Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-03-18
Huge Problems of Reconstruction
Yet to Be Solved, but
Progress Is Made.
WOUNDS OF WAR ARE HEALING
To Casual Observers Distress May
Seem lncurabIe, but Not So to One
of Long Experience-Signs
of Returning Order.

Vienna-What is the position of
Central Europe? Are conditions so
appalling that there is no hope? Are
the gloomy tales of dark despair
poured increasingly into the eager ears
of travellers. who have an only too
human inclination to hear the worst,
an accurate reflection of the present
state and a dependable forecast of the
future?
These are questions which even the
traveller must ask himself, and they
must occur yet more pointediy to the
mind of the public confused as 1t can
not help being by the conflicting nc
counts OF superficial and haphazard
observers who have some special pref
udice to support. who are willing to
sacrifice homely truth to the making
of smart phrase, or who may be sim
ply too strongly influenced by first i'm
pressions without the background of
extended experience necessary to give
them their comparative value.
Thousands in Want.
First impressions are always vivid
and they may also be accurate. In
so far as hasty glimpses into the life
of Central and Eastern Europe tell
story of insufficient food and clothing,
Of lack of work, of the misery of
homelessness and of the crudities OF
inexperience and ignorant govern
ments. no false ideas are created.
Therefcan he no doubt of the immense
need of hundreds of thousands of
people, hungry and cold through no
fault of their own. willing 10 work II
they have the chance, victims, in short.
of the great CONFUSION which tore
Europe into discordant parts as spring
bursts the smooth. solid ice of rivers
INFO ragged, crunchlng cakes.
Humanitarian considerations and the
general good of the world demand that
these people should be succored. 1t is
ablorrent to civilization that people
In one part of the world should val
low in plenty AT the same moment
that those in another part starve. 1t
is dangerous TO let sore tester when
IL may be cured by prompt and intel
ligent treatment. SO the enlightened
world, in spite of stupid and cynical
criticism. witt help these people and
will aid with special willingness the
children and youth in whom lies the
possibility of higher purpose and nobler
aims than have actuated their elders,
who ate still linked 10 tie cankered
past
Gut 10 the listening world there
seems 80 come from these countries
only an unvarying wall and it wishes
10 know II this is TO be without change
10 the end of time. There is such a
thing as becoming weary in well-do-
ing.
Long, Close Observation.
have had some opportunity 10
make comparisons and note changes
| and l feel that | am in a position to
answer, partly at least. some of the
/ questions prcpounded at the beginning
Of this article, says "A correspondent
OF the New York World. ! first went
into the Central European region two
! years ago only few months after
the armS ice. and | have either re-
sided in on made trips to the various
| countries az intervals ever since.
have talked with travellers who were
seeing conditions for the first time,
! and. l have noted the reactions and
! judgments they have formed. Their
value has depended on the Intelligence
and character ef the observer himself.
The conclusions have run through the
scale from flippant exaggeration by
sensation mongers of non typical in
stances 70 the mature reflections Of