The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-09-29

NEW YoRK.--Mahatma Ghandi
IN has indicated that, in his opin-
ion, world war against Adolf Hit
Ter would be justifable and possibly
Understudy of British, with
Gandhi Gains their impera-
ryp..:.l tive job of keep
AosOdrd BRUSH ing their great
Indian empire in hand, probably
aren't worrying about Gandhi. More
important is the attitude and activ-
ity of his vigorous and popular UNI
derstudy,. the 44-year-old Pandit
Jawahharial Nehru. The latter has
been boldly resistant to British rule,
spent six years in jail, and has ac-
quired popularity and leadership as
Gandhi reaches his seventy-second
year.
Meager news reports from In
dia indicate that Nehru has
been calming down in his agi-
tation against British imperial
ism, and that, few weeks ago,
he was vehemently denouncing
fascism and the new German
aggression. London is re-
assured, but watchful, as Asia
may become a balance of power
in the clash of world dominions
and Nehru has been an active
propaganda Of pan-Asiatic doc
trine, summ0ning browns and
blacks to resist what he believes
to be the aggression Of the
whites.
Born Of a noble caste, Nehru was
educated at Harrow and Cambridge,
taking honors in the classics. His
father, the Pandit Motilal Nehru,
was lawyer and the richest man
in Allahabad. He gave away his
mansion and moved into a shabby
little house when he became con-
vert to Indian nationalism.
His son, reared in splendor,
had no such ideas when he came
home from England. He was a
strong supporter Of the British
regime until the Amritsar mas
sacre of 1919. Then he burned
his so British suits, donned ma
live dress, and became an agi-
tatOr for the Nationalist cause.
However, he was no dev0tee Of
lOin-clOth asceticism. He was
all for fighting and it was as the
most belligerent Of all the In
dian leaders that he came to
the presidency Of the all-Indian
congress in 1895.
Nehru was at times sharply OPP
posed to the non-resisting Gandhi,
but apparently their differences
have been resolved. He is hand
some and engaging, a vigorous as
sailant of the ancient caste system
of India.
TT WAS not until year ago that
i Roman ROLAND returned to
France, after more than 20 years
exile in Switzerland. He had op-
sLamplighter' e eral years wal. 'e be
Sees Hope Only fore he finished
In Timer Light to saah T Snrloi
had called him 1.-THE Conscience Of
Europe" He is a pallid old man
now, with thinning hair and sad,
deep-set eyes, but still "above the
battle and still trying to arouse the
conscience of mankind.
He dispatched to the New York
international congress of the Amer
lean Musicological society mes
sage of good will. It is quoted here
in accord with this departments
wartime alertness to such men and
messages. He says:
GIN the field Of art, there Is
not-there should not be-any
rivalry among nations. The
only combat worthy of us is that
which is waged in every coun-
try and at every hour, between
culture and ignorance, between
light and chaos. Let us save all
the light that can be saved.
There is none more refulgent
than music. 1t is the sun of the
inner universe"
It was this sun that illumined
"Jean Christophe," one of the great
est books Of all times, published here
just before the World war, profound
ly moving to multitudes of Ameri-
cans as an avocation of the creative
and aspiring spirit of man. Many
times in recent years, Roman Roll
land has written that the world had
little hope of escaping another and
possibly last devastating war. But,
described as ian old man, broken
and despairing," on his return to
France last year, he has contin-
ued his plea for peace, decrying
hatred, pleading for understand
u.
His has been q lone voice,
never identified with ssmove-
ments," or political groupings,
right or left. He opposed Henri
Barbusse and his Clarte group,
and the various united fr0nts,''
as he did the leaders Of violent