and- cleave some Teuton domes, and make the kaiser bitter. I’ve never found it safe or sane to judge the other fellow, to say his motives all in vain, or that his course is yellow. We all can’t labor with our hands, with energy untiring; we can’t hew wood or till the hands, or keep the forge fires burning. For some must clerk and some must preach, or run the railway station, and some must take their clubs and teach the rising generation. The doctor cannot leave his sick who look to him for healing, because some loud offensive hick of slackers still is spieling. Before I’d throw out some ' hints, or> whisper things abusive, I’d have to have the charts and 1 prints and diagrams conclusive.