Evening star., 1937-11-21

your deptS to the United States:
The Gloomy Dean
Sheds Ray of Hope.
In the midst of the furry We turned
to that refreshing new book of the
Gloomy Deans, "A Rustic Moralist,"
and decided that we would at least like
to believe that it is ray of hope to a
troubled world and that DR.. William
Ralph Inge, known as the Gloomy
Dean Of st. Paul's, London, is, after
all, the foremost optimist relative to
the present situation in Europe, when
he says: The opinion on the Con-
tlnent is that We are approaching a
new and terrible European war Here
again will have the courage Of my
it. The conditions are quite unlike
those of 1914" He argues that the
nations-except Russia-are in no
condition to go to war, and says, -"
In future no one will look on war loan
as an investment" may we add not
Nor would Germany attack Russia
which would be aided by France. with
any chance of success" He thinks
that Russia is more stable financially
than Germany and ventures the opin-
ion that there is much internal dis
content against the existing regime
in Germany Last Sunday night at
Town Hall meeting Mr.. James Nc
Donald expressed rather gloomy out
look relative to the crisis in Europe.
What jolly fun it would be if the
Dean could be induced to come over
and give us few pointers anent the
situation. Since his retirement from
the deanery of St. Paul's, however, he
has become columnist and doubtless
has to get out his copy on time.
"The Rustic Moralist"
Full of Ingey Humor.
DR.. 1nge, now the dean emeritus
OF st. Pauls, in The Story of Paula" +"
the beautiful tribute to his little
daughter, Margaret Paula. who died in
1923. says at the time of leaving Lon
don. I'VE have bought a little house
IN the heart of the country where I
nope I may have grace to prepare
Tor the day, which cannot be far dis
tant, when my earthly probation will
be over" 1t waA at his country house
that he wrote the charming book of
sclntiuatlng wit and Ingey humor
which he calls The Rustic Moralist,"
and In which he says very frank
things not only about Americans but
about his countrymen as well.
The Englishman always rides
some hobby. He travels through the
world with one eye shut, hops all over
1t on one leg and plays his scales with
one finger. He will defend the silli-
est opinion with a mint of learning
and espouse the worst causes on the
highest principles" The dean is mod
ern. to the point Of embarrassment
OF many Of his brother churchman as
he has defended birth control, sui
eide and in some cases condoning di-
vorce. If it were not that he lends
deep scholarship to any argument or
expression of opinion on even modern
questions Of controversy, there are
some who would be inclined to think
that he is taking bad boy attitude
simply to shock one.
Importation of Duchesses
Has Beautified England.
He is bit unfair when he speaks
OF the States as "the happy hunting
ground" for what he calls freak re-
ligions," because England has been
the birthplace of more preposterous
tsn1s than America has ever dreamed
OF and some Of the "57 varieties" we
have were imported directly from OK
ford-the beloved of his heart.
"(American) exports to this country
include not only duchesses and chew
Ing gum, but Christian Science,
spiritualism, the group movement and
many such like things, some of which
take as kindly to our climate as the
musquash and the Colorado beetle"
When he speaks of spiritua,ism. one
thinks Of Sir Oliver Lodge and Conan
Doyle. When he mentions the impor-
tAtion Of duchesses one recalls the
restoration by American dollars of
many Of the beautiful, historic old
castles Of England and there are
some who think he should have a
spirit Of gratitude for the good red
blood some Of the duchesses Inherited
from their working ancestors and
which has helped over there to make
Q stronger race Of men.
Dean Inge Brings
Much to Journalism.
To think Of Dean 1nee joining the
Fourth estate as a regularly con-
tributing member is very compliment
tAry to his fellow members and to
himself. He has an open mind and
says delightful things in the most de-
Hghtful way, bringing as he does his
scholarly attainments and his love of
Oil that Is best in ancient and modern