THE LAUGH OF THE BABBITT

Among the many things which the war was to have accomplished, not a little has been said and written about a twentieth century renaissance. The movement has its prophets. They have predicted that out of the cataclysm of war the forces of pent up genius will burst into full blossoms to lead the way to greater intellectual freedom.

It is, therefore, with much chagrin that those who hoped for the new era have watched the ebb of conservatism recently manifested both in England and the United States. Its political display is regarded as a mere sign Behind the political movement is seen an almost universal revulsion away from liberal tendencies. Intellectual freedom is endangered. It is feared that thought and the arts will succumb to the dulling influence of bourgeois ideals. Once more Babbitt goes about his daily lasks in great glee. He rubs his hands and beams genially Popular approval has placed its divine sanction upon the trinity of his creed Efficiency, and And having the conscionsness of the crowd at his back, he redevotes himself to Business.

With a pessimism natural in disappointment those who had vision of a glorious efflorescence of genius fear the bloodless dominion of my evalism. It is thought that literature and the arts cannot endure the blight of a new are of Babbitts But paradox as it is, the post-war idealists are almost too practical for practical purposes. If they would embody their ideals at once into institutions, they would take away the incentive needed for further progress. Given a vision plus an obstacle hindering its attainment, one has the true settings which makes for intellectual advancement.

The nineteenth century saw. Babbitt succeed Napoleon as conqueror of the world. Yet the same century saw the most extravagant, play of individualism of any age in history. Chateaubriand, Hugo, DeMusset, Devigny in France--Burns, Byron, Shelley, Keats in England...developed their genius in the face of, and often in protest against the deadening influence of commercialism, industrialism, and materialism.

If there are really grounds for expecting a twentieth century renaissance, its advocates have cause for rejoicing and not for lamentation at the conservative reaction. Wherever there is real genius, obstacles and hostile environment bring it our.

With a pessimism natural in disappointment those who had vision of a glorious efflorescence of genius fear the bloodless dominion of my evalism. It is thought that literature and the arts cannot endure the blight of a new are of Babbitts But paradox as it is, the post-war idealists are almost too practical for practical purposes. If they would embody their ideals at once into institutions, they would take away the incentive needed for further progress. Given a vision plus an obstacle hindering its attainment, one has the true settings which makes for intellectual advancement.

The nineteenth century saw. Babbitt succeed Napoleon as conqueror of the world. Yet the same century saw the most extravagant, play of individualism of any age in history. Chateaubriand, Hugo, DeMusset, Devigny in France--Burns, Byron, Shelley, Keats in England...developed their genius in the face of, and often in protest against the deadening influence of commercialism, industrialism, and materialism.

If there are really grounds for expecting a twentieth century renaissance, its advocates have cause for rejoicing and not for lamentation at the conservative reaction. Wherever there is real genius, obstacles and hostile environment bring it our.