Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-21
From Other Viewpoints
No "'sychotoEy" in the Cnsc.
ny ALFRED II. WILLIAMS.

Psychology" is n nice wide c,ossic blvd =
Il hlEhorow word. Because nobody can define
exactly what it means il is in great rcputn in
tue highest circles of thought So we have in
these DAYS quantity OF profound talk o, mo
p'Eih"iosF OF the big spree the American
people nave been on four years ana from
which they begin now to sober up There rc-
any Is no mystery or matter or soul emotion
ahou. H. The orgy was ohcdicnc. IN no ~,
vcrsal animal tcadcncy--thc riuttonv for cood
things to eat and drink and wear and Inc ioys
OF freedom ana free spending. I.ookin. back
NJ IL ana recalling all the conditions wc boy.
nehaVea rather well and come through with
Hurt remarkably slight.
rake livery horse accustomed 10 being tied
IN II stall, FED. rationed and worked nv th.
crock ana precise rules Turn him naked int 10
a clover pa tcii Il field of green corn ur
viii founder himself and ii he gets we'll no
VIII be lucky. That is not Psychology" A
horse has none. 1t is natural grecdincss and
wanton use OF unusual freedom
Soldiers came back from the war and wore
released suddenly from military restraints and
routine which they had known ONLY lon,,
enough 10 hate. not long enough to love as
me Veterans do. Most of Them hu, p,oncy
They were in a peaceful country of nhunInnco
and abundant temptations OF course thcv
Shch' right and LETT az sailors do home from a
IohS voyage II was exactly natural +, nd
like nickcls. "
Me.l who had regulated their habits and
thought by $3 day found themselves getting
ten. Those who had been living on 81 so MAS
were drawing down SIS. or course they snn,,
Easy come easy 60 Is old language and
mas occn the rule from the beginning of
things. %
Men doing business email scales and mar
row margins suddenly had the opportunities
OF world WA: thrown at them. They took
long chances. worked rcmcndously accom-
rNshed tremendous fcats of production and
"ehVcr!. II the war had Eono wrong they
WonLd nave been naupcrs, probably pursued OK
lits. Thcy stakcd everything on victory ana
won profits beyond their most excited dreams
Ihey were like the man who runs (, white chin
to $4,000 at a roulette table. Nothing ia good
enough for him. Dollars looked like pennies
TO them They wasted and lavishcd and 0unp
away money and tho lesser folk who gathered
II IN wasted and lavishcd In their turns
We went pretty swift gait. Like the horse
already nlicd ana eating more clover than is
good for him because no can reach IT, All ~
us howlcd for more. Tho soldier called for
bonus. The workman with wages trcblcd
didn't care whether he worked or not struck
and demanded further advances because no
thought ne could get them. Recipients OF vast
war profits went on prof teering In time Of
peace. 1t was grab and throw away ali around
We arc getting little sick and not feeling
quite so wei. thank you. That Is natural n nd
inevitable. too. But things have STONED
whirlinE around and fairly stoady on
our feet. our sense of proportion is returning
even reversing. Nckels begin to look like
dollars to some or We are getting things
straight. More than 20o00,0O0 OF Ms have some
money in bank yet and some 1 . 000. 600 Of us
have hold our Liberty bonds Considering tho
temptations and opportunities--such as no peo.