Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-25
EUROPE AND AMERICA
DIFFER in THINKING
Must Be Brought Together If There Is
to Be Greater Understanding in
Humanity's Tasks.

lean sees in art an industry, a special
branch of business. 1t Is needed by the
community. Relaxation Is sold like
every other article. He never would
make the mistake of putting the values
of art before the values of life-a mis-
take that is frequently committed by
the European, consciously or uncon-
sciously 1t is true this attitude is not
very favorable for individual art pro-
duction. Therefore art is mostly i'm
ported from Europe, but whenever art IS
based on the spirit and need OF the
community, America can show marve-
louS achievements.
I. have mentioned the movies"
Among Europeans 1t Is customary to
look down on them, yet in my opinion
most of them are a thousand times
deeper than the majority of individual
istic European art. In Europe what
ever appeals to the mass Is considered.
from the start, as low in value. The
Viennese operetta. which Is often the
product of O collaboration of many
writer's and composers. Is smiled at by
the educated. There is the same atti-
tude toward the Revue The educated
European Is wrong in both respects. as
we may realize when we consider the
Greek tragedy, which certainly appealed
to the mass and can be understood only
Out Va tAiC oPttib Va tAAS AAAeSS'
Admires Broadway Play.
I admire the workmanship Of the av-
erage Broadway play, and I think that
at least one way to achievement Is to
stress handicraft and workmanship In
art. The great artistic perfection OF
American architecture Is the expression
of q cultivated workmanship. 1t Is not
by chance that European architecture
has not made any real progress In this
age. Architecture can be only the ex-
preston of a community. The Ameri-
can skyscraper Is as near to perfection
as, for instance, st. Peters Church in
Rome. All the great edifices of Europe
come from ages where the individual
istic spirit was not SO developed as 1t
Is today. They are the result Of CO.
operation and mutual help.
Many Europeans believe that the NIL
lionaire in America takes the place OF
European nobility, and they believe that
the social standing of a man In this
country Is entirely dependent on how
much he makes in a year. What they
don't realize is that nowhere else has
the rich man so many duties as In
America. Charity. so well organized,
demands not only money from htm but
work. Nor does social custom allow the
rich man to live on his income. He is
supposed, and therefore compelled, to
do some work.
There is in this country the feeling
that goods should be distributed equally.
The big industries furnish cars, VIC
trolaS, movies" food, heated rooms,
clothing for everybody, and everybody
is supposed to partake. An American
Is taught to spend money. 1t Is not
true, as Europeans believe, that he likes
the money as such. He likes to spend
1t. That makes great difference. In
America the community Is stronger than
the individual. Individual perfection is
not looked upon favorably. One ahould
not distinguish ones self too much from
his neighbors Such strong coanmu-
nifty is in many respects tyrannicaa. It
asks many sacrifices. Prohibition the
| clearest expression Of this tyranny of
the community. It shows how tram
meled the American Is by his commu-
| nifty.
Explains Outlaws Lawlessness.
This explains why the outlaw is no.
where else SO lawless as in America.
He must be strong and violent in order
to stand the enormous pressure OF the
community and he must have an or
ganization of his own in order to defy
the strong organization of the others.
The community with its strong forces
and its strong organization does not
care for the individual. Criminals are
punished severely, almost cruelty. The
alcohol manufactured for industry is
poisoned regardless of the fact that a
certain amount of it will be used in
making liquor.
Against the European tendency in its
highest expression, VERDE was du bist''
develop your TRUE personality-stands
the American ideal of efficiency, service
and cooperation.
Where there Is only humanity and
brotherhood, the position of the woman
necessarily has to be the same as the
| position of the man. They are supposed
to be comrades. In Europe the man is
always considered as the real substitute
of the royal power. He Is the "pater
familias." The woman, being a mystic
rious goddess, is still dependent on him,
not equal to him in real life. She is a
danger for his hierarchic system.
Sex Equality Falls Of Ideal.
Women in America are supposed to
be equal to men; they are supposed
to be comrades and ster-fellows.
There is belief in friendship between
men and women. But 7 must say that
the reality does not reach this ideal.
| The social position of the American
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