Judge — October 1, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A World of HEN I was young and went W to school there alw K some iron rule to < ny “Now don’t do that,” or joy aw “Don’t do this,” the teacher used to howl or hiss, throughout the weary The teacher had a row of clubs with which he soaked the youthful dubs whene’er they broke a law; he thought each small of- fense a crime, so he was flogging all the time, and that seemed pretty raw. When out of school our parents stern called, “Don’t, don’t, don’t,” at every turn, in loud and angry tones; “Don’t go to swim in yonder brook or we will take a shepherd's crook, and break a dozen bones. Don’t rob the useful, busy bee of honey stored in yonder tree, for which it labored long; don’t play with any idle crew, don’t do the things you wish to do, for they are always wrong.” I used to say when I was young, when by such “don’ts” my _ heart was wrung, “I wish I were a man; maturity’s a thing sublime; a man can have a bully time, and wilt be- neath no ban. There is no teacher By Watt Mason Illustration by RALPH BARTON near,” I said, “to whack him briskly on the head if he misspells a word; he doesn’t miss his share of glee to wrestle with the rule of three—a rule that’s most absurd.” And doubtless in the country’s schools the children still are break- ing rules, and wishing they were men; but I look back to olden days, look back to them through mist and haze, and wish they’d come again. For now I’m old and short of breath, they still are don’t-ing me to death, the laws are multiplied; I’m always up against some rule hung up by busy crank or fool, that un- dermines my pride. They’re bound all people must be- have, and from the cradle to the grave they hedge us in with don’ts; I’m hoping a revolt may come, when we, so patient now and dumb, will answer them with ‘“won’ts.” For men are growing sick and sore from finding peelers at the door with don’t lists in their hands; each visit gives an added jolt; and some day, haply, they’ll revolt, to beat three village bands. Oh, men are growing 15 tired, I Don’ts think, of being told what they shall drink, and eat, and smoke, and wear; and some day when the peeier comes, a new long don’t list in nis thumbs, they'll bash him with a chair. The schoolboy felt the stern desire to rise and set the school afire and burn the teacher’s beard; and now in his old wintry age, he'd like 10 swat, with noble rage, the tyrants he has feared Our fathe new an unjust tax, and, though it did not gall their backs, they would not stand the same; they got together and_ re- belled, and “Death or liberty” they yelled, and spoiled the tyrant’s game. And in these later days we feel a puritanic tyrant’s heel pressed firm- ly on our necks; the bulwarks ef our liberties are bagged and buckled at the knees, when they’re not ghastly wrec The tyrant’s bold and unashamed, and further don’ts are being framed, to make this life a frost; and if we meekly stand the gaff the puritans full soon will laugh o’er all life's pleasures lost. comicbooks.com