The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-19

AAf home. strained anu cTedheu i"t'
slip In the North River and looAe"
down into the hundreds Of mems faces up
turned in greeting returning families | Sd"
there welcome simplicity after bewlloerins
conpleyity What struck most Dewuoer
inrly was the look, of honesty in the faces ao
If they we're saying:
"Of course am occupied with all sorts ot
strenuous business. for which am entirely In
adequate, but. in main. am just kind ana
funny"
Renewed acquaintance with my countrymen
has deepened that impression into conviction
Despite the business mask which they wear
during business hours. and which fits badly and
has perverse trick of slipping off. their faces
reflect themselves. just kind and funny"
Kind and funny" What better truer
national motto could have? Even New
England faces. the harshcst of the American
type. have the same traits. In their grudging
smiles. even in their less assumed
frowns, the wrinkles betray them. Hard as
they try TO seem. and think they are. they
are only kind and funny"
The European has the subtler wit, but the
American Is more humorous. The American
is always ready 20 laugh. but his laughter is
never unkind He will laugh at man who
has faln in the street and who cuts a funny
figure in his odd angles and curves, bu, he
VIII not laugh until he has discovered whether
the man has been hurt. II he has been in.
1ured there is laughter. The national
trait. fun. gives way TO its twin trait. kind.
liness.
We are tocular race. Our payfulnesa
SENDS an Lndelcurrent OF laughter rippling
through all our activities. In situations tina,
have no conspicuous element OF the ridiculous
the European bystander. half mystihed half
disguised, will ask: What is that American
looking so funny about?' The American
scents ridiculous situation as hound
rabbit
And yet. despite this playfulness, there Is
an odd aged attribute OF the average Ameri
can Smith and Jones, Brown and Robinson
are cur!ously alike in that they are ALWAYS
seeking joke and generally find it. and vet
'Aelr faces are overla!d by curious repres.
sion. The contour of their faces is child.
IKE IL their eagerness. They look as though
they we're in quest OF adventure as child
OF play. Yet the front view. the really truth.
telling part OF the face. tells very ditferent
storE. Notice the mouth OF the American
man II is strangely straight aud thnlpped
resoute to the point of unyIedng frmneas.
YET not TO the verge Of cruelty. 1t is the e1.
preston OF repressed nature. Ii is the In.
deX OF marvellous self.control
But again there is a contradiction Smooth
shaven square OF jaw, straight limbed and
generally neat, he feels young. he looks Young
and he remains young for a very long time
Another welcome attribute / noted on thu
DOCK and that has repeated itself endlesslv IA
have observed him in American cities is tba,
the American is extremely modest He is an
modest that he insists upon dressing precisely
as other men dress. so that he will NOT seor
unlike them. In Europe a man EMPLOYS bIs
beard 70 show his difference from Others. He
dresses his face according TO his taste. Nv
a Europeans moustache. by a Frenchman's
Whiskers, YOU recognize his personal charac
terlstics. He expects YOU TO recognize him He
dresses his face 10 please you. but more mar
tcu!ar!y TO please himself. Here men shave
thelF faces into monkish monotony. and Amer,.
cap nodesty.