Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-17

DAVID EDSTROM.
Former Ottumwan who has risen to
international fame as a sculpt u.
tant move without consulting the wo-
men of his family. France is family,
all her troubles and all her joys, center
there. Her men as we'll as her women
are first of all brought for marriage
to be husband and wife, fathers and
mothers.
Italians Love Life.
The Italian is materialist, a sun
loving, life loving child of nature. The
strength of great Italians has come
through their passions, their love Of
life more than through intellectual &C.
tivities. The Medecis, the Cecare Bor-
ed In modernized form in modern
Italy The private life of Vitorio
Emanuelle, the creator of modern
Italy can not be discussed in good So
ciety. No place in the world is life so
charming, so free or so happy as in
Italy. There is natural simplicity
and appreciation of the blessings of
life that enfolds this whole country in
song and joy. Everybody smiles,
everybody is happy in Italy. The pol
itical darlings Of Italy are the men
who understand how to appeal to the
people through their sensuous in
stincts.
The northern italian, the Genoese
Piedmontese and Veneziano differ how
ever in this respect. Here you find
practical traits, an astute business
sense equal to any in the world, also
the peasant of the Cancentino valley,
north of Florence are an austere
people different from the Italians
south of Florence. 1t was from the
Casentino that Michael Angelo came.
1t is to my mind the blending of the
north and the south in the most glori-
GUS country in the world that has
given Italy the privileges and honors
to bring forth many Of the greatest
geniuses of history. OF modern people,
no nation has created such magnif1-
cent constellation Of stars Of the first
magnitude in the heavens of science,
art and literature as has Italy. Italy
has, truly been darling of the gods,
whatever her present and future may
be.
Country Of Promise.
Holy Russia is the promise of the
future. No country in the world is as
corrupt, contains so many unmention-
able horrors as Russia and yet Russia
is the promised land OF the future
When we say holy Russia, 1 think Of
the horrors of Siberia, Of poor Finland
and Poland. I've had dear friends Of
irh ~, o%o
who have been murdered long before
this war, right in pursuance of modest,
noble work, doctors, scientists and
humanitarians, yet in spite of all this
holy Russia does exist, the Russia that
some day will give the world a great
new civilization. The ideal Of the Rus
sian people is a mixture of oriental
and western ideals
It is here where the east and the
west meet, oriental fatalism and wes-
tern altruism. To know the soul Of
Russia l would advise the reading Of
Dead Souls by Gogal, the father Of
Russian literature. Russia Is pre-
eminently religious. Just as France
becomes the dupe Of adventurers be-
cause of her love Of the family, so Rus
STA becomes the slave of the wicked,
the selfish and the cunning, because Of
her righteousness, which has not yet
evolved from emotionalism. I cannot
go into the many strange religious
sects of Russia nor the ignorance Of
her priests, but wish only to say Rus.
STA must be studied from her religious
side to be understood.
Germans Are United.
Germany is company. Germany is
an organization, a mighty altruistic
creation, built up through the united
efforts by a people who have been
whipped into shape not by their rulers
but by their neighbors and enemies.
Germany Is striking example of what
human beings can accomplish if neces-
sity forces them to be at peace with
one another. Efficiency could be writ
ten with words of fame on the banners
of Germany.
It is a country that has evolved al
most like a symphony, nation has
crystallized, according to the laws of
harmony or contrapoint. Before the
war broke out it was not only their
army that was efficient, but their hos
pitfalls, the home Of the laboring men,
their banks, systems Of credit, and in
formation. No human being, NOTHING
is born in Germany that has not a
place. a duty, junction in the con-
struction Of the whole.
A Summary Of All.
In England we find the proud ideal
of power, the great individuals, who
with united power uphold the glory of
old England, but where the common
people mean nothing, his place is to
worship England and the great men
and achievements of England and be
happy and grateful to be but humble