Death From Falling
Watermelons
“Death From Falling
Watermelons” is the title of
a paper presented at the
International Water Quality
Symposium, held in
Washington, D.C., last
spring. I find the title itself,
a very funny line. And it
immediately grabs youi
interest which, of course,
was the purpose of En
vironmentalist Cyrus A.
Adler, Ph.D., of the New
School for Social Research,
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FARM *
Doctor
in the Kitchen 9
by Laurence M. Hursh, M.D.
Consultant, National Dairy Council
New York City, the author of
the paper.
Mr. Adler’s thesis was that
with today’s technology
certain calamitous events
could take place. But, he
suggests, we should exercise
some judgment, some
perspective, before we
become unduly alarmed.
An Example
He offered as an example
that today’s jet planes can
deliver, and do deliver,
refrigerated loads of food all
over the map. Thus,
technically, it is possible that
a jet might explode or
otherwise lose some of a load
of watermelons. And then
some people might be killed
by falling watermelons. But
his question is, “Is it likely?”
I cite this humorous but
thoughtful bit of philosophy
in today’s column for the
same purpose as it was
presented in Washington
D.C.
We all are prone to having
our interest piqued by the
unexpected, the unusual.
The “falling watermelon”
philosophy, itself, is interest
..getting on that basis. And
headlines have often been
made by people out to scare
other people.
The promise of the so
called consumer movement
is, I hope, that people
generally are going to be
better informed, thus less
easily manipulated or
needlessly frightened.
What has this kind of talk
to do with nutrition?
Simply this. Nutrition is
certainly one of the topics in
our society about which a
great deal of misinformation
is circulated. Misin
formation, in fact, almost
overwhelms the sound in
formation that is available.
Who’s to blame?
Probably we all are.
Overweight people want
magic to give them slim
figures. News stories about
scientific findings,
generally, are probably
tiven too much credence. We
forget that the reporter may
have been careful to say that
a scientist warned against a
danger that “may” happen.
We jump to the worst con
clusion and, for that matter,
the simplicities of headline
writing sometimes don’t help
us very much.
Be More Skeptical
But we really all ought to
be more skeptical, more
reserved, I think, in our
reactions to anything that
seems to over-promise or
over-threaten us.
This is not to say we
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PH. 393-3921
She has
farm needs, too. .
Farm Women Societies
Society 6
The September 7th
“School Days” meeting of
Farm Women Society 6 was
held at the home of Mrs.
Martin Hoffer. Other
hostesses were Mrs. Paul
Brandt and Mrs. Muriel
Saylor.
the meetin opened with
group singing of “School
Days, Brighten the Corner,
and Cum Ba Ya”. Mrs. Ray
Hixon led devotions with a
chapter which has a lot to
say to modern days -
Proverbs 16 (Living Bible).
Roll call was answered by
telling of a punishment that
was received at school - and
why.
Some members of the
society and friends had a
birthday party for about 30
patients at the Harrisburg
State Hospital on August 20.
The program included
singing and refreshments.
The group will serve a
dinner at Wyeth
Laboratories in Marietta on
September 18. An
nouncements were also
made about the County
shouldn’t be alert. But I do
think, for instance, we
should have faith in the
many regulatory agencies
that police the whole-
someness of our food supply.
The system has corrected
. flaws when found. It will
continue to be improved.
Take, for example, the
pesticides issue. If a better
way to control pests and
assure bountiful crops is
found, it will be used. Much
research is in progress.
Meantime, careful
monitoring of risks goes on
and any questionable foods
simply do not reach the
market.
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AGWAY BUILDING,
LEBANON
PH. 273-4506
Convention on November 2,
and the Christmas Bazaar on
November 14.
The program was a talk by
a member, Mrs. Harry
Shonk, who is a retired
school teacher. She included
funny and sad experiences of
her teaching years which
started in a one-room school
and ended m a modem
school.
The next meeting will be a
bus trip to the Poconos on
October 19. The bus will
leave from the Eliza
bethtown Church of the
Brethren parking lot at 8
a.m.
Society 10
Farm Women Society 10
met at the home of Mrs.
Abram Miller with Mrs.
Raymond Northerner as co
hostess.
Mrs. Jay Habecker,
president, conducted the
business session. Members
will participate in providing
articles for the bazaar table
at the County Convention in
November. A donation will
be giyen to the United
Campaign.
Entertainment was
provided by four members:
Mrs. John Habecker gave
her impressions of the
European Cathedrals, Mrs.
Charles Shank related ex
periences in her Amish
School, Miss Frances
LeFever spoke on “The
Tragedy of Words”, and
Mrs. Harry Weidner chose
“This Is My Life”.
Society 27
Society of Farm Women 27
held a White Elephant Sale
recently at Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Dunkleberger’s,
Farm.
Mrs. Roy Wolgemuth was
hostess. Co-hostesses were
Mrs. Harold B. Frey and
Mrs. John H. Wolgemuth.
Husbands responded to the
Roll Call by giving their
wife’s most outstanding
talent or quality.
Arthur D. Wenger was the
auctioneer for the sale.
Work Project night and the
election of officers for
President and Recording
Secretary will be September
24, at 7:00, at the home of
Mrs. Wilbur Erb.
Farm Women
Calendar
Monday, September 16
Farm Women Society 29
Meeting at the home of
Mary Ellen Adamire.
Tuesday, September 17
Farm Women Society 28
meeting at the Cripple
Creek Area 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 18
Workshop “Coping With
Inflation” sponsored by
the Chester County
Cooperative Extension at
Pomeroy’s Community
Room at the Concord
Mall, Wilmington at 10:00
a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 21
Farm W'omen Society 8
meeting at 2:00 p.m.
Farm Women Society 12
meeting at the home of
Mrs. Ethel Kindig, 30
Wabank Rd., Miller
sville.
Leftovers
Every year an estimated 16
billion cubic feet of usable wood
is left on the ground of the na
tion’s forests after logging