Evening Star Newspaper, September 10, 1924, Page 6

WASHINGTON, D. C ‘WEDNESDAY .September 10, 1024 EEODOBE W. NOYES. . . .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office, 11th S nd usylvania Ave. New Yurk Office: 110 Kast 42ud St. Chicago Otfive: Tower Hullding. European Office: 16 Legent St.,Loadoa, 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 onlv. 20 cents per month. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- plione Main 5000. Collection is made by car- Tiers at the end of each month. land. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..1yr., $8.40; 1 mo., 70¢ Daily only . 1yr., $6.00} 1 mo., 60c Sunday only " 15r., $2.40; 1 mo., 20c All Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr., §10.00 ; 1 mo,, 85¢ Daily only . ¥ $7.00; 1 mo., 60c Sunday only ... Member of the Associated Press, The Assoclated Press is 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 of special dispatches herein are also reserved. Imprisonment for Life. Judge Caverly's decision that the vouthful Chicago murderers should be punished by life imprisonment and not by death gives the people of this country, with few exceptions, a shock that may have a serious reaction. His reasoning may to some extent soften the feeling that full justice has not been done, but that feeling will re- main nevertheless in sufficient force to evoke expressions inimical to the prestige of the courts as the agency for the enforcement of the law. In perhaps no previous e in all the records of crime in this country has there been so profound a public interest. The youth of the murderers, the helplessness of their tvictim, the abominable nature of the crime, the callousness the slayers manifested upon and after apprehension, the wealth of the families, the unusual opportunities these lads enjoyed for useful, successful development as members of saciety, all contributed to the nation-wide concern. The crime was, morcover, regarded as a symp- tom of a dangerous condition preva- lent among the younger members of American society. Judge Caverly rules that on ac- count of the youth of the slayers, and also because of the abnormality of their mental condition, they should not be given the death penaity. He recognizes that a plea of insanity was not made in their behalf, that it could not be entertained in the face of the plea of guilty. Of the two factors he gives the greater weight to youth. He notes the analyses of mental abnor- mality conducted by the defense, and indicates that similar analyses made of other persons accused of crime “‘would probably reveal similar or dif- ferent abnormalities.” In other words, crime is a manifestation of an ab- normal state. The law of the State of Illinois per- mits choice between death and life imprisonment in case of murder in the first degree. Judge Caverly holds that the lesser punishment suffices. If that sentence stands, and no pardon or parole is granted at some later time by a sympathetic governor or board, these young murderers will suffer a worse punishment than death. But there remains always the pos- sibility of a pardon. It was that pos- sibility that inspired the public hope that for the sake of other young peo- ple who are drifting into immorality and degeneracy this case be marked as a dreadful warning by the inflic- tion of the death penalty. Had there been any sign of remorse on the part of these lads, any token of repentance, any indication of a real- izing sense of the enormity of their crime, public feeling would not have been as harshly condemnatory as it has been and now remains. But their bearing has been one of hard-hearted indifference to the moral considera- tions. While they were on trial they were flippant. They enjoyed as mat- ter for their humor the learned dis- courses of the psychologists hired in their defense as these expensive ex- perts told of their mental and moral shortcomings and faults. Perhaps that was an evidence of abnormality. ‘To the people of normal minds it seemed to be rather a sign of utter degeneracy. If, as Judge Caverly says, life im- prisonment will be a severer form of retribution and expiation for these two youths, if the thought of their hopeless endurance of physical life ‘within unyielding prison walls, with no chance of pardon or parole—which the court now urges—remains con- stantly in the minds of the younger members of American society as a ‘warning of the horrible fate that may result from crime, then this choice of punishment may have been the wiser. In any case, Judge Caverly, however he has disappointed those who strongly hoped for the imposition of a death sentence -as a warning de- terrent to safeguard against the spread of degenerate crimes, has acted in conscientious discharge of a burden- some duty, unswerved by sentiment and unaffected by evidences of hostile feeling. The prayer of the parents of America is that this crime, which has brought the deepest sorrow to so many, may serve its useful purpose as a hideous object lesson to spare the younger people of the country from sin. . A parking problem is the penalty ® comparatively small city pays for emerging into the metropolitan class. —_————— September Optimism. Chairman Shaver of the Democratic national committee is playing true to the role of leading party optimist. A national chairman is compelled by the nature of his job to be an ardent be- liever in victory, at least for publica- tion. He qualified. early in this re spect, and with one exception he has held steadfastly to the character of cheer leader. That exception was ‘when the other day he expressed the belief that Senator La Follette would get at least 70 electoral votes, & num- ber large enough, according to all practical calculations, to throw the election into Congress. To be sure, Mr. Shaver quickly corrected this mate and accredited La Folletts with only 35 electoral votes, while con- fidently claiming the election for Davis by a large margin. Just now the optimism of Mr. Shaver manifests itself in an analysis of the Maine vote for governor, cast on Monday. The chairman (insists that the figures show that as Maine goes, 8o goes the Union, after all. The reckoning is simple. The election in Maine was, from a Democratic stand- point, & victory. Pattangall, flying the Democratic colors, was defeated by 30,000 votes less than in 1920, the last presidential year, and this in the face of the fact that the vote In Maine was approximately 40,000 larger than in that year. Says Mr. Shaver: “A change in the two parties’ votes of anything like similar percentages in the country would mean a clean Democratic sweep.” In other words, Maine's Monday voting, which carried through every Republican candidate, means a “sweeping Democratic victory in No- vember.” That is to say, if there is a similar falling off in the relative Re- publican strength elsewhere. Thar f” is important. The Democratic hope of carrying Maine was based al- most wholly upon the supposedly deep Republican factional schism over the Klan question. It was not based upon any national issue, any eco- nomic question. There is no other State in which a similar condition pre- vails. There are faction troubles in New Jersey and in Massachusetts, possibly, and perhaps in Indiana. But not in the same terms that prevailed in Maine. It is truly a bright spirit that can see a Democratic victory in the Maine result. Chairman Shaver is gallantly putting forth his best. ——— Defense Day. Defense day in Washington will be observed on Friday with a large show- ing of the citizen soldiery, the regular forces and the reserves of unorganized citizens who will show their willing- ness to serve in case of national need. It will be an impressive display of the defensive strength of the Nation at the Capital. In other cities will be similar demonstrations, all of a peace- making character, not war-making. The purpose of this display of the potential defensive forces of the United States is to bring to the minds | of the people the fact that in a coun- try such as this, with no large stand- ing Army, no elaborate system of armed forces, it is necessary to rely upon the citizenship for the emergen- cies of defense. It will not be in the minds of those who march that they are likely to be called. They will step forth with the thought that peace is the probable portion of the United States, and that safety from war lies in a readiness on the part of the peo- ple to serve whenever the need arises. Objection has been raised against Defense day on the score that it is calculated to alarm other nations with the militant spirit of this country. Nothing is less likely. The purposes of the United States @’ a peaceful nation are well understood abroad. The policies of this Government are known. It is universally recognized in other lands that the definite and fixed attitude of the United States is to avoid entanglements and aggres- sion. A display of the potential de- fensive resources in manpower cannot be misunderstood, save by the unen- lightened, spurred on to that misun- derstanding by crafty persons who for their own purposes seek to represent the United States a@s a belligerent power, aiming at world dominion. The experiences of 1917, when it be- came necessary to enroll the citizens of the United States for service, taught one supreme lesson—that there should be a clearer understanding on the part of the people of this country of their duty. Only through e univer- sal service act were the forces neces- sary for American participation in the great war assembled. Dependence upon spontaneous tendering of serv- ices would have left the country in a lamentable condition of unreadiness and ineffectiveness. The victory of 1918, in which the American forces played so important a part, would have been impossible. It was said then, as it is said now, that if a foreign foe should attack this country upon its own territory there ‘would be no lack of defensive forces. That question may be answered by Friday's demonstration. If there is indifference, the showing of readiness and willingness to serve in such an emergency will be small. If there is true loyalty it will be impressively large. —————————————— The sky gazers have been disap- pointed in Mars, but they have abun- dant reward in the performance given in our own atmosphere by the world fiyers. German affairs are constantly in danger of undue agitation, owing to suddent impressions that it is time to do something original and startling. The American around-the - world flight has its value as a suggestive thought for Defense day exercises. ' Facilities for Play. In her annual report to the Com- missioners the supervisor of the Mu- nicipal Playground Department recom- mends that playground space for chil- dren be provided in every park in the city, And she specifically recommends that & section of Judiciary Square be made into a children’s playground. The supervisor says that playgrounds should be lighted, that they may be used after dark, and she believes that there should be more swimming facili- ties, with outdoor pools for children’s use in Summer and indoor tanks for swimming and bathing in Winter. These are recommendations in line with public needs. In many of the larger parks it would be practicable to set aside playground space. It would be in agreement with the idea that a park should be a place of free public recreation for the health and happiness of the people. In parts of Potomac and Rock Creek Parks the public playground works ‘well. The tennis courts, golf links, base. ball grounds and the bathing beach have come into remarkable popularity, and their patronage is increasing. Some of the larger reservations in built-up of the city wouwld afford spece. for playgrounds for children, and should not detract much from them as ornamental features of the city. As the public authorities are educated to the point of providing adequate play- grounds the play spaces in the older parks might be restored to walks, lawns and flower beds, but the main thing is to make a park as useful as possible yet keeping it in line with traditional park purposes. The use of public playgrounds after sunset is indicated. Children do not now go to bed when the birds go to roost. They play in the streets after dark and many casualties have re- sulted. The need for more bathing and swimming places is urged by the city officers and by the public in gen- eral, but beyond extending the facili- ties at the Tidal Basin beach much progress has not been made along this line. But with the proper urge it will come in time. The World Flyers. It is appropriate that the world flyers should remain in Washington over Defense day and form a feature of the demonstration on that occasion here at the Capital. They have just completed all Dbut the continental crossing of a globe-encircling flight, carrying the American flag around the world. In the course of 10 days, ap- proximately, they will have picked up the line of their outward flight on the Pacific coast. They have been delayed elsewhere by weather conditions and by mechanical factors. Here they are delayed for a patriotic purpose. Time is not a particular factor in their flight. They are not flying strictly ac- cording to schedule. The purpose is to girdle the globe in the air, and this they will accomplish. Their presence here will be significant. Washington welcomed them yesterday, but few people saw them as they made their way through the mist and the rain from the north and landed at Bolling Field. They were required by the un- toward conditions to omit the wide- spread flight over the city that was originally planned for them. On Fri- day they will take the air as part of the showing of American readiness to serve when need arises. Then a few hours later they will start westward, crossing the continent in about a week, to complete the circle that is their objective in obedience to orders given to them months ago to fly around the world. As soldiers they obeyed, eager to face the hardships and the perils of that extraordinary flight. As soldiers they have gone through every peril. As soldiers they will take part in the Defense day pro- gram at the Capital. ————————— Announcement is made that the sul- tan’s palace at Constantinople may be converted into a theater. Ex-wives may be found lining up at the old home for positions as showgirls. —_——————— — The large vote in the prophetic State of Maine conveys a strong hint to the effect that the presidential elec- tion is not likely to be conspicuous for apathy. ———————— By way of showing his great re- spect for the court, Leopold was will- ing to leave it to Judge Caverly to settle a bet. e —— Nothing is being left undone by the League of Nations to make its pro- ceedings so interesting that every country will feel almost irresistibly impelled to join in the exercises. ———— Almost every campaign speech is in some degree a reminder to Con- gress of unfinished business. ——————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSO. Jules Verne. To old Jules Verne we used to turn ‘With mild exhilaration. In every book we thought he took The truth on a vacation. Around the world with him we whirled In 80 days! How rapid! An airship now, that slow, we'd vow Left conversation vapid. Beneath the sea we rode with glee In fancy, with our hero. Munchausen’s fibs were trivial squibs ‘Whose stock went down to zero. All prophets find the current mind Derisive or neglectful; Now dear old Jules is taught in schools By pedagogues respectful. Campaign of Education. “Is this a campaign of education you're engaged in?"” “It is, after a fashion,” replied Sena- tor Sorghum. “My audiences seem ex- tensively informed, but I must admit that personally I am learning a few things.” Feminine Triumphs, The girl who leads the college crowd ‘We follow with admiring eyes, And yet she seldom seems as proud As one who wins a beauty prize. Jud Tunkins says if the cheers of the populace were to be taken in all seriousness there mightn’t be anybody elected to anything except base ball players. Neighborly Curiosity. ‘We do not know if there are folks On Mars up there; Or, if there are, what griefs or ‘jokes May be their share. Yet wherefore pause in solemn doubt And skies explore? ‘We do not know the same about ‘The house next door. Touch of Variety. “How do you like the new parking regulations?” “They put a little variety into the answered Mr. rested for standing still as well as for speeding. Ennui. This radio stuff is growing tame As out through space it reaches. All jazz is pretty much the same; So are a lot of speeches. “Conscience is @ small. voice,” sald Uncle Eben, “dat ’casionally bas to run de risk of bein’ drowned by cabh, register,’ W i) THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM BY ERNEST GREENWOOD Secretary of the Conference on Street and Highway Safety ARTICLE NI When lives are threatened by a flood nothing is gained by discussing what caused the water to rise or the rate at which it is rising. Neverthe- less, If the United States is facing a crisis in the traffic problem, and if that crisis has been brought about by the rapid increase In the use of the motor vehicle, a few facts about the motor industry itself are necessary to a proper perspective. In 1899, which Is just twenty-five yefirs ago, there were manufactured in the United States 3,700 passenger cars, with a wholesale value of $4,- 750,000. In the year 1923 there were manufactured 3,634,237 passenger cars, with a retail value in excess of two billion dollars. The people of the United States are actually spending this amount each year for passenger cars. What is two billion dollars? It 1s 25% more than the American peo- ple spend annually on the education of their children. It is twice the value of all the horses in the United States. 1t is more than one-half of the total gold production of the world for ten years. It would buy all the farms, with their houses and buildings, in the States of Virginia and West Virginia, leaving over five hundred million sdollars for operat- ing expenses. It wpuld pay all the expenses of the District of Columbia for 60 years. * ¥ x % In addition to these passenger cars there were manufactured last .year 392,760 trucks, worth at least half a billion dollars. A manufacturing industry which can grow from noth- ing to an annual output worth two and one-half billion dollars, requiring 43,588 dealers to dispose of it, has had a fairly prosperous growth. The United States today has 88 per cent of all the motor vehicles in the world, and scraps over a million cars each year. The automobile industry has made one person in every seven, including men, women and children, a motor car ‘owner. The manufacturer tells us that he is going to make one per- son in every three or four an owner. He has discovered that the cars in the United States are owned by approxi- mately thirteen and one-half million persons and that this number is only one-third of the number of persons gainfully employed. In his mind every one of the remaining two-thirds is a prospect. When that time comes we can expect to see pedestrianism a misdemeanor and parking on a foot a violation of the traffic regulations. For the past 10 years the gain in motor car production each year over the preceding year has ranged all the way from 17 per cent to 43 per cent. The gain in 1923 over 1922 was 23 per cent, and if these gains continue we can expect over 5,000,000 new cars to be manufactured this year. The American market may not have reached the saturation point finan- ially, but how soon will our cities and even our rural highways reach the physical seturation point? If we build three or four million more cars a year than we scrap, now long will it be before the elasticity of our streets and highways reaches its limit? * * X % It is refreshing to note that this steady increase in buying of motor vehicles has not interfered with home building, life insurance or savings bank deposits. Comparative tables show that these latter have increased in approximately the same propor- tions as_the production of automo- biles. Curiously enough, the buyer of a_car gets more for his dollar than he does in clothes, shoes, food prod- ucts, buildings, furniture and a va- riety of other commodities. That is, the 1924 automobile dollar actually purchases more than the 1913 auto- mobile dollar. This is also true of the gasoline dollar and the tire dollar. As long as this is true we can expect the automobile purchasing power of the nation to keep up and the steady progress of the industry to continue until stopped, if it is stopped, by physical traffic limitations. Motor vehicles and automotive products paid $157 in special Federal excise taxes last year. The tax bill of the motorists exceeded $471,000,000. More than 4,500,000 cars and trucks are used on farms, while the industry employs 2,750,000 workers. Sixty per cent of passenger car mileage is for business purposes, 134 street rallways use motor busses, and 157 rallroads use motor veicles on short line hauls. The use of motor vehicles by street railways and steam railroads is con- stantly increasing, thereby introduc- ing a new and difficult factor in the already complicated street and high- way situation. Two hundred and elghty-nine thousand chiidren are transported to and from school daily bu motor busses. * X * X But while the motor vehicle adds to the problems of the city planner in one direction it solves it in an- other. Statistics show that the de- velopment of the passenger car and the truck has made a tremendous contribution to the development of suburbs, thereby bringing about one of the city planners pet schemes, which is decentralization. The in- crease in registrations of passenger cars and trucks parallels the increase in home building. There are 2,940,378 miles of high- ways in the United States. Figured in terms of motor vehicle accidents there is annually approximately one accident in every 23 miles. If figures were avallable from all states, this would probably be reduced.to one ac- cldent in every 12 or 15 miles. It must be remembered, however, that only 430,000 miles are surfaced, and if the truth were known it would probably be shown that there is one accident for every five or six miles of surfaced road. Statisticians are work- Ing on these figures now. The total Federal aid payments to the States was $74,883,7 There ar 1,627,569 trucks being used in the United States for the transporting of manufactured prod- ucts and raw materials, while a little over 500,000 are transporting goods in other countries. The commercial vehicle is competing with the railroad on short hauls everywhere, and this use of the highways is a big factor in the problem of accident prevention. Recent surveys of the Division of Farm Management, Department of Agriculture, Show the widespread use of the automobile among farmers. In the Atlantic coast area 58 per cent of the farmers have autos; in different areas of the Middle West 70 to 85 per cent and in the Palous region, northwest of Idaho, 86 per cent The only region where le than half the farmers have automobiles is in the dry farming wheat area, which has been badly off financiaily since 1917. Thousands of rural communitie now have educational advantages equal to the best that the city affords by the consolldation of one-room school buildings and the transporta- tion of children by cars and motor busses. * o x ok That ' congestion may be dis- couraging the use of the motor car is shown by the fact that small towns are the greatest users of motor vehicles. Cities between 1,000 and 5,000 have cars per thousand. Cities between 5,000 and 25,000 have 150 cars per thousand. Cities be- tween ,000 and 100,000 have 120 cars, while cities over 100,000 have less than 90 cars per thousand. Ap- proximately 56 per cent of the popu- lation of the United States is in the cities and owns 70 per cent of the motor cars, while towns with a popu- lation between 1,000 and 5,000 have 9 per cent of the population and own 20 per cent of the motor cars. And the end is not yet. If the production and use of motor vehicles of all kinds in the United States is to continue at the same rate as in the past, then most certainly the Secretary of Commerce is right in thinking that something should be done about it, and that something soon. ‘There are, however, two en- couraging factors in the highway safety outlook. Thirty-five cities did reduce their motor fatalities last year and the rate in the country as a whole in_ proportion to the number of vehicles registered is declining. How- ever, the total number of accidents is mounting rapidly. (Copyright, 1924, By, C u’rnnt News Features, ne Glowing Tribute Is Paid General regret is felt that the same law that raised Gen, John J. Pershing to a rank beside Washington, Grant, Sherman and Sheridan should compel his retirement on September 12, be- cause he has passed his sixty-fifth birthday. There is no end of edi- torial praise for this man, who com- manded America’s mightiest army, and whose first day of retirement is marked by the anniversary of the victorious assault on famous St Mihiel. “It is a silly thing, this age limit, which supposes that “a soldier’s brain has just so many years of usefulness to the Nation* says the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. “Gen. Pershing is, ot course, neither feeble nor lacking in mental vigor,” and “in experience, ability and knowledge he ranks among the three or four most able military officers of the world,” sup- plements the Lancaster Intelligencer. Moreover, the Indianapolis News feels sure that “the country would have wel- comed the passage of a resolution similar to the Dewey resolution,” which made the latter a life admiral, for “the Army and the people would profit by the years of Pershing’s highest efficiency,” and, “like a good soldier, Pershing is willing to serve until the end.” The Worcester Eve- ning Post considers it “idle to inti- mate that he is in anything but the prime of his powers.” < * K * ¥ “The truth s, according to the Louisville Post, “that there is evi- dence to prove that we have never quite appreciated the work that Gen. Pershing did in France as commander of the great armies we sent over there.” And vet, as the Cleveland Plain Dealer sums up: “Quite aside from any question of national grati- tude, it would be only sound common sense for the Nation to retain him in its service. No business firm would discharge a tried and efficient em- ploye merely because he had passed his® sixty-fifth birthday. ~ But Army rules are rules, unelastic as the laws of the Medes and Persians, and when it, comes to a matter of congressional action there are enough votes swayed by the pacifist element and other spe- cial and pettily vindictive elements to prevent the doing of the sensible and gracious thing.” This furnishes, ac- cording to the Ligcoln State Journal, a “striking contrast to the practice of the British government, which al- most invariably rewards its success- ful military and naval leaders with high honors and decorations and downright grants of money ranging from $100,000 to half a million. On the other hand, the Chicago Eve- ning Tribune points out that “Gen. Pershing is now receiving $21,600 per year, nearly twice as much as Secre- taries Hughes, Mellon, Hoover and other cabinet officers,” and when he retires “he will be paid oaly $10,125,” and “whatever one may think of it all, it is a plain example of the coatliness of a military estab- However, = “the larger as the Baltimore Sun se: ’-nd employ- quedtion, it, to find some scopt ment for Gen. Pershing. Baitors laud. the, generats services Jaud the s France, ' “By them, thé New Gen. Pershing York Times maintains, “Gen. Per- shing has earned a place among the immortals” and “history will not fail to recognize the American Army's decisive contribution to the triumph of the allies” The Binghamton Press admits that “what Pershing might have done in France if the war had lasted another year it is impos- sible to say, but he did enough to establish his reputation,” and, as the Chicago Daily Tribune explains: “It was impossible for Pershing to de- velop or disclose any special genius as a strategist or master of the sci- ence of war,” since “he was com- pelled to accept the proper primacy of the French and it is to his credit as a soldier and patriot that he sub- ordinated himself as far as was nec- essary to the common welfare.” Great credit is due him, the Dubuque Times-Journal feels, for the way he ‘stepped from the ranks -of the peace- time Army in the fore of the Army of war time.” “Pershing {s one of the greatest—and who shall say he is not the greatest?— American soldiers of the twentieth cen- tury,” the Grand Rapids Herald de- clares. “Other men of that rank have retired from their post loved by the Na- tion in a very generous manner, but Gen. Pershing will be the first com- mander to retire who has won and held a place as a world military leader,” the Columbus, Ohio, State Journal remarks. And in view of all this, it is interesting to note, in the opinion of the Milwaukee Journal, that “when Pershing, the school teacher of Missouri, won his ap- pointment as a cadet he did it by a single point,” and “after West Point he served seven years as a second lieu- tenant without promotion,” making flying start.” ¥k ok ok “Defense day—on which he will re- tire—will be a tribute to Gen. Persh- ing—not to Pershing the warrior, but to Pershing the pacifist, because the latter is just what he is and it is just what ali of us are,” the Ann Arbor Times-News holds. Commenting on the report that the general “is to set down his experiénces in a volume dealing with the war,” the Springflield Dafly News comments, “it is to be assumed even before the book leaves the puhlisher's hands that Gen. Pershing propoges to add greatly to the sum total of tne world's knowledge of what transpired behind the scenes,” and “no man, certainly, is more ably fitted to record America’s part in this strug- glo than the leader of her fighting forces on the flelds of France. Periods of Study In Public Schools The average number of years a pu- pil attends public school in the States varies from 4.05 to 9.08 years. The per capita income is largest in those States that keep pupils in school the longest, and f{lliteracy is higl it in those States where the average years of public schiol life is ac- cording to. statistics gathered by the THIS AND THAT [ BY C. E. TRACEWELL. What store? Shops of all kinds are so mixed with the everyday life of the people that every one has some favorite. Many women will declare for the department store as the most inter- esting of shops, while dogs and cats, nc doubt, would come .out for butcher shops, if these animals could grasp the question. To me it seems that the three most interesting are book stores, drug stores and radio shops. The first is almost as old as mankind, the sec- ond is of ancient lineage, too, while the third is the latest child of com- merce. Probably the drug store comes as near being the common meeting ground as any one kind of mart, for here may be found a strange, com- plex and most interesting assortment of goods to anrpeal to all tastes— men, women, children. Everything from a pecket comb to a coffee percolator can be purchased in a modern drug store, with the t that visiting such a place be- comes a pleasant sort of adventure. ¥ Adventuring among the shops to- day is about as much of a thrill as many persons get out of life Here is a theme for some great philosopher to tackle. Such shelter- ed lives are led by so many that life offers no adventure to them bevond a trip downtown, the high spot of an otherwi: placid existence. Lest some think this statement overdrawn, let me call attention, often overlooked, to the increased peril of going on the streets. Auto- mobile traffic has made going down town a real difficulty for thousands of women and_children. No longer is Washington the quiet, villagelike city of 15 years ago. This cannot be pointed out too many times. Where once only a horse- drawn wagon might be Seen on the whole stretch of Pennsylvania ave- nue from the Treasury to the Whnite House, today literally hundreds of automobiles whirl along both ways. Even agile men are forced to stand minutes sometimes waiting for the flow of traffic to let up just a brief second so that they may dart across from curb to curb. This condition holds particularly true around o'clock in the morning, about 1 in the afternoon and from 4:30 to & o'clock in the evening. Traffic pol according to the no- tion of many pedestrians, do not de- vote enough attention to the welrare walkers. This writer has at the difficult bend at Pennsyl- a avenue and Fifteenth street, the south end of the Treasury, a line of cars stopped, pedestrians motioned forward and_ then, before even the quicKest could make the curb, the line of automobiles authorized to move forward again. Such conditions as these, with the great increase in population of the National Capital, have made it a really dangerous proceeding for many to go down town shoppihg. The spice of pleasant danger, there- fore, has been added to shopping. Women usually at home find “going down town" a real adventure. * % k% A modern drug store meets the con- ditions outlined for interesting ad- venture about as well as any shop, at the same time it supplies needs near to the bosoms and hearts of men. Necessities used in securing and maintaining cleanliness and health are to be found in such places. Men, as well as women, are tremen- dously interested in health and its concommitant, cleanliness. Only in the hinterlands does the idea still pre- vail that to clean is to be feminine. In this good work the drug store has played its part. Probably athletics has done more than any one thing in American life make for cleanliness. A good out” on the track induces per- is your favorite sort of | spiration, and perspiration calls for a shower. When an athletic youngster gets into a family he starts every one bathing. It is infectuous. Today the drug store supplies most of us with most of our soaps, tooth pastes and other necessities along this line. What blends of Orient with Occident may be discovered by the imaginative in a drug store! The drugs of the old store are still there, together with many innovations, the whole making a conglomerate assort- ment full of perpetual interest. Drug stores in Washington today are of two sorts—the small, individual shop, the “naborhood” store, @s the enterprising “ad” writer calls it, and the store that belongs to a chain. T Once Washington had nothing but the small corner drug stores, run by druggists in whose family the busi- ness had been for years. Some of these drug stores remain. This is the sort of “corner drug store” that was the informal club- house and general meeting place for the boys and young men of the neigh- borhood. Purchase of an ice cream soda now and then made one a char- ter member. When the proprietor had a son he was training up for the busi- ness the clubhouse was in its glory. There every evening the boys con- gregated, dropping in ostentatiously to look for a magazine, and never buying any. The magazines were displayed on a rack at the rear of the store, where one could look at all the pictures and end up by deciding that none was just exactly what the mood of the moment called for. One of the great treats for a mem- ber of this impromptu club was to be allowed behind the screen, in that mysterious compartment where the pharmacist retired to compound his prescriptions. Like getting through the stage door of a theater, admit- tance behind the drug store screen was an honor. Sometimes one was allowed to make simple mixtures, too. It was a great life. Those old drug stores were just the sort where things happened as in the following story: The druggist was a great chess fiend. One day, vhile playing with a crony in the “holy of holies,” he heard a custom- er enter “out front” “Somebody wants you out there” said the other player. “Shh!” whispered the pharmacist. “Keep still—he will go away after while.” * k¥ * No drug store in the old days was complete without the great jars filled with colored liquid, the sign and sig- nature of the druggist. Why they were there, or what the colored liquid was, very few ever knew, probably not even the druggist. It was the custom, just as it was for the cigar store to have a wooden Indian. The great chain drug stores came with many improvements and with some changes, it seems to me, not so good. You stand, now, at the soda fountains, whereas in the old days you sat at ease. This summer even the straws have disappeared from the fountains. Root beer is commonly all froth. The lure of the store is as of old, however, and undoubtedly the service rendered is greater. Now one may buy anything from a cake of soap to a phonograph record. Every counter is piled with littlé bottles and boxes, each holding some fragrant benefit for mankind. ‘The druggist is still the doctor of many, dispensing advice and medi- cines for the common ailments. With- out him and his store this would be a dirtler world and mankind much more ailing than it is. ) The modern girl is full of & slorious independence, hasn’'t forgot- w to 4t-to dad.” purpose af Jkeeping down ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN Q. Why shouldn't kerosene be used of her remarriage, but the compensa- in radiators of autos freczing?—0. K. A. The objections to kerosene as an anti-freeze solution in the radiator of an automobile gasoline engine are: The odor of heated kerosene, which when heated evaporates and is liable to cause a fire if ncar a flame. On warm days in Winter there s a tend- ency for engines to heat on account of difference in coefficient of heat of kerosene and water or alcohol. Kero- seno rots radiator tubing and will also deposit a greasy mist over car. Gas is also liable to form, causing ex- pansion and bulging of radiator. to prevent Q. How many of the horses and mules sent to Europe during the war were killed?—T. §. A. It has been estimated that there were 243,135 horses and mules at- tached to the American expeditionary forces, approximately 68,652 of which perished in the service. Q. How many clerks are there in the United States?—S. V. N. A. Of the 42,000,000 persons gain- fully employed in this country 7,000,060 hold clerical positions. Q. Please %name the mountain passes over the Continental Divide?— TGl A. The name of the main passes are: Berthoud Pass, Gibson Pass, Targhee Pass, Pleasant Valley Pass, Reynolds Pass, La Veta Pass, Wolf Creek Pass, Red Mountain Pass and Raton Pass. Q. What is the origin of the expres- sion “The cup that cheers but not inebriates” ?—W. G. A. A. This phrase is found in William Cowper’s “Task,” which was published The phrase “to cheer but not had been employed pre- viously by Bishop Berkeley. Q. What causes peaches to crack ?— H. M. A A. The cracking of fruit is the re- sult of weather conditions. If there 15 a continued dry spell followed by sudden rains, the inside of the fruit grows more rapidly than the outer skin, which therefore splits. Q.* When an official altitude record is given is it meant that it is so many feet above the starting point or above sea level” M. D. A. The air service official altitude record is from sea level. Q. What governmental bureau re- deems mutilated paper bills>—E. V. A. Mutilated currency which you wish redecmed should be sent to the of the Treasury, Redemp- i hington, D. C. Q. What is the largest ship that has passed through the Panama Canal— B.A. that an|found fault with certain recokoned | hi tion paid to her children will continue. § Q. Does the United States pay Pant ama an annual rent for the Panan Canal Zone?—V. §. S, A. According to the treaty tetween the two countrics the Unitea States was to pay Panama the sum of $10,000,800 outright for the Canal Zone and $250, 000 annually so long as she continued to occupy it. This payment began on Feb- ruary 26, 1913, and is still being made. Q. What is the largest clectric lght bulb’—H. T. B. A. An incandescent lamp recently exhibited by the General Electric Company and said to be the largest ever made has a bulb 12 inches in diameter and 181 inches high and is rated at 100,000 candle power. It is about 1,300 time: large as tha average household lamp. The cur- rent required to operate three such lamps would run the average street car. Q. Is there any platinum?—S. B. T. A. An effective, cheap substituts for platinum has been found in cer- tain alloys of chromium and in iron electroplated with chromium. Q. Is former United States Senator Burton, of Kansas still living?—A. E A. Former Senator Burton die Los Angeles, Calif., February 27, 1 Q. Is there a d, the relative motio: solar system?—W. M. A. There such an apparatus composed of revolving rotating balls moved by wheelwork. It is called an orrery Q. Is the plant te plant teasel thistle used in cloth H substitute for ice which shows of bodies in the or Fuller's making?—J. G. The heads of the teasel plant, which are cylindrical with oblong hook pointed, rigid bracts between, are used for rasing the nap of cloth. The heads are split and fixed on the circumference of a cylinder that re- volves inst the surface of the cloth. No mechanical device has yet been found to equal this natural con- trivance. Q. What was the origin of the saying that one should not look a gift horse in the mouth?—V. V. T. A. Archbishop Trench says this proverb is as old as Jerome of the fourth century, who, when some oné writings of were free-will nd that it did not behoove a gift horse in the mouth. replied that they offerings, one to 100 Q. When and where did the game of croquet originate’—D. H. A. There are no authentic data re- garding the origin of this which was a favorite of kings 200 vears Writers gay that it was rom the game paille-maille, which was playved in Languedoc as early as the thirteenth A. H. M. S. Hood. She had a margin | century. of only 20 inches on either side. Q. What is the leading religion of Cuba?—E. B. A. Most of the inhabitants Cuba are Roman Catholics, but free- dom of religion is guaranteed by the eonstitution to followers of other faiths. Q If a widow of a soldier of the World War marries does the compensa- tion to her children cease’—R. M. W. A The Government compensation granted to a widow ceases at the date Q. Hindly give a recipe for matri- mony jam.—J. H. L. A. Pare and core two pounds ap- of | ples and stone two pounds of plums. Put the parings and stones in a j serving pan, with two cupfuls of ter, simmer 30 minutes, then strain. Add five and a half pounds of sugar to juice, bring to a boil. Peel two pounds of pears, cut up pears and apples, add these with plums to si- rup, boil 30 minutes and pour into ses, covering with paraffin when IN TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT BY PAUL V. COLLINS. On Friday—Defense Test day—there will be a class quiz in America’s na- tional college, of which Dr. Experience is head. “Prexy” has told ue, in his cen- tury of lectures, that many lives would have been spared and great wealth saved if tHe Nation had been preparcd to defend the right at the outset of pre- vious wars. The experiment has never had a laboratory test. How well have we learned the theoretical principles? * %k x Nearly one-half of the men of Amer- ica are outside the limits of military age. At least one-half the men of mili- tary age are barred from participating in Defense day tests, for they are not physically fit to meet the strenuosity of military service. One-quarter of the men of military age who are physically fit could not read an order nor write the simplest report; they would be a menace to the country if intrusted with the responsibilities of war. The others (about 19 per cent of our total male population) must be ready for duty when physical incapacity and ignorance fail. No estimate can be made of how mapy of that 19 per cent are cowards or weaklings morally or patriotically— or are traitors. What civilian would have supposed that our national defense could have such shrinkages? And of the 19 per cent what organizing and training are absolutely essential to convert the help- less mob into an army and navy? * % kX Gen. John J. Pershing says: “This country has always been fight- ing the fire with a bucket; we have never employed modern means of meet- ing an emergency in wan Defense day will be a form of Inspection. We shall see just what our powers of defense really are. It is just like the fire com- pany’s examination of its hose. * * It is up to the citizen to be the soldier when occasion calls. I am speaking, of course, primarily, of every man who is physically able to serve as a soldier. There are 20,000,000 such men—a third of the men in any commnity, be it large as New York or as small as a country viliage. * * * There can be no difference between soldier and citi- zen. And side by side with the realiza- tion of this fundamental truth we must realize that we have failed of our duty as citizens if we volunteer for service only when war actually arrives. Wars don't wait. They come upon a nation with the suddenness of a thunderstorm in a clear day.” “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God has given us to see the right, let us finish the work we are in, to do all which may achieve a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all na- tions.” So spake our war President, Abra- ham Lincoln. There is no word of either hate or pacifism in Lincoln’s appeal—only firmness in the face of 4" \lither was ‘ there militarism In President Woodrow Wilson's message O s have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. In a recent reply to a pacifist at- tack on Detense day, President Cool- ald: mf'? “have been unqualifiedly sympa- thetic with the aim and purpose to make war, as nearly as might be, an impossibility in this world. * . Instead of peing a military gesture, this plan is exactly the opposite. It is a non-militaristic gesture for the 10 its low- military ory ganization. Our country has always relied chiefly for its defense on the readiness of its patriotic manhood to take up arms when necessity pre- sented.” * ok ok % A few leaders of the so-called Peace societies have vision to see that Defense day test is but a sane act in taking account of our re- sources to safeguard peace. Secre- Call, of the American Peace So- writes that he has concluded Defense day test is “wholly de- sirable.” With evervthing I have, or am, devoted to the use of international peace, I am not able to follow these critics (of Defense Test day). Since the nations of the world are living in a state of international anarchy, it does not occur to me that the United States can_afford to scrap its Army or Navy. Were we to do away with either of them, the cause of interna- tional peace would not be benefited: rather the contrary. It is neither safe nor wise to seek the disarma- ment of America alone.” How many misguided Americans are crying “Peace! Peace!” when thers is no peace. There is not one hour in the march of the sun around the globe whert that sun does not look from ity zenith upon a battle. Asia Minor 18 reeking in blood. The Balkans are aflame with war. The Sudan 3§ Egypt's and England’s field of cop- flict. Enghish against the Sudanese, and possibly against the French, in the Sudan. Honduras is in civil revolution; o is Brazil. Mexico nas scarcely ceased its banditry and an. archy. “China, with its 400,000,000 peo- ple, is plunging its soldiery into civil war. Sovict Russia’s millions of bolsheviki are pledged, and fanatic- ally determined, to overturn all the organized governments of the world, confiscate the property of private owners, destroy society and family, and pervert all igions and moraltie * % ok ¥ As we recount the glory of our sec- ond war against England, we say lit- tle of the capture of W hington City by the enemy and of our defeat at the battle of Rladensburg. There were loyal Americans in those days who talked pacifism as do those of their descendants toda War was declared against England June 18, 1812. Coast towns from Maine to the Carolinas were captured or bombarded by the British. When Washington City was threatened, in August, 1814, history records that President James Madison rushed to the defense—by calling a cabinet meeting. The members were not in favor of “harsh measures,” but it was decided to motify the Governors of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland of the impending peril. Pennsylvania could do nothing, for its last Legislature had repealed its militia law. However, after the Brij ish had burned the Capitol, Pennsy] vania sent an untrained army of 5,000, Virginia sent a detachment to aid in repulsing the invaders at Bladens- burg, but the flints for their guns were left behind. Maryland fought, though the degree of their prepara- tion may be Indicated by the diary of one who says he fought in dancing pumps. Anyhow, he fought. The de- fending “army,” so gathered, consist. ed of 5,000 volunteers and 400 Tegu~ lars; but the detachment of 1,500 Brit- ish trained troops walked right through the defending “army” almast before it discovered any opfosition— from flintless guns and dancing pumps. * Kk ok % Today war has become so greatly a matter of science, with such machin- ery, munitions and chemicals, that A that army which, figuratively speak- ing, forgets its “fints” is beaten in advance, regardless of opposing num- bers or of personal prowess. Victory and preparedness are inseparable.