The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-04
Howe About:
The Well-to-Do
Emerson
Sir Basil Zaharof
D. M HT0yXTTa
By ED HOWE

BY ED HOWE
| TT is commonly said we are all hypO-
= critics. In no way do we deserve
the reputation more than In our CON
slant abuse Of the rich, since every
mothers son of us is struggling to
became rich. If a rich man is q
scoundrel. then the first ambition Of
every man on the face Of the earth
| is to become one
The money power which every man
hates, and misrepresents in his radi-
cal moments, is largely an agreement
among men that when one of them
borrows money from neighbor, he
should pay it back. The money power
has never been as disreputable as the
political power; the union labor" pow
er bombs more houses, and shoots more
men, than does the money power.
When we use the word "rich," as APP
plying to men and money, we actually
mean the well-to-do. In my town Of
1900 I do not know one rich man,
but know great many who are we'll
to do. In the country at large the &C
than half the men are well-to-do. More
than half the farms of the United
States are not mortgaged SO that more
than half the farmers, (even the farm
ersD are well-to-do. It is further
worthy Of note Tin case the reader Of
this has reasonable intelligence and
disposition toward fairness) that those
in the well-to-do (or middle) class are
the best specimens of men we have,
and that those who have failed to
reach the middle class have failed to
display the average energy and intel
ligence.
Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke fire.
Quently Of "His Island" (meaning the
secluded retreat where he had right
to privacy. The curious and impudent
Overran his island constantly, as they
do every mans. And when he had pri-
vacy, Emerson didn't like it very well.
Once his wife and little son left him
for a few days, and he was wretched
because of loneliness. want the
company of polite and sensible peo-
pie on my island, but in finding them
must run the risk of being bumped
into by the bores.
The average reader of newspapers
and books will finally encounter the
story of Sir Basil Zaharoff. 1t is said
of him that although originally only
humble salesman of war NUM-
tions, he now controls the business In
ternationally. He is further credited
with bringing on the late World war,
and with arranging to bring on an
other (now believed so imminent that
Lloyd George has appealed to the
churches to pray for peace).
1t is not known where Zaharoff was
born. Two birthplaces are given for
him in Turkey. but his name is Rus
sian, and there is much reason to be-
lieve he is a Greek. At one time
he had an interest in Russian, French,
Turkish, English and German arma-
ment concerns; it is charged, also, that
his power extended to the United
States France has awarded him a
Grand Cross Of the Legion of Honor;
he is a knight Of the Grand Cross Of
the British Empire. The Germans be-
lieve he double-crossed them during
the war. and put price on his head.
Lord Beaverbrook, British newspaper
owner, has not baked at saying: 1.-The
destinies of nations are his sport;
the movements of armies his special
delight" but New York newspaper
says his chief pleasure is cookery In
the gorgeous kitchen of his palace, and
dining Off solid gold plate.
Is there a man who has cornered
the sale of war munitions internation-
ally, and able to declare war at any
time for his personal profit and pleas
ure? Or is the story of Zaharoff an in
vention of newspapers intended to
rival in interest the radio and moving
picture plays. now seriously reducing
newspaper circulation?
Ny admiration for Bernard Shaw
is only occasional; he is frequently q
fool, of course, as we all are, but his
average In intelligence, wit and fair
ness is little higher than the average.
/ claim no more for him.
He said in his New York speech
that In the United States the people
believe morality is entirely concerned
with women's legs. This seems to me
both witty and wise since everyone
should know morality means reason
ably good behavior in everything.
I'm a new man, in that know mod
ernism. Still, I'm abominably handi-
capped by the old human nature.
In everything the first question to
consider is: "What is the common
sense of it," And this everyone may
know, since Nature has been teaching
the common sense about everything
thousands of years. One man is
fool about this, another about that,
yet neither of them can afford to be
fool about anything and be safe.
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