'^'ikhiwU^lLU^¥Ji?y7i^]!<mP^^ 
 
 SOCIAL coNsa: 
 
 HOMO€RACY 
 
 VERSUS 
 
 ADAM ABE:f 
 
SOCIAL 
 CONSCIENCE 
 
 OR 
 
 HOMOCRACY 
 
 VERSUS 
 
 MONOCRACY 
 
 IN 
 
 STORY, VERSE and ESSAY 
 
 BY 
 
 ADAM ABET 
 
 ■i? 
 
 1920 
 CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 INCORPORATED 
 
 BRIDGEPORT, CONN. 
 
Copyright, 1920, by Co-Operative Publishing Company, Inc. 
 Bridgeport, Conn. 
 
 Printed by Publishers Printing Co. 
 
 New York, U.S.A. 
 
DEDICATED 
 
 TO LOVERS OF SINCERITY EVERYWHERE IN 
 THE CAUSE OF HUMANE PROGRESS. 
 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 The reading of this book may well be commenced 
 in the middle or toward the end — as its several parts 
 are separate compositions. They were written at 
 various intervals and present different topics in 
 divers keys and forms. Hence, each part — so to 
 speak — craves for a hearing or a reading of its own. 
 
 Unity in the work, however, is not entirely lack- 
 ing. There are connecting strains throughout, close- 
 twilled cord and loose-flying tassel of ideas and 
 ideals, all running into one pattern; even as all 
 sprung from the selfsame social conscience. This 
 accounts for the primary title of the volume. The 
 secondary title is clearly postulated in Part Six and 
 Part Eight. But, for reasons already stated, it is 
 not necessary to read these first. 
 
 Esteemed reader, you may safely and justly turn 
 to the division which by its superscription, mould or 
 subject-matter most attracts your interest. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PART ONE 
 
 THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 
 
 A Short Novel Containing Little Fiction, Much Truth 
 and Some Philosophy 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. A Spray From the Sea of Enmities. ... 3 
 
 II. A City and More in Danger 6 
 
 III. The Soleamancer 8 
 
 IV. How Love Laughs at the Locksmith. . . 10 
 
 V. Intra-national War Maps 13 
 
 VI. Split Between Generals 16 
 
 VII. Indirect Action 20 
 
 VIII. Mischief Bred Mischief Breeder 24 
 
 IX. Board of Censorship 26 
 
 X. Temptation Abroad 29 
 
 XL Soleascope or Divination by Shoes 33 
 
 XII. Events in the Moulding 37 
 
 XIII. Unlooked-for Ambition 41 
 
 XIV. The Victim of Battle 43 
 
 XV. Tangle of Nationalities 46 
 
 XVI. Love Conquers Prejudice 60 
 
 XVIL Sunshine and Clouds 63 
 
 XVIII. A Source of Strength 56 
 
 XIX. Powers Against Power 69 
 
 XX. Champions of Labor — So-called 64 
 
 XXI. Light On and From a Puzzling Character 68 
 
 XXII. Ill-will and Good Intention Meet 75 
 
 XXIII. Waves of a Mass Meeting 76 
 
 XXIV. Lost and Found 83 
 
 vii 
 
VIU 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PART TWO 
 
 BROAD VIEW 
 Sonnets on Life, Love and Justice 
 
 PAQH 
 
 I. For All That 89 
 
 11. Grand River 89 
 
 III. Ancestry 90 
 
 IV. Progress 90 
 
 V. Power 91 
 
 VI. Newcomer 91 
 
 VII. Cause of War 92 
 
 VIII. Plea to Posterity 92 
 
 IX. Americanism 93 
 
 X. New Year Spirit 93 
 
 XI. Sex and Peace 94 
 
 XII. Call of Love 94 
 
 XIII. Light of Love 96 
 
 XIV. Test of Love 96 
 
 XV. The Sonnet 96 
 
 XVI. Her Temptation 96 
 
 XVII. His Temptation 97 
 
 XVIII. Shakespeare 97 
 
 XIX. Babel of Doctrines 98 
 
 XX. Polyglot Philosophy 98 
 
 XXI. Blame 99 
 
 XXII. Caste 99 
 
 XXIII. Hope 100 
 
 XXIV. Independence 100 
 
 XXV. Religion 101 
 
 XXVI. Immortality 101 
 
 XXVIL Wisdom 102 
 
 XXVIII. The Last Discount 102 
 
 XXIX. Success 103 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 IX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XXX. Answer to All Queries 103 
 
 XXXI. First Cause 104 
 
 XXXII. Temple of Thought 104 
 
 XXXIII. Wants of Life 105 
 
 XXXIV. Human Tax 105 
 
 XXXV. The War and After 106 
 
 XXXVI. Advance 106 
 
 XXXVII. Kindness of the Storm 107 
 
 XXXVIII. Thanksgiving 107 
 
 XXXIX. Fame— What For? 108 
 
 XL. Song of the Library 108 
 
 XLI. What is Truth? 109 
 
 XLII. Work and Art 109 
 
 XLIII. Literature 110 
 
 XLIV. Tragedy of Greed 110 
 
 XLV. Penalty of Ingratitude Ill 
 
 XLVI. Wisdom Come HI 
 
 XLVII. Neo-Patriotism 112 
 
 XLVIII. Well-Being 112 
 
 XLIX. Destiny of Evil 113 
 
 L. A Request 113 
 
 PART THREE 
 OMARIA 
 
 An Appreciation of the Rubaiyat, Their Author, 
 
 Omar Khayyam, and His Translators. .. .115-141 
 
X CONTENTS 
 
 PART FOUR 
 
 HUMANE HUMANITY 
 Quatrains in the Style of Omar Khayyam 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. Fields and Woods 145 
 
 II. Dialogues 150 
 
 III. City Corner 155 
 
 IV. Within the Hub 160 
 
 V. At a Banquet 166 
 
 VI. Lady Ship 171 
 
 VII. Reformers' Den 176 
 
 VIII. Hall of the Dead 181 
 
 IX. Love and Hope 186 
 
 X. Truth and Wisdom 192 
 
 PART FIVE 
 
 JOHN DOE THOUGHT AND HIS SEARCH FOR 
 STYLE 
 
 A Study of Expression Cast Into Story Form. ... 199 
 
CONTENTS xi 
 
 PART SIX 
 
 CABALS OF MONOCRACY 
 
 A Disclosure of the Means of Enslavement in Com- 
 munications Tapped From and Through Telepathic 
 Connections or What Are Supposed to Be Such 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Prayer 243 
 
 A 245 
 
 A 1 245 
 
 A 2 247 
 
 A 3 248 
 
 B 251 
 
 B 1 252 
 
 B 2 254 
 
 B 3 255 
 
 C 257 
 
 C 1 258 
 
 C 2 261 
 
 C 3 264 
 
 D 266 
 
 D 1 267 
 
 D 2 269 
 
 D 3 271 
 
 E 273 
 
 E 1 277 
 
 E 2 278 
 
 E 3 280 
 
 F 282 
 
 F 1 284 
 
 F 2 285 
 
 F 3 286 
 
 G 286 
 
xii CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 G 1 290 
 
 G 2 292 
 
 G 3 293 
 
 H 295 
 
 H I 297 
 
 H 2 300 
 
 H 3 302 
 
 I 303 
 
 I 1 306 
 
 12 308 
 
 I 3 309 
 
 PART SEVEN 
 
 EAST AND WEST 
 
 Sonnets on Friendship, Peace and Good Will 
 
 I. Easternmost Friend 317 
 
 II. Here and There 317 
 
 III. The Soul's Choice 318 
 
 IV. Homology 318 
 
 V. The Color Line 319 
 
 VI. Intermarriage 319 
 
 VII. Life's Net 320 
 
 VIII. War in Forty Years 320 
 
 IX. Sword and Pen 321 
 
 X. Rosewreaths 321 
 
 XI. Test of Life 322 
 
 XII. Warning 322 
 
 XIII. Cohesion 323 
 
 XIV. Difference 323 
 
 XV. Bittersweet 324 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Xlll 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XVI. Responsibility 324 
 
 XVII. War and Life 325 
 
 XVIII. Saul Slew His Thousands 325 
 
 XIX. Burden Sharing 326 
 
 XX. Applied Prayer 326 
 
 XXI. Victim of Victims 327 
 
 XXII. The Heart Rebellious 327 
 
 XXIII. Remember 328 
 
 XXIV. Consolation 328 
 
 XXV. A Day of War 329 
 
 XXVI. Destiny 329 
 
 XXVII. Through the Mill 330 
 
 XXVIII. The Cheer in the Tear 330 
 
 XXIX. Love Unconfined 331 
 
 XXX. Patriotism 331 
 
 XXXI. The World Beautiful 332 
 
 XXXII. Writer's Plight 332 
 
 XXXIII. Rhyme and Reason 333 
 
 XXXIV. Convincing Argument 333 
 
 XXXV. League of Nations 334 
 
 XXXVI. Thought of Peace 334 
 
 XXXVII. Ambition to Rise 335 
 
 XXXVIII. Solubility of Greatness 335 
 
 XXXIX. Substance of Pride 336 
 
 XL. Non-vicarious Merit 336 
 
 XLI. An Apple and Its Tree 337 
 
 XLII. Psychology 337 
 
 XLIII. The Classes 338 
 
 XLIV. Glory Supreme 338 
 
 XLV. The Flag Invisible 339 
 
 XLVI. Reason for Existence 339 
 
 XLVII. Rendezvous 340 
 
 XLVIII. One More 340 
 
 XLIX. Humanity Proud 341 
 
 L. Aircastle 341 
 
xiv CONTENTS 
 
 PART EIGHT 
 
 SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 
 
 A Program Toward Its Attainment 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction 346 
 
 I. The Reverse Side of the Medal 347 
 
 11. Danger of Defenselessness 354 
 
 III. Governmental War Prevention Policy 360 
 
 IV. Industrial Army of National Service and De- 
 fense 372 
 
 V. Individual Action for Cooperative Success.. 383 
 
 PART NINE 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 Newspaper Articles 
 
 Recognition for Nationalities 393 
 
 Concerning Americanization 395 
 
 Votes for Women — How to Obtain Them 396 
 
 Taking the Terror Out of Revolution 398 
 
 Is Competition the Life of Trade? 399 
 
 Referendum on League Covenant 401 
 
 Prohibition — By Whom ? 403 
 
 Social Equality 409 
 
 League Covenant — Yes and No 412 
 
 Universal Language — Why Not English.^ 416 
 
CONTENTS XV 
 
 Other Miscellanies: „,^^ 
 
 New Year's Day 418 
 
 Pleadings in Greetings — 1913-1921 419 
 
 Literary Preparedness 425 
 
 Song of the Few 428 
 
 Friendship by Thought 429 
 
 A Baby Born 430 
 
 Month of May 431 
 
 Song of Proletarian Patriots 432 
 
 New Liberty 433 
 
 Taxpayers' Plaint 438 
 
 Allied Operation 442 
 
 PART TEN 
 
 FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 
 A Series of Songs^ Fusing Sense and Sentiment 
 
 The Roamer 453 
 
 Unison 454 
 
 Love's Longing 456 
 
 Every Duty in Due Order 457 
 
 Factory Romance 457 
 
 Home Founding 458 
 
 Sometimes I Fear 460 
 
 Build a Nest 461 
 
 Perhaps You Know Not 462 
 
 Cradle Song 463 
 
 Gossip Town 464 
 
 Troubled World 465 
 
 Farewell 466 
 
xvi CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Shine, Morning Star 467 
 
 Hymn of Labor 467 
 
 Fall-Time Hours 469 
 
 Neighborliness 470 
 
 Three Leaves 471 
 
 The Soul at Peace 472 
 
 Remembrance 473 
 
PART ONE 
 
 THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 
 
 A short novel containing little fiction, much truth 
 and some philosophy 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 
 
 A SPRAY FROM THE SEA OF ENMITIES 
 
 Verily, most complex is the loom on which ever 
 busy Fate patterns forth the destiny of each single 
 heart. Threads in the texture twist and cross, then 
 twist again in so many ways, they come from so 
 many sides and go in so many directions that the 
 tiniest prospect for a new design becomes the con- 
 cern of all who know anything about it. In fact, 
 long before eugenics became a popular theme for 
 fanciful lectures and discussions, general interest 
 in the subject and close attention to its minutest 
 bearings were, as they still remain, manifested by the 
 innumerable boards of censorship — meeting daily in 
 homes, at the grocers', the butchers' and the bakery 
 stores, to pass judgment on all things under the 
 sun and, quite especially, on budding love affairs. 
 
 At one of these meetings, presided over by a kind- 
 hearted woman, Mrs. Dora Parker, in her well-ap- 
 pointed bakery store, gossip rose to the level of 
 deliberation — sometimes. Even so, let no one under- 
 estimate the value of such sessions, for opinions there 
 formed (be they in regard to the sinking of a steam- 
 ship or the floating of a courtship) constitute real, 
 
4 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 directive power in society. Ideas sounded in such 
 places turn, not seldom, into tone-giving thought- 
 waves of which platform eloquence is but the reflex 
 and echo, albeit an artistic rendition. 
 
 Now, the two kinds of ships were not mentioned 
 for the mere style of playing with words, but because 
 the sinking of merchant vessels in one part of the 
 world caused deep resentment; in another part, 
 against the courtship of Gustave Kromer, who first 
 saw the light somewhere in Central Europe, for Clara 
 Milton, a girl of Scotch-English descent. 
 
 Besides the hundred and one questions of social, 
 economic, and individual fitness, usually argued 
 about from a score of viewpoints, there entered into 
 the story of Gustave and Clara a consideration 
 which, through the course taken by the world's his- 
 tory, had risen from a somewhat obscure or sub- 
 dued corner of the mind to a badly inflamed and 
 unpleasantly glaring prominence. The smouldering 
 embers of tribal, racial, and national feelings had 
 been rekindled, and both their fairies and their 
 furies — more especially the latter — received a new 
 lease on life with preferential clauses for public 
 exposition. 
 
 Somehow, Mrs. Parker withstood the contagion 
 of warlike feelings which swept from old Europe, 
 across the ocean, to the new country. She had a 
 kind word for all. Her sympathy found expression, 
 more in the absence of the parties favored than in 
 their presence, by a word of defense for the accused 
 or a pointed question for the .side claiming holiness. 
 Here was a person everybody wanted to convince of 
 something, and so her store became a favorite place 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 5 
 
 for venting opinions. She was not surprised when 
 a customer — Mrs. Clancy by name, a lady tall and 
 stout, with gall-filled temper and ample lungs to let 
 it loose — on entering the store broke out in denun- 
 ciation of people who "do not know their place." 
 
 "Oh, you got out of bed on the wrong side, this 
 morning," soothed Mrs. Parker. "I hope you didn't 
 spank Tommy." 
 
 "Yes, I did, and Kathleen, too, and I gave Georgie 
 his first beating. He is the worst of the three, he 
 pulled my hair as if I had ever so much of it." 
 
 "Well, that's handing it out liberally," laughed 
 the storekeeper, "but, then, you ought to be satis- 
 fied. How many loaves to-day?" 
 
 "Satisfied.? No. I'd like to spank a big fellow 
 and give it to him good and hard!" 
 
 "Your husband?" 
 
 "Not him — to-day. It's that lanky star-boarder 
 of Mrs.-what-you-may-call-her across the street." 
 
 "You mean Mrs. Switzer. Will you have two 
 loaves or three?" 
 
 "I mean her star-boarder; the rascal is angling 
 for Clara Milton. I say a Dutch dog shouldn't 
 prowl around an English household these days !" 
 
 The last sentence was overheard by the very Mrs. 
 Switzer, from across the street, who had come for 
 her bread and cake supply. She took up the chal- 
 lenge ; sniffing defiance for a breath or two, she said, 
 with stress on every word : "I have seen a Dutch dane 
 choke an English collie." 
 
 "Have you?" exclaimed Mrs. Clancy, motioning 
 to the other woman, half her size. "Now, see how it 
 feels !" 
 
6 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Mrs. Clancy's arms stretched out for battle. 
 There was a shuffling of feet. Mrs. Parker, with a 
 wrapped parcel, wedged herself between the two 
 women. "You are not English !" she said, to the one 
 and to the other : "You are not Dutch ! Here, I have 
 packed in three loaves. Never mind, you'll pay me to- 
 morrow." With the agility of a gymnast, she man- 
 aged, pushing or pulling, to bring Mrs. Clancy to 
 the door, and dexterously manipulated her out of 
 the place. 
 
 II 
 
 A CITY AND MORE IN DANGEE 
 
 Mrs. Parker drew a breath of relief as she found 
 herself behind the counter wrapping up some raisin 
 cake, after a hair-breadth escape from witnessing a 
 fight in her own store. 
 
 "Such is the irony of fate," she reflected. "I am 
 ever trying to promote friendships and here women 
 get to fighting." Then turning to Mrs. Switzer, she 
 remarked: "You ought not to have taken offense. 
 Sometimes people say things worse than they intend." 
 
 "Sometimes," rejoined the other, "but more often 
 the thought is blacker than the words in which they 
 express it. It was the fourth time to-day I had 
 heard sentiments like that. You couldn't stand so 
 much. Anyhow, what was the matter.? I never put 
 a straw in her way!" 
 
 "She didn't mean you. I suppose you know she 
 lost a cousin on one of the sunken boats and now 
 she is hot against all Germans. This moraing she 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 7 
 
 is grouchy because your boarder, Mr. Kromer, courts 
 her friend Mrs. Milton's daughter Clara." 
 
 "My boarder, Gustave Kromer," exclaimed Mrs. 
 Switzer, "is a good enough man for any girl on 
 earth !" Then she launched into lauding his virtues 
 and kept on praising the fellow, undisturbed by the 
 entrance of several other customers. 
 
 Mrs. Parker obligingly related to the new arrivals 
 the subject-matter under discussion, whereupon they 
 joined the conversation. 
 
 "You must not blame her too much," mollified 
 one of the company. "She is ambitious for her chil- 
 dren and is trying to please some high-toned friends. 
 Yes, she is on visiting terms with Mrs. Clorin, wife 
 
 of Dr. Clorin, who is in with the rich . He is a 
 
 good doctor, though." 
 
 Another quoted the Shakespearian pronouncement 
 as to the course of true love, and wanted to tell her 
 own experience ; however, the others managed to hold 
 fast the case of Gustave and Clara. Now, discussion 
 became good-naturedly animated, pros and cons 
 coming thick and fast. Suddenly the talk ceased 
 and each stood still in the grip of a terrible presenti- 
 ment. 
 
 Fire-fighting apparatus, with its incidental clang 
 and bang, was tearing by in front of the place. From 
 the sound of the rattle they knew its direction. The 
 women in the bakery store remained still, causing a 
 quietness in which one might hear the heart-beats of 
 the others ; certainly, each heart there was thump- 
 ing overtime. 
 
 Mrs. Parker stepped to the telephone. "Central," 
 
8 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 she inquired, in full anticipation of the answer, 
 "where is the fire?" Then, turning back and nod- 
 ding sadly, she declared: "Sure enough, the fire is at 
 Nanglow & Stillmansworth's." 
 
 "Goodness gracious !" exclaimed Mrs. Switzer, 
 "both Gustave and Clara are working there." 
 
 "Six thousand people are working in those 
 plants !" exclaimed another. 
 
 "If the fire gets to the powder stores, it will be 
 the end of the city," said a third. 
 
 "And the end of who knows what else !" intoned 
 a fourth body. 
 
 This last remark brought to each mind present 
 a train of thoughts poignantly painful, yet too in- 
 articulate for expression. Again stillness ensued, a 
 suspense of fear in the vacuum of helplessness. 
 
 Ill 
 
 THE SOLEAMANCER 
 
 It was a fortunate turn for the five ladies stand- 
 ing speechless in the bakery store when a man en- 
 tered whose very appearance eased the tension. 
 There was sometliing in him or about him that 
 radiated strength and confidence with the very first 
 impression of his athletic though somewhat bent 
 figure. His sharp features and penetrating look 
 proclaimed him a thinker, but his hands, chapped 
 and brown, showed him to be one who does not live 
 by his wits and need not be feared on that account. 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 9 
 
 Before asking his wants, Mrs. Parker asked his 
 opinion: "Oh, Mr. Frank, I am glad to see you. 
 What do you think of the fire ! — it's in the Powder 
 Plant — now, the second time — isn't it awful?" 
 
 The man answered with a calmness that gradually 
 brought the other hearts back to normal beating. 
 "Sad it is and bad it is," he said, "but the world 
 has passed through many dark days, yet the sunshine 
 lost none of its glory." 
 
 "Full of hope as ever!" 
 
 "Why, friends, hope is but another name for life. 
 Where there is life there is hope. Every day is the 
 forerunner of another day and every breath holds 
 the promise of another breath. In the last day at 
 the last breath there is still hope, or more than 
 hope — there is assurance of immortality, be it one 
 kind or another." 
 
 His eloquence was cut short by the pleasant news 
 that the fire was under control. 
 
 "You ought to be a preacher," remarked one of 
 the ladies. 
 
 "Most everybody is," the man answered, "and it's 
 a heap more joy to preach for fun than for money." 
 
 "Are you still in the fortune-telling business.?" 
 asked Mrs. Parker laughingly. 
 
 "No, but I am still in business and do some for- 
 tune-telling. Look, this is the way some of my 
 clients got even with me." He opened a roll of 
 heavy white paper. It was a drawing executed by 
 one of no mean ability. The picture showed a cob- 
 bler at work, and three other persons, seated, watch- 
 ing, not his hands, but his mouth. The customers 
 appeared, differently but pleasantly, affected by 
 
10 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 what they heard. Underneath the picture fancy let- 
 tering conveyed the legend: 
 
 *' Soling and heeling while you wait.''* 
 
 Mrs. Parker playfully lifted her foot. "Now, 
 go on, tell me my fortune, if you are so wise." 
 
 Mr. Frank looked at the foot or the footgear quite 
 a while, compelling Mrs. Parker to lean against the 
 counter and dance on one foot — this furnishing 
 hilarious entertainment for the others. 
 
 "All right," he said, after the lapse of half a 
 minute, then added gravely: "You are putting your 
 foot in too many love affairs. If you don't watch 
 out, somebody will fall in love with you." 
 
 The other ladies laughed uproariously; then, 
 starting into a sort of protracted cancan dance, 
 each clamored for a morsel of Mr. Frank's occultry. 
 Compassionate, as usual, Mrs. Parker hurriedly gave 
 Frank his parcel and let him escape, then to pacify 
 her company led them to resume the original dis- 
 cussion. 
 
 IV 
 
 HOW LOVE LAUGHS AT THE LOCKSMITH 
 
 With no thought for gossip, but deeply concerned 
 for the mother whom she knew was awaiting her anx- 
 iously, Clara Milton hastened home after the close 
 of a busy day's work. Indeed, the mother was 
 happy to see her daughter step in as cheerful as 
 usual. There was more fervor than usual in their 
 kiss of greeting. 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 11 
 
 "Was it a bad fire?" asked the mother, half afraid 
 of receiving a reply in the affirmative. 
 
 "There was scarcely any damage, only smoke; 
 the worst thing about the fire is that nobody knows 
 how it started." 
 
 "I am afraid of mischief, aren't you?" 
 
 "Afraid? Oh, mother, haven't you told me I 
 should fear nothing but my own weakness and negli- 
 gence?" 
 
 "So I did, Bonny. I wonder if the others are as 
 careful as they should be?" 
 
 "Mr. Stillmansworth certainly is. He was down- 
 stairs and noticed the smoke coming, no thicker than 
 the curl of a cigarette, through a crevice in the floor. 
 Say, mother, I am perfectly sure that my pay will 
 be raised again; but do you know, I would work 
 for the man if the pay envelope grew the other way." 
 
 "Bonny, it is good to feel that way, but watch the 
 ledger of your heart; watch what you are giving 
 credit for." 
 
 "Watch! Watch! Oh, mother, sometimes I am 
 tired watching. I suppose, though, I'll always have 
 to." 
 
 "It will be ever easier. By and by you needn't 
 watch your own steps at all, but only the road on 
 which you walk." 
 
 "I suppose the road leading to the lecture hall 
 to-night is good and safe, is it?" 
 
 "Yes, Bonny dear. We'll go after supper. I 
 prepared a good meal. How is your appetite?" 
 
 "Don't you worry — I can eat for two, though I 
 can't vote for one." 
 
 Soon mother and daughter were on their way to 
 
12 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 the lecture hall. The mind of Mrs. Milton certainly 
 needed diversion. "Bonny," she said, "I think you 
 had better quit working at Nanglow's. The place 
 is in danger and I can't bear the thought of harm to 
 you." 
 
 "Oh, I couldn't think of leaving Mr. Stillmans- 
 worth; he works so hard, he seems to carry on his 
 shoulders the burden of the entire plant. I just 
 like to help him and he says I am his right-hand " 
 
 They arrived at the hall in good time. Gustave 
 Kromer was at the door handing out programs. 
 
 On seeing Clara, his face lit up and the girl noticed 
 it. Her heart beat a little faster and she nodded a 
 greeting — perhaps friendlier than she knew, but it 
 affected the fellow with full force and he dreamed 
 rosy dreams that night. 
 
 The tiny flutter of these two hearts was observed 
 by Clara's mother and Frank, the amateur fortune- 
 teller, who stood nearby. (Of course, the keenness 
 of his clairvoyancy increased just that much.) 
 
 Mother and daughter heard a fine lecture on "Re- 
 sponsibility," discussed it on their way home, and 
 agreed that responsibility should not be confined to 
 only one of the sexes. 
 
 "Well, who is responsible for the greeting you 
 gave to that man in the hall.'"' 
 
 Clara laughed. "I suppose both of us," and then 
 she told her mother what she knew of the man and 
 it was a rather favorable report. 
 
 At home the mother petted Clara again : "Are you 
 watching yourself closely.?" 
 
 "Yes, yes, yes, mother dear," replied the girl, and 
 in her thoughts she added: "I need to." 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 13 
 
 They kissed good-night ("Early to bed" was a 
 law in their household), and with no thought for the 
 many minds that might hold an interest in the con- 
 cern of her life, Clara slipped underneath a dainty 
 cover. She always minded the advice of her mother 
 religiously. She watched herself now, and to ward 
 oif certain insistent thoughts, she closed her eyes, 
 took to deep breathing, and in a few minutes was 
 sound asleep. Then the watching ceased. The tall 
 figure of Kromer stood beside her. With an implor- 
 ing look in his eyes he bent over her, and she un- 
 resistingly let him kiss her lips, once — twice; then 
 she fought to escape, woke up and took to deey 
 breathing again. 
 
 INTRA-NATIONAL WAR MAPS 
 
 That self-same evening, Clara was considered to 
 have a bearing on matters of general and grave im- 
 portance. No less a personage than Fairchild Nan- 
 glow, senior head of the largest industrial plant in 
 the state, held a report in his hand pertaining to 
 No. 4678, which meant Clara Milton. To be spoken 
 of amongst one's acquaintances is nothing unusual, 
 but she was the subject of serious consideration in 
 a most beautiful palace, the far-famed residence of 
 the Nanglows. How could she have thought of 
 that? 
 
 With the report in hand, Mr. Nanglow paced the 
 floor of a well-appointed studio adjoining his richly 
 furnished library. A large desk stood covered with 
 papers like the one he held in his hand. All these 
 
14 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 were reports that had come from the Industrial Re- 
 serve Association, giving a full account of the record, 
 standing, and activities of persons employed by 
 Nanglow & Stillmansworth. A sprinkling of red- 
 colored slips called for special and immediate atten- 
 tion. 
 
 Such a one was No. 4678. Nanglow was ponder- 
 ing over it for several minutes. Though used to 
 decide quickly, he could not make up his mind at 
 all, in this case. 
 
 After several vain efforts to reach a conclusion, he 
 called Mrs. Nanglow from her own studio across 
 the hallway. 
 
 "Sweetheart," he said, "Woodberry says I had 
 better play a strong hand. Must we, I wonder.^ 
 Have you communicated with the Credolinis.?" 
 
 "Yes, of course. The dinner they gave, night be- 
 fore last, was the most sumptuous affair we ever 
 attended. Don't you think so.?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "It was arranged with the intention to impress 
 their social standing on Stillmansworth, but I sup- 
 pose he is still obstinate." 
 
 "Yes, and there may be a woman in the case." 
 
 "What? Does Woodberry say so.''" 
 
 Nanglow took a letter from the top drawer of the 
 desk and read it. 
 
 "Fairchild Nanglow, Esq. 
 
 ''Dear Sir: — The full force contracted for is in 
 readiness. Though we receive no more pay for ac- 
 tion after strike has been declared, we urge you not 
 to postpone operations. Surprising and overawing 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 15 
 
 the enemy always disconcerts him, while even a seem- 
 ing achievement lures and steels him to fight on. You 
 must realize that extraordinary circumstances hold 
 possibilities unpleasant to contemplate. 
 
 "We send you special reports Nos. 4678 and 1867. 
 These, in conjunction with 1892 and 2981, carefully 
 reviewed, may show proper course. 
 "Yours obediently, 
 "INDUSTRIAL RESERVE ASSOCIATION, 
 "Arthur Woodberry, 
 
 "Fresident" 
 
 "Where is the woman in the case?" 
 
 Nanglow proceeded to read the red sHp he still 
 held in his hand: 
 
 " 'No. 4678 promoted for diligence ; good-looking, 
 thinks the world of No. 9.' Number 9, you know, 
 is Stillmansworth." 
 
 "Well, we know he believes in making employees 
 like him." 
 
 Nanglow took another red slip from the desk. 
 "Now, listen to this: 
 
 " 'No. 9 amiable to employees as ever. Especially 
 fond of No. 4678. Given to occasional reveries. 
 Raised pay of a chief malcontent.' " 
 
 "That does sound suspicious. But can you de- 
 pend on these reports, when it comes to fine shadings 
 like that.?" 
 
 "Implicitly. We do not know the men who fur- 
 nish information. They do not know us personally, 
 and they do not know each other. People in our 
 employ serve the Woodberry Association for small 
 pay and large hope. . . . Their reports are checked 
 
16 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 by each other, and so every statement we receive 
 is really more and better than an affidavit." 
 
 "I see, of course, we pay for it all. Wouldn't that 
 much money added to the pay-roll fetch peace in 
 the plant.?" 
 
 "My gracious, no ! The agitators, like the poor, 
 are always with us." 
 
 After a few moments' thinking, Mrs. Nanglow 
 asked for information in regard to other numbers 
 mentioned in the Woodberry letter. 
 
 "I will discuss those with Stillmansworth ; he is 
 to be here presently." They looked out from the 
 window and saw his car rolling toward their gate. 
 
 "He can be depended on for keeping appoint- 
 ments on time," remarked Mrs. Nanglow. Mr. Nan- 
 glow hastily jotted names on a few red slips from 
 cards with corresponding numbers. Both entered 
 the library to receive Mr. Stillmansworth. 
 
 VI 
 
 SPLIT BETWEEN GENERALS 
 
 The two men shook hands in friendly yet reserved 
 manner. 
 
 "Please stay with us," said Mr. Nanglow to his 
 wife, "we may have to have the services of an umpire 
 to-night." And he forced a laugh. 
 
 "Oh, you must not go to extremes." 
 
 "We are already in a sore extremity. Be seated, 
 sir. Can you feel portents in the air or see signs 
 in the sky favorable to us.'^" 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 17 
 
 "All my attention is riveted to the matter in 
 hand." 
 
 "And don't you feel it slip?" 
 
 "There is no use fooling ourselves. If we do not 
 make some concessions, the men may ask too much; 
 and if we do not pacify them before to-morrow eve- 
 ning, it may be too late. I believe the safest method 
 for averting trouble is to cut ahead of firebrands; 
 publish what we grant, and depend upon the common 
 sense of most of the men for good results." 
 
 "Of course, you would grant off your shirt and 
 do business on the naked skin " 
 
 "Out of order," ruled Mrs. Nanglow. 
 
 "Thank you," said Stillmansworth, "I have been 
 able to patch up differences through these many 
 years by treating men with consideration. I pro- 
 pose to apply the same method now." 
 
 "This time it may bring on disaster. A little gain 
 will only serve them as a base for further attack. 
 Shooting a few of the fools and jailing the rascals 
 will settle matters all right, I think." 
 
 "What if it won't? What if they seize weapons 
 of desperation?" 
 
 "If you think defeat, you are lost!" 
 
 "If we don't, we may be lost and damned besides." 
 
 "Out of order!" warned again Mrs. Nanglow. 
 
 "Pardon, madam, but see, from a comparatively 
 small institution our plant has grown to be one of 
 the very largest." 
 
 "We always appreciated your help in our suc- 
 cess ; and, I hope, you perceived our disposition to 
 share it with you." 
 
 "Indeed, I appreciate the position you permitted 
 
18 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 me to reach, and even more your kindness to my 
 family. I am striving, with mind and heart, to bring 
 the firm through this crisis strong, hale and hearty." 
 
 "But what have you done," exclaimed Mr. Nan- 
 glow impatiently, "to break or dissuade the miserable 
 vandals who would break their own necks for the 
 pleasure of wrecking us?" 
 
 "We have time till to-morrow night. Until then 
 something may happen to allay the storm. Have 
 you thought of anything.^ I mean other than de- 
 fiance." 
 
 "That is the only way. Here is this fellow" — 
 Nanglow glanced at one of the slips — "Norling, who 
 nurtures political ambitions. Now, he is heading the 
 mob to gain popularity. Had you discharged him, 
 the man would stand discredited by this time. In- 
 stead, you encouraged him in his folly." 
 
 "That is the least dangerous hobby for talented 
 fellows like him. One who learns the trickeries neces- 
 sary and the jealousies unavoidable in the political 
 game has little of the fanatic left in him. If he 
 gets anywhere, he can be easily dealt with." 
 
 "And this fellow Clancy, his brother is president 
 of the Masons' Union " 
 
 "One of the sensible men who will not be swayed 
 by hot-heads." 
 
 "And this fellow Kontar, handy-man of the lead- 
 ers " 
 
 "Entirely harmless fellow." 
 
 "And this man Kromer, under the influence of a 
 mysterious person, is he, too, harmless.'^" 
 
 "Who is that person.?" Stillmansworth asked 
 with interest. 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 19 
 
 "Frank, shoemaker; could be most anything, but 
 sticks to his last. Refuses to tell race, creed or 
 nationality. Well liked in his neighborhood. A 
 puzzling character!" 
 
 "This is news to me and I shall run it down." 
 
 "But you increased the man's wages instead of 
 discharging him, as I requested in my telegram." 
 
 "He is an excellent and industrious workman. 
 Besides, I wanted him to feel that we mean to be 
 fair." 
 
 "There again! You risk our fortune on their 
 sense of fairness." 
 
 Nanglow laughed a few spasms. "It is all rot. 
 We must bend them or break them into submission. 
 That is the policy I have determined upon, and now 
 I insist on its being carried out." 
 
 "I do not want to be responsible for carrying out 
 that program." 
 
 "What.? Will you stand aside and suffer the 
 consequences .?" 
 
 Stillmansworth remained silent. Mrs. Nanglow 
 knew the trend of his thoughts. "For heaven's sake," 
 she implored both men, "do not shatter, in a moment 
 of anger, a friendship built by the toil and atten- 
 tion of a lifetime." Then she addressed Stillmans- 
 worth: "You have grown to a man's full stature 
 and you can afford to reap as you sow, but think of 
 your wife and daughter. Have a heart for them. 
 Think of Eleanor, poor girl ; if your — if your in- 
 come ceases, what is to become of her.? Surely, you 
 cannot expect young Credolini to marry a pauper — 
 no, no, no, I do not mean to insult you; but why 
 should you wreck the happiness of your own flesh 
 
20 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 and blood for the benefit of no one in particular?" 
 
 Stillmansworth swallowed a lump. "I would glad- 
 ly die to make her happy," he said. 
 
 "But you can't help her by dying — you can only 
 help her by maintaining your position, by heighten- 
 ing it rather than by falling for the mob." 
 
 Stillmansworth rose to go; holding fast to hope, 
 he spoke consolingly: "There is still a chance that 
 the thing will blow over. Even their meeting to- 
 morrow evening may miscarry, and that would end 
 the matter for a while." 
 
 "One more thing," exclaimed Nanglow; "I re- 
 ceived an unfavorable report on — Clara Milton. I 
 want you to turn her out of the office as soon as 
 she enters in the morning." 
 
 The other man was taken aback. For several 
 moments he was speechless. Nanglow seemed fight- 
 ing him irxstead of with him. His face flushed in 
 resentment. Observing this sign of emotion, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Nanglow glanced at each other under- 
 standingly. Stillmansworth tried to avert, with a 
 joke, the shaft thrust at him. "No, no," he said, 
 "we are in love with each other. Where I am there 
 she is bound to be. Meet me at the office to-morrow 
 before closing." 
 
 VII 
 
 INDIRECT ACTION 
 
 "Well?" asked Nanglow, on being left alone with 
 his lady. 
 
 "He always worshipped his daughter, and if his 
 heart cannot be reached through her it must have 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 21 
 
 changed. ... Is it possible that a man like him 
 will become infatuated with a simpleton of a woman 
 not half his age?" "Yes," the lady answered her- 
 self, " 'There is no fool like an old fool.' " 
 
 "Right you are, Jenny !" Nanglow exclaimed. The 
 gall in him was irritated. He began to drum on the 
 slips lying before him, then paced the spacious li- 
 brary room from one end to the other, while venting 
 his thoughts aloud. "Right you are, Jenny ! 'No 
 fool like an old fool,' and shall I — shall we be beaten 
 to pulp by fools, young or old.^^ He may be a scoun- 
 drel like the rest of the gutterlings, only he was 
 able to hide his lawless disposition longer. He may 
 want a crash to get rid of his family. It is a case of 
 the cultured specimen reverting to its type. That's 
 so. He may be craving to wallow with his fellows in 
 the gutter, but he shall not drag us down with him. 
 I — we'll fight them all, won't we.?" 
 
 Nanglow turned to his wife for support and in- 
 spiration, which came forth, as throughout the thirty- 
 five years of their wedded life, in an overflowing 
 measure. 
 
 "I will be with you to the death !" she said earnest- 
 ly. "But what is to become of all this.? It seems as 
 if the end of the world had come." 
 
 "No, it is only a castigation fully deserved, but I — 
 we shall not allow them to throw us on the scrap- 
 heap." 
 
 "Shall we break with Stillmansworth.?" 
 
 "I will see him once more, to-morrow." 
 
 "Suppose he remains stubborn?" 
 
 "Yes, we must prepare for that. Do you know 
 anything about that fellow Norling?" 
 
22 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "He lives in one of the Credolini tenements. I 
 understand their child is sick. They called our doc- 
 tor, Dr. Clorin, who is somewhat loath to go — per- 
 haps for fear it would offend us." 
 
 The lips of Nanglow curved a fraction of a smile ; 
 of course, his wife noticed it. "Have you an idea.?" 
 she inquired. 
 
 "Yes," he answered, stepped to the telephone, and 
 spoke into the transmitter: "Tell the doctor to come 
 as soon as possible." Then he turned to his wife 
 again : "Do you know anything about this mysterious 
 fellow Frank.?" 
 
 "John (the chauffeur) takes work there once in a 
 while. He is quite taken with the ways of the man — 
 I have a way of finding out what's in him." 
 
 "You are my brave old comrade! No, you are 
 my ever young sweetheart," — then there was a pas- 
 toral spell lasting until Dr. Clorin arrived. Mrs. 
 Nanglow discreetly left the room. 
 
 The usual questions and ceremonies over, the doc- 
 tor told Mr. Nanglow that what he needed was a 
 vacation from all worry. 
 
 "You are right. Doctor Clorin, I need a vacation 
 from all worry, but especially from one that's hang- 
 ing fire now. . . . Yes, I have an idea that you could 
 help me get relief. . . . You have a call to the 
 Norlings. . . . My gracious, no ! Nothing unethi- 
 cal. . . . You told me some time ago that there is 
 nothing new in New Thought — that half of medical 
 science is psychology. Now, what I would have you 
 do is to go there and hypnotize the man into 
 shutting his mouth for a couple of days. . . . No, 
 no, no ! Nothing improper, either. I would not have 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 23 
 
 you do anything that might compromise you in the 
 least. It is a case of psychology, pure and simple. 
 Throw a dream or a fear into him that will silence 
 the man to-morrow — for his own good and the good 
 of the community." 
 
 "I will try to serve you." 
 
 "Good of you. Here I have another fellow, a 
 Dutchman ; his name is Gustave Kromer," said Nan- 
 glow, consulting his notes. "Perhaps you could find 
 a way to, dope that fellow also, psychologically, of 
 course. . . ." 
 
 The doctor thought for a while, then broke out 
 laughing. "Why, yes, Mrs. Clorin is acquainted with 
 a lady, a Mrs. Clancy, who knows the girl that has 
 the fellow dangling on her string." 
 
 "Good boy!" exclaimed Nanglow. He wrote a 
 check for five hundred dollars and handed it to the 
 physician with the words : "That much more if your 
 psychology works on the first man and twice as much 
 if you succeed in both cases." Then he called Mrs. 
 Nanglow. "I am feeling fine already," he said to 
 her. "The doctor is a wonder! Let us celebrate." 
 Mrs. Nanglow opened the mahogany cellarette and 
 the two men had much more than just a taste of the 
 several exquisite liquors presented to them. 
 
 "I am going right now to the party to be treated," 
 spoke the doctor with a heavy tongue, and he 
 went. . . . 
 
24 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 VIII 
 
 MISCHIEF BRED MISCHIEF BREEDER 
 
 The following morning, Mrs. Parker went about 
 opening her store as usual. 
 
 This lady had been married over fifteen years with- 
 out the stork coming her way. Some mothers en- 
 vied, others pitied her. She merited neither one senti- 
 ment nor the other. By transferring her maternal 
 interest to the common fund of society, her mind 
 was ever occupied with the affairs of others, and so 
 her heart received its full share of sorrow and of 
 joy. Indeed, her sympathetic character was the 
 chief asset of the business: she radiating good will 
 and attracting returns in kind. Now, the task of 
 such a character grew hourly more difficult. People 
 became more and more surly ; tolerance vanished and 
 life-long friendships were shattered by a contemptu- 
 ous remark on this or that side of the warring 
 powers. Love, too, withered, in many an instance, 
 even as civilization crumbled in the jumble of bitterly 
 impassioned accusations and complaints. 
 
 "How about Gustave and Clara?" she mused, while 
 dusting counters, chairs and showcases. "They 
 speak of each other fondly, with warmth and long- 
 ing. Theirs would be a real, blessed love-match, but 
 with all the burning odds against their union, can 
 they, should they, hope?" 
 
 Opening the door and looking up the street, she 
 saw white crepe hanging on a door. The sight made 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 25 
 
 her sick nigh to fainting. "So the darhng baby 
 died!" she muttered to herself, and tears filled her 
 eyes. Thinking of a sweet little toddler, who but 
 day before yesterday was full of life and play, now 
 lying stiff and cold, and of the grief-stricken pa- 
 rents, steeped her in their sorrow. She cried a long 
 while for all three. 
 
 The pearls of compassion still glistened on her 
 face when a customer entered. "What are you cry- 
 ing for?" asked the fellow, as he took the package 
 Mrs. Parker handed over to him. 
 
 "The Norlings' baby died overnight." 
 
 The man, in frightened surprise, dropped his 
 package to the floor. "What!" he exclaimed, "Mr. 
 Norling in such trouble?" 
 
 Mrs. Parker could offer only more tears. 
 
 The man, a stockily built, swarthy-faced fellow, 
 with mustache curled like the letter O, stood silent 
 for half a minute or more before bending down to 
 pick up the parcel he had dropped. 
 
 "Do you know the Norlings?" Mrs. Parker asked, 
 somewhat touched by the way the man seemed to 
 feel. 
 
 "Sure I know Mr. Norling. He is head man of 
 labor movement. To-night is big meeting at Claren- 
 don Hall. How can he come?" 
 
 "I shouldn't think he would be there." 
 
 This opinion of Mrs. Parker seemed to affect the 
 man even more tragically than the sad news of a 
 while ago. Sadness, disappointment and anger were 
 registered in his face. He turned this way and 
 that, clenched his fists, raised his arms as for a fight, 
 all the while uttering unintelligible words in a tone 
 
26 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 that might have denoted anything but praise of the 
 Lord. At length he calmed down. 
 
 "To-night meeting sure," the fellow said ; "no cry, 
 everybody come, we fix everything, everything." 
 
 Mrs. Parker smiled through her tears. "It will 
 be well," she said, "if your meeting will fix anything 
 that can be mended. Do you expect Gustave Kromer 
 to be there.?" 
 
 "Sure, Gustave is one head man in shop commit- 
 tee. Do I not say everybody come.^^ We fix every- 
 thing." 
 
 The features and even the gestures of the man 
 indicated sinister thoughts. 
 
 "Why, Thomas — ^Mr. Kontar, you do not expect 
 any trouble, big trouble, do you ?" 
 
 "No trouble," answered the man with a lear on 
 his face and his fingers formed as to light a fuse. 
 
 This Mrs. Parker did not notice, for other cus- 
 tomers took up her attention. They were glad to 
 see the fellow depart, as he would not have been 
 a fit member of the company which now turned to 
 discuss the case of Gustave and Clara once again. 
 
 IX 
 
 BOARD OF CENSORSHIP 
 
 Mrs. Clancy was present to lead the attack, also 
 Mrs. Switzer to bring it on. 
 
 "See this.?" warned Mrs. Parker. The object 
 pointed to was a little card displayed in many 
 places. It carried the legend "Nix on war talk." 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 27 
 
 "All right," acquiesced Mrs. Clancy. "All I have 
 to say is Gustave Kromer is crazy like all the Ger- 
 mans. He is one of the ringleaders trying to close 
 up the works of Nanglow & Stillmansworth. And 
 do you know, he is fooling Clara Milton. She is 
 working in the office, and I guess he wants to get 
 the best of her in more ways than one." 
 
 "Clara can well take care of herself; and it may 
 be no fooling. He is old enough to marry and makes 
 big enough pay," pleaded one, evidently in favor of 
 this romance being enacted on the screen of life. 
 
 "I wouldn't want a German for son-in-law if he 
 had a million dollars." 
 
 "There are others to take him with less." 
 
 "It's a shame." 
 
 "More shame," remarked Mrs. Switzer; "what 
 some people carry on here to have Germans killed 
 in the old country." 
 
 "Well," ejaculated Mrs. Clancy, with a spark of 
 fire in her eyes, "they cannot kill them fast enough 
 to suit me." 
 
 Mrs. Parker pointed at her frail little shield. 
 
 "Now," said a new voice, "I wouldn't mind his 
 being this or that, but his looks are against him, 
 much as he tries to make of himself." 
 
 The champion of the pair was ready with an 
 answer. "One good-looking person is enough in a 
 family of two, and you all must allow that Clara 
 has a cute little figure and a pretty face." 
 
 Just at this moment the object of their solicitude 
 entered the store. Mrs. Parker greeted her cor- 
 dially. "How did you like the lecture last night.?" 
 
 "It was very good, indeed," replied the girl. 
 
28 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "I understand," put in Mrs. Clancy, "many for- 
 eigners, like Gustave Kromer, go there." 
 
 Clara's face flushed slightly, while the ladies ex- 
 changed a round of knowing looks. The girl thought 
 a few moments, then spoke up defiantly: "I like for- 
 eigners like Gustave Kromer!" 
 
 "Now what have you to say," inquired the cham- 
 pion after the girl had hurried off. 
 
 "I say the right kind of people should flock to- 
 gether, and that fellow Kromer isn't one of them," 
 answered Mrs. Clancy in a bellicose manner; then 
 continued her speech, parrying whatever objections 
 the company offered. "It makes no difference if he 
 did work there before the war, now he is there schem- 
 ing to do his worst. Like the rest of disloyal for- 
 eigners, he is but a manikin of the Kaiser. The 
 Kaiser pulls the strings and the whole set of them 
 jump to suit him — I am not in love with the Eng- 
 lish, but the Kaiser beats all the brutes in creation, 
 murdering defenceless men, women and children. 
 Yes, America ought to declare war on Germany." 
 
 "Oh, please," pleaded Mrs. Parker, "don't forget 
 Clara." 
 
 "If she were my daughter," said Mrs. Clancy, her 
 voice trembling with anger, "I would wring her neck 
 all around before I let her put up with that ugly 
 Dutchman! It isn't as if she could not find some- 
 thing better to hook onto. . . . Mrs. Clorin thinks 
 the same way. . . . Because we like the girl. . . ." 
 
 The sympathetic ring in Mrs. Clancy's last sen- 
 tence caused all the ladies to ponder a few moments, 
 but they were still unconvinced. 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 29 
 
 "I wonder," exclaimed yet a new voice, "I wonder 
 what Frank thinks about it." 
 
 "Who is Frank?" inquired a greenhorn there. 
 
 Mrs. Parker, glad to get over the war- talk, has- 
 tened to explain: 
 
 "Why," she said, "Frank is the shoemaker on 
 Gardner Street, near the park, who speaks seven 
 different languages. He can read your character 
 from your worn shoes better than the palmist from 
 your hand, and he can tell the future from blank 
 paper as well as any clairvoyant from the cards. I 
 really believe he is a mind reader." 
 
 "Pshaw!" sneered Mrs. Clancy, "if he is so very 
 smart, why is he working?" 
 
 "Ask him, he'll tell you," said one of the com- 
 pany, then added: "but we want his opinion regard- 
 ing Kromer and Clara." 
 
 Mrs. Clancy volunteered to bring in a report and 
 the meeting dispersed in pleasurable expectation of 
 the next conference. 
 
 TEMPTATION ABROAD 
 
 Whether or not Frank was a smart man, he cer- 
 tainly was peculiar. He would speak his mind just 
 as he felt, whether people liked it or not. This re- 
 pelled some but attracted others. People came to 
 his shop when they wanted his opinion on public or 
 even private matters. 
 
 Sometimes they would drop in without any ex- 
 cuse, just for an argument. Often he would scold 
 
30 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 his visitors, but they seemed to like it and came 
 back for more, feehng the personal disinterestedness 
 of his talks and also sensing truth in the cobbler's 
 philosophy. 
 
 He was not surprised when, in the morning, about 
 nine o'clock, a luxurious Locomobile halted before 
 his place. It was the new car of the Nanglows, whose 
 chauffeur brought work to Frank occasionally. But 
 this time it was not the stalwart young man in a 
 Norfolk coat of sombre whipcord alighting from the 
 vehicle. Instead, the main door opened and an old 
 lady, well preserved, elegantly dressed, and pains- 
 takingly groomed, emerged from the car and came 
 toward the shop. 
 
 Frank surmised that she was Mrs. Nanglow. He 
 hastened to shove aside a few signs of disorder, hur- 
 riedly wiped off a part of the dust from the old 
 office chair that served for customers while waiting, 
 and also for visitors while discussing anything under 
 or beyond the sun. 
 
 "Thank you, I will not sit down," replied the 
 lady to the cobbler's most courteous offer of a seat. 
 "I just came in to ask if you care to sign this card." 
 She handed him a slip, the heavy print on which 
 propounded the question: "WILL YOU STAND 
 FOR AMERICA FIRST?" 
 
 Philosophical though he was, the cobbler's heart 
 beat in resentment. It was like questioning his hon- 
 esty, integrity and rectitude, like doubting his very 
 purpose in life ! He deliberated for a few mo- 
 ments, then said, slowly and decisively: "Why, this 
 is a fine way to make certain people add lying to 
 their disloyalty. Do you think that rascals balk at 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 31 
 
 falsehood? But if you meant to honor me by your 
 visit, I may as well tell you that I will stand for 
 humanity first of all !'* 
 
 "Don't you think America stands for that?" 
 
 "As much as it does, I certainly do. But what 
 about those who don't? One of your neighbors, 
 who was first to turn his front lawn into a potato 
 patch, sued some company for four million dollars 
 commission — mind you, just commission — on a single 
 French war contract. Do you know anything about 
 that? Do such fellows mean to serve humanity?" 
 
 Mrs. Nanglow knew all about that affair. Her 
 husband was one of a closely interested group and 
 the court's award went against the defendants to the 
 not insignificant sum of $800,000. Still, she had a 
 word of defence for the transaction. 
 
 "Big industry works on a big scale. Gains seem 
 big but losses are big in proportion. Anyhow, we 
 all must stick together to protect our country and 
 this slip only means " 
 
 "For the country ! I'll give my shirt and then my 
 skin for the country, but I want to know it's for 
 the country, not for million dollar commissions. 
 Where a man's treasure is, there is his heart also. 
 Profiting by the miseries of other lands, planning to 
 capture foreign markets or other nations' jobs and 
 scheming military protection for such acquisition — 
 do you call that humanity?" 
 
 It was much easier for Frank to start his flow of 
 speech than to stop it, and though he saw that Mrs. 
 Nanglow felt uncomfortable, he went on without a 
 pause. "Similar slogans urged other nations to ex- 
 terminate each other and to devastate the earth. 
 
32 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 When it comes to building a skimpy shelter for 
 decrepits we vote three times, but in spending bil- 
 lions for a campaign of slaughter, somebody else will 
 do the voting for me and you, too, for that matter !" 
 
 "Now, you listen to me for a second," Mrs. Nan- 
 glow said, as she prepared to leave. "If you want 
 to get on and up in this world you must know its 
 ways. I leave this slip here for you to sign. If you 
 do, mail it to me and soon you may find yourself 
 the owner of this building." 
 
 "What? — this building is held at twenty thousand 
 dollars!" 
 
 "Whatever the cost, Mr. Nanglow will turn it 
 over to you in recognition of your services." 
 
 Frank touched his head to feel if he was awake. 
 "What services.?" 
 
 "Keep your friend Kromer from being a trouble- 
 maker." With that, the lady left. 
 
 For half a minute or more Frank stood dazed at 
 so bold an expression of bribery. An impulse of 
 resentment made him reach for the paper slip, but 
 instead of tearing it into shreds, he took the missive 
 from his work-table and put it on his little writing 
 desk. 
 
 It was his habit, when overwhelmed with disgust or 
 misery, to seek for his own share of fault in the case. 
 If he could discern the least particle of wrong in his 
 own attitude, or trace negligence in his own con- 
 duct, the most painful corjsequence immediately lost 
 its bitterness. Such suffering seemed a just punish- 
 ment, to be borne almost gladly, because out of it 
 grew the light of just conceptions. 
 
 How, and when, and to whom did he ever convey 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 33 
 
 the notion of his being open to a bribe? And all for 
 this ! The cobbler sank on his stool and took to 
 work, which for him was a sure means of consolation. 
 His thoughts kept a-whirring. His eyes grew damp, 
 then a tear trickled down his cheek, a by-product 
 of the brain process which turns a bitter experience 
 into a pearl of wisdom. 
 
 "People can see only with the eyes they have," he 
 murmured. "I will see with mine." With so much 
 of a decision reached, his arm grew lighter and he 
 worked on rapidly. 
 
 XI 
 
 SOLEASCOPE, OR DIVINATION BY SHOES 
 
 Chief among Frank's peculiarities was his dis- 
 position and ability to tell one's fortune by his or 
 her worn shoes. Really, as literary critics would 
 state the situation, this was the fulcrum of his fame — 
 the main prop of his reputation. 
 
 On finding him talkative, people asked his opinion 
 on astrology. They brought in readings or horo- 
 scopes, not altogether void of sense. These prog- 
 nostications filled two sheets in imitation typewrit- 
 ing and contained allusions to jealousies, rivalries 
 and annoyances, also they alluded to expecta- 
 tions, modes of help and lucky turns within general 
 experience. But throughout the small talk there 
 were dispersed fine deductions of sound principles. 
 Seeing the people and knowing them, Frank could do 
 still more and better. Mostly for the fun of it, he 
 attributed the information he gave to the tale-telling 
 
34 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 worn shoes. However, the claim was not entirely 
 void of justification. 
 
 "Look," he would say, "the Astrologer has only 
 a dozen constellations, all in practically changeless 
 position, and scores of light years away by which 
 to make up his deductions concerning traits of char- 
 acter that have nothing to do with stars of the 
 heavenly kind ; whereas, a worn shoe bears a thousand 
 direct individual marks, including choice, size, etc., 
 also the very strongest imprint of the user's per- 
 sonality." 
 
 Soon people came, without shoes, to have their 
 fortunes told, offering pay for the service ; but Frank 
 refused, preferring to stick to his last and indulge 
 his "propensity for the occult" when person, time 
 and circumstances combinedly produced a reason 
 and a mood for it. 
 
 Scarcely half an hour after Mrs. Nanglow left 
 his place, Mrs. Clancy entered, bringing a pair of 
 old shoes to be repaired. "I recommended you to 
 Mrs. Clorin, the fashionable physician's wife; now, 
 I want you to do something for me," pleaded Mrs. 
 Clancy, with all the charm she could muster. "What 
 can you tell by these shoes?" 
 
 "I am obliged to you for your disinterested kind- 
 ness," answered Frank. "I would rather not talk 
 this morning. I have received a tough jolt and more 
 of it seems coming. Maybe some other time." 
 
 "Just try, Mrs. Dora Parker thought you would." 
 
 "Mrs. Dora Parker," said Frank, in a softened 
 voice. "I do not want to disappoint you two. Sit 
 over here in the easy chair. I'll try my best." Then 
 he examined the shoes or pretended to do so. 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 35 
 
 "The owner of these shoes," the cobbler began, 
 "feels that she is as good as any lady in this city." 
 
 "You struck it," broke in Mrs. Clancy. 
 
 "By the style of the shoes I can see that their 
 owner has occasion to appear in high-toned society, 
 or at least before some of its members." 
 
 "Struck it again." 
 
 "By some other thing I see that she cannot well 
 afford such acquaintanceship." 
 
 "That's true, too." 
 
 "Owing to dissatisfaction on this score, her temper 
 lacks sweetness." 
 
 "Is that so.?" 
 
 "And whoever happens to cross it gets a tongue- 
 lashing or worse." 
 
 "Don't let them be cross." 
 
 "Life holds for the owner of these shoes great 
 surprises, some of them very pleasant " 
 
 "That's lovely." 
 
 "Some of them were best avoided." 
 
 "What do you mean.'"' 
 
 "The soles of these shoes carry the mark of 
 asphalt, freshly laid a week ago, just before noon 
 hour, in front of the Elite Clubhouse." 
 
 "What of it?" 
 
 "Hubby was told not to come home for dinner." 
 
 "What's the matter with you?" 
 
 "Only this, that I say what I should. One who 
 will tell people what they want to hear, in a man- 
 ner which they are accustomed to regard with awe 
 and confidence, can keep three dozen stenographers 
 busy sending out ready forms from a sumptuous 
 office, and employ a man, for days at a time in 
 
36 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 the post office, signing for registered letters bring- 
 ing the money. I am not of that kind. We can quit 
 right now." 
 
 "No, no, no, go on." 
 
 "So, in a roundabout way, the ambition of the 
 wife may bring on dizziness in the head of the hus- 
 band, which dizziness occurring in certain altitudes, 
 may bring on fatal results." 
 
 "Now, you shut up! My husband works on the 
 third floor of the new addition at Nanglow's." 
 
 "Shut up! That's the thanks I receive! Please 
 remember that I am a shoemaker, not a clairvoyant." 
 
 "You seem to be both, and you may be something 
 else besides ! Is it true that Gustave Kromer is a 
 friend of yours?" 
 
 "Yes, he is passing a dozen repair shops to bring 
 me work; surely that is a friend. Besides, he is a 
 good fellow with rather less faults than the average 
 person must own up to." 
 
 "Good enough to marry Clara Milton.''" 
 
 "If she thinks so, and I think she does." 
 
 "Nonsense; a girl of twenty does not know her 
 own mind, much less how to judge a man right." 
 
 "Some never learn as much as that. Kromer " 
 
 as if by conjuration, the man mentioned just then 
 entered the cobbler's place. The young man's face 
 had a troubled expression. He was careworn and 
 in a dejected mood. He greeted the cobbler with 
 a quiet, sober "Hello, Frank," then settled down on 
 one of the stools. Both Frank and Mrs. Clancy felt 
 that Kromer had something very serious on his 
 mind. The lady could not very well continue with 
 her task. Besides, a chord of pity was touched in 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 37 
 
 her heart by the young man's love-sick appearance 
 (though the real matter with him just then was 
 altogether different). She bade the cobbler "Good- 
 day," and after leaving the place she pondered 
 whether the sadness in Kromer's face was a sign of 
 true love, and if so, whether or not it should be 
 thwarted after all. 
 
 XII 
 
 EVENTS IN THE MOULDING 
 
 "Come over here," called Frank to his young visi- 
 tor immersed in sadness, "maybe the easy-chair will 
 ease your mind." 
 
 Kromer dropped in the proffered seat and mur- 
 mured: "No use, no earthly use." 
 
 "What painted the world all blue for you to-day.?" 
 
 "It isn't painted, it is blue through and through !" 
 
 "Vision is deceiving sometimes — perhaps I can help 
 adjust your glasses." 
 
 Kromer smiled wearily. He remembered how often 
 he went out of Frank's place wiser than he came in, 
 and he felt a sort of satisfaction that he could con- 
 front him with a hopeless situation. 
 
 "Haven't I tried and tried.? For years the men 
 have been grumbling and planning to unionize the 
 place. Unionize ! It is one of the things for which 
 you are blamed if you do it and blamed if you don't. 
 Your talks made me choose as I did. But for your 
 arguments, I could have never stood all I had to 
 stand from Americans and greenhorns alike. At last 
 Dave Norling — you know him, don't you.? — at last 
 he took hold of matters. He was born and raised 
 
38 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 in this city and everybody has confidence in him. 
 After a lot of work we managed to get all nationali- 
 ties together and arranged for a big mass meeting 
 in Clarendon Hall to-night, but I guess it's all gone 
 to smash " 
 
 "Smash! why?" 
 
 "I told you Dave Norling is the one man in whom 
 all have confidence. Last night his baby died, and 
 with his baby he lost his heart and head. He says 
 he doesn't care a rap for the whole world and wants 
 to be let alone. Now our movement will end in a 
 fizzle and people will say, "Gustave, I told you that 
 you were crazy!" 
 
 "Will that prove their saying true.? The thing 
 isn't so hollow that it must cave in. Norling, of 
 course, is overcome now, but he may rally somewhat 
 by to-night. If not, there must be others to take 
 his place. Why, if the first line of defense fails, are 
 all the others thereby obliterated.'^" 
 
 "We have no others. Before the war the green- 
 horns, mostly Hungarians, worked cheap, lowering 
 the American standard of living, while others, espe- 
 cially the Canadians, talked about industrial union- 
 ism, sabotage and the like. Now the Hungarians are 
 wild for a strike, and make wild demands, whereas 
 the Canadians are sullen and want to prevent it by 
 all means. I like my own people, but at the same 
 time I want to do what is right. These men talk 
 about labor problems when all they care for is their 
 little selves or small nationality. No sense, no soli- 
 darity, no leader — it's all a fizzle, wasted time and 
 effort; no use, no use!" 
 
 "Hush," cried the cobbler, and the quickening 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 39 
 
 strokes of his hammer gave a musical accompaniment 
 to his impatience. "Humanity worked and fought 
 its way from out the jungle and the cave, and would 
 you now, all of a sudden, have everything finished 
 complete and nothing to improve, nothing to do but 
 to float with the sound-waves of a self-playing heav- 
 enly harp? What would you " 
 
 "I haven't told you the worst yet." 
 
 "Perhaps I should not know it." 
 
 "Well, the information may come to you with an 
 awful bang!" 
 
 The cobbler's hammer paused again. "What.? I 
 have heard rumors about blowing up the plant; do 
 yoa have a hand in that.?" 
 
 "Why should I? How could 1? You know that 
 I do not believe in breaking a head to make it whole. 
 My livelihood is in the plant and " 
 
 "A certain young lady. I believe you. Potentates 
 would declare war less often if their own lives and 
 the lives of their loved ones were to be forfeited in 
 the opening of the game. What makes you fear foul 
 
 play?" 
 
 "I can scarcely tell. Twice I saw a fellow, Thomas 
 Kontar, prowling around the building when he had 
 no business to be there. If the plants close, he gets 
 a free hand, and how can I tell what comes of it?" 
 
 "So much the more reason for you to take hold." 
 
 "You are a good jollier. I wonder if you are 
 always as cheerful, contented and brave as you seem 
 when I see you." 
 
 "I know other feelings besides cheer and I do not 
 brag about my bravery, and I am far from being 
 satisfied with everything under the sun. But I do 
 
40 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 not believe in throwing up the sponge while I can 
 swing the hammer like this." 
 
 Frank pounded a few strokes in strong crescendo, 
 then continued : "You are younger and stronger than 
 I. Failure should not come for lack of a leader while 
 you are around." 
 
 "Me? I was born in Marburg. They would say 
 that I am Prussian and that I was paid by the Ger- 
 man Government!" 
 
 "I know of one who besides saying all that and 
 more, would pay twenty thousand dollars to keep 
 you from doing what you can " 
 
 "You know what you mean by that; I don't. 
 Can't you see that Canadians and Italians would 
 break away and that would be the end of it.^^" 
 
 "Talk to them." 
 
 "They won't believe me, they can't understand. 
 They are ignorant, stupid and so blinded by silly 
 selfishness that they could not recognize their true 
 benefit if it floated in a magnifying bowl. No use 
 trying to do anything for the crowds; they are 
 doomed to misery and will stay there forever." 
 
 Frank's hammering ceased. Now he spoke delib- 
 erately: "Why not try conclusions? Explain to 
 them that they are not organized to serve one gov- 
 ernment or the other, but for furthering their own 
 interest and the general well-being of the community. 
 Tell them that if it took a world war to make some 
 workers bold enough to strive for better conditions, 
 it should not make others bury their righteous 
 demands." 
 
 "You are the man!" Kromer exclaimed, and his 
 face lit up as a sea captain's when he finds a way 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 41 
 
 to save the sinking ship. "You can speak French 
 and German. You can counsel one to go ahead and 
 the other not to rush at breakneck speed. I will 
 have a committee officially invite you. Now, Frank, 
 prove your talks by helping us to-night. Will you.?" 
 
 The two men clasped hands. 
 
 "I am not accustomed to public speaking," said 
 Frank, "but now it is a case of must. I'll think 
 things over. Come in after a while, then we may 
 talk things over." 
 
 "Oh, you are all right." 
 
 XIII 
 
 UNLOOKED-FOR AMBITION 
 
 Thomas Kontar was the last man on earth whom 
 you would have thought a schemer of destruction 
 and — a dreamer of royal emoluments ; yet, he was 
 both in no small degree. He was employed in 
 one of the shops as a sweeper. From the meagre 
 pay of one dollar and thirty-five cents a day he 
 accumulated the incredible sum of two thousand dol- 
 lars. He intended to work but a few more years, 
 then retire and live on the interest of his capital, 
 which was ample to support him in one of the vil- 
 lages of his native land. Economically, he would 
 have been on a footing with the notary, the store- 
 keeper, and the priest; why could he not overcome 
 the social barriers also.? 
 
 Stretched on a cot in a dilapidated shanty on the 
 outskirts of the town, Thomas speculated on his 
 problem. One morning it occurred to him that the 
 
42 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 war brought many obscure persons into social prom- 
 inence. Why not seek advancement along that track? 
 
 War is war, he reasoned, but if nations must 
 fight each other, it is certainly best that one's own 
 people should win out. All the world seems to re- 
 spect a fighter, no matter what he fights about ; why 
 should he not take a hand, especially since he could 
 accomplish much with scarcely any risk at all? He 
 had access to the cellars of a munition plant and 
 knew every nook and corner of the complicated laby- 
 rinth. A timely explosion would stop the manufac- 
 turing of munitions, which were turned out in stag- 
 gering quantities and shipped to the enemy nations. 
 Who knows but this stroke might make them all 
 throw up their hands? Suppose it happens so. He 
 would go home and be received with public celebra- 
 tions. Newspapers throughout the country would 
 extol his deed. Men, women and children would gaze 
 at him in wonderment and awe. Why not? Had he 
 not saved the country and the crown? He might be 
 made a Baron or raised to even higher dignity and 
 enter the Casino of the Nobility as Count Kontar! 
 Under the intensity of his thoughts his lips pro- 
 nounced the name aloud, and startled by his own 
 voice, he woke up from his day-dream, then pondered 
 realities. 
 
 The outlying powder-shed could be touched off 
 easily, but to accomplish the desired end the office 
 buildings had to be wrecked also. In preparing for 
 this, Kontar was continually handicapped by a fel- 
 low employee who was always nosing nearby. A 
 cessation of work, even if only for a few days, might 
 bring on the longed-for opportunity. Therefore, he 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 43 
 
 concentrated his energies to help bring about a 
 strike. He worked indefatigably, ingratiating him- 
 self in the favor of the leaders by doing any amount 
 of work required for the cause and urging them on- 
 ward by his own exemplary devotion. 
 
 Now, the day of deciding had arrived, but the 
 prospects were not too alluring. Thomas made up 
 his mind not to let Norling succumb to the blow 
 that had fallen upon him. For the first time since 
 he had been employed in the large plant, Thomas 
 asked for a day off. At eleven o'clock he started on 
 a visit to Norling. His way led him through Gardner 
 Street. Passing the cobbler, Thomas was amazed to 
 see Stillmansworth leave the place in a rush (which 
 was his usual manner). The cobbler appeared in 
 the door with a yellow piece of paper in his hand 
 as if wanting to hand it to the man who was leaving, 
 and who, by this time, was in his automobile whisk- 
 ing away in the distance. Thomas, trembling for his 
 cherished plans and elated at having some special 
 report to make, hastened on his delicate errand. 
 
 XIV 
 
 THE VICTIM OF BATTLE 
 
 The home of Norling was bleak and desolate. 
 Thomas hardly dared to venture a knock on the 
 hallway door at the backstairs of the second floor 
 in a frame tenement where the leader was mourning 
 his loss. But urged on by his cause the visitor 
 rapped a few times slowly; receiving no answer, he 
 ventured to open the door a little. Peeping in, he 
 
44 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 saw the leader with stooping head and parched lips, 
 pacing the floor in the hallway. He waited till Nor- 
 ling came his way. Hat in hand Thomas advanced 
 a few steps softly and said: "Mr. Norling, I always 
 like you much. What may please you that I can 
 do.?" 
 
 It happened to be a moment when a fresh tor- 
 rent of tears had gathered in the eyes of the unfor- 
 tunate father. He tried to master them with a 
 gulping throat. "Thomas, good fellow, come in," he 
 said and led his visitor into a small room where, on 
 a little bed, lay the cold body of a perfectly formed 
 child. At the sight of his dead baby, Norling broke 
 out sobbing convulsively. Thomas hung his head; 
 when he looked up, his eyes, too, were filled with tears. 
 
 "But boy was all right few days ago ; what is the 
 
 doctors say.'^" 
 
 "The doctors say what they please and we must 
 take their word for it," replied Norling with bitter- 
 ness; then, as if his accusation might not be just, 
 he related the case. "Yes, a few days ago my child 
 was prancing around full of vitality. Day before 
 yesterday, he was taken sick — maybe, if we had 
 called a doctor right then he could have saved the 
 little fellow. But we didn't think the trouble serious. 
 Yesterday we called in Dr. Clorin; he treats promi- 
 nent people and Mrs. Clancy said he was the best man 
 to call. Maybe, if he had come right away, it would 
 have been better. He came late in the evening, gave 
 the child some medicine and told me to be on the 
 watch and if I notice puffs appearing under baby's 
 eyes to call him again. I called him at two o'clock 
 in the night. He came. I could see by his face that 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 45 
 
 my child was lost. He seemed to feel as badly as I. 
 
 He told me to watch and hope and " Norling 
 
 broke out sobbing again. 
 
 Thomas wept in sympathy. Once upon a time he 
 had buried a baby of his own. He remembered the 
 agony of those days. The body unfit to take nour- 
 ishment, the heart in hopeless revolt against powers 
 that cannot be assailed, the throbbing brain stran- 
 gled by darkness and despair. The memory of it all 
 made him cry even as the other man. 
 
 Norling was deeply affected by the presence of 
 sympathy which appeared as genuine as it was unex- 
 pected. It was like putting an additional lever under 
 a weight nearly crushing his mind. He quieted down, 
 invited Thomas to the other room, offered him a seat 
 and asked, "Good Thomas, what can I do for you.'^" 
 
 "You always can do for everybody and nobody 
 can do something for you," said Thomas, drying his 
 tears. "Me lose a baby because have no coal ; maybe 
 your nice boy could live in better house." 
 
 "Maybe, who knows?" 
 
 "Mr. Norling, is not more sure to live for every 
 baby in better house? Kromer say you not care 
 any more. I don't believe. Will you not please help 
 for the many babies depending for success to-night?" 
 
 The human chords in Norling's heart were touched 
 by the primitive pleadings of Thomas, who adroitly 
 drew the interest of the leader back to the wonted 
 channels of his life. "You can make better chance 
 to thousand babies and more — Everybody believe you 
 — Not say a word, if men see you they hold together 
 — Kromer, I like him but his shoemaker friend is 
 funny — when I come here I see the boss come out 
 
46 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 from Frank's store — Yes, sure, Mr. Stillmansworth. 
 Sure, I know him, I work there fifteen years. I see 
 him, the boss ; and I see the shoemaker in the door, he 
 have money in his hand. . . . Yes, yellow money. 
 Sure, I believe Kromer is all right, but you please 
 not leave us in trouble to lose!" 
 
 "Well, Thomas, I will try my best. Tell the dele- 
 gates they may expect me and you go and keep an 
 eye on the cobbler's place." 
 
 XV 
 
 TANGLE OF NATIONALITIES 
 
 Thomas attended to his duties like a seasoned de- 
 tective. . . . He patroled Gardner Street without 
 making himself conspicuous and utilized his time by 
 contemplating all the possibilities of his case. Even 
 if his actions were found out before he could leave 
 these shores and he were caught and jailed, he could 
 expect a better living than he had had. The greater 
 the crash he could bring about, the more his country 
 men would admire him. They would send him com- 
 forting letters, collect money for his defense, procure 
 for him all the comforts possible to have, manipulate 
 their votes to liberate him, and if the worst were to 
 happen he would be celebrated as a hero for ages 
 to come! If only in the carrying out of his plans 
 he might not be thwarted — and by whom? Another 
 sweeper, Giordano Credolini. The longer Thomas 
 thought of the fellow, the more he hated the grin- 
 ning Italian. As Thomas remembered Credolini's 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 47 
 
 nosing around, his jaunty manners, his boasting of 
 a rich uncle, his parading in stylish clothes, every- 
 thing about the man was disgusting. Should such 
 a man stand between him and a career of glory? 
 . . . Sinister thoughts bubbled up in his mind. For 
 a time they sank back into the mysterious reservoir 
 from which they had sprung. A strike would keep 
 Credolini away, while he himself could steal into the 
 cellars and finish his work. ... All his hopes cen- 
 tered on a strike which was made a certainty by 
 Norling's participation. Thomas fell to dreaming 
 out all the details of the celebration likely to he 
 accorded to him and even formulated a speech he 
 would make to a deputation of University students, 
 making their obeisance with a laurel wreath. . . . 
 At last his steady watchfulness was rewarded. 
 About two o'clock he saw Kromer going in to the 
 cobbler. Five minutes later a buxom, dark-haired 
 Jewess escorted by a middle-aged man of her own 
 race entered Frank's place. In a little while an old 
 Italian with a big red-cross band on his arm increased 
 the number of those inside the cobbler's. After an- 
 other few minutes a neat young lady — Miss Clara 
 Milton — entered the place. 
 
 Thomas decided it was time for him to find out 
 what all those people were doing; he too went in. 
 There was one vacant chair which Frank offered to 
 the newcomer who completed a semi-circle around 
 the bench. 
 
 Frank was busy sewing up the ripped edges of a 
 small hand-bag, that is, he was busy talking while 
 now and then drawing out his two arms at full length 
 in the completion of a stitch. "Please sit down," 
 
48 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 said he to the new-comer, pointing to the one vacant 
 chair, "I will soon be ready with this." 
 
 "How soon?" asked Miss Milton, who was sent 
 there for the hand-bag Stillmansworth had left for 
 repairing. 
 
 "Just a few minutes, please have patience. Look 
 here, see what patience I must have." He took out 
 a few soiled papers from the drawer of his bench 
 and continued: "Look, here is a card asking me to 
 stand for America first, no matter what the seven- 
 thousand-dollar-a-year-pork-barrel politicians would 
 have us do — unto others. Here I am invited to adopt 
 a French orphan by helping to defray the expenses 
 of its raising. This is an urgent call for donations 
 to the German Bazaar. This is an appeal for Bel- 
 gian Charity, here is one for Polish Relief, and here 
 is my old friend Palento asking me to help pay for 
 an Italian Red Cross ambulance, and there my young, 
 little friend Rachel wants to collect of me for the 
 war-stricken Jews " 
 
 "You must not give much," remarked Rachel's 
 escort; "surely the Jews did not make the war." 
 
 "No, nor did they refuse to participate in it, no 
 more, not as much, as some of the rest. Of course, 
 they could not; like the great mass of the others 
 they are but cogs in the war machines ; but you could, 
 and yet you spend your time in an effort tending to 
 prolong the world's agony. . . . Yes, it does. Is not 
 the cheering multitude at a prize fight promoting the 
 game? And those who fan the fighters and rub their 
 aching joints to stand more jolts, are they not pro- 
 longing the savage contest of the ring?" 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 49 
 
 "Well," said Rachel with a sob in her voice, "shall 
 we let them all starve?" 
 
 "You let them do worse things than starve. You 
 let them shoot, stab, torture, kill, waste, demolish, 
 and blight the lives of those who remain to tell the 
 story. ... Of course, you cannot prevent it, but 
 why encourage the horrible carnage? Yes, you do. 
 What is the matter with you all? Do you want to 
 make this land an extension war-ground for the un- 
 chained murderous passions of old Europe? Will 
 you go a step further — " A thought crossed his 
 mind, a thought so terrible that he did not dare to 
 express it for fear of its effect as a suggestion. He 
 swallowed the sentence, a circumstance which gave 
 the Italian a chance to put in a word. 
 
 "No, no, no, not so, Mr. Frank; it is not for 
 hurting other nation ; Italian red-cross ambulance is 
 for helping the sick; it is all compassion." 
 
 "Yes, compassion it would be if ItaHans would 
 collect for Austrians, the Germans for the French, 
 and so on. But no, each little sect, each little creed, 
 each little nationahty is huddling together for its 
 own little sake only. You are all swayed by a sav- 
 age ancestral hurricane. You may yet be blown 
 further and — " again Frank stopped short of ex- 
 pressing the fearful idea which came back with 
 redoubled force: "No," he concluded abruptly, "I 
 will not help madmen and fools to let them indulge 
 in madness and folly longer. It were better for all 
 of us to keep still for some time," saying this he 
 looked Kromer full in the face. 
 
 "Come, Rachel," her escort said, "he is meshugge:' 
 Palento also left, no wiser, though not displeased. 
 
50 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 By this time the hand-bag was ready. Clara paid 
 for it fifty cents and turned to go. 
 
 "Wait a minute," exclaimed Frank. He fished out 
 of his drawer a folded piece of yellow paper, put it 
 in an envelope which he closed loosely, addressed the 
 letter and handed it to Clara, saying: "Please give 
 this to Mr. Stillmansworth." Thomas looked at Kro- 
 mer, as if to say "He is in with the bosses," and ran 
 off. Kromer rose suddenly, bade Frank good-day, 
 and opened the door, permitting Clara to step out 
 first. "May I go with you — please.?" he asked, plead- 
 ingly. "Pleased to have you," she replied, "very 
 much pleased." Frank saw them turn toward the 
 park. 
 
 XVI 
 
 LOVE CONQUERS PREJUDICE 
 
 Gustave Kromer, on finding himself on the street 
 at the side of Clara, felt a new kind of thumping in 
 his breast. "This is my first opportunity to be with 
 you," he said, "to be with you alone ; I hardly know 
 how to express my gratitude." 
 
 "Tell me," replied Clara, trying to make Kromer 
 feel at ease, "tell me about this cobbler — he is very 
 talkative and interesting, but I could not quite un- 
 derstand him. Can you tell me what he was driving 
 at?" 
 
 "He always says what he means and means what 
 he says . . . that is, I thought so until now. To- 
 day he seemed hazy. I know he has changed since 
 this morning." 
 
 "How so.?" 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 51 
 
 "You see, we have been friends ever so long; he 
 often gave me good advice and I always valued his 
 opinions very highly. Some I adopted for my own 
 guidance. Now I have an affair of great importance 
 on hand. This morning he urged me to proceed 
 along certain lines; he talked in his impetuous way 
 as you have heard him speak. But now, when I came 
 to him concerning the same matter he nearly tried 
 to stop me from going ahead." 
 
 "May I know about the thing you are so much 
 interested in.^" 
 
 "You may know everything I know," replied Kro- 
 mer, and told the girl about the mass meeting, about 
 Norling and then about the cobbler's views given 
 earlier in the day, and his changed disposition. 
 
 "Is he going to speak to the men to-night?" 
 
 "Yes, but he is so timid and full of caution, it 
 seems he will do more harm than good." 
 
 "You do not suspect him of having unworthy mo- 
 tives, do you? My mother says: smoothest talkers 
 make most clever deceivers." 
 
 "Then I am above suspicion," he said, laughing. 
 
 "Now, don't you boast, with your talent of speech- 
 making." 
 
 "I wish I had such talent, I certainly wish it now." 
 
 "Look!" Clara exclaimed, "we are in the park, is 
 it not beautiful here?" 
 
 "Yes ... to be with you ... I wished so often 
 to be with you in this lovely place." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "To have it loveher still. Will you please sit 
 down with me on the bench over there? Just to 
 fulfill a long-cherished wish of mine." 
 
52 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "All right, but I will bear in mind my mother's 
 warning." 
 
 He drew a newspaper from his pocket and spread 
 it on the bench, half fearing the print would offend 
 her. Instead, she picked up the paper and seating 
 herself began to read aloud, with evident pride of 
 knowing German. 
 
 Kromer gazed at the girl with delight. "How, 
 where did you learn the language so well?" 
 
 "I began in the school and kept up the study, for 
 I believe in education, and my mother never tires 
 quoting a good teacher who said: 'Education is to 
 understand sympathetically everybody, everytime, 
 everywhere.* * 
 
 Kromer clapped his hands approvingly. The girl 
 seemed to him on a plane elevated far above his 
 reach. "I have come to feel just that way," he said, 
 "despite my parents who can see no good outside 
 of their clan." 
 
 "One must be brave to overcome the clannish feel- 
 ing," she replied, realizing how much higher his credit 
 marks were than her own for the same achievement. 
 
 The young man's heart was melting: "I did not 
 expect to be so lucky to-day," he declared, "you are 
 very, very kind." 
 
 "It is very, very good of you to think so." 
 
 "I would like to be very, very much better to 
 please you." 
 
 "Why should you want to please me more than 
 others.?" 
 
 "Because I crave to be liked by you more than 
 by others." 
 
 *Definition by Edgar W. Burrill, of Columbia. 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 53 
 
 "Perhaps," said Clara, in a serious tone, "I care 
 for you too much already." 
 
 The girl's words had a magic effect on Kromer; 
 his whole being trembled, every fiber of his body 
 was tingling aglow. He would have embraced her 
 with the hot passion of youth, but the houses in front 
 of them were full of windows and the walk lively with 
 passersby, the sight and gaze of whom restrained 
 his impulse. "Did you say 'too much?' he stam- 
 mered; "then surely believe that I like you twice 
 too much !" 
 
 Their hands touched, and both were thrilled by an 
 emotion too overwhelming for utterance. So they 
 lapsed into the lovers' silence, a charmed state, the 
 blissfulness of which no amount of description can 
 ever keep from being a new, undreamt-of experience 
 for each new pair of mature hearts. 
 
 XVII 
 
 SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS 
 
 A distant fog-horn sound reminded Clara of the 
 factory whistle. She rose saying: "Oh, I must hurry 
 to my work." 
 
 "Yes, I too must hurry to a meeting of the Shop 
 Committee. But, Miss — Clara, I want to ask a 
 great favor of you." 
 
 "What can it be.?" 
 
 "That letter." 
 
 "What.?" 
 
 "The letter Frank gave you for Mr. Stillmans- 
 worth." 
 
54 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "Man that you are!" Clara said, feeling a chill 
 creep over her, "you do not expect me to betray 
 my employer, do you?" 
 
 "Nothing of the kind. That letter cannot make 
 much difference in the strike one way or another; 
 but it may help me to discover a wolf in sheep's 
 clothing, a crook; the worst of them, one who pro- 
 fesses himself a lover of all the virtues and always 
 prates about honesty and rectitude. I cannot help 
 thinking that the man plays unfair. If a man pro- 
 fesses friendship to me for over ten years, all the 
 while nursing a sinister purpose; if he leads me on 
 a road which he undermines, and plays the saint 
 while he is but a mean informer, wouldn't you want 
 me to find him out.''" 
 
 The girl could not bear the idea that anybody 
 should treat Kromer so falsely. "Come," she said, 
 motioning him further into the park, "I will not give 
 you the letter, but let us see what it contains." 
 
 Arriving under a thicket she began operations. 
 She took a penknife from her pocket (this girl had 
 pockets in her skirt) and blew her hot breath on 
 the slightly pasted edge of the envelope. Here, un- 
 der the sheltering screen of twig and foliage, his 
 erstwhile desire would not be repressed. . . . He 
 was surprised at his own audacity and looked around 
 somewhat scared and startled, but the listless leaves 
 made not a rustle of protest, they were resting still, 
 altogether unconcernedly. To them kissing was an 
 oft-repeated, familiar scene. 
 
 Clara smoothed back her hair. In a few more sec- 
 onds the letter was opened. It contained a folded 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 55 
 
 piece of yellow paper, a telegram. "Look!" she 
 exclaimed, and both read the message: 
 
 "James Stillmansworth, Esa. : 
 
 "Made arrangements for two thousand hands 
 to man factories. Do not arbitrate, do not con- 
 ciliate, give no quarter and make no compromise. 
 Discharge all ringleaders including Kromer, 
 Norling, Kontar, and Clancy. Militia service 
 secured. Nanglow." 
 
 The pair looked at each other in amazement. "You 
 have not been discharged though," exclaimed Clara. 
 
 "On the contrary," he replied, "I received a wage 
 increase of five cents an hour in my pay envelope 
 day before yesterday, and look! the telegram is al- 
 most a week old. Could the wage increase have been 
 meant as a bribe to keep me from holding with the 
 men.?" Kromer smiled at the futility of such a 
 design. 
 
 "No, no, no," protested Clara. "I know Mir. 
 Stillmansworth ; if he raised your pay it means sim- 
 ply that he could afford to do so. Now, what about 
 Frank?" 
 
 "I understand him better and like him more than 
 before. Do you know it strengthens one's backbone 
 to know an upright man! He, if anyone, will know 
 what to say to-night." 
 
 "And what about you?" 
 
 "I will act exactly as if I had not seen this tele- 
 gram at all." 
 
 She looked up to him, full face, and a mutual kiss, 
 rather long drawn out, inaugurated their union. 
 
 Though Kromer was due at the meeting of the 
 
56 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 shop committee which held a continuous session that 
 day, he escorted Clara to the very door of the factory 
 building. On the way they exchanged observations 
 on lawns, gardens, cottages and many other things 
 which they, especially Kromer, had not noticed much 
 before. However, the ominous and puzzling telegram 
 and the big mass meeting to be held that evening 
 occupied a foremost place in their minds. 
 
 XVIII 
 
 A SOURCE OF STRENGTH 
 
 For some reason or other, the executive office of 
 Nanglow & Stillmansworth was situated in a wing 
 end of the top floor of a large three-story building. 
 The room, clean and spacious, had light streaming 
 into it from south, east and north. The windows 
 to the south overlooked the broad expanse of a tran- 
 quil sea; to the east a panorama of factories with 
 their smoking chimneys set off the landscape; to the 
 north a row of friendly New England hills could be 
 seen. This, the prettiest of the views, was disappear- 
 ing behind another three-story structure nearing its 
 completion. 
 
 The office room was decorated with pictures of 
 large industrial plants. Book-cases filled with com- 
 mercial and technical publications lined the walls. 
 Little mottoes like "Do it now," "Remember the pay- 
 roll," "All hail the garland of success," "Get there," 
 proclaimed the dominant spirit in the place. A line 
 of cheer or a book on humane considerations would 
 have seemed out of place here. Yet, both heads of 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 57 
 
 the firm had given much thought to the handKng of 
 employees. The senior head of the concern was in- 
 clined to be strict and firm; the junior member was 
 not only disposed to be kind, but managed to use 
 kindness as a lubricating oil in running the immense 
 industrial plant smoothly. In fact he always treated 
 employees as well as general competition, the main- 
 tenance of the plant and — Mr. Nanglow would 
 permit. 
 
 But now Stillmansworth found himself in a dilemma 
 from which there seemed to be no escape. With his 
 chin resting in his right hand and with knitted brow 
 he sat in a commodious office chair trying to solve 
 the difficulty, when Clara entered the room. 
 
 He opened the letter which she handed to him, 
 looked at its contents and remarked: "I must have 
 dropped this in the cobbler's place." "Clara," he 
 continued, "I used to be afraid I would lose you, 
 but now I fear you will lose me." 
 
 Taking her employer's expression for a little joke, 
 Clara replied roguishly, "But I will take mighty good 
 care not to !" 
 
 "You take good care of all things in your keeping. 
 I wish I knew how to take good care of all things in 
 my keeping." 
 
 "My mother says we learn most things when we 
 need to know them." 
 
 "Oh, go on, quoting your mother again!" 
 
 "Why shouldn't I? You quote Shakespeare, and 
 Carlyle and Emerson, why should I not quote my 
 mother and give her credit for her wisdom .f^" 
 
 "Once again you are right, Clara; I wish I could 
 defend my own position as well as you can yours." 
 
58 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "Give me a conundrum." 
 
 "Well," began Stillmansworth, and Clara, from 
 habit, jotted down his words; "suppose a Captain of 
 industry comes into conflict with the next officer 
 above him in command, regarding their policy toward 
 the men in their charge. The Major contends for 
 accumulation and expansion, leaving the lot of the 
 men for the last and least consideration, whereas the 
 Captain regards matters just in the reverse order. 
 The Captain is threatened with degradation not only 
 of himself, but his family, who are going around 
 with eyes red from crying. It means a terrible clash 
 of industrial forces in which unknown sums of money 
 may have to be spent and an unknown number of 
 lives may have to be sacrificed, all against the Cap- 
 tain's own will and judgment; or social ostracism 
 for him and his loved ones. The son would be de- 
 prived of an education, the daughter forsaken by 
 the man of her choice, the wife wither away in sor- 
 row and the Captain himself, perhaps, die of a 
 broken heart. . . . What is such a Captain to do ?" 
 
 Clara read her notes aloud, thought for a while, 
 then inquired: "And does he, the Captain, think, 
 does he believe, does he know himself to be in the 
 right?" 
 
 "Of course he does !" 
 
 Clara stepped into a small side room and after a 
 few moments came back with an open book which 
 she handed to Stillmansworth. 
 
 "Thank you," he said, "you may go and check 
 off bills. I expect Mr. Nanglow every minute in a 
 private matter of great importance." 
 
 Clara returned to the small side room. The in- 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 59 
 
 stinct of the helpmeet made her leave the door slightly 
 open. She did not know whom or what she might 
 help, but by intuition kept in readiness to do so. 
 
 Stillmansworth sank back into his chair. He saw 
 the book in his hand was the New Testament, and 
 his glance fell on the marked passage of the open 
 page. 
 
 He read: 
 
 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, 
 and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, 
 and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot 
 be my disciple." 
 
 Stillmansworth looked out upon the sea, the sur- 
 face of which was now a miniature of the landscape 
 to the north. "Each wave," he thought, "must run 
 its course and expend its force in accordance with 
 nature; why should a man be less courageous than 
 a wave of the sea?" 
 
 Two big glistening tears rolled down the cheeks 
 of this captain of industry. He shook them from 
 his face and stood up, feeling himself a tower of 
 strength. 
 
 XIX 
 
 POWERS AGAINST POWER 
 
 Stillmansworth rose from his chair just in time to 
 offer it to Mr. Nanglow, who entered the room with 
 jaws set tightly and a grim determination showing 
 in his face. 
 
 "This is not an opportune time for a comfortable 
 conference," declared Mr. Nanglow, pacing the floor 
 
60 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 from one window to the other. "The agitators whom 
 you refused to discharge have completed their nefari- 
 ous work. Some of our men are fooled, others are 
 cowed into following them. What was the sense in 
 your acting counter to my telegram?" 
 
 "It would have made bad matters worse. It would 
 have embittered the men and given martyrs to their 
 cause. Besides, I believe that the power of discharg- 
 ing employees should not be abused." 
 
 "What do you mean by 'abused?' " 
 
 "I mean that industrial workers, like state offi- 
 cials, should not be removed from their positions 
 without cause and trial. Their livelihood, and to 
 some extent their reputation, is involved." 
 
 "But the men need have no cause nor any reason 
 whatsoever for leaving their employment! Any no- 
 tion, any will-o'-the-wisp, can make them leave the 
 tools to rust. In fact, they just painfully wait for 
 an opportunity when they are needed, to do their 
 very worst. Evolutionary movements ? Oh, gracious 
 sense, no. They have a few leaders engrafted upon 
 them whose business is to talk sentiment, to flatter 
 them into believing that the most indolent time-killer 
 amongst them is an innocently suffering savior of 
 the world. 'School for self-government?' Not much. 
 They have a president-chief in office twenty-five 
 years. They might as well make him a king and 
 his office a hereditary acquisition." 
 
 "Look there," continued Mr. Nanglow, pointing 
 toward the east, "see the smoke from a hundred 
 chimneys rising to tell of individual initiative, force, 
 perseverance — fight, if you please — and success ; 
 whereas the most and the best your labor unions 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 61 
 
 accomplish is to stop members from producing until 
 hunger compels them to resume." 
 
 "It is bad policy to drive men to extremes." 
 
 "Can you set a limit to their wants? However 
 much we contrive to give them it only whets their 
 appetite for more. We must call a halt. They have 
 drawn good pay for some time and may hold out a 
 while. But it will pay to starve them into submis- 
 sion. We have the means for it. What makes you 
 so vacillating.^ Why do you hold back?" 
 
 "The Socialist vote in the election returns should 
 teach us caution." 
 
 "Do not permit that to disturb your equanimity. 
 It is merely a showing of discontent and serves as an 
 indicator for statesmen and politicians to trim their 
 sails by. That vote can be scattered in a score of 
 different ways. Their leaders will fly at each other's 
 throat on the least provocation. In fact, they have 
 had two bitterly hostile parties going for the past 
 twenty years, with perhaps a measly editorship as 
 the only prize in sight. What will they do in the 
 face of temptations that our ruling parties are ex- 
 posed to? Socialist vote! Fear nothing from that 
 side. It is but a pastime for unengaged stump 
 speakers, a harmless political diversion " 
 
 "That may turn very serious, and in turning bring 
 down the social structure with a crash. I do not 
 want to be a party to the proceeding, at least not 
 more so than circumstances compel." 
 
 "And who said that circumstances permit us to 
 accede to the men's extravagant and insolent de- 
 mands? Do they know that our granting them will 
 not impair our solvency?" 
 
62 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "/ know!" said Stillmansworth, with a stress on 
 the pronoun. 
 
 Nanglow suddenly stopped. His right hand con- 
 tracted into a fist. 
 
 "What!" he exclaimed. "Is your knowledge at 
 the service of the rabble? So. ... I nurtured a 
 snake on my bosom. But I will tear out its fang. 
 You may leave, leave — at once!" 
 
 "I may, but I will not." 
 
 "Do you mean fight!" 
 
 "You preach force and fight, but you do not seem 
 to rehsh it. Relax your hand, sir, it may be a fight 
 in the public press or in the courts of law, or per- 
 haps on the fields of competition " 
 
 "I am not afraid of you. I have a thousand dol- 
 lars to your one." 
 
 But Mr. Nanglow was afraid. He resumed pacing 
 the floor, went to one of the windows, stood there 
 a while, then returned as for a last supreme argument. 
 
 "Man, for God's sake collect your senses. What 
 if we are a little sum ahead, can you tell what may 
 happen next year or the year after.? If ventures 
 miscarry the workingman is the first to turn his 
 back upon them. He is the first to run from indus- 
 trial difficulties even as the rat runs from a sinking 
 ship. But we must stay and meet conditions as they 
 arise. Can't you see, have you forgotten the awful 
 item of uncertainty and positive risk in business?" 
 Nanglow halted at the window to the north, and 
 began drumming thereon as if to give his associate 
 time for framing a conciliatory answer. 
 
 That was not forthcoming. Instead, a piercing 
 scream came, dulled through the window. A man 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 63 
 
 fell down, tangled in the scaffolding across the way. 
 The figure, vainly trying to get a saving hold on 
 something, whirled around several times in the air, 
 landed on the murky road and remained there mo- 
 tionless. A number of men came rusliing to the 
 scene, one cried out, "My brother!" and fell in a 
 faint. 
 
 For a moment Nanglow imagined himself in the 
 place of the unfortunate worker. It made his knees 
 quake and forced the phlegm to his mouth. He swal- 
 lowed hard; turning to Stillmansworth, who had 
 come to the window, he said, "Have your way," and 
 without another word left the office. 
 
 Stillmansworth gazed through the window for a 
 while. He saw the victim of the accident lifted and 
 carried into the building. Then he stepped to the 
 desk, wrote a few words on a sheet of paper, put it 
 in an envelope and called Clara. 
 
 The girl came in, pale and trembling. She too 
 had witnessed the accident. "That is terrible," she 
 said. "I happen to know him and saw his wife this 
 morning. They have three children. What a pity !" 
 
 "Yes, and more pitiful that principles of justice 
 must be taught through the sacrifice of men. Do 
 you know, Clara, the Captain's view — the Captain's 
 of the conundrum — partly through his strength of 
 will and partly through this accident — has prevailed ! 
 Will you please see to it that this letter is received 
 by the men who are in charge of the meeting called 
 for to-night?" 
 
 "I will attend to it myself," replied Clara, and the 
 paleness of her face changed into a flush of ruddy 
 crimson hue. She knew the importance of that letter. 
 
64 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 XX 
 
 CHAMPIONS OF LABOR SO-CAL.IiED 
 
 Threescore men met as a shop committee of 
 the Nanglow & Stillmansworth employees. They 
 had a Hvely session in the large but dingy hall up 
 the third floor of a rather rickety building. The 
 stairway from the street to the meeting-place was 
 littered with cigar stubs, burnt matches and torn 
 papers. Several subcommittees had met at irregular 
 intervals throughout the day ; from their private con- 
 versation it could be gathered that the foremost de- 
 sires of the sixty delegates were of as many moulds. 
 One hoped to see in print the account of his leader- 
 ship, one expected to be put to a less cranky ma- 
 chine, one was there in revenge on the boss of his de- 
 partment, one looked forward to a needed vacation, 
 one to having his fill in the saloons. Here was a 
 man glad of the chance to complete some models of 
 a new invention, another planned to finish a much 
 thought-of literary work, still another planned to 
 try his hand at business while the plants were shut 
 down. (The purpose of Thomas need not be told 
 and that of a few others will become evident by their 
 stand and action.) All of the delegates were ready 
 to quit work. They felt excitement in the air. Grad- 
 ually they worked up enthusiasm for this common 
 purpose: decrease of work, a grievance committee, 
 and increase of wages. They all figured how they 
 would spend both the time and the money gained. 
 Of course, that is the least difficult and most pleasant 
 part in a campaign of this sort. 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 65 
 
 At three o'clock the meeting of the committee, 
 as a whole, began its deliberations. The issues and 
 their champions were known by all present. Under 
 the first heading, due to a generation's agitation for 
 the eight-hour work day, the proposition was found 
 acceptable by all except a German, who, in a fiery 
 speech, made a plea for something new and sensa- 
 tional — a five-hour day. 
 
 He was hooted down by the Italians: "You no 
 want nothing but to quit for the Kaiser!" 
 
 In fact, the men were grouped according to na- 
 tionalities. It was Norling's acumen that managed 
 to have them picked so that they balanced each other. 
 
 Under the second heading there was opportunity 
 for much talk. The men related the unjust treat- 
 ment they were subjected to at one time or another. 
 None doubted the word of the other in this respect ; 
 but suppose the demand was granted, who should be 
 on that committee.? A number of names were men- 
 tioned, cheered, and hooted at ; until someone asked : 
 "What's the matter with Norhng?" A general 
 healthy hurrah answered the question and an ap- 
 proving murmur sounded through the room. 
 
 "But where is he?" asked somebody after calm 
 was restored. 
 
 Thomas asked for the floor, and being granted the 
 privilege, he said: "I see Mr. Norling. His baby 
 die" — a hush fell on the crowd — "yet he good man, 
 will speak in Clarendon Hall. If everybody as good 
 as him we surely win." 
 
 There was no more argument about the Grievance 
 Committee, and the men proceeded to deliberate on 
 the wage demand. This ranged from an increase of 
 
66 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 twenty per cent, to doubling the pay. Discussion 
 soon eliminated the intermediate figures and the ques- 
 tion was argued between twenty per cent, increase 
 and double pay. 
 
 Again the sentiment was divided according to the 
 national leanings of the delegates. It was like a 
 faint echo of the European clash. 
 
 Thomas, of course, spoke for double pay : "Do you 
 think that too much?" he said, in a plaintive, almost 
 begging tone. "My pay $1.35 a day; if for me pay 
 $2.70 is that too much? You say foreigners make 
 wages to be small, but you can believe me I like 
 bigger pay, only not find it " 
 
 "Why did you come to this country?" broke in 
 an elder immigrant. 
 
 "Not to steal, but only to work. I want to work. 
 Is it wrong to work, to work hard? I want $2.70 
 a day; is it wrong to want that much? You make 
 more, and I strike for you; why not you double 
 my pay?" 
 
 The opposition could find no argument and broke 
 out in a general noise, several of them claiming 
 it was all nonsense and that they would not stand 
 for it. 
 
 At this junction Thomas received unexpected sup- 
 port in the person of a gaunt Canadian, who wore 
 in his coat lapel a button with the initials I. W. W., 
 standing for Industrial Workers of the World. 
 
 "Silence!" he cried, "Silence!" He had a shrill 
 voice which rose above the din. Besides he was 
 known as a man of sincerity and the delegates quieted 
 down to give him a hearing. 
 
 "What are you afraid of? Do you fear that the 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 67 
 
 bosses will have to get along with fewer servants, 
 with less champagne, or fewer fancy balls? Reduce 
 your pity for them; they are not in need of it. If 
 they raise wages a dime they increase the cost of 
 living a quarter's worth. Surely you need not be 
 afraid to ask something worth while. Whatever we 
 get won't amount to much until we get hold of the 
 means of production and run the factories for the 
 benefit of the workers altogether." 
 
 "Will you take the place of the bosses and get 
 us our pay.^" asked a timid voice. 
 
 The Canadian became excited. "If you were not 
 a lot of cowards and numbskulls, you would chase 
 the bosses into hell and start producing for use in- 
 stead of for profit. Let's demand the whole plant 
 and take it." 
 
 A quiet Englishman rose and donned his hat say- 
 ing: "If this is going to be a Wild West Show I 
 quit right here." He was followed by about half 
 the delegates, the others tried to prevent their leav- 
 ing the hall. There was a shuffling and pulling and 
 a general melee was imminent when Kromer entered 
 the room. 
 
 ."What is the matter? What is it all about?" the 
 newcomer asked, and as he held second place in the 
 confidence of the men some began to explain, but 
 others grumbled "Where have you been?" "You 
 wouldn't beat the factory whistle like that." "Why 
 don't you keep your nose here?" 
 
 But they settled down. The chairman of the com- 
 mittee stated the case and Thomas repeated his plea 
 for $2.70 a day. 
 
 Kromer found a way out. "Why," he exclaimed. 
 
68 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "we will get you that much, and more! We should 
 ask for a minimum wage of $3.00 a day." 
 
 This solution of the problem pleased all. They 
 elected Kromer chairman for the evening and 
 cheered and applauded. Suddenly all became quiet. 
 News was brought that one of the speakers had 
 fallen from the scaffolding and had died. 
 
 Once again the crowd was hushed, but only for a 
 moment. The cry went up, "We must have speak- 
 ers !" Indeed, the river of life must flow on. 
 
 Kromer told about Frank, his knowledge of the 
 French and German languages and his views in re- 
 gard to the matter in hand. He argued that a 
 French speaker would best secure the support of 
 clashing nationals, and asked that a committee be 
 sent to invite Frank, in a formal manner, and to 
 urge his certain and early appearance. The sug- 
 gestion was approved and formally acted upon. 
 
 The chairman appointed Thomas and the gaunt 
 Canadian for this errand, neither of whom ever ob- 
 jected when called upon to do some work. 
 
 XXI 
 
 LIGHT ON AND FROM A PUZZLING CHARACTER 
 
 Left to himself, after an argument with a number 
 of solicitors in behalf of their several nationalities, 
 Frank had settled down to work, allowing his 
 thoughts a "free for all" deliberative session. 
 
 It is related of Schiller, the great German poet, 
 that he could write best with the odor of decomposed 
 apples wafted to his nostrils. Frank could think 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 69 
 
 clearest when hammering at his usual work. That 
 hammer in his hand moved much like the baton in the 
 hand of an orchestra leader. It tapped softly, then 
 harder, in slower and in quicker beats; now it was 
 scarcely touching, now pounding with full force the 
 leather on the stone. Once in a while the hammer 
 would turn negatively in the air, occasionally it 
 would pause, only to continue the tapping, hitting, 
 pounding, banging, in all the shades and moods of 
 a master's musical composition. 
 
 Thus, Frank worked on until he had hammered 
 out the symphony of his thoughts. Then he turned 
 to his right, dropped the front of a musty little 
 writing desk and penned the following letter : 
 
 "Beloved Friend: 
 
 "If I were to die this hour I would want you to 
 know that our boyhood love, which we nurtured by 
 correspondence through so many years, still clung 
 to me; and if the tempest and the turmoil in my 
 mind is about to obliterate the intelligence which 
 you so loyally helped to sustain and to improve, I 
 want you to receive its last few rays. 
 
 "You know how, in the days of our adolescence, 
 with Parisian vim and the gripping enthusiasm of 
 youth, we have dedicated our souls to redeeming the 
 earth from the avarice of landlordism and the world 
 from wage slavery. More than that, we had taken 
 the motto of the French Revolution at its face value 
 and spent with joyous exultation our scant earn- 
 ings and ample vitality for the fulfillment of that 
 glorious proclamation: 'Liberty! Equality! Fra- 
 ternity !' 
 
70 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "I kept the faith throughout the weary years, find- 
 ing contentment, almost pleasure, in the very adver- 
 sities endured on its account or in behalf of it." 
 
 *'Such as we would rather be hard working squir- 
 rels, out in the cold woods, than enjoy the home 
 comforts of a muzzled dog. I could not shine like 
 the pole star, but like a meteor I could give a mo- 
 ment's light for the chance observer. 
 
 "So I kept the faith ; thought, felt and lived by it 
 and upheld its precepts in my small fraction of the 
 world. 
 
 "When asked about my race, I answered: *If my 
 appearance does not proclaim it why should my lips 
 explain my face.'^' 
 
 "When people asked my nationality, my reply was 
 that I wanted to forget it, and when they inquired 
 about my religion, I said : 'Judge my religion by my 
 conduct.' 
 
 "Blame my wisdom if I was not taken by all men 
 for all things. I can see now another disadvantage 
 of my position. From the outspoken partisan no 
 one outside his group expects solace and encourage- 
 ment, but one who loves all mankind is called upon 
 by all factional interests for help. 
 
 "As they came to me, Belgian, Pole, Hungarian, 
 Serb, and all the rest, one after the other, I saw a 
 vision so dreadful and terrifying that I felt my 
 heart's beat slacken ; it paused in awe and trembled 
 in fear. . . . Think of it, fear! For the first time 
 in my life I met the monster face to face. 
 
 "Before my eyes the melting pot turned into a 
 spectroscope of disintegration. What if the con- 
 stituent bodies go apart far enough to stand sepa- 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 71 
 
 rated, and then, with passions aflame, fly at each 
 other in a clash? 
 
 "The fanatic, the weak-minded and the unscrupu- 
 lous, goaded on by the murderously inclined, might 
 whirl us into a civil war compared to which even the 
 European catastrophe is an insignificant happening. 
 
 "With nationality, race and creed fighting each 
 other in savage fashion, unrestrained by any rules 
 of war, they all must turn executioners and bring 
 on a general slaughter, a saturnalia of bloodshed, 
 too awful to contemplate. Still, the thought had 
 come to me, pointing out how Vendettaism would 
 decimate the people again and again, until the snake 
 of tyranny would raise its poison-head, coil its frosty 
 ligaments around a weakened populace, strangle their 
 dearly bought liberties, crush their higher aspira- 
 tions and rule over them in ancient despotic style. 
 
 "As I write this, a thought still more terrible 
 comes to my mind. Is it not possible that the seem- 
 ingly senseless slaughter across the ocean is a care- 
 fully designed plan to prevent the fusion of peoples 
 in the melting pot of America? A nation, no more 
 than a family, and the world, no more than a nation, 
 can endure half slave and half free. And can they 
 be free of guile, whose interest and ambition calls 
 for a world enslaved? 
 
 "As they claim to rule by divine right, and pride 
 themselves on a long line of ruling ancestors, must 
 they not consider it as their main object in life to 
 maintain that 'right' and secure it for a long line 
 of descendants? 
 
 "Terrible, frightful is the thought; yet have ty- 
 rants ever been swayed by other than selfish motives? 
 
72 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Have they ever stopped to count the cost of con- 
 quest or of glory? Is it not rather in the nature of 
 things that ruling dynasties aim to destroy the one 
 great and steadily increasing political power that 
 by its inere example is bound to endanger the con- 
 tinuation of their dominance? 
 
 "Plausible though the thought appears, I am in a 
 quandary whether it is a spark of intelligence, a dark 
 foreboding of insanity, or merely a fragment of the 
 nightmare that is now convulsing the world. 
 
 "You often asked me to cease caring for the mul- 
 titude, to let the world go hang — Of course, I knew 
 you did not mean it so. One who pays for parental 
 pangs with heartless negligence, who meets neigh- 
 borly kindness with cruel schemes — is not such a one 
 on the lowest scale of degradation? Then, he who 
 repays all the care and all the effort, and all the love 
 of all times in all the world, with a shrug of the 
 shoulders and the sting of irony, does not such a man 
 place himself outside the social communion, is he not 
 guilty of the basest ingratitude? 
 
 "You would not hug to your bosom such embodi- 
 ment of iniquities. In fact, those who really do not 
 care take no trouble to write about their indiffer- 
 ence. Your beautiful pessimistic epistles were only 
 designed to make me shed a few tears and spill some 
 ink in argument. 
 
 "That you have accomplished quite often, but now 
 I turn to you for help and sympathy. 
 
 "Not that I am in despair. The time for a soul 
 to prove worthy of that exalted name is the time 
 when mood, fact, reason and circumstance conspire 
 to drag it into despondency. Then must the mind 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 73 
 
 spread forth its wings of thought and rise above the 
 hindrances to vision ; then must the soul make use 
 of its immaterial stuff to orient itself on a higher 
 plane. 
 
 "No sooner had I discerned those awful possibil- 
 ities than my mind set to work to find the means of 
 certain prevention, and that which I found startled 
 me as much as the ideas I sought to dislodge. 
 
 "I weighed matters carefully. To side with either 
 of the world combatants is but to increase and en- 
 large the hatred on which tyranny thrives and by 
 which the thrones of to-day are held from tumbling 
 down. What we must have is a centrifugal force 
 which shall prevent the particles of our composition 
 from going too far apart. What shall that force 
 be.? 
 
 "I have thought of programs, religions, and phi- 
 losophies. Alas! They, indeed, are but scraps of 
 paper. It is what they make of men and what men 
 make of them that disclose their intrinsic value. 
 Their doctors and professors, like the doctors of 
 medicine, make knowing faces and when their pre- 
 scriptions fail to cure, will blame everybody and 
 everything except themselves and their own pet 
 theories. 
 
 "In the tangle of claims, notions and propositions 
 now before the world, this much is clear: that the 
 progress of human kind had been from the very be- 
 ginning and still is toward freedom and fraternal 
 relations. So the center of social gravitation must 
 move along those lines. As for its tangible shape, 
 oh, friend, if you could have looked across the con- 
 tinent into my 'atelier' you would have seen me blush 
 
74 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 in surprise at my own conclusion. But one must 
 obey the commands of his conscience and heed the 
 voice of truth even though it overturns preconceived 
 ideas. 
 
 "Think of it, comprehend if yon can : I found my- 
 self in a boat with my chauvinistic neighbors ! 
 
 "I entered by a different gangway, prompted by 
 different motives ; I feel sustained by different as- 
 pirations and act differently, yet there I am. 
 
 "Do not tell me the faults, the shortcomings, the 
 abuse of our governmental machinery. I know them 
 too well. Oh, Patriotism, I know what crimes are 
 committed in thy name ! 
 
 "But if there is a flag which prevents men from 
 giving it the noblest meaning, surely, it is not ours. 
 Look at a globe and see which cheek on its round 
 face glows brightest in and for Liberty. 
 
 "Old Europe and its nations have the feuds of 
 thousands of years to overcome, whereas America, 
 at worst, is but like an erring child that could not 
 have sinned so much as to forfeit its unfoldment to 
 perfect maturity in the near future. 
 
 "If this great congregation of people will strive 
 to perfect both the melting pot and its product the 
 resulting attainment may heal even ancient sores ; 
 for parental hearts can ever be reached by and 
 through their children. 
 
 "A thousand thoughts stir in my mind, craving to 
 be voiced in justification and support of this ideal. 
 I may have an opportunity to sound some of them 
 before a crowd to-night and I will let you know the 
 results. 
 
 "But if you never hear another word from me, you 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 75 
 
 may rest assured that I die in the faith — with my 
 soul free from factional limitations, my heart's last 
 beat will faint away in love for all mankind and in 
 friendship for you. 
 
 "Ready for a good scolding, I remain yours as 
 ever, 
 
 Frank." 
 
 xxn 
 
 ILL WILL AND GOOD INTENTION MEET 
 
 The cobbler read the letter aloud to himself, put 
 it in an envelope which he addressed to his boyhood 
 friend living in Rio de Janeiro. 
 
 Then he took the little slip, which his visitor left 
 in the morning, added one word to the text, so it read : 
 "I will stand for America first ARIGHT," and 
 signed the paper carefully. 
 
 The committee inviting the cobbler to speak that 
 evening, saw two letters on his desk ready for mail- 
 ing. 
 
 Thomas poked the side of the gaunt Canadian and 
 whispered to him : "Look at that letter !" 
 
 The Canadian did so, and after they had left the 
 place he asked: "What was there on those letters 
 to see.?" 
 
 "One letter was to Mrs. Nanglow." 
 
 "What of that.?" 
 
 "Before noon he sent one letter to Mr. Stillmans- 
 worth." 
 
 "What! Do you mean he is crooked?" 
 
 "I not know." 
 
76 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "What business has he to correspond about with 
 Mrs. Nanglow and Mr. Stillmans worth.?" 
 
 "I not know, but I see this morning Mr. Still- 
 mansworth come out from that place," Thomas 
 pointed back to the cobbler's. 
 
 The blood of the gaunt Canadian rushed to his 
 face. He shook his short companion by the shoulder 
 saying: "Thomas, it looks to me like crooked work; 
 you are no fool, tell me what you think." 
 
 Thomas remained silent. 
 
 The Canadian's suspicion deepened and broadened. 
 He gave his companion a stronger shake and ex- 
 claimed in a suppressed voice : "Talk, damn you ! Is 
 this whole business a fake, and Norling and Kromer 
 out for the dough?" 
 
 A third and still stronger shake made Thomas 
 give answer in a reluctant manner: "I — I think Mr. 
 Norling is all right and Kromer is all right, but this 
 shoemaker, he fool both of the two. And we work 
 so hard " 
 
 "Ha! Does he? Never fear, Thomas, I have a 
 
 few friends, and if the son of a tries to do 
 
 some monkey business we'll make a monkey of him." 
 
 XXIII 
 
 WAVES OF A MASS MEETING 
 
 Though the mass meeting of workers had been ad- 
 vertised to begin at eight o'clock, the crowd gathered 
 in Clarendon Hall much earlier. 
 
 People came from all directions, and in the flow- 
 ing streams of humanity Mrs. Parker was delighted 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 77 
 
 to meet, right near the entrance to the hall, her good 
 friend and customer, Mrs. Clancy. 
 
 "That's lovely, are you coming to the meeting, 
 too?" 
 
 "Indeed not. I wasn't home this afternoon. I 
 left the children with my sister. They will wonder 
 where I was. Mrs. Clorin insisted that I stay with 
 them for supper." 
 
 "Oh, do come in. They expect a lot of excitement 
 and we might as well learn first hand what's going 
 on." 
 
 Mrs. Clancy looked at the people crowding the 
 hallway. Her nose twitched in displeasure as she 
 said : "Mixed pickles !" 
 
 "But your own husband is to make a speech!" 
 
 "I wish he wouldn't. He is wasting his time and 
 spoiling our chances for advancement." 
 
 "Oh, do come in," insisted Mrs. Parker, tugging 
 at her friend, "We'll come out early." 
 
 They entered. Several thousand persons filled 
 the hall, but somebody made room on the end of an 
 aisle for the two ladies. 
 
 By seven o'clock the place was so crowded that the 
 leaders had to proceed. 
 
 Kromer introduced Norling with a sincere tribute 
 to the man whom his sad bereavement did not pre- 
 vent from appearing on the platform to champion 
 the workers' cause. 
 
 Norling looked pale and broken down, but his 
 mind was keen and alert. For a time it had been 
 like a ship without an anchor and without a course, 
 but now all mental energy was concentrated as for 
 the final effort of an unrewarded life. 
 
78 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 He pressed through history, gathering all the 
 sweat and all the tears into a lake which he placed 
 at the door of Nanglow & Stillmansworth. Then 
 he combed the world, gathering all the glories of 
 creative art and labor into a shining halo and this 
 he placed upon the heads of his spellbound audience. 
 He then came to a close with an appeal for holding 
 together and holding out, and concluded by assuring 
 them of certain victory. 
 
 The speech was received with close attention and 
 rewarded with deafening applause. 
 
 Mrs. Parker, too, was carried away by sympathy. 
 "They are right, I believe," she said to her friend, 
 "don't you think so?" 
 
 "I don't trust him, I just don't trust him!" re- 
 plied Mrs. Clancy. 
 
 The chairman introduced as the next speaker a 
 friend who was to speak to the French portion of the 
 audience,, in their own language. 
 
 "I thought Clancy was to be the second speaker," 
 remarked a man, sitting just in front of Mrs. Clancy, 
 to his neighbor. 
 
 "Why, he won't speak any more this side of the 
 gate." 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 "He fell down from the scaffolding, three sto- 
 ries 
 
 A subdued scream came from the throat of the 
 woman behind. Her mind turned blank white, then 
 steel gray, finally jet black. Big, stout Mrs. Clancy 
 swooned. She fainted away as would the last and 
 the least of the "mixed pickle" audience struck in the 
 same way. She was carried out of the hall, the in- 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 79 
 
 cident being noticed by only a few nearby. The big 
 mass riveted its attention on the novelty of a French 
 speaker. Indeed, the ocean of life will not, cannot, 
 stop moving because some of its waves are cut in 
 two by the ship of adversity. 
 
 Frank's athletic build commanded respect which 
 his harsh and monotonous voice soon reduced to a 
 very small measure. Still, the mass of humanity lis- 
 tened as he spoke: 
 
 "Dear Friends," he said, "I was requested to 
 speak a few words in French for solidarity amongst 
 different nationalities as we are. 
 
 "Permit me to say that the horrible conflict of 
 Europe is the most tragically eloquent appeal for 
 avoidance of provincial jealosies. With due respect 
 for the habitual feelings of each of you, I suggest 
 that the kind of patriotic sentiments that brought 
 on such a climax cannot be sound and should not 
 be cultivated. 
 
 "Time was, when people made war upon each 
 other in behalf of different deities until the idea of 
 one God deprived the thirst for blood of that ex- 
 cuse. So, it is necessary to eliminate patriotism as 
 an excuse for carnage and devastation. As the idea 
 of one God prevailed and prevented further blood- 
 shed on the score of theistic speculation, so the idea 
 of the oneness of humanity shall forever banish the 
 hatreds which feed the flames of war. 
 
 "My Friends, do not let the accident of birth de- 
 prive you of sympathy for and from large multitudes. 
 Especially, people in this country must nurture good 
 will toward each other, for a free America is the 
 
80 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 surest guarantee against the absolute enslavement of 
 the world. If we behave worthily, this country may 
 by its very weight draw all the others into a federa- 
 tion of the world, that dream which must be realized 
 to bring mankind nearer its destiny perfection. 
 
 "Of course, you have feelings that grew with your 
 growth, but consider the country first " 
 
 "Zut!" Cried a voice up in the gallery. 
 
 Frank knitted his brow and raised his hand warn- 
 ingly. "Make no mistake, my friends! These are 
 extraordinary days when a little fire may cause the 
 most terrific conflagration. Suppose trainloads of 
 men should be imported to take your place " 
 
 "Zut!" This time it was the shrill voice of the 
 Canadian that uttered the cry and it was followed 
 by a number of others : 
 
 "Trahison!" 
 
 "Voleur!" 
 
 "Foutez le dehors !" 
 
 Instantly the cries were translated into a dozen 
 languages: "Liar!" "Faker!" "Thief!" "Graft- 
 er!" "Get the hook!" "Knock him down!" and 
 similar cries filled the hall. 
 
 Kromer tried in vain to still the mass of shouting 
 humanity. 
 
 A number of men climbed up the platform. One 
 spoke to Norling: "He make Spread Eagle speech 
 and suggest us to be scabs." 
 
 The others grabbed the cobbler and expedited him 
 in such a manner that the man felt it in his joints 
 for a year. 
 
 Norling was deeply agitated, he leaped to the 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 81 
 
 front and raised his right hand for silence. At the 
 sight of the leader the crowd quieted down. 
 
 "Fellow workers !" he cried, "I did not expect this 
 man to talk about strike breaking. I don't know 
 what happened to him. But I do know that against 
 the dirtiest corruption there is yet one appeal." He 
 raised two clenched fists up in the air and cried: 
 "Appeal to force!" 
 
 A big, tall man stepped out from nowhere and laid 
 a heavy hand on the speaker's shoulder. "I am 
 arrested," he cried, "but you have the best of them. 
 Stick together and hold out!" 
 
 As Norling was led off, pandemonium broke loose. 
 New and louder cries filled the hall : "Shame !" "Dis- 
 grace!" "Free speech!" "Worse than Russia!" 
 "Demolish the plant !" 
 
 Here, too, the shrill voice of the Canadian rose 
 above the rest, "Let us demonstrate!" he yelled, 
 "Smash the windows!" This cry found several 
 echoes and a group of men started jostling toward 
 the exit. They saw the form of a girl with a letter 
 in her hand, struggling to reach the platform. They 
 felt instinctively that some important turn was 
 taking place. 
 
 "Wait !" yelled the shrill voice and the nucleus of 
 the moving group halted the rest. 
 
 Kromer had tried to save the leader, but Norling's 
 taker found no time to listen to him, and his remon- 
 strance against the arrest of Norling went unheeded. 
 When the uproar was at its highest he saw a figure 
 trying to reach the platform and he recognized Clara 
 Milton. 
 
 Feelings of shame, disgust and defiance rushed the 
 
82 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 blood up to his head. He lifted the table on which 
 his gavel had hammered in vain, and brought it down 
 with such a force that it broke into pieces. 
 
 A murmur of laughter ran through the hall, then 
 once more quiet prevailed. Clara took no time for 
 cHmbing the stairs on the side of the hall. She was 
 lifted to the platform, gaspingly said a few words to 
 Kromer and handed him the letter. 
 
 The crowd knew that the news concerned them all 
 and waited breathlessly for its announcement. 
 
 "Brothers," declared Kromer, after glancing over 
 the letter, "brothers, the wage increase for which we 
 were ready to strike is being offered us and a cordial 
 invitation to present the rest of our demands. Still- 
 mansworth is with us!" 
 
 Somebody proposed three cheers for Kromer, 
 which were lustily given and — maybe — no one noticed 
 how he transmitted this appreciation to the girl 
 whose hand he held in thanks for the message — a 
 longer while than mere business would require. 
 
 The crowd broke up in groups which started on 
 tours of jubilation. But at least one man in the 
 crowd went off disappointed 
 
 Next morning's papers brought the news that half- 
 a-million-dollars damage was caused overnight by a 
 fire at the Nanglow & Stillmansworth plant. 
 
 Also it was reported that on account of the liber- 
 ality of the firm the threatened labor troubles had 
 been averted. 
 
 The fact that thirteen bombs had been discovered 
 in the cellar of the main building was relegated to a 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 83 
 
 XXIV 
 
 LOST AND FOUND 
 
 Days, weeks, months, a year passed under the 
 stress of the World War. Cynics claimed it would 
 last at least thirty-one years, because this generation 
 is bound to break all records, including duration of 
 war. Powder City came to regard it as a normal 
 state of affairs. Houses were raised like mush- 
 rooms and rents shot up like sky rockets. Schemers 
 went fishing in the troubled waters. Editors boasted 
 of prosperity and ascribed it to the party in control 
 of the government or to the party trying to get in. 
 
 All this left Frank, the cobbler, undiscouraged and 
 undismayed. He found an excuse or an explanation 
 for all occurrences, never losing his ideals or lower- 
 ing his hopes. But one morning the limit of his en- 
 durance was reached because of a two-column article 
 in one of the local newspapers. 
 
 Under the title, "An American Romance," the ar- 
 ticle gave a glowing account of felicitations showered, 
 by officials and notables of the town, on Maltea 
 Credolini, whom a European monarch decorated with 
 the "honor and insignia" of nobility. 
 
 Surely that was not much for a dreamer of de- 
 mocracy to discount, but, like the proverbial straw 
 that broke the camel's back, it took the cheer out 
 of Frank's disposition. 
 
 His thoughts formed a funeral procession to bury 
 his ideals and hopes, living entities whose loss is the 
 saddest bereavement of all; and the more tragic, 
 the stronger and longer they have been cherished. 
 
84 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 The very thought he combated all his life ascended 
 in his own mind to a sort of presiding officer thai 
 shut off other thoughts with the gloomy declaration : 
 "no use, no use !" 
 
 It was a relief for Frank to greet his old friend 
 Kromer whom he had scarcely seen since the memor- 
 able experience at Clarendon Hall. 
 
 "I haven't seen you for ever so long ; what brought 
 you up this way?" 
 
 "You are the whole attraction. I just couldn't 
 stand it any longer. How are you and how is busi- 
 ness with you.? You know we settled, far from here." 
 "More people come around for my scoldings than 
 ever before, but I guess I will give it up." 
 
 "You give up.'' I can never believe it. Say, what 
 happened that could make you feel blue even for a 
 day.?" 
 
 "Look at this." 
 
 Kromer read the article. His face showed resent- 
 ment, but at the end he broke out laughing most 
 hilariously. 
 
 "Why," inquired Frank, "what are you laughing 
 at.? Whatis the joke.?" 
 
 "Can't you see it.? It is a joke on Thomas who 
 hated, with all his heart, Credolini and yet helped 
 him to 'high social distinction.' " 
 
 "Distinction," grumbled the cobbler. 
 "Well, some people are ashamed of what should 
 be their pride, like work, for instance — and others 
 are proud of what is really disgraceful, like acting 
 the flunkey. Didn't you say that some brains are 
 educated wrong side up.?" 
 
 "I said so, but that does not explain the joke." 
 
THE PROBLEM OF HOPE 85 
 
 "Yes, it does. You can bet it was Thomas who 
 smuggled the bombs into the cellar and Credolini 
 who discovered them. Now his rich uncle, Maltea 
 Credolini, is made a member of royal knighthood 
 and Giordano Credolini, the sweeper, is among the 
 celebrants of the occasion. This, of course, is an- 
 other American romance, but I wonder what Thomas 
 thinks about it." 
 
 "Thomas! Who would succumb to pebbles quite 
 so small? But look at the quarry — the city itself. 
 Mayor, congressman, postmaster, editor, chief of 
 police, all trying to outdo each other in declaring 
 how proud they are of "Nobility" in America. 
 
 "Bubbles! Don't take such stuff seriously. 
 What's the matter with you? Don't you know that 
 it is Credolini's money the politicians have such great 
 respect for?" 
 
 "I know. I also know such wealth is not intended 
 for perpetuating, promoting and improving Demo- 
 cratic institutions." 
 
 Kromer's face took on a serious look which the 
 cobbler noticed. 
 
 Downcast as he felt, Frank did not want to dis- 
 hearten another. He searched for something else 
 to speak about. Remembering Clara, he asked about 
 her: "How is the little one?" 
 
 "Fine, fine !" exclaimed Kromer, in whose mind the 
 picture of Clara was eclipsed by another. 
 
 His face grew radiant with joy as he continued: 
 "Fine, I tell you! Best kid on earth! Woke me 
 only six times last night." Then coming nearer and 
 bending close to the cobbler, with intense seriousness 
 
86 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 as if to learn the secret of the universe, he asked: 
 "Say, Frank, do other babies smile?" 
 
 The cobbler suppressed a laugh. What a naive 
 question from a man over thirty ! He saw the love- 
 light and the wonder in the young father's eyes. 
 In a few seconds, while his hammer tapped slowly, 
 Frank's mind swept around the globe and performed 
 a mathematical calculation: 
 
 "Every year seventy million fresh souls come to 
 earth, plus twice as many intellects which discover 
 the world anew, plus infinite time ahead " 
 
 "Yes," Frank answered, his heart grew lighter and 
 his hammer came down in a strong, decisive stroke; 
 "yes, Kromer, all babies do, and they have a right 
 to smile!" 
 
PART TWO 
 
 BROAD VIEW 
 
 Sonnets on Life, Love and Justice 
 
FOR ALL THAT 
 
 Count every tremor through the thundr'ous night 
 
 A trembling, rumbling, quaking earth has felt; 
 
 Add all vibrations of the ether-belt 
 
 Through which it speeds in many-motioned flight — 
 
 Add all the pangs and sorrows, grief and fright 
 
 That soulless hearts and heartless souls have dealt, 
 
 Wherever for a moment they have dwelt ; 
 
 Then shed upon your total sum the light 
 
 Of simplest common knowledge and behold! 
 
 The law of gravitation as of old, 
 
 With all the fractious elements doth cope. 
 
 And so by law that sways the universe, 
 
 By laws of love and growth that life infers. 
 
 The crest of vision ever must be hope. 
 
 GRAND RIVER 
 
 Within the social state a river flows 
 That only few look at with due regard. 
 Though, in its water dwells the soul of art 
 And, too, the most enchanting glory glows. 
 Each drop therein more slow than pearl grows, 
 And slower still can current force impart; 
 Yet every noble mind its pulsing heart 
 Impassioned, glad, into this river throws. 
 For where its waves may touch a barren shore 
 The countryside is blooming evermore. 
 The smiling trees bring fruit in pure delight. 
 And grateful flowers' lovely fragrance weld 
 In love and gratitude, all those who swelled 
 This river grand, the sacred river Right, 
 
90 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 3 
 
 ANCESTRY 
 
 At best the body's life draws but a span 
 
 While none can set a limit to the mind. 
 
 Who knows of thoughts, how they will wind and wind 
 
 Through secret channels, or the open van? 
 
 The body may be claimed by clique or clan 
 
 Who yet deny the oneness of mankind 
 
 But, oh, the soul is ever free to find 
 
 Its backward reach as well as prospect-plan. 
 
 Keen searchlights of the understanding pierce 
 
 Historic mist to gild our pioneers 
 
 With filial love; we kiss their wounds and scars 
 
 Whom we own sires to our onward climb — 
 
 Picked from all ages and from every clime, 
 
 We trace our lineage to the shining stars. 
 
 PROGRESS 
 
 Should hope persist when head and heart and hand 
 For noble efforts made have only scars 
 To show? But pains, for facing mountain bars 
 Whose very shadows menacingly stand 
 To frighten every new advancing band? 
 What mountain peaks ! Their burning lava chars 
 The boldest and the best to death. Ye stars. 
 How many tried the cutting through them, and 
 To blow them off what floods of sighs had flown ! 
 Yet there the mountains stretch along and own 
 With boasts their crushing weight; but oh, a fringe 
 Of them is gone ! As souls upon them tossed. 
 Some fragments of the mountain-stretch got lost 
 And all the rugged barriers sunk an inch. 
 
BROAD VIEW 91 
 
 5 
 
 POWER 
 
 Once ruin stared where now sweet lustre gleams. 
 What saved the day? Oh, in some obscure place 
 A drop of water saved a hidden brace; 
 One drop of water in the score of streams 
 That quelled the fire, had turned the beams 
 Of awful balance from despair to grace; 
 Brought rose-hued color to the bloodless face. 
 And in the stead of nightmares, peaceful dreams. 
 Oh, which drop was it? Which should we adore? 
 Could it have conquered but for those before? 
 And can we trace it through the solar light 
 That must absorb them all? In truth, you see. 
 Life gives us all an equal chance to be 
 World-saving atoms in the streams of right. 
 
 6 
 
 NEWCOMER 
 
 He came into a city wondrous, great, 
 
 A teeming world where none knew him before, 
 
 Arriving poor and from an unknown shore,_ 
 
 Yet he was welcomed with considerate 
 
 Attention, dressed in finery ornate; 
 
 And though he nearly killed one at the door. 
 
 Folks showered on him smiles and love galore ; 
 
 Then made his coming an affair of state! 
 
 A delegation gathered with the aim 
 
 To celebrate in joy because he came. 
 
 They could not be more pleasing, kinder, nor 
 
 Would any glance that festival belie. 
 
 Can such reception be inspired by 
 
 Can it be meant for purposes of war? 
 
92 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 CAUSE OF WAR 
 
 Is there a soul so unsophisticated 
 
 As not to know the war-cause between nations? — 
 
 Producing oil for future conflagrations, 
 
 The war, it will rage on to time undated; 
 
 Rage till the curse itself becomes abated, 
 
 By putting all its agents on short rations. 
 
 Exterminating them on first occasions. 
 
 Oh, don't you know the horrid group and hoary? 
 
 Insane Debasement, False Conceit, Vain Glory, 
 
 Wrong Want, Wrung Wealth, in various disguise- 
 
 Whoever feeds them with a single thought. 
 
 Ingredients for mammoth bombs has wrought. 
 
 Who drains their strength deserves a Noble Prize. 
 
 PLEA TO POSTERITY 
 
 Perhaps in search of more vainglorious fame, 
 Or craving luxuries, or some new play 
 The lords of war stood up in proud array 
 And started on their old, ancestral game. . . . 
 Some nations fall upon the battle plain 
 And some rejoice in profits come their way; 
 What Peace-at-any-price must fail to pay. 
 By war-at-any-rate they would maintain; 
 Poor common sense succumbs to tribal urge, 
 The tattooed creatures round their totems surge 
 Forgetting world ideals. What a fall! 
 O souls to come, minds of a wiser age. 
 Think of our days in pity more than rage — 
 Not all of us are guilty thus, not all. . . . 
 
BROAD VIEW 93 
 
 9 
 
 AMERICANISM 
 
 From equity asunder, wealth must fag; 
 Apart from right, a law is not revered; 
 Except in love the given kiss has erred; 
 Except for lofty thought behind a flag. 
 And great ideals, it is but a rag 
 Of no or false account. O standard, shared 
 By many bloods! Plead justice, undeterred 
 By tongues that only for themselves can wag — 
 The mingling of the races here begun. 
 Shall yield, in time, a nation better far 
 Than fancy weaveth in its highest flight. 
 Meanwhile, we may act leastwise on a par 
 With common sense; preserving, as we won, 
 A continent free from the royal blight. 
 
 10 
 
 NEW-YEAR SPIRIT 
 
 On moves in spiral rounds the haltless earth 
 
 According law whose mighty cosmic bell 
 
 Inaugurates the seasons ; when the kneU 
 
 Of it proclaims another circle's birth, 
 
 Hope rises from the slumberous state begirt 
 
 With good will that, enthroned for a wee spell. 
 
 Would make forever life to be all well; 
 
 A boon of strength and joy, of love anr\ m^rth. 
 
 Good will! Think not its tokens mere preiense, 
 
 For even habits grew as will inclined. 
 
 The virile power of that subtle sense 
 
 May help us, somewhere in the wide expanse 
 
 Of untrod virgin space and time, to find 
 
 The track of happiness for all mankind. 
 
94 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 11 
 
 SEX AND PEACE 
 
 The countless stars in space their course arrange 
 To glide each other by; why should, then, not 
 Bright, thoughtful souls, things lighter than a "watt" 
 Of sparks, refrain from clashing and revenge? 
 If action serves well, why curtail its range? 
 Why fret about sex- jurisdiction, that 
 Perennial nonsense : Who is fit for what. 
 On this old earth of never-ceasing change? 
 Let her who will, rhyme verse or criticise. 
 And him of such desires set to make 
 Delicious, most exquisite pies and cake; 
 For none so crude but likes poetic lies. 
 And all who rather live on nuts than bake. 
 Still, dearly love artistic cakes and pies. 
 
 12 
 
 CALL OF LOVE 
 
 Each man and woman nature has ordained 
 
 (As compensation for the coarse and rude 
 
 In life) to woo and also to be wooed 
 
 Through that grand symphony wherein contained 
 
 Hearts thrill, exalt; wherein most finely strained 
 
 Sweet melodies raise the enraptured mood 
 
 So humblest men know highest beatitude 
 
 That ever on this planet can be gained. 
 
 Oh, downcast souls, to whom the universe 
 
 Is like the empty jingling of a verse 
 
 Without a purpose, and to whom out of 
 
 Heart's tenderness the world seems all amiss. 
 
 Who can't respect the social edifice 
 
 Because of what it lacks, — just fall in love. 
 
BROAD VIEW 95 
 
 13 
 
 LIGHT OF LOVE 
 
 Just fall in love ! Upon the first faint spell 
 Of it, in some one corner of the mind 
 Appears a tiny little light outlined 
 In rosy hue; as thoughts upon it dwell 
 The light communicates from cell to cell, 
 Their radiations crossing, intertwined 
 Become a sun the like which never shined 
 Before. How paint its wonder work, how tell? 
 Each blessed day a burst of dazzling grace 
 Radiant glory brings, at last a blaze 
 Of perfect happiness without alloy — 
 And ever after, with time-mellowed rays. 
 It shows a thousand billion wondrous ways 
 To grow and pluck and offer fruits of joy. 
 
 14 
 
 TEST OF LOVE 
 
 'Tis not with lustre in his sparkling eyes, 
 
 With crimson roses glowing on her cheeks 
 
 That heart to heart its inmost message speaks. 
 
 But bring to mind when beaten, amidst cries 
 
 Of "shame," he falls ; or see her as she lies 
 
 Sick, haggard ; helpless through long, weary weeks ; 
 
 And, if impulse to soothe more urgent seeks 
 
 Than ever-trembling passion's voice tries 
 
 To plead its longings — if such be the thrall 
 
 That one would shoulder any task at all 
 
 To take the hurt out of the other's plight 
 
 Then, then, the priceless jewel had been found 
 
 That pen and palette vainly try to mount 
 
 So as to show forth all its charming light. 
 
96 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 15 
 
 THE SONNET 
 
 A surge of feeling, then a flash of thought, 
 
 Then keen desire, a compelling start 
 
 To shed the light-rays which in one's own heart 
 
 Shone kindly and had satisfaction wrought. 
 
 Then come the battles, sternly all, hard-fought, 
 
 With difficulties towering high, a part 
 
 To overcome which is the joy of art. 
 
 A little sonnet should be deftly fraught 
 
 With much good sense and yet be cutely clear. 
 
 What you hold high you also must make dear. 
 
 Where you would follow, lead. ... A sonnet may 
 
 Cost only minutes or some wakeful nights. 
 
 But all through measures and through fancy's flights 
 
 It bears a message which it must convey. 
 
 16 
 
 HER TEMPTATION 
 
 "No, no !" she said, a thousand times again. 
 
 Repelling each sinister dark attack; 
 
 Not out of primal strength, not for the lack 
 
 Of burning heart desire to attain 
 
 The red-hued joySj the want of which like pain 
 
 Consumes the flesh; but wise to what is back 
 
 Of them she held her own esteem, alack, 
 
 Against great odds that poured on her like rain. . . . 
 
 "For," said she, "if I heed not virtue's call 
 
 Not only do I bring on my own fall. 
 
 But drag with me down to the nether flood 
 
 Where all the demons of the past do drill. 
 
 The social structure — fair as human will — 
 
 To raise which all the martyrs shed their blood." 
 
BROAD VIEW 97 
 
 17 
 
 HIS TEMPTATION 
 
 "No, no," he said, and, oh, it was so hard 
 
 With all his soul and aU his heart afire, 
 
 With all his sinews craving for a lyre 
 
 That would be heard throughout the world of art! 
 
 What tragedy for a true born bard 
 
 To live on mute, become a gray-haired sire. 
 
 Whose children sow the wind or reap the fire. . . . 
 
 He would not heed the orders of the mart! — 
 
 "For," said he, "if I leastwise taint my song 
 
 To all who ever hear it I do wrong. 
 
 To die unknown is better than a wedge 
 
 In fame with truth a-bleeding; to withhold 
 
 Or screen our light is cheating young and old 
 
 Of that which is the world's due heritage." 
 
 18 
 
 SHAKESPEARE 
 
 Let one more pilgrim place the laurel wreath 
 Upon your memory. Unlike the sun, 
 Your light shines undiminished on and on; 
 Unlike the king's the sword that you unsheathe 
 Is blade for all. 'Tis life you wisely breathe. 
 Unlike the prophets' lines that they had spun 
 Around the aftermath, your words have teeth! 
 You flourish truth for its own gracious sake. 
 Immortal master soul, sweet bard, oh take 
 The thanks of all who have no day to rue 
 Because your music swelled the flowing years. 
 Because your song was ringing in our ears 
 And your advice: to thine own self be true. 
 
98 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 19 
 
 BABEL OF DOCTUINES! 
 
 As if the many tongues of varied lands 
 
 Were insufficient mankind to confuse, 
 
 Diverging groups divergent doctrines choose — 
 
 Some search the scriptures and show forth commands 
 
 Of God, while others find in rocks and plants 
 
 Most clearly stated laws of living, whose 
 
 Requirement their summaries produce; 
 
 To others yet, all things but Karma hands. 
 
 Some by the holy prophet Mahomet 
 
 And some by Ingersoll will swear, and yet — 
 
 And yet their hearts be of the selfsame font 
 
 Their souls alike intolerant, morose. 
 
 Forsooth, there are but two divisions, those 
 
 Who mean well and do right and those who don't. 
 
 20 
 
 POLYGLOT PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Like music instruments, just so the tongue 
 
 Has thousand means the selfsame thing to tell. 
 
 As station's gong and highest steeple's bell 
 
 Proclaim but time, just so the short and long 
 
 Of languages and creeds is but the Song 
 
 Of Life. Each tongue and theory will dwell 
 
 Within and round about the same old well 
 
 Of joy and grief, of human right and wrong. 
 
 What will eradicate discordant notes, 
 
 May be decided by the wit and votes 
 
 Of future generations. In the temples 
 
 Of tongues and creeds, though, there is room and call 
 
 For action which is understood by all — 
 
 For following and setting good examples. 
 
BROAD VIEW 99 
 
 21 
 
 BLAME 
 
 Society lays tons upon the back 
 
 Of human weakness which can hardly stand 
 
 The weight of one small pinch of simple sand. 
 
 Still worse, some individuals, alack. 
 
 Break often down before a real attack 
 
 Is made upon them by the heavy hand 
 
 Of bleak adversity. Some Voices blend 
 
 In shrilly concert steadily to whack 
 
 One or the other; still the lure of gold 
 
 Leads some their souls the better to unfold. 
 
 While merely thoughts of frost make others slip. 
 
 Who is at fault, the person or the grip 
 
 Of laws? The ones who cry, or those who laugh.'* 
 
 Perhaps both are at fault, just half and half. 
 
 22 
 
 CASTE 
 
 Oh, how particles love to feel of main 
 Importance ! Why, a shining spoke of brass 
 Within the wheel may boast of its "high class" 
 And view the axle grease with proud disdain. 
 A tiny talent or an extra grain 
 Of knowledge often will assume most crass 
 Superior airs. Most units in the mass 
 A "better-than-thou" attitude maintain, 
 And thus promote the wide-felt social chill 
 That makes the ice of prejudice to fill 
 The hearts of men so they can't understand 
 Each other. Much we spend for nothing gained. 
 Our poor world will be rich when it attained 
 A platform on which all can proudly stand. 
 
100 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 23 
 
 HOPE 
 
 Most loyal friend! All over hill and glen 
 
 (Though faith in justice scarcely has a chance), 
 
 What glory shines forth from your countenance! 
 
 When old savants wept, systems tumbled; when 
 
 The very gods have failed in saving men, 
 
 You stood by us, and we in preference 
 
 To reason's gloom sought refuge in your trance. 
 
 We change your appellation when it ran 
 
 Its course, and dress you in the neatest fine 
 
 New cloaks that fact and fancy in combine 
 
 Can well produce. As for the future, let 
 
 The cannons belch their worst and storms still frown, 
 
 The star of mankind will not crumble down. 
 
 For hope is with us, hope is with us yet! 
 
 24i 
 
 INDEPENDENCE 
 
 The world is full of ailing, sickly men; 
 
 Physicians of the body serve us, — well. 
 
 Sometimes at least — when driven by a spell 
 
 Of pain to doctors' or the surgeons' den. 
 
 Yet, one who needs them not, a specimen 
 
 Of robust health, tJicT/ praise the most. They tell 
 
 Us all about the art of keeping well. 
 
 But shepherds of the soul, with word and pen, 
 
 With threats of Hell and bribes of Paradise 
 
 Would force their potions into all men's eyes. 
 
 Alas, too many need support to see 
 
 Their ways through life, why deprecate the mind 
 
 That by itself a well-lit road can find 
 
 And walk thereon as upright as can be.'' 
 
BROAD VIEW 101 
 
 25 
 
 RELIGION 
 
 If pure and undefiled religion means 
 
 In mind-lit lives' economy a part 
 
 That throbbing ceaselessly through brain and heart 
 
 From joy improves, from vicissitude but gleans 
 
 The granules of perfection. If to try, 
 
 A constant eifort for a better start, 
 
 A wiser method and a truer art 
 
 Is evidence of right belief, then I 
 
 Exalt it above all, and pray — I do ; 
 
 My prayers are to men and women who 
 
 Compose the world to make of it a place 
 
 Wherein the fold of faith shall grow and roll 
 
 Until, ennobled, every human soul 
 
 Shall fit the structure of a perfect race. 
 
 26 
 
 IMMORTALITY 
 
 Some may affirm and others may deny — \ 
 
 Meanwhile the souls that truly consecrate 
 
 Themselves to living right accentuate 
 
 Life everlasting. Clear as clearest sky 
 
 Are these plain facts : that in what men create 
 
 The souls of all the world are incarnate ; 
 
 That as we go and as the seons fly 
 
 Good must be nurtured, evil must be fought. 
 
 So sure a soul for mankind's good has wrought 
 
 So certain it will prosper and live on ! 
 
 On every milepost, in each guiding sign 
 
 There may be seen and felt a soul-design 
 
 Made glorious through countless friendships won. 
 
-y^^': :••:•..: SOCI:^L CONSCIENCE 
 
 27 
 
 WISDOM 
 
 One starlit eve a cherub of creation 
 
 Appeared before the dreamer of his day, 
 
 And pleaded : "Come, on wings of thought away 
 
 To live in other, far-off constellations ; 
 
 Where you can suit yourself with size of rations 
 
 With color of the sun, with length of day, 
 
 With moons as many as you care to say — 
 
 Just think of it! — Amidst congenial nations." 
 
 I love my kind — "Then stay here with the rest 
 
 And mix your must-be-so with try-for-best," 
 
 The vision said, then vanished into air; 
 
 Its message, though, of duty and of hoping 
 
 Sheds kindly light where darkness was and groping — 
 
 Kind vision, please, go visit everywhere. 
 
 28 
 
 THE LAST DISCOUNT 
 
 Death stood perplexed before a man of steel 
 
 Who faced the grinning terror undismayed; 
 
 Through sheer surprise, it loosed its grip and bade 
 
 The beating heart its secret to reveal: 
 
 "In fear of me uncounted millions kneel. 
 
 The thought of me cuts like a sharpened blade. 
 
 What hast thou found, or else, what hast thou paid, 
 
 Thus lightly to regard my fatal deal?" 
 
 "Both found and paid — I paid in daily round 
 
 For goods received, with willing heart and hand. 
 
 Paid up in honesty without protest; 
 
 I found that cheerful paying pays, and found 
 
 The Note of Life calls for 'pay on demand' — 
 
 To die in fear is dying dishonest." 
 
BROAD VIEW 103 
 
 29 
 
 SUCCESS 
 
 A moment's joy, a thrill or two, for one 
 Who reached the top of some fair eminence. 
 And then, there comes the overpowering sense 
 Of loneliness; there shines an austere sun 
 Whose frigid rays remove the carefree fun 
 Of fellowship. That short-lived happy trance 
 Is valueless, a beggar's recompense 
 For lo ! The multitude is plodding on 
 The road of averages; yet stay, oh stay 
 On high. Success, in garments glittering, gay. 
 Proclaiming splendor and obscuring pain ; 
 Your glory serves as guidance for the rest. 
 It leads us all a-traveling, at our best. 
 And where that we have failed, to try again. 
 
 80 
 
 ANSWER TO ALIi aUERIES 
 
 What are the stars for, shining in the sky? 
 
 What are the waves for, rolling on the sea? 
 
 What are the billion wonders that we see 
 
 And vainly try to understand? Ask why 
 
 All diamonds are outshined, outglittered by 
 
 A pair of eyes? For what Olympic spree 
 
 Do flowers bloom in color-ecstasy? 
 
 Wherefore blow haltless winds ? And what for fly 
 
 The questions thickly all around us? Dear, 
 
 It all becomes explained, perfectly clear. 
 
 When comes the splendid, brightest marvel-morn 
 
 That all the universal settings blend 
 
 Into a blissful marriage service and 
 
 Pure thought weds love to have ideas born. . . . 
 
104 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 31 
 
 FIEST CAUSE 
 
 A university of great repute 
 
 In metaphysics, took up with new zest 
 
 The problem of priorology, lest 
 
 So dear a thing become a lost dispute. 
 
 The female chicken or her oval fruit, 
 
 Which had been first on earth? In skilful quest 
 
 Words from their meanings were divorced as best 
 
 The doctors can, then remarried to suit. 
 
 At last, through arduous toil they unlatched 
 
 A verbal wind and syllable-storm, that shook — 
 
 Dry mental twigs into doubts' bubbling brook. 
 
 But for all that the world moves undismayed; 
 
 When we want eggs, we simply have them laid, 
 
 When we want birds, we have them promptly hatched. 
 
 32 
 
 TEMPLE OF THOUGHT 
 
 With sandals off his feet, his head bent low, 
 
 The mosque is entered by the Mussulman; 
 
 How should I follow onward in the van 
 
 Of masters shedding forth immortal glow? 
 
 Through songs that they upon the world bestow 
 
 It learns to love the universal plan — 
 
 Can it be mine to swell their music's span. 
 
 Or add a note unto its soothing* flow? 
 
 What sacred privilege to serve the muse! 
 
 If but for passing momentary use, 
 
 Can it be mine to help the sound waves roll? 
 
 Oh, master singers of the great world's choice, 
 
 My only claim is that whate'er my voice 
 
 It swells and quivers from my heart and soul. 
 
BROAD VIEW 105 
 
 33 
 
 WANTS OF LIFE 
 
 Plain food and shelter, daily common wit 
 
 To laugh; some friends to cherish and respect; 
 
 A self-reliant, well-fed intellect 
 
 With self-directive, self-propelling grit; 
 
 A world to love, or any part of it. 
 
 Outside of self; sufficient human tact 
 
 To pass the multitude with good effect ; 
 
 And luck to leave our pathway better lit. . . . 
 
 All these belong within a rounded life 
 
 Of utmost pleasure with the least of strife ; 
 
 But we may lack some, yes, lack all the rest 
 
 But one — that lifts life's barge across the shoals — 
 
 The one of love — love saturated souls 
 
 Though pricked and torn, remain amongst the blest. 
 
 34 
 
 HUMAN TAX 
 
 Thy soul feels right, thy days flow fairly well, 
 
 Unscorched by burning passion to attain; 
 
 Thou hast no grievance, not an ache nor pain; 
 
 Yet in those eyes of thine the tear-glands swell. 
 
 Thy throat is choking in attempt to tell 
 
 Of thorny, poison shrubs which thou wouldst fain 
 
 Destroy, sweep clear from off the world's terrain 
 
 To save its bloom from flames of man-made hell. 
 
 Smooth is the road thou dost traverse, a more 
 
 Inviting entrance than thy cottage door 
 
 Earth cannot hold ; and yet pain, suffering's dart 
 
 From near and far, from north, south, east and west 
 
 Cuts through thy bosom in resultful quest 
 
 Of salty dew-drops — just because thou art! 
 
106 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 35 
 
 THE WAR AND AFTEE 
 
 "This, too, will pass away," and surely this 
 
 Huge sacrifice upon the battle plain. 
 
 The martyred, fallen hosts (betrayed and slain 
 
 By civilization's grim Judas-kiss). 
 
 And years of terror can't be all amiss. 
 
 Our agonies, our anguish and our pain 
 
 Shall not all have been offered up in vain. 
 
 But must be part of one great edifice 
 
 Commemorating, where we traveled on 
 
 The road of evolution, what we won. 
 
 How grand the building! From its top unfurled 
 
 A mighty symbol floats (which all must love 
 
 For what it cost and means) a banner of 
 
 The Free United Countries of the World. 
 
 36 
 
 ADVANCE 
 
 Now, when the earth is steeped in crimson gore, 
 And haunting hatreds weary minds enmesh; 
 When battle-fields are strewn with dead afresh 
 Each day, and always someone cries : "Encore !" 
 Now, when each half-healed, half-hid ancient sore 
 Is stabbed anew to newly bleed the flesh; 
 When brotherhood seems gone forever more — - 
 Now is it time to cast the blessed seed 
 Of love in spite of hate; of neutral deed 
 In spite of world devouring tribal sway. 
 Most diligently sow the golden grain, 
 For it and it alone can ever gain 
 The peace of humankind in freedom's way. 
 
BROAD VIEW 107 
 
 37 
 
 KINDNESS OF THE STORM 
 
 Would you behold a drama of supreme 
 
 Arrangement and superb magnificence? 
 
 Observe the storm clouds in their most intense 
 
 Sky-riding role. How terrorful they seem 
 
 As through the darkness, lightnings zigzag gleam. 
 
 Flash after flash glares forth efflorescence, 
 
 The thunders' rumblings hither roll and hence. 
 
 While through the air-shafts winding wind-blows 
 
 scream. 
 All earth vibrates in trembling atmosphere, 
 Light, motion, sound in one tumultuous sea 
 Converge, yet you may view it without fear. 
 This weather-show, for by its own decree 
 You can't be struck by lightning that you see. 
 Nor hurt by crashing thunder that you hear. 
 
 38 
 
 THANKSGIVING 
 
 No day can spend its rays without we think. 
 And thinking see the wondrous social hoard. 
 From Nature's storehouse taken to afford 
 Our nightly rest, our daily food and drink. 
 We see the savants forging wisdom's link. 
 The martyrs who had fallen in accord 
 With laws of risk, the heroes whom the horde 
 Of countless insects cannot cause to shrink. 
 We see the workers all, the multitude 
 Whose head and hand art and invention blent — 
 Of course our hearts go out in gratitude. 
 But can such tender pay for muscles spent. 
 For aching backs, sore joints, anxious care? 
 My plea to labor is : I do my share ! 
 
108 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 FAME WHAT FORT 
 
 Of all the glittering, glistening stajless gauze, 
 
 Of all the bubbles ever windward blown 
 
 To burst when but a moment they have flown. 
 
 Fame is achievement's least substantial cause. 
 
 Look at the celebrated rose, it was 
 
 A charming flower before its name had grown 
 
 A talisman of beauty. Songs well known 
 
 Had melody before they had applause. 
 
 And after all what is this phantom Fame? 
 
 Mere knowledge of a label or a name 
 
 By few or more, with more or less regard; 
 
 One common pansy blooming in the mass 
 
 Is lost only to those who heedless pass — 
 
 The loom of merit weaves its own reward! 
 
 40 
 
 SONG OF THE LIBRARY 
 
 A million books — some long unused had lain. 
 
 Some damp of print — changed into one great band 
 
 Of singing voices, sounding sweet and grand; 
 
 The highest thrills, as well as chords most plain. 
 
 Enchanting rose and set the choir's strain 
 
 Of music. I could clearly understand 
 
 The burden of the song, through every blend 
 
 This was the "leitmotif," the tuneful main: 
 
 "Work for the hands, for eyes and ears some art; 
 
 Some time for rest and leisure for a stroll; 
 
 The proper food for body, just the kind 
 
 It thrives upon ; wit, wisdom for the mind ; 
 
 An object of devotion for the heart 
 
 And noble aspirations for the soul." 
 
BROAD VIEW 109 
 
 41 
 
 WHAT IS TRUTH? 
 
 The never-ceasing search for truth in face 
 Of obstacles that tightly shut the light 
 Of knowledge from the world, is a most bright, 
 The finest, surest token of high grace 
 Bestowed by nature on the human race. 
 But what is truth? Alas, how many fight 
 For "it" before they solve the query right ; 
 Yet truth is clear as clearest sunlit space! — 
 Just as regarding earth's one sun, one moon, 
 No disputations mar agreements' boon. 
 So concord can be had in all respects — 
 And this the key to Truth's resplendent prize: 
 That mental concepts tally, harmonize 
 In every way with known external facts. 
 
 42 
 
 WORK AND ART 
 
 Art beautiful glanced at a wealthless heir 
 To labor's lot and made him captive. Chide 
 Him as she might, he would not leave her side. 
 Once stopping her he said: "Oh, lady fair, 
 Who could deny your graces? Yet I dare 
 To stigmatize your ostentatious pride ! 
 But for false flirts that by your leave abide. 
 We might revel through life a wedded pair." 
 He pressed his suit with longing, force and fire — 
 "Here," whispered Art, "accept this shining lyre 
 And see what true devotion to me is." 
 Thence slaved he hours stolen with a will 
 From play and rest, yet prospered — on the thrill 
 That ever goes with lover's stolen kiss. 
 
110 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 43 
 
 UTERATURE 
 
 The doors of Art, forever wide agape, 
 Drew in a couple through its Author's Day; 
 One could write well but had not much to say, 
 The other's burning thoughts could scarce escape 
 For lack of skill to mark the rolling tape 
 On which the symbols of expression play; 
 Yet both felt bound to fetch from mortal clay 
 Immortal sense in most enduring shape. 
 Inside the gate both faltered: how proceed? 
 How fit ambition's wings to weights of deed? 
 Should they themselves or passersby beguile? 
 They argued much though seeing all the while 
 That words live by the thought that they have freed- 
 The work of liberation being "style." 
 
 44 
 
 TRAGEDY OF GREED 
 
 This is no subtle speculation-wrought 
 
 Conception of what may a man befall, 
 
 But just a sob for one who gave up all 
 
 For nothing in exchange, the while he thought 
 
 To have the best and greatest bargain bought — 
 
 Enamored by a whim's alluring call 
 
 He lost his hearing for mind-music's thrall. 
 
 Compassion-flowers' fragrance vainly sought 
 
 His sense of smell; and then he lost the field 
 
 Of joys that kind considerateness yield; 
 
 At last the lustrous vision left his eyes 
 
 With sense of justice gone — and oh, this fake 
 
 Devitalized existence he would take 
 
 As being mankind's rightful Paradise! 
 
BROAD VIEW 111 
 
 45 
 
 PENALTY OF INGRATITUDE 
 
 The ingrate, too, deserves compassion; deal 
 
 Not mercilessly with him ; he is blind ; 
 
 The thrilling glance of thanks can't reach his mind 
 
 And good-will's warm look he cannot feel. 
 
 His sightless eyes cannot behold the real 
 
 Resplendent lustre shining from out kind 
 
 Relation, nor yet see its good, nor find 
 
 In savants' pearly sweat their souls' appeal. 
 
 For him no grandeur glows in sun-filled space, 
 
 To him the diamond is uncrystalline, 
 
 He cannot notice in the very wine 
 
 He daily drinks its brilliant sparkling grace. 
 
 Through lack of sense his gait is mischief bent. 
 
 Such life! It is its own worst punishment. 
 
 46 
 
 WISDOM COME 
 
 The narrow spirit of old bygone days 
 
 Let loose by some, is trying every way 
 
 To re-establish its terrorful sway 
 
 Through horrid sacrificial murder plays. . . . 
 
 How human beings frail the mode conveys 
 
 Of said reversions to crude types! Oh, say, 
 
 Will savage feeling conquer now for aye? 
 
 Will hymns of hate replace love's roundelays? . . . 
 
 Oh, no ! The wise are with us still, their station 
 
 Withstands all shock, they know not grudge nor 
 
 pride. 
 They feel at home wherever they reside. 
 They contemplate the world as one grand nation. 
 Yes, truth is with us still and so betide 
 The earth shall witness Wisdom's coronation. 
 
112 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 '47 
 
 NEO-PATRIOTISM 
 
 Oh, how I love my own, my native land! 
 
 Beneath its multi-colored rolling sky 
 
 Grand panoramas ever onward ply 
 
 And lights and shadows gloriously blend, 
 
 Change hastens change; as by a magic wand 
 
 Bloom after bloom evolves to greet the sky; 
 
 Great ships of fact move on, and fancies fly 
 
 As far as mind can see or comprehend. 
 
 In every nook there heaves a sturdy breast 
 
 For what it found, through hard travail, for best; 
 
 Or found for truth on its eternal probe. . . . 
 
 While all together beat on as in rhyme 
 
 To immolate and render more sublime 
 
 My own, my native land — this round wide globe. 
 
 48 
 
 WELIi-BEING 
 
 A thought occurred to me that, I well know. 
 
 But few or none can credit with the sign 
 
 Of truth, albeit by its sturdy twine 
 
 I feel my heart is being held in tow. 
 
 It is the thought that should none stand below 
 
 But rather all above my state, more fine 
 
 More strong, more wise . . . what further joys 
 
 were mine. 
 How much more gratitude my heart would owe. 
 Let men be famous in positions high. 
 Let all be great and wise amongst whom I 
 As but the poorest simpleton may dwell; 
 Let them have jeweled homes, gold shift on shift — 
 Oh, how their fortune would enhance the gift 
 I own — which doth suffice, for I am well ! 
 
BROAD VIEW 113 
 
 49 
 
 DESTINY OF EVIL 
 
 Yes, Evil lives but what a cheerless life! 
 
 It cannot see the beauty in the well 
 
 Of truth, nor sweetest friendship's fragrance smell, 
 
 Nor feel the glow of righteousness in strife. 
 
 It never can taste joys of freedom rife; 
 
 It has no ears for charming tunes that swell 
 
 The soul to sacred heights where just men dwell. 
 
 Its only sense is touch, that of a knife. 
 
 With this it cuts what it may edgewise reach, 
 
 Moved by this single sense more dull with each 
 
 New contact stupid (sometimes though it teach). 
 
 In aimless fashion on a zigzag route 
 
 It staggers, tumbles and must knock about 
 
 Until its every cursed limb wears out. 
 
 50 
 
 A REQUEST 
 
 If aught in all of what I write or say 
 
 Will add a penny's weight to public weal. 
 
 Let not through birth-chance kindred people steal 
 
 The credit for it — in the usual way — 
 
 To justify a narrow tribal sway. 
 
 As from the world's work and by its appeal 
 
 I lived and learned of the Righteous Deal, 
 
 So it is all the world I would repay — 
 
 Untrammeled, in the spheres of thought and feeling, 
 
 The children of my brain shall be appealing 
 
 To every one below the vaulted sky 
 
 For Equity, and as in advocating 
 
 This soul-deep, world-wide, age-old undertaking 
 
 My songs had birth, so let them live or die. 
 
PART THREE 
 
 OMARIA 
 
 An Appreciation of the Rubaiyat, Their Author 
 Omar Khayyam and His Translators 
 
 Read before the Mosaic Club of Bridgeport^ Conn,, 
 Febfwary, 1, 1916 
 
OMARIA 
 
 The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam constitutes one 
 of the many bright stars illuminating the intellectual 
 heavens of mankind. Round about our planet, in 
 the physical world, wonderful light-shedding bodies 
 were set into space and are steadily gracing it with- 
 out any effort on our part. But the glowing lumi- 
 naries of knowledge and wisdom are created by 
 human endeavor and they require intelligent human 
 effort to keep them and their glories shining before 
 the pilgrims of the earth. 
 
 Amongst these pilgrims there always have been 
 lovers of beauty, truth and right, who managed to 
 utilize and preserve the great beacon lights in the 
 skies of understanding. Now a wildly raging war- 
 craze causes destruction, sorrow, disgrace on a scale 
 unknown in the annals of the past; but in spite of 
 it all the march of civilization must go on. New 
 grudges may be hatched, hatreds intensified, vain- 
 glory increased, but all that cannot blight the least 
 of the heavenly bodies ; nor can "all the misbelieving 
 and black Horde of Fears and Sorrows that infest" 
 our world, eclipse the light-giving principles con- 
 tained in our literary firmament which is supported 
 and enriched by studying its lovable stars. 
 
 As a spectroscope reflects the composition of a 
 star in definite lines ; so we may consider Omar Khay- 
 
 117 
 
118 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 yam in several aspects. Firstly, as a man of his day 
 and community ; then, as a citizen of history ; thirdly, 
 in regard to matters moral and intellectual; and 
 lastly, yet most important, as a factor in mankind's 
 spiritual world. The first aspect gives a key with 
 which to unlock the rest; the second helps us to 
 realize their social value. As to the intellectual and 
 spiritual aspects, some consider them identical ; how- 
 ever, there is a difference, or at least a line of dis- 
 tinction may be drawn between the two. One may 
 possess a great deal of information and at the same 
 time be a soulless creature. Intellectuality, it would 
 seem, consists of the materials and process of think- 
 ing, whereas the product of that process, crystal- 
 lized into the basis of disposition, constitutes the 
 soul, or the spiritual part of mind. 
 
 Before proceeding to apply the spectroscope, that 
 is, before presenting the star in hand or author under 
 consideration, along the lines indicated, it is neces- 
 sary to give a little attention to matters of trans- 
 lation. 
 
 The Rubaiyat would still rest on the dusty shelves 
 of Persian obscurity but for the magic touch of one, 
 Edward Fitzgerald, its first English translator. To 
 reproduce an artistically-formed composition in an- 
 other language is splendid work, but Fitzgerald ac- 
 complished more. He reproduced the spirit of the 
 old master. Literary translations often have very 
 little value. I know of a most precious gem of com- 
 paratively modern literature turned by translators 
 into a dull common-place trinket. Why should that 
 be so? Presumably because many translators trans- 
 late a given piece of work in response to somebody's 
 
OMARIA 119 
 
 order, or to fill the requirement of the literary mar- 
 kets. Yet, it is evident that translatory work so 
 begotten cannot be of higher order than original 
 production born of the same motive. 
 
 In translations of true worth ideas and feelings 
 must be actually reincarnated, words and similes 
 must take on their original importance and intensity. 
 The translator's heart must melt into his lines just 
 as the author's had; and the strong impulse, the de- 
 sire to impart those thoughts and feelings to other 
 minds and hearts must be felt as passionately as when 
 they surged through the brain and heart of the one 
 who gave them first expression. In Edward Fitz- 
 gerald (who is to Omar what Columbus and Americus 
 combined were to America), all the requirements of 
 the ideal translator have most fortunately met. 
 
 Years before he even knew of Omar Khayyam, or 
 leastwise long before the Persian attracted Fitz- 
 gerald's attention, he published a collection of wise 
 sayings that foreshow most of the sentiments met 
 with in the Rubaiyat. For instance, a quotation in 
 the book, from Feltman, reads : 
 
 "The top feather of a plume began to give himself 
 airs and toss his head and look down contemptuously 
 on his fellows, but one of them said, 'Peace ! we are all 
 of us but feathers.' " 
 
 A quatrain puts it thus: 
 
 For I remember stopping by the way 
 
 To watch a potter thumping his wet clay 
 
 And with its all-obliterated Tongue 
 
 It murmur'd — "Gently, Brother, gently, pray !" 
 
120 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 A quotation from Jeremiah Markland has this bit 
 of wisdom: 
 
 ". . . . The other trouble is not so easily set asidcj 
 but it has the comfort of necessity and must be borne 
 whether you will or not, which with the wise man is the 
 same as choice." 
 
 The same idea may be recognized in its oriental 
 setting : 
 
 Some for the Glories of this World; and some 
 Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come ; 
 Ah, take the cash and let the Credit go. . . . 
 
 Yet one more quotation which is given as a Ger- 
 man anecdote: 
 
 "Two boys were playing at chess. A knight was 
 broken so they put a pawn to serve in his stead. 
 
 "Ha/' cried the knight to the pawn, "whence come 
 you, Sir Snail-pace?" 
 
 But the boy said to him, "Peace! he does the same 
 service as you." 
 
 This idea is cast in a quatrain which reads : 
 
 And fear not lest Existence closing your 
 Account and mine, will know the like no more 
 The Eternal Saki from that Bowl has pour'd 
 Millions of bubbles, like us and will pour. 
 
 The entire Fitzgerald rendition of the Rubaiyat 
 can best be characterized by a quotation contained 
 in the preface to the Wise Sayings. There Sir 
 Philip Sidney states the case fully and truly. "The 
 
OMARIA 121 
 
 poet," he said: "not only does show the way, but 
 giveth so sweet a prospect into the way as will entice 
 any man to enter into it. Nay, he doth, as if your 
 journey should lie through a fair vineyard, at the 
 very first give you a cluster of grapes, that full of 
 that taste you may long to pass further." 
 
 However, the beautiful composition at its birth 
 received a very poor reception, or rather none at all. 
 Most editors consider new grapes sour grapes. . . . 
 This is no misfortune because, knowing that, writers 
 can on that account persevere in their work and 
 hope. The recognition of the world cannot bring 
 all to the surface, but theirs is the satisfaction that 
 goes with creative art and the}" surely benefit the 
 world by not spending thought and time in ways 
 even more objectionable than writing poetry that 
 nobody wants to print. 
 
 So Fitzgerald kept on working at his task. A 
 score of quatrains sent to the Calcutta Magazine^ 
 were not printed, not even acknowledged; still he 
 continued the good work and when the number of the 
 quatrains had increased to about seventy, he pub- 
 lished them anonymously at his own expense. Ten 
 years elapsed before the work received notice in a 
 most unexpected and romantic manner. But that is 
 another story. Suffice it to say that the little book 
 of verses found no favor with friends and no buyers 
 at the counter. So he made a present of the entire 
 edition (numbering about two hundred) to the book- 
 seller, under whose imprimature it was printed. The 
 books were thrown into the "penny basket" and from 
 that lowly position Fitzgerald's work winged its 
 way to the center of the world's intellectual horizon. 
 
122 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 However, that rendition of the Rubaiyat is by no 
 means exhaustive. In my own case, after the first 
 reading of the book I had only discovered that the 
 quatrains were worth pondering over and that their 
 author well deserves to become acquainted with. So 
 I took the volume of "World's Best Literature," 
 containing my subject and quotations contained 
 therein, from E. H. Whinfield, were the charming 
 postulates that filled me with love and enthusiasm for 
 the Rubaiyat and the master soul that conceived 
 them. The Whinfield version, comprising 269 quat- 
 rains, permits us to gain a wider view of Omar Khay- 
 yam's liberal way of thinking. Still, the Rubaiyat re- 
 mains tantalizing. Having entered the vineyard and 
 consumed the cluster of grapes received at the open- 
 ing of the gate, there remains the taste that makes 
 one long to pass further. In search of more Omaric 
 grape juice one can turn to Justin McCarthy, who 
 translated 466 quatrains into beautiful animated 
 English prose. There is a large scattering of other 
 translations, but I need to mention here only two of 
 them. 
 
 One is Monsieur J. B. Nicolas, who, in conjunction 
 with Hassan Ali Khan, made an excellent French 
 rendition of the Rubaiyat. This work was published 
 in 1867 (the year I was born, and so I may consider 
 it my birthday present). The work of Nicolas was 
 consulted by most of the translators, since that time, 
 including McCarthy. Of course, this circumstance 
 does not detract from the value of the several ren- 
 ditions whatsoever. Fitzgerald gave Omar Khay- 
 yam's Rubaiyat a magnificent introduction and all 
 
OMARIA 123 
 
 others join to give it a most hearty and popular 
 welcome. 
 
 Another very effective translator is the German 
 Friedrich Bodenstedt, who took over, mixed in verse 
 and prose, 467 quatrains. These he put into ten 
 divisions, as follows: 
 
 1. The Deity of the Poet. 2. The God of the 
 Koran (Turkish bible) and his Prophet. 3. Ap- 
 pearance and Substance. 4. The Limits of Knowl- 
 edge. 5. Fate and Liberty. 6. Springtime and 
 Love. 7. The Poet and his Opponents. 8. World and 
 Life. 9. The Poet and his Goblet. 10. Mixed Quat- 
 rains. In the original there is no such division, the 
 quatrains being merely placed in the A, B, C order 
 of their endings. So any arrangement must be the 
 arbitrary work of the editor or translator. The 
 Fitzgerald rendition, aptly described as "A Mosaic," 
 is the most popular and most taking because of its 
 artistic perfection and rounded philosophy. How- 
 ever, for purposes of study and general reading a 
 sensible English grouping of all the quatrains seems 
 desirable. Such a work along the lines of Bodenstedt, 
 or on some other plan that a scholar might devise, 
 would make a valuable addition to Omaric Literature. 
 
 I now come to consider Omar Khayyam as a man 
 of his day and community. Authorities differ in 
 regard to the poet's everyday life. Literary authori- 
 ties are apt to discredit each other, even as polit- 
 ical authorities including czars, kings, and emperors 
 do nowadays. But the clash of the penwielders 
 unlike that of the wielders of the sword, need cause 
 the shedding of smiles only. The poet might have 
 
124 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 been a brilliant student and later on a favorite pro- 
 tege of his erstwhile schoolmate, who rose to the 
 exalted position of Grand Vizier, Nizam Ulk Mulk; 
 or he may have been an humble artisan, a tentmaker 
 by trade, whose very obscurity served as a shield while 
 moulding bold ideas into lovely, exquisite verse. I 
 inchne to the latter view, perhaps, because the sub- 
 conscious mind is disposed to find in Omar a sort 
 of colleague as the conscious mind found him a 
 mental affinity. 
 
 True, he was a great astronomer in his day, but 
 this need not remove him from the circle of workers. 
 I know of some mechanics, right in this city, who 
 are perfectly qualified and may yet help to improve 
 on the present reckoning of time even as Omar helped 
 to improve the Almanac of his day. 
 
 The name Khayyam signifies tentmaker, and in one 
 quatrain there is a playful reference to that trade: 
 
 Khayyam who stitched the tents of science 
 Has fallen in grief's furnace and been suddenly burned. 
 The shears of fate have cut the tent ropes of his life 
 And the broker of hopes has sold him for nothing. 
 
 But, then, what difference does it make anyhow? 
 Whether he sprung from a high or a low estate our 
 inheritance from the author remains just the same. 
 Our concern is only to remember that he lived some 
 eight hundred years ago, in the far-away Persian 
 city of Naishapur, when the wars of the Crusade 
 darkened the paths of the world. Europe was a 
 vast battlefield then, as at present, perhaps worse in 
 that the generation was more ferocious and all the 
 sacrifice, murder, pillage and massacre was done in 
 the name of religion ! . . . The book of "Wise Say- 
 
OMARIA 125 
 
 ings" already quoted from, contains a bit of verse 
 quite appropriate : 
 
 War begets Poverty — Poverty begets Peace — 
 Peace begets Riches — Fate will not cease — 
 Riches beget Pride — Pride is War's ground — 
 War begets Poverty — And so the world goes round. 
 
 Omar protested against the whole round of that 
 system, yes, even against the management thereof. 
 Siding with humanity, he gave vent to pathos, sar- 
 casm, and argument that to this day pierces, thrills 
 and enlightens the compassionate heart. It is chiefly 
 as a protestant, not in a denominational, but in the 
 general sense of the word, that he spent his breath. 
 Some of the quatrains sound harsh and feel rough 
 to a degree, but one may feel certain they were 
 directed against intolerance and bigotry. 
 
 "Blame not the drunkards you who wine eschew; 
 Had I but grace I would abstain like you. 
 And mark me, vaunting zealot, you commit 
 A hundredfold worse sins than drunkards do. 
 
 "Why, be this Juice the growth of God, who dare 
 Blaspheme the twisted tendril as a Snare .^ 
 A blessing we should use it, should we not.^ 
 And if a curse — why, Who set it there.'' 
 
 "These fools by dint of ignorance most crass 
 Think they in wisdom all mankind surpass 
 
 And glibly do they damn as infidel 
 Whoever is not like themselves — an ass. 
 
 "Why, All the saints and sages who discussed 
 Of the two Worlds so wisely — they are thrust 
 
 Like foolish Prophets forth; their words to scorn 
 Are scattered, and their Mouths are stopt with dust." 
 
126 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 The quatrains just quoted are two from Whin- 
 field and two from Fitzgerald; a few more in prose 
 from the French of Nicolas well translated into 
 English by James W. Scott will show, perhaps, even 
 more poignantly the sentiments expressed: 
 
 "From time to time my heart is ill at ease, w^ithin its 
 narrow cage. It is a shame to be a thing of earth and 
 water. I have had a mind to destroy this prison, but 
 then my foot would have stumbled against the law of 
 the Koran. 
 
 "Thou hast filled us with an ungovernable passion, 
 which is as a law unto us, and thou hast forbidden us 
 to yield to it. Wherefor man staggers between the law 
 of his nature and the command of his God^ — like one 
 bidden to reverse the cup without spilling the contents. 
 
 "Of a truth I drink wine, and whoever looks to the 
 very heart of things, knows that this is of small moment 
 in the sight of God. God forsaw through all time that 
 I should drink wine, and did I not, predestination were 
 a sorry farce." 
 
 "Thou hast encircled us with two hundred snares, 
 yet Thou sayest, if ye but place the foot therein, death 
 shall be your portion. Thou layest the snares thyself 
 and whoever falls therein, him dost Thou curse, him 
 dost Thou slay and call rebellious !" 
 
 But one more Fitzgerald pearl of this kind : 
 
 "Oh Thou who man of baser Earth didst make. 
 And ev'n with Paradise devise the Snake: 
 
 For all the Sin wherewith the Face of Man 
 Is blackened — Man's forgiveness give — and take." 
 
 "And take." These two words or their meaning 
 cannot be found in the original, nor in any trajis- 
 lation but Fitzgerald's. Notwithstanding that the 
 
OMARIA 127 
 
 sense is truly Omaric, for no matter how much he 
 rebelled against people's conceptions, he would not 
 carry a grudge against men. Life is far too short to 
 be put to such a use. Says he : 
 
 "Ah, my beloved, fill the cup that clears 
 TO-DAY of past Regrets and Future Fears; 
 To-morrow ! — Why, To-morrow I may be 
 Myself with Yesterdays Sev'n thousand Years. 
 
 "For some we loved, the loveliest and the best 
 That from his Vintage rolling Time hath pressed 
 Have drunk their cup a round or two before. 
 And one by one crept silently to rest. 
 
 "Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend 
 Before we too into the Dust descend." 
 
 Well, Omar Khayyam was most certainly rebel- 
 lious. He had, as can be seen, good and sufficient 
 reason to be so, but that does not make it much 
 easier to swim against the current of opinion held 
 by the masses. People, as a rule, do not like a change 
 excepting in their wearing apparel — and that only 
 if it is started by someone high in authority. Omar 
 had no special reverence for the powers that were; 
 in fact, he never ceased to remind them of their 
 origin. Sometimes with a sob, at other times with 
 a laugh, but he always delivered his jibs in a fashion 
 that struck home. 
 
 Save to congenial friends and advanced thinkers, 
 Omar must have been a disturbing element in his day. 
 Had Roosevelt lived at that time, Omar could not 
 have escaped from being classed as an "undesirable 
 citizen." But, somehow, the pioneer spirit finds 
 
128 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 sustenance in its own approbation. So Omar kept 
 on, throughout his long life, protesting and inveigh- 
 ing against conventions and conceptions that seemed 
 silly to him. Most, if not all his quatrains, were 
 composed in opposition to the then-prevailing 
 thought. What a thankless job it must have been! 
 But the poet kept at it and, still, his soul, like that 
 of John Brown, is marching on. In his day and gen- 
 eration Omar was considered a dangerous heretic. 
 Among the majority of his co-nationals he is still 
 considered a heretic, if not quite so dangerous, but 
 rather a celebrity of whom they feel proud. Some- 
 how or other the accusation has lost its terrible as- 
 pect. Especially hereabouts it is losing its nails 
 and claws at an astonishing speed. 
 
 But recently a lecturer of the Y. M. C. A., Dr. 
 Frank Crane, stated: "What this country needs is 
 heretics, and plenty of them." Dear old Omar, by 
 himself, made up for a whole regiment! Also it is 
 interesting to note that Edward Fitzgerald, long 
 before he took to translating the Rubaiyat, signed 
 himself (in a letter to Fanny Kemble) as "your an- 
 cient heretic." Now their work is fairly respectable, 
 and is ranked with the foremost classics of the 
 world's poetry. 
 
 A young friend of mine was asked to define what 
 is poetry. He answered: "Speech is sometimes de- 
 fined as loud thinking; I will say that poetry is loud 
 feeling." This is surely a good definition, for with- 
 out feeling there can be no poetical expression, and 
 unless couched in language colored loud enough, 
 it would never attract much notice. But, like 
 
OMARIA 129 
 
 most of such short definitions, it fails to give a 
 complete idea of what it would disclose. (Most babies 
 indulge in loud feeling, and when thej do so especially 
 at 2 A.M., I dare say, the effect is not exactly sweet 
 and charming.) 
 
 Poetry, then, to waken with delight must be more 
 than loud feeling. It must partake of high thinking, 
 broad understanding and deep love. In this Persian 
 quatrains — love, disgust, praise, blame, charity, ex- 
 coriation, hope, disappointment, faith, doubt, enthu- 
 siasm, resignation — the whole gamut of human feel- 
 ings, are registered with supreme brilliancy. Yet, 
 the best part of them, their crowning glory, is the 
 steadfast liberal, one might say liberation principles 
 pervading most everyone of the quatrains. 
 
 A man's standard ought to be judged not only 
 by what he does, but also by what he endeavors to 
 accomplish. Social life is continuous. Conditions 
 of to-day are the results of past activities, reaching 
 back to the very beginnings of human consciousness. 
 Whether he will or no, each person must take part 
 in shaping the course of history. Many people do 
 not realize this and are content to be mere ciphers ; 
 but even so they give strength to those who hold 
 principles and so cut a figure by themselves. Omar 
 Khayyam, though he was ever so humble, rose to be 
 a majestic figure. His Rubaiyat is not only a treas- 
 ure of art but also a storehouse of ideas. 
 
 Radical and revolutionary as these quatrains 
 really are, one must not expect to find in them solu- 
 tions for each and every problem of our days. Omar 
 lived eight hundred long years ago. He did not read 
 the report of the Congressional Committee on Indus- 
 
130 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 trial Relations, nor did he hear suffrage debates and 
 the like. Most of the quatrains, though, deal with 
 the eternal verities. We all can learn from them and 
 enjoj them without denying ourselves the inspira- 
 tional sources of other genii or disregarding the 
 vital forces of present actual life. 
 
 I found it so by experience. Swayed by the truth 
 and beauty found in the several English, German, 
 and French translations of the Rubaiyat, I felt im- 
 pelled to cast them in yet another language. After 
 translating (or rather Fitzgerald style transposing) 
 more than three hundred quatrains (with the rhythm 
 and measure still in my mind), I felt that not half 
 had been said that I would like the world to know. 
 So I proceeded to compose quatrains of my own — this 
 time in English — and formed three hundred more 
 before I could stop . . .* 
 
 Important as it is to remember in regard to the 
 Rubaiyat the "when" of its birth, consideration of 
 geographical matters is still more necessary. The 
 Omaric admonition to "drink wine" is repeated in so 
 many variations ; the fluid is praised in such glowing 
 colors, so braggardly, many times in such an exces- 
 sive manner, that some readers become disgusted with 
 the entire Rubaiyat, while others, clinging to the 
 beauty and truth of them, apply the well-known — 
 alas, often abused — expediency of giving to words a 
 different meaning from what they are generally un- 
 derstood to be. 
 
 Just remember that Omar lived and wrought in 
 the Persian city Naishapur, amongst fanatical fol- 
 lowers of Mahomet whose most conspicuous tenet 
 
 * See Humane Humanity, page 145. 
 
OMARIA 131 
 
 was a taboo on wine. A devout believer might abuse, 
 not one wife, but a hundred of them and commit a 
 hundred other iniquities without bringing on himself 
 the wrath of Allah. . . . He may drink strong black 
 coffee to excess without reprobation, but wine, every 
 drop of it is supposed to be a channel to perdition. 
 It is something like pork to the orthodox Jew, who 
 will sit mourning in sackcloth and ashes if, he finds 
 out that his son ate as much as a slice of bacon. 
 Some Jewish fellows remonstrated against this con- 
 ception by feasting in front of a restaurant just 
 opposite a synagogue on a fast day and the result 
 was a riot in New York some few years ago. So 
 it may have been with Omar. The fact that he lived 
 to an extreme old age is perfect proof that he could 
 not have been as intemperate as some of the quat- 
 rains make it appear. Omar hugs the tavern and 
 parades in the vineyard for purposes of demonstra- 
 tion, while continually raising his goblet as a chal- 
 lenge to and defiance of superstition and bigotry. 
 Omar Khayyam not only protested against wrong 
 but he also glorified the right; he not only argued 
 against false conceptions or what seemed to him 
 false, but he also promulgated a workable construct- 
 ive philosophy in accordance with justice or what 
 seemed to him so. This strain runs through the 
 whole Rubaiyat. It is his vote in history, a vote cast 
 for the Simple Life with Love and Liberty. The 
 most beautiful gems in the Rubaiyat were wrought 
 by emotions of this order. Yes, each life is a vote 
 in history one way or another, each book is a record 
 of the vote or votes cast, and this is what Omar's 
 Rubaiyat stands for: 
 
132 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "Let him rejoice who has a loaf of bread, 
 A little nest wherein to lay his head 
 
 Is slave to none and no man slaves for him — 
 In truth his lot is wondrous well bestead. 
 
 "Sooner with half a loaf contented be 
 And water from a broken crock like me, 
 
 Than lord it over one poor fellow man 
 Or to another boM^ the vassal knee. 
 
 "A book of verses underneath the Bough, 
 A jug of Wine, a Loaf of bread and Thou 
 Beside me singing in the Wilderness — 
 Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow." 
 
 "We are lost in love to-day . . . Sundered from our 
 very being we shall touch the eternal throne to-day." 
 
 "I sometimes think that never blows so red 
 The Rose as where some buried Caesar bled; 
 
 That every Hyacinth the Garden wears 
 Dropt in her Lap from some once lovely head." 
 
 One can imagine these thoughts and sentiments, 
 after being fashioned into song by the old mas- 
 ter, propagating themselves, growing stronger and 
 stronger, traveling on and on over fields and valleys, 
 crossing rivers and mountains; then, perhaps in the 
 heart of an English dissenter, shipping over the 
 broad expanse of the Atlantic being transplanted 
 in new soil, prospering in new minds, and coming to 
 fruition in the immortal exclamation : "Give me lib- 
 erty or give me death!" Yes, each life is a vote in 
 the course of history. Omar Khayyam voted as a 
 compassionate humanitarian. A student of his 
 quatrains must feel glad and proud that such senti- 
 ments were cherished, by a person trodding a far 
 
OMARIA 133 
 
 corner of the earth, in the midst of what is called 
 the Dark Ages. 
 
 What was the wellspring of this Persian author's 
 sentiments? What was the basic source of his songs? 
 What was the kernel of his philosophy? His was 
 not a case of embracing a doctrine, but the reaching 
 out for a first-hand system of thought. His con- 
 clusions prove to be the epitomes of most of the 
 modern cults ; yes, and a great, great deal more. 
 
 Philosophies are much like languages; they really 
 can be translated from one into the other. Just as 
 each language has superior beauties for the friendly 
 student, so each philosophy offers sublime altitudes 
 for reverent souls. I dare to say, for it can be 
 demonstrated, that the sum and substance of all phi- 
 losophies mean simply this : Do your best, hope much 
 and fear nothing! In Omar's expression those 
 thoughts shine forth in a charm of his own: 
 
 "As then the Tulip for her morning sup 
 Of Heavenly Vintage from the soil looks up 
 Do you devoutly do the like — " 
 
 "So when that Angel of the darker Drink 
 At last shall find you by the river brink 
 
 And, offering his Cup, invite your Soul 
 Forth your Lips to quaff — you shall not shrink." 
 
 For doctrinal controversies Omar had little or no 
 use. The revelations of Mahomet, like many another 
 bible before and after, had been reduced to a few 
 meaningless formalities and a sorry excuse for doc- 
 
134 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 tors to disagree on and make a living by. . . . He 
 cut loose from them all in his bold and brilliant style : 
 
 "Myself when young did eagerly frequent 
 Doctor and Saint^ and heard great argument 
 
 About it and about: but evermore 
 Came out by the same door where in I went." 
 
 "And lately by the Tavern Door agape 
 Came shining through the Dusk an Angel Shape 
 
 Bearing a Vessel on his shoulder; and 
 He bid me taste of it; and 'twas the Grape!" 
 
 "The Grape that can with Logic absolute 
 The Two-and-Seventy jarring sects confute. . . ." 
 
 "Nay, but for terror of his wrathful face 
 I swear I will not call injustice grace; 
 Not one good fellow of the tavern but 
 Would kick so poor a coward from his place." 
 
 Once again, remember the Rubaiyat was written 
 eight hundred years ago among Mohammedans who 
 considered everybody but themselves a "gyaur" or 
 a dog of an infidel. They urged their soldiers into 
 war by the promise that every man fallen in battle 
 is by his death entitled to the glories of heaven, which 
 includes a mansion with branches of well-laden fruit 
 trees growing in through the windows and with any 
 number of perfect concubines for every Mussulmanic 
 gentleman. They had attained to power by the most 
 brutal use of the sword, their fanaticism knew no 
 bounds and their theological notions blocked the way 
 of social progress. Omar hurled shafts of resent- 
 ment, reason and ridicule against the blockading 
 
OMARIA 135 
 
 dogmas of all ruthlessly ruling supernatural concep- 
 tions : 
 
 "Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Paradise, 
 One thing at least is certain — This Life flies. 
 One thing is certain and the rest is Lies; 
 The Flower that once has blown for ever dies. 
 
 "Why if the Soul can fling the Dust aside, 
 And naked on the Air of Heaven ride, 
 
 Were't not a Shame — were't not a Shame for him 
 In this clay carcass crippled to abide? 
 
 "If but the Wine — and Love — abjuring Band 
 Are in the Prophets Paradise to stand, 
 Alack, I doubt the Prophet's Paradise 
 Were empty as the hollow of one's Hand. 
 
 People whose religion is the concentrated essence 
 of Love, Hope, Charity and Good Works and who 
 pray to a poetical personification of them can hardly 
 realize the benumbing force, and crushing weight of 
 the primitive anthropomorphic ideas. Nor need one 
 try to do so. It is sufficient to remember that words 
 do not always cover the same meaning. After Dante 
 lived, Hell was a juster place in mankind's contem- 
 plation than before. The word kept on softening, 
 being diluted until with some it has all but lost its 
 edge. Pastor Russel and his Bible Students declare 
 that the word derived from "Sheol" means simply 
 oblivion, while Ralph Waldo Thrine, Christian Sci- 
 entist or New Thought Apostle, claims the word to 
 come from the old English Hellen, meaning "wall" 
 and shutting or walling off good and pleasant 
 thoughts from our minds is all there is to Hell ! Ac- 
 
136 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 cording to undenominational science a life's influ- 
 ence continues even if life itself ceases. Evil has to 
 be fought and diminished, the good must be nurtured 
 and enlarged by society; thus, the better a life had 
 been lived the longer and stronger it continues in the 
 totality of things. . . . Omar did not deprecate 
 these charitable conceptions of the Hereafter. He 
 fought the gross demoralizing, bloodthirsty concep- 
 tion of it. Keeping this in view even the most ortho- 
 dox can safely and with pleasure navigate the ocean 
 of ideas contained in the Rubaiyat ; yes, and without 
 misgiving approach the place where the sounding is 
 deepest, the waves roll highest and the white foam of 
 breaking billows cause wonderment and awe. This 
 is the realm of the spiritual, the very center of it, the 
 conception of the Ultimate. 
 
 "I sent my soul through the Invisible, 
 Some letter of that after-life to spell 
 
 And by and by my soul return'd to me 
 And answered *I myself am Heav'n and Hell.' " 
 
 "Heaven but the vision of fulfill'd desire. 
 And Hell the shadow of a Soul on fire^ 
 
 Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves 
 So late emerged from, shall so soon expire." 
 
 "With Earth's first Clay they did the Last Man knead 
 And there of the Last Harv^est sowed the Seed; 
 
 And the first Morning of Creation wrote 
 What the Last Dawn of Reckoning shall read." 
 
 On account of these and similar quatrains Omar 
 Khayyam may be claimed by any of the modern 
 schools of thought and he is claimed by many. How- 
 
OMARIA 1H1 
 
 ever, these conclusions are but metaphysical and may 
 be found fault with one way or the other. The quin- 
 tessence of spirituality is the moral disposition of the 
 mind. It is that whereby old Omar shines as a star 
 of first magnitude. He never claimed title to saint- 
 ship nor could the laurels of perfection be accorded 
 to him as a matter of right. The fact of life's close 
 and the pathos of it caused him to bemoan the uni- 
 versal arrangement oftener and with more bitterness 
 than his otherwise sound philosophy would justify. 
 But, then, the wars of the Crusades were devastating 
 the Earth and he was human, intensely so. And his 
 morality too is of the same order. 
 
 "The Vine had struck a fibre: which about 
 If clings my being — let the Dervish flout; 
 
 Of my base metal may be filed a key 
 That shall unlock the Door he howls without." 
 
 "Though drink is wrong take care with whom you drink 
 And who you are that drink and what you drink 
 
 And drink at will, for these three points observed 
 Who but the very wise can ever drink? 
 
 "And this I know: whether the one true light 
 Kindle to love or wreath-consume me quite, 
 
 One flash of It within the Tavern caught 
 Better than in the temple lost outright. 
 
 "Though Khayyam strings no pearls of righteous deeds 
 Nor roots from out his soul sin's noisome weeds 
 Yet will he not despair of heavenly grace 
 Seeing that one for two* he never misreads." 
 
 Quoting from Omar Khayyam is like plucking 
 flowers for an occasion, the specimen or bouquet 
 
138 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 may be most beautiful, yet it cannot bring to the 
 vision all the glories of the garden. His speculations 
 tally with the known facts of nature, his moods, even 
 his saddest moods, are experienced by all whose hearts 
 are rent by sorrow, his regard for justice is supreme, 
 his gift of expression unsurpassed, and so we possess 
 in the Rubaiyat precious nuggets of literature that 
 become more valuable with each additional achieve- 
 ment in the world of human understanding. 
 
 As yet the name of Omar Khayyam is not as widely 
 known as for the good of mankind it should be; 
 but his work has been added to the staff of mental 
 food in circles of an intellectual nature. Just as 
 bread can be had at every grocer's so the Rubaiyat 
 can be had in every book or department store. Ever 
 since the Fitzgerald rendition was discovered and its 
 beauties proclaimed by a group of London artists, 
 the quatrains have steadily gained in popularity. By 
 this time more than a hundred publishers have 
 brought out the work in one shape or other. One of 
 the publications attained twenty-five editions and 
 some like the Department Store edition must have 
 been printed in considerable quantities. 
 
 Of course, the mere spreading of a literary work 
 does not vouch for its worth. Innumerable books 
 are turned out with no other than grossly commer- 
 cial intentions. Some influential professors openly 
 condone such motive and justify the sinking of 
 minds to almost any level that will fetch a handsome 
 monetary return. "People want to be amused," say 
 these Professors, "give them what they require (in 
 their stupidity). If you help to make them more so 
 
OMARIA 139 
 
 and prolong that state of mind, why should you 
 care? Omar Khayyam is of a different mould. The 
 Rubaiyat was not written nor translated for what is 
 called a market, but when in due course of time the 
 work had taken its rightful place, this was not con- 
 fined to a small corner of the earth, or a creed or 
 a nationality to serve for an hour or a day ; but truly 
 like a star it shone for all and for years without 
 number. And just as the stars of heaven shine 
 brightest for those who study them so the Rubaiyat 
 is made the most of by students and philosophers. 
 
 What makes it so.? 
 
 The question is not difficult to answer and it is an 
 answer on which all commentators and all biograph- 
 eis in the case agree. The one thing that more than 
 all other attributes makes Omar the darling of stu- 
 dents is the fact that his quatrains really constitute 
 a CHARTER OF FREEDOM FOR THINKING. 
 . . . The book, from cover to cover, is a protest 
 against the tyranny of dogmatic opinion. Many 
 others have done likewise only to set up a dogma of 
 their own. Not so with Omar, he can never be made 
 the shibboleth of a cult. He has no dogma to offer 
 unless the idea, to make the most of life in our keep- 
 ing, may be called by that name. 
 
 But even so he does not try to scare anyone into 
 being good; rather he sets to work showing the un- 
 mitigable folly of being otherwise. As he demanded 
 freedom for others to break away from established 
 rules, so he permitted himself to express different 
 opinions at different periods of his long life. It is 
 not necessary to look for contradictions in the 
 
140 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Rubaiyat. They can be found without much seek- 
 ing. 
 
 Yet Omar never forsakes his cardinal contention: 
 that of the individual's right to do his o^vn thinking ; 
 and through all his changing moods, the poet phi- 
 losopher never considers mankind unworthy of his 
 love and care. 
 
 He was persecuted and he suffered like almost every 
 innovator, but instead of complaining he just fought 
 the harder, sprinkling the tabooed wine in the face 
 of his enemies while singing the glories of life, love 
 and liberty. In fact, Omar's every quatrain pulsates 
 with love for mankind. Most sensible to their limita- 
 tions, he would nevertheless ha\e people rise as high 
 as ever they can. He had no special praise for his 
 own nationality or special blame for others. Like 
 a hewer of stone he hammered away on time-honored 
 incrustations of sham formalities, to make an open- 
 ing wedge for tolerance to enter and for wisdom to 
 pass on. Omar had the proverbial wisdom of the 
 owl, that can see in the dark, coupled with the en- 
 chanting voice of the mocking bird that exultingly 
 greets the rising sun. But whether he appears as a 
 merciless Iconoclast thrashing, slashing, smashing the 
 impotent idols of credulous dupes ; or tries, with his 
 brilliant wit and biting sarcasm to expose the false 
 brow of shameless hypocrisy — arguing, teaching, 
 weeping, laughing — in every sob, in every sound 
 there throbs the deepest love for the world of a sorely 
 tried humanity. While crying out against their fol- 
 lies or wrongs he embraced his fellowmen with a sym- 
 pathy as broad as that of any human breast. 
 
 Some there are who proclaim that intellectual 
 
OMARIA 141 
 
 growth had its beginning yesterday, with Lamartine, 
 Darwin, Haeckel and the rest; others claim that it 
 ended with some one prophet ages ago. Similar 
 contentions must have been rife in the times of Omar 
 who flays both schools of thought. He ridiculed 
 conceit no less than petrification. Valiantly he 
 fought for the rights of men to disavow tenets they 
 no longer believed in and rained condemnation on 
 hypocrites and hypocrisy alike. He rebelled un- 
 ceasingly against worshipping powers that mock at 
 the miseries of the Earth, and never wearied showing 
 the futility of railing against the unchangeable laws 
 of nature. He combated fear by ojffering in its place 
 knowledge, wisdom and self-reliance. 
 
 To eradicate envy and despair from the human 
 heart he sang of the wonderful values of tune, color 
 and perfume and challenged the world to show any- 
 thing better in heaven than is love on Earth! 
 
 Omar Khayyam was born to be a pioneer, a 
 teacher, and a healer of mankind, and his Rubaiyat, 
 nearly a thousand quatrains, continues to be all of 
 that. 
 
 Attempting to condense the message of the great 
 soul, met with throughout the Rubaiyat, into a 
 single quatrain I will say: 
 
 Short? forsooth^ but glorious is the day 
 
 And yours — somewhat — to do with as you may 
 
 The angry Fates ensnared Eternal Time, 
 
 Oh, make your minutes count — kind, just, and gay. 
 
PART FOUR 
 
 HUMANE HUMANITY 
 
 Quatrains in the style of Omar Khayyam 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 
 
 FIELDS AND WOODS 
 1 
 
 Bright glows the sky above the verdure green; 
 A thousand years ago it must have been 
 As now; by souls akin a thousand years 
 From now, the grass and sky thus will be seen. 
 
 2 
 
 Each little flower around the country's side 
 Adds beauty to the landscape ; meadows wide 
 Green from each sunbeam; nor can traceless flow 
 A human soul athwart the human tide. 
 
 3 
 
 True must we deem you, heavens ; it is fair 
 To know your laws; and knowing, not despair 
 In Winter's blasts, but work, and hope, and wait 
 For Summer's pleasant, sweet balsamic air. 
 
 As rays shine from above, so from below 
 Green foHage grows, to crown the landscape's glow, 
 O Fate, how many look and cannot see ! 
 O Fate, how many see and may not know! 
 
 145 
 
146 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 5 
 
 A farmer, ruddy cheeked, with eyes aglow, 
 His tiny saplings planted row by row; 
 He saw the beauty, drank the fragrance rare 
 And felt the shade that future trees will throw. 
 
 6 
 
 Declared his fairy 'midst their flowers bright; 
 This home, so sweet, we gained by labor's right; 
 Yet gladly yield I quarter, half or more, 
 If thereby all could know a home's delight. 
 
 7 
 And gazing up, with heaven's door ajar, 
 They saw a-twinkling some familiar star; 
 They knew its substance — knew that it is law 
 To have it glitter in the distance far. 
 
 8 
 
 With yonder stars we are partakers in 
 Volcanoes vast that now and then begin 
 To shed their lava forth — with sun and moon — 
 All Nature's elements to man are kin. 
 
 9 
 
 Each branch, each twig, each tiny leaf we see 
 Draws on the roots and makes a stronger tree. 
 The Tree Humane, to decorate the world. 
 Forever grows still grander and more free. 
 
 10 
 
 The seasons come and go in circles round. 
 Each has its ache, in blessings all abound; 
 Days will grow shorter and the year decline. 
 But humankind is rising round by round. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 147 
 
 11 
 What if the winter chills? A charming strain 
 Of music fills the air, its sweet refrain 
 Reverberates on snow-clad hills and dales: 
 Earth is revolving, Spring will come again. 
 
 12 
 One fine October morn I and she 
 Whose love sustains my pen, we went to see 
 Our friends, the woodland pastures, to partake 
 Of their delightful, gay autumnal glee. 
 
 13 
 We wandered to the wooded land with sense 
 Athirst for color and the eloquence 
 Of rustling leaves ^ that spread before our view 
 And came upon — a close-knit wire fence. 
 
 14 
 
 Unlike the story-creatures made to act 
 In quick succession, leaving truth and fact 
 To Fate, the living mind must also find 
 Some time to cogitate — or should reflect. 
 
 15 
 Barbed wire drawn across bog, hedge, and ridge, 
 Enclosing wilderness ; and roadway ditch ; 
 That is the fruit of biased, false conceit, 
 Such is the nature of all privilege. 
 
 16 
 
 We left a cup the early part of Spring 
 Among the boughs near by the water's ring, 
 And Fall could tell of scores of cooling draughts 
 That woodmen's wisely selfish habits bring. 
 
148 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 17 
 
 We crossed the fence, with torn clothes but fit 
 For bold adventure ; climbed a rock whose pit 
 Held a large snake ; we killed the reptile, sure. 
 But have no medal to display for it. 
 
 18 
 
 Beyond the rock in numerous shady grooves 
 Some insects held convention; wondrous moves 
 Of intellectuality! They knew 
 That kindred care for kindred well behooves. 
 
 19 
 
 One nice fat cricket sang : oh, it is blest 
 Of every chance to make the most and best; 
 To nibble and to nip what grows along 
 Without regard at all — to all the rest. 
 
 20 
 
 "Hum, hum," replied the busy honey bee ; 
 "Yours is a very short-lived jubilee. 
 A hive, though wrongly governed makes us all 
 As happy as — as we know how to be. 
 
 21 
 
 poet! Sing the glory of the morn. 
 Of birds and woods, of nightingales forlorn, 
 The dewdrop's glitter, ripplings of the brook; 
 But let not man out of your songs be torn. 
 
 22 
 
 It may be lawful verse or verse in prose — 
 If but the inner meaning will disclose 
 True aims of life, call it by any name 
 Just so the plant of Progress be the rose. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 149 
 
 23 
 
 Field's glory, flowers are. What a disgrace 
 With turf the stand and booth to interlace ; 
 Instead of growing flowers, fruit and vines, 
 It better pays to run some silly race! 
 
 24 
 
 Now let your eyes upon the lakelet pause 
 And watch a bubble move; aimless, because 
 A larger bubble, once upon a time, 
 Reflecting glory, its ancestor was. 
 
 25 
 
 Out on the highway knowing but unknown 
 We asked a farmer "Is this place your own?" 
 He shook his head, a tear ran down his cheeks: 
 "It was — it was foreclosed by telephone." 
 
 26 
 
 One of the farmers, diligently halfed 
 The bark for bough, according to his craft ; 
 An auto-car flew by and thus it whizzed : 
 "Go to the city, there you learn how to graft." 
 
 27 
 Along the road and swiftly moving train 
 So many want and wait and pray for grain — 
 So many fields lack workers' hands and brain, 
 What evil spirit works against the twain? 
 
 28 
 Whoever owns the goblet on the plate; 
 Yourself, a friend, the banker or the state ; 
 Drink heartily, the savor laughs within 
 To heal and charm, and heart recuperate. 
 
150 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 29 
 
 The story started with the planet's mould 
 And will go on into the endless fold ; 
 We think and act to fill a page or two 
 And may as well the joys of life uphold. 
 
 80 
 
 Our Sun is yet aglow with fiery youth; 
 And even though not all is perfect, smooth ; 
 Lift up the goblet cheerfully. Behold ! 
 Dear Father Time is cutting wisdom's tooth. 
 
 II 
 
 DIALOGUES 
 
 31 
 
 What ails the world? To find out, I and She 
 Whose love sustains my pen, we watched to see 
 And hear the problems of the passerby — 
 Observe them all and note their repartee. 
 
 32 
 
 Youth asked of age: "Would you exchange tenures?" 
 To check conceit the elder wit assures : 
 "Nay, not at all ; the years of whitened hair 
 I lived, are mine; but are you sure of yours?" 
 
 33 
 
 "What shall I do?" a sage was asked, "This purse 
 I found and now my soul diversely spurs." 
 "Do right, you have my blessing and your praise; 
 Do wrong, you have my pity and your curse." 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 151 
 
 34 
 "Look at the stream of people rushing by, 
 
 Each has a little special view in eye " 
 
 — "Yet can they all at common ground arrive." 
 "Can they?" — " 'Can' is merely tracing 'try'." 
 
 35 
 "May I not scale the top in life's brief span? 
 Or must I drop the lowest of the clan?" 
 — "Nor this nor that. Just live upon a plan 
 That lets you meet as equals — man with man." 
 
 86 
 
 "Placed on the hill by settlers of the town 
 And my best efforts ; now, with earnest frown 
 You urge me to descend" — "The plains are broad 
 And better far to go than to fall down." 
 
 37 
 
 "Do people live on Mars? This quib about 
 Star-gazers want a fight-to-finish bout." 
 — "But what's the hurry, friends? Wait till you can 
 Fly to its sphere and tranquilly find out." 
 
 38 
 
 "Here is one man who lets the days of waste 
 Brought on by slack time, pass on without haste 
 To let loose sore complaints." — "Why so?" "Be- 
 cause 
 With undertakers it would be bad taste " 
 
 39 
 
 A lady displeased with her feather small. 
 Exclaimed upon her neighbor's plumage tall; 
 Her fellow hung his head in shame and said: 
 "I see — the other having none at all." 
 
152 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 40 
 
 "At last, the ancient cruel foe has come 
 
 To cease its blightening sway. Elysium 
 
 May ours be." — "How so.?" "Ah, to raise the 
 
 dead, 
 On came the dollar lady medium." 
 
 41 
 "A leaky ceiling — we in ruin sat. 
 My comfort gone, in tears my Margaret." 
 — "Sad, very sad. Why not demand redress.? 
 You know the keeper of the upper flat." 
 
 42 
 "Come, have a glass, why not be cheerful, friend.? 
 I caused your wages rise by ten per cent." 
 — "So was my daily task, by union dues 
 And, too, the landlord raised my monthly rent." 
 
 43 
 
 The merchant railed at master of the loan : 
 "You live on blood — on blood but not your own!" 
 — "Why, man of profit, say, where is the line 
 Of difference betwixt fortunes, full-grown.?" 
 
 44 
 A "loanshark" and a cobbler had an inch 
 Of argument ; the latter didn't flinch : — 
 "My work is for my good and others' weal. 
 But yours gives you no pleasure and does pinch !" 
 
 45 
 Crime dressed in silks — by honest Labor fed — 
 Stood at the bar with proud uplifted head ; 
 A friendly judge declared : "I see no wrong." 
 "Nor right" cried Reason and to safety fled. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 153 
 
 46 
 
 "Wherefor be wise amongst a lot of fools? 
 Why be a sheep amongst devouring wolves?" 
 — "So, one should not become their prototype, 
 So, one should not promote their cruel schools." 
 
 47 
 "Of foes and enemies you never lack — " 
 — "Dear man, you can meet smiling their attack ; 
 Reserve your strength and, too, your bitterest tears 
 For friends that are — to stab you in your back." 
 
 48 
 "If vile deceit can be so strong and bold 
 That fangs of it will pierce through friendship's fold. 
 What is the use of living?" — "Oh, you child! 
 Who is at fault if you take dross for gold?" 
 
 49 
 "My duty done twice o'er, 'tis rather tough 
 To stand from you reproach, rude blame's rebuff." 
 "Oh, pshaw!" replied the twin of self-esteem, 
 "I did but little — you not half enough." 
 
 50 
 **Wherefor is Sorrow cutting life in half?" 
 Thus Sorrow answered in its own behalf: 
 "Let this, O men, your consolation be. 
 Who never suffered cannot wisely laugh." 
 
 51 
 
 "But why must woe to all so oft appear? 
 Of aching souls the sigh, of hearts the tear. 
 Why cuts it so? What purpose has it all?" 
 — "To drive us on unto a higher sphere." 
 
154 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 52 
 
 "Oh, sea of woe! A curse upon the land 
 That stars^es the poor !" — "Naj^, rather let your hand 
 Increase the scanty rations while your words 
 And all your deeds for higher justice stand." 
 
 53 
 
 "Oh, yes, they talk and shout and gesture on 
 Till for themselves some fine positions won 
 And then forget about their former plaints — " 
 — "And do you like the 'sight' of such a one?" 
 
 54 
 "Which is your church? The one with steeple tall. 
 Or in some back saloon?" — "Mine has no wall — 
 There hope is faith ; to wrong is Sin ; and deeds 
 Pay dues — I'm member in the Church of All." 
 
 55 
 
 "Suppose, the Earth to-night came to an end, 
 How would you use the day? Would you not bend 
 Your energies to bettering accounts?" 
 "If I could do so 't were too late to mend. . . ." 
 
 56 
 "And how about life's riddle?" — " 'Tis not small. 
 We should not if we could reveal it all ; 
 The quest of truth and wisdom is the way 
 Of worthy souls themselves to disenthral." 
 
 57 
 
 "Please, tell us now — we do not mean offence, 
 Who did you get your wisdom from and whence?" 
 — "By dint of toilsome study, some by chance. 
 But most of it through dear experience." 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 155 
 
 58 
 "Why walk down grade, my brother dear, I pray. 
 On drink and smoke and gambling go astray?" 
 — "Because the snare caught me, and you have failed 
 To show the secrets of your better way." 
 
 59 
 
 "Precious friend! Just listen to plain talk; 
 You go ahead upon the line of chalk 
 I drew, that surely takes you far and high." 
 Alas ! The man was crusht, he could not walk. 
 
 60 
 
 "Oh, yes. Millennium — when will it appear.?" 
 — "When gain to one will be the other's cheer, 
 When all the preaching of each man sincere. 
 Then every thirst shall have its wine — or beer." 
 
 in 
 
 CITY CORNER 
 61 
 
 A bracing thought or two, an hour's rest. 
 Then on we go in unrelenting quest 
 Of bitter sweet, bright, sparkling City wine 
 From knowledge and through understanding prest. 
 
 62 
 
 Oh, city full of whim and wealth and wine 
 
 And wonderment, how dazzling — brilliant, shine 
 
 In white-electric, window, street and sign ! 
 
 How else, though, actors fare, the stage looks fine. 
 
156 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 63 
 
 To Eiffel Tower from the cabins plain, 
 From crawling wheels to flying aeroplane, 
 From hieroglyphs to moving-picture show, 
 From stone ax to the corporated brain ! 
 
 64 
 As yet this wonder-studded brilliant reign 
 Has not abolished that old curse of Cain — 
 For one man's wealth may be another's loss 
 And one man's woe may be another's gain. 
 
 65 
 
 But wizards are at work to bring along 
 The fearless hope, the tearless, sobless song; 
 The wrongless right, the hateless, acheless heart. 
 The greedless soul en fin the stingless tongue. 
 
 66 
 We stood at crossing. Copper Street and Gold, 
 The moving panorama to behold; 
 And as we glanced at every passerby. 
 The visions each a different story told. 
 
 67 
 
 There passed a little woman, poor but smart. 
 With children four, she bravely bore her part. 
 One passed whose jewels showed the vacant mind — 
 And one whose face betrayed a bleeding heart. 
 
 68 
 
 One woman slipped, some few rushed to her aid, 
 But one mean fellow — an inveterate 
 "Man about town"^ — could not suppress a laugh ; 
 Perhaps he was the devil incarnate. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 157 
 
 69 
 
 A man passed by, grave visaged, old and bent, 
 Though barely half a lifetime he had spent. 
 Upon his head the wrongs of all the world — 
 Because to be a slave he was content. 
 
 70 
 An artist and an actor went to mart 
 For jewels — which brought rancor to their heart. 
 However, do not blame the muses fair. 
 Give art to life and life will give to art. 
 
 71 
 
 There were precocious boys ; ambition's light 
 Upon them early shone. We asked a wight : 
 "What is your goal? What would you like to be.?" 
 He said: "I want to be a parasite." 
 
 72 
 A venerable beggar passing, meant. 
 Perhaps, to advertise the city's cant — 
 Queer, is it not, a city full of pomp 
 Should exhibit a ragged mendicant.? 
 
 73 
 
 A hush came on ; upon a golden tier 
 The tallest Sultan with his grand vizier 
 Arrived in state and jeweled silks galore; 
 But, one thing greater was than they — their fear. 
 
 74 
 A heavy, strong-built fellow — drunken sot — 
 Struck down a slender youth. Right off, a knot 
 Of people gathered, on impulse they held 
 The brute and almost lynched him on the spot. 
 
158 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 75 
 
 One in the crowd, with cunning as his strength, 
 Some scores into the yoke of failure sent. 
 None struck the brute of mind, nay, him they placed 
 Upon a pedestal — Such a monument! 
 
 76 
 We saw a race in which the lame and blind, 
 The young and strong, the vicious and the kind 
 All entered for the stake. Oh, such a race 
 Was never run excepting by mankind! 
 
 77 
 "On! on!" urged some (they claimed in Truth's 
 
 behalf) ; 
 "Pull on, push on, that billion and a half 
 Prize may be gained by each and every one." 
 Had they urged horses, there'd have been a laugh. 
 
 78 
 Are you of curios fond? Please, come this way, 
 Observe the man with fifty thousand pay — 
 Suavely preaching morals unto men 
 Who needs must live on fifty cents a day. 
 
 79 
 
 A group engaged on setting matters square. 
 For one great sudden uprising declare: 
 "To-morrow sure !" And so for thirty years, 
 The selfsame fellows have been preaching there. 
 
 80 
 Of all our ills, this is the saddest tome. 
 That some will claim the only road to Rome, 
 Year after year, and all the while around 
 A shadow pivot vainly circling roam. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 159 
 
 81 
 
 And there are authors, authors who have found 
 A host of friends by knowing how to sound 
 A sentence sweetly to the multitude — 
 Their talent selling on the market ground ; 
 
 82 
 
 "What would you have — a songlet? Sad or gay? 
 A martyr's dirge? A call to daily fray? 
 A Christian hymn? A Brahmanistic ode? 
 We'll praise or panegyrize Hell ! — for pay." 
 
 83 
 
 And some of these are literary men 
 With "swollen" heads who really think they can 
 Regard themselves above the common plane 
 Because their livelihood is in their pen. . . . 
 
 84 
 For us to know the music of the spheres 
 Some must be lending it their list'ning ears. 
 But, why forget that life's sustenance calls 
 Out on the field for labor, sweat and tears? 
 
 85 
 And in between the passing show we saw 
 A lot of men their clinking sabers draw. 
 Theirs is the force for either good or bad, 
 Whatever makes them mill that is the law. 
 
 86 
 
 A multitude looked on with pride and joy. 
 The gathering cheered each marching soldier boy. 
 Why don't bands play when men march forth upon 
 Creative mission as when to destroy? 
 
160 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 87 
 What is the motive power, or what kinds 
 Of imps urge men into opposing grinds? 
 This much is certain, that the rights of all 
 Men must be fought put in the war of minds. 
 
 88 
 Within some buildings of majestic state 
 The fangs of wilderness ingratiate 
 Red cravings of blind thirst. Good cities will 
 Be built by men who are considerate. 
 
 89 
 Cheer up, discouraged one, you and your wife 
 Go fill the goblet ; aye, for all the strife 
 That tears the world to shreds, drink to this truth; 
 Most precious and most grand is human life. 
 
 90 
 
 For in a small room, off a dingy hall, 
 Joy reigns supreme, it lights the very wall. 
 And power, jewels, fame seem merest dross. 
 What happened? Just a baby's birth — that's all. 
 
 IV 
 
 WITHIN THE HUB 
 
 91 
 
 With patience trained, vvith gusto exquisite 
 
 We searched to know the "Wherefore?" "What-is- 
 
 it.?" 
 Of things confusing and our quest led on 
 Into a Hall with walls most queerly slit — 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 161 
 
 92 
 
 Oh, what a Hall ! Seclusion, quiet peace ; 
 Here come the great to set their minds at ease, 
 Here come the small their secret wealth to hide 
 And all are guarded by the whole police. 
 
 93 
 
 Vaults to the left, to right, above, below; 
 In peace and symmetry. This order, though, 
 Is but appearance, for the vaults engage 
 In keenest cunning, war-like grip and blow. 
 
 94 
 Here is the ring within the stocky hub 
 That turns the wheel with deafening hubbub 
 A-causing clash and friction in the world — 
 From here most surely emanates the "rub." 
 
 95 
 
 Indeed, here is the Rub; mysterious ways 
 
 Begin and end upon the sundry trays 
 
 Within those vaults. Their fierce tumultuous scenes 
 
 Can well be viewed — by use of Roentgen Rays. 
 
 96 
 How could we enter? Lucky we have been 
 To light the famous lamp of Aladdin 
 And now we bid the vaulted spirits speak 
 Their minds, while we — and you — may "listen in." 
 
 97 
 
 Up spake a dwarfy, short-time, conscience-smote. 
 
 White- faced and iron-toothed little note: 
 
 "Why will a broken jug the cup that takes 
 
 A dip from it as crookedness denote?" , 
 
162 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 98 
 
 A prosperous-looking little vault chimed: "Shucks ! 
 Go drop your net for quickly yielding stocks ; 
 Then can you feast on fancy fowl without 
 The farmer knowing whereto went his ducks." 
 
 99 
 
 "The river 'Tribute' flows upon demand 
 Of those possessing or controlling land; 
 And sell it, slice it, deed it, still 'tis yours 
 If on it you but keep the upper hand." 
 
 100 
 
 "I made distinction once 'twixt prize and pelf 
 But poorness palled on me. Oh, for an elf 
 To shift the golden pointer this way ! When 
 My Funds are low, I just despise myself!" 
 
 101 
 "I say: 'each for himself, you keep your sores, 
 I know how to manipulate the scores 
 Of business, so I put a sturdy chain 
 Around the country — 'tis a chain of stores." 
 
 102 
 
 One cried, "Hurrah, for competition's prize. 
 What if it makes some advertise their lies? 
 What if some weaklings fall along the way? 
 I have the strength, why not the right to rise?" 
 
 103 
 
 "For some of us it may be best to fix 
 Attention on the old communal tricks; 
 Perchance, for gold we need not go and dig 
 Down in the mine, but up in politics." 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 163 
 
 104 
 
 Soliloquized a vault with conscience numb: 
 
 "I'm tired meals to gather crumb by crumb : 
 
 Some strike it blind, what if I hit a-foul? 
 
 There's none to ask: 'whom did you take it from?' " 
 
 105 
 
 And yet another vault spake : "In this here 
 Most densely dark and stuffy atmosphere 
 Why make distinction?" Then and there began 
 A murder-plot sensation of the year. 
 
 106 
 
 In one division reddish glimmer palled. 
 Compared to it the murder-hatching vault 
 Was like an angel of sweet charity, 
 Or, like a saint without a single fault. 
 
 107 
 The octopus way: "Hold head, loosen ends 
 To place their cups on all without amends." 
 A small faint voice ventured to inquire : 
 "But what about the other fellow, friends?" 
 
 108 
 "Who uttered that? Who is it here that whines? 
 Men enter, daily, danger-laden mines 
 For pittance small, and shall we stop because 
 The big account in lesser glory shines?" 
 
 109 
 
 "Hands off the trusts, pound-foolish, penny-wise! 
 All scattered efforts tend to organize. 
 And here a fellow to the manor born 
 May start on top and never cease to rise." 
 
164 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 110 
 
 The faint voice said: "Suppose we throw the door 
 Wide open, call this place a common store; 
 Invite the light and set the spread for all." 
 The answer was a screaming laughter's roar. 
 
 Ill 
 
 "No, no !" one cried, "my want for more endures ; 
 I do not care to spend in bogs and moors 
 My life. 'Tis either or ! I risk my wealth" — 
 A neighbor whispered: "Oh, but is it yours .^" 
 
 112 
 A sonorous talker with majestic, bold 
 Mien, declared the golden rule of old: 
 "It is as true now as it ever was — 
 Yours is what you can take and you can hold." 
 
 113 
 
 "The cards are dealt, true, it is our game ; 
 But who of us would care to take the blame 
 For all the wrongs a new deal might provoke .? 
 So let us each play on with steady aim." 
 
 114 
 
 "For why permit a brain-cell's sickly chill 
 Refuse, when offered, wine your jugs to fill.'' 
 Why should the ailment of a neighbor's house 
 Invade your home and make your household ill.''" 
 
 115 
 
 "If skies were naught but smiling, and the air 
 But ozone held, and each one acted fair; 
 If wish and will flew with the selfsame wings, 
 What would be left for virtue to declare.?" 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 165 
 
 116 
 
 "It is a sacrilegious act to reach 
 Out for such vicious principle as 'Each 
 For all and all for each.' If that were lived 
 What would be left for ministers to preach?" 
 
 117 
 
 "Spend not your days a-dreaming, Lo, the creed 
 Of hope for justice pleads in vain; indeed, 
 It keeps your wine- jugs dry. . . . Safe is and sane 
 A red-blood drawing, gilt-edged mortgage deed !" 
 
 118 
 "Rent has its rigors, ventures have their wing. 
 To live beyond the zone of failure's sting 
 In ease and comfort flattered like a king ; 
 A good, strong, well-secured bond is the thing." 
 
 119 
 "Bonds ! Bonds ! Ha, ha ! Bonds, give us Bonds !" 
 Each section of the vaulted hall responds, 
 The pledge for others' earnings is the bulk 
 Of tainted fortunes and of saintly funds — . 
 
 120 
 
 But suddenly, by cramping silence, sized 
 They all kept still, with heart's-fear paralyzed ; 
 A shadow of a banner flitted by — 
 A banner which they all had left unpriced. 
 
166 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 V 
 
 AT A BANQUET 
 
 121 
 
 Why be a miser, human soul divine? 
 The trees are full of flowers fragrant, fine ; 
 Why be content with crumbs — to give or take? 
 Yon goblet brimful is — pass on the wine. 
 
 122 
 
 And wine there was in great abundance, where 
 We found ourselves one eve, an humble pair 
 Amongst the mighty. 'Twas a conference 
 And dinner of the great ; a grand affair. 
 
 123 
 
 Of course, we took a back seat from the start 
 And watched the playing of each separate part. 
 Together they appeared a picturesque 
 Fine exhibition of the tailor's art. 
 
 124 
 
 They all were groomed in taste, and finely shod, 
 Yet some of them seemed ludicrously odd — 
 Some quickly took on haughty airs, because 
 One richer deemed them worthy of a nod. 
 
 125 
 
 And one would most solicitously ask 
 About the other's health while his real task 
 Was to ensnare unguarded confidence. 
 But, then the false smile met a smiling mask. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 167 
 
 126 
 Their ladies too were present, neck and head 
 And wrist be jeweled, elegantly clad, 
 (Bare neck and arms, short skirts, and waist cut low) 
 To show the world most everything they had. 
 
 127 
 Some of their sweetest looking rosebuds saw 
 No wrong in sexual investment. Pshaw! 
 Investment always seeks the highest rate 
 And this was not against the White Slave law — 
 
 128 
 
 It was a lively scene ; quite fairly paid 
 Musicians tuneful compositions played, 
 While elder diners watched the popping corks 
 And juniors all in rhythmic motion swayed. 
 
 129 
 Shall we report the menu? It might call 
 For appetite without a portion's haul. 
 Strange that the rarest morsels were not fought 
 About — There was sufficiency for all. 
 
 130 
 
 As yet there was not time for "Tangoing" 
 
 But soloists were called upon to sing. 
 
 Then some good church quartet ; and then came on 
 
 The speakers turn to make the welkin ring. 
 
 131 
 An orator brought forth cheer after cheer. 
 What did he say? It mattered not. Oh, dear! 
 He had learned well the public speaker's rule 
 Always to say what people love to hear. 
 
168 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 132 
 
 Some of the diners after they had dined, 
 About the faults of Human Nature whined 
 Without perceiving that the scarlet veil 
 Was but their own ill temper well defined. 
 
 133 
 
 A voice sonorous, with studied grace 
 Declaimed against the many-tongued, bad race 
 (Not of his kind) that stirs up discontent — 
 Would he need stirring in the others' place? 
 
 134 
 Speech after speech went in the guiltless air; 
 The kind that people painfully prepare 
 So as to leave no trace, but just as it 
 Was spoken in a place, expire there. 
 
 135 
 
 And then a young man rose, his voice clear, 
 (Somewhat familiar, to us in the rear. 
 And stronger grown) rang out these sentiments 
 "I lift my glass to those who are not here! 
 
 136 
 
 "Who are not with us — pardon if it smarts — 
 Because we are not with them in our hearts. 
 Nor in our pockets, nor yet in our hopes. 
 Nor view them, but disdaining all their parts. 
 
 137 
 "You love your neighbors? If it be so good 
 That men be tied with bondings hand and foot, 
 Seek in your heart the burning hot desire 
 That bonds and chains on you and yours be put. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 169 
 
 138 
 "If struggle for existence only meant 
 A struggle without sense, why are you bent 
 To make your lot secure? You want too much! 
 How can they be in poverty content? 
 
 139 
 
 "There is the *must\ you say, imperial must 
 That up the peaks or down the deep will thrust ! 
 Why, take a standard all could live upon 
 So can you live not only well but just. 
 
 140 
 
 "Sweet Human Nature ! All this great world's best 
 Was made by hands through human nature blest, 
 And here some sneer at it and blame it for 
 Unhallowed surgings in a spoiled breast. 
 
 141 
 "But if through libels, through the slanders all, 
 Men's human nature is assigned to fall, 
 I plead not for it, yet there is a help 
 A humane nature to redeem us all. 
 
 142 
 "One minute, brothers ! Let us just suppose 
 That imps and fairies human genius knows 
 Were led and leading for the common weal 
 Could not this world bloom like a perfect rose? 
 
 143 
 
 "Suppose the fruits of Earth were justly sieved 
 To one and all, and all the wrongs that grieved 
 The world were swept into oblivion 
 Suppose the bread equality achieved. 
 
170 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 144 
 
 "That weakens not, but hundredfold empowers 
 To draw out talent's bliss, the glowing showers 
 Of fine accomplishments. And what can give 
 More joy in all this universe of ours? 
 
 145 
 
 "The weighing scale a balance hold to gain 
 Tilts up and down, and up and down again; 
 Must you fall down before your heart sets out 
 The hold of even justice to attain? 
 
 146 
 
 "Breed hate if hate will help somewhat to turn 
 The Social Wheel, but see in history's urn 
 The ashes gathered from the sombre hills 
 Where force of hate a beacon light did burn. 
 
 147 
 
 "Do you believe a proletarian's ache 
 Less torturous than yours? Oh, what mistake! 
 Does he not have his days, his peace of mind, 
 His faith, his hopes, a heart and soul at stake? 
 
 148 
 
 "Our actions all, like unto seeds, prevail. 
 Would you not rather leave along your trail 
 A street of flowering trees, an arch of vine 
 Than that some pilgrim should your life bewail ? 
 
 149 
 
 "So keep you on your course as you incline, 
 But watch the road, its forks should not entwine 
 Your vision, and at parting of the ways 
 Drink to the right side of the battle-line." 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 171 
 
 150 
 
 All pleading went for naught, like vainly spilled 
 Red wine; rust-eaten bosoms were not filled 
 With love for Broad Democracy, but then. 
 The man who pleaded with them — was not killed! 
 
 VI 
 
 LADY SHIP 
 
 151 
 
 Encouraged by the precious tolerance 
 
 We saw, permit a modestly free lance 
 
 To speak its mind, we essayed to explore 
 
 Some further fields or waters — Oh, what chance ! 
 
 152 
 There stood a boat, as bright as ever lists 
 The mood ; a double decker. Morning's mists 
 Had cleared away, and off we sailed 
 In company with — some lovely feminists. 
 
 153 
 
 Out on the sea! We gladly mingled here 
 And freely drank the cheerful atmosphere; 
 Our eyes we rested on the playing waves, 
 But kept for moving lips attentive ear. 
 
 154 
 
 "Yes, we are destined to rule all the lands !" 
 — "But what about 'Immediate Demands'.?" 
 "A single standard of morality — " 
 — "That breaks their hearts though it may fill their 
 hands." 
 
172 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 155 
 
 "Save your compassion for the living dead 
 Whom uncurbed passion of the men have led 
 To nether worlds and dares to keep them there — 
 "Twould break his heart!' Well, would you split 
 his head?" 
 
 156 
 "I did not wed a fool, he is no bore — 
 We did diversely vote, election score 
 My wisdom proved; but still that very night 
 He kissed me just as hotly as before." 
 
 157 
 
 "We traveled three times all the country through 
 And paid for landscape and for mountain view, — 
 Yet bear we witness that the best hotel 
 To live in is a clubhouse built for two." 
 
 158 
 "We were to start at eight the other night, 
 He came at nine o'clock embarrassed quite, 
 Just then I donned my hat and made it clear 
 That after all two wrongs can make one right." 
 
 159 
 "I praise my friends, add to the cook's renown 
 Appreciate each courteous treatment shown; 
 I call in plumbers, tailors and the like — 
 But as to priests, I want to be my own." 
 
 160 
 
 "The time has come for men to set things square. 
 We have been all too kind and all too fair. 
 Let us expose their weakness and their sins" 
 — "Which is the only thing that they can bear." 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 173 
 
 161 
 And would you think ! 'Midst all this slur on drones 
 By women folks exploring all the zones 
 Of present, past and future, one soul dared 
 To cast a challenge : "Oh, lady Solons ! 
 
 162 
 
 "Why such a furious onslaught of the new 
 Against the old ! — But such is fate's review. . . . 
 Still, it would take you many thousand years 
 To do to man what men have done to you. 
 
 163 
 "So, say not in your sanctimonious whim 
 You would do this or that; it staggers him. 
 He drinks — If you were he he would be you. 
 And fill the goblet to the very brim. 
 
 164 
 
 "Why must you evolute like men, so prone 
 To transfer blame, to cast the guilty-stone? 
 How is to come the Rule of Justice, say. 
 And who shall be that holy kingdom's queen.? 
 
 165 
 
 "No woman lives but is of man a part. 
 No male has grown but with a female's heart. 
 And most of us would strenuously protest 
 A patent writ that could the sexes part. 
 
 166 
 
 "Some speak of Free Love. Could there ever be 
 A loving thought that was not pure and free.? 
 But those who seek to dodge the Great Account 
 With savage fingers strangle Liberty. 
 
174 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 167 
 
 "Do roses bloom just in the selfsame mode 
 North, South and East, in free and glass abode? 
 Is each strength equal, each blood even red? — 
 There may be some Elastic in a Code. 
 
 168 
 "Into some thousand other souls our thread 
 Of life we weave. 'Tis clear that as we had 
 Of kindness given so is blest our weave, 
 And lasting as we unto Justice add. 
 
 169 
 
 "Sweet glows the truth, and soon the little gust 
 Your right resentment raised will lay the dust 
 Fierce gallop of wild years had left behind — 
 Of equal woman comes the woman just. 
 
 170 
 "No master ever would or could love his 
 Poor slave, whose love in turn were amiss. 
 This is the grandeur and the pride of life. 
 That love can only be where Freedom is. 
 
 171 
 
 "So, treat the heart to music's healing strain. 
 Give intellectual feastings to the brain. 
 But don't forget the spread, the wine, the kiss — 
 Twins may be born but never babe atwain." 
 
 172 
 
 Some female authors met on deck above, 
 (Not everyone as gentle as a dove) 
 Some wore short hair, but all for that they were 
 An enemy that men could really love. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 175 
 
 173 
 Oh, clear your system of the error stale 
 That to the cross of slavery must nail 
 Somebody some one else, and least of all 
 Should robust power crucify the frail. 
 
 174 
 
 These Female Authors, friend, you may well dread — 
 Ere this the slaves were never college bred ; 
 On right and wrong — if you have never thought 
 In all your life — you soon will wish you had. 
 
 175 
 
 Now can you hear man's honest praises sung 
 By some one not himself (though closely clung) 
 And unless you have walked the narrow path 
 Of even justice — well, you must feel stung. 
 
 176 
 Wrong follows wrong as Right is guiding right — 
 The world has not yet seen its sorest plight. 
 Wait for the next Good Book in which a new 
 Creation story Female Authors write. 
 
 177 
 What? count him chattel? Too much care. Or go 
 To let his makings be a rib? Oh, no, no ! 
 The woman will not have been made of clay — 
 And man will have been made of her "small toe." 
 
 178 
 Oh, Lady Authors thousand decades hence 
 Look through a candid magnifying lens 
 With eyes in mercy washed. You'll surely find 
 That not all males made war on common sense — 
 
176 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 179 
 
 Your open doctrines they can criticize, 
 Your secret motives they can analyze, 
 For independence they can pay the prize — 
 And your emotions they can tantalize. 
 
 180 
 
 Yet drink to hope! As sure as out of East 
 The blissful Sun shines forth, love is life's yeast; 
 And though the sexes go to civil war 
 It all will end in one grand kissing feast. 
 
 VII 
 
 181 
 
 Escaped from varied dangers, with a pen 
 Still hale and hearty, we sought out a glen 
 (This is our trials' climax; courage, soul!) 
 And bravely entered the Reformers' Den! 
 
 182 
 
 We saw there many worthy of esteem. 
 
 The eyes of whom shone with some special dream ; 
 
 But all alike shot forth a greenish ray — 
 
 A mutually nurtured jealous gleam. 
 
 183 
 
 "Why do you wrangle?" Answer: "If we here. 
 Or something wrongly say or wrongly hear — 
 Instead of wasting time on courtesies. 
 With gusto pull each other by the ear." 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 177 
 
 184 
 "We want short hours!" "We want much higher 
 
 pay!" 
 "We will improve the laws !" "You will not. Nay, 
 We want the tools of toil!" "You're fakers all; 
 We want the Earth and want it right away !" 
 
 185 
 A venerable person with soft throat 
 Attempted to inject a peaceful note. 
 Of course, he fared — like those who stand between 
 Two countries thirsting blood — he was the goat. 
 
 186 
 The old man was assailed as by a pack 
 Of rancorous Critics: "Say, what is your tack?" 
 "What are you, speak !" he answered : "All you are 
 Without faction's collar on my neck." 
 
 187 
 "Permit not pride to blind you. Lo, upon 
 This Earth some billion others struggle on ; 
 Nor ever feel a weightless cipher, naught ; 
 For all the world must always count you one. 
 
 188 
 "Environ's thrall is hard to break, for it 
 Gave to the soul a solar-plexus hit — 
 Yet for all that are you as bright and true, 
 As good and kind as matters now permit.?' 
 
 189 
 "Look at the romping children's workaday; 
 How they delight in effort ! And so may 
 Come work to men. And so we may expect 
 That work to men will be like children's play. 
 
178 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 190 
 
 "Fine dreams promote good health. Dream on with 
 
 zest, 
 Dream out the Millennial State, the blest. 
 Embracing all in such equality 
 That even minds of men will march abreast. 
 
 191 
 
 "But even if To-morrow dreams come true 
 Here is To-day that must be traveled through. 
 Evade the pitfalls on the poor old road 
 Though we may reach another, good and new. 
 
 192 
 
 "You quickly find the vulnerable breech 
 In those who live on wine but water preach. 
 And is your life and doctrine in accord 
 At least to such extent as it may reach.? 
 
 193 
 
 "Within the woods a unit stands each tree, 
 So in this Hfe the conscious unit we; 
 Then search within, for if created right. 
 Within, of all there must a mirror be. 
 
 194 
 
 "Unequal is the range of eyes, you stand 
 Surveying through a lens the Promised Land ; 
 But whose the keenest vision, truest sight? 
 Optometrists cannot take here command — 
 
 195 
 
 "How many times you vainly tried your best 
 To understand thought as by some exprest. 
 And is it beyond possibility 
 That your own preachments so affect the rest? 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 179 
 
 196 
 
 "Some distant see through mist and maze; some mind 
 Must feel by touch the objects well defined. 
 How then could it be otherwise, but some 
 Must forge ahead and some must lag behind? 
 
 197 
 
 "Much, far too much of Martyr's breath had flown 
 
 In ages past and also in our own. 
 
 Must you decry one who objects to serve 
 
 A crimson drink for tyrants thirsty grown.'"' 
 
 198 
 Thus long he spoke, then cat-calls had full scope. 
 "He's paid to wreck our movement!" . . . "Preach- 
 er's dope." 
 And so they scattered to their several themes: 
 "Resist authority!" "Down with the Pope!" 
 
 199 
 
 "Down with the court!" some cried excitedly, 
 They downed each other with especial glee. 
 Yet there was one thing sacred, unbesmirched — 
 For not a solitary soul cried: "Down with me!" 
 
 200 
 
 The "Revolution," bah! Each has a sense 
 Of his own little cause with vehemence 
 Exposing that exclusively as "great" 
 But when accomplished: what's the difference .'^ 
 
 201 
 
 How carelessly do fall your dice o' Luck! 
 Some souls amid the flowers run amuck ; 
 In hues and tints and fragrance many dwell, 
 And some again must needs be raking muck. ... 
 
180 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 202 
 
 Now, even in this noisy confused place, 
 Here, too, a torch of wisdom was ablaze; 
 As if a Providence were bound to save 
 The faith in Progress of the human race. 
 
 203 
 *'Give moral strength to hearts through weakness 
 
 rent, 
 Him understanding who is folly-spent. 
 But if you only rave against the crutch 
 They lean upon, not they, but you repent ! 
 
 204 
 "Give time your seeds to swell, nor strike a blow 
 At sapling trees of hope for growing slow ; 
 See, all the gold that shines from out the past. 
 At one time seemed but unsubstantial glow. 
 
 205 
 "To feel the pride of sect, stick to your clan ; 
 For sickly joys of snobbing caste you can 
 Look up or down as fancy turns your head ; 
 To love the world aright just be a man. 
 
 206 
 "The trees of mind are grown from seeds of thought ; 
 Their leaves and twigs through ponderings are 
 
 brought ; 
 Their flowers problems are, most deeply felt ; 
 Fruitions are good-will and wisdom wrought. 
 
 207 
 
 "Why gayety on principle resist? 
 Look at the temperance town's long druggist list — 
 You may hold land though preaching Single Tax, 
 You may be cheerful though a Socialist. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 181 
 
 208 
 
 "Go smoke the pipe of peace and sip the soup 
 Of fellowship. You may see every troupe 
 At work and find they manage things alike — 
 As 'branch', as 'church', as 'club', or as a 'group'. 
 
 209 
 "The Trojans and the warlike Greeks of old 
 All through a siege in friendly combat rolled; 
 They held the glass while holding for the stake 
 Why should you not as friends such cheer enfold? 
 
 210 
 "And though the trusts may tax you right and left. 
 Feel not so 'blue' of cheery mood bereft ; 
 Go sound your flute, or wind your graphophone 
 All is not lost while anything is left." 
 
 VIII 
 
 HALL OF THE DEAD 
 211 
 
 Still seeking truth the love of which has led 
 Us, all through life,, we venture on to tread 
 On ground made holy by men's deepest thoughts 
 And sorrows — 'tis the Chamber of the Dead. 
 
 212 
 
 We see a corpse in majesty composed. 
 Whose deeds stand high in history enclosed. 
 Who could compute the lives that made him great, 
 How much of effort was his own at most.? 
 
182 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 213 
 
 And yonder corpse, unbeautiful and plain, 
 In life laid rails where now they run a train 
 Which oft reflects two moons (Moon of the sky 
 And Honeymoon), count you such life for vain? 
 
 214 
 There rests a servant girl. The final call 
 Of hers is felt but in a circle small. 
 She neither preached of Right, nor sang of Hope 
 Nor posed for beauty — yet she lived it all. 
 
 215 
 
 A mother sobbed: "Why was he born, why.?" 
 The dead babe seemed to say : "Oh, do not cry. 
 A thousand hopes I gave you and some joy. 
 Enough for me to live for and to die." 
 
 216 
 
 One spake to friends and family aggrieved 
 Whose flow'ry tokens he could well perceive: 
 "Go take these flowers where they can delight. 
 Give while you may, to those who can receive. 
 
 217 
 
 And one there was with hands in prayer laid 
 For whom before death many friends had prayed, 
 Done nothing else — For her this epitaph: 
 "I did not have to die, I died for faith." 
 
 218 
 
 And one, himself a pilot of the sky 
 Was being sent off with much hue and cry ; 
 But some fine old corpse made this curt remark: 
 "Live rightly, friend, and you can safely die. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 183 
 
 219 
 "Did ever loving heart wish that the pall 
 Of sombre crepe upon a loved one fall? 
 Why mourn you then with useless outward show? 
 Perhaps, he mourns best who mourns not at all." 
 
 220 
 Two corpses: one in silk, one cotton clad. 
 One shrivelled thin, the other puffed up fat ; 
 Mute commentary on this fretful age — 
 One had been starved, the other fed to death. . . . 
 
 221 
 
 And yonder corpse smiles ; as in slumber, one 
 Whose lips express triumphantly: I won! 
 He understood the world, he lived and loved 
 And labored well; and so to die seems fun! 
 
 222 
 
 "Some thought to gain at my cost, but I knew 
 The world's account was mine ! And revenue 
 Derived therefrom is rich beyond the dreams 
 Of avarice dreamt by the foolish few. 
 
 223 
 
 "No honest man need fear the ghastly net 
 By Death, that ancient dark collector, set. 
 Life's contract reads : 'Upon demand I pay' ; 
 Who would object to paying off his debt? 
 
 224 
 "Old superstition ! Were it not for aid 
 The veil receives, there would be none afraid. 
 If you have reason, reason this one out : 
 Why should one fear what no one can evade? 
 
184 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 225 
 
 "Who would repeatedly admission pay 
 For witnessing the selfsame spoiled play? 
 If life was sweet why not conclude it glad 
 For having lived to see a Joyous Day? 
 
 226 
 " 'Tis ours to bless, the curse our own rebuff 
 Because a well-lived life is worth — the rough 
 Excruciating pains of Birth and Death ; 
 The other kind is punishment enough. 
 
 227 
 
 "Now, one who cleaner lived than that he knew 
 Lost satisfaction's precious revenue. 
 And he who lived life worse than that he might, 
 He was defrauding and a loser too." 
 
 228 
 A young man with a bullet in his side. 
 Self shot, wrote in his final note : "I tried 
 In vain to win the love of one I loved, 
 I die for love" — Such love ! Perhaps he lied. 
 
 229 
 
 Another, who had cut his jugular vein. 
 Seemed duty bound his sore plight to explain. 
 "I was too sick, why should I have lived on?" 
 To make the soul victorious over pain. 
 
 230 
 
 One suicide closed life just to prevent 
 War! Cries of "overpopulation" rent 
 His heart. Poor victim of credulity! 
 The ones who cried so hard — a-fishing went. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 185 
 
 231 
 
 One rule has no exception: 'tis the rule 
 That every life flows to the common pool 
 Of death. Alike, beyond dispute, 'tis true : 
 Than human life there is no finer tool. 
 
 232 
 
 And tools for which to-day you find no use 
 To-morrow may a thousand lives infuse 
 With pleasures newly wrought. Therefore, hold on 
 And make with time's reverses timely truce. 
 
 238 
 
 An author to his friends this message sent : 
 "Go, brothers, dear, and raise that monument 
 To all the million men and million things 
 My soul to speak enticed and power lent. 
 
 234 
 
 "None can compute with figures nor with sign, 
 The findings of how many souls are mine 
 Or yours ; then who could tell about our light 
 How long or for how many it may shine.'' 
 
 235 
 
 "To render and receive, dear brethren, such 
 The weave of friendship, though of highest notch. 
 And would you have it live until you die.? 
 Sufficient give and do not take too much. 
 
 236 
 
 "I met reverses; what charm helped me through.'* 
 
 Impartialness to mine own want and due. 
 
 A disposition striving to be fair — 
 
 And these, my friends, I now bequeath to you." 
 
186 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 237 
 
 And as the Sun beyond the mountains lowered 
 A torchlight rose and argument forth poured; 
 The claims of flame against the damp, dark grave 
 Awaiting bodies — there to be devoured. 
 
 238 
 That Tool Magnificent is surely fit 
 To end in cleaner hold than graveyard's pit — 
 The last good thing a man can do on Earth 
 Is to release and not encumber it. 
 
 239 
 
 The cryptic Mysteries of Death ! Why fill 
 The living heart with its enigmas still? 
 Death takes and leaves and reconciles results, 
 But it is life's prerogative to mil. 
 
 240 
 And so we will review the sweet grape, rife 
 With sparkling glow, to help us in our strife 
 Towards perfection. Master Goal which calls 
 Us back to scented passage ways of life. 
 
 IX 
 
 LOVE AND HOPE 
 241 
 
 Perhaps the creaks of the complaining crank 
 Will never cease; yet, surely, he can thank 
 His stars who found the Well of Love and from 
 Its charming water satisfaction drank. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 187 
 
 242 
 
 'Midst earthquakes, wars and feuds creation's sway 
 Brought love to vanquish hate and hold at bay 
 Discordant forces leagued to wreck the world; 
 Go choose your side — but love gives higher pay. 
 
 243 
 
 Love in its very hurt is virtue's aid; 
 Love is in hope a rainbow promise-made, 
 (As but a memory it will sustain), 
 Love realized puts heaven into shade. 
 
 244 
 To all the wrongs of Earth I have been prey ; 
 Yet in one hour, under sweet love's sway, 
 I could forgive them all — opponents mean. 
 False friends — And did forgive them all for aye. 
 
 245 
 
 If love is altar where you daily kneel. 
 Your treasure ship (from topmast to the keel) 
 You may donate with all yourself to boot. 
 And yet for love's bliss always debtor feel. 
 
 246 
 
 Put all men wrote about love into one 
 Sum; multiply it over and anon. 
 Ever so long; and all the light you see, 
 Is but a gleaming of the Lovers' Sun. 
 
 247 
 Does it seem mockery to show the gold 
 Of love to those forlorn in the cold 
 Of loveless life? Not so, it is to urge 
 The crusted heart its blessing to unfold. 
 
188 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 248 
 Love scorns death, for love will put the "I" 
 In line with "thou" and "they" and reason : why, 
 If others are to crumble into dust 
 It is but right that I — I, too, shall die. 
 
 249 
 
 In love there is, dear brethren, love and love ; 
 One is a hundred thousand miles above 
 The other. Oh, poor terminology — 
 A dulse by any name is not a dove. 
 
 250 
 That is not love when, swayed by passion's dart. 
 You crave to kiss your glowing counterpart — 
 Want her when weakest, want him at his worst. 
 Then may you think that love has touched your 
 heart. 
 
 251 
 The murderous passion, stage tragedian tells 
 About and kills for, stuns you. As one delves 
 Into its mysteries. Love can be seen 
 At fault. Such heroes love too much — themselves. 
 
 252 
 Within the florist's charming window there 
 A budding rose blushed next a lilac rare. 
 From all the hearts that longed to take them home 
 None searched the science of the flowers' care. 
 
 253 
 
 Oh, wisdom, wisdom ! Light from our Sun 
 Is not more blessing than the rays you. spun 
 Out of men's minds. Oh, shine upon the road 
 When needed most — in youth, life's early dawn. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 189 
 
 254 
 
 But wisdom, knowledge come with later years, 
 Alas, quite often holding off arrears 
 And so the brightest, kindest, keenest souls, 
 Some time or other shed Repentant tears. 
 
 255 
 
 Adolescence, too, brings on aches and pains; 
 The burning anguish of unfolding brains — 
 Will! And you may the blood of thousand great 
 Philosophers feel coursing through your veins. 
 
 256 
 And what is pain? A simple cry for health. 
 Lend to impoverished blood the precious wealth 
 Of pure sustenance, and the roses' bloom 
 On pallid cheeks are more than ever felt. 
 
 ^57 
 
 Oh, well, what of mistakes? They must or may 
 Like teachers, frown their lessons to convey. 
 He is secure upon the road to Right 
 Who does not blunder twice the selfsame way — 
 
 258 
 Look at the tombstone Shakespeare carved and thus 
 Set up for Timon. Read your way. To us: 
 "Oft seeming gainers really lose the game. 
 And losing wealth is not a killing loss." 
 
 259 
 
 You, likely, heard of wealthy heirs who spend 
 Their lives in fearful squalor to the end. 
 Not knowing of their heritage ; so fares 
 Who does not know the value of a friend. 
 
190 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 260 
 
 True friendship brightens, lightens, lifts the soul ; 
 No waves so rough but through it smoother roll; 
 It is like having all beside yourself 
 Another one to help you to the goal. 
 
 261 
 
 In spite of thunder, windstorm, lightning, hail ; 
 Beyond the clouds the Sun is shining hale 
 And heartily. And so it is with us, 
 The heart is full of blessings though it ail. 
 
 262 
 Hope is not hope if it be jealous, small. 
 True hope is like the Sun's encircling call. 
 It often may be hid behind the clouds. 
 But everywhere and always shines for all. 
 
 263 
 
 And there are false hopes (which breed and prolong 
 The miseries on Earth), held by a throng 
 That shirks responsibility for things that hurt — 
 In hope, too, there is right and there is wrong. 
 
 264 
 
 Some preachers run a Mental Marathon 
 Around word-shadows, bidding you to shun 
 Or this, or that, although there is no sin — 
 Excepting only the one of harm done. 
 
 265 
 
 And having but a simple, single sin 
 To hold before the view without, within. 
 Bear down upon it with your might and main ; 
 Thus barter evil for its antonym. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 191 
 
 266 
 
 Sweet are the waters in the wondrous well 
 Of Earthly hopes, oh, who can ever tell 
 Its glories all? Yet you may hope beyond 
 Terrestrial spheres — But why should you want Hell ? 
 
 267 
 
 Must spade the crusted ground, must hold the plow — 
 But think of the returns ! A crimson flow 
 Of wines and kisses, symphony of bloom. 
 And all the starry heaven's wondrous glow. 
 
 268 
 Abuse not Hope by spending days enthralled 
 In idle trance. The adding of the salt 
 In cookery serves taste, digestion ; but 
 At some degree 'tis best to call a halt. 
 
 269 
 Truth won if your own soul it has imbued. 
 What if you cannot move the multitude 
 Along your path? Your pioneering life, 
 Perhaps, is linked into a song's etude. 
 
 270 
 Sweet Love and Hope ! Earth-born, heaven-crowned ; 
 Enchantingly invites their garden ground, 
 And wheresoever human duty calls. 
 Their music and their fragrance may be found. 
 
192 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 TRUTH AND WISDOM 
 
 271 
 
 To be a nabob rich beyond surmise 
 
 Seek through the World of Wisdom. From its skies 
 
 Take all the glory you can hold. In time 
 
 You enter the Great Synod of the Wise. 
 
 272 
 And no one creed, nor two, nor six, nor ten ' 
 Have power to deny you. They serve when 
 And as they can, but none holds all truth, none 
 Could corner all the wisdom found by men. 
 
 273 
 
 And you wiU have arrived when your own lamp 
 Will show you to a self-sustaining camp 
 Of happiness which other pilgrims may 
 Reach also, through you, with a lighter tramp. 
 
 274 
 The veritable Social laws forsooth 
 Like balanced figures always work out smooth 
 And that which mercilessly jars or hurts 
 Or breaks men's hearts — that lacks the truth. 
 
 275 
 
 Aye, countless souls have gone through fire and 
 
 stress ; 
 Through hope and through despair they toiled to 
 
 bless 
 Our minds with knowledge, wisdom, and with strength 
 Enabling us to make — a closer guess. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 19S 
 
 276 
 The truth ! Oh, how it shines when newly found, 
 What glorious light it sheds upon the ground 
 We tread ! Exultant feels the heart and free ; 
 Then sad again, because the rest are bound — 
 
 277 
 At first we feel that all the sleeping world 
 Will wake if but the words of truth be hurled 
 Before its eyes. Then, by and by we find 
 Our very mottoes having stood unfurled 
 
 278 
 Through ages past. Through ages yet to come 
 Hearts must be moulded, must be overcome 
 By glorious truth ; its world encircling sway 
 Is to be gathered slowly, crumb by crumb. 
 
 279 
 "So many shades to life, which is your clue?" 
 "I take in every color and each hue. 
 To live on unadulterated wine 
 Judge all the drinks and strike out for the true." 
 
 280 
 We may repair to fortune-teller's hut 
 And pay for cleverness, or chatter, but 
 Approaching augurers to pawn ourselves 
 For what they do not know; we'd better not. 
 
 281 
 Or wise or foolish, strong as well as weak 
 Are out to find the bubbling crystal creek 
 Of happiness ; yet some shed tears because 
 To walk one moves, to find one has to seek. 
 
194 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 282 
 "And, wherefore should we woes of life employ 
 The gayety of one's heart to destroy?" 
 — "Who comprehends the woes of all the world, 
 He needs must be a sharer in all joy." 
 
 283 
 
 "Is there a balm for this? — Oh, cheerful sage — 
 On questions grave and oft of hoary age 
 Men will contend" — " 'Tis not the core, the heart 
 But play of words brings controversial rage." 
 
 284 
 If fame you crave, what think you of the cause 
 That gives some nonsense deafening applause? 
 You have done well if thoughts, in fine review. 
 To you reverting may with pleasure pause. 
 
 285 
 "You are no better than the rest ; you aim 
 To rise upon the far-spread wings of fame." 
 — "I give a name by which to know a work 
 And not a work by which to know a name." 
 
 286 
 He needs wins most who can do most for most 
 That need it most ; to him goes out the toast 
 Of human love. With such boon within reach 
 Should anyone of worthless trinkets boast? 
 
 287 
 How small the atoms, yet how fast they dart 
 Through space, a world of which they are a part, 
 Life but a moment, yet all time contains 
 Each throb of every living human heart. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 195 
 
 288 
 With every breath through every feast and fast, 
 We live the future, present and the past. 
 Things white of age we know, and so we can 
 Be thrilled by triumphs man will win at last. 
 
 289 
 Each life has meaning of its own, methinks ; 
 It, like a noun, sense through the sentence brings; 
 And like a little line within the verse. 
 Each single life to past and future links! 
 
 290 
 The past projects its shadows, and the doom 
 Of future years may cast you into gloom — 
 Strike at them both, take glory from the past 
 And let the future ripen hopes to bloom. 
 
 291 
 
 Unlike the shadows which some minds endow 
 With living qualities, 'tis here and now 
 The real eternal life; 'tis in your hold, 
 And so with every breath of yours aflow. 
 
 292 
 
 And if our sky included every clime, 
 And if our brains thought on in endless rhyme. 
 And if our hearts would never cease to beat, 
 We would but live a moment at a time. 
 
 298 
 
 Observe the flowing river; force opposed. 
 Into the turnings of the wheels transposed. 
 Producing force again. The river flows, 
 And where and when shall its life-force be closed? 
 
196 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 294 
 Upon the face of Earth creation wrought, 
 No more of wonder than the kindly thought ; 
 In coming it brings sunshine 'mid the snows, 
 Returning flies, with joyful pleasure fraught. 
 
 295 
 
 How many flowers bloom from seeds you gave 
 In care of others! Likewise thoughts behave. 
 And if we love to see plants growing fine 
 How much more so, minds, beautiful and brave? 
 
 296 
 
 Why? Whither? Whence? This is the story terse. 
 The atoms gather, then again disperse — 
 Meanwhile, we deepen while we drink from out 
 The well of life in this great universe. 
 
 297 
 We found some wine at hand within the cup, 
 And owe the vintage of another drop — 
 On foot, on stilts, or flying aeroplanes 
 We are compelled to move and cannot stop. 
 
 298 
 
 And life's great problem seems to me quite plain. 
 Let us not cause unnecessary pain 
 And joy much more than ever was conceived. 
 For heaven, here upon this Earth, will reign. 
 
 299 
 
 With glowing health Earth's paradise to tap, 
 With love abloom (held snugly in your lap) 
 Live on ! Strive on ! Hope on until the end — 
 If this be foolish, wisdom wants the cap. 
 
HUMANE HUMANITY 197 
 
 300 
 
 Two gifts to have all good men are inclined ; 
 Oh, may posterity the fortune find, 
 Endowing each one with a love-filled heart 
 And with a healthy, independent mind. 
 
PART FIVE 
 
 JOHN DOE THOUGHT AND HIS SEARCH 
 FOR STYLE 
 
 (a study of expression cast into story form) 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT AND HIS SEARCH 
 FOR STYLE 
 
 The mysterious birth of John Doe Thought, the 
 wonderful individual having the role of hero in this 
 narrative, cannot be explained, nor would any ex- 
 planation throw more light on his eventful career. 
 It is sufficient to recognize in him a descendant of the 
 much-known personage whose name he bore. Fur- 
 ther on will appear how he came by the additional 
 surname. Thought. 
 
 His years of childhood were spent in a rather 
 untamed fashion; a boisterous ragamuffin, bobbing 
 up here and there; now and then causing disquiet, 
 even consternation. Eventually he settled down in 
 one of the Cell Farms, millions of which — reliable 
 economists tell us — decay from sheer neglect in un- 
 productive idleness. 
 
 In this case the right soil and the right party 
 must have met, for within a short while the place 
 became not only self-supporting but a supply sta- 
 tion of the neighborhood. People came from the 
 counties round-about to avail themselves of the com- 
 fort and assistance which John Doe proffered them 
 in a liberal measure and in a winning way. He 
 quenched their thirst from a new artesian well and 
 
 201 
 
202 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 appeased their hunger with a soul-satisfying dish 
 of his own invention. He also constructed a special 
 burner which gave brighter rays than anybody in 
 that district had seen before. Later on he set up a 
 little power plant and, with a dynamo driven by a 
 tiny brook on the farm, he illuminated the roadways 
 of the countryside so thoroughly that the people of 
 the neighborhood came to see each other in a new 
 and better light : this light not only saved them from 
 tumbling over each other, but through some excep- 
 tional merit of its qualities sweetened their temper 
 and dissolved their perplexities. 
 
 So great a blessing could not be accepted without 
 concern for its author. Indeed, those who scold man- 
 kind on the score of ingratitude forget that this black 
 emanation of iniquity is but a sign of squalor, pain, 
 misery and unhappiness. Contented, healthy, joy- 
 ous, happy souls cannot be otherwise than thankful 
 and cannot refrain from showing it. 
 
 One evening two citizens met on a roadway made 
 resplendent by the new invention. In days gone by 
 they had been constantly quarrelsome enemies; now 
 they greeted each other with the warmth of sincere 
 friendliness. 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Gloomer, I am delighted to meet you 
 here!" 
 
 "Why, brother Bloomer, sure enough 'tis you! 
 Geton Road is mighty pleasant, isn't it?" 
 
 "Yes, Geton Road is quite enchanting, but let 
 me tell you that Peggon Road is also a magnificent 
 highway." 
 
 "So I found it. And to think how much we argued 
 about which one was the only safe road to travel on I 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 203 
 
 Well, I guess we ought to feel ashamed of our mis- 
 takes." 
 
 "Not necessarily. My auto got smashed on a 
 treacherous turn of Geton Road." 
 
 "Peggon Road had a worse jar for me. I stubbed 
 my toe there, sprained my right arm and bruised my 
 nose. We certainly owe a debt of gratitude to the 
 fellow supplying light where there was darkness 
 before." 
 
 "Yes, we do. Yes, indeed! Say, I really believe 
 he is too good to be cooped up in this corner of the 
 state. Let's make him a senator or something." 
 
 "Make him Lieutenant-Governor of the state!" 
 
 "Agreed! Here is my hand. Shake good and 
 hearty! Look! There comes a jolly bunch. Hello, 
 boys, come on here, hurry up!" 
 
 "What is the matter?" asked one of the company, 
 after forming a circle as requested. 
 
 "Listen ! All who are in favor of John Doe being 
 made Lieutenant-Governor of this state, please throw 
 their hats into the ring!" 
 
 A number of hats and caps flew to the center of 
 the circle. A few of the group remained unrespon- 
 sive. 
 
 "Why, what's the objection, Mr. Forsyth? 
 Though you are a relative of Rev. Doctor Expe- 
 diency, that fact shall not be counted against you. 
 Tell us your misgivings, post your signs of warning 
 right now." 
 
 "I have no warnings to offer excepting the old 
 caution against everything that's new. This new 
 light shines all right, but what is our guaranty that it 
 will be lasting? Our mutual friend John Doe seems 
 
204 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 to be a worthy fellow, but his source of power is in- 
 significant and, goodness gracious, such a name! 
 Why, there are so many of them he may be taken 
 for anybody or anything. What do you say, Judge 
 Trubee?" 
 
 "I declare he has done so much for us that we 
 can well afford to do something for him, and I pro- 
 pose to grant him a worthy cognomen that shall com- 
 mand the respect of all." 
 
 A chorus of voices rang out : "Let's hear it !" 
 
 "By the authority vested in me I declare our friend 
 and neighbor John Doe from now on legally entitled 
 to the worthy surname Thought." 
 
 "Three cheers for John Doe Thought!" someone 
 exclaimed. 
 
 The cheers were given but not with sufficient ac- 
 clamation to please Mr. Bloomer. "Say, fellows," 
 he exclaimed somewhat peeved, "we don't want to 
 have any political jobbery here. If you mean to 
 stab our candidate, do it right now before his career 
 is really started. Say, Bookman, you are awfully 
 quiet; come on, make a noise of some kind!" 
 
 "Very well; as schoolmaster of the district, I am 
 competent to state an objection which you seem to 
 overlook." 
 
 "What is it? What is it.?" 
 
 "He lacks style!" 
 
 A long crescendo of laughter pealed forth from the 
 lusty throat of young Mr. Ambition. "Oh, ho, ho !" 
 he finished, "he is no dressmaker, no haberdasher, nor 
 milliner. He is John Doe Thought " 
 
 "I do not care what he is or who he is," spoke up 
 the schoolmaster in stentorian voice, "style makes the 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 205 
 
 man. Everybody, excepting actresses of the bur- 
 lesque shows, must be dressed when facing the world. 
 Dress implies style. No style, no success " 
 
 "Men make style, I should say," broke in a new 
 voice. 
 
 "Not such obscure nonentities! Do you want to 
 tie up to a failure and ruin our fair State of Head.'*" 
 
 "It is you learned fellows that disgrace the state. 
 Not one among you originated in a hundred years as 
 much of an improvement as John Doe Thought pro- 
 duced during his short stay with us. But don't let us 
 quarrel — suppose we all go to question him and see 
 wherein he is found wanting." 
 
 This proposition was agreed to by all and off they 
 marched on the popular errand of "heckling" the 
 candidate. But to the chagrin of some and the satis- 
 faction of others, they were given scant opportunity 
 for doing so. Instead, they were treated to a short 
 but comprehensive speech by the object of their 
 solicitude : 
 
 "Friends !" he addressed them, "By the aid of a 
 microphone I overheard your deliberations, and in 
 return for the hearty support of some of you I will 
 open my heart to you all. I have a purpose in life. 
 It is to improve the illumination of the world. The 
 few bright spots, which caused you to think of me as 
 much as your presence proves, is but a glimmer of 
 the light which I expect to diffuse. My case is clear, 
 my burner perfect and the power I lack can be had 
 in abundance by harnessing the great River of Will. 
 This river runs through many states. I feel impelled 
 to go forth and gain the consent from each for the 
 purpose in view. But in gaining that consent my 
 
206 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 conduct, words and gestures must depend on time 
 and mood and circumstances. You may as well bind 
 one to the context as to the delivery of a new mes- 
 sage. That is it. I have a message to deliver. Think 
 of it, I have to gain the consent of at least thirty 
 states for a project which perhaps none has yet 
 considered. You see, I have a mission in life, and 
 so I not only accept but ask your support to fulfil 
 it." 
 
 Mr. Bloomer stuck to his post. In a sober and 
 subdued voice he renewed the nomination which this 
 time was carried with the earnest, almost solemn ap- 
 proval of the entire assemblage. Then and there a 
 campaign started that kept the little republic in a 
 turmoil for some time. 
 
 John Doe Thought rejoiced in the honor accorded 
 to him. His vigorous frame was surcharged with 
 energy that had to be vented. So he spent it in much- 
 needed quarters — for most of the old state leaders 
 had yet to be won over to the newcomer's standard 
 now fluttering in the breeze. Thrilled by his good 
 prospects as only youth can thrill, and with a dis- 
 regard for distant consequences such as only youth 
 is capable of, he worked day and night to gain the 
 higher standing in his own state ; never dreaming that 
 its attainment would, after all, force him to face the 
 great Riddle of Style — face it in the shape of a com- 
 pelling dilemma to solve the problem or die in the 
 attempt. 
 
 That occurrence hovered in the far-off future, but 
 another contingency just as dramatic awaited him in 
 days close by when the state leaders gathered to settle 
 the matter of his candidacy one way or another. 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 207 
 
 These leaders, of course, resembled very much the 
 guiding forces enthroned in other states. 
 
 There was a governor with the proverbial "still 
 small voice" guiding the ship of state through waves 
 of agitation caused by its own citizenry, and also 
 through the turbulent cross-currents brought on by 
 winds of far-away storms blowing against ancient 
 rocks amidst the constant flow of ever restless time. 
 
 There was the governor's stern-looking, yet hand- 
 some handmaid. Lady Justinia, ever at work to main- 
 tain an equilibrium amongst the unruly constituents 
 of the realm. 
 
 Then there was Mr. and Mrs. Comfy Snugg, look- 
 ing as prosperous and happy as their well-established 
 social position bade them to reflect. There was the 
 smooth-faced, smiling but foxy Rev. Doctor Ex- 
 pediency and his venerable friend Grandpa Tradition, 
 he with the long white flowing beard, a disapproving 
 nod of which causes faint hearts to tremble in appre- 
 hension. There was gluttonous young Mr. Ambition 
 and his father. Old Man Work, the latter bent and 
 worried but never too tired or too stingy to pay for 
 the antics of his agile, vivacious, light-minded boy. 
 Last to be mentioned but not of least importance, 
 there was querulous old Mrs. Grundy, standing guard 
 over the unpHghted afl'ection of her charming daugh- 
 ter. Miss Love. 
 
 At the first sight of John Doe Thought old Mother 
 Grundy uttered a fearful cry of alarm. Instantly the 
 candidate was set upon by her friends, and it took the 
 combined eloquence of Bloomer, Trubee, and their 
 friends to still the tumult and to restore order so that 
 deliberations could proceed. 
 
208 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 The candidate paid little attention to the debate 
 going on. . . . He had something much more im- 
 portant to observe, for he noticed the longing glances 
 of Miss Love glued on him for long precious mo- 
 ments. He returned the wireless messages with glow- 
 ing intensity. Both came near being demonstrative, 
 but were kept in check by Mother Grundy's grum- 
 bling of displeasure. 
 
 As time wore on the debate became more loud and 
 the speakers more excited. The Governor favored the 
 candidate. Raising his" "still small voice" to highest 
 pitch, he said: 
 
 "Fellow citizens ! You well know that our worthy 
 friend John Doe Thought invented a new light which 
 gave satisfaction throughout the state; you also 
 know that he intends to extend his work in a way 
 that ultimately must reflect credit on our state. 
 Now, unless you can nullify the facts and disprove 
 his contention, I urge — in gratitude to our forebears, 
 in justice to other states and for the sake of our 
 own tranquillity — I urge that you elect him to the 
 office and let him — with the prestige thus gained — let 
 him represent our state in the councils of the world !" 
 
 Lady Justinia supported the Governor. "Yes," 
 she said, "I watched the candidate, examined his ante- 
 cedents, looked up his relations, and after carefully 
 weighing his bearing in all directions, I am satisfied 
 that he is all right. You can do no better than to 
 place in his hands the reins of the state government, 
 subject, of course, to the promptings and checkings 
 of our good old governor." 
 
 Mrs. Grundy murmured a note of disgust, but the 
 eyes of her beautiful daughter were riveted on the 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 209 
 
 candidate, who returned the gaze of shining admira- 
 tion with no diminution, even at the most fiery on- 
 slaughts of the opposition. 
 
 "No !" cried Mrs. Snugg, in conclusion of an im- 
 passioned speech, "we do not want a government by 
 upstarts ! Stand pat ! ! Let well enough alone !" 
 
 "Second the motion!" ejaculated a friend of the 
 Snuggs, and a mass of tired electors applauded 
 vociferously. 
 
 Young Ambition tried to turn the tide but was 
 hooted from the platform. "He has no money!" 
 "He can make no money!" "He is a common 
 drudge!" "He is a foreigner!" they cried. "Who 
 will make him respectable?" "Who will put him on 
 his feet for a position so high?" 
 
 "I will !" shouted Old Man Work, as his bent but 
 sinewy figure rose to the full height of its giant 
 size. 
 
 "Hush !" yelled Mr. Snugg. "You can hardly sup- 
 ply our present demands." 
 
 At this juncture the Rev. Doctor Expediency rose 
 to make an address. "Friends !" he said. "You have 
 heard Mrs. Snugg enlarging on the dangers and dis- 
 comforts connected with new ventures and experi- 
 mental activities ; you have seen the long white beard 
 of our venerable friend Grandpa Tradition, swaying 
 in disapproval of the political changes proposed; 
 now let me, a sincere admirer of the candidate, ad- 
 vance my opinion. There is no use closing our eyes 
 to the fact that John Doe Thought is an individual 
 of whom our state may feel justly proud. The light 
 he invented illumines our thoroughfares better than 
 they were ever lighted up before, but " 
 
210 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "But the but — " interjected young Ambition im- 
 patiently. 
 
 "But," proceeded Dr. Expediency, "the very light 
 he has given us is blinding to others. His scheme, 
 involving so many other states, might irritate them 
 into deliberate unfriendliness, with the probable result 
 that they will conspire to crush our state out of 
 existence. Surely the light is not worth such a can- 
 dle. Remember self-preservation is the first law of 
 nature, also the second, third, fourth, fifth, and per- 
 haps some more ordinal numbers belong to this law. 
 For this reason, let our friend, if he be truly our 
 friend, retire to his Cell Farm and keep his lights to 
 ourselves.'* 
 
 Young Ambition sprang to his feet, excitement red- 
 dened his face and fired his voice so it compelled a 
 hearing. "Here," he cried, "is our one chance to 
 raise our state from the inglorious mass of obscurity, 
 and you miserable flinchers are opposed to it ! Think 
 of the glory awaiting us when other states will have 
 seen the light that shines for us so well! They will 
 pay us homage, all the world will envy us " 
 
 "Hold on! Silence!" cried the candidate, and 
 while the assembly readjusted its hearing to the new 
 voice he muttered the well known prayer : "Oh, Lord, 
 deliver me from such friends. . . . Listen !" he said, 
 when silence had ensued, "listen ! None of you ques- 
 tions my merit, yet you deny me recognition. Have 
 your way. But I cannot live in the sullen atmosphere 
 poisoned by double dealing, simulation and hypocrisy. 
 Look ! if I cannot live, I know how to die !" 
 
 He bared his bosom and drew a stiletto of De- 
 cision from his scabbard of Force. The strong right 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 211 
 
 arm flashed out the shining weapon and brought its 
 gUstening point down — in a slow deHberate manner, 
 as if to make a last feast of his unimpaired strength 
 — brought down the pointed steel until it reached the 
 naked breast. Just then the arm was halted by the 
 touch of a soft hand. It was the hand of Love. 
 "Don't !" she whispered, "I am with you !" 
 
 For a few moments John Doe Thought was lost in 
 wonderment, then he felt his heart electrified into a 
 stronger beat than he ever knew before. Back slid 
 the weapon into its scabbard. His face shone with 
 the light of triumph. "Love prompts me to live!" 
 he shouted. "Weaklings, cowards, I defy you all!" 
 
 During the weeks that followed John Doe Thought 
 and his bride spent many blissful hours in the sacred 
 confines of their privacy. So much so that his fellow 
 citizens became impatient about it. Now they clam- 
 ored for him to be their champion and practically 
 forced him to the part. 
 
 Finding himself the dominant power of the state, 
 our hero decided to venture forth on his mission. 
 No sooner was this announced than his friends, to- 
 gether with his erstwhile opponents, resolved upon 
 arranging a great send-off. 
 
 They gathered in front of the brilliantly lighted 
 Cell Farm, each bringing a little token of esteem or 
 a bit of advice. 
 
 The Governor patted him on the shoulder, saying : 
 "I am satisfied." 
 
 The schoolmaster shook his hand vigorously. 
 "You are made of the right stuff," he said in an 
 undertone, "but for Art's sake remember the laws 
 of style!" 
 
212 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Mrs. Sympathy, who befriended him from his very 
 first day at Cell Farm, brought a garland of roses 
 bearing the legend: "O'er valley or hill, we are with 
 you stiU." 
 
 Lady Justinia presented him with a breastshield 
 inscribed: IMMORTAL THOUGHT. 
 
 Ambition composed a march to lighten his steps. 
 
 Old Man Work outdid himself supplying necessities 
 for the journey. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Snugg solicited contributions for a 
 triumphal feast to be given on his return. 
 
 Dr. Expediency had a smile for everybody. 
 
 Even Grandpa Tradition came around. "Yes," he 
 declared, "there must be pioneers — now let it be the 
 turn of our state." 
 
 Encouraged by this consent, all the celebrants 
 joined in a joyous maypole dance. In picturesque 
 turns and fantastic motions they flitted around, sing- 
 ing the praises of our hero and congratulating each 
 other on the good fortune of having him for their 
 champion. 
 
 Thus, with the hearty good wishes of a jubilant 
 state and with Love's sacred good-by kiss on his lips, 
 he went forth on the first of his eventful pilgrimages. 
 
 On arriving at the capitol of a neighboring state, 
 he tried to interview the political leaders, but they 
 were all busy pulling old wires and could not give 
 him a listening ear. Determined to put before the 
 state his project, he settled down to write it out. He 
 worked with untiring devotion on the treaties, which 
 took him about a month to complete. All the while 
 he was in correspondence with Love, who received a 
 copy of each finished page. When the work was all 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 213 
 
 done, he showed the manuscript to a Mr. Average 
 Man. 
 
 "Well," asked the fellow, after an habitual cursory 
 reading, "well, what do you mean?" And the ques- 
 tion was emphasized by a face as blank as a check- 
 book with no bank account to it. 
 
 "Why, don't you understand? I intend to estab- 
 lish a new light " 
 
 "Oh, my! and break an established rule? Excuse 
 me, I am a practical man with a family to take care 
 of and no time for rainbow chasing; good night." 
 
 Several attempts in other states had the same re- 
 sult. Irritated by his own failures, John Doe 
 Thought dashed off a circular attacking the Estab- 
 lished Rule and denouncing interested axes that pre- 
 fer grinding in the dark. 
 
 On the following day he found himself in a county 
 jail. 
 
 Naturally the citizens of the good state of Head 
 were much excited over the arrest of John Doe 
 Thought. Some of them could not believe the terri- 
 ble news at all. They knew him to a kind, felici- 
 tous fellow; they loved him and felt proud of him, 
 and now the cruel blow put the entire state on the 
 verge of disgrace. 
 
 "But how could he be arrested?" asked Mr. Gloom- 
 er, his bosom friend. 
 
 "By the powers in authority who rejoice in exer- 
 cising it," answered Mr. Bloomer. 
 
 "Yes, but why?" 
 
 "For treason." 
 
 "For treason against whom?" 
 
 "Treason against Established Rule." 
 
214 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 *'But rules and regulations ever change, don't 
 they?" 
 
 "Yes, and the change is always accompanied by 
 more or less of commotion — now it is more. Come, 
 let us attend the trial ; it is set for to-day." 
 
 They arrived in time to hear the prosecutor de- 
 claim against their friend: 
 
 "There is no question about the accused having 
 disturbed the peace by inveighing against the estab- 
 lished rule. Gentlemen of the jury, if the counsel for 
 defense will tell you about his client's good intentions, 
 remember that not only is hell paved with the iden- 
 tical stuff, but a score of battlefields are strewn with 
 dead and the crippled every day by the same token. 
 If he tells you that his client was or is not under- 
 stood, remember that obscurantism by itself is a 
 crime; and if he appeals to your sense of mercy, 
 remember that this boon of compassion must not be 
 wasted on agitators against the established rule, least 
 of all on one who even now is standing before you 
 with a smile of defiance on his lips. 
 
 "As a servant of the people, sworn to protect and 
 uphold the public peace, I demand a verdict of guilty, 
 and that the culprit John Doe Thought shall, accord- 
 ing to our penal code, be smothered in obli^'ion." 
 
 John Doe Thought did smile defiantly. His 
 strength to do so came from a pair of shining eyes, 
 from the eyes of his own Love, who gazed at him 
 steadily as with a pair of heavenly blue stars. For 
 him to die then and there would have been a glorious 
 ending; but it was not to be so. 
 
 Counsel for the Defense was not the one to save 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 215 
 
 him, though the lawyer put forth a strong and elo- 
 quent appeal. 
 
 "Look through history," the lawyer pleaded, "and 
 you will see at every turn of the long tortuous route 
 a John Doe Thought or a Jane Doe Thought hold- 
 ing forth a new light to save mankind from the pit- 
 falls of darkness and from the corruption of degen- 
 eracy. Whether it be Socrates the great Grecian 
 sage, Jesus the Nazarene, John Huss the Bohemian, 
 Margaret Sanger of New York or simply John Doe 
 Thought from the state of Head, they all are torch- 
 bearers of human advancement; why should you, 
 chosen representatives of the social conscience, help 
 a groping world in its scramble to destroy them.^ 
 
 "As to the law, why not give discretion a larger 
 share of responsibility.? Put eyes into your statute 
 books so that you may differentiate between those 
 who lead society onward on the road of civilization 
 and those who would drag it back to savagery. I 
 ask, gentlemen of the jury, that you find for right 
 despite an unjust law." 
 
 After the usual rejoinders the jury was admon- 
 ished by the judge as follows: 
 
 "We are not here to make laws but to maintain 
 them ; and most important is it that we should. Even 
 those who speak flippantly about the law can do so 
 only because they are under its protection. True, 
 the rules and laws of to-day are but the predominant 
 notions of yesterday, but this fact only teaches that 
 we should not set up stumbling blocks in the way of 
 to-morrow. The life of Society must never be jeop- 
 ardized. Those who choose to go forth as pioneers 
 must do so at their own peril." 
 
216 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 John Doe Thought was not affected by the adverse 
 influence of the judge's charge. The light from the 
 eyes of his own Love was still upon him, and in that 
 light the entire court setting seemed like a stage play 
 arranged by fond parents to while away the time of 
 unruly children ; and the officials round about him, 
 prosecutor, judge and jury, appeared like soulless 
 marionettes whose movements were directed through 
 invisible wires connected with the mouldering bones 
 of a time dead and gone. 
 
 After a while the jury returned to report its find- 
 ing, and their foreman proceeded to announce: "We 
 find John Doe Thought guilt " 
 
 The sentence was cut short by several detonations 
 followed by a whirl of things in the air. Several 
 bombs exploded in the courtroom though not of the 
 murderous sort. None the less, the officials were 
 frightened to death and they toppled over like bees 
 from the whiff of smoke. On coming to, they found 
 themselves snowed under by booklets explaining and 
 advocating the new light. Rising to their feet, the 
 officials scanned the print, and horror of horrors ! 
 this was the worst offence of all, for the leaflet was 
 beset with all the vices known to an English profes- 
 sorial chair. There was a misplaced comma, an 
 inaccurate word, faulty syntax, untimely archaism, 
 improper paragraphing, barbarism, cacophony, pa- 
 ronomasia, tautology and all the rest. It made the 
 prosecutor's heart jump in desperation and the hair 
 of the judge stood on end. But all they could do 
 was to set a prize for the capture of John Doe 
 Thought, who had disappeared from the prisoner's 
 pen. 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 217 
 
 For the second time his own Love saved this apostle 
 of a new light. When the turmoil and confusion ran 
 highest in the courtroom she came to him, smiling like 
 the picture of Mona Lisa — smiling in satisfaction, 
 hope and achievement — took hold of his arm and led 
 him to safety. 
 
 In the home of a nearby friend they found shelter 
 and there they talked over the day's happening. 
 
 "How could you do it?" he asked in astonishment. 
 
 "Bloomer helped me all the way through. As soon 
 as we learned that they confiscated your book and 
 put you in prison we started to work out a plan that 
 would free both you and your spirit as given in your 
 book. Gunpowder is expensive now, but we managed 
 to buy sufficient for shooting a few lawyers into a 
 fright." 
 
 "But how about the books.?" 
 
 "Of course I saved the manuscript you sent me, 
 and gave them to Bloomer, who had a printer — for 
 heaven's sake, John, what is the trouble.?" 
 
 He turned white and blue trying to stammer a few 
 words, but his tongue refused to serve and he re- 
 mained speechless, as if stricken dumb by an over- 
 whelming calamity. 
 
 He could see her tremble in sympathy; this 
 brought the last ounce of reserve strength to his lips. 
 "The gods are against us," he murmured, "it is all 
 over with me." 
 
 She stroked his head caressingly. "No," she said, 
 "the powers beyond do not meddle in bagatelle af- 
 fairs. We are masters of our own destiny; tell me 
 the cause of your desperation and I will find a way 
 to clear it from your path," 
 
218 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "I did not take time to correct the copies which 
 I sent you and they contain a swarm of mistakes." 
 
 "She laughed out loud and the silvery peal of her 
 voice dispelled the clouds from off his brow. "Never 
 mind the little faults in the print," she said light- 
 heartedly. "We had some trouble about it, for doc- 
 tors disagreed about the admissibility of some phrases 
 and now they may keep on disagreeing. Bloomer was 
 bound to have the books ready for the time of bom- 
 bardment. And you had better commit all the of- 
 fences known to the grammatical calendar, in stating 
 your message, than grind out, as many do, a score of 
 polished books with nothing to say. There is more 
 time ahead " 
 
 "Yes," he put in, "and more energy to push on." 
 
 He rose to go, and Love, realizing that he could 
 never be happy until his work was done, allowed him 
 to leave. 
 
 "Fare thee well!" she exclaimed with a tremor in 
 her voice, "and — take care of yourself — for my 
 sake!" 
 
 He promised to do so. What would not a man 
 promise in the hour of parting when lumps in the 
 throat choke off further argument.'^ They embraced 
 again and again. Finally, assuring her that he would 
 be cautious as well as full of courage, he left to enter 
 upon another adventurous journey. 
 
 He traveled but a short while before an intelligent- 
 looking assemblage so attracted his attention that he 
 stopped to make sure of his plans and to see if they 
 could not be promoted through the agency of such 
 a conspicuous gathering. 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 219 
 
 Coming closer, our hero saw a conglomeration of 
 men and women, young and old, tall and short, fat 
 and lean, some comely, some homely, but the face of 
 each reflecting an intensity of mental effort. Just 
 then they squatted leisurely in a pleasant grotto 
 shaded by the sweet-scented needle-foliage of stately 
 firs and pines. A few, though evidently belonging to 
 the company, were scattered farther in the woodland. 
 He accosted one of these. 
 
 "Good-day, sir ! You belong to the group in yon- 
 der valley, don't you.?" 
 
 "Yes, of course," was the answer, "can I be of any 
 service to you.?" 
 
 "They seem to have a delightful time. May I 
 know the nature and object of your society?" 
 
 "They seem to have a fine time and that is as much 
 as most of them can manage to attain " 
 
 "Would you be so kind as to explain.?" 
 
 "Why, yes, gladly. This is a convention of lit- 
 erateurs " 
 
 "What! real journalists, writers, authors.?" 
 
 "Quite real, no others are admitted." 
 
 "And what are you discussing.? I wonder what 
 you are deliberating upon.?" 
 
 "It is no secret. Here is the program, see." 
 
 The broad trunk of an uprooted tree lying across 
 a hillock offered comfortable seats. Both accepted 
 the mute invitation and John Doe Thought read 
 eagerly the slip of paper held in view by his com- 
 panion. 
 
 Whatever the convention might or might not ac- 
 complish, there certainly was enough subject-matter 
 
220 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 for discussion. Our hero read the program over and 
 over again : 
 
 Literary Market — Basic Law of Fashionable- 
 ness — Making the Pen Pay — Motivation of Period- 
 icals — The Gold Standard of Literary Excellence — 
 Proper Regard for the Common Herd — Who Pays 
 the Bill and Why? — Exchange Value of Anticipa- 
 tion — The Value of Post-Mortem Laurels — Material 
 Yield of Practicality — Pickings on the Road of Ele- 
 vation — Marking Time for Amusement — The Exact 
 Space on the Top Rung of the Ladder — The Down- 
 fall of Uplift — In the Linguistic Labyrinth — How to 
 Live on Expectations — Mental Efficiency Measured 
 by Precious Metals — Chasing the Rainbow of Style. 
 
 "You seem to be interested," remarked the owner 
 of the program. 
 
 "I am, intensely, vitally interested. Are you one of 
 the delegates.?" 
 
 "Yes, I am." 
 
 "From what state .f^" 
 
 "From the State of Level Head." 
 
 "Oh, how fortunate I am to meet you ! I intend to 
 pay an official visit to your state, as indeed I must 
 visit all the others, too." 
 
 "Perhaps you had better unload your mind before 
 this convention," said the delegate laughingly. 
 
 The other clutched the idea with the eagerness of 
 an imprisoned soul getting hold of liberty. 
 
 "Oh, precious brother mine !" he exclaimed, "really, 
 if that were possible " 
 
 "It all depends on the purpose of your errand." 
 The speaker lowered his voice as he continued : "If it 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 221 
 
 flatters and helps the Powers That Be, none will ob- 
 ject to you being heard, but " 
 
 "I have a request to make or a proposition to offer 
 regarding a light of my invention and the harnessing 
 in its behalf of the River of Will." 
 
 At this statement a crouching figure ran off from 
 behind the hillock to the grotto and told the people 
 there what he had overheard. He was a "cub" re- 
 porter and, of course, felt much elated over this first 
 "scoop" of his promised career. 
 
 "You must know," answered the delegate from the 
 State of Level Head, after a pause, "that our associa- 
 tions have a controlling influence in their respective 
 states." 
 
 "That is so. And do you think you could get for 
 me the privilege of addressing your body, just a few 
 minutes .''" 
 
 "Hardly. I am not on the directorate. It is un- 
 wise to commend something that might rub too hard 
 against their grain. But go ahead, find a way of 
 your own to broach the subject." 
 
 "I will," declared John Doe Thought. He ad- 
 vanced to the group which still lounged in siesta, and, 
 inspired by his great opportunity as much as by his 
 youthful enthusiasm, he burst out in a song: 
 
 "Glory to men and their name, whose power and beauty 
 
 and fame 
 Leastwise diminishes ill. Brave knights of the valorous 
 
 quill, 
 Oh, grant me the River of Will for turning the wheels 
 
 of the mill 
 That grindeth the life-giving grain of mutual profit and 
 
 gain. 
 
222 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Oh, grant me the River of Will to liberate hearts that 
 
 are still 
 In the yoke of sorrow and pain for lack of the very 
 
 same grain — 
 For clearing off sources of blame, for raising the average 
 
 aim 
 This world with pleasure to fill, oh, grant me the River 
 
 of Will." 
 
 The delegate from the State of Level Head did not 
 pay much attention to the song, instead he watched 
 intently its effect upon his confreres. First they were 
 startled, then annoyed to a noticeable degree. When 
 the voice fell, they remarked it was dull business; 
 when the notes came high and in full volume, they 
 plugged their ears. Towards the end they protested 
 violently against the intrusion. The singer had 
 scarcely finished when his audience turned mob, firing 
 at him jeers and catcalls of all sorts. "Chase your- 
 self!" they cried, and as he did not depart with suffi- 
 cient alacrity they all joined in the chase, throwing 
 sticks, stones and half-hatched eggs at their fleeing 
 victim. However, he reached the safe fields of his 
 own state. Having his pursuers at bay, he stopped 
 to regain his breath. Much to his vexation and won- 
 derment, he heard the entire band loudly resolve on 
 vengeance. "Vengeance^ "Vengeance!" "VEN- 
 GEANCE !" they cried. Who could tell the why or 
 how of it.'' Not our hero. He returned home mauled 
 and battered, his eyes dim from dust, his head hang- 
 ing in disappointment. 
 
 Love, however, received him with open arms. 
 "Never mind!" she said. "You are right, and you 
 will triumph over them all !" She embraced him with 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 223 
 
 an electrifying caress that set his blood a-tingling and 
 steeled his heart against the attacks of unreasonable 
 enemies. 
 
 Then John Doe Thought felt that he was bound to 
 succeed. "Yes," he declared, "I must, to be worthy 
 of you. I must gain my object or be lost in the 
 battle for it. Either or " 
 
 Soon his sores were healed, and with increased de- 
 termination he set out for his goal. 
 
 "Luck be with you," said Love in parting, "but 
 do not depend on it too much. I can see no fault in 
 you, still there may have been something wrong with 
 your appearance. Perhaps it were best, before you 
 leave the state, to consult once again Bookman the 
 Schoolmaster, and, dear, do go to see Professor High- 
 sound, the great style specialist." 
 
 "I will," he declared, and Love kissed him with a 
 warmth that compensated for past trials and future 
 tribulations as well. 
 
 The Schoolmaster received him with a laugh. 
 "Good boy!" he said. "Little things like that must 
 not discourage you. Go at it again. Why, you are 
 not any the worse for your experience, are you.^^" 
 
 "No, but confound it, there was nothing pleasant 
 to record. What could have been the matter with me 
 to bring on such a catastrophe.?" 
 
 "Lack of style, my boy, lack of style." 
 
 "But what do you mean by style? It has grown 
 into a bugaboo that does not let me sleep of nights. 
 Tell me, master, what it is, and I shall be obliged to 
 you for ever." 
 
 "Style, my boy, consists in expressing yourself 
 clearly, forcefully and in a cultured, elegant manner." 
 
224 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 John Doe Thought emitted a deep sigh. "Ah, but 
 I am going contrary to established rules ! If I speak 
 clearly, I will be tarred and feathered ; if I speak 
 forcefully, I will be cast into a dungeon, and if my 
 expression lacks both clearness and force how can I 
 give it the charm of elegance?" 
 
 "Yours is not an easy task," admitted the teacher ; 
 "the time comes when a pupil must add something to 
 what his teacher can give him. In regard to the sub- 
 ject under consideration, all I can say is this: As the 
 proof of the pudding is in the eating, so the proof 
 of style is in its being accepted in polite society. If 
 it is, it is; if it is not, it isn't; you see?" 
 
 Not much wiser but no less determined to advance 
 his project, our hero entered the famous and unique 
 studio of Professor Highsound. Here he was asked to 
 stand between the swinging wings of a large triplicate 
 mirror. "Styles," declared the professor, "be they 
 in speaking, writing, painting, plasmature, dressing 
 or deportment, always permit of improvement or — a 
 change which may be sufficient to attain success." 
 
 "What is wrong about me?" asked John Doe 
 Thought, who came for help and special information 
 rather than to hear a general discourse. 
 
 "Preceding to the rendition of my diagnosis, please 
 examine yourself. A candid statement of your find- 
 ings will assist me in estimating your power of ob- 
 servation and your need of external advice." 
 
 For the first time John Doe Thought looked him- 
 self in the face and also in the back at the same time. 
 The picture he saw evoked conflicting emotions. He 
 was well satisfied with the robust figure and upright 
 bearing, and much displeased with some specks on 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 225 
 
 the face and uncalled-for, unsymmetrical folds in his 
 garments. 
 
 "Do you suppose that a little blemish like that or 
 a wrinkle like this caused my being treated so dis- 
 courteously?" 
 
 "Beyond a doubt. Persons having any concern for 
 style must give punctilious attention to sartorial and 
 dermatological requirements. In fact, these are re- 
 garded as duties, second only to the most primitive 
 cleansing obligations. In painting, color must be ac- 
 companied by contour, in plastic art the moulding 
 hand shapes form with design, in linguistic composi- 
 tion clearness and neatness is related to proper spell- 
 ing and " 
 
 •'Is that all I have to overcome.?" 
 
 "Scarcely the beginning, if the scope of your in- 
 tention lies beyond stale mediocrity. Look, this five- 
 foot shelf supports nothing but books on composi- 
 tion. Do you desire to know the quintessence of them 
 all.?" 
 
 "Please teU me." 
 
 "Summarized, all their contentions merely demand 
 that you pour the contents of a large thesaurus, in 
 accordance with rules and specifications given, into 
 molds supplied by caterers to public taste." 
 
 "And what is your dope?" 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "I mean what is your recommendation?" 
 
 "That is contingent on the motive, purpose, object 
 and aim to be considered, served, supported and 
 attained." 
 
 The client stated his case fully and frankly. 
 
 Professor Highsound pondered awhile, then asked : 
 
226 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "Have jou a thorough knowledge of the psycholog- 
 ical processes going on in the several states?" 
 
 "How could I? Besides, I have a mission to fulfil 
 regardless of unfavorable conditions." 
 
 "So, so. But adverse psychology often may be 
 turned to good account. You must study them as 
 water currents are studied by a captain of a ship 
 and respect them as aviators respect the pressures 
 of the air. Oh, yes, I may offer some suggestions. 
 Please name the several states on your itinerary." 
 
 "Well, they are the good states of Sleepy Head, 
 Soft Head, Hard Head, Curlhead, Bald Head, 
 Learned Head, Thick Head, Level Head, Swellhead, 
 Sheepshead, Sore Head, Hothead, Copperhead, Wise 
 Head, Long Head, Bull Head, Bill Head, Hogshead, 
 Bone Head, Cabbage Head and a few others." 
 
 Professor Highsound began to massage the right 
 temple of his forehead. He made a few trips around 
 the studio and stopped before a large gilt-framed 
 fashion plate. 
 
 "Look at this picture, sir, its lesson may unlock for 
 you some stubborn doors. Comprehend, you must 
 appear at all times not only well groomed but also 
 dressed for the occasion. Several sack suits will 
 serve for everyday business ; to be welcomed at an 
 afternoon tea you must display the graceful lines of 
 a dinner coat. At political meetings the frock coat 
 and high hat are most appropriate ; for a stroll 
 in the park, don the English walking coat; yacht- 
 ing, hunting, even clamming, demands special attire; 
 at golfing it is almost a legal requirement to appear 
 in the ornamental Norfolk jacket; a society ball 
 calls for the full dress suit ; in a gathering of philoso- 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 227 
 
 phers the Prince Albert coat is being looked up to, 
 and so all along your travels, at every station you 
 must appear in the garb considered good form there. 
 Even at a session of Free Lancers you will not 
 be admitted in the prize-winning habiliments of 
 the French masquerade. Now then in regard to 
 
 those states " 
 
 "But man alive! " 
 
 "Professor Highsound, if you please." 
 "Well, Professor, I do not want to tie myself to 
 any one small coterie of manikins, and I do not want 
 to spend my life changing clothes. I am John Doe 
 Thought and refuse to become a mere dummy for 
 the exhibition of what divers people are used to 
 consider as glad rags !" 
 
 "Youth is terribly impractical! Look into this 
 wardrobe. Here is a lady's cloak with buttonholes 
 in the left front and here is a Chesterfield buttoning 
 from right to left. Observe the excellent workman- 
 ship and the fine material; yet no one would have 
 them as a gift. No one would care or dare to wear 
 them because of the reversion of custom involved. 
 See that picture? It is a beautiful oil painting done 
 with masterly skill, but none would have it for the 
 keeping on the wall. Why.? Because the impulsive 
 youth of an artist, after painting a fine pastoral 
 scene, daubed some flying machines up in the clouds, 
 thereby spoiling the canvas. 
 
 "Surely machines do fly above pastoral scenes." 
 "But style is not in the lens of a camera. That 
 is a matter of like and dislike; you must supply 
 what people are accustomed to enjoy." 
 
 "That is all very well, but I have a project to which 
 
228 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 others are not used. Suppose I want to establish 
 a new custom or change an old one?" 
 
 "Then, sir, you should consult an expert alienist." 
 
 "Perhaps we should." 
 
 "Should we.?" The right-hand fingers of Profes- 
 sor Highsound began to drum the air. He bowed in 
 an over-polite manner, then stretching forth his palm 
 demanded curtly, "Two hundred bucks !" 
 
 John Doe Thought paid the fee feeling that he 
 had received his money's worth. Now, that success 
 meant life and failure meant death to him, the least 
 helpful hint had high value. He accepted help from 
 every quarter and after due preparation went forth 
 again on his mission; this time in company with 
 Young Ambition and Old Man Work. 
 
 They wandered from state to state, John Doe 
 Thought scrupulously observing the proprieties of 
 appearance, Young Ambition pulling on like a pranc- 
 ing steed and Old Man Work attending to drudgery 
 like a beaver. 
 
 At the gates of every capitol John Doe Thought 
 made an oral plea which was received with a less or 
 more negative demonstration by the outer guards. 
 In each case he had a petition ready couched in suit- 
 able language. This he sent on to the legislature 
 then in session. At each place the messenger re- 
 turned, shook his or her head negatively, at the same 
 time presenting a sealed envelope that held a written 
 answer. 
 
 He dared not open the letters for fear that dis- 
 couragement would put an end to the journey before 
 he had tried his best with all the states on his list. 
 Even so they nearly unnerved him. Young Ambition 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 229 
 
 died of a broken heart, and Old Man Work fell 
 prostrate from over-exertion long before the last of 
 the objectives had been reached. But John Doe 
 Thought marched on, on and on to the last state he 
 was bound to address. As the net result of it all 
 his pockets were bulging with the formal declinations 
 received. Now he had at least thirty documents to 
 show for his pains or perhaps to give him more. Sad 
 and downhearted he wandered up the acclivity of a 
 mountain, the top of which seemed to offer much- 
 needed privacy for finding out the cause of his fail- 
 ure, also undisturbed solicitude for ending his career 
 if in desperation he must die. Again and again he 
 scrutinized his efforts. Was there still something 
 wrong with his appearance or was this conspiracy of 
 refusal a matter of spite and vengeance in retaliation 
 for his former impetuous attempt? 
 
 On the top of the mountain he found a clearing 
 edged by a rock that reached vertically far down into 
 the sea. Round about all was quiet, not a rustle of 
 a leaf, not a ripple of a wave, and no sign of human 
 beings visible, except a boat here and there, one of 
 which moved near the rock below. 
 
 He settled down on the clearing, opened the letters 
 and placed them one alongside the other to behold 
 their appearance in the mass. He could see no spite 
 work, but vengeance was there! Every one of the 
 answers was written in verse! For the possible in- 
 eptitude or untimeliness of one little song he was 
 overwhelmed with thirty rhymes ! ! ! A lump of bitter- 
 sweet emotion played on his throat while his hands 
 gathered up the documents. He threw the envelopes 
 over the rock into the sea, then reclining in a com- 
 
230 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 fortable position he read the rhymed messages. With 
 feelings that can be better imagined than described, 
 he read them all in the order here presented : 
 
 1 
 
 STATE OF SLEEPY HEAD 
 
 This state detests the cutest bore, 
 
 Be social, friend, and, like us — snore. 
 
 2 
 
 STATE OF SOFT HEAD 
 
 Indisposed for fear our wit 
 Receive a jolt and get a fit. 
 
 3 
 
 STATE OF HARD HEAD 
 
 We do not care for Mr. Bothers 
 Until we shall have heard from others. 
 
 4 
 
 STATE OF STONE HEAD 
 
 Apologies, regrets for our stand; 
 But really, sir, we do not understand. 
 
 5 
 
 STATE OF CURL HEAD 
 
 Oh, pshaw! Keep off, you silly thing 
 Of long-faced prig — Unless you bring 
 The handsome beau with diamond ring. 
 
 6 
 
 STATE OF BALD HEAD 
 
 We are tired of all this whirl and swirl. 
 Oh, bring us Pearl, the chorus girl. 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 231 
 
 7 
 
 STATE OF LEARNED HEAD 
 
 Dear sir, you took us unawares, 
 Just now we are busy splitting hairs. 
 
 8 
 
 STATE OF THICK HEAD 
 
 Ideas take a nasty way to drum 
 
 And beat upon the inner cranium — 
 
 We much prefer the somnolentic hum 
 
 Of cradle songs Old Grandma used to sing, 
 
 If that proves insufficient for to bring 
 
 Our daily sleep — we take a little rum. 
 
 9 
 
 STATE OF NORMAL HEAD 
 
 We do not know what you are after 
 
 But what's the proof you'll be no grafter .?* 
 
 10 
 
 STATE OF LEVEL HEAD 
 
 There may be something in your plea 
 But we prefer to wait and see. 
 
 11 
 
 STATE OF SWELLHEAD 
 
 For arguments we have no call 
 Nor use, nor place — we know it all. 
 
 12 
 
 STATE OF SHEEPSHEAD 
 
 The largest flock of old or new 
 If you will lead we'll follow you. 
 
232 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 13 
 
 STATE OF SORE HEAD 
 
 You do not sound the yell that mates 
 Our special cry, so — go to Hades. 
 
 14 
 
 STATE OF HOTHEAD 
 
 We'd rather leap out in the dark 
 Than hear a dog of a stranger bark. 
 
 15 
 
 STATE OF COPPERHEAD 
 
 Go, let your state keep Socrates 
 We hold for best just that which is. 
 
 16 
 
 STATE OF CROWNED HEAD 
 
 The great River of Will was embedded and still 
 Must flow to embower our glory and power. 
 Whoso in rebellious fit, divert but a drop of it 
 Shall pay with his life for it, if we can but get at it- 
 Down in a Bastile pit or up in a Tower. 
 
 17 
 
 STATE OF BULL HEAD 
 
 No more of it ; sufficient said 
 You better run, for we see red. 
 
 18 
 
 STATE OF ADDLEHEAD 
 
 Leave us in peace and stop alarming. 
 We absolutely do not desire 
 That any one set crystals sparkling 
 Where we now have a lovely mire. 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 233 
 
 19 
 
 STATE OF HOGSHEAD 
 
 What? Dare any entertain a notion 
 That did not start by our motion 
 For our credit and promotion? 
 He should be fed a fatal potion 
 Of disheartening emotion. 
 
 20 
 
 STATE OF BLOCKHEAD 
 
 We would not disturb a tranquil existence 
 That joyously waits and hopefully glistens 
 In anticipation of free beer and cheese, 
 Go tell your troubles to the corner police. 
 
 21 
 
 STATE OF BONEHEAD 
 
 Whoever has a real good proposition 
 Must find attractive ways and means to broach it; 
 When yours will grow so charming in addition 
 That no one can withstand. . . . We may approach 
 it. 
 
 22 
 
 STATE or WISE HEAD 
 
 Our people being at peace, why set them aflurry? 
 Seeing by some better light, why should you worry? 
 Doing but what can be done, why should we hurry? 
 
234 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 23 
 
 STATE OF LONG HEAD 
 
 Not that we disregard the proverbial rainy day 
 
 But why should we buckle to work what is yet in the 
 stage of play? 
 
 Proceed on your errand, O knight, with courage un- 
 daunted, and may 
 
 You mould into lovelier shape the average vessels of 
 clay — 
 
 24 
 
 STATE OF CHUCKLEHEAD 
 
 Your precious breath is vainly plighted 
 Why knock where you are not invited? 
 Why be a loafer? 'Twere better maybe 
 You stayed at home to mind the baby. 
 
 25 
 
 STATE OF Bll-Ii HEAD 
 
 That uplift stuff is sure astounding ! 
 Make money first of worth-while sounding; 
 Then would we smile on you with pleasure 
 Instead of looking cross and frowning. 
 
 26 
 
 STATE OF CABBAGE HEAD 
 
 This state has grown for mouths to feed 
 Let others chew the noble deed. 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 235 
 
 27 
 
 STATE OF BUSINESS HEAD 
 
 What is the use of all the senseless rattle? 
 What for, waste time in useless, childish prattle 
 When everyone of any sort of mettle 
 Must know that life is a continuous battle 
 Which all the suns in heavens cannot settle. 
 
 Who wants more light to fall upon his frowning, 
 Embittered brow? Or on the hapless drowning 
 Of one's firm-pride, or glorify the crowning 
 Of one's mean rival? Thank heavens for beclouding 
 The life-career that's tragical or clowning. 
 
 28 
 
 STATE OF FINANCIAL HEAD 
 
 How can a strong adventurer and bold. 
 So capable of being rather bright. 
 Be quite so foolish as to offer light 
 Where bountifully shines the glow of gold? 
 With it the social climber has enrolled — 
 For it the large embattled armies fight — 
 By it the victor's crown is studded bright — 
 Through it we dominate the young and old. 
 Gold is the sun god of the present day 
 Whose slightest wish the worshippers obey, 
 From it resoundeth many a poet's lay. 
 Time-serving authors glory in its spell. 
 They ask not "is it right?" but "Will it sell?" 
 Ha ! Leave us gold and take your light to Hell ! 
 
236 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 29 
 
 STATE OF INDUSTUIAI, HEAD 
 
 A better light ! Too good a light is harming, 
 We are not anxious for efficient arming 
 Of other states, their power is alarming. 
 
 We must rise high in order to succeed ; 
 
 The balm of alms is all we care to plead 
 
 For those who, tripped or slipped, too badly bleed. 
 
 We must rise high or be left in the lurch 
 
 The farmyard fowl, too, seeks the topmost perch 
 
 And victors are the pride of state and church. 
 
 L'envoy ; 
 
 A better light ! The heavens blight it 
 
 If we cannot monopolize it. 
 
 80 
 
 STATE OF FIGUREHEAD 
 
 Thanks for your kindly interest in me and mine 
 But should the topmost apple basking in the fine, 
 Spacious, unincumbered air question plans divine? 
 Whatever shows up contrasts on the grange — 
 May also sally forth to rearrange 
 Affairs and — well — we don't want any change. 
 
 After reading all these epistles, our hero felt down- 
 hearted indeed. The tardiness of time can be offset 
 with the hope of accomplishment, the darkness of 
 ignorance can be dissolved with light of knowledge, 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 237 
 
 the stony heart of moral pulchritude may be softened 
 by humane appeals, but what can art or reason, or 
 both combined, do against perverted intelligence? 
 
 John Doe Thought considered all of the messages 
 in the light he knew and loved so well. He pondered 
 over every postulate and weighed them against one 
 another with the result that he felt sadder than ever 
 before. The trouble may have been a lack of style 
 on his part, but the conclusion forced itself upon him 
 that it was rather a surplus of guile in others. Can 
 style overcome guile.? The more he cogitated on the 
 matter the more hopeless appeared his situation. He 
 watched the setting sun sink below the horizon. 
 When the last fringe of its shining halo had disap- 
 peared from view he rose, seized by a sudden determi- 
 nation. "My day is done," he murmured and jumped 
 headlong into the deep. . . . 
 
 Strangely enough our hero did not realize that 
 the epistles he had received from the several states 
 did not tell the whole truth about the impression he 
 had made. 
 
 "We must watch that fellow," resolved the state 
 of Learned Head. 
 
 "He has something to say, let him ripen it," de- 
 clared the state of Level Head. 
 
 "Resistance will sharpen his wits," chuckled the 
 state of Wise Head. 
 
 "If he means business he will come again," decided 
 the state of Hard Head, and so all the states recorded 
 some sort of a sensation; even Sleepy Head turned 
 over on the other side and Cabbage Head reddened a 
 bit. 
 
 However, when John Doe Thought jumped from 
 
238 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 the hilltop they all felt relieved; some of fear, some 
 of jealousy, some of annoyance and some of the hard- 
 ship imposed by constant observation. Out of grati- 
 tude for the unexpected ease in getting rid of a dis- 
 turbing factor, they erected a granite monument on 
 the spot from which John Doe Thought jumped into 
 the sea. The inscription on the stone told the story : 
 
 In memoriam of a worthy knight 
 
 Possest by notions for increasing light. 
 
 Which failed to work because he tried to flute 
 
 A song for ears too far off by a mile. 
 
 He was too strong and proud to follow suit 
 
 And much too young and frail to set a style. 
 
 Some weeks later the granite block blazoned forth 
 another inscription placed below the first in continu- 
 ance of the tale as follows: 
 
 Erected by and for the foolish states 
 Rejoicing in the fall of John Doe Thought 
 Who, yet alive and stronger grown by aught 
 He did and heard, is knocking at their gates. 
 
 Indeed, our hero was not swallowed up in a watery 
 grave. Instead he landed in a spacious hammock 
 securely stretched on the boat manoeuvering near the 
 vertical rock from which he jumped intent on sui- 
 cide. After a few rebounds he found himself in a 
 comfortable reclining position with the soft arms of 
 his faithful Love entwining his neck. Her lips 
 curled for a kiss, but instead whispered in reproach: 
 "Is that all you care for me.'*" 
 
 He embraced her passionately and covered her with 
 
JOHN DOE THOUGHT 239 
 
 kisses — mouth, cheeks, forehead, and wherever his lips 
 could touch the fairy who now for the third time 
 had saved his life. 
 
 When he regained his composure he answered in 
 a subdued voice, "I am unworthy of you. I have 
 failed in my mission. None would take me for a 
 friend, none offered help, none would believe in me!" 
 
 "I do." She declared and sealed the declaration 
 with an impressive kiss. 
 
 "That is sufficient!" he exclaimed jubilantly. 
 Sweet Love, thou art joy to my body and wings to 
 my soul! Your favor and support is more than 
 enough to sustain me in my work. Henceforth, I 
 will hold my own against them all." 
 
 He uttered his resolve with a determination so 
 strong that a hundred states could never break or 
 shake it. 
 
 Then there was some more lovemaking and off they 
 sailed under a beautiful moonlit star-spangled sky 
 as happy as in the first days of their blissful honey- 
 moon. 
 
 Fortunate is the person whose ideal in the perilous 
 situations of the mind is saved by its better half, even 
 as John Doe Thought was rescued by his faithful 
 Love. 
 
PART SIX 
 
 CABALS OF MONOCRACY 
 
 A disclosure of the means of enslavement in com- 
 munications tapped from and through telepathic 
 connections or what are supposed to be such 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 
 
 God of Monocrats, whose foremost prophet Machia- 
 
 velli I adore; 
 Thou great, single serving, double showing, tri-ar- 
 
 ticulate three-fold trinity 
 Composed of avarice, deception and violence, but 
 
 known as might, honor and glory; 
 
 Who enablest thy full-fledged devotees to present 
 
 Error as Education, 
 
 Through the workings of presumption, pretension 
 and prejudice; 
 
 Perplexity as Religion, 
 
 Through misinformation, misdirection and mystifica- 
 tion ; 
 
 Oppression as Law and Order, 
 
 By means of exploitation, enviousness, and rivalry — 
 
 II 
 
 Thou great guidance of self-centered, self-engross- 
 ing, self-exultant minds. 
 
 Who givest to thy circumspect votaries precious 
 knowledge of psychological alchemy ; 
 
 Whereby we can substitute: 
 Imposture for Excellence, 
 
 243 
 
244 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Through the agencies of mummery, mimicry and 
 
 trickery ; 
 Cunning for Wisdom, 
 By means of subtle scheming, sense juggling and 
 
 social guile; 
 Falsehood for Diplomacy, 
 Through the media of dissimulation, legerdemain and 
 
 prevarication — 
 
 III 
 
 Oh, thou most powerful of deities. 
 
 Who endowest thy loyal constituents with presti- 
 
 digitatorial skill to make appear: 
 Pan-detestation a duty of patriotism; 
 Through deceptive accounts, spurious oratory and 
 
 mirages of conquest; 
 Slaughter an act of bravery. 
 By manipulating immolative allurements, 
 
 insignia of pride, and special privileges ; 
 Destruction as benevolence. 
 By means of delusive charity, false prosperity, and 
 
 cultivated perversity; 
 All in the holy name of civilization — 
 
 Oh, thou most worshipped and most served great 
 
 God, single serving, 
 double showing threefold trinity; 
 I affirm my faith in thee. 
 I pledge thee constant loyal support and immediate 
 
 obedience to all thy commandments, 
 Amen. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 245 
 
 Milk-faced boy in search of understanding, 
 
 I fain would help you in your worthy quest ; 
 
 For I have loved your grandam (as a maiden, 
 
 Upon the threshold of maturity), 
 
 When she was all bloom and I was all glowing 
 
 And adding to her joy was my one boon. 
 
 The fates — mere man made fate — drove us asunder 
 
 And led us each to separate careers. 
 
 Still, I loved on to form in memory's center 
 
 A sun of happiness — that might have been. 
 
 But, even so, the old love keeps on warming 
 
 The crapiped heart within a scholar's breast 
 
 (For while she grew into a popular grand dame 
 
 I turned an obscure college president). 
 
 And still I crave to place choicest offering 
 
 Upon the altars of the olden flame — 
 
 And so sweet youth in search of understanding 
 
 To you I address several grains of truth. 
 
 A 1 
 
 Away back in dim prehistoric times. 
 The infancy of Earth, when that to suck 
 Was everything intelligence could do. 
 The craving of this want took such a hold 
 On certain hearts that grew thereby in might, 
 They could not leave the habit even though 
 The need for sucking past. And as the Sun 
 Of History rose to shed its first faint rays 
 Upon the deeds and motives of mankind. 
 This habit would not wilt in shame, nor die ; 
 But gathering all the anger, spite and spleen 
 
246 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Of past experience, wove a cocoon 
 
 Wherein the thing metamorphosed and then 
 
 Emerged a charming, gorgeous butterfly — 
 
 It still survives, in fancy colors it 
 
 Flits gaudily about and lays its eggs 
 
 Wherever hearts will let the moth alight ; 
 
 In palaces, in hovels and, also, 
 
 Within the marble halls of education. . . . 
 
 You know we must have funds to carry on, 
 
 And in the hot desire for support 
 
 The sucker's eggs hatch out. So comes the day 
 
 We seek professors who, if not themselves 
 
 Then through some rich connection can supply 
 
 Our institutions with high, inspirational 
 
 Endowment funds ; and woe to him who dares 
 
 Offend our benefactors or the circle 
 
 Of potential donors. Him we expel 
 
 And cast away to wither in disgrace. 
 
 How can we do it? All we need to do 
 
 Is to presume that that which is, is right 
 
 Regardless how much living flesh is burned 
 
 And how much soul is wasted (or much worse 
 
 Than wasted) in an aching world ! Preswme, 
 
 Each ruler has a right to rule and all 
 
 Affected or afflicted must obey; 
 
 Presume this much, then winkingly allow 
 
 Young minds, while forming character, presume 
 
 That joy and happiness can be attained 
 
 In no way but by forging to the fore 
 
 In service of the system holding sway — 
 
 So runs the world and so its days are run. 
 
 Thus goes the chaff alongside with the wheat 
 
 Into the chute of life. Its mills grind on. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 247 
 
 The sorting of the two remains amongst 
 Your heritages milk-faced brave boy. . . . 
 
 A2 
 
 August, head keeper of Far Eastern shrines, 
 
 Attend most diligently to thy great 
 
 Important mission; never to allow 
 
 Our own supporters turn to support 
 
 Foreign missionaries. There is a load 
 
 Beyond the weight of which most willing and 
 
 The strongest jinrikisha cannot pull. 
 
 Shall it be us or they? The foreigners 
 
 Brought praise upon their lips for white 
 
 And scorn for yellow, but none the less connived 
 
 To take our yellow gold in flat exchange 
 
 For their white silver, once upon a time — 
 
 And still they come from lands that groan 
 
 Under the yoke of inhumanities. 
 
 And why? To labor hard? By Shinto, no. 
 
 None seek an education for hard work, 
 
 But for the yield that can be gained thereby 
 
 Through other's bended backs and aching joints. 
 
 They come to search the soil and to pave 
 
 The way for such conspired enterprise 
 
 As turns silver into gold for them — 
 
 And theirs, which we are not nor want to be. 
 
 Observest thou their methods ? Manifold 
 
 Are their contraptions to attain an end. 
 
 The rulers, over there, beyond the sea. 
 
 Oft stoop to measures low, undignified; 
 
 At cost of effort nigh akin to work. 
 
 They claim to want a thing while bent to bring 
 
 About another ; which is foolery 
 
248 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Fit for plebeians, lowness I disdain. 
 
 I merely have to claim relationship 
 
 To God, and by the wondrous strength of this 
 
 Simple pretense, I have it in my power 
 
 To lord it over all the seven clans 
 
 In several thousand islands nestling on 
 
 The ocean's lengthy shore. But thou must do 
 
 Thy part ! Proclaim before the pilgrims who, 
 
 With souls aweary, come unto our shrines 
 
 To find succor, that I am of divine 
 
 Mould, born for the emperor's office 
 
 With superior powers, sanctified by thee. 
 
 In turn I observe the solemn rites 
 
 With all the ceremony they require 
 
 To make thy postulates stand out supreme. 
 
 So may we both have our beings in 
 
 Vestments (regarded by the multitude) 
 
 Sacred beyond investigating thought ; 
 
 So may we have them do our bidding, be 
 
 It taking of a goodly, juicy chunk 
 
 From nearby China Land or bringing home, 
 
 As in times past, a boatful freshly-cut 
 
 Corean ears. . . . Clan over clan, each drives 
 
 And squeezes all below while thou and I 
 
 And whomsoever we may choose to be 
 
 With us are, by the very stirrings down 
 
 Below, kept strong and safe on high. 
 
 A 3 
 
 The Most High Court of Education (called 
 By those for those who feel themselves above 
 The deadly level of Democracy) 
 Accords most cordial greetings to all souls 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 249 
 
 Ambitious to attain or to maintain 
 
 A vantage point in the golden scale 
 
 Of Dominance. All hail ! We greet you all 
 
 Oh, precious brethren and request you heed, 
 
 For your own valued sakes devoutly heed 
 
 Our exhortations which are prompted by 
 
 Considerations just as fine and high 
 
 As you allow unhampered right of way 
 
 In deep recesses of your chosen selves. 
 
 How chosen and by whom? It matters not. 
 
 "Philogeneties" that grand new device 
 
 Together with "Emotional Experience" 
 
 Can shoulder all responsibilities 
 
 The Gods were wont to bear. So, even though 
 
 Rank atheism shall enshroud the Earth, 
 
 Heart trampling deeds in climbing altitudes 
 
 Will find justification and excuse 
 
 As heretofore. Still, all is not secure. 
 
 Trick after trick of ours Time revealed, 
 
 It wore to frazzled shreds fraud after fraud. 
 
 Our own pretension's steady clashing caused 
 
 Through time, a blunting of their piercing points, 
 
 A dulling of their vivisecting edge. 
 
 Time works against us, Ha ! But may we not 
 
 Rise in our might, unsheathe our psychic swords 
 
 And valiantly battle against time? 
 
 A man may know his death is stalking on 
 
 But that will only keep him on his guard 
 
 Against annihilation. So must we 
 
 Protect our preserves from conspiracies 
 
 To bring about the dullard's level state. 
 
 High lights of finance give us your support, 
 
 We will apply it so it pay you well. 
 
250 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 The knowledge we impart is deftly mixed 
 
 With double quantity of our conceit; 
 
 So, when the recipients of it leave 
 
 Our institutions they enter the world 
 
 Deeming themselves an aristocracy 
 
 Of intelligence privileged to live 
 
 Upon their wits and duty bound to hold 
 
 Manual labor in scorn and contempt. 
 
 We also teach the value of advantage — 
 
 In leaving others limping on behind. 
 
 Thus, for the fulcrum of a stake or bait 
 
 They'll run and kick each other on the knee 
 
 And laugh at him so jostled off his feet. . . . 
 
 We set their minds in moulds that serve your ends; 
 
 Bind erason with the rope of selfishness 
 
 Twilled from the strains of self-engrossing views — 
 
 Not in a direct manner, no, for that would be 
 
 Sickening, repulsive by its ugliness ; 
 
 But through enthusiastic praise of groups 
 
 Of which the student is a part (be it 
 
 A state or country, nation or a race) 
 
 While covering each fault with a fine excuse. . . . 
 
 We dim the light of what is fair and right 
 
 With goals set up regardless of the next 
 
 Door neighbor's just claim to his breath of breeze. 
 
 Thus feeding every tentacle of greed 
 
 Without its bitter shame be realized. . . . 
 
 Consider judgment forming in such minds 
 
 And contemplate great regiments of them. 
 
 Class after class, year after year poured out 
 
 Upon the market-place to fight for bread. 
 
 Social advancement and paying renown. 
 
 Have you.? Well, you may quite safely bank 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 251 
 
 Your all upon so purposed prejudice. . . . 
 
 Go play the game; attend the stock exchange 
 
 And play for margins of advantage. . . . Life 
 
 Is but a margin betwixt birth and death, 
 
 A margin divisible into parts. 
 
 Seize all you may until that you control 
 
 A multitude and have entire lives 
 
 Laboring unrequited in your thrall; 
 
 We guide the growing minds to like it — So 
 
 Send on your gifts, bequests, donations and 
 
 The generation trained in our care 
 
 Will serve your every whim and call you great 
 
 Genii, of emulation worthy, blest. 
 
 B 
 
 Ye sanctimonious savants whom amongst 
 The itch to rule is not unknown, give ear 
 To this : I speak as one of ye and say 
 That blood of fools is on their foolishness. 
 Then if the wolf to get his sip of blood 
 Must needs appear as but one of the lambs 
 Rests not the guilt of fraud upon the sheep 
 That seeks protection in a sheepish way? 
 Therefore, proceed contending for control. 
 Nor be deferred from simulating dress 
 Of thought and feeling. No, not even though 
 The wardrobe of religion must be stripped 
 To gain the Earthly goal of ruling men. 
 What is a man's religion ? Oh, it is 
 All that he knows plus what he thinks he knows. 
 Plus what seems certain or well-nigh assured. 
 Plus all the light engendered by the force 
 Of knowledge and belief, plus all the strength 
 
252 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 And wisdom rising from those powers in 
 Reaction to whatever they confront. 
 Thus, lack of knowledge, indiscreet belief 
 The light of faith defeated, baffled, foiled ; 
 And every bruise in a fellow's mind 
 And every over-weight upon his back 
 Contracts religion just to what it is. 
 So, go ahead ye sons of piety 
 And make the world sweat for monocracy. 
 
 B 1 
 
 The arch distiller of the quintessence 
 
 Of censorship to ermine wearers and 
 
 Possessors of the wondrous parchments which 
 
 How deep soever, buried in a safe 
 
 Attract the flow of service and esteem. 
 
 Lords of the realm, feel certain of your might 
 
 While loyal servants, in your interest. 
 
 Control the people's mental food supply. 
 
 No head, bediademed with jewels, need 
 
 Recline uneasy on its sumptuous couch 
 
 While proper guards control the very springs 
 
 Of information. From the fluid of 
 
 These bubbling springs most people slack their thirst 
 
 (What little thirst they have for knowledge) when 
 
 Events of greatest magnitude press on 
 
 For some decisive stand. At present both. 
 
 Glib print and speech, conceals but little; so. 
 
 The outcome of deliberative talk 
 
 Depends on information talkative 
 
 Deliberants possess. There we begin. 
 
 Given a people, compelled by time to act, 
 
 Theatered, churched, newspapered, magazined 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 253 
 
 In certain fashion for a certain plan 
 
 And who so dense that cannot figure out 
 
 Conclusions of their highest tribunals? 
 
 The spring from which the starting rivulet flows 
 
 Lies hidden somewhere in the woodland deep. 
 
 There at the source, we to the manner born 
 
 Can cause a flavor making habits force 
 
 Drive wheels in our behalf ; mix colors so 
 
 The river's flow will serve our main design; 
 
 Withhold refractions ions for the light 
 
 They might shed on the rest ; add poison if 
 
 We must have madness storming through the land 
 
 To fortify our own security. 
 
 There, screened by foliage in the woodland deep, 
 
 Let loose malarial swarms till we turned 
 
 Pure crystal water into witches' broth. 
 
 Then let the fluid flow, as Earth and wind 
 
 May guide its stream, contaminating all 
 
 That it absorbs and carrying madness to 
 
 All bosoms who, a-thirst, partake of it. 
 
 Then, what a joy to see the ogre's dance! 
 
 Some wiggling soundless as the grassy snake. 
 
 Some spinning like a top lest they fall down, 
 
 Some rushing back and forth, some jumping head 
 
 On head, some rolling frenzied somersaults ; 
 
 Some crossing up, some down, some all between. 
 
 They scream and yell and curse and scold — 
 
 A tangled mass of wires crossed and bent 
 
 With burning currents coursing through them all 
 
 From information each from us received. 
 
254 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 B 2 
 
 Consider friends, in concert of the powers 
 
 One who, though playing second vioHn, 
 
 May have some first-class tricks up in his sleeves. 
 
 So harken, souls elect to rule the world. 
 
 Let it proceed on paths that ye select 
 
 By forcing thought away from any course 
 
 Inimical to your complete control. 
 
 The men in charge of warriors are wise; 
 
 Whatever is to be accomplished by 
 
 Them, be it but a step, a turn, a charge, 
 
 Or complicated convolution's move — 
 
 The cry that first of all is ringing forth. 
 
 In voice or in trumpet sound, calls for 
 
 Attention ! Even so, that which ye would 
 
 That people never shall attain, divert 
 
 Attention from it ! Friends, are ye awake 
 
 To the importance of the fact divulged? 
 
 New it is not; it served throughout the past. 
 
 But still it can be made to serve. How so.? 
 
 Oh, well! most any music or noise will do 
 
 If loud enough. That is it will do for 
 
 A while, until the aching senses reel 
 
 In discomfort. Then be not as a dove 
 
 But concentrate upon the serpent's job. 
 
 Hand out fresh consolations in such great 
 
 Variety and such large quantities 
 
 That minds made sick by life-long unfulfilled 
 
 Desires grapple with each other for 
 
 The glory who can bear the most of it. 
 
 Besides, attend to warping of the soul 
 
 With doctrines twisted and monopolized 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 255 
 
 By certain moribund promontories 
 
 Whose claims and counter-claims confound the sense. 
 
 Then, left without a guiding star or strength 
 
 To find its way the cheated human breast 
 
 Succumbs ; the soul bereft of wings of thought 
 
 Falls in the very trap set up for it : 
 
 A saturnalia of emotional waves 
 
 That can be whipped, manipulated, swayed 
 
 To serve whatever serves the tyrant's aims. 
 
 B 3 
 
 Mahatma, charming sister of mine, I 
 
 Now charge thee to be really wise and cease 
 
 Wasting thy golden talent in attempts 
 
 To set up, piecemeal, heaven on this Earth. 
 
 The Earth is heavy with a mass of minds 
 
 Which neither dare nor want to think. They must 
 
 Be ever leaning on whoever will 
 
 Carry the burden. See, the august, high 
 
 Church dignitaries swim in wealth; why should 
 
 A charming lady of thy voice and frame 
 
 Sink down in poverty? Lo, misery 
 
 Has been so long with men that they have come — 
 
 To like it ? No ! But they have come to make 
 
 A compromise with pain and stain and gloom — 
 
 While those beyond the pale of need or want 
 
 Love, cherish and support those who maintain 
 
 The awful covenant. There is thy chance. 
 
 If for preserving hell on Earth the Hell 
 
 Of somewhere else cannot hold interest 
 
 And olden demons fail to cast a scare. 
 
 Set imps to work of new, high-sounding names, 
 
 As Ban of 111 Thought, Curse of Somebody, 
 
256 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Malicious Magnetism and the like. 
 What labor could be lighter than to forge 
 From airy nothing unsubstantial things? 
 Life is a bridge from past to future years 
 As broad and high and glorious as one can 
 Make it. Each tier therein, each band and bolt 
 Is immortality. Yet there are those 
 Who, ever craving for a something else 
 Than that which is must be supplied with aims. 
 Go, jolly such with pleasing dreams. Heaven? 
 Why let them have it full of harps and songs. 
 Or full of houris with the smell of musk. 
 Paint heaven so that people deem it worth 
 To work their way to it while you collect 
 A tribute from their work. If this spell fails 
 Treat them to spirits, spirits of the mind; 
 Not of the calm, undaunted kind that make 
 One face death tranquil as the Earth regards 
 The setting of the Sun, as oceans view 
 The turning of the tide, or as the peak 
 Upon the mountain top can face the storm. 
 What if a stone must roll to depths below? 
 It merely turns fundamental base 
 For some new peak that is to crown 
 Some mountain top of future days. Go on. 
 Treat them to spirits of the rapping sort 
 That cannot see but in Cimmerian dark, 
 Nor speak before they harken to some poor, 
 Bereaved, aching, trembling heart's sad tale. 
 Treat them to spirits of any shape or make 
 So it will strongly hold attention off. 
 Diverted from the great world's common cause. 
 Assist souls in their weakness to stay weak. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 257 
 
 Afraid of every turn in the winds, 
 
 A- trembling at the rustle of a leaf, 
 
 Seeing invisible bodies, 
 
 Hearing inaudible sounds. 
 
 Even as their chosen phantom friends 
 
 Taste without tongue or palate. 
 
 Smell sans olfactories and feel without bodily touch : 
 
 Have them imagine imagination real ; 
 
 Let them get drunk on Spiritless spirituality — 
 
 And mayst thou sister Mahatma become rich quick. 
 
 Unfortunate idealistic friend of mine 
 
 Thou art cast into jail, clapped behind bolts and 
 
 bars, 
 And I your erstwhile schoolmate am sheriif in charge 
 Of the prison establishment wherein you must 
 Languish ! Inexplicable seems the labyrinth 
 Of paths by which we have arrived unto this state, 
 But scanning our boyhood days and deeds I see 
 Of such an outcome the inevitableness. 
 Thou wert disposed to dream, I to be practical; 
 Thou readest books on glorious accomplishments. 
 Glowing accounts of the Bastile's demolition — 
 I saw the bastions in building everywhere. 
 Then read biographies of most successful men 
 And life and chance have wrought the rest. Now I 
 
 am 
 Lord of the realms here. See, my word is law 
 And thine at most a sigh ; perhaps far to be seen, 
 Perhaps long to be heard, still, it is but a sigh. 
 And thou canst not cast blame on me nor bear me ill 
 
258 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE . 
 
 For I am but a cog in the machinery 
 Of law. The highmost jailer is the man who holds 
 The highest office in the land and he again 
 But executes the will of men with appetites 
 Insatiable. These are the cocks that rule the roost, 
 They are the drivers of the juggernaut, let fall 
 Who may, and end who must a broken mass beneath 
 The wagon, mangled in the dust ! And thou, poor 
 
 friend 
 Who essayest to stem the idolatrous wheel 
 Must feel its crushing weight! You have my sym- 
 pathies 
 And that is all one can spare without suffering 
 Financial setbacks, whereas I must forge ahead 
 To gain a higher place for my dear family. 
 Meanwhile, idealist friend thou mayest proceed 
 With dreaming dreams and weaving thy faith into 
 
 them. 
 I cling to law and order as applied and we 
 Shall see from day to day who is the better oif. 
 
 CI 
 
 What.? Abdicate the throne of plenty? No, 
 
 Be not as foolish as all that, my boy ; 
 
 Let not your head be turned by cheap speech 
 
 Of smoothly talking selfish demagogues. 
 
 Some promise everything on Earth that is 
 
 Not theirs, and laggards, weaklings. 
 
 May yell enthusiastic mob acclaim. 
 
 But which of them would give a thousand pounds 
 
 Of gold for just the semblance of a pence .^^ 
 
 Or who so philanthropic as to take 
 
 The heavy burden of hard labor's cross 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 259 
 
 In straight exchange for economic ease? 
 
 Who would abandon a magnificent 
 
 Completely fitted floating palace on 
 
 The heaving seas for some small fragile craft 
 
 Of unknown strength and doubtful destiny? 
 
 Oh, search them in their hearts and watch them in 
 
 Their deals with one another and you may 
 
 Behold selfishness in its grossest mood. 
 
 Are not they ever on a ceaseless hunt 
 
 To get something for nothing? Are not they 
 
 Most willing to receive for one cent spent 
 
 A nickel's worth? Indeed, a fair exchange 
 
 Of goods upon the market would exclude 
 
 The bargain seeker's multitude the which 
 
 If happened, much of rush and joy and boast 
 
 Of shopping would be lost. Face facts and folks 
 
 Just as they are and suffer not to be 
 
 A bottom dog in economic strife. 
 
 Nor some poor wench of mediocrity, 
 
 But rise above the circumstances or. 
 
 If circumstances served to lift you up 
 
 To heights that sighs of envy envelop 
 
 As a protective element, hold on! 
 
 Hold on in comfort while the multitude 
 
 Below is fighting for the privilege 
 
 To reinforce your hold, each in the hope 
 
 Of getting one step nearer to your throne. 
 
 Unto these willing servants of yours say: 
 
 Hear, captains, generals, marshals, on the field 
 
 Of industry and finance : — As you would 
 
 Maintain yourselves much honored and well fed 
 
 And always envied by the populace ; 
 
 Let not the state of labor ever rise 
 
260 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 From out subjection's dust. Let no man lift 
 
 The curse from it Jehovah has pronounced. 
 
 Deny you may the burden of it all, 
 
 And flattering words to sons of toil you may 
 
 Disburse with liberal hands; but deep within 
 
 The breast of toiling, sweating human kind 
 
 The lot of labor must be known and felt 
 
 As a disgrace caused by God's will and by 
 
 The laborer's incompetence; for such 
 
 As oversee them must be recognized 
 
 Divinely favored, of superior mold. 
 
 Those who arrived on Easy Street may boast 
 
 A few years' work or boast a Union Card; 
 
 Boast for a purpose — but, of course, you know 
 
 That toil is a blemish, flaw or blot 
 
 On any really noble escutcheon. 
 
 And so it must remain. The very men 
 
 Who frothingly declaim on labor's rights 
 
 Are very keen to get from under its 
 
 Duties — And once in office for a year 
 
 Or two, they feel (exception proves the rule) 
 
 Superior to the herd ! That is quite well. 
 
 Hardship of labor may not be too hard 
 
 To bear for men with mutual regard ; 
 
 But shame attending those who fall into 
 
 The lowly ranks of labor, and disgrace 
 
 For disability to rise above the plane 
 
 Of common laborers, together with 
 
 The blandishments we can devise, from time 
 
 To time, brings forth sufficient personnel 
 
 For driving on the rest to suit us well. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 261 
 
 C 2 
 
 Most Liberal donor of numerous funds, 
 
 Prime founder of a hundred libraries 
 
 Your benefactions are a wondrous boon ! 
 
 Through them a miracle is wrought, a thing 
 
 Accomplished, ever thought impossible: 
 
 The eating of a cake and keeping it — 
 
 I, as distributer, receive therefrom 
 
 Some goodly morsels and in gratitude 
 
 For that my share, I make acknowledgment 
 
 Of your unexcelled ingenuity. 
 
 When that the cake had grown so large it seemed 
 
 That it must fall apart from its own weight, 
 
 The whole was saved by giving parts away 
 
 To institutions whose support called for 
 
 Their help to keep intact the status quo 
 
 For cake and mills that furnish it. Those parts 
 
 We give away are cake indeed but made 
 
 From extra flour, additional increment. 
 
 So all goes well, dear master; energy 
 
 To drive production we lack not, and if 
 
 We should be plagued by foolish turbulence. 
 
 Dear memories of Homestead, Latimer 
 
 Will show the way of how to quell such stir — 
 
 There fleeing strikers were shot in the back 
 
 And, master, rest assured we still can have 
 
 The gunmen's services. How do I know.? 
 
 By knowing rivals for your preference. 
 
 Safe is forsooth the might of wealth while lasts 
 
 The rivalry of seekers after it. 
 
 The other day I overheard this prayer ; 
 
 Or meditation of a soul so primed : 
 
262 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "My God, my God, what wouldst thou have me do 
 
 Upon the roadway of success? How long, 
 
 How much more strenuously must I contend 
 
 To reach the goal? 'Tis many years I slaved 
 
 To come abreast the higher circle which 
 
 Was wont to look down on me with contempt, 
 
 And still I find myself a low-cast son 
 
 Of common people ! It is difficult 
 
 To stand such strain, such standing to endure. 
 
 All through my hardest, leanest, longest years 
 
 My bread and water was embittered by 
 
 Belittling sneers on upturned faces as 
 
 They journeyed past poor me. So things went on 
 
 Day after day. The Sun seemed cruel and 
 
 The gall within me boiled in protest. 
 
 Still, I could hope. I saved. In time I bought 
 
 A tiny cottage. Crossing there, one day. 
 
 The sallow visage of a man, short built. 
 
 Long nosed, red bearded, glinting eyes, whisked by 
 
 In a fine limousine. I had known him 
 
 An abject pariah; and, now, he rode 
 
 Nigh over me ! The grin upon that face 
 
 At my predicament and humble state 
 
 Lighted in my heart the fires of revenge — 
 
 Revenge on all the world in general 
 
 And in particular on every one 
 
 Retarding my advance ! Then thoughts arose 
 
 To serve my feelings : fine ideas of 
 
 Good effort and vile thoughts from theft through 
 
 fraud. 
 To murder even ! Finally, I chose 
 The plainest, sanest, safest, easiest way 
 Presented through the public charts. And now, 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 263 
 
 In the arena for success, I swear to win ! 
 
 For this, I learned all the several arts 
 
 Of conversation, formal intercourse. 
 
 And undulations with opportune tide. 
 
 My God, I am as fit as one in search 
 
 For high position or the full control 
 
 Respecting other's welfare, well can be; 
 
 I manage eyes and face, and tongue and voice. 
 
 Yes, and my whole appearance to accord 
 
 With just the show occasion does require. 
 
 Excuses I can make as lawyers can — 
 
 And look wise in the manner that well-trained 
 
 Physicians are exhibiting or yes 
 
 Or no the rays of understanding have 
 
 Entered their brains. And I can bluff a thing 
 
 Through, just as clever tradesmen have a way 
 
 Of doing when lack of knowledge leaves 
 
 Them in the lurch. Of course, I have dispensed 
 
 With friends whose several little burdens bore 
 
 Me down as would a swimmer sink in dress 
 
 Embroidered with a thousand little weights. 
 
 And I have laid my offerings at the feet 
 
 Whose step ahead makes my own fortune rise. 
 
 My God, what more is there for me to do.'' 
 
 The circles higher up look down at me 
 
 A dagger in each glance. They cut me to the quick ! 
 
 What kind of watery diluted blood 
 
 Is coursing in the coward weaklings who 
 
 Can bear the daily burnings of disgrace 
 
 Administered unto a lowly caste 
 
 Without resentment .f' Oh, I feel it is 
 
 Beyond endurance. In my desperate mood 
 
 I feel I could despoil the very church 
 
264 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 I helped to build, I feel that I should take 
 
 A great deal more than slowly comes my way ; 
 
 I feel my fingers clutching close, I feel 
 
 My brains a-reeling and my heart beat fast. . . . 
 
 My God, my God, what wouldst thou have me do?" 
 
 03 
 
 Ho, Jailer, have you room for more of those 
 
 Slick, unruly, recalcitrant hot-heads 
 
 Who dare to be too open and too bold 
 
 In turning things so they come out on top? 
 
 The concrete walls and iron bars we placed 
 
 In trust with you are surely strong enough 
 
 To hold apart whom we must separate 
 
 From mobs that can be easily inflamed. 
 
 But how about your helpers? Are they safe? 
 
 Their arms steady to repel attack? 
 
 As you appreciate your office or 
 
 The pay that goes with it, pay heed unto 
 
 Requirements thereof. Aye, first of all 
 
 Keep your own heart strong under lock and key 
 
 Against encroachment on your sympathies. 
 
 The agitator's smooth and oily talk 
 
 Will fetch no victuals, much less can it fetch 
 
 A chariot for you and friends to ride 
 
 In proudly, on occasions of parade. 
 
 As spokesman for a body OAvning wealth, 
 
 Most all the wealth the nation is supposed 
 
 To own, I say : be ever on the watch. 
 
 You hold the key not only to the jail, 
 
 But also to the order that prevails 
 
 Outside of it. When faint, remember that! 
 
 Or is there stirring something in your breast. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 265 
 
 That moralists call conscience? Away 
 
 With it, Duke Gloster had but ducats for 
 
 Dispatchers of his brother in the tower; 
 
 That calmed their qualms and steeled them to the 
 deed — 
 
 But we are giving you a steady flow 
 
 Oh, high remuneration, all — besides 
 
 We give you power ; make you one of us, 
 
 A veritable full-fledged monocrat! 
 
 Thus you can disregard what toiling souls 
 
 Have struggled to embody in a writ 
 
 Of constitution; whenever so disposed. 
 
 Suspend the laws within your bailiwick. 
 
 Forbid the voice you dislike to hear, 
 
 And with your minions' hand proceed to mock 
 
 The hallowed declaration many fine 
 
 Aspiring souls still hold in reverence. 
 
 Think you not this a precious privilege? 
 
 If not, a crowd of others will be glad 
 
 To take your place, which must be rightly filled. 
 
 So we may continue to hold our own 
 
 And reap therefrom the golden benefit. 
 
 Fear not, supporters we can always catch — 
 
 Some we can feed with pride of ancestry, 
 
 Some we may keep in yoke with empty fame. 
 
 Some we can lead on with the glow of hope 
 
 For something thousand times less possible 
 
 Than a balloon ride in the Milky Way. 
 
 But some cannot be swayed, nor led, nor coerced 
 
 With words and then, brave jailer, you must serve 
 
 To break the stubborn will of recreants. 
 
 You need not torture them unless you wish, 
 
 Just feed them so that native strength shall leave 
 
266 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 The body; with it vanishes the strength 
 
 Of mind which dried up, leaves the soul a wreck. 
 
 As for justification of it all 
 
 Leave it to us, our pulpit and our press ! 
 
 Good news, my brethren to the manner born, 
 
 I have some splendid, great good news for you; 
 
 Straight from the august conclave of the high 
 
 And most high dignitaries in the field 
 
 Of experimental science. (Experiments 
 
 Are being carried on in our behalf, of course. 
 
 Else there would be no dignity to it.) 
 
 A mighty truth has been found and propelled 
 
 Unto the center of the stage, a verity 
 
 As far-reaching as it is bold and new. 
 
 Oh, how am I to tell the gist of it 
 
 By lisping of the tongue, when what I think 
 
 About is moving, fashioning souls of men.'^ 
 
 Oh, friends, forbear with my soft, faltering thoughts ; 
 
 Forbear awhile, for I am overawed 
 
 By this colossal new discovery. 
 
 Yet feel at ease ! These learned men know from 
 
 What side their bread gets buttered; they are all 
 
 With us, commending in the highest terms 
 
 Fine, blessed joys and bracing strength that comes 
 
 From competition. Right and left they urge 
 
 To leave the mass below and all who can 
 
 Project themselves to highest eminence. 
 
 So, who will dare expect that we shall fight 
 
 For lesser stakes? That we be satisfied 
 
 With power, wealth, fame, social dominance 
 
 No more than that we liad achieved by birtli? 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 267 
 
 That we live on without an aim or want, 
 
 Forego ambition's zeal, incentive's force, 
 
 And lifting powers of a great reward? 
 
 Thus everything is right from bonds and bars 
 
 To bombs and battleships. Oh, yes, you want 
 
 The news I have set out to tell. It is 
 
 An epoch-making revelation that 
 
 All former prophets failed to make, a truth 
 
 So fundamental that the privilege 
 
 Of presentation moves me unto tears. 
 
 Tears, not of sorrow, but of pride and joy, 
 
 Because this revelation must, perforce. 
 
 Secure its publisher fine sympathies. 
 
 High, rapturous applause, generous pay, and, too. 
 
 Encyclopedic immortality ! 
 
 Now, now, be still. Oh, dear, constituents ! 
 
 Constrain your hearts in patience for a while, 
 
 Because to make my meaning fully clear 
 
 I must recall unto your memory 
 
 The famous dictum of a famous man 
 
 Who could promote a piece of virile slang 
 
 Into immortal classic epigram 
 
 Thus : "Every minute sees a sucker born !" 
 
 The new discovery is like to that 
 
 But greater by a lifetime's time: It is 
 
 That every dupe can be deceived once more ! 
 
 D 1 
 
 Well done, my good servant dominant, pashalic 
 Psychologist! Magnificent discoveries 
 Raise your credit account unto sublimity. 
 My meditations had not revealed to me that 
 Painting a pump-handle lighter will cause a serf 
 
268 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Draw more aquacious weight with the same willing- 
 ness. 
 That is a glorious finding and wondrous, for 
 Longest eared quadruped is ne'er so assinine 
 But stops short pulling loads heavier (though dis- 
 guised) 
 Than his feeling perceives sufficient for the haul. 
 Great technician, continue to investigate 
 So what the prophet's beard cannot procure for us 
 We come by, outright, through holy efficiency. 
 Verily, every dupe can be deceived once more! 
 However, it is most needful, imperative 
 To prevent menials from being undeceived. 
 Much rather confirm their idolatrous regard 
 For trappings, keeping them humbly subservient. 
 Nowadays, I should not relish the olden job 
 Blinding one score thousand vile Bulgarian eyes. . . . 
 A well - stocked harem with eunuchs to watch the 
 
 stock, 
 Servants for every occasion and gold enough 
 Properly to maintain this fine establishment 
 Is good enough for me. I being quite content 
 Menials should joy in vicarious delight. 
 Let them feel proud because oftentimes privileged 
 To cast their worthless glance upon a robe of state. 
 Let them be awed by our glittering regalia ! 
 Overwhelmed by glistenings of our shiny stones 
 They never can possess ; bow to insignia 
 Of thousand and one sort tremblingly, gasp in great 
 Wonderment at frills and furbelows, and before 
 Garments of certain cut fall into abject fear. 
 Reckless iconoclasts who would in any way 
 Undo the magic spell of our set masquerades 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 269 
 
 Must be squelched lest people look through all dis- 
 guises 
 
 And then find nothing but naked humanity. 
 
 Then muse: why should we be stigmatized servi- 
 tors ? — 
 
 Yet, only having such can we have prideful ease. 
 
 Therefore, crush whoso would deprive us of this boon, 
 
 Bury him underneath long-winded epitaphs. 
 
 Designate his attempts envenomed truculence; 
 
 Non-classical, illiterate, barbarian ; 
 
 Primogenially stark, contumelious, 
 
 Contemporaneously insignificant, 
 
 Prospectively evanescent mediocrity ! 
 
 What putty heart will dare to cross so great a ban? 
 
 D 2 
 
 Beloved son, before I even knew 
 
 Who was to be your sire, I loved you. 
 
 As feelings in my bosom came to glow 
 
 With longing and my heart experienced 
 
 A new mysterious passionate desire, 
 
 I sought, while dreaming and in waking hours. 
 
 To understand the meaning of it all. 
 
 And it was you! I saw a round-faced babe 
 
 With skin more tender than a fresh-blown rose; 
 
 I saw a boy emerging from among 
 
 His mates as leaves a comet simple stars ; 
 
 And then I saw a soldier at the head 
 
 Of hosts of men, a chief whose very word 
 
 Was like the fiat of a mighty God, 
 
 Or life or death to others as he willed. 
 
 And then I saw vast armies fall in clash 
 
 On one another, slaying, slashing wild; 
 
270 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Saw finally, one trampled under foot 
 
 The other mustered on the gory field ; 
 
 And then I saw a laureled conqueror 
 
 March underneath a high triumphal arch, 
 
 His breast aflame with decorative stars, 
 
 His every turn, his every little say 
 
 Englorified in sculpture, paint and song. 
 
 Then I heard queries from ten million lips: 
 
 "Whose son is he?" At which my youthful frame 
 
 Thrilled and trembled. Then I set my mind 
 
 To suffer pain and take my chance with death 
 
 For you ! Accordingly I chose the man 
 
 To share with love's delight, and not in vain, 
 
 For we have outschemed many aspirants 
 
 To win a scepter and to hold a reign. 
 
 However Lilliputian the domain 
 
 We ruled, yet, were we highest king and queen. 
 
 Alas, adversity has blown its harsh 
 
 And surly winds against us. We lost our throne 
 
 But not our wish to rule. ... Go out, my son, 
 
 Go out into the world and claim your right. 
 
 Appeal as martyr for your heritage 
 
 And mark ! What men in search for happiness 
 
 Have found a helpful and substantial boon 
 
 Is regal, legal uncontested prey 
 
 To ready wielders of supremacy 
 
 On terms that they get away with it — 
 
 Disguise yourself, if need be, as a plain 
 
 And honest man. Beginning all anew. 
 
 Observe prevailing psychologic winds. 
 
 And set your sails to catch them for your aim. 
 
 Have men become enamored with success? 
 
 Have them pursue its shiny counterfeit — 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 271 
 
 Has balsam of a smile endeared itself? 
 
 Smile, while your heart is sharpening the knife 
 
 To scalp your unsuspecting victim with — 
 
 Do men appreciate fine sympathies? 
 
 Shed, publicly your crocodilian tears — 
 
 As ten times thousand toiling pioneers 
 
 Enhanced the sound of reassuring words. 
 
 Utter such freely; though you do not mean 
 
 A syllable of it. Who knows but you 
 
 May claim part credit for achievement which 
 
 Comes to be rated high, yet cost you naught 
 
 Else but a hollow sound! Then, there are men 
 
 Who crave sweet hand-waves of true friendliness — 
 
 You give its imitation when thereby 
 
 Some unsophisticated confidence 
 
 Will shed its lustre for your benefit. 
 
 From naught through politics and battle's roar 
 
 Go forth, my son, and live your mother's dream. 
 
 D 3 
 
 Most illustrious Lord, on whose empire 
 Never sets the Sun, a splendid glory 
 Which outshines the flaming halls of herven. 
 Not alone for nabobs of your realm 
 But, also, for many of its paupers — 
 You, whose globe encircling rich resources 
 Harbor wealth in more immense abundance 
 Than the sunlit seashores round about your 
 Ocean-washed possessions, glistening 
 Sand grains. Praise be unto you, defender 
 Of monarchical claims. Here in my castle, 
 Amidst gilded walls, with rows of painted 
 Sword aristocrats benignly beaming 
 
272 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 On their direct emulous descendant, 
 I make oath to hold up your strong arm 
 Unto the end! People in their wonted 
 Childish manner try to find some reason 
 To account for what we have them doing; 
 For the slashing of each other into 
 Fragmentary pieces, for the shedding 
 Of each other's good for nothing blood in 
 Fascinated joyous exultation. 
 Silly fools, how slow of comprehension ! 
 Not one entertains the least suspicion 
 That we gain out of their loyal folly 
 Royal power for our far descendants 
 Half a thousand years from hence ; even as 
 Our ancestors acquired half a thousand 
 Years ere now the power for us which we 
 Gayly wield to suit our kingly pleasure. 
 Kingly pleasure, not mere animal joys 
 Downmost muzhiks also may partake of; 
 Kingly pleasures, not mere creature comforts 
 Got by cramped thought and murky sweat of 
 Drudgery ; high, kingly pleasures ; power 
 Over people's life, their weal and woe, and 
 Loud sung adoration that encircleth 
 With a shining halo, things we but touch; 
 Flattering fame which overwhelms with our 
 Image minds of multitudes compelling 
 Them to be our pliant tools ! All this and 
 More is ours merely for the taking — 
 Even this, the least graceful acceptance 
 Being lauded to the seventh heavens 
 And to men praised as gratitude-worthy. 
 Such a state is surely worth preserving, 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 273 
 
 Surely 'twere not healthy for us to have 
 Peace on Earth, enough to make our calling 
 Identical with that of broken idols. 
 Wherefore, let us, craftily, keep going 
 All well tried contraptional devices 
 Engineered to trip men in their thinking; 
 Have our courtiers amplify diversions 
 Of the bloody shirt in all its aspects ; 
 Have fanatical processions marching 
 To pyres of legendary traitors ; 
 Cause Christian festivals and feastings 
 To be sanctified with Jewish pogroms. . . . 
 Then, I answer silly protestations 
 With a well-filled story book of lynchings. 
 Thus, I keep at home my subjects busy 
 While fomenting insurrections elsewhere 
 Until pressed for open intervention — 
 
 E 
 
 Parental duty, obligating each 
 Fond father to convey, while yet he may, 
 Unto his children secrets of the art 
 Which he knows best, impels me to address 
 You first-born, dearest, loveliest of my boys. 
 This morning I observed a starHng come 
 Close to its nest, a choice fat, round, long 
 Piece of inducement dangling from its beak 
 To coax young fledglings out into the world; 
 So, they may venture learning how to fly. 
 No man and least of all can kings afford 
 To let untutored feet come in their path; 
 Hence do I take you in my confidence. 
 I fain would have you in due time ascend 
 
274 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 My august' throne in full possession of 
 
 The arts that keep it up in dazzling light. 
 
 You are to make this throne more dazzling still 
 
 By the attraction of your power's glare. 
 
 Some prattlers say there's always room on top — 
 
 But that should only fool those on the climb. 
 
 The mountain's highest peak — accommodates 
 
 But few or only one; it being so 
 
 Much longed for by so many, let the place 
 
 Of uppermost, at any cost, be ours. . . . 
 
 A leaf or two from out of cunning's book 
 
 Will teach you to maintain your august state 
 
 In glistening aspects of sagacity. . . . 
 
 They point unmistakably the way 
 
 To widest power absolutely held 
 
 Under the pseudonym of Figurehead. 
 
 Be not afeared from sounds of cannons' boom, 
 
 They are but part of every monarch's call. 
 
 But for the rumpus on the battlefields 
 
 We would be plagued with social functionings ; 
 
 Pageants, corteges and rare shows wherein 
 
 Ourselves must serve to satisfy the dull 
 
 Gaseous witted gaping multitudes — 
 
 To see the bustling, jostling crowds, en masse, 
 
 Forming a human wall, as aimless as 
 
 A wall of bricks, is entertainment once 
 
 So often, oftener monotonous; 
 
 A life from which war is a healthful change. 
 
 Remember, too, the law of contrast. Greet 
 
 With pseudo-friendly smile a cockney lad 
 
 And flunkeydom will trumpet forth your praise ; 
 
 Forego the sumptuousness of but one meal 
 
 And your empire will be proud to starve; 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 275 
 
 When that the service of your lordly tools 
 
 Have failed to fetch expected fine results, 
 
 Make some low-born son of your domains 
 
 Prime minister for but a wee brief spell 
 
 And all the heads that reverently bow 
 
 To monocratic power will acclaim 
 
 Your kingly fiat as the people's rule. 
 
 Can you achieve so much by flattering one 
 
 Of simple mind, what can you not attain 
 
 By feigning some regard for multitudes 
 
 Effervescent with vacuous vanity? 
 
 Hint at the merest possibility 
 
 That you might wed a woman somewhat less 
 
 Than "princess of the blood" and half the world — 
 
 A certain half of it — will glorify 
 
 Your liberality, declaring you 
 
 The foremost champion of democracy ! 
 
 Nor is that all; let it be thought, surmised 
 
 That you might wed a woman born and bred 
 
 In the United States, that plebeian nest 
 
 Of money worshipers and oh, who knows 
 
 But all the male and female aspirants 
 
 For pomp and splendor and exclusive heights 
 
 May bring about a brilliant coup d'etat 
 
 That will regain for us all and some more 
 
 Than we had lost in seventeen seventy-six? . . . 
 
 Aye, urge the scrambling multitudes to scale 
 
 The social ladder, whet their appetites 
 
 With fool-cnclianting gilded tales about 
 
 The wondrous doings of the upper caste 
 
 And they, to prove their own delusions' force, 
 
 Will scheme against each other, trip or knock 
 
 To earth whoever cannot stand the pace. 
 
276 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 They'll trample truth and virtue into dust 
 
 To gain positions held within our gift: 
 
 In politics, for privilege to bear 
 
 The odium for blunders we may make; 
 
 At dinner, for the honor of a seat 
 
 To our right or left, or next to these, or next ; 
 
 At state affairs for notice of a nod. 
 
 And at receptions for the privilege 
 
 Of being "introduced at royal court." 
 
 In treating men do not forget their clans 
 
 All hungry for distinction in your eyes. 
 
 Appease their appetite once in a while. 
 
 But all the time design to whet it on. 
 
 Have due regard for clannish preference, 
 
 This deep, unfailing source of our strength. 
 
 Let no man live in peace who dares revolt 
 
 Against the bondage placed on him by birth. 
 
 Each day each man be asked a score of times 
 
 "What are you?" If one shows but waning pride 
 
 In whatsoever marks or mars his clan, 
 
 Beware, he is a revolutionist! — 
 
 Let him be taunted with the ingrates' charge. 
 
 Make him an exile wherever he lives. 
 
 Have him denounced a loathsome renegade, 
 
 Make life for him as hard as it can be 
 
 So that exhausted, weakened, in despair 
 
 He tumble back into his little fold ; 
 
 Or, leastwise, with his suffering serve to scare 
 
 The other ripening minds from shaking off 
 
 The chain that keeps each hostage for his clan 
 
 And boasting with vicarious honor gained. 
 
 As you succeed the world will call you wise. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 277 
 
 E 1 
 
 Bears and lions can be friends — Good cousin, 
 
 Known amongst the animal creation 
 
 As the mightiest lion of the woodlands, 
 
 Do I need protest my full devotion 
 
 To our common cause? I am regarded 
 
 Chief Scare Bear the Foremost Fear Inspirer, 
 
 And allow to let it go at that. Still 
 
 I am sorely grieved when I must witness 
 
 Old hyenas overawe their victims 
 
 Just by walking up to them and saying: 
 
 Down my throat ! or Nick the Bear will get you. 
 
 Lately our stars darkened in declension — 
 
 Pardon, sir, for changing style or scansion. 
 
 But the thought of shameless insurrection 
 
 Causes in me feverish reflection. 
 
 Ever busily rebellious science 
 
 Rapped Divine Grace with too bold defiance ; 
 
 Multitudes outgrew, withstood abuses 
 
 Mummery and Iconry produces ; 
 
 Ignorance my precious, old, protective 
 
 Friend has failed to be fully effective 
 
 At benumbing and in thickly clouding 
 
 Men's minds. There was a view! And, oh, what 
 
 shouting 
 Of delight to greet each novel routing ! 
 Pathways grew wide from the ceaseless groping 
 For more light — and hate gave way to hoping 
 Through the contact caused by swiftly floating 
 Commerce. Then the coward, blabbering, bloating 
 Dullard of an ass. Geographic notion 
 Failed me; for inventors' chemic potion 
 
278 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Overcame distance, fused air, earth and waters 
 
 Into uncannily compressed quarters. 
 
 Thus, in pride of but hoped-for attainments 
 
 Some would dare cast off their slavehood raiments. 
 
 Tallest turrets of the largest mansion 
 
 Failed to instill fear by mere pretension; 
 
 Many fools indulged in silly visions. 
 
 Many savants in learned renditions 
 
 Of a pleasant peaceful dispensation — 
 
 And not one dream has been so inducted 
 
 And not one scheme has been sn concocted 
 
 As to leave secure our high positions 
 
 As to have regard for the anointed — 
 
 Of this Earth — so came the time appointed 
 
 Matters not by whom ... to restore hoary 
 
 Our old, blandishmentful stock in trade. 
 
 Ancestral feuds and Monocratic glory. 
 
 Now the upheaval is of dimensions 
 
 To shake the world back into wild contentions. 
 
 Ha, ha ! Who'll try to unloose mental shackles 
 
 Forged in fierce heat of our ruthless battles? 
 
 As it is our precious royal secret 
 
 That each tumbling generation had been 
 
 Trapped by pitfalls set up in preceding 
 
 Periods, so must we still be seeming 
 
 Bent on state affairs while deeply sheeming 
 
 To keep from substance democratic dreaming. 
 
 E 2 
 
 Cannibal chieftain having had square meal 
 Of plain-cooked, steamed and broiled human-weal. 
 Feels very friendly towards paleface chief; 
 Would have him glad in festivals, as lief 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 279 
 
 Enjoy the gifts of God while juicy, fresh, 
 Than leave to pelicans nice human flesh. 
 You kill too many for too little fun, 
 You slay a thousand men and not eat one! 
 Of course, you can't like everybody; such 
 As you not like, you not like very much ; 
 And whom you hate, were he not best confined 
 Into the roasting pan and gladly dined 
 Upon? Then joyous festival arrive 
 For everybody that remains alive. 
 Why be so finicky? If man must die 
 May he not just as well be made mince pie? 
 I am a cannibal, yet, realize. 
 You have the high gift to spiritualize 
 Material things ; so, when you want your fill 
 Of human flesh you only curse and kill. 
 But why be cursing quite so hard and why 
 Cut up so many? Lord, all, hated by 
 Some, can't be slain; however many died 
 All hate desires can't be satisfied — 
 All wished-for slayings cannot be fulfilled, 
 For you hate more than ever can be killed. 
 So, brother chief, I give you this advice 
 To still the thirst for human sacrifice. 
 Have two lists made of all within your state; 
 One black, one white, sorting them separate 
 In full view of your realm. Then, declare 
 That everyone shall have a perfect fair 
 Chance to destroy someone within your gates. 
 Then draw a black card ; whom it designates 
 Shall have a constitutional right to name — 
 Or babe or bby or girl or man or dame — 
 One, he or she or it dislikes the most, 
 
280 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 To be conducted to a funeral post. 
 
 And there, 'midst ceremonials, sounds of lyre, 
 
 And stately pomp the victim shall expire. 
 
 Should one refuse to volunteer a name 
 
 Whose bearer die in sacrificial game, 
 
 Let such a one be forced on dreadful pain 
 
 Of self and all the household being slain. 
 
 To draw a white card. Whose name is thereon 
 
 Shall be the subject of the funeral song. 
 
 (Of course, you will be exempt from the call 
 
 Excepting when the black card is to fall) — 
 
 Repeat as often as you like and, well. 
 
 The total loss remains a bagatelle. 
 
 The drama, though, enough to satisfy 
 
 The most tear burdened moving-picture eye. 
 
 And if you still have enemies to spare 
 
 Please send them to me for a dinner's fare. 
 
 E 3 
 
 Lest you forget let me recall to you 
 
 The great importance of social regard 
 
 As serves the purpose of monocracy. 
 
 The estimation in which people hold 
 
 Each other is the pyramidal base 
 
 That holds the structure pointed for a throne, 
 
 If so devised. Look close and you will see. 
 
 It is like primal dressing in the road 
 
 Beneath the glassy surface on which roll, 
 
 Before large, fluttered crowds, in sumptuous coach 
 
 The kingly household. Safe the ruler who 
 
 Can draw the multitude into a jam 
 
 To see him pass. Once in a while we need 
 
 Appear in public to receive its seal. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 281 
 
 Oh, yes, we must impose upon the mob 
 
 With quaintly glittering parades' dazzling show 
 
 Into conceding to us highest rank. 
 
 So will each subdivision fall in line 
 
 And help to spread those tentacles which draw 
 
 Each one into its proper play and all 
 
 Into the vortex of glib social guile. 
 
 Of all the cards held by a royal hand 
 
 None is fraught with more power than the fine 
 
 Thin textured one of social preference. 
 
 Throughout its boggy maze the poisoned weeds 
 
 Of Brahmanistic caste-conceptions sear 
 
 Whomever they may touch. Its poison mist 
 
 Engulfs all hate-nursed, fool-fledged selfish hearts, 
 
 Confining them to this one sorry thought : 
 
 "I'm better born, wiser bred, in rank 
 
 Of higher state, and holier than thou!" 
 
 And all the while they serve the one on top ! 
 
 Glib social guile, through it you can implant 
 
 The traits of loyalty, no, not to right 
 
 And truth, to public welfare and the holy aims 
 
 Of one great noble human brotherhood. 
 
 But mere servility, a willingness 
 
 To fight and die for someone higher up — 
 
 Like that much celebrated bodyguard 
 
 At mention of which French breasts swell in pride. 
 
 The guard it died a most heroic death — 
 
 For one who served their ethnical conceit. 
 
 Full twenty million humans bit the grass 
 
 So he could set a crown on his own head 
 
 And shove a throne beneath each of his kin. 
 
 Such heroism we must cultivate 
 
 With all the arts of social guile. If some 
 
282 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Cannot be made to be quite willing tools 
 
 In your design, why break them into it ! 
 
 The ones who can't be tempted nor cajoled 
 
 Into embracing caste allegiance, 
 
 Let them be anathema ! Ostracize 
 
 Them and their families, with cutting frowns 
 
 Aloofness, snobbery, with all the viles 
 
 Unreasoning pride can boast, let them be mauled 
 
 And battered, cut, humiliated till 
 
 This social stockade inspires deadly fear. 
 
 Beyond the common strength to overcome. 
 
 Hello! This is the Devil thinking! Good, 
 
 I hear, through space, a multitudinous rush 
 
 Into attentive listening attitudes. 
 
 Allons, I have a ticklish subject on 
 
 My mind. It is not of the sexual sort, 
 
 This time. No charming vampire lady who 
 
 Outdoes a Turkish harem with her snares 
 
 And amative proclivities ; nor yet 
 
 A hypnotist who with mere looks can cause 
 
 A maid, against her will, to turn mistress 
 
 Inviting him into her boudoir. 
 
 The thing that tickles me now is a right 
 
 Which had been questioned in some bygone days, 
 
 But now, ascending, comes to claim its own ; 
 
 I mean the right to lie ! Please, understand, 
 
 I do not mean light, juvenile attempts 
 
 At finding facts to suit the circumstance. 
 
 I mean the right of lying, or to tell 
 
 In sincere manner the reverse of truth ! 
 
 Lies are of various shades, from snowy white 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 283 
 
 To murder black. The whitest lie will serve 
 
 As starter and each darker shade a step, 
 
 As in a winding staircase, leading down 
 
 Into the deepest darkest pit. The lie 
 
 Is coming to be stylish. Where, before. 
 
 The right to lie had been reserved for high 
 
 Diplomatic occasions, now the scribes 
 
 Give it promotive, cheerful countenance. 
 
 And not in vain ! As gamblers for small stake 
 
 Encourage gamblers on a giant scale, 
 
 So dabblers in untruth give actual 
 
 Support to mighty life-destroying lies. 
 
 If telling lies is proper just for fun 
 
 How much more so for profit ? Therefore, though 
 
 To bear false witness was forbidden long 
 
 Millennials ago, the practice is 
 
 Of daily run. Aye, lies are daily told 
 
 With such effect that judges came to look 
 
 Upon a truthful man as worst of all — 
 
 An unskilled liar from whose lips the lie 
 
 Has harder sledding. Clearly, it is mete 
 
 For every man to boldly speak a lie 
 
 Whenever that should serve his purpose best. 
 
 What.? Scruples.? Throw them to the winds, before 
 
 The other party steals a march on you. 
 
 Consider now, if lying is of use 
 
 In little private deals how much more so 
 
 Can it be made in great affairs of state.? 
 
 Why balk at trifles.? . Is not every man 
 
 To do and die for king and fatherland.? 
 
 And is it not much more congenial 
 
 To tell an untruth than in truth to die.? 
 
 The man who dies once cannot die again. 
 
284 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 But he who lies may tell another lie. 
 Then, friends of mine, promote this glorious art 
 Of lying, from small shreds of polity 
 To combinations of the widest scope. 
 So will the world be ever in a mood 
 Of grabbing each the other by the throat. 
 And wlien not thus engaged, breathe in a trance- 
 Holding, shaking each other by the ear. 
 
 F 1 
 
 Encore? Obliged! Satanic prestige gains 
 
 By obligating seekers for my grace. 
 
 What have I not to give? — But, best of all, 
 
 I have the understanding which you crave, 
 
 The know-how of the wrestler who can pin 
 
 Another wrestler's shoulder to the ground. 
 
 Shall I impart to you my secret? Yes, 
 
 For I am with you in the great campaign 
 
 Of getting more for less or much for naught. 
 
 Doubt not, most methods may be well employed ; 
 
 Just as with small change, each fits in somewhere. 
 
 Why should you not preach heaven if for this 
 
 Hut-dwellers grant you palace space? Why not 
 
 Preach hell if that will scare, intimidate 
 
 Men into sweating gold for you? Why not 
 
 Say anything that will fetch everything 
 
 You want? Lies have a backward action, but 
 
 The art in lying, really, is to shoot 
 
 Them off without an unpleasant recoil 
 
 Obliterating the advantage sought. 
 
 Therefore cast slurs upon integrity ; 
 
 Extinguish promptings of sincerity ; 
 
 Make wearing masks an everyday affair 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 285 
 
 For old and young instead the playful eve 
 
 For children. In the holy names of tact, 
 
 Culture, politeness, and professional, 
 
 Nice requirements make propaganda for 
 
 The fell reverse of truth ! In atmosphere 
 
 So exercised germs of avarice thrive. 
 
 Bright shines the diamond motto : "More for less," 
 
 Or better yet, "Get much for nothing." With 
 
 That much in mind; abuse of confidence, 
 
 Or held by friend or someone more than friend. 
 
 Becomes an ingrained disposition. Then 
 
 Strike out to win, let who must fall beneath 
 
 Your stroke. Does it not altogether serve 
 
 Them right.? Were they not similarly bent.? 
 
 Preach unto everybody his success. 
 
 Say: lie to win and let the rest go hang! 
 
 Rewards.? How stupid of you not to see 
 
 What I am driving at. Living in close 
 
 Familiarity with light veined lies 
 
 Man gets accustomed to the heavy frauds, 
 
 And in the debris of much broken faith 
 
 He bends his neck into the nearest yoke. 
 
 F 2 
 
 Encore ! Encore ! Your Damon is delighted ! 
 What should not one do to secure this high 
 And jubilant reception? So, here goes 
 Another message to my listening friends: 
 Behold a Sultan in his seraglio 
 'Midst Oriental splendor while away 
 His time; a number fatted females dressed 
 To please the master's vision standing by 
 Aburninff incense for their lord. They wait 
 
286 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 With wistful glances on his pleasure and — 
 
 No sexual repression ever need 
 
 Derange his nervous system, nor restraint 
 
 Cheat his desires of an earthly joy! 
 
 Will such a man, should such a man give up 
 
 His handsome, winsome, toothsome privilege 
 
 While lasts the maid-supply in fresh relays? 
 
 While lasts the sudra that supplies the maids 
 
 With ornate garments and the fattening meal? 
 
 Is it for him to pity blighted souls? 
 
 An orphan girl despoiled of her hope? 
 
 Or one worse off despoiled of her love? 
 
 Or one still worse off ruined in her health? 
 
 Is all this his concern? Surely not. 
 
 So all who own a toothsome sultanate 
 
 Of any sort hold on with not a care 
 
 Of whose life goes up in the perfumed smoke. 
 
 As for the means to hold on with full might: 
 
 There is but one thing ever can surpass 
 
 Enslaving qualities of a well timed, 
 
 Well spoken lie and that is acting it. . . . 
 
 F 3 
 
 Encore! Encore! Encore! Yet more you want 
 To hear from Beelzebub? But friends believe. 
 There is no more connection with the pit 
 Of hell on Earth than these three appetites: 
 The greed for wealth, the lust for power and 
 The thirst for blood ; they all thrive by a lie. 
 
 6 
 
 Sweet sounds the joyous ring of our reveille, 
 A wondrous charm leaps from out its notes 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 287 
 
 And turns hosts of tired, foot-sore sleepers 
 
 Into a mass of hustling animation. 
 
 Within the while of fleeing moments few, 
 
 Each unit stands all ready, spick and span. 
 
 In just the place assigned ; and every man 
 
 His sword put on, his trusty Mannlicher 
 
 Affectionately holding to his breast. 
 
 The legions wait a-panting in attention. 
 
 Oh, what refreshing sight! what vital, life 
 
 Rejuvenating picture to behold! 
 
 Like thoroughbreds upon the racing turf. 
 
 Each member of the swarming regiments 
 
 Strains every nerve to execute commands. 
 
 In eager mood and perfect readiness 
 
 The multitude of trained and armed men 
 
 Will strike, demolish, burn whatsoever told 
 
 And slay whomever they are set to kill — 
 
 Indeed absorbing is the kingly game. 
 
 Gone is from me the sickening ennui 
 
 Of aimless, joyless, inactive old age. 
 
 The tremblings of my limbs depart to find 
 
 A lodgement in the frames of younger men — 
 
 Why, being cherished by a Shunammite 
 
 As David had been, could not cause my blood 
 
 To circulate more lively, nor my mind 
 
 To glow more radiant. On these high days 
 
 My thoughts revert to thee. Great Warrior, 
 
 To thee, whose iron nerve and granite will 
 
 Holds all the world in check, whose fearless heart 
 
 Did not recoil when that the day had come 
 
 For this the greatest conflagration of 
 
 The earth. Let it rage on ! Let flames run wild 
 
 A season and impart their awful red 
 
288 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 To overhanging skies. Let multitudes 
 
 Be served from out the cup I had to drink 
 
 The deepest draughts. . . . Ah, they will not down, 
 
 The memories of sorrow and of pain; — 
 
 My brother shot as they shoot worthless dogs ; 
 
 My only son felled, like a common brawl ; 
 
 The mother of my children stabbed to death — 
 
 Who cried because the blows upon my head.f^ 
 
 The meanest, weakest in our vassalage 
 
 Could not be scourged by bloody violence 
 
 So unappeased, forsaken by revenge. 
 
 Revenge belongs to God, but are we not 
 
 His foremost instruments? And yet the world 
 
 Came near to think anointed royal life 
 
 To be of no more value than a straw. 
 
 But now the underlings can realize 
 
 The value of a crown prince to the world ! 
 
 And thou. Great Warrior, art the chief who canst 
 
 Most poignantly drive the lesson home. 
 
 Thou, chosen darling of the reigning gods, 
 
 Who addest glittering lustre to the grace 
 
 Divine by which we rule, thou art the core 
 
 Of my concern. My heart feels love for thee ! 
 
 I feel impelled to tell thee all about 
 
 The secret bolts and mainsprings of my post; 
 
 The substance, composition and the gist ; 
 
 The synthesis of all the force we sway — 
 
 That you and yours may have the benefit 
 
 Of all the psychologic radium 
 
 The gods had given unto me and mine 
 
 To tide us over every vicissitude 
 
 And lusty turmoil growing out these 
 
 Vivid, enchanting, grand tumultuous days. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 289 
 
 What brought us to the surface in the world's 
 
 History? Contention amongst men. 
 
 What is the chief bone of contention? Now 
 
 As in days past ; the need and love of land. 
 
 But day on day it dawned upon the world 
 
 That land is fructified by labor and 
 
 That toilers can live wherever they work — 
 
 Though we receive no tribute from their task ! 
 
 Therefore some cabals were employed to hold 
 
 Men to the land — the land in my control. 
 
 I called my trusty orators, gave them 
 
 A full blown banquet and addressed them thus: 
 
 "Go forth ye heralds of my great empire 
 
 And teach the people to be patriots. 
 
 To love the land with such intensity 
 
 That no oppression drive them from the spot. 
 
 And lest attractions here or there might draw 
 
 The toiler from his tool, besmirch, decry. 
 
 Defame the rest of all creation." They 
 
 Went on their errand amongst the populace 
 
 And then we had them in contention's grip ; 
 
 A score or more of nationalities 
 
 Forever trying, all at once, to be 
 
 The highest toned and most preferred among 
 
 The groups in my domain. The job, then, was 
 
 To keep the fires of jealousy alive 
 
 And check each by the other's burning flame. 
 
 So came I to control a large empire — 
 
 More would I tell thee if thou art disposed 
 
 To hear. I yearn to convey to you 
 
 The concentrated essence of my mind. 
 
 Art thou inclined, canst thou afford to grant 
 
 Me more attention? Wilt thou I proceed? 
 
290 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 G 1 
 
 Hail, hail thee Veteran Warrior of the World, 
 
 Most venerable emperor on earth! 
 
 The glory of thy life is far beyond 
 
 A comparison that my busy brain 
 
 Could now discover. None the less I hold 
 
 Your grand achievements in due reverence. 
 
 The stormy days of Eighteen Forty-eight 
 
 Had brought you as a youth, but in his teens, 
 
 To grace a mighty throne that seemed to fall 
 
 Ungracefully apart, and as you stepped 
 
 Unto the royal seat its creaking ceased ; 
 
 Just as by magic order was restored 
 
 Throughout your vast domain, the noise quelled. 
 
 Wilful Wiena's insurrection stilled, 
 
 And Hungary's rebellion was put down — 
 
 Its leaders recognizing your ascent 
 
 In just the right position of their kind. 
 
 Some thirteen of them dangling in the air! 
 
 Such were the privileges of your youth. 
 
 The czar of then was wise enough to act 
 
 In your behalf and sent the Slavic hordes 
 
 To strengthen his by upholding your rule. 
 
 But now, the czar, grown jealous of your might 
 
 And fearing that its splendors would eclipse 
 
 His own and then himself might have to bend 
 
 His Autocratic knees to beg support 
 
 From you, he deftly moved a pawn — 
 
 Ha, ha! But we were ready with our knights 
 
 And castles, ready with our giant guns 
 
 Whose booming shook this paltry little world ; 
 
 With aircraft, gas bombs, sleek submersibles 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 291 
 
 That made our rivals wince. We were prepared! 
 
 Of course we had been ready, had we not 
 
 Been in position to command respect 
 
 In style and manner long approved by all, 
 
 Who would pay us regard or loan us gold? — 
 
 Would Slavs or Franks or even Englishmen 
 
 Be kind enough to stay where they belong 
 
 And leave the land of others unencroached 
 
 But for the forts and guns that keep them off? 
 
 So let the sword decide ! We can aiford 
 
 To arbitrate each problem as of yore. . . , 
 
 If anything comes athwart our path 
 
 To hinder our ship from sailing on 
 
 We'll cut straight through and keep upon our course 
 
 No matter what or who would tilt the boat, 
 
 Be it a bankers' deputation which 
 
 Bemoans the ebbing of their wherewithall, 
 
 Or be it news that some we doted on 
 
 Fell lifeless with their mowed-down regiment ; 
 
 Be it the most pretentious thing on earth, 
 
 The Holy See imploring us to change — 
 
 Ha ! Were a quake to desolate the world, 
 
 Leaving but few to prowl upon the ground 
 
 Where million striving souls had lived before. 
 
 Still would we have to continue our way, 
 
 The way of those who want to rule supreme. 
 
 And all the while and everywhere we can 
 
 Depend on censorship to choke the truth 
 
 That dares sound warning or cry out for help ; 
 
 Depend on subsidized slick troubadours 
 
 To popularize song-ditties in our praise; 
 
 Depend on salaried historians 
 
 To set our actions down as wise and just. 
 
292 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 You see dear, blessed, Apostolic King, 
 
 Most venerable emperor on Earth, 
 
 I know a thing or two myself. Of wit 
 
 I have a goodly portion and of wealth 
 
 Large subterranean roomsful; just the same, 
 
 Some more of both were better. How could I 
 
 Do else than most intensely crave for more 
 
 Of monocratic wisdom? Send on your thoughts, 
 
 Your every word will be enshrined upon 
 
 My heart, for my own sake and in behalf 
 
 Of my exuberant posterity. 
 
 G 2 
 
 Life, be it ever so long, hangs on a thread. 
 Dear Friend, I have received a warning note 
 From Great Headquarters of Mortahty. 
 It came not unawares and yet the flash 
 Of pain cast over all a spell of gloom. 
 Sad admonitions came in heavy troops 
 To break my spirit, but I fight them off. 
 Extracting cabals from my fretful dreams. 
 One such a dream impressed me very much. 
 We, you and I, were standing on a rug. 
 In it the threads were living souls so drawn 
 As would make standing light for our feet, 
 And pleasant pictures for our downward glance. 
 Knight warriors came to take from us our soft 
 Position. Quickly, we disposed of them. 
 Giving their heads into the hangman's keep. 
 Some threads, grown overweary of our weight. 
 Swished discomfort and muttered some complaints. 
 These cranky threads we pulled from out the weave 
 And gave them for the jailer's pillow case. 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 293 
 
 Then restive servants round about began 
 
 To whisper as if rising to resent 
 
 Our actions. Quick, we made an end of this, 
 
 Making the burden heavier the while 
 
 Exempting just enough to make the rest 
 
 Comply. And still we felt a terror's scourge ; 
 
 We felt the rug move, (underneath our feet;) 
 
 With jerky pulls which kept us in a fix 
 
 Of falling full length on the naked floor. 
 
 It was a torturous dream. When I awoke 
 
 I called a squad of trusty orators. 
 
 And after treating them in royal style. 
 
 Addressed them thus : "The kingdom is in trouble. 
 
 Go forth ye precious jewels in its crown 
 
 And preach the sanctity of kingly rugs !" 
 
 I also had the chiefest orators 
 
 Of lawmaking assemble there. To them 
 
 I said : "Defend the country against treason's blow ! 
 
 Rush through a law condemning everyone 
 
 Who jerks my rug, or is inclined to jerk. 
 
 Or may be apt to harbor such intent ; 
 
 Or who abets another by the keen 
 
 Suggestiveness innate in jerky words." 
 
 Soon you will see and hear the good results. 
 
 Cough. 
 
 Oh, why can I not lengthen my own life 
 
 With all the years I have cut others' short? 
 
 G 3 
 
 Die? No! Not you, most venerable friend. 
 
 Your record sparkles immortality, 
 
 For you have often conquered and the world- 
 
294 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Because it loves the joy of conquering — 
 
 Holds fast upon its breast the conqueror 
 
 In permanent embrace. Each little dwarf 
 
 Of would-be conqueror, gloats over feats 
 
 Of most remote relatives, be they as 
 
 Far back in time as Joshua; in consequence 
 
 Nil as Napoleon ; in truth no more 
 
 Than tin-god heroes of the passing day. 
 
 Feed the world what it is hungry for 
 
 And nothing quite so whets the appetite 
 
 Than promise of a glorious victory. 
 
 Who is ashamed of patriarchs that have 
 
 By right of might despoiled other folks.? 
 
 Who casts from out his heart the feelings of 
 
 Superiority, implanted there 
 
 In ancient error or by ancient wiles? 
 
 Who is regretful on account of might 
 
 Got through deception in ancestral days? 
 
 Who disavows proud sounding racial claims 
 
 Derived from subjugating other kinds? 
 
 Who expiates in steadfast rectitude 
 
 The gain of fathers got by loaded dice? — 
 
 Such men are lost forever to our cause. 
 
 Our cabals can have no effect on them. 
 
 As they increase in numbers we decrease 
 
 In strength. They are the jerkers of your dream 
 
 Wherein the rug beneath our feet was pulled 
 
 With reckless suddenness ; and every time 
 
 A soul is drawn from under us we feel 
 
 The fated jerk! Let us be watchful, then. 
 
 Let poets glorify and bards retell 
 
 Each incident of conquest in such bright 
 
 High colors that, intoxicated by 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 295 
 
 The glamor of their art, recruits come 
 In endless stream to serve our pet design. 
 
 H 
 
 Soothsayer Zimzim to his king: salaam. 
 
 New sovereign, distributer of fame 
 
 And wealth and power, in whose mighty hands 
 
 The lives of men are but like brittle threads, 
 
 Let me prognosticate, from yon high stars, 
 
 Your future and your past. With utmost care 
 
 I cast your horoscope, and sure enough 
 
 I see your might comes from an ancient source. 
 
 Back in the dim past human beings were 
 
 Attacked constantly by bloodthirsty beasts. 
 
 Ferocious animals to slaughter which 
 
 Was a compelling need for human life's 
 
 Existence upon Earth. Your sires were 
 
 Brave, strong and skillful with the club and spear, 
 
 Excelling in the art of killing beasts. 
 
 As every art gives joy, the shedding of beasts' blood 
 
 Became a blissful boon instead of hard 
 
 Or loathsome task. Soon Earth was cleared of wild 
 
 Ferocious beasts, but still the love of art 
 
 In killing craved a satisfaction, thus 
 
 Bloodthirstiness of the ferocious beasts 
 
 Became imbedded in the human breast. 
 
 Surpassing others in their age and clime, 
 
 Your sires strode to foremost eminence. 
 
 At length but men remained whose killing came 
 
 Within the scope of art. Not one or two. 
 
 For that is simple work; who cannot play 
 
 The mean assassin's role if he but will? 
 
 But killing in the mass, that quenched the thirst 
 
296 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 In later centuries and still does quench 
 
 The throat parched by primeval thirst for gore. 
 
 As foremost passion guides the heart, you will 
 
 Ever contrive to find a fine excuse 
 
 For standing armies, floating arsenals 
 
 Which may be flung into a grand melee 
 
 Most any time. And surely you will do 
 
 It ere you die, else what for have you lived? 
 
 The death-cries ringing from the battlefields 
 
 Need not disturb your equanimity. 
 
 The dismal cloud of untold agony 
 
 Rising from the quivering mass of flesh. 
 
 From spattered blood and torrid flow of tears 
 
 Serves but as buoyage for your happiness. 
 
 Were it not so, oh, great king! — and small kings — 
 
 Thrones would be abdicated in a rush. 
 
 But as you wish to rule let others serve 
 
 Your purpose in the name of bravery! 
 
 Let them cut loose, shoot, hit, stab, maim ; the while 
 
 Your trumpeters sound forth this clarion call; 
 
 Come all aboard for glory and for fame ! 
 
 The gory fields of war produce of both 
 
 Great quantities, enough to quell the most 
 
 Consuming thirst for them ! And men will come, 
 
 Nor need one know fell disappointment's pall. 
 
 The swords of war are such great instruments 
 
 Of glory that not only victorious men 
 
 Receive the world's applause but even those 
 
 Who fall as vanquished victims on the field 
 
 Become grand, laurel-wreathed martyrs in 
 
 The estimation of the populace 
 
 Or this side or beyond a visioned line. 
 
 Oh, monocratic lord you have the field. . . , 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 297 
 
 H 1 
 
 Magnanimous princess, first and famous child 
 
 Of one who rules a mighty stretch of land 
 
 Upon this Earth and is chief in command 
 
 Of many million souls that vegetate 
 
 Thereon, I raise my right hand to salute 
 
 Your majesty. I hope you will accept 
 
 The well-meant greetings of a warrior young 
 
 Whose father married on the battlefield 
 
 The daughter of his vanquished enemy — 
 
 In fact there is no cause of happening 
 
 To mar or bar our friendly intercourse; 
 
 Much rather have we reason to proceed 
 
 On intimately confidential terms. 
 
 A brother of mine is in azigous 
 
 As sisters of you are in single state, 
 
 Which fact projects the probability 
 
 Of nuptials at which folks of both domains 
 
 Will break forth in sky-splitting jubilees. 
 
 So, even though our fathers' armies are 
 
 Engaged in life devouring war, just now, 
 
 We need not stop our telepathic chats. 
 
 We always liked so well. Oh, princess sweet, 
 
 I have the finest time of my young life ! 
 
 Somewhere in France wave after wave of men 
 
 I hurl into agony and death — 
 
 How willingly they march forth to be slain ! 
 
 Now, precious friend, I may as well confess 
 
 That I enjoy this wondrous spectacle. 
 
 Beyond my anticipatory dreams 
 
 Do I enjoy, after so many years 
 
 Of tedious practice, long rehearsals and 
 
298 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Most livid tensive expectation this, 
 
 The real performance. Why, the cannon's roar, 
 
 The flying squadrons' whirr, exploding bombs. 
 
 The leaden pellets whistling through the air 
 
 (But have no fear on my account, my tent 
 
 Is pitched upon a distant mountain top 
 
 From where the view is fine and surely safe.) 
 
 The rifle shots, the fiery battle shouts, 
 
 The sabers' clang and curses, yells and screams, 
 
 All coalesce into a symphony 
 
 The like which great musicians might essay 
 
 To imitate upon a puny stage 
 
 But never can completely reproduce. 
 
 For this ambitious youths march, to be slain. 
 
 Most willingly — but pray why should they not.'' 
 
 (Waste not on them your august sympathy.) 
 
 This chance of death is but another name 
 
 For what my men regard a chance of life. 
 
 Now is it within reach, advancement is 
 
 Advancement of the one beyond the rest — 
 
 Now has their chance of immolation come. 
 
 And how they longed for it ! How tremblingly 
 
 Expectant they would hear the protocol 
 
 That set one just a piteous rung or two 
 
 Above a group of other craving souls ! 
 
 War means salvation for such appetite. 
 
 The sergeant turns captain in a day. 
 
 The captain swings forth to a general's state 
 
 In scarce as many weeks as it took years 
 
 In warless times. And oh, the swelling pride 
 
 Of all who can claim kinship to such men ! 
 
 Yes, willingly they go forth to be slain, 
 
 But then, why should they not? Consider, dear, 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 299 
 
 The men in civil life will fight for less 
 
 And die for nothing or not near as much 
 
 As getting credit for heroic death. 
 
 And then the weird noises, jumbled plaints 
 
 Of mangled multitudes, their dying gasps 
 
 Their whimpering, whining, groaning through the 
 
 day 
 In hospitals surcharged with misery, 
 Is not this a most fitting grand refrain 
 For royal ears? Thanks, God, we have our share. 
 Just now I heard the pleasure-fraught good news 
 That by it one of your own household has' 
 Been rescued from the lightless living-death 
 Of feeble-mindedness. This song so fit 
 For royal hearts made such a strong appeal 
 To your dear sister's soul that it emerged 
 From bleak stupor and, purged from ennui. 
 Gained strength enough to have some rays of sense 
 Enlodge therein. How deeply I rejoice 
 At her recovery I cannot tell, 
 But this I know — and will to you confide — 
 That it is worth the heads of million slaves, 
 The slaughtering of scores of subject hordes. 
 To have a princess of so grand a house. 
 Of such illustrious and distinguished blood. 
 Luckily rescued from the dark abyss 
 Of utter, hopeless imbecility. 
 Such are the uses of the kingly game, 
 The noble game of ruthless violence. 
 Compared to it the gripping, tripping moves 
 Of Bear and Bull played at the Stock Exchange 
 Is dull and insipid. Oh, Violence ! 
 Thou foremost, highest, most respected part 
 
300 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Of our godhead, the Great Threefold Trinity, 
 Give me this day your grace to rule supreme, 
 By right of might, the shining cynosure 
 Of power worshipping eyes and easily 
 I'll marshal them to serve me further on. 
 For those who worship power furnish that 
 Which helps us to remain in full control. 
 
 H 2 
 
 Thanks, princes, for your precious compliment, 
 
 I do not know all cabals of my house. 
 
 My knowledge though, I gladly share with you. 
 
 A first move for the royal game of war 
 
 Is setting up of prizes to enlist 
 
 The valorous knights of interest-coupons. 
 
 Most willingly they let the war dogs go 
 
 Into the fray! And pray why should they not.? 
 
 Were they not bent, did they not scheme each day, 
 
 Each for himself, to get and hold more wealth 
 
 Than anybody else? How long they schemed, 
 
 How long they dreamed ! Now fortunes are in sight, 
 
 The trader's comer is his fortress strong; 
 
 A thousand scramble for the million goal 
 
 And many more grab for the minor stakes. 
 
 Not one considers that his profit's flow 
 
 Is desecrated by the flow of blood. . . . 
 
 Indeed, our prize manipulation is 
 
 Of great importance. We must have a prize 
 
 To suit each heart, when marching men to die — 
 
 For someone higher up, so they shall not 
 
 Stumble on the mutinous question why? 
 
 To those who strive with might and main to add 
 
 A glittering jewel to the crown, we give 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 301 
 
 A standing in the hallowed circle of 
 
 The ruling house. Its lustre thus increased 
 
 Repays them with a ray or two of shine 
 
 That by reflection falls upon themselves. 
 
 In lack of nothing else they starve for fame 
 
 And as chief steward of this airy meal 
 
 We have them do our bidding. Highmost chiefs 
 
 Obey as ever little child obeyed. 
 
 The general harshest to inferiors 
 
 Before us trembles like an aspen leaf 
 
 And as our frown will shake him in his boots 
 
 Just so our praise will lift him out of them. 
 
 Then we have recognition to hand out. 
 
 This costs us nothing yet brings in a lot. 
 
 A special reference to some one's act 
 
 Will make his chest expand an inch or two. 
 
 Then we have medals, badges, feathers, pins ; 
 
 What, think you, will not men perform for these? 
 
 The iron cross or silver medal will 
 
 Transport him into high heavenly bliss. 
 
 The lure of medals can lead men to kill 
 
 And maim or fall a victim mauled and maimed, 
 
 And he who comes back from the battlefield 
 
 Distorted, shot in half, his eyes and ears. 
 
 His arms and legs lost in the bloody fray ; 
 
 Why, do you know medallions on his breast 
 
 Will make him happy ; envied by the rest 
 
 Of all his kind, he will with what is left 
 
 Of him praise God for such a grand career ! 
 
 And would you know the reason for it all? 
 
 Life put combativeness into man's heart 
 
 So he could fight his way from out the cave. 
 
 Our task is not to let in dormancy 
 
302 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 This trait too long, but (after nursing it 
 
 For certain lengths of time in devious ways) 
 
 Through active salts of pride bring it to life 
 
 And have it serve our monocratic aim. 
 
 So, princess sweet, rejoice with me in this 
 
 Our high auspicious hour, even though 
 
 The armies of your father and of mine 
 
 Are now aclash in war. This is a game 
 
 Befitting our kind. What if it comes 
 
 That like in other games one must lose out.? 
 
 We still remain of equal rank and friends — 
 
 A brother of mine is in azigous 
 
 As sisters of you are in single state 
 
 Which fact projects the probability 
 
 Of nuptials at which folks of both domains 
 
 Will break forth in sky-splitting jubilees. 
 
 H3 
 
 I heard you thinking, royal sister: what 
 
 May be the object of man's ceaseless fight 
 
 To rank above his fellows? Well, I know 
 
 The secret. It is — as with you and me — 
 
 Impassioned wish, a burning, hot desire 
 
 To be something that others cannot be; 
 
 To own something that others cannot own ; 
 
 To get something that others cannot get ; 
 
 Put all together: special privilege. 
 
 Why do you laugh, my queenly sister, why.?* 
 
 I did not speak of highest privilege 
 
 But special rights. That native fancy craves 
 
 However, unsubstantial it may be. 
 
 Most worthwhile things are common, certainly. 
 
 To have the faculties for plying art ; 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 303 
 
 To understand the pulsing, heaving mind 
 
 Of history and then to pierce into 
 
 The future's world, seeing as far ahead 
 
 As vision carries to the backward shores; 
 
 To know by name our great eternal friends 
 
 The constellations and their heavenly chiefs; 
 
 To greet our resurrected kin each day 
 
 In bud and leaf and bloom throughout the fields ; 
 
 To live and love and work and hope 
 
 In this great world is privilege enough ! 
 
 Indeed, obscurity and simple life 
 
 Hold all the joys of true intrinsic worth. 
 
 Attainment is of effort not degree. 
 
 But it is great good fortune for us ; who 
 
 Are traders in the stock market of life 
 
 To have real values unrecognized while 
 
 Fictitious ones may soar as suits us best. 
 
 Thus men will slave themselves, and will enslave 
 
 Their fellowmen for some old parchment's touch 
 
 That others cannot easily attain — 
 
 Some day, the veil will fall from off man's eyes ; 
 
 But while so many souls in restless fray 
 
 Are gasping for preferment and contend 
 
 For decorations in our gift, let us 
 
 Dispose of these in manner and at times 
 
 So calculated as to bring about 
 
 Men's subjugation — for our benefit. 
 
 Chief lord of many brave victorious hosts 
 Your new compeer is greeting you with but 
 A hasty greeting and a hasty bow. . . . 
 For I have much to tell ; in fact, I wish 
 
304 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 To share with you each weighty postulate 
 
 My wise predecessor addressed to me 
 
 Before he died. I fain would ruminate 
 
 Upon the puzzles of the great beyond 
 
 In true poetic style, with similes 
 
 Of rustling Autumn leaves in moaning winds, 
 
 Unanswerable questions bleak array, 
 
 Pathetic cries of deeply humbled souls, 
 
 Emotion gripping desolateness wrought, 
 
 Descriptions calculated to appeal 
 
 For tears ; but time calls otherwise. God's will 
 
 Let it be done ! Especially when 
 
 Agreeable to us. It was His august will 
 
 That several ones who blocked the narrow path 
 
 To highest eminence shall be cleared off 
 
 By unexpected strikes of cruel death — 
 
 So when the old man went to his reward 
 
 (Whatever that may mean) I was not shy. 
 
 Reluctant or abashed in any way 
 
 To grasp the reins of several governments 
 
 Belonging to me as a matter of 
 
 Inheritance. What will I do mth it ? 
 
 Have no misgivings in regard to that. 
 
 Oh, glorious supreme model of our kind, 
 
 Have no misgivings in regard to that! 
 
 I know the ancient cabalistic rules 
 
 Of our house, and all besides I have 
 
 The special, deep inductions of our dear 
 
 Departed friend, whose admonitions I 
 
 Engraved upon my memory and now — 
 
 At his request pass on to you. He said : 
 
 "Our one task is to think ahead and shape 
 
 Affairs to serve our wish, now while our men 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 305 
 
 Upon the battlefields blow forth their souls 
 
 As so much worthless chaff; and all the rest, 
 
 Ashamed of grief, in glowing ecstasies 
 
 Unquestioningly pay the funeral bills; 
 
 Now is it meet for us to think ahead, 
 
 Design the course and mold the groove in which 
 
 The coming spell of peace shall be compelled 
 
 To squeeze its quivering form so that it 
 
 Remain our trusty handmaid as of yore. 
 
 A ruler's chief role ever is to rule. 
 
 Maintain himself, no matter how the waves 
 
 Of rolling time and haltless history 
 
 May surge or crash, keep safe upon the top 
 
 Ensconced in adulatry, towering high 
 
 Above the many-minded multitude. 
 
 As we enjoy controlling other lives 
 
 So those affected ever hate control. 
 
 Wherefore, the crux of power lies in force. 
 
 Judicious saber-rattling has its use, 
 
 But once so often sabers must cut loose 
 
 To let the chaffing world know who is boss — 
 
 Then do things on a grand scale, let the clash 
 
 Be hot beyond the thermal state of Hell ; 
 
 Let furies of destruction issue forth 
 
 To give their vainest, wildest, weirdest dance ; 
 
 Demolish homes, dismantle factories, 
 
 Turn grain fields into ashen craters and 
 
 While all this happens keep perfectly cool. . . . 
 
 From smoking ruins helpless misery 
 
 Implores the void for succor, but mind, 
 
 Its piercing cries are not for our ears. 
 
 Its scorching sighs are not to come within 
 
 A sensing distance to the royal heart — 
 
306 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Fear not the wrath of Heaven nor of men, 
 The people can be easily convinced 
 That all is for the best ; a fine increase 
 Of efforts ; high standards of sacrifice ; 
 Rejuvenation of a tepid life. 
 Send forth your orators and they will show 
 That such destruction is a God-sent boon. 
 And whatsoever man is satisfied 
 With heaven is content to let it so." 
 
 I 1 
 
 Emerging victor from a sinking spell 
 
 The emperor smiled kindly and resumed: 
 
 "Be not content with conquering by force 
 
 Alone, but set your mighty talking guns 
 
 To work (from ramparts of morality,) 
 
 Completion of the job. No sooner has 
 
 A city fallen, even while the flames 
 
 Are leaping to the skies and troops 
 
 Of yours raise structures to the ground, call for 
 
 Charity. Not at your cost, nor at expense 
 
 Of your financial chiefs whose swollen purse 
 
 Is bursting full with blood-transmuted gold ; 
 
 But let them stand forth in the market-place. 
 
 In lobbies of the banks and public halls 
 
 And there with copious crocodilian tears 
 
 Entice the toiler to give up his wage — 
 
 Their songs, you know, in all conceivable keys 
 
 Sound very much and everywhere the same: 
 
 *Give for the motherless babes 
 
 Give for the destitute blind 
 
 Give for the shelterless men 
 
 Give for betrayed womenkind : v < 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 307 
 
 Give for the blameless and blamed 
 
 Give for the crippled and maimed 
 
 Give for the victims of this 
 
 Give for the victims of that 
 
 Give, give, give and again 
 
 Give, give, give, give because 
 
 We like the game as it runs 
 
 We like the prevalent laws !' 
 
 Of course, they do for while the tocsin rings, 
 
 While sympathetic talk is carried on 
 
 And all collection strategies are worked 
 
 They can hold on to their own million rolls 
 
 Not seldom doubling them. The ruined town 
 
 Lies prostrate at your feet, a moving mass 
 
 Of helpless flesh steeped into misery. 
 
 And then you offer help ! Cannot you see 
 
 What charity of this kind is good for.'' 
 
 It helps to bear injustice, cruel wrong. 
 
 And makes the victims give their gratitude 
 
 To those who took all else in life from them. . . . 
 
 Then if you hand a microscopic part 
 
 Of unrequited wealth as a clear gift 
 
 To sufferers for your ambition's sake, 
 
 A host of high-toned beggars will acclaim 
 
 Your deed an act of grand philanthropy 
 
 And your own self a knight of charity !" 
 
 But do we need this superfluous regard 
 
 Of multitudes already out of head.'' 
 
 I ventured to inquire and the great 
 
 Old man replied with double emphasis: 
 
 "Again, remember, always bear in mind 
 
 That force of Monocratic power comes 
 
 Of Democratic weakness fostering which 
 
308 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Enhances values of the royal state. 
 
 And what could do more harm, undermine 
 
 To deeper depths the body politic 
 
 Than virtue-claiming wide-spread beggary 
 
 That puts dependence on a premium 
 
 And pauperizes both those who receive 
 
 And those who give? Good Samaritan souls, 
 
 They clear the field for repetition of 
 
 The things insuring our security." 
 
 I 2 
 
 A fitful breathing broke the flow of words 
 
 That came like precious pearls from the lips 
 
 Of this grand emperor. I really came 
 
 To love him, although several years ago 
 
 He frowned upon my love (she could not boast 
 
 Of high enough exalted origin). 
 
 When that I was to get as heritage 
 
 All he possessed, his spirit seemed sublime, 
 
 These words he said, after a little rest : 
 
 "You often heard and often will repeat 
 
 The claim that we rule by the grace of God; 
 
 But understand that is not so. This fib. 
 
 This pious lie is fed unto the mass 
 
 Because it is a never-failing bait 
 
 Which people love to swallow; your real strength 
 
 Comes from the Earth. Do not permit your mind 
 
 To go astray on speculative paths 
 
 Of brain-stormed theories regarding Right. 
 
 The base on which a throne must be maintained 
 
 Is force, brute force ; the sword, the knout, the gun ; 
 
 And all your moves and countermoves throughout 
 
 The labyrinth of fickle politics 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 309 
 
 Must serve to keep their power keen and fresh. 
 Men seek protection by your bayonets 
 And in your favor highest saving grace. 
 The king's good will is royal stock in trade, 
 Economize with every part of it. 
 A condescension of whatever kind 
 Can fetch returns of stupendous size. 
 Each kindly act must be so advertised 
 That several nations utter thanks for it. 
 A friendly glance upon a passing child, 
 Or sympathy shown for one in distress, 
 Shall find laudation in the several tongues 
 Of your domain done with such fine effect 
 That men regard you as God's prototype 
 And punish every whispered syllable 
 Of disrespect concerning you or yours 
 As blasphemy! So doped the several groups 
 Contending for your favor, strive and fight 
 To make your faintest wish an iron will. 
 The fiercer their contention just so much 
 The prouder they will be of wrongs achieved 
 Against each other's rights and liberties — 
 And those who may survive the blind melee 
 Will herald it forth as prosperity !" 
 
 I 3 
 
 Hark, more of monocratic cabals came 
 
 Within my understanding from the Grand 
 
 Old Man ; for though he weakened, he spoke on : 
 
 "Feed false conceits to each self-centered heart 
 
 So that the core of it be tinder dry 
 
 Quite ready any time to be devoured 
 
 In holocausts when that such is the thing 
 
310 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Required for maintaining your decrees 
 
 As arbiter of human destiny." 
 
 I trembled in delight to hear such grand 
 
 Exalted counselling and listened on: 
 
 "It matters nothing how the flames are fed 
 
 Through splash of blood or clash of interests ; 
 
 Use any means at all, in any way, 
 
 So there be conflict and its fires burn 
 
 With love-excluding, soul-consuming fire; 
 
 Until what is left of the shriveled heart 
 
 Becomes as worthless as a peanut shell. 
 
 The means for it.? There is no end to them: 
 
 In palace born never fail to play 
 
 Your part 'midst proper pompous settings and 
 
 No matter how the tax machinery squeaks 
 
 Or how its grim extortions chafe and choke, 
 
 You live in more inflated high-flown pomp 
 
 Than all the rest ambitious so to live. . . . 
 
 Thus will you give a motive cause and aim 
 
 Perpetual for envious rivalries. 
 
 In politics let men play all the tricks 
 
 Of crafty statecraft in the fond belief 
 
 It serves their purpose while they all serve yours ! 
 
 Attempting to come nearer to your plane 
 
 Where room is scarce, they push and struggle on 
 
 And trip each other with the devil's skill, 
 
 Each justifying its own gluttony 
 
 For foul advancement with the decadence 
 
 Of all the rest. You need but smile 
 
 On one or on the other and the flames 
 
 Of envy will flare up between the rest." 
 
 Entranced I barkened to the glorious 
 
 Epistles of a mind that seemed to grow 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 311 
 
 In luminosity each passing hour. 
 
 Praise I too much the light? Consider this : 
 
 "Though you may teach your shackled underlings 
 
 To place reliance in the will of God 
 
 You must not do so. Don't rely on chance 
 
 Nor act the will of any but your own — 
 
 Prognosticating carefully effects 
 
 Of every move, make proper use of each. 
 
 So, knowing multitudes are hungry for 
 
 The morsels falling from your table's edge 
 
 Just let them scramble for it ; that, too, brings 
 
 On conflict which you ever must promote." 
 
 But how? I asked, and as his answer came 
 
 I held each word for future reference. 
 
 Hark to the monarch's wisdom, this he said 
 
 In slow deliberate, impressive style : 
 
 "Have no two men feel as of equal worth 
 
 And play the feud of each against the rest. 
 
 Some love to get paid for preaching beliefs; 
 
 Through them instil, imbed in every breast 
 
 A strong belief in slavery until 
 
 Each man believes down in his very heart 
 
 That he, by nature, is an underHng. 
 
 Have no two men feel as of equal worth 
 
 But have in each impounded a belief 
 
 Of low or high estate and grades between 
 
 Designed for storing mutual jealousies. 
 
 And mark! They must be fed and kept alive; 
 
 With all the arts maintain the jealous eye 
 
 Amongst your unterthans. There must be guile 
 
 In plentiful abundance, fatuous goals, 
 
 Cross purposes, ugly imbroglios. 
 
 Freak litigations, shrill discordant notes, 
 
312 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 A constant clamor of conflicting wills 
 
 To make the monarch's fiat welcome. So 
 
 Let every one be imbued with the wish 
 
 To have some one beneath, ply under ply 
 
 Down to the lowest pit of Hell on Earth. 
 
 Again, remember conflict is the bread 
 
 Of life for monocrats to prosper on ; 
 
 So, leave your people in no better strength 
 
 Than gives your prowess plethoric display. . . . 
 
 With laws galore unequalizing men. 
 
 Set them against each other, all the time. 
 
 By every means, in all conceivable ways. 
 
 So they will growl most every time they meet 
 
 And gnash their teeth though forcing up a smile 
 
 To hide the twitchings for revengeful bite. 
 
 Thus trained to think perversely and to hope 
 
 For power to destroy each other's kind 
 
 You always can control them by their want 
 
 And worship of the brute force which they lack. 
 
 With them the great brute force which you command 
 
 Discounts the sunlight of the universe — 
 
 Discountenance a proposition and 
 
 The mass of underlings will fly from it 
 
 As from a bad contagious disease ; 
 
 Ignore a man and you may rest assured 
 
 He will be shunned by every seeker of 
 
 Your grace; condemn his printed word and it 
 
 Will be consumed in leaping flames upon 
 
 The public square. A frown from you will wilt 
 
 Most any life, through houndings undergone; 
 
 A smile of yours will raise to eminence 
 
 In men's esteem most any flattering ape — 
 
 Such is the influence of kingly rule," 
 
CABALS OF MONOCRACY 313 
 
 With bated breath I barkened on 
 
 And watched the weakening whispers come my way. 
 
 His voice fainter grew and yet more faint 
 
 Until I could not comprehend the fine 
 
 Soft, zephyr-like vibrations in the air. 
 
 With pent-up interest at highest pitch 
 
 My palpitating heart cried out imploringly : 
 
 One more, oh, just one other ray of light — 
 
 What is the key to all this wisdom's store? 
 
 How shall I know just when, just what to do 
 
 By what criterion judge every deed? 
 
 And oh, the joy, as I could grasp his words 
 
 Of answer a most wonderful reply : 
 
 "Just make it pay," he said, "just make it pay." . . . 
 
 But how, I thought with all my mental strength, 
 
 How can that pay which shows so much of loss? 
 
 And yet, another message brought reply 
 
 'Twas but a gasp, his last I am quite sure, 
 
 Yet I could feel it clothed in a smile: 
 
 *'Make men believe it pays them to he slaves." 
 
 Therein is power ! Therefrom is sustained 
 
 The mailed fist, the much-sung iron heel, 
 
 Through preachers of this dispensation and 
 
 The glamor of the knaves who fool the most. 
 
 We tread upon the necks of all and lo. 
 
 We deal each liberal move the final blow 
 
 By calling our rule civilization oh! — 
 
 Afterthought : 
 
 Let this be consolation : if we fall 
 
 Others will apply our schemings, all. 
 
PART SEVEN 
 EAST AND WEST 
 
 SONNETS ON FRIENDSHIP, PEACE AND GOOD WILL 
 TO 
 
 Sadachiro Horiye 
 
EAST AND WEST 
 
 EASTERNMOST FRIEND 
 
 We know the Zodiac by daily test, 
 
 But is there anything that stands between 
 
 The constellations, in the heaven's sheen, 
 
 To part the starry hosts — save human quest? 
 
 You hail from East and I grew in the West 
 
 But are we not one kind? Have we not been 
 
 Through evolution's mill so, heart-beats mean 
 
 The same things in my bosom and your breast ? 
 
 The jungle had its day. Each tribe, each clan 
 
 Had years of all-eclipsing pride. . . . We can. 
 
 Reviewing tomes of Yamata and Greece, 
 
 Praise conquering heroes and the heroes slain — 
 
 Still, may we not opine and entertain 
 
 Hope for a world at work in friendly peace? 
 
 HERE AND THERE 
 
 You have your sacred hills and sacred dales. 
 We have enchanting canyons, falls and rills ; 
 You have your potteries, we have our mills ; 
 You drive a bargain as we make our sales ; 
 You have your dancing girls, flirting males. 
 We have our ballet dancers dressed in frills — 
 In history or literature that thrills. 
 You tell your stories and we tell our tales. 
 You have your many shrines, we have our saints ; 
 To match your grievance each, we have complaints. 
 You have an ancient past, but can you say 
 That ours began at some much later day? 
 We both have feelings, humor, thought and art — 
 Oh, East and West, why should we pull apart? 
 
 317 
 
318 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 3 
 
 THE soul's choice 
 
 Could souls on entering Earth maturely choose 
 
 Their station in life ; ground where to reside, 
 
 A face to show, and eyes to look with pride; 
 
 What manners to adopt, what tongue to use, 
 
 Which tomes of history with faith peruse ; 
 
 What color skin to wear, what hobby ride 
 
 As the one infallible heavenly guide — 
 
 I fancy, this is how a soul might muse: 
 
 "The North blows cold, Equatorwards it quakes ; 
 
 Not all of East nor all of West is kind, 
 
 And not a language but records mistakes, 
 
 Nor is there ancestry whose every glance 
 
 Was pure angelic vision. . . ." Then the mind. 
 
 With eyes completely shut, would take a chance. 
 
 HOMOLOGY 
 
 Earth moves along enclosed in starry skies, 
 It gladly hails the atmosphere of June 
 When rivers' murmur and the languid Moon, 
 In ways most wonderful, weave wondrous ties. 
 The wooer gazes into lovelit eyes — 
 Then obligations' sacred rite and soon 
 They hear the feathered songster's warbling tune 
 Outrivaled by a baby's gurgling cries. 
 Comes flashing comprehension of the world, 
 A shaft of will into its makeup hurl'd. 
 Intensive thinking, honest labor's sweat. 
 Achievements' glamor, finally, comes death. 
 And then.? A guess, inscrutable the rest — 
 Pray, breathes not life alike in East and West.? 
 
EAST AND WEST 319 
 
 5 
 
 THE COLOR LINE 
 
 Who wants a garden without colors' gleam? — 
 Here waves in gorgeous splendidness a stack 
 Of Golden Glows beside the crimson Jack 
 Whose velvet cheeks with solar warmth beam. 
 Whatever can the sense of sight esteem 
 More beautiful? And what of beauty lack 
 Brown Dahlias, the deep-dark rose Prince Black, 
 Or roses white with blush of moss-pink dream? 
 And this enchanting picture had been planned; 
 This synchrony of red, white, black, brown, tan 
 And all the rest is tended to in rain 
 Or shine, with love, by a dear lady friend — 
 Oh, give us gods or laws or simply plain 
 Philosophy to do as much for man ! . . . 
 
 INTERMARRIAGE 
 
 Perhaps the races should not intermarry. 
 
 May be, each has a special call on Earth: 
 
 One to go slow or even calmly tarry ; 
 
 One to rush on to blast the rock-sealed quarry 
 
 Of unknown depths ; one silent, pride begirth ; 
 
 And one, despite all trials, saving Mirth — 
 
 Who knows which is the world's salvation very? 
 
 But there is that which must needs intermingle — 
 
 Nor thought, nor art, nor labor can live single. 
 
 They must sustain each other. Blessed be the temple 
 
 Where they may unreservedly assemble. 
 
 Mix, join species, fuse, amalgamate. 
 
 Of such will be the future's glorious state. 
 
820 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 7 
 life's net 
 Set off with cordage from the twist of mind, 
 Life's road constrains us all to move within 
 The twine. Deciphering what the sign-posts mean 
 Is hard, and harder still good guides to find. 
 Far runs the gossamer — ahead, behind 
 And to our sides — that we must move between 
 By light from great redeeming visions seen — 
 By error, passion, prejudice made blind. 
 The endless cord 'twixt past and coming state 
 Is turned, pulled and jerked entangling fate 
 In Gordian knots which, cut by tragic deeds. 
 No tender heart can contemplate but bleeds. 
 And all the wise can do is but to bend 
 A tiny effort for the better end. 
 
 8 
 
 WAR IN FORTY YEARS 
 
 The avalanche of agony which sears 
 
 The bleeding Earth might well have been forestalled. 
 
 But lust for power, gain and conquest called 
 
 Brute force to bear, hence flows the flood of tears. 
 
 Yet, even now, while death-shrieks pierce our ears 
 
 Some harbor in their narrow, grudge enwalled 
 
 Breasts temper for a clash still deeper galled, 
 
 "A war of races due in forty years." 
 
 What shall they war about? Must legions fall 
 
 In settling which of latitudes to call 
 
 "Great First"? Or, which of longitudes decry? 
 
 Oh, this our planet is sufficient rough 
 
 For all to polish on ; and small enough 
 
 To love it whole, it all to sanctify. 
 
EAST AND WEST 321 
 
 SWORD AND PEN 
 
 Great ruler Sword! Sharp-bladed, glistening steel 
 
 Allied to righteousness oft freed the world 
 
 From woe, and saved it oft from being hurled 
 
 Back unto thraldom for a tyrant's meal. 
 
 Controlling power, court of last appeal. 
 
 Thy throne room often had been justice-pearled 
 
 Reflecting splendor on new flags unfurled 
 
 For loftier heights, for better commonweal. 
 
 Sword, thou art emperor yet, and at this late 
 
 Day thou art still the arbiter of Fate ! 
 
 But oh, thy sins fall heavy on all men, 
 
 So, we petition thee to abdicate 
 
 In favor of the conferential pen 
 
 Which can revise its dictum now and then. 
 
 10 
 
 ROSEWREATHS 
 
 And though we venerate past's glorious braves 
 
 We must not prick the old forgotten sores. 
 
 Must men recall pale, hoary-headed scores.? — 
 
 Were they not better buried in the graves 
 
 Of martyrs not one of whom ever craves 
 
 To be avenged? We have innumerable chores 
 
 To do upon contemporary shores 
 
 While watching how to-morrow's knight behaves. 
 
 I fain would hand rosewreaths of gratitude 
 
 To those who might yet will not force Old Feud 
 
 On the New Heart ; Divergence in its prime 
 
 Who do not choke ; and, midst upheavals vast 
 
 Who leave me, still, to labor and to cast 
 
 A bottled message in the sea of time. 
 
822 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 11 
 
 TEST OF LIFE 
 
 Life is a test we must constantly meet ; 
 
 And few the men, if ever one was born, 
 
 All smooth-grained velvet, rose without a thorn. 
 
 Who knows not frowning looks? Or anger's beat 
 
 Vibrating through words given in the heat 
 
 Of tensest mood? Perhaps, when overworn 
 
 The mind (with poise pummeled, tattered and torn) 
 
 Is victim to its weakness or conceit. 
 
 Man's soul loves light, but hearts are linked to gall. 
 
 Still, even though we may each other call: 
 
 "Slow", "overbearing", or uncivil things — 
 
 There is a truth parrying all such flings. 
 
 Regardless accusationary creeds. 
 
 We measure up according to our deeds ! 
 
 12 
 
 WARNING 
 
 Let not the world of antipodes toy 
 
 With dogs of war. They are held by a string 
 
 Precarious. The sanction of a king 
 
 Will set them on to pillage and destroy. . . . 
 
 In peace, their snarling soundeth cute and coy ; 
 
 But once let loose, the hills and valleys ring 
 
 With ugly cries (relayed by terror's wing) 
 
 To maul and maim and kill with prideful joy. 
 
 Sicked on by voices shouting flames of hell 
 
 On all who dare to walk apart and dwell 
 
 With commonsense ideals of their own. 
 
 Such is the nature of the murderous beast 
 
 It would devour all men, or West or East, 
 
 Who have the savage claws and teeth outgrown. 
 
EAST AND WEST 323 
 
 13 
 
 COHESION 
 
 Aye, some will scatter broadcast seeds of war, then 
 
 Shall better, wiser people, Hun or Turk 
 
 Or Japanese or Saxon ever shirk 
 
 Sinister propaganda to dishearten? 
 
 Is not each soul appointed a chief warden 
 
 To oversee the fields where dangers lurk? 
 
 And, if plants droop for lack of last year's work 
 
 Must not fair labor show in next year's garden? 
 
 The body politic turns fast and faster 
 
 Till hot extremities meet — in disaster 
 
 Harvesting sorrow, agony, remorse. 
 
 But wisdom does not fly off on a tangent 
 
 Its love and light endure, shine forth resplendent. 
 
 The world's uniting centripetal force. 
 
 14 
 
 DIFFERENCE 
 
 In peace men gather at the Roadside Inn 
 
 To barter labor's fruit. They go about 
 
 Exchanging wit, or trying to find out 
 
 The crux of justice and the why of sin. 
 
 Once set to fight the will wills but to "win". . . . 
 
 Whenever and wherever war breaks out 
 
 The whispers of the wild rise to a shout 
 
 And structures of civility cave in. 
 
 Then terror rules. Oh, how are they explainable 
 
 Who charge the air to-day with hates inflammable 
 
 To-morrow? See, what mankind must endure 
 
 Because of ills it knew, yet failed to cure ; 
 
 Because of tempers wisdom failed to cool. 
 
 Because reliance on the sword to rule. 
 
324 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 15 
 
 BITTERSWEET 
 
 A glance upon the far-spread picturesque skies 
 
 Beholding clouds, their fancy shades and motion 
 
 Enchants the heart, exalts it to emotion 
 
 Wherein the joy of life and wonder vies. 
 
 A thought about the battlefields where lies 
 
 A mass of corpses fallen in devotion 
 
 To heaven's call? No, but by human notion 
 
 And — is it a disgrace to have wet eyes? 
 
 How grand the tree of life ! Its rich crowned branches 
 
 Bring forth sweet fruit; but when the old trunk 
 
 drenches 
 With sap of bitterness a heart or nation 
 Or all the Earth . . . small seems the share enjoyed. 
 Ah, life is golden splendor unalloyed 
 In spots; in stretches grim, unquelled damnation. 
 
 16 
 
 RESPONSIBILITY 
 
 Strange, is it not unfortunately strange 
 That soon as sound the government alarms, 
 Men, mutually fond, must rush to arms 
 And — instead loving missils bombs exchange? 
 Can you, oh, friend, regard us in the trench 
 Aiming to kill whom we were wont to charm? 
 Still, if we come to war, its rain of harm, 
 Its flood of agony, its sea of stench. . . . 
 (I tell you now, we could not parley then.) 
 We must plead guilty — even you and I — 
 Of unloosing the curse of Evil Eye; 
 Because our love was not sufficient strong 
 To overcome the hate, however long 
 Fanned, in the hearts of purblind countrymen. 
 
! EAST AND WEST 325 
 
 17 
 
 WAR AND LIFE 
 
 Historians write and crimson runs the scroll, 
 For on its waltzing course among the stars, 
 Our Earth goes on in charge of war-god Mars. 
 How dreadfully his bloodshot eyeballs roll ! 
 What desolation is his daily toll! 
 His satrapees, reincarnated tzars, 
 Permit no act nor passive stand that mars 
 The death design of Martian Control. 
 In his domain the war lord cannot brook 
 A disapproving word or sigh or look. 
 He wields the strength of all. He is the state — 
 And yet, and still, the humane spirit craves 
 Fraternal hillsides not tormenting graves. 
 Love all embracing not eternal hate. 
 
 18 
 
 SAUL SLEW HIS THOUSANDS 
 
 Deluded lord of war! Forsooth his case 
 
 Is also pitiful. Lo, in defeat 
 
 He counts for less than dust under the feet 
 
 Of wandering tramps. Yet if he blaze, 
 
 With fiery onslaught, through the fields and raise 
 
 The tyrant's flag, such ending must he meet 
 
 As trade life's garment for a corpse's sheet, 
 
 Eternal blessing for fraudulent praise. 
 
 "Saul slew his thousands, David slew his tens 
 
 Of thousands." And they danced after they slew 
 
 The Amalek and Philistine — Oh, Jew 
 
 What hast thou gained by it? A poor pretense 
 
 Of pride, a memory which flowing years 
 
 Wore laughterless but never dry of tears. 
 
326 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 19 
 
 BURDEN SHARING 
 
 Reviewing annals of the past they seem — 
 
 The joys, the trembling fear, the tearful psalter, 
 
 The endless — boastingly recorded — slaughter, 
 
 A tragic-kaleidoscopic dream. 
 
 Whatever was the wrongful party's scheme? 
 
 Degrading one to drudgery's son or daughter — 
 
 Gain hewers of wood and drawers of water — 
 
 Or raising one to rulership supreme. 
 
 Indeed the bloodstained weird, biblical ages 
 
 Show forth a wondrous book. Throughout its pages 
 
 We see the warriors' contest raging on. 
 
 Now this, now that brave race or figure won. 
 
 But all the while, we know, the banner-bearers 
 
 Of right were countless unknown burden sharers. 
 
 20 
 
 APPLIED PRAYER 
 
 They were, they are, they will be for some time 
 
 Whose goal in Hfe is war, the battle cry 
 
 Much longed for music ; oh, but you and I 
 
 May we not ring of friendly hearts the chime.? 
 
 When comes the day that rulers of my clime 
 
 And yours have drawn the sword, even a sigh 
 
 For peace will seem to war-inflamed eye 
 
 Comforting enemies, high treason's crime. 
 
 So reach forth, brother, while and where our hands 
 
 May clasp, that we may know in dismal days 
 
 (Though we be cast into the lion's den 
 
 For not prostrating self where power stands) 
 
 Of souls that strive for what the mass but prays : 
 
 "Peace be on Earth and good will unto men." 
 
EAST AND WEST 327 
 
 21 
 
 VICTIM OF VICTIMS 
 
 'Midst clanging noisy turmoil that befogs 
 
 The mind, the warlord thrives. His hounds are set 
 
 To spread the virus of melee, to whet 
 
 On hate, and goad on love for fighting togs. 
 
 All wayward legends serve as burning logs 
 
 To raise combative fire. Each shibboleth 
 
 Is turned to account in trampling flat 
 
 What in the least mad onward rushing clogs. 
 
 Quite fortunate who with the throbbing throng 
 
 May feel exalted in most any plight. 
 
 May kill or die for cause he thinks is right. 
 
 Whatever may be said by future's tongue — 
 
 Alas, some men must suffer taunt or fight. 
 
 Must kill or die for what they know is wrong, 
 
 22 
 
 THE HEART IIEBEI.I.IOUS 
 
 Death holds no terror for the mature mind. 
 
 As that is but a complement of life ; 
 
 Nor need we shrink from facing winds of strife 
 
 For they but peal from off our eyes the blind. 
 
 So, come black angel any time, you'll find, 
 
 Than mine, no vital thread has met your knife 
 
 In readier mood ; nor trouble's bubble, rife 
 
 To burst, found host of much more patient kind. 
 
 It is the futile efforts which dispel 
 
 Hope, needlessness of pain is what hurts most ; 
 
 The cutting down of mankind on a post 
 
 Relentless laws of nature call not for. 
 
 That wounds the tender heart beyond succor — 
 
 Must not such heart, ere choke in pain, rebel.? 
 
828 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 23 
 
 REMEMBER 
 
 Against the time when reigning hands succeed 
 To clash two hemispheres in bloody fray ; 
 When pleading love is cowardice, decay, 
 And nought but slaughter is a glorious deed; 
 When Moloch's priests on all men's children feed — 
 Against that time, oh, friend, let me convey 
 These words which then unlawful were to say 
 On pain of being classed vile, traitorous breed: — 
 That you whose soul grows flowers of esteem 
 For everything good, beautiful and true, 
 And I who farthest living mankind deem 
 Most near in kinship, we shall con-ti-nue 
 To feel as brothers should, we shall be friends ! 
 Or else the world in primal chaos ends. 
 
 24 
 
 CONSOLATION 
 
 Poor bird! This morning, under smiling skies, 
 
 He fluted forth his love-song's charming tune. 
 
 And now, at eventide, fine, balmy June 
 
 Had lost its splendor. Heartsore, plaintive cries 
 
 Fall on the air. Oh, how the singer tries 
 
 To wake response! In vain shines forth the Moon, 
 
 His notes but rise in calling for the boon 
 
 That leaves the cosmos void whene'er it dies. 
 
 Dear winged friend, there is no soothing balm 
 
 To ease thine pain, thine aching heart to calm, 
 
 No help for carrying weight most hard to bear — 
 
 And yet thou shouldst not feel disconsolate. 
 
 As mankind feels, for thou must be aware: 
 
 No feathered fellow robin killed thy mate. 
 
EAST AND WEST 329 
 
 25 
 
 A DAY OF WAR 
 
 Another horrid battle. . . . Vespers knell 
 The day's conclusion. It is done and past. 
 What boots it now to sob or stand aghast 
 At miseries that none can count or tell 
 And agonies that none can name or quell? 
 But cry we must and tears fall thick and fast 
 Because the storm proved, by anchors cast, 
 Pretentious rocks to be but empty shell. . . . 
 And yet, oh, world, your way-lost children cling, 
 By lights that failed, to reeds that broke. . . . They 
 
 sing 
 The songs of combat with unswerving will. 
 What, after all, is of all this the aim? — 
 The truth which grey-haired wisdom may proclaim 
 Is but a fallen tear-drop glistening still. 
 
 26 
 
 DESTINY 
 
 Fell, booming cannons rend us night and noon. 
 Although their shells fall far, far, far away; 
 Innocent blood in streams and lakes we pay 
 While dancing madly to war's terror-tune. 
 How many hateless-hearted mothers swoon 
 Of sons who go unwilling to the fray? 
 How many die, and worse, how many slay 
 As on the stage a marionette platoon? 
 What Juggernaut ! Oh, how long will it roll 
 Its crimson imprint on the tender scroll 
 Of justice loving fair humanity? 
 Must not the whole of Martian aggregate 
 In disenchantment sink by its own weight? 
 Must it not die of its enormity? 
 
330 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 27 
 
 THROUGH THE MILL 
 
 This day is done for. Roses from its cheeks 
 Have withered like the smile before a mound 
 Fresh thrown, tear-wet, on cemetery ground. . . , 
 The game is over now, of hide and seek ; 
 Now it is seen, the heart that badly leaks, 
 The overloaded spleen, the nerves gall-wound, 
 While surgeons of society walk round 
 Knee-deep in blood, let through preceding weeks. 
 And grappling in the stranglehold of death 
 Humanity hears but the sounds of drum 
 And trumpet. . . . World, oh, let this tragic pay, 
 (Of countless wrongs the sorry aftermath,) 
 Be, leastwise, paving of a better way 
 For those who are to live in days to come. 
 
 28 
 
 THE CHEER IN THE TEAR 
 
 If we be led like ancient sacrifice 
 
 Unto the altars of bloodthirsty gods. 
 
 Let us be cheerful still, accept the nods 
 
 Of stupid mass acclaim, a dark surplice 
 
 Of future's promise bright. 'Tis law that vice 
 
 Must cut innocent flesh with burning rods 
 
 Of punishment. Such ever were the odds 
 
 In coming up to pay salvation's price. 
 
 Perhaps, if brute force slew but guilty hearts. 
 
 There always would be cause that fairly parts 
 
 One from the rest. Slaying innocents ! Oh, 
 
 Horrid it is and yet it must be so. 
 
 For only so has resolution birth 
 
 That guilt itself shall perish from the Earth. 
 
EAST AND WEST 331 
 
 29 
 
 LOVE UNCONFINED 
 
 This morning I saw scores of youths entrained 
 
 For battlefields. An old man who looked on 
 
 Fell swooning to the ground. . . . Breath had not 
 
 gone, 
 Beyond the great divide. So, stronger grained 
 Bystanders brought the old man to. What pained 
 Him to excess.? They asked: "Have you a son 
 Amongst them.?" He replied: "No, not a one 
 Is of my blood" — and sobbingly explained : — 
 Were one most precious to me . . . reasoned hope 
 In fortune's wheel . . . would always fitly cope 
 With blasts of pain. . . . Blown from the horoscope 
 Of that one dear. . . . But loving all . . . the fate 
 Of each goes through my heart. . . . Oh, parents 
 
 love 
 Sufficient well but not enough . . . not enough. . . . 
 
 30 
 
 PATRIOTISM 
 
 True patriotic spirit at its fount, 
 
 Had birth in gratitude to gracious land 
 
 Where life began its beat at love's command, 
 
 And body nurtured soul which round by round 
 
 Rose unto higher states, until the final count 
 
 When precious friendship, faithful to the end, 
 
 Can do no more than reach a tender hand 
 
 To close the eyelids — past the final mount. . . . 
 
 Home is a lofty temple sanctified 
 
 By pangs of birth, by gasps of those who died 
 
 And by the holy strivings of each mind 
 
 To lighten, brighten days for kin and kind — 
 
 Despoiling conquerors must be people who 
 
 The sacredness of home love never knew. 
 
332 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 31 
 
 THE WORLD BEAUTIFUL 
 
 Creation everywhere for homage calls. 
 
 Mount Fuji's brilliance oft lights up my dreams, 
 
 I wonder at your quick reforming schemes 
 
 And contemplate with awe your ancient walls. 
 
 And you, can you regard Niagara Falls 
 
 As of great nature's grudging baser means? 
 
 Can you imagine untouched stirring scenes 
 
 And wordy fireworks in our meeting halls? 
 
 Both, eastern and the western banks of ocean 
 
 Bear record of identical emotion; 
 
 Both East and West fly birds with feathers fine. 
 
 Is it not far too difficult an order 
 
 To speak praise but for this side of a border 
 
 And stop admiring Earth beyond a line? 
 
 32 
 
 writer's plight 
 Repeatedly I dived into the sea 
 Of thoughtful art from its vast deep to bring 
 A pearl so fine, into the brilliant ring 
 Of truth, that all who ever read should see 
 The oneness of our world, especially 
 The oneness of impulse, this vital thing 
 From which prime source most human actions spring 
 And intertwine all human destiny. 
 With feelings trained to sight the common goal, 
 No ships of state need break on treacherous shoal 
 Nor need a soul be wrecked by its own fault — 
 Oh, tantalizing pen, what you convey 
 Shows like a copper from a golden vault 
 Or like our second in a Jovian day. 
 
EAST AND WEST 333 
 
 33 
 
 RHYME AND REASON 
 
 Sweet lulling syllables, words soft and tender, 
 
 Or stirring sounds and thundering appeal 
 
 For slogans in which ruling powers deal; 
 
 Geography, Genethliacs and Gender, 
 
 That is the stuff provincial poets render. 
 
 Inflicting more wounds than their songs can heal. 
 
 Contemporary troubadours anneal 
 
 The corner saint with a world-wide offender. . . . 
 
 The ear, the lips, the tongue, the palate even 
 
 Enjoys the measured tuneful sway of rhyme; 
 
 In this art builds with weightless bricks of time 
 
 And makes its work live by emotion's leaven, 
 
 But jingling reason-void words about 
 
 Is like creating worlds with light left out. 
 
 34 
 
 CONVINCING ARGUMENT 
 
 We trudge with painful steps in hardened rut 
 
 Beneath skies dark as if that doomsday lent 
 
 Its blackest cloud for our firmament — 
 
 To-morrow bringeth forth, we know not what. 
 
 Has human progress really overshot 
 
 The mark our seers saw our dreamers dreamt? 
 
 (And, oh, how hard they worked, how well they 
 
 meant.) 
 All would seem now a futile prayer but — 
 Here many thousands struggled to express 
 The equal right of men to happiness. 
 Here is a soul self-burdened with the task 
 To hold the promise and its yield to ask. 
 Here is a heart delighted through and through 
 With everything that helps the dream come true. 
 
334 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 35 
 
 LEAGUE OF NATIONS 
 
 Out of the gloomy dark a star shines forth — 
 
 The ever glorious star of common sense, 
 
 Propitiated through experience, 
 
 Prevails on hearts to bring about the birth 
 
 Of mankind's unity. May it be worth 
 
 The dreadful cost! Built strong to banish hence 
 
 War-tragedies beyond recrudescence 
 
 In any part of East, West, South or North ; 
 
 A lofty structure, all embracing, true. 
 
 With broad and liberal windows for each view, 
 
 And ample doors for progress to march through 
 
 In all directions ; also, one grand hall 
 
 Wherein the voices may be heard of all 
 
 Reiterated in fraternal call. 
 
 36 
 
 THOUGHT OF PEACE 
 
 Oh, what good is it longing for the light 
 
 Of human brotherhood, its precious joys; 
 
 When through the state governing will employs 
 
 Life's foremost energies in deadly fight? 
 
 And adding darkness to the black of night, 
 
 Crude embryonic dip-lo-ma-cy toys 
 
 With fell deceit as if its base alloys 
 
 Could ever change to jewels truly bright. 
 
 With all the world for battle's field imprest, 
 
 Can doves of peace at all set up a nest? 
 
 Oh, yes, they build ! They build, their work may lag 
 
 Yet through it, still, the future's peace is wrought. 
 
 Time had a day wherever floats a flag 
 
 When there was nothing to it but a thought. 
 
EAST AND WEST 335 
 
 37 
 
 AMBITION TO RISE 
 
 As in the world of men some elevate 
 
 Their valued selves, so in the ocean's deep 
 
 Where countless molecules combine to keep 
 
 The topmost layers in a rolling state; 
 
 A tiny atom rose, imbued by fate 
 
 To take that course. Now, through a weary wait, 
 
 Then by a skilful push or reckless leap 
 
 It reached the level where the billows sleep 
 
 And all their puzzling whims originate. 
 
 Up, up it came the battling atom brave, 
 
 It scaled the center of a rising wave ; 
 
 And still it pushed to light and air, athirst 
 
 For fame and great renown. On, on it pressed 
 
 Into the foamy surface of the crest, 
 
 Just to be seen ! — And then a bubble burst. 
 
 38 
 
 SOLUBILITY OF GREATNESS 
 
 Who is the greatest? He, who caused a brain 
 
 To formulate a thought that favor won, 
 
 Or he who out of it a volume spun, 
 
 Or he who set the book in fashion's train? — 
 
 Is it the stageman staging sobbings vain? 
 
 Or jokesmith forging ephemeral fun? 
 
 Or linguist thinking in three tongues? — Or, one 
 
 Who knows the language of the growing grain? 
 
 Behold, real greatness has no stamp or mark; 
 
 How could it in our little earthly cage 
 
 Fetched, latched, matched, stretched, patched, 
 
 thatched from age to age? 
 If there be greatness we must seek for it 
 In smallest things of all, or reckon it 
 Beyond our span of interstellar arc. 
 
336 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 39 
 
 SUBSTANCE OF PRIDE 
 
 The proudest prince in seven countries — why? 
 
 A peasant woman gave him suck, he fed 
 
 (Aside from courtiers' praises) on white bread 
 
 Produced by brown hands. The whole supply 
 
 Of knowledge, art and wisdom, or well nigh 
 
 The whole of it, that this proud ruler had 
 
 Came from the great world over, its length and 
 
 breadth. 
 Then, is not pride a disingenuous lie? — 
 It is a partial, unfair estimate 
 Of flesh and mind-consuming efforts spent; 
 A valuation disproportionate; 
 A false account of one's accomplishment 
 Deceiving — none so much nor in so crude 
 A way as self — through blind ingratitude. 
 
 40 
 
 NON-VICARIOUS MERIT 
 
 The height of my ambition is to be 
 
 A useful fellow human; just and fair 
 
 To one and all, at all times everywhere, 
 
 A faithful link in world fraternity. 
 
 So shall life's sweet and bitter come to me. 
 
 (Lift ethics from life's song and what is there 
 
 But wildward vegetation's tone despair 
 
 With neither dissonance nor harmony?) 
 
 Now, if I fail the standard will you scold 
 
 My elsewise thinking ancestors of old? 
 
 And wherein they have fought and moved ahead 
 
 Do I deserve the credit in their stead? 
 
 Oh, for a goodly Sermon on the Mount 
 
 Proclaiming each new life a new account ! 
 
EAST AND WEST 337 
 
 41 
 
 AN APPLE AND ITS TREE 
 
 A query often halts the savant's flow 
 
 Of contemplative thought: — What shall they do 
 
 Whose Totem wallows (heeding not the view 
 
 He gives lengthwise the trough? . . . Well, see a 
 
 show 
 Where feeds with lusty zest a goodly row 
 Of them — in peace; each snuffling singly through 
 An orifice apart, made by one who 
 Divined the nature of the beast you know. . . . 
 Amongst men, too, such care is wanted, alas, 
 (See gratings in the moneychangers' palace.) 
 To keep at bay lusting cupidity. 
 However, friend philosopher, you need 
 Not worry on this score. Remember, Greed 
 Is but an offspring of Stupidity. 
 
 42 
 
 PSYCHOLOGY 
 
 As flows a river banked by earth and air 
 
 So runs the mind through cell-bound cerebration. 
 
 Presentiment, misgiving, imprecation. 
 
 Love, sympathy and kindliness all share 
 
 This river bed ; all springs from life's mutation. 
 
 From memories wrought by school and sect and 
 
 nation 
 And from conclusions reached or false or fair. 
 Oh, may the coursing currents in our brains 
 Have birth and run through channels of desires 
 That help the mind when good-ward it aspires ; 
 Emerging from philogenetic chains, 
 May they produce a new synthetic light 
 That seldom fails and often leads aright. 
 
338 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 43 
 
 THE CLASSES 
 
 Dismantle but his throne and under stress 
 
 Of plain necessity the tzar can see 
 
 Of all his pride the piteous vanity, 
 
 Of all his might the utter emptiness. 
 
 Conceits of lesser weight must know no less 
 
 Eternal laws of volatility. 
 
 Regard them so and castes will prove to be 
 
 Vaporings of imagined loftiness. 
 
 Though thought is force issuing forth events, 
 
 It does not alter primal elements — 
 
 True merit not by acclamation grows. 
 
 Nor honor by what recognition shows. 
 
 No matter what mistaken minds assume. 
 
 Just prick a bubble and you spell its doom. 
 
 44 
 
 GLORY SUPREME 
 
 Of vital aim a fresh electron reared 
 
 Its home, modestly, in a drop of dew, 
 
 And there it glistened for a dawn or two. 
 
 Intent upon its work, then disappeared — 
 
 From sight, but not from life as some have feared 
 
 Whose glances passed the rose-tree bud which drew 
 
 It down (through swelling, petal) till it grew 
 
 A part of coursing sap within. Endeared 
 
 By all the ties of leaf and stem and ground 
 
 The small electron ever went its round 
 
 Unseen, from root to crown. Yet there are those 
 
 Who stand enchanted in the balmy glen. 
 
 Gorgeous with flowers for the joy of men. 
 
 And wonder whence comes fragrance of the rose. . . . 
 
EAST AND WEST 339 
 
 45 
 
 THE FLAG INVISIBLE 
 
 Mankind loves symbols ! Now, the purest white 
 How often stands for weak submission's sign? 
 And who would yield for ought a moment's shine 
 Of settled truth, or that of virtues' light? — 
 Rich chromatography and spectrum bright 
 Avails us not. Oh, who can mix so fine 
 The pigments and conceive such deft design 
 Of hues and shapes that set a wrong course right? 
 Earth holds no color which enchants a heart 
 To breathe in justice or to play the part 
 Of social unit nobly, strong and well. 
 If you would own an emblem of the goal 
 The world is aching for, let your breast swell 
 With love for it extracted from your soul. 
 
 46 
 
 REASON FOR EXISTENCE 
 
 A thousand forces chain us to the past, 
 
 Unto the hillside and the sheltering cave 
 
 Where mind had birth and contemplation gave 
 
 It wings to soar above the mountains vast. 
 
 But full as many future glories cast 
 
 Their warming rays on pathways trod by brave 
 
 Salvation-bearing souls that fondly crave 
 
 A bond of peace which shall forever last. . . . 
 
 And as creation's energy is spent 
 
 Well setting stars into a firmament 
 
 The joyous hearted wonder at and bless ; 
 
 So is it grand in life, however brief. 
 
 To add a cell unto the coral reef 
 
 Of all encircling human happiness. 
 
340 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 47 
 
 RENDEZVOUS 
 
 Oh, friend, who workest from the other side 
 The tunnel piercing Mountain Prejudice; 
 Or roadway, cutting peaks and precipice 
 Of false conceit and fatuous fratricide — 
 May reason's torch forever be our guide, 
 And may our lips bear witness to the bliss 
 Conferred on souls by truth's angelic kiss 
 Through loving justice more than hugging pride. 
 Thus shall we kindle strength to disenthrall 
 And purge the world from witcheries of hate ; 
 So shall we find the broad plains, or create 
 Fine lofty plateaus, whereon we may meet, 
 One righteous family whose members all 
 In friendly service joyfully compete. 
 
 48 
 
 ONE MORE 
 
 How soon to-day is passing into yore — 
 
 Its imprint, though, is faithfully enrolled 
 
 On parchments that mysteriously unfold 
 
 In memory's Hall of Records built therefor. 
 
 When, in the course of retrospect, its floor 
 
 Will show remembrance of this friend of old, 
 
 I fain would cheer you on ! I fain would hold 
 
 In your esteem the title of One More. 
 
 One More in opposition to imposts 
 
 Of any thraldom; One More in the hosts 
 
 Of progress seeking, in truth, to adjust 
 
 Affairs of men so it redeem man's trust 
 
 In mankind ; and, when classifying fighters, 
 
 Recall me as One More of world uniters. 
 
EAST AND WEST 341 
 
 HUMANITY PROUD 
 
 We cannot if we would stay troglodyte; 
 For distance disappears and each partakes, 
 As in communion, of common stakes 
 Broad as the heavens, high as starry light. 
 Humility forsake us not ! Despite 
 Our million faults and billions of mistakes, 
 Man looms so mighty, large, and great, it wakes 
 One's pride in things he did and may indite. 
 With awful grandeur's air we are begirt. 
 The foot of man denotes the top of Earth, 
 We hold the center in time's endless sheet. 
 In us remotest past and future meet. 
 Through human thinking is recorded still 
 The secret code of universal will. 
 
 50 
 
 AIRCASTLE 
 
 Somewhere on Toilsome Hill, in bold relief 
 
 Against the sombre skies, a mansion stands 
 
 With windows wide from which inhabitants 
 
 Appraise the landscape ; meadows, rock and reef 
 
 A vision beautiful. Life, far from brief. 
 
 Seems endless, like the realm that thought commands ; 
 
 And so is love ; work, play of minds with hands ; 
 
 And simple truths the worthiest belief. 
 
 A wondrous mansion that. Viewed from its spire 
 
 Each heart is filled with kind and just desire, 
 
 And every soul a sovereign is — most high. 
 
 Call you this house a castle in the air.? 
 
 But even so it is substantial. There 
 
 Is ample room — in it to live and die. 
 
PART EIGHT 
 SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 
 
 A Program Toward Its Attainment 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 
 A Program Toward Its Attainment 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Hope springs eternal in the human breast, and 
 SO, despite the terrific strain of a world war and 
 the prevalent war-psychology, one may and should 
 seek a base on which faultily intertwined human rela- 
 tions can be untangled without recourse to wholesale 
 murder and destruction. 
 
 That base of peace, can it be ultra militaristic 
 preparedness for war, or does it lie along the lines 
 of total disarmament? Must we continually rattle 
 the sabre, or must we always be ready for an un- 
 conditional surrender to whosoever chooses to draw 
 the sword? 
 
 The present essay is the result of an effort to 
 find an answer to that pressing problem which, 
 amidst all the turmoil of many-sided hostilities, is 
 of leading importance and will remain such until a 
 way will be found to settle it for good and forever. 
 
 Our generation must stand before the bar of his- 
 tory forever confirming the truth that military pre- 
 paredness served to bring on and to cause the erup- 
 tion of this World War, rather than being leastwise 
 instrumental in preventing it. 
 
 And much less can we depend on defenselessness 
 345 
 
846 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 for safety while the world lacks care and sentiment 
 even as it lacks economic adjustment and political 
 machinery to get along without dash of interests 
 and ideals. 
 
 So, we are compelled to seek further and reach 
 out for some other method of final settlement, even 
 though it involves ways and means hitherto untried. 
 
 The argument, conclusions and proposals herein 
 offered were thought out in a spirit disposed to "re- 
 member them that are in bonds as being bound with 
 them ; and them which suffer adversity as being your- 
 selves also in the body." So the contemplation rests 
 on the idea of a warless dispensation. The essence 
 of it all, it will be seen, is not a wild shout for war 
 at any rate, though far removed from the dismal cry 
 of peace at any price. It is as far from clanging 
 blood-smeared weapons of controlling dominance as 
 from rattling folly-forged chains of slavery. 
 
 Constructively, the essay will be found to purport 
 bringing about improved motives, equalized pros- 
 perity, common sense in international relations, and 
 for the protective force of the body politic a harness- 
 ing of the people's energy (utilitarian fashion) for 
 grand-scale constructive effort convertible, in case 
 of dire need, into full-blown military exertion; fur- 
 thermore, a constitutional change in the form of 
 government replacing the primitive incentive of 
 rivalry and contention with the spur of worth-while 
 emulation. 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 347 
 
 THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE MEDAL 
 
 Bright and shining are the medallions of war, and 
 proudly may the possessor of such an emolument 
 display it before an admiring world. The token has 
 been well paid for with treasure of body, heart and 
 soul; and well may it be regarded with respect and 
 awe by every beholder. 
 
 But pass the Roentgen rays of understanding 
 through the precious peace of metal, way through, 
 to the other side of it and what do you see? 
 
 Human bodies writhing in blood. Hosts of muti- 
 lated children of men. Rats feeding on the aban- 
 doned helpless and dead. A city in flames, a country- 
 side in ashes. Ships at the bottom of the sea. . . . 
 Crowds of horrified fugitives on the road to nowhere. 
 Dejected prisoners, broken in heart and spirit; and 
 heartrending ramifications of pain for every victim 
 of the earth-encompassing tragedy. Can this be the 
 best achievement, the highest ideal of a noble soul? 
 In attempting to dissolve the glamor conjured 
 around the calling of the swordbearer, here is no in- 
 tention to cast a slur on defenders of home, right and 
 liberty. Intelligent soldiers of this order are beyond 
 cavil, beyond reproach. The object in view is only 
 to offset those manipulators of combative senti- 
 ment who, in search for renown, or in the heat of 
 hatred, glorify war as some advocate art, for its own 
 sake. . . . 
 
 One part of a king's business is to make conquests, 
 
348 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 declared a famous ruler one thousand years ago. But 
 the task of civilization is to make kings follow man- 
 kind and not to make mankind follow kings ! 
 
 It is a sad aspect of social evolution that every 
 Caesar has his Antony. No tyrant was ever so cruel, 
 no wrong ever so palpable, no political arrangement 
 ever so senseless but its beneficiaries and their dupes 
 rallied strongly in support of the tyrant, the false- 
 hood, the stupidity. 
 
 So, now, there are some who try to defend war on 
 so-called scientific principles. They, the highbrow 
 apologists for war point out: 
 
 1. That war is nature's method of preventing over- 
 population. 
 
 2. That war develops certain good qualities in men 
 and nations. 
 
 3. That war is an inevitable expression of human 
 nature. 
 
 Let us see : 
 
 The famous king above referred to tells the world 
 that it is the business of a potentate to increase the 
 number of his subjects. Wars are not declared to 
 exterminate a people, but only to attain a certain 
 object. The purpose of the warring host is not to 
 kill the enemy but to subdue him. The capture of 
 the opposing forces is preferred to their destruction. 
 Prisoners of war are not executed nor allowed to die 
 of starvation ; while the wounded soldiers, gathered 
 in after the battle, are nurtured to health with the 
 same care, regardless of previous allegiance, by all 
 of the fighting armies. 
 
 The story is told of a German wounded prisoner 
 who, unable to do any more harm, spit in the face of 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 349 
 
 the French volunteer nurse approaching to help him. 
 Even such a man was only treated as other irrespon- 
 sible patients are treated in any of the hospitals. 
 
 A remark contained in one of the communications 
 from the British to this Government, calling attention 
 to a case where English sailors were permitted to die 
 without succor, was adverted to (in a paper from 
 the German Government) as a "loathsome insinu- 
 ation." 
 
 Speaking of over-population! Who has not seen 
 one of the innumerable publications, designed to at- 
 tract people from anywhere to everywhere? It may 
 be objected that this is the work of real estate specu- 
 lators, but then, were it not better to squelch that 
 business than cry for room while there is too much 
 of it on the market. 
 
 Recently, a spokesman of Argentine declared in 
 public that his country had room for as many people 
 as inhabit all Germany, provided they come to work 
 and not as a conquering horde of despoilers. 
 
 At present a lively propaganda is carried on to 
 allow the importation of Chinese labor into the 
 United States. Is not this proof that more people 
 are wanted? The motive for this propaganda may 
 be labor that is "cheap and unaspiring for social 
 equality," still the fact remains that we are not too 
 many but too few. 
 
 En passant ; dear legislators, be warned not to fall 
 for sophistries regarding immigration. If we have 
 room for more people let them come to enjoy all the 
 rights older immigrants possess. No one is satisfied 
 with abbreviated pay and undeserved ignominy. Why 
 take advantage of men in need? Surely, you cannot 
 
350 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 expect to pluck fruits of friendship and loyalty from 
 the trees of unfair dealing. 
 
 Is it a matter of reducing the high cost of living? 
 
 A glance at war statistics will show that the cost 
 of living at its highest is cheap compared to the cost 
 of killing at its lowest and largest wholesale price. 
 A random calculation divulged to the writer the strik- 
 ing intelligence that for every life lost in war more 
 than ten thousand dollars worth of property is wasted 
 or destroyed. This includes only ready, man-created 
 goods, property and stored-up wealth; the value of 
 destroyed and wasted energy is incalculable. Indeed, 
 war would be an awfully expensive regulator in prop- 
 erly populating the Earth. But war cannot and does 
 not regulate anything of the kind. The only thing it 
 really regulates is who shall or who shall not collect 
 tribute in a certain place. 
 
 Returning to the subject considered: the fact is 
 that civilization is of the many and not of the few. 
 Every village, state and country strives for an in- 
 crease of population. If the contrary were to the 
 interest of society, a diminution of the census could 
 easily be had by (a) modifying certain religious 
 tenets which entrust the weighty question of pro- 
 jecting human life into the world to supernatural 
 decision; (b) condoning self-imposed childlessness 
 instead of continually scolding volunteer sterility 
 and (c) raising the legal embargo on knowledge re- 
 garding birth control. 
 
 The second postulate, that war develops certain 
 good qualities in men and nations, is but the queer 
 notion of the old Flagellants, who set out to improve 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 351 
 
 their minds by torturing their bodies with a scourge 
 of their own make, applied socially ; applied in such a 
 manner that the teachers and preachers of it needn't 
 bare and beat their own breasts. 
 
 As to the courage, the bravery, the comradeship 
 of war, it is all simply a moral illusion. Life every 
 day requires courage and bravery from the great 
 majority of mankind. And the world is full of friend- 
 ships all the time. War thwarts many, but it cannot 
 kill all of them, nor the disposition to appreciate a 
 friend in need. A goodly part of war-comradeship 
 is like some friendships of the concentration camp, 
 after a city had burnt to ashes, where rich and poor 
 meet, exchange condolences and rub elbows for a 
 day. ... 
 
 Especial courage ! Especial bravery ! We might 
 as well argue that a certain act breeds courage be- 
 cause the perpetrator dares a certain risk; or say 
 that nightmares produce bravery, because they are 
 apt to make one jump barefooted on the cold oil- 
 cloth-covered floor in mid-winter. 
 
 Why, the miners and their families, in their strug- 
 gle for a livelihood bring to light more heroism in a 
 week, unappreciated though it is, than the gun-pro- 
 tected general staff of an invading army needs to 
 muster forth throughout their uniformed lives. 
 
 But blame must be placed somewhere to hide the 
 real culprits in the criminal case of war, and so, ut- 
 terance is given to the most slanderous aspersion 
 that can be cast upon humanity. 
 
 Our workers and artists, our philosophers and 
 martyrs, all are discounted with the slur of the 
 tongue. With a wave of the hand, mankind's de- 
 
852 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 tractors would nullify the great efforts of all our 
 pioneers, and count for nothing the magnificent at- 
 tainments of the innumerable hosts who, disdaining 
 the "easiest way," spent their lives at drudging labor 
 to advance the welfare of others. 
 
 Our entire social edifice, filled with beautiful 
 hopes, moral strivings and thrilling virtues, con- 
 ceived, evolved, and assembled from beginnings of 
 life, from the jungle and from the torments of wil- 
 derness, is blown into nothingness with a puff from 
 the mouth, or with the scratch of the pen ascribed 
 to something else than human nature. 
 
 What perverted reasoning ! The blot on the white 
 sheet is called the substance of the paper, the outflow 
 of the boil is blamed on the body which cannot hold 
 the poison. It is like saying that murder is human 
 nature, whereas society is organized primarily to 
 protect the lives of its members. Witness, one's life 
 is at the mercy of every person encountered or not 
 even seen, yet travelers pass hundreds of thousands 
 every day without being harmed, but often being 
 helped with kindly information. 
 
 Nations really do not go to war. They slide into 
 it by way of propaganda blowing from mysterious 
 sources, not through their own ferocious inclination. 
 The mass of the people never desire war. They are 
 forced or fooled into it by those who control their 
 livelihood and their confidence. 
 
 There is not a man in all the battlefields, not even 
 among the Huns and Germans, who will admit that he 
 went to war for any other but the most lofty reason, 
 unless it be in abeyance to overwhelming brute force. 
 They fight for their homes, their religion, their civ- 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 353 
 
 ilization, for anything but the joy of killing men, 
 women and children as they actually do. 
 
 Men in the great standing armies do not enter 
 service from their own volition. The ideal war ma- 
 chine draughts its members not from amongst grown- 
 up men but from helpless babes on the very first day 
 of their birth. Once the newcomer is registered, as 
 he must be, there is no escape. He is kept under 
 surveillance and must be accounted for or account for 
 himself at any and all times to the far-spread ten- 
 tacles of the military octopus. 
 
 When the navies of the world visited New York 
 about two decades ago thousands of sailors forsook 
 their folks and fatherland rather than return to their 
 posts of oppression. And in this country, where the 
 soldiers receive incomparably better provisions, bet- 
 ter treatment and better pay, a rush for enlistment 
 had been most conspicuous by its absence. What if 
 the large flaming posters, inviting the youth of the 
 land to join the colors, had shown pictures from the 
 reverse side of the medal instead of only soldiers on 
 parade.'' 
 
 Some believe that we must have national scram- 
 bhngs and international wars to keep mankind from 
 degenerating into its soft do-nothing types. But of 
 all fears the most senseless is the fear that mankind 
 will ever be left with nothing to do. We have thou- 
 sands of tasks just to satisfy sorely pressing physical 
 needs. We have millions of nature's destructive agen- 
 cies to counteract, and billions of her secrets to un- 
 ravel, with always more in reserve. 
 
 Mankind forever has open paths and infinite 
 
354 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 scope for physical, moral, intellectual and spiritual 
 endeavor. 
 
 As the key of a song is named by the note the scale 
 of which predominates in the composition, so human 
 nature (its mean, malignant accusers to the con- 
 trary) must be acknowledged a most splendid part 
 of creation. With it the great wonders of art, sci- 
 ence, and social organization have been achieved ; and 
 the greatness of its further possibilities none can 
 overestimate. Where minds are not disordered and 
 interests do not clash, there not only grow flowers of 
 peace but also and always the fragrance of love is 
 shed in profusion. 
 
 DANGER OF DEFENSELESSNESS 
 
 Anti-military arguments to which the foregoing is 
 but a microscopically small contribution are so con- 
 vincing that they convince some people too much. 
 Witness, the advocates of peace who would denude 
 our political entity of all defense. 
 
 Yet, if in search for peace a constant war-footing 
 is a delusion and a snare, its counterpart, an in- 
 judicious and untimely disarmament, is something 
 worse. 
 
 It is the cowardly giving up of the little liberty 
 achieved through the thought, toil and blood of un- 
 numbered generations and brought to an unfoldment 
 here advantageous (to natives and also to immi- 
 grants) and promising in the highest degree. 
 
 One must not be infatuated with every part of 
 prevailing conditions here in order to realize the 
 superior means we have, compared to old monarchical 
 establishments, for self-improvement as well as for 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 355 
 
 national progress and for the advancement of human 
 welfare throughout the world. 
 
 Grant that this country is not inhabited by saints 
 onlji that American birth or residence does not 
 guarantee a liberal and truly democratic disposition, 
 nor a heart impervious to whisperings of unjust 
 ambition. Grant every criticism: 
 
 Commercial interests push on for foreign markets. 
 
 War-declaring power is in the hands of a very 
 few. 
 
 Money-lords hold hosts of workers under tribute 
 if not in thraldom. 
 
 Landlordism knows no bounds. 
 
 Politics is used for spoil-mongering. 
 
 Favoritism is a matter of course. 
 
 Snobbery is rampant. 
 
 Who is proud of doing common labor even as a 
 war measure, not to mention normal times? 
 
 As against all that we have a Constitution pro- 
 viding for its own continuous regeneration the work- 
 ability of which is proven by a score of adopted 
 amendments. 
 
 Is it a small thing to have for your spiritual back- 
 bone a nationally fundamental declaration that all 
 men are born free and equal and are endowed with 
 the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit 
 of happiness? 
 
 Should such a boon be permitted to be taken as 
 a convenient birthday present by some ambitious 
 potentate or their ennui-tortured hangers-on? Or 
 do you believe that any of their kind would have 
 conscientious scruples about taking it? If you do 
 believe that you are badly mistaken. Training and 
 
356 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 tradition alike breeds inclinations that cause them 
 to feel satisfaction and see their glory in the en- 
 slavement of their own nation and in the trampling 
 under foot of other peoples' rights. Who would 
 expect consideration or even mercy at their hands 
 unless it be at the cost of thraldom? 
 
 Quite a number of persons cherish the opinion 
 that it would make no difference in their lot if our 
 republican form of government were superseded by 
 a monarchy, with any divine-right exponent in 
 charge, not excluding the Kaiser. And right they 
 are to a certain extent. Tlieir wages might not be 
 less, their rent might not be more and their social 
 standing might remain the same. But how about 
 the great mass of others.? And how about the tools 
 to right every wrong complained of? 
 
 Is the right to have a full voice in all governmental 
 affairs not worth more than the fifty millionth part 
 of a chance to be made a Knight of something or 
 other? 
 
 Is the opportunity to initiate a change in the city, 
 state and national laws of no more value than the 
 prospect to be jailed for "majestats beleidigung" 
 at the mere mention of desiring a change of rulers? 
 
 The curtailment of free speech and free press and 
 free assembly brought on by the exigencies of the 
 war cannot be ascribed to national character. The 
 peaceful citizen, whom a professional assailant 
 dragged into the gutter, will not be judged by the 
 mud on his clothes, though while in the gutter both 
 may look alike. 
 
 We must submit in every aspect to military re- 
 quirements while war is on, but with the militaristic 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 357 
 
 governments of Europe this is a fare constantly 
 served. 
 
 Strange, that some workmen who scream murder 
 at a ten per cent reduction in wages, cannot see loss 
 in the reduction of political liberty to half or less 
 than half of what already had been attained. 
 
 Why not look adverse possibilities in the face? 
 
 Here is one: 
 
 Imagine a Maximilian establishing himself to the 
 south or to the north of the United States, in the 
 business of owning and running one of those per- 
 fected war machines ; how long before even the goal 
 of getting riches would be superseded by the ambi- 
 tion to excel in military preparedness? How long 
 before this continent too would be turned into one 
 gigantic charnel house? 
 
 As for excuses to start a war, they can easily be 
 found and still easier manufactured. Historical ac- 
 counts permit the rendering of any kind of a bill by 
 anybody disposed to collect thereon. Secret diplo- 
 macy and sinister disposition can always engineer 
 schemes to produce war-like mood. The great public 
 enthusiasm displayed on the ruler's declaring war is 
 as made-to-order as mobilization itself. 
 
 Pursuant martial ambition, every conceit and 
 every prejudice is made use of, but nothing lends 
 itself readier to such design than inbred pride and 
 hatred along racial and nationalistic lines. Each one 
 of these maintained a regular Junta here. (Some of 
 them are squelched for the time being but not ex- 
 terminated.) These agencies arranged grand recep- 
 tions to the Kaiser's brother, accepted churchbells 
 and other considerations from the Czar, and filled 
 
358 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 page on page in the press with the wonderful social 
 doings of Counts and Lords. Which of these agen- 
 cies would refuse acceptance of anything offered by 
 their royal patrons in conjunction with opportunity 
 in America? 
 
 And all such endeavor has been flattered and nur- 
 tured by the shortsighted politician; procuring for 
 "leaders" office or at least promising it, who in turn 
 could promote foreign interest and foreign allegiance 
 by that very token. The practice had been usually 
 explained with the story that a man may love his 
 mother without being faithless to his wife. But what 
 did the love consist of? In keeping groups of people 
 from learning a common language, in preventing so- 
 cial intercourse among them, and the constant fan- 
 ning of complaints, quarrels, jealousies and hatreds 
 contracted in the land which they voluntarily left 
 behind. The very first booklet, it so happens, pub- 
 lished by the writer twenty-six years ago, was in 
 protest against the insane perpetuation of old world 
 enmities in a new world that had nothing to do with 
 it and has enough problems of its own. Still, even 
 now, some play with fires that happen, for the mo- 
 ment, to burn in a desired direction. 
 
 A third danger lurks from within, married to with- 
 out. This of course has no reference to love mar- 
 riages, but to the marriage of wealth; the so-called 
 titled marriages of which many had been arranged. 
 Did you ever think of their practical bearings in 
 regard to social problems and national safety? 
 
 Titled marriages are a fusion of old world aris- 
 tocracy with the new world plutocracy, entered into 
 on the part of the second party in order to have the 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 359 
 
 traditional sword-bearer defend its somehow-gotten 
 gains in case of an attempt at socialistic restoration ; 
 and sought on the part of the second party with the 
 view to establish here strong gun-bases wherewith and 
 wherefrom the liberties of the people can be cam- 
 paigned against at the first opportunity. 
 
 Some of the lords and counts are in opposing 
 camps at present, but that is only incidental to their 
 calling and does not flow from their character. They 
 were comrades in arms before and will be such again. 
 
 Other and by chance more proximately dangerous 
 possibilities are perhaps best not spoken of. Suffi- 
 cient data has been offered to prove that on the 
 road of history we have not yet reached a highway 
 so clear and so safe that we could afford going along 
 without caution and without care. 
 
 Some would depend, as gamblers do, on the good 
 graces of Chance. Is that sensible .^^ What would we 
 say of architects, shipwrights, farmers, or anybody 
 who in planning a course of work would take into 
 account the chance of good turns and fair weather 
 only ? 
 
 Some again like to depend on belief. They have a 
 belief and think that that is sufficient for one's part 
 in the great world's work. But, evidently, minds so 
 disposed have not yet reached the responsible state 
 of maturity. For such social progress offers no 
 problems, facts have no bearing and history conveys 
 no lesson. 
 
 But to the normal mind the question naturally 
 arises : what is a well-intentioned people to do in 
 order to protect itself against external spoilage with- 
 out succumbing to internal ruination.? 
 
360 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 The following three chapters are submitted in an- 
 swer to that question : 
 
 III 
 
 GOVERNMENTAL W^AR PREVENTION POLICY 
 
 Of course, all governments are expected and they 
 profess to do their utmost all the time in the direc- 
 tion indicated by above heading. 
 
 However, governments sometimes fall short of 
 what is expected of them. But even if in our own 
 case the political management be faultless, sugges- 
 tions for the advancement of this policy cannot be 
 out of order. So the following ideas are respect- 
 fully commended to persons in position to translate 
 them into national and international life. 
 
 First Suggestion. — Invite criticism instead of re- 
 senting it. This does not mean to court intellectual 
 sabotage in the working machinery of organized ex- 
 istence. Nor to call forth a venomous flow of words 
 concocted to destroy liberties already attained. All 
 who sincerely seek and offer honest criticism do so 
 with an eye for improvement only. 
 
 Now, could not this principle which brought the 
 fine arts to great perfection be applied in a system- 
 atic way to improve international relations.'* 
 
 Perhaps it would be well for our government to 
 offer a yearly prize of one million dollars for the 
 most candid and most helpful essays pointing out 
 wherein we offend and how the fault might be avoided 
 or rectified. 
 
 A fraction of the monej^ might be used at home, 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 361 
 
 but the bulk of it should be distributed to our em- 
 bassies abroad; they to advertise for a contest 
 amongst objectors to our conduct, awarding juries 
 to be composed in such a manner as not to leave out 
 the chiefly dissatisfied. 
 
 It would be a well-spent million dollars a year that 
 enabled us, or at least helped us, to see ourselves 
 from other peoples' point of view. 
 
 Second Suggestion. — Hasten the placing of power 
 to declare war, where all social power belongs, in the 
 people — all the people, including women. Decentral- 
 ization of war-making power is a crying immediate 
 necessity. 
 
 As the just power of government is derived from 
 the consent of the governed, is it not self-evident that 
 a just war presupposes the consent of those called 
 upon to wage it? 
 
 Congressmen who vote for war probably have an 
 assurance of backing from their constituents, and 
 the fateful question put to a general vote might 
 bring forth the same decision. But what a differ- 
 ence in the aspect! One way is tyranny, the other 
 democracy, even as certain laws forced on a people 
 are tyrannical, whereas the same laws agreed on by 
 those who are to submit to them is the acme of 
 liberty. 
 
 Even in matters of small concern, progressive com- 
 munities apply the principles of public initiative and 
 referendum, and rightly so, for submitting to a bad 
 law approved by the majority (until it can be re- 
 pealed) is good citizenship; but submitting to such 
 a law imposed by a dictator, without protest, stamps 
 one a slave. 
 
362 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Some men carry the ideal of democracy not so 
 much on their lips as in their hearts. Some of these 
 may oppose a particular war. If the understanding 
 of the majority forces them into the conflict, their 
 plight is none too sweet; but if they cannot have 
 even that much of spiritual support for a stand 
 they abhor, it becomes a crucifixion of the soul for 
 which there is no justification on earth. 
 
 Let no one say that taking a vote on the question 
 of declaring war is impractical or impossible. The 
 writer was called on by about half a hundred per- 
 sons to contribute toward requirements of the war. 
 Could he not have been asked once whether or not 
 to unsheathe the sword? 
 
 A fraction of the energy spent in prosecuting a 
 war applied to its truly democratic induction would 
 free the few from responsibility for the catastrophe, 
 if not altogether prevent it. 
 
 Third Suggestion. — Absolute renouncement of 
 further territorial expansion by other than perfectly 
 peaceful arrangements. 
 
 This is necessary because both our neighbors have 
 some historical reasons to fear being swallowed up 
 by the big fish of the continent. A glance at the 
 map shows that geographically Canada, the United 
 States and Mexico belong together, and our very 
 proximity should urge us to allay their fears. The 
 President's declaration is good as far as it carries, 
 but it may not be considered sufficient. For one 
 thing our Presidents change, and for another thing 
 one may be elected on a platform pledging to strive 
 for a single term of office, and a few weeks later ac- 
 cept from the home-town an executive's summer 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 363 
 
 home, offered for two terms, as a matter of course. 
 Little things Hke that may serve to weaken reliance 
 in declarations afterward made. 
 
 The suggestion here offered should be incorpo- 
 rated in our national constitution, pledging us all to 
 observe and maintain it. 
 
 If the governments of these three countries shall 
 be organically united, even as Creation united their 
 territories, let the unity come about through intelli- 
 gent free will, and not by any mode of coercion, not 
 to speak of war. 
 
 The United States houses within its confines mil- 
 lions of working men and working women who were 
 not brought here as captives, but came of their own 
 volition. They came to escape the grind of militar- 
 ism, to enjoy economic and educational advantages, 
 and to bask in the larger liberty prevailing here. 
 
 On the same principle, let Dame Columbia be so 
 good, so polite, so just, and, withal, so attractive, 
 that our neighbors, in their own good time, may con- 
 sider it the best of fortune and the greatest of all 
 privileges to join in the millennial administration of 
 one war-frictionless continent. 
 
 Fourth Suggestion. — Promulgate an ironclad dec- 
 laration that the United States will not collect, at 
 the point of the bayonet, interest on or principals of 
 investments in foreign countries. 
 
 While commerce likes to have a hand in the 
 making of laws, it can also conform to statutes, 
 whatever they be. If a bill is collectible, we collect 
 it ; and if it is not, we don't, or have none to collect. 
 The trouble comes only when men give goods, or serv- 
 ice, or invest money under the impression that the 
 
364 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 sheriff is duty bound to collect both principal and 
 interest — with gun in hand, if necessary. 
 
 Well, that should never be necessary. If hereto- 
 fore investments were made in reliance of a sheriff's 
 badge on Uncle Sam's bosom, let Shylock have his 
 pound of flesh, but without the shedding of blood. 
 Let the government compensate the innocent inves- 
 tors in part or in full. At any rate, the biU would 
 amount to only a fraction of the costs of war, not 
 counting withered lives, mutilated bodies, broken 
 hearts, and agonized souls, all of which is a portion 
 of conquering nations no less than that of the 
 conquered. 
 
 Fifth Suggestion. — Abolish Midas interest in pro- 
 voking and protracting war. 
 
 Midas, like the king he was, wanted nothing so 
 much as gold! So he desired that everything he 
 touched be turned to gold. His wish came true, and 
 when the most exquisite culinary productions, on 
 being touched by his lips, turned yellow metal, nobody 
 had to regret it but the king himself. 
 
 Under the profiteering and even plain profit sys- 
 tem of producing goods, the kings of capital trans- 
 mute their interest into precious metal without 
 touching anything outside a pen to sign checks for 
 whatever they want to buy. 
 
 This fairy gift helped the development of many a 
 great industry, but some, like the swallower of sobri- 
 ety, causes floods of pain and regret, not to the 
 profiteer or profitor, but to hosts of victims and their 
 friends. Would such industries work the havoc they 
 do were not men pushing it with interests at stake 
 approaching or exceeding that of a fairy gift.'' 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 365 
 
 Senatorial brochures exposed certain connections 
 between advocates of war and the owners of war 
 industries. These connections, without tending to 
 incriminate anyone, leave the impression that some 
 patriots are not as far removed from impure incen- 
 tives as the grave importance of the case requires 
 that all should be. 
 
 Now, physicians and undertakers depend for a 
 living on people falling sick and dying; yet it were 
 preposterous to think that they fill the air with all 
 sorts of naughty germs, bacilli and the like, to pro- 
 mote their own prosperity. Still, there are some in 
 the profession who are no great champions of public 
 sanitation and proper living (includes proper con- 
 ditions of living). And some there are whose con- 
 sciences do not balk at increasing revenue by not 
 allowing patients to recover quickly. (Healing and 
 sanitation should be nationalized first of all. Our 
 physicians should be paid for keeping us all well, 
 and not one should prosper by keeping some of us 
 in the sick bed.) 
 
 So, in the case of a great nationwide, fatally dan- 
 gerous disease, there should be none influenced the 
 wrong way through gold-yielding prospects in the 
 possibilities of wholesale undertaking. 
 
 Sia^th Suggestion. — Establish a free national peo- 
 ple's university. 
 
 This should be a sort of a continuation school for 
 those whose lot or occupation requires an early part- 
 ing from the regular schools, and also a reminder for 
 those who had sufficient schooling not to forget what 
 they have learned. 
 
 If it is good for the state to teach children read- 
 
366 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 ing, writing and arithmetic, there is no denying the 
 advantage gained for the body politic by a wide and 
 free distribution of higher knowledge enabling people 
 to make better use of the elementary kind. 
 
 Besides, new problems are springing up all the 
 time, as if from the very well of life. All the work 
 solving them should not be left to the few legislators 
 in Congress. Not all fit for the post can be there, 
 and some good may always be expected from Intel- 
 lectual Bethlehem. 
 
 Grownups, instead of doing sums must sum up 
 deeds, and instead of reducing fractions reduce 
 friction. 
 
 A public desire for such institution is manifested 
 through the many Open Forums springing up all 
 over the country. Some are less sincere than others, 
 but all prove that the gauge of the narrow mind is 
 being worn away. 
 
 The objects and aims of one such fully pledged 
 organization is (name omitted) given herewith. 
 
 Object: To maintain, on a cooperative basis, a 
 Free Platform and Open Forum for discussing ob- 
 jects that pertain to the public welfare and subjects 
 of general interest; with Lectures, Discussions and 
 the Debates so conducted that all opinions may have 
 a fair hearing, and people of DIFFERENT MINDS 
 and SYMPATHIES MEET ON EQUAL TERMS 
 in pursuance of the following aims, to wit : 
 
 Further the study of arts and sciences. 
 
 Disseminate knowledge. 
 
 Augment physical well being. 
 
 Develop and increase moral strength. 
 
 Stimulate mental growth. 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 367 
 
 Encourage independent thinking. 
 
 Aid in the search of truth. 
 
 Advance truth for authority, not vice versa. 
 
 Overcome sectional and sectarian enmities. 
 
 Cultivate mutual toleration and respect. 
 
 Raise the ethical standards and hold them high. 
 
 Increase the humane factor in human affairs. 
 
 Help improve conditions of living. 
 
 Appreciate worthy efforts, past or present. 
 
 Broaden and deepen the channels of understandmg. 
 
 Intensify personal and social responsibility. 
 
 Promote regard for and application of social 
 
 equity. 
 
 Accelerate the sociaUzation of wisdom. 
 Enhance the value of human life and feUowship. 
 Contribute towards perfection of the individual 
 
 and the state. . 
 
 Individuals can do considerable good work with and 
 in a university of this kind (the one here referred to 
 is in the seventh successful season of its career), but 
 like the setting of time ahead one hour (to use 
 precious daylight) had to be sanctioned, supported 
 and pushed through governmental agencies, so a teU- 
 ing increase in the use of quite as precious intellec- 
 tual light would be attained by the government's 
 pushing the brain-clocks somewhat ahead. 
 
 Seventh Suggestion.— An exchange of nationals 
 
 on a large scale. 
 
 Whatever may be the motive instigating war, 
 whatever the semblance of reason advanced to justify 
 it, and whatever the real objective war lords seek to 
 attain, they and their chief engineers work through 
 certain existing psychological elements. 
 
368 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 All the sophistry on earth would not suffice to turn 
 good, kind, intelligent men of peace into enthusiasti- 
 cally murdering soldiers of war, were it not for the 
 predisposing elements of conceit and prejudice, traits 
 much quicker discerned in others than ourselves. 
 
 Without being the cause of armed conflicts, race 
 prejudice is being used as a main ingredient in pre- 
 paring hell-broths of war witchcraft. 
 
 How is it to be overcome? 
 
 It must be overcome through friendly intermin- 
 gling of races and nationalities instead of war ac- 
 quaintanceship of which, alas! we have so much. 
 For no matter how the war is started nor how it 
 stops, it does not leave a sweet taste in the mouth; 
 and the bitterness of each memory is used with un- 
 failing effect to engender a warmer partisanship for 
 the warlord and a hotter enmity toward the people 
 campaigned against. 
 
 Tribes of Israel fought each other as long as they 
 could. Greek fought Greek, Germans had a war of 
 thirty years' duration among themselves, not to men- 
 tion lesser engagements. The War of the Roses was 
 a family affair. Even so young a nation as the 
 United States had the War of the Revolution the 
 War of 1812, and a four years' Civil War to show 
 that other things than race qualities provoke the 
 arbitration of arms. 
 
 None the less, race prejudice plays so large a part 
 in what we wish to avoid that its extinction cannot 
 be accomplished too fast or too soon. 
 
 Can we do anything in the matter? Most as- 
 suredly. 
 
 The world is bound to intermingle. It took two 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 369 
 
 hundred years of crusading for western Europe to 
 find out that the East was not as Godless as painted. 
 Should we not acquire knowledge in a more civiHzed 
 way? 
 
 We niingle now, through the exigencies of war. 
 
 Many of our sick and wounded are in the care of 
 the enemy and as many of theirs are being treated 
 in our hospitals. Who could tell the number of war 
 prisoners supplied with room and board by the sev- 
 eral belligerents.'^ Were it not more pleasant to feed 
 and house as many guests .^^ 
 
 Our government might offer each year, to every 
 nation willing to reciprocate, good care, board and 
 schooling for several thousand boys (and girls, too, 
 for that matter), say, from six to twelve years of 
 age. The children should be placed in care of fam- 
 ilies under suitable supervision of the consulate. 
 After a certain probationary period, all parties 
 agreeing, they might be adopted for good and aye, 
 subject, of course, to the approval of the child when 
 becoming of age. If in the course of time such adop- 
 tions would become numerous, a certain poetic justice 
 might be had in that it would be impossible to hate 
 a person because of the mere sound of his or her 
 name. Also, the more friends we have in a country 
 the more difficult it becomes to hate it. 
 
 Of course, the very prejudice we seek to overcome 
 would not only ridicule but strenuously oppose such 
 a move. Few parents could bring themselves to sac- 
 rifice on the altar of Peace the nearness of their 
 children, though the many must sacrifice the breath 
 of life on the altars of War. 
 
 But, then, the world is full of orphans, and per- 
 
370 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 haps they might be the proper parties to begin such 
 an exchange with. Perhaps even enemy countries 
 would enter into such an arrangement. If so, per- 
 haps the feehng of revenge which the sight of your 
 orphans evoke would be tempered, and who knows 
 but at sight of the orphans of others the sinning 
 heart would resolve to repent? 
 
 Who knows but these very orphans whom our gen- 
 eration has crushed with the stone of war might live 
 to lift the world another step out of savagery, re- 
 deeming mankind by giving it the bread of peace 
 from the oven of mutual understanding. . . . 
 
 We exchange now the salvage of the battlefields. 
 Men maimed and battered, blind, without legs, with- 
 out arms, all ruined into helplessness, who had been 
 picked up on the battlefields and were restored a 
 scanty breath of life, are sent to a central exchange in 
 Switzerland, and there cripple is returned for cripple. 
 
 Were it not better to exchange hale and hearty 
 youngsters with the prospect of joyous adventure, 
 learning, wisdom, and friendship for them and for us? 
 
 Eighth Suggestion. — Inaugurate the era of world 
 peace by organizing its nucleus. 
 
 The League of Nations, to preserve international 
 peace, is spoken of favorably by many persons hold- 
 ing positions of high responsibility. It seems the 
 realization of the idea is but a matter of time and 
 proper approachment. Happily, events tend that 
 way, small, new nations being in special need of 
 this boon. 
 
 Now, what nation is more fitted than the United 
 States to initiate and champion the move toward 
 world unity? Here, more than anywhere else, friendly 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 371 
 
 intercourse among the people depends on peace 
 among the nations, the people here to a very large 
 extent being a composite of them all. 
 
 From this as well as the highest consideration of 
 humanity our government might invite others to call 
 into existence the embryonic substance of the future 
 international parliament. 
 
 Allies, neutrals and adversaries, all should be in- 
 vited. The conference need have nothing to do with 
 the war in progress (or a particular war may be 
 exempted from consideration), agreeing only on the 
 desirability of the end sought. 
 
 Certain questions having been submitted to the 
 jury of cannon balls, aerial bombs, submarines and 
 the like, we all must await their decision, but will 
 all abide by it? 
 
 A gathering of accredited representatives from 
 the several nations could certainly work out some- 
 thing in the way of a plan by which differences in 
 the future could be settled without recourse to arms 
 — if they were only so disposed ! 
 
 Now, if every one of the foregoing suggestions 
 (and others more to the purpose if not better 
 meant) would be vitalized with the living force of 
 action, the millennium, though it might be consider- 
 ably nearer, would still not be here. 
 
 Still, grievances would gather force, tempers 
 would flare up, and nineteen-twentieths of the world 
 would have to be heard from. And so the problem 
 looms up large and real: how to secure efficient and 
 sufficient protection in case it must be had without 
 being forever at the mercy of a military Franken- 
 stein ? 
 
372 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 IV 
 
 INDUSTRIAL ARMY OF NATIONAL SERVICE AND 
 DEFENSE 
 
 In a spiritual sense the doctrine of non-resistance 
 works out all right. If a fellow desires to receive a 
 piece of our mind, we can afford to be generous and 
 treat him to an additional dose. All kinds of ideas 
 are almost and often really forced upon a reluctant 
 multitude. We can take all the knowledge out of a 
 library without being molested, but rather wiU every- 
 body praise us for the feat. But the books we must 
 leave or return to their shelves, and when it comes 
 to things absolutely needed to sustain life, we do, 
 we must stand up for them as for life itself. . . . 
 Some pious people hope to conquer evil by not resist- 
 ing it ; however, historical records fail to show many 
 if any worthy accomplishments ascribable to that 
 doctrine. 
 
 In the course of social evolution so great was the 
 need for man to exert himself in defense of his own 
 that a certain combative spirit resulted which neither 
 the individual nor yet the nation can well afford 
 to be entirely without. 
 
 So our problem is to turn the pushing power of 
 this spirit into the pistons of social service through 
 a productive organization (set up on the grandest 
 conceivable scale) that can also be relied on for 
 efficient national defense if the emergency of war 
 arises despite all our efforts to avoid it. 
 
 At broaching the idea of an Industrial Army a 
 host of questions arise in regard to organizing, offi- 
 cering, financing and political administration of 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 373 
 
 such an institution. The answers follow in due 
 order. 
 
 The Industrial Army, as above indicated, should 
 be directly designed to bestow the blessings of 
 labor wherever it may improve the surroundings of 
 life and conditions of living; at the same time, by 
 keeping each unit trained or at least in ready posi- 
 tion to practice some part of the military calling, 
 so as to be always ready for turning the plow- 
 shares of industry into implements of defense pro- 
 ducing national safety. 
 
 The organization should have ample scope for 
 useful competition, dangerous adventures and glori- 
 ous achievements ; so that lovers of contest, searchers 
 for thrills and seekers for fame need not long for 
 wartimes, but may, through constructive efforts, 
 learn to know the joys of satisfied ambition. 
 
 Building houses, cleaning towns, renovating old 
 cities and establishing new ones ; clearing, planting, 
 cultivating, harvesting fields; running industrial 
 plants of all descriptions : mills, mines and factories — 
 all of that and more the Industrial Army should and 
 could do with the tremendous energy and wonderful 
 eclat of great military operations. 
 
 There should be regiments of bakers, carpenters, 
 plumbers, masons, garment makers, painters, nurses, 
 cooks, printers, teachers, actors, writers and all the 
 way through the list of socially needed endeavor. 
 Each of these should be supplied with all the frills, 
 insignia and emoluments that bring efficiency to the 
 highest pitch. 
 
 In the wake of such an army fields would prosper, 
 cities would bloom and mankind indulge in joyous 
 
374 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 celebrations. A productive industrial army would 
 scatter wealth and happiness as an invading military 
 host scatters death and desolation. It would build 
 a city in much less time than any kaiser could ever 
 destroy one. 
 
 Of course, the Industrial Army would have to be 
 recruited through conscription. More people are 
 bent on avoiding the task of labor than seek to escape 
 military service, although conscientious scruples are 
 out of the case and only muscular objections prevail. 
 
 The word conscription has a terrifying sound to 
 some because of its connection with military history, 
 but there is room for improvement even in etymology 
 and many sinners of the word-kingdom may be re- 
 deemed by putting them to work for the good of 
 humanity. Prometheus may have stolen fire from 
 the chariot of the Sun or procured light and heat 
 from the plentiful supply of the underworld, still, 
 the boon is precious beyond estimation. 
 
 So, the project of an industrial army to be more 
 than a mere utopian scheme or Fourierian phalanx, 
 cannot depend for materialization on the good-wiU 
 of a few. It must have country-wide support and 
 must be taken in hand by the organizing agencies 
 of the nation. 
 
 Starting from where we are, perhaps it were best 
 to set no limit to draft ages. Call an army as a sort 
 of inland defense, equip it with the tools of produc- 
 tion and engage it in a crusade on squalor, bad hous- 
 ing, unsanitary conditions, miserable transportation 
 and every other ill that afflicts everyday life. 
 
 Supplying the Industrial Army with the required 
 administrative machinery, that is, officering the 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 375 
 
 organization, may seem to be an insurmountable 
 difficulty; however, it is not so. 
 
 Injustice, unfairness, favoritism of every sort can 
 be absolutely avoided by a method of ruling that 
 because of its practical humaneness may well be 
 honored with the new name HOMOCRACY. 
 
 nomocracy means the rule of the fit without cast- 
 ing the ignominy of the unfit on all whom chance 
 excludes from the higher position. Further on this 
 statement will be duly elucidated; here it is only 
 necessary to show the working of the principle by 
 applying it to a concrete example. 
 
 A regiment of bakers is to be organized to be com- 
 posed of, say, twenty companies. They are to be 
 placed in as many stations throughout the land com- 
 missioned to supply the staff of life in the most 
 economic, sanitary, appetizing and all around de- 
 sirable manner. This regiment would need twenty 
 captains or managers besides higher and lower 
 officers. How appoint or select them without causing 
 the endless murmurings of dissatisfaction, jealousies, 
 heartburns, incriminations and recriminations that 
 go with handing out what is known as "political 
 plums?" Here is the answer: 
 
 Candidates for the several offices shall pass a sort 
 of civil service examination as rigid and as exacting 
 as the responsibility involved requires, also needed 
 technical examinations where that is necessary. The 
 names of all successful candidates are to be placed 
 in a glass receptacle and the selection from among 
 these shall be entrusted to the turn of a wheel in full 
 public view. The balance of names would be held 
 for future use in times of expiration, sickness, recall, 
 
376 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 resignation or death. Let no one understand the 
 idea here proposed as a government by chance, for 
 it is nothing of the kind. 
 
 The root of the word homocracy in Latin means 
 man ; in Greek it means same or equal. Both mean- 
 ings together should convey the idea of rule by 
 humanized equality or equalized humanity; a govern- 
 ment by qualification, excluding family cabals, sec- 
 tional prejudices and bank accounts from being 
 factors in control of the powers of government. 
 
 Thus all would have an incentive to make them- 
 selves fit and able and worthy of holding office while 
 the gerrymandering of professional office seekers 
 together with the foolish conceit of the office holders 
 would be relegated to the mistakes of the past. 
 
 As to financing of the industrial army: experience 
 has shown that when there is a will and a need for it, 
 billions can be raised where only millions were col- 
 lected before. For the purpose of constructive work 
 these billions can be easily multiplied from existing 
 capital to start with and then from the flow of val- 
 ues created by a gigantic productive organization. 
 
 Capital drafted for constructive purposes would 
 in reality be but a placing of money from one pocket 
 into another. It would make Uncle Sam a rich 
 capitalist producing more and still more riches all 
 the time and compensating money losers through 
 direct service and rewarding them and their descen- 
 dants a thousandfold as the years roll by. 
 
 Voluntary and semi-voluntary contributions can- 
 not be depended on. There are too many mighty 
 rich men preserving their millions intact by prevail- 
 ing on the poor widow to part from her mite — often 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 377 
 
 to the detriment of her very health. No village, no 
 city, no state, is run on voluntary contributions; 
 why expect great national undertakings to depend 
 on such? 
 
 Either a person is in a position to contribute or 
 he is not. In the latter case why bother, shame, 
 pester, intimidate or coerce one to give up the little 
 he or she may have.? And in the former case why 
 permit one to escape from fulfilling his or her obliga- 
 tions ? And why leave people in doubt on which side 
 of the line they are situated.? 
 
 The income tax is a fair but not very successful 
 attempt at placing burden on the shoulders best 
 able to bear it. For one thing the burden so placed, 
 in many cases, can easily be shifted; for another, it 
 leaves the lords of capital in full control of land, 
 public utilities, industrial production and all the 
 main supplies of social existence. Who is so un- 
 sophisticated as to think that they cannot or will 
 not recoup themselves for the importunities of the 
 taxgatherer.? 
 
 Furthermore, the income tax leaves persons so 
 disposed to loaf in luxury, to live on the fat of the 
 land without doing the least work for it in exchange. 
 A man working ever so hard and earning two thou- 
 sand dollars a year pays a certain amount in income 
 tax, another man doing nothing but collecting bank 
 interest on $50,000 pays no more, and if he collects 
 on a sum one dollar less, he pays nothing at all; 
 surely this is not taxing idleness. 
 
 The income tax should be modified so as to com- 
 pel the use of time, land and capital (Marxian 
 definition) and to prevent their abuse. Loafing, 
 
378 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 wasting, hoarding, gambling in all their aspects to 
 be considered such abuse. 
 
 Parallel with the graduated income tax a gradu- 
 ated possession tax should be levied (also directed 
 against loafing, hoarding, wasting and gambling), 
 reaching up to the highest plutocratic circles. In 
 this manner all the capital required for the in- 
 dustrial army would be forthcoming, at the same 
 time industrious inclinations would be greatly en- 
 couraged and a most powerful impetus given to 
 general prosperity. 
 
 The remaining question in regard to the project 
 of an industrial army pertains to the political con- 
 trol of the same. And the answer is that political 
 control also needs to go through a process of refor- 
 mation. 
 
 Indeed, no human activity, industrial or social, 
 causes more ill-feeling and greater wastage than 
 political competition. Each year a dozen persons 
 spend much effort, money and temper to gain a posi- 
 tion that only one can have. Multiply that by the 
 number of offices so sought and the waste of energ}'^ 
 certainly seems appalling. 
 
 Disregard the word-vaporings due to political 
 "boosting," "roasting," "manoeverings," "machina- 
 tions," "wire pulling," "double crossing," et cetera, 
 and most of the contestants will be found equally 
 good, equally able, equally worthy citizens of the 
 Republic. 
 
 Who will say that in New York City (including 
 Park Row) there is only one gentleman or lady fit 
 and willing to be mayor; in Massachusetts (including 
 Boston) only one man fit to be governor; and 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 379 
 
 throughout the country (East, West, South, North), 
 only one being fit to be President? 
 
 Running six parallel tracks to reach the same 
 point causes less wastage than running six political 
 parties to fill the self-same offices. In the former 
 case each does some service and can show some 
 earnings, but in the latter case all but one must 
 count their labor lost. 
 
 With the principles of the Initiative, Referendum 
 and Recall coming to the fore, tactics and conven- 
 tions of the pohtical parties lose their great im- 
 portance. They may continue to be of great benefit 
 as schools of old traditions and new ideas, advocating 
 doctrines, promulgating principles, criticizing or 
 praising public activities and so forming helpful 
 mundane churches devoted to the people's earthly and 
 social interests. 
 
 Take the power of office-distribution from politics 
 and party influence ceases to be the bugaboo it is to 
 those without a given combine. 
 
 Political like industrial offices could and should 
 be made subject to the method of attainment herein- 
 before named, Jiomocratic, and in part already 
 described. 
 
 Qualifications, of course, should be set high, on 
 as high a plane as we are willing to be judged by in 
 foreign countries and in the furthermost times to 
 come. 
 
 Aside from special qualifications required for each 
 office, candidates should be able to subscribe a list 
 of pertinent affirmations to include the following: 
 
 I am immune from temptation to serve tyrannical 
 
380 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 ambitions of a potentate abroad or the special in- 
 terests of a plutocrat at home. 
 
 I am also free from the desire to promote the 
 welfare of a part of the people in a way detrimental 
 to the rest. 
 
 I studied, I am studying and I shall always be 
 willing to learn more. 
 
 I labored, I work and I shall (health given me) 
 always be willing to work. 
 
 I consider extravagant over-compensation of one's 
 own effort to be no more just than is unscrupulous 
 stock inflation. 
 
 I listen to praise without succumbing to conceit 
 and to blame without bursting of resentment. 
 
 I practice the golden rule intelligently, even if I 
 do not pay to preach it. 
 
 I rejoice in the happiness of others and wish for 
 myself and for my family but a fair share of all- 
 around prosperity. 
 
 I regard success at the cost of wide-spread suffer- 
 ing a failure, and failure in the attempt to have 
 justice prevail a success. 
 
 I propose to rescue Opportunity from the dubious 
 existence of a poor, haunted peddler by establishing 
 her in a magnificent showroom most centrally and 
 conspicuously located and always accessible. 
 
 So much to begin with. Other affirmations may 
 be added as time, locality and circumstances may 
 call for. 
 
 A hundred or so witnesses (or signatures to the 
 same effect) confirming the claim should be sufficient 
 to entitle one to a chance of a minor office. 
 
 A thousand citizens vouching for the character 
 
■ SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 381 
 
 (and a board of examiners for the ability) of a per- 
 son should make him or her eligible to the mayoralty. 
 The support of ten thousand should secure one a 
 chance to occupy the governor's chair and any 
 person whom a hundred thousand citizens swear by 
 as absolutely dependable should be considered worthy 
 of a chance at showing what he or she could do in 
 the exalted position of United States President. 
 
 This method of filling offices would do away with 
 electioneering, do away with all the good, hard, 
 honest work and also the sinister trappings con- 
 nected with it. The way to the esteem of fellow 
 citizens would be the way (and no other) to positions 
 of larger responsibility. And all who earned such 
 esteem would stand a perfectly equal chance! This 
 would be a true and full exemplification of equal 
 opportunity urging all to make the most and best 
 of themselves. 
 
 Thus we should probably have a thousand presi- 
 dents in reserve; presumably five hundred governors 
 (in each state) and perhaps a hundred worthy citi- 
 zens (in a city of 100,000 population) clothed with 
 all the honors of the mayoralty office excepting the 
 office itself, which had fallen to the incumbent by 
 the law of chance as already explained. And still 
 more could aspire for the honor with as fair a pros- 
 pect as anybody had. 
 
 The newness of the idea may make it repellent to 
 some, but why is it less just or less timely to draft 
 men, by the turn of the wheel, to serve in office than 
 it is to send them by the same token to die on the 
 battlefield? 
 
 If birth or creed or standing is to be part of a 
 
382 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 person's qualification to office let it be frankly stated 
 so that none should waste time in chasing a will-o'- 
 the-wisp. 
 
 Ancient Jewry (Leviticus XXI. 18) excluded the 
 flat-nosed fellow from office. Now we may exclude the 
 hook-nosed fellows, the dark skin or the female sex, 
 but such discrimination cannot long stand in the 
 balance of either time or justice. 
 
 Let the principle of equal opportunity work for 
 others as well and as thoroughly as for self and we 
 cannot fail to reap the social reward for which all 
 good men at all times and in all climes have longed 
 and worked for. 
 
 In the course of years it will come to pass that the 
 factory sweeper has the capabilities of a superin- 
 tendent in tlie same place, the difference between 
 them being only a matter of chance — a fair, equal 
 chance having decided their respective places. And 
 the traffic man on the corner may be equal in tal- 
 ent and esteem to the governor of the state, only 
 chance placing one above the other, for the time 
 being. Later on chance may reverse the relation. 
 
 So, those in authority one day could not know 
 who would have the upper say on the morrow. This 
 would make considerateness a necessity as much as it 
 is a virtue. For foolish conceit there would be no 
 room, for jealousy no cause and for disaffection no 
 reason. 
 
 So will labor come to its own, so will Democracy 
 be glorified. 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 383 
 
 INDIVIDUAL ACTION FOR CO-OPERATIVE SUCCESS 
 
 People organized into a state, even at its lowest 
 standard of service, can do and in fact accomplish 
 wonders for the individual. Some persons expect 
 the "government" to work in fairy fashion, antici- 
 pating needs and satisfying wishes without any 
 effort on their part other than this dreamy expecta- 
 tion. On the other extreme are men and women who 
 expect angehc shapes to come forth from govern- 
 mental moulds of injustice, exploitation, squalor and 
 body-wrecking misery. 
 
 In truth, not a few but many souls have risen 
 superior to circumstances throughout the ages past. 
 Most of the characters honored or idolized by man- 
 kind are of that class. Still they were the exceptions 
 and exceptions prove the rule. 
 
 The fact is that human welfare calls for both the 
 individual and the collective effort. In neither case 
 should people be put off guard by the shallow phrase 
 that "right makes might." Right no more makes 
 might than might makes right. Both are (in the 
 social realm), transmissions of force emanating from 
 human beings. So the great problem, which con- 
 fronts every person desiring intelligently to cast the 
 vote of his or her personality for the benefit and 
 the advancement of mankind, is the problem of what 
 to uphold and what to oppose; in other words, the 
 old question stares into each new conscience: what 
 is right and what is wrong? 
 
 Conscience! The new, the social conscience! 
 
384 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 There is the writing of a great book in showing the 
 full psychology of it. Beautiful, helpful, restful it 
 is, but for most of us not easy to attain. 
 
 We must reduce our own importance to rightful 
 proportions in the community and at the same time 
 raise our standard of responsibility to dutiful 
 heights in all the tangled relations of the world. 
 
 We must re-examine dreams, doctrines, philoso- 
 phies ; from the misty haze of historical dawn, 
 through the contentions of minds and interests, down 
 to the "science" which can see neither evil nor suf- 
 fering on Earth or would right wrongs by lavishing 
 on them the more respectable name: error. 
 
 Little wonder that men arrive at different ethical 
 conclusions and the most one can do is to offer liis 
 own to the rest of the world for the help it may give 
 in shaping individual life so it will dovetail with 
 social requirements to the detriment of none and the 
 benefit of all. 
 
 Expressed in a heart-to-heart fashion the writer's 
 conclusions follow: 
 
 1. Contemplate the universe to suit your fancy, 
 but be loyal to the globe you live on. 
 
 2. Ideals need not be discounted because their 
 realization falls beyond an individual lifetime. Con- 
 sider how much you have profited by the efforts of 
 minds and hands that wrought ages ago and how 
 much you have suffered through actions committed 
 and conditions produced long before you were bom. 
 Then, you can never do too much for the generations 
 in the womb of future years. 
 
 3. Cultivate the sense of proportion to love things 
 in due order. Inasmuch as in the manifestation of 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 385 
 
 the universe understanding stands highest and in 
 understanding mankind is foremost, endeavor to love 
 mankind above all ; serve in a manner that will benefit 
 mankind, advance that which in turn will work for 
 the advancement of mankind, unite with that which 
 unites mankind, praise that which glorifies mankind. 
 
 4. Acquire the gift of a mental Esperanto to 
 translate for yourself and as far as possible for 
 others the meaning of speech into the substance of 
 conceptions. Try and you will find religions and 
 philosophies as translatable as languages are. Each 
 language has its poets and artists and each is shame- 
 fully garroted and abused by many of those who 
 use it. Religions and philosophies share the same 
 fate. The world may yet agree on one language and 
 one philosophy. If you desire such a consumma- 
 tion, work and wait for it. Meanwhile, understand- 
 ing a number of languages will broaden for you the 
 circle of lovable characters, and a good hold on the 
 study of comparative religion will do yet more along 
 that line. 
 
 5. Waste no breath disputing about priority of 
 ideas. For every accomplishment coupled to a name 
 countless minds have striven; and for every great 
 achievement many, many unknown thousands have 
 suffered as much, perhaps even more, than the 
 martyrs celebrated on that account. 
 
 6. The power of thought guarantees the right to 
 reason and imposes the duty to be guided thereby. 
 Intelligent guidance will lead on the loftiest plane, 
 where the purest motives serve as strongest support. 
 To arrive there, both the individual and the social 
 conscience must be developed, a common attribute 
 
086 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 of which calls for living 3^our principles to the last 
 inch of possibility. Blood of martyrs to accelerate 
 movements for the right should no more be required. 
 Still it is better to be imprisoned or to die for what 
 you think is right than to pour hemlock in your 
 soul or be killed for what you think is wrong. Only, 
 husband life as you would other resources. 
 
 7. Remember that the shortest creek may quench 
 physical thirst and the narrowest creed satisfy 
 spiritual cravings, but the broad rivers of all phi- 
 losophies converge into the connected oceans of 
 thought, to navigate which safely and usefully is the 
 grandest as well as the commonest privilege of all 
 matured individuals. 
 
 8. To prove ideas right or wrong, measure them 
 by the basic conceptions of (a) political liberty; 
 (b) economic equality; (c) international fraterni- 
 ty; (d) social harmony; (e) mental independence; 
 (f) moral justice and (g) humane attitude. Be not 
 afraid of "economic equality" even though you are 
 rich and powerful. Many a czar owning millions 
 of soldiers and billions of dollars found himself in 
 a plight such that giving all in exchange for "equal- 
 ity" would have been a magnificent bargain. The 
 problem is only how all should rise equally prosperous 
 and not sink equally into the mire of squalor and 
 misery. Nor need you be afraid of "moral justice" 
 for such a state is far more convenient than allow- 
 ing a turn of the balance and so suffering the iniqui- 
 ties that had been inflicted. 
 
 9. Recognize the value of productive occupation. 
 As all art is work, so all work is art. None is vain 
 or wasted. It all goes into the coral reefs, the sum 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 387 
 
 total of human civilization. The problem ever was 
 and still is to devise a balance scale that shall weigh 
 righteously the efforts cast in for exchange. Amidst 
 the confusion of needs and frills, comfort and vanity, 
 prudence and pride, perhaps it is wisest to strive 
 for a standard of living that given conditions make 
 possible for all. 
 
 10. Employ your energy to make yourself agree- 
 able to the world's requirement, also the world to 
 yours. In connection with this, remember that 
 love without its tenders is like faith without works, 
 and brotherhood with a Chinese wall around it is a 
 delusion. Also, political rights by sexual qualifica- 
 tion is absurd, preposterously so ; and depriving 
 children of education or the opportunity of educa- 
 tion is causing them to go blindfolded through life. 
 
 11. Respect a law according to its quality, not 
 because it is tradition or because it happens to 
 be on the statute book. Most laws are but compro- 
 mises between the best and the worst in society. 
 Always a certain number of people are much better 
 than the law requires them to be, and a certain per- 
 centage is a great deal worse than the law allows. 
 In between stands the great mass, perhaps nine- 
 tenths of the population, gauging life by the rules 
 drawn through legislative conflicts. Between those 
 who condemn taking any interest on loans as heart- 
 less usury and those who would extort without limi- 
 tation, a "legal rate" is estabhshed which molds the 
 mass of financial transactions and in a measure 
 molds the thinking of the mass concerning right. 
 Of course, it is of utmost importance to improve laws. 
 This is done, primarily, by doing better than a law 
 
388 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 calls for. Revolutionary doctrines are beneficial 
 only to the extent that they dispose adherents to 
 adopt better ethics than have the powers rebelled 
 against. 
 
 12. If you must have something to approach with 
 veneration, let it be Liberty. Humankind enthroned 
 and dethroned many gods ; all had been endowed with 
 power, wisdom and virtue, but none conceived was 
 as generous as Liberty. It elevates man as high as 
 ever he can reach on the single condition of respon- 
 sibility. Remember, though, that an individual alone, 
 like a generation by itself, cannot be understood. 
 Both are subject to interrelated environment and 
 swayed by inherited tendencies as well as by the 
 potentialities of the future. But in the light of all 
 possible knowledge most sacred are the uses of lib- 
 erty, its non-use most harmful, and its abuse the 
 most abominable treachery to mankind. 
 
 13. Formulate ideals that, like the sun, will shed 
 brightness into life. Almost all the gloom that en- 
 shrouds the earth is caused by man and may be abol- 
 ished by mankind. If there be sorrows ineradicable, 
 let them serve as a frame of contrast for the glories 
 of life. Invest your minutes to realize the profits of 
 centuries and bank your days to earn interest into 
 the millennium. 
 
 14. Death? Why, it is but the final obligation 
 of life. To fear death is worse than weakness, it is 
 dishonesty. 
 
 15. Guard above all treasures the keystone of hap- 
 piness, which is health. As all parts of a healthy 
 body perform their natural functions without pain 
 or friction, so the healthy mind finds its bearings 
 
SOCIAL TRANQUILLITY 389 
 
 in all relations of life, without strain or suffering. 
 Both may be weakened by lack of proper care and 
 nourishment. One may lack the sense of sight, smell 
 or hearing, the other that of considerateness, grati- 
 tude or verity. But the healthy body generates its 
 necessary powers plus more for an emergency, and 
 the healthy mind produces sufficient reliance for self 
 and to spare. The sum total of all experience and 
 all thought would have us strive for individual and 
 social bodily and mental health. 
 
 Despite all difficulties, social justice develops con- 
 tinually, and despite all handicaps social tranquillity 
 is coming nearer day by day. Let no one sneer at 
 the hope; though the star of civilization is eclipsed 
 for a time by the death-sun of Mars, yet we have 
 not sunk as low as where we started from, and as 
 the earth never came to a standstill, now, too, we 
 may exclaim: Eptir si move! 
 
PART NINE 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 Newspaper Articles * 
 
 *The first six of these articles were printed in the Bridge- 
 port Evening Star-Herald. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 RECOGNITION FOR NATIONALITIES 
 
 From time to time, especially near election time, 
 stirrings are noticeable in divers nationalities (mean- 
 ing those who claim to represent them) for recog- 
 nition. 
 
 The shape in which recognition is desired is public 
 office. But giving such recognition to one group 
 necessarily excludes the others. Clearly enough, 
 favoritism and discrimination are twin principles; 
 courting the one invites the other. And, what is 
 worse, while satisfaction gained by an office-seeker, 
 through favor, is small and soon past, the sores 
 caused by the sting of discrimination are cancerous 
 and spreading. 
 
 He must be in darkness, most dense, to whom so 
 little light is worth so much candle. 
 
 If place of birth or derivation is a factor in fit- 
 ness for office, surely one of closest affiliation to a 
 given locality is best qualified ; and the farther back 
 a person's genealogical roots can be traced in local 
 soil and prevailing laws, • the more capable, trust- 
 worthy and successful he or she is apt to prove in 
 office. 
 
 But if accident of birth is no valid criterion to 
 choose anything by, from a rail polisher to a law- 
 grinder, how in the name of common sense can any 
 fair-minded person seek, offer or even accept prefer- 
 ment on grounds of nativity? 
 
 Suppose, however, that distribution of offices ac- 
 393 
 
394 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 cording to the different nationalities in a community 
 were feasible and proper, why expect that the prefer- 
 ment of one in a group will make all the rest happy 
 and satisfied? 
 
 Did the town clerk's office, given for a long time 
 to a German because of his being a German, help 
 the rest of the Germans any? Would the social 
 status of garbage collectors, unskilled hands and road 
 building laborers rise in public esteem if a Slovak, 
 a Hungarian and an Italian were placed in offices 
 which secured to the incumbents thereof ease and 
 honor? 
 
 Furthermore, as vicarious punishment is cruelty, 
 so vicarious honor is unjust and no honor at all. 
 
 But efforts spent by one group in return for bene- 
 fits derived from work performed by the other is 
 sufficient recognition for all practical purposes, and 
 this takes place constantly as a matter of daily 
 routine. 
 
 If there are some who really crave recognition of 
 a more showy kind for their several kinships, they 
 all could be satisfied in this manner: 
 
 Let the City Council or the Mayor name a Mutual 
 Recognition Day. 
 
 On this day let all who want recognition march 
 in parade and be saluted in behalf of the city by 
 the Mayor and Aldermen. 
 
 If the recipients of the honor will be kind enough 
 to pass it on to everybody they meet there shall be 
 a lack of recognition never more. 
 
 But certain propensities, nourished under this 
 heading by conscienceless or shortsighted politicians, 
 were best left to atrophy — why not? 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 395 
 
 CONCERNING AMERICANIZATION 
 
 Congress having appropriated 'steen millions of 
 dollars for Americanization work, discussion is in 
 order to learn what it is and what it is not. So, 
 here goes one opinion. 
 
 A waving of the flag is not always prompted by 
 pure intention to serve the country. Sometimes it 
 is done as a finale to a poor theatrical performance 
 for the sake of a little forced applause. 
 
 Loud confessions of American loyalty and service, 
 proclaimed from the housetops of different large or- 
 ganizations, may not be gold without alloy. Often 
 such claims are set forth with an eye on Mexico, 
 Zion, Slovakia or other particular points on the 
 globe. And it may be held, alongside highest regard 
 for motives here in play, that where a man's hope 
 is there is his heart also. 
 
 Possession of American wealth also fails to give 
 positive American standing. Witness, statistics on 
 foreign ownership of American lands and reports by 
 the custodian of alien properties. 
 
 Neither does the ability to speak English make 
 one an American. A goodly part of the British 
 Empire speaks English without having more than 
 compulsory respect for the United States of America. 
 
 Nor can unquestioning devotion to set institutions 
 guarantee the much advertised "one hundred per cent. 
 American" quality. Institutions change. They are 
 different now than they were in the days of chattel 
 slavery and whiskey domination. And it is reason- 
 able to assume that other changes will take place. 
 
396 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Not even American birth constitutes one an Amer- 
 ican always. Lord Beaver and Countess or ex-Coun- 
 tess Szechenyi were bom here, but that does not, in 
 the least, alter their allegiance to foreign potentates 
 or Soviet governments, as the case may be. 
 
 The real unfailing test of American preference is 
 simply to regard America (and for dwellers in the 
 U. S. this part of America) as a home in the best, 
 truest and fullest sense of that exalted word. 
 
 A demonstration of this formula in all its bear- 
 ings would fill a large size volume, but the summary 
 of the whole book might be compressed into these 
 few sentences : 
 
 Industrial functioning compels permanent habita- 
 tion and habitation requires care of one's habitat. 
 
 If you would Americanize yourself, feel at home 
 in this country; appreciate the foundation of your 
 shelter, also its possibilities; and never tire in the 
 effort to make it a place of solid comfort, mutual 
 consideration and soul-satisfying beauty. 
 
 If you would Americanize others, allow them, help 
 them to feel and act likewise. 
 
 VOTES FOR WOMEN— HOW TO OBTAIN 
 THEM 
 
 You, dear ladies, who advocate the enfranchise- 
 ment of women, spend much fine oratory in argu- 
 ment with certain obstinate legislators to convince 
 them of the fairness of your request. Evidently, 
 you believe that an appeal to the sense of justice 
 will carry your point where the light of reason fails 
 to penetrate. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 397 
 
 But how about their sense of justice? 
 
 An ancient philosopher, when rebuked because he 
 prostrated himself before the King in supplication 
 for this or that, answered : "Well, is it my fault that 
 the ears of the King are in his feet?" 
 
 With the anti-suffrage law-maker the sense of jus- 
 tice is neither in his head nor in his heart nor yet 
 in his lower extremities. 
 
 If the sense of justice resided in his head you, 
 of course, would have convinced him long ago ; if it 
 lodged in his heart, he would wither from the shame 
 his position reflects upon his own household; and, 
 if it were in his feet, he would be halted by cramps 
 before entering a legislative hall to trample upon so 
 simple, inexpensive, non-revolutionary a principle of 
 government as voting is to-day. 
 
 Where, then, is the sense of justice in legislators 
 opposed to woman suffrage? Why, in the first place, 
 it is of microscopic dimensions and, in the second 
 place, it is buried in their love to drive a bargain. 
 
 Some lawyers will sue a company for fifty thou- 
 sand dollars when they expect to collect five hundred 
 and the other side would settle by paying fifty dollars 
 if the claimant can be tired into accepting it. The 
 object of litigation becomes a matter of "winning a 
 case" and not of having justice prevail. 
 
 Your anti-suffrage legislator's mentality is of this 
 texture. Because you ask for the minimum of fair- 
 ness he accords you a maximum of indifference or 
 contempt. 
 
 If you would make an impression on his kind of 
 soul, ask for all that is due you and more — if 
 possible. 
 
398 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Organize a movement having for its platform 
 planks as follows : 
 
 1. Disfranchisement of the male sex for the same 
 length of time that women suifered political subju- 
 gation. 
 
 2. Obliteration of all man-made laws and replace- 
 ment of them with others conceived, deliberated upon 
 and enacted exclusively by women. 
 
 3. Immediate and summary discharge of all male 
 office-holders and their banishment to the lowest 
 depths of factory labor and other usefully produc- 
 tive employments of still lower grade. 
 
 Ask the Earth, the Moon and the nearby stars, 
 in the manner of Carrie Nation — anything less spec- 
 tacular is unnoticeable or of no importance to So- 
 lons of that sort — and they will begin to consider 
 how to cut down on your demands. 
 
 Insist with all your might on going the full length 
 of your way and then your anachronistic legislator 
 will be tickled to grant women the right to vote. 
 He will feel that by granting that right he concili- 
 ates you with a pittance and his sense of justice will 
 be satisfied in the knowledge that he drove a good 
 bargain. 
 
 TAKING THE TERROR OUT OF 
 REVOLUTION 
 
 The prohibition amendment to the Constitution 
 affects, in a sudden manner, the ingrained habits of 
 millions and the very livelihood of hundreds of thou- 
 sands. Such a change brought about by means of 
 bloodshed- wholesale iailinp-s and the forcible election 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 399 
 
 of administrative authorities, would surely be classed 
 a revolution. 
 
 Of yet greater importance and fraught with much 
 farther reaching consequences is the other amend- 
 ment which, despite the ungracious tardiness of the 
 Connecticut legislature regarding it, is on the thresh- 
 old of being incorporated into our body politic. 
 
 In the annals of history, many revolutions are 
 recorded showing smaller results than is the enfran- 
 chisement of one-half of over 100,000,000 people. 
 
 Of course, each change makes the succeeding in- 
 novation less feared and sooner discounted. As one 
 may become accustomed to keeping within the rut, 
 so one may habitually get out of it. Amendments 
 to the Constitution of the United States well show 
 its course. 
 
 It may come to pass that when a number of citi- 
 zens — women included — propound a really better 
 state of affairs, though it be labeled revolution, the 
 country will hop right into it. 
 
 IS COMPETITION THE LIFE OF TRADE? 
 
 Competition in industry may not have outlived its 
 usefulness, but the good flowing therefrom is cer- 
 tainly very much exaggerated. Some go so far as 
 to say: "Competition is the life of trade, without it 
 business would die of dry rot." But would it? 
 
 A moment's reflection will show that trade is the 
 result of general human needs, not of individual 
 rivalries into which most of competition degener- 
 ates. 
 
 We know, of course, that manv institutions, ad- 
 
400 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 ministered by nation, state, and municipalitjj give 
 a great variety of services without as much as a 
 thought of competition. 
 
 The large industrial concerns, where competition 
 has ceased, prosper most. These concerns enlisted 
 the cooperation of investors and prospered thereby; 
 of late they also invite the cooperation of employes 
 with a result detrimental to none and beneficial to 
 all. And just in proportion that cooperation is 
 earnestly sought will it repay in abundance. 
 
 Really, nobody engages in competition for bread 
 and butter because he wants to, but only because 
 he has to. Just so soon as possible competition is 
 stalled by whoever can do it; and, of course, income 
 from monopolies — be it ever so large — no one dis- 
 dains. 
 
 In certain businesses coordination and cooperation 
 may not yet be practicable, but that is poor con- 
 solation for most of those who earn their living in 
 such businesses. 
 
 At best, competition rewards only those who find 
 joy in satisfying the cravings of their own combat- 
 iveness. Others, though successful, cannot escape 
 from hearing the "Song of the Shirt;" they ever 
 must see the picture of the "Man with the Hoe" and 
 never can forget the fate of all — men, women and 
 children — who go under in the fray. 
 
 Consider the inefficiency of scattered forces spite- 
 fully employed in producing and distributing life's 
 necessities ; consider, also, the gigantic social waste 
 involved in duplication of plants and storehouses, 
 etc. ; furthermore, consider the brains and energy 
 spent not in getting trade, but in getting it away 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 401 
 
 from others, and the glories of competition fade into 
 a rather gloomy horizon. 
 
 School children study in competition to win prizes, 
 but grown-up people study for the knowledge to be 
 gained. So, in business, competition to a certain 
 point promotes development; after that — when ef- 
 fort is spent to destroy effort — competition ceases 
 to be beneficial and must be replaced with an incen- 
 tive as high above the motives of rivalry as the 
 scholar's is above that of the child. 
 
 With full and generous consideration for those 
 who built up the business, and with ample provisions 
 to retain the services of those who can successfully 
 manage it, many establishments are being transferred 
 and many more could be transferred from the basis 
 of competition to the plane of cooperation. 
 
 Admitting that such change is easier stated and 
 praised theoretically than brought about in practice, 
 the truth remains that when competition ceases to 
 be a buoy and becomes a drag, trade need not, nor 
 can it die of "dry rot," but may and must go on in 
 response to human want. 
 
 REFERENDUM ON LEAGUE COVENANT 
 
 Between responsibility for national attitude that 
 goes or is supposed to go with citizenship and the 
 actual non-influence of the citizen (outside Con- 
 gress) in determining the attitude, there is a gap 
 which should be spanned in a thorough fashion, and 
 the sooner this were accomplished the better for all 
 concerned. 
 
 In that gap all sorts of dissatisfaction and 
 
402 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 disaffection find lodgings and a responsive nursery 
 ground. In it are generated imps of social unrest, 
 from the scarcely audible sigh of helpless impotency 
 to the disturbingly noisome activities of revolution- 
 ary wrath. And the gap itself is sufficient justifi- 
 cation for whatever comes therefrom. 
 
 Indeed, if a people of many millions must stand 
 responsible for peace or war, by what method of 
 reasoning can it be counted fair to reach a decision, 
 regarding the course to be taken, by the feelings, will 
 and understanding of one or five hundred? 
 
 Now that a proposed covenant of the League of 
 Nations calls for endorsement or rejection. Congress 
 has an opportunity to bridge that gap by transfer- 
 ring the fact of responsibility to its theoretical abid- 
 ing place. Furthermore, the polling of a national 
 referendum on the subject-matter of the League 
 covenant would go a long way to secure satisfaction 
 with the stand taken as a result, whatever that may 
 turn out to be. 
 
 If the people can have no say in the matter, why 
 submit it to public discussion at all? True, such 
 discussion may help Congress to make up its mind 
 one way or another, but the fateful decision so ar- 
 rived at cannot amount to more, after all, than the 
 crystallized interest, sentiments and understanding 
 of a few. 
 
 And if that be proper, why pretend that national 
 attitude here is national choice? 
 
 The proposed covenant may be good or bad, any 
 League of Nations may be better than none, or no 
 attempt in that direction may be better than any; 
 still, the question remains: Who shall sav which? 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 403 
 
 Or is self-government applicable only when it 
 comes to the erection of a poorhouse or the like? 
 
 Are not the men good enough to be heroes, and 
 the masses they were accepted or drafted from, also 
 good enough to have a direct voice in settling the 
 fate of the proposed covenant? 
 
 This much is certain : A decision reached by means 
 of a national referendum would carry a sanction as 
 much above the say-so of Congress as a verdict by 
 this body is above the fiat of a monarch. 
 
 PROHIBITION— BY WHOM? 
 
 If, as suggested in Maeterlinck's "Blue Bird," 
 things remembered are revivified; John Barley- 
 corn, together with his close relatives, Haveanother 
 Foamy Fluid and Avant Sante Sparclegrape, is in- 
 deed alive. So much so that had they been really 
 buried, their official resurrection might be hourly 
 expected. 
 
 As matters now stand rum is not abolished, but 
 only retired into a sort of semi-banishment. Friends 
 of the old order demand a speedy reinstatement of 
 ante-bellum days when "getting under the weather" 
 was no disgrace and getting others there was glory. 
 They have few arguments which the sad records of 
 victims amongst them does not set at naught, but 
 even a single solitary righteous claim should be 
 sufficient to cause serious consideration on the part 
 of all believers in fair play. 
 
 Such a claim the upholders of personal liberty 
 pertaining to the use of alcoholic beverages have 
 
404 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 in the fact that the new law does not reallj^ and 
 unquestionably reflect the will of the people. 
 
 Numerous spokesmen for a large constituency 
 claim that prohibition was brought about by ecclesi- 
 astical machinations and self-serving political trick- 
 ery engineered for the benefit of divers commercial 
 soft drink interests. Not having had the question 
 submitted to a national plebiscite, who can positively 
 gainsay their accusations .^^ 
 
 To be sure, the law is on the side of the prohibi- 
 tionist, but that is not enough to make prohibition 
 acceptable or accepted. Why, the history of the 
 prohibition movement itself furnishes a most im- 
 pressive lesson not to impose unjust measures on 
 anyone, though such action may be legal at the 
 time. 
 
 The flood of prohibition which inundates the 
 country now had for its original spring a mere in- 
 discretion on the part of a single saloon-keeper. 
 
 This dispenser of intoxicants was requested by a 
 man, Neal Dow, not to sell liquor to his friend who, 
 though a fine fellow and holding a responsible posi- 
 tion, could not control the appetite for strong drink. 
 Maybe this was the only shortcoming of an excel- 
 lent man and Neal Dow set out, as a good man will, 
 to rescue his friend from the jaws of a destructive 
 inclination. 
 
 Neal Dow pleaded with all the eloquence he could 
 muster for his friend, but the saloon-keeper, instead 
 of heeding so fair a request, stood on his rights 
 under the license that hung neatly framed upon the 
 wall. Pointing to the document, the saloon-keeper 
 declared that he was in business, not to take care of 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 405 
 
 everybody in town, but to make money, and boasted 
 that the state sanctioned such a course. 
 
 One can imagine the effect of this experience on 
 Neal Dow. He went on an errand to obviate injury 
 and all he got was a double insult — an insult as an 
 individual and also as a part of the state. 
 
 At present many people feel insulted by the work- 
 ings of a law which questions their ableness to use 
 with reason a commodity that countless biUions have 
 used before without any interference whatsoever. 
 
 Such feehng does not pass through the mind with- 
 out the brain's taking cognizance and retaining an 
 impression — an impression which, perhaps, can be 
 best perceived by recognizing how Neal Dow's mind 
 was affected in its time. 
 
 As detectives, in the effort to find a culprit, "re- 
 construct" the movements of a criminal, so, in the 
 attempt to handle properly the problem under con- 
 sideration, one may retrace the psychic process of 
 an upright, virtuous mind. 
 
 On being turned down, Neal Dow must have swal- 
 lowed hard. What could be done against a merciless 
 saloon-keeper supported as he was by all the powers 
 of the state? 
 
 Neal Dow left the rum shop beaten, bitter gall- 
 drops flowing to his heart. Probably, man's primal 
 instincts came to the fore. 
 
 Perhaps he clenched his fists in wrath and turned 
 back to knock the scoundrel down, but even with 
 the first thought of homicide came the realization 
 that such a course could not have a desirable ending. 
 There was much to lose and nothing to gain. The 
 saloon would have survived, maybe in charge of some- 
 
406 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 one ten times worse than the heartless creature then 
 in charge. Yet there was his friend, a precious soul, 
 an excellent fellow, at stake. Could it be that the 
 state knowingly, deliberately set out to destroy such 
 men and their families for the sake of financial rev- 
 enue.? Who was the state.? Of course, Neal Dow 
 was part of it. And should he take upon himself 
 and carry into his grave the blame for proceedings 
 which he abhorred.? No! The duty of a man lay 
 in the opposite direction. Oh, but the odds he was 
 up against! 
 
 Neal Dow must have counted all powerful selfish 
 interests depending for their riches on the running 
 of rum shops. At this he may have been appalled 
 for a while ; but the thought of his friend, reinforced 
 with the idea that many others were in the same pre- 
 dicament, dispelled all fear and timidity. 
 
 Then Reason came, the wonderful councillor with 
 a scale weighing one thing against another, and there 
 was cast into the balance this question: What about 
 your many friends who enjoy a stimulant without 
 harming either themselves or anybody else by using 
 it.? They are fine, jovial fellows, hale and hearty; 
 some past the allotted three-score and ten, and some 
 with records as good, as clean as ever angel entered 
 into the books of fate — shall all these men be de- 
 prived of the friendly cup that cheers.? 
 
 One who, in behalf of a friend determined to fight 
 an age-old institution, could not overlook the rights 
 of other friends. Neal Dow's brain went aft in a 
 whirl. A veritable tempest of pros and cons flew 
 crisscross through his mind. Stronger and stronger 
 the tempest grew, driving heavy tears down the 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 407 
 
 cheeks of the man so agitated: tears, as are pressed 
 from a soul when about to strike out upon an en- 
 tirely new path of its own making. 
 
 After a while the storm calmed down. In the mind 
 of Neal Dow there shone a bright and steady light. 
 The balance scale of reasoning tilted all one way and 
 the final nugget that outweighed every other consid- 
 eration said: 
 
 Better a hundred good men forego some little 
 pleasure than that any one of them shall be ruined 
 and his family wrecked. If saving this one causes 
 inconvenience to a few, perhaps it is their own fault. 
 No one should hinder the work of justice and mercy! 
 
 Who can blame Neal Dow for the stand he had 
 taken ? 
 
 But the other side also must be heard. 
 
 Of course, the struggle for prohibition went the 
 way of all issues embracing the nation. Saloon-keep- 
 ers who were most scrupulously careful in conducting 
 their business fared no better than the worst of the 
 guild. Here, too, the innocent had to suffer for the 
 guilty. Now, the culmination of the movement in- 
 augurated by Neal Dow put the possessors of self- 
 control altogether in a class with those who have no 
 such thing in their make-up. 
 
 Prohibition is felt as a slight by some, by others 
 an undue interference, akin to insult. They reason 
 thus : ] 
 
 The law should protect those who need protection, 
 but it must not make the strong a scapegoat for the 
 weak. Users of intoxicants might have to be li- 
 censed as were the dispensers of the stuff. Temper- 
 ance might be inhibited somewhat by methods used 
 
408 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 in Dayton's beautiful Old Soldiers' Home, where a 
 man was entitled to so much and no more. The 
 profit might be taken out of the whole business (so 
 most of its venom would be lost), and stimulants 
 sold through agencies controlled by nation, state and 
 municipality. A hundred other ways might be found 
 to prevent the evil of the traffic without stopping the 
 good of it, but this blanket prohibition of everything 
 that has a stimulating smell in it cannot be an act 
 of either justice or wisdom. 
 
 To put a glass of honest wine on a par with the 
 wickedest of "dead-house" whiskey, is not sensible, 
 and it cannot be fair to compel millions of women 
 who were periodically helped by the use of a little 
 brandy to go without it — or go to pay for a doctor's 
 permission each time they need succor. (Physicians 
 may like such dispensation. Some of them advocate 
 that we should not drink a cup of tea or coifee with- 
 out a doctor's consent — which, of course, cannot be 
 expected gratis.) 
 
 If inconvenience for many and added expense were 
 the only disadvantages entailed by the prohibition 
 law, gradual adjustments might wear off dissatisfac- 
 tion after a while. But above all complaints and all 
 criticisms rings the question: 
 
 WHO DID THE PROHIBITING? 
 
 Pointing to the law and commanding to obey it 
 does not answer the question. Doing that repeat- 
 edly may increase resentment to a point where it 
 turns into a decision to wage war against the new 
 law. There are any number of persons willing to 
 start the campaign, if it has not already started, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 409 
 
 and who can positively say how matters may be at 
 the finish? Maybe all the evils would be restored 
 and none of the good, prohibition really aimed for, 
 accomplished. 
 
 "Who did the prohibiting?" 
 
 The question is pertinent and should be answered 
 in a manner that can soothe ruffled feelings. If pro- 
 hibition is really wanted by the nation, why not have 
 the people's direct say for it? Must Demo ever be 
 slighted in democracy — should the head ever submit 
 to being managed by the tail end of the word? 
 
 It were better to postpone prohibition until it has 
 the backing of the majority of the people beyond 
 any doubt. 
 
 And Knights of Temperance, prohibitionists, tee- 
 totalers, men who never frequented saloons and never 
 expect to, should be foremost in demanding a square 
 deal and a fair count, for "no question is ever settled 
 until it is settled right." 
 
 SOCIAL EQUALITY 
 
 Certain persons carry in their heads an idea 
 the practical counterpart of which they want to es- 
 tablish "if it will cost a million lives." "It" being 
 social equality. 
 
 But social equality depends on social worth, and 
 worth is measured by the mental yardstick known as 
 esteem, which cannot be standardized by any pro- 
 cedure, least of all by brutal force and human sacri- 
 fice. 
 
 Somehow, esteem is always prejudiced in favor of 
 self and of everything in proportion as it benefits 
 
410 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 self. Naturally so, for esteem is part and parcel as 
 well as a chief organ of the ego. Thus it comes that 
 self-complacency and even pride ever find reasons on 
 which to draw for support. 
 
 We may be proud because of our connection with 
 antiquity or because we belong to a virile new race. 
 
 Booker T. Washington, a splendid soul, declared 
 (in his autobiography) that he would rather be a 
 negro than of any other race. 
 
 This sentiment relegates even God's chosen people 
 to a back seat in his estimation. 
 
 But the chosen people can point with pride to the 
 record which shows that even as far back as in the 
 times of Moses the great leader could not add to the 
 number of his wives an Ethiopian lady without being 
 sharply upbraided by sister Miriam and brother 
 Aaron for such lack of discrimination. 
 
 We may boast of what our sires did or because 
 of what they didn't do to others ; and dote on their 
 prowess when they conquered, as much as on their 
 endurance in adversity when vanquished. 
 
 Genealogical lines, despite the proverbial skeleton 
 in the closet, are full of shining lights by which the 
 wanderer can see his own great qualities; but having 
 to start life as a foundling does not handicap a 
 plucky person at all, for he or she can exclaim with 
 Napoleon: "I am an ancestor!" 
 
 We may feel exalted because of our own courage 
 to blaze the path as pioneers for this or that cause ; 
 or we may gloat over being prudent enough to gather 
 the rewards of practicality. 
 
 Religion, too, is a veritable ocean of "I am better 
 than thou" sentiments. There are the various creeds 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 411 
 
 with different classification of attendance, contribu- 
 tion and piety. Other more subtle distinctions may 
 be noticed on occasion. Recently, a Catholic edu- 
 cational institution in Milford, Conn., refused admis- 
 sion to an American child of an American white 
 mother because she had chosen a Chinaman for a 
 husband, who, by the way, served as a Christian 
 missionary and is a successful business man. In this 
 there seems to be less glory for God than vainglori- 
 ousness of the people in charge. On the other hand, 
 in non-religious circles he who can throw the heaviest 
 bricks on priests and ministers takes the cake or 
 proclaims his right to it. 
 
 Then there is the pride of occupation to be con- 
 sidered. Not only is there a rivalry of conceptions 
 amongst the several callings regarding their difficul- 
 ties and usefulness, but men in the same trade or 
 profession can find lines of demarcation over which 
 to cast a sneer. Lawyers and bank presidents may 
 feel as having arrived at a station worth holding 
 on to ; however, they are called "non-productive loaf- 
 ers," "parasites," and similar uncomplimentary 
 names, by homy-handed orators in the open meet- 
 ings of unskilled laborers. New rich men flaunt their 
 wealth as much as many a poorhouse candidate 
 boasts of his honesty. 
 
 Pride over accomplishment is offset by self-pity 
 because a lack of opportunity to make the most of 
 one's self. Incumbency of high office falls in the 
 scale of esteem by the slighting name "politician"; 
 kings and emperors on their thrones are regarded 
 by plain, rugged, sometimes ragged republicans be- 
 neath their contempt. 
 
412 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Astronomers are the humblest of all folks. They 
 admit the existence of larger earths and greater suns, 
 but as to possessing intelligent inhabitants, they are 
 only sure of this one globe. 
 
 Conceit seems to be a spice of life that few if any 
 can do without. Even in the army, men in one branch 
 of the service are imbued with the idea of being more 
 important or less dispensable than they could be in 
 some other departments. 
 
 The mutual estimation of neighbors and neighbor- 
 hoods is respectfully referred to Irvin Cobb as a topic 
 for a humorous book. 
 
 In fact, nothing equalizes humanity quite as much 
 as the dis-equality of their esteem. 
 
 The only place a person can set up the notion of 
 social equality is in his own head, and more rarely 
 if ever in his own heart. If there are souls who 
 could institute such a state of mind and feeling and 
 maintain the doctrine for several decades without in- 
 terruption, they had better keep quiet about the 
 accomplishment unless they enjoy being thought, if 
 not called, liars. 
 
 LEAGUE COVENANT— YES AND NO 
 
 A good and sensible rule of composition requires 
 that the opening paragraph of an article shall dis- 
 close its import; show, as it were, through an aper- 
 ture the kernel of the nut under operation. StiU, 
 sometimes it is necessary to interpose a lens to make 
 for better vision. 
 
 In connection with the idea here submitted a state- 
 ment by ex-President Taft may serve as a good re- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 413 
 
 fleeter. He wrote (in the Yale Law School Jour- 
 nal, some years ago) : "Law in the abstract aims 
 for justice; in practice the object of law is to main- 
 tain the peace." 
 
 Evidently, if laborers were content to work for a 
 dollar a day and suffer privations or starve with- 
 out disturbing the peace, law-makers would never 
 bother to change conditions. Also, if capitalists 
 were about cheerfully abandoning their control over 
 wealth and power, neither the law nor the law-mak- 
 ers would put a straw in their way. 
 
 Because things do not happen that way unrest is 
 rampant and turmoils come on. Between the mill- 
 stones of clashing interests, laws are ground and 
 shaped into the form statute books present them. 
 
 Yet law-making is but one- third of the govern- 
 ment, and not the most telling part, as laws depend 
 for their meaning on those in power to interpret 
 and apply them. 
 
 For instance, we might as well have no prohibition 
 laws as have all intoxicants tabooed — and half a 
 dozen drunks a day at court in a small city. 
 
 The first amendment to the Constitution might 
 read: "Congress, whenever so disposed, shall make 
 stringent laws abridging the right of free speech, 
 free assemblage, and the President shall appoint a 
 Postmaster whose privilege it shall be to abridge the 
 freedom of the press"; yet if Congress would be 
 otherwise disposed and the Postmaster would be of a 
 different mould, men like E. V. Debs might be spared 
 from languishing in prison and numerous publish- 
 ers might not have to clamor for the removal of the 
 chief of the post office department. 
 
414 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 So a League of Nations may prove better or worse 
 than its written covenant. This instrument might 
 declare that the purpose of the organization is not 
 to prevent oppression and slaughter but, firstly, to 
 give its members all possible advantages when wag- 
 ing war against anyone outside of the League ; sec- 
 ondly, to uphold those who are favored by the domi- 
 nant party in the League against such as fail to 
 gain that favor; and thirdly, perhaps mostly, to 
 perpetuate and increase the power that secured con- 
 trol of the League at its very inception — still, the 
 new blank pages of history could be filled with the 
 most glorious accounts of fair adjustment and co- 
 operative advance. 
 
 The proper course, then, in regard to the League 
 covenant seems to be a utilization of the new inter- 
 national conclave for promoting world welfare with- 
 out leaving the country open to enemy invasion. 
 
 This means an acceptance of the entire covenant 
 with a reservation in toto ; a trial marriage the dura- 
 tion of which shall depend on the compatibility of 
 the parties concerned. 
 
 With nations, as with individuals, creeds and con- 
 fessions may have their uses, but character and con- 
 duct is the means of salvation. 
 
 The League covenant, if so enacted, would give 
 us a chance to show the degree of our fitness for the 
 new dispensation. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 415 
 
 UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE— WHY NOT 
 ENGLISH? 
 
 Viewing a statistical chart of languages, hope for 
 a common medium of thought-exchange is apt to 
 shrink and shrivel distressingly. 
 
 Not one in ten persons can speak English, though 
 more than two employ the Chinese tongue and nearly 
 as many love and hate in the Hindustani. 
 
 Scarcely one in twenty speaks German. Of Rus- 
 sians there are a few more, of Spanish a few less, 
 while only one in thirty knows beautiful French. 
 Italian is still less used. Bohemian, Polish, Danish, 
 Roumanian, Hungarian and others too numerous to 
 mention have their devoted supporters. Sometimes 
 it would seem that man was made for language and 
 not language for man. In fact, next to the cause of 
 theology the cause of languages served most often 
 as reason or excuse for hatreds between individuals 
 and wars between nations. 
 
 The greatest blessing of a universal language is 
 not its positive service, but the negative benefit of 
 eliminating language as a perpetual bone of endless 
 contentions. On the positive side, one language is 
 as serviceable as the other. Many great peoples 
 lived and died and their mode of expression all but 
 died with them. But while they lived their tongue 
 served them as well as ours serve us. Mutual under- 
 standing of language, without mutual regard of soul, 
 is not an unmixed blessing. 
 
 For one familiar with several languages it is pa- 
 
416 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 thetically amusing to read the self-glorification in 
 each. 
 
 Were the world disposed to have a common lan- 
 guage it could be attained within the life of a single 
 generation. A living language might be spread over 
 the earth, a dead one resuscitated and made to throb 
 with life everywhere, or a new language invented for 
 encompassing the world. 
 
 If only the humankind would be willing to own 
 one tongue and could agree as to which it should be ! 
 
 This being so, were it not in order to make a bid 
 for the required disposition? When a large conven- 
 tion takes place many cities vie with each other to 
 secure the next meeting for their respective interests. 
 Bids go high and the highest bidder wins the privi- 
 lege. 
 
 Similarly, the several candidates for a world lan- 
 guage might be backed by interested parties. The 
 English-speaking peoples combinedly could well af- 
 ford to offer ten million teachers and ten billion dol- 
 lars a year, for the next thirty years, to have Eng- 
 lish adopted as the language of the world. Publish- 
 ing interests alone could supply a goodly part of the 
 fund and lose nothing by their liberality. 
 
 No other ax should be sharpened on this grind- 
 stone; no acquisition of any land, no suppression of 
 any other language and no promulgation of any 
 doctrine aimed at, but just the one-track idea of a 
 universal language, a ccnimon medium of world-wide 
 thought exchange. 
 
 Then why not grapple with English? By it no 
 pride need feel offended. We use Egyptian symbols, 
 Greek star names, Arabian numerals, Italian musical 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 417 
 
 notation, Latin for medicine, and the vocabulary of 
 English shows it to be more of a composite language 
 than Esperanto. 
 
 Of course, the adoption of English for a world 
 language would place those who speak it in a posi- 
 tion of advantage, but this can be offset with the 
 offer mentioned or one still more liberal. Bidding 
 for a universal language is in order! 
 
 Meanwhile, the United States Government has an 
 immense field for extending the use of English. 
 
 For one thing, the government might contract 
 with every foreign language paper in the country for 
 a column or two and run intelligible English lessons 
 in them all. Instead of suppressing the foreign- 
 language papers, they ought to be encouraged to 
 diminish illiteracy and used for popularizing Eng- 
 lish where it is most and immediately needed. The 
 possibilities of such a move are great and many. 
 The lessons, conducted properly, with needed sup- 
 plementary work, might bring it to pass that within 
 a few years everybody who reads a paper would 
 know English! 
 
 Other suggestions come to mind, but this one 
 seems easiest to carry out and most promising in 
 result. 
 
 True, a foreigner in learning English must also 
 learn to understand the flood of aspersions cast upon 
 him and his. Articles bristling with vilification and 
 execration are shoved under his eyes. He must know 
 the vituperation and denunciation poured upon his 
 kind. But let him reflect that in the press of his 
 home quarters the identical stuff is being continually 
 served to others. 
 
418 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Of course, English as a universal language would 
 have an additional value. As such it would be given 
 more to friendliness than detraction. The very de- 
 sire for a universal language diminishes both bigotry 
 and intolerance. 
 
 OTHER MISCELLANIES 
 
 NEW YEAR'S DAY 
 
 The Mighty Almanac Men declare we are in per- 
 petual motion; not only glide we high up in air and 
 plow on through depths of the ocean, but we are 
 being waltzed at a run of several miles in a twinkling, 
 while the Earth speeds with and 'round the Sun in 
 strong bonds of filial linking. 
 
 This grand free ride is all first-class — how many 
 wondrous worlds we pass ! Some keep so close as if 
 they were a newly wedded lovelorn pair. . . . Yet 
 on we speed with eyes agaze; the more we see, the 
 more we praise, and with the knowledge gained we 
 try to read the acts of passers-by. 
 
 We move from out each other's ken, but meet our 
 gracious friends again; for though the Earth does 
 swerve and sway, it safely rounds its spiral way — 
 held by Sol on his apron-string, we circumfly him 
 in a ring elliptical, and celebrate our outward start 
 as New Year's date. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 419 
 
 PLEADINGS IN GREETINGS 
 
 1913 
 
 What if the years roll by? A little verse 
 Will weave its measures through the universe; * 
 And prove the mind, though tied in nerve-gland rope, 
 Of all embracing universal scope. 
 
 What if each day leaves but a memory, where 
 Sunrays glittered? Is not that Shadows' share? 
 Earth's glory grows with circlings of the globe. 
 And souls grow brighter with each kindly hope 
 
 Imparted or received; so with each knell 
 
 Of Passing Time, from its exhaustless store 
 
 Of good and right, I fain would wish you more. . . . 
 
 But words are few, aye, far too few to tell 
 Our feelings; so I simply wish you well, 
 From heart's deep mine — sincerely as of yore. 
 
 1914 
 
 "What would you have when the old year ends? 
 
 Here is all that to life its lustre lends: 
 
 Wit, Wisdom, Hope, Joy, Strength, Health, Wealth, 
 
 Friends." 
 "A lot of Wit for daily use, of Hope to last as long 
 
 as life; 
 Sufficient Wealth to pay life's dues; of Strength 
 
 enough for righteous strife; 
 
420 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Of Wisdom's core to seek for more, 
 Enough of Joy to be no toy 
 Of Friends a host, of Health the most — 
 For worthy aim." 
 
 Wish you the same. 
 
 1915 
 
 O Father Time, so often and so much 
 
 We ask of you ! Forsooth, that if some "touch" 
 
 Is left to wither unresponded, none 
 
 Must needs despair of gaining grace; so on 
 
 We strive and hopeful ask: a happy glow 
 
 To radiate from all our wishes' flow. 
 
 Let failings of all nations, races, creeds. 
 Melt off like shadows — in the Shine of Deeds 
 By Each for All ; grant Work to go with Ease, 
 And that our wars be Conquest of Ills; please. 
 The Seedless Orange as we owe to you, 
 Oh grant us "Graftless" Legislation too. . . . 
 
 Have Truth enthroned, fill hearts with Love to bless ; 
 
 Give unto souls the Gift of Merriness ; 
 
 So that, if days make up the Chain of Year, 
 
 Each Link in pleasing, rosy light appear. 
 
 Yet one more wish, this note to you extends, 
 
 O Father Time ! Deal friendly with our friends. 
 
 1916 
 
 May this our trip, through starlit space, appall- 
 ing paragraphs efface from mankind's story ; adding 
 to that book a lustrous page or two of sense so 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 421 
 
 sound, so true and bright, that gloom shall be re- 
 placed by light and joy; whose brilliant rays and 
 theme may as the rainbow-promise gleam. 
 
 May this our spin around the Sun produce life's 
 cloth of good, home spun weave; moulding your full 
 share of it, to suit and please — a perfect fit ; where- 
 by aspiring heart and soul attain unto their highest 
 goal. Withal, fetch all health, wealth and cheer, and 
 make for yet a better year. 
 
 1917 
 
 There is time for work and time for play 
 And time allowed us when we may 
 Indulge in simple wishing; 
 Which is now on throughout the land, 
 So, here we come with liberal hand 
 Our sentiments a-dishing: 
 
 For childhood careless playful years, 
 For youth the wisdom which endears 
 Old age and gives it standing; 
 For age-crowned head the cheerful brow 
 With heart sustained in youthful glow 
 That makes the world enchanting; 
 
 For all the Earth a brighter sky 
 With more of laughter ringing high 
 And less appeal of sorrow; 
 For all our friends we wish they may 
 Enjoy each hour and have each day 
 Linked to a hopeful morrow. 
 
422 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 1918 
 
 The notes of good-will may again be sounded 
 And friendly missiles sally forth to cheer 
 The day when Time unrolls another year 
 For present use and to be merged, compounded 
 In history. Oh, if but wishes counted! 
 There would be none to shed a bitter tear — 
 (Your humble friend still being on this sphere, 
 Though fifty times the yearly tour he rounded.) 
 
 And yet who knows.? The wish may further action 
 To make life's pilgrimage a grand attraction 
 From good to better and from that to best; 
 Mayhaps, kind words, appropriately spoken, 
 Will enter into — help produce — the token 
 Of true success in life : bless and be blest. 
 
 1919 
 
 Some matters are subject to change; 
 Regardless how we would arrange 
 This old world, it has its own way 
 Still — some things must vanish as dreams 
 Dissolve in awakening gleams. 
 While others are destined to stay. 
 
 Who could count the old hymns of hate 
 That have ceased to reverberate 
 In afterdays? Time still does transmute, 
 And cloudbursts of spite and of spleen 
 Will be, as they ever have been. 
 Concluded in rainbows of truth. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 423 
 
 But snow-flakes come churling in fanciful curling, 
 
 As white and as sterling as ever came whirling 
 
 Or yet may fall pearling tenderly, softly on human 
 
 eyes. 
 So, on through years fleeting, the heart's friendl}^ 
 
 beating. 
 Despite swords unsheathing, keeps ever repeating 
 The age old entreating of benevolent skies. 
 
 1920 
 
 Whatever the vogue in far, trans-earthly spheres 
 We, here, have our being — it clearly appears — 
 In a quality world! As of old: 
 The wind blows by motion, rock hardness reveals, 
 The snow with its whiteness and softness appeals. 
 The ice with its glistening cold. 
 
 It is not mere things but their aspects engage 
 In battle: the tempest with fury and rage. 
 The life-giving light with its gleam. . . . 
 And qualities rule, as with scepter and crown. 
 In valleys, on mountains ; from the emperor- frown 
 To that smile of a babe in his dream. 
 
 Men's ways, motives, hopes, all are measured in trays 
 
 Of a huge cosmic scale and that which it weighs 
 
 For the better grained Destiny culls — 
 
 Oh, say, in all of life's great, ceaseless adventure 
 
 What lofty emotion surpasses in grandeur 
 
 A full-orbed friendly impulse.? 
 
424 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 1921 
 
 No year so empty but it had its days 
 
 Of glorious spring, its humming bees, its scent 
 
 Of blowing roses wafting in the air; 
 
 No place so lonely, desolate, but there 
 
 A coursing sap still works, creative bent. 
 
 In all the myriad known and unknown ways. 
 
 No winter quite so cold, no stormy strife 
 So turbulent but humankind survives; 
 Some birds are ever left upon the boughs, 
 The evergreen slows down but still it grows, 
 Beyond the weepy clouds are smihng skies. 
 Below the frozen crust is throbbing life. 
 
 So Time forever offers time to be 
 
 A feather in the universal wing 
 
 That lifts the world, and time to cast one's vote 
 
 Into the wondrous soul-inspiring growth 
 
 That never stopping raises — ring by ring — 
 
 The edifice of human harmony. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 425 
 
 LITERARY PREPAREDNESS 
 I 
 
 ON THE FOUNDING OF A WRITERS* CLUB 
 
 On-rolling time calls for a rhyme 
 To chronicle a recent climb, 
 A climb for rarer altitudes 
 By mentally ambitious youths 
 In homage to their art sublime. 
 
 The worthy hand that wove the strand 
 Of pulsing minds into a band, 
 The simplest snow-white flag did choose, 
 Inscribed thereon one word: PRODUCE! 
 Enhanced with it a platform and 
 
 Lo ! As by magic gathered then 
 Devoted wielders of the pen. 
 Some of whom may yet have their names 
 Illumined, glowing bright on Fame's 
 Fair scroll. Be that as should; no clan 
 
 Creative bent, no Grecian Gent 
 
 To loftier Valhalla went. 
 
 Where kindness spread a finer net; 
 
 Nor could his pampered gaze have met 
 
 A lovelier ladies' group. . . . They sent 
 
 A story each, a song or ode 
 
 To be allowed in this abode 
 
 For learning hardest rules most true — 
 
 It makes one's old red blood feel blue 
 
 That such a sisterhood can't vote. 
 
426 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 But they were there and heard declare 
 That games of art must be played fair, 
 That privilege had given way, 
 Poetic license gone for aye — 
 To write quite well, one must prepare! 
 
 "Don't lightly skim, no fault so slim" 
 Maestra said "but mars — A hymn. 
 If overdosed with hissing 's' 
 Provokes instead a soothing 'bless 
 You dear' almost its antonym." 
 
 "Through study dip each word and whip 
 Each sentence, so that they will grip 
 The reader's heart, and as for sense. 
 That too may be of consequence 
 In getting the rejection-slip." 
 
 All listened hard, with mind and heart, 
 How one becomes a full-fledged bard 
 And, too, the session ended fine 
 With gleams of sparkling Omar wine — 
 Thus cheering all to write their part. 
 
 Now, book vendors and editors. 
 Put extra guards unto your doors; 
 For manuscripts will come so thick 
 That some of them are bound to stick 
 And carry off your hoarded stores. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 427 
 
 II 
 
 Nearby the ground, Long Island Sound 
 Its deepest theses did expound; 
 With eloquently rhythmical 
 Recurring waves it cast a spell 
 On all the listening trees around. 
 
 The vaulted skies with billion eyes 
 Observed the scene; how wave unties 
 Its fringed edge from out the surge, 
 How coursing currents pressing urge 
 The foamy surf to symphonize: 
 
 "Oh, you who care, oh, thinkers fair. 
 Remember that I come — from where? 
 From chaos all through stress and strife 
 Have I come to harmonious life; 
 Why should not humankind get there? 
 
 "Breathe verse or prose, what if the rose 
 In white or pink or golden glows? 
 Just so its beauty reigns supreme 
 To make complete the garden-dream 
 From whence enchanting fragrance flows. 
 
 "Your verse may be or bound or free. 
 Just so it flutes a charming plea 
 From heart to heart, from soul to soul 
 For broader love and higher goal 
 And better social harmony. 
 
428 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 " 'Tis hard to swim against the grim 
 Old currents, but the tiniest, dim 
 Good force will grow till it is blest 
 On top the highest moving crest 
 That sprajeth forth the lusty brim. 
 
 "In spite war-grant, munition plant 
 And hoary ills that now do rent 
 And tear the heart of all the world. 
 The flag of right remains unfurled 
 Embracing all who by it stand. 
 
 "Whatever at you balk or fret 
 And see but dark — remember yet; 
 From chaos all through stress and strife 
 Have I come to harmonious life — 
 The world cannot stop short of that!" 
 
 Thus beat and pound with voice profound 
 The surging waves by sea-waU bound. 
 Oh, for the writer's art refined 
 So it impress on all mankind 
 This message of Long Island Sound. 
 
 SONG OF THE FEW 
 
 On a summer's eve, at the shore of the sea, 
 
 A wee small group had gathered to see 
 
 What ought not happen, and what ought to be — 
 
 There was no speech, and upon them all grew 
 That heavy, disheartening, melancholy view 
 Contained in these few words: we are so few! 
 
 Silence prevailed, as such mood may well bring. 
 Till one of their number was inspired to sing 
 This odd little song of peculiar ring: 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 429 
 
 "I am eating my bread with the few — of my kind 
 Who rather would lead than lag on behind 
 Or cut through the darkness than stay with the 
 blind. . . . 
 
 "I am dreaming my dreams with the few — of the race 
 Who, ever anxious a new dawn to face, 
 Have hopes as boundless as infinite space. 
 
 "I have cast in my lot with the few — of my kin, 
 Who had chosen against the current to swim, 
 The banks of the Isle of Justice to win. 
 
 "So, I'm sharing the joys of the few — few indeed 
 Who see the tree grow while planting the seed ; 
 And can feel its shade while the sapling takes feed. 
 
 "So, I'll take my returns with the few — in my town. 
 Who are never so rich as to long for a crown 
 And never so poor, but their souls are their own !" 
 
 When the song had ceased, the moon shone bright ; 
 In their eyes though glittered a much greater light; 
 The shine of souls when they know they are right. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP BY THOUGHT 
 
 What is in the air on yonder hill, that charms 
 the heart with power of will to climb up pathways 
 new? — To climb and climb on scattered grist, 
 through winding roadways in Morning Mist ; past 
 pearly glittering dew from grass-blades peering; 
 past aimless odd jeering and the leer of the frog; 
 
430 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 past screech of an owl, and the enigmatic growl of 
 a stray old dog? 
 
 Upward attracts the mysterious lead; past wood- 
 ed landscape scarcely a-heed of rivulet's rumble; 
 onward and upward, the body grown limber now 
 striding proudly in the twilight's glimmer, now think- 
 ingly humble ; rough stones must be tossed aside and 
 bridges be crossed the hidden trails along; and mus- 
 cles ipay tire, yet "higher" calls "higher" the hill 
 top. Can Song 
 
 Or brush ever paint the rising sun's color? Yet 
 brighter the soul which sans expecting met reward 
 that too had climbed on scattered grist, through 
 winding roadways in Morning Mist — met a purpose- 
 ful heart; one guided on high by the self-same sky 
 through like trials; can there aught else be of such 
 glory as the Parallel Story of feelingful thought? 
 
 A BABY BORN 
 
 (to MRS. E. S. M.) 
 
 Like a new day with its breaking mom, 
 
 A baby born 
 
 Is a new hope, unfolding into light 
 
 All that it might 
 
 Be; a new force come in a wondrous way 
 
 From where, through time, mysteriously 
 
 It had lain; 
 
 May it repay 
 
 The world's wait, the father's toil and 
 
 The mother's pain. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 431 
 
 MONTH OF MAY 
 
 O rise ye folks, O hearts be gay ! 
 
 She comes, she comes, the month of May ; 
 
 With flowing rivers, shining skies, 
 
 The spell of magic in her eyes. 
 
 Her loving breath, upon the land. 
 
 Sets life aglow; her mighty hand 
 
 Is weaving forth on Time's great loom 
 
 The Hope of Mankind's crimson bloom. 
 
 Ye souls who on your lonesome ways 
 Have cast the seeds for glorious days 
 To come, and all who labored well 
 The budding plant from weeds to tell; 
 Ye hosts that long to dedicate 
 This youthful Earth to Justice Great, 
 Oh rise ye all and sing the air 
 Of "Right Triumphant" everywhere. 
 
 As sure as planets onward sway, 
 She comes, she comes, the month of May, 
 When flags upon each City Hall 
 Shall flutter true and wave for all; 
 When through the air of balmy Spring 
 Some thousand million voices ring: 
 Rejoice O world! O hearts be gay — 
 She came, she came, the month of May ! 
 
432 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 SONG OF PROLETARIAN PATRIOTS 
 
 We'll follow the banner so grand, 
 Whose birth-cry rang out the word : free ! 
 Whose very first triumph cut through 
 The black heart of old tyranny. 
 
 We'll die for the beautiful flag 
 Proclaiming the citizen free; 
 Can there be a worthier death, 
 Than dying for sweet Liberty? 
 
 We'll follow the Stars and the Stripes 
 
 To lighten a neighboring woe; 
 
 But only to serve millionaires 
 
 And procure for them markets? — No! 
 
 We'll follow the Red, White and Blue 
 Wherever, whenever it waves ; 
 Excepting to fasten a chain 
 On the limbs of some quivering slaves. 
 
 We'll follow the Star-Spangled Cloth 
 Which could redeem an unarmed race ; 
 But oh ! Never into a yoke 
 And no ! Never into disgrace. 
 
 We'll follow Old Glory, we will. 
 Through fire and water and strife ! 
 But the standard must stand for the Day 
 Of fair International Life. 
 
 We'll follow the emblem so fine 
 To the ends of eternity. 
 So the beautiful banner, it must 
 Bless, glorify humanity. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 433 
 
 NEW LIBERTY 
 
 All speak of Freedom, aye, but not all mean the same 
 Liberty. With some it is a lifeless, empty name, 
 A phantom nebula to ponder and to muse 
 About; with some it is but dreamers and their 
 
 dreams. 
 With others vengeance — ugly nightmare of abuse, 
 A warlike, horrid carnage Human Freedom means. 
 From out of all these shapes that many minds con- 
 fuse 
 Much more than care to comprehend — we are to 
 choose. 
 
 And choose we really must! The tree must have 
 
 its root 
 For twigs to bud and green, for blooms to bring their 
 
 fruit. 
 As sea must surge its waves, and skies shed starry 
 
 light. 
 As roses show by color, and songs must glide on 
 
 sound ; 
 So every intellect, when grown to mature height. 
 Must have its anchorage, its Grand Ideal found. 
 Now: feared, obscured, denounced, avoided though it 
 
 be 
 And slandered too, what is more grand than liberty? 
 
 Behold our choice ! — She is not wildly mischief bent ; 
 Nor beading worthy words to gain a worthless end ; 
 Nor yet the haughty dame that cannot hear unless 
 The siren sound of gold rings from the calling note ; 
 
434 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Nor yet, again, that old, beguiling sorceress 
 Constraining all (with misty, glimmering, phosphor- 
 wrote, 
 Uncertain sayings ; by feeble, false, misleading light) 
 To wage an aimless, joyless, ceaseless, senseless fight. 
 
 From inmost depth of heart we frankly disavow 
 The reigning queen that breeds perverted, soulless, 
 
 low, 
 And savage monarchs, whose black joy and craven 
 
 caU 
 Is training men to live and die like slaves — 
 Mean slaves to conjured fears; vile slaves in pom- 
 pous thrall 
 Of unearned guilty ease ; fat lackies to the graves 
 Of dead gone by, who fain would force us all to go 
 The thornful, tearful path of mournful long ago. 
 
 Did Earth evolve for this, did mankind evolute 
 
 To fall a helpless victim to the fiercest brute 
 
 Of its own make? Have our forebears but toiled 
 
 and brought. 
 Through oceans deep of blood and tears, the Ship 
 
 of State 
 For us, upon the quicksand shoals of jungledom, 
 
 fraught 
 With ills, to run aground? And were the wondrous, 
 
 great. 
 Poetic steel and iron structures made, to cause 
 Our sinking deeper down than mankind ever was? 
 
 The curse, the shame of it! The awful, blasting 
 
 truth; 
 That sex and mind be led to wilt ; to prostitute 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 435 
 
 The virtues life demands; that he be famed "great 
 
 man" 
 Who, hoarding common-stock blocks and blocks 
 
 stock-preferred, 
 Would drown the world in pauper's ignorance. . . . 
 
 The clan 
 Of tyrant fools ! They err if ever men have erred 
 In feeling safe while doing wrong. common sense, 
 Does not each action weave its consequence.? 
 
 Who crush or cringe, no, theirs is not the liberty 
 That we adore. Oh, what a difference there can be 
 Back of one name ! So look you right. . . . What 
 
 if our choice 
 Of liberty is new.? What if by many frowned 
 Upon? What if confined to huts? Still we rejoice 
 In her advance from fettered ground to fields un- 
 bound — 
 And in her magic sway, as all around the globe, 
 From seeds of black despair, she grows red blooms 
 of hope. 
 
 Salute New Liberty! the just, the wise, the kind 
 
 That freedom real does yield to body and to mind; 
 
 That sets man free from dim, dark, tortured cen- 
 turies' 
 
 Accumulated wrong ; free from the strangling throes 
 
 Of want ; from blurs of too much toil ; from base sur- 
 cease 
 
 Of goods; from Haunting Ghosts of man-for-man 
 made woes, 
 
 And from the gnawing fear of crushing though un- 
 known 
 
 A fellow human life by holding to our own. 
 
436 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Who else for less may settle, we would be free in 
 
 truth: 
 Sweet harmony to finger upon a riftless lute, 
 For cloudless playful years; to breathe the light, 
 
 pure air 
 Of vision's fragrant fields; to glory in the wealth 
 Of standing on unlorded soil, by sweet and fair 
 Sunshine of human joy encircled; to grow in health 
 And love ; to think, to strive, to work, to set the pace 
 In gaining nature's comfort for the human race. 
 
 Indeed, when ghouls and flunkies speak of "Liberty" 
 It is a fraud, a farce, a sore, an aching travesty 
 On Freedom's proud estate. Or if theirs he the old 
 Goddess, salute! Good-bye! She's dead to all in- 
 tents. 
 Sans throbbing life. O friends, leave her to metals, 
 
 gold 
 That caused her fall, and be ye blessed instruments 
 Of power for the new — The Grand New Liberty, 
 Whose call to glory rings: Be equals and he free! 
 
 Does it seem dreamy, distant, as a far-off moon? 
 Yet — she is coming! Yet — she may be here quite 
 
 soon 
 And clear from off Earth's face the thickened grimy 
 
 slimes 
 Of self-worship ; so loving waves of human heart 
 Can melt off cords, entwined on it by ancient rhymes. 
 In ages past . . . tiU wings of virtue, pulse of art. 
 Each precious throb in every breast shall freely beat 
 For Right and Truth. Hark! Ours the privilege 
 
 to greet 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 437 
 
 The dawn of a new age. Reveille in every tongue 
 Is pealing forth, and echoes many million strong. 
 The call resounds from pole to pole, from shore to 
 
 shore : 
 Levez ! — Erwacht ! — Awake ! Here is the promised 
 
 land. . . . 
 Emblazoned flags and banners overhead implore 
 Us all to take possession ! 'Tis within reach of hand 
 With but this one condition, hark! All must be free 
 For any one to claim the grand New Liberty. 
 
 Hail thee, exhilarating morn ! All nations on 
 The face of Earth arise to say in unison: 
 Get thee behind us. Greed, chief instrument of Vast 
 Woe (helping Ignorance to flourish and endure), 
 Mankind's divider into warring creeds and caste. 
 Get thee behind us, cursed, wanton preferment's lure ! 
 Of whatever name, of whichsoever kind 
 If thou art Social Dross, get thee behind! 
 
 To you, New Liberty, high strivings' holy aim ; 
 
 Redeemer of the Earth, of glowing hearts the flame. 
 
 Of martyrs' blood the red, in righteousness con- 
 ceived. 
 
 Who greetest every babe from birth as of your own 
 
 Household; who bringest new rights with old rights 
 retrieved ; 
 
 Whose very coming shakes the tyrant's golden 
 throne — 
 
 To you we dedicate the wealth our will controls; 
 
 The fibers of our body, the sunlight of our souls. 
 
438 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 TAXPAYERS' PLAINT 
 
 When the clouds have gathered too thick and too 
 
 heavy upon the skies, there comes, as its levy, 
 Thunder and lightning, storm and stress; in man- 
 kind's political affairs, no less. 
 If too many troubles had been aforming, there comes 
 
 a time for desperate storming. . . . 
 Such was the state in a certain city ; not even bright 
 
 and usual witty 
 Editors durst poke fun at the general gloom; for 
 
 theirs was a lot of collateral — 
 And it is one of the old standard laws that hearts 
 
 incline as interest draws. 
 How should the editor humor a fault, when all his 
 
 supporters command him to halt.? 
 But such was the case in this uneasy town, the better 
 
 the citizen the sterner his frown. 
 The higher he stood the louder his grumblings. So 
 
 came the storm with flashes and rumblings. 
 The sky hung low, more ominous were the clouds 
 
 than in Europe before the world war. 
 Streets turned Exchange of Meaningful Glances; 
 
 some vented threatenin' utterances — 
 The storm was due, men faced it blandly, now was 
 
 the time ! . . . Consequently, 
 Before the august City Fathers appeared the boldest 
 
 and the smartest. 
 Most influential delegation to raise protest against 
 
 taxation ; 
 Against increasing of the taxes, by men most likely 
 
 having axes 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 439 
 
 To grind, dull as in weeks of travel you find. The 
 
 once beflowered gavel 
 Fell thrice to call for silence ! Order ! Which ensued 
 
 on excitement's border. 
 Then the mayor with solemn notation spoke: "Gen- 
 tlemen of the delegation, 
 Your patriotism we duly admire, the city's interests 
 
 center in you; 
 We know, for the common good you aspire,, and we 
 
 are assembled to hear you through." 
 Now, first to speak was a man tall and fat (in Prince 
 
 Albert coat, with cylinder hat). 
 He rasped his voice, and after some pause, he thus 
 
 orated the taxpayers' cause: 
 "For many years we forebore though displeased, but 
 
 patriotic patience has ceased 
 To be virtue. There is no use hushing; the burden 
 
 of taxes is utterly crushing! 
 You are paying too much to a crowd of men for 
 
 sitting, out, mostly in front of their den; 
 To others, you pay an awful sum, for dressing a 
 
 little and walking some. . . . 
 You're squandering money as if it — well, as if we 
 
 drew it from a bottomless well; 
 As if we knew not how to expend, whatever surplus 
 
 the balance may tend. 
 In the name of Justice, for the sake of pity, must 
 
 every one employed by the city 
 A grafter be or have a soft snap ? Keepers, sweepers 
 
 or be they teachers, 
 Must all of them, like high-tone preachers, be ca- 
 joled and cuddled in luxury's lap? 
 
440 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Why, printers, sprinklers, janitors, jailers charge 
 
 even more than custom tailors ! 
 Oh, why, for services now do you pour double the 
 
 money it could be had for? 
 Do you lack the sense of fairness, or can our burdens 
 
 be unknown to you men? 
 We are being snowed under and given the chills, by 
 
 painters', plumbers', and roofers' bills. 
 The carpenters' long list of items divers, give our 
 
 spines the inverted shivers. 
 Out-goes a swelling, incomes grown thin with cruel 
 
 eviction-nightmares thrown in — 
 Withal here you crack the taxing whip! Now, un- 
 less you want us to pack our grip. 
 Pull up our stakes and move from hence to places 
 
 with more sound common sense. 
 You must act fairly with us once more. And I hope 
 
 you'll turn a new leaf o'er." 
 With a jerk on his coat-tail the man took his seat, 
 
 and every one felt the speech was a feat. 
 
 The councilmen sat in deep silence still ; one thought 
 
 of a certain improvement bill 
 He had promised his neighbor's good-looking wife, 
 
 some thought of their own — political life; 
 Some were confused by all this hammering against 
 
 the thousand wants aclamoring; 
 Not to be "roasted" and neither to rue, what should 
 
 an humble alderman do? 
 Amidst such solemn cogitation, a second man of the 
 
 delegation 
 (With grayish hair and bent in chest, a gold chain 
 
 dangling from his vest) 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 441 
 
 Rose to his feet and spoke his mind: "Gentlemen, 
 do you think we are blind? 
 
 Do jou think because the jackpot is hidden in fold- 
 able woodpiles, viz. : 
 
 Orders, contracts and offices new, we cannot surmise 
 its revenue; 
 
 We may not guess at its hold or its flow, and never 
 dream what makes the mare go? 
 
 Oh, man, we are having plenty of ills, without sup- 
 plying with frills and thrills 
 
 The taxfree rabble that wears off the paving, but 
 flies from adversity's least little swaying. 
 
 You stop this playing to galleries ; continual raising 
 of salaries ; 
 
 This demagogic talk for the 'masses'; this handing 
 out of cakes and molasses 
 
 To all the hookwormed and demented! Your work 
 is all for the tax-exempted. . . . 
 
 For them are maintained the public parks ; for them 
 are lit up the electric arcs ; 
 
 For them the city is made resplendent ; for them the 
 streets are broadened and lengthened 
 
 Fine concerts given and lectures, forsooth, the cor- 
 ner curb-stones made round and smooth! 
 
 With hospitals, churches and playgrounds free, 
 theirs is a perpetual jubilee! 
 
 Library, poorhouse — here a big cough — for them 
 will there be never enough? 
 
 Now plenty of us are sore, sick and tired of being 
 mulcted, being conspired 
 
 Against ! No more extravagances shall upward 
 aeroplane expenses. 
 
442 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Nor shall you pile on us debt upon debt, there are 
 plenty of bonds elsewhere to be had. 
 
 Harken! We ask you to cut down taxes, ere wrath 
 into rebellion waxeth 
 
 Ere angered, outraged, we take to arm and make 
 it for you subterraneously warm." 
 
 So finished the second, his gesture and frown dis- 
 pensing daggers as he sat down. 
 
 His eloquence for so true a cause, was rewarded by 
 a round of applause. 
 
 Then silence again, the silence sad, where no one 
 knows what could be said. 
 
 So seconds passed in unpleasant stress, then upstood 
 
 a third man quite plain of dress 
 And evidently impressed by the others, turned upon 
 
 his delegate brothers 
 And inquired, anxiously, ruffled, perplexed: "Oh, 
 
 fellow taxpayers why have we come hither .^^ 
 If paying rent is so much sweeter, wherefor submit 
 
 to being taxed!" 
 
 ALLIED OPERATION 
 
 A SHORT STORY 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert confronted a greater hard- 
 ship than ever before in the three years of their 
 married life. It was a problem of shelter, always 
 difficult, but now driving many into desperation. 
 
 As a flood inundating the countryside fills every 
 nook and crevice, so the influx of people to the town 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 443 
 
 where the manufacture of war implements offered 
 to large hosts better than usual wages, filled every 
 available room in the city. 
 
 The Gilberts, like many others, received the dis- 
 mal notice to move and could find no place of refuge, 
 not to mention a home within their income. Ten 
 days of running around all over town sapped their 
 energies, and the day before dispossession the couple 
 felt disheartened indeed. Anybody would feel uneasy 
 in such a predicament; yes, even though a chorus 
 of a thousand voices sang "Glory to the highest," 
 and "Don't worry, dear." 
 
 True it is that the awful congestion had a com- 
 pensatory feature in that it taught many persons 
 to forbear each other's idiosyncrasies. Moreover, 
 newly wedded couples were glad for a nest with the 
 old folks ; in not a few cases old traditions were 
 overturned and they learned to like their parents- 
 in-law. 
 
 But some of the newcomers could find no lodging 
 at all, while others found themselves, so to speak, 
 washed from under the sheltering roof. 
 
 Thus it was with the Gilberts. To-morrow they 
 were to be put on the street. He began to hate land- 
 lords in general and those who refused him or 
 turned him away, in particular; they all seemed to 
 be banded in a mean conspiracy against him and his 
 lovely little family. 
 
 Mrs. Gilbert slept scarcely a wink throughout 
 the night. She watched for the sound of the news- 
 boy who left the paper at their home early in the 
 morning. The swish of the paper jerked her out 
 of bed; she hastily put on a kimono, hurried to the 
 
444 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 hall door, took up the newspaper, lit the gas and 
 greedily scanned the page of want advertisements. 
 . . . What matters the siege of Verdun or the 
 Chase in Mexico to one who has no shelter for the 
 night ? 
 
 "Henry!" she called, after having searched 
 through the columns, "here is a chance; hurry up, 
 don't let us be late again." 
 
 As a matter of habit the husband respected the 
 wife's request, though this time not without grum- 
 bling. "I suppose we will have to go out at mid- 
 night to find a place to live in." 
 
 "It is nearly six o'clock and it seems to be a 
 private party who has the letting. If you hurry 
 you may be there before seven and you may be lucky 
 enough to be the first to apply." 
 
 "If I wake them from their sleep, they might re- 
 fuse me just for spite." 
 
 "Well, the advertisement doesn't say at what hour 
 to call, so you just hurry," pleaded Mrs. Gilbert; 
 but it was she who did all the hurrying in the house ; 
 finding his collar and shirt, putting in buttons, 
 bringing forth his Sunday clothes and preparing 
 breakfast. 
 
 When half-dressed, Mr. Gilbert inquired in a voice 
 not yet free from grouch: "Well, what is it, where 
 is it.?" 
 
 She pointed to the advertisement and read : " 'To 
 rent, four rooms, upstairs, quiet place' — after a few 
 moments' pause she continued — '345 Glendale Av- 
 enue.' I like the number, it is easy to remember 
 and I like the name of the street." 
 
 The good prospect, together with the hope of 
 
/ MISCELLANEOUS U5 
 
 pleasing his better half, put some enthusiasm into 
 Mr. Gilbert. He got ready, settled down to break- 
 fast and took the newspaper in hand to look at the 
 fortunate chance with his own eyes. "Why," he ex- 
 claimed, "we are locked out from here; it says: 'To 
 rent, four rooms, quiet place to couple only!' " 
 
 "You must not tell them everything to begin 
 with." 
 
 "It is they who begin the asking. At one place I 
 was refused because plumbers step heavy. You see, 
 we are martyrs of my occupation." 
 
 "Tell them you are a teacher; everybody likes 
 a teacher." (Of course, she did not mean it so as 
 to raise their pay, but only made reference to them 
 as tenants.) 
 
 "I am not given to lying." 
 
 "That is not lying; that is diplomacy. You are 
 teaching your helper, aren't you.''" 
 
 "I am a plumber, not a diplomat." 
 
 "Then I must be one," thought Mrs. Gilbert, set- 
 ting her mind to work while drinking her coifee. 
 
 Breakfast finished, Mrs. Gilbert rose and said: 
 "Henry, I want you to do something for me." She 
 kissed him quickly as a sort of an advanced payment, 
 after which it was next to impossible for her husband 
 not to mind her. 
 
 "What do you want me to do?" 
 
 "Go to the place and say nothing about our baby. 
 If they ask, tell them that we are only a couple." 
 
 "What.? Deny our child.? I will die before I do 
 that." 
 
 "But if we are put on the street, our baby will 
 die of pneumonia!" Mrs. Gilbert said, hardly hold- 
 
446 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 ing her tears in abeyance. "Anyhow,v I'll take the 
 baby to a nursery, so your statement will be true." 
 
 "But !" 
 
 "Never mind !" Another kiss broke his resistance. 
 StiU he would not go. Mrs. Gilbert knew her hus- 
 band. He was a crank on honesty, as some other 
 men may be in regard to color, taste or fashion. 
 She dressed herself and her nine-months-old boy hur- 
 riedly, yet finding time to bestow many fervent kisses 
 on the child. 
 
 Both left the house, she with the boy on her arms 
 and he on his hunt for the fortune of a small tene- 
 ment. 
 
 Their way led in different directions. After a 
 minute's walk she turned back, and seeing her hus- 
 band at a safe distance she returned to the house, 
 put the child in comfort, kissing it some more and 
 still more fervently. 
 
 Meanwhile, Mr. Gilbert, on arriving at the adver- 
 tised place, found that he was not the first caller. 
 . . . He saw two ladies coming down the porch 
 and a man and a woman being admitted at the door. 
 He felt like turning back, but what was he to tell 
 his wife.'' He passed up and down before the house 
 trying to decide on the best thing to do. In a little 
 while the couple came out and he approached them. 
 
 "Did you rent the place?" 
 
 The woman answered: "No, he would not let us 
 have it." 
 
 "Why.?" 
 
 "Because we have a dog. Say, our Lolly is the 
 cutest, best behaving dog you ever saw; but the 
 landlords are awfully stuck-up nowadays." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 447 
 
 "The dog is faithful to us and we will be faithful 
 to the dog," remarked the man, and the couple 
 passed on. 
 
 Mr. Gilbert felt little disposed to make the in- 
 quiry, but he was bound to give an account of his 
 errand; and so with a determination bom of his 
 wife's compelling influence, he rang the bell. 
 
 An elderly man opened the door. He was but half 
 shaved. "I will not apologize for my awkward ap- 
 pearance," he said in a tone of tried temper. "I 
 had six callers this morning, about one to every two 
 strokes of the razor. . . . No, you did not disturb 
 me. I just had a couple leave. They wanted to 
 bring here an elephant of a St. Bernard dog. . . . 
 And we advertised explicitly enough that the rent 
 is for a couple only. . . . They are not rented 
 yet. . . . Eighteen dollars. . . . Yes, yes, we could 
 get twenty-five if we were disposed to abuse any- 
 body. . . . But we do want a quiet couple like our- 
 selves. Well, you may look over the flat. . . . Yes, 
 I dare say they are all right, but don't you want 
 your wife to look over the rooms?" 
 
 "We do not want to take a chance on any one 
 getting ahead of us. I am sure my wife will be 
 pleased. She is a good, sensible woman." 
 
 "I am glad to hear that. If you think of her 
 highly, she thinks of you well, and holding a thought 
 is having the thing. . . . All right, sit down a 
 minute; I will bring you a receipt." 
 
 Mr. Gilbert hurried home with his trophy — the 
 rent receipt — in his hands. He handed the paper 
 to his wife, saying: "We have the rent. I didn't 
 have to tell anything about our baby, the man took 
 
448 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 it for granted that we are only the two of us, but — " 
 On seeing the child he almost smothered it with 
 kisses. Suddenly, he withdrew and his face turned 
 as cloudy as the sky before a storm. "What are 
 we going to do?" he asked in tones of despair, "we 
 won't give up our baby, they might not let us in and 
 now I have paid out the money too." 
 
 Mrs. Gilbert petted her husband tenderly. "Cheer 
 up, my boy," she said, "I'll see this matter through. 
 . . . Oh, you weren't the first? . . . You are as 
 smart as any man. . . . Did he say that? . . . 
 Well, you just watch my diplomatic activities!" 
 
 That afternoon they made their triumphal entry 
 into Glendale Avenue. The baby was placed in a 
 clothes basket and so smuggled into the upstairs 
 flat without attracting the notice of the landlady 
 downstairs. . . . 
 
 In fact, Mrs. Gilbert was determined to keep the 
 baby so quiet that the people below should not know 
 about the child at all. 
 
 Though her plan was made without baby's con- 
 sent, he played heroically the required part, keep- 
 ing as still as ever a baby could. 
 
 Of course, Mrs. Gilbert knew that once her baby 
 began to yell and cry, he would exercise his larynx 
 as lustily as if there were no landlords on the earth. 
 She only wanted a little time. 
 
 The very next morning Mrs. Gilbert made friends 
 with the landlady, who proved to be a thorough be- 
 liever in the cheerful attitude of mind. In fact, 
 Mrs. Travis did not believe that there was anything 
 wrong on earth, or any trouble save "mortal error 
 of mind," a sort of vermiform-appendix figment of 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 449 
 
 the imagination. She was delighted to find in her 
 new neighbor a very pleasant and most agreeable 
 person and a pupil of great aptitude. 
 
 Mrs. Gilbert was very much interested in all the 
 landlady had to say. She took the new philosophy 
 as a great find. Yes, she was invited by Mrs. Travis 
 to her church, "small but very cheerful." Mrs. Gil- 
 bert, of course, would have promised going almost 
 anywhere to gain the end she had in view. She 
 thanked Mrs. Travis most heartily, flattered her 
 with expressions of gratitude, told her a secret or 
 two, and not only that but she confided to the land- 
 lady the deepest emotions of her soul, and the inner- 
 most longings of her heart. 
 
 "You have a very kind disposition," said Mrs. 
 Travis, and thought no more about it. 
 
 On the evening of their second day in the new 
 home, Mrs. Gilbert turned to her husband, saying, 
 "Please go downstairs and tell Mr. Travis and also 
 Mrs. Travis to come up for a minute." 
 
 The invited ones, curious to know what might be 
 the matter, followed Mr. Gilbert upstairs. 
 
 "Look, Mrs. Travis," exclaimed the anxious 
 mother, "this is the baby we chose for adoption!" 
 She held up the blinking little fellow, fully convinced 
 that his winsomeness would make even a heart of 
 stone leap in admiration. "We always held the 
 thought for a baby and now here we have it. Isn't 
 it wonderful?" 
 
 The landlady should have been duly charmed, of- 
 fered herself as godmother and arranged a goodly 
 feast ; all of which the mother counted on as a possi- 
 bility. But Mrs. Travis only bit her lips and said: 
 
450 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 "I hope it will fit in a quiet place." While going 
 down the stairs she whispered to her husband : "Why, 
 it's their own baby; anybody can see that. They 
 came in under false pretenses. They are liars. We 
 ought to put them out !" 
 
 The man who had turned away more than a hun- 
 dred applicants for the rooms during the first half 
 of the previous day, answered: "Softer, my sweet- 
 heart, softer. What can be more virtuous than a 
 white lie — in war times?" 
 
 "Yes, but they will deprive us of peace and quiet 
 in our own home." 
 
 "Suppose we proceed " 
 
 "Yes, proceed against them, get the sheriff " 
 
 "Not that way. Suppose we test our faith; I 
 mean, suppose we consider ourselves — at least for a 
 time — merely fellow tenants. Can't we summon 
 enough will-power for that.'"' 
 
 The couple were seated in their front room. Mrs. 
 Travis thought a while, then she went over to her 
 husband, and stroking his steel gray hair, she said: 
 "Let's will!" 
 
 Baby Gilbert acted as if knowing that the critical 
 moment had passed. He gave free vent to his pent- 
 up energies and exercised his vocal chords to make 
 up for lost time. But the juvenile lung-power could 
 not break the mature, though newly made-up, will- 
 power of the couple downstairs. Love, Wit, Charity 
 and Faith worked together for his benefit. 
 
PART TEN 
 FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 
 
 A Series of Songs, Fusing Sense and Sentiment 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 
 
 THE ROAMER* 
 
 Wandering stars roam onward, pity! 
 Long I roamed from town to city. 
 Wish I were in steady camping. 
 Pity Fate's mysterious dower 
 Leaves, to such as I, no power 
 But the urge for further tramping. 
 Whither? Whither? Whither? 
 Far echoes answer low: 
 Whither? Whither? Whither? 
 O Fate, where must I go? 
 Whither? Whither? Whither? 
 
 Alas, there is no one to soothe my heart forecasting 
 Where may be found the couch of blessed, peaceful 
 resting. 
 
 Hark, the whistle ! Trains are starting, 
 
 Once again I am departing: 
 
 Somehow, someway, somewhere from hence. 
 
 Pictures pass in quick succession 
 
 Leaving memory impression 
 
 But no mark for future guidance. 
 
 * This series of songs is being set to music and is to be pub- 
 lished in folio by the composer, James Kedves. Numbers 
 marked with an asterisk, having been issued as sheet music 
 already, may be ordered through the Co-operative Publishing 
 Company, Inc. 
 
 453 
 
454 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Why so? Why so? Why so? 
 Far-sounding echoes call: 
 Why so? Why so? Why so? 
 O Fate, thou dost appall. 
 Why so? Why so? Why so? 
 
 Alas, there is no one to soothe my heart forecasting, 
 How can be found the couch of blessed, peaceful 
 resting. 
 
 UNISON 
 
 At the home of Mrs. Hearty 
 
 There is quite a jolly party ; 
 
 Sparkling glasses, sparkling spirit, 
 
 E^ch with something crimson in it. 
 
 Sentiments flow gay and witty 
 
 Ending in approvals ditty: 
 
 So may it be, so shall it be, 
 
 We all agree, quite merrily. 
 
 We all construe it being due. 
 
 So may this wish of ours come true. 
 
 2 
 
 "Here is to the graceful maiden 
 Who with gestures charm laden. 
 Shining looks and sayings witty 
 Captured my heart ! Would this ditty 
 Should have something in it written 
 So that she were with me 'smitten'." 
 So may it be (etc.). 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 455 
 
 3 
 
 "Here is to my dear ol' lady 
 And the rest: our youngest baby 
 And our grown-up sons and daughters — 
 May each navigate the waters 
 Of life, having worthy aims and 
 Full success in their attainment." 
 So may it be (etc.). 
 
 4 
 "Here is to our blessed country ; 
 Blessed by nature with its bounty ; 
 Blessed by every inhalation 
 For the welfare of the nation. 
 Growing alway, fading never 
 May our country bloom forever." 
 So may it be (etc.). 
 
 5 
 
 What do you say, Mrs. Hearty? 
 "Oh, I wish this uni-party 
 Grew in numbers and importance, 
 Ever nursing sweet accordance. 
 So each being and each nation 
 Live in love with all creation." 
 So may it be (etc.). 
 
456 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 LOVE'S LONGING* 
 
 High above throughout the vaulted heavens, there 
 
 Hosts of splendid stars are shining, but a pair, 
 
 Glory shedding stars illuminate the skies 
 
 Of my mind: your lovely, charming eyes. 
 
 Unto you, oh, bright-souled sweetheart, float my 
 
 pleas : 
 Life without you holds for me no joy nor peace; 
 Life without you leaves my heart to wilt and fray, 
 All forsaken, lonely pine away. 
 Hear its beat, hear it plead: 
 Come, my longing love to meet 
 Oh, come where grows Love's sweet red rose 
 And its full-scented blessing blows. 
 
 In the seashore's solitude at early dawn 
 
 Sprays are cooling, but my heart still bumeth on; 
 
 From it glowing thoughts are surging forth to find 
 
 Only you your image in my mind. 
 
 Lo, the ocean waves forever sing a tune 
 
 Of eternal love between the Earth and Moon — 
 
 Ocean waves grow tall, then break, and watching, I 
 
 Feel my heart's impassioned waves run high 
 
 Hear its beat, hear it plead: come, my longing love 
 
 to meet: 
 Oh, come where grows Love's sweet red rose; 
 Where its full-scented blessing blows. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 457 
 
 EVERY DUTY IN DUE ORDER* 
 
 1 
 
 Every duty in due order — 
 
 First the center works and then the border 
 
 Must be well attended. 
 
 When, at Springtide feelings vernal 
 
 Fill the heart, it, by the skies eternal, 
 
 Must needs feel enchanted. 
 
 2 
 
 Tongues are busy wagging, galling 
 
 With a wild urge hither, thither calling, 
 
 On divers occasions; 
 
 But, my heartstrings answer only 
 
 To the sweet touch of the One and Only 
 
 Dear-faced inspiration. 
 
 FACTORY ROMANCE 
 
 1 
 
 Budding time is everywhere when Winter wanes; 
 Not alone the wooded shores and country lanes 
 Feel the coursing sap of life. When it is Spring, 
 Trees in city streets are also showing forth 
 All the lustrous green that earth and air is worth ; 
 Here, too, on the boughs enamored robins sing; 
 Nor remain the walls of yonder factory bare. 
 Brick and stone put on their ivy dress and there, 
 Just in back a window box filled as can be 
 With fine flowers, tarries my sweet busy bee. 
 
458 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Hurry to the zenith of your course, O Sun! 
 Anxiously I wait for noon to see the One 
 Keeper of my Heart — Rose, did you succeed? 
 Crimson rose, my messenger of yester eve. 
 Have you gained that which I sent you to achieve? 
 Said you all that faithful loving hearts can plead? — 
 Noon at last ! Good simple folks in midday flow. 
 Busy fashion, stream from out the factory. Lo, 
 My rose is worn! — Red rose, on pink peekaboo, 
 Cast upon the whole wide world a rosy hue. 
 
 3 
 
 Since that fateful answer at the factory gate 
 Labor's task and duties' burden lost their weight. 
 Aye, the very stars shine brighter than they gleamed, 
 Birds upon the treetop sing a sweeter note 
 Than the greatest music masters ever wrote; 
 All the world is fairer than before. What seemed 
 Secrets open as by magic ; in the mind 
 Thousand questions are allayed or answer find. 
 Obscure flowers spread their bloom in colors bright. 
 Love is strength and love is joy and love is light. 
 
 HOME FOUNDING 
 
 1 
 
 Twice I journeyed round the planet 
 Well, of tramping I was granted 
 Quite enough ! I found all over 
 Skies are blue and green the clover. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 459 
 
 Nor does it very much matter 
 How the paths run or the weather — 
 In a house with well-filled pantry 
 One can always act gallantly. 
 
 Fogs of adventure-dreams clear away 
 
 Here opportunity calls to stay. 
 
 2 
 
 Say, you patch of might-be- farm, 
 I need you, you need my arm. 
 Plowing, spading, hoeing no less 
 Than recurrent weeding process 
 All, including noonday sandwich, 
 Speak a universal language. 
 On a place the Loved One pleaseth, 
 All of doubt and strangeness ceaseth. 
 Sounds of the will-o'-wisp die away, 
 Now opportunity calls to stay. 
 
 3 
 
 Where the field is open, Labor 
 Makes an ally of each neighbor. 
 Where one's work brings fruit in season 
 There one's country is! Where reason 
 May abide by its own finding, 
 Hope is on the job of guiding 
 Lonely souls to sweet relation 
 Intertwined through all the nation. 
 Luring old fantasies fade away, 
 For opportunity calls to stay. 
 
460 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 SOMETIMES I FEAR 
 
 1 
 
 Fellows live across the sky-way 
 Oft I fear one will invent a 
 Telescope with ultra powers, 
 Through it see you 'midst your flowers. 
 
 2 
 
 Charmed, the inventive hero, 
 He will build a cannon-airo; 
 Shooting through the listless ether. 
 He with speed will travel hither. 
 
 3 
 
 Then, before your door alighting. 
 Through a mystical igniting 
 Of some spark, prevail! Oh, ban it — 
 And conduct you off this planet. 
 
 4 
 
 Still I faint not, force magnetic 
 That in your sphere keeps me static 
 Will propel me in your traces 
 Throughout interstellar spaces. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 461 
 BUILD A NEST 
 
 A message comes floating from out the 
 
 Far-distant past, all through the throng 
 
 Of ages ; a fatherly warning 
 
 Most insistent and stern and strong: 
 
 Remember, the head must stand hostage 
 
 For any and all of the song 
 
 The heart in its innermost chanteth. 
 
 And pray ye in whatever tongue 
 
 Expect not the blessing from on high 
 
 Unless ye faithfully labor along! 
 
 Chorus 
 
 So reward sustaining soil 
 
 Our intentions as we toil; 
 
 And, in place that non-use litters. 
 
 Soon a pleasant homestead glitters — 
 
 Furrows filled with graceful, winning 
 
 Greenery greet in thanksgiving 
 
 Each beholder. Let's be going, 
 
 Song in heart a-planting, sowing. 
 
 Should some of the seeds not come up true to 
 
 name. 
 Surely we will love each other just the same. 
 
 2 
 
 From out a great medley of voices 
 One soundeth forth, not of command 
 But kind as a bosom friend's pleading 
 And soft as a dear mother's hand: 
 
462 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 Whatever the state that j^ou hail from 
 
 Remember the good that it lent — 
 
 Whatever the rumblings around ye 
 
 Hope on for the very best and 
 
 Wherever the soil sustains ye 
 
 With loving and loyal care nurture the land. 
 
 Choeus 
 Grapevine-covered little arbor 
 What of joy can it not harbor? 
 Tiny house of smallest measure 
 Offers room for lots of pleasure 
 Loads of love and tons of kissing — 
 What on Earth can here be missing? 
 Here we may have, damp or sunny 
 Weather, hives of beeless honey — 
 Yes or no, some fairy comes for us to name 
 Surely, we will love each other just the same. 
 
 PERHAPS YOU KNOW NOT 
 
 1 
 
 Perhaps you know not of this, sweetheart, dear: 
 Once, in my sadness, people thought me queer; 
 I raved not, then they thought that I was mere 
 Soft clay; not minding still, they thought me dead 
 And laid me out upon the dreary bier. 
 
 2 
 
 Perhaps I was beyond life, yet its prize 
 
 Was nearing — you with love's wand in your eyes, 
 
 The wand which blessingly electrifies 
 
 Shed sparks as gorgeous as the lily's bloom. 
 
 And did I wake? Oh, yes, in paradise. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 463 
 
 3 
 
 Or this or that for which the pious pray — 
 Than seeing by love's flame and with a lay 
 Attuned by love to greet or March or May, 
 Vibrating by the touch of love, there can 
 Be no more joy-filled resurrection day. 
 
 CRADLE SONG* 
 
 1 
 
 Sleep, darling sleep, in restful peace, the golden 
 Sunrays of day now elsewhere are beholden ; 
 Here slumber streaming shines the silvery Moon. 
 Sleep, darling sleep, let pleasing dreams unfolden 
 While nightly stillness lisps its lilting tune. 
 
 2 
 
 In dreamland groves 'midst fancy and illusion 
 
 Real flowers also mature in profusion; 
 
 And whoso loveth what is good and true 
 
 May breathe their essence through the day's volution. 
 
 May own the finest rose that dreamland grew. 
 
 8 
 
 Most dreamland paths with roses are abounding 
 Yet try to pluck one and there comes, dismounting, 
 A fairy guard who questions: "Is it fair?" 
 For only such may leave the dream surrounding 
 And waft its fragrance sweet in daylit air. 
 
 4 
 
 Sleep, darling sleep, in peaceful rest a deeming 
 Each moment's time a flower field of dreaming; 
 Where scent of kindHness and love's perfume 
 Pervades the soul so that tomorrow's beaming 
 Sunrays will see the finest sweetest bloom. 
 
464 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 GOSSIP TOWN 
 
 1 
 
 Gossip Town is all aflutter 
 Fearing that my soul will suffer 
 Just because I did not marry 
 So to suit Tom, Dick and Harry 
 But escaped their grins and chiding- 
 Went for a while into hiding. 
 
 2 
 
 Gossip Town is all astutter 
 Fearing that your soul will suffer 
 Just because you did not query 
 For a settlement — to marry 
 One whose love unfathomable 
 For you, to feel, you were able. 
 
 3 
 
 Gossip Town is all asputter 
 Saying that our souls will suffer — 
 Let them putter, mutter, stutter. 
 Ours the honey and the butter! 
 Never yet cared doves acooing 
 For the midnight owl's hoohooing. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 465 
 
 TROUBLED WORLD* 
 
 1 
 
 Troubled world! Was ever trouble 
 
 Quite so bleak and blighting? 
 
 Overnight a dozen nations 
 
 Whirled into fighting. 
 
 Earth is overcast with sorrow, 
 
 Fields with pain and aching; 
 
 And the skies are underspread with 
 
 Sighs of hearts abreaking. 
 
 Friendly airs swept into hiding 
 
 Leave the meadows seared, bare and unscented. 
 
 Still, O Love, my soul clings to you 
 
 And will cling until that life has ended. 
 
 2 
 
 Life at end, friends, cast my ashes 
 
 Far, into deep waters. 
 
 No more room for weeping willows. 
 
 Mounds, tombstones and psalters — 
 
 No more room ! If there would be space 
 
 For life ; Sunshine, greeting 
 
 This Earth, would set joy exultant 
 
 Instead trouble seething. 
 
 Pleasing, friendly airs in hiding 
 
 Leave the hillsides seared, bare and unscented. 
 
 Still, O Love, my soul clings to you 
 
 And will cling until that life has ended. 
 
466 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 FAREWELL 
 
 1 
 
 Never yet, never yet, never yet, never yet 
 Favored Life anyone, but also Sorrow met. 
 However gracefully years were faced, faith and deed 
 Ever so valiant, in the end sorrowful 
 Parting leaves nothing but head to bow, heart to 
 bleed. 
 
 2 
 
 When the blue-vaulted sky gathered more than it 
 
 may 
 Hold of the Misty Damp cosmic flood-gates give 
 
 way; 
 Overcharged clouds will burst, heavy fraught skies 
 
 may break 
 But the bereaved heart, sorrowful, desolate, 
 Must keep abeating on feeding on its own ache. 
 Fare thee well, parting friend, fare thee fair; after 
 
 all. 
 Thin is the parting line, thin and exceeding small. 
 Love, it cannot forget and so the canopy 
 Of heaven, where kind deeds of life sustainingly glow. 
 Will ever be lit up in your dear memory. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 467 
 
 SHINE, MORNING STAR 
 
 1 
 
 Shine, morning star, crown jewel of the night. 
 Your splendor sets my wavering heart aright. 
 In wonderment I searched the Milky Way, 
 But moonlike Venus heraldeth the day — 
 My Love, a fair day's work, a good night's rest 
 Grant unto me ye stars and count me blest. 
 
 2 
 
 Shine, evening star, the reel of day is spent; 
 Whatever scenes upon life's screen have meant, 
 O Jupiter, you stud the heaven's lore 
 Enchantingly resplendent as of yore — 
 Some friends, a fair day's work, a good night's rest 
 Grant unto me, ye stars, and count me blest. 
 
 HYMN OF LABOR* 
 
 1 
 
 The sighing stage of labor's upward longing 
 Has run its course and cannot bear prolonging; 
 By bolder means of its own engineering 
 The toiling multitude commands a hearing. 
 It will be heard respectfully and heeded 
 For toilers' brain has grown, yet brawn is needed. 
 And none so high but may be found appealing 
 To labor's wakened force for fellow-feeling. 
 
 Oh, Labor, yours the work of world redemption 
 From misery. No tongue can count by mention 
 
468 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 All saviors who Calvary ascended 
 
 To blot out slavery. Their spirits blended 
 
 Into a sun which keeps our heaven lighted 
 
 In promise that what is wrong will be righted. 
 
 Let hand and head and heart in league be striving 
 
 For one grand hope, its great day will be rising. 
 
 The task of labor must have been imparted 
 To make the human soul creative hearted, 
 To know the worth of effort and the glory 
 In parts of work and in its finished story ; 
 To have a code of fairness sans mutation 
 Judging thereby each land and generation ; 
 For not a monument the landscape guildeth 
 But most commemorates its very builders. 
 
 Oh, Labor, by your wand the Earth blooms sweeter. 
 No fruit so distant but you bring it hither, 
 Your note is present in the poet's singing, 
 Your music rings from out the hammers swinging, 
 From out the savants' book your splendor shineth. 
 Fine art smiles forth from clay your faith en- 
 
 shrineth — 
 If hand and head and heart in league be gaining. 
 We come abreast our best and highest aiming. 
 
 3 
 
 What is the tyrant's quest.? It is the taking 
 In ease what labor sweats for in the making. 
 What is the tyrant's fear.? The sudden losing 
 What workers were at ages in producing; 
 But whoso chooseth labor for reliance 
 Need never seek to rule, nor meet defiance. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 469 
 
 Raised by its sunlight, souls become the major 
 
 And really grand nobility of nature. 
 
 This is our solace, when in sorrow's raiment: 
 Naught is beyond the working world's attainment ; 
 Naught stands amiss, placed between man and 
 
 neighbor, 
 But can be set right by sufficient labor. 
 Oh, hand and head and heart of toilers, speed on 
 In league, to make this Earth a wished-for Eden 
 And, crowning all your efforts at creation, 
 Create a happy state for your own station. 
 
 FALL-TIME HOURS 
 
 1 
 
 Blow, Fall winds, blow ! the foliage withering chill 
 Mars not the orchards' plum with purple sealed. 
 The glory that the Summer's Sun revealed 
 Can never be unlighted; blow as will. 
 My gathered fruit defies wind, makes it nil. 
 For one endeared in Springtide's vibrant yield, 
 Tried, brave and true throughout devotion's field, 
 With every day is growing dearer still. 
 Time flies, but ever leaves behind its gain 
 Enhancing value of years that remain. 
 Blest are who know the boon of growing old — 
 Your steps, less firm, aim better; on your face 
 The wrinkles vanish in the glow of grace ; 
 Your hair turns silver, but your heart beats gold. 
 
 2 
 
 Behold the garden real and vision's fair 
 Land ! Multitude of plants grew in the wake 
 Of our efforts with the spade and rake — 
 
470 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 What of the hopes we always nurtured? There, 
 
 Throughout the Gardens of the Future, rare 
 
 Fine blossoms grow so common as to make 
 
 The fairies rush to it from dell and lake 
 
 When seeking for the most delightful air. 
 
 If there are grander hopes, let them be graced 
 
 By souls that more of right and truth have traced 
 
 In the Eternal Book ; but you and I 
 
 Can meet the reaper fearless, faith begirt; 
 
 And, with the vision of a happy Earth 
 
 Before the waning spirit, smiling die. 
 
 NEIGHBORLINESS * 
 
 Neighbor Clara, down one floor, 
 Please to shut your kitchen door. 
 Your Domestic Science daughter 
 
 Eleanor 
 Makes a fellow's palate water 
 
 Aft and for. 
 Neighbor Clara, down one floor! 
 
 Neighbor Dennis, up one flight. 
 Am not sorry for your plight; 
 As you preach renunciation. 
 
 Serves you right — 
 Feed your nose that sort of ration 
 
 For delight. 
 Neighbor Dennis, up one flight ! 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 471 
 
 THREE LEAVES 
 
 1 
 
 Fall winds sweep the hilly woodland yonder, 
 
 Three leaves blew upon my hat; I wonder, 
 
 In the light of Fall-time's mellow gleaming, 
 
 What may be their nature given meaning — 
 
 One is strangely tender, thin of fiber. 
 
 Soft in center, edges curly; 
 
 It is like the deeds of early 
 
 Youth, hard to decipher. 
 
 Looking at the second leaf, I ponder: 
 
 Large and smooth and strong and wiry. 
 
 Must have been a furious, fiery 
 
 Gust that it fell under. 
 
 Withered, sapless, dry, the third leaf trembles, 
 
 As a heart crushed by death's pallor; 
 
 Naught to live by, naught to live for, 
 
 Naught that may some life resemble. 
 
 2 
 
 Near my couch a little desk is nestling, 
 In its drawer three notebooks are resting. 
 As the spirit moves or moods may soften 
 I reach for these notebooks once so often. 
 One is of the past a glowing story 
 Of forth bubbling, boldly mounted. 
 Youthful faith the never daunted. 
 Earth's redeeming glory. 
 In the second notebook are recorded 
 Bitter lessons, pleasant measures. 
 All the pains and all the pleasures 
 Latter times afforded. 
 
472 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 But the third book — that I will not open ; 
 It is future's veiled dictation, 
 Maybe lonely meditation, 
 Mind-enshrouded and heart-broken. 
 
 THE SOUL AT PEACE 
 
 1 
 
 Curly Peter often wondered 
 
 Why this world so tardy 
 
 Would not change its ways according 
 
 To a certain party — 
 
 Nothing would pass with him muster, 
 
 Even grapes were inefficient; 
 
 Too few berries in a cluster, 
 
 Too long time to ripen rightly. 
 
 So he argued and corrected; 
 
 Finally he was elected 
 
 For the chiefest Most Eminent 
 
 Council's limitless empowered 
 
 Manager Almighty. 
 
 2 
 
 Curly Peter started on his 
 
 Work of world reforming — 
 
 Then he found that many cross-heads 
 
 Had a say each morning. 
 
 Try he did to stave off crises. 
 
 Oh, he talked himself to tatters 
 
 In explaining his devices, 
 
 After as before election. 
 
 In orations, never ending, 
 
 He held forth, his ways defending. 
 
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNDOWN 473 
 
 Yet he could not settle matters 
 So as would please everybody, 
 All without exception. 
 
 Insurrection raised its specter, 
 
 Mutinies without end. 
 
 So it came that Curly Peter 
 
 Asked to be disburdened 
 
 Of his office. Still, Old Nature 
 
 Went along to show with fervor 
 
 What it means a grape to nurture, 
 
 Counting rays and minutes keenly — 
 
 Whosoever meets the charges 
 
 In a gallant mood enlarges 
 
 His own soul and may endeavor, 
 
 Hope and strive and work and build, all 
 
 Joyous and serenely. 
 
 REMEMBRANCE 
 
 1 
 
 When springtime shone with youthful radiant glamor 
 We built a goodly vessel, strong-keeled, sterling; 
 In it we sailed, through many years' endeavor. 
 With single purpose, love each day affirming. 
 The path lies yet before us, broad and gay. 
 And full of hope we scan it through our lens ; 
 Still, sometime I must reach a harbor whence 
 There is no turning back. Against that day, 
 
 sweetheart mine, of many quick-flo^Ti years, 
 
 1 pray you do not shed too many tears . . . 
 
474 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 
 
 If moods grow heavy, dark and sorrow blended, 
 
 And that which is would wilt for what had been — 
 
 Look at the trees we had together planted. 
 
 Or view the stars we knew while love enchanted 
 
 And heart to heart we watched the heaven's sheen. 
 
 On leaves, in stars, you'll find the reading 
 
 Of this my heart- felt wish and pleading: 
 
 The memory of me shall not weigh, but lighten. 
 
 If it arise, may 
 
 Remembrance of me serve your days to brighten. 
 
 Frail threads of life ! If Fates decree some morning 
 
 That one entwined with my own must be broken, 
 
 I shall eschew the bitter bread of mourning 
 
 By turning to the past. I shall reopen 
 
 A store-house filled in happy by-gone days. 
 
 And conjure up old blessings, one by one ; 
 
 Your favored books, your art, your garden-fun ; 
 
 Your loving care expressed in thousand ways — 
 
 And then your very image will appear 
 
 Amidst the flowers you have held so dear; 
 
 Your pleasing word will ring in sweet agreement. 
 
 Your kindly hand fell weights from off me roll; 
 
 And as you daily help in my achievement. 
 
 So will your likeness assuage my bereavement. 
 
 So wiU the thought of you sustain my soul! 
 
 In turn I ask from heart's deep chamber 
 
 This fervent wish of mine remember: 
 
 The memory of me shall not weigh, but lighten, 
 
 If it arise, may 
 
 Remembrance of me serve your days to brighten. 
 
LITERARY PLATFORM 
 of the CO-OPERATIVE 
 PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 Incorporated 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION: 
 
 OBJECT 
 
 "To associate literary and kindred producers for promoting 
 mental effort in furtherance of social welfare and individual 
 attainment by eniploying all helpful means to that end; especial- 
 ly* by publishing and distributing works of proven merit (re- 
 gardless of divergent views and financial considerations) on a 
 co-operative basis — thus practicing tolerance at the source of 
 opinion, providing an open door to the world of letters and 
 securing an unobstructed avenue to the universe of thought." 
 
 MUTUALITY 
 
 "Whenever several works of equal merit and timeliness re- 
 quire publication and moneys at disposal, including reserve 
 fund, are not sufficient to finance them all, the advantage of 
 priority shall be determined by drawing lot for the same." 
 
 INPRIMATUR 
 
 "In contradistinction to imprimaturs denoting the sale of 
 the writer's work to a publisher, 'Co-operative Publishing 
 Company, Incorporated* signifies that a person, besides devot- 
 ing thought, energy and time to a task, must also spend money 
 to place his or her work into the hands of the reader; (also, that 
 the author retains full interest in the production). We propose to 
 turn the additional handicap or difficulty into a lever of recom- 
 mendation by the quality of books bearing imprint of this Com- 
 pany. As an initial safeguard, a work to be published must re- 
 ceive the approval of at least five persons who have had books 
 published or have work ready for publication. Such approval 
 need not be an indorsement of Ideas and Sentiments (in that 
 respect the author alone being responsible) but only an opinion 
 that the work approved partakes of social service and that it 
 possesses literary merit." 
 
 DURATION 
 
 "The existence of this corporation shall terminate when the 
 principle underlying it is legislated into being throughout the 
 nation and the activities engaged in devolve upon governmental 
 agencies." 
 
 If interested as author or patron address for particulars: 
 
 CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. 
 
 BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT 
 
THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE i 
 STAMPED BELOW 
 
 AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS 
 
 WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN 
 THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY 
 WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH 
 DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY 
 OVERDUE. 
 
 Jflai O-f 'f/^'^- 
 
 
 ilAN kl 193b 
 
 
 m ^.3 1939 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 LD 21-95m-7,'37 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY