Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
Who Have Achieved Most?


David Wark Griffith, William H. WEIGH.
James Adams, the Mayo brothers, Henry
Ford, John d. Rockefeller, sr.
Mrs. John Macy who taught Helen
Keller, belongs here no less surely than
does Henry Ford. Indeed, a pretty
strong case might be put up in favor
of promoting this extraordinary woman
to the AAAA group. And there I
might place her but for my feeling
that her efforts to overcome obstacles
must have been incomparably less than
those of Helen Keller, and I say that
without in the least belittling them.
Notable Programs Outlined.
John Dewey set out as young man
with neither wealth nor influence to
think his way through the world. His
obstacles did not measure up to those
of the AAAA group. They were chiefly
teaching and administrative work in
college Throughout half a hundred
years he pursued his goal without
Swerving. He became the most distin-
guished American philosopher. And
what is far more pertinent to our
present rating--he gave a new direc-
ton to American education, from top
to bottom. He has probably shaped
the thinking of more thinkers than
any other American, past or present
Long after the fortunes of the Fords,
Rockefellers and Duponts have gone
the way of all cash, the thoughts OF
Dewey will be earning extra dividends
Here, too, belongs Clifford Beers
who, having been committed to an
insane asylum, observed the deplorable
lack of proper care and re-educatlon
for smitten MINDS and, with amazing
clarity of vision and persistence, under
took to create the Mental Hygiene
movement, one of the most significant
institutions of our era.
Here belongs Charlie Chaplin. His
social significance is immense, perhaps
even vet moderated. In a sense he
has the same claim to rank here that
the Mayo brothers have, in that he has
lighUened the burden of life for per-
haps as many as a billion people. He
misses membership in the highest class
for a clear and SUFFICIENT reason; In
his early life he never set out to &C
complish one-tenth as much as he
actually did achieve by sheer uncon-
scious artistry. None would admit this
more promptly than he.
Griffith Added to Galaxy.
Add to the galaxy David Wark Crit
fifth, one of the few geniuseS of the
screen. The social value of his achieve
ments. from THE Birth of a Nation
down to Lincoln" is high; but l cam
not bring myself to believe that 1t
equals Chaplin's. Over against his,
Grifith's clear artistic aim and his
technical difficulties surpass the philo-
sophie comedians by wide margin.
William H. WEIGH is one OF the
founders of scientific medicine and
medical research in America. His Johns
Hopkins laboratory it was which pro-
duced such outstanding men as Osler,
Walter Reed and many others who
have driven disease from mankind
The human value of Welch's work, not
alone in his speciality. pathology, but
in aggressive organizing and campaign
ing, fixes his rank with us.
Jane Adams hardly calls for
panegyrist. Under our cold measuring
rod she misses out in the AAAA group
simply because the obstacles to the real
ization of her vision of Hull House were
not very great. But the vivid rigor OF
her aim, the personal success OF 1t and
the Importance of it to all America in
sure her position in this next-to-the-tor
class of achievement.
The Mayo brothers, whose work IN
surgery is world famous, surely belong
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