immediately succeeding the Washington riot in 1919, has shown
how the negro feels in regard to national affairs, what his own grievances are, as well as what are his hopes and his aspirations. The contemporary accounts of the battle of the Yser that have been collected from the press of England, France, Russia , Hol land , Switzerland, and Austria , in the opinion of the editor,
“ deserve to be presented for the edification of future genera tions.” 28
The reconstruction of the exploits of Paul Jones in English
seas during 1778– 1780 has been made from the contemporary accounts collected from English newspapers.29
These various reconstructions of the past and the present that have been made indicate the great opportunities afforded by the press for an insight unconsciously given into conditions seldom consciously described . The press itself is the best refutation of the conventional judgments passed on America , and presumably of those passed
on other countries. The advertisement everywhere rebukes the assertion that Americans are superficial, - it records to -day precisely the opposite tendency . A genuine desire to reach foun
dations is recognized by the advertiser who shows the construc tion of the automobile engine and illustrates the inmost foldings of the tire . Tools, implements, instruments with which work is done are portrayed as evidence that work is thoroughly done.
Laws are cited in advertisements showing that banks are per mitted to act as executors , administrators, guardians, and testamentary trustees. The statements made that in filling such
positions preference should be given the impersonal bank are supported by citations in advertisements from
court decisions
showing that estates have often been squandered through the mismanagement of the private executor. Recognition of a
desire " to know the law ” is given in the information frequently conveyed through the advertisement of the latest legislation on importantmatters. Extracts from debates in Congress are given in advertisements to satisfy a desire to know tendencies in legislation proposed. The advertisement repeatedly gives un 28 Leon van der Essen, The Invasion and the War in Belgium , p . 351. 29 Don C . Seitz , Paul Jones, 1917 .
