isa-normaladvance-1913-00003

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCEbut the sensation derived from watching themmake up is pure, uncontaminated joy, that canbe equaled by nothing except a worse case. Tosee Harry arrange his enormous business affairs, so that he can occasionally ride by 719East Market street on his wheel, will at leastmake one snicker. The climax is reached, however, when Harry is forced, through businessnecessity of course to stop at this particularnumber and casually ask, for instance, whetherthe next door neighbors have moved, orwhether they have simply gone on their vacations. He wants to know where to have theirmorning paper sent. All strictly business, ofcourse. Yes, to watch and see that, or something similar, is quite funny.It is also much more profitable to observe,rather than indulge. A puppy lover is neverconsidered to be entirely sane. Then, besidehis numerous female cares and worries, he mustkeep himself posted as regards all the latestjokes and slang. He must, in short, be thehandy wit, who keeps the party in an uproar oflaughter, instead of falling a flat failure whenthe games run out. And, unless he makesHarry Lauder look like a last years joke booklaid on a dusty shelf to go to seed, he is reprimanded for neglect of duty.Now if the crusty and entirely uninteresting person, who is listening in an inconspicuous little corner, tried to crack a joke, he wouldsimply make a fool of himself. He knows, foronce he grew so self-conceited as to try. Butsince not nearly so much is expected of him, hecan quietly laugh at the others. Then takehim outside of this social realm, and he is considered to have about twice as reliable a brainas the genuine fusser.Really, this looking on is quite interesting,and at the same time entirely profitable.The right to be a cussed foolIs safe from all devices human,Its common (ez a genl rule)To every critter born of woman.—J. R. Lowell.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34448
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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