The Sauk Centre herald., 1927-08-18
PASTOR COMPARES
'LINDY" And LEWIS
Rev. Smith, Formerly of
Sauk Centre, Criticizes
One, Praises Another
TYPES ARE DIFFERENT
Contends Readers Of Elm
er Gantry" Hold Min
nesota In Contempt

nes0ta In Contempt
'EWherever the name of Lind
bergh is mentioned, Minnesota is
eulogized and blessed. Wherever
Main Street or Elmer Gantry are
read, Minnesota and its people are
held in contempt"
Drawing a picture of two Min
nesota men, Colonel Charles A :,
Lindbergh and Sinclair Lewis, J :,
T. B. Smith, former pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, Sauk
Centre, now press represen-
tative of the Methodist Episcopal
World Service Agencies of Chica-
go, says in current number of the
Epworth Herald that the former
has given the publicity to some of
the noblest things in human ma
ture, while the latter has used his
talents to 'despoil his own home
town" ~
Excerpts from Mr.. Smiths ar
ticle follows:
zone lad, Charles A. Lindbergh
has become the hero of the world,
and his name is on the lips of more
people than any other name under
the sun. We read that in few
short days, an unknown lad has
become the hero of the world. His
face is etched in more minds than
any living human. Lindbergh's
flight was perfect example of
what most writer's need to learn;
hold your suspense, make them
wait, then the wild panorama Of
the happy ending.
'tLindbergh alone, flying
through the air with sense Of
direction like bird, kept his body
under control. His arrival in
France was almost a miraculous
feat. His words, on alighting in
Paris, L am Charles Lingbergh,'
show us his humility. His gentle
and gentlemanly manner when re-
ceived by presidents and kings and
the populace, have created spec
ial admiration in Europe and the
world for the ideal American
youth. His quiet but firm refusal
to use liquors to drink the health
of other nations has been noted by
magazines, newspapers and mil
lions of people. Lindbergh's at
tltude has done more for temper
ance than thousand speeches.
"Tthe French girls and others of
London and New York were sur
prised to find that this hero had
never learned to dance, that he
never smoked and that his life was
free from taint. &
"This American boy centered
thousands of minds in inquiries re-
garding Minnesota. Millions of
people asked what kind of town
could produce such a man.
Sinclair Lewis, the other Min
nesota boy, is an example of an
entirely different type. Endowed
with a remarkable personality, es-
pecially equipped and educated in
the best universities, he has used
his talents, not to uplift or inspire.
but to create books that have ridi-
culed and caricatured the lives of
people in small agricultural COM
munities in Minnesota.
"There has been nothing writ
ten in the history of America that
has cursed the small agricultural
communities as Main Street. :,
Every character from the towns
of Little Falls, Sauk Centre, Long
Prairie and other agricultural
communities in Minnesota, are
grossly exaggerated. Now these
small towns have become the cur
iosity of visitors and tourists who
come from all parts of the world
to see this strange thing, Main
Street.
Tt is said that Lewis stood in a
Kansas City pulpit, pulled out his
watch, and said, eff there is a God,
let him strike me dead. He did
not die bodily, but noted Kansas
editor has said that God took Lew
is at his word and that he died
from his head downward at that
momeHt
Two Minnesota boys-one with
fair education, leaving school be-
fore graduation to work ais an air
mailman, but clean in mind and
soul, advertises and gives publicity
to some of the noblest things in
human nature, and to little town
and to Minnesota. The other us
es his gifts and talent to make
money by despoiling his own home
town. Wherever the name Of
Lindbergh is mentioned Minnesota
is eulogized and blessed. When
ever Main Street or Elmer Gan
try is read, Minnesota, its people
and its ministry, are held in con-
tempt. We recall the words Of the
prophet which are very applicable
to these two products Of Mime
sofa, Choose We this day whom ye
viii serve.