THE WILE OF WORDS

To dissipate in some degree the "moral and social fog" occasioned by loose thinking, the "Forum" has announced a definition contest to clarify such toil-worn terms of elastic meaning as "Americanism", "progress", "tolerance", and "propaganda". Although it would be impossible to cage all the connotations of a word or to halt its manipulation by argumentative proponents of social doctrine. It may still be possible to establish the mainspring of its sense and to relate its varied uses there to.

Whether the possession of a more definite vocabulary will clear the "fog" of loose thinking is another matter. To a certain extent, loose thinkers are born not to be unmade. There are many people to whom intellectual curiosity concerning an implication they wish to believe, is a positive desecration. On the other hand, to those who are concerned with reaching convictions by conscious use of the syllogism, it will be very interesting to discover the whimsical tricks words can play in the mouths of other people.

Yet, despite the curiosity likely to be aroused, it is probable that the "Forum" will soon conclude that it, like the philosopher, is "looking in a dark cellar for a black cat which isn't there". The real success of the contest will rather be found in the mere fact of its existence. For, although Diogenes never found the honest man, he proved that one could earnestly seek him. Thus in throwing athwart the mists, the silhouette of a thinker, the "Forum" will, perhaps, have more success in broadcasting a thoughtful method of approach to argument, than in clarifying specific terms.