The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-06-06
Academy Column
OUR CUBAN FRIEND DTsCoURsEs

| OUR CUBAN FRIEND DISCOonSbS
The following theme has been
selected as the best submitted in
third year English ON the assigned
tonic. "A Twentieth Century Spec
tator." The purpose OF the work IL
to initiate the manner OF the Sir
Roger de Covcrlcy Papers which are
being studied in the course. G.. G. CT
Mr.. Spectator: Having read some
of your papers and knowing that
YOU are interested in all odd, queer
and strange characters, have de-
cidcd 10 draw for you a sketch of n
certain individual whom ! know.
At first, IL may seem inconceivabie
to you that such a specimen exists;
but think, we are now living in the
twentieth century - the century OF
wonders, monstrosities, and new
ideas. Oh. Mr.. Spectator, you have
missed a good chance for writing
excellent papers by not living at
the present age. This is an age in
which each one of us thinks he has
system of philosophy and thought
|oi his own -- no plagiarism, you
understand. II is our fortune, how
ever that each one. being proud OF
his own ideas, will not follow the
other fellows. but adopts those COM
mon principles which we have got
ten a legacy OF the ages, so We
have struck a happy means by
which we can enjoy the ilattery of
'our thoughts without injury to our
.nrighbor.
! | imagine YOU would be interested
'ia knowing one of these cousins of
YOURS. Mr.. EmpeddOclcs Socraiall, so
1 will take the time 90 introduce
him o. Won. / will begin, as you
.unru did. hy describing his personal
appearance. lie Is short Of fair
lrua, and piercing eyes. quick OF
motion and rather sensitive. He
could never have made a cOmpan-
ION 81 any Of the coffee houses for
he docs not drink any st,mulants
whatever. This fact renders him
rather un>ocial for, in order not to
'di-appoint his friends by refusing
10 indulge IN a glass Of Jolly wine,
ne keeps himself alool. This, in
turn. renders him speculative.
lie i regarded as the most popu-
lar philosopher in his vicinity. and
is different from his colleagues in
that he does not care al captandum
lNulgus. though he has been success
full in winning some proselytes
without seeking them. You can see
him strolling away from all inhab-
tied regions about sunset utterlng
words like these: the rights OF peo-
pie" the principles Of humanity
"the world" Poor fellow He
thinks he is called upon to get us
J out Of this enlargement into which
we have gone al arbltrium. He
is worrying over the present world
situation. while his friends are en-
joying three meals day, place to
sleep, and lots of fun in the U. s.
army.
The other day I overlook him go
ing out on his usual stroll. After q
moments hesitation | spoke TO him
and engaged with him in a CONVEX
sation, in the course of which, as
tried TO show him the fallacy Of uni
yersal peace, he said: IF | should
ever be convinced that my doctrine
of universal peace, the only hope OF
A. the world is futile, | should want to
cease To exist and pass TO the un-
known. We live non nobis solum,
but for the world, and no longer is
it our duty to pledge our allegiance
to our flag, so much as to maintain
the principles OF humanity and the
rights Of mankind. We no longer
owe our duty TO our nation, IL this
nation does not abide by those larg-
or and dearer principles Of human
brotherhood. When every citizen
OF every country realizes this, wars
will be no more"
"Mr. Socrafall is a queer man.
Everybody says. lie spends so much
time in meditation and in producing
so many curious ideas that the
doctors think his brains are drying
up. Poor mortall Insignificant as
he is and yet trying to stop the
natural courses of the destinies Of
man ! But, ah How can we deter
mine whether he is right or not
when each one thinks differently |
MtUttal TapaouA