New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-20
IDEALISN IN 1J[ERTCA.
Mr.. Mabie Thinks II Better than the
EurOpeQR Kind.

when I saw in a shop window IN Venice the
sign English spoken. American understood 7 said
20 myself. Here is something more than express
sion OF h1mor'" said Hamilton W. Mabie, in q
lecture yesterday at the League for Political Edu-
cation on "IdeaIism in American LIFE The last
half OF that sign was wrong. American Is not
understood IN Europe. and never has been. and II
is not understood to-day by many Of our own best
people"
Mr. Nabie said that America while more in
tenselv occupied over more intense pursuits than
any other nation. yet expressed tremendous ideal
ism in It's life. and he told some stories by way Of
illustration.
There was once a miner" SAID M Mahie. who
after many years made his Pile. and coming down
10 San Francisco looked about for the most splen-
did restaurant he could find. He wanted TO make
UP 10 himself IN glorious night for all his
p-lvations and hardships OF many years. When
he found his restaurant. and the waiter handed
him the bill Of fare. he found It in language
that is not commonly spoken IN mining camps. and
he turned 10 the waiter with, Bring me 500 worth
OF ham,
Now. there IS no man Of any other who
could or would have done that" went on the
speaker. after the laughter had subsidized. That
miner knew there was something in life better
than he had had. and he took the simplest most
direct way OF getting IT,
a friend Of mine from Boston came TO Nev-York
10 sail for Europe On the steamer. while he was
looking after what he had already begun to call
his luggage. he stumbled over 2 man IN evening
dress ct wanted a few minutes to noon. Later
he happened 10 comment on the fact to man who
sat beside him in the smoking room. and the man
returned Won't you come 10 nay cabin for few
miuutesT When they alone, he said, !
that IN evening dress. / a miner. I was
born ia mining camp was a man before /
learned 70 read. Then began 10 see there was
81 - T5rore one ~ he hooks hSYehi 70 read
up in said they were very pUnctlllous IN England
about evening dress. that's why I was wearing
Is st 5I1 have doaT rs 20 a 95fS I Are
and been eager 70 SCI into II. Ike that. 49,, -..
The American always feels himself bis equal In
the Gays when We had conlInocores, instead OF al
mirals. one Of our ships IN Italian waters enter
tanned Victor Emmanuel. The King came aboard
with a big bodyguard all very brave in brilliant
them, with three American tars standing at at
ties The tars noticed that one of the guard had
stumbled and fallen down the EanEway. and. as
AT last one Of them touched the admiral the
sleeve. with one Of them kings has fen down the
II We wanted to ind the final proof Of idealisn
hal dwelt on the idealism IN American life art
and letters we would 60 TO the history OF educa-
Oldest university and told him there was q man
man in 20 the president and he told his story. lie
an the vav from his TffIe inland village ,be-a
De had earned Just enough 20 board him at college
nr 50 dec5es ' vo5 le 20 ot ' Of Sa5 g '
saaed. But cert yog, know rs coming winter.
affair Ga this climate I resolved 10 get an eIu-
cation returned the how. and I'm going 10 get 10
II have 10 freeze 70 death for it'
Those who know our universities know that
there ara hundreds Of Young IN them who are
inperillinC health and lie IN the pursuit Of educa-
ton And foreigners say we have no idealism!
We ought 90 have Americarisrn enough 70 dis
cern Tho best IN our own. Don't let forget that
before we have f6caliSm in art must have Il ~
life. II Is thousand times better 70 feel the re
sDect Tor women that Americans feel thrn to rrr
all your power into picture. and have nothing
left IN YOU with which q make divine the women
you meet. Il Is better 10 recognize che divinity
around Us than 20 localiZe Il IN pictures"