The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-15
Observations
Self Made Men
Coming Into Own
in Washington
BY Helen Esssry


Since coronets have lost their
glitter and exiled kings nave taken
TO hiring press agents 10 sell their
royal virtues 10 generally bored
populace. the IIordtio Alger Boys
are coming into their earnest own
once more especially in Washing.
ton
I'm glad. I've always liked the
industrious. paiustaking chance.
grabbing Horatio Alger Boys, par
ticularly If they haven't forgotten
how TO smile while working their
way up from stork pants 10 plus
fourS.
!, also like the mean. unsmiliug
Horatio Alger Boys-if they are no.
mean and unsmiling 10 me And
love to see them smacking down
the big, rich people who used to
drive them back 10 the mines or
make them dodge the splash OF
Rolls Royce mud
Not too long ago. the Horatio
Alger Boys, which is another way
OF saying sefmade men. were
ashamed Of the poverty OF their
childhood They were Inundated
that they had not picked up Greek
letter ffaternities or jibed about
dear old PreXy on their climb up.
They trembled before wives who
had heard OF place plates and yers
libre.
The bitter reality Of the past few
years, however the necessity to kill
or be killed. the necessity to make
the tools and tougher the muscles
with which TO kill in order TO keep
from being killed has made the
Horatio Alger Boys. grimy finger
nails Notwithstanding. the heroes,
OF the day More, the savious OF the
hour.
! Was reminded Of the signs Of
the times the other day when !
went 10 the first American press
conference Of the "Rt. Hon. Ben
Smith. new British minister resi-
dent in Washington for supply. who
has just arrived here TO succeed
Col. John L. Lewellin. recently
named minister of food" (Whew. |
I'm almost breathless as | quote
the press handout of the British In
formation Seryice1
II was the further advertising the
British Information Service gave
the career OF the RI. Hon. Ben |
Smith that / want you 10 pay atten |
ton TO. This is the remark | find .
most significant: "SiXty-four- year .
old Ben smith has come a long way
since the days when he sailed IS
cook on a topsail schooner at |
a salary OF s. a month" The Rt. /
Hon. Ben was also hyeryman !
meaning he drove an Old hack |
around London and later was a
taxi driver. OF course he got 10 be |
labor advisor. He must also have |
learned 10 count his pennies for he
was treasurer of the royal house /
hold in the Labor government Of
1929-3l
Since that keeping-accounts day.
the Ri Hon. Ben had not lost foot.
hold on the Ladder OF Getting On
in the World. He became Labor
whip in Commons. He learned |
about bombers and shipping and |
road hsulage and railways and kept |
things dashed up generally,
But. and at last get 10 my point !
he never changed personality. He |
never thought il necessary 10 apol- |
ogize for having been hungry or for |
not having worn a little white col |
lar at Eton. He knew that the hard
ships Of his youth had given him
character. He had turned his liza
bilities into assets. And there he
sat al the press conference before
a bout IS inquiring but respectful
reporters as complacent as John
Bull himself. tossing off quick an
svers with a Cockney accent and Fl,
telling me later:
Certainly | can still cook II
you've ever cooked for the Navy
q think he said Navy. you never
lose the trick. What I like most is a
big, juicy steak. But let me tell you
| miss my green vegetables in .
this country Not piece of cabbage
or a bite OF brussels sprout since
came and I've been here almost 2.
week.
But you don't expect cabbage
and brussels sprouts every day, do
you?''
"And why not" asked the RI. !
Hon Ben Smith.
There are dozens OF the RI Hon. /
Ben Smiths running the United !
States and its part OF the world.
You've probably got, one OF these .
Horatio Alger Boys as your next.
door neighbor. I'm sure one went |
past you in a big car while You /
waited for crowded bus.
There will be more Of the breed /
round about when this wretched /
fight is finished. The soldiers who /
will come back from the slaughter .
will be the new Horatio Alger Boys. /
They will have learned TO take tho /
worst that men can endure and still /
exist. They will have done heroic /
things. most OF them. All OF them .
will see with clearer eyes the stu /
pidities. the Alterations OF our par
lor-trick civilization.
| hope they run the postwar .
world. these new Horatio Alger (
BOYS. They will have earned the /
right. For have they not come the /,
longest, hardest road. the fearful /,
trail up from death 70 life?