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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > November > 24 > Entry
“Idiots are increasing”
A few years ago I bought an old Bible at an auction. It was musty. The cover was falling off. This Bible was published in 1870. I put it away for a rainy day.
Well, rain is in the forecast. I pulled out that old Bible tonight and began leafing through it. So dusty and musty. It was filled with old newspaper clippings that someone once used to mark their scriptural places.
I noticed one clipping from The Xenia Republican of Wednesday, September 25, 1912. The headline reads IDIOTS ARE INCREASING at Alarming Rate in Ohio, Says Allen W. Thurman. That caught my eye.
The article continues: Advocates Adoption of Sterilization to Stop Increase of Mental Incompetants. Ah, the good old days. Thurman was apparently a part of our state government then. The dateline reads Columbus. The rest of the article is torn away.
Another clipping from this old Bible is titled Dancing. The article begins: “Dancing is decidely wrong. All Christians should take a decided stand against it. They should oppose the very first inclination of any one under their care of indulging in it. The first allowance is a downward step. It stands in opposition to the church. No one feels worthy of taking communion after attending a dance. I know a Christian lady of intelligence and refinement, who was useful in the church and taught a class in sabbath-school, but by marriage became connected with the dancing class of people. She maintained her integrity for a time, but was finally prevailed upon to take part in the dance. Her place was no longer filled in the church; so it is with dancers.”
“I once lived in a dancing community-the worst community I ever heard of for family troubles; more parting and divorces between husbands and wives than any community I know of. The cause was doubtless started at the dance. Wives wearied out waiting for their husbands while they were happy dancing with their fascinating lady friends, disregarding their character; jealousy, beginning right there, leading from bad to worse, until the home circle was broken up with disgrace and divorces between husbands and wives, thus scattering their families abroad.”
“We find the very lowest class of people connected with the dancing class. I have been told of dances where every male member of the dance was drunk, including the fiddler, unfit to trust our daughters or young sons with. I have known of there being eighteen whisky bottles gathered up around…” (the article is torn away at that spot, just like all those dancing fools, torn away from their wives). Those were the days.
On a brighter note, I found an advertisement for a store that sold reconditioned household appliances. They were advertising iceboxes from $6.50. You could get a Perfection hot water heater for $22.50. Gas ranges were selling from $14.50 to $22.50. And radios, all kinds, from $5.00.
Now those were the days….
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Comments
By irishguy
November 24, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this
It could be that idiots are decreasing, now that climategate is breaking, more people will see “man made global warming” for the hoax it is/was.
By Insider
November 24, 2009 11:59 AM | Link to this
I like to find things left in books. I once found a $50 bill which I needed the next day for a ticket I got while going through Tipp City (exactly $50) Is that “Lucky”…or what?
By edo
November 24, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this
When Ronald Reagan was president and he wanted Kissenger to accompany him to Poland to talk with the Soviets he said “Gdansk with me Henry?”