Editorial: Translating Josh Billings

Henry Wheeler Shaw, in his persona as Josh Billings, was very popular — misspelling, poor grammar, incorrect word choice, and all. His purposeful mistakes mimicked the accent and common sense of country folk. When he reverted to proper usage, he lost his audience. Here is Billings' guide through this Stockbridge election season. To translate Josh, just sound it out.

"It iz a darned sight ezyer tew find six men who kan tell exactly how a thing ought tew be did than tew find one who will do it."

Stockbridge Updates thanks all those willing to do it — to run in this year's Town election and then serve the Town. The least we can do is show up and vote.

On the national stage we have fallen into grievance politics. Let's hope grievance politics never packs its bag and moves to Stockbridge.

"Poor human natur iz too full ov its own grievances tew have enny pitty to spare — if yu show a man a big bile on yure arm, he will tell yu he had one twice az big az that, on the same spot, last year."

Grievance politics never rid us of the boil.

This year Stockbridge has stepped up its game with advisors. David Cameron has been a help to the Conservation Commission and Planning Board. Cameron has been the model of a good advisor: attended the meetings of advisees; listened carefully; avoided politics and did not take positions, instead offered relevant knowledge and experience remembering he is not the decision-maker. Good advice-giving is never adversarial, never arm's length, but always collaborative and arm-in-arm.

"Adviz iz lik castor oil, ezy enuf tew giv but dredful unezy tew take."

Now we've had a kerfuffle or two. That happens among folks trying to get a thing done and even more when they want a thing done their way. Just remember, grievances and bad manners don't move anything forward.

"Misanthropy don't pay — thare aint no man living whoze hate the world cares one cuss for."

"If we would all ov us take kare ov our own souls, and let our nabors' alone, thare would be less time lost, and more souls saved."

That's all for now because Josh advised: "There's great power in words if you don't hitch too many of them together."

I end as he often did: "I beleave in the universal salvashun ov men, but I want tew pick the men."

Carole Owens
Managing Editor

Editor's Note: Thank you to a good friend and clever shopper for the gift of The Complete Works of Josh Billings 1876.

Photo: Jay Rhind