Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-10-30

FOLLOWING along with the wasted
generation" idea, nickname ap.
piled fondly by Owen Johnson to
the rising young sons who refuse to rise,
reveals several other writer's who are not
so willing to fall in with Mr.. Johnson's
mood concerning current society. There
are those who hesitate to go on record as
believing that the world is headed for the
"bow-wows." There are even those who
persist in the optimistic belief that the
world is doing very nicely, all things con-
sidered.
In an interview granted to THE New
York HERALD recently Mr.. johnson charged
that the sons of successful men in America
were failing to take advantage of their
opportunities in not assuming their re-
sponsibilities. He said that the old Amer.
lean strain was gradually losing its heri-
tage and yielding before another that had
not been long in this country
Mr.. Johnson has made this waste of
generation the theme Of his latest novel,
"The Wasted Generation" He feels that
the colleges are partly to blame In falling
to inspire men to leadership, and that a
Characteristic lack of family solidarity in
American life is a contributory cause.
At any rate, he feels that we are facing
tremendous problem to-day, one that
should almost arouse the instinct of self
preservation.
Several Have Other Views
And Express Them Freely
On the other hand, Rex Beach, popular
author and playwright, takes more
cheerful view of affairs. He believes that
things are running along rather smoothly,
strictly according to specifications and
nature.
Alexander Black, author Of "The Great
Desire" and 1.-THE Seventh Angel" blends
his criticism with sympathetic apprecia-
ton that most of the giants" have lived
in the past.
ut is needless to Indicate" said Mr..
Black in the September Century, that art
has not always been dying, but that in
each season it has just died, leaving gray
waste behind it," <e
DR.. David Orr Edison, physician and
psycho-analyst, author of Getting What
We Want" finds himself too busy con-
forming with psychological phenomena to
rebel against present conditions. He con-
fesses that his mind is more investigative
than rebellious. He prefers to utilize facts
rather than to protest against them.
Although the returns could hardly be
called complete as yet it begins to appear
as IL Owen Johnson had submitted NIL
nority report, at least as far as circles
strictly literary are concerned.
when a man generalizes on any subject
he lays himself open to contradiction"
said Rex Beach, when routed out of the
study of his hilltop home at Ardsley and
invited to comment on the generation that
is wasting" its opportunities.
For every son of a successful man who
has failed to carry on you could probably
cite another son who has carried on splen-
didly, in some instances surprising the
fathers achievements. Take John d.
Rockefeller, Jr. He is carrying on not
only the commercial activities of his father
but also the moral and philanthropic work.
Look at young Morgan.
"They don't get the same amount OF
publicity that their fathers did. Their
accomplishments are not considered SO re-
markable They aren't in the spotlight.
We are blinded by the spotlight that has
been turned on their fathers.
81 believe that if you went through the