The sun., 1916-01-09
American ideals and Realities.

BY way of supplement to his own
ideas about American Ideals Double
day. Page and Company CLAYTON
SEpGwIcK COOPER reports a symposium
in which 100 men were asked what
they believed TO be the leading ideals
of the men with whom they asso-
ciated. The Governor of an uniden-
titled Eastern state gave first place
to personal code In public service"
followed by education for democracy,
and "a rumless nation"
The Governor is outdone, at least
In respect of resonant phraseoloGy, by
n middle Western Mayor whose reply
refuses to he clipped in quotation.
He names first, IAN institutional ex-
preston OF the humanitarian phlloso-
ply which is distinctive OF American
thought within the last ten years" ::
second "some solution Of the problem
presented by the larger leisure which
Industrial development has brought.
with the feeling that upon the use
which We learn to make of this leisure
Will depend the soundness and sweet
ness Of the development Of our ma
tional life" and third. 'the creation
Of national philosophy which will
have the will 10 justice as a substitute
for the will power which has been
tried and led US apparently 10 dis
aster"
The Governor and the Mayor seem
rather idealistic and subjective than
exact reporters, and a far coast col
loGc president and the head Of n New
York bank are not much more salts
| factory. The collegian says: ITO leave
| things better than one found them /;
| 10 alleviate human distress; to protect
the weak, to give each his chance
/ There is less altruism and more GUS
sedness Of human nature in the report
Of California undergraduate, who
says that college seniors have in mind
| first. achievement in the line in when
| they have specialized. second. "fnan-
! Cial success which will make them
socially and economically Independent
and third. the establishment of true
loyal American homes" II is not 10
be supposed, because the students am
bitions are concrete and practical, that
they are devoid of the idealistic ele.
ment: but the suppression of il magni-
ies the likelihood of respectable
achievement. and not in the materia
measure alone.
\ magazine editor says: "Our ideals
are honesty and integrity. intellectual
achievement. beauty in art, domestic
happiness, service To ones fellows, ant
confidence in the great mission Of ON
democracy" \ somewhat metaphys!'
cal real estate man thinks most mer
oc America to-day would rather h'
thought good than clever. and "A New
Work. clergyman thinks composite
photograph of the men he meets woult
show as prevailing ideals self reliance
Quick action. big results everythins
"praciral" \ physician boldly name
A, the ideal Of practitioners Of his pro
lesslon something little short Of idea
l,erfection." with the merCenary spir
fast disappearing.
\ librarian in New England uni
ycrsity writes that the professor
whom he meets are chiefly occupie'
with their daily work, with providinj
tor their families and keeping II
with their class social standards" Al
engineer thinks money M king is over
estimated hy foreigners as an Amerl
can ideal and that fondness for tray.
expresses the survival of the Ideal tina
animated our pioneers. The hna
, master of a boys school secs. under
living the desire for wealth. an idealis
itic purpose to use il in Service to IN
world" \ socialist editor puts adven
turc first. then revolt against "estal
lished forms of coercion" and person.
, achievement third. \ well know
lauthor and traveller" gives "a reall
knlghtly attitude toward women"
high place in his list
\ New York State farmer reporte
his own ideals as follows: First. edit
. cation for his son and daughter, Il
"ChAncc | didn't have: then II
= respect of the community, consciot
=, tiousness in his work, home fr,
from debt and enough money I,
myself and wife To live ON when "
. can't work no more"
\ SIMILAR symposium ON 'the chi
n points of weakness in our conten
II. porary American life" resulted in
, votes for mnterialism, 20 for superficial
a ity, Ii for was,cfun"ss. II for sci
q Indulgence and compluccnce, II {,
p lack of perspective, l3 for lack Of pul
= lie responsibility, . for breaking mp
n homo life, and Il scattering vote {,
a lawlessncss, intcinpcrancc. irrcspoI
= sihle journalism 90 votes). "organiz