The Washington herald., 1922-05-23

reluctant gratitude and outstanding
jealousy.
Eyes to see and ears to hear has former Sena-
tor J. Hamilton Lewis. OF Illinois, who has been
touring the continent for the past few months He
recountcd his impressions in speaking before
American club at Consantinople the other day.
The substance OF his address will get heartfelt
firmation from nearly every American soldier who
occupied French or German billets. Doubtless also
it will excite wonderment and call forth in
dgnant dcnials from the great mass who never have
ventured beyond the Atlantic coastline and form
their impressions OF Europe from the speeches OF
its statesmen.
Mr.. Lewis said, in bricf mat everywhere he
went roSr Liverpool to Stamboul, the plain peo-
pie hate Americans. The same story from
the lips OF hundreds OF European travellers who
have mingled with shop keepers, bricklayers
penters and country school teachers in England,
Ireland. France Germany, Greece, Turkey any
OF the other which make up the highly COL
orcd panorama OF inCpicnt war
We confident that Mr. Lewis observations
have been superficial in some particulars. The
depths OF the European heart can not be sounded
in six months OF lesurely wandcrings hither and
yon. At the time he has given expression to
surface indication which is promising for
American business who do business with
these same plain people.
The average French meat-market proprietor
hates Germans. The average German brewer hates
Frenchmen Yet from fighting each other neither
would obtain the same keen thrilling delight that
both would feel in fighting a despised, dctested
Yankee. In this respect the Phistines both
sides OF the Rhine have something in common.
The hatred OF the German for the American is
different however from the hatred he bears to-
wards the Frenchman He hates the latter because
he is French, because he lives the other side OF
linz nd berause fathP his
grandfather and his great grandfather have hated
everything with French connections. Personally he
may consider the FrenChman a charming fellow.
He will send flowers to his funeral or a wedding
present when his daughter is married.
Similarly the Frcnchman may like any number
OF individual Germans. They understand each
other. Both have about the same standard of liv-
nu. Both are of about equal intelligence. Both
have about the money values. In the French
cottage and in the German cottage the people eat
very much the thing and expect to keep
eatirc it until they die
But towards the American they have a differ
cnt attitude The German does not hate the man
or woman from this SIDE OF the Atlantic because of
the nationality Towards America they are on the
whole, grateful This certainly is the attitude in
France. But as Mr.. Lewis has observed they do
hate the individual They hate him as the country
man who must walk along a country road hates
They hate him natives OF a Virginia village hate
the New ork millionaire who fills the old neigh
borhood estate with his chauficurs and buffers.
Neither OF these classes is Bolshcvist. They do
not hate wealth as wealth. Not a one Of them does
not long to be wealthy himself. But they do de-
test the individual posscssor of wealth with bit
tCr hatred which jealousy alone can inspire.
The French bricklaycr is jealous OF the Ger
man bricklayer He would not change his nation
a1i. No;4L +I,,
a suggestion would be considered an insult by
both. Neither has anything the other desires. But
both jealous OF the American bricklayer. Both
would change their. nationality in a second il they
- had the opportunity. They hate the American
bricklayer because he eat better food dress
better, better shows and educate his children
better than they
Perhaps racial group has accomplished
more in the United States than the Irish. They
lett their own country when they hungry and
ragged On this side OF the Atlantic they have
achieved prosperity. full stomachs good clothes and
very often great wealth Through all they have re-
tanned loyalty and affection for their native soil
which bears eternal witness the constancy OF the
Celtic race. With lavish generosity they have sent
money and gifts to the old people
Yet what disappointment often awaits the
Irish-American when he visits the Connaught or
? Kerry village which his father left fifty years be-
fore and where large number of nephews and
bue-eyed neces still keep up the glory of the
family Is he received like conquering hero? Is
he overwhelmed by the gratitude OF these relatives
whom he has aided? Far from it. He is looked
upon with cool, i-concealed distrust. He must
remain among them for weeks before they begin
: TO consider him OF their own. The whole ex-
PLANTATION is that they jealous Of one to whom
ife Lord has been far more lavish than to them
- Equal dislike awaits the English. the Scotch,
Ill, Al
ages his ancestral hamlet He is not greeted