The Washington times., 1931-10-14
True tOType
TAHITI GOES NATIVE;
CANDH,I FEARS
OUR RIDlCULE
OUR RIDlCULE
-Rv (.HLREAG'T SEa.HDES-

think that "mxed emotions" the natural response
to the following item, reayed from Paris Seriously
affected by the economic depression, the South Sea
Islands appear the verge of renouncing the of
civilization 1t appears that the farmers of Tahiti
urging their fellow countrymen resume their ancestral
mode of life and abandon the attempt to maintain modern
methods of living and trading" Specifically, European
clothing and town life to be cast off, and with them
the artificial and commercial way of life which is held
responsible for the degeneration of the islands.
Lots of Vistas
The Ibsen generation which always wanted vistas
ing before it, would be pleased with the for it
opens whole series of vsas, after the other There
is the picture of Tahtian innocence the lush vegetation
the Gaugun coors, the health sexual simplicity, and
charm of long ago. About that picture not
allowed be critical because whatever is primitive and
savage and uncvized has become by this time sacred
We not permitted to wonder whether the abOos of the
simple aren't rigid, fearinsprng, the cOnven-
tions of society; must not wonder whether
have bad nerves and indigestion.
Corruption
The second tableau is the one upon which should
feast eyes, the tragic story of civilization entering
into Eden and utterly spelling and corrupting it. am
afraid it is not pleasant spectacle fear that mistake
made at the beginning when the manufacturers in
Manchester found that machinery made lot of cloth
and instantly thereafter decided that for the glory of
God naked savages must be cohedand must be clothed
by Manchester The story of the South Seas declining in
health and vgor and kndlness, under the impact of
European and American INVADERS is not pleasant
Before corruption completed literature stepped
in giving third frame for the blessed islands
1t just after the that dream like
gentle mist from the South Seas and waited, the
wings of best Sellers the ocean. overland, until
Americans walked in it, seeing Visions dreaming them
selves away from postwar disillusOn weakness of
WILL and general moral debility. No matter what
people actually did, in their minds eye they them
selves that yacht, headed for those islands, getting
away from it all,
Back to Nature
Now that picture, too, has faded. Too many hotels
were built, too many comforts (and probably those
most uncomfortable of all human resting places
fort-statons). The traffic dwindled. The runaways
haven't money enough to run away The Tahitians are
disappointed. And in their deception, they become
moral, all of us do and have decided that if
else WILL they will go native. Back to the SOIL is the
cry; back to simplicity; down with civilization!
hope the Tahitians will not take it too seriously If
the story spreads that things back to Methusaleh
down there, the visitors visitors and writers
will And, if that doesn't work, let them recall
that in 1902, the Rev. Increase Mather found New
England degenerate as they now find their home
Land "0h New England E New England" M he cried cried
thee, for begins to CO. On, degenerate New England
what thou come to at this day. How are those sins
become common in thee that not much
heard of in this land"
And for 229 years thereafter, New England has
maned pretty talr, decent and moral segment OF the
universe.
Candhi's Fear
do not think anyone guarantee Mahatma Gandh
against ridicule if he to America. He has been
invited by most distinguished group of industriaiss
philosophers professional men and educators and
churchmen he is afraid to lest he be treated
freak be exploited ridculed and misunderstood. can
why.
America is sort of reservoir for sympathy In spite
of the decline of liberty and of generous feeling for
revolutonaries the tradition is still with century
of active help for Ireland topped by official
declarations during the in favor of suppressed
nationalities, and although closed gates to
Karolyi, it is remembered that opened to
Kossuth. Gandhi naturally does not want to prejudice
the vast potential friendness have for his cause.
We Know Few Saints
On the other hand not familiar with the Indian
probem not assured that the. problem has
been fairly stated either side. Between Katherine
Mayo and Will Durant, something in insight frankness
and clear logic still is wanting We are asked to accept
as the divine voice of India Saint and we are not
accustomed to saints do we know whether Gandhs
santliness includes any capacity for reconcilng the
internal difficulties of his country The Aga Khan whose
bath water bottled and sold to millions