Evening star., 1923-08-09
ABOUT MOTH
ING AT ALL
BY DIR. FRANK CRANE.

One of the most whimsical and
amusing ideas that strike the mind Of
man as he contemplates the activities
and achievements of the world is
the discovery of how much of all this
is About Nothing At All.
One Is astounded when he reads
history and finds the account of
long and destructive war concerning
the origin of which no two historians
agree. while in the treaty of peace
which concludes the conflict no men,
tion Is made of the original conten-
tion.
Most of the dignities of the earth
rest upon nothing. Most of our
thrones and magnificencies seem to
be hung. like the earth itself. over
an empty place
The objects in the house of the
millionaire for which he went to the
most expense he never uses; they
are Kept covered up and locked up
The things that he employs daily
ana that minister to his life and
comfort, such as knives and forks
and spoons. soap and water and
towels. frying pans and toothbrushes,
are the same sort of things that are
used by the shop girl and the brick
layer. The most pathetic thing about
being a millionaire is that all you
can spend a million dollars for is
Nothing At All. Fifty cents seems
real use
I have just been to Nikko, the
sacred place where the great men of
Japan are buried 1t is really one
impressive places in the world. full
OF magnificent temples. | made a
note here of things which seem to
be of no earthly use, and which are
the pride of the Japanese people.
The first and most conspicuous OBJ
1ect is the Sacred Bridge, an ex-
quisite red lacquered bridge over d
narrow stream. II is closed up.
throughout the year to see that no
body walks over it. The theory is
that only the emperor is supposed to
cross It, AS a matter of fact even he
does not use it. Once a year an i'm
perial messenger goes over il.
All about the grounds of Nikko are
beautiful stone lanterns. They are
as tall as a man and if candles were
eve. eyer put in them on a dark night
nal beauty. But they are never lit
except perhaps on extremely rare
occasions. They are practically un-
used and stand about like innumer-
able sentinels of Nothing AT All.
One of the lanterns was contrib
uted by the governor of certain
province who spent on it the taxes
of his province for three years. Think
Of those people working for three
years, pouring their energy and life
blood into this gorgeous thingama-
Jig which is never used
One elaborate structure is drum
tower, but the drum in il is never
beaten
Another object of admiration is
huge revolving lantern which prob
ably cost kings ransom. 1t is never
revolved and never lit.
There is a beautiful library. ex-
rareSt art 1t is locked up and no.
body reads the books. There are
copies of them on the outside which
the curious may examine.
There is an enormous bronze bell
and tower given by the King of Korea
which must have cost staggering
fortune. But the bell is never rung.
one is reminded of the Cathedral of
Cologne which was built over the
ton whether the bones were ever
there, and If they were they have
long since been stolen.
When one thinks Of the pyramids
and obelisks of Egypt. the huge Ii
braries in the monasteries of Europe
full of the recorded discussions over
vanished theological issues. of the
castles on the Rhine about as useless
az card houses now for defense. OF
the great wall of China, and. for that
matter. of the greater part Of the
dignities. precedencieS, displays ana
composites toward which all OF US
kowtow in the present world. one is
speechless with admiration over the
Importance of Nothing AT All.