The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-15

degeneracy in this body OF men. thatsde-
generaCy OF which pessimistc statesmen
are prating and newspaper writer's are
singing.
Mental Efficiency Lacking.
So one can well say that the physique
OF the English IS as good as It ever was
But can one say this also OF their mental
! development?
one has but TO remain IN England a
very short time to discover that the Brit
aims are far behind in many things. The
modern, scientific progress has touchedi
Great Britain. but has not taken as firm
root as one would expect. The hotels
are not up 20 date. London takes care OF
/ thousands OF travellers every year and
London does not supply them with the
same number Of baths that one can find
In a single great New York hotel. And
when l say baths mean modern, pOrce-
lain-liEed tubs. with hot and cold faucets;
the same kind OF tubs that one finds iR
any third-rate hOstelry IN the United
States. Instead the weary traveller IS sup
Piled with a fat tin tub and a tin OF
water. the same kind Of tin which our
grandfather used 70 use before the in
vention Of modern plumbing and modern
methods Or II one wishes = good old
plunge, one must parade down the halls
OF the hotel Ina a bath robe. take a bath
IN room shown one by the porter, and
pay round sum for this indulgence.
In a modern, hustling land the hotels
with antquated plumbing are torn up In
no time and modern plumbing Is intro
duced. IN America this IS certainly the
| case. But not so in good old Britain.
Stohdly and sullenly John Bull goes on
[ D tr
water handed in at the door by the pink
checked maid. and bis clumsy. oid-fash-
icned method OF Tubing. y know" It
was good enough FOR his father; why
isn't Il good enough for him2
This Is bur small illustration OF this
lack OF modern. scientific alertness which
foreigners Criticise in Great Britain Ger
man physicians maintain that the labora-.
tories and hospitals are out OF date. a
Frenchman has just crossed the channel
| IN a French aIrshlp. American iocomo-
tive engineers are surprised at the slow
adoption Of Improvements on the rails
roads. It is even whispered that some OF.
the fighting vessels are behind the times
AT any rate. there is q distinct impression
that Great Britain IS q bit ia the rear
when modern inventions and methods are
70 be considered, and this IS an impress,
I
remains In the land OF the athletic ale
imbibing, cricket playing. sport loving
Britishers.
Oxford vs.. Harvard.
When a young Westerner arrived at
Harvard two years ago his father took
him over 10 the moss-grown Holworthy
Hall. where he himself had roomed some
thirty years or more before. Now, hsre's.
my room" said he. turning 10 his boy.
wouldn't you Ike 10 live here for four
years, my son, and keep up the traditions
Of the family. FOR my father rOomeG IN
/ college in this self-same chamber"
The young American turned TO his
white-haired sire and said:
Dad, no moss IN mine want the
modern cOnvenes"
That IS the spirit OF America.
Yet at Oxford one finds the undergTad-
uate in the same old rooms which cava-
/ Tiers and round-heads were young IN some
centuries ago. Moss green's the outside OF
/ the dark buildings, mold clings 20 the
I exterior Of the shutters. dampness chIl5
/ fIOm the interior OF the stone corridors.
! yet back 10 the dingy little bedrooms
! come the English youths. cOntented.
| happy. and care-free IN the same old shell
/ tiers which covered their eat-grandsires.
\ There IS plenty OF moss IN theirs, and the
/ spirit OF progress never seems 10 call FOR
/ the modern convenes." This is the spirit
/ OF England.
England Must Keep Alert.
Therefore. It is apparent that the mas
I ton must bestir itself II it wishes 20 be.
| what II has been IN the past. the fancied
! leader among the nations OF the earth
]
/ MES at one time which were as. great as
those OF any power IN Europe, but these
/ We're lost through lack OF proper naval
/ preparation and proper naval equipment.
| England has now the greatest navy in
/ the world The struggle 70 maintain the
/ twO-power standard is tremendous. Brit
I ish pride insists upon H. But is British
/ pride capable Of standing the drain upon
/ the British purse, especially when British
/ conservatism keeps British industrial
! progress in the rear OF that OF other ma
/ tons? That Is the great question OF The
! century. and that IS why, although a na-
\ ton Of seafarers and men accustomed 20
/ the ocean and to the adventurous hfe
/ upon the waves, the British people are.
/ asking themselves whether they can keep.
/ up the strain of q twO-pOwer navy and.
| thus protect their commerce from foreign
| Intervention. They groan beneath the
/ weight of taxation; they pessimisticaly.
| look at the future and yet. with trua.
/ British bulldog courage, they chant;
So spoke OlI fathers Our flag unrurled.
Blew hruTe 10 the north and south.
An iron answer gave the world.
] For We spoke b. the caunon's mouth
Old Engiand's sons ara English *
| Old Engiands hearts are strong,
And s1H Sc wears her curuDCt,
Ahame with sword and song.
As n their prde oir fathers died.
II need b.. die
So WELD We sun, g1iEsay who VIII.
The scep,er OF the sea-
CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON.