Evening star., 1923-09-09

is in my book, of American impress
sions, People of Destiny" but I was
glad and proud to sit in the pres
ence of a man-so simple, so frank,
so utterly truthful-who organized
the greatest work of rescue for suf-
fering humanity ever achieved in the
history OF the world-the American
Relief Administration. But for that
work, many millions of men, women
and children in the nations most
stricken by war would have died of
starvation, and urope would have
been swept from end to end by the
scourge Of pestilence which follows
famine.
a T the very time 1 write On the
"A beginning OF 1920, the American
Relief Administration Is feeding TO-
600. 900 people a day In Russia, as they
fed other millions in Austria, Hun
gary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Ar
menia, and, in time of war, behind
the German lines in France and
Belgium. II was Hoover's business
genius. his driving power. the faith
merry. which created the machinery OF
that organized charity. and by kind
of miracle made 1t work with won
derful efficiency.
seem to have been Dragging a
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 a
while above his usual state Of insig-
nificance. They herald him with an
exaggeration of his virtues, his
achievements. his reputation. Any
goose Is made to believe himself a
stately swan by the warmth of cour-
tesy shown toward him, by the boost
ing OF his publicity agent. and by
zens to make guest feel good"
with himself.
This has a strange and exhilarat-
ing effect upon the visitor. II gives
him self-conhdence. It actually does
develop virtues In him. His goose
auills actually change into something
| like swansdown, and his neck dis
| tinctly elongates.
There is something in the very at
mosphere Of New York--eIectric.
sparkling, little intoxicating
which gives a 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 I was a more distin-
guished person than ever ! could be
in England. ], spoke more boldly
than ever could in England I was
rather a brave fellow for those few
| weeks each year, because so many
people believed In nay quality of
character, in my intelligence, in my
powers of truth-teiiing.
So ] do not boast or preen myself
at all when I write about the wonder
| full times I have had in the United
States 1t happens to everybody
| 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. I'VE don't do
that in England, you knows"
n n X
In VISITED many American colleges
i and with solemn ceremony was
initiated into the sacred brotherhood
of a Greek letter society. which is
the highest honor that can be given
to q 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 ] iectured te
G, 900 Mormons---utost moral and ad-
! mirable people--in their tabernacle
anu Was received ep the platform by