Week by Week
October 20, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL ...
...In view of all this, the study club and sacrifice to which the dead religious had given movement sponsored by the National Catholic Weltestimony...
...Lueger was a great statesNew York City, N. Y. man as well as a protagonist of great principle...
...Who can But the breezy generalities of some favorite of for- estimate the number of addresses on the World Court tune easily preempt them in public attention...
...That it can exist and function admirably is anflesh is heir to...
...power which the trade-unions have acquired," to make For some years the chief source of danger to unionism picketing illegal, and to institute a public auditing of has come from the automotive industry with its high trade-union accounts, from which Conservative party wages, its "Ford Plan," its Studebaker welfare movefunds, naturally, will remain exempt...
...Obviously, there is something in the atmosin face of it, the present Conservative government in phere of the theatre, derived quite possibly from the England is showing itself disposed to cut down appro- very different reactions of neighbors to right and left, priations for schooling, would be as inhospitable as it before and behind, which brings a sudden sense of isowould be awkward...
...HAYES R DANA SKINNER STRANGELY enough, the centenary of Saint FranBEI;TRAM C. A. WIMPLE cis seems to have given an almost unprecedented moSubscriptiQu Rates Yearly : $10.00 Single Copies : $0.20 mentum to the "forces of time" which are bringing on a settlement of the Roman question...
...Naturally, one must doubt that Lueger, who died before the storm broke in 1914, could have MICHAEL WILLIAMs, Editor staved off the debacle of 1919...
...Their sole as we are, we have lots of confidence and expect some practical measure must be to select critics as care- friends in other cities to help us out...
...He merely demonstrates beyond the be elated over the beginnings...
...The editors of such a review as The Com- "The sponsors of the banquet in honor of Brownson, monweal sometimes receive letters of protest from held in this city on May iq, felt that it would not be aut4ors (or their friends) who exclaim against what impossible to form a permanent organization, eventhey consider unfairness or cruelty...
...If one credited the anxiety to know all there is to be learned about the remarks which a few prominent plutocratic persons great figures who have entered into national conhave made relative to this issue, it would seem as if sciousness by way of them...
...Because it is of a higher order, it lends stability to rulers in the lower PROTESTS by Mussolini's government (in other order...
...The old world is proud of ond-rate because it is the product of a prominent per- many an organization which grew out of similar humsonage, he does not prove himself magnanimous and ble beginnings...
...Francis Bacon, in onerous duty on those of us who are helping to guide his warning to contestants not bent on catstrophe to the destinies of our country that these fine aspirations "keep away from contempt," gave advice that is very shall not be shattered by disillusionment and disap- timely today...
...The mere fact that both the Papacy and the Italian government WEEK BY WEEK officially participated, side by side, in the festival which THE Pan-European Congress, which assembled in reached its height when Cardinal Merry del Val blessed Vienna a number of enthusiasts for the program the throng of pilgrims to Assisi, was enough to preof a federated and cooperative Europe that Count dict the rapidly approaching reconciliation of two Coudenhove-Kalergi formulated some years ago, suc- powers that have faced each other in silent battle durceeded in outlining a number of the major social and ing fifty years...
...new association...
...intensity that is driving laughter from the world, it is advice that producers and writers for the stage would THE nature of the opportunities in store for these be well advised to heed...
...Those who obhave to be spent in the company of machines...
...keenly and zestfully lived, least satisfied with material For years mankind's faith in industry has reposed ends and most accessible to spiritual, when it is lived upon the conviction that production could be increased on a tenure of surrender at demand, is one that the to a point where not so many hours of life would world never needed more than now...
...ambitions is sure to meet no rivalry...
...One well-known organ is even conducting of the fact that the Detroit convention seems to have its news selection along the lines of the dissenters...
...the open shop, there is the lamentable truth that autoHope, we suggest, will ring a little truer when it is mobile-making reduces workers to the level of autoOctober 70, 1976 THE COMMONWEAL 571 matons who do only one little thing all their lives...
...Not all critics have the opportunity other proof of the liberality of those American instifor sober and cool reflection that was enjoyed by a tutions whose founding the Sesquicentennial was deman like Sainte-Beuve...
...It will be interest- tically by default...
...Thus the Saint who scorned property economic difficulties of the hour...
...The older Italian patriots made the mistake of words, by Mussolini) against a revue in Paris featurthinking in terms of federated states-and, of course, ing Italian peculiarities of voice and gesture, the obRome seemed an essential part of the federation...
...One might suggest that imbuildings, which stand upon a hill calmly surveying the provement could be expected were the program to be restless city where so much effort has been expended broadened a little...
...Brother timely...
...They must be given their opportunity...
...Henry Ford, who ought to know, men murmur, "to disasters on sea and land, plague and come to like the idea that their daily toil is utterly famine, murders and crime generally, leaving the sane devoid of variation...
...Church's contemporary assets in America, to see in the complaint voiced by him before the Catholic Confer- CRITICISM is less vehement now than it was in ence on Peace-War Ethics something of a misconcep- the days when Pope and Dennis called each other tion that keeps cropping up from time to time in more names, but it still endeavors to be relatively mascufields than one...
...or deeply rooted local traditions, it helps to create a The Church is not situated in some preternatural, atspirit of amity that sooner or later will reduce the mospheric realm, aloof from human institutions and dangers of war and promote effective cooperation...
...Books The practical man, in turn, is probably responsible for pour from the presses written by those qualified to the fact that the contemporary lecture-goer and "home draw conclusions, in which what is really happening in student" is less interested in topics related to the the world is surveyed almost from month to month...
...ONLY cane further comment need be made...
...But certainly large number of New Yorkers...
...Whether their dissent take the ridiculous proof that if manufacturers spend more time in gov- form of a recent ukase issued by a woman's organizaerning their industries and less in indulging their fancy tion which bade toy-sellers cease displaying lead solfor leisure (a fancy which, some people apparently diers in their windows, or is heard in such temperate assume, is commendable only in everybody who does and plausible words as Dr...
...Dean Inge is "a October 20, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 573 gloomy man," religion is "something to cheer us and MODERN STUDY CLUBS make us content" ; British youth may be listless"how could it well be otherwise, coming from the PERHAPS the most remarkable aspect of contemshadow of war...
...The magnificent energy incorporated in his person proved contagious...
...It merely waited not because he takes another's life, but because he is until its own strength and the progress of common ready to lose his own...
...and have treated them reasonably well...
...For him, the problem therefore wears a two- the performance of Beau Geste which concerns itself fold aspect: Italian unity needs an independent and with the French colonial forces, come too close tointernational Papacy, but Italian unity also needs the gether and in too many different parts of the world not -idea and the habitat of Rome...
...often heard when the usefulness of the press is under But could unionism alter these conditions...
...There is, however, no reason Church is to be restored...
...No aspect of the exposition was its assistance if it did not cherish the potential nobil- either so arresting or so significant...
...But though pro- and usually very busy citizens in discussions of the ceeding in all charity, the critic who permits himself bases of religious belief...
...Within the next year or so we exWere those responsible for the conduct of a maga- pect to form branches in other cities...
...A visitor will find especially appro- industrial or economic issues...
...But in addiGlory, as a national product, besides being a little tion to the fact that they maintained the principle of under a cloud today, remains a matter of outlook...
...These epistles tually national in scope, to recall Americans, and parare matched by others from irate book-buyers who ticularly Catholic Americans, to a consciousness of the aver that a volume purchased because it had been greatness of this figure...
...To these discussions, memto ignore the fact that the form and content of the bers of other churches are invited and encouraged to language of man reflect as almost no other natural participate freely...
...Progress here has been quite as satisfacand beautiful Manhattan College which symbolizes so tory as the growth of interest in the news service supwell the educational ambitions of the order...
...And who will doubt that, ism humiliating to thoughtful Americans...
...cumstance that the federation has not made even the Ruskin has reminded us that the soldier is held dear, eight-hour day a political question...
...The which have been delivered since that tribunal became itch of the interviewer has always been an American- a subject of controversy...
...And so it must have been a very great pleas- the support of numerous organizations is ample proof ure to Brother Felician to see, before he died, the new of vitality...
...But the history that should merely present it national law making forty hours of work imperative under its grievous aspect, leaving out of account or in all industries...
...But few be nothing short of a sleepless nightmare...
...He admits he can't understand and sweet activities of well-ordered life to go pracwhy they do, but the fact is there...
...Accord- discussion...
...John A. Ryan, whose writ- him for the missionary, pioneer, or explorer, and let ings and contributions to social service are one of the a common aureole encircle both heads...
...the American tradition, the High Mass celebrated in the great stadium of the Sesquicentennial Exposition NOR should it pass unnoticed that an endeavor like was an event of singular magnificence and import...
...If none of these can be said viewpoint...
...the portion of space given to war varies from 16 percent man who bores the half-inch groove in a small wiought to 35 percent, while the number of pages devoted to iron part...
...It is established on earth, among the childeed, the vitality of Coudenhove-Kalergi's idea lay in dren of men and their institutions...
...But those who meet and discuss affairs in Vienna might well take heart THOMAS WALSH Assistant EditorsHELEN WALKER from the example of his lion-hearted soul...
...It calls attention ity,of the spoken word...
...In- concerns...
...In a day had it not been for these, the international issue would so thoroughly informed as our own, it is nothing much have missed inclusion in senatorial debates...
...He has had the ability to see-what European Congress is, of course, a result of war and positivism has recognized pretty,, generally-that economic chaos...
...study club idea was first launched in 1922, the fact These years were often bleak with poverty and ob- that it has organized a wealth of material and gained scurity...
...No school and no peripriate the carved oak Stations of the Cross executed odical could expect to survive if it limited itself to one by wood-workers from Oberammergau...
...And that such a solution is practicable which we all deplore...
...Most of them write hastily, signed to commemorate...
...jections of Americans living in London to another Mussolini, however, thinks in terms of unity, which revue handling the debt situation rather roughly, and is as much a matter of the spirit as of territories or the strictures by French residents in New York against cities...
...The black scowl and big fists of the cheering news...
...The declaration by Mr...
...It is, after all, far easier to freshment and nurture...
...Obviously, the two forms of indignation see ciation known as The Friends of Brownson has been matters from opposite points of view...
...more than a troublesome atavism-a toy which a The distinctly Catholic share in this activity has not grownup people should make up their minds to discard...
...In examining eight history texts kindles, or be protected against it-is still an open 572 THE COMMONWEAL October zo, 1926 question...
...To expect nothing but praise-or blame AS an act of solemn thanksgiving for iSo years of -from a reviewer, is to damn him irretrievably...
...Ryan seems to suggest, will ever prevent wars being the high lights in a nation's history, or PERHAPS the most important issue raised at the save the natural high-spirited boy or girl from an convention is the five-day week...
...of the Catholic Protectorate and its subsidiary institu- What are the results...
...utterances of visitors to our shores whose qualifica- Men in practical life often scoff at the lecturer entions to respect are the purely accidental ones of social gaged in solemnly haranguing "groups of women" ; position or notoriety...
...SMALL mercies have their uses, but the smallness THE Americans who, according to a London news of the mercies to which optimists will resort for com- despatch, "threw fits" in the lobby of the Little Thefort in time of trouble is always a marvel to the philo- atre between the acts of a recent production, London's sophically minded...
...The agenda of ment, and its ability to provide places for workers the conference called for the adoption of an official dissatisfied with other industries...
...Is not the picture that results a ing to see if the American Federation plans to begin violently refracted one, and is not the newspaper reits campaign with an educational drive...
...It this magazine, which exists solely in the hope that is estimated that nearly three hundred thousand people it can produce a literary expression remotely approxi- gathered on the morning of October 3, when Cardinal mate to a great tradition of art and thought, would Dougherty ascended the altar that had been erected betray itself and those who make sacrifices toward for the occasion...
...Why surrender so much space," the critics ing to Mr...
...It against malpractice so vehemently and uncompromis- was organized for the purpose of interesting practical ingly as did Joris Karl Huysmans...
...Thus a frank and healthy atobjects do the existence of Divinity, is either incom- mosphere is created, in which the spirit can find repetent or malignant...
...The guild is, in fact, somefall a victim to the spell cast by a fresh and relatively thing like a juncture at which faith and doubt can charming production and so miss the ills that artist meet...
...One may, of course, admit for considering the two organizations contradictory that Catholicism does not need the ancient papal or hostile to each other...
...It ject to the lustre under which war is presented to the would be absurd not to justify this faith as soon as growing mind, and seek practical means to redress it, the condition of commerce makes that possible...
...liberal arts than in matters of civic moment...
...By convincing citizens of Italy, under an arrangement which involves the in various countries that nothing can be gained by too violation of principle and just rights, political quietheavy an emphasis upon nationalism, tariff barriers, ism and unrest will follow as a natural consequence...
...Those who thought only chinery of culture distribution, with at least some exof the individual may have marveled at the learning cellent results...
...seem unaware of the size of the task they have set Ford's inauguration of the five-day week is ample themselves...
...the moral unity of the Italian people depends very The Pan-European movement, like several others of directly upon the complete spiritual independence of lesser impetus, merely prepares the way for the moral pontifical Rome...
...In- not, the idea is admirable, and one of the best things dividuals may differ about the quality of a book or about it is that it was born of the enthusiasm of young play...
...October 20, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 56 Aces...
...used in our schools, he has discovered that "the proThe man who sprays the body with sizzling paint...
...The manufacturers party song, and a woman delegate from the smitten of motor-cars have absorbed more than a million men mining districts suggests Land of Hope and Glory...
...For he HENRY LONGAN STUART GEORGE N. SHusTER had proved that a knowledge of evil is not more forJOHN F. McCoRMicx, Business Manager midable than a resolve to overcome evil...
...Though the League began states or any other official property...
...However much we may dislike the sad pointed hopes...
...in reasoned and thought-compelling fashion...
...Ryan's demur is strikingly similar to one very a day-all these are victimized by their specialties...
...Language, which is so much also to the numerous ways in which Catholic life, of the substance of the soul, which during long years particularly among lay people, is illustrated in the of Christian philosophy was almost identified with "City of Brotherly Love...
...He was an Editorial Council emancipator from despair...
...During the years when he organized the Christian Social party and carried it to victory over effete universalism and insidious financial corruption, he proved that a man could make the heart of a people throb with the redemptive emotion which lived in himself...
...The best way to make peace of humankind more obvious...
...which Dr...
...fine young British proletarians in the near future may be best judged from the eleven resolutions adopted THERE is plenty of evidence to show that the unanimously by the Conservative Party Conference American Federation of Labor is interested in Detroit at Scarborough, all designed to "curb the political for other reasons than its fitness as a convention city...
...than a mechanical delight in their work...
...If one remembers that the tions, and in the training of men for the Church...
...Prelates and mon- the number of groups eager to hear a lecturer, or signori, laymen of every station in life, flocked to the brought together regularly for some kind of instrucchurch where the body of Brother Felician, worn out tion or discussion, is larger than ever before...
...But beyond that, there are the affiliations fare Conference has been altogether appropriate and which existed between him and his order...
...thing of putting its best foot forward first...
...What it proposed and separated himself as completely as possible from in the way of remedies hardly sounds as practical as even organized monasticism, may become the patron the resolutions adopted from time to time by the in whose name the age-old temporal endowment of the League of Nations...
...Visionary or fully as possible and advise them to be honest...
...The Viennese might well contrast it with the THE COMMONWEAL co4dent leadership of their great pre-war parliamentarian, Karl Lueger, to whose memory a fitting monuPublished weekly and copyrighted 1925, in the United States by the Calvert Publishing Corporation, 25 Vanderbilt Avenue, ment has just been erected...
...the man who wheels the same barrel of peace describe a descending scale from four to none...
...If you saw how few our numbers mentioned in their columns, the life they lead would here really are, possibly you might think so...
...So long as the Vatican is an intern effectiveness of the League...
...But shown that the essence of its influence is continental...
...The lesson that life is most sense induced judge Gary to humanize the steel trust...
...pendent for its manifestation on time and place...
...Just think of the old saloons 1" We to have attained the distinction which came to the old have had it all so often before that the only impression Lyceum idea in the days of Emerson, all, when taken which remains as we read is a vague wonder at the together, do influence a very great number of people significance that still seems to attach to the random and do make for the propagation of definite ideas...
...In telling the New York Chamber Potiniere, probably keep nothing more than a tolerant of Commerce that unemployment figures in Britain smile for the innumerable cartoons in which Uncle have "increased to a surprisingly small extent" since Sam is represented as an extortionate usurer, and the the general strike, Sir William Mackenzie, who is countless editorials in which his penchant for repaychairman of the Industrial Mission to the United ment of moneys advanced is given as a main source States, gives himself all the air of conveying really of Europe's ills...
...New York is "groping for a spiritual courses, and so forth...
...This endur- department of the general cultural curriculum...
...It carried on with an ambitious, world-wide program, time has magnificently without them in the early centuries...
...T. LAwRASON RIGGS JAMES J. WALSH CA i.voN J. 11...
...knowing that their work must bear the attractiveness of novelty...
...It is the only kingdom on less strictly rationed on a basis of power and possesearth from which a country without roseate imperial sion than we see it in post-war Britain today...
...But when the critic fails to note flagrant faults people-"beardless youths," indeed, as Brownson himin scholarship or technique, when he endorses the sec- self would have said...
...War is a very terrible President Green contemplated nothing less than a thing...
...It is true that various older "circles" and "clubs" have ceased to function with their primal vigor...
...The reaction of the stranger as well as expedient, remains not merely a tenet of in a strange city and country when he sees his nationals Fascist doctrine, but also the definite conviction of all presented to him in the cold light of foreign observawho have studied the situation carefully...
...The solution lies in to suggest that an exacerbated sense of national amour finding a compromise which will properly, adequately propre is a main factor in the international difficulties divide Rome...
...Of these ways, none is thought itself, is the medium of both culture and more interesting than the Business Men's Guild, which grace...
...realistic at the present hour...
...We of the new world may at least kind-hearted...
...His theory that the strike was lost Duce have been a godsend to nimble pencils for two by the workers owing to the diffusion of education years without any international incident arising thereamong their children is so plausible that to ask why, from...
...scrap-iron to the same heap a certain number of times Dr...
...During the last month, a warmly recommended turned out to be second-rate or committee has been formed, a constitution of the assotrivial...
...and its glories attractive is not to depose the soldier from his niche of honor, but to make a place beside IT is not criticizing Dr...
...But its effect is to rob public opinion Catholicism, viewed purely as a munclanne moral inof creative enthusiasm and willingness to make sacri- stitution, is of value to national governments precisely 570 THE COMMONWEAL October 20, 1926 because it is international...
...How far this is from being the understressing the heroism and sacrifice of self it calls truth might be inferred from the mere historical cir- forth, would be a very lame and partial document...
...With large numbers of young lation, and makes protest a patriotic duty not to be people of this character coming to manhood every evaded without a suspicion of poltroonery poisoning year," goes on cheery Sir William, "there is a very the blood and spoiling the evening...
...possibility of doubt that he is ignorant, servile or insouciant...
...But ingly fine handiwork symbolizes an educational ideal doubtless this is realized perfectly well by the conferwhich has worried infinitely more about the abiding ence, which has merely done the always expedient simplicities of culture than about its finery...
...The plied by the conference...
...THE death of a simple and self-effacing Christian University extension . work has not as yet been taken Brother recently touched the hearts of a surprisingly up seriously by many religious schools...
...once more taken her way back to her adopted country, and, as is customary and fitting, we are treated to a 'REPLYING to a correspondent who had something sheaf of bright wisdom before she sails...
...Whether or not all reviewing of plays and the "perverse emphasis" placed upon war in school books ought to be anonymous-whether the critic histories, and does not except Catholic handbooks ought bravely to meet the burly wrath his verdict enfrom his strictures...
...Trained observers and writers but when they are reflective they will not deny that are sent hither and thither by our enterprising jour- the "gentleman with the gestures" has inaugurated nals and seldom fail to report what they see and hear important modifications of political and social affairs...
...The world is inevitably more League was taking up practically and diplomatically...
...As for the tion, is a strangely mixed affair and somewhat dePapacy, in its timelessness it can well afford to wait...
...The central organization reports that hunFelician's time of service extended over most of the dreds of groups and individuals throughout the counseventy-five years that his community has been active try have manifested a deep interest in the pamphlets in New York City-active in education, in the work and other data supplied by the conference...
...Ford ought to interest deeply students NO doctoring of present school-texts along the lines of a certain kind of evolution...
...What she to say about Orestes Brownson in these columns, a has to tell us hardly seems to earn the space and posiyoung man who lives in Chicago wrote as follows: tion accorded it by our city editors...
...Ryan is grieved at what he terms line...
...But in spite sponsible...
...emphasized the wrong point, there is no doubt that But, at least so far, there is no sign that its prim unionism would safeguard workers in the automotive columns are generally recognized as being a final and industry or that it could encourage them to take more corrected picture of life in America or anywhere else...
...Both are be- formulated, and plans are practically completed for side the point, however, in so far as they miss notic- the convening of the first quarterly meeting of this ing that a review can never express editorial opinion...
...The ab- BUT what can be done about the problem...
...Ultimately they learn to profit by their FEATURING vivacity to the last and "full of own errors and to accept without too wry a face the thoughts on all sorts of subjects," Lady Astor has .public scrutiny which adjudges what they do...
...There was a time the fact that it approached from a philosophic and when aery idealism, of the visionary romantic sort, idealistic point of view the same problems which the forgot this entirely...
...Mussosence of confidence-,of what one might well term lini has faced it squarely ever since the rise of Fassalutary optimism-from such gatherings as the Pan- cismo in 1920...
...It seems a mistake to identify on behalf of the spirit, are simple and sturdy but Catholic study too closely with the examination of beautiful always...
...One need not defend the mystic gift of art has now completed a year of fruitful existence...
...But the coming generation, of porary culture is the development of what may be which the heir to the Astor millions is offered as a called educational subsidiaries-university extension typical example, is "full of pep, and will carry on in schools, "alumni semesters," institutionalized lecture the old way...
...been small...
...Does this seem zine like this to sit in judgment over every volume visionary to you...
...During by more than eighty years of life and activity, was recent months the radio has been added to the mablessed for the last time...
...Ryan's, the quarrel is not work) there may come a time when the routine alike with something too deeply rooted in human of toil will he less devastating and the development nature for eradication...
Vol. 4 • October 1926 • No. 24
