Evening star., 1928-05-13

almost conquered the earth. He
made himself master of half the
~ known world and inspired hu'
mankind with fear that lasted
for generations.
In the course of his life he was given
many names-the Mighty Slayer, the
Scourge of God. the Perfect Warrior
and the Master of Thrones and Crowns
He Is better known to us as 0enghis
Khan.
unlike most rulers of men. he de-
served Sll his titles. We Americans,
raised In the European tradition. have
been taught the roster of the great that
begins with Alexander of Macedon. con-
tinues through the Caesars and enos
with Napoleon. Genghis Khan was
conoueror OF more gigantic stature than
the well known actors of the European
stage.
Indeed. it is difficult to measure him
by ordinary standards. When ne
marched with his horde. 1t was over de-
rrees of latitude and Longitude instead
of miles: cities in his path were often
obiiterated and rivers diverted from
their courses; deserts were peopied
with the fleeing and dying and when he
passed wolves and ravens often were
the sole living things in once popuious
lands.
This destruction of human life be-
yilders the modern imagfnatio
riclled though it be by the concepts OF
the last European war. Genghts Kahn.
a nnnad chieftain who emerged from
the Gohi desert, waged war upon the
civilized peoples Of the earth and was
victorious.
In this devastation, this arresttng OF
human progress. had been the whole OF
- nave
been no more than a second Atfila, or
Alaric--a formidable wanderer without
a purpose. But the Scourge was also
the Perfect Warrior and Master Of
Thrones and Crowns
And here We are face TO face with the
mystery that surrounds Genghis Khan.
A nnrnad. q hunter and herder of
beasts. outReneraIed the powers Of three
empires: q barbarian who had never
seen q city and did not know the use
OF writing drew up code OF laws for
so peoples.
In the matter of military genius Ma
poleon would appear to be the most
brilliant Of Europeans. But we cannot
forget that he abandoned one army 70
its fate In Egypt. and left the remnant
Of another In the SHOWS Of Russia. and
finally strutted into the debacle Of Wa
terloo. His empire fell about his ears,
his code was torn Up and hts son dis
inherited before his death. The whole
celebrated affair srlacks of the theater
and Napoleon himself of the play-actor.
OF necessity We mist turn 10 Alex.
ander OF MacedOn, that reckless and
victorious youth, to find conquering
genius the equal Of Genghis Kilaf1-~-
Alexander the god-like, marching with
his pkaaganx toward the rising sun,
bearing With him the blessing of Greek
culture. Both died In the fun tide OF
victory. and their names survive in the
legends Of Asia today
Only after death the measure Of their
achievements differs beyond compari-
son. Alexander's generals were soon
fighting among themselves for the
kingdoms from which his son was
forced 70 Zee.
co utterly had GengElis Khan made
himself master from Armenia to
Korea, from Tibet 70 the Volga that
his son entered upon his heritage with
out protest. and his grandson, KubiIai
Khan, still ruled half the world.
This empire, conjured up out Of
nothing by q barbarian, has mygsifled
historians. The most recent general
history Of his era, compiled by learned
persons In England, admits that It Il
40 anexpiicable fact. a worthy sayani