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2-Word Eye-Hop
From
®
SuperReading
v. 24.04.09

Copyright 1995

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EYE-HOP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pivot from your elbow and actually HOP from group to group of
words.
2. Slide the page up with your left hand as you go. Do as much Remember to
("Left-handers reverse directions if desired) Eye-Hop as you TRACK your
3. Go as fast as you can WHILE MAINTAINING can. It will help homeplay
COMPREHENSION. progress!
4. Actually "HOP" from group to group!
later with your
5. Do at least five minutes of Eye-Hop at a sitting, speed!
6. Wait about TWO HOURS between sessions. This is very flexible.
7. Practice several times per day. Do as many sessions as you can!
8. Lay the Eye-Hop Exercises flat in front of you when you practice.
9. It's okay to know these stories very well. Their purpose is to get
you to understand groups of words at a glance. Even if they seem The diagram below shows how your
memorized, it's just fine. If you feel differently, make your own! finger comes off the page when hopping.
10. When your hand moves from group to group so fast that it blurs,
or seems to get in your way, move up to the next level. Once you
move up, do NOT move back to the previous level, even if you slow
down in the new level.
11. It's okay to preview these stories the first time through.

You can make your own Eye-Hops:

www.superreading.com/hopify

English as a Foreign Language:

You may want to read some of these stories twice in a row

before moving on to the next story. Or use Novel
Previewing.

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can also be compared to overcome a block,
RESERVING JUDGMENT a sea voyage. Consider a we probably have to put
Imagine a voyage across ten month old child in overtime to compensate
the sea. You leave learning to walk. They for whatever's blocking us!
port and set sail bumble around for weeks If you're feeling like
for a distant land. or months barely able a new skill is not
You're out there on the to stand. They wobble paying off, you're being
open waters. You're making and fall so many times. judgmental and not giving it
good time, but it's a Then, one day, they're suddenly adequate time to work.
big ocean. There are doing it. They're walking! In this course you
weeks of nothing but Before we know it will not receive even
ocean and sky. Finally, they're running! Imagine if one skill or concept
you spot land and our attitude was: "Hey, that has not been
make port soon after. this walking thing is proven to be of
Dry land at last! really hard. I can benefit many times over.
Thinking back, you realize get around just fine Nature provides us with
that for ninety-nine crawling. It feels examples of how people
percent of your voyage really weird and I need a certain amount
you could not see look like a dork. of time for new
your destination! You had It’s not working, I don't things to feel comfortable.
charts and a compass, like it, the heck Plastic surgeons tell us
but until you actually with it." Do you have it takes about 21 days
saw the land, and the any idea how many for the average patient
desired port, there was adults would not just be to get used to
no other real proof crawling out of bed, his or her new face.
things were going well. but all the way Amputees can experience the
Goal achievement is much to work?! New skills “phantom limb” for about
the same as the take time. Even when 21 days, or sometimes
sea voyage. Very often we master a skill much longer. When people
we don't see any we may not see it's move into a new
perceptible change or progress apparent benefit right away. house it takes about
until the last moment then We must keep on three weeks before it begins to
BOOM! It's there. going long enough to “feel like home.” These people
Persistence and faith have give it a fair are in situations that are
helped many people achieve chance to work in fairly irreversible. The person
seemingly impossible tasks. our lives. If we're with the missing limb
Learning a new skill using a skill to can't simply decide they 3
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are uncomfortable and try it on your life. So relax of newness. This is natural.
with the arm or leg and enjoy the voyage. Feeling the frustration and
back again. They either I'll see you in port. wanting to stop is
accept it or they don't. part of being human.
You have a much COMFORT ZONES Another part is conquering
different choice. You have We have all been the fear and going
the ability to stop shaped by our heredity and ahead anyway. Break through
using a skill at our environment. We like that comfort zone and you'll
any time. The idea is some of those results, see what's on the
to keep on using it others we are less other side! On the
regardless of the apparent fond of. other side can be a
progress. There is There is not much new level of awareness
no substitute for experience. we can do to alter and skill. Don't think
Understanding something our environment. We all have about breaking the comfort
intellectually is not the thousands of "Comfort Zones" zone- just go ahead and
same as doing the thing. that determine what we break it! In the
Therefore you will receive will "allow" for ourselves. 1950's the U.S. Air Force
the most benefit from These Comfort Zones have was trying to break the
this course if you will been shaped by parents, sound barrier. They built
commit yourself to learning teachers, friends, relatives, associates, the best planes they could,
and practicing your new skills clients and others (plus but the planes kept
while reserving critical judgment. movies, television and books). breaking up and test pilots
The time for measuring For the most part, kept losing their lives.
your progress is after their function is to help Many experts of the day
the course. Arguing intellectually us stay the way said the sound barrier
with the ideas presented we are; not always could not be broken.
serves little value, for where we are happy, They said that only
many of these ideas but where we are "comfortable." light could travel faster
seem to defy our Therefore, when learning a than sound. In fact,
traditional sense of logic. new skill, it's important light held clues to
If you learn them to notice when your the answer. When lightning
and push ahead with them, Comfort Zones are holding occurs, the air it
they will benefit you you back. If you passes through is ionized,
the rest of your life. feel resistance toward doing creating a vacuum.
Only by practice, mastery part of the work, When the surrounding
and persistence will anything this comes from fear. air molecules rush in
ever have lasting impact Fear of change. Or fear to fill the void, 4
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they crash together at learning a new skill. set for yourself to
great speeds, making thunder! You have to get in there fulfilment. If I set
When the planes approached and just do it. a task for myself,
Mach 1, the speed If you stop at be it ever so trifling,
of sound, they began the threshold, you prolong I shall see it
to split the air apart the pain of not through. How else
just like lightning! being able to do shall I have the
The problem was that it well. Just do it confidence in myself to
the air rushing back and keep doing it do important things? Should
in was strong enough until you excel at it. I say to myself,
to break the plane This is true for "For a hundred days
to pieces. It was sports, business, school and as I walk into
not until Chuck Yeager almost anything you can the city, I will
hit all his engines think of. So don't pick up from the
at once that a just think about it. road a pebble and
plane went though the You just do it! cast it into the
sound barrier fast enough Some ideas just stream," I would do it.
to withstand the forces seem to defy our If on the seventh
of the air rushing traditional sense of logic. day I passed by and
against it. The plane If you learn them not remember, I would
was shaken but still flew. and push ahead with them, not say to myself,
The plane created thunder they will benefit you "Tomorrow I will cast
as the air crashed in the rest of your life. two pebbles which will
behind it, and the -Ron Cole do as well." Instead, I
world heard its first would retrace my steps
sonic boom. Other pilots A STONE A DAY and cast the pebble.
had tried inching up "Will power!" retorted Arkad. Nor on the twentieth
to the sound barrier, "What nonsense. Do you day would I say
feeling it out, getting think will power gives to myself, Arkad this
their toes wet first. a man the strength is useless. What does
They died. The best way to lift a burden it avail you to
to get through a the camel cannot carry, cast a pebble every
barrier is to do or to draw a load day? Throw a handful
it quickly, like pulling off the oxen cannot budge? and be done with it."
a plaster! It hurts, Will power is but No, I would not
but only for a moment. the unflinching purpose to say nor do it.
It's the same when carry a task you When I set a 5
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task for myself, I it is there? Wealth grows in less than one-tenth
complete it. Therefore, magic ways. No person and stick by it.
I am careful not can prophecy the limit Arrange your other expenses
to start difficult and of it. Have not if needed to do this.
impractical tasks, because I the Phoenicians built great But set aside that
love leisure." And then cities on barren coasts portion first. Soon you
another friend spoke up with the wealth that will realize what a
and said, "If what comes from their ships rich feeling it is
you tell is true, of commerce on the seas?" to own a treasure
and it does seem "What then do you upon which you alone
as you have said, advise us to do have claim. As it grows
reasonable, then being that we also may it will stimulate you.
so simple, if all men become rich?" asked another A new joy of
did it, there would of his friends. "The years life will thrill you.
not be enough wealth have passed and we Greater efforts will come
to go around." "Wealth grows are no longer young to you to earn more.
wherever men exert energy," and we have nothing For of your increased earnings,
replied Arkad. "If a rich put by." "I advise will not the same
man builds him a that you take the percentage be also yours
new palace, is the gold wisdom of Algamish and to keep? Then learn
he pays out gone? say to yourselves, to make your treasure
No, the brick maker has 'A part of all work for you. Make it
part of it and the I earn is mine your slave. Make its
labourer has part of it, to keep.' Say it children and its children's
and the artist has in the morning when you children work for you.
part of it. And everyone first arise. Say it Insure an income for
who labours upon the at noon. Say it your future. Look upon
house has part of it. at night. Say it the aged and know
Yet when the palace each hour of every day. that in the days
is completed, is it not Say it to yourself to come you will
worth all the cost? until the words stand be numbered among them.
And is not the ground out like letters of Therefore invest your treasure
upon which it stands fire across the sky. with the greatest caution
not worth more because it Impress yourself with that it not be lost.
is there? And is the thought. Then take Usurious rates of return
the ground that adjoins it whatever portion seems wise. are deceitful sirens that
not worth more because Let it not be sing but to lure 6
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the unwary upon the a new light. These latter his cares to heaven,
rocks of loss and ones, in the and fell asleep. In
remorse. Provide also that following years, frequently the morning, after he
thy family may not revisited Arkad, who gladly had said his prayers,
want if the gods received them. He counselled he set himself down
should call thee to them and gave freely of to his work, when to his
their realms. For such his advice. The turning great wonder, there stood
protection it is always point in these men's the shoes, all ready
possible to make provision lives came upon that made upon the table.
with small payments at day when they realized The good man knew not
regular intervals. Enjoy life the truth that had what to say or think
while you are here. come from Algamish to of this strange event.
Do not take on Arkad and from Arkad He looked at the
too much or try to them. workmanship; there was
to save too much. George S. Clason, The Richest Man not one false stitch in the
If one-tenth of all in Babylon, 1926 whole job, and all was
you earn is as much so neat and true that it
as you can comfortably keep, THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER was a complete masterpiece.
be content to keep There once was a shoemaker The same day a customer
this portion. Live then who worked very hard came in, and the shoes
according to your income and was very honest; pleased him so well
and let yourself not but still he could that he willingly paid
become stingy and afraid not earn enough to a price higher than usual
to spend. Life is good live upon, and at last for them; and the poor
and life is rich all he had in the world shoemaker took the money
with things worthwhile and was gone, except just and bought leather enough
things to enjoy." His friends enough leather to make to make two pairs more.
thanked him and went away. one pair of shoes. In the evening he cut out
Some were silent because Then he cut them the work, and went to
they had no imagination all ready to make up bed early that he
and could not understand. the next day, meaning to might get up and begin again
Some were sarcastic because get up early in next day. But he was
they thought that one the morning to work. saved all the trouble,
so rich should divide His conscience was clear for when he got up in
with old friends not and his heart light amidst the morning the work
so fortunate. But some all his troubles; so he went was finished ready to
had in their eyes peaceably to bed, left all his hand. Presently in 7
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came buyers, who paid him cut out, and began them a little pair
handsomely for his goods, to play with their of shoes." The thought
so that he bought leather little fingers, stitching and pleased the good shoemaker
enough for four pairs more. rapping and tapping away very much; and one evening,
He cut out the work again at such a rate when all the things
that night, and found it that the shoemaker was were ready, they laid
finished in the morning all amazement, and could them on the table
as before; and so it not take his eyes instead of the work
went on for some time; off for a moment. that they used to
what was got ready in And on they went cut out, and then
the evening was always until the job was went and hid themselves
done by daybreak, and quite finished, and the to watch what the
the good man soon became shoes stood ready for little elves were going
thriving and prosperous again. use upon the table. to do when they
One evening, as he and This was long before came in to sit
his wife were sitting daybreak; and then they down to their work
over the fire chatting together, bustled away as quick as usual; but when
he said to her, as lightning. The next day they saw the clothes
"I should like to the wife said to lying there for them,
sit up and watch tonight, the shoemaker, "These little they laughed and were
that we may see wights have made us rich, greatly delighted. Then they
who it is that comes and we ought to be dressed themselves in the
and does my work thankful to them, and twinkling of an eye,
for me." The wife liked do them a good turn and danced and sprang
the thought; so they as well. I am and capered about as
left a light burning, quite vexed to see merry as could be,
and hid themselves in them run about as till at last they
the corner of the room they do; they have danced out of the door
behind a curtain and nothing upon their backs and over the green;
watched to see what to keep off the cold. and the shoemaker
would happen. As soon I'll tell you what, saw them no more;
as it was midnight, I will make each but everything went well
there came two little of them a shirt, with him from that
naked dwarfs; and they and a coat and waistcoat, time forward, as long as
sat themselves upon the and a pair of pantaloons he lived. The end.
shoemaker's bench, and took into the bargain; and
up all the work that was you make each of 8
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he replied. “You see, get off. Impulsively he
TRUE LOVE in heaven at the thrust the flowers into
Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather birth of each boy, the girl's lap. "I can see
of the well known the Lord announces which you love the flowers,"
German composer, was far girl he will marry. he explained, "and I think
from being handsome. When I was born, my wife would like
Along with a rather my future bride was for you to have them.
short stature, he had pointed out to me. I'll tell her I gave them
a grotesque hunchback. Then the Lord added, to you." The girl accepted
One day he visited ‘But your wife will the flowers, then watched
a merchant in Hamburg be humpbacked.’ Right then the old man get off the
who had a lovely and there I called out, bus and walk through the
daughter named Frumtje. ‘Oh Lord, a humpbacked gate of a small cemetery.
Moses fell hopelessly woman would be a tragedy.
in love with her. Please, Lord, give me ALL I EVER REALLY
But Frumtje was repulsed the hump and let her NEEDED TO KNOW I
by his misshapen be beautiful.” Then Frumtje LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN
appearance. When it looked up into his Most of what I
came time for him eyes and was stirred really need to know
to leave, Moses gathered by some deep memory. about how to live
his courage and climbed She reached out and and what to do
the stairs to her gave Mendelssohn her hand and how to be,
room to take one and later became his I learned in kindergarten.
last opportunity to speak devoted wife. Wisdom was not at
with her. She was the top of the graduate
a vision of heavenly THE GIFT mountain, but there
beauty, but caused A bus that was bumping in the sandbox at
him deep sadness by along a back road nursery school. These are
her refusal to look in Alabama. In one seat the things I learned:
at him. After several a wispy old man Share everything. Play fair.
attempts at conversation, sat holding a bunch of Don't hit people. Put
Moses shyly asked, “Do fresh flowers. Across the things back where you
you believe marriages are aisle was a young girl found them. Clean up
made in heaven?” whose eyes came back your own mess. Don't take
“Yes,” she answered, still again and again to the things that aren't yours.
looking at the floor. man's flowers. The time came Say you're sorry when you
“And do you?” “Yes I do,” for the old man to hurt somebody. Wash your 9
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hands before you eat. Golden Rule and love ball the first time
Flush. Warm cookies and basic sanitation. you swung a bat?
and cold milk are good Ecology and politics and Heavy hitters, the ones
for you. Live a sane living. Think of who hit the most
balanced life. what a better world home runs, also strike
Learn some and think it would be if out a lot. R.H. Macy failed
some and draw and we all the whole seven times before his
paint and sing and world had cookies and store in New York
dance and play and milk about 3 o'clock caught on. English novelist
work every day some. every afternoon and then John Creasey got 753
Take a nap every lay down with our rejection slips before he
afternoon. When you blankets for a nap. published 564 books.
go out into the Or if we had Babe Ruth struck out
world, watch for traffic, a basic policy in 1,330 times, but he also
hold hands and stick our nations to always hit 714 home runs.
together. Be aware put things back where Don't worry about failure.
of wonder. Remember the we found them and Worry about the chances
little seed in the cleaned up our own you miss when you
plastic cup. The roots messes. And it is don't even try.
go down and the still true, no matter -by United Technologies Corp.
plant goes up and how old you are, as seen in the
nobody really knows how when you go out Wall Street Journal
or why, but we into the world, it
are all like that. is better to hold IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
Goldfish and hamsters and hands and stick together. Interviews with the elderly
white mice and even -Robert Fulghum and the terminally ill
the little seed in do not report that
the plastic cup - they DON'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL people have regret for
all die. So do we. You've failed many times, the things they have
And then remember the although you may not done but for the
book about Dick and remember. You fell things they have not done.
Jane and the first down the first time "I'd dare to make
word you learned, the you tried to walk. more mistakes next time.
biggest word of all: You almost drowned the I'd relax. I would
LOOK. Everything you first time you tried limber up. I would
need to know is to swim, didn't you? be sillier than I
in there somewhere. The Did you hit the 10
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have been this trip. live over, I would the Sun, the Moon,
I would take fewer start barefoot earlier in planets, meteors, comets and
things seriously. I would the spring and stay the other heavenly bodies.
take more chances. I that way later in Our Sun is a star.
would take more trips. the fall. I would The bodies orbiting a star
I would climb more go to more dances. are known as planets.
mountains and swim more I would ride more Those orbiting planets are
rivers. I would eat merry-go-rounds. I would pick known as moons. Astronomy is
more ice cream and more daisies." -Nadine Satir (age 85) the study of all these
less beans. I would heavenly bodies. Some people
perhaps have more actual BASIC ASTRONOMY may think it strange
troubles but I'd have A few thousand years that a science that
fewer imaginary ones. ago, Man did not began several thousand years
You see, I'm one even know whether the ago cannot yet answer
of those people who Earth was round or the question: “Is there
live sensibly and sanely flat. A few hundred life elsewhere.” But when
hour after hour, day years ago, he knew it we consider the huge
after day. Oh, I've was round, but did distances and the time involved,
had my moments and not know whether it it is amazing that we
if I had it to do was the centre of know as much as
over again, I'd have the universe, or just we do. We know
more of them. one of the many that our Solar System
In fact, I'd try planets orbiting the Sun. was born at least
to have nothing else. Today he is beginning five thousand million years ago.
Just moments. One after to wonder whether there This is calculated by
another, instead of living is life elsewhere in estimating the age of the
so many years ahead of the universe. And, if oldest rocks on Earth and
each day. I've been there are intelligent beings, by studying the Sun.
one of those people how can we get Also, we can guess
who never go anywhere in touch with them. when the end of our
without a thermometer, For several thousand years Solar System will come.
a hot water bottle, Man has wondered about The atomic reactions now
a raincoat and a parachute. the nature and behaviour raging in the Sun
If I had it to of all things to be will go on for another
do again, I'd travel seen in the sky. five thousand million years
lighter next time. He has learned a at least. Then the
If I had my life to great deal by watching Sun will expand into 11
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a huge red ball in diameter. But our the meantime, when you
of gas. It will Solar System is only a look up at the
swallow up the closest planets- small part of the Milky six thousand or so stars
Mercury, Venus and Earth- as Way galaxy. This galaxy visible without a telescope,
this happens. Of course, is a huge family of realize they are all
this means that any more than one hundred within a couple hundred
life existing on these planets million stars, along with light years of Earth.
at that time will planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, All those visible stars
be destroyed. Five thousand gas and dust. We are are the very smallest
million years is a the merest speck in collection of stars in
long time, but many the vastness of space. our galaxy, which is
parts of the universe adrift among hundreds of
are thought to be much, The Milky Way Galaxy millions of other galaxies
much older. The world’s has an estimated diameter in our universe, many
largest telescopes have detected of one hundred thousand of them much, much
the faint light of light years. If the larger than our own.
distant systems of stars, Milky Way were Europe,
called galaxies, estimated to our Solar System would The Power Of Determination
lie nearly ten thousand be a postcard lying The little country schoolhouse
million light years away. somewhere on its surface. was heated by an
This means that their Even one hundred thousand old-fashioned, pot-bellied
light has taken nearly light years sounds manageable coal stove. A little
ten thousand million years if said quickly. But a boy had the job
to reach us. Radio telescopes, light year is the of coming to school
such as the one distance light travels in early each day to
in Aracebo, Puerto Rico, one year. That is start the fire and
have probed even further. about six trillion miles! warm the room before
The distances that astronomy Even our fastest spaceship his teacher and his
deals with are vast; would take many centuries classmates arrived. One morning
so vast that it's to get close to the they arrived to find
difficult for us to nearest star. For now, the schoolhouse engulfed in
imagine them. Pluto, for exploration of the objects flames. They dragged
instance, the outermost known beyond our Solar System the unconscious little boy
planet in our Solar System, will have to be limited out of the flaming building
has a path around the to observation. Someday, we more dead than alive.
Sun which is over will probably travel to He had major burns
seven thousand million miles the stars ourselves. In over the lower half 12
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of his body and was boy made up his mind. fence, resolved that he
taken to the nearby He would not be would walk. He started
county hospital. From his a cripple. He would walk. to do this every day
bed the dreadfully burned, But unfortunately from the until he wore a
semi-conscious little boy waist down, he had no smooth path all around
faintly heard the doctor motor ability. His thin the yard beside the fence.
talking to his mother. legs just dangled there, There was nothing he
The doctor told his all but lifeless. wanted more than to
mother that her son would Ultimately he was released develop life in those legs.
surely die -- which was from the hospital. Every day Ultimately through his
for the best, really -- his mother would massage daily massages, his iron
for the terrible fire his little legs, but persistence and his resolute
had devastated the lower there was no feeling, determination, he did
half of his body. no control, nothing. Yet develop the ability to
But the brave boy his determination that he stand up, then to
didn't want to die. would walk was as walk haltingly, then to
He made up his mind strong as ever. walk by himself --
that he would survive. When he wasn't in and then -- to run.
Somehow, to the bed, he was confined He began to walk
amazement of the physician, to a wheelchair. to school, then to run
he did survive. When the One sunny day his mother to school, to run
mortal danger was past, wheeled him out into for the sheer joy
he again heard the the yard to get some of running. Later in
doctor and his mother fresh air. This day, college he made the
speaking quietly. The mother instead of sitting there, track team. Still later
was told that since he threw himself from in Madison Square Garden
the fire had destroyed the chair. He pulled this young man who
so much flesh in himself across the grass, was not expected to
the lower part of dragging his legs behind him. survive, who would surely
his body, it would He worked his way never walk, who could
almost be better if to the white picket fence never hope to run --
he had died, since he bordering their lot. this determined young man,
was doomed to be With great effort, he Dr. Glenn Cunningham,
a lifetime cripple with raised himself up on ran the world's fastest mile!
no use at all the fence. Then, stake - Burt Dubin
of his lower limbs. by stake, he began
Once more the brave dragging himself along the 13
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what men are unfit for There is no one
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES their office. I will more fit for his office
Many, many years ago also know who is than he!” So the
there was an emperor. a fool and who minister went into the hall.
He liked new clothes is not. Get me The men seemed to
so much that he the cloth, have the be working at empty looms.
spent all his money tailors make me a suit. “What can this mean?”
on them. He did not At once!” said the thought the old man.
care about his soldiers. Emperor. And so He opened his eyes
He did not care about the emperor gave a lot very wide. “I can’t see
the hunt. All he of money to the men. any cloth!” he thought
liked to do was show He wanted them to to himself. But he
off his new clothes. begin their work right away. said nothing. The men
He had a different suit The two men set up asked him to come near.
for each hour of two looms. They pretended “Aren’t the colours beautiful?”
the day. One day, to work very hard. they asked. The poor
two men came to But they really did old minister looked and looked.
the city. They said nothing at all. They asked But he could not
they were tailors. for the best silk and see anything. There was
And they told everyone gold thread. Then they nothing there to see!
that they knew how put both into their He thought “What!
to make special cloth. own sacks. They pretended Am I a fool?
“Our cloth has the most to work until late I have never thought so.
beautiful colours. It is at night. “I want And if I am,
the best in the land.” to know how the no one must know.
They also said this men are getting on Can it be that I
cloth had wonderful power. with my cloth,” the am not fit for
Those who were unfit emperor said, after a while. my office? No, that can
for the office, or who But he was embarrassed not be said either.
happened to be a fool, when he remembered that I cannot say that
could not see it. only a fool could I could not see
“This must be fine cloth,” not see the cloth. the cloth.” “Well,
thought the emperor when “I will send my minister sir minister,” said one of
he heard the story. to see,” said the emperor the men, “you haven’t
“I want a suit at last. “He wil1 said if you like
made out of it. be able to tell the cloth.” “Oh, it
Then I can find out how the cloth looks. is beautiful,” said the 14
■ ■ ■ ■
old minister. “ These colours- tell anyone about it.” unfit to be an
I will tell the And so he said emperor? That would be
emperor how very beautiful he loved the cloth the worst thing that
I think they are!” he could not see. could happen…” He looked
“Thank you very much,” He said the colours at his officers. “Oh,
said the men. Then they and patterns were beautiful. the cloth is beautiful!”
named the different colours. “Yes,” he said to his he said. There was
They talked about the emperor when he returned, no way he could
patterns. Then they “the cloth is the say he couldn’t see
asked for more silk most beautiful I have the cloth. Now all
and gold. “We must ever seen!” And now the officers looked.
have more,” they said, the emperor wanted to They all hoped to
“or else we will never see the cloth for himself. see something. But it was
get done.” Soon the So he took a no use! Yet they
silk and gold were few officers of the court all said, “Oh, how
given to them. They put and he went to beautiful!” And they
it into their sack. see the two men. told the emperor to
Then they pretended to As soon as they have some new clothes.
go back to work. knew the emperor “You can wear them in
The emperor now sent was coming, they started the parade,” they said.
another person to see working harder than ever. The two men sat
how the men were “Isn’t the cloth beautiful?” up the whole night
getting on. He wanted said the two officials before the parade.
to know if the who had been to They left all the
cloth would soon be ready. the looms. “Just look lights on, so that
It was just the at it! What a everyone could see how
same with this man great design! What pretty hard they were working.
as with the minister. colours!” And at the The next day, they came
He looked at the same time, they pointed to the palace with
looms on all sides. to the empty frames. big boxes. They bowed
But he couldn’t see anything! They thought that everyone before the emperor.
“I am not a but themselves could see “Please, sir, have your
fool!” thought the man. the cloth. “How is clothes taken off.
“It must be that I this?” said the emperor We will put on
am not fit for to himself. “I can’t your new clothes in
my office! That is see anything. Am I front of the mirror.”
very odd! I can’t a fool? Am I The emperor took off 15
■ ■ ■ ■
his clothes. The two the emperor’s new clothes! eighth grade, became an
men pretended to dress him What a great train! oyster pirate, a seaman,
in the new suit. what beautiful colours! We and a Yukon prospector,
The emperor turned around have never seen clothes and travelled all over
and around in front of like these!” “But the the North American continent.
the mirror. “How great emperor has nothing on!” Then, after writing a
the emperor looks in his said a little child. prize-winning article about
new clothes! How well “Oh, my!” the father a typhoon in Japan,
they fit!” everyone laughed. “You silly child.” he returned to school
cried out. “What colours! But what the child and with a year's
Oh my, they are said was whispered from study entered the University
beautiful!” The emperor one person to another. of California. But soon
turned around in front “But he has nothing he left college and
of the mirror again. on!” cried out all began to write the
“I am quite ready,” the people. The emperor stories and novels which
he said. “Do my was upset. He knew were to bring him
new clothes fit well?” the people were right. early fame and wealth.
he asked. No one And, at last, he said The vigour, colour and
dared say that they to himself. “I really brutal directness which characterized
knew the emperor was am not fit for Jack London’s style and
quite naked. The lords, my office! I am his intense belief in
who were to carry the going to give up individualism for both man
emperor’s train, felt around all the silly things and beast give his
on the ground. But I do and rule my work a striking vitality
there was nothing to country well!” The two men and power, and have
pick up. So they were afraid they would made him an important
pretended they were carrying be punished. So they influence in American writing.
the ends of the train. ran away and were forgotten. Jack London is an
They didn’t want to The emperor and his people American myth, a combination
be fools or unfit lived happily for many, of personal myths he
for office! So now many years. created about himself and
the emperor walked in a national myth he
the parade. He went JACK LONDON represented in his life
through the streets of Jack London was restless, and work. His continued
the city. All the both as a boy influence for almost sixty
people standing by said: and as a man. years since his death
“Oh, how beautiful are He left school after is in great part 16
■ ■ ■ ■
due to the vitality of Canadian Rockies is not a in shape and texture,
these myths. London is special mountain. It does and even in name,
the Horatio Alger myth not form part of but they will always
of the poor boy the long Continental Divide, have their special magic
who became a millionaire that stretch of land for us, as we
by pulling himself up which separates the watersheds live our lives in
by his own bootstraps. of the Atlantic and a split second of their
London is also the Pacific oceans. That fact enormous existence. Like every
revolutionary myth- he signed does not take away feature on our planet,
his letters, “Yours for it’s own unique qualities. the Rockies had a
the Revolutions” of the It is not the beginning and they too
rebel who wanted to highest peak in the will have an end.
pull society down by Canadian Rockies, nor is We need not only
its pillars. London is it the most difficult an understanding of geology,
the red-blooded writer and to climb. However, from but an active imagination
war correspondent who “went Mount Hungabee you can as well if we
everywhere and did everything,” look out and see are to appreciate how
adopting the style that an endless view of these mountains have been
Ernest Hemingway would later mountain tops extending beyond formed and re-formed over
throw over his own the horizon. In this many millions of years.
literary shoulders. London was glimpse of the eternal, Nearly two hundred million
the alcoholic who destroyed the view appears as years ago, the earth’s
his own talent and a stormy sea of surface as we know it
who was dead by mountains frozen in place. began to take shape.
age forty, already foretelling On a time scale At that time the
Scott Fitzgerald’s “Babylon Revisited” beyond human appreciation, entire landmass was all
and The Crack Up. this sea of rocks lumped together near the
London was the artist is as violent and earth’s equator. This huge area
who wanted desperately to powerful as the vast we now call “Pangaea,”
be a success in Pacific that lies far which means “all the land.”
business and failed in beyond its western edge. Over time the continents
the same bitter way This is the special as we now know
as had his contemporary, magic of the Rocky Mountains, them began to drift
Mark Twain. that towering, twisting pile apart from each other.
of stone that stretches As viewed from space,
The Rockies from Alaska to Mexico. we could watch them
Mount Hungabee in the The Rockies may change drift about over millions 17
■ ■ ■ ■
of years until they the sea. Hooke speculated and also learned how
reached their present positions. that these rock formations and where new rocks
The continents drift about must have once been were formed in the
on a molten sea, below the level of ocean ridges. The fossilized
propelled by the forces the sea. He even remains of ancient creatures
below that bubble up went so far as also lends support to
beneath them. We know to put forth a the idea that the
this because the same theory that the Earth’s continents were all together
process continues even today. surface changed its shape at one time in
It has only been over the centuries through the past. The very
since the 1960’s that its own inner processes. same creatures, dating from
most scientists began to His ideas were ignored the same time period,
accept the idea of for nearly three centuries. are found on matching
the continents drifting around In the 1960’s, areas where the continents
the globe on giant plates. the scientific evidence finally seem to fit together
A quick look at a asserted itself. Accurate methods so neatly. For example,
world map suggests even of dating rocks were rocks high up in
to a school child developed, and sophisticated measuring British Columbia show the
that the continents fit of the Earth’s surface same little primitive sea
together like the pieces from satellites and computer creatures that are found
of a jigsaw puzzle. analysis left little doubt. in only three other
In 1620, Francis Bacon For instance, we now places on the planet:
gave thought as to why know that North America China, Japan and Indonesia.
the continents seemed to and Europe are moving They date from two
fit together so well. away from each other hundred and fifty million
The prevailing theological ideas at the rate of years ago, when Pangaea
of the time suggested about one inch per year. was the only continent
a sudden catastrophic event, We can see that there was. The old,
perhaps involving the great there is very little worn down mountains in
flood mentioned in the Bible. seismic activity near the the eastern United States
Later in that century, centre of these plates, are part of the
British scientist Robert Hooke and enormous amounts of same range of mountains
began to wonder how activity at their edges. in Western Europe today.
the fossils of primitive We have found that To understand this process,
sea creatures could be the oldest rocks on we must look to
discovered in landlocked areas the earth are about the middle of the
that were higher than four thousand million years old, Atlantic Ocean. Here we 18
■ ■ ■ ■
find a long seam a sea of lava, a boy called Aladdin.
running north and south and volcanoes were formed Aladdin’s father had died.
called the Mid-Atlantic about ninety million years ago. The boy lived alone
Ridge. Molten rock Then about fifty million with his mother. So
spews up through this years ago, other plates the magician pretended to
huge crack, as it began to arrive from be the boy’s long
does along other such volcanic trenches in the lost uncle. He went
cracks in the Earth’s crust. southwest Pacific. They hit with Aladdin to his home.
These cracks divide the the North American plate At first the mother
Earth into seven major at an oblique angle, did not believe
plates and dozens of and thrust up chunks this man. “How do
smaller ones. These plates of crust three miles I know you are
are sixty miles thick in thickness. This formed the brother of my
on average and they the mountain ranges we dead husband?” she said.
are pushed away from now call the Rockies. But the magician
the cracks in various directions. This process continued for had on fine clothes.
In a dance taking millions thirty million years, creating He promised to set
of years, they pull the long, snakelike feature Aladdin up in a
away from each other, we call The Great Divide. shop of his own.
crash into one another, The Rockies provide a When she heard this,
slip under and slide challenge not only to the mother gave the
over in an unending reshaping the scientists, but to magician supper. She asked
of the Earth’s surface. any human who dares him to come again
As North America was to challenge their magnificent heights. the next day. The next
swinging away from Europe, day the magician called.
its leading edge acting ALADDIN AND HIS WONDERFUL LAMP He said that he
like a giant bulldozer, A magician once went would take Aladdin to
scraping up sediments from from Africa to Persia. spend the day in
an older plate as He wanted to find a the country. He led
it went. During this wonderful lamp. To find it, Aladdin out of one
powerful process, land was he had to go of the city gates.
thrust up and folded to a cave under He talked the whole
just as parts of the earth. There would be time to stop him
the older, heavier plate great danger. But the from being afraid.
it ran into were magician did not want Then he took him
sliding underneath. The old to risk his life. to a place between
plate began melting above So he made friends with two mountains. “I think 19
■ ■ ■ ■
so much of you,” You can move the We will both be
said the magician, stone easily.” Aladdin did rich for the rest of
“I’m going to show as he was told. our lives. Go, Aladdin.”
you some African magic. To his surprise he Aladdin did as the
First you must get was able to pick up magician said. He opened
enough sticks and make the stone. Under it the door and found the
a fire,” So Aladdin there were stairs leading three halls. He went
picked up dried sticks. to a door. “The door through them. He crossed
When they were burning, leads into a cave. the garden. Then he found
the magician put his The cave has three the lamp. He blew
hands over the fire great halls,” said the it out. He took out
and said some magic words. magician. “When you the oil. Then he
Smoke rose up. The ground go through, wrap your robe started back. But as
shook under their feet. about you. Do not he crossed the garden
The earth opened stop or touch the he stopped to look at
before them. And there walls not even with the trees. He had
was a great stone Your clothes, or you never seen such beautiful fruit.
with a brass ring will die. Go to It was so hard
in it! Aladdin was the end of the and shiny. He did not
afraid. He turned third hall. You will know it, but the
to run. But the find a door. It opens fruits were jewels.
magician stopped him. into a garden of Aladdin put them in
He said, “Only you Beautiful fruit trees. his pockets. Then he
can pick up this stone Walk across the garden to ran through the halls.
and take the treasure a terrace. There you “Give me the lamp!”
under it. So you will see a lamp. said the magician.
must do what I say. Put out the light. “As soon as I
Take the ring and Throw away the oil. am up,” said Aladdin.
lift up the stone.” Then bring it to me.” He thought his uncle
“But I am not The magician took a was going to help him.
strong enough to do ring from his finger. But the magician was
that alone,” said Aladdin. He gave it to Aladdin very angry. He said two
“You must. If I and said: “This is magic words. The stone
help you, we shall a charm. It will moved back into place.
not get the treasure,” help you as long Aladdin was trapped under
said the magician. as you do what the earth. It was very,
“Take hold of the ring. I say. Now go. very dark. Aladdin was 20
■ ■ ■ ■
very afraid. He went the lamp. He said, me marry the princess.”
down to the door. “Bring us something Aladdin’s mother took the
He wanted to go to eat.” The genie jewels. The Sultan
back to the garden, disappeared. But he saw their beauty. He
but now the door came back with a said Aladdin could marry
was closed. Aladdin sat on large tray. On it the princess. Aladdin and
the stairs. He rubbed were meats, cakes, the princess lived happily
his hands, trying to and fruit. Aladdin and for many years to come.
think of what to do. his mother had a But then one day
As he did so, fine dinner. But his the magician learned that
he rubbed the ring mother said, “Genies are Aladdin was alive and
the magician had given devils. We must never was using the lamp.
to him. And a great use the lamp again.” He went to the
genie stood before him. Aladdin said nothing. city where Aladdin lived.
He said: “What do He hid the lamp. When he got there
you want? I am For many years, Aladdin and Aladdin was away.
ready to do what his mother lived well So the magician thought
you say.” “Take me home!” with the help of of a plan to get
said Aladdin. As soon the genie. Then one day, the lamp away from
as he spoke he Aladdin was nineteen. the princess. He bought
was with his mother. He heard that the twelve copper lamps
He told her all that daughter of the Sultan and put them in
had happened. She was would be carried through a basket. Then he
so happy to see the streets. Aladdin wanted went to Aladdin’s home,
her son! But the to see the princess. crying, “New lamp
next morning, Aladdin’s mother So he ran into for old! Who will
said there was no food the street. The moment give me old lamps
to eat. Aladdin gave he saw her he for new?” Some children
her the lamp. He told fell deeply in love followed him. They hooted
her to sell it. with her. Aladdin at him and teased him.
Before she went out, ran home. He took But he did not listen.
she tried to clean it. all the jewels he He walked back and forth.
As soon as she had taken from the “New lamps for old!”
began to rub, a trees in the cave. he called. At last
giant genie said in a “Mother,” he said, the princess sent a
loud voice, “What do “take these to the Sultan. servant to find out
you want?” Aladdin grabbed Ask him to let what the old man wanted. 21
■ ■ ■ ■
“He says he will ring that the magician He told the whole
give new lamps for old!” had given him many story to his wife.
the servant said. “I years before. The genie Then they hit upon
do not know how of the ring stood a plan for getting the
he can be so silly.” before him. He said, lamp back. Aladdin
Laughing, the princess “What do you want?” went into the city.
remembered the old lamp. “Bring my wife back,” He bought a certain powder.
It was back in her said Aladdin. But the Then the princess asked
husband’s closet. She sent genie said, “I cannot the magician to eat
the servant to bring it. do that. I am with her. She was
Then she turned it in the slave of the ring, very kind to him.
for a new one. not of the lamp.” Then she handed him
So the magician “Then carry me to a cup of wine.
at last had the where she is now,” The powder was mixed
magic lamp. He ran said Aladdin. Just then in it. He drank it,
out of the city Aladdin found himself and fell down dead.
with it. When he in Africa. He stood Now Aladdin came out from
was alone he rubbed in front of his home. where he was hiding.
the lamp. He said, He went through its He took the lamp
“Genie, take me back gates and found the back from the magician.
to Africa. I want princess. She was He rubbed it and told
the princess to go so very happy to the genie to take
with me.” When Aladdin see him. Aladdin hugged them back to Persia.
returned, he could not and kissed her. Then At break of day,
believe his eyes! he said: “Tell me, the Sultan saw his
Where was his home? what has become of my daughter again. He was
Where was his wife? old lamp?” Then the so happy! He gave
Where were his servants? Princess told how a great feast for
Not only that but she had turned the Aladdin and made Aladdin
the Sultan blamed Aladdin old lamp in for his heir.
because he could not a new one. She said
find his daughter. that the evil man
Aladdin ran away to had her in his power. Just What is Creativity?
the country. He walked He always carried that by Marshall J. Cook
around just thinking for very lamp. Aladdin was Mr. Cook teaches workshops
three days. Then he then sure that this and conducts creativity
happened to rub the man was the magician. training for the University 22
■ ■ ■ ■
of Wisconsin Division of when we speak of work as discovery? Myth #3. If
Continuing Studies. being “creative,” we really it feels good, it must be
This article is adapted mean that we think it’s “creative” We also use
from his book, Freeing Your good or unusual or that we the term “creative” to name the
Creativity (Writer’s like it. But are “good” feeling we get when ideas
Digest Books, Cincinnati, and “likable” really synonyms and images explode in
Ohio, 1992). We don’t know for “creative?” Is “bad” work our minds without conscious
what, when or how to “uncreative”? The creator effort. Athletes refer to this
call it—or even if we goes through the same process, feeling as “the sweet spot”
should try to call it regardless of the outcome. or “the zone.” Musicians talk
at all. It’s a vital part Your work is the product of being “at one” with
of us, that subconscious of the creative process, whether the instrument. In his book
force that powers our you later judge that Healing Journey, David Smith
inventiveness, but we’re product to be a triumph talks about a similar
not sure how it works or or a tragedy. Keep evaluations sensation achieved while
where it comes from. We marvel of quality separate from running, a state “beyond
at it, rejoice in it, are the creative process. Myth #2. meditation” in which the
a little afraid of it when If there’s a lot of it, runner seems able to arrive
we sense its power at work it must be “creative” at a subconscious awareness
in us. It feels like We call people “creative” of universal truth. Gamblers
the stirring of the spirit when they produce a call it “playing a hunch.”
or the whispering of the muse. lot. Isaac Asimov, Anthony And don’t good researchers
At the turn of the century, Burgess, James Michener and “play their hunches?”
a writer named Charles Haanel other prolific writers certainly Feelings of ecstasy don’t
called it “a benevolent merit the title. But define creativity any more than
stranger, working on just as the term “creative” feelings of frustration
our behalf.” One writer doesn’t necessarily apply to the and struggle signal its
friend of mine calls quality of the product, lack. You’re creative when
hers “Lefty.” Knowing that it shouldn’t apply to the ideas flow in a burst
we’ll never be able to quantity either. I think that of euphoria and also when
define or fully understand Harper Lee, who published you have to struggle and
creativity, let’s explore only one novel To Kill a scratch for every inch
it a bit, beginning Mockingbird is as good of progress. Myth #4. If
with four common myths as they come. Also, haven’t it’s made up, it must
about creativity. Myth #1. If some of our scientific be “creative” Most of us
I like it, it must be Nobel Prize laureates agree that writing poems,
“creative” Sometimes only achieved one “great” short stories, novels or 23
■ ■ ■ ■
plays requires creativity. creativity. Tentative of my “benevolent stranger,”
But some might refuse to truth #1. Creativity withholding judgment until
apply the term to is the triumph of originality later. If you’re like
technical writing, and many over habit We do a lot me, you don’t always get
Folks get downright disrespectful of things today the your breakthroughs when you need
when they talk about same way we did them yesterday, them. More likely, they
lab reports. In Practicing because we did them that come when you’re least
History, Barbara Tuchman complained way yesterday. Habit can able to take advantage
that non-fiction gets treated be helpful. (Do you really of them. I do some of my
like a remainder category. want to think about tying best breakthrough thinking while
But it’s no less creative, your shoes or brushing jogging, bicycling or driving.
she maintained, than other your teeth?) But a habit I think that’s because the
forms of writing. She wanted can also shut out possibilities conscious mind relaxes
to create a special and produce stale research. and lets loose of the problem,
name for “writers of reality” We become more creative giving the subconscious
and said she would have precisely at those times a chance to play. Can
picked “realtors” if the term of extreme frustration you learn to create
hadn’t already been taken. when yesterday’s habit solutions these creative moments on
There’s no such thing don’t solve today’s research demand? Can you schedule
as “non-creative” work. All problems. Don’t be frightened your inspirations? Not entirely.
research requires creativity of “researcher’s block.” Welcome it. Creativity is more like
and can benefit from a creative The subconscious mind, let a slot machine than a vending
approach. Creativity, loose upon the task at machine. But you can help
then, has more to do last, begins to play with prepare for and encourage
with process than product, combinations the conscious creative breakthroughs, and you can
more to do with how you mind wouldn’t allow. The be more attentive to them when
approach the task than muse mulls and in its they occur. Tentative
with how well you do it own time proposes new combinations truth #2. Creativity
or how much of it you the conscious mind wouldn’t involves making new combinations
do or how you feel about allow. At such times You encourage your creativity
it while you’re doing it. I experience a sudden release when you allow yourself to
Dispelling these four of energy and emotion. play with new combinations
myths about creativity Most often I’m elated; of words, images and
can help us understand occasionally I’m filled ideas. The folks who
and use our own creativity. with doubt. Whatever my grappled with the problem
Now let’s explore five feelings, I’ve learned of how to create a better
tentative truths about to accept the gifts potato chip bag had no 24
■ ■ ■ ■
success until they stopped other ideas. Keep open the trite and true,
thinking “bag” and allowed to all the possibilities. and when we do, we become
themselves to combine Withhold judgment. When the great less than what we really
potato chips with other animator Chuck Jones, creator are. You must instead become
sorts of containers. Somebody visualised of the Road Runner, Wile more of what you are. Discovery
putting chips into the sort E. Coyote and other your strengths and emphasize
of sealed tube used cultural icons, called his them. Become more powerful
to keep tennis balls fresh, and team together to brainstorm by becoming more authentically
a breakthrough in packaging an idea for a cartoon yourself as you go about
was born. feature, he never allowed your research experiments.
Tentative truth #3. Creativity is negative comments. “If you couldn’t Only then will you draw
the great “Yes” We all say something positive,” fully on the creativity
learn to say “no” too much he says, “you keep quiet.” within you. Tentative
and too soon. “Let me play These “YES sessions,” truth #5. Creativity
the Devil’s Advocate,” as Jones calls them, produced means getting out of the
we say when confronted more good ideas than way “The good drawings I
by a new idea, whether our could ever fit into a do are hardly mine,” author
own or someone else’s. Then six-minute cartoon. Won’t and artist Frederick
we think up all the reasons you also come up with a Franck wrote. “Only the
why the idea won’t/can’t/shouldn’t lot of silly ideas that bad ones are mine for they
work. Such thinking kills way? Sure. The most creative are the ones where I can’t
the infant idea, and people I’ve ever met are let go and am caught
kills all the other often fools in the eyes in the ME -cramp.” If
ideas that might have of the world. But what are you can quiet the yammering
come after it. A creative you risking? You can always of the conscious, controlling
approach means saying “yes” say “no” later. If you try ego, you can begin to hear
first. Creativity means playing to choke off the “silly” your deeper voice. Then
the Angel’s Advocate, ideas and only receive you’ll begin to give yourself
a term I first heard in Sydney the “good” ones, the surprises of insight
X. Shore’s workshop on can’t miss ones, you and vision. It’s still
creative problem-solving. might not get any ideas you doing the work.
Play “What’s good about at all. Tentative truth #4. If fact, it’s more you.
it?” with every new Creativity means being It just isn’t the noisy
idea, Shore urges. Think all of what you are. We little you that sits
of all the reasons why imitate others (who are imitating out front at the receptionist’s
it might work. Let the idea others who are imitating desk and tries to take credit
grow. Let it suggest others). We settle for for everything that happens 25
■ ■ ■ ■
in the building. When you bring THE UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS
all of yourself to your creative by Ralph Parlette
problem solving, and when you LADIES and Gentlemen:
learn to trust your deepest, I do not want to be seen
most authentic intuitions, in this lecture. I want to
a creative attitude can be heard. I am only
pervade and enhance every the delivery wagon. When
aspect of the research the delivery wagon comes
process. You experience to your house, you are not
creativity. You store much interested in how it
that experience creatively. looks; you are interested
You keep open to all the in the goods it brings
possibilities. You combine you. You know some very
images and ideas, eager good goods are sometimes
to see what will happen. delivered to you in
“Great” ideas? “Terrible” some very poor delivery
ideas. Embrace them all. wagons. So in this lecture,
You can’t really judge please do not pay any
them while you’re having attention to the delivery
them anyway. Judgment comes wagon--how much it squeaks
later. Creative openness must and wheezes and rattles
come first. and wobbles. Do not pay
much attention to the wrappings
and strings. Get inside
to the goods. Really, I
believe the goods are
good. I believe I am to recite
to you some of the multiplication
table of life --not mine,
not yours alone, but
everybody's. Can Only Pull
the Plug! Every audience
has a different temperature,
and that makes a lecture
go differently before every
audience. The kind of
an audience is just as 26
■ ■ ■ ■
important as the kind I can only pull the plug. it. Have you noticed that
of a lecture. A cold audience I cannot make it run. That no sentence, nor a million
will make a good lecture will depend upon the temperature sentences, can bound
poor, while a warm audience of this audience. You can have life? Have you noticed
will make a poor lecture all you want of it, but that every statement
good. Let me illustrate: to get it to running does not quite cover it?
When I was a boy we had freely, you will have No statement, no library,
a barrel of sorghum in to warm up. Did You Bring can tell all about life.
the woodshed. When mother a Bucket? No matter No success rule can alone
wanted to make ginger how the sorghum runs, you solve the problem. You
-bread or cookies, she have to have a bucket to must average it all and
would send me to the get it. How much any one struggle up to a higher
woodshed to get a bucket gets out of a lecture vision. We are told that
of sorghum from that depends also upon the size the stomach needs bulk
barrel. Some warm September of the bucket he brings as well as nutriment.
day I would pull the plug to get it in. A big It would not prosper with
from the barrel and the sorghum bucket can get filled the necessary elements in
would fairly squirt into at a very small stream. their condensed form. So abstract
my bucket. Later in the A little bucket gets little truths in their lowest
fall when it was colder, at the greatest stream. With terms do not always promote
I would pull the plug but no bucket you can get mental digestion like more
the sorghum would not nothing at Niagara. That bulk in the way of pictures
squirt. It would come often explains why one person and discussions of these truths.
out slowly and reluctantly, says a lecture is great, Here is bulk as well as
so that I would have while the next person nutriment. If you get
to wait a long while says he got nothing out the feeling that the first
to get a little sorghum. And of it. What It's All About personal pronoun is being overworked,
on some real cold winter Here is a great mass I remind you that this
day I would pull the plug, of words and sentences is more a confession
but the sorghum would not and pictures to express than a lecture. You cannot
run at all. It would just two or three simple little confess without referring
look out at me. I discovered ideas of life, that our education to the confessor. To Everybody
it was the temperature. is our growing up from the in My Audience I like you
I have brought a barrel of Finite to the Infinite, because I am like you.
sorghum to this audience. and that it is done by I believe in you because
The name of the sorghum our own personal overcoming, I believe in myself.
is "The University of Hard Knocks." and that we never finish We are all one family. 27
■ ■ ■ ■
I believe in your Inside, not waste the bumps. deal more knew a great
not in your Outside, whoever We get promoted to the next now. There than I do
you are, whatever you are, wherever bump. But if we are in my grammar was a sentence
you are. I believe in "naturally bright," or me. It was that disgusted
the Angel of Good inside there is something else the matter I had never by some foreigner
every block of human marble. with us, so that we do was Shake- met. His name
I believe it must be not learn the lesson speare. It was this:
carved out in The University of the bump we have just "Sweet are the uses of
of Hard Knocks. I believe gotten, then that bump adversity; Which, like
all this pride, vanity, selfishness, must come back and bump the toad, ugly and venomous,
self-righteousness, hypocrisy us again. Some of us Wears yet a priceless
and human frailty are learn to go forward with jewel in its head; And
the Outside that must a few bumps, but most of thus our life, exempt from
be chipped away. I believe us are "naturally bright" and public haunt, Finds tongues
the Hard Knocks cannot injure have to be pulverized. in trees, books in running
the Angel, but can only The tuition in the University brooks, Sermons in stones,
reveal it. I hope you of Hard Knocks is not free. and good in everything."
are getting your Hard Experience is the dearest "Tongues in trees," I
Knocks. I care little teacher in the world. thought. "Trees can't talk!
about your glorious or Most of us spend our That man is crazy. Books
inglorious past. I care lives in the A-B-C's of in running brooks! Why
little about your present. getting started. We matriculate nobody never puts no books
I care much about your in the cradle. We never gradu- in no running brooks. They'd
future for that is to When we stop ate. get wet. And that sermons
see more of the Angel are due for learning we in stones! They get preachers
in you. The University There are another bump. to preach sermons, and
of Hard Knocks Chapter I of people two kinds they build houses out
The Books Are Bumps. and fools. --wise people of stones." I was sorry
The greatest school is are the people The fools for Shakespeare --when I was
the University of Hard Knocks. they have who think thirteen. But I am happy
Its books are bumps. The playground graduated. today that I have travelled
Every bump is a lesson. God's universe. is all of a little farther. I am happy
If we learn the lesson colours are The university that I have begun to learn
with one bump, we do not blue. The black and the lessons from the bumps.
get that bump again. We repeated ad yell is "ouch" I am happy that I am
do not need it. We have of the Bumps lib. The Need learning the sweet tho
travelled past it. They do thirteen I When I was painful lessons of the University 28
■ ■ ■ ■
of Adversity. I am happy life's pathway, we discover in my business. I reached
that I am beginning we get two kinds of bumps over to get the coffee
to listen. For as I learn --bumps that we need and -pot. Then I discovered
to listen, I hear every bumps that we do not a woman beside me, my mother.
tree speaking, every stone need. Bumps that we bump She was the most meddlesome
preaching and every into and bumps that bump woman I had ever known.
running brook the unfolding into us. We discover, I had not tried to do
of a book. Children, in other words, that The University one thing in three years
I fear you will not be of Hard Knocks has two colleges that that woman had
greatly interested in what is --The College of Needless not meddled into. And
to follow. Perhaps you Knocks and The College that day when I wanted the
are "naturally bright" and of Needful Knocks. We coffee-pot --I did want
feel sorry for Shakespeare. attend both colleges. it. Nobody knows how
I was not interested Chapter II The College I desired that coffee
when father and mother of Needless Knocks. The -pot. "One thing thou
told me these things. I Bumps That We Bump Into lackest," a coffee-pot
knew they meant all NEARLY all the bumps -- I was reaching over to get
right, but the world we get are Needless Knocks. it, that woman said, "Don't
had moved since they There comes a vivid memory touch that!" The longer
were young, and now two of one of my early Needless I thought about it the
and two made seven, because Knocks as I say that. more angry I became.
we lived so much faster. It was back at the time What right has that woman
It is so hard to tell young when I was trying to to meddle into my affairs
people anything. They know run our home to suit myself. all the time? I have stood
better. So they have I sat in the highest chair this petticoat tyranny three
to get bumped just where in the family circle. I years, and it is time
we got bumped, to learn that was three years old to stop it! I stopped
two and two always makes and ready to graduate. it. I got the coffee
four, and "whatsoever That day they had the little -pot. I know I got the
a man soweth, that shall joy and sunshine of the family coffee-pot. I got it unanimously.
he also reap." But if you in his high -chair throne I know when I got it and
will remember some of these right up beside the dinner I also know where I got
things, they will feel table. The coffee-pot it. I got about a gallon
like poultices by and by was within grabbing distance. of the reddest, hottest coffee
when the bumps come. The I became enamoured with that a bad boy ever spilled
Two Colleges As we get coffee-pot. I decided over himself. O-o-o-o-o
bumped and battered on I needed that coffee-pot -o! I can feel it yet! 29
■ ■ ■ ■
There were weeks after angel child. But the You will be right path.
that when I was upholstered. did not know neighbours happier." wiser and
They put apple butter on me--and of an insect what kind in the trees, The tongues
coal oil and white-of-an trying to mother was in the running the books
-egg and starch and anything did know. raise. Mother the sermons brooks and
else the neighbours could think stubborn and She knew how all repeat in the stones
of. They would bring it over I was. It self-willed are not compelled it. But we
and rub it on the little father's "side came from the right to walk in
joy and sunshine of the family, Mother knew of the house." free immoral path. We are
who had gotten temporarily with me was that to argue get off the agents. We
eclipsed. Teaching a me. Tell me, to flatter We go down right path.
Wilful Child You see, my upon me, and serve notice paths. They forbidden
mother's way was to tell go ahead and then let me and more attrac- seem easier
me and then let me do -pot. That get my coffee tive. It is so easy
as I pleased. She told me and kindest was the quickest to go downward. We slide down-
not to get the coffee me. I learned way to teach but we have ward,
-pot and then let me get that if I very quickly to go upward. to make effort
it, knowing that it would mother, and did not hear goes downward Anything that
burn me. She would say, -pot would heed, a coffee Anything that will run itself.
"Don't." Then she would me. I cannot spill upon has to be goes upward
go on with her knitting I disobeyed remember when going down pushed. And
and let me do as I pleased. that a coffee my mother path, we get the wrong
Why don't mothers knit kind did not -pot of some and harder bumped harder
today? Mother would say, me, and I spill upon We are lucky until we listen.
"Don't fall in the well." Mother did got my blisters. the lesson if we learn
I could go and jump in them. Mother not inflict We are unlucky with one bump.
the well after that and she of an inflictor. was not much bumped twice when we get
would not look at me. to that in Father attended place, for in the same
I do not argue that this behind the the laboratory are making it means we
is the way to raise children, "Stop, Look, parsonage. When we are no progress.
but I insist that this thru the bumps Listen" And should "stop, bumped, we
was the most kind and effective The College we learn that "Safety first!" look, listen."
way to rear one stubborn Knocks runs of Needless paid a seeress One time I
boy I know of. The neighbours plan. The on the same to look into two dollars
and the ladies' aid society says to each Voice of Wisdom palm. She my honest
often said my mother of humanity, of us, "Child hain't your said, "It
was cruel with that walk in the do right, wasn't born fault. You 30
■ ■ ■ ■
was born under right. You his lesson with one bump, Majorities never have
star." You an unlucky and you have to go bumping ruled. It is the brave
how that com- don't know into the same things day minority of thinking,
forted me. It wasn't after day and wonder self-sacrificing people that
my fault- -all my bumps why you have so much `bad decides the tomorrow of
and coffee -pots! I was luck'!" Are You Going communities that go upward.
just unlucky and it had Up or Down? Let me repeat, Majorities are not willing
to be. How I had to be things that go downward to make the effort to
bumped to learn better! will run themselves. Things that rule themselves. They are content
Now when I get bumped go upward have to be to drift and be amused
I try to learn the lesson pushed. Going upward is and follow false gods
of the bump and find the overcoming. Notice that that promise something
right path, so that when churches, schools, lyceums, for nothing. They must
I see that bump coming chautauquas, reform movements be led--sometimes driven--by
again I can say, "Excuse --things that go upward minorities. People are
me; it hath a familiar --never run themselves. like sheep. The shepherd
look," and dodge it. They must be pushed can lead them to heaven
The seeress is the soothing all the time. And so with --or to hell. Bumping the
syrup for mental infants. our own lives. Real living Prodigals Human life
Blind Man's Fine Sight is conscious effort to is the story of the Prodigal
The other day I watched go upward to larger Son. We look over the fence
a blind man go down the life. If you are making of goodness into the mystery
aisle of the car to get no effort in your life, of the great unknown world
off the train. Did you ever if you are moving in beyond and in that unknown
study the walk of a the line of least resistance, realm we fondly imagine is
blind man? He "pussyfooted" depend upon it you are happiness. Down the great
it along so carefully. going downward. Look out for white way of the world
He bumped his hand against the bumps! Look over go the million prodigals,
a seat. Then he did what your community. Note the handful seeking happiness where nobody
every blind man does, of brave, faithful, ever found happiness.
he lifted his hand higher unselfish souls who Their days fill up with
and didn't bump any more are carrying the community disappointment, their vision
seats. I looked down my nose. burdens and pushing upward. becomes dulled. They become
"Ralph Parlette," I said to Note the multitude making little anaemic feeding upon the husks.
myself, "when are you going or no effort, and even getting They just must get their
to learn to see as well in the way of the pushers. coffee-pot! How they must
as that blind man? He learns Majorities do not rule. be bumped to think upon 31
■ ■ ■ ■
their ways. Every time your poor dear father fun. It shows he is not
we do wrong we get a Needless was lost." And Johnny a prisoner. He is a strong
Knock. Every time! We may Fly remembers for several -minded fly. He can quit
not always get bumped minutes. But when he sees it or play in it, just
on the outside, but we always all the smart young flies as he pleases. After while
get bumped on the inside. of his set go over to he puts two feet down
A bump on the conscience the flypaper, he goes over, in the stickiness. It is harder
is worse than a bump on too. He gazes down at his to pull them out. Then
the "noodle." "I can do face in the stickiness. he puts three down and puts
wrong and not get bumped. "Ah! how pretty I am! This down a few more trying
I have no feelings upon sticky flypaper shows me up to pull them out. "Really,"
the subject," somebody says, better than anything at says Johnny Fly bowing
You can? You poor old sinner, home. What a fine place to his comrades also stuck
you have bumped your conscience to skate. Just see how around him, "really, boys,
numb. That is why you close I can fly over it you'll have to excuse
have no feelings on the subject. and not get stuck a bit. me now. Good -bye!" But
You have pounded your soul Mother is such a silly he doesn't pull loose.
into a jelly. You don't old worrier. She means He feels tired and he sits
know how badly you are hurt. all right, of course, down in the sticky flypaper.
How the old devil works but she isn't up-to-date. It is a fine place to stick
day and night to keep people We young set of modern around. All his young
amused and doped so that flies are naturally set of flies are around
they will not think bright and have so many him. He does like the company.
upon their ways! How more advantages. You can't They all feel the same way
he keeps the music and catch us. They were --they can play in the
the dazzle going so they too strict with me back sticky flypaper or let it
will not see they are bumping home." You see Johnny alone, just as they please,
themselves! Consider the fly back and forth and for they are strong-minded
Sticky Flypaper. Did you ever have the time of his naturally flies. They have another
watch a fly get his Needless bright young life. After while, drink and sing, "We
Knocks on the sticky tho, he stubs his toe and won't go home till morning."
flypaper? The last thing lands in the stickiness. Johnny may get home,
Mamma Fly said as Johnny "Well, well, how nice this but he will leave a wing
went off to the city was, is on the feet, so soft or a leg. Most of them
"Remember, son, to stay and soothing!" First he puts stay. They just settle
away from the sticky one foot down and pulls down into the stickiness
flypaper. That is where it out. That is a lot of with sleeping sickness. 32
■ ■ ■ ■
The tuition in The College this audience are just now Knocks to make it more
of Needless Knocks is wondering why. You were useful and valuable.
very high indeed! "Removed" doing right --doing just The clothing we wear, the
or "Knocked Out"? The the best you knew how- food we eat, the house
man who goes to jail ought -and yet some blow came we live in, all have to
to congratulate himself if crushing upon you and gave have the Needful Knocks to
he is guilty. It is the you cruel pain. It broke become useful. And so does
man who does not get discovered your heart. You have had humanity need the same preparation
who is to be pitied, your heart broken. I for greater usefulness.
for he must get some more have had my heart broken I should like to know every
knocks. The world loves more times than I care person in this audience.
to write resolutions of respect. to talk about now. Your But the ones I should most
How often we write, home was darkened, your plans appreciate knowing are
"Whereas, it has pleased were wrecked, you thought the ones who have known
an all-wise Providence you had nothing more to live the most of these knocks
to remove," when we might for. I am like you. --who have faced the
reasonably ask whether I have had more trouble great crises of life and
the victim was "removed" than anybody else. I have have been tried in the
or merely "knocked out." never known anyone who crucibles of affliction.
There is a good deal had not had more trouble For I am learning that these
of suicide charged up than anyone else. But lives are the gold tried
to Providence. Chapter III I am discovering that life in the fire. The Sorrows
The College of Needful only gets good after of the Piano See the piano
Knocks. The Bumps That we have been killed a few on this stage? Good evening,
Bump Into Us BUT occasionally times. Each death is a Mr. Piano. I am glad
all of us get bumps larger birth. We all must to see you. You are so
that we do not bump into. learn, if we have not shiny, beautiful, valuable and
They bump into us. They already learned, that these full of music, if properly
are the guideboard knocks that blows are lessons in treated. Do you know how
point us to the higher The College of Needful you got upon this stage,
pathway. You were bumped Knocks. They point upward Mr. Piano? You were bumped
yesterday or years ago. to a higher path than here. This is no reflection
Maybe the wound has we have been travelling. upon the janitor. You became
not yet healed. Maybe you In other words, we are raw a piano by the Needful
think it never will heal. material. You know what Knocks. I can see you
You wondered why you were raw material is--material back in your callow beginnings,
bumped. Some of you in that needs more Needful when you were just a tree 33
■ ■ ■ ■
--a tall, green tree. are on this stage. You the rails to what they
You were green! Only green were bumped here. All call a blast furnace, the
things grow. Did you get the beauty, harmony and technological name of which
the meaning of that, children? value were bumped into being The College of
I hope you are green. you. Needful Knocks for Red Mud.
There you stood in the I watched this red mud
forest, a perfectly The Sufferings of the Red Mud matriculate into a great
good, green young tree. One day I was up the hopper with limestone,
You got your lessons, combed Missabe Road about a hundred charcoal and other textbooks.
your hair, went to Sunday miles north of Duluth, Then they corked it
school and were the best Minnesota, and came to up and school began. They
young tree you could a hole in the ground. roasted it. It is a great
be. That is why you were It was a big hole--about thing to be roasted. When
bumped--because you were good! a half-mile of hole. There it was done roasting they
There came a man into were steam -shovels at stopped. Have you noticed
the woods with an axe, work throwing out of that that they always stop
and he looked for the best hole what I thought when anything is done roasting?
trees there to bump. He was red mud. "Kind sir, If we are yet getting
bumped you --hit you why are they throwing that roasted, perhaps we are not
with the axe! How it hurt red mud out of that hole?" done! Then they pulled
you! And how unjust it I asked a native. "That the plug out of the bottom
was! He kept on hitting hain't red mud. That's of the college and held promotion
you. "The operation iron ore, an' it's the exercises. The red mud
was just terrible." Finally you best iron ore in the squirted out into the sand.
fell, crushed, broken, bleeding. world." "What is it worth?" It was not red mud now,
It is a very sad story. "It hain't worth nothin' because it had been roasted.
They took you all bumped here; that's why they're It was a freshman -- pig iron,
and bleeding to the sawmill movin' it away." There's worth more than red mud,
and they bumped and ripped red mud around every community because it had been roasted.
you more. They cut you that "hain't worth nothin'" Some of the pig iron went
in pieces and hammered until you move it--send into another department,
you day by day. They it to college or somewhere. a big teakettle, where it was
did not bump the little, Not very long after this, again roasted, and now it
crooked, dissipated, cigarette-stunted near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, came out a sophomore
trees. They were not worth I saw some of this same --steel, worth more than
bumping. But shake, Mr. red mud. It had been moved pig iron. Some of the
Piano. That is why you over the Great Lakes and sophomore steel went 34
■ ■ ■ ■
up into another grade where you and I are the raw here. I have the feeling
it was roasted yet again material, the green that I spoke the words,
and rolled thin into trees, the red mud. The but you are the lecture
a junior. Some of that Needful Knocks are necessary itself." What a smile she
went on up and up, at to make us serviceable. gave me! "Yes, I know about
every step getting more Every bump is raising the hard knocks," she said.
pounding and roasting and our price. Every bump "I have been in pain most
affliction. It seemed is disclosing a path to of my life. But I have
as tho I could hear the suffering a larger life. The diamond learned all that I know
red mud crying out, "O, why and the chunk of soft coal sitting in this chair.
did they take me away from are exactly the same material, I have learned to be patient
my happy hole -in-the-ground? say the chemists. But the diamond and kind and loving and
Why do they pound me and has gone to The College brave." They told me this
break my heart? I have been of Needful Knocks more crippled woman was the sweetest
good and faithful. O, why do than has her crude sister -spirited, best-loved
they roast me? O, I'll of the coal -scuttle. person in the town.
never get over this!" There is no human diamond But her mother petulantly
But after they had given that has not been crystallized interrupted me. She had
it a diploma --a pricemark in the crucibles of affliction. wheeled the cripple into
telling how much it had There is no gold that the tent. She was tall
been roasted --they took has not been refined in and stately. She was well
it proudly all over the the fire. Cripple Taught -gowned. She lived in one
world, labelled "Made in America." by Bumps One evening when of the finest homes in the
They hung it in show I was trying to lecture city. She had everything
windows, they put it in in a Chautauqua tent in Illinois, that money could buy.
glass cases. Many people a crippled woman was But her money seemed unable
admired it and said, wheeled into the tent and to buy the frown from
"Isn't that fine work!" brought right down to the her face. "Mr. Lecture
They paid much money foot of the platform. Man," she said, "why
for it now. They paid The subject was The University is everybody interested
the most money for what had of Hard Knocks. Presently in my daughter and nobody
been roasted the most. the cripple's face was shining interested in me? Why
If a ton of that red mud brighter than the footlights. is my daughter happy and
had become watch-springs She knew about the knocks! why am I not happy? My
or razor-blades, the price Afterwards I went to daughter is always happy
had gone up into thousands her. "Little lady, I want and she hasn't a single thing
of dollars. My friends, to thank you for coming to make her happy. I am 35
■ ■ ■ ■
not happy. I have not There is no Backward step Bereavement might take
been happy for years. in life. Whatever experiences from you the one you love
Why am I not happy?" What come to us are truly most. You would never
would you have said? new chapters of our education know how many real friends
Just on the spur of the if we are willing to you have until then. But
moment--I said, "Madam, learn them. We think this look out! Some of your
I don't want to be unkind, is true of the good things friends would say, "I am
but I really think the that come to us, but so sorry for you. You are
reason you are not happy we do not want to think down and out." Do not believe
is that you haven't been so of the bad things. that you are down and out,
bumped enough." I discover Yet we grow more in lean for it is not true.
when I am unhappy and years than in fat years. The old enemy of humanity
selfish and people don't In fat years we put it wants you to believe
use me right, I need another in our pockets. In lean years you are down and out. He
bump. The cripple girl we put it in our hearts. wants you to sympathize
had travelled ahead of her Material and spiritual with yourself. You are never
jealous mother. For selfishness prosperity do not often down and out! The truth
cripples us more than travel hand -in-hand. is, another chapter of
paralysis. Schools of When we become materially your real education
Sympathy When I see a long very prosperous, so many of has been opened. Will you read
row of cots in a hospital us begin to say, "Is not the lesson of the Needful
or sanatorium, I want to this Babylon that I Knocks? A great conflagration,
congratulate the patients have built?" And about a cyclone, a railroad
lying there. They are learning that time there comes wreck, an epidemic or
the precious lessons of some handwriting on the wall other public disaster brings
patience, sympathy, and a bump to save us. sympathy, bravery, brotherhood
love, faith and courage. Think of what might happen and love in its wake.
They are getting the education to you today. Your home There is a silver lining
in the humanities the world might burn. We don't want to every hard knocks cloud.
needs more than tables your home to burn, but Out of the trenches of
of logarithms. Only those somebody's home is burning the Great War come nations
who have suffered can sympathize. just now. A conflagration chastened by sacrifice
They are to become a precious might sweep your town and purged of their dross.
part of our population. from the map. Your business Chapter IV "Shake The
The world needs them might wreck. Your fortune Barrel" How We Decide
more than libraries might be swept away. Your Our Destinies. NOW as we
and foundations. The Silver Lining. good name might be tarnished. learn the lessons of 36
■ ■ ■ ■
the Needless and the Needful angel busy. Then I calmed -mill over a corduroy
Knocks, we get wisdom, down. Did the groceryman road, the apples sorted
understanding, happiness, do that on purpose? Does out by the jolting. The
strength, success and the groceryman ever put the big apples would try
greatness. We go up in big apples on top and to get to the top. The
life. We become educated. the little ones down little, runty apples would
Let me bring you a picture underneath? Do you? Is try to hold a mass meeting
of it. One day the train there a groceryman in the audience? at the bottom. I saw that
stopped at a station Man of sorrows, you have been for thirty years before
to take water. Beside the slandered. It never occurred I saw it. Did you ever
track was a grocery to me until that day on notice how long you have
with a row of barrels the train that the groceryman to see most things before
of apples in front. does not put the big ones you see them? I saw that
There was one barrel on top and the little when I played marbles. The
full of big, red, fat apples. ones down underneath. big marbles would shake
I rushed over and got a He does not need to do to the top of my pocket
sack of the big, red, it. It does itself. It and the little ones would
fat apples. Later as the is the shaking of the barrel rattle down to the bottom.
train was under way, that pushes the big ones You children try that tomorrow.
I looked in the sack and up and the little ones Do not wait thirty years
discovered there was down. Shake to Their Places to learn that the big ones
not a big, red, fat apple You laugh? You don't shake up and the little
there. All I could figure believe that? Maybe your ones shake down. Put
out was that there was roads are so good and some big ones and some little
only one layer of the big, smooth that things do things of about the
red, fat apples on the top, not shake on the road same density in a box or
and the groceryman, not desiring to town. But back in the other container and shake
to spoil his sign, had Black Swamp of Ohio we them. You will see the
reached down under the had corduroy roads. Did larger things shake upward
top layer. He must have you ever see a corduroy and the smaller shake downward.
reached to the bottom, road? It was a layer of You will see every thing
for he gave me the worst logs in the mud. Riding shake to the place its
mess of runts and windfalls over it was the poetry size determines. A little larger
I ever saw in one sack. of motion! The wagon one shakes a little higher,
The things I said about "hit the high spots." And and a little smaller one
the grocery business must as I hauled a wagon-bed a little lower. When things
have kept the recording full of apples to the cider find their place, you 37
■ ■ ■ ■
can shake on till doomsday, to you awhile. You note as The little bean again
but you cannot change the I shake the jar the little shakes back to the bottom.
place of one of the objects. beans quickly settle down He is too small to stay
Mix them up again and and the big walnuts shake up. He cannot stand prosperity.
shake. Watch them all shake up. Not one bean asks, Then I hear Little Bean
back as they were before, "Which way do I go?" say, "Well, if I cannot
the largest on top and Not one walnut asks, "Which get to the top, you make
the smallest at the bottom. way do I go?" Each one them big ones come down.
Lectures in Cans At this automatically goes the Give every one an equal
place the lecturer exhibits right way. The little chance." So I say, "Yes,
a glass jar more than ones go down and the big sir, Little Bean. Here,
half-filled with small ones go up. Note that you big ones on top, get
white beans and a few I mix them all up and down. You Big Nuts get
walnuts. Let us try that then shake. Note that right down there on a
right on the platform. they arrange themselves level with Little Bean!"
Here is a glass jar just as they were before. And you see I put them
and inside of it you Suppose those objects could down. But I shake the
see two sizes of objects talk. I think I hear that can, and the big ones go
--a lot of little white littlest bean down in the right back to the top
beans and some walnuts. bottom saying, "Help me! with the same shakes that
You will pardon me for bringing Help me! I am so unfortunate send the little ones back
such a simple and crude and low down. I never had to the bottom. There is only
apparatus before you no chance like them one way for those objects
in a lecture, but I ask big ones up there. Help to change their place
your forbearance. I am discovering me up." I say, "Yes, in the can. Lifting them
that we can hear faster you little bean, I'll up or putting them down
thru the eye than thru help you." So I lift will not do it. But change
the ear. I want to make him up to the top. See! their size! Equality of
this so vivid that you will I have boosted him. I have position demands quality of
never forget it, and I uplifted him. See, the can size. Let the little
do not want these young shakes. Back to the bottom one grow bigger and he will
people to live thirty shakes the little bean. shake up. Let the big
years before they see it. And I hear him say, "King's one grow smaller and he will
If there are sermons in ex! I slipped. Try that again shake down. The Shaking
stones, there must be lectures and I'll stay on top." So Barrel of Life O, fellow
in cans. This is a canned I put him back again apples! We are all apples
lecture. Let the can talk on top. The can shakes. in the barrel of life on 38
■ ■ ■ ■
the way to the market want some big person to decide our destiny
place of the future. It to be put down to some as we grow or refuse
is a corduroy road and the little place? We are foolishly to grow. We shake down
barrel shakes all the time. trying to overturn the if we become small; we
In the barrel are big apples, eternal law of life. We shake up if we become
little apples, freckled apples, shake right back to the great. And when we have
speckled apples, green apples, places our size determines. reached the place our
and dried apples. A We must get ready for size determines, we stay there
bad boy on the front places before we can get so long as we stay that
row shouted the other them and keep them. The size. If we wish to change
night, "And rotten apples!" very worst thing that our place, we must first
In other words, all the people can happen to anybody change our size. If we
of the world are in the is to be artificially boosted up wish to go down, we must
great barrel of life. That into some place where grow smaller and we shall
barrel is shaking all he rattles. I hear a good shake down. If we wish
the time. Every community deal about destiny. Some to go up, we must grow
is shaking, every place people seem to think destiny greater, and we shall shake
is shaking. The offices, is something like a train up. Each person is doing one
the shops, the stores, and if we do not get of three things consciously
the schools, the pulpits, to the depot in time our or unconsciously. 1. He is holding
the homes --every place train of destiny will run off his place. 2. He is going
where we live or work is and leave us, and we down. 3. He is going up.
shaking. Life is a constant will have no destiny. In order to hold his place
survival of the fittest. There is destiny --that jar. he must hold his size.
The same law that shakes If we are small we shall He must fill the place.
the little ones down have a small destiny. If If he shrinks up he will
and the big ones up in we are great we shall have rattle. Nobody can stay long
that can is shaking every a great destiny. We cannot where he rattles. Nature abhors
person to the place dodge our destiny. Kings a rattler. He shakes
he fits in the barrel and Queens of Destiny down to a smaller place.
of life. It is sending The objects in that jar In order to stay the same
small people down and great cannot change their size. size he must grow enough
people up. And do you But thank God, you and each day to supply the
not see that we are very I are not helpless victims loss by evaporation. Evaporation
foolish when we want to of blind fate. We are not is going steadily on in lives
be lifted up to some creatures of chance. as well as in liquids.
big place, or when we We have it in our hands If we are not growing 39
■ ■ ■ ■
any, we are rattling. to be promoted. You will promote girls poked fun at her
We Compel Promotion yourself." "Good Luck" and played jokes upon
So you young people should and "Bad Luck" This jar tells her because she was so
keep in mind that you will me so much about luck. green. Do you remember
shake into the places I have noted that the lucky that green things grow?
you fit. And when you are people shake up and the "Is not she the limit?"
in your places --in stores, unlucky people shake down. they oft spoke one to another.
shops, offices or elsewhere, That is, the lucky people She was. She made many
if you want to hold your grow great and the unlucky blunders. But it is
place you must keep people shrivel and rattle. now recalled that she never
growing enough to keep it Notice as I bump this made the same blunder twice.
tightly filled. If you want jar. Two things happened. She learned the lesson
a greater place, you The little ones shook with one helping to the bumps.
simply grow greater and down and the big ones shook And she never "got done."
they cannot keep you down. up. The bump that was bad When she had finished her
You do not ask for promotion, luck to the little ones work, the work she had
you compel promotion. was good luck to the big been put at, she would
You grow greater, enlarge your ones. The same bump discover something else that
dimensions, develop new was both good luck and bad ought to be done, and
capabilities, do more than luck. Luck does not depend she would go right on
you are paid to do--overfill upon the direction of the bump, working, contrary to the rules
your place, and you shake but upon the size of the of the union! Without being
up to a greater place. I believe bump-ee! The "Lucky" One told, mind you. She had
if I were so fortunate So everywhere you look you that rare faculty the
or unfortunate as to have see the barrel sorting people world is bidding for--initiative.
a number of people working according to size. Every The other girls "got
for me, I would have business concern can tell you done." When they had finished
a jar in my office filled stories like that of the the work they had been put
with various sizes of objects. Chicago house where a number at, they would wait--O, so
When an employee would come of young ladies worked. Some patiently they would
into the office and say, "Isn't of them had been there wait--to be told what
it about time I was getting for a long time. There to do next. Within three
a raise?" I would say, came a raw, green Dutch months every other girl
"Go shake the jar, Charlie. girl from the country. in that office was asking
That is the way you get It was her first office questions of the little
raised. As you grow greater experience, and she got Dutch girl. She had learned
you won't need to ask the bottom job. The other more about business in 40
■ ■ ■ ■
three months than the others there." I asked him with the same chance, and
had learned in all the about the pulp mill. presently notice that
time they had been there. He replied, "No, I don't one is going up and the
Nothing ever escaped her. know nothing about that, other is going down. Some
She had become the most capable neither. I don't work of us begin life on the
girl in the office. The in there." And he did top branches, right in the
barrel did the rest. not betray the least sunshine of popular favour,
Today she is giving desire to know anything and get our names in the
orders to all of them, about anything. "How long blue-book at the start.
for she is the office have you worked here?" "About Some of us begin down
superintendent. The other twelve years." Going out in the shade on the bottom
girls feel hurt about of the building, I asked the branches, and we do
it. They will tell you in foreman, "Do you see that not even get invited. We
confidence that it was man over there at the supercalendered often become discouraged
the rankest favouritism machine?" pointing to as we look at the top
ever known. "There was the man who didn't know. -branchers, and we say,
nothing fair about it. "Is he a human being?" The "O, if I only had his chance!
Jennie ought to have been foreman's face clouded. If I were only up there
made superintendent. Jennie had "I hate to talk to you I might amount to something.
been here four years." about that man. He is But I am too low down."
The "Unlucky" One The other one of the kindest-hearted We can grow. Everybody
day in a paper -mill I was men we ever had in the can grow. And after
standing beside a long machine works, but we've got we are all in the barrel
making shiny super-calendared to let him go. We're of life, shaken and bumped
paper. I asked the man working afraid he'll break the about. There the real people
there some questions machine. He isn't interested, do not often ask us, "On
about the machine, which does not learn, doesn't try what branch of that tree
he answered fairly well. to learn." So he had did you grow?" But they often
Then I asked him about begun to rattle. Nobody can inquire, "Are you big enough
a machine in the next stay where he rattles. to fill this place?" The
room. He said, "I don't know It is grow or go. Fatal Rattle! Now life is
nothing about it, boss, Life's Barrel The Leveller mainly routine. You and I
I don't work in there." So books could be filled and everybody must go on
I asked him about another with just such stories doing pretty much the same
process, and he replied, of how people have gone things over and over.
"I don't know nothing about up and down. You may have Every day we appear
it, I never worked in noticed two brothers start to have about the same round 41
■ ■ ■ ■
of duties. But if we the same old pulpit to get along without me."
let life become routine, we keep on filling it. The teacher For I feel that they
are shaking down. The must be seeing new possibilities are getting ready to get
very routine of life must in the same old schoolroom. along without him. That
every day flash a new The mother must be getting noise you hear is the
attractiveness. We must be a larger horizon in her homemaking. death-rattle in his throat.
learning new things and We only live as we grow Big business men keep their
discovering new joys in and learn. When anybody ears open for rattles
our daily routine or stays in the same place in their machinery. I am sorry
we become unhappy. If year after year and fills for the man, community
we go on doing just the same it, he does not rattle. or institution that spends
things in the same way Unless the place is a much time pointing backward
day after day, thinking grave! I shiver as I see the with pride and talking
the same thoughts, our eyes glued pages of school advertisements about "in my day!" For
to precedents --just turning in the journals labelled "Finishing it is mostly rattle. The
round and round in our Schools," and "A Place live one's "my day" is
places and not growing to Finish Your Child." today and tomorrow.
any, pretty soon we become I know the schools generally The dead one's is yesterday.
mere machines. We wear smaller. mean all right, but I fear We Must Get Ready to Get
The joy and juice go out the students will get the We young people come up into
of our lives. We shrivel idea they are being life wanting great places.
and rattle. The success, finished, which finishes I would not give much
joy and glory of life are them. We never finish while for a young person (or
in learning, growing, going we live. A school finishing any other person) who
forward and upward. That is a commencement, not an end-ment. does not want a great place.
is the only way to hold I am sorry for I would not give much
our place. The farmer the one who says, "I know for anybody who does not
must be learning new things all there is to know look forward to greater
about farming to hold his about that. You can't and better things tomorrow.
place this progressive tell me anything about that." We often think the way to
age as a farmer. The merchant He is generally rattling. get a great place is just
must be growing into a greater, The greater and wiser to go after it and get
wiser merchant to hold his the man, the more anxious it. If we do not have
place among his competitors. he is to be told. I am pull enough, get some more
The minister must be getting sorry for the one who pull. Get some more
larger visions of the ministry struts around saying, "I testimonials. We think if
as he goes back into own the job. They can't we could only get into a 42
■ ■ ■ ■
great place we would be on the "mush." But we cannot gave the speech at Westminster
great. But unless we become an oak that way. College, in Fulton, Missouri,
have grown as great as The world is not greatly after receiving an honorary
the place we would be impressed by testimonials. degree and was introduced
a great joke, for we would The man who has the most by Missourian, President
rattle. And when we have testimonials generally Harry Truman. The long speech
grown as great as the place, needs them most to keep is presented here in an
that sized place will him from rattling. A testimonial abbreviated form. The
generally come seeking so often becomes a crutch. United States stands at
us. We do not become Many a man writes a testimonial this time at the pinnacle
great by getting into a great to get rid of somebody. of world power. It is a solemn
place, any more than "Well, I hope it will do moment for the American
a boy becomes a man by getting him some good. Anyhow, I democracy. For with this
into his father's boots. He have gotten him off my primacy in power is also
is in great boots, but hands." I heard a Chicago joined an awe-inspiring
he rattles. He must grow superintendent say to his accountability to the future.
greater feet before he foreman, "Give him a testimonial As you look around you,
gets greater boots. But and fire him!" It is dangerous you must feel not only the
he must get the feet before to over boost people, for sense of duty done, but
he gets the boots. We the higher you boost also you must feel anxiety
must get ready for things them the farther they lest you fall below the level
before we get them. will fall. of achievement. Opportunity
All life is preparation is here now, clear and
for greater things. Moses Winston Churchill Iron Curtain Speech shining, for both our countries.
was eighty years getting Less than a year after To reject it or ignore
ready to do forty years the end of the World it or fritter it away will
work. The Master was War II, the great wartime bring upon us all the
thirty years getting ready leader of Britain, Winston long reproaches of the aftertime.
to do three years work. Churchill, delivered It is necessary that constancy
So many of us expect this speech coining the of mind, persistency of purpose,
to get ready in "four easy term "iron curtain" to and the grand simplicity
lessons by mail." We describe the line in Europe of decision shall rule
can be a pumpkin in one summer, between self -governing and guide the conduct
with the accent on the "punk." nations of the West and of the English -speaking
We can be a mushroom those in Eastern Europe under peoples in peace as they
in a day, with the accent Soviet Communist control. Churchill did in war. We must, and
43
■ ■ ■ ■
I believe we shall, or another, not only to and work in complete unity
prove ourselves equal to this Soviet influence but to a very and absolute obedience
severe requirement. I have a strong high and in some cases to the directions they receive
admiration and regard increasing measure of from the Communist centre. Except
for the valiant Russian people control from Moscow. The in the British Commonwealth
and for my wartime comrade, safety of the world, and in the United States
Marshal Stalin. There is deep ladies and gentlemen, where Communism is in its
sympathy and goodwill in requires a unity in Europe, infancy, the Communist
Britain - - and I doubt from which no nation parties or fifth columns
not here also -- toward should be permanently constitute a growing
the peoples of all the outcast. It is from the challenge and peril
Russias and a resolve quarrels of the strong to Christian civilization.
to persevere through many parent races in Europe The outlook is also anxious
differences and rebuffs that the world wars we have in the Far East and especially
in establishing lasting friendships. witnessed, or which occurred in Manchuria. The agreement
It is my duty, however, to in former times, have which was made at Yalta,
place before you certain sprung. Twice the United to which I was a party,
facts about the present States has had to send was extremely favourable
position in Europe. From several millions of its young to Soviet Russia, but
Stettin in the Baltic men across the Atlantic it was made at a time
to Trieste in the Adriatic to fight the wars. But when no one could say
an iron curtain has descended now we all can find any that the German war might
across the Continent. nation, wherever it may dwell, not extend all through
Behind that line lie all between dusk and dawn. the summer and autumn
the capitals of the ancient Surely we should work of 1945 and when the Japanese
states of Central and with conscious purpose for war was expected by the best
Eastern Europe. Hear this a grand pacification of Europe judges to last for a
Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, within the structure further eighteen months from
Budapest, Belgrade, of the United Nations and the end of the German
Bucharest and Sofia; in accordance with our Charter. war. I repulse the idea that
all these famous cities In a great number of a new war is inevitable
and the populations around them countries, far from the -- still more that it is
lie in what I must call Russian frontiers and throughout imminent. It is because
the Soviet sphere, and the world, Communist I am sure that our fortunes
all are subject, in one form fifth columns are established are still in our own

44
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hands and that we hold is nothing they admire might be powerful, prosperous
the power to save the so much as strength, and honoured today; but
future, that I feel the and there is nothing no one would listen and
duty to speak out now that for which they have one by one we were all
I have the occasion and less respect than for weakness, sucked into the awful
the opportunity to do so. especially military weakness. whirlpool. We must not
I do not believe that Soviet For that reason the old doctrine let it happen again. This
Russia desires war. What of a balance of power is can only be achieved by
they desire is the fruits unsound. We cannot afford, reaching now, in 1946, a
of war and the indefinite if we can help it, to good understanding on all points
expansion of their power work on narrow margins, offering with Russia under the
and doctrines. But what we temptations to a trial general authority of the United
have to consider here today of strength. Last time Nations Organization and by the
while time remains, is I saw it all coming and maintenance of that good
the permanent prevention I cried aloud to my own understanding through many
of war and the establishment fellow countrymen and to the peaceful years, by the whole
of conditions of freedom world, but no one paid strength of the English
and democracy as rapidly any attention. Up till the -speaking world and
as possible in all countries. year 1933 or even 1935, all its connections. If the population
Our difficulties and dangers Germany might have been of the English -speaking
will not be removed by saved from the awful Commonwealth be added to
closing our eyes to them. fate which has overtaken that of the United States,
They will not be removed her and we might all with all that such cooperation
by mere waiting to see what have been spared the implies in the air, on
happens; nor will they miseries Hitler let loose the sea, all over the globe,
be removed by a policy upon mankind. There never and in science and in industry,
of appeasement. What is needed was a war in history and in moral force, there
is a settlement, and the longer easier to prevent by will be no quivering,
this is delayed, the more difficult timely action than the one precarious balance of
it will be and the greater which has just desolated power to offer its temptation
our dangers will become. such great areas of the to ambition or adventure.
From what I have seen globe. It could have On the contrary there will
of our Russian friends and been prevented, in my belief, be an overwhelming assurance
allies during the war, I without the firing of of security. If we adhere
am convinced that there a single shot, and Germany faithfully to the Charter

45
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of the United Nations and to be here and I'm particularly if you will, the 50,000
walk forward in sedate delighted to be here years of man's recorded history
and sober strength, on this occasion. We meet at in a time span of but
seeking no one's land a college noted for a half-century. Stated in
or treasure, seeking to knowledge, in a city these terms, we know very
lay no arbitrary control upon noted for progress, little about the first
the thoughts of men, if in a state noted for 40 years, except at
all British moral and strength, and we stand the end of them advanced
material forces and convictions in need of all three, man had learned to use the
are joined with your for we meet in an hour skins of animals to cover them.
own in fraternal association, of change and challenge, Then about 10 years ago,
the high roads of the future in a decade of hope and under this standard,
will be clear, not only for fear, in an age of both man emerged from his caves
us but for all, not only knowledge and ignorance. to construct other kinds
for our time but for a The greater our knowledge of shelter. Only five
century to come. Winston increases, the greater years ago man learned
Churchill - March 5, our ignorance unfolds. Despite to write and use a cart
1946 the striking fact that with wheels. Christianity
most of the scientists began less than two years
that the world has ever known ago. The printing press came
GOING TO THE MOON SPEECH are alive and working this year, and then less
JOHN F. KENNEDY today, despite the fact that than two months ago, during
President Pitzer, Mr. this Nation's own scientific this whole 50-year span
Vice President, Governor, manpower is doubling every of human history, the steam
Congressman Thomas, Senator 12 years in a rate of engine provided a new source
Wiley, and Congressman growth more than three of power. Newton explored
Miller, Mr. Webb, Mr. times that of our population the meaning of gravity.
Bell, scientists, distinguished as a whole, despite that, Last month electric lights
guests, and ladies and the vast stretches of the unknown and telephones and automobiles
gentlemen: I appreciate and the unanswered and the unfinished and airplanes became available.
your president having made still far outstrip our Only last week did we
me an honorary visiting professor, collective comprehension. develop penicillin and television
and I will assure you No man can fully grasp and nuclear power, and
that my first lecture will how far and how fast we now if America's new spacecraft
be very brief. I am delighted have come, but condense, succeeds in reaching Venus,

46
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we will have literally teaches us anything, that we shall not see space
reached the stars before it is that man, in his filled with weapons of
midnight tonight. This is a quest for knowledge mass destruction, but with instruments
breathtaking pace, and and progress, is determined of knowledge and understanding.
such a pace cannot help and cannot be deterred. Yet the vows of this Nation
but create new ills as The exploration of space will can only be fulfilled
it dispels old, new ignorance, go ahead, whether we if we in this Nation are
new problems, new dangers. join in it or not, and first, and, therefore,
Surely the opening vistas it is one of the great we intend to be first.
of space promise high costs adventures of all time, In short, our leadership
and hardships, as well as and no nation which expects in science and industry,
high reward. So it is not to be the leader of our hopes for peace
surprising that some other nations can expect and security, our obligations
would have us stay where to stay behind in this race to ourselves as well as
we are a little longer to for space. Those who others, all require us
rest, to wait. But this city came before us made certain to make this effort, to
of Houston, this state that this country rode solve these mysteries,
of Texas, this country the first waves of the to solve them for the good
of the United States was industrial revolution, of all men, and to become
not built by those who the first waves of modern the world's leading space
waited and rested and invention, and the first -faring nation. We set sail
wished to look behind wave of nuclear power, and on this new sea because
them. This country was this generation does not intend there is new knowledge
conquered by those who to founder in the backwash to be gained, and new rights
moved forward --and so will of the coming age of space. to be won, and they must
space. William Bradford, We mean to be a part be won and used for the
speaking in 1630 of the of it--we mean to lead progress of all people.
founding of the Plymouth it. For the eyes of the For space science, like
Bay Colony, said that world now look into nuclear science and all technology,
all great and honourable space, to the moon and has no conscience of its own.
actions are accompanied to the planets beyond, and Whether it will become
with great difficulties, we have vowed that we shall a force for good or ill
and both must be enterprised not see it governed by depends on man, and only
and overcome with answerable a hostile flag of conquest, if the United States occupies
courage. If this capsule but by a banner of freedom a position of pre-eminence
history of our progress and peace. We have vowed can we help decide whether

47
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this new ocean will be a because they are easy, engines, each one as powerful
sea of peace or a new terrifying but because they are hard, as all eight engines of
theatre of war. I do because that goal will the Saturn combined,
not say that we should serve to organize and measure will be clustered together to
or will go unprotected the best of our energies make the advanced Saturn missile,
against the hostile misuse and skills, because that assembled in a new building
of space any more than challenge is one that to be built at Cape Canaveral
we go unprotected against the we are willing to accept, as tall as a 48 story
hostile use of land or one we are unwilling structure, as wide as
sea, but I do say that to postpone, and one which a city block, and as long
space can be explored we intend to win, and as two lengths of this field.
and mastered without feeding the others, too. It is Within these last 19 months
the fires of war, without for these reasons that at least 45 satellites
repeating the mistakes I regard the decision last have circled the earth.
that man has made in extending year to shift our efforts Some 40 of them were
his writ around this globe in space from low to high made in the United States
of ours. There is no strife, gear as among the most important of America and they were
no prejudice, no national decisions that will far more sophisticated
conflict in outer space be made during my incumbency and supplied far more
as yet. Its hazards are in the office of the Presidency. knowledge to the
hostile to us all. Its In the last 24 hours we people of the world
conquest deserves the best of have seen facilities than those of the
all mankind, and its opportunity now being created for Soviet Union. The Mariner
for peaceful cooperation the greatest and most complex Spacecraft, now on its
many never come again. exploration in man's history. way to Venus is the
But why, some say, the moon? We have felt the ground most intricate Instrument in
Why choose this as our shake and the air shattered the history of space science.
goal? And they may well by the testing of a Saturn The accuracy of that shot
ask why climb the highest C-1 booster rocket, many is comparable to firing
mountain? Why, 35 years times as powerful as the Atlas a missile from Cape
ago, fly the Atlantic? which launched John Glenn, Canaveral and dropping
Why does Rice play Texas? generating power equivalent it in this stadium between
We choose to go to the to 10,000 automobiles the 40-yard lines. Transit
moon. We choose to go to the with their accelerators satellites are helping
moon in this decade and on the floor. We have seen our ships at sea to
do the other things, not the site where five F-1 rocket steer a safer course. Tiros

48
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satellites have given new demands in investment it is greater than the space
us unprecedented warnings of and skilled personnel, budget of the previous
hurricanes and storms, and this city and this state, eight years combined.
and will do the same for and this region, will share That budget now stands
forest fires and icebergs. greatly in this growth. at $5,400 million a
We have had our failures, What was once the furthest year--a staggering sum, though
but so have others, even outpost on the old frontier somewhat less than we pay
if they do not admit of the West will be the for cigarettes and cigars
them. And they may be furthest outpost on the new every year. Space expenditures
less public. To be sure, frontier of science and will soon rise some
we are behind, and will be space. Houston, your city more, from 40 cents per
behind for some time of Houston, with its Manned person per week to more
in manned flight. But Spacecraft Centre, will than 50 cents a week for
we do not intend to become the heart of a every man, woman and
stay behind, and in this large scientific and engineering child in the United States,
decade, we shall make community. During the for we have given this
up and move ahead. The next 5 years the National program a high national
growth of our science Aeronautics and Space priority- -even though
and education will be enriched Administration expects to I realize that this
by new knowledge of our universe double the number of is in some measure an
and environment, by new techniques scientists and engineers act of faith and vision,
of learning and mapping in this area, to increase for we do not now know
and observation, by new tools its outlays for salaries what benefits await us.
and computers for industry, and expenses to $60 million But if I were to say, my
medicine, the home as a year; to invest some fellow citizens, that we shall
well as the school. Technical $200 million in plant and send to the moon, 240,000
institutions, such as Rice, laboratory facilities; miles away from the control
will reap the harvest and to direct or contract station in Houston, a
of these gains. And finally, for new space efforts over giant rocket more than
the space effort itself, $1 billion from this 300 feet tall, the length
while still in its infancy, centre in this city. of this football field, made
has already created a To be sure, all this costs of new metal alloys, some
great number of new companies, us all a good deal of money. of which have not yet been
and tens of thousands This year's space budget invented, capable of
of new jobs. Space and is three times what it was standing heat and stresses
related industries are generating in January 1961, and several times more than
49
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have ever been experienced, some of you are still END OF THE 2-WORD EYE-HOPS
fitted together with a precision here at school at this college
better than the finest and university. It will be Remember to keep going through
watch, carrying all the equipment done during the terms this booklet (and your own
needed for propulsion, of office of some of “Hopified” stories until either:
guidance, control communications, the people who sit here
1. Your finger blurs when you hop,
food and survival, on an untried on this platform. But it will
mission, to an unknown be done. And it will be or
celestial body, and done before the end of 2. Your finger cannot keep up with
then return it safely this decade. And I am your brain,
to earth, re-entering delighted that This university or
the atmosphere at speeds is playing a part in 3. Two words at a time just isn’t a
of over 25,000 miles per putting a man on the
challenge anymore.
hour, causing heat about moon as part of a great
half that of the temperature national effort of the United
of the sun --almost as States of America. Many
hot as it is here today years ago the great
--and do all this, and British explorer George Mallory,
do it right, and do it who was to die on Mount
first before this decade Everest, was asked why
is out--then we must be did he want to climb it.
bold. I'm the one who He said, "Because it is there."
is doing all the work, Well, space is there,
so we just want you to and we're going to climb
stay cool for a minute. it, and the moon and the
[laughter] However, I planets are there, and
think we're going to do new hopes for knowledge
it, and I think that and peace are there.
we must pay what needs And, therefore, as we set
to be paid. I don't think sail we ask God's blessing
we ought to waste any on the most hazardous
money, but I think we and dangerous and greatest
ought to do the job. And adventure on which man
this will be done in has ever embarked.
the decade of the Sixties. Thank you. John F. Kennedy
It may be done while - 12 September, 1962
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