Evening star., 1922-06-25
ny THOMAS n. MARSHALL.
Former Vice President 81 the
DnAted States.

Former Vice President 81 the
Unlted States.
LONDON, June -. 1892.
drove through Petticoat lane
on the edge Of White Chapel. and
became greatly interested in the
people who thronged 1t. Until
then bad always wondered
whether Charles Dickens had not
drawn greatly on his Imagination
for his characters OF Fagin. Bill
Sykes and Nancy. but now I am
convinced they were Of the world
as he knew 1t, which was better
than any OF his successors. 1t was
an enlarged edition Of New York's
East Side.
As emerged from Petticoat
lane. I found myself wondering
whether 1t did not contain the
virus OF bolshevism. 1t appeared
to me as possessing every element.
including desire. for the starting
of mad revolution against or.
ganized society. for the conduct Of
a bitter struggle between those
who have not and those who have.
RealixinE there could be no con-
tent II this were true, naturally
grasped the idea that discomfort
was likely to manifest itself In an
assault upon government.
4 4 4 +
Passing on. I came to the Guild.
hall. 1t happened to be the day
before Empire day. which Is the
anniversary OF Queen victoria's
birthday. AS I entered. a rehearsal
was being had Of a pageant by
selected scholars for the benent
Of the students there who would
60 from their literary education
into the various trades. A tall and
stately girl. costumed to repre-
sent Britannia. marched with regal
steps. accompanied by maids in
waiting. down the aisle Of the hall
and ascended the throne. Then
came professions. representing the
integral parts Of the British EN-
pire. the members of each appro-
priately garbed to disclose the
characteristics Of the country rep
resented, whether Canada, Aus
tra,ia. New Zealand or South
Africa. AS each leader was greeted
by Britannia she responded with a
historical resume of what her
country and its people had con-
tributed toward the maintenance
and prosperity of the empire.
These pageants are given annually
not only in the Guildhall. but all
over the British Isles.
To me 1t was the complete re-
verse of Petticoat lane. Here the
children of artisans in the forma-
tive period of their lives were be-
ing impressed with the greatness
and glory OF the empire. They
were having instilled into their
minds that England was not the
British empire. nor Scotland. nor
pendencies. hut that all together
they constituted the British empire
and that each had its place in his
tory. its part in the development
of the empire. its duty in the
maintenance of the government
To my mind here was something
very worth while. Here forces
"cTe lpt Id anu
order and the integrity of the
British crown.
X X + X
These two scenes so utterly un-
like made me anxious to ascertain
the real state of the British mind.
Was 1t discontented with the en-.
pire? Did 1t desire to topple over
that which centuries had createda;
Was 1t anxious to take a chance
through rapine and bloodshed on
a new form OF rule? Or was 1t
quite content with the empire and
discontented only with certain
conditions In life. which 1t believed
might be rectified without wreck
ing the government?
do not pretend to do more than
convey Impressions. London Is
filled with observers who can sail
to New York. take one walk down
Broadway and. homeward bound,
write q volume on the decadence
of the American republic. But I
realize that long residence would
be necessary to know the British
Isles thoroughly. Yet, happening
to observe the mad enthusiasm of
Empire day. ! venture my opinion
which has been somewhat fortified
by conversations not only with