Evening star., 1923-03-25
ny THOMAS n. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President of the
United States.

n 7 OF only are the bitter and the
nj sweet strangely intermingled,
| but the good and evil arc 80
interviewer that modern life
is not an easy thing to lead. We arc
living in g. grand and awful ase. We
are so advanced in our economies and
pleasures that even recent years
seem to be part Of the dark ages. We
have not only pierced the universe
and discovered the uttermost star, bu;
we have placed the hidden mysteries
OF God under the microscope and dis
covered the lowest forms Of life. Not
content with these wonderful diseoV-
cries pertaining to physical life. we
are touching with impious hands the
holy ark Of the covenant wherein are
contained the religion. morals and
ethics OF the future. We put our
neighoor's soul upon the operating
table. anesthetize 1t With our views
and lay 1t bare by the scalpel OF our
desires We are quick TO form our
judgments and slow to give a chari-
table construction TO the views OF
others. In no age since time began
has man been 80 certain that he is
right and so absolutely sure that his
fellow man Is wrong.
/ nave observed many men OF many
Inlnds-sreat statesmen. distin guished
scholars, remarkable scientists, in
spring orators. Great dlvines have
pleased my ear and lifted up my soul
70 God. ] have noted that each celeb
rity had his individual methods. One
had conquered greatness this way
and another that way. Some had
availed themselves OF all the appli-
ances Of life and others belonged to
q class ephemeral and superficial.
Greatness is whatever you believe TO
be great. There IS no universal
measure by which 10 determine II to
the satisfaction OF all men Each one
or ua has his own view as TO who is
the really great man and Of what
greatness consists.
= Il
always have had an idea that al
though knowledge might come, too
often wisdom fingered have been
unwilling to consent that the mere
possession Of real or apparent facts
made a man learned. l have regarded
the man with his head crammctl with
,
foollng the audience with the tricks
he pulled out OF his mental box. Nor
would argue that II Is birth or rank
or station that marks real greatness.
Perhaps my view has been jaundiced
by my recollection of the man l re-
Earded as the greatest one I ever
knew. He flled no large place in the
life OF his state. When he passed be-
yond this mortal plane there was
only a handful or US to remember his
going and yet, with presidents. kings.
premlers. statesmen. scholars and
scientists passing IN review. my tude
ment still insists that this humble
Presbyterian preacher was the gres t
est man who ever came within the
range Of my vision.
One OF the risfortunes OF the great
Is that though they can tell the peo-
pie what they ought to know. they
lack any compulsory process by
which TO force Il people TO learn the
lessons they assign. Such intellect as
possessed convinced me that the
teaching of the man I now hold as
greatest WAS wise. but I cannot say
always followed II. I was amazed
at the clearness of his judgment upon
every question. He was an indifferent {
reader; his knowledge OF current
events was perhaps cursory; only oc-
cas!onally did he peruse a great work.
But It was the habit OF his life to get
out into nature and with his own
judgment and conscience determine