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T H E M A R 0 ON T I G E R
YES AND NO
Henry Edward Banks
It seems to me to be somewhat remarkable bow gulli
ble the multitude is for certain utterances simply because
these utterances have been sanctified by popular usage
and because they wear the halo of antiquity. I should
suppose, however, that the primary reason for this is that
most people don’t think. They may have some loose and
disordered opinions about some trilling controversy hut
they really don’t think, if by “thinking” we mean facing
certain facts, dealing squarely and honestly with them
like men who go down to the sea in ships to do business
in great waters, accepting what the facts have to say, and
reaching sane conclusions.
In this respect then, most of us don’t think; others
do our thinking for us, and like dumb, driven cattle we
follow behind them. It was Judge William Henry Har
rison of Chicago who once said: “Thought runs the
world and everybody in the world who doesn’t think”
. . . “and everybody in the world who don’t think,” of
course, includes most of us. When it comes to thinking,
most of us behave like the crowd. The crowd is ex
tremely credulous: it believes everything it sees, accepts
everything it hears, and takes everything for granted.
That’s one reason why newspapers and motion pictures
are so widely popular. That’s why advertisements con
cerning cigarettes, some of which promise energy and a
“lift” when you are “all in,” and others of which prom
ise you a pleasant throat even if you consume a carload,
go over so big. That’s why war propaganda can gal
vanize a million people into standardized unanimity of
thought and action.
In like manner, most of us have naively accepted such
time-honored utterances as: “Seeing is believing,” “Birds
of a feather flock together,” “A man is known by the
company he keeps,” “Actions speak louder than words,”
“If I should attend church more often, 1 should have
better luck.” ,
“Seeing is believing.” Yes and no. It depends on
what we see. It frequently occurs that seeing is not be
lieving; we can’t believe our eyes. The more we see,
sometimes, the harder it is to believe. Occasionally, we
are victims of optical illusions. Some people are con
stantly susceptible to hallucinations.
“Birds of a feather flock together.” Yes and no. Men
of similar opinions, tastes, and occupations naturally
gravitate toward each other. They find enjoyment in
each other’s company because they have one or more
things in common. On the other hand, it frequently
happens that birds of many feather flock together be
cause, believe it not, they find harmony in difference and
receive stimulation from variety. Opposites do attract;
negatives and positives do seek affinity.
“A man is known by the company he keeps.” Yes and
no—a thief seeks the gang of thieves and racketeers and
a student enjoys the company of those who love litera
ture, science, philosophy, art, and song for the reason
just mentioned, that individuals of similar opinions,
tastes and occupations find each other’s company be
cause they have something in common. On this basis,
then, a man may be known by the company he keeps.
On the other hand, a man may not be known by the
company he keeps.
You can’t always judge a man by the company he
keeps, for the simple reason that you can't always judge
bis company. In the breast of a prostitute are the smol
dering embers of virtue which needs only to be fanned
into llame by a sympathizing and contagious personality.
I have a friend in Pittsburgh who approaches being a
dual personality. At night he frequents cabarets and
other nocturnal rendezvous and enjoys himself: he
“raises hell.” But iu the day time he would go into
raotures over poetry, certain musical compositions, or
such plays as Strange Interlude. He was inwardly
cultured, in spite of his midnight escapades; he had a
geuine appreciation for the good, the beautiful, and the
true. A man is not always known by the company he
keeps.
“Actions speak louder than words.” Yes and no.
Actions do speak louder than words, if by “louder” we
mean an increase in volume. Actions are always loud
but seldom accurate. A trumpet may occasionally give
forth an uncertain sound. Behind all external actions of
a person are his inner motives. Two men contribute
fifty dollars to a Community Chest campaign. One man
contributes bis sum out of real sympathy; he has a
vicarious experience in the suffering of others and he
gives. The other man contributes his donation, not so
much out of sympathy for others, but because he wants
the financial sheet to record his name at the top of the
list as a liberal contributor of fifty dollars. Externally,
the same act: internally, two different motives.
“If I should attend church more often. I should have
better luck. ’ Yes and no. It all depends on what we
go to church for. If we go to church solely to receive
divine favor, our luck may remain the same. In our
religious practices, many of us are still primitive; we
believe in magic; we believe that some mysterious power
of the church will break the spell of hard luck: but we
are only fooling ourselves. Mere church attendance
affects neither the dubious whims of the deities nor the
baffling perplexities ol circumstances. But if we attend
church in order to worship—opening our inner lives to
the influx of the Divine—if we attend church in order
that we might be inspired, illuminated, and challenged,
then our luck will change because we will be changed;
our attitudes, aspirations, and purposes will be purified,
clarified and ennobled.
SPEEMAN PARTIES
It has happened again! We have danced once more
on the campus of beloved Spelman. Two parties were
recently given; the first by Dean Lyons, honoring the
Seniors of Spelman and Morehouse and their guests.
This party was held in the Howe Theater and completely
outclassed all of the others. The five-piece orchestra sat
on the stage behind a rose-draped fence on which beau
tiful footlights played. Balloons of all shapes, colors
and sizes were artistically suspended overhead. All of
the ladies were resplendent in their evening gowns while
the male element’s attire ranged from tuxedos to sport
togs. A fine spirit prevailed as the couples swayed
gently to the melodious strains of the orchestra. Hilar
ity reigned when the balloons were let down. The ladies
tried in vain to preserve the balloons. The men were
set on seeing no whole balloon leave and with pins in
band they consecrated themselves to their task. Honors
go to Mrs. Lyons for such a wonderful evening of rare
entertainment. The next party w'as the General College
Party, at which time Morehouse and Atlanta University
were the guests of Spelman. The party was held in the
dining hall, which was beautifully decorated. Ah! it
was a swell affair. Graceful young ladies (old ones,
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