Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-24
ROTARIANS HEAR
AN INTERESTING
SPEECH TUESDAY

Rabbit, A Challenge to Men,
was the subject of an address of
much interest and thought delivered
before the Waterville Rotary Club
yesterday afternoon at the Elmwood
hotel by DR.. E. Sternheim of Port
Chester, n. Y. In introducing the
speaker President .Tebbetts said that
he received his education at Oxford
University in his native country OF
England and that he has been a
member of the faculties of the Uni
versities of New York and Mime
sofa.
DR.. Sternheim based his address
on Sinclair Lewis novel, Rabbit"
that satire Of the modern business
man and his associations which en-
Joyed great popularity a few years
back He told his hearers that he
used to derive pleasure from dis
cussing Main Street." before wom-
ems clubs but with the publication
his thoughts were directed towards
the men of the nation.
The doctor painted a very realist-
ic verbal picture of George F. Bah
bitt, Jr., the realtor, man about
town hero of the novel which bears
| out that no matter what literary
merits the book had it contained
number of challenges to the men
of the country which were worthy of
serious consideration. These he pro-
coded to discuss with no little per-
! suasiveness.
First was the NOISY, gregarious,
mass-thinking," in which so many
men are willing to join. If there are
any two things which the schools
| and colleges of the country should
teach, he declared, they are the
character and ability to think out
one problems for oneself.
Next were the relations which a
man should maintain towards his
wife and children in the home and
the doctor told how Babbitt, when
he had risen to a height of small
town omnipotence, looked upon his
wife as one who should revere him
for raising her to her exalted social
position. A far more precious herit-
age to leave ones children in re-
collection of a fine, ennobling home
lief the doctor said.
1--WE have no titles in this country
| but, oh, how we adore them!" said
host of people to whose names the
applications of doctor" professor"
| and honorable" are attached. In
this connection he brought out his
next point, saying that the people OF
the United States should not build
on purely materialistic basis. Ac-
coefiing to him there should be a
new evaluation of people, especially
Of ha 40 ~, 70
lift the masses and to whom the
word, Service" is a true slogan.
The habit of laughing on strange
things on general principle was the
| fourth phase of "Sir General Doak,
Baronet of England" and the
friendship that grew up between
him and Mr.. Rabbit. 1t was the
| contention of the speaker that we
should build a social body in which
the opinions and characteristics OF
all shall be mutually tolerated. He
urged his hearers to look for under
| lying ideals rather than for exterior
appearances.
The last point stressed by the
doctor was the Rabbit type of pa
triotism, the patriotism characterized
by the beating of drums and the
enunciation of empty slogans. He
| urged rather a quiet earnest citizen
ship which should be expressed in
the daily lives of all the people.
In closing the doctor brought out
| the fact that Europe is looking to-
day to America for leadership and
he expressed the fervent hope that
the nations across the sea would OBJ
| tain from the United States vision
of Domncra and not q pI1relv com
mercial and Industrial viewpoint.