The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-09
THE PICTURE OR THE BABY?

The impression gathered from English news
papers that the war in the Balkans and home
rule for Ireland are the chief topics of dis
cussion in Great Britain is natural, but erron-
eous one These subjects are matters of dis
cussion 1t is true. but even the Englishman's
delight In European politics and In the posi-
bilities of worldwide war and even the ex-
element caused by recalcitrant listers absurd
attitude have not been proof against the de-
soluble ethical problem, the discussion of
which, II sincerely conducted, discloses the dis
putants' character better than a years famil-
arity with his talk and actions and which Is
a matter of great interest even when lightly
treated
The baby or the picture? is the question
agtating business men and their families at
breakfast, those gathered for the Englishman's
dearly beloved tea, habitues of the hotel lob
bies. the man In the street, the mistress and
her friends in the receiving room, the servants
in their quarters. All England is busly en-
gagged in discussing whether baby or a most
valuable and rare picture should be rescued
TWO hs saved. .=.4.-.s zz.4sss.-.
Many prominent .EngHshmen have been
brought into the useless, yet interesting, de-
bate. A prominent member of parliament pub
licly gave it his opinion that the picture
should be saved, for there are many babies,
but only one of the paintings of the kind being
discussed. stany' agree with him. They con-
tend that the picture is of great value to the
world of art and consequently to the entire
world. 1t could never be replaced and If de-
stroyed the masterpiece of great painter of
old would be lost to the world forever. 1t
God, but the same can be said of any great
work OF art The authors masterpiece was
born of God-implanted inspiration; it is the
child of his God-given genius. The one ia as
much OF divine origin as the other and far
more uncommon.
Reasoning and logic is as much on the side
of those who contend for the salvation Of the
picture as of those who champion the cause
OF the child. From one point OF view the pre-
ponderance of the evidence is on the side of
the picture. Reasoning out the value OF the
picture to the world and weighing II against
the probable value of the child. the scales
will be tipped downward by the picture. In
the light of cold reason. those arguing for the
picture have the better of the discussion.
But the question is deeper than this. Man
may reason till doomsday in favor OF saving
the picture. and he may reason logically to
conclusion which calls for the saving of the
picture. He may convince the most stubborn
who rely solely upon their reasoning powers,
but he has not proven his case There Is
more. Deep down in the hearts of
every man worth while there is something
placed there by his Creator to keep him
ST. aight; a something that is more than brain,
more than reason and logic. 1t is sometimes
normal things to preserve themselves and to
preserve their kind The same instinct with
out which man would not reproduce his kind,
the same instinct which is the cause OF the
population OF the globe. would impel any man
possessing it to save the child without thought
of the picture, The man who would rush from
Il burning building with picture clasped in
his arms. while an innocent babe remained
prey to the greedy flames would be met on
emerging with adherence. He might taIk for
a thousand years to the very people he had
convinced when discussing the question aca-
demically without regaining their love and
respect.
Why? Nobody knows