The Washington herald., 1921-05-22
An Illusory Metamorphosis.

III OrlRnaIty is guaranty OF pupHC dttehNoHI
DR.. Wilhelm Stekel Of Vienna, psychoanalyst
on tour ought at this time to be the cynosure
OF American eyes. 49,.
In a dispatch from Chicago he Is quoted as
declaring that in this nation "a reaction against in
dustral concentration obviously is well under way"
and that "in another hundred years we shall see
the last American business man."
Imprmis, it would that the ctzenry at
large owes DR.. Stafel heartfelt thanks for Vocing
sentiment blessedly different from those gener-
ally evoked in distinguished visitors from Europe.
especially OF the dazzling These have habit
OF ceasing to admire anything about the United
States as soon they got away from New York ship
news reporters and special interviews in their pala
tial suites at the Plaza or Ritz. And after having
enjoyed the comforts frequently afforded by our
highly organized transportation and hotel systems
and having returned to Gotham to embark Tor
foreign ports, they chart the bifurcated portion OF
the population complete loss 1t is more than
au fait, it is sernly demanded of leonine ladies
from the Old World that they register hopelessness
when questioned TO the chances our males have
Of achieving social or artistic grace.
"Your women are charming your men are i'm
possible" they perorate before human foghorn
ends their Vale with his "All ashore that's goin
ashore" Has it not familiar ring, this summary
condemnation OF masculine American
So DR.. Stekel whether moved by motives OF
steak and roast metropolis, instead of enduring the
privatons of the Austrian capital, whether speak
ing from the of psychoanalytc deductions is as
kind unbromdic
But is he correct? He says he has found every
wealthy American he has analyzed ashamed OF
wealth. The have the identical neuross
he goes on. They are turning to the arts. The
packing king by day is poet or painter by night;
his daughter is pianist singer on twenty-four-
hour schedule. Granting that these statements are
true wherein is indicated reaction against indus
trial concentration" Wherein the shame OF wealth!
1t seems highly likely that DR.. Stekel, like
thousands of other Europeans, has been badly mis-
led as to what do with our money by observa-
ton or narrative related of some OF our wealthy
tourists In Paris and at Monte Carlo and before
the war in Berlin and Vienna, thy sow or sowed
the wind with green and golden grain, grown and
harvested by other hands; unearned increment from
inherited fortune; riotous dollars well deported Ot
the humble but powerful dollar invested In America
DR.. Steke and Europe In general even now nave
little understanding He has found, apparently
men and women not ashamed of opulence but with
no intention of being submerged by 1t. The dollar
never was held in esteem per sc by our construc-
tive capitalsts and now has no rating Whatever
1t is the accomplishments OF it and its brothers
that are revered, and of late the affairs upon whCh
II has been laid are nearly all worthy, the altars OF
development expansion and elimination OF waste
effort.
With the captain of industry, indulgence in
poetry or painting is a harmless relaxation from the
exhausting exercise of very definite genius IN 'he
executive field. We expect as little that IS
worthy from such artistic endeavors as from IN
crrs;ons on the realm of organization and drec-
ton BY a poet or painter. But the hobby is IN
ocuous. and will not interfere with the production
of aesthetics by the middle and lower classes.
When our big business men indite sonnet by
electric light their gesture is much the same as
that of the British barrister who changes from
frock to dinner coat each evening and with 'he
former dofs his daily cares