Judge — July 18, 1925 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Editor, Noruiite Anthony. ELL, anyway, they can’t tell whether you believe in evolution by smelling your breath. What’s the Use? Ws" is dignity? The dictionary gives this definition: Grave or noble bearing; impressiveness of character or manner; repose and serenity of demeanor; as the stateman’s dignity was innate. But this definition might con Jennings Bryan, and we all know wii the thing that Bryan lacks most’ than he lacks modesty, or wisdomiy, dignity. z On the other hand any one of us can readily think of humble, simple souls to whom this definition would hardly apply at all, who are, nevertheless, possessed of great dignity. We have in mind at the moment an illiterate farm hand, a quiet, pleasant, efficient man of homely tastes and shrewd judgments, who lacks both Mr. Bryan's gifts and presence, but whose dignity is as real as Abe Lincoln’s. Comparing him with the Great Commoner gives us a clew to the secret: the farm hand has self- respect. Has Bryan? Cana man who uses his national repu- tation as an evangelist to boost Florida real estate have self-respect? Pride, possibly; and ability,and maybe a kind of self-delusion that passes for sincerity. But genuine self-respect is a deeper, more subtle thing than these. It has its scat, we imagine, the subconscious, and its beginnings in the formative years of early infancy when we make our first social contacts. And so ingrained does it become that it prevents a man from commercializ- ivably fit. William being told that euously—more ‘even tolerance—is is the outward aspect of him who has genuine eA eA SD AMERICAN life in too many of its typical aspects to-day lacks dignity, for the same reason that Bryan does. Bryan isn’t the only millionaire evangelist in our midst who has capitalized his familiarity with God. And for every millionaire among them there are countless thou- sands of saviors living only less fatly on the proceeds of their piety. They grade from Will Hays down to those ministers who have made a “good thing” out of their employment by the Anti-Saloon League. And they in- clude by rights all our uplifting realtors, of whom George F. Babbitt is the arch-type, and those Y. M. C. A. secre- taries of whom Brian Hooker says, “they have no spiritual shame; they go about with their souls unbuttoned.” William Morris Houghton, Wil iam Exlgar Fisber, Phil Rosa. Dramatic Editor, George Jean Nathan. The thing is really a disease which permeates our entire social structure. The Rotary, for instance, has 4 Ie profits most who serves best Again the same species of prostitution. Service, of course, is an ideal, but its object in this case is profit which comes first even in the motto. The Ku Klux Klan calls upon all Nordic Protestants to rally to the standard of 100 per cent. Americanism. This, too, is an ideal, however narrow and bigoted and un-American the particular interpretation. But the object of the summons is to sell memberships and ascension robes. a~e aoe q A™ now we are witnessing a trial, in Dayton, Tenn., which involves an issue that goes to the root of cur liberties. And how does Dayton, how does Tennessee, look upon it? Why, as an excellent publicity stunt. A press agent has sued the Dayton chamber of commerce for his share as the originator of the idea, and collected! The charge is made that the judge presiding at the trial facili- tated the indictment illegally so that Dayton might get ahead of Chattanooga in her leap into the limelight. Dayton, thanks to the test of a law that would reintroduce the Middle Ages, is ‘ton the map,” and throughout the length and breadth of this land her sister villages, with their rotaries and chambers of commerce and local judges, are envying her. Only a little while ago in England a movie promoter obtained by a hoax the escort of a squad of Territorials to advertise his picture. And all of England has been blush- ing ever since. Yet such a prostitution is as nothing com: pared with the spectacle in Tennessee. Are we blushing? Ci i a oe od What's the use of worrying about liberty in a country that seems to prefer advertisement? A Tale of Two Cities Te mention of Dayton, Tenn., reminds us of Dayton, O. (Why haven’t we shown more originality in naming our towns? That would be a comparatively cheap way of advertising them.) Dayton, O., was put on the map) a dozen years ago by a disastrous flood. Yet with all the damage and suffering caused by that flood we can of worse means of publicity. At least, we have 1 rit.) y heard anyone laugh at the mention of Dayton, O. Th ay 4 place has dignity, which some day, let ys hope, will Hy i F: 4 considered of more value than whatever it is that mon trials bring. W. M. He ~~ comicbooks.com