New-York tribune., 1916-07-23
ALBERT THE MALE BY Walter Libbmann
By Courtesy of "The New Republic" "

afterward seen without the striped necktie
which was its mark.
After graduation Albert entered his fathers
bank and was elected to the right club. From
these two foci Albert gathers all the opinions
he displays.
When everybody at the club cursed Roose-
welt as socialist, Albert cursed him. Now
that everybody at the club admires Roose-
welt, Albert is wondering whether to join the
reinforced infantry division for service in
Mexico
He calls Haldane pro-German and suspects
Mr.. Asquth Of coddling the German prison.
ers in England | tell you this to indicate that
the great war has not found Albert want
ing in imagination. AS he says, Civilization
is at stake. The war has done much for Al
bert's opinions. When it began he spoke Of
democracy as the hope Of the world, and cursed
the docility Of the German Socialists.
As the months dragged on he met number
of EngIshmen and Frenchmen at his bank and
his club. Albert felt little out of it. He
took to hating Josephus Daniels.
Soon stream of expatriated Americans
began to return, telling how America was de-
spised in Europe This worried Albert, and
he began to talk of American honor.
At cotillon and bazaars and at the horse
show he discussed the loss Of American virl-
ity, the love of soft ease, the incorrigible pa
cifsm Of the American workman and farmer.
He felt troubled about America. Then came
Alberts trip to London and Paris. fear that
cannot do it justice, for those two weeks
mark Albert's crystallization as a leader of
thought and action. In London Albert went
out to dinner four times and to a weekend
party, and this experience convinced him that
America cheap place
What America needs is universal service.
Plattsburg for everybody most of the time is
his ideal, and complete philosophy of life it
is. Prepare for war because war is Gods
purge for the degeneracy of peace Prepare
for peace because only the invincible nation
can insure peace. Hard physical work, says
Albert, will educate for citizenship industry
and morals. All perplexities have left Albert,
not very surprising thing, however, when
you remember that he has never had many
perpexities to trouble him.
This is Albert today and with this equip
ment he faces the future. He is going to be
very rich and his power is sure to be very
great. He will be quoted in the newspapers.
He will dine with editors and statesmen.
1t is distressing to think that he and his
kind will have the power to cause antagonism
or friendship with other nations, and that his
stubbornness and blindness may turn the
coming revolution into disaster. have no
great faith in Albert. | think it is the AL
berts who ruled Europe and brought it to
ruin. think it is the Alherts Of Eton- and
Oxford who have compelled England to mud
die in blood, as it is the Alberts of Prussia
who thought blood and iron were the instru-
ments of destiny.
know Albert for what he is, a charming,
well-mannered, unconscious snob, who knows
nothing of men outside his class, an unedu-
Gated, unframed and shut-in person who has
been born to power by the accident of wealth.
You see, don't think with the socialists that
Albert is malevolent, intelligent conspirator
with hard heart. He is not malevolent, and
he is not intelligent