The New York herald., 1920-01-25

~
[Copwight 1920, By the Ncp York Herald
Company-AH Rights Reserved.
PLUTOCRAT stood in the window of
~ his mansion on armistice night watch
1 " ing the parade. 1t November IL.
1915. The plutocrat felt uneasy. Some
thing in the tone of the surgng multitude made
him apprehensive. Yet he had been part OF
the parade himself earlier in the day. But the
demonstration had grown into such huse ana
unexpected proportions that it alarmed MIN.
The whole world seemed pouring through the
streets The parade had become tumult AND
its temper he'd changed from hilarious patriot
ism in the morning to boisterous license at
night. The plutocrat in the morning had re-
joiced with the populace. He was a patriot or
the most pronounced type hundred per cent
American He had favored intensely. He
bought Liberty bonds lavishly He denounced
the slackers mercilessly. He upheld the Presi-
dent stanchly.
Thisn plutocrat could make money; some plu-
tocrats cannot, they only inherit it. This one
had made money all through the war-millions
of money, tons of money, money as he never
supposed money could be made. But he could
also think-that was his shortcoming. Some
putocrats cannot think. II they make money
at all they do not make it because they think:
they make it because they inherited the ma
chinery to make it; or, perhaps, by instinct, as
wolves chase deer. But this plutocrat in way
was a philosopher and he could think. He
could not help but think. Some minds are con-
situted that way. 1t is bad sometimes to think;
it makes one unhappy.
The Parade Deuge.
The parade poured on: on: on; endessly 1t
grew in volume like swelling torrent; it be-
came a deluge. The streets could not hold it. 1t
ran out into yards and down into cearways
and UP to porches.
The plutocrat tagged out with the excite
ment of the day HI ate his lunch at the club,
but had dned with his family in the evening.
lie intended to retire early. 1t was nine o'clock.
but the parade would not cease: resistless and
turbulent il rolled on. An instructive feeling Of
danger possessed the plutocrat. He could not
account for it, He had unconsciously commu-
ncated the unquiet to his family. for his wife
and grown up daughters sat in the back paror
with the lights turned low talking in subdued
tones The plutocrat stood in the window watch
ing the surging masses and he began to reflect.
why am troubled tonight? he soliloquized.
The war is ended. We rejoice. we celebrate,
we parade. shout, we gloat. 1t is great
day mad day. From daylight to midnight
the streets have been jammed with patriots 1t
is the Jubilee. the celebration. the parade
trucks automobiles. milk cans. cowbells. horns.
bands firemen urchins policemen. horses,
drlmks. flags drums. effiges gibbets, Uncle
sans banners Crown Princes. dead Kaisers.
Tonight the riot continues The mob sings.
shouts. yels. groans. misses, cheers. sways.
acthcs moves. stops. moves again. becomes
rcvcrent becomes mad-is mad. Red fire adds
;, lurid look to the rabbe. The motley mass is
uncanny. unreal. Where did it spring from?
Is is a miracle this tremendous outpourinG
What inspired this mad unrestraint? Is it
patriotism alone? Patriotism is assuming fan
tastic shapes. When the mob groans it makes
me shiver. There is something terrifying about
it, It is deadly. 1t is the forerunner of chaos
The madness OF the multitude has assumed
hilarious aspect tonight but that is only An
accident; in an instant it could become malg-
nant. And then what? Then what?-when the
sIuice gates of the law loosened!
All Sorts and Conditions.
But am ruminating: my nerves un-
strung. Here the parade again. The
trucks are loaded-women. negroes and
girls effigies old But the sans-culotte
have no monopoly in this debace. The rich
parade and the well dressed They smile. shake
hands. scurry about rush into clubs, drink
Cocktails look contemptuously at the Bolshe-
WIKI. look wisely at each other as though they
had ended the war for the amusement of the
multitude. They seem conscious. these patri-
clans do that he rabbe do not comprehend
the demonstration and only caper and revel in
imitation Of them. their superiors. I felt that
way this morning.
Farmers and farmers wives stand at the
street corners-awcd. The spectacle stuns their
srod countenances The arsenals have emptied
out their contents. The employees shout and
revc and rejoice-or think they rejoice. They
are jubilant. but they do not clearly understand
why. Their jobs gone. my profits are
but they have caught the conta gion. the mad
ness. I did this morning. and they shout at
their own misfortune. II is great holiday;
that is the principal JOY. that is enough for
the moment
And the cellars. and sewers. and csSspools
have vomited up their spcw-the harlots. tho