Evening Star Newspaper, January 13, 1924, Page 66

r THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, T) LTI 4 EUUTTUHUOT T LT m M Who Was Cheated and Who Received the Square Deal in This Little Transac- tion Which Involved Love, Money, Leisure, Work and Domestic Affairs? Yy JANUARY 13, 1924—PART 5. H -] I Rita Weiman’s Story of Courtship and Marriage— “Let’s Gently Close the Book of Poems and Open the Ledger,” He Suggested LU T T T T T T H HEY had driven home from the country club, utter sllence Letwoen - them — that thick, hard silence which can sep- arate two who had never before been . a loss for word: The road jeaped ahead of them, speeding from their onrush Ilke some live thing eager to escape. The gleam of wet- rness on its smooth surface, reflect- ‘ng the green of overhanging Lranches, might have been the coat of a serpent. The eyes of the girl in the car had They were very cool—qulte different from the man's; his were burning. The car spun up the drive to a colonial house, dingy with futile age, 4 pulled up at the steps in an something of that wet greenness. abrupt halt. The man stepped down, helped the girl, without looking at lifted his cap. 10 held to the hand that would have dropped from hers -—“come In—just a moment. Please! T don’t want you to go from me with bitternes: - Ha cut words. “What 1 feel s of no consequence. You've proved that.” “There—you see! You are con- demning me. And T can't let you do that. Tom-—please! This is the last favor T'll ever ask of you." As if further discussion were too much for him. he followed her into 1 hall, into the library at one side, ere a coal fire burned under the Gulled marlle mantel. The girl unwound the gray veil that misted from her motor hat. She lift- d the hat, tossing It on a chair, and ran long, fine fingers through her burnished hair. There was such a mass of it that her head drooped, as if its welght were too heavy to caiTy. ler figure was so frall, so delicate in outlino, that her helght, quite ahove the average, was startling. Sho started to pull & spindle-legged armchalr toward the fireplace. The arm came off in her hand. She stuck it back into place with a jerk visfously resentful. “There. you have my answer!” came on the heels of a sharp laugh. “You think I'm hard and calculating, Tommy. But I'm merely honest. Other girls would make all sorts of excuses for what I'm doing. I'm tell- fng vou the truth.” » “I'd have seen through excuses, alyn. Two people—a man and a man-—couldn’t be as close as we've beon for so many years without knowing each other pretty thor- oughly. Why, T can't remember the time I baven't known you—loved you.” The last words wers barely spoken. Tn them was a kind of wonder. His raze centered on the unchanging firelight s if to question It ST know, Tommy. We—we became a habit with each other. You don't roally love me as much as you think. You—you're just used to me. “Suppose we don’t discuss the ex- tant or quality of my affection. The fact remains—you don't want 1t “That's not fair! And please— don't be so abrupt.” * ¥ X % E moved to the other side of the room, stood staring out the win, dow at the trees, bright with early autumn. “Look at that lawn, Tommy!” She followed him, glancing out. ‘Look at this room! Look at the condition of this whole house. We're a wreck of a family—bluffing our way on the strength of an old name. And tn debt! If you knew how deed we're in debt!” *I do know! That was my sole reason for letting our engagement drag along. I didn’t think I had the right to marry you until I could pull You out of this hola into a sense of seourity. My mistake conslsted in thinking you cared enough to walt. too. “I did care—I dol But, dear—I got =0 that I hated living. I'm sick of aristocratio rags, Tommy! I'm sick of making clothes do from year to year. i want to have a perfect debauch of extravagance, of buying things I was made for and never had. I want to revel In them. I can't explain. It's a reaction from years of self-dental, T zuess. But I've got to have them; that's all!" “In other.words, it's the fleshpots you want! We all want them at one time or another—in one form or an- other. Only some of us can't see a £ood bargain in selling ourselves for them."” “I sald you wouldn't understand!" Her voice was low, hurt. “Fm not selling myself. I'm not foollyg Sam about the way I feel toward him. Any other girl would. But he mnows 7 don’t Jove him and, frankly, I don't believe he loves me” She mnoted the wincing pain that shot across his face, making muscles quiver—then set hard. ¥No, T admit, I—don't understand. in fact—Ia rather not, Evelyn. I've mgde an ideal of you so long—like any other fool man who thinks he's found the one woman. Let's gently close the book of poems—and open the ledger.” “That's beastly of you! You're act- ing as If you were the only one to euffer through this break.” He laughed. He turned on her then. “All I wish you, Evelyn, is that you'll get what you want—and that wwhen you get it, it will be all you want.” She could not stir from the com- pelling quality of his gaze. They had planned so much to- gether. There had never been any proposal—Tom Hale had never actu- ally asked her to be his wife. It had been an accepted fact, almost sinoe the days when two reddish pig- falls had swung out behind her ap iier- short the soft-spoken » yand the other would. W W i they raced along the roads. Evelyn Grosvenor had not been beautiful then. Long and lanky would have described her—slightly freckled, with narrow gray eyes. But to the boy who loved her she had always been lovely. “I know e hurt you, Tom,"” she said at last; “I know I seem heart- less. But I couldn’t go through In my married life what I've gone through all these years as a girl. We'd both be terribly unhappy. And 1 don't want to be to blame for your unhappiness as well as my own."” o—of course not!" He gave a curt laugh. “You mean I'm respon- sible for it now. But this won't last, This is just your pride—-" He clipped short the sentence, his voice haggard as his eyes. “Pride, eh? Well, suppose we let it go at that. Marriage, I dare ray, 1s a question of economics, not ethics—to a woman. And you appear to be working out your problem sat- istactorily. So we'll let mine go by the board. A slight sob came into her voice. Her fine fingers interlaced nervously. “At least, the man I'm going to marry is more generous than you. I told him I'd cared for you ever since we were children. He knows that in giving you up I'm making a great sacrifice. We understand each other perfectly. He wants a wife who's decorative to lavish his money on—| and that's Just what I'm giving him. Tom, can't we go on being friends? What's to prevent {t2” For answer he looked down at the slender hand. He looked up at the greenish eyes with molsture touch- ing their lashes, with something that puggested vislons in thelr depths. He looked from the halo of gold down the entire ethereal length of her to the tips of her gray-slippered feet, that made no sound as she walked. Stuff of dreams—his dreams! And she was going to marry Sam Part- ridge! He picked up his cap—he had not taken off his topcoat—and went to the door. “Tom, please don't go like that!” “We have nothing more to say— the book is closed. Yes"—he paused in the doorway—*“there Iz one thing 1t might be well to remember—you can't build a new house out of wreckag * % % % IAM was as fat as his fortune and as fastidious as he was fat—that is to say, he was quite willing to pay for what he got, but demanded that it fulfill to the Mmit all require- ments. They had met that summer when he took one of the show places of the scction of Long Island which bad known the Crosby Grosvenors for generations. He had selected the particular neighborhood for the ex- act purpose he had achleved—the acquisition of a wife whose exquisite artistocratic lines would balance the fat ones of his bank roll. Evelyn Grosvenor left nothing to be desired. Therefore, he systemati- cally set about winning her. With- out the slightest pretense of senti- ment, he had allowed the silent elo- quence of wealth to speak for him. The werld began to whisper—to look questioningly at Tom. Only Tom did not question. More than once Evelyn wished he would—it might have paved the way for the break she knew was coming. And it had come. With no outward emotion from him, juft & hard, dry gasp in every word, he spoke as of something beaten to death and struggling to live. A stunned look, that hardening of muscles—and si- lence. ‘Watching him from the window now, her mwoist gaze followed the car as it catapulted down the drive. She could almost feel the grip of his hand on the wheel—that grasp which could be tender or hard as iron, forceful or sympathetic, but always understanding. She sighed. Better that she and Tom should part while love was still a dream! For his sake, as well as her own, she had chosen the wisest course. In a torrential wave, the vision of her life during the twenty-five years of it swept over her. As far back as she could remember there had been bickering behind aristocratic portals. Mother, hard-lipped and fine-lined, abuséd and explanatory; constantly at each other's throats, and always about money—scrimping and starving in & way that was noth- ing short of vulgar. Her father, too 1azy to move when he could escape it, had gone flabbily to sleep in a frayed armchair and Temained there. ‘The _ay following his death Peggy Craven, the girl who In lesser degree adored her as blindly, as unques- tioningly as did Tom Hale, had looked up into Evelyn's weeping eyes with her longing dark ones. “You've got Tom, Evvy, dear. He'll be llke some great stone wall be- tween you and trouble. Somehow, he makes you fesl that any one he cares for will never be alone “Tom’s desperately poor.” Evelyn had murmured. “But of course he won't always be.” “What exquisite optimism!® Bvelyn had observed with & sigh. “If you love him, how ean you help believing in him?" was Peggy's simple philosophy. “Poverty is a desperately sandy foundation for stone walls,” was the cryptic reply. “Well, the pyramids are bullt on sand, aren’t they?’ Bhe had been shocked at the de- fensive note in Peggy’s soft volce. She moved toward the dusty book- shelves. She scanned the seldom- touched volumes. Then the long white fingers drew forth ome and slowly turned its pages, TR * ‘Fleshpot, " she read, * vessel in which flesh Is cooked; plenty; high living. Any sensual In- dulgence.’ " And below: *“‘In the land of Fgypt * ¢ ¢ we sat by the fleshpots and * * * did eat bread to the full'—Ex, xvi. 3." She frowned in puzzlement and closed the book. * ok % THI-} organ chanted "0 TPerfect Love!" and the church was dim and scented. The air was welghted with just the amount of solemn sus- pense suited to the occasion, ready to be roused to animation at appearance of the ethereal bride. Outside on the wet avenue, push- ing close to the red and white awn- ing, surged the soTt of crowd that will stand hours in the rain for a glimpse of the woman whose trous- seau they have been reading about for weeks past. Policemen rigldly maintained the dignity of authority. It had all the fidelity of a big show magnificently staged. In a pew far pack in a dark corner of the church sat two dim figures. The expressions on both faces were identical—a blankness assumed, a jmask to cover thought. The man's eyes did not move from the altar. The giri’s did not move from him. “Man is an odd animal” he said more to himself than to her. “Won- laer why I've come: “Pride,” she .nswered softly. “You're a soldier, Tom. You wouldn't run away and hide.” “No; curiously, rather! I didn't belleve she'd go through with ft.” The girl reached over & small hand, touched his clenched one. “Tom—I wish I could do something. I—I've suffered, too. I think {t's beastly. No—it's wisdom, Peg. It's the thing she wants—and she's grabbing it. Dare say each one of us has something we'd about sell our souls for. Mine is success—now. What's yours?" “Not to be lonely,” was whispered. “Lonely?” He swung about, looked down at the plain little face, the sensitive 1ips that were not quite steady. “You think that's a poor sort of amblition, don’t you? You see” she added, “a girl like me géts her joy of living from reflected glory. I wasn't born to be popular or sought after or pictorial, ltke—like—" She halted. “Evelyn,” he supplied. aybe that's why I love beauty so —because I haven't it. When I see it —in any form—something just chokes me. And I'd give anything in the world for some one at that moment to share that vague something that hasn't any real name.” “Yes, it has—romance.” _ *Maybe that's it. Ive adored Evelyn so—because she was every- thing I couldn't be. Why, your hap- piness, your romance, If you like— was almost my own. That's why— this—is such a terrific, horrible blow.” %ok % THE tones of the organ swellea louder, a paean of glory. A dove- gray limousine slid close to the curb. From it stepped a white-sandaled foot. The crowd held its breath. Evelyn Grosvenors limpid eyes bare- ly glanced at it; then the lashes drooped. Her brother fairly lifted her across the wet space, up the steps, through the wide arched doorway. She dropped the cloak, loosely held, into the arms of her mald. Her mother ‘s pot or|ran {of mist, the ! a hand over the filmy folds of vell, then lghtly kissed Hvelyn's cheek and disappeared on the arm of an usher. The organ sent forth the trium- phant strains of the wedding march from “Lohengrin,” and Evelyn moved forward. Tulle shot with crystal, like a veil enveloped her. Her supple form floated in the midst of it like nothing tangible or earthly. A long sikh, a breath of disbelief, awept over those assembled. ‘ndine!” murmured one. “Great Scott,” exclaimed @ bosom friend of the bridegroom, “is she real?” ‘Well,” observed his companion, “every man to his fancy, but hanged if I'd want to marry a shadow Up the alsle on her brothers arm, with eyes downcast, Eveiyn glided, thrilling, conscious of the stir she was creating, of the stir she would always create now that she had come into her own! The twelve ushers separated, six on either side of the aisle. Evelyn passed between them. It had all been carefully rehearsed, and it went off as smooth as magic. “...to love and to cherish” sighed the clergyman's voice, Samuel repeated the words—then Evelyn. Back in the dimness of a rear pew, two faces turned from the altar. Thelr eyes met. And though neither one of them knew it, their hands were clasped. Sam Partridge took his bride to the Pacific coast, thence on a trip round the world. Rather, they tripped through the Orient, stopping long enough to buy embroideries and jades in Japan and China, and jewels in Indis. Both were eager to get to the fashionable resorts of Europe. At Alx, Evelyn took the town by storm while Sam took the waters. In Paris Evelyn tangoed to home tunes while Sam hobnobbed with home cronies. And, of course, an im- mense amount of time was consumed buying clothes. Evelyn landed in New York with twenty-five trunks, twelve jewel boxes and a look of all's well with the world. The fragile Mrs. Samuel Partridge promptly became the materfal with which soclety editors padded lean columns. Her life of luxury was complete—her cup of comfort brimmed over. She was absolutely content. Of Tom Hale she saw nothing. Her news of him came through Peggy Craven, who occasionally ac- cepted invitations to her parties, but who seemed to have drifted from her since her marriage. Peggy was just as full of admiration, but often Evelyn caught in her eyes a look of puzzled measurement, “You act sometimes, Peg,” she ob- served, “as if you thought I hadn't the right to be 80 happ: Peggy had just returned from a visit to Lake Placid, where she had gone for the winter sports. There was the glow of health back of her eyes, and more light In their look. The blood delicately tinted her skin with natural color. Somehow she didn't seem a8 plain as Evelyn had always known her to be. * % %% VELYN shifted the position of her head under the hands of the French mald and stared at Peg. She had dropped in to tea, staying on to watch Evelyn dress for a costume dinner dance. “Be honest, Peg! Don’t you resent my happiness—a little bit?" N i “You think I wanted you to be— unhappy?’ the swift question an- swered her, “Well, for Tom's sake—you thought I ought to be.” “Tom's the last person in the world to want anything for you but the greatest happiness.” Peg's wisttul eyes held a lightning flash of real resentment “Has Tom ever told you how he feels about me—now 7" Peggy met the urgent eyes agaln with that puzsled measurement. “Why should that interest you, Evvy? You cut him out of your reck- oning & year and a half ago.” “One never cuts old friends out of the reckoning. I'm as interested in him as I ever was—in a different way; that's all.” “Then you'll be glad to know tkat Maquire & Hastings have offered him a partnership. He was going to branch out for himself, and they dis- covered that he was too valuable to let go." “Splend!d!” remarked Evelyn—then casually: “Have you been seeing much of him?” Peggy shook her head. “Not much—nobody has. But he did take two weeks off to come up to Placld. We had some great skat- ing and skiing."” “How does he look?” asked Eve- 1yn. “Fine!” Peggy answered. “Hard work seems to agree with htm." Evelyn pushed away the faclle French fingers of her mald with & gesture of impatience. “Heavens! that yet?* “Madame—pardon!” the girl's hands dropped. “Get out my gown! wreath on, myself.” As the girl diszppeared, Evelyn let the filmy pelgnoir slide from her I'l put the AL g I was the sense that he had no right to succeed without her. For saveral months she struggled with the inclination to test him out. It never ocourred to her to test her- selt. Bhe was quite secure! It was curfosity that eventually prompted a note asking him to drop into lunch- eon the following Sunday. She want- ed a bit of a talk with him. Sam was away on business—quite by chance, of course—and they would be'alone. His reply was as brief as it was non-illuminating. His sincere re- grets, but he was golfing Sunday. She did not hesitate to give him an alter- native. Would he dine an evening next week? She was tired and a fire- side chat with an old friend would be #0 welcome. She would call him tomorrow to find out what night would suit him. It was couched in most casual, most impersonal terms. If he refused under these terms, it must be because ho was afraid of her, But his voice next day was firm and quiet as he asked if tomorrow night would suit her. She put on white for him—Tom had always loved her in white—and pearls around her white throat. She entered the drawing room, both hands swept out to him. He took one of them, shook {t heartily, dropped ft. “This is pleasant, Evelyn,” wers his first words, “seeing you so well and —er—comfy.” She led the way toward the double doors at the far end. “The library s cosier. try it They Shall we at before an intimate fire Haven't you finished |until dinner was announced. It was served In the breakfast room at an intimate Iittle table. In the atmos- Dhere was an aura of Intimacy. In all save Tom's attitude! There was about that a friendly Iimpersonality most disarmin Bhe congratulated him on his new white shoulders and stretched her |afliation with his old firm. arms outward. ‘How wonderful you look, Evvy!™ breater Peggy Craven. “More beau- tiful than ever, since you've taken on a little weight. “Taken on welght? mean?” ‘'Why, you're at least fifteen pounds heavier than when you came back from your honeymoon—and it's so ‘What do you ! becoming.” “Absurd! How can you Iimagine such a thing?" Evelyn studied the long lines of her lissome figure as the mald draped it in the delicate gauze and spangles. Pex was wrong, of course! And a 1ittle catty! She returned to Peggy with a scin- tillant smile—for the first time in their long assoclation, a smile of patronage. X ‘My dear, it's sweet of you to draw my attention to it. But I don’t think I shall have to dlet—just yet.” “Of course mnot,” observed PegEy, rising as if Evelyn had told her to go. “I sald you were ioveller than ever.” %% B!XJAHE’E Evelyn did not believe Peggy Craven, she forgot the lat- ter part of their conversation. The reference to Tom she did not choose to overlook, So Tom was falrly along on the road to success! A pity it had taken him so long to prove himself! She did not stop to consider the fact that, after all, Tom wasn’t much more than thirty. A resentment seized her each time the thought of him caught her con- sciousnet Somewhere deep down "It was rather sudden, wasn't 1t?" she Inquired. “No. I've been specializing in the bankruptcy end of the game for sev- eral years.” “You never mentioned it." *“Didn't I? It was a non-oommittal question “How did you find out now?" “Peggy told me” “Good old Peg!" he smiled. “Do you see much of her?” *T don’t see much of any one. I'm something of a slave, but I Ifke it™ “The law le your mistress?* she put suggestively. “The law s my master,” he cor- rected. “Must you go? “T'm an early riser. morning at §." It was exactly as yawned. 1 ride every if he had % % ¥ % THE fire had drifted down to om- bers. He stood looking Into it a moment, then at her, and his eyes held the personal touch she wanted to see in them. “Prosperity Evelyn,” agrees with you, he sald. “You've put on welght, and it gives you a look of reality that makes you a very stunning woman.” Evelyn's breath caught. Was he taking out his revenge in the in- sinuation that her ethereal beauty was going, that it belonged to the days which had belonged to him? “You'll come again?” “Of course' The friendly, matter-of-fact way he sald it as he shook her hand irritated her. The moment he had she and glanced up and down the length of her figure. A sudden, chilling wave of horror sized her. He was right! For six months Evelyn had tried to live according to strict regime. Walking instead of driving, a canter in the park every morning—not without eyes searching the bridle- path—dancing until she almost faint- ed from overexercise and under- nourishment; the things which had been forced upon her through neces- sity, she now forced upon herself. But only for a time! She began to make excuses to herself for side- stepping the thorny path. The truth must be faced! The Undine who had floated up the alsle in misty tulle had floated out of existence. ®one, rushed to the nearest mirror, “For heaven's sake, why don't you &0 light on the foodstuffs?” Sam pro- tested more than once. And more than once Evelyn turned to him, the dreams gone from her green eyes, and blase “If any one needs that advice, I should say take & look at Sam Partridge!” They weren't pretty, those scenes, and Evelyn hated them—so much so, that she began to hate the man whose name she bore. She went to Newport. She went abroad. BShe went to the coast and thence to the orient. Meanwhile her husband played round New York and the vicinity. At least, she assumed he was playing. Thelr correspondence Was not ex- tensive, On Evelyn's return from the orient, her husband met her at the Grand tral, and she noticed instantly a change in his sppearance. He was disheveled. He had the peculiar look of lack of concern that marks the ap- pearance of those whose minds are harassed. “What's wrong?™ she asked, as soon -as she had sunk into the cushions of her car. He sald nothing. “Sam,” she prompted, thi more anxiously, “for heave: what's happened?” “Better wait till we get home,” was all he permitted himself. He followed her from the car to the tiny elevator, then to her room. Her mald started to unpack her bags. “Bend her away,” he sald abruptly. When thé girl had gone, Evelyn time sake, | quick. to the Girl. tossed her hat and coat on a chalr, and dropped on the chaise-longue. “You might have let her get me | out of these things,” she maid petu- | lantly. * “Might as well learn to get out of | them alone,” was his answer. She looked up quickly. i “What do you mean?” “Just what 1 sald. Things have happened since you left—deuced un- comfortable things E strode the room's length and back without looking at her. | Because of the moment's tensity, he began with more or less of triviality. “I didn't write you—but I've sold” the cars—except the one that brought us up, and that will probably have to go scon. We're getting rid of this house, and the Newport one 0o, he added. ‘T've been waiting for you to get back to close the deal. Your signature is needed, and the new owners want to take pos. on of both the first of the year. “Sam!" She was on her breathless. “It's got to be done—sorry!—and | My cash is all tied up in Moore & Company—and Moors & Company have gone to the wal “Gone—to the wall?" she mumbled. “In other words—I'm broke.” She stood for a eecond without moving, staring down at the man who was her husband, hearing his voice as one that comes through a fog at sea. “It came overnight. They've been stringing along ever since 1 went with them—took me In becauss they were wabbly—and I didn't know it. T've been keeping them on their feet —we'd have kept golng, too, if it hadn’t been for Moore's boy. He got us into a tight place—and skipped. It's taken every penny I could lay hands on to stave off the police in- vestigation.” *Has {t—has it been in the papers?" “Yen' “How 1s 1t—T dldn't know a word?" “You were off in China, and I counted on your not seeing them. Didn't want the blow to strike until you got back.” “That was nice of you.” was thin and empty. She found herself seated again, gaze at last locking with his. Her husband! The man whose future she had promised to cherish as her own! Gropingly she brought a question from numb lips: “What do you propose to do?" “Try to pull something out of It and start again. I've made and lost more than one fortune in my life. A good gambler has to be prepared for that” “I—I'm not a good gambler.” was a terrified breath. “I know that. But now's the time you can learn to be. We'll have to clear out of town for a while. I might take over your old place on Long Island and have it renovated.” *“You want me to bear that humili- ation, too! Bankruptcy—disgrace—" Her voice broke sharply. teot, Her volce It L T T T L g PN “There will be no @isgrace, I told you. Hale's promised me that.” “Hale!! [IKE an electric flash, a zigzag of lightning, the name 'shocked | across her consciousness, “Hale?" she repeated. | “Yes. He's been appointed re- |ceiver. I know he can be depended upon to settle things the best way | possible for us. His friendship fo | you—r Her whole being suddenly galva | ized, charged with fury. “His friendship! Do you know what you did? You took me awa: | from his love—the love I've always had—made me sell myself to you! And now you've cheated me—robbed me of everything worth having:" His small eyes grew smaller, tho veins on his face a sharper blue. “Cheated you, eh? And you gava me a square deal, I supposs? Yoir married rhe for my money—I knew that. I wanted you—and I was will- ing to pay. But what did I buy? An exquisite aristocrat! And what have 1 today?™ Me indicated the pier class. She did not turn her head. Her volce was strangled. “I didn't know —vyou could be so—vulgar.” If I buy a thoroughbred,” he came back, “I dom't look for a truck horse. Our proposition wasn't differ- ent from that, any way you look at it. Lets face facts—well have to, from now on.* Her head with its gleaming erown went higher. “I might have gone through witih | this—like the thoroughbred you bought me for,” she returned with the voice of judgment. *But you've made that Impossible. I can't live with you any longer and keep my self-respect.” Samuel Partridge gave a fat lau as almost a chuckle. “I thought that was coming,” he sald. “But T wouldn't be too hasty, my dear. We'ro tled—for better, for worse—and this is our chance to prove the stuff we're mads of. You're excited now—upset! Better think it over.” He went to her desk, brought her 2 letter from the top of the pile that lay there. *“This was addressed to us both," h~ remarked irrelevantly. One by one, the words smiled up at her as if with curling lips: “Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Craven announce the marriage of thei daughter Margaret Ruth to Mr. Thomas Porter Hale on Thursday, November the twenty-third, Nineteen hundred and twenty-two, New York city.” And that—being life—is all. (Copyright, 1924.) It Many Crop Pests Fought by Government Experts (Continued from First Page.) {ties which have evaded the investi- gatlons of sclence so far as the promulgation of efclent control measures are concerned. ) URING the last summer, Dr. How- ard represented the United States Department of Az-iculture at the international congress of sgricul- ture at Parls, France. He served as one of the vice presidents of that fa- mous gathering and also was honor- ary president of the International conference of phyto-pathologists and economic entomologists which con- vened at Wageningen, Holland. He also attended an international meet- ing at Madrid devoted to the investi- gation and study of the olive fly. During these foreign travels, Dr. Howard consulted with eminent Eu- ropean speclalists and Mnvestigated the possibilities of importing large quantities of European parasites which will destroy certain plant pests that now prey on American agricul- ture. Uncle Sam is already performing highly effictent service in introducing insect parasites which' battle and destroy some of the worst pests in the United States. Dr. Howard be- lieves that one of the greatest poten- tial achievements of national en- tomological aclence will be to expand snd extend this work. This battle- of-the-bugs method of control is slow but sure. Where .immediate control relief is essential, sprays and other methods of extermination necessarily developed, while crop despollers that fesist these attacks may be ultimate- 1y conquered by the antagonistic parasite. Z In his journeyings to and fro through foreign lands, Dr. Howard has had many interesting and amus- ing experiences. The native residents of foreign countries are always great- 1y interested in the activities of the American “bug hunters.” In a cer- tain section of France, one time, the natives kept gathering around Dr. Howard and his assistant ab they scouted the flelds for parasites. Fi- nally one of the authorities of the neighboring village appeared and made & statement which immediately dispersed the crowd. He gaid that the American sclentists had discovered that every millionth bug they found Dbore a costly diamend in its head and that they were searching for this mil- lionth byg. The natives at once agreed that men ‘who would hunt for dia- mond mines in the heads of insects ‘were not worthy of their attention. One day, down in the heart of Mexi- co, Dr. Howard stopped for dinner with a “ranchero.” As they were eat- ing, & large bug alighted on the table cover. As the scientist grabbed at the busg, his host uttered warnings in & language conglomorate, embracing three different tongues. “Guardesz! Guardez! Zat animalito sting like ze dev.” The multiple language warn- ing came too late as Dr, Howard had already picked up the bug and become victim to its sting. On another occasion, the Governor of Oaxaca, Mexico, was very insistent about sending a troop of armed sol- diers—"rurals"—back into the coun- try as an escort for the American en- tomologist. Knowing that the coun- try was not dangerous, Dr. Howard protested, saying that he had no need for the services of the soldiers. “Well, at least,” replied the gov- ernor, “they can help you hunt bugs, can't they?" In the course of his entomological explorations, Dr. Howard once visited the city of Sebastobol, Crimea. As he was eating his dinner, a native, car- rying a huge book under his arm, asked for the American and was di- rected to the proper table. He gra- ciously greeted Dr. Howard, saying in German that he came from the mayor of the city to extend felicitations. “What {8 the object of your large book?” inquired the Washingtonfan. “It i3 an American dictionary,” re- sponded his visitor. I brought it along 80 that I could talk easily and fluently with you in your home language.” Assam Silk. CURIOUS sort of silk-producing caterplllar was not long ago in- troduced to the world. In Assam, ‘where the natives call it “erl," it has Dbeen used for silk spinning for cen- turies; but, strange to say, its employ- ment for the purpose has been re- stricted almost exclusively to that re. glon. The British government in India, however, has taken steps to ex- tend the utilization of this caterplllar, with a view to producing its silk on a large scale. One of its advantages is that its cocoons are not sealed, like those of the ordinary silkWworm. The larva leaves one end of its docoon clos: only with converg: loops of sili. This renders it unnscossary to Kilh| the insect whea its silk is used.