Evening Star Newspaper, August 25, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sundsy Morning Edition. _ WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY.......August 25, 1924 THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company ess Office. 11th St. and Penn: a Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St Chicago Ofice: Tower Baildis Eurepean Office: 16 Regent 8t.,London, England. The Evening Star. with the Sunday morning edition, is delivered by carriers within the city at 60 cents per month: daily only, 45 cents per month: Sunday ooly. 20 cents per menth. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car- Tiers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..15r., $8.40; 1 mo., 70¢ Daily enly . 1yr., $6.00; 1 mo., 50c Sunday only ..".. 15r, $2.40; 1 mo,, 20c All Other States. Daily and Sulday.1 yr., $10.00; 1 mo., 85¢ Daily only . $7.00; 1 mo., 60c S $3.00; 1 mo., 25¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press in exclusively entitled o the use for republication of all news dis- patches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news pub- lished herein. All rights of publication ef special dispatches herein are also reserved. . Texas Names a Woman. An extraordinary primary cam- paign has just ended in Texas with the nomination by the Democratie party of a woman by a majority of probably more than 100,000 votes. This was the second or run-off primary for the nomination, no candidate having in the first one secured a majority. The now suc- cessful candidate, Mrs. Miriam A Ferguson, is the wife of a former governor of the State who quit office under charges and was impeached, Tesigning before an ouster proceeding could be carried through. The im- peachment, however, stands as a bar to the holding of public office, and so Ferguson himself could not offer as candidate for this present nomination. This is the first case on record ‘where a wife has stood as proxy for a husband in a political contest. If Mrs. Ferguson should be elected in November, which, in a State with so pronounced a Democratic tendency as ‘Texas would seem to be probable, her husband will in all likelihood be the governor in fact, though not in title. She, indeed, has announced that she =<l rely upon him for guidance. He aud thus in effect stood in the name of his wife for nomination to an office from which he is barred by law. ‘The issue in this primary contest in Texas was the Ku Klux Kilan. Gov. Ferguson had been opposed by the Klan, and attributes his downfall to Klan influence. In the primary campaign the hooded organization was directly and specifically attacked by the Ferguson following and by some of the other candidates. Senti- ment for a woman standing for public office as a vindication of her husband undoubtedly played an im- portant part, and made the result of the second primary less of a test of Klan and anti-Klan strength perhaps than would have been the case had both of the contestants been men. ‘The Republican State convention in Texas denounced the Klan. The candidate of that party, therefore, is not in a position directly to benefit from any anti-Ferguson Klan feeling that might manifest itself at the polls in November by hostile votes. Yet there is no telling. So bitter was the fight led by Mrs. Ferguson, as her husband’'s proxy, that Klan votes may go to the Republican candidate. ‘The Democratic margin in Texas, however, is very heavy, and a deep defection would be necessary to defeat the Democratic nominee. The prospect is therefore that Texas will make the record of intrusting its administration to the first woman governor in American history. —_— Mars may be relied on to approach earth many times before disclosing enough to satisfy curiosity with reference to one of the most fascinat- ing topics of sclentific speculation. In the meantime humanity will have to proceed with the long, hard task of bringing its various racial and social elements to a more intelligent ac- quaintanceship, ————— ‘Though endowed with great genius for commercial organization, Henry Ford can scarcely be expected to bring up the Vermont maple sirup industry in a way that will make a dent in the plans for a world-wide monopoly of sugar. —————————— Before getting down to business end claiming individual public atten- tion, the candidates may as well wait until the varied and picturesque Summer contests are definitely decided. The Prince of Wales. ‘We are getting a good deal of news about the departure of the Prince of ‘Wales ' from England and his ep- proach to this country, and it is probable that we shall have elaborate descriptions of his neckties and socks and full accounts of what he eats for breakfast. There is always more or less interest among all varieties of citizens of the United States when it is known that a prince, king or queen is coming. The statement has been made officially that the prince is coming incognito, that is, that he is coming not as the Prince of Wales but under another name. This diglomatic fiction does not dupe some of our most prominent persons. Es- pecially those of us who “in soclety” are “next” to this crafty ruse. Many mothers with charming daughters see through it at a glance. The visitor may sign himself on the register of the City Hotel as Baron Renfrew, but he is the Prince of ‘Wales, heir apparent to a crown, just the same. A young lady who foxtrots ‘with Baron Renfrew will set it down in the family annals that she danced with the Prince of Wales. Many a mother who with her family looks down from a flat window as Baron Renfrew rides from the depot to the City Hotel on Main street, will tell that the Prince of Wales honored Miss Angelina with & glance. As the years pass the story will be improved to the point where it is said that there was a violent flirtation between Miss Angelina and the Prince of Wales, and but for the obnoxious and undemocratic regulations of Euro- @ pean nobility Miss Angelina would now be Queen of England, Empress of India, etc. The prince on going on board ship at Southampton outwitted a crowd waliting to do him homage. On this side he will not be able to outwit us. He must submit to enthusiastic dem- onstrations and receptions. One can gather from news reports that the prince likes to live as other human beings do, that tremendous attentions from sirangers are some- thing of a bore, and the indications are that this prince is a ‘regular feller.” We shall be glad to see him again and have him see us once more, and it is hoped that our enthusiastic Democrats, Republicans and Popu- lists, all the enemies of kings, hered- itary moparchies and the like, will not tear the clothes off His Royal Highness to keep scraps as souvenirs. One story comes that scores of per- sons on board ship were ‘‘shocked” when the prince went to the dinner table in a street suit of clothes. Some Americans will take the side of the prince in this matter. The prince owns a dress suit, and with the aid of his corps of valets could have put it on, but he thought his everyday clothes more comfortable. Many of us know how uncomfortable a dress suit is. All those who have hired one and gone to an annual “banquet” will testify that the appetite works better in everyday clothes than in a swal- lowtail coat and a stiff shirt. If the prince mixes with our people he will find that many of us do not eat dinner in a full dress suit. The President “Haying.” It is not unusual in campaign times to see photographs of candi- dates seated in a locomotive cab, standing at the controller of a trolley car or posing between the handles of a plow. The inference is that the can- didate is driving the locomotive, run- ning the street car or plowing land. ‘We are so used to seeing movie actors do things which no man could do and live that some persons feel that the candidate pictures may not be all that they are represented. At any rate, there are sensitive men who would rather not buy a ticket for a fast train drawn by a locomotive driven by a candidate, and some skeptical men would ask for a photograph of one of the furrows run by the candi- date between the plow handles and who would ask how much land he plowed from ‘“‘sun to sun.” Some per- sons are more or less suspicious that candidates spoof them in their speeches and their photographs. ‘We come now to the photographs of the President as a haymaker on the old home place in Vermont. Haymak- ing, even in such good agricultural States as Maryland and Virginia, is considered hard work, but getting hay from Vermont soil may be harder work. Of course, it may be that there is less hay to rake on a Vermont acre than on an acre of real good land. We have five pictures of the Preesident “haying.” Two of the pic- tures show him actually ‘“forking” hay, one shows him ‘“resting” in a hay wagon, one shows him ‘resting” on a hay fork and one shows him holding a pair of farm horses that would no doubt stand without hitch- ing or holding. But two working pic- tures and three resting pictures is a very good average for persons who ‘work and have their pictures taken. But we get circumstantial accounts that the President is actually “hay- ing” on the old home place, and that he is really doing farm work. Those of us who have tried to do farm work know that it is hard work. The President went to Vermont to rest, and the accounts indicate that he is having a good time resting and ‘re- cuperating.” One thought that comes is that the job of being President must be full of very hard work when a man turns from it to hay raking for a rest. It is believed that if it were better known that farm work is rest compared with White House work we should have fewer candidates for the presidency. ————————— ‘The “motor masher,” in his repre- hensible activities, calls attention to the genuine merit of the old-fashioned etiquette which prevented a lady from going driving with a man with- out having at least been formally introduced. —_———————————— If the Germans are as strong in military preparations as several French statesmen believe, the only question would seem to be whether the army in the Ruhr will go peace- ably or wait to be put out. —————e———————— The temperature average Wwill easily be preserved as far as the G. O. P. is concerned. It is quite as easy for Gen. Dawes to warm up as it is for President Coolidge to keep cool. ——————— A large number of speculators the world over would be perfectly willing to donate billions in paper marks if they would serve in the slightest to help the European financial situation. Overboard ! A great dirigible has just been com- pleted in Germany far delivery to the United States, and after a few trial trips it will soon be started for its flight over the Atlantic to this coun- try. Intense interest is manifested in Germany in this flight, and thousands of applications have been received by the officers of the Zeppelin plant. where it was fabricated, for passage to America on the airship. The per- sonnel for the flight overseas will be, however, strictly limited to 26 Ger- mans, officers and men, comprising the crew, and four officers of the American Army and Navy. It has been formally announced by the Zep- pelin officers that if any person is found on board after the ZR-3 starts westward he will be dropped over- board with a parachute. It is esti- mated that a stock of parachutes will be carried, so that if several. stow- aways are found all of them may be thus disposed of .by the force of grevity. No mention is made of any provision for the maintenance of these unfortunates, should there be any, in case they are dropped into the sea, or for their rescue. Perhaps the radio will announce their dropping, so that THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1924. they may be picked up by ships on the surface. But the prospect of being found in the sea, however well buoyed by life-preservers, is not a very bright one, and it is expected that this threat to lighten ship of all excess baggage will have the effect of keeping off all intruders. A dirigi- ble offers numerous hiding places for trespassers in the open spaces k- tween the balloonettes which make up the great gas bag. Slowaways have been found on other such aircraft. Presumably, a thorough search will be made of the ZR-3 before the moor- ing ropes are loosed, so that if any such have dared the possibility of be- ing dropped overboard in midocean they may be found and evicted. There is a grim reminder in this warning of the German ‘ruthlessness” that was 8o much in evidence a decade ago. Locatelli Rescued. There will be rejoicing over the rescue of Lieut. Locatelli, the Italian aviator, who, setting out from Ice- land with the American globe fiyers, lost contact with them and disap- peared before they reached Green- land. There was reason to believe that Locatelli had been forced to descend, and it was feared that he would not be found, as the sea is rough and cold, with much ice afloat. There were four men on the Italian plane, which carried a heavy store of fuel and other supplies., Evidently the long hop from Iceland was too much for it, while the two American planes were making their way safely to their chosen landing point. This rescue is additional assurance that long distance flying is not neces- sarily a deadly risk. Since this series of globe flights started several avi- ators have been forced down in isolated places, and all of them have been rescued. Martin crashed into a mountain in the Aleutian peninsula, and after several days made his way back to @ station where he was given succor. MacLaren, the British flyer, was forced to descend off the Japa- nese coast, and was later located and aided back to mainland. One of the three remaining American planes was forced down between the Ork- neys and Iceland, but the flyers were promptly picked up, though their plane was wrecked. In this last case the rescuers were close at hand. Locatelli and his comrades might have perished off the Greenland coast but for the presence of the American convoy fleet, which immediately put off and scoured the waters for him. ————— A judge or a juryman, unless cap- able of great mental concentration, may easily experience momentary doubt as to whether he is listening to a trial or a course of lectures on psycho-analysis. —_————— ‘There is no hope of getting back to the old days when parking a flivver downtown was a relief to the eye because it kept the thoroughfare trom looking so lonesome. ——————— Denunciation by all parties should enable the K. K. K. to go into the coming election with ebsolutely no prejudice in favor of any political organization. ———— A few foreign observers may have gotten an exaggerated idea of the indifference to money in this country from the liberality of the American tourist. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Telepathic Perspicacity. Though great events he never saw Nor heard the conversation ‘Where men are laying down the law ‘With sage discrimination. He's wondrous wise, you must agree; There is no chance to doubt it. By some mysterious method he Can tell you all about it. It's lucky to be born that way; ‘With talents for discerning Exactly what to think and say ‘Without the toil of learning. ‘While you and I must delve with care, He'll get a thought and shout it. He grabs the answer from the air And tells you all about it. Strictly Confidential. “I hear you are making special preparations to get out among the voters and assist in saving the coun- . “Between ourselves,” said Senator Sorghum, “the country’s safe, all right. I'm the one that feels the need of a helping hand.” “Such Is Life.” One man must give his effort strong And seldom seek a play day. Another somehow bluffs along And simply waits for pay day. Jud Tunkins says the scientific way of keepin® a secret is to use words six or seven syllables long. Value of Publicity. ‘You're the sheriff, ain’t you?” “I am,” answered Cactus Joe. “Then why don’t you arrest that bootlegger?” “He's no friend 0’ mine and I ain't goin’ to advertise his business.” Problems. In hope of erudition strong I scan with faithful eye A sentence half a column long About the Whence and Why. Oh, bring the Childhood Magazine, As “‘problems” round us rage. I long to plod, with mine serene, Along the puzzle page. Although its riddlesome displays In wisdom don’t abound, I'm sure, at,leagt, in several days Each answer will be found. . Doing Well Enough. “He brings you candy and bouquets and books and matinee tickets, yet you refuse to marry him. “Of course,” rejoined Miss Cayenne. “Why should I stop him?” ‘“De man dat keeps tellin’ me to think foh myself,” said Uncle Eben, “is allus interruptin’ me wit his tryin® ster think his way IN TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT " BY PAUL V. COLLINS The cable news tells that again the Boy Scouts of America have car- ried off most of the prizes in the world contest at Copenhagen, the second international jamboree. They get the prize cup oftdred by King Christian of Denmark. They lead the world In canoeing, obstacle rac- ing, base ball, hiking, running and first aid, winning 181 points against the British 172—thelr nearest com- petitors of the thirty nations repre- sented. When the news reached President Coolldge, in the midst of his vacation, he telegraphed congratulations to James E. West, chlef scout master of America. Kings and presidents honor them! Four years ago, at the first inter- national jamboree, which was held in London, similar American victorles were flashed across the Atlantic. No nation equals America in the quality of training and achievemsnt of our Boy Scouts of America. ‘What does this signitv? Ts it not enough to confirm in every American the national pride in cur coming generation of boys? We have heard 50 much about the alleged perverse- ness of the present geaeration of youth that it now upsets all preju- dices to discover that in all the world there are no boys so manly and so efficient as those who are receiving the training in body, mind and character which represents the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America. * k ok X Just after the first entry of Amer- ican soldiers into actual battle, in France, a veteran French soldler who had scen our men fight, cxclaimed in astonishment and admiration: “Oh, those Americans! They have what you call ‘cheek.’ They go right ahead! - They don't turn back! French, English, Belgians—they may be driven back by strong force, but the Americans! They have ‘cheek! They never—never stop! They go on —on! Comme Desmoulins! ‘L'audace! raudace! Toujours I'audace!” " Perhaps it is that same spirit in younger Americans—Boy Scouts—that sees only the objective ahead, and with absolute self-confidence never dreams of anything but advance. Vic- tory is always won first in the heart of the victor. Having already won the triumph in his own heart, it is comparatively easy to prove it upon the battlefield of friendly emulation. Audacity of courage and determi- nation has nothing to do with self- conceit, which underrates the diffi- culties and overestimates personal ability. It resembles the courage of the soldler who is fully conscious of the danger, yet pushes on. Gen. Tur- enne, the great French general of centuries ago, who had never lost a battle, discovered, at the verge of a conflict, that his knees were shaking, and thus addressed himself: “Thou tremblest, carcass? But if thou knewest whither 1 shall carry thee presently thou mightest weil tremble!” Then he plunged ahead of his army and achleved another victory, though not a greater than the one over self. Such _self-mastery is carrying the Boy Scouts of America away in ad- vance of the general mass of boys, and ahead ot all the world. * ¥ ¥ % Boy scouting! Never has there been a greater romance! It is too little comprehended by the public. Compare general interest of newspaper read- ers in the arrival of a half-savage prizefighter witlr their attention to the victory over all the world by 45 American Boy Scouts, in contest of alertness, efficlency, upstanding character, polse and training. Lieut. ~Gen. Baden-Powell has achieved high rank in the British army, but he will not be remembered for any of his battles half so long as for his discovery of how to mobilize boyhood and drill the boys of Eng- land, and then of other nations, 5o as to make effective forces for good citi- zenship_out of what might have run amuck between the goody-goody and the rowdy-rowdy of undisciplined, Driving Autos Off Street No Solution of Problem To the Editor of The Stai There are a large number of busi- ness men in Washington, relying upon automobile transportation to meet business needs, who will be greatly relieved to know that the parking problem has at last been solved. It is a question which has invited the attention and comment of the public, the press and police for several years, not In Washington alone, but throughout the country. Ten years ago every one agreed that the automobile was useless in the business sections of large cities be- cause it had become impossible to find parking space within walking distance of any desired point. But the number of automobiles upon our streets has rapidly increased each year as prosperity has smiled upon us. In no small degree this Increased prosperity is due to the automobile itself. Therefore our highway engi- neers have risen to the occasion and millions have been spent upon the surfacing of streets and roadways, making them suitable for motor traf- fic. I am confident that many hun- dred miles of rough surfaced streets in Washington have been smoothed out to meet the demands of motor trafic during the past 10 years, but not a single mile has been added to the parking space, nor a single dol- lar spent toward the intelligent or helpful solution of this important problem. * x k% Every one knows that the parking privilege is abused. Likewise almost every car owner at times violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the parking regulations. To prohibit this would require a police force equal to the number of motorists, which is beyond the possibility of congressional authority. It has been suggested that out of a possible 8,000 cars parked in the business ses tion, 60 of them can be “pinche daily. Possibly 10 of the number “pinched” will be willful violators of the regulations, but the other 50, estimating conservatively, will be penalized for having duties to per- form which require mare time than the parking limits permit. The auto- mobile has become a necessity. It has built highways from coast to coast. It has shortened distances and lightened burdens wherever it has gone. Inventivé genius of a century has offered no parallel either of the marvelous growth of the industry or the various uses of the product. Drive the automobile from the streets and Washington will be, and that immediately, as antiquated as ancient Jericho. But the sages of the police force do not mean to exclude the automo- bile from the streets of Washington. They may still drive thraugh at 18 miles per hour, and admire our beau- tiful parks and stately buildings, so long as they do not stop at our curbs. To be exact, they do not propose to prohibit parking—only to collect $10 per hour for this privilege. This price is prohibitive, however, and in the end will accomplish the same re- sult. * X k% Can the business men of Washing- ton afford to have the automrobile driven from the downtown section of the city? It is true that business flourished in this l;o&nn of u',-lu bc:lty before the day of the automobil idle youth. Just as truly as that “a million men springing to arms over night” do not constitute an army, but a mob of confusion and destruction 20 Gen. Baden-Powell has shown the superfority of self-disciplined and trained Boy Scouts over “gangs” and unorganized boys with pent-up ener- gles but with no worthy objectives and no teamwork. * * x % A Fourteen years ago a Chicago pub- lisher, W. D. Boyce, desiring to find a certain raflroad station in London, hailed a boy: “My boy, please tell me how to g0 to Charing Cross Station. “I'll show you, sir.” Together they walked the short distance, and Mr. Boyce offered the usual tip, a shilling. “I cannot take pay, sir. This 18 my ‘good turn’ for today,” answered the boy, with a smart salute. “Your what? Your ‘good turn? Why, what do you mean? “I'm a Boy Scout, sir. salute. “We each do some ‘good turn’ daily. This is mine for today.” The traveler woke to his discovery of something astonishingly new. He postponed his departure in order that the scout could do him another ‘good turn,’ by conducting him to the scout headquarters. ~ When Mr. Boyce reached Chicago (1910) he called upon the Y. M. C. A. with the news of his wonderful find, and began at once the introduction of boy scouting in America. Another * Kk ok ok According to Scout laws—not preachments, but laws which every Scout swears to obey, and for which he is penalized or dropped if he falls to honor—these are the principles of scouthood: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal to whom loyalty is due, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient to all con- stituted authorities, including, of course, his own parents, cheerful (“he smiles whenever he can, and never shirks or grumbles”), {s thrifty, s brave, is clean in body and mind, is reverent—and respects the convie- tlons of others in matters of custom and religion. There is no distinction of religions. Scouts may be Christians or Jews, Protestants or Catholics. The order is not military nor sectarian, vet it has all the merit of military discipline and of ideal true religion. “Be prepared!” That is the motto of the Scouts. Hence the Scout is always training, always learning how to act in case of emergencies. He knows woodcraft, and can make a fire without matches, like an Indian. He knows how to put out a fire in the forest, how to do teamwork to stop a panic or a runaway horse, how to co-operate with the police to con- trol a crowded street, how to swim to a drowning person, and to re- suscitate the victim after bringing him to shore, how to twist a tournequet to stop a bleeding artery. He knows the stones, the trees, birds, insects and some one or more of the arts or trades. That is scouteraft. * k¥ x There are now 617,508 such Scouts in the United States. Besides the boys, there are 141,085 grown-up men who have the privilege of being volunteer officers, as scoutmasters, and share with the boys the fun and responsibility of developing the great- est movement in_ American society. Nothing is more effective in breaking down class distinctions and inculcat- ing the sport spirit that makes every one “play the game” and be square. The boys can parade, but they prize most their dally “good turns,” rather than playing soldier, for they are not military. In the last annual report, the 14th, the chief Scout executive, James E. West, says: “Character development is the real objective of (:}g Boy Scout movement. Every step irf the scouting program is but a means to this end. * * * The character development manifests itself in health, efficiency, chivalry, loyalty, patriotism and good cltizen- ship. (Copyright, 1924, by Paul V. Collins.) Defense Day Lesson From U. S. History To the Editor of The Star: A hundred and ten years ago, Au- gust 24, 1814, this city of Washington was captured by the British troops and parts of the Capitol and the White House destroyed. Those pacifists who will read back in the history of that day will dis- cover that the humiliating catas- trophe was due to “lack of prepara- tlon” for the military defense of the Nation's Capital. A congressional investigation was held to reveal why the proper meas- ures of a military character had not been used and which might easily have saved the city from the Invaders. The report of the committee reveals a story of confusion, incompetency and indifference to war preparations that has ever since stood for the shame of those then In authority. It revealed also that on the 12th of September of that year, the one hun- dred and tenth vear and date ahead of the Defense Test day set for this year, the British troops drove the Americans into the defenses of Balti- more—also because of lack of prepa- ration for successfully meeting enemy attacks. SAM W. SMALL. —_— the trolley brought thousands of cus- tomers to the business section. It is also true that business survived the period before the telephone became a household necessity. But we live In an age of progress. No one wants to eliminate the telephone, and I do not believe the business interests of Washington will ever permit the in- efficlency of the metropolitan police to block the progress of motor trags- portation. - Why should the police be given the right to deny any car owner, whether he be from Rosslyn, Va.; Bangor, Me., or Pasadena, Calif.,, the privilege of parking for one, two or ten hours ad- jacent to the business sections ‘of Washington? When parking facil- ities are provided at other convenient locations, then and then oply does the intent and purpose of law give them authority to limit parking on Penn- sylvania avenue to one héur. Real estate operators in and around ‘Washington have sold homes to thou- sands of people who depend upon their, “filvvers” for transportation. ‘Whether they be employed by the Federal Government or private Inter- ests, the obligation is the same. They earn all and spend the most of their compensation in the District. Mr. Business Man is taxing his ingenuity to devise new ways and means to draw them and to bind them to the District, while Mr. Policeman is “do- ing his darndest” to drive them away. An irresistible force has met an im- movable body. What is the anawer? * k% X It seems that the much heralded “common sense” in government could easily conceive the idea of providing increased facilities to meet the de. mands of progress in one of the fore- most industries of the age. In only one way can the public be served and that is by providing ade. quate parking fadilities suitably lo- @ated. The widening of streets can never meet the demand. That will increase by only about § per cent the present parking spaces, but will fur- ther jeopardize the safety of the pub- lic by 100 per tent. To study park- ing conditions in nearby cities will help but little, if any. It is our own problem an ‘flvhy‘flnm ‘Washington THIS AND THAT BY C. E. TRACEWELL. Montrose in the best-bred park in Washington. By that I mean that it is a gentleman's park, a gentlewom- an’s park. It is old Georgetown's pride. Over In Montrose Patk you will find no rowdy children, no objection- able characters, but plenty of whole- some boys and girls, playing tennis and enjoying life generally, with a fair sprinkling of their elders. One of the charms of this place is that it is never overcrowded. Why this is so it is difficult to say, unless it e that Georgetown, {n the vicinity of R street, is not so thickly popu- lated g8 some other sections of Wash- ington. I am sure that if Montrose Park were suddenly picked up and put down in Mount Pleasant or Columbla Helghts, the park police would be forced to put up “Standing Room Only” signs every day. * k¥ % As it {s, and where it is, Montrose Teminds one of a private estate, with its rolling hills, glant trees, tennis courts nestling among shrubs, beds of fragrant roses, fresh green grass. To enter it is to leave the city be- hind, whether one come in by the central, formal gate, or by the Lov- er's Lane doorway. This is a strik- ing transformation, one in which the National Capital abounds, however. In a minute one can ride from metro- DPolis to forest shade, almost stepping across a line from city to country, it seems, the whole process taking place in the heart of a city of 500,- Oog_'n‘euons. 3irls with bobbed-hair are playin, tennis. What clean hair lhe; hylvf. as it blows in the wind that comes up the hills from Rock Creek, nes- ting down there somewhere to north. Women's hair, it seems to ltr?:. has lost none of its charm by being bobbed, 80 long as a woman takes the trouble to get the sort of bob that looks well with her style of beauty. These girls playing tennis, in thelr tennis shoes and colored stockings, bring home to one, here neath forests as primeval as ever Longfellow praised, the futility of Freud—I al most write it Fraud—and his doc- trines. In their essence they may be right, but plastered across all crea- tion, as is the tendency of many’ of his followers, they are bunk. There is nothing “sexy” about these bright ceratures, playing here in harmless joy. The man was wrong who wrote about love being of man’s life a thing apart, but a woman's entire life. The reverse is nearer the truth. * k% x Sit beneath these far-spreading trees, glants when George Washing- ton was a boy. This was one of his favorite towns, and no doubt he walked here many a time. (George- town, it may be said in passing, was not named after Washington, but after two landholders both of whom were named George.) Now we sit here, looking out along graveled walks to that far hedge of trees hiding the slope to the creek. The sun flashes on the bright hair of the tennis player. Two men, reading a newspaper on a bench, some distance away, but still beneath the shade of this, our bough, are discussing the news of the day as set forth. “Them cartoons are drawn by a feller named Berryman.” says one. The voices of girls, like the chirp of birds, mingle with the hoarser cries of boys shouting over to the east on Montrose playground. Here the words sound as if trickled through gauze. This is good grass beneath these trees, friend. Shade has not spoiled it. Many a larger park would give a good deal to have thick grass around its trees, admittedly a hard place to make grass grow. Everything blooms in Montrose Park, it seems, from the squirrels with bushy tails to the roses that blow on green bushes. Near the central courts are masses of rose bushes, standing man-high. There goes a yellow dog chasing a white butterfly. Color, color, color! Everything toned down by the grass. Here is a tiny formal garden, set in a hedge, filled from brim to brim with pink, pink roses. Thelr petals are soft and pink, llke 3 baby’'s cheek. * ok k% Comes the sound of voices, calling— calling- Let us afoot, to see what we may see, for this is life in summer, when hearts are light and nature seems to be one with us in enjoyment. Past the shady little house, with its benches; past the beds of Columbia roses, plainly marked on a white stake; past the hedges where the but- terflies flirt with the bees. Here s the noisy playground at last, with its twenty children of all ages, playing the usual playground games. “Get out, lst me slide,” commands a girl, bustling to the top of a slide. “Why should I?" asks the red- headed boy at the foot. There is more tennis, sandwiched in with basket ball tossing, base ball, swinging, sliding. On the other side of that green hedge lies Oak Hill Cemetery. There are few places in Washington where life and death sit side by side as they do here. Through the green may be seen the tombs along the western side of this supremely beautiful ceme- tery, where lie the dead of many gen- erations. The sky leans down o'er living and the dead here, and neither state seems to understand the other. The groves were God's first tem- ples. Ere man learned To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave, And spread the roof above them—ere he framed The lofty vault, to gather and roll back The sound of anthems: in the darkling wood, Amidst the cool and solence, be knelt down And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication. It is something of this same feel- ing that makes Montrose Park what it is. Even the flappers cannot play tennis beneath these giant trees without feeling it. It is the ancient trees that give Montrose Park its tone. Even the small boys, plunging up the path from the creek, feel it. They are friendly, but not boisterous. “O mister, you ought to see it" little Jim. “It stuck its head up, just as quick, and snapped out its little tongue,” breathed Bill. “An’ I threw a rock at it, and when it started to run, I tell you it made me pale, I'll bet,” cried Sam. The boys had found a water snake In the creek, behind a rock, and had made it move on its way. It was a terrible serpent, with death in its fangs, a poisonius water snake such as is to be found only in Montrose Park, and there only with the aid of the imagination of boyhood. Obstructive Car Tracks. To the Editor of The Star: = Some action should be taken right now to remove the abominable con- dition of having four car tracks ob- structing trafic on two of our streets right in the center of the congested section of the city. Some one suggested about a year ago “that the Capital Traction Com- pany extend its line on 15th street on up 15th street to I street or to Vermont avenue, and then over con- necting with the 14th street line. ‘The Public Utilities Commission ;hcflu‘hlt that the mttg E ‘;uld be ol In abeyance un e needed repairing. < tracks on 15th street. ‘The Public Utilities should- be re- mission minded of and shoufd remove this o i 8 the oltys e ATy says ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN Q. Is there any medal awarded yearly for the greatest achievement among negrves?—L. T. A. The Spingarn medal is awarded | commemorate events. annvally to an Americar of African| descent for the highest achievement in some fleld of human endeavor. It ry probably developed during the cru- sades, the knights adopting devices for purpose of identification and to The Normans also began to use such devices about the same time, somttimes choosing animals or objects whose names were was won last year by Roland Hayes, | similar to their own. Soon the system a singer. He was formerly soloist with the Philadelphia, Boston and other symphony orchestras and is now on a concert tour of Europe. Q. What is the origin of the nur- sery rhyme ‘“The House that Jack Built™—A. M. B. A. The original of “The House that Jack Bullt” is presumed to be a Chaldean fable or hymn in Sepher Haggadah. It was first printed in ;;‘:1 Christian Reformer at Leipzig in Q. How much paper is made an- nually?—H. T. P. A. The world’s annual paper pro- duction is now about 8,000,000 tons. It is estimated that for every 10 years there is an Increase in demand of about 25 per cent. Q. Who said “Spare the rod and spoil the child?” A. This statement Is often errone- ously attributed to BSolomon, but is from “Hudibras” and is found in Part 11, Canto. verse 45. Solomon's saying was “He that spareth the rod hateth his son.”—Proverbs viii,24. Q. How close together can post offices along rallroads be established? —A. P. C. A. There is no ruling as to how close together post offices can be established on railroads. It depends on the population and the needs of the community. Q. Is the boll weevil attracted by artificial light>—R. 8. C. A. Experiments show that while many insects resembling the boll weevil are attracted to lights, this cotton pest cannot be captured by such means Q. How did coats-of-arms origi- nate?—W. R. A, A. Armorial bearings came into ex- istence probably about the middle of the twelfth century. The shields of the French knights in the first crusade were of plain polished metal. Herald- became so complicated that it became necessary to introduce some system and the science of heraldry was finally evolved. Q. What Is meant by saying that the 3d Division is a six-star divi- sion?—I. M. C. A. The War Department says that the 3d Division is entitled to six battle-clasps, or stars. Q. How far off is the visible ho- rizon at sea level?—C. E. A. The Naval Observatory says that if an observer stands on the sea- shore, his eye being five feet above the level of the water, the distance of the visible horizon is three miles. Q. What is the middle verse of the Bible?—W. S. B. A. The middle verse of the Bible is the 8th verse of the 118th Psalm and reads: “It is better to take refuge in Jehovah than to put confidence in man.” Q. Can a letter be recalled after it ;:L“ once been put in the mail?—E. C. A. The action to be taken in a case of this kind depends largely on cir- cumstances. After a letter is mailed the only way the writer can with- draw it is by written application to the postmaster at office of mailing and upon satisfactory identification. Q. I am a German who took out first papers before this country went to war. When can I complete nat- uralization?—C. N. 4 A It is now possible for Germans. to complete their naturalization. Q. What chemical is it that will burst into flame when water is pour- ed upon it>—C. J. C. A. The Bureau of Chemistry says that metallic potassium practically always bursts into flame when water is poured npon it. In some instances water will also have this effect on sodium. RUSSIA SINCE LENIN he truth about that country as it is today, in a series of uncensored !m'clu by maab:warc::lw spent months in Russia studying conditions. BY SEYMOUR B. CONGER. ARTICLE XX. Aside from the all-prevailing curi- osity as to the possible overthrow of the bolshevist regime, one of the most frequent questions asked by for- eigners about Russia is, “How is the country governed?” In this article on Russian conditions today I shall try to explain just how the country is run. It “governed” is taken in the sense of “ruled,” the answer is very simple, namely, by the seven-man executive of the Russian Communist party, known, for short, as the Politbureau (Political Bureau), with some slight assistance from the larger body from which the “big seven” are chosen, the Central Committee, now numbering 52, of the same party. Nominally the Politbureau, sitting in permanency, is responsible to the Central Commlittee, which meets only occasionally, but in practice the Polit- bureau is the tail that swings the committee dog and virtually supreme, exercising the executive and legisla- tive power and having its hand upon the administration of justice. It is true that if you ask a bol- shevist to explais the Russian system of government 18 probably will give vou a different 8nswer, going into all the constitutWnal intricacies of the federalistic Soviet system and discussing not this all-highest ruling body of the bolshevist party, but the various Sovlets, ministries and ex- ecutive committees constituting the nominal government of the Union of Socialized Soviet Republics and its component subdivisions. But this is bunk, and a frank bolshevist is apt to reply as I have done Politbureaw Wields Big Power. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the various “kommissari- under their respective “commis- sars” or ministers, the district Sovi- ets, etc., exists and functlons, but the volce of authority, the ruling and directing hand, is that of the Polit- bureau, sometimes working directly, or, for form's sake, through the Bol- shevist Central Committee. The Rus- sion papers are very frank about this. Daily you can read of orders given to the ministries and local authorities, not by the executive of the formal government, but by the authorities of the Russian Communist party. Who are this mighty bolshevist seven, or, since Trotsky is at present being given the cold shoulder by his fellow members of the Politbureau, perhaps “six” would be a more suit- able designation. As chosen by the recent Communist Congress on a cold slate prepared and put over by the ruling bolsheviet autocracy, they are using their bolshevist names, not those received by birth—Stalin, Zino- viev, Kamenev, Tomsky, Rykov, Buk- harin and Trotsky. Trotsky's name and position need little description, both because he is, now that Lenin is gone, the best known bolshevist abroad and because his influence upon the Politbureau is virtually nil, ow- ing to his quarrels with his col- leagues. He is the youngest of all in bolshevism, with few years' party service. Stalin is a Georgian from the Cau- casus, whose name was assumed to cover his complete absence of Russidn blood. He is regarded as the most energetic, dominant figure of the Po- litbureau, though the mantle of domi- nancy by Lenin has not and never will fall on his much narrower shoulders. Zinoviev, the St. Petersburg boss, was for years companion, secretary and personal follower of Lenin. He is the Peck's bad boy of bolshevism, with an uncontrollable tongue and a faculty for spilling the diplomatic beans, but, next to Trotsky, he is the most magnetic, convincing speaker among the leading party lights, and enjoys additional prestige from his long and close assoclation with Lenin. Tomsky the “Big Boss” Tomsky is the “big boss” in the bolshevist federation labor movement. Kamenev is the local party leader in" Moscow and brother-in-law to Trotsky, from whom he and his wife are bitterly estranged. He fancles himself as a financial genius, but his finances disagree with him. Bukharin, editor of the party organ, Pravda, and an Intellectual type, has just been promoted to the Politbu- reau to fill Lenin's place. Rykov is mentioned last in order of reputed influence in the Politbureau, although he was chosen as chief to sucoeed Lenin. His election, Instead of Stalin, Kamenov, or Binoviev, the big three of the seven, is usually at- tributed to the necesaity of having a man of real Russian blood to head Russian bolshevism. Purists say that even Rykov camnot quality in this re- spect, descending through h%s grand- father from one of the Finnish tribes centuries resident in Russia, but this element has been so long and thor. ::’{!hlly»uxllmflal“ in Russia that the cism is rather carping. The Septemvirafe of the Politbureau and their Committee, do not concern themselves with all details of government and administration, but they formulate and prescribe the general policies of the Soviet government, issue the di- rectives in all important questions, and, when they choose, descend to detall as well, issuing their orders to the ministries or to the local authori- ties direct. Except for Trotsky, who retains his title as kommissar, or minister of war, although the power over ministry and army was tra ferred to a committee while he was off on sick leave, none of the minis- ters is represented on the Politbureau. Kalinin, President of the Soviet Re- publics, and Rudzutak, minister of railways, are “candidates™ in train- ing for places on the Politbureau, but Tchitcherin and other prominent ministers are not among the larger Central Committee of 52, nor among the 35 “candidates” in training for places on that committee. No Legislation in Bolshevia. Another misconception about the Russfan governmental system should be dropped along with that of con sidering the “government” as really ruling. There is no such thing as “legislation” in our sense—rather is enactment by executive action, with the bolshevist party executive in the seat of power the prevailing system. In matters of administration, par- ticularly local administration, a wider degree of latitude is allowed, al- though the bolshevist party rulers keep their hands upon the machine, ready to interfere at any time, and, of course, prescribing the general policies. They must maintain their general authority, for under the sys- tem of election permitted for district executive councils, municipal tenant committees and some other local rep- resentative bodies Communists are in a small minority, although none but “proletarians” are allowed to vote. In the tenant or house committee elections in Moscow, although the bourgeois dwellers were this year made fneligible either to vote or sit on the committees; only 25 per cent of Communists were elected. In the ‘Volost or district provincial councils, with the same bar against the bour- geoisie or the more prosperous farm- ers, the proportion of Communists is also small. Holding a government job ranks first among the list of avocations of members of the Russian Communist party, and a good many of these have turned out unworthy or have to the temptations offered b: power. It must be said, however, that the bolshevist authoritles have made, and continue to make, determined ef- forts to clean up this condition, and have not hesitated to resort to stern punishment, erring on the side of mildness perhaps in cases of delin- quent members of the political police and the army, which form part of this department. Courts Firm with Communists. 1 have noticed repeated iInstances when officers of the Cheka and its military formations have gotten off very lightly for comparatively serious offenses, but in the big court cases in which Communists have been impli- cated—and these are reported about as frequently as corresponding big cases against private business men, the clergy and other non-Communist offenders—the courts have acted with as much vigor against delin- quent Communists as agalnst bour- geols offenders. This, too, though the bringing to justice of Communist offenders is hampered to a certain extent by the special privileges which they enjoy through their membership in the party. Standing orders of the min- istry of justice, for instance, do not permit arrest of Communists without a special report to the local party authorities and to the ministry of Justice direct. They are also entitled to release on bail, immediate exami- nation and other privileges which the arrested non-Communist sighs vainly for, it indeed he does not suffer de- portation, jail sentence or even death by summary police procedure in- trusted to the dreaded Cheka or spend long months in prison without even charges being preferred against him. Zinovev, in a recent speech, at- tempted to disprove the charge cur- rent quite as freely among bolshev- ists as among outsiders that the bolshevist party, the Russian govern- ment and the control of the Commun- ist Internationale were absolutely in the hands of a small clique of about 140 individuals of the pre-war old guard of bolshevism. His chief argument was that the enla’gement of the party and the . grant of the vote for the party con- gress to this year's recruits proved that the system was democratic and representative. But the same clique, neverthele emerged from the con- gress intact—no new blood whatever having been permitted to show under the stranglehold which they maintain on the party machinery. (Coppiaht, T934; by Ayadicsnd