Evening Star Newspaper, May 26, 1925, Page 6

6 THE EVENING With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY. May 26, 1925 THEODORE W. NOYES. . ening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: : e s Buitding. Rezent St.. London, 11th st New York Office Chicago_ Office: European Offce: 10 Evening Star. with the Vered by o y at 60 cents per mont 45 cents per month: Sunday per month. - Orders may he sent by mail or telenone Main 5000, ‘ection is made by carrier at the end of each month. unduy morn- Tiers within daily only. Rate by Muil—Payabje in Advance. Mary!and and Virgini Raiy and Suuday i ates. $10.00: 7.00% Member of the Associated The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to th republication of all news dis- redited to it or not otherwise cred- in this paver and also the local mevs 1 Lerein. All rizhis of publication | disnatihes herein are also reserved. Income Tax Publicity Lawful. unanimous decision the Supreme Court has held that it is ‘the intent of Congress that newspapers should be permitted to publish the names of income taxpayers and the amounts of their payments. The court lcaves no question whatever on this It holds that successive enact- denote policy of “progres- ely liberal publicity,” and that Con- s meant “to abandon the policy of recy altogethe; conflict in this case lay between sections of the law, one of which, in successive enactments, prohibited publicity of income tax re turns. That, the court holds, was a baslc provision, liberalized by subse- quent acts. That prohibition was not absolute, but was made subject to pos- sible qualification in that it declared it to be unlawful to print or publish in any manner “not provided by law” any income return or any part thereof. A subsequent enactment authorized the commis: of internal revenue to make available for public inspection of of taxpayers and amounts of taxes paid by them. The court rejects the Government's con- tention that this authorized merely “inspection” of the lists and not pub- lication. There is no logical distinction be- tween “inspection” and “‘publication.” What the individual citizen may do the press may do. Inspection by one person is legal. Inspection and pub- licatior: in behalf of individuals is the right of the newspaper. No other rul- ing was logically possible. In this decision the court does not touch upon the “freedom of the press.” It does not find it necessary to do so, for the statutes, it holds, do not deny such freedom. Absolute prohibition of publicity is the right of Congress as the lawmaking body. Were such abso- lute prohibition maintained without discrimination between individuals and press no infraction of the first amend- ment would be committed. Inasmuch @s there is no difference in the statu- tory prohibition the question of “free- dom” does not arise. The court, as is usual in its rulings, does not meet a moot point. Though the court does not go into the matter, inasmuch as it was not in issue, there is involved in this case the question of the distinction between publication of “returns” and of names and amounts paid. The prohibition against the publicity of returns stands 2s against private inspection and news- paper publication. The returns are the computations of the taxpayers submit- ted to the Government for its informa- tion and guidance. They must be held in confidence. It is not conceivabie that Congress has ever contemplated or will ever act to permit either inspec- tion or publication of the returns. They are not final. They are advisory. They cannot be open to public exam- ination—which would be tantamount to newspaper publication—without causing grave injury and in the final effect defeating the purpose of the ncome tax law, which is to provide the Government with revenues. This decision has been so promptly rendered as to clear away all doubts tn good season. It gives Congress a definition which may be of value in the framing of any new legislation on the tubject. Tt may precipitate a broad dis- ion at the next session of the whole matter of public inspection and publicity, the wisdom of which re. mains in some question. Congress alone can meet that issue. The court has defined its enactments clearly, and the “freedom of the press” remains un- tmpaired. In a clear-cut, nts a oner lists names ————— p of Atlantic City sends out the news that he will not attempt to enforce regulations prohibiting the bathing beach display that has become customary. The mayor is not only a discreet official, but a good publicity agent for his home town. ————. Col. Bryan is an eloquent, but not mIways successful, advocate. One of itho biggest boosts the Darwinian theory ever had is his determination to recognize it as a practical quantity ip modern thought. ———— Motor Headlights. Traffic Director Eidridge has asked the Police Department for a special squad of five men to be trained in the regulation of headlights and to act as a0 enforcement unit for this section of the new traffic law.. Maj. R. E. Carlson qt the Bureau of Standards has offered 1 take this squad in hand so that they may be competent to test glaring eutomobile headlights. Mr, Eldridge’s plan is to have these men stationed at strategle points throughout the city equipped with small screens. When a motorist ap- proaches with glaring lights he will be stopped, taken to a side street, the screen will be set up and a test will be made. If his headlights are found not to comply with the law he will be sent to court. ‘With co-operation between the traf- fic director and the Police Department at its highest pitch there is no doubt that the department will hasten to STAR nothing after dark but deal with re- calcitrant headlight users, is absolute- ly essential to the proper enforcement of the law. | The traffic director has made 8 move lin the right direction in making it n to motorists that they dre not | to use their bright lights in the well | lighted portion of the city. In atraight- | ening out the headlight sttuation he is unfortunately, however, confronted with two very difficult problems. One is that even with the special squad at work enforcement of the law on the 90,000 automobiles in the District is a herculean task, while the other is that most motorists when given a little lee. way In the use of their lights forget o turn them off when they are no longer necessary. Tt has been fre- quently noted during the operation of the new law that even parked cars have been left with their lights on at {full blast to the discomfiture of all users of the street. Mr. Eldridge is vitally concerned in the entire District traffic situation. Anything that can be worked out for its improvement will find a sym- | pathetic ear at the District Building. | | Motorists of the city muy be sure that | | under such leadership conditions will {better themselves if sufficient time is | | given. | e —raee No Favored Debtor Nations. The United States, in dealing with | \its foreign debtors, has insisted that jeach debt be considered separate and {apart from the others; particularly has it insisted that the debts to Amer- | fca be not linked up with G reparations. The administration strongly opposed any debt funding plan which would put the burden of collecting reparations due from Ger- many to France, Belgium, Italy or any of the other allied nations upon the United States. The reparations, | in the view of this Government, should be collected by the nations claiming reparations of Germany, and the debts of those nations to the United States must be handled on their own merits and without connection with the debts of those nations to others. Notwithstanding the clearly indi- cated attitude of the American Gov- ernment, now comes suggestions from Belgium and Ttaly, according to in- formation obtained in official circles, that the funding of their debts to the United States be deferred until France shall have arranged to settle her debt to America. Of course, the United States Government is desirous that steps shall be taken by France to fund her debt. The matter has been hanging fire for years. But the Gov- ernment also is desirous of arranging for the funding of the debts of the other natfons. Furthermore, Belgium is represent- ed as claiming that under the Paris agreement for carrying out the Dawes plan of settlement in Europe it is un- derstood she will not pay the United States certain debts until she shall have received reparations from Ger- many to cover such payments. It this attitude of Belgium were agreed to, then the whole policy of this Gov- ernment in opposition to having America made the collector of repara- tions from Germany in order to sat- isfy the debts of the allied nations to the United States falls to the ground. France might well say in that event that we could look to Germany to settle France's debt to the United States. The administration very wisely has set its face against the manifest de- sire of some of the foreign creditors to substitute, in a measure, the debts of other nations for their debts to America. It is seeking settlement, not on harsh terms, of all the debts to this country. It does not see why the funding of the Italian debt or the Belgian debt should hang upon the funding of the French debt. Great Britain, of its own accord, came for- ward and arranged to fund its debt. The United States would be glad to see other nations take a like course. But it could scarcely be expected to say to any nation that it would not be looked to for settlement until some other natlon also had done so. Each debtor nation should feel its own in- dividual responsibilit: ————————— Rum runners took advantage of a storm at sea to land a few cargoes. The Coast Guard can save the drown- ing passengers and crew, but have their hands full in keeping bibulous landsmen from being poisoned. —ae—— If there is any potency in psychic influence, Amundsen has the benefit of it. The entire world is in sympathy with his courageous endeavor. man | has ————— Trotsky has still enough influence to entitle him to be mentioned in the re- ports of Russian political proceedings as among those present. e Atlantic City's mayor has given up the humanitarian task of safeguarding bathers from head-to-foot attacks of sunburn. Picking on Hylan. They keep picking on Mayor Hylan over in New York. Every day in every way he is made the target of some new attack. This is purely a manner of chronology, for this is campalgn year in Greater New York and the mayor is a candidate for re- nomination. Recently his opponents brought out a suggestive series of secret communications between the mayor's office and the headquarters of a remarkably prosperous bonding firm, a member of which is related to his family. Then came the dis- closure that one of his favorites, a former veterinary of the Fire Depart- ment, had set up as an architect and made fat fees in the designing of municipal buildings. Now comes an allegation that expert and special counsel employed under the author- ity of the mayor for the conduct of court cases in the name of the city, costing nearly $500,000 a year, have lost 49 out of 50 suits. The sugges- tlon is advanced that they were picked for the purpose of*losing. All this is highly encouraging to talk of fusion now than there was a few weeks ago. It wanes as the mayor stiffens in his determination to run, regardless of Tammany and its affiliated partisans across the Eost River, and as the disclosures of | favoritism and unwise and expensive |administration accumulate. Mayor Hylan is being kept so busy defend- ilm: himself ugainst charges thai he {has little time to devote to city man- agement, a fact which is naturally not overlooked by his critics, He may conclude before nominating time comes around that eight years of that sort of thing is quite enough for any man. ————— Defense Day. President Coolidge's suggestion that “Defense day" be celebrated July 4, coincident with Independence day, may be accepted as a happy one, and the War Department can g0 ahead with its plans for a muster and in- spection of the United States Army, of the same general character as the one which was held last September. The President desires that this test shall resemble more the features of the “Muster day” of Colonial times, and {no doubt the War Department will follow this idea. The President admonishes the War Department to make it clear to the governors of the States that their re- sponse to the proposed test plans will be purely voluntary and predicated on what they consider to be to the best interests of their States. There can be no valid opposition upon grounds of pacifism to the War Department conducting this test, for such it is Indeed, it is rather in the line of rou- | tine, discipline and efficlency. It is not calculated to foster a war- like spirit. “Keep your powder dry” is an aphorism of common sense ap- plication and does not spell aggression or “militarism.” The American peo- ple believe in what Independence day stands for and they recognize the wis- dom of making sure that the Govern- ment is in fit condition through its military arm to defend and protect the Nation which the fathers created. —————— Col. Bryan's fear of Darwinian teaching appears to be based on some mystical idea that students are com- pelled to go on through life believing everything they hear from a college professor. The mission of the ped- agogue has heretofore been regarded | as that of rendering available an ac- quaintance with historic facts and philosophic ideas, and then permitting the mature mind to draw its own con- clusions and adjust itgelf to the condi- tions of its time as best it may B — Wall Street has had its buils, its bears and, more important than these, its lambs. The appearance of Henry Ford in the ancient thoroughfare creates something the effect of the in- trusion of a romping rhinocerous. No doubt there are many Eskimos who have wandered close to the North Pole. Perhaps some have even stood on the very spot. The literacy test is no less important in exploration than in other enterprises. e The nebular hypothesis is not in exact accord with the literal expression of the Bible. It is, however, a trifle too abstruse to lend itself to the pur- poses of the “natural-born orator.” Madison Square Garder is demol- ished, and Diana of the Tower de- scends to earth; following the course of the much-idealized Democratic don- key in the convention of 1924. s ——o—. The Hohenzollern family remains unassertive. Hindenburg’s influence is evidently sufficient to prevent any move which might embarrass the ad- rainistration. —————————— A great many devotees of sport will regard any Hall of Fame as sadly re- miss If it does not include a conspicu- ous memorial of John L. Sullivan, ———————— Earthquakes continue to remind Ja- pan that her most important problems are more geological than sociological. —_—————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Main Strength. A chimpanzee—inferior brute— Aspired one day, to evolute. He said, with a superior frown, “On all the world I shall look down!” He did not learn to read or write. He simply Climbed with all his might; Apd from a perch high in the tree Exclaimed, “How they look up to me!” Era of Innovation. “Do you think the Senate rules can be changed?” “I'm not sure,” replied Senator Sor- ghum. “These are new times. The fact that we legislators could raise our salaries without arousing popular protest convinces me that almost any- thing can happen.” Pleasures of Print. The joys of modern literature Are often very insecure, As ancient Labels they revive To keep the bootleg trade alive. Jud Tunkins says a good many argu- ments look to him like a big contest to decide who's going to get the best of the publicity. Decorative Impulse. A Fiji belle, in her pursuit Of modesty, in weather warm, Now has a pretty bathing suit Tattooed upon her graceful form, Forbearance. “Did you dance with the Prince of ‘Wales while he was in this country' “No,” answered Miss Cayenne, “I am not a very good dancer, and I un- derstand the Prince isn’t either. Why spoil a pleasant evening?” All in the Merry Springtime. Queen of the May, with footsteps gay ‘Wore low shoes—or, no shoes! A cruel bliz began to whiz the New York Republicans, who see a chance for the election of a mayor in case the incumbent decides to run as an independent candidate and the Democratic organizations of Man- comply with the director's reasonable request. Such a squad, which will do hattan and Brooklyn unite on a reg- ular party nominee. There is less. And had her wearing snowshoes, “Dey tells me de world is gittin’ bet- ter,” said Uncle Eben, “but wit all dese earthquakes an’ tidal waves an’ blizzards I can't help havin' my doubts,” THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. There are two methods of watering a lawn. One calls for light sprinkling, which brings the roots of the grass to the surface, the second demands thorough souking of the sward, so that the grass roots stay down where they belong. The first way is that of ninety-nine out of a hundred householders. It is the “easlest way,” as well as the most plcturesque. What more pleasing than to stand at ease, in the cool of the evening, the birds singing, the fine spray filling the whole yard with mist? This method of “sprinkling” gives one such a satisfactory feeling of dolng something, which every one who monkeys with nature feels neces- sary. Whenever a man takes a per- sonal hand in the work of creation, he immedlately wants to “do something.” Few are the philosophers, and far between, who can sit at ease, letting things alone. Letting things alone! There is something that demands al- most superhuman resistance. It 18 so easy to “do something,” so hard to let things alone. Almost anybody can “butt in” dur- ing a quarrel. It takes a most un- usual man or woman, with a large degree of will power, determination and restraint to be able to keep out of such an affair. In business one sees the desire to “do something” in many interesting variations. Here one may watch an angle that usually gets results, thus ringing a change on our theme. A man is put in charge. He looks the situation over and determines it is up to him to “do something.” So he begins to make changes. No mat- ter what It is, just so it is different from what exists Those higher up. seeing the pow- WOW goIng on, are impressed with the racket, and say among themselves, “He s taking hold.” As a_rule, however, one may ac- complish more by some resistance to the urge (o “do something.” Espe. clally does this hold true in the realm of nature. The desire to water the lawn every evening is so urgent that few can resist it. The District government, recognizing the demand, has set aside @ couple of pleasant hours, during which time home owners may sprinkle to their hearts’ content. Most of us do. We sprinkle, and sprinkle, and sprinkle yet again the next evening. We twist the old nozzle through all its variations of spray, from coarse to fine. e throw the water as far as we can. We see if we can hit the other side of the street: we dote on a fine spray for certain plants along the border; we revel in a coarse shower for patches of poor growth in the lawn. _ This gives us the satisfactory feel- ing of mastery. yet, g8 a matter of cold fact, we ‘are doing perhaps the very worst thing possible for our lawn, and we will know it next Spring. _ Last month, for instance, did you find dried rootlets all over your lawn? Those were the grass roots brought to the surface by superficial water- ing. There is no mistaking them. They are thicker than dried grass, dead grass, Winter-killed. They are of a gray color, and rather thick.” They occur especially the first Winter after sowing of grass seed. Sod is not so likely to send roots to the surface, the roots having been trained to go down instead of up for their moisture. Newly made sward, however, has not learned the trick of finding its water at the more equitable depths. Tts roots, thirsty for the waters of life, turn upward when the light sprinkle is put upon the yard. An hour of the fine spray, authorities declare, scarcely BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. A century ago India rubber was not a factor in commerce; it was almost unknown in industry, but was con- sidered handy in erasing lead pencil marks. It was produced from the “milk” of wild trees growing in the vast forests of South America—prin- cipally in the tropical regions of Brazil. Columbus had found on his second voyage to the New World that the Indians were using it in their moccasins to make them waterproof, and he took some back with him to Spain as an Indian curiosity. Today the whole commercial world stands aghast at the realization that England controls 95 per cent of the world's production of India rubber, that the United States consumes 72 per cent, while producing practicelly none, and that before the end of the next five vears the demand will ex- ceed the production. This is officiuliy forecast by our Department of Com- merce, in a bulletin of which prelim- inary pages were made public last Saturday. In 1923 we imported crude rubber to the value of $185,000,000. If we can- not get sufficient crude rubber to meet our needs three of our principal in- dustries will be embarrassed in pro- portion to the degree of rubber short- age—rubber manufacturing, automo- tive and oil. The oil demand is de- pendent upon automobile manufacture, which is, in turn, dependent upon rubber. These three major industries represent American invested capital exceeding $13,000,000,000 — nearly a third of all capital in our country. Rubber can be gathered from a hundred species of plants, but not prof- itably in all cases. The best comes from a tree indigenous to Brazl, known botanically as Hevea brazilien- sis. More rubber is grown in_the British territory of the Middle East (midway between the Near East and the Far East) than in South America, and it all comes from seed carried out of Brazil in 1876 by a British explorer, Sir Henry Wickham, contrary to the laws of that country forbidding any export of rubber seed. Of the world's plantation rubber, Great Britain con- trols 69 per cent through domicile in British colonies—India, Ceylon, Java and North Borneo. From the same Wickham seed, the Netherlands possession of Sumatra, Dutch Borneo and French Indo-China have large acreage. But the United States, even in the Philippine Islands, has accomplished practically little to- ward its own needs, although using nearly three-quarters of all rubber used in the world. Not only is there a rubber acreage of 2,961,000 acres in British territory, but British owned plantations of 269,000 acres in Nether- lands India. Plantations now produce 386,000 tons and wild rubber of South America and Africa amounts to 28,000 tons. * ok ok x During the war the price of rubber rose to $8 a pound for “smoked sheet,” while in 1921 and 1922 it fell below 14% cents in New York. Thereupon the British colonial office appointed what is known as the Stevenson com- mittee to control rubber exports and regulate the price. The price has been climbing under the monopolistic con- trol until recently it has gone above 70 cents, and it is now nearly at that peak. Two years ago Congress gave the Departmént of Agriculture an ap- propriation of $500,000 with which to investigate the situation and consider the possibilities of- rubber. planting in the Philippines, West Indies and our Southern States. Experiments are being made with Mexican “guayuli, or sage brush rubber, in Arizona, Cali- fornia and New Mexico, but it is an I1s not possible to forecast the future penetrates the surface soil. Every night this slight penetration continues, so that the grass gets to looking for- ward to water on-the surface. So the roots begin to grow upward. During the growing season they are not apparent in the ground, but when Winter comes, they begin to lle un- exposed. The result Is the death of the individual grass plants, for grass is a plant like other plants. A lawn is merely a colony of them. * % x % The way to avoid this upward turn Ing of the grass roots is to souk the lawn when you do water it. Lawn experts unite in declaring for a thorough watering once a week, or even less often, in preference to the daily light sprinkling. By thorough soaking they mean just that. Splatter the water on until you can hear it beating down upon the &grass as the water does in a bath tub. Water upon water—that is the ideal. The best method of securing this splatter is to take the fancy nozzle off the hose, and allow the water to pour out, To do this, of course, requires more hose than the average person possesses At least 75 teet will be required for the smallest back yard, with 100 or | more feet necessary for a 50-foot lot (width). In this sort of watering it is nec essary to stand almost over the spot to be wetted, wherefore arises the necessity for the longer length of hose. No more can one sit on the porch and allow the water to make a graceful curve into the air, in order to hit that difficult spot out by the fence. Now it becomes necessary to stand all the time. Painfully, square foot | by square foot, the entire lawn must be gone over. The vard must be soaked with water. Make it stand in puddles, listen to the patter of wa- ter on water, water out of the hose on water standing brimful in slight depressions. When the vard has been gone over in this fashion, it has been watered! What if all the poetry of sprinkling s lost? Who wants poetry in the back yard, anyway? What the house- holder does want is beauty, and he is in a fair way to get it, If he sticks to his resolve. By his self-imposed restraint he is really watering his grass, not tanta- lizing it, inviting the sun to come out next day and burn it up. Water pouring rather sloppily out of the hose soaks down, down, down to the bot- tom of the grass sea, and there Mc- Ginty Roots drink it up eagerly. When the sun beams forth next day, the grass shoots flaunt fresh and green in the face of his rays. “Dry me up, you shrimp!” roars the grass blade. “Try to dry me up, if you can!” The best part of such watering is that it does not have to be repeated every night. Once a week will be sufficient, and when Nature sends a good shower, probably once every two weeks would be ample. What we are doing, of course, is our best to imitate Mother Nature. When she sends a rain, usually she sends a good soaking one. She seldom “sprin- kles. While allowing the water to pour out of the hose for two hours might seem to be wasteful of water, it really is saving of it, something to be kept in mind in a great city during the Summer. Instead of having the water on six evenings a week, it will be on but one. When this saving of water is con- sidered along with the benefit to the grass, there would seem to be no reason left for the old way of sprin- kling the yard. has ‘experimented with only a few acres in trees. * ok x A suggestion has been made in both England and France that the United States might be interested in taking over British and French Guiana in settlement of the war loans and that Americans might there develop great rubber plantations. Agricultural scien- tists familiar with rubber and with conditions in the Guianas laugh at the naivete of our European debtors in making such a proposal, since, if the Guiana region were suitable for rub- ber production those great rubber mo- nopolists would not part with the ter- ritory already possessed, so important for increasing their monopoly. On the contrary, the rubber-leaf disease makes it impossible to grow the trees in elther British or French Guiana. The future consumption of rubber holds possibilities without limit. Two years ago the English Rubber Grow- ers’ Assoclation offered prizes of $50,- 000 for suggestions of new ways of using rubber. It was found that al- ready there are more than 30,000 such uses. For example, the use of sponge rubber for upholstery was proposed by 80 contestants; bookbinding, roofing, flooring, surfacing streets and roads, horseshoes, mixing rubber “milk" (la- tex) in paper, waterproofing—all these are familiar uses. At the International Rubber Confer- ence, held in Brussels in April, 1924, a leading expert, discussing rubber soles of shoes, said: “The past has shown us an increase from a few pairs of soles in 1921 to some 2,500 tons in 1923, all of which has been used, and 1 estimate some 500 to 600 tons of the 1924 crop has already been sol It was in 1921 that the first repe rubber soles” were shown in the rub. ber exhibit in London, and in the 1924 conference & Jubber ‘manufacturer , in e discussi o vy lon of trade poli: ““On crepe rubber soles T am on the ‘antls,’ being interested in weno facturing. It is rather interesting to be told, as I have just been told by somebody, that the crepe rubber sole will outwear three good reputable manufactured rubber soles.” With such a sudden addition to the rubber uses calling for three torg more per year, just for shoe soles, it J|stand they do this sort of thing. wl‘l:)h‘ n:&_v\maximum limit. vid M. Figert, special statis of the Department of Commerce.u::r- mates the world production for 1925 at 574,000 tons, increasing yearly to 641,000 tons in 1930. The world con- sumption by 1930 will exceed 703,000 tons, so that the shortage of 60,000 tons per annum will reduce world stocks on hand by the end of that year to four months' supply and the actual crisis will paralyze automobile industry and {ts related interests, even though no new uses develop. Synthetic rubber cannot be produced as cheaply as natural “latex’ rubber from trees. South America produces rubber trees in abundance, of which the products are not yet put upon the market. Their inaccessibility puts them beyond use. The Indians of Brazil were accustomed to cut down the rubber tree to get all its latex at once—a method reminding one of Charles Lamb's story of how the Chinese learned to roast pigs— by burning down their homes while the pigs were inside—but plantations have long since practiced conserva- tion to the limit, by tapping the trees ag our sugar maple trees are tapped, without destroying the tree for a single harvest. Improvements are sing bred into the trees by seed se- lection and bud grafting, but the in- inferior grade. Henry Ford has 1,000 | creage of latex is not great. acres.of “rubber land” in Florida, but’ | €Copyright,’ 1025, by Peul V. Collins.). THE LITTLE CHURCH AROU THE CORNER. By George Mac- Adam: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. London, Venice, Rome, cach has its famous church: Paul’s, St. Mark’s, St. Peter's. Historic moauments, these three, to the power and glory of the Christian religion, splendid temples set up to the worship of the true Friend of him even who can claim no other friend on earth. Man- hattan, too, has its famous church. A little house sitting close to the ground, like a brooding bird upon its nest the walls of which are the sur- rounding sky scrapers of the business heart of the metropolis. By baptism and christening this is the Church of the Transfiguration, name long since laid aside for the fitter one by which it is known the world over, “The Little Church Around the Corner.” There has been much talk of late, on this side and on that, about that little shrine hemmed in and obscured by the mideity traffic. “Let us,” say those on the one hand, “tear it down and build bigger. Let us rival the helghts around it in a temple which from ground to overtopping summit shall be consecrated to the useful service of mankind, to the need heart or body or soul.” “No," say the others, “let it stand as it is, the embodied righteousness of two men. No structure by other hands, be it never so imposin; never so compact of high design and rich fulfillment, could reach into the heart of the world as does this little church whos every plank and stone is an answered prayer in behalf of needy man, or animal, or cause.” ‘“Moreover,” say these, “the spot 1s an oasis of calm in the stormy life around it. A wayside seat invites to rest, a fountain offers welcome. Birds sing upon the door- &ills of their own little houses within its close. Grass grows there and flowers bloom and trees bless the passer-by. It is a balm in Gilead, this sanctuary within the city gates. Let it be as it is * kK % The immediate source of Mr. Mac- Adam’s narrative is an old-fashioned black valise, rusty and loose-jointed, bursting with a miscellany of letters, memoranda, notes, press clippings. This motley of materfal set in an or- dered relation becomes the story of the Houghtons, uncle and nephew, the story also of “the little church around the corner” of which these two were both inspiration and sub- stance from its beginnings in the back room of a neighbor's house on to its lasting prime of a distinct and unique usefulness. ¥k Curious but characteristic features mark the career of this institution. From the first it has been a home for the friendless—the lone dog, the homeless man. Sanctuary for hun- dreds of hounded black men in the three-day race riots of Civil War time, a station of the underground rail- road along which the negroes fled Northward for safety. An interesting circumstance, the one which gave the little church its permanent name. In those days the stage stood as the front door of hell itself. Actors were lost men and women crowding upon these portals of perdition. Then, one day, George Holland, laugh-maker for two conti- nents, died and the brotherhood of the craft sought a well known divine to give the kindly comedian respectable passage to the tomb. And the man of the puipit said, in effect, that he could not officiate even at the grave for one of the damned profession, adding, however, “There is a little church around the corner where I u de\r- At that instant the “little church” was rebaptized in the name by which it has ever since been known. The newspapers of the country fired the matter to a huge blaze ctors all over the world flocked around the new friend. And since that day fa- mous people and low people alike have proved it a refuge. All have in an assurance of certainty counted upon this little friend of all the world. Its windows are memorials to one and another whom we all know— Mansfield, Booth, Montague. Its nave has time and again filled for the burial service or the marriage cere- mony of one and another of the triendly craft, for hosts of unsung men and women as well. & ek A beautiful story, the one that George MacAdam has woven out of the contents of that old valise. A pictured story—portraits, photographs. facsimiles of this and that going along with it. First and foremost, is this a record of fact. But greatly more is it the rare story of kindness embodied in the essence of just two men who wrought miracles of well- being and happiness in the midst of the rushing tides of a great city's pre-occupations and forgettings. R THE _HISTORY OF AMERICAN IDEALISM. By Gustavus Myers: Boni & Liveright. This author makes a new use of the recognized and accepted facts of his- tory bearing upon the development of the United States. These facts he here presents in evidence of the idealism of a country that has not infrequently been named as the land of the dollar, the domain of a generally hard-headed, close-fisted citizenry. He goes back to the beginnings of our history, ad- vancing _step by step therefrom through its various periods in proof of the basic quality of our Americanism. At the outset, there is religious liberty | for whose free exercise America was, in part, settled and for whose per- manent possession it subsequently fought long and well. A clear count, this, as an original and distinctive contribution to the world of id to the cause of progress. Religic .o 2 dom secured, the New World tm1 d itself to the overthrow of monarchy which still held them in bond despite the separating fact of three thousand miles of intervening sea. To their first achievement was added that of a free government formed and directed by the people themselves. Even yet, an aristocracy survived, most harm- fully apparent in its exclusions of learning and culture. In time, edu- cation itself became free for every man'’s possession. In this drift of gen- eral liberation, the black man was un- shackled. And with so much accom- plished along lines so broadly and use- fully applicative, there was a common movement to release culture itself from the inhibitions of tradition, to set it free as an expression of native genius, of native outlook and pursuit, The veneration of Old World culture, as such, was being jarred out of its high estate by a wholesome reaction toward the production of a new art to project the great new vision of an ad- vancing humanity. And an American art took its stand from which it is moving forward, not so fast, but at a rate to prove the determination upon which it is so consistently and right- fully placed. But pointers, these citations, to show the current of this highly in- teresting study which is filled with de- tails in concrete proof of the march of America toward idealism. ‘“Where in all history is to be found the prec- | edent of a people idealistic and to such a preponderant degree that the nomi- nal leaders simply expressed what the people themselves felt and thought? As an idealistic Nation America has proved that, after all, history is in an incipient stage. The American people have provided the surprise of ages in writing an unprecedented species of history and they will write more,” The most lavish dreamer cannot vision the future possibilities embedded in this invincible 5 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Q. When did George (Honeyboy) Evans, the minstrel, die?’—H. L. A. March 5, 19 Q. How jong has an evangelist’—H. B. A. The Rev. William Ashley Sun- day. after his conversion, acted as the @saistant secretary of the Y. M. C. A., Chicago, 1891-95, and entered the evangelical field in 1896. Billy Sunday been Q. What per cent of American man ufactures depend upon agriculture’— W. P. C. A. Secretary Jardine said in a re- cent speech that 80 per cent of our American manufactures are thus de- pendent. Q. Did the President say that World War veterans were not to be dis- gharged from clvil services position?— YD A. The Veterans' Bureau says that an executive order of the President states that no veteran is to be disquali- fied from the civil service employ of the United States it his rating is good, and there is work which he is quali- fled to do. Q. What is used to make window shades stiff?—S. 8. L. A. Window shades are made from two kinds of cotton which are sold under many trade names. The Hol- land or unfilied shade cloth is starched with a stiff starch and ironed. It may be died any color. The second, is opaque or filled shade cloth and is | stiffened by using ordinary paint. Water colors, ofl paints or tint may be used. Q. What became of the man who killed the Archduke of Austria?—A. S. A. Prinzip, the assassin of the Archduke of Austria and his wife, was arrested and soon after died in prison. Q. Why did Liyod George come into prominence?—H. H. 4 A. Lloyd George's rise to promi- nence dates from the Boer War. He took up a position of strong antag- onism to the government's war policy and became a leader of the *“pro-Boer section of the Liberal party. He was at this time the most unpopular man in Great Britain, but during the period of reaction, following the war, his reputation rose rapidly. Q. When was the grasshopper war? —W. H. A. A. About 1755 a tribe of Shawnees fought a sanguinary battle with tribe of Delawares near the banks the Susquehanna. The trouble b in a quarrel among the Indian chil- dren about some grasshoppers. Q. When was a fan first used on an automobile to cool the engine’— cEed A. The National Automobile Cham- ber of Commerce says that the first record it has of a fan being used on an automobile for cooling the engine This was prior to the year 1898. Q. Were the sphinxes the places of kings?—D. C. A. The sphinxes were not the tombs of kings. Archeologists are of the opinion that they were employed to guard the approach to a temple. Ac- cording to the inscriptions of the eighteenth dynasty in the shrine be- burial In many cases the heads of sphinxe: were royal portraits. Q. Why is unbleached cotton yellow Tennessee's sensation over what | some editors facetiousiy call “the mon- key law” is echoing through the coun- try, with William Jennings Bryan's contention that the hand that writes the teacher’s pay check should control the school supplying the basis of much of the discussion. The question, to be fought out in the courts, is whether Tennessee can enforce a State law against teaching the doctrine of evolu- tion in the public schools. There are vigorous champlons of the right of a State to regulate its institutions, but a great many editors insist that the | question is whether truth shall be limited by law. Inevitably Mr. Bryan has become something of the storm center since he volunteered to assist in upholding the State's case. | It will not be for the court to de- {termine,” asserts the Chattanooga Times, “whether evolution is or is not a sound doctrine; that is for the con- science of the individual citizen to de- cide. The courts, therefore, will have only to determine whether the Legisla. ture has a right to deny the youth of the State information with respect of life and its continued opportunities for advancement and growth.” The consti- tutional issue is emphasized also by the Knoxville Sentinel, which declares that the only question that will be de- termined by the courts will be as to “the right and authority of the Legis- lature to restrict the freedom religious subjects.” On the question of that “we are becoming of such a sameness of thinking, or of echoing the things we are told to think about political and economic affairs, as well as intellectual matters, that it is well to differ about something occasionally to see whether we still have the power to differ.” A ‘“battle royal” in Tennessee is predicted by the Charlotte Observer, which belleves that ‘‘some readers may be surprised by the statement of {Judge John R. Neal, leading counsel for Prof. J. C. Scopes, at Dayton, that ‘examination of the text books pre- scribed by the State Uniform Text Book Commission shows that all the books of science prescribed by law in Tennessee are based on the Darwin theory of evolution.’” The Observer further quotes Judge Neal as saying that if the statute is declared consti- tutional others will be prosecuted to make it unpopular. ¥ The enforcement of law as exempli- fied in this case is upheld by the Altoona Mirror, which states: “We may be strong ddHerents to the theory of evolution. But Tennessee had the right to exclude evolutionary teaching from her schools. The high school instructor who has defled the State is clearly in the wrong, and that'with- out reference to the cortectness of his theory. Any constitutional law must be obeyed until repealed.” The broad question of the'freedom of the teacher is taken up by several newspapers as applying to all educa- tional institutions, and Mr. Bryan's attitude is energetically assailed. “We want our children. to be taught the truth, as it is understood by the mind and conscience of the men and wom- len to whom we intrust the work says the Wisconsin State Journal. “To place teaching on any other basis, and particularly to place it on the basis 8o baldly laid down by Mr. Bryan, is to degrade it beyond the hope of use- fulness.” Mr. Bryan's intention to strike a “at’ education in these United " is seen by the Hartford Times, which argues: “The implication is that_truth has nothing to do with teaching, but that the function of schools is to teach whatever dogmas a local majority happens at a given moment to approve. be more deadly?” “The vital jssue in the test case is not that of whether Darwinism and ciled, but the even greater one of Christianity can or c#mnot be recon- is a Daimler car with a flywheel fan. | tween the paws of the Great Sphinx | it represented the Sun God Harmachis. | of | thought and inquiry on scientific and | evolution, however, the Sentinel holds | Could anything | BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN when raw cotton is white A. There is yellow in cott raw state but it the boll. LK G \ in tie is moi noticeable ir Unbleached muslin some times sized ta callow, which makes it appea= a litile more yellow than it would otherwise. Q. When was New Zealand discov ered?’—W. B. S. A. New Zealand was discoversd by Tasman in Decembar, 1624. Capt Cook explored parts of the country i 1769, 1773 and 1777. Bn 1514 the Res Samuel Marsden estabBished a mission at the Bay of Islands. A British res dent was appointed in $833. Q. What was the gain or loss b: United States mints angd assay offl from operations in gold and silve bullion last year?—A. D. R. A. The net gains durtng the fiscal year, 1924, at Philadelph#, San Fran cisco and Denver mints and assay of- fices amounted to $349,23465. Q. Who wrote the first bpok against slavery prepared in this country R. G: H. A. Lydia Maria Chil was called “‘Appeal for T Americans Called Africans The book Q. Why is Big A. 1t was na Hall, first comm the time the gr Q. Gate being built A. A bridge ha New York's Hell ( span the harbor of It will aliow the below it, and wil raflroad tracks, as well and walks. The chief bridge will be a single feet span; the t approach The haad feet, high wa arch will be 450 feet Where is a bridge similar to He R Q. What was the of men in the armies Austr | Hungary and rmany when [ s rtered the Wo Wa 1917, the estin Aus Hunga 7,000,000 . Are tion to the populatic in 1900. Si progressiv are fewer professic pr lation than in 1880. 1 each of th ortion to the popu mer s ir sothard Pass known G.-P. d the passes of e Valais Alps. St. vn to them, stral rank did he u Q. Was the St. to the Romans A. The Romans u! the R Q H which D. M. | A M W !‘ does ench dialect a ! tral is regarded as one of the greatest of modern French poets. As his literary medium he used the Provencal dialect (Let The Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Twenty | rirst and C streets northwest, answer your question. The only charge for | this service is 2 cents in stamps for rc- turn postage.) Bryan Proves Storm Center Of “Monkey Law” Discussion | 1imi | tanc doubt good, for | mind every now | dom of thought and * * “Freedom is the life | and when freedom is tak it the life will g0 out of | ment of t Tope ide wheth When we bu cligion and education, and meas ure them in do s, t N n will be carrying a heavier ‘cr-ss of gold’ than it ever shoulde the Quincy Wt be combatted only with force,” accord gon Chronicle. “Man has more need to about where h about where hi serves the Sav: almost seem that the ch be stepping out of its p when it engages in that cc A similar position is taken Fayetteville Observer, with the con ing to th body came fr g nnah Press. * sary to our mental an velopment and improve | ought to be singled out for a poin attack.” Mr. Bryan, however, | some’ philosoph: News Scimi a record of never h immoral side” of any i opposed to justice.” Th Herald, on the other tolerance z sad flaw in otherwise fine character. Cook Stéve Not Altar. Mother Believes Home Food Makes Happiness. To the Edltor of The Star; The Charlotte Brick letter in your columns certainly does not voice the sentiment of the majority of mothers I am sure that few, if any, mothers with thelr boys and girls in school to- day, have any idea that the cook stove is an altar on which love for husband Zoes up in smoke as a burnt offering to the husband’s palate. I wonder if Charlotte Brick has ever enjoyed watching a tired husband's eyea light up with appreciation for the steaming good things her hands placed before him? I wonder if Peter Boras who also wrote in your columns versus home cooking, ever observed @ moth er's delight in her several kiddies competition for a choice cut of chicken the extra piece of pie or a larger piece of homemade cake that a miscut made the reward for the one best man nered at the table? That's home cooking that makes th home real to those in it. It is my opinion that your correspondent and that other one, Peter Borras, have missed something in their home life and other mothers will think so with me. MRS. EDW. WELLIS Find_ Praying More Effective Than Diet To the Editor of The Sta 3 I read last night in your paper a Jetter from Mrs. C. G. telling of her great suffering from sick headaches. I myself’ suffered from them for many years. A friend, rich in faith, prayed for me at my request, and not only did the headache that was coming on leave me, but I never had another for six years, and then only a slight one. Let Mrs. C. (. take courage. There is' more in prayer, I believe, than in any diet list. GRACE W. HARRISOM, .