Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-10

hollands Jean -Christophe.
Fur countless generations sculptors
roproscntcd the human body accord
ms To tho teachings OF the ancient
Grocks-Who strived more for beauty
than Tor truth. Then came Rodin, who
acuipcd the body as il is-sometimes
luvcly. more often crooked and ter
rihlc. when accused of being an icon
oclast in art. he responded:
when an artist Tor the purpose
~ cmbeliishinE nature adds green
e. the sprinEtime, rose - tho
dawn. rcd tO young lips. he Gre
atcs uylinesss because he lies. When
hr softens the grimace Of pain,
thc habhincss II old age the hid
sousness ~ the perverse. when
NJ arranges nature. when he wells
her. disEuiscS her. when he soft
ens her IN order % please an is
norant public. he creates ugli-
moss because he is afraid ~ the
tru,s.
Tho field of art IS not the only one
where there IS "a little truth and
many lies" IN the realm of politics
truth IS tho last quality which is
found. And especially is Tins 50 under
nur furin az government. No democ-
ra,y nosers without two great forces
shooting ~ in the body polite, On
ono hand W. have the dcmagogue
pleading the case Of predatory plu-
tacracy. On the other. the demagogue
representing predatory poverty
Neither paints his side truthfully;
each lies 20 the best OF his ability. II
thcn remains for the few statesmen.
with passion for truth. % keep a
steady hand on the tilier. and 20 pilot
IN ship between soylla and Charyb-
dE
These two forces are indigenous
10 an strata q politics they sit under
thc dome of the nations capitol within
the halls of a states Legislature, and
even IN a city's Council. When ap-
po..ring before the people they war,
whom among themselves they some
times combine u their mutual ad
vantage. forgetting factional lines.
when these forces decide 70 consum-
mate a deal they canouhage it in
the most lovely terma No Greek
sculptor ever misrepresented the hu-
man body in marble as they
distort the truth to the public. They
make the trade as beautiful as a Tur-
ner sunset. which never was on land
ar sea" All the agencies which psy-
ehology demonstrates can influence
the thoughts Of the public are brought
IA bear on the question. The word
patriotism. that most potent Of toe
sins. Is fiung 10 the populace. man
II "a do a certain thing because ne IS
patriotic. because he desires to serve,
say his commonwealth instead of the
Fcgeral government. His friends
rally around him. Because ne is low
able and charitable and represented
in the amen pew on Sunday he is
called blessed. and men OF irreproach-
able reputation. for friendships sake
give their sanction TO his actions.
Thus an act which the philosopher
in his study. or the clear thinking
business man in his Office would never
condone. is excused by the unknow-
inr MASSES because they have been
led 20 believe that II is patriotic.
or because a man of unblemished
reputation is to achieve his life's de-
sire. But pray, when did personal am
biton become nobler aim than true
service 70 the people who commits
stoned such service?
Sometimes these forces 'do not
achieve their ends. II may be that
a statesman. outraged at what is be-
ing perpertated, arises in his wrath
and paints the thing as he sees it,"
showing truth. not in camoufiaged
beauty. but IN all its hideousness. or
perhaps IL may be newspaper which
plerces the ven. and exposes the forces
operating behind. Once the public
knows all the facts. opinion Is aroused
90 fever heat. Foolish indeed is that
man who would ignore such an angry
protcstation. He may be entirely in
nocent OF violating Willingly even
that great moral law which is above
the io.. 4 law. He may be pure Of
heart, but so hacking in perspicaciy