George Ade died today – 63 years ago

George Ade was born on February 9, 1866 in Kentland, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University. He died on May 16, 1944. He was a U.S. humorist. The entry on him in Wikipedia says that he wrote during a time in U.S. history when values were shifting “toward philistinism, greed, and dishonesty.” Wow! I’m sure glad the U.S. got over the greed and dishonesty or we’d be in a terrible mess today.

Since Wikipedia used the word “philistinism”, I just had to see what it said about it. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philistinism, “A person called a Philistine (in the relevant sense), is said to despise or undervalue art, beauty, intellectual content, and/or spiritual values. Philistines are also said to be materialistic.” Well, let me tell you, some “art” just should be despised: it’s just plain silly and ridiculous… And what about “beauty.” Well, if it’s only skin deep, when the skin peels off, there may not be much “beauty” left, so look deeper… What about “intellectual content?” Well, only the “elite” think they know what that is, so ask them… What about “spiritual values?” Where do I start? About everything of which you can think (I know that sounds strange, but I avoided the “dangling participle,” so live with it) has been included in the “spiritual” category… And then last but not least, there’s “materialistic.” Come on. “Give me a break,” as John Stossel has said. Just try living without material. You couldn’t even make a piece of clothing. Think where that would leave us… Shhh. I’m thinking.

P.S. U.S. writer Irwin Shaw, born on February 27, 1913, died in 1984… U.S. comedian Andy Kaufman, born on January 17, 1949, died in 1984... U.S. entertainer Jim Henson, born on September 24, 1936, died in 1990… U.S. entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., born on December 8, 1925, died in 1990.