GOING ON RECORD

From Calshot, England, comes the proud report that four World's speed records have been set by Englishmen. At present British sportsmen hold speed records in airplanes, automobiles, motorcycles, and motorboats. A persistent but vague explanation for the current troubles of the world seems to be present in announcements of the sort.

The peoples of the world have spent long hours, fortunes, and man-power in seeking speed achievements, unheard-of magnitudes in buildings, extraordinary height attainments, and a multitude of limits including marathon dance and pole-sitting records. Naturally the records lately signalized by the British are not in the category of the latter. But there may be a connection between the attitude and practices of the English of contemporary times and their unenviable and unfortunate governmental and economic crisis. Perhaps the robust and thoughtless attitude which the United States has spread abroad with its produce and tourists has had an appreciable part in causing and aggravating the world-wide maladjustments.

The United States, being a young nation, has ever had before it the examples of many other countries. But youth always has been peculiarly attractive to the uncertain ages. In trying to remain young; in having its face lifted by speed records Great Britain may have been guilty of the folly of aging men and women. And now, in company with other nations, England is entered upon the distressed state into which those of uncertain ago embark when their age becomes certain.