The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
BY rHE sooIAL AnRIrER.


By THE SOCIAL ARBITER.
I am going TO Europe the first o
July" announced a naval officer the othe
evening and this same man Is one Of th
most brilliant men IN the service witt
his cGptaincy not far in the future.
How lovely exclaimed his compan
ion. a cosmopolitan. by the way. "ther
you VIII get rid Of some Of your stupi,
American prejudices."
IF l thought 1 would lose any OF M
stupid American prejudices,' replied Ii,
naval officer. Il would not stir one foo
outside Of this country This is tn,
country Of the present. the country o.
the future. IL Is the. grandest country
on earth. What is there in Europe bet
ter than what we have mere? Name one
thing" His companion hesitated. Abr
he ehuckled, you can't"
Yes. can, said the woman, I hesi-
tated because I was amazed at your
your. your-what shall 1 call it, ignor.
anceg'
NO, call it loyalty, If you must give
it a name"
''Loyalty?" repeated Madame sarcasti-
cally, loyalty? Loyalty is the finest
sentiment on earth. prejudice the stupid
est. You didn't say get rid OF your
loyalty, but Of your prejndices. A pref
udice is an opinion formed without knowl-
edge OF the facts and it is the child OF
ignorance That last admirable phrase
is not mine-but 10 mention some of the
things that are better in Europe than
with US: the cleanliness OF the cities
over there.
Why. I thought New York was the
cleanest city in the world"
There's where your prejudice almost
said ignorance comes in. II is the dirtiest
What can you say for the administration
OF criminal justice in this country? Do
you know that the man who murdered
Durham White Stevens more than year
ago is still unhung? Don't you think We
might take some lessons from England
in this regard? And what about our
Operas2 Have we any opera IN America
which for excellence and cheapness COM
pares with those In Berlin or Dresden7
viii not yield 10 any one in loyalty 10
my own country. but because 1 love her
IS no reason why I should not see her
faults"
So the conversation went on. and 'tt
7.
Loyalty and patriotism are great virtues.
but they are no more peculiar TO America
than they are to other countries whose
children bawl less blatantly OF the virtues
Of the land where accident has placed
them. The Stars and Stripes Go stand
for the nObleSt government, the most
splendid nation under the sun, but all
that Il represents was brought or bOr-
rowed from older countries and since, IN
the beginning. We were not ashamed 10
recognize the virtues and eXcellencies Of
other nations. and showed our approba-
ton by adopting what We found admira-
bic. why should we disclaim our debt
and seek 10 depreciate those 10 whom we
are tndebted2 4 principle, a law, thing
is not admirable merely because II bears
the stamp America, for We have. unhap-
PLY. many obJectional features that we
might eliminate with advantage. but be-
cause II is OF itself excellent. Our naval
officer belongs, doubtless. to that class,
members Of which are met so often on
the transatlantic steamers. who loudly
proclaim that they are proud OF every
thing American Now. il their heart OF
hearts those people know that there are
many things IN this beautiful country
that are a cause for shame rather than
pride.
No one, certainly can think Of the
Tweed ring with unmitigated satisfac-
ton, nor Of the ring OF grafters in San
Francisco Neither Is It a subject for
pride that politics plays such a role in
our military services. and that at this
late day officers Of the army and navy
are sometimes advanced through pull
rather than merit. The manners Of our
people toward each other and toward
other people leaves much to be desired.
Our street-car service could be modelled
after that in Berlin with profit; for.
surely, no one is proud Of that service as
seen IN Washington to-day.
Then there Is the terrible American
voice. the nasal twang characteristic OF
certain sections Of the country. the high
pitched shrill screech of-others. The per
centage Of fatal accidents on our railway
trains is greater than any other country
IN the wOrld-but why go on? No coun-
try is perfect, nor should be, for when
perfection Is REACHED decadence sets In;
but all countries. Ike all people. are sus-
ceptible Of Improvement and the true
patriot the loyal citizen, recognizes this
and seeks to bring the Improvement
about If every person in the country
worked 10 this end. America would soon
occupy the place that her blind idOIators
claim for her.
America has, in truth, taken q long step
forward in the past twenty-five years.
and, were he 70 visit here to-day. Dickens
would have something TO say that would
not so anger the people as did his Amer
lean Notes. yet those same despised
American Notes performed a mission. and,
stung by It's authors Severe criticism.
the people have aimed to make il untrue
course preferable 70 the stupid insist
erce that whatever Is American Is right.
II some Of the customs that we have def
nitely abandoned were admirable a quar-
ter OF century ago. they would be ad-
mirable to-day; but who would dare af-
firm that the chewing Of tobacco, expec-
torating on the street and in the corridors
Of public buildings and where not Is 10
be tolerated. or that cuspidor is a suit
able ornament for the drawing
yet a quarter OF a century ago these
things were
In the next quarter of a century we
will take another long stride. Indeed.
the careful observer can see an improve |
ment in almost every direction. There is |
more civic pride than formerly; people
are more public spirited. children are bet
ter hammered. 1t would take columns. in
deed, 10 note all the improvements that
have been made and that are in the max |
ing; but there is room for more. and those |
who go to Europe and 10 the Orient have
a mission 10 perform in seeking out all /
that is best and bringing It back to this |
country.
There is one noticeable thing in Europe |
that those who have lived much on the /
other side miss here; that Is. the uniform |
courtesy OF officials. The policemen in |
Continental cities are as r.nlite as O Chs