The Washington times., 1922-09-17

The two-story frame build
tngs have given place to pre-
tentious structures of steel and
cement; George F. Babbitt and
his congeners no longer meet
In the village grocery, but are
members of the Rotary Club,
the Chamber of Commerce, and
the Athletic Club. Their bar
Der shop is of spotless enamel,
and the manicurist makes her
appearance. The Ford gives
way to the limousine; mahog-
any, replaces golden oak. Daily
Tubing supplants the week
end bath; auction and golf are
favorite recreations.
y In short, Zenith is possessed OF
all those things which in Main
Street" were held to be symbols Of
progress and culture. But In spite
OF all this the sum total Of happi-
ness is no greater, civilization has
not progressed Babbitt has
everything Carol kennicott longed
for, but he Is still unsatisfied. In
blind fashion he gropes about for
that happiness which Is always
Just ahead, but ever elusive. He
becomes the foremost realtor, a
delegate to the State convention.
but he is secretly enVious Of
Charles McKelvey. a fellow dele
gate, who Is too refined to wear
the gaudy badge affected by the
delegation. He Is filled with
sense of his own lack Of polish by
the manner In which Mr.. Eathorne,
president OF the First State Bank,
rings for a whiskey toddy. The
amours Of his friend Paul arouse
in him the desire for romantic al.
fairs, but his dignity Is outraged
by successive rebuffs from his
stenographer, his manicurist, and
Louetta Swanson.
This man Babbitt is typical Of
thousands Of his fellows in cities
all over the land. He Is far more
Representative than DR.. Kenni.
colt, of Main Street" He is 100
per cent American, a Booster, a
Rotarian, a Right Thinker, an Elk.
and Of course, a Stanch Republican
He believes implicitly in labor
unions, but is for clubbing them
back to work when they strike.
"a good labor union is of value be.
cause 1t keeps out radical unions,
which would destroy property.
No one ought to be forced to join
q union, however. All labor agi.
tators who try to force men to join
union should be hanged. In fact,
just between ourselves, there
oughtn't to be any unions allowed
At all; and as it's the best way of
fighting the unions, every business
man ought to belong to an employ.
ers' association and to the cham.
Der Of commerce. In union there
Is strength. So any selfish hog
who doesn't join the chamber of
commerce. ought TO be forced to-"
He thinks the Right People must
run the government. Radicals are
German spies. Labor leaders are
Anarchists. He and his kind are
legion-and as standa rdized as
shingles.
The residences Of Babbitt and
his friends and neighbors are as
carefully standardized as their
clothing and their thoughts. The
Babbitt's house was five years old.
1t had the best OF taste, the best
Of inexpensive rugs. a simple and
laudable architecture, and the
latest conveniences. Throughout.
electricity took the place Of candles
and slatternly hearth fires. Along
the bedroom dashboard were three
plugs for electric lamps, concealed
by little brass doors. In the halls
were plugs for the vacuum cleaner.
and in the living room plugs for
the plano lamp. for the electric
fan. The trim dining room with
its admirable oak buffet. its loaded
glass cupboard. its creamy plaster
walls, its modest scene Of a salm.
on expiring upon a pile OF oysters,
had plugs which supplied the elec.
tric percolater and the electric
toaster."
Just as Babbitt lived in the r.sht
kind Of house, and was careful to
wear the right kind Of clothes, nj
think the right things, so lis
friends and business associates.
They. too, were graduates Of the
right college. members OF the right
church and the right club: caus
and CONSEQUENCES of The cIyilIz.l.