San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-19

announced except for a tap at the door
by his friend and assistant, Barr Ba-
ker. had just returned from a jour
ney, and my room was Uttered with
shirts. socks, collars and the contents
of my bags. He paid no heed to all
that. but sat back in an armchair
and, after some questions, talked
gravely of world affairs. I need not
record here that conversation l had
with him--the gist of it is in my book
of American impressions, People of
Destiny" but / was glad and proud
to sit in the presence of man-so
simple, so frank, so utterly truthful
who organized the greatest work of
rescue for suffering humanity ever
achieved in the history of the world
the American Relic; Administration.
But for that work, many millions of
men, women and children in the ma
tons most stricken by war would have
died of starvation, and Europe would
have been swept from end to end by
the scourge Of pestilence which follows
famine.
At the very time 1 write Tin the
beginning of 1929, the American
Relief Administration is feeding ten
million people a day in Russia. as
they fed Other millions in Austria,
Hungary. Poland, Czecho Slovakia,
Armenia, and, in time of war, be-
hind the German lines in France
and Belgium. 1t was Hoover's bust
ness genius, his driving power, the
faith that was in him, without any
flummery, which created the ma
chinery of that organized charity,
and by a kind of miracle made. 1t
work with wonderful efficiency.
| seem to have been Dragging n
little in what | have lately written,
making myself out to be an impor-
tant person, with unusual gifts.
That is not my intention, or my
idea The fact is. that the people of
the United States give any visitor
who arrives with, decent credentials
a sense of Importance, and elevate
him for while above his usual
state of insignificance. They herald
him with an exaggeration of his vir-
tues, his achievements, his reputa-
ton. Any goose is made to believe
himself stately swan by the
warmth of courtesy shown toward
him, by the boosting of his publicity
agent, and by the genuine desire of
American citizens to make guest
"feel good with himself.
This has strange and exhilarat-
ing effect upon the visitor. 1t gives
him self-confidence. 1t actually does
develop virtues in him., His goose
quilts actually change into some
thing like swansdown, and his neck
distinctly elongates. There is some
thing in the very atmosphere of
New York-electric, sparkling, lit
tie intoxicating-whieh CITES man
courage, makes him feel bigger, and
not only feel bigger, but be bigger,
This is no fantasy, but actual fact.
In the United States / was a more
distinguished person than ever |
could be in England. 1 spoke more
boldly than ever l could in England.
was rather a brave fellow for those
few weeks each year, because so
many people believed in my quality
of character, in my intelligence, in
my powers of truth telling, whereas
in England no one believes in any
body.
So do not boast or preen my
self at all when 1 write about the
wonderful times l have had in the
United States. 1t happens to every
body who does not go out of his way
Cor hers), as some do, to insult a
great-hearted people, to put on
"side" in American drawing rooms,
to say with an air of superiority,
ave don't do that in England, you
knowl"
visited many American colleges,
and with solemn ceremony was initi-
ated into the sacred brotherhood Of
Greek letter society, which is the
highest honor that can be given to
foreign visitor by the youth of
America.
In Canada-at Winnipeg was
made a Veteran of the Great War
by a gathering of old soldiers.
At Salt Lake City l lectured TO
COCO Mormons-most moral and adj
mirable people-in their Tabernacle.
and was received on the platform by
a hallelujah chorus from sixty Nor
mon maidens.
In Detroit, where l began my first
speech of the day at $3.50 in the
morning. I spoke down funnel on
the subject of . the Russian famine,
which was broadcast" to millions of
people late that night.
1 Travelled thousands of miles and
in every smoking carriage talked
with groups of men who told me
thousands of anecdotes and put me
wise to every aspect Of American
life sfrom the inside.