Suddenly We’re Aware

By EDWIN B. PETERSEN

HELLO FOLKS— Seems that all at once people have become aware of the problems involved in steady teen-age dating. We seem to have become aware of the fact that when young couples are together too much before they reach emotional maturity they get to taking each other for granted. The consequence too often is that they… liberties with each other.

With that in mind a number of parents have put a ban on steady dating hoping that that will solve the problem. Many believe that is the answer to the problem. These young people are growing up and have to learn to control their own emotions. I am afraid we are more… develop warped complexes…e hard use of force. What… youths need to be taught… the proper responsibilities.

They need to learn that the reason for dating is to get acquainted with the opposite sex, with the ultimate goal of picking a mate, that …t is the most important single objective in life, that it precedes that of picking the right career, that the Hollywood type romance is strictly entertainment and has no place in the hard facts of life and that sexual chastity is the greatest virtue in life.

I believe that schools and churches should teach that, and also believe teen-age dating should be properly chaperoned.

I am confident that if our youths are taught the right principles in life they will decide wisely for themselves. If they are taught such things as cheek-to-cheek dancing and failure to exchange partners during a social is not proper, they will respond willingly and gratefully.

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AS MANY of you have no doubt noticed, every once in a while I write a gem from my wife’s notebook. This is quite a book she has. She has been keeping choice bits of prose and poetry in it for most of her life and has quite a book full. I still haven’t read it through, but someday I’ll make it.

Here is a poem from that book. The name of it is “Touching Shoulders.”

There’s a comforting thought at the close of the day,

When I’m wary and lonely and sad,

That sort of grips hold of my musty/mushy old heart and bids it be merry and glad.

It gets in my soul and drives out the blues

And finally thrills through and through;

It’s just a sweet memory that chants the refrain

“I’m glad I touched shoulder with you.”

Did you know you were brave?

Did you know you were strong?

Did you know there was one leaning hard?

Did you know that I waited and listened and prayed,

And was cheered by your simplest word?

Did you know that I longed for that smile on your face.

For the sound of your voice ringing true?

Did you know I grew stronger and better, because

I had merely touched shoulders with you?

I am glad that I live, that I battle and strive,

For the place that I know I must fill;

I am thankful for sorrows; I’ll meet with a grin

What fortune may send, good or ill

I may not have wealth, I may not be great,

But I know I shall always be true;

For I have in my life the courage you gave,

When once I rubbed shoulders with you.

Anniversary of the Bible

By EDWIN B. PETERSEN

HELLO FOLKS — The month of July gave us a full eight inches of rain. That compares with only a-half inch in June.

It started raining the first of July and gave us a good amount of rain. The last three days in July rained more than four inches. Every drop was needed and welcomed.

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THIS IS A special year in the history of Christianity. It marks the 350^th anniversary of the publishing of the King James Version of the Bible. The King James Version has these many years been considered the most accurately written of all the versions or translations.

The history of the King James Version is most interesting. In brie], here it is.

The King James Version was preceded by at least six versions— of which had followed the Coverdale translation. They are Coverdale’s Bible, 1535; Matthew’s Bible, 1537; The Great Bible, 1539; the Geneva Bible, 1557-1960, and the Bishops’ Bible, 1568. 

Some months following King James I ascension to the throne he called a conference of church leaders. The six other versions of the Bible were different enough to cause some confusion and it was agreed that one uniform version should be printed.

Forty-seven translators were called to set about the work of translating. They were divided in to six different groups and certain rules numbering 14 were drawn up to be followed.

The translators were all taken from the two Universities of England; namely Oxford and Cambridge, and were the most learned of the day. The translators availed themselves of every available source to secure excellence in their work.

The result was a version that has been accepted for 350 years and today is still the most popular version.

The first printing contained many misprints that were corrected in succeeding editions. Actually, the Oxford edition of 1787 is the one used today. The form was then changed to be as it is today.

The King James Version has had a tremendous influence upon English Literature and still holds sway today.

Perhaps the greatest criticism of the King James Version is that the present day knowledge of Hebrew is greater and for that reason the old testament could be improved upon somewhat.

In 1952 the American Standard Version appeared and it has been quite popular but shows no sign of ever replacing the King James Version.

This year the New English Bible is on the market. Its influence upon sacred scripture is apt to be even less as it seems the influence of translators who do not believe in the divinity of Jesus, is very great in it. The result is tremendous loss of power and beauty. Only three times is the name Christ mentioned in the New Testament ...(unreadable)... 

Automation Helpful Too

HELLO FOLKS – The idea still persists that automation causes unemployment.  I wish we could once and for all dispel such a motion.  

The truth is that it is in the times of engineering stimulation that we have the greatest prosperity.  It has generally come during times of war or war scare.  The reason is that we generally sit back at other times and let ourselves slip into a lull.

For several hundred years and, perhaps ever since creation, labor has fought automation, because they sincerely believed that it took away jobs.  

Of course it does take away jobs in the particular industry that is automated.  However, it also creates jobs elsewhere.  The other jobs created stimulate industry and raise our standard of living.  

CASE IN POINT

One good instance is in the communications business.  A.T. & T. is one of the most automated industries in the world, yet in ten years the company has not laid off anyone.  In fact it has created scores of jobs in the company and thousands of jobs outside of the company.  

With the development of the laser light beam, the communications experts predict, we will eventually have the equivalent of a billion wires to the moon or to satellites that will direct communication to all parts of the world.

With this development they also predict that someday we will each have a permanent telephone number and that we will be able to communicate with anyone on the world by the simple means of dialing the other party’s number from the telephone that is attached to our wrist much as a watch is today.  

The instrument, they predict, will also carry a televised communication.  

With such a development there will be many industries developed which will stimulate education, job opportunities and higher standards of living for all of us. 

THE REAL PROBLEM

The job will not be to find employment but to find the properly trained men to fill the jobs.  This will create a terrific demand for teachers who will keep up with the latest ideas. 

Right now there is no unemployment among the educated.  We are short of trained people in many fields.  We are not turning out nearly enough engineers now and the demand for them in the future will be acute.   The lack of enough qualified men in that field could create unemployment in other fields. 

The real security for the future is to see that our children get the proper education in mind, spirit, and attitudes. 

An Auction As Seen by a Boy

HELLO FOLKS – I took three of the children to the sales barn the other night.  The next morning their mother asked Dana (8) how it all was.  

Here is his reply: “Oh, they had a lot of stock there and a lot of people. But the auctioneer talked so fast the people couldn’t understand him; so they finally got tired and went home.”

—  

A young man spends most of his time between 12 and 21 waiting to become his own boss, – Then he gets married.

“Andrew, why do you always sign Sammy’s report card with an X?” the wife spoke up testily. “Because,” came the reply, “I don’t want the teacher to think that anyone who can read and write would have a son like that.”

—  

Congress has just passed a housing bill that gives purchasers 35 years to pay for their home. I believe the interest rate is 5 or 51/2 per cent. This bill is supposed to be a help to the middle-income families. To my way of thinking it is reverse economics; just as are so many of the things government does.  

Experts in the field of finance have boiled the problem down to a pretty definite solution. It, amounts to this. A young couple just starting up can pay for a new house that costs as much as three times the annual income of the wage earner. Therefore the man who makes $5,000 dollars a year can afford a $15,000 house.  That house could and should, for sound financial reasons, be paid for in 15 years. 

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