1938-09-19 — Page 10

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that if the peo-

le's natural wish to enjoy them-- selves is tied to some political event or day or slogan the two things will eventually become united in the popular mind. So the humble citizen who begins by dancing and waving flags because he likes to let himself go occa- sionally will end by believing that he is really celebrating

the triumphs of the new regime. Greece, the youngest and most jejune of the totalitarian crew, has adopted another device of the same kind. Until General Metaxas became dictator two years ago the Greeks used to celebrate March 25 as the day of national rejoicing because on that day in 1881 they won their free- dom from foreign rule. Now they celebrate (by order) August The importance of Poland is 4, because on that day in 1936 usually underestimated. She is they lost it again to a Greek much smaller than Russia, but she is much nearer the heart of police must work rather hard and politician. At first, of course, Europe. She is also a very con- siderable Power. Indeed, the a good deal of money must be spent to make the celebrations part she can play in European appear truly national and spon- affairs may be decisive. She has aneous, but General Metaxas

Hong Kong, Monday, Sept. 19, 1938.

POLAND AND THE

CZECHS

been much criticised for her attitude of friendliness towards hopes, no doubt, that in time the Greeks will forget about March Germany, but no one realises as 25 (and freedom) and come to well as the Poles do what it believe that August 4 was really means to have two great revolu-

a great day in Greek history. tionary Powers for neighbours. Poland has her grievance, too, The German rulers have done better. They have calmly adopt- against Czecho-Slovakia, and it is ed May 1, which was the great highly desirable that there

should be "justice for the Poles day for German as for all other of "Teschen" no less than for the Socialists, and made it a festival

for National Socialista. · Sudeten Germans. Poland "can- not be expected to engage in strong partisanship against Ger- A Word for the Lowbrow many in Czecho-Slovakia's behalf,

and it is only human that she The summer school of libra- should feel relief because the rians was warned recently by the long-expected blow which a re-president of the Library Associa- armed Germany was almost sure tion, Mr. W. C. Berwick Sayers, to deliver threatens not her but to beware of impatience with the Czecho - Slovakia. But Poland lowbrow. He spoke of the dis cannot be interested in the de-couragement an able young libra- feat, least of all in the disappear-rian had reported to him at ance, of Czecho-Slovakia. It is as having continually to hand trash sure as anything can be sure in to silly people,” and urged his politics that her turn would come listeners to cultivate a wide sym- next.

pathy, It is much that in an The notion (entertained by age when the alternative attrac- some Polish politicians) that tions to reading multiply fast a Poland could hold the eastern half fondness for books should be as |of Czecho-Slovakia and, with the well maintained · as ever and in- help of Hungary and Rumania, deed justify an output of which stem the German drive to the four grandfathers never dreamed. east is a romantic illusion. There It is, after all, only in the last is in Warsaw too much defeatism fifty years that any considerable with regard to Czecho-Slovakia, proportion of people has been though not perhaps in Warsaw literate, and half a century is no alone. There is, especially in the great period in which to cultivate mind of Colonel Beck and his taste. The elders who look back associates, a tendency to believe wistfully to the days when a that the disappearance of Czecho- Scott or a Dickens was a best Slovakia is “inevitable.” The seller are apt to forget that the disappearance of Czecho Slovakia public that could then read novels is by no means "inevitable," but at all was a strictly limited one Polish defeatism and romantic which made of education its own plans for a ramshackle substitute preserve. Since then we have bulwark against Germany, help achieved a literate people, but to make it more likely than it the great bulk of them pass from would be otherwise. The dis- school to some completely mono- appearance of Czecho-Slovakia tonous task in factory or office. would only recoil on Poland her- It is not surprising that they self, and while she cannot be should choose the literature that expected to run the risk of a gives them the readient escape, conflict with Germany at the that half the books taken out of moment she can be expected to the average library should be abandon the hostile attitude she novels, and these the tales has of late been taking up which, irrespective of literary. against the Czechs and to refrain style, some vicarious adventure from anything that might in the least help to bring disaster on all Europe, herself included.

Rejoicing To Order

can be had or some romantic aspiration indulged through one's hero. If addiction to the litera- ture of escape” pure and simple were on the increase there might be

The dictators, who make some Be stud the

Price

iste. it more the better.