Evening Star Newspaper, November 13, 1924, Page 6

. THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Editlon. WASHINGTON, D. C. " THURSDAY...November 13, 1924 + THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor . The Evening Star Newspaper Company « Business Office, 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East st. Chicago Office: Tower Bullding, European Oftice : 16 Regent St.,London, England. The Evening Star, with the Sunday morning »dition, i delivered by ecarrlers within the ity at 60 cents per month: daily only, 43 cents per month: Sunday oniy. 20 cents snonth. " Ordera minybe aent by phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car- rlers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance, Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..1yr., $8.40; 1 mo.,, 70c ™ ally only. «...1¥yr, $6.00; 1 mo,, 50¢ .. Sunday only. .1yr., $2.40; 1 mo,, 20¢c All Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr., $10.00; 1 mo., 85¢ Datly onl, $7.00; 1 mo., 60c Sunday only. $3.00; 1 mo,, 25¢ T. 1yr. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press fs exclusively eutitled 0 the use for republication of all news dis- ratehes credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the 1 news pub- shed herein. ~ All rights of publication of ial disp Further Tax Revision. A decision that has been reached by the President and the Secretary of the Treasury to make no recom- mendations to Congress at the short session for further tax reduction is justified by the fact that this 's the same Congress that enacted the pres- ent law and that there is little reason 1o expect a different course in case the subject is reopened. Although the election has vielded a considerably larger Republican majority and appar- ently has assured definite party con- trol beyond the Bockading influence of the ultra-progressive groups in the two houses, that Congress so elected will not meet in regular session until December, 1925. It has been proposed to call Congress in extra session for the purpose of putting through a re- vision of the tax law, but against this objections are raised. It is urged that while there is need of turther revision to carry out the initial equitable plan of tax adjustment proposed by Secre- tary Mellon, that need is not as urgent as that the country should stabilize for a period through remissién from legislative activity In other words, that the need of rest from lawmaking is greater than the need of tax re- wvision. Whatever the decision respecting an extra session, which has not been definitely reached and may not be reached until next March, it is now the judgment of the administration not to reopen the question of tax re- vision at the short session. In all like- lihood there would be no favorable re- sponse if the matter were laid before Congress in December. Not even the impressive majority given for the President’s election and for a Con- gress in harmony with his qualities is likely to affect the attitude of those who still hold the balance of power in House and Senate. The raising of the tax question will tend chiefly to con- xest the session, to render more diffi- cult, and at the end more hurried, the process of enacting the appropriation bills. Those bills constitute a sufficient hody of business for the three months of the session. The work requires painstaking attention to detail. Any large general question such as tax re- vision is certain to jam the calendars ind lead to less efficient work upon the budget. Tax revision will come later, unless the newly elected Congress proves re- calcitrant. With a Republican mem- bership of 246 in the House and 53 in the Senate, administration measures are likely to have right of way. The auestion of an extra session is one to be decided upon its merits, apart from the proposal, now negatived, to open the subject at the short session. e Many English statesmen want Can- ada and the U. S. A. to be most friendly, but mot so friendly as to tempt the Lady of the Snows to con- sider getting a divorce and remar- rying. +eor—s. Cider makers find ment to cuitivate a “kick” in their +product by putting it into barrels formerly containing Bordeau mix- ture, no encourage- S Goldman in London. Emma Goldman, deported from the United States in 1919 as an unde- sirable alien gnd repatriated in Rus- sia, has, after a series of adventures, landed in London, where she is seek- ing refuge. After two years in ‘Russia she left that country thor- oughly disillusioned on the score of the bolshevik revolution and went to Germany. She found no particu- 4ar welcome there and intimations iwere given that she was not regarded as a desirable guest, so to England she traveled, and last night she was guest of honor at a dinner in London at swhich 300 Britons were present. £0me of the speakers expressed grati- “tude to America “for the loan of Emma Goldman.” Miss Goldman herself, with reference to the possi- VLility of her return to the United States, said that she had been in- farmed by cable by the Commissioner ©f Immigration of this country that she had been barred forever, which, - the sald, showed that the authorities here are just as stupid as they were when she left, five years ago. The American authgrities may be Stupld in turning out such people, but their stupidity is not evident «bere. There is a belief in this coun- “ry the deportation of Emma Gold- man was fully justified as a measure «0f protection against a dangerous ~‘nenace. No sympathy should be felt for her now because she is Rostile to the present bolshevik government of Russia and is going about the world, as far as her scope permits, assailing it, For she is against the # Soviet, not because it is too radical, but because it is too conservative. _ She sald last night: My cause against the bolshevikl # is mot that they have been too revo- lutionary, but that they are not revolutionary enough. The Russian bolshevik! are the arch-counter rev- olutionaries of the world. Emma Goldman’'s ideal for Russia end for other countries is a corx ] munism of perfect, law-compelled equality—which is a paradox. She would have all the people in the land put upon an absolutely level plane of possession and opportunity, put there and kept there by law. It is soruetimes to be suspected that these visionaries und idealists really be- lieve that such a thing is possible as @ communist state of perfect free- dom for the individual and no in- equality, a land of mutuality of own- ership, without greed or avarice, without competition or ambition, and all through a transcendent law of mature backed by unchangeable | statutes. The breakdown of the Russian communist experiment is simply the working out of the natural law. Bol- shevism has undoubtedly, as Miss Goldman says, falled to attain the plane of perfect equality for all. It failed because it could not succeed. It became a counter-revolution be- cause utter confusion impended. Lenin realized the impossibility be- fore his physical collapse and modi- fled the plan. His successors are carrying out as best they can this modified plan, compromising, adjust- ing and working back to normal gov- ernment. The failure of bolshevism from the Goldman point of view is perhaps to be rated as a successful evolution. Goldman is now denouncing it be- cause it did not accomplish the im- possible. She has not changed. She is still the advocate of the chaos which she calls freedom and which if secured through revolution could be maintained only through tyranny greater than the world has ever known. ——— A Messenger Boy. An ex-messenger boy has been made chairman of the board of e group of large fire insurance com- panies, and the salary he draws may be equal to the combined salaries of ail the messenger boys in Washing- ton. At any rate, it is a very large salary, and besides the dollars this ex-messenger boy has influence, power, authority and honor. He began his “business career” as a mes- senger boy in the office of one of the companies in 1892 and he rose from one position to another without any other “pull” than he developed. It does not appear that he had any re- lations in the company that hired him and also it does not appear that he had any rich or influential frien outside the company who would “speak to the president” or anybody else “on his behalf.” This was an unusual messenger boy. but what he did many other messenger boys have done and many other messenger boys will do. When he got his job he had passed through the grammar grades of school. As he rose from messenger to higher places he took a college course in a line related to his business. He did that out of office hours and no doubt during office hours he read a little and observed and thought a good deal. He must have been & bright boy. He must have been awake from the opening till the closing of the office and he must have done things right. He probably took his small job seri ously and he no doubt got the habit of doing his work effectively. He had patience and determination. He had capacity for success and he also had shrewdness. He was clever enough to understand that the men above him in the office might be his best friends. He was clever enough to know the price that must be paid for success, shrewd enough to know that success was worth the price and strong and of determination enough to pay the price. There is & moral in the steady rise of this boy and man which every boy of ordinary in telligence will comprehend. —————————— The modern style of dancing and | the jazz music, it must be admitted, offer no great encouragement for an inaugural ball, Yet such an occa- sion, if conducted with proper dig- nity, exercises a valuable influence on popular taste. ——————r——————— It is not likely that President Coolidge will change his policies or his methods. The people elected him because they liked the kind of man he has always been. —_—————————— La Follette may have persuaded a number of Democrats not to vote for Davis, but most of them were evi- dently so scared that they went all the way over to Coolidge. —ree————— As has happened so often before, Tammany managed to live through a great Republican national victory without sustaining serious damage. ———————— The recent campaign leaves the Democratic party with a number of logical candidates in line for 1928. Thirty Thousand Years Ago. A new chapter in ancient history— prehistoric history, in fact—is indi- cated by Col. James Churchward, ex- British officer and all-around scientist, of Mount Vernon, N. Y. His outline, a combination of the contents of the golden plates dug up by Joseph Smith and translated by means of the magic spectacles, of the imagination of Jules Verne and some of Little Nemo's most stirring nightmares, is based, it is claimed, on 125 tablets just discovered in India, some of which date back 30,000 years. The gist of the discovery is that there was once & tremendous tropical country in Midpacific Ocean wherein existed, among 64,000,000 people, the original clvilization of the white race. Its inhabitants possessed flying ma- chines and numerous other secrets lost in subsequent ages. This country, named Mu, claims the colonel, was known to the Egyptians, the Mayans of Central America, the anclent Greeks and the Hindus. He admits that his findings, as a whole, may be expected to cause something of a stir in the interna- tional scientific world, and also admits that, on some points involved, he will no doubt be challenged. Challengers, however, will be using theory, while the colonel can fall back on ‘“facts and records,” It looks black for the lengers. u, or the Empire of the Sun, as T these tablets declare it was called, had colonies throughout the world. In one, Indla, which shared the invalu- able secrets of the mother land, Gen. Ramchander flew from Ceylon to northern India, dropping bombs as he went; while Christ, who, according to the most accurate estimates, lived only about 33 years, spent many of those years in that land studying among the great mahatmas. After two cataclysmic earth con- vulsions, the colonel informs the. scientific world, which took place 13,000 years ago, the continent, “‘with its stalking elephants and mastodon: great cities and monumental temples, was swallowed up.” Elephants and clvilization, it is known, can go hand in hand. But mastodons were pretty hard-bolled @nimals, and doubtless had difficulty in adapting themselves to a culture superior to anything on earth today. Perhape the destructive upheaval was caused by all the masto- dons goring all the hydrogen-filled dirigibles at once, just as the scien- tists of the day were signaling Mars by means of a gigantic bonfire. wng:,I a denouement for D. W. Griffith t film some day! — e The Bootleg Army. An assistant United States attorney for the District estimates that there are 5,000 bootleggers in Washington. It is an estimate, but being made by an offical who has been in charge of the Police Court side of enforcing the prohibition law it is deserving of credence. The figure will impress that very large part of our population which never used intoxicants, and also that large number of our people who once used liquor but now observe the law, n letter and spirit, as being very large. Persons who have more or less acquaintance with the iliicit and dan- gerous traffic seem to belleve that it is not an overestimate. If there are 5,000 persons in the District engaged in selling liquor, it shows a situation which is distressing and which calls for correction. The assistant attor- ney says that at least 10,000 per- sons charged with various forms of bootlegging have been brought into court in the past five years. Of these, 8.000 have elther pleaded guilty or have been found guilty by the courts. Less than 1,500 cases have been nolle prossed for lack of sufficient evidence and about 500 of the accused have been acquitted by juries or let go be- cause of failure of juries to agree. The attorney believes that the traffic will be ended. He points out that for the first offense fines were generally im- posed, and this procedure had little effect on the {llicit trade. Under pres- ent conditions not only are jail terms being given for second offenses, but in many cases jail sentences are im- posed on those convicted for the first time. Breaking up the traffic will re- dound to the credit of the public au- thorities. It will make for a greater degree of peace and comfort in the community and will be an important measure for the protection of life and health of citizens. ————————— Tenants who meet in the main corridor to protest against rents must not be surprised if the landlord charges still more rent for the use of the corridor. —_—————————— Advocates of recognition for Rus- sia might make the idea more popu- lar by including plans for a positive | guarantee against the circulation of further propaganda in this country. —_—————————— The oldtime polticians canaot | cease to wonder how Chairman But- ler could learn so much about politics | in so short a time. —_—ee————— It 1s agreed that if there should be a next war it will be terrible in- deed, and most terrible for a great nation that lingers unprepared, SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Going as Usual, To Good Old Times we have returned | Since last election day. i The language that so hotly burned Has gently cooled away. < The bootleg bandit hits the trail While aegents bold pursue And folks get in and out of jail Just like they used to do. They're selling stocks that never pay To unsuspecting rubes. The same old jazzy tunes they play On drums and crooked tubes, The busy morons plan the crimes Which people most deplore— But, anyhow, the Good Old Times Are back With us once more. Oversupply. “Your country lacks leaders, marked the European statesman. “Not at all,” answered Senator Sorghum; “when it comes to a ques- tion of leadership, there are so many volunteers it’s impossible to find work enough to keep 'em busy.” EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON | would D. C., THURSDAY, N TRAFFIC REGULATIONS Speed BY GUS. 4. SCHULDT, Judge Police and Traffic Courts. Jechu undoubtedly was the first speeder, because the Good Book says| “he driveth furfously.” Since that time he has had many disciples. A goodly number reside here. Last year, to be exact, there were 9,724. There are approximately 100,000 licensed autos In the District, and it will thus be seen that the percentage of speeders is entirely too high. Firat Definite Spoed Law Cited. The act of December 8, 1865 (Webb's Digest, 313), was perhaps the first definite speed law for the District “11. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to ride or drive any horse, mare or gelding, in or on any street, avenue or alley of this city at a pace faster then a moderate trot or gallop, or to make any at- tempt or trial of speed between two or more horses, mares or geldings or other animals of the horse kind, in or on any such street, avenue or alley, under a penalty of not less then $20 for each and every such offense; and the party making the arrest of the person offending shall be entitled to one-half of the penalty. And If any person shall sustain an injury in consequence of fast riding or driving in the streets of the city, the person or persons so producing injury shall be liable to imprisonment in the workhouse for a period of not less than 30 nor more than 90 days in addition to the fines imposed under the provisions of this section.” It Wil be observed that the penalty was not inconsequential, taking into consideration the value of the dollar in those days The speed rate speci- fled compares favorably with that of the present day, taking into consid- eration that the stoppage within a certain space is about equal, with the percentage perhaps in favor of the auto. Regulations Not Obeyed. It has been my observation that a large number of the violators of the speed regulations have no definite idea as to the limits here. My exam- ination has brought forth replies in- dicating that they are anywhere from 6 to 30 miles &n hour, Section 8, act XII of the police | regulations specifies the speeds, viz: “Between intersecting streets not a greater rate of speed than 18 miles an hour; not greater rate than 12 miles an hour crossing an intersect- ing or connective highway or around the corners of any highway, and 6 miles an hour in and out of alleys. Outside of parks and on portions of Nighways between intersecting and connecting highways, when thers are not more than two houses, 22 miles an hour fs allowed.” Automobile trucks and other motor vehicles used in hauling or deliver- ing merchandise and having a carry- ing capacity of one ton or more, the speed reduced to 12 miles between intersecting strects, § miles crossing | intersecting or connecting highways and 6 miles in or out of an alley. Penaltfes for Violations. ‘To impress this speed limit upon the reader’s mind it might be well to cite the following penaities: i The penalty clause provides as follows: Upon conviction for the first of- | fense, a fine not less than five dollars | ($5.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00); upon conviction for the second offense within one year from the commission of the first offense, a | fine not less than ten dollars ($10.00) | nor more than one hundred dollars | ($100.00) or imprisonment for not less than 5 days nor more thon 30 days. at the discretion of the court: d upon conviction of the third of- fense within one year from the com- mission of the first offense, and for any and all subsequent offenses, a fine not less than Affty dollars ($50.00) nor more than two hundred | and fifty dollars ($250.00), and im prisonment in the workhouse for not less than 30 davs nor more than 6| months. P'leasa note that a second convic- | tion within the year may draw a jall | sentence and upon a third conviction within the year a jail mentence mandatory. Volunteers Friendly Advice. As a plece of friendly advice, the rurt would caution you to watch pur step—upon the accelerator. Perhaps it will surprise those em- ploying chauffeurs, and who order their drivers to go faster, that the law can reach them for giving such orders. And this is as It should be, because it would be unfalr to fine & driver alone when he is obeying orders of his master and dlsobedience mean dismissal. So the law also holds the owner riding with the driver equally guflty. It the driver is finclined to bn too speedy the owner is supposed to have knowl- edge of that fact and elther repri- mand and cause him to obey the speed limits or dlscharge him. The speed bug seems to bite every class and condition of drivers. The historic case of Gen. Grant when he was arrested for prancing his horses down Pennsylvania avenue in excess of a moderate pace or gallop is well known. Since that time no Presi- dent has been arrested on this charge, although “some of our most prominent citizens” have had that distinction. Speeders Classified. The court, from observation, would classify speeders Into the following classes: The thoughtless speeder, the Drivers Are Assailed. Pedestrian Deplores Lack of Arrests Here. To the Editor of The Star: I am situated so that T can walk to and from my office, including the area on Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth | streets between Massachusetts and | Favorable Average. The pessimist is impolite And sings this sorry song: “For everything that's going right ‘There's something going wrong.” Yet we will smile and trudge elong And keep this fact in sight; No matter what is going wrong, ‘There’s more that’s going right. Jud Tunkins says prosperity nearly always seems like something some other fellow has’ more than his share of. The Baffling Appeal. “I must say,” mused Mr, Meekton, “that I don't understand Henrietta and she seldom speaks kindly.” “How do you explain that? “I suppose she wants me to be up to date. She's a regular cross ‘word puzzle.” Chemical Identity. Our diamonds from carbon grow. The time may be in sight When to & jeweler we'll go To buy our anthracite. “De man wif a rabbit’s foot may feel lucky,” said Uncle Eben de man who got de rest of de rabbit ‘was luckier, a9 Pennsylvania avenues. Twice a day for several years I literally have taken my life in my hands. From observation and experience during the last three vears I conclude that about 30 per cent of the autolsts try to obey the regulations and 20 per cent are incompetent, reckless or mali- clous. Some of them like to see pe- destrians jump, or to drive as close to them as they can without actually touching, in which they sometimes fail. So I use the word malicious ad- visedly. As the well disposed wear no badge, the walker has to assume that any automobilist is a_potential assassin_and conduct himself accord- ingly. Now, during these vears of transit 1 have observed hundreds of violations of the regulations by driv- ers, but not a single arrest or even a reprimand. The officers cannot justly be blamed for this, since at the rush hours they have their hands full directing traffic and have no time or opportunity to restrain vio- lators. One of the most frequent and dan- gerous tricks is to drive from a street where the traffic is stopped, around the corner full tilt into a cross-walk full of people. Four days ago I saw this happen Both at F and G street corners of Eleventh. The next day at F and Eleventh a mail wagon was stopped across thé cross-walk while the driver leisurely emptied a post box. When automobiles first began to “put | be common on our streets there were | logical intelligence tests. doubtless “Jaywalk. in the sense of Justice Schuldt's article, but in the area I refer to they have long occasional speeder and the deliber- ate speeder. The thoughtless speed- er is one, as his name indicates, who thoughtlessly “hits it up” while In conversation with his companlons or in other ways unconsclously ex- ceeds the speed limits with no Intent to do so. The occasional speeder embraces the one who is in a hurry, the one who wants to show oft his car, lgnorant drivers or those who don't know the speed laws. It Is really surpsising how many there are of these. The majority of the taxis have no speedometer. It would seem that every car should have this pro- tectlon. The deliberate speeder is one who speeds with malice aforethought. He knows he is speeding and glories in the fact. Deliberate speeders can also be subdivided into the “cautious speeders,” the “midnight speeders” and the “speed complex speeders. The “cautious speeder” is the one who generally suffers from a “rub- ber neck,” caused by looking back- ward for pursulng officers. As the name indicates, he is cautious in his deliberation to speed, and his cau- tiousness Is indicative of his delib- erate intent. “Mldnight Driver “Lets Her Out.” The “midnight speeder” is the one who “lets her out” and imitates the ride of Paul Revere. He seems to think that speed laws were only made to be observed in the day time and with a clear road it “don’t make any difference.” Sometimes, sad to relate, this complex is caused by power other than that in the gas tank. The danger of this class of speeding 1s obvious. The “speed complex speeder” is one who glorifies in speed and the faster the speed the more glory he attains in his own estimation. Speed laws are as naught to him, and he scoms to think that if he can't util- | 1ze all the power the engine is capa- ble of making he is being cheated. He s the “hit-lt-up” and “step-on- the-gas” artist. He has the speed complex, which mno psychoanalyst has as vet successfully defined. Regulations in Other C When one analyzes the speed regu- lations of the varfous citles it, will be found that they are based upon sound practical reason and sclentific principles. The congestion is natur- ally the first factor and the minimum of stoppage the second, as upon. these two depend the element of what con- stitutes safe driving. No speed law will ever be promulgated which will be eatisfactory to every one. The speeder, as usual, would alwa; ceed the limit upon the theory that whatever speed the authorities fixed is too slow and therefore fixes his own standard—as they do now. The constantly agitated question as to whether speed should be increased, 50 as to expedite travel, as its pro- ponents claim, is controversial and must be thoroughly studied from every angle before being definitely established. There seems, however, to be a tendency among the larger municipalities to increase the speed limits between intersecting streets. Submits Serious Question. Increase in speed limits has its advantages, but it 1s a serious ques- tion whether they are not overshad- owed by its disadvantages, It would seem, however, that an average speed of 18 to 22 miles an hour in the congested districts should serve for all purposes, and be con- sistent with the safety of pedestrians and the avoidance of accidents. It is difficult to realize what business could be so important as to require the necessity of great speed in the course of everyday commerce. The question of speed outside the congested districts and on country oads is one that can easlly be de- es. | termined by examination of the facts as to density of population, charac- ter of road bed, whether trafic is light or heavy, whether there are any rallroad or street car tracks thereon, and as to the topography of the road itself. A roid with numerous bends, curves, grades, etc, should neturally not have as high a speed rate as a stralght, even road. In ye olden days when the regula- tions specified the “horseless car- riage,” the term “automobile” not having come into use, the percentage of speeders, in comparison with the number of horseless carriages in ex- istence then, to that of autos now, was far below our present record. Sees Increase in Speeding. Statistics show that speeding is in- creasing everywhere. It may be that the nervous age in which we live has its effect, but the primary cause Is, no doubt, the increased power of these modern juggernauts. There is a tendency to try out the hidden pow- er, the theory being, perhaps, that latent power is of no consequence un- less used. The auto ltself says that every day In every way it's getting faster and faster. There may come a time when regulations will be draft- ed requiring all machines operated in the city limits to have a contriv- ance, like a governor, gauged down to conform with the speed laws of the municipality. There would then be no excuse for speeding. But such a con- tingency is too beautiful to contem- plate, However, in the finterpretation of speed regulations, “Less haste, more speed” should be amended so as to read, “No haste, less speed.” been extinct and are only quoted to excuse violators. It has become cheaper and less trouble to slaughter a human being on. our streets than to park at a wrong angle. The “jaywalker” myth and the “unavoidable accident” lie relfeve the criminal in nearly every instance, unless he happens to be colored or drunk. We owe gratitude to Justice Schuldt and The Star for frankly {indicating the attitude of mind toward pedestrians to be met with in the court. Is it any wonder, knowing the futility of expecting Protection, either on the street or elsewhere, that pedestrians choose to use their own judgment In crossing the street even In the face of judicial admonitions? There should be two officers at each important intersection, one to direct traffic and one to make arrests. The former should blow the whistle twice, once as warning and the si ond as permission for drivers to start, it being now the custom for the 20 per cent fellows to start across the walk as soon as they hear the whistle, regardless of the crowd on the walk. Has it been shown by anybody that the authoritles of the District have been legally authorized to make a private stable of our public ave- nues? ‘WM. H. DALL. As every married man knows, mere government can't make husbands free. The thumb is mightler than the sword.—Jersey City Journal. ——————— A Minnesota judge ruled that cows have the right of way. Every motor- ist knows that—Birmingham Age- Herald. B —————— In the next war the Army won't have to resort to all sorts of psycho- It will merely need a good supply of cross- ward puzzles.—Charleston Evening Post. VEMBER 13, 1924 The North Window BY LEILA MECHLIN When the word art is mentioned it is of paintings and sculpture that one thinks first, and yet perhaps the greatest monuments of art are build- ings, works of architecture. As a distinguished visiting artist from abroad once remarked, it s the bulldings which first impress a stranger; one must stay to visit the art galleries and become acquainted in full measure with the works of the painters and sculptors. In Europe what is it that shares in In- terest with the picture gallerles? The cathedrals, the works in almost every instance of Gothic artists and craftsmen, architectural monuments made beautiful in every detail by @ coliaboration of the arts. In this country we have assembled through the assistance and generosity of private citizens several world- famous collections. One, the Freer collection, is now permanently housed in the beautiful Freer Gallery in this city. In recent years we have also been adding to our architectural monuments, which are with equal truth to be considered great works of art—for Instance our Lincoln Me- morial, the work of Henry Bacon, architect; Danlel Chester French, sculptor, and Jules Guerin, painter. * % X * Within the last six months we Pave added yet another building of great beauty and artistic significance —the permanent home of the National Academy of Sciences and Natlonal Re. search Council, on Twenty-first street between B and C streets northwest, facing the Lincoln Memorial and modestly, though finely, taking its place in our great city plan. This building was dedicated last May, but because of its out-of-the-way loca- tion and the fact that it is a build- ing comparatively few may have yet realized how Driceless it is as a work of art. The designer, the architect, was the late Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who up to the time he undertook this commission had been known almost exclusively for his Gothic and Span- ish colonial bufldings. Mr. Goodhue was assoclated with Mr. Cram in the designing of buildings, among them the beautiful chapel for West Point. The same firm stood sponsor for the new St. Thomas' Church on Fifth avenue in New York, one of the most beautiful Gothic structures in this country. Mr. Goodhue designed the buildings for the world’'s fair at San Diego, California—a brilllant achieve- ment. He had immense creative abil- ity and an extraordinary sense of beauty in design, of fitness, of that intangible quality which we call taste. The designing of this building was a new problem, a different problem. Following classical precedent, Mr. Goodhue may be said to have created a style of his own to suit the exi- gencies of site and need. W. K. Harrison, in a comprehensive article on the building, published in the October number of Architecture, says: “It has much of the character of Latrobe's Washington designs, al- though to express the multiplicity of new practical requirements since the building of the Treasury a freer adaptation of the Greek was neces- sary, In the same way that modern developments have forced, and made possible, the extension of the small system lald down by Maj. L'Enfant in his original plan of Washington. Mr. Goodhue tried to use the Greek de- tail on a modern building. He con- fessed to the impossibility of dating the style of the building, calling it Alexandrian.” The truth is that the bullding itself i{s extremely simple, but its detail is exqulsite. o e Approaching from the south one passes on three low platforms rec- tangular basins of water which are now lined with American-made tiles of a Persian blue, lending a color noéte in the midst of the whiteness. The central doorway has been char- acterized by Mr. Harrison as at once reminiscent of an early stele and of a Byzantine ivory. They are made of wood covered with bronze plates magnificently embossed, the eight panels representing crucial epochs in the history of sclence. They focus the artistic Interest of the facade at the axis of the building. But as one glances up and across one is im- pressed by the beauty of the carved moldings and of the bronze decor- atlon along the edge of the roof, €0 chaste as to be unobtrusive, yet so appropriate and beautiful as to truly decorate. Such use of ornament is the perfection of art. It is as & garment exquisitely embroidered. The series of window openings across the facade run two stories in height, but are broken by bronze panels in relief marking the floor line. On tho top terrace, leading to the main entrance, are lamps of uriique design, conventionalized busts of women crowned with light, figures reminiscent both of the Greek and the Egyptian, classic, regal in their simplicity, fmpressive as caryatids. Most beautiful of all perhaps, are the grlll doors to the central hall These are of metal, bronze, designed after the manner of Itallan cut-work, with a background of clear glass. Symbols of the constellations are used as the chief features of the design. The fireplace in the library shows a carving in low rellef, em- blematic of the development of ctvilization. The spectrograph which stands In the center of the rotunda has been given a case made beautiful with modeling and decorative device. * ok Ok ok There is a great cry today for originality in art, for escape from tradition. Here we have true origi- nality, and at’ the same time beauty. The designers have used the mate- rial which sclence and nature have given them, but they have used it with the wisdom which comes as the frult of knowledge. It is not as though they said to themselves, “Let us do something different, let us be original,” but rather as though, being richly endowed and having much to say, they naturally followed the dic- tates of fancy. Opportunity being provided, originality could not be suppressed. In every instance the ex- pression seems to have been unforced, natural, beautiful. Irving K. Pond, past president of the American Institute of Architects, fn an open letter in the American Architect and the Architectural Re- view, discussing this matter of prece- dent, says: “The superficial aspect of a building will depend upon the character and attitude of Its designer, who, however, succeed as he may, will have added but little to the sum total of human accomplishment pro- vided he has based his design on precedent alone. A new thing, an expression of what the designer sin- cerely concelves to be basic in mod- ern life, need not, from the fact of its newness, be unlovely, nor need it necessarily be beautiful. That, aagin, will depend upon the soul of its de- signer. However, a thing, beautiful or ugly, conceived in the modern spirit stands the better chance of be- ing vital, of being instinct with life. But after all, the thing is little; the man s everything.” * k *x k Mr. Goodhue wisely associated with himself in the creation of this bulld- ing other artists. Lee Lawrle, who collaborated with Mr. Goodhue in most of his important work, is re- sponsible for the sculpturs, which constitutes almost the only decora- tion on the exterlor of the building. Albert Herter, who is well known, both as a painter and a.craftsman, not only contributed the mural paint- ing, “Prometheus Bound,” which is in the rotunds facing the entrance, but also a friese for the library. The mosaic vaulted cefling in the rotunda ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC, J. HASKIN Q. How many doctors are there in the District of Columbia?—J. F. A. The American Medical Associa- tion'says that there are 1,924. Eight hundred and twenty-threo are em- ployed by the Government. Q. What is the best thing to do when it is storming, turn off the elec- triclty or leave it on?—L. O. P. A. The Potomac Electric Power Company says that in this city the electric companies provide lightning protectors on all lines, and it makes no difference whether the light Is turned on or off during a storm. Q. Are there any civilian rifle clubs in Washington? How can I get in touch with one?—K. M. A. The National Rifle Assoclation says that Mr. Ralph H. McGarity, 1332 Quincy street northwest, Wash- ington, D. C. is president of the National Capital Rifle Club. It is suggested that you communicate with him. Q. What oil can be used on a slide trombone?—B. 8. A. The following !s a lubricant which can be used on musical instru- ments: Put lead shavings Into neat's foot ofl and allow it to stand for some time. The lead neutralizes the acid, and the result is an oll that does not corrode nor thicken. Q. What player s considered the best first baseman In the National League?—G. J. P. A. It is a matter of opinion as to who would be considered the best first baseman in the National League. According to John McGraw's selec- tion, Kelly is the best first baseman. Q. To whom ghould T write concern- ing an estate in gland?—J. P. A. You should write to the High Court of Judicature, The Embank- ment, London, England. Q. What s the cause of the cracking and sparks flying from a wood fire grate?>—J. B. A. It is the moisture in wood that expands and causes the cracking. The sparks flying from a wood fire are caused by the ignition of carbon. Q. Does the Department of Agri- culture believe that shallow or deep plowing it better?—T. R. F. A. The results from the investiga- | tions conducted by the department of the effects of different depths of plowing upon crop vields lead to the conclusion that the best practice seems to be to do a good clean-cut job of plowing to a depth of from 4 to 8 inches when the =oil is in vropflr“ condition and the work can be done | to the best advantage, taking into| consideration the most economical distribution of labor throughout the year. Q. Can you give a recipe to repair zylonite spectacle frames?>—A. R. W. A. The Bureau of Standards says a very simple and effective way to repair zylonite (celluloid) spectacle frames is to apply a drop of glacial acetic acld to the broken ends, then in a few minutes press the ends to- gether gently and lay the frame aside for an hour or two. The acid partly dissolves the zylonite and makes it very “tacky,” so that it will stick firmly to other pleces of the material. ‘When the acid evaporates the zylonite hardens again and the joint, If prop erly made, shouid be as strong as if there had not been a break. Glacial acetio acid has a very penetrating and irritating odor. It may Blister the skin if allowed to get on it. The odor will cause annoyance, but thers will be no bad after effects unless the vapors are breathed for too lonz a time, which is not likely to happen. Vinegar is quite dilute acetio acid The glacial acid 1s, therefore, not polsonous, though troublesome. Q. How are the number of vibra- tions per second in tuning forks counted?—J. H. A. A drum Is rotated at a known speed and the pencll attached to the tuning fork records the fork's vibra- tions. Q. What country can now send u: the largest number of emigrants?— M. F. S. A. According to the new immigra- tlon quota, 51,227 German immigrants are allowed to enter the United States annually. This is the largest number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States annually from any foreign country. Q. How many kinds of trees are there in the United States?—M. A. & A. The forest service says that there are approximately 1, dif ferent species of trees in the Unlt States. Q. Will you send me the the animal whose sclentific Dicrostonym Nelson{?—H. A A. The animal to which 1s the pied or white lemming, whic is brown in Summer and which turns e in Winter. There are seve Dicrostonym Nelson! being the one Inhabiting northwestern Alask The white lemming is found northern Europe and Asia. name of name is =5 ou rafe: Q. Iam 15 years old, 5 feet § inche tall, and weligh 118 poundgs. How a . I compare with other boys of mn age?—T. C. C. A. According to a weight tabl compiled by the School Hygiene As soclation, you should welgh 135 pounds. Your height s about th= average, although many boys at th. age of 15 have nearly attained the height, while others begin to grow a this age. This is dependent entirel upon the {ndividual. Q. Please answer the questior again about the three white stripes on a sailor’s collar and the black tie. —W. M. H. A. The three white stripes on the sallor's uniform represent the thre: great naval battles of British naval history—that of Trafalgar, the Nil and Copenhagen. The black hand kerchlef is an adaptation from the dress of the British sailor. It wax first worn as a sign of mourning for the death of Lord Nelson. (Have you asked Haskin? He does not know all the things that people asl: him, but he knows people who do know. Try him. State your question briefy. write plainly and inclose 2 cents in stamps for retwrn postage. Address Frederic J. Haskin, director, The Ste~ Information Bureaw, Twenty-first and ¢ streets northwest.) WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE Willlam H. Shearer, the naval ex- pert who wants to enjoin Secretary Wilbur from scrapping the $35.000,000 superdreadnaught ‘Washington, is the inventor of the celebrated “one- man” submarine Hornet. Ever since the Spanish-American War, Shearer has been intimately assoclat- ed in a semi-official capacity with American naval affairs. Ordnance and torpedoes are his specialties. He saw service in the Spanish-American War and was an expert at the Navy Department during the World War. Nowadays he spends most of his time writing on naval toplcs. Several months ago he supplied a New York newspaper with a sensational ac- count of the United States Navy's “unreadiness for wa: Subsequent admissions by Admiral Coontz, chief of operations, were considered by Mr. Shearer to be full substantiation of his allegations. In seeking to save the Washington from the scrap heap, Shearer claims he s acting exclusive- Iy in the capacity of a taxpaying patriot, who believes in preparedness and not in the interest of naval jin- goes. * ok % X Sceretary “Jim” J. Davis, the first member of the Coolidge cabinet to signify his intention to leave public offioe, tells a story about how he nar- rowly escaped being Vice President of the United Statee. “When my peo- ple were living at Sharon, Pa.” says Davis, “a very prominent politician was talking with my father and mother, and he made the remark that if Jim had been born in this country he would have received the Republi- can nomination for Vice President. Thereupon, my mother, like a flash, turned to my dad and said: ‘There! If you'd left Wales and come to the United States when I wanted you to our son would have been Vice Presi- dent!"” Davis will make his home at Mooseheart, Ill, great headquar- ters of the Loyal Order of the Moose, after March 4, 1925. His remaining life ambition {8 to increase its mem- bership to 1,000,000. * Ok X E If there's no inaugural ball next March, there's one member of the Coolldge family who will be mightily disappointed, and that is the First Lady of the Land. That is to say, other things being equal, no woman in the United States would enjoy such a function more than Mrs. Coolldge, but the year of mourning for Cal- is covered with acoustic tile and elaborately decorated with color and glit by Hildreth Miere. The land- scape setting is being developed by Charles D. Lay of New York. Here again we have an example of most successful collaboration. EE But to return to the bullding ftself. Much of its charm is from its perfec- tion of detall, the beauty of little things, the moldings, even the ra- diator covers. Each smallest detail has been thought out and designed for its particular purposes and has significance. Here is & bullding which is for all time a proud possession, a gem, a work of extreme originality, which at the same time conforms to tradition, a thing of perpetual beauty which is bound to influence the lives of those who pass it and learn to know it. Commenting upon the bullding, the editor of Architecture expressed re- gret that so seldom was the name of the architect associated in the pub- lic’s mind with his work, and said: “We should like it made known so all might read and remember as an object lesson in the study of the mother of the arts that we owe the beauty, dig- nity and appropriateness of the bufld- ing for the National Academy of Sciences to Bertram Grosvenor Good- hue. His name is writ large, in the minds of those who know his accom- plishments, in the work he has left us as a precious heritage. His name and others’ who have done so much to distinguish American architecture should be as familiar to lovers of the arts as those of the men who have vin, jr., will not be over, and it is not likely she thinks of urging the Presi- dent to hold a ball. Mrs. Coolidge, in vice presidential days, was passion ately fond of dancing. Like most m and women who like it, she dance exceedingly well. There is no record- ed instance of the President ever hav ing indulged in so frivolous a pastim: In Washington, or even points North. Golf, small talk and fox-trotting ar: three things which consplcuously fail to appeal to him. Going to balls bore many a man. Calvin Coolidge takes his place in that class, brave and ur- ashamed, * * x % Many who heard Huston Thompsor cheirman of the Federal Trade Coni- mission, dellver hie impressive eu- logy of Woodrow Wilson at the Na- tional Cathedral on Armistice da: were surprised to hear him blushing 1y confess afterward that he himself is the author of the sonnet with which he closed. No tribute in verse, Wil- sonians in Washington eay, ever glorified the war President so beau- tifully. Here it is: Ho: Steadfast spirit, Who ped While Semagogues “and Reckoning not the whirlwinds words ma, They nev into the i ianderers dumb!. T dreamed that or s at eager prayers f Like shafts of fire that led the anclents’ fiight From countless common hearths were vision- ing you To gaide the ship of state with Godlike view Through chartless seas, where might was counted right. But when war's waves had ceased to roll ani roar i And rou had steered the keel to safets's zone, The sleepers roused ashore Anfl‘ ur-led thelr hate, until with stifles You fel mas 55 Spieit sublime, eternal and atone " The sonnet was written in 1820 * X kX Senator George H. Moses of New Hampshire, who, as chairman of the Republican senatorial campaign com- mittee, garnered new laurels by re- capturing control of the upper hous for the G. O. P., is recuperating from battle at French Lick Springs. French Lick is usually the first-ald station for Democratlo casualties, for “Tom'" Taggart of Indlanapolis is lord of the manor, but Republican good fel- lows of the Moses type are not ban- ned. “Al" Smith and George Brennan are pow-wowing with Taggart at the Springs next week. In addition to resting from recent strife, the New Hampshire politiclan is girding for a new ~ fight—the forthcoming spectal election in Connecticut to elect a suc- cessor to Senator Brandegee. * k¥ k Has a street raflway company, oc- cupying the streets in lleu of a pub- lic franchise, the right to use the streets for advertising purposes? This observer hears that that piquant question has just been ralsed in Washington, where one of the trac- tion companies is running a per- ambulating bifllboard, advertising moving picture, over one of its best- paying lines. A lawyer addressed an inquiry to the company, the writer's information says, and was told that the company feels itself wholly with- in its rights. The officials are said to admit that the potftable billboard is worth $5,000 a year in revenue, or the equivalent of 62,500 fares at the 8-cent rate charged in Washington. * k %X % No foreign country has noted the passing of Senator Lodge with live- ller interest than the people and the government of Japan. A Toklo news- paper cabled to Washington to ask if the Massachusetts veteran's disap- pearance from the Senate meant the revision of the Japanese exclusion law. The Nipponese editor remem- bered that it was Lodge's interpreta- tion of Ambassador Hanihara's cele- brated “grave consequences” as a “veiled threat that incited the Senate to reject President Coolidge's pro- posal for diplomatic negotiation of exclusion. Japan always felt that but for Senator Lodge's precipitancy themselves and leap: glven fame and glory to American painting. How varied and catholic ‘was his taste, how fine his judgment in the use of his knowledge. and great power In the Senate the exclusion incident might have been differently closed. (Copyright, 1924.)