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Ade, to mention but a few.
It is odd that all of the pasquinades about H. L. M. have come either from Eastern Shore backwoodsmen or from Baltimore nonentities. I have yet to see an article slandering him from a fellow-Marylander of accepted intelligence and esteem. But the people who praise him—what of them? In that respect, laudatory words about Mr. Mencken have been uttered by such nationally known literary people as James Branch Cabell, Carl VanDoren, Sinclair Lewis, the late James Gibbon Huneker, and Dr. Will Durant, who states in his latest book that "H. L. Mencken is the most influential and original of American critics." Thus I pay no heed to the abusive words of jackasses. Louis Kraus, Jr.
Baltimore, Dec. 22.
Instructing A Self-Styled "Damned Yankee"
To the Editor of The Evening Sun—Sir: Zounds, sir, does the cosmopolitan "Bar-cus" mean that .she has never heard of "one Mencken" before visiting the wilds of "one" Baltimore City? If not, she should be advised to attend a year more of school (assuming, of course, that she at one time attended some school) to be taught the fundamentals of modern literature.
The lady seems never to have heard of "one" G. B. Shaw, or "one" H. G. Wells, or "one" Eugene O'Neill. These men, in her estimation, are like Mr. Mencken, "critters." "Critters," I might add, is a word of sectional use only and so is hardly befitting a vocabulary so learned as "the Damned Yankee's." But to return to the discussion, I might inform the "Yank" that in the eyes of the world, these men are the leaders in their respective branches of literature. Further, Mencken not only is the foremost international essayist and editor of the American Mercury but he has even undertaken to defend a most sorry subject . . . that of justifying the reason for the "female of the species" in one of his numerous books called "In Defense of Women." It seems queer that a woman should attack the only real man of letters to stand so well on so unstable a platform! T. Arthur Cabweu,.
Baltimore, Dec. 22.
Dr. Willey "A Little Bit Out Of His Head," He Thinks
To the Editor of The Evening Sun—Sir:
I am glad Mr. E. M. Willey, Ph. D., calls himself an educator, because after this letter by Mr. Willey I don't think anyone would ever credit him with such a title.
If Mr. Willey would be more specific in his statements and say to just what section of the Eastern Shore he directs these fabulous remarks, some of us would greatly appreciate it. As far as the use of the English language and the Eastern Shore accent are concerned, I think Mr. Willey is just a little bit out of his head when he makes such remarks, as well as the rest of his statements about insanity and the lack of sanitary conditions existing on the Shore.
As for Mr. H. L. Mencken, most every one knows that he is a very brilliant man. But it looks like a shame for God to waste such a brain in a body like his with a soul that is as unscrupulous and polluted with (unsavory criticism of human life. I have read articles of other great critics; they strive to give the truth, the good as well as (the bad; but Mr. Mencken has never been known to say anything good about anyone.
If our great educators like Mr. Willey and Mr. Mencken would spend their time in bringing the Eastern and Western shores closer, wouldn't we have a better State to live in, so other States might read and enjoy the harmony that exists between the beautiful Eastern Shore, Baltimore and the rest of Maryland, so when we elect a Maryland man for President he can be proud of his own State? Baltimore, Dec. 17. Earle P. Harrison.
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