John Bull

If there is an Anglophobe press in this country, there is also an Americophobe press in England, and in some respects they offer a striking parallel. John Bull, British weekly, formerly edited by Horatio Bottomley, is perhaps the best example of the Americophobe demagogophile paper.

It poses, of course, as the great friend of the People. Horatio Bottomley, its notorious editor, led many " patriotic " and " humanitarian " enterprises during the war, and finally went to prison for peculations of their funds. But John Bull goes on with all the devices of American yellow journalism and a few master touches of its own. The contents of its current number includes: " The World, the Flesh and the Devil" (tabloid editorials), "Who Shields the Wicked Woman," " Houses Exchanged for Girls," " Candid Communications " (open letters from John Bull to his friends and enemies), "Human Documents" (an enlarged and unexpurgated version of Beatrice Fairfax).

Excerpts:

P: " That prurient Hungarian scoundrel, Moritz Herman Foxter, who is managing director of the Oxford Pleating Company."

P: "That flatulent financier, Lord Haldon."

P: "Queenie Gerald [the 'wicked woman']. . . . She is not quite the same insolent and brazen harpy she was. . . . She not only revels in lust and vice, but in many other forms of misconduct."

P: The story of a real estate agent, Mr. J. Lowrison, of No. 7 Goldsmith Square, Stoke Newington, who wrote: " If you will help me in finding a young wife--I will help you in getting a house." Specifications for the young lady: " About 30, short, dark, domesticated."

Best of all, perhaps, are " Human Documents " -- letters (for which John Bull pays 10 shillings apiece) and answers by "Humanist."

Some of the troubles on which Humanist gives advice:

P: "I have been in holy orders for half a century. Soon after ordination I began to take an interest in the higher criticism and have imbibed its views to the extent that the Apostles' Creed no longer appeals to me and I recite it mechanically. . . ."

P: " My father was a rich woollen merchant, but owing to a certain youthful folly with a girl of fifteen I was sent abroad. He allowed me -L-400 a year and on his death that was increased to -L-600. . . ." (Humanist answered: " My opinion is that -L-600 a year is exactly -L-600 a year too much for you.")

P: " I have been engaged for over a year to a man whom I care for very much, and we are to be married this year. When I was only 19 a man came into my life. ..." (Humanist replied: " Some secrets are a person's very own and I think this is one of them.")

P: "My wife is a very cold and hard woman. . . . She bullies me before my friends. . . ." (Humanist asked: " Have you done anything to cause your wife to act like this?")

P: " For ten years I have been secretary to a woman with whom I have been and still am in love. It is not necessary to say any more about our association. . . ." ("I don't think I should worry," Humanist advised.)