Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-26
Colby Professor
Speaker at Weekly
Rotary Luncheon

IL 1uiiah IL. Idyior OF Colby Col
lege was the speaker of the day at
the Rotary luncheon held at the Ell
wood yesterday noon He spoke on
European conditions as he observed
them during his tour abroad the past
summer.
President Carroll N Perkins in
troduced the speaker as his teacher
of twenty-five years ago. .one who
gave HE to the dead languages, and
who made Horace seem as real and
near as Longfellow.
DIR. Taylor in opening his address
said that in view of the fact that
the president had alluded TO the
classics, he felt at liberty to do the
same. So he referred to Homer,
the poet of antiquity, and the i'm
pressions the great bard received in
his travels. Homer, he said. was
always impressed with the wealth OF
the country. mines and so forth. and
did not give much time to the cities.
One travelling through Europe
would naturally he led to the con
clusion ii was very rich, if he knew
nothing of economic conditions
existing. He spoke of the countless
beauties that greet the eye every
where, castles, palaces, Cathedrals,
and works of art, and said that if
the beauty of these things could be
converted into cash. Europe would
have money enough TO pay her debts
over and over again.
The speaker brought up the subject
of the League of Nations and the
part Woodrow Wilson had played in
his great endeavor TO bring about
universal peace. AT one time we
could picture the League with the
United States sitting at the head of
the table, but things looked now our
nation would fit into the league with
about the same grace as a Baptist
deacon in a poker game with a big
bunch of sharpers.
He said that before the war Europe
was criss crossed with line fences
which were a source of more or less
trouble, but at present proximity
seemed to be more or less of a
nuisance in many instances.
In speaking of England he said
that London looked lively enough,
but he discovered tremendous de-
preston in the great industrial
centers. He remarked on the prices
of real estate there, showing that
property which would sell conserva-
lively mere lof poV.OOO GOuIu JIdHS
cases be bought there about $4,000.
He touched on Paris, Milan. Rome,
Geneva, and other we'll known places.
In Paris all were prosperous except
the artists and teachers But that
this prosperity could not be perman-
ent, as they were living in period
of imitation, spending their money
today for fear it would be worthless
tomorrow.
In Italy. DR. Taylor revealed in art
and antiques. And in Rome
particularly he was privileged to look
upon many wonderful works In the
latter city with a population of
about 30A000 there were $50 churches
and an army of clergymen. He said
he thought the city should be pretty
clean morally with so many men
of the cloth, but he noted also that
veritable army of police was on
duty, which seemed to dispell the
idea of great sanctity. He visited
the tenement districts, finding much
sduaIor, and the most sordid condi-
tons. Common laborers received
about sixty cents day from sun to
sun Skilled mechanics drew around
$1.25.
Dr. Taylor also spoke of conditions
in this country since the World War,
making mention of the steel indus
tries which now exported much less
than before the war, standing bad
fifth where they once stood second.
President Perkins, after the ap-
plause had subsidized, formally
thanked the speaker for his very
interesting address, hoping to have
the pleasure of hearing him again
soon.
The president then appointed Will
liam Mansfield, Winslow High
athletic director, as sergeant at
arms to succeed Howard WEIGH who
is now living outside the state.