Life — May 19, 1904 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Human Cussedness. HAVE just finished reading your book,’ d the affable Crank to the Eminent Thinker, ‘and I consider it wonderful. Plato's epublic was mere dreaming compared with and Sir Thomas More's Utopia was not in » same class, At the same time, I wish to ke a suggestion of the first importance, It s not that I object to any of your conclusions, jor L consider them all reasonable, nor to any r plans, for they all seem to me to contain very breath and finer spirit of altruism ; but + ideas will never become operative, because : have overlooked one of the most powerful tors in the development of human society. have failed to take account of human sedness."” “Human cussedness !"* exclaimed the great ; “what do you mean by that ?”” I mean,” he replied, ‘the rock on which political, philosophical, educational and m the world has ever known has cone to wreck. You admit, don’t you, that if ple were to follow the advice given in your eat work the happiness of the race would be red he Eminent Thinker tried to look modest and nod his assent at the same time. “Yes, sir. And what has kept the world from ollowing your advice? Nothing, sir, but ess, sheer cussedness, Since the days Adam the world has been shown several ns of times exactly what it should do to saved; but even the man who did the showing could seldom follow his own wise teaching, and wherefore? Simply because of human cussedness, Now I have an idea." At this his auditor began to squirm uneasily, for he was an egotist as well as an earnest man. “As nearly as I can see, the reoperty of cussedness is to make people do tne opposite to what they are advised, even though they know the advice to be perfect. Now here is my scheme : “Let us take a hint from the wise farmer who, when he goes to drive a pig to market, docs not take the pig into his confidence as its destination. By driving it in the opposite direction he easily achieves his purpose. Now I propose that you and 1 get to work and re- write your book, making it exactly the opposite of what itis now. By advocating what we do not want done we will get people to do what they should, and so reform the world, though we ourselves may be cursed as men who are trying to lead the race astray. But the higher critics of a future generation will discover what our true purpose was and rehabilitate our characters, as already have those of Judge Jeffries, velli, the Borgias and Aaron Burr."” The Eminent Thinker took his caller's name and address and promised to let him know as soon as he was ready to begin the collaboration, But from that day to this the Crank has not heard from him, all of which leads him to sa “Tt only shows that the great man him- self is full of cussedness, I showed him the only way to make his teachings operative, and through the park. yet he refused to act. Still, it might have done no good, Human cussedness is so ade- quate to all occasions that men might have made an exception of our case and meekly followed our bad advice.” P. McArthur. Queer Advertisements. HE following copies of queer advertise- ments have been collected and printed by club women : “Bulldog for sale; will eat anything; very fond of childre: “Wanted—A boy to be partly outside and partly behind the counter.” “Widow in comfortable circumstances wishes to marry two sons."" “Annual sale now on ; don’t go elsewhere to be cheated ; come in here.’” “A lady wants to sell her piano, going abroad in a strong iron frame." “* Wanted—By a respectable girl, her passage to New York ; willing to take care of children and a good sailor."* “Lost—Near Highgate Archws brella belonging toa and a bone handle. “Mr. Brown, furrier, begs to announce that he will make up gowns, capes, etc., for ladies out of their own skin. “An airy bedroom for a gentleman 22 feet long and rr feet wide. A contemporary contains the startling news that ‘A carload of brick came in for a walk — Exchange. as she is y, an um- gentleman with a bent rib VILLA CLAUDIA By J. A. Mitchell, author of “Amos Judd,” “ The Last American,” “The Pines of Lory,” etc. Fifty decorative designs. With all Bocksellers and LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY $1.50 1 will enjoy myself, Horace. comicbooks.com