New-York tribune., 1920-06-27
WILLIAM McFEE, tho
~ author, IN his uniform
of an assistant engineer

make upon HIM. he devotes eleven
hours each day to his work in the
engine room, after which he settles
down to write. He sets down every
thing in long hand, reserving the
typewriter attached to his desk for
formal business communications
connected with his work on the ship.
After returning from one of his
voyages he sends most Of what he
has written to a stenographer, who
reduces it to type. Some Of it, anc
this includes essays, criticisms sne
verse, he sends to the publishers ii
their original form, but although hi
chirography Is difficult" the pub
fishers, McFee explained, "seen
satisfied with it."
Written at Sea
Much Of his latest book, "Captaii
Macedoine's Daughter" was writer
at sea and in Turkish ports-h
was in transport service for tw,
years during the war-and ono o
the rather startling contentious in
is that in many respects Turkey
as free as, if not freer than, tn
United States or Great Britain.
1T is an amiable but disastrou
illusion on the part of the Wester
nations that they hold a monopol
of justice and truth and the righ
conduct of life" said the engineer
author. ''For that reason / wa
rather pleased, although ! am not
citizen of the United States, but
Englishman, that the American Ser
ate recently refused to accept
mandate over Armenia. Just as 500
as a nation becomes too enthus
astic over its own way of doin
things and seeks to impose its sy
TEN on another people it is in dar
ger of running into trouble. Whai
ever success Great Britain has hs
in governing Egypt and India hs
resulted from the fact that in r.
ligious and social matters it has nc
sought to interfere with the ways
the people.
But in the internal life Of II
people itself Turkey is as free ;
many respects as America. You &
not see so much that is 'verbote,
over there. have never believe
very much in trying to make peop
good by legislation. In Engiar
there is a common saying that yo
cant reform people by act
Parliament.
Nor is there in Turkey as mue
of racial prejudice as you encount.
IN some of the Western nation
Sometimes it would seem that ii
English and the Americans a
lacking in all sense Of fairness
this respect. And very frequent
the most intolerant are the recent
naturalized.
The native born are usual
much more just in their dealin
with foreigners. Not long ago
was compelled to ask for tie a
mlssal of man who was insole
and insubordinate. When tried
get this mans view, so as TO unde
stand why he acted as he did, he I
torted:
The New Convert
"'Oh, you've got the lime juices
idea of hustle. That's the trout
with you
Why, thought you were |
hngllshman yourself ! said in sd
prise, knowing that until recently
least he had been a British subje.
Thank God, nor he exclainne
I'm an American. / got my pape
two days ago.
"There he was. with the i,
scarcely dry on his naturalizati
papers, calling me a lime juicel
smiled McFee. That illustrat
what ] mean. He was the sort
man who says 'Dago' when spea
ing Of an Italian immigrant. a;
who develops into a hater of &c
eigners.' One thing that is esse
tial in nation, and, Of course, ii
Is good advice TO the United Stat
as well, is to curb racial and re
gious prejudice and intolerant
That sort of thing leads nowhere a.
never does any good" b
Something having gone wro
with crank shaft or maybe b
buckle. McFee went off with mu
begrimed oiler to see what the tro
bic was, and the interview endt
The last ] saw Of him he was bu
getting things ready for the ne
sailing, and seemed to have fl
gotten entirely that he was the a
thor Of a best seller and other boo
which had given hin, h;y,, r,t;t