THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER
23, 1037..
The World
Fall the men of the war and post-war years, two I think, stand out over the rest as of truly herole stature: Nicolai Lenin and Thomas Masaryk.
a
Lenin played his role on larger stage, has left a deeper mark on history. But he and Mamryk were built of that same stuff of real greatness. which has, in addition sirength, a stark integrity and simplicity of character.
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They were on opposite sides of a great fence. Masaryk hated Communism, as Lenin despised Liberalism. But that is another matter.
Plato saw the only hope of man- kind in the days when kings should be philosophiers and philosophers kings. And it was a happy fate for the newly-born | Czechoslovak Republic that her first President was a philosopher, seeing calmly
in, the midst of struggle, holding
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firmly to the basic values of his creed.
has
LOST
a
HERO
perfection of a partnership which began with that romantic dash to
Yot that wisdom and serene' un-seé a dying girl and lasted to her derstanding could not have been Kained
in academic schools. Thomas Masaryk was a Professor of Philosophy, but with a training and a vision which few professors have.
He was born of the people-of the Czechoslovak people. For his father was Blovak, his mother Czech. And he had known .struggle and poverty. The father was a coachman, the mother had been a cook. They were very poor, very simple folk.
Young Thomas, born at Hadonin. In Moravia, in 1850, would have gone to labour in the feids Bike any other Czech youngster of pensant stock, but for his mother. She had" ideas above her station." ambitions for the son whom she knew to be elever above his fellows. She dreamed that he night rise to be
a village schoolmaster. taught him German. had him sent to school. Even so, elreum- stances were neatly too strong. The boy had to be apprenticed to ta blacksmith. The President later was proud to be a qualified master
But the me stuff in him, the passionate lust for knowledge. attracted other notice. Help was iren. With stinting and scruping be went Drst to the Grammar School at Bronn, then to the High School in Vienna, then to Vienna University.
-a
There was evidently more than village school a head. 'The smith's apprentice at the age of 20 was a Doctor of Philosophy, earning a modest living by teach- Ing.
By chance at Leipzig he met an American traveller, Mr. Garrigue, and his daughter, Charlotte. The Americans went home. Thumas and Charlotte wrote to each other. Then came word that she was desperately 11, Thomas threw up his job, borrowed money, crossed the Atlantic.
By the time he arrived the was well. In face of a reluctant family, she married him and went back to -Vienna and a struggle with penury. From now on he was Thomas Garrigue Masaryk. The change of nario was the outer sign of the
death in 1923, And-the dash it- self revealed what qualities of swifi decision and action were in this studious young doctor.
Two years later all was well. His enormous powers of work, his wido acholarship, his keen intelligence, had marked the coachman's son Inevitably or promotion, even in pre-War Austria. He became Pro- fessor Masaryk of the University. of Prague.
But no quiescent professor. For Masaryk learning was a passion. trutha supreme call, freedom of thought a tominant religion.
There was a touch of Voltaire in him. He would not only study but would fight for that liberty of spirit which seemed to him the most valuable thing in life.
There were controversies and cases, now long forgotten-the case of the Czech forgeries," the case of the Jew Hilsner-in which he risked popularity, his job, everything. for truth and for jus- tice.
"Never be afraid to be in the minority: it is mortles which originate progress and any step forward," he wrote. And again "more moral courage is required to acknowledge an error than to defend it." In these sentences you have the essential Masaryk— The man of supreme moral courage and stark Intellectual honesty.
but
He became a
a "Young Czech," of a
new kind, condemning the barren and noisy revolutionism or the Old Young Caechs." HIS slogan was freedom not by blood, But by work." He urged co-
co-opern tion with the progressive German: of Bohemia and Moravia. He sanity forbade revolt or a sterile separatism. The Czech people
must win freedom within the Monarchy, with the help of all the `demoemtic forces."
Until the war came, and pos- sibilites changed over night. With cool judgment the University pro- fessor (now also a Member of Parliament), assessed the situa- tion. Most of the Czech Nationalists looked to Russia-the "great Blav sister" Not Masaryk. Freedom, he said, would never come from the Tsar.
But there was now a hope.
II
ANECDOTES OF THE AIR
A
An enthusiastic member
of The
the Western Democracies could be Induced to espouse the Czech cause, then, if they were victor- lous, they would give Czecho- alovakia both Independence and democracy. Of course, they lost --but that had to be faced.
Aad, quietly, decisively, this sixty-four-year-old Professor turned conspirator and-in Aus- trian eyes traitor, liable to sum- mary execution. He made the same choice as Roger Casement, A Witle -luck and he would have met the same fate.
He and Benes and Kramar orgonised the "Malla." secretly preparing revolt. And then he escaped over the frontier--not for fear, but because this was hils al- fotled task.
He came to London, to Paris, tirelessly urging the Czech cause on Allled statesmen, on everybody who could help. He lived in Hamp- stead, and worked in a little office in Piccadilly Circus. He kept touch with the conspirators at home. Ite had to cope with sples and provo- enteurs. Attempts were made on his life.
Aid when, in the October days of 1018. the Habsburg Sunte crumbled to fragments and a cheering crowd holsted the national colours in Prague, the Provisional Government ("for ob- vlous reasons," as Benes expres- alvely puts it) chose Thomas Masaryk unanimously to be the first President.
He came back as-Chief of the
THOMAS MASARYK
First President of Czechoslovakia
State to the elty from which he hnd fed as a condemned traitor.
Blacksmith's apprentice, scholar, professor, conspirator, President, The man began a new career at the age of 60. And his new task was no easy one.
The new State had no army, no Civil Service, no money. Every thing had to be created.
Eco- nomically the situation was de- sperate. Polleally, the country was torn by racial dissensions, by political dissensions, by class dis- sensions.
The Orst miracle of those early years was tha; it survived at all: the second miracle that it escaped Dictatorship. Both miracles were largely due to Masaryk,
For fourteen years he remained as President, guiding, counselling, advising. urging moderation, urg- ing co-operation, urging always that without internal liberty and democracy, the new national free- dom would be worthless.
At the age of 83, too tired at last to go on, he inid down his task, to be followed by his faithful leutenant. Edouard Bencs.
And now he is dead, Not only Czechoslovakia but the world has lost an heroic man.
W. N. Ewer
WHAT'S WRONG WITH
criticism.
ECONOMICS?
Amid Arctic Wastes
M
JUCII attention has been paid of late to the spectacular displays by Russlan selentists and aviators at the North Pole,
Long before the encompment of meteorological experts and other scientific observers at that remote spot, and the lights-successful and not so successful—the authorities in Moscow were busy on a programme of Arelle development unparalleled in history,
The building up of what may be termed Polar Empire is the sim, and, already great progress has been made in that direction.
The project is being carried out on systematic lines, and just as the scientists are the first to establish themselves at the Pole, so they have been the advance guard in the inaccessible regions which, once desolate wastes, are now scenes of thriving industry and populated by thousands of men, women, and chill- dren.
Something like 40 or 50 Russian scientific expeditions have been exploring Polor and sub-Polar regions, and the results have been remarkable.
A Good Retum
As one foreign observer puts it, those costly expeditions are already gold, silver, precious stones, umber, paying big dividends in platinum, copper, nickel, asbestos, graphite, phosphates, salt, oil, and timber.
The most recent of the mushroom industrial centres is on the Nordic Peninsula, in the extreme north of the Soviet Union. One of the oficial selentifle expeditions some time ago. discovered that this region was tich In salt, oll. and coal. No sooner was this discovery verified than labourers were sent to erect houses for 1,000 persons.
A powerful radio station was also built to keep the place in touch with Moscow, Now the zalt is being mined andi oll wells are being dräled: A similar mushroom town is Igarka, on the Yenisei River, Ten years ago there was a tiny settlement there of about 40 persons, mainly trappers. Then, it was decided to make full use of the great forests which run for miles in every direc tion.
To-day there are 20,000 inhablanis of Igarka. One million trees were telled last year and cut up in the sawmills on the spot. Those trees were but 2 per cent. of the lotal number of trees available,
Another scientifle expedition was tent to the Murmansk region. There the geologists discovered deposits of phosphates estimated to contain 900,000,000 tons.
Phosphates for fertilisers were Among the greatest needs of Russia. Practically all phosphates had to be Imported. It is not surprising, there- fore, that as soon as the discovery was confirmed the authorities set to work to develop it. "Phosphates City"
Now there is a
city of 40,000
¿CONOMISTS...are, accustomed to Hence Euclidean-geometry-only inhabitants on the spot. It is alred Almost since the birth approximates to reality, and when Krovsh, and though well within the of the science
applied to the major problems of Arctic circle, possesses they have been
up-to-date systematically balted by left-wing ing as Einstein has shown.
estronomy, it has been found wani-hospitals, schools, and clacmas,
Here, where the sun in summer politielars, sentimental philanthro
shines almost unbrokenly for 40 pists, and vituperative men of letters This Imperfect World
days,
and where the winter alght like Carlyle, whose phrase.
endures for similar "the
unbroken dismal science," has acquired a cur-
Similarly, economies provides on in such quantities that, in addition to perod, men dig up the rich deposits reney denied to most of the utter- imperfect explanation of the econo-supplying all her own needs, Russia ances of that melancholy prophet.
mic world, because its main assump has become an exporter tion Is
Ikeae only partially true. extremely
valuable Now the scientists are beginning to Economists assume the existence of fertilisers.
phosphatle
take a hand nt the
free and perfect competition. They
One of the greatest of dimculties pubelly has been given to the re- because competition is still a power- Polar Empire is transport, and the do this for the sake of simplicity, and confronting the pioneers of this rich marks of Professor Hogben, the fut force provoking economic activi- North-East Passage has been opened Aberdeen Professor of Natural Philo. y.
Deross the Arctic Ocean. conference
gume. Wide
cf
·
COCKNEY went for a trip in an trying to hide his catapult. "I've sophy, at the
of the But the perfect competition which Last year, by the aid of ice. aeroplane. When I was over he only been shooting at a bottle han. British Institute of Adult Education, the economist inkes as his starting-reakers, 14 ships made the ponage sold to the pliot-"Thanks for them gin' from a tree!***
Jast week-end.
point probably never existed, and along the Siberian coast. For 400 two rides."
certainly does not exist in the present years every attempt to negotiate this "But you've only had one," replied RAF, who had just got his "svings," University education, the Professor and new deals.
In a hostile review of modern world of quotas, output restrictions, route commercially the route from
Atlantic to Pacific-had the airman.
falled, was explaining all about acroplanes
Then, in 1032, the "Bellove me, friend,” continued the to his idmiring relatives, who knew signalled out for special censure what
ice-breaker made Hence the conclusions of economies Siberiakov "I've had two.
the trip from olher,
The first and nothing at all of the subject of fly- he called "the mediaeval rubbish must be adjusted to the facts. They Archangel in a single season, and so the
taught as economics in our Univer- must not be applied blindly.
opened the way for all who have An old lady was chatting
"And what is that funny-looking sitles," and suggested as a substitute
followed parachutist "I really don't know thing?" asked Auntie,
At one time economists did not
Now the wealth of for a factual selence of wealth," realise how you have the courage to hang
the interior "That is a parachute. In case of which would include a
this. They do So now.travele down the rivers to the sea, from that parachute. The suspense an. sceltent, we flying men stand a
of Every Univeraly has courses survey
on and lo carried in must be terrible."
realistic or applied economics, meant Russian and British which use the vessels, chiefly "No, madam," replied the para- lives by Jumping off and using the The Test of Realities
very good chance of saving our modern economic problems.
to bridge the gap between theory and chuttat. "It's when the suspense parachute," he explained.
fact. These courses clothe the dry new route. bones of abstract reasoning with
last,
Isn't there that it's terrible,"
to
ing
Ah, but suppose the parachute
oft?"
Yet the credit of this achievement
nier. All long the
Two old friends who had not scen should fall to open nfler you jump the street will probably have much mic system. They are, indeed, exam. /Swept Arctic coast is a chain of radia
cach other for a couple of months suddenly met.
"Hallow, Smith, old man! Haven't then?" seen you lately."
weeks."
I
Two friends met in mid-air.
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flesh. They give a picture and not cannot be given wholly to the sea- With this point of view the man la merely a map or plan of the econo-
blake, gate aked another listener: "What
sympathy. He has a suspicion that ple of that facial science of wealth stations. These stations send out Well, that wouldn't stop me," economics is an "unreal" science with which Professor Hogben demands.
weather reports to navigators, and it "NË," Been in bed for seven sald the airman. "I'd come straight distrust of it is not diminished when no relation to everyday life and his
is their reports which make the down just the same!"
Professor Hogben, then, has dono voyages possible. he watches the flounderings of the less ihn justice to the economists. "Diar mel That's too bad. Flu',
Aeroplanes now precede the ice-, ; suppose?"
average economics professor caught He has overlooked or ignored ilmi breakers, plek out the more vulner "Yes--and crashed!"
in the tolls of a concrete problem. part of their teaching in which they able spots in the pack fee, and tehd A young flying officer, stationed "Fancy, seeing you here," greeted
try to correct the weaknesses and by wireless instructions to the Undeniably the .progress somewhere near Egypt, while lying one. "I've just dropped from
economie theory has not done much economies. And he has been less
of limitalions of purely theoretical navigalors. near the Great Pyramids, carrying aeroplane. Wherever have you come to increase the amount of economie than just to theoretical economics Pole itself are but another ink is
The meteorologists camped at the -out ..exercises in navigation,
from?" and
well-being. The world was in many itself. "Mo? Oh," working with a sextant to discover
replled the
chain of observers wliose aim is the other waye better off before Adam Smith his exact position, suddenly turned "I'm just rising from my gas stove" than after him.
establishment of a commercial air. to the pilot and said—"Take off your It is said that nshermon can tell a
The professor implies that it can route across these Arctic wastes. hall"
tall story, but the following about All this is
be dispensed with altogether, that true. But there
Meanwhile, inland, others aro "Why?" asked the pilot.
is his factual science of wealth is all pushing on with readin, railways, and something to be set in defence of int is neerled. This is n grave error. auch strange, contraptions as tractors ́"Because, according to my calcula-
they have to have special diets, and tions, we are now inside St. Paul's upside down in a loop, a pilot in is one that can be brought against telligible. They do not reveal their apretally fitted motor lorries,
while economies. The charge of unreality Without theory, the facts are unin- on siis, amphibian "acrusleds," and treatment to make up for the lack are given regular ultra-violet ray Cathedrall"
Yugo-Slavin had a leg cut off above most selences. the knee by Birlicing the whirling propeller in mid-air.
*
"Do you think this piano is quite
safe, Bir?" asked a nervous passenger of an offciat,
"Oh, yes, madam, bellovo Safest on earth!"
me.
A certain machine had gone amiss ing and the pollca werd scouting around in cars for news of it. Añ officer pulled up and shouted to
tle boy in a field-
"I say, sonale, have you heard of an acroplane coming down anywhere near here?"
Oh no, sir," answered the boy,
the ale runs them pretty close. Falling out of his plane
ה
secret of themselves. They must be There is a railway which rum in night
of stanshing during the long Arctle
The scientist in a man who elmpil- questioned, and the way to do that a direct line from Norilsk to Daulinske. In splic of this terrible succession telligible. To accomplish this he has guesses about the principles that ex-diatriet rich in nickel.
fits knowledge to make it more in- is to theorise about them, to make, The former town Is the centre of a
Infectious diseases are comparativo- of shocks, he not only retained the to treat the facts in rather cavaller, plain them.
ly rare, owing to the germ-free at- presence of mind to open his para- fashion. Ife ignores some, magnifies
These deposits were unworked in inhabitants visit a more southerly mosphere, though no sooner do the chute, but actually landed on his re- others, and makes assumptions which This is the balness of the theore to the nearest port meant a joumey influenza, and other types of infec
the old days because to get the stuff region maining leg, smoking a cigarette. He are at variance with reality.
than they "catch" colds. has recovered and is now nying with
tical economist, and therefore we of 1,000 miles. Now ennnot do with him. Let us have runs direct to Dudinsk, the port on
the raliwayon. Our old friend Euclid Is-an exam- as much realise reonomics as we the Yenisei River, a matter of about hitherto untouched. is The former seemed very angry. ple. He bufit up his aclence of can. Professor Hogben "Hoy! You, there! What the devil)
is right 30 miles. Ecometry on unfounded postulates there, But let us not despise theore are you doing in that apple tree?" such as the hoary one that a ulni tical economica which alone can re- "Please, ir," replied the wee has position but no magnitude, know- veal the orderly plan beneath the laddle, "believe me or not, but I've ing well that the universe could apparent anarchy of the world of just fallen out of an aeroplanel" furalsh no example of a point which business.
E. Vyner. fulfilled both these conditions.
Economist
a wooden legi
Special Diet
What of the provie who live and work in these regions? They em to suffer little or no hardship. But
One of the world's richest arena thus being
| opened up and added to the immense territories already under the Soviel Union. Tho potentiailles are tremendous, not only economically but also politically.
Colin Collins,
*AP67
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