The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-14
THE OPEN FORUM
In Which Readers of The Herald Express Their Views on
Current Events

Editor of The Washington Herald:
| have read with a good deal of interest
many of DIR. Edwards articles on His
| tory Builders" some of whom in my life
long of s. years have known personally.
Among them was that ideal American.
whose life was all too short. George
! William Curtis. i first met him at Brook
Farm. of which unique association
was a member from April. 1Sfj. until its
dissolution in the autumn Of 1915 George
and his brother Burrill were students
there for time. but had left before I
| arrived and gone to Concord. But George
! used to return occasionally to see his
| friends. and when there it was rare
| time for music. I met him occasionally
| in after years, when he was lecturing
and writing those Incompatible papers
for the Easy Chair and editing Harper's
| Weekly.
In reading the admirable story OF Cur
it's life BY MIR. Edward Cary ] am led
| to think that there a greater init
macy between Curtis. Hawthorne and
Thoreau than would be indicated by the
! conversation between DR.. Edwards ana
Mr. Parke Goodwin. Mr.. Curtis writes to
his father about club he belongs to
and he names the following members:
Mr. Alcott. Mr. Emerson. Mr. Haw-
thorne, Ellery Claiming, Henry Thoreau.
George Bradford, BurrilI Curtis. and him
! self He says: We meet on Mon,
day ewes in Mr. Emerson's library. and
there discuss Fate, freewill, foreknowl-
edge absolute
Some years later in an article on
Emerson. Mr.. Curtis wrote OF the club;
Il went the first Monday evening.
The philosophers sat dignified and
erect. There was constrained out
very amiable silence, which had the
impertinence Of a tacit inquiry. SEEM
ing to ask. who will now proceed to
say the finest thing that has ever been
said 1t was quite Involuntary and
unavoida BILE, for the members lacked
that fluent social genius without which
club is impossible. | vaguely re-
member that the Orphic Alcott invaded
the Sahara of silence with solemn
saying to which after due pause, the
honorable member for Balckburg Pas
lures CThoreau). responded by some
keen and graphic observation. while
the OIympian host (Amerson). anxious
that so much good material should be
spun into something, beamed Smiling
encouragement upon all parties But
the conversation became more and
more stacato. Miles Coverdale Hfaw-
thorne). a statue of night and silence.
sat a little removed. under portrait
of Dante. gazing imperturbably upon
the group; and as he sat in the shadow
his dark eyes and hair and suit of
sa bles. made him. in that society. the
black thread of mystery which he
weaved into his stories, while the
shifting presence of the Brook Farm
er CBradfordp. played like heat light
ming around the room"
Mr. Cary says: Mr.. Curtis writ
ings contain many references TO these
at
Mr.. Cary says also: with Haw-
thorne. Mr.. Curtis had had a certain
degree of friendly relation at Brook
Farm and at Concord"
S. WILLARD SAXTON.
Gomez, Future President of Cuba.
Editor of The Washington Herald:
Who is former President Jose Miguel
Gomez? This question can easily be |
answered in a few words: One OF |
the greatest politicians of Latin
America. !
Is it probable that he will become
Cuba's next chief executive? Yes!
Gen Gomez (and 1 say Gen. Gomez
because during his lifetime he has been
engaged in more than one hard-fought
and sanguinary battle) is extremely
popular with the people of Cuba. He
knows exactly how to please them:
he thoroughly studies their needs. |
their ambitions. their desires. In
short. he is "the man of the hour"
When the writer was last in Ha-
vana there were several politicaI
parties with their respective presi-
Dental candidates. But of all the
prominent men. former President
Gomez was the most poular person
ality. politically speaking.
why is he liked and loved by the
people of Cuba? Simply because he
is democratic in his ideas. Because
he treats everybody alike. He re-
ceives and talks to the laborer with
the same courtesy and interest that
he would speak to a king. He has
kind word and a smile for everybody,
be they his friends or enemies. If
you once meet him, you like him: IL
you converse with him, you like him
better.
At the expiration of his presidential
term, unhesitatingly and gladly he
turned over the reins of government
to his successor. Gen. Menocal. fol-
lowing the dictates of his intellect.
without having to consult any one.
And il is not former President
Gomez who is DESTROYS of occupying
the Cuban presidential chair again.
The people of Cuba, his beloved
knowing him as they do.
are the ones that approve everything
he does; it is they, I repeat. who are
urging him 20 become
president once more.
Will he accept the presidency of
tuba again? Not unless ne truthful
" feels that his native land wants
him. needs him. NOT unless he really
believes that his countrymen cannot
get along without his services Then,
md only then. will former President
lose Miguel Gomez become chief ex-
.cutive of the island of Cuba.
JORGE GODOY.
Hen-Minded People.
Editor of the Washington Herald: The