SELF OR SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19376, 10 July 1926, Page 7 (Supplement)

SELF OR SERVICE.

THE CREED OF EDWARD BOK.

The greatest word in; the English language, according to Mr. Edward W. Bok, is not love, nor brotherhood, nor friendship, but word that embodies the spirit and meaning of all three; and the word is—service. It once used to be the proud boast of some business men that they intended to die in harness. Mr. Bok's ideal is very different. Successful men, he thinks," having built up a great business organisation, should retire while they are comparatively young, and devote the rest of their life to the service of their fellowmen. Mr. Bok, who was formerly the presiding genius of tiio American Ladies' Home Journal, lias practised what he preaches. At 56 he withdrew from the management of the paper. But no prospect of gilded idleness attracted him, as the list of his " activities," carefully compiled and printed at the end of the book, will prove even to the casual reader. These include the raising of a million dollars for.endowing the Philadelphia Orchestra,, tho creation of a sanctuary in Florida " for humans and birds," the editing of a series entitled " Great Hollanders," and the publication of " The Americanisation of Edward Bok," and other books. American idealism is a naive and peculiar thing/and Mr. Bok is very thoroughly Americanised. The doctrine of not letting the right hand know what the left one is doing has never been popular in the United States, 'yet it would not be fair on that account to question either the sincerity or the usefulness of such truly public servants. Humour is not the author's long suit, but in speaking of tho jaded business man whose life is one incessant grind he quotes a delicious limerick: .„ , There was an old bear at the zoo Who was feeling exceedingly blue ' It bores me, you know. To walk to and fro, 111 reverse it: I'll walk fro and to." A little more of that sort of thing would relieve the rather ponderous earnestness of the rest, and would be no less effect! .. in driving home the admirable lesson of the book. "Dollars Only," by Edward W, Bol; {Cornstalk Company).