MAN WHO STOOD ALONE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1934, Page 21 (Supplement)

MAN WHO STOOD ALONE

JOHN JAY CHAPMAN. HERO OF AMERICAN CIVILISATION. When I think of the word Hero (and in these days so dark for Europe we need to think of heroes) I think of John Jay Chapman, writes Mr. Robert Nichols. Many people ■ have been thinking of John Jay Chapman in. the last few weeks, for this American hero has died, leaving to the world a spirit and a courage the world much needs. He it was who, when'his airman son was shot down to die behind the German lines, long before the- United States had entered the war, said to the reporters who pestered him in that sad hour: “I have only one thing to say to you, gentlemen. I thank God there was one American who knew the difference between right and wrong. Good-day.” THE NEED TO THINK ARIGHT. He vJas as fiiie to look at as; he was fine indeed, a great tall man with a proud head that he was nbt ' ashamed to bow as he stood among a crowd. Once •he stood like that at Coatesville, where he had gone on the first anniversary of one of those-lynch-ings which still stain American- civilisation. ’ * ■ ’ He had previously announced that he would hold a meeting of penance, ■■ to which he hoped, the people of Coatesville would come, ..and the people’s answer was that he would be shot if he did. But he went. He stood with a friend at prayer in their midst, and then he spoke to them on the need for each man to think aright and so. form a public conscience that was strong and good. It seemed to those who stood round that they were in the presence of a saint, and no man raised his hand. He was a poet and ale. a fine critical writer, and Shakespeare and Greek Genius are two subjects which specially appealed to him, a liberty-loving man of learning who, it has been said, himself was worthy of Plutarch’s pen. A HAWK FROM THE BLUE. “A long-footed grey bird with a black beak has fallen on the deck” was a message recently sent out by the wireless operator on one of the Blue Star’s steamships. There was a ring round the bird’s foot, which eventually proved it to be a hawk ringed at Versailles. It had had a long flight, for the ship was over 2000 miles from France when the hawk came aboard. EATING THEIR OWN BREAD. Despite her increased and increasing population Italy is this year producing all the wheat she requires for her own domestic needs. Her population is now about 43,000,000 This result has been secured by improving both land and crops. Prizes are given every year for the best crops, and there is great emulation. The yield per acre has been raised considerably in recent years.