New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
w 7hat 1t Means Really
w to Have Kultur

The writer warns his readers in fore
word" after deploring the fact that 'few
people have tho courage to come out in
the open and tell the TRUTH" that he is
"ready to state my convictions frankly in
the interest of great cause" One OF
those convictions" is that ito have 'kul-
tur' means to possess deep conscience and
high morale and philosophical conception
Of life" This morsel he throws off in enl-
phasizing the difference between civliza-
tion and "kultur." But Won Frantzius ad-
vertises to his readers that he is going to
take the cover off and display his inmost
convictions, and he does not hesitate to
tell Americans how to obtain 'kultur":
History teaches US that one of the most
successful ways in which to reach a really
high state of culture and its gradual ad-
yancement is by militarism"
With this high faith in "kultur," Won
Frantzius easily reaches the conclusion
that every American and every man who
has the worlds civilization at heart
ought to wish for German victory, for
I would not the defeat of Germany resu!a
in a tremendous setback Tor the worldly
civilization, which would be irreparabloes
1t was not difficult for this good American
to hold such views at the time when he
was writing, for he was still persuaded
that Germany is the United States
truest friend"
The writer does not balk at pronounc-
ing Germany "the most democratic coun-
try in the world" and he quotes in heavy
, fvno Hon otou CLo a.:
| tum, "A liberty that is not German is no
liberty" Another morsel from the same
page: "1n spite Of her civil liberties,
England is further away from democracy
than any other country. Germany, on the
other hand, is the bearer and apostle Of
true democracy"
His rejection OF England even includes
English literature, for "where does Eng
l'sh literature reveal anything great and
highly interesting on the subject of loveY'
The writer spares one his opinion Of
American literature, indeed. but it can
hardly be even so good as the above. for
Of American life he says that "is charac-
terizcd by monotony, is merely business
life; and zone thing that impresses the
Europeans in this country is that the level
Of conversation is surprisingly low"
Yet Won Frantzius is, for all that win
ing to point out the path which would lead
to improvement. He thus performs that
service:
"Why not let US adopt the best from every
country? Let US make America so wonder
fully and happily situated, the ideal that our
forefathers intended it to be. instead Of hay
ing II run on undemocratic and un-American
principles Let it be true Americanism--
Amcricanism. not it is, but as it should
be, with the highest standard of liberty and
freedom, in the German sense of the wsrd.~
At least it is comfort 70 know that we
are wonderfully and happily situated"
The path to improvement is marked out
with sufficient plainness in many pages
devoted to sounding the achievements OF
the Germans in all lines of human en-
deavor. In science, invention, art, litera-
ture-in every field, in short, Germany
leads the world. And yet, unfortunately
for themselves, "the fact remains that tha
Germans are too modest in speaking OF
their merits and achievements" Thev ara
as tumble" as Uriah Heep.