The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-04-11
The
MAN
With a
COUNTRY

OOOlV
man. For some Of Faiitown's citizens
could have acquainted Corwin with
Incidents which reflected very little
credit on Miller's business instincts
and ability. Those persons might also
have called Corwin's attention to NIL.
ler's egotism. But as several Of those
persons who might have given Cor.
win that Information we're members
OF the board Of directors Of the Mer.
chants Bank, they did not think II
wise to disseminate the burden Of
their convictions. For Miller certainly
did attract depositors.
For several seconds following Cor.
wins entrance. Miller watched him
with genial smile.
We'll" said Corwin; at is war"
Miller ceased smiling and settled
back into his chair. He wrinkled his
forehead. squinted his eyes and pursed
his lips. II he struck knotted fist
against the lips he might have re.
sembled Robins famous thinker.
He would have presented gross car.
feature, a positive libel upon the mas.
ter's creation, but 1t would have been
the nearest counterfeit Of a thinking
posture Miller could have assumed.
But Miller's wrinkled .brows and
thoughtful eyes had impressed many
OF Falltown's citizens. They i'm.
pressed Corwin; and when Miller
turned and fixed Corwin with a pene.
trating gaze. granting HIM, through
his pursed lips, chill came over the
young mans enthusiasm.
speaking in strictly confidential
manner, Corwin," said Miller, heavily;
Il think it is mistake-a monstrous
blunder. The President is catering to
the lingo element in this country.
Why in thunder do We want to inter.
fere in the affairs Of Europe. eh?"
THE Kaisers dream Of World"
"Bosh!" laughed Miller, heartily;
"buncombe! You've been listening to
the lingo orators. Let Europe work
out its own salvation. Why should
we squander our resources and
slaughter the youth OF our land to pull
England's chestnuts out Of the fire."
"The Lusitania-" began Corwin.
"Regrettable, but mere incident of
war;" declared Miller. Those things
will happen. Germany must pay for
that, Of course-and will. no doubt
She has already sent her regrets.
However, that incident Of itself does
not provide basis for war. This coun.
try Is becoming too ideahstio!"
Corwin wondered II what Miller said
we're true. Corwin, like millions of
his fellow Americans, had been con.
tent to trust the President His own
half-formed and hazy opinions had not
seemed to get him anywhere. He was
not statesman, diplomatist or a
politician; and he had no knowledge
Of the inner workings Of the machinery
of government.
Miller's patronizing smile nettled
him-made him feel insignificant, L..
norant. Miller's position, bringing him
into contact with men Of large affairs,
undoubtedly gave him an opportunity
to learn things that the average citi-
zen did not even dream Of.
He saw tolerant CLEAN in Miller's
eyes-it was as though Miller was
thinking that Corwin could not be ex.
pected to have definite opinions upon
so abstruse a subject Corwin even
saw CLINT Of pity in the big mans
eyes-a fatherly, benignant. humor.
Gus pity.
Corwin desired Miller's good opin.
ion, and he OWNED that to persist in
disareeing with the man would be
nonsensical. And perhaps the coun.
try was becoming too idealistic. Ger.
tainly the country should not be
plunged into the appalling catastrophe
Of war on foreign soil for merely sen.
timental reasons.
Corwin was convinced that he had
yielded too completely to the spell
of patriotism which had held him in
its clutch few minutes before enter.
ing Millers once. He knew that
really big men never permitted their
enthusiasm to rule them-stern re-
preston. dignity and much deibera-
ton were the mental weapons with
which they fought the betraying ebul-
lient emotions. They did not permit
the world to know their thoughts.
Miller, Corwin was convinced, had
signally honored him by taking him
into his confidence. and he was con.
scious Of a certain shame as he ST.
lently watched the big man
Miller observed the collapse OF Cor.
wins structure Of incipient enthusi.
asm, and his smile grew bland and
condescending.
TO be sure he went on: we shall
all be called upon to make sacrifices
If Germany accepts our challenge.
We shall have to do things we have
never done before, and we shall have
to face unheard-of conditions-abnor.
NAL and startling. We shall have to
raise money-billions, And Of course
we shall all do what we can. This
bank. / presume, win have to bear its
share Of the burden And We shall
bear II cheerfnily. And I do not want
to be understood as opposing The var;
I am merely not overly eufhnsaastic
about u Bm am tsg1ns you tbs IN
strictest confidence, you know
When Corvin emerged from the
bank building q few minutes later
after concluding his business with
Miller-he felt that bis glowing pho
lures Of few minutes before had been
daubed with too much color. Look