The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-09-15

boggleS at the rcaLtt- All 0lcSHiPts
TO depict the psychological state %
the combatants fall short OF the mex
orabie facts. We have TO begin at
the beginning in order to get a am
notion Of what such a war means 10
the French and the Germans Against
the old Latin culture OF 2,VoV years
are hurled all the forces of a younger,
more strenuous people VINO ron on
as a vast human machine and the two
forces clash as two opposing WORLDS
Beside this ordeal the war OF 1870 APP
pears like a s~chooiboy's game OF foo
ball.
Whole Outlook Changed.
Strike a deadly blow at society
and you strike at art, literature,
music, everything. While confusion
will reign in the political world de-
spair may bring some Of the jealous
factions to their senses for a time, but
literature will instantly receive a new
peSSimiStic impulSion which viii make
utopian theories and old academlcal
maXimS appear like SO many Mother
Goose stories. Books hat were found
pleasant and nonchalhntly optimistic
will now, under the final ordeal. Up
pear to French readers without mean
ing and without SAVIOR. The whole
outlook will be changed.
The Paris and the France that we
know will seem like something that
has been folded up and put away. If
the Germans should storm Paris IT
will be like the passing Of a historical
dream. Many Of the most p%ronis-
ing writers, artists, composers
philosophers, scientists will never re-
turn from the field Of carnage. A
new order Of ideas will spring up
Freak art n freak music Will die
out for want Of fresh recruits.
Paris has been the hotbed of al
sorts of eccentric is1ns in the name
Of art, and the war will render then
questionable. 1t will kill what
have called blue china poetry o.
the thousands of young FrenchmtT
who flock to Paris every year from
the provinces, seeking fame, not mor1
than one OF two ever succeed. Pari
is not a creator Of talent. but a mael
strom in which the majority are over
Whe1med.
Return TO the Nerities.
The war will exercise a profount
influence on French philosophical
thought. There will be a return t
the fundamental verities. People viii
tire Of the broke reed of Eoltairism
1t will strengthen the Churc and lie
adjust the views n judgments of So
~cialists.
Finally the war will chang
French methods of IT BIT
most important Of all thousands wi
seek new homes in America. On tn
other hands should the RI ssians TAX
Berlin no diplomat lives vlo can pre-
dict the outcome. Then Russia woui
exert all her forces for an invasion c
Turkey, and England would have t
!, ace a new situation in Persia an
: India.
But, after all, I see the changes
England as great and tumultuous q
: any on the Continent. The old orde
is even now as good as dead. II
writer's with pleasant theories Of pa
9 llamentary utopias will never agai
sway the British public as they ha,
Writer'S Of paradox will find no mo,
= readers. The CHEEKY optimist wi
change his tactics.
The professional humorists OF Lo,
don will perhaps have the harde
s time of all. It is difficult to concei,
the position Of the professional Lo1
don cynic at hi juncture. He h,
e vention. 1t will now be seer no
empty has bee the boasting, tt
q bluff, the nonchalance of the Da
: twenty years. London has wallow,
a in tears and temperaments until Il
n d~ecadence a become
and mechanical. Nothing short Of
= war like this could have produced a,
'e striking result.
IS You ask me how things will
ID in England if the allies win? In tn
4 case England Will have the Russi,
II bear to deal with in the near futu1
ae and getting ready for that ~eyentuali
s. will keep all her material and int.
a lectua1 forces in a state OF perpetU
ferment. In the meantime japan
an Opportunist. She will initiate Ge
many when the m to strike :
rives. needless of any neutrality tt
II, may exist.
&C THE four desperate nations 9
" Germany, Russia. Japan and Turk,
[ regard Germany as expressing +
he most fury. All her men under
In years Of g a been STEPPED
on mliltary since they W.
.o children. So have the French !
"a the difference between the two -,
III pies is one OF fundamental dineren
ifa The French are fighting an invaf
,.t and feel their negative attitude