But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
—II Peter 2:10
4929 Revenge
In Greenville, Miss., a radar device set up in a speed zone quickly caught three persons. The first was Mayor Pat Dunne. He paid a $17 fine and commented, “The only way to avoid fines is not to speed.” The second person arrested was a policeman. The third was a local disc-jockey, who went to his radio station and broadcast the location of the speed zone.
—Anthony Paul
4930 Irish Neighborhood Accommodation
Every vertical traffic light in New York State has the red on top and green below, except in Tipperary Hill, an Irish neighborhood in Syracuse. There the green is on top, When the red was above, the kids threw stones at the lights.
—Minneapolis Star
4931 Against Everything
In San Francisco there is a young fellow who marches in any picket line, no matter what the cause. He carries a big placard that reads simply: SHAME.
“I figure that covers anything,” he explains, “and it gives me a feeling of belonging. “
—San Francisco Chronicle
4932 The “Attendant” In Ladies’ Room
A customer in a Copenhagen department store complained to the management about the attendant in the ladies’ restroom, who had given her a frosty stare when she failed to leave a generous tip. “Why, we have no attendant in the ladies’ room,” said the manager.
A check revealed that the “attendant” was a woman who had wandered in for a rest a year ago. While relaxing with her knitting the woman had received coins from patrons who thought she was the attendant. Recognizing opportunity when it knocked, the woman had come in regularly ever since, netting while she knitted.
—Walter Kiernan
4933 Ten Commandments Too Personal
The editor of a small weekly newspaper in a town in the West was hard put to it one week for copy to fill his columns. So he had his compositor set up the Ten Commandments, and ran them without making any editorial comment. Three days after the paper was published he received a letter saying:
“Please cancel my subscription. You’re getting too personal.”
—Pastor’s Manual
4934 Readers Would Not Be Touched
Dr. A. T. Robertson once wrote an article for a Southern Baptist state magazine. He described the conduct of the biblical Diotrephes. Twenty-five deacons from various Baptist churches wrote to the editor, canceling their subscriptions. They contended that Robertson was writing about them.
—Ministers’ Research Service
4935 Roosevelt’s Story On Himself
At a cabinet meeting one day Franklin D. Roosevelt gleefully told this story: An American Marine, ordered home from Guadalcanal, was disconsolate because he hadn’t killed even one of the enemy. He stated his case to his superior officer, who said, “Go up on that hill over there and shout: “To hell with Emperor Hirohito!” That will bring the Japs out of hiding.”
The Marine did as he was bidden. Immediately a Jap soldier came out of the jungle, shouting, “To hell with Roosevelt!”
“And of course,” said the Marine, “I could not kill a Republican.”
—William D. Hassett
4936 Lady Without A Mirror
Two centuries ago there lived a prominent English woman by the name of Lady Montague. Her energy and talents won her a wide field of influence, even with such eminent literary men as Pope and Addison, who were among her close friends.
We read that Lady Montague, as she grew older, became indifferent to her personal appearances, so much so that for eleven years she refused to look at herself in a mirror. On that score alone we would mark her as a remarkable woman.
4937 “Out-Of-Sight” Mail
The library on the Idaho State University campus recently hired a rather long-haired hippie type for the job of mailboy. When he proved to be courteous, efficient and hardworking, the library staff concluded that the hippie appearance was only a veneer. But then someone noticed the young man’s mail-sorting system.
He had labeled the city mail Right On, out-of-town mail FAR OUT, and airmail OUT-OF-SIGHT.
—Selected
4938 Town With Sore-Heads
Outside a town in South Dakota, it was Yankton, if I remember correctly, there is a large sign, with a rather humorous but very revealing announcement: “30,000 friendly people and a few sore-heads.”
4939 Epigram On Rebellious
• If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist it’s another nonconformist who doesn’t conform to the prevailing standards of nonconformity.
See also: Stubbornness.