Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27
The Things Of the Mind.

| After q three-WeeK VlSlL 10 Cue
United States, a party of some 200
Cuban teachers returned last week to
Havana. The group had travelled for
nearly q month along the Atlantic
Coast and visited the Eastern sections
of the country studying educational
conditions, the organization and meth
DDS of American universities and get
ting acquainted with American people
and, Of course, with American ways of
living and with American ways OF
thinking.
Almost at the same time a debating
team from the American university Of
Yale arrived in Lima, the historic cap
ital of Peru where it Is to meet in ora
torical contests with Peruvian students,
The full significance of these intel
lectual exchanges is not easily realized
by persons accustomed to hear, quite
often, of large parties of American tour
lists or bushes men visiting the South
ern republics or of Latin American DEL
egationS arriving in New York to mar
vel at the material greatness of the
United States and enjoy its wonderful
amusements and luxurious pastimes.
| But these are merely daily incidents in
life of business or pleasure, with no
other than strictly economic or material
consequences. The visit of Cuban teach
ers to the United States and the trip
of American students to Peru, on the
other hand, bear a spiritual signifl-
canoe, for they create intellectual links,
bonds of the mind. And these are the
only means through which mutual
knowledge and understanding can grow
in strength.
In this respect the interchange Of
professors and students between the
4x1,r 49, I.n NJ lxfaVt
tage than many commercial enterprises,
or even political schemes, in drawing to-
gether the nations of the Western
/ World. This commerce of things of
the mind is a substantial element in
promoting international good will and
understanding.
The weakest point in the Pan Ameri-
can cause has always been the lack of
real knowledge of each other among
| the peoples of Saxon and of Latin
America. To this lack may be attrib-
uted all the misunderstanding and the
| majority of the errors which have been
hindering franker and closer relations
between them. The ignorance which
exists in the North as to the ways of
life and mode of thought of the 'Latins
is quite as great as that of the latter
as to the true ideals and intentions of
the United States.
EcOpleS W1lO 10 IlOC KNOW edCIl JULIET
cannot understand each other. It is
the same with nations as with indiyid-
.uals; more superficial acquaintance
cannot form the basis of a deep and
sincere friendship. Intimate knowledge
and above all spiritual communion of
ideas Is necessary for true friendship.
And today, in the Americas, there is
ignorance not only of higher things, but
also of mere geography.
shall never forget the words of a
young South American student who
went not long ago to Columbia Univer-
Sity and protested Indignantly against
the prevailing ignorance of things
Latin American which he had encoun-
tered. 1t was incredible, he said, that
in the schools Of this country they did
not take the trouble to teach even the
geography of Latin America. He had
heard it stated here that Paraguay was
province of Argentina, that BuenoS
Aires was the capital of Brazil, that Co
lombia was part of Venezuela. ION
the other hand, / have always known"
he added, that New York was the
capital of the United States -"
Economic ties, like political bonds are
artificial, the work of mems hands. Gre
ated for private or national benefit or
for that of an international comnu-
nifty. Being artificial, they are fragile.
as are all material creations of human
ingenuity or effort. Only bonds of the
brain and of the soul endure. They are
the higher, the invisible ties that unite
people through sentiments and the
things of the mind and they lie be-
yond the realm of created interests or
OF human. intrigue. To reach this true
understanding between the two races of
differing origin there is but one road
mat OF knowledge of each other.
nave often said that If We wish to
make real In the New World the plea
OF the Creator. Love We one another, !"
we must first teach, Know We one an
other"
Uruguay's First Centenary.
Another Latin American republic has
just celebrated the first centenary Of her
political independence. This time the
celebration has been marked by cere-
monies OF unusual Importance all over
the continent, for no other nation on
this side of the Atlantic has more
friends or enjoys more general appre-
citation and respect than Uruguay. And
none other Is held higher as model
Tor democratic organization.
Although the smallest state In South
America in territorial extent, Uruguay
has placed herself in the vanguard OF
them all as far as the development OF
her institutions Is concerned. For the
past half century Uruguayan statesmen
| have been adopting all the reforms
which, through important politicai
movements, were being tested out IN
other countries, as well rs all the pro-
aggressive theoEteS IN legislation ana pop
.s-. ~ 4 ~ q