Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-14

should have united in issuing Q new
and revised definition OF the meaning
of the word fame and at the same
time told wondering world how they
discovered, in Whitmaraas case, the fac
tors, influences and recorded achieve
ments that nnaks men--or women
nationally and enduringly famous in the
public vision" The Herald admits that
more than two-thirds of the electors
have decided that Whitmans literary
heritage outweighs Sam Adams service
to the revolutionary cause; but holds
that 1T Is heritage Of eccentric phil
osophy and Of verse glorified by his cult
chiefly because 1t plays havoc with
rhythm and rhyme and lacks the nu-
steal soul Of all the really great poetry
in our language"
Disagresing with the estimates Of this
type, the Birmingham News asserts:
walt Whitman, finer poet by long
odds than several whose tablets have
appeared for years in the Hall Of Fame,
at last has been admitted by the College
of Electors. 1t is rather singular that
after 80 years Of efforts by few Of his
worshipers in the college, the Good
Gray Poet received at the recsnt elec-
ton not one single vote more than the
required 81 of the 106 electors repre-
senting As States. . Yet this belated
action of the college In Whitman's case
is scarcely worth quibbling over in view
of the fact that Thomas Paine still re-
mains outside of the exclusive list of
immortals Among the nominees voted
on Just now, that magnificent firebrand
and intellectual, whose service for
America in her struggle for freedom
from British tyranny was not unlike
the service rendered by Jean Jacques
Rousseau in creating q French republic,
received only So votes"
As viewed by the Providence Journal,
Whitman may have been looking down
from Elysium in some disgust at the
delay in recognizing his merit. If he
has been watching the progress of
things earthly he has seen q marvellous
development of his formless verse, as
well as later WEAKNESS of it. But, in
spite of the fact that the 'camerados'
whom he sought to interpret have never
been able to read him, much less to ap-
prectate him, his unique self-revelation
of virile and striking personality has
won him q place in his country's and
his century's literature which justifles
his presence In the Hall of Fame"
Surprise at the delay in recognizing
Colndr. Maury is expressed by the Tex
arkana Gazette, though conceding that
1t Is for the statesmen, scientists, edu-
Gators. politicians and writer's compos-
ing the Board of Elections, with their
varied points of view and unequal ca
pacity of appreciation, to agree on the
merits of a candidate" The Columbia
Record states that "the South will be
especially pleased with the choosing of
Commodore Maury of the Confederate
Navy, previously of the United States
Navy"
ITO readers not quite forgetting that
they studied physical geography" ac-
cording to the New York Herald
Tribune, "the name of Maury strikes q
chord of recollection. But even they
would be somewhat embarrassed II they
were asked at a moments notice to OUT
line the fame of the scientist. The
College of Electors knows, however, that
Maury, naval officer of the United
States and of the Confederacy, was a
great photographer and meteorologist.
Humboldt declared that his work on
The Physical Geography of the Sea
marked the foundation of q new and
important science. He was the FIRST To
give complete description OF the Gulf
Stream. He was the first to suggest the
laying OF telegraphic ocean cable. A
brilliant pioneer of science. his life had
its times Of adventurous color, especisIiv
In his experience as member Of the
Emperor Maximilian,s cabinet. In his
later years he lent distinction to the
chair Of physics in the Virginia Mill
tafy Institute"
In the group receiving 10 or more
ballots" records the Hamilton Evening
Journal. were Thomas Paine. George
Rogers Clark. Noah Webster and Iohn
Calhoun. All Of these may eventually
occupy inches IN the Hall Of Fame
SINCE the Tour Just chosen once were
among the unsuccessful norninees mt
their immortality does not denend upon
such tribute. All four have made
lasting inches for themselves III that
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