Coronado Eagle and Journal, Volume XI, Number 37, 20 January 1923 — Bombs and Bubbles [ARTICLE]

Bombs and Bubbles

By AUSTIN ADAUS

“Yorick” died poor. Of course! knew so much. And said it. By far ihe most brilliant intellect San Diegt ever welcomed —and so just naturally allowed to wear itself out in poverty. The brave old champion of truth was suffered to work himself to death. Well, what could you expect 9 What did he give San Diego? Why, nothing but—ideas! The one thing for which San Diego has no use. Did he boom the price of real estate? No. Did he boost bubsiness? No. Did he play politics or the society game? or use his marvellous mind in order to “get his?” No. For a dozen years he did absolutely nothing but pour forth a daily torrent of tremendous thoughts. Forget him! “Moby Dick.” Ever hear of him? No ? Well, that’s not to be wondered at. You see, “he” is a book. A book written by an American, •, Herman Melville. When? Recently? Well, hardly. It was written only seventyfive years ago!—and is just now being brought out in gorgeous editions and being read and talked about by everybody. Why ? Because critics in Europe have kindly called our attention to the fact that “Moby Dick” is “one of the world’s greatest classics,” a classic comparable to the great Greek tragedies and “Don Quixote” and Dante and “Hamlet!” Poor Melville lived, unnoticed, for forty years after writing this classic tale —grinding away his splendid genius in a beggarly clerkship in the New York custom-house. The same old story! Edgar Allan ,Poe, Walt Whitman, Ambrose Bierce—America’s few men of genius—all lived and died in poverty, and would never have “come into their own” had not Europe discovered them and shamed us into “recognizing” them—at last I’m surprised that the press agents didn’t tell us that Jackie Coogan got an advance check for $6,000,000, instead of only a paltry little $500,000! If 10,000,000 rubes will break their goose necks crowding in to see “them pitchers with a five-hundred-kid star” it’s a bet that ten times as many would “come through” for a thrilling chance to gaze at a five-million-dollar one. What a happy thought that was of Mr. Spreckels, to buy hundreds of tickets to the great symphony concert for the school kids. That’s the stuff, Mr. Spreckels! You can’t spend money to better purpose than in giving our youngsters just such opportunities to enjoy something finer than the awful “movies” and “jazz” records ground out on machines. Culture becomes the pose of “highbrows” only because the things that make for culture are usually within the reach of the rich alone. Give the people—especially young people—a chance to see and hear the best, and, believe me, sir, they’ll eat it up._ By- the way, where was “society” the other night, when our splendid new High School was dedicated? I feel tempted to publish a list of the “society leaders” and “socially important” persons who were NOT “among those present” on that tremendously leading and important civic occasion. You nriissed a rare opportunity, messieurs and mesdames, to prove that your “leadership” and “importance” is not limited to the field of bridge, and is based upon something rather more respect-com-pelling than mere money—or the distinction of being on intimate terms with those who have money. They do these things better up at Santa Babara. I lectured there for the Community Arts, last Tuesday, before “an awfully swell” audience of ladies and gentlemen who find time between bridge and golf, between recherche luncheons and swagger teas, to give their minds a chance to grow familiar with and appreciative of beauty—in music and painting ami literature and the drama- And

they pursue these aims not like a lot of snobs fooling with fads, but as a COMMUNITY, without distinction of wealth or social position. And what is the result? A city fast becoming adffiittedly the most beautiful one in Amferica; a city where ability of every sort is fostered and encouraged; a city so truly intent upon developing its cultural influences of every kind, that the Carnegie Fund has just made the .Community Arts Association an.annual grant of $25,000! Just think of it!—twenty-five thousand dollars a year given to a little city like Santa Barbara, to be used in helping everybody to a share in the joy of life. ■ ■ i rv And now show that Coronado really believes in beauty, by packing our dandy Community Theatre at the High School to-night, when the first play in this gem of a playhouse, “Little Women,” is to be produced by the students. You’ll see a charming play charmingly played, and your presence there will help to inaugurate the better day which some of us are hoping for . Coronado. (NOTE: If you really fear you would die if you didn’t dance every Saturday night, don’t worry. The play will be over in plenty of time for you to get to the hotel for enough “trotting” to more than save your life.)