The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-26
GREAT WORLD THOUGHTS
OF EPH SMALL.
Why Does Novelist Understand
the Freedom Of the Seas When
IT'S q Puzzle 10 an AdmiraIf

sauntering out Of diInly lighted saloon
on Hudson avenue.
You're going home early" said. He
hooked back ruefully at the little cafe.
The period Of mournins begun al
ready" he remarked "John Barleycorn
was a merry old soul In his prime, but
they amt much left Of him now. An
hate to think of the fun'rel crowd he
won't look material to nobody"
"Its hard for an old dog to learn
new tricks" said /. but you've got to
come to II. Dph. You've got to realize
we're living in new srn- Times have
changed. Look about you and observe
tho old landmarks passing. As a peo-
pie we Americans have a great deal to
learn We have been insular and self
ish. But under the leadership OF our
distinguished President we are now go
ing to play a worthy part in the worlds
affairs. Animated by the spirit Of ser
vice and love OF humanity. we shall be
the dominating influence in making the
world better place to live tn
Bph looked at me critically for a mo-
ment and then slowly winked his left eye.
Let's have another" he said, "and
| II ye don't mind me sayin' 80, I'd advise
ye to cut out the hard stan; It don't
seem TO agree with ye.'
have made It n point never to take
offence at Eph's criticisms. Indeed, It
would be quite useless to protest As
he remarked to me one day last week:
This is a free country an everybody
but Democrats has a right TO express
his opeenions"
Inside the cafe we sat down at a
little table in the back of the room.
"Eph." I said after our highballs had
been placed before us. I've been think
ing good deal lately Of the proposed
, League of Nations and I'm bound to
admit 1 see many advantages in IT,"
| $50 do t. replied Eph, slowly stir
ring the contents OF his glass but" he
oueried in his whimsical drawl do ye
see any advantages in it for America"
| Perhaps" he FASTENED TO add. 81 ought
to beg your pardon for askin' sech a
selfish question
mot at ALL answered imperturba-
bly,. I'm speaking as an American"
| "An' do ye feel safe in doin' so?" he
asked mockingly. kin ye AFFORD to take
the risk OF bein' arrested as an enemy
| OF mankind?'
BE serious" urged. WHATS the
use of talking nonsense? II seems to
me that the two subjects of greatest
interest to civilized people everywhere
IN the world to-day are a League of Ma
tons and freedom OF the seas
Il guess ye'ro right" he replied
thoughtfully. people allus seem to take
a great interest in anything that mysti-
fies 'em. Pus'nally 1 rec'lect the Cardiff
Giant an the Wild Man from Borneo.
Il notice" he continued after pause.
that the only people in England that
knows what freedom OF the seas means
is novelists Leastways they amt afraid
to speak up. When a feller's been writ
in fiction all his life We amt a-goln'
to stump him by askin' him what free
dom OF the seas means The only class
that don't seem TO know nuthln' about
1t is the navy, specially admiraLs and
sech like"
Speaking for myself I am more in
terested in a League OF Nations than in
freedom gf the seas" interrupted. fear
ing he might press me 10 details on my
conception Of the latter theme; for, al
though have always found it splritu-
ally uplifting to espouse broad and be
refcent theories, ] have sometimes found
t difficult to discuss them intelligently
with practical men.
THE desire of the nations for an in
tcrnational league" l continued, lis a
spontaneous recognition OF the truth that
mankind should not exist as a mere
collection OF heterogeneous tribes, but
rather as one large family"
"Speakin' of the desire of the nations.
replied Eph. producing his cut. plug from
his hip pocket. Il don't jest rec'lect Of
hearin' TO scch desire from the people
of Brazil, uor Argentine. ucr Mexico
ner Central America. ner Spain. rer
China. uer any other country that a!n't
!, been in this ere war. The nations that
ycarn most for a League of Nations to
keep the peace is them that is jest now
| so impoverished in man power an wealth
that they amt in no condition to scraI
among themselves ner with nobody else
God knows don't blame EN-. But the
United States amt in no sech sitooa-
: ton. not by a helova sight. She don
need no League of Nations no more thar
need a third ear"
perhaps not" said /, but you've JUS
admitted that mary other nations do
: Why don't YOU look at the question il
a broad light? DO we not owe a duty
70 the rest Of the world? You've otter
. expire Ssed "A warm admiration for Lloyt
, George. Now he, together with every
other English statesman OF note. favor.
n League of Nations in the interests o
permanent peace
THph drained his glass to the last drop
ITO good old England" he said, shak
ing his head solemnly.
"Dyc know" he asked with a toucl
> of sadness and envy in his voice. Nv,
often wished ] was an EnElishman
There's a country that any man coul,
be proud TO live for and die for, an i
ye think I'm gittin' sentimental in M
; old age we've got another thought com
} in. England never loses her head He
sons look after her interests fust, las
an all the time she knows men she
fit to rule bekus she don't never lot he
: uplifters an dreamcTs git mixed up II
runnin' the government. She knows tn
value of her poets an psychologists an
J. the guys that call themselves friend
l Of humanity. an jest now she's produc
7 in more than her share OF 'cm, but sh
! Keeps 'om in private life, where they cal
g sing an guess an uplift to their hearts
content without intcrferin' with thing
they want never intended TO know nuth
s empire she uses practical men wit