New-York tribune., 1922-11-26
The Tigers Touch

g II ~ X destructive now, as IL mas
70 often been in the past; it is heal
/ ing. That much is already appar-
ant, despite the excursions and
aarums of his critics, which, as we
Indicated last week, were as certain
10 ensue as were the floods Of SYM
mthy. What we want is nothing"
aeclared Clemenceau in Boston on
Thursday. "a gesture, something
% make Germany understand with
sslt your coming back to Europe in
assylns." lie visits US with no dotted
ss'e on which he would have US sign,
~ ~. Comes, rather, to think aloud in
cur presence, and SO stir the nation
ai consciousness that we, perhaps,
ray think aloud in cur turn and let
the world know the comradely feel
ing that is in our hearts. Fer such
mission this man, who has, Off
aally, no mission at all, is marvel
ously equipped.
clever French critic once distin-
gaished in pithy words between the
eharacters created by two rival
dramatists. "Those of the one,' he
asia, impress you by saying fine
things; those of the other without
saying anything" In life there is
sAlta mode of appeal, that of "the
tYge elder race" whose speech is
very simple and direct, whose ac-
ents are friendly, intimate, almost
eaely, whose utterances are not so
Haeh thrilling as touching. 1t is the
m1de of Clemenceau, which will be
lgng remembered by those who
heard him speak in this city. He
gave them not an Grafton but talk,
With few spare and artless ges-
lures and no rhetorical fourishes
whatever.
Many years ago shrewd historian
well characterized Clemenceap's plat
form habit, alluding to ''those impro-
rised harangues in which he used to
display the keen edge of his trench
ant talent" He is old now, as he so
frequently reminds Us, and he no
longer harangues an audience. He
Weads with it, pleads without loss of
qlgllty--or trenchancy-and, put
usg his case with a proud candor,
with NaH the manful independence
thaf has marked his long career,
somehow searches out the secret
Places Of the heart.
he has the compelling magic of
magnificent sincerity. "The man who
y determined to keep others fast
and firm" wrote Landor, "must have
one end Of the bond about his own
pseast, sleeping and waking" That
. elemenceau. He has kept the
ialth. He appears before US bearing
Sas wounds Of lifelong battle for
1 france, eliminating in matchless
Victory. His nation has never had
mere disinterested statesman. He
PAS won fame as wreeker of cabi-
nts, bat, as was once sagely re-
hafked, "tAe fact that ne never took
Me place of the ministers whom he
aad turned out long rendered him
hsalnerabls J."
Nothing more richly contributed
ais success the other night than
1 1seihessness of his attitude. There
l - no wild tumult of applause. He
/ ssged IN no sustained outbursts
H sequence, and hence reused no
sSonate response. Rather he won
aeS acquiescence, winning it
sssgn the moving statement of
s'a'a ruth. "Let me explain to
s. as said, "the feelings | find in
1 Aeaft. When, after seeing two
/ ''sslohs Of France, devastation of
Klnd, is it strange if I don't
~ 70 see another?" The thought
] pas 100 poignant for defamation.
eahg great historical passage
''s simplest terms it fell upon the
ta tremendous weight. With
la lace turned earnestly to the
s'su, with the voice kindled yet re-
1 q with the arms of the speak
aung expressively abroad and
L sa recalled to repose, it smote the
esatation. 1t was as though the
OF France stood forth, the
q = o. people that has suffered.
-. 49, nard Tor the intelligentsia to
.;s.. 60 iney cannot away with the
{ xs,;s.'. ;.ssrlssAc bogey- Clemenceau
a's at It and those who heard
'niied TOO, for he drew thera