The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-05

direct. lust as we are. In America,
when an employer needs an extra
youth for his staff, he puts q eign IN
the front window which reads: boy
Wanted" On the Strand. in London,
saw a typical English window sign
which read: 1.-THE services of q re-
spectacle boy ere desired" A Scotch
merchant would say: boy Wanted"
Courtesy and a pleasant form OF
expression are thoroughly character
istic of the English people. Amer1-
cans and Scots are likely as courteous
and considerate at heart, but are far
more disposed to name a spade
spade, and be done with It.
Scotland Is known for the pract-
cal, hard-working qualities Of the peo-
pie. They are democratic in taste and
prefer their religion without frills.
They take facts without sugar-coat-
ing. and they like to get at the root
OF matters in their reasoning. Al
though America was at the beginning
an English colony, 1t must be appar-
ent that our country has very pro-
nounced Scotch strain, due no doubt,
to the intermixture Of many thousands
of Scottish settlers among the pio-
neers Of New England, Pennsylvania,
New York, Virginia and the Carolinas
long before the Revolutionary war.
Our stern way Of taking ourselves
,, to task and picking ourselves to pieces
for the flaws in our material character
and conduct Is a Scotch trait. AL
though President Wilson owes his an.
tecedents on both sides of the house
to Scotland, there is a greater ten
dency in Scotland than in England to
find fault with him for not bringing
the United States into the war earlier.
The English people never tell an
American visitor that they are dis
satisfied on this score. They say:
"You came in, and you helped us beat
the Hun, and we are grateful" But
there they stop. But your average
the thing out with you, and go to the
bottom Of the matter. "Why did you
not come in after the Lusitania out
rage?" is only the first of a series of
questions. When told that President
Wilson felt that he had to wait until
congress and the people were ready to
20 to war, they suggest that the pres
ident, by reasoning and persuasion,
might have brought the nation around
sooner.
Theodore Roosevelt appealed strong
ly to the Scottish mind. His direct,
fortnight, blunt way Of putting things
and doing things was exactly to their
taste. President Wilson is greatly ad
mired, too, for his ability at calm, close
reasoning, and on account of his stand
for democracy and international fair
play. Scotland is proud of him, but
will not waive its right to subject him
to analysis.
All this is by way of long preamble
to the account of an interview with
the Rev. John A. Hutton of Kelvin
side, one of Glasgow's best-known and
best-liked Presbyterian ministers, and
mans man in every sense OF the
term. When I saw him, he had just
returned from stay in France among
American soldiers, to whom he had
gone in the interests of a better under
standing between the United States
and Britain. DR.. Hutton has often
preached in leading churches in New
York, and knows America and Amer
| leans very we'll. He has been asked
to visit the United States during the
coming summer, and his decision will
| rest upon the return of soldier son
! from Palestine, whom he is anxious to
see.
"The American soldiers are splen-
did fellows" DR.. Hutton said. zone OF
| the best things about them Is their
readiness to give credit to France and
Great Britain for the heavy load they
had to bear during the early years of
| the war.
1.-THE welcome that was given me on
my speaking tour was very grateful
| to me. I think Americans and Scots
men understand each other better than
Americans and Englishmen, and SO it
was easier for me to tell your men
about the English people than it would
have been for an Englishman.
Whenever you are in trouble
would tell your soldiers, do not hest
tate to go to an Englishman for help.
He may seem reserved to you, but his
heart is right. He will do anything
he can for you, without hesitation or
reservation. A Scotsman might stop
| to ask himself whether it would be
| prudent to help this stranger, but the
Englishman would respond without
taking thought.
| "'Honor and craftsmanship are two
cardinal principles with the English
man. When he gives his word to do
anything, he will perform his part, at
no matter what loss to him."
| This reference to English character
reminded me of story told me of a
Tommy by an American captain who
had seen service in France. The Tom
my was passing house in a ruined
French village just abandoned by Ger
mans, when he heard kitten mewing
in distress. He entered the house and
found the kitten fastened to the wall,
with a nail driven through one of it's
paws. The Tommy Immediately pulled
out the nail to relieve the little animal,
and the house was Immediately blown
to pieces. Counting upon the instinc-
tive humanity and kindness of heart
of the English, the bestial Hun had
laid a mine in the house and crucified
the kitten to form trap.
| Il was very much pleased" contin-
ued D. Hutton, to observe the good
feeling and comradeship between your
officers and men and ours. All we
need to insure good relations for all