Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-20

on my volumes Of Shaw aud Wilde. OF
course, that doesn't mean thing.)
"Old Timer" writes: M. s. j.
must feel greatly relieved now that he
has told you exactly how plcbeian he
thinks all the contributors to your col.
umn are. Undoubtedly to person OF
his great intelligence and vast knowl-
edge, we must seem most common,
vulgar and uninteresting.
HE Is undoubtedly we'll educated
and well-read as witness his references
to Shaw and Wilde. ] don't expect
I would have. How could he when
like to read such mediocre things as
are written by ordinary folks like Ring
Lardner. Hugh Wiley and George Ade?
No, ! can never hope to travel in the
same class as NJ. 8. J.
II think he is victim Of the disease
commonly known as self satisfaction.
than which there is no more unpleasant
thing under the high heaven.
HE speaks Of the element worth
while: he doesn't know what it means.
He is too busy sitting at home glorying
In his own satisfied state.
He will never get one half the thrill
out Of life that you have deserved by
Bettllk cuJ anu TliAlS Win tHe COluluOp
'dubs. That is how one gains a real,
true insight into other peoples views.
~ frankly admire you for the nice.
sensible reply you made to this super.
being
'It's been a disappointment to me
all my life that haven't belonged to
the sex that could get out and hit the
trail with all the ordinary 'dubs' land
even bums) ] could meet; that is where
you get q real heart throb and thrill
occasionally. think that II people
would step out Of their own class once
in while and see what is going on
around them. they might outgrow some
Of the narrow minded views that seem
to surround NJ: 8. J.
m glad you feel rewarded for your
work when you get nice letters praising
your column. After ALL the ordinary
class must have some one to cater to
them. and ! am glad you are sincere
enough to say you like the job.
"If NJ. s. ]. doesn't like our liz
OIL colyum, all ] can say 70 him is
don't read It and don't write again.
We won't miss you.
fOnly orr correction. "Old Timer"
My reward isn't in the letters saying
nice" things about me. It's in those
that tell me I have helped. I'd rather
have one paragraph saying. You ve
made me enjoy things more than
did before" than column Of nice bou.
quets.
And 7 think the solution of this whole
controversy is contained in one little
word that you and everybody else uses
so freely-"class." why class?
Once we realize the value Of everybody
else's work In the world. we won't harp
so much on class" The iceman does
a tremendously important job; so does
the hod- carrier and the charwoman and
the slavey in the kitchen and the cook
and the parlor maid. They are all the
little cogs and gears and cotter- pins
and bolts that make 1t possible for this
great machine Of life to function and we
need every one Of EN-. II the cotter.
pin cant be used as piston ring nor
the. shin for a fly wheel, that doesn't
make it any less important, does it?
Why class
"Ewico' writes: well I am mak-
ing second trip to your column and
hope you won't find the going rough
(reading this letter through, for we dis
agree on my very first statement
Alice Terry may be beautiful. but
in the vernacular of the acrcrn, she does
NOT take. Also her acting is too me-
anical, .unemotional-mukes me- feel
that she has to be proddcd. / doD't
Ike any Of the Moore brothers.
Harold Lloyd or Charlie Chaplin
Give me Lloyd every time. ! hardly
ever enjoyed o-reel comedies until
SOW him. He is convincing (no pie.
singing stuff, and he always puts some
sense into his plots.
''As to Conrad Nagel, he IL a good
actor, but somehow I'm prejudiced
liking 1t is like that of q weakling.
May venture to say that after the
movie beauty contest there were q good
many hopefuls lett with a bad taste in
the mouth, and who cherished dreams
Of conquering and getting into the NOV
les. ! believe that main factor In en-
gaging you was 10 squash emphatically
and completely any such hopes which
may have still ranked In the breasts of
adolescence land, yes, In the breasts of
those whose life was way past Its re =
NTH. I know you would tell them
frankly that there was no chance in any
case, but don't believe you would be
so profuse with the water In quench-
ing the fires kindled by the contest. But
that is neither here nor there.
as 70 nyselI, i nave dreams, but
not seriously, for 1t Is my policy to
dream, but as you say =" TO dream
true. Therefore ] have liked the advice
you have given these would-be actors.
Turning to another subject--I just
felt like patting your back after the
way you answered M. s. j. Even !
(snicker) could not have done better.
His or her ('M. 8. J.'sD field is very
narrow. Wilde and shaw-uyh! They