The New York herald., 1921-04-17

Holland and Switzerland. 30 one notes
a blunt LONELINESS and want OF external
polish which oensorious tongues would
call roughness. But there Is less acrid-
ity. less unfairness in controversy, less
OF wounding insinuation than in the
Chambers of France, less commonness
and rudeness sometimes descending to
vulgarity, than in those OF America and
Australia
"One feels In Switzerland the presence,
along with sort OF rustic simplicity.
OF a natural rough hewn dignity, the
product of a long tradition OF national
independence ana individual freedom,
and rooted in sense of equality which
respects itself without disparaging others
The observer finals nothing III The pro
ceedines or externals of the Swiss
Chambers to touch his Imagination. as
the Imagination OF American students
IS touched by features Of tho British
Parliament so familiar to the English
man that he falls to mark them. But
the visitors judgment Is impressed. He
sees solid, thoughtful men. with strong
and cool heads. trying TO do their best
for the country which is the first love
OF their hearts. There is an atmosphere
OF reciprocal respect Representative
do not inveigh against their colleagues
people trust both.
Yelled in ProsaiC Humdrum.
Taking the country as a whole the
tone of public life In the Confederation.
in most of the cantons and In the COM
munes, is healthier than what one finds
in France, Italy or Brazil. or many
States of the American Union and
provinces Of Canada, and not inferior to
that of Britain. OF Australia and New
Zealand, of Holland, Norway and
Chile
The scanty attention which Swiss
institutions have received, and the in
adequate recognition OF their value to
students of political philosophy. seem
largely due to the unexciting and what
may be called the prosaic humdrum
character of Swiss political life. There
are no sensational events to draw the
eyes OF the outer world; no Cabinet
crises, as In England; no brilliant dis
plays OF oratory, as In the French
Chamber: no dramatic surprises. as In
the huge national nominating conven-
tions OF the United States.
"Most readers OF history find their
chief enjoyment In startling events and
striking personal careers, however quiet
their own lives and however pacific
their te1nperS. They are thrilled by
feats OF strategic genius like those OF
Hannibal or Belisarius or Marlborough,
and by political conflicts where defeat
Is suddenly turned into victory by
brilliant oratory or resourceful states
manship. In reading Of these things
few stop to think OF the sufferings
war brings, the bitterness and waste
OF effort that accompany internal strife.
and many dismiss as dull the pages that
record the steady progress Of nation
in civil administration along we'll drawn
lines OF economic progress.
$50 the achievements of modern
Switzerland. just because they do not
appeal to Imagination or emotion, have
been little regarded, though directed
with unusual success to what ought to
be the main aims of government-the
comfort and well being of the indi-
vidual the satisfaction of his desire for
intellectual pleasures. the maintenance
OF peace and kindly relations between
social classes. The virtues OF Swiss
Government. clad in plain gray home
spun, have not caught the worlds eye.
But the homespun keeps out the cold
and has worn we'll"