NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1926. INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1926, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1926. INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

The insidiousness of propaganda, which is Jeally another name for the truism “constant dropping wears away stone,” is universally recognised. Propaganda may' have as its object evil or good, and, if employed persistently and skilfully is almost sure to attain its object. It may be to the discredit ! of human nature, but the fact neverthe- ! less remains that thoughts of hate and suspicion can more easily be injected into the life of a nation than can the principles of love and charity. This is illustrated in a short story which we read a few days ago. Among the French troops in occupation of Germany, so the story runs, was an African. Strong in body, he was a child in mental development. He was put on guard at a big electrical station, his place being the door of the switchboard room. An old German engineer was in charge of the room. He was a kindly old man, who kept white mice in a box on the sunny window-sill. The African liked the German, who allow him to feed the mice, and perhaps fondle them—especially one that was sick. One day the Africa;) succumbed to the fascination a E the switches, and, when the Germs .1 was not looking, turned a switch. Immediately telephones rang and the German dashed into the room. He threw* the switch back and made other adjustments and upbraided the African. The dislocation of electrical cranes, trams and machinery in a far away town, as a result of the soldier’s interference, was construed by the French as attempted sabotage by the Germans, because the old engineer heeded the appeal of the African not to betray his conduct. When the African went on guard next day,- the German and his white 'mice were gone. In the G eTm an’s place were a number of French electricians, who were soon hopelessly fogged. Switches and wires were altered in an endeavour to remedy delects, which grew more serious. Finally the old German came back. As by magic, order was restored and life again went smoothly. Following on the mishap caused by the African, a French general visited the town. He addressed the troops. He emphasised that there ■were no good Germans. If a’G'erman performed a kind act, he did so with an ulterior motive; probably he was trying to mislead Frenchmen in order that ho might in some way assist his country: French soldiers must ever be on. guard. And so on, ad infinitum! Into the primitive mind of the African there gradually crept the idea that the old German was using his white mice and his other expressions of kindliness in order to work some desperate injury upon France. The idea, grew until one day, when the old Gorman was gently tending his white mice, the African killed him. This story illustrates the wisdom of those who are endeavouring to promote among the children of the world propaganda aiming at the inculcation of international lor 5 and charity rather than hate and suspicion. In this connection, a schoolmaster in Ohio is making a commendable effort. If his experiment suceo.'ds, the art, of at least the practice, of social correspondence is to be broadly reviewed, interestingly enough, with boys as participants, and with the study of geography, sociology and other related subjects as the incentive. American boys who adopt this system of education by mail, as outlined bv Dr Sven V. Knudsen, of Antioch College, are to strike vip a correspondence with

boys in other parts of the world, pro-

vided, of course, that “Barkis is willin’ ” all around. Instead of reading in a dry-as-dusfc textbook a succession of facts about principal rivers and cities and products and other items more or less enveloped in mists of remoteness, the young correspond- ' cuts will tell each other something personal in connection with these matters that will endow them -with vivid interest. Their everyday customs, their views, their home life, their schools, and their games—these are subjects of moment to boys, from tho Mississippi to the Ganges, from Lapland to the Argentine, from Alaska to Jerusalem. And in writing of them, the boys will put geography to novel use as a means of establishing new ? bonds, possibly long-enduring friendI ships, across continents and the seven seas. Tho “Christian Science Monitor,’’ in speaking of this experiment, says that all such little straws are welcome indications that the winds of desire for international amity "are in motion and gaining in force. The youthful citizeJis of today are to be the statesmen and lawmakers of tomorrow. Educated today to respect and admire their “friends abroad,” they will not be likely to forget these bonds in the assemblies and conferences of future days. There is the possibility, too, that through these letters of their sons’ foreign friends, the elders may learn of many tender hopes and loves throughout the world which are worthy of their protective attention. Manifestly, permanent international, goodwill must be brought about through an educating influence of some sort; and many are seeing more clearly than heretofore that this influence must be of a spiritual nature, something that will displace covetousness and distrust with sympathetic understanding and appreciative regard. “Surely,” adds the “Monitor,” “when children and young people are encouraged to think kindly of the home associations, the customs, the pleasures, and the occupations of the youth in other lands, this righteous thinking will establish a safe foundation upon which to rear wise future co-operation in larger affairs of international life.”