A Native Son told me once that he had been given the star-assignment of
newspaper history. Somebody offered a prize to the most beautiful
daughter of California. And his job was to travel all over the State to
inspect the candidates. He said it was a shame to take his pay and I
agreed that it was sheer burglary. All I've got to say is that if
anybody wants to offer a prize for the handsomest Native Son in
California, I'll give my services as judge. I will add that after nearly
two years of war-time Europe, in which I have had an opportunity to
study some of the best military material of England, France, Italy,
Portugal, Spain and Switzerland - the Native Son leads them all. I am
inclined to think he is the best physical specimen in the world.
But there is a great deal more to the Native Son than mere comeliness.
That long list of nationally-famous Californians proves this in one way,
the high average of his citizenship in another. Physically he is a big,
strong, high-geared, high-powered racing machine; and he has an
inexhaustible supply of energy for motive fluid and an extraordinary
degree of initiative and enterprise for driving forces. That initiative
and enterprise spring part from his inalienable pep, his vivid interest
in life; and part from that constructive looseness of the social
structure, which gives them both full play.
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