The Little Review, May 1915 (Vol. 2, No. 3)Various
General
The Little Review, May 1915 (Vol. 2, No. 3)
Various
Literature, Modern -- 20th century -- Periodicals
Mother Jones has broad organizational affiliations. The great massive
groups which go to make up the American Federation of Labor are with
her, generally speaking, and lend her moral support and financial aid.
Her own age and the splendid organization of her mentality are in
keeping with the corresponding qualities in the A. F. of L.
Emma Goldman stands alone as far as organizations are concerned, like so
many great artists in other fields, always an isolated figure of heroic
beauty, always the creator, lifting the world in spite of itself.
Miss Flynn is a part of the Industrial Workers of the World, that body
of roughneck rebels which carries such promising seeds in its
revolutionary young heart. Her youth and promise symbolize the
possibilities of the I. W. W.
But to return to the idea of the social artist. What splendid
compensations there must be in their work! To feel that they are part of
an historic movement for a new world of beauty and harmony, such as the
utopians have dreamed of through all history from Plato to Bellamy and
Howells, a work which accelerates its speed and power as it draws more
and more to its ranks the idealists of all countries and all classes. Is
it not better for them that they know they will probably not see its
completion, that it may take centuries? They will never be disillusioned
as long as they hold to the inner faith. “To travel hopefully is better
than to arrive”—and here surely is a journey, the end of which will not
be reached tomorrow. As to the ultimate outcome, why doubt it? The race
has millions of years ahead of it.
On the personal side each one of the three has her own unique charm.
Mother Jones is a mother indeed. Her attitude toward “her boys” is more
than motherly; it is grand-motherly. The sweetness and childishness of
age, however, a sort of a sunset glow of real warmth and virility
radiates from her. She enjoys the privileges of age, and they are many
to those who know how to accept them gracefully as she does. Miss Flynn
enjoys the privileges of youth, which she likewise accepts with a poise
and an ease all her own. Emma Goldman has neither the privileges of
youth nor those of age. She is at that point in her development when in
the nature of life she must meet the challenge of the outer world alone,
when “the soul is on the waters and must sink or swim of its own
strength.” And yet, no doubt because of this very fact, she craves
companionship with a passion that sometimes has a quality of blue flame.
Middle age has few privileges and many responsibilities. Life is fair,
however, to the normal individual. It pays in advance to youth and
afterward as well to age, but it demands service of those who are in
their prime.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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