The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-27
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

am afraid we Americans will have t,
 take back seat when it comes to brag
 ging. We held the record for years
 American brag was byword in Europe
 Then came to our shores Max ORell
 the charming French writer and lecturer and heard him say at Louisville: "You
 Americans are always bragging abou 1 what you can do, but the fact is, you set
 to work to do 1t. I just got to thinking along this line and thought I would put
 my American compatriots on notice that
 unless they watch out the Germans will l win the palm for boasting.' Here are a I few samples I have culled to show their line of bragging. I put the Kaiser at the head of the German braggarts: 1 T hope it Germany will be granted, through the harmonious cooperation of princes and peoples, of it's armies and it's citizens, to become in the future as closely united, as powerful, and as authoritative as once the Roman world empire was, and that, just as in the old times they said 'Civis romanus sum- hereafter, at something in the future. they will say. I am German citizen.'"
 This is a very mild sample. It was evil dently uttered on day when he was not at his best.
 The King of Bavaria is no slouch when it comes to throwing bull"
 At the declaration of war Russia fol- lowed France. and then the English also fell upon us. . I am glad of it, and am glad because we can now have a reckoning with our enemies and because now at length we can get direct outlet from the Rhine to the sea-"
 This. was nearly two years ago. dare say if America had cast in her lot at the time of his speaking. he would have been much gladder and told his listeners that it would give Germany the use of the Panama canal for her fleet (unfortu- nately for her it is still bottled up in the Kiel canaD.
 Even Maximllian Harden, the social ist, caught with the obsession of Ger man greatness, wrote: Not as weak w.lled blunderers have we undertaken the fearful risk of this war. We wanted 1t; because we had to wish it and could wish it. May the Teuton devil throttle those winners whose pleas for excuses make us ludicrous in these hours of lofty experience. We do not stand and shall not rlace ourselves, before the court .of Europe. - Germany strikes. If it conquers new realms for it's genius. the priesthood of all the gods will sing songs of praise to the good war. Now strikes the hour for Germany's rising power'
 But for pure unadulterated gall and I take off my hat to young Germany. Just listen to their song ot prowess: War is the noblest and holiest expression of human activity. For us, too, the glad, great hour of battle will strike. Still and deep in the German heart must live the joy of battle and the longing for it. Let us rdicule to the utmost the old women in brooches who fear var and deplore it as cruel and revolting. No war is beautiful. It's au- gust sublimity eleyates the human heart beyond the earthly and the common Tn the cloud palace above sit the heroes Frederick the Great and Butcher and all the men cf aetion-the great En- peror, Moltke. Roon, Bismarck-are there as well, but not the old women | who would take away our joy in war. When here on earth a battle is won by | German arms and the faithful dead as- | cenl to heaven, a Potsdam lance cor | poral will call the guard to the door. | and old Fritz springing from his gol- | den throne, will give the command to | present arms. That is the heaven or | young Germany
 That's all right Just wait until the | imperial eagle of Germany pulls a few | tail feathers out of our democratic bird. | and then he will hear the American eagle | give scream that will make him for get his prouc boasts of valor as he flies To the tall timber far in the rear ot Lle Kaiser'c hen coop at Potsdam.