The New York herald., 1922-11-12

young couple. ana mere again ana 1Or
the same reason their attitude Is un-
derstandable and probably justified
One minute"
This time he picked up the Bible,
turned to Genesis and pointed out the
trenchant account given of the fatal
affray between the sons Of Adam, to-
gether with the succinct estimate
there given of Gains character.
There was the beginning OF news
paper reporting" said the Vice-Presi-
dent. why was Cain so character
lied? Why was the homicide so en-
phatically set forth? Why have the
newspapers been reporting murders
and expatiating on murders and other
criminals ever since? Simply because
these persons are unusual, uncommon.
Their doings are unusual. uncommon.
People demand to know about the un-
usual, the uncommon. They are little
interested in the normal. the common
place, the things they see taking place
all around them; the things they do
themselves. Crime after all. Is the un-
usual thing. 1t is the interesting thing
as life goes. That is why we had no
report of the conduct and character
of the other children of Adam.
Expects Change in Parents.
$50 / think that there will come
change in the attitude of parents as
regards this excessive liberality with
the dynamite of society. cash. There
will come change in the national at
titude toward thrift and the homely
virtues. Such things as sensational
crime, immortality, disrespect for law,
vicious radicalism. are mere gas bub-
bles rising from the river bottom to
explode harmless upon the surface Of
a deep, strong stream always moving
in the right direction. There has never
been so much good behavior. so many
manifestations of moral feeling in this
country. We don't see it so much in
the big cities. it may be; but travel
about the country as have been doing
the last few weeks and one sees It.
Il have found that people are inter-
ested in crime and sensationalism only
superficially. That is. they are amused
or diverted or agreeably excited OF
even pleasantly shocked by reading of
such things, just as little boys used
to shock themselves with the ten cent
thrillers. But their real interest in life
is not so expressed. Their real inter-
est is manifested In their work. in their
home life, in their civic activities and
in the great fraternal, patriotic and
religious organizations that are the
backbone Of American life. When you
go out to Cincinnati they take a great
pride in showing you their new civic
buildings. and the same is true In all
Of our cities. If it weren't so all civil
lied society would fly apart in ten
minutes.
IF people We're not grounded solidly
in morality and religion life wouldn't
be tolerable at all. We know that this
Is true. In Massachusetts, alone there
are million people earnestly con-
cerned in the big fraternal, patriotic
and religious organizations that are
doing so much good. so much to help
people materially and spiritually. The
same thing is true the country over
Despite what the cynics say, people do
trust each other in America. They do
believe In their government. They do
They do face life cheerfully and
bravely. -f etr
Alarm Over Conditions.
Every so often, every half century
or so, we get apprehensive about the
safety Of our institutions or worried
| about where the American people are
heading. But the institutions keep
on functioning very nicely on the
whole and the people keep on strug-
Cling upward to a little higher grade
Of morality and civic Righteousness
and good taste and charitable express
sion. Charles Francis Adams says
that away back In 1850 In New Eng
land there was distinct letting down
OF moral conditions. But they picked
up again. There are lettings down
these days, but there are invariable
comebacks.
People do lot OF unnecessary
worrying. They worry about the
young women they called 'happers.'
say let the fiappers flap. They will
flap out of it, whatever 1t Is that peo-
pie object to, eventually. Youth is not
degenerate physically, mentally OF
morally. 1t Is more than ever in
spring. All that II needs is more
thoughtful direction on the part Of
parents and teachers. There ought to
be an end of this poisonous radical
teaching in the schools and colleges
teaching which terminates in dis
eased minds or diseased bodies. often
both. Colleges and universities that
are trying to root ont this evil in
f1uence are acting courageously and
wisely. But radicalism will not get
very far IN America. Look at Russia.
Can anybody doubt that 1t is cooling
of there and that Russia eventually
will return to ordered. sane political
and economic methods? Here such
theories never had chance.
I'm old fashioned, but you will see
before many years that old fashions
will again be fashionable in this coun.
try; that old fashions of religious
belief, moral conduct, honest work,
thrift, square dealing in government,
fair treatment Of 'abor with the expec-
tation of fair returns on labor's part,
and so on
Mrs. Coolidge entered at this juno
ture to acquaint her consort with the
fact that they were invited to luncheon
somewhere in the neighborhood, and
for some minutes she paused while
Mr.. Coolidge turned the invitation over
In his mind and fairly pondered the
pros against the cons. The pros had