Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-18
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
An Interview

COMETHING in his aspect US he leaned
~ over the railing near me drew me on TO
speak to him. ! don't know just how TO
describe it except by saying that he had
an understanding look. He gave me the
impression of q man who had spent his
life in thinking and would understand me,
whatever I might say. f1e looked like the
kind of man to whom one would find
oneself saying wise and thoughtful things.
There are some people, you know, to whom
it is impossible to speak wisdom even If
you should wish to. No spirit of kindly
philosophy speaks out Of their eyes. You
find yourself automatically saying peevish
or futile things that you do not in the
least believe.
The mood and the place were Irresistible
for communion. The sun was warm along
the riverfront and my pipe was trailing
thin whff of blue Vapor out over the gently
fuctuating water, which clucked and
sagged along the Shiny pilings Behind
us the crash and banging of heavy traf1lc
died away into a dreamy undertone in the
mild golden simmer of the noon hour.
TIME old man was apparently lost in
l. revery looking out over the river
toward Camden. He was plainly dressed
| in coat and trousers of some coarse weave
| His shirt, partly unbuttoned under the
great white sweep of his beard, was OF
gray flannel. His boots were those or
man much accustomed to walking. A
| weather stained sombrero was on his head.
Beneath it his thick white hair and
whiskers wavered in the soft breeze. Just
then boy came out from the nearby ferry
| house carrying a big crate OF daffodlls,
perhaps on their way from some Jersey
| farm to an uptown florist. We watched
them shining and trembling across the
street, where he loaded them onto truck
The old gentleman's eyes, which were a
keen gray blue, caught mine as we both
| turned from admiring the flowers.
don't know just why l said it, but they
were the first words that popped into my
head "And then my heart with pleasure
fills and dances with the daffodils,"
| quoted.
He looked at me a little quzzically.
| "You imported those words on ship,
he said. why don't you use some of your
own instead?"
| was considerably taken aback. "Why
1 don't know" hesitated. '"rhey just
came into my head"
! "Well. 7 call that bad luck" he said
"when some one else's words come into 6
mans head instead of words of his own
We LOOKED about him, watching the
IL scene with rich satisfaction. ITS goot
to see all this again." he said. Il haven
loafed around here for going on thirt!
years"
you've been out Of town." asked.
He looked at me with a steady blue ey'
in which there was something of humor ant
something of sadness.
Yes, a long way out. I've just com
back to see how the Great Idea is getting
, along. l thought maybe ] could help.
little"
The Great Jdea?" l queried, puzzled.
, "The value Of the individual" he sale
l The necessity for every human being t
; be able to live, think, act, dream, pray TO
.. himself. Nowadays 1 believe you call
: the League of Nations. It's the same thint
!, | Are men to be free 20 decide their fate 70
themselves or are they to be In the gras
of irresponsible tyrants the hell of wa
, the cruelties of creeds, executive deed
: lust or unjust tho power of personalit
lust or unjust? What are your poets, yoy