Life — November 18, 1915 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

LEE Harold and His Pa HOLD came bounding into the room in a great state of excite- ment. “Oh, papa,” he exclaimed, “ what do you think has happened? We have given up reading, writing and arith- metic at school, and are now learning all about the news of the day.” “Why, I didn’t know they ever taught reading, writing and arithmetic in school. I thought it was against their principles,” said Harold’s father, with a smile. This made Harold smile also, for he was a very bright boy. “Oh, I see what you mean, pap: he said, “ You intended that as a joke, didn’t you? But they really have, be- cause now we spend our time reading the papers and magazines and learn- ing what is going on all over, and say!—did you ever hear of the Tariff Commission League?” Harold was al- most breathless by this time. His father, knowing what was coming, im- * mediately began to prepare himself for the worst. “My boy,” he said, “the tariff is a subject which no intelligent American knows anything about—except possibly myself. With the exception of Mr. Roosevelt and pragmatism, it is the dullest subject in the world.” “But, father, the teacher says it is our duty as citizens to learn about it, and I am so glad that you know, be- cause you can tell me all about it.” “One moment, my dear boy—not so fast. There is only one way I can teach you about this subject. It’s a method I sometimes use in extreme cases. I will ask you what you know, and that will teach you more than if I poured out upon you the richness of my own special knowledge on this vital subject. First, then, what is the Tar- iff Commission League?” “Well, you see, papa——”” “Now, don’t be afraid to speak freely. It is good, honest practice to display your own ignorance.” “But you never display your igno- rance before me. You try to make me think you know it all, but you don’t do anything else but display your igno- rance before mama—that’s what she said,” replied Harold, with a ring of triumph in his youthful voice. His father looked severely at him. “How many times, Harold,” he said, “have I told you in a discussion to confine yourself to the point? Now, sir, answer my question again.” “A Tariff Commission League is—is —well, there was a man talked to us, and he said it was to take the tariff out of politics or politics out of the tariff.” “And how can this be done?” “Well, they have a lot of men—oh, about seven—and they meet and study all about the different prices of things, and the man said they made recom- mendations to Congress.” “And what does Congress do?” Harold was getting plainly uneasy under this cross-examination. He be- gan to squirm. He got up and stamped his foot. “T hate ’em all!” he cried. “I wish there wasn’t any tariff. wasn’t any Congress. I wish there I wish there wasn't any politics. Why don’t they stop it all and let us learn something we like?” At this Harold's father himself broke down. Hastily embracing Harold, he said “My son, you are right! Your in- stincts are strictly normal. I hate ’em all, too. And between you and me, I may as well confess that 1 knew nothing about the subject and only asked you questions to conceal my own ignorance.” Harold hodded his head solemnly. “Yes, father,” he said, “1 knew that before. Mama told me you always did that when you were up against it.” History ROWN: Anybody can make history, you know, but only a great man can write it. SmitH: That may be, but when history is made it is al- ways sure to be history, while when it is written it is merely some man’s idea of history. Georgia Still Safe and Sane LL those who believe it is to the best interests of the community to have the milk and factories as full as possible of little children will be glad to know that the illustrious com- monwealth of Georgia is still with them. Last year a bill was passed rais- ing the age limit from 12 to 14, with a poverty exemption raised from 10 to 12, but in passing this law the legis- lature carefully refrained from pro- viding any machinery by which it could be enforced. There are maudlin sentimentalists who think that the welfare of children requires something more than unre- mitting factory toil, and they hoped that at the special session of the Georgia legislature, recently called, a factory inspector would be provided, but this was not among the subjects specified, and so Georgia will continue to have the honor of being one of our leading child-labor states. Works Its Own Remedy NEW YORK judge has recently declared against the driving of automobiles by women. He says wom- en are not up to the job—that they have not enough masculine steadiness. They are more likely to lose their heads at critical moments. Maybe there is truth in what the judge says, but the increased possibil- ity of accidents on this account is neu- tralized by the fact that everybody looks out and is on guard when they see a woman coming who is driving a “SMALL LATIN AND LESS GREEK” comicbooks.com