Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-03


Of the fact, had looked ut things from
their point Of view. A most inconceiv.
able blunder. He would not allow that
he was being swayed less BY the admis.
sion Of his objectionable rudeness on
board than by the immediate. knowl.
edge that Elsa was known to the Brit
ish officials sister, titled lady who
stood exceedingly high at court.
miss Chetwood," he said, lowering
his voice for her ears only.
Elsa turned, but with the expression
that signified that her attention was
engaged elsewhere.
"Yes?"
II am an old man. I am sixty-two;
and most Of these sixty.two I have
lived roughly; but am not too old to
realize that I have made . fool of my.
SELF"
Interest began to all Elsa's eyes.
1T has been said" he went on. keep
ing the key, that am man Of cour.
age, But ind that need a good deal
Of that just now. have been rude to
you, and without warrant. and offer
you my humble apologies" He FUN
bled with his cravat as If it had sud-
denly frightened. "Will you accept?"
Instantly" Elsa understood the
quality of courage that had stirred the
colonel. But ruthlessly: II should.
however. like your point of view in re-
gard to what you consider my con-
duct"
SIS It necessary"
ri believe IL would be better for my
understanding If you made full con.
fession." She did not mean to be re-
lentless, but her curiosity was toe
strong not to press her advantage.
"Well, then, over here as elsewhere
in the world there are standards by
which we Judge persons who come I'm,
der our notice"
Agreed. Individuality is not gen
orally understandable"
by the mediocre, you might have
added. That's the difficulty with indi
viduality; it refuses to be harnessed
by mediocrity and mediocrity holds
the whiphand, always. represent
the mediocre"
ooh, never!" said Elsa animatedly
"Mediocrity is always without cour
age"
"You are wrong. It has the courage
Of its convictions"
Rather is it not stubbornness, will
full refusal to recognize things as they
are?''
He countered the question with an
other. "Suppostng we were all indi
Nduals, in the sense you mean? Sup
posing each of US did exactly as he
pleased? Can you honestly imagine a
more confusing place than this world
would be? The Manchurian pony is
a wild little beast, an individual if
ever there was one; but man tames
him and puts to use his energies. And
SO 1t is with human individuality. We
Of the mediocre tame and harness and
make it useful to the general welfare
Of humanity. And when we encounter
the untamable, In order to safeguard
ourselves, we must turn 1t back into
the wilderness, an outlaw. Indeed.
might call individuality an element
like fire and water and air"
"But who conquer fire and water
and air?" Elsa demanded. believing
she had him pocketed.
"Mediocrity, through the individual
Of this or that being. Humanity in the
bulk Is mediocre. And odd as it seems.
individuality (Which is another word
for genius) believes 1t leads medi.
ocrity. But II cannot be made to un.
derstand that mediocrity ordains the
leadership"
Then you contend that in the hand.
OF the stupid lies the balance Of
power?"
Let US not say stupid, rather the
.unimaginative, the practical and the
plodding. The stubbornest person In
the world is one with an idea"
do you honestly insist that you are
mediocre"
NO." thoughtfully. II am one OF
those stubborn men with ideas. ]
merely insist that prefer to accept
the tenets OF mediocrity for my own
peace and the peace Of Others"
Elsa forgot those about her, forgot
ucI A0IOuOoV AOA4Al0SAOu VI Su0 ulAu
at her side. He denied that he was an
individual, but he was one, rs inter.
esting one 40 she had met in very
long time. She, too, had made blum.
der. Quick to form opinions. swift to
Judge, she stood guilty with the com.
mon lot, who permit Impressions in
stead of evidence to sway them. Here
was man.
1--WE have gone far afield." she said,
. tacit admission that she could not
refute his dissertations. This knowl-
edge, however, was not irksome.
Rather have we not come to the
bars? Shall We let them down? In
the civil and military life on this side
of the world there are many situa-
lions which we perforce must tolerate.
But these, mind you, arc settled condi.
tions. 1t is upon new ones which arise
that we pass Judgment. knew moth
ing about you. nothing whatever. So
Judged you according to the rules"
Elsa leaned upon her elbows, and
she smiled q little AZ she noted that
the purple had gone from his nose
and that 1t had resumed its accus.
toned rubicundity.
II go on. A woman who travels
alone. who does not present letters Of