PAGE TWO
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1951
Marvin Arth
the editorial page
Polly Want A Cracker?—
Thinking of the American people today can be likened to that of a parrot, an insignificant though sometimes colorful creature who picks up everything he hears and mirrors it back to the source. What little original thinking there is in this country stands out like a neon sign in a cemetery—and most of it is about as useless.
Perhaps I'm being too critical of the educational processes in this country when I say that they provide no incentive for practical original thinking. Textbooks in higher education are noted for their inability to stimulate the student mind. And professors, God bless them, fall flat on their faces in trying to make a dull course interesting. With this combination working against them, it is no wonder that students find it easier and far more profitable to reflect the very words of the educators on their examination papers. At the same time they pick up lifelong habits and become nothing more than mirrors, some a little more polished than others.
It is a pity that a man with ordinary intelligence will accept blindly anything he reads, sees and hears while at the same time ignoring to a great extent that which he feels. His is the action of the none-too-bright fisherman who lets his cork bob under five times before daring to pull in his line and see what he's got. He's the most agreeable character a person could ever meet.
This seemingly inescapable human weakness for doing things the easy way is found in even greater abundance among the general run of everyday persons. The man on the street will greet you with conventional phrases that have been parroted for years and start a serious discussion with, "I see in the papers that . . ." He is a curious combination of the Bible, Hedda Topper, Alley Oop, and Westbrook Pegler. But he is sincere.
It's a shame that a great nation such as ours, planned in determination and nourished upon the strength of the most practical individuals the world has ever known, is dying on the vine for lack of care. The faculty of understanding in the mind of the average person is atrophying and will soon be as useful as a healthy appendix. In a world grown smaller through technological advance, we don't pretend to know our next-door neighbor. And, seemingly, we can't for the life of us understand the people right here within our own country. We are a nation of Jews and Jigs, Chinks and Krauts, Wops and Frogs, Hunkies and Polacks, Mexes and Mieks, and we take turns taking cracks at each other. We love to be discriminatory even though we know discrimination is the mark of stupidity.
We're far too satisfied with just going along for the ride, little realizing that a downhill road is sometimes too steep for a safe journey. I think it's high time that the American citizen awakens to reality and opens his mind to understanding the problems existing on this spinning mudball we call home. It's a different home than any we've known before. The kids from next door are going to play in your back yard in spite of yell and high laughter—so you'd better get acquainted with your neighbors and live amicably. And high taxes, drafts, shortages and inflation will be around until we wise up and do something about them.
We're just wasting gas hurling epithets and talking of the good old days. Progress doesn't come with looking backward. And if you are, by any chance, interested in a better world, why not use the sending part of your brain as well as the receiving? Throw out some original thoughts occasionally. They might do some good.
Or is Polly Public satisfied with just a crumby cracker?
—Francis J. Kelley.
Francis Kelley ___
galley-west
- * *
A good many intelligent persons have stopped by and asked me to explain how I happened to pick the name "galley-west" for this column. At least I like to think they were intelligent persons. It's so flattering to think that intelligent persons read this stuff. Anyway here's what I told them:
Kansan editor Marvin Arth, former editor Ed Chapin, some of the other shack rats and myself spent a lot of idle moments trying to choose a good, clean, fitting name for this column. We compiled a list of nearly 50 names for consideration. Most of them were trite or misleading and we soon narrowed the list to two, "Frankly Speaking" and "Deadlines." We finally settled for "Deadlines" and took it to the printshop for composition.
While standing in the printshop, I overheard a printer talking about "knocking somebody galley-west." It struck my fancy, being more nautical than nice, so I dashed upstairs to the dictionary, looked up the word "galley-west," and found it had a meaning right in keeping with the stuff I intended to use in this column. Said the dictionary: "galley-west—Into confusion. Slang, U.S."
It fit, I liked it, and so I used it. What else?
Abstinence is a wonderful thing if practiced in moderation.
The trouble with television sets is that they don't give off enough light to read by.
- * *
Inflation is when the 25 cent meal you have been paying 50 cents for goes up to one dollar.
(Because of space limitations, the editor reserves the right to condense letters of more than 100 words. Anonymous letters will not be published, but names will be held on request. Letters should be addressed to the editor of the Kansan.)
Letters—
Editor's note: For four years, Allyn Browne has refrained from writing a letter to the editor. He assures us that at last he has become so aroused that he feels compelled to express an opinion in our letters column. To the editor.
Malott's Portrait
This summer KU will lose a man
who has been a friend to students and faculty—a dynamic force in the progress of our University. When Chancellor Malott leaves he will take with him the good wishes of all.
It has been the custom to place a portrait of each chancellor in Strong hall. This serves as a symbol to remind people of our past leaders. Last week a portrait of Chancellor Malott appeared. It does not serve its intended purpose, it isn't a true likeness of him, and to me libels his personality. Not one word of praise have I heard and every comment seems unfavorable. Go up to the second floor and see for yourself.
Little Man On Campus
As a student and prospective
by Bibler
"All you need is sleep and relaxation—Why don't you go back to your classes for a few days?"
The nickname of Arkansas is "the Wonder State."
University
Daily Hansan
News Room K.U.251
Adv. Room K.U.376
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn.
Mass Press Assn,
Press Assn, and the Associated College Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service, 420 Madison Ave., New York.
Editor-in-chief Marvin Arth
Managing Editor Business Manager Harold A. Beniamin James W. Murray
Asst Managering Editors; Janet Ogan, Mona Millikan, Richard Tardum, John
Corporon
Citizen, General Writer;
Assoc. editor; editorial
City Editor
Asst. City Editor
Assistant to Society
Society Editor
Asst.'s Society Editor
Francis J. Kelley
Jack Zimmerman
Sheppard
Don
Richard Marshall
Cynthia Mackenzie
trina Swartz
Telegraph Editor  Robert Sammon
Telegram Editor  Edith Faye
Wilkinson, Marion Kiewer
Sports Editor Alan Marshall
Assoc Sports Editors: Bob Nelson, Forrest M尔斯
Advertising Mgr.
National Adv. Mgr.
Classified Ad. Mgr.
Promotion Mgr.
James Lowther
Dorothy Kolb
George Johnson
Johnson, John
Robert Sydney
University Daily Kansan
Mail subscription: $3 a semester, $4.50 a year, (in Lawrence add $1.00 a semester postage). Published in Lawrence, Kans. every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. Unregistered students may enter as second class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Lawrence, Kans., under act of March 3, 1879.
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alumnus, I want a portrait of Chancellor Malott in Strong hall of which I will be proud, and one that future student generations will admire. And other persons share my feelings. Does the Board of Regents have a responsibility to secure an adequate tribute to a chancellor who has served the board so well? And certainly there are many students, professors, alumni, and friends who would welcome an opportunity to contribute to such a project if the Regents cannot act. If this is necessary, my check will be among the first.
I want a good picture of Chancellor Malott. I believe that you do too. What about it?
Allyn C. Browne Business Senior
(From U.D.K, Dec. 6, 1935)
It Pays To Sway
J. Golovich, D.K. Dee, 6.1835
Girls are away when they walk
probably will get married and live
happily, and those who walk in a
straight line are likely to be old
maids. That is a conclusion of Prof.
William A. Black of Howard Mann
school, who has studied posture for
25 years.
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