A FRIENDLY CRITIC.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4444, 24 July 1922, Page 3

A FRIENDLY CRITIC.

AMERICAN JOURNALIST’S LONDON IMPRESSIONS.

“I- DO NOT TRY TO UPLIFT ANYBODY.”

Dr. Frank Crane, the welLknown American writer and editor, of “Current Opinion,” who recently visited London after ten years, says that London has suffered no degeneration in the past decade, but, on the contrary, shows signs of improvement in more than one direction. Dr. Crane’s impressions on the effects cf the war, both on America and on England, were given to an interesting interview. America, he said, was more highly idealistic during the war than it had been for many years ; ,and the apex was reached when President Wilson came to Europe. But, generally speaking, the progress of humanity is like the progress of every other living thing, he said—it is ryhthmic ; it cones and goes in waves, and not in a continuous current, and so America had its slump. This set in just when President Wilson returned, when the Senate “ got its teeth into him and tore him down.”

“ The wave was receding,” said Dr. Crane, “ and the same thing occurred about the same time in other countries ; so that the lowest point of humanity was reached after the war. We got tired of being noble and good. People cannot stand being heroic too long at a time ; they want to get into their slippers and take things easily.” Britain After thei War. Passing to the interval which had elapsed since his previous visit :o England, Dr. Crane said he did not notice any decided difference. “You do not change much,” he said. “If there is any change, it is in the direction of a kindlier and gentler spirit. You are more humane. The war -has chastened the British spirit. You arc more open and direct, less shy and reserved. Everyone is just as approachable as the American, and as democratic.” Dr. Crane had some flattering remarks to make about our leading writers in the Press, which, he said, is always refreshing to him. John .Galsworthy, H. G. Wells, Arnold Bennett, G. K. Chesterton, G.. B. Shaw, and Sir James Barrie are gifted with creative, imagination, he said, to a wonderful degree, each differing from each other, but each doing good work in his own way. Sir James Barrie’s little piece, “Shall We Join the Ladies ?” he considers is a wonderful fragment. “Your writers are doing just as good creative work as in the days of Elizabeth," he said. “I do not detect any signs of- senility. You are not an old race by a long shot.”

One result of; the war, he thought, had been to bring the peoples >f America and England doser together. The same set of arguments appeals to both, and the same fundamental feelings. “I have spoken to several audiences, and find you are touched by exactly the same things as the people in America, and you are bored by the same things.” The fact that Americans and British had fought and died together in the war ha:l forged a strong link of sympathy: and the same fact applied to France. The “Bluff” Materialism.

Asked if he considered we were a more materialistic people than those of the States, Dr. Crane expressed the belief that materialism is largely “bluff.” There are, he asserts, very few materialists. "We are all idealists,” he said. “People are a lot better than we give them credit for. We have bad ,a materialistic slump since the war: but we are getting out of it, and the next thing yvihl be a great reivval of some kind —a revival of idealism.” All the peoples ofj the world, he said, are one great family ; and all would be decent if they had the chance and the .theorists and patriots would let them alpne. Th? Germans were just as clear-headed as ovrselves; but when their country declared war they had to go hi. The Russians were as kindly and democratic as anyone on the face of the earth. AU the nations were human beings and members of the one great brotherhood. Comparing the respective attitude of America and England towards the things of culture, Dr. Crane said he believed the desire for •self-improve-ment is much keener in his own country. “Culture,” he said, “is merely the accumulation of the ages, and you have got that over here. We have to come to England to see an old cathedral or Michael Angelo’s Moses : hut ,we have just as much of the spirit of culture, and I think we are even more keen than you. are here.” Dr. Crane instanced the meetings in all the towns of the States for the study of art and literature and the courses of economic addresses. In the great international correspondence courses thousands of; farmers, small shopkeepers, and others take a keen interest; and the Chautauqua movement also embraces many thousands of American workers. “You don’t realise over, here,” said Dr. Crane, “how intensely the United States are going to school. There ! s nothing to prevent culture flowing through the body politic, as the ways are open. There is no class distinction in America as there is here, and tlie working-girl can walk up to Mr. Harding and speak to him as freely as to anyone. else.” Cinema and Prohibition. The cinema Dr. Crane tegards as an important aid to education and he believes that it is going to play a great part in .the unification of the world. “It is a universal language and something that everyone can understand,” he said. Asked if he considered that many of the films pandered to the people's taste rather than raised them, Dr. Crane replied : “Give the people what they want and they will raise themselves. I do not try to uplift anybody. I do not want tq convert anybody. I want to encourage people in self-expression. No-< body wants to be reformed ; but they want to be appreciated ; and if- they get that appreciation they reform themselves.” Prohibition finds a warm supporter in Dr. Crane, although he is not a teetotaller himself, and drinks alcoholic liquors when away from the

States. He believes prohibition will not only last in America, but will conquer the world. “You will be dry hern within fifty years,” he predicted. “You will be driven to it in self-de-fence. The Anglo-Saxon races will be the first to abstain, as they don’t knew how. to drink in moderation. The Latin races are the only peopte who know how to drink.” In Labour matters Dr. Crane finds this; country a little ahead of the States. The direction is better ; but in bcth countries he believes- the problems will be solved satisfactorily. “We are all labourers,” he said, with his characteristic smile, “ft is really only the working put ofj democracy.”