Evening star., 1934-11-25
COMFORTNU.S. ISLUXURY
ABROAD TO PIRANDELLO
Noble Prize Winner Impressed by Hos.
pitality and Acquisitive Mental Stand
ard of America as Land for Masses.

homes Of the rich and Of the erudite
were thrown open to him. II was at
this time that discovered in Piran-
dello the unmistakable signs that the
great are always simple. He preferred
dining in q little Italian restaurant in
Macdougal street to de luxe restau-
rants uptown. Here he liked to sit
and talk, over . glass Of wine Gin spite
Of prohibition), and discuss America,
which interested and excited him.
America is the greatest country in
the world for the masses, but not for
the individual" he commented-and
then apologized for expressing an opin-
ion on such short acquaintance with a
country. 1T seems presumptuous. too
cocksure, for a foreigner to consider
himself capable of understanding the
psychology Of another land on short
order" he said.
Just call it observation" I sug-
gested. "Or constructive criticism"
Impressed by Hospitality.
"Well," he observed, what first i'm
pressed me was the genuine hospi-
tality Of the American people. Then
the magnificence of your millionaires
residences. They surpass in luxurious
elegance the palaces Of Europe. What
we interpret as comfort would mean
nothing to you. In no country in the
world is such high degree Of luxury
accepted as a standard of mere COM
fort. I think there is too much
luxury. The effect will eventually be
bad
What really astonishes me here is
your system of Standardization.
have studied the American scene and
the American consciousness. And /
can't help but feel skeptical about this
passion for Standardization. ! can't
comprehend the necessity Of stand
ardized level SO high for the majority
in the mechanical and material, so
low for the majority in the intellec-
tual. Your workman has his auto
mobile, his home with all the physical
comforts; but your intellectual is de-
prived of his mental needs. Every
thing seems to be produced for the
masses; there is no thought Of the
individual. I, for one, sense an in
tellectual rebellion against the stand
ards Of
"Mediocrity?"
Exactly! I think the American in
telligence-of individual and masS-is
undereStimated. Schools, newspapers,
magazines, cinema, radio-all the in
struments Of enlightenment-ofier less
than the public can digest mentally.
OF course there are exceptions. In
New York there are some great news
papers, but in general the trend is to
play down to the mediocre. not to
make the mediocre play up to the
superior.
.America is the one country in the
world with the power to have an in
telligent majority. II I were an
American magnate I would feel that
there would be fine investment In
brains. Your standardization system
seems such a waste of good material.
Mentally Acquisitive.
Americans are mentally acquisitive
and they seem hungry for finer things.
The paradox of free country, Of un-
usual mental vigor, accepting stand
ardization system Is all the more
noticeable because the level Of your
masses is so superior to that Of other
| countries. But the individual does
not 20 proportionately high under the
system. I have heard writer's COM
plain that they are cautioned: Don't
be highbrow. Give them what they
want Why not take chance on
them wanting something better than
they get-give them the best The
great difference between American
and Italian cultures lies. believe, in
this Standardization. In Italy an au-
thor. determined to write what he
believes. goes ahead, unconscious Of
any suffering from social humiliation.
Here your material standards EN-
barrass him Encouraging individuality
would be q pretty good Interpretation
| Of freedom"
do you believe there is greater
freedom in Italy?"
"Yes, indeed, for the individual.
That is why I could never work in
! America. There is something in the
air, lack of repose that would keep
me from creating. The very thought
of equalization (or is it standardiZa-
tion?) when we know we are not all
equal. would crush me-" That was
/ in 1924!
! When I saw Pirandello not so long
ago in Italy he had nothing to say
about Standardization and suppress
| sion of the individual.
Unlike many individualists, he has
kept clear of politics. I remember my
amused astonishment at his seeming
unawareness of what was going on
| politically in the Autumn of 1922. He
was apparently unconscious Of or dis
interested in the powerful protago-
mist. who, untormented by doubt, was
about to play the leading role on
Italy's political stage.
Then, when he became Fascist-con-
scious, Pirandello was one of Musso-
lini's ardent admirers. His explana-
ton of Mussolini, by his own theories.
moved me to admiration. For Musso-
| lini, once leader of the Red Socialists
| who became founder and leader Of
Fascism, who crushed the red specter
of Communism in the italian dust. is
a protagonist. Pirandello explained to
me, of his own philosophy Of chang
ing personality.
,o+.o. W.H Drouov,t