A DIVERSITY OF MEN

By FRANK BINQI,ETQN,

THE necessity which arose recently of interviewing a number of young people for several hours • left me with a vivid piCture of the striking contrasts in their mental resources. In particular I was interested in what influences formed their opinions. They illustrated, after all; a process that, taken in the aggregate, crystallises as " public opinion." None of -these people was over twenty years of age. They were drawn from every type of occupation and ranged from graduates of -provincial-- universities to labourers; and the inquiry was trying to elicit their views on the crisis.

" How do you make up your mind on something like the crisis ? " I asked a lad who worked in a shoe shop. " Do you read the papers ? "

" Yes, but the most important thing is that I find out what customers are thinking."

" Customers talk, then ? "

" They always talk, but especially at a time like the recent crisis and during the abdication."

`i Why do' you suppose that is ? "

" Well, they want to know what we're thinking."

Those stray bits of conversation with the head bowed low over the Tait on the fitting stool build up the customer- assistant relationship evanescent but important.

A girl who worked in a City bank followed. Politics in themselveS :did. not interest her, but the events of the last six-.Months had compelled her, reluctantly, to face the facts. She had no. solution to offer. War was unthinkably horrible. Pacifism, of which she felt the appeal deeply, seemed imprac- ticable and, in the end, illogical. She was...sensitive . and intelligent.

" And your real taste is what ? "

"- Sailing. 'Sailing on the east coast . . . "

I could see her with the wind in her hair, and I thought perhaps the Strident of human nature ought to concentrate on a limited objective rather than dissipate his energies. If one went sailing now . . . ? But she was being shown out and the chair she sat in was already occupied by a heavily- built, rather pompous youth with a strong jaw ; a labourer.

• " HoW do you make up your mind about something like the events of the fast few weeks ? " - . • " I turn_ things over and then I make it up myself "- . . . • - - • And it.was indeed a mind made up. No half-lights, doubts, hesitations. What we needed was an extended territorial army, conscription _and discipline. We . had a lot to learn froin the. ,thialinthan States.. The world's greatest Imenace was Communism.

" Do yqg ;gra Hitler ? • " I disapprove of Hitler."

" YOu don't agree with Mr. Bernard Shaw that he is the _greatest genius since Napoleon ? "

He folded his arms firmly.

I'm_ afraid my view of. that would be coloured by a personal prejudice against Mr. Bernard Shaw."

Exit eighteen-year-old labourer. He was followed by a modest-looking lad who worked with an analytical chemist. His hobby, he said, was philosophy. He thought that was in no way extraordinary. He had the resources of a secondary school education, and had been reading philosophy for about a year, quite on his own.

" Does it influence you much ? "

" I find it makes you calm."

You don't find the thought a little grey and remote " " I find there are always some interesting chapters and when you've managed those you can fit the others in." That's a good tip. Did you pick it -up from anyone ? " " Yes, from a chap called Joad. I don't know whether you've heard of him. He's not bad at philosophy."

Our feet were firmly planted on the ground—the good earth of Yorkshire—when the next youth, .another labourer, came in.

. -1" Have.-you. any particular attitude to politics ? " I don't bother."

`.` But during the trigs ? "

• :" I didn't boiMr."

" But there might have been a war."

' Well, we'd 'a' won it."

But you might have been called up." " th)iildn't :or bothered."

''" But you might have been killed."

• A slow smile.

" It wouldn't 'a bin any good botherin'then, would it ? " It was as much a philosophy of life as that of the last youth. In despair I racked my brains.

" Do you bother about anything ? Doesn't anything make you angry. ? " " Yes." He leaned forward, closed his Mighty fist and put it slowly and quietly on the table. :" Yes... If you .want to know. There is one thing that makes me real mad. And that is that ab can't. get a decent game o', rugby in London." He stopped and looked at me very menacingly.

,Ies wrong. that is."

We got him his game of rugby. In a world that .gets. daily mare difficult some things are still possible.