In this discussion of Americanism and Americanization the author holds that we cannot make American citizens of aliens by formal educational programs, that we must take into consideration the psychology of Americanization and treat Americanism as a thing of the spirit rather than of naturalization papers. Certain undesirable features in our alien population—such as foreign language newspapers, religious worship in a foreign tongue—should be treated by a process of elimination rather than coercion, while “all anarchistic agitators,” and unamerican labor agitators should be summarily dealt with. As one of the educational factors for Americanization a modified form of the open forum is recommended. Contents: The nation’s awakening; The nation’s task of unification; Eliminating the handicaps to Americanism; Constructive government and nation building; Providing conditions for Americanism—or the application of constructive government; The neighborhood and the nation; International sentiment and nationalism.
STILL, JOHN. Poems in captivity. *$2 Lane 821
20–5612
The author discovered the poet in himself during his three years of captivity in Turkey, “where each one of us was driven to seek inside himself some alleviation of the daily dullness, many of us there found things we had not suspected to exist.... I found these verses, all of which were written there, and their discovery made more happy many of the eleven hundred and seventy-nine days I spent as a prisoner of war.” (Foreword) The poems are in five groups: Prison verses; Woodcraft and forest lore; Tales from the Mahawansa; Various songs and sketches. The frontispiece is a facsimile of a part of the ms. which was concealed in a hollow walking-stick, and some explanatory notes are appended.
“Mr Still’s work is undeniably interesting, and his chosen vehicle seems to be the right one.”
+ Ath p1018 O 10 ’19 100w Boston Transcript p4 Ap 21 ’20 280w
“He writes fluently and the Ceylonese legends that he relates are interesting in themselves, but his medium hardly ever touches the authentic heights of poetry.”
+ − N Y Times 25:16 Je 27 ’20 100w
“The merit of Mr Still’s work is that it gives aptly and agreeably a full, warm picture of scenes picturesque and historic.”