--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - C. L. Olsen collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 24 number: 4 published: 1921-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'C. L. Olsen, "Being Somebody," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 4 (February 1921): 292–295.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2404unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2404unse start_page: 292 end_page: 295 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2404unse publication_year: 1921 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Being Somebody Being Somebody By Dr. C. L. Olsen I read in a local magazine a few months ago an exceptionally well-written article, under the caption, "Being Nobody." The clear-sighted, keen and observant author paints a picture absolutely true to life, one which, alas, in this day and age may be seen acted out, literally, any day in any community. In brief, it is the portrayal of a home where mother, the very heart and soul of the domestic circle,is loaded down with work,imposed upon and annoyed by those she loves the most, until she's everybody's drudge. Disheartened by the lack of attention and due respect from her husband, so preoccupied with other matters; from her thoughtless, dressy daughter, Winifred; from her sport-loving son, Leroy, and from her younger children, as well, she is brought to a state of mind where she considers herself as "being nobody." Pathetic, indeed! There is something appalling in the modern attitude of children toward their parents. The term "modern" is used advisedly. For ancient history, or even history of ages not very remote, would fail us in bringing out evidence to substantiate the existence in former times of such a well-nigh universal dis- — regard of children for their parents or for their elders in general, for that matter — as we see manifest on every hand at present. There are exceptions, to be sure, but they only serve to prove the rule. Children's lack of consideration, of love and respect for their parents now-a-days, is a conspicuous fact. That it is an evil, no one will deny; and that it is growing is apparent to any intelligent observer, having opportunity day after day to verify the same. But: For every evil under the sun, If there is one, try to find it, If there is one, try to find it, If there is none, never mind it. Our faculties of observation, thinking and constructive reasoning, may help us considerably, if they are brought to bear upon this subject. Before proposing a remedy, however, the cause must be ascertained. Let us now mentally view such — a home as the one briefly referred to above and reason from cause to effect. To illustrate the subject, we will use the human form as a figure. A careful examiner, proceeding, will BEING SOMEBODY 293 remember his cardinal rule of "excess, defect and perversion," it being a demonstrable truth that one or more of these three factors will invariably be present in any ailment that flesh is heir to, wherever abnormal conditions exist in the home, the school, the state or the church. And the conscientious diagnostician will ever bear in mind the axiom "Symptoms are the lan- : — guage of disease" the correctness of translation depending upon one's comprehension of this "language" and the ability to intelligently interpret its meaning. To employ these well-known guides in conducting the examination of a home with symptoms of domestic disorder, is just as rational as if employed in an endeavor to ascertain the cause and nature of physical ailment in the individual. Where such a sickly condition actually exists in any home, the question, "Whose fault is it?" naturally presents itself. No one pleads guilty of course. But let us see. For our present purposes, let the head represent the husband and father; the heart, the wife and mother; the lesser vital organs and the extremities, the children. Our first glance impresses us with the fact that this "patient's" condition in general is bad. Inspection readily reveals the significant cardiac symptoms of abnormal sounds, irregular action, lack of strength, etc.; which, together with other important signs, spell functional heart lesion. This domestic — "heart," poor organ, struggling on and on, needs support since rest is out of the question. Now turning our attention to the "head," we find it an ach- — ing void, so to speak "nobody at home." Everything is swim- — ming; there is dizziness; vision blurred hot tears bedim the eyes; in the ears are head noises of every description; there is a "stuffed up" feeling "about the nose;" the teeth are set on edge; the tongue is heavily coated. This head needs immediate attention. The Central Station, located there is out of commission it can neither dispatch nor receive the important messages, at all times necessary to pass over the connecting lines of the system, in order to keep all concerned well informed. The "head" and "heart" being incapacitated for exercising their functions normally, the lesser vital organs and extremities must necessarily suffer. Automatically, they endeavor to perform their functions, though on the whole rather poorly, as their wild capers and ludicrous antics show. They try to be head, they try to be heart, they try to be everything, only to make a sorry mess of it. After this somewhat hurried and perhaps incomplete examination, we may now be able to suggest, in a general way at least, the treatment for these disease expressions — for, be it remembered, this particular domestic system is literally dis- 294 IMPROVEMENT ERA eased. Everywhere, excess, defect and perversion stand out in bold relief. Fortunately, the needed remedy is very simple, and easy to "take," provided one will at least try to use it. The prescription reads as follows: Take of, "Husbands, love your wives," "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands," "Children, obey your parents," "Honor thy father and thy mother;" of each ingredient take enough to make an inexhaustible quantity. — — Notice, this when mixed in proper proportions is a sovereign and infallible remedy. It possesses, moreover, this singular peculiarity, that its efficacy is not in the least impaired, no matter how it may be employed or dispensed, whether as a mixture, a lotion, or an ointment; in pills, tablets, capsules, or in any other manner or form, provided only that the ingredients are genuine, pure and properly blended. There are no incompatibles, hence no fears need be entertained on that score. But it should be used without stint, morning, noon and night; before meals, between meals, after meals; on arising and on retiring; — in season and out of season. It is absolutely harmless no danger can possibly result from an over-dose. Will keep in any climate and for any length of time. It is a veritable panacea for the home ailments alluded to. It will cure that headache; will buoy up and regulate the heart; it will effectively strengthen and give normal tone to the lesser organs, to every integral part of the domestic system; in short, to the structure as a whole. It is unqualifiedly better, more potent, more generally suitable for the use of both sexes and of all ages than any other known remedy. And, what is more, nothing will ever be discovered that can serve as a substitute, or be "just as good." Reasoning from an extensive personal experience in the school of actual life, we may be justified in reaching the following conclusions: That, without resorting to figures of speech, but meeting squarely and without quibbling the issue: namely, the abnormal home life resulting from the exasperating obstinacy displayed by children in their unseemly behavior toward their parents, especially in the home, it will be seen, when all is said and done, that the parents themselves are to be blamed, in the first place. And in a case where the domestic conditions are such as the author of the article referred to so graphically describes, the hard-working, dutiful wife and altogether too indulgent mother, must in the last analysis be held responsible, for permitting those whose plain duty it is to uphold, love, honor, defend, respect, help and comfort her, those for whom at their birth she willingly risked her own life, to so cruelly take advantage of her good nature. BEING SOMEBODY 295 Right thinking children will never, in this life or in the life to come, thank their parents for their perhaps well-meant indulgence at the expense of their children's self-respect. Neither is there any law, written Or unwritten, secular or divine, requiring parents to quietly acquiesce in and humbly submit to the notions, whims and fancies of their children, at home or anywhere else. On the other hand, there is ample authority making itincubent upon parents to bring up their children in the way they should go; to teach them correct principles, both by example and precept ; to require of them due personal respect and to insist upon their good behavior and their obedience to the few simple, reasonable requirements which honorable parents, according to their judgment, deem necessary for the well-being of the different members of the family. Finally, and to the point: As long as parents are satisfied with meekly playing the subordinate role assigned them by their children; as long as parents do not assume their God-given prerogative, their sacred right and undisputed duty, of leading, guiding and controlling their children; as long as parents allow their children to direct the home life and the affairs pertaining thereto; as long as the husband and father acts the part of a wabbly, weak-kneed character; as long as the mother, toiling unceasingly and uncomplainingly from early morn till late at night will submissively obey her children's every order, heed — their every demand so long will their light-headed, pleasureloving, grown-up "Winifreds," their sporty, independent (?) "Leroys" and the thoughtless younger children consider them as being nobody. Scout Laws in Song (Melody of "Yankee Doodle") Trusty Tommy was a Scout, Loyal To his mother, Helpful To the folks about, Friendly To his brother; Courteous To the girls he knew. Kind Unto his rabbits, Obedient To his father, too, Cheerful In his habits. Thrifty Saving for a need, Brave And not a faker, Clean In thought, and word, and deed, Reverent To hie Maker.