A Rubicon of Deceit: Politicians and Philosophers Weigh In

On December 3, 1908, the sleepy town of Abilene, Kansas, was abuzz with the promise of another revival of the Kansas Magazine. Senatorelect H.W. Avery, known for his flamboyant ways, had just splurged on a fine touring car, which he boasted would be used to cover the mileage between Wakefield and Topeka. But Avery’s boasts were not the only thing making waves in Abilene. A local politician, rumored to be connected to the city’s powerful elite, vowed to get even with his enemies, a threat that sent shivers down the spines of Abilene’s residents. The politician’s ominous warning was met with a dose of philosophy from a Junction City sage, who quipped, ‘If you’re going to cross the Rubicon, cross it. Don’t wade into the middle and stand there. You’ll only catch hell.’