Evening star., 1922-07-16
just a Study Of Life
By N. O. Messenger.
oNTHE ROAD,


Somewhere East of Washington.
The other day the managing editor
called the present writer in and al
lowed. in substance. as follows:
Don't you think the readers are
pretty we'll fed up on the tariff, on
the soldiers bonus bill, the troubles
of the republican party, exigent as
they may be, and the hopes of the
democratic party. roseate as they are.
and all that sort of thing? Why not
go forth and see if you can't dig up
something else to write about. chg"
Upon reflection. and taking into
consideration the emphasis with
which the remarks were delivered,
the point seemed to be Well taken.
So here 1 be, somewhere east of
Washington"
x x
No, it's not Atlantic City. 1t would
be but bringing Goals to New Castle
to write to Washingtonians about
that burg. Besides, a good many of
YOU could give the innocent writer
points about it, no doubt.
I dropped off at Newark, n. j., to
: see some politicians. Wait a minute!
This is not going to be about politics.
Leave that for the first page and
them what likes it," This is to be
a human natupe chapter-and politics
is both inhuman and cruel. Which
is remindful of the story about the
old German down in Alexandria, Va.
who had retired from business on
modest competency and was enjoying
Ia vi in
vine-clad cottage. The primaries
came on THE boys" were hard up
for campaign money, and they in
duced old Hans to be candidate for
alderman-with a contribution to the
campaign fund. of course. The pri-
tnaries came off. Hans did not have
a look-in. but could only look rue
fully at his Cancelled check. which had
been cashed within a few minutes OF
signature, for fear of recall. They
went around to condole with him, and
somebody asked:
We'll. Hans, what do you think OF
politics now?'
Putting away rehectively, he re-
piled:
We'll. the more see of bolitics. the
more I am convinced he is a tam
scoundrel.'
After a number of years intimate
acquaintance with politics, "tffem's
my sentiments"
Separated by a journey of only
four and one-half hours by fast train.
it wouka be difficult to find two cities
presenting more violent contrasts OF
population, habit, conditions OF me-
mental process and all that, than
Washington and Newark. 1t is lie
In the raw in Newark for a large
proportion of the inhabitants, with
still a considerable element at the.
other extreme enjoying leisure, resi-
DENTAL seclusion in outrageous sur
roundings, country club resources and
the like.
Coming from Washington. the
sweaty, smoky, toiling, money-mak-
Ing feature of the vast community
would likely attract the attention OF
the thoughtful person not too hnfcky
and with still thought for those VINO
feel the seamy side of life Don nt
think that this savors of poverty. for
such is not the case. They nave
money, this perspiring. anxious-iooK-
ing proletariat, for that's why they
stay in Newark-to get it. The
numerous and opulent-looking stores
tell of the presence in plenty OF the
coin of the realm. It's the way they
earn II and the conditions of life
which appeal.
4 4 4
This money making business
through the channels of manufactur-
ing and trading is an affair quite
different from the intellectual pur-
suits of the bulk of the salary-earn-
ing classes of the National Capital.
Pushing a pen or plying a typewriter
for the same number of hours Is not
the same thing as guiding stitch
ing machine on leather and cloth, or
punching out metal disks or pud-
ding in an iron foundry. or doing any
of the hundred and odd jobs of an
industrial community. Smoke, heat.
dust. routine, fatique-those words
spell the daily life of thousands. OF
toilers In this. which Is only
one of hundreds of similar communi-
tie, in this busy, working, throbbing
America.
Maybe an existence in Washington,
prosaic possibly, may not be the
-