Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-18
A Wonderful People
Thoughts Suggested by the
Farewell Words OF msrgot.
lFrem the Boston TranseHpt)

That We are a wonderful people in America
must be a cause Al much pride 20 us, and al true
\ Americans will appreciate the great compliment
which Mrs, Asquiih has paid Us on her return %
I England, She has said that Americans are "A
wonderful. wonderful people" doubling her adj
I jeetiye Ia the Italian manner but had this se'
/ eompshed lady used the single adjective, we
should have ielt just much fatteFed, II Is evil
dent that she has made profound study OF con-
dilions moral and physical in the United States
/ Tor she says that prohibition Is the only fraud
which she found here which Is record m al
age OF competition, IL is almost disappoint'
meHt 10 see that she says she eonlemplales no
English lectures on her experiences ~ America,
for So many OF her eompaiFois have consented
70 make copy out OF the hospitality and the in
siitltions OF the repnbe tha, Il seems pity that
so brilliant woman and one so well acquainted
with politics both in the United States and Great
Britain should not continue the series, She is
further reported 10 have told the newspaper cor
respondent that she had been IN politics all her
life, thus anording the public one OF the all too
inirequent simpses OF what mus, have been an
extremely interesting career.
What gives 4 sensation OF depression. how
ever. IN reading the report of her interview. Is
Mrs. Asquith's statement that although she en-
joyed every minute OF her stay in America, she
did not contemplate returning. The only relief
to the disappointment at hearing this is the re-
Election that at least Mrs. Asquith returns to
AlDion knptcs Not WITHOUT souNeHNhs
That our late visitor should have come TO
America and held the series oi eauseries so much
enjoyed and appreciated IS in itself cause Tor
satisfaction. but greater must be this satisfaction
when one reflects that such profitable, brisk visits
bring out in high relief the indomi,able eom-
plaeense OF the American people. Mrs Asquith
says that she will not return. but there is always
rift in the clouds. She may not, but we can be
quite sure that some other visitor will take up
the great work OF enlighening and cheering the
American people. and telling them about their
own affairs. Here is sefShness. II may be
doubted whether famous inhabant of Chicago
or San Francisco would take all this trouble for
his or her countrymcn; he would probably paltcr
and say that none would listen 10 him. and he
would shrk this vital obligation TO young and
pa,hetically innocent commonwealth. as new as
il is wonderful. Not so the waiting apostles
across the Atlantic. Like trusy licboat men at
stations. they but wait the word from the lecture
agencies to cross the hcaving seas. making moth
ing OF the hardships and priyaions OF the voy-
age. counting NAL dc mer and the difference in
exchange as drops.
Dispatches by cable are even now hardly re-
covered from wars confusion, SO it may be
mistake when Mrs. Asquith is reported as asking
somewhat percmptorily whether the corrc-
spondcnt supposed she were going on the stage.
She and all the noble army OF light bearers are
OIL stage. the noble stage OF modifying young
people as TO its manners and Of patiently increas-
ing its modest store of knowledge. II is only the
superficial and the prcjudiced who say that COM
ments on nations institutions and economy
should be based on years OF study and personal
acquaintance. Are we not shown. the contrary,
for do not the light bearers come over and stay
for few weeks and tell us the most profound
things about ourselves, our politics and our
cookery? No American could do this, or il he
has ever tried this. he gave it up long ago from
motives OF personal comfort and the need of an
income. Americans sometimes have good nat
urcd fun poked at them for certain optimism,
chceriness, lively confidence in the sunyy side
of tomorrow. They have every reason for this,
and not the least is the tranquil knowledge that
the supply of transatlantic light bearers, jealous.
oondescendng kindly. is virtually incxhaustble.
German shipping may be able to rchabilitate
itself in time, but British or German, every liner
will still bring over a transatlantic lecturer
looking with grateful anticipation to the land Of
the wonderful, wonderful people, the most conf
placent in the world, the most long suffering.