Evening Star Newspaper, June 18, 1925, Page 6

HE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C.., THURSDAY. .. .June 18, 1825 THEODORE W. NOYES. . The Evening Star Newspaper Company Bustnass Office: 11th St”und Penney New York Ofiice: 110 Chicago Office . Tower Building. European Office: 16 Regent St.. London, England. The Evening Star. with the Sunday morn- fne edition. 1% delivered by carriers within the city at'60 cents per month: daily only 458 cents per month: Sunday nnl{ 20 cents Per month Orders may be sent by mail or telephone Main 5000 Collection is made by carrier at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Batty and Sunday. ... aily only Sunday on! . 700 All Other States. i Sun: 13r.$10.00: aily Sal, ST 1 3T SER R Bunday only . Member of the Associated Press. The Ascociated Press is exclusively entitled 0 the use for republication of all news dis: Patches cradited 1o it or not otherwise cred: ited in this paper and also the local news published he All rights of, publication 1 dispatches herein are aiso re Wheat Gambling. its production and market- ing have been big factors in the prosperity or lack of prosperity in the past in many of the States. Owing to a number of circumstances, which included & short crop in some of the other wheat-producing countri wheat staged a “comeback’ last year, which materially aided the agricul- tural States of the West and North- west suffering from depression due to low prices. It aided, too, in wiping out some of the discontent which was leading to radicalism, and in the vic- tory of the Republican party at the polls. Not unnaturally, the Government, the administration at Washington, may be expected to keep a close watch on what happens to wheat during the present year. Another slump in wheat prices when the farmer has wheat to sell would be a severe blow to the prosperity which, in a measure, has come back to some of the agricultural areas of the country. Furthermore, it probably would be a severe blow to Republican hopes of carrying many of the congressional districts and States in the election next year. The complaint of the wheat farmer, and the charge made by the men who have sought to stir the farmer to revolt, has been that the price of wheat is manipulated by the specu- lators and gamblers and has little or nothing to do with the supply and demand. The play of the gamblers, it is said, has been to force the price of wheat low when the farmer, the producer, has wheat to sell, and when it is out of the hands of the farmer to force prices up and down in order to make a speculative profit. ‘The Government, through Secretary Jardine of the Department of Agri- culture, is now engaged in an investi- gation of the “bear raid” on wheat last Spring, Which forced prices down. It now is reported that the operations of a single man, Jesse H. Livermore of New York, included the selling of more than 50,000,000 bushels of wheat from January 1 to April 1 of this year. On some days his deal- fngs mounted to 5,000,000 bushels, and at times, the records are said to show he was as much as 10,000,000 bushels “short.” The magnitude of such transactions in a staple foodstuff, of which Mr. Livermore did not produce, or even make use of, a single bushel, empha- sizes the need of a tightening of the regulations governing the grain ex- changes. To permit any one to jug- gle the prices of grain through manipulations of this kind would in- dicate a lack of proper government. Both producers and consumers suffer while a few individuals are enriched to the extent of millions of dollars. If the Chicago Board of Trade and other grain exchanges do not clean house to prevent such gambling, then it may be expected that Congress will be called upon to enact a Federal law to limit such trading. Secretary Jardine has already outlined to the Chicago Board of Trade reforms which it should make, and the action of that board will be watched with much interest here in Washington. o A Hindu fable assumes that mon- keys could talk if they chose, but refuse to do so for fear of being put to work. It is only a fable. If the story were true no power on earth could restrain the monkey from break- ng the vow of silence and answering the call of modern politico-scientific discussion. +aor—s The Klansmen will parade without masks. There is no use of aggra- vating the discomforts of warm weather for the sake of a picturesque demonstration. - Modern civilization still has its mar- tyrs, pointing the way to the need of turther safeguards for humanity. The victims of motor accidents are smong them. -t The New York Mayoralty Problem. Conferences have just been held at Albany between Gov. Smith, Tammany Leader Olvaney, Brooklyn Leader McCooey and Bronx Leader Flynn re- garding the question of the Greater New York mayoralty. The upshot of these discus appears to be that Gov. Smith strong for the “‘can- ning” of Mayor Hylan, that Leaders Olvaney and Flynn are non-committal, and that McCooey is for Hylan's re- nomination and election uniess a bet- ter man can be brought forward upon whom the Democrats of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx can unite. is an advantage of position that will enable him to be the sponsor of the winning candidate and at the same time insure the success of his own county ticket. A 3 These maneuvers have their bearing upon the national political situation. Gov. Smith is known to be definitely opposed to a third term for Hylan. | He rejects the Hylan-Hearst alliance. He is willing to force Hylan to run independently with Hearst’s support. If Hylan is renominated as a regular candidate Smith will suffer in his pres- tige as the State leader of his party, whatever the result, though he would perhaps derive some satisfaction from a defeat. If Hylan is rejected by Tammany and runs independently and both he and the Tammany candi- date are beaten by a Republican nomi- nee, Smith must share the responsi- bility for the loss of the city adminis- tration. If Hylan is rejected by Tam- many and is beaten as an independent, regardless of who may be elected, Smith must bear the brunt of the blame and in any later campaign will be the victim of reprisal by Hylan's friends. So it is to be seen that the governor faces embarrassments and Leader Mc- Cooey of Brooklyn stands to make the largest winning. That Gov. Smith plans to return to private life at the close of his present term as governor a year from next January is not viewed as at all likely. He may want to get out of the political game, but forces which were strongly in evi. dence a year ago at Madison Square Garden are operating to keep him in the political arena. - Deadly Trolley Poles. The tragic accident on the Klingle Bridge the other night has caused renewal of the demand that the trolley poles be removed from the center of Connecticut avenue. One of these poles, it is believed, was a factor in the mishap, which cost three lives. The traffic on this highway is heavy, not only at the point of the accident, but far beyond. The poles are plant- ed in the center of the street and if the traffic is steady there is no dan- ger. But in conditions of congestion, which may occur at any time, these obstructions are a positive danger. A few vears ago an effort was made to establish the street railway tracks along Connecticut avenue extended as an exclusive right of way for the railroad company by constructing concrete curbs at the sides of the car lines, which made access to the tracks practically impossible to motor cars. These curbs were the cause of nu- merous accidents and Wwere even- tually removed, in response to an im- perative public demand. It proved to be impossible to keep the vehicular traffic off the tracks, which are nat- urally part of the highway. As long as the car tracks are ac- ~essible to motor cars—ocf course at the risk of drivers—the trolley poles become a serious menace in such con- ditions as prevail on Connecticut ave- nue. There is no difference, in fact, between that portion of the highway beyond Rock Creek and that part which lies within the area of under- ground conduction. The time has indeed long since passed when the “plow pit” should have been estab- lished far out beyond its present lo- cation. Washjngton is only partly protected from the menace and the nuisance of the overhead trolley so long as these poles remain within the area of heavy traffic. [ The motor is the modern method of transportation. It has its place and highways must be 80 supervised as to render them safe for motor vehicles as well as for pedestrians. Klansmen on parade may still effect a considerable amount of factal concealment if they will insist on wearing the “bell hats” imMtroduced by feminine fashions. It would have been considerate of the Tennessee authorities to stage the evolution demonstration of political celebrities When there was less static on the radio. e e Germany is not offering much eh- couragement to the theory that Hin- denburg was elected as the ex-kaiser’s understudy. ——————— It needs a serfoub accident, in too many cases, to demonstrate the truth of long protest that a bridge ls un- safe. ————— Efforts to reach the North Pole serve to call attention to Dr. Cook as an exponent of the motto ‘“‘Safety first.” S Fires and Car Blockades. A fire in the business district today caused a prolonged tie-up of cars on Pennsylvania avenue at an hour when the morning traffic was heaviest, Fire hose had to be stretched across the tracks and be- fore hose bridges could be erected the cars were lined up for several blocks on each side. By the time the bridges were raised and the tracks cleared nearly the entire rolling stock of the line had accumulated and service was consequently at a com- plete standstill. Naturally in case of a fire the first thing to do iz to get water on the flames. The traffic is of secondary importance to the extinguishment of the blaze. A few minutes’ delay may mean the spread of the fire and the destruction of immense property’ values, perhaps loss of life. In the case of a fire in the business section 6 or even 10 steamers are at work, or more in case of & general alarm, and many hose lines are stretched. The street car company must attend to its own business of getting the This attitude on the part of McCooey has caused some surprise, for it was understood that he was not particu- larly favorabls to Hylan for a third term. He in effect joined a boom for & Brooklyn man other than Hylsn for the mayoralty. He joined the Tam- many Society and smoked the pipe with the grand sachem. But then Mayor Hylan named a ferryboat after him, and he and the mavor jointly wielded the saw that sent the craft off the launching ways. It begins to appear that McCooey is playing both ‘£ads- - : tracks cleared to permit the passage of the cars. It may be assumed that the car companies do’ their utmost to clear the way for the operation of the lines. They cannot interfere in any way with the work of the Fire De- partment. The firemen must be per- mitted to stretch line after line of hose as the occasion requires, and it is obviously a difficult task to erect bridges quickly while the fire fighters are continuing to run their hose. The public may be assured that no effort 18- ppayed, to effect the speediest re THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, sumption of service and should and doubtless is gratified that as a result of the prompt and efficient work of the Fire Department blazes in the city’s business area are kept to small proportions. The inconvenience of a blockaded car line is slight compared with the savings in property due to the speedy and liberal use of hose. ——— e Human Error and Disaster. A motorman on a New York ele- vated railroad, taking his car out of a station last evening, dropped his glove. He had just glimpsed another train on the track about a hundred vards ahead, but he thought it was moving. He stooped to pick up his glove, and by the time he had re- gained it and straightened up his train was in collision. The trath ahead was not in motion. The result was that 40 passengers were seriously injured, and a greater disaster was averted only by the promptness of a city fireman who happened to be on the train and who extinguished flames that had started in the wreckage. Here is the “human error,” so often & factor in transportation accidents. The motorman “thought” the train ahead was in motion. He “thought” he had time to pick up his glove. He Was wrong in both matters. This man had been a motorman on the elevated lines in New York for seven vears without having an acci- dent, and yet he blundered grievous: lIy. Many another accident of the rails has occurred in just such cir- cumstances, experienced operatives making mistakes of judgment. It is the record of the “human error” in transportation mishaps that makes the establishment of automatic trainstops imperative. Had there been such a system on the New York “L" yesterday's collision would mnot have occurred. The motorman could have dropped his glove and stooped to pick it up, and could have made his mistake of thinking that the train ahead was in motion without causing a collision. A mechanical device is a necessary supplement to the judg- ment and experfence of even the most highly trained operatives, all of whom are liable to lapses. —_————— The old Arkansas celebrity who would not mend his roof in dry weather because it did not need it, and who let it go when it rained because he was unable to work, seems to have outlined a policy for a municipality that forgets in Winter to provide for bathing beaches and fails to foresee in Summer the inevitable need of future facilities for clearing snow from the streets. The subject of prepared- ness is one with many angles. —ee—. Preparations are already being dis- cussed relating to control of the Democratic party in 1928. Radio dev- otees will hope that a limit will be agreed upon as to the frequency with which Alabama will give 24 votes for Oscar Underwood. —————— It has hitherto been of the Vice President to maintain political silence. Mr. Dawes is courageously willing to face the Sen- ate with the understanding that he leaves that privilege to his immediate superior in office. — While eminent authorities are de- bating as to what shall be taught the small boy seeks the “old swimmin’ hole” and hopes the argument will result in a deadlock indefinitely “pro- longed. T Japanese insist on teaching their language in Hawali. Any one who has attempted acquaintance with a Japa. nese lexicon will sympathize with the students. o e Appeals to the Chinese government are rendered somewhat doubtful by the obvious fact that just at present China has no government worth men- tioning. the privilege ———————— Every effort will be made to con- vince President Calles that steps must be taken to curb the high-handed methods of the Mexican realtor. ———— The new traffic administration has thus far succeeded in conveying the impression that its purpose is rather to instruct than to territy. —_—re—— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Fair Enough. Friend Mocking Blrd, you make de- mand Upon my cherry tree; And then, defiantly you stand And sing a song to me. My bargain 1 esteem well made— Perhaps I may be wrong—" When merely cherries I can trade For your entrancing Song. Antics. “Do you believe your ancestors were monkeys?"” “No,” answered Senator Sorghum; “but I can remember the time when my immediate forbears were much afraid that I was going to make a monkey of myself.” Unsatisfaction. From our own selves we strive to flee, Resenting dull restraint; And what a feller'd like to be Is mostly what he ain’t. Jud Tunkins says fgminine superi- ority is completely proved. No mere man can get his picture in the paper simply by taking his clothes off. Engagements. “I received a proposal of marriage from a motion picture promoter,” said the beauty prize winner. “Don’t consider it,” advised Miss Cayenne. “If he was really in love with you, he'd have offered you & contract to appear in a film.” Decorative Impulse. Folks frankly go upon display ‘When Summer brings its discontent. The clothing that we wear today 1s only just embellishment. “I can't git over de old idea,” sald Uncle Eben, “dat religion was ‘in- tended foh stoppin’ ar, instia of starting ‘em.” THURSDAY, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. The man who calls you “Brother” is cousin to the dodg who greets you as “Captain!" Both of these salutations, of course, are great in their way, especlally if you have earned them. To be & brother to humanity is a worthy aim; to be a true captain, whether in war or Industry, is an achievement. But to have some morny-handed gentleman who never saw you before rush up with expanded palm and greet you affectionately as “Brother” is distinctly another matter. “Brother, what time is it?" he asks. You long to coolly lock up and down his frame, squelching him properly, as the ladles do, and say, firmly: “I am no brother of yours, buddy.” Instead, you take out the old time- piece, give it the once-over and peace- fully tell the simpleton the hour, then suffer the further indignity of “Thank you, brother."” You long to throw yourself upon the fellow and crush him with a few well directed crushes. There is some- thing about his way of addressing you that riles you considerably in that portion of the human mind which is easily upset. Surely there must be a section of the brain that is more touchy than the rest of it, else how can we ac- count for the testy people we meet every day? They get so upset over nothing. The way you look at them makes them angry. They are in- sulted at one’s tone of voice and be- come mortal enemies upon the slight- est provocation. Here we are, to be sure, irate be- cause some one with a pleasant out- look on life has dared to call us “Brother.” Well, that is the way life is. We recognize the faults in others, our own with greater difficuity. * ok x % “Doctor” {s another name we do not answer to, although it, too, is a great title. The true doctor Is in- deed a friend, a brother of humanity, a veritable captain in the army of life. The true doctor has sympathy as broad as mankind, the energy of the devil himself, and the ability that comes through proper education and later its proper application. A doctor, as he goes along, {t should be known, has to revise much that he has learned at medical school, suit- ing it to the individual case. At least the real doctor does. He finds out that much the profes- sors told him was what some other professors had told them, and was not always just exactly the real thing, as it is worked out in life. So he modifies his learned lore to suit his actual experience. Yes, “doctor” is a great title. When a breezy individual gives it to me, however, who have never earned it, it arouses righteous wrath. “Hello, doctor, how are you?" he calls. This divine simp usually does not know you very intimately, 8o you forgive him, since that is just his way of attempting to be cozy. Hello, doctor!” he calls. am no doctor, and never expect you would like to roar out. “Do you see anything about me that smacks of the medical profession? Can you find any diploma anywhere that shows me to be a graduate of any medical school? You fool, if You want to call me anything, why not pick out something I am! But don't call me doctor. I am no doctor. I am no captain. I am not vour brother! Like Jehovah of old, I am that I am, that is all! The cheerful idiot who thus insists on branding you with titles has an extensive repertoire. He does not seem Favors Vigilantes. Champion of Pedestrians Would War on Gas-Steppers. To the Editor of The Sta T am greatly interested in the auto slaughter questifon and what the remedies are to be, particularly be- cause I am one of that army of healthy men and good-looking women whq rely upon shank’s mare to carry them to and from their work. My tramp covers a mintmum of four miles each dayand through Dupont, Scott and Thomas Circles in the busiest hours of vehicular traffic, and it is surely food for thought, so I am offering the observations of one on the firing line and not as a long-range theoretical dissertation on something I never see. 1 join little bands of careful pedes: trians who linger on the sidewalks at the crossings and practice patience until the last speeder is given the right of way, and then remember that perhaps my call is just as urgent as the impatient joy-rider. Yes, they are a consistent lot of patient waiters and I must confess that it is myself that is often the transgresser in steallng through when an interval is a little longer between the string of cars, and it is only on very rare occasions that I see a pedestrian boldly and brazenly stalk forth and take his time and chance at a crossing. It is to recall the words of the old Greek philosopher, “Man, know thy- self,” or of the later English seer, “The noblest study for mankind is man,” for here at the street crossings in the busy hour is to see man In many phases. The pedestrian shows care, patience and a desire to observe rules and regulations, even to the smallest child, and the vast number of auto drivers are careful and at- tentive, but there is an element in the auto fraternity that is allowed to hardle murderous weapons Who should be deprived of this means of killing. These individuals own the streets and are always in an insatiable hurry. No one has a right to be on a cross- ing between the curbs and they feel under no obligation to slacken their speed there, no matter how busy a thoroughfare it may be to the pedestrian. Another class which needs the gag is the blackguard who must get ahead of you and, notwithstanding the large amount of space at your rear, he will even mount the curb on his wrong side of the street to cut you off. Cannot the authorities engender a little of the “after you, Alfonse” spirit in some of these men, instead of the desire to toot their horns and make right at you. I would like to join a vigilance com- mittee to report these gas-steppers, not for the purpose of harming them, but to put them on the black list, so that eventually they will meet their just deserts. Again I insist that it is this careless element that should be eliminated, and 1 am sure that the large majority of autoists is just as anxious to join in the weeding-out process. So with the united effort of con- scientious autoists, pedestrians, police and courts, let us spot the reckless dare-devil, put him on the black list, and when his record becomes flagrant and unbearable, wipe him off the list. “c;?l::‘e 1s another proposition I have to make in behalf of the unfortunate, for it is often the case that the father of a family, or one supporting dependents, or unfortunates depend- ing entirely on their daily wage, is stricken. Let us establish a fund like the working man’s compensation or employes’ liability insurance and add $1 to the yearly license fee, thus creating a fund of about $125,000, killed an ; permitted to go through life knowing his friends and acquaintances simply as Bill, and John and Mary. He meets you today, and tomorrow greets you as “Senator.” “How are you, Senator?” he asks. You could kill him, too, with the greatest of pleasure. You have the highest admiration for, the members of the upper house, too. You do not belong to that list that persists in hurling epithets at Senators. You know that many of them are really Big Men. The title of “Senator” ought to flat- ter you, but somehow it does not. It simply riles you. The man who care- lessly uses such titles probably has in the back of his mind the idea that he is being pleasant. He ought to take up the study of psychology. Instead of believing that the titles of “Cap” and “Brother” and “Senator” gnd “Doctor” or “Doc” are pleasing to his friends, he would real- ize that each one of them, when not properly given, is more or less of a reproach. ‘When you call a private “General," is it not really a reproach, Informing him that he has yet a long, long road to travel? To be called “General,” by the way, by some citizen who inquires the way to the White House, is an insult. Why can't the insufferable boob merely say, “Can you tell me the way to_the President's house, Migter Why does he find it necessary to phrase it, “‘General, where does the President live?"” “Do I look like a General?"” should retort. *“Do you see any epaulets? Any stars? Do I look bowed down with the care of an Army? I am no General, Mister! I would be proud of the distinction, if 1 had earned it, but, being inescap- ably civic, can lay no claim to the title at all. Call me anything you please, sir, except General, Brother, Captain, Doctor or Senator * ok x x After all, what is the necessity for our overuse of salutation titles? ‘The average man today seems to think that he cannot speak to an- other without addressing him as something. Many are in eternal doubt as to what they shall call others, especially superfor officers. Why call them anything at all? The easlest and best way to solve this problem is simply to omit the use of all salutary titles, or forms of address. " and “Madam” are graceful for the use of children, but their elders may well drop them The menial, by a certain deferepce in the tone of voice, could ask, “Did you call?” as well as “Did you call, sir In everyday life it is just as easy, after you get used to it, to inquire, “How are you?” as to say “How are You. captain? When a sightseer, Pennsylvania avenue, sees a white mansion which strikes him as fa- miliar, it is just as polite for him to turn to you and ask, “Is that the ‘White House?",as to inquire, “Broth- er, is that the White House” You ain't no brother of mine! feel called upon to sing, in eorge O'Connor’s famous version. Our daily talk is splattered with this misuse of titles and salutations, which could be better omitted. Then, when used, they would mean some- thing. The word “brother,” for in- stance, 18 a sacred one, but when ap- plied to every Tom, Dick and Harry becomes meaningless. Even some of the dear brothers in our lodges are bores and fools at the best; so what the stran- ger of being a vou standing on Building Limit Urged. Restriction on Height Held Key to Traffic Problems. To the Editor of The Star: Many of the leading magazines and newspapers are fevoting much space to the city-planning problems of overcrowded cities, how to relieve traMc congestion, zoning laws, etc. Practically all of the suggestions made for relief of these almost in- tolerable conditions, which are grow- ing worse and always Increasingly costly to remedy, lay the greatest stress upon more transportation and greater speed. Those two remedies are temporary expedients at best, because as soon as more transportation is provided or greater speed is allowed, or both, prop- erty owners In the congested centers immediately add more floors to old bulldings or erect new buildings with floor space equal to all the “traffic will carry. Only a few years ago a building of 5 floors was a rarity, then 10, then 20, then 30, then 40, then 50; now it s proposed to erect buildings 60 stories in height in the congested centers of population. But always these “investment enterprises” are conditioned on transportation facili- ties—primarily surface transportmtion by subway, surface or elevat as perpendicular transportation is only a secondary consideration. Hence, as soon as a community is willing to tax itself to provide more transportation room to relieve present trafic congestion, enterprising in- vestors “take up the slack” for their individual profit, and, therefore, to the community’s loss, since the commu- nity must foot all the bills to provide more room for increased transporta. tion. Here, then, each community is faced with a vicious circle of traffic- congestion problems that increase in cost to relleve each time it is at. tempted. A New York City planning expert now suggests that the East River be drained to provide more ‘“surface” transportation room, and further sug- gests that New York City is ‘‘threat- ened” with triple street levels. Such facilities being provided, it is reason- able to presume that enterprising in- vestors will erect more high build- ings with greater floor space sufficient to “take up the slack” in_ transporta- tion room thus provided at the com- munity’s expense. The remedy, and the only remedy, is to limit the helght of .new build: ings. GROVER WARREN AYERS. per year in this city, and an award of $1,000 to the estates of these parties for dependents would absorb $100,000 of this fund. But 100 claims for dependents is not to be anticipated, because a large majority of these deceased will have none depending on them for support. For each wage-earner incapacitated, give him $20 per week as long as unable to work, with a maximum of 15 weeks. For the loss of a_ limb, $1,500; the loss of an eye, $1,000; permanent blindness, $2,000; and surgical and hospital attention extra, and other losses or injuries will be listed and graded. There might be a roar of protests by the autoists at this imposition in consequence of the transgressions of certain of the profession, but a de- crease of the accidents will It in the decrease in license fees and the millennium may arrive when there will be no accident and consequently no fund. This fund will be in the keeping of one of the municipal treasurers and a board composed of desirable officials, who shall decide upon the awards. These awards will not be numerous and the board, at one meeting a week, might clean off the} X JUNE 18, 1925 THE NORTH WINDOW By Leila Mechlin. No words can ever mean to us as much as the work of art about which they are spoken, but they can some- times help us to a better understand- ing. As a rule books on art are con- sidered dull; many of them are, but of a considerable number this is not true, neither is it correct to suppose that books on art are only for the art speclalist. To the contrary, often- times they are written for the gen- eral reader, and if such will take time to look within the covers he will not only discover his mistake but be amply rewarded. L There are, as every one knows, at least two kinds of books on art—one treating primarily with the history of art and dealing with art as a thing in itself; the other having to do with the appreciation of art—in short, its rela- tion to life. It would be betier if the two invarfably went hand in hand, but they do not, hence the Impression which is so very prevalent, that art is a mere luxury—something that can be taken up or laid aside at will, something which concerns only the few. H. Van Buren Magonigle, in his lately published book entitled ‘“The Nature, Practice and History of Art,” admirably meets this difficulty. He first takes up the qualities common to all forms of art, then, turning to the artist, explains the means of expres- sfon employed in architecture, sculp- ture and painting, dealing successively Wwith the technique of each of these forms. Later he brings before the curtain fn turn the Greeks, the Ro- mans, those of the Middle Ages and of the early Renaissance and thus grad- ually shows the development of the art of today as the inheritor of the past. The lining-papers of the front and back of this really fascinating and comprehensive work carry maps upen which the currents of influence in the classic, medieval and Renais. sance epochs may be traced. There are numerous and excellent illustra- tions, furthermore, arranged as nearly as possible in chronological order, and the titles under these amplify and sup- plement the text, so relieving it of the burden of dates which so often, as the writer himself says, pull a reader up and check the swing of the narrative. This is the kind of book to take away for Summer reading. Mr. Magonigle, the author, it will be remembered, 1s himself an archi- tect and one of very considerable dis- tinction. He s the designer of the great War Memorial which is at present in process of erection in - sas City, Mo. His wife is a mural painter. He has, furthermore, an in timate, firet-hand knowledge of art and broad vision which, coupled with & sensitive understanding and real literary gift, make his writings au- thoritative as well as instructive and enjoyable. * k% % Issued about the same time during the past season was an “Appreciation of Art” by Eugen Neuhaus of Cali- fornia, @ painter and assoclate pro- fessor of art in the University of Call fornia, a real school bovk, but one which deals with the subfect of art very humanly and in a way which is unique. The introduction of this book sets forth the proper relation of the artist and the public, and instead of treating his subject chronologically he treats it subjectively, bringing into common relationship the arts with which we are familiar today and the great art of the p It is a fresh and understandable viewpoint. He has the painter’s enthusiasm and the teacher’'s gift, and it would be well indeed if this little book of his had universal reading and study. * o ox x There 18 much discussion today of modern art, or, rather, modernism in art. Two books recently published treat of this theme intelligently, thoughtfully and impressively. One is by Elie Faure—Volume IV of his com- prehensive “History of Art,” translated by Walter Pack; the other is the translator's own 'book on_ the more recent of the modernists. Mr. Faure's work is a very comprehensive treatise, carefully tracing the threads of {nher- itance from Velasquez through Ce- zanne to the present day S\Ir. Pack writes more as from the camp of the: modernists, but without committing himself. One of the interesting fea- tures of his book is the arrangement of illustrations in a section by them- selves and the comment given on each by the writer. This is as though one were shown the works of these mod- ernists by one who had found their secret and was able to elucidate it. Should one have an inclination to pursue this study further, Ralph M. Pearson, the etcher, who is an avowed modernist, has lately found expression through words in a little book en- titled “How to See Modern Pictures."” Few are more sincere or have sac- rificed 8o largely success in convic- tion as has Mr. Pearson. He has, therefore, the right to be heard with respect. ~ If his book were unillus- trated it would undoubtedly help to encourage faith in and gain adherents for the modernists’ point of view, but the reader is disillusionized by the works which are set forth as ex- amples. How often it happens that theory and practice seem not to go hand in hand. * X % % ‘Within the last few years inter- est in etching has greatly increased in the country. During the past sea- son three international exhibitions of etching were heldi—one in New York, one in Chicago, one in California— and from all three numerous sales were made. Besides these, any num- ber of exhibitions of etchings have been traveling to and fro, North, South, East and West, and there has been lively competition in their sale. Possibly to meet this interest, a Lon- don publisher has got out a series of books on “Modern Masters of Etch- ing,” each one devoted to the work of one artist and illustrated with numer- ous full-page facsimile reproductions of his best known works. Now, as a rule, facsimile reproductions of etch- ings are but poor and sorry things, but in this case they are excellent— 8o good, in fact, that they vie with the originals in ‘artistic quality, and they are absurdly cheap. There are 12 facsimile plates “tipped-in” in each volume, the price of which in England is only 6 shillings net. Yet here we have the works of Brangwyn, McBey, Zorn and Forain—works which in the original bring at public auction today hundreds, and in the case of Zorn, sometimes more than a thousand dol- lars. What a bargain! What an op- portunity to acquire first-hand knowl- edge and appreciation of the work of these masters! * Kk ok % Those who are going to Italy this Summer will do well to tuck into their handbag the little “History of Italian Painting,” by Frank Jewett Mather, jr., Marquand professor of fine arts at Princeton University. There is no owe in this country who knows, Italian peinting better than Mr. Mather, and in this book he brings to the reader not only the knowl acquired by long and intimate stt:!&a but the enthusiasm of the lover art. It is as though one were visiting some of the great galleries in his com- pany and acquiring acquaintance with the masters from him; yet there are none of the earmarks of the guide book about this little volume. It is essentially a friendly work. And with it, if you have the room, put in Stark Young's “The Three Fountains,” which tells you how to see Italy as a work of art, not what to see in Italian galleries. And finally, as a last suggestion, carry with you, if you can obtaln a copy, Julla Cartwright’s “Beatrice d’'Este,” h the pages of which you will come into intimate uaintance with those who lived at Rénalasance, ik A Of 16 BGh ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. What names are most common in the United States?—R. C. A. In a survey of surnames which was made when the United States entered the World War, it was found that in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps there were 56 names which ap- peared on the rolls more than 4,000 times. Smith led, with Johnson, Brown, Willlams, Jones, Miller, Davis and Anderson following. Q. How fast does a cavalry horse walk 7—O. L. A. The regulation walk of a cav- alry horse is the same as any other horse—about four miles an hour. Q. In the qualifying round of a golf tournament a player failed to putt out on one green, having missed a short putt, and picked up his ball and walk- ed off to the next tee. He turned in a score. Should he have been dis- qualified?—I. H. 8. A. The player disqualified himself when he failed to hole out his final putt unless before he played from the next tee he returned to the green, replaced his ball and made the final putt, and then charged himself with a penalty of two strokes. If he turned in a score under the conditions he should have been disqualified. More- over, the player who was playing the qualifying round with him should have been disqualified for certifying a score that was not correct. Q. What is the Japanese name for the lacquered sweetmeat boxes?—A. L. A. They are called “kwashi-bachi.” The art of lacquer work was first known to the Chinese and taught by them to the Japanese, who now excel in it. Q. Is there a “Back to Eden” movement abroad in which people are required or persuaded to go without clothes?—W. T. K. A. In Central Europe, and notably in Germany, there are a number of so-called nude cults, the members of which make a practice of going with- out clothes. Estimates as to the number of men and women identified with the cults vary from 500,000 to 3,000,000. The names of some of these organizations are: The Band of Sun Friends, the German League of Clubs for Life and Health in Conforming With Nature, Nacktkultur and the Working Fellowship of the German Alliance of Crusaders for the Light. Q. To what extent do automatic telephones do away with telephone operators?—R. N. M. A. The Automatic Electric Co. savs that when a telephone sys- tem in a small town or city of mod- erate size is converted to automatic, all of the operators formerly engaged in setting up local connections are iminated, leaving only sufficient op- erators to take care of long service, information, complaints, etc. These special services require the same op- erating force as the former manual system. The percentage of opera- ors used for local service is vari able and runs from 30 to 40 per ce to 90 per cent, depending on the size of the exchange and the local traffic or service conditions. In a large city, when conversion is made, one two offices at a time, the question of same thing may be said to be true— that is, that all operators formerly engaged in handling lccal traffic are eliminated. Q. When was hemp first grown?— H.E. A. The hemp plant proper is a native of that part of Asia that in- cludes China, India and Persia. Its culture has been common, however, to many portions of the world in both tropical and temperate climates. It was used by the Scythians 2,500 years ago, and was probably known to the Chinese and Europeans much earjier In the United States the bulk of its crop at present is grown in Kentucky and California. Q. When was the table of trick and honor values changed in auction bridge?—D. M. R. A. The value of the suits in use now—clubs 6, diamonds 7, hearts 8, spades 9, no trumps 10—was fixed by the Whist Club of New York, Novem- ber, 1913. Q. Do white violets grow in United States’—A. J. 1. A. They do grow in the Northern part of the United States. They are known as Alba violets and Canadian white viclets. Q. How man: equal to a microfarad and henry?—W. O. B A." It takes 898920 centimeters to equal 1 microfarad, and 1,000,000,000 centimeters 1 henry. In electricity the henry s the unit of inductance and the mocrofarad the unit of con- venilent size for measuring electrical capacity. Q. How did the expression “a far cry,” meaning a long distance, come into use’—A. C. A. It is an allusion to the practice of sending a crier or messenger through the territory of a Scottish clan to give announcements of sum mons. Q. Can post cards bearing pictures of paintings in the Metropolitan Art Gallery be bought there?—H. B. W. A. To the left of the main entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art there is a department where one may purchase colored postals on which are reproduced certain of the well known paintings on exhibition in the gallery. Q. When were grandfather clocks first made?—G. G. A. They came into existence be- tween 1660 and 1670, the centimeters are to one (Ask Uncle Sam about it through the Washington Information Bureau of The Star. All knowledge the Gou- ernment is gaining through research and investigation is available to you Don’t hesitate to make your wants known. A 2-cent stamp will bring you the information you nmeed. This service is for all readers of The Star and is designed to be helpful to all who avail themselves of it. An effec- tive clearing house between the Gov- ernment and the people will aid you and it is yours for the asking. Ad- dress your wants to The Star Infor- mation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin operator reduction becomes very com plex, but in a very general way the It's vaca- nds of boys and girls who are shouting y are in no doubt “School ' tion!” The of Washing these w ¢ whatever that the shou! acme of human hallelujahs. dreds of weary teachers are ready to cry “Hurrah” with almost as much joy, though expressed with more ma ture dignity and deliberation It is generally agreed that the schools are the factories of citizen- ship, yet when a factory closes down few_hurrahs usually are heard. The product of the school is trained facul- ties of the pupils, and upon the cor- rectness of that training depends the efficiency, the intelligence and the patriotism of the finished product. * x % % For eight years the schools of Wash- ington have been using geographies which showed the map of Europe as it existed prior to the World War. The geographies told the boundaries of the German Empire, over which reigned the Kaiser Wilhelm. They showed Alsace and Lorraine as be- longing to the German Empire and told nothing of Poland, for had mot Poland been partitioned when Kosci- usko fell and Freedom shrieked? There are several nations which have been carved out of Russia and Aus- tria and set upon their own feet since the geographies were printed, but Congress had no official or scho- lastic knowledge of what that had to do with text books in the Washington schools, so the old_text books were continued in use. Economy did not originate with the present gentleman of the White House, for did not Con- gress impress it upon the schools year after year? The teachers knew that the text books were misleading, and so they told their pupils not o trust them as to details, but to recognize their au- thority where they printed the state- ment that the world is round and that there is more water than land For detalls as to political boundaries look at the map chalked upon the blackboard or printed in some maga- zine. Next vear things will be different. New geographies are to be supplied, and no longer will puplls hesitate be- tween accepting the verbal teaching of the school in contradicting the text books. Confusion of the minds of pupils will cease—at least as to geography—and even the children of returned veterans who helped to change the boundaries of Europe will no longer be in conflict with the text books. Hurrah! 1o | * ok ok x So much for modern geography. But— When the history classes line up to recite the thrilling story of the battle of Bunker Hill they may be tempted to commit to memory the entire ac- count literally and tell all recorded details by rote—a lazy mentality—for from Muzzey's officlal text book of American history all that chapter may be quoted here without overrunning space limits: “In June, Gage's army stormed the American breastworks on Bunker Hiil in three desperate and bloody as- saults.” That is the whole reference to the battle which marked the founding of the Nation. No story of heroism, no account of the outcome, no reference to the fact that the Americans were led by a doctor, without military expe- rience, against the British troops who had turned the French battalions to flight. There is no mention of the pa- tient bravery of men who could hold their fire until they could detect the white of the enemy’s eves. Warren's fall is unrecorded. What is herolsm or_patriotism? ‘What was all the Revolution about? The text says it was a ‘“causeless, wanton, wicked rebellion.” and the “gcts of the people of New England”— ancestors of President Coolidge and Vice President Dawes, the latter of whom rode with Paul Revere to excite e people around Lexington and Con- cord—these acts were “irritating and insulting teK!'{lnc George"—even “out- ed the King.” T fatrick Henry and the Adamses were “irreconcilable spirits,” sounding forth “rhet Wwarnings.’ dext book excuses the director, Twenty-first and C streets worthwest.) BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. natural con of vessels wh. natural If the Br examir in a summ a good m the sus guns of thought he was side.” After a Americans were apart.” The playful mistakes in impress- ment are officially computed to have taken more than 20,000 Americans forcibly from American ships, and when one protested and wanted to ap- peal to an American consul, the prac- tice was to tie him to the mast and lash all such desire out of his soul. Mr. Muzzey fails to teach our rising generation any of the story of vic tories by Décatur, Porter, Perry, Rog- ers or Bainbridge, son at New Orleans. than Hale?, Who w manded the Constitution and destroyved the British frigate Gueriere—the fi great naval battle of the War of 1512 Will any student of Muzzey's “T of the United States” answer? 1920 edition Mr. Muzzey exalted the British spy, Maj. Andre, but quite overlooked the American spy, Nathan Hale, who ascended the British gal- lows with the immortal regret that he had but one life to give to his coun- try. Snglishmen a not so easy to tell ik The Muzzey history has been re- vised since the original edition of 1920. Some of the glaringly unpa- triotic language has been modified. Nevertheless, according to school of- ficials at headquarters, the 1920 edi- tion is still used, more or less, by pu- pils who have Inherited copies from older brothers and sisters, or bought “bargains” at second-hand store The plea of extenuation of the crit cism on the omission of the names of historic heroes from the high school histories is made on the ground that in the grade histories are ‘“stori about persons, and that such are not desirable in teaching “grave and rev- erend seniors.” * % % % Yet as to more modern public men, that rule of omission does not hold, for Blaine was a “somewhat discred- ited Speaker of the House” though “by far the most prominent man in the Republican party.” He was ‘“‘un- der the reproach of shady dealings,” and “was in alliance with the mos unscrupulous men of his party, Cleveland was nominated against him (Blaine) “because of the demand for an honest candidate.” Further- more, according to the text book of history in the Washington schools: “Grant, at Appomattox, had been no- ble,” but as President he was “unduly susceptible to the influence of men who had made millions.” “Hayes had fraud written across his brow,” and when Guiteau shot Garfleld, it was in order “to rid his country of a traitor.” Cleveland ‘“regarded the protective tariff as a ‘ruthless extortion’ of the people’s money, vicious, illegal and inequitable,” and he was a man of directness and decision of character, “but Harrison and McKinley were put in power by the Interests.” Xk xR One of the last letters written by President Harding was addressed to Mr. Wallace McCamant, president of the Sons of the Revolution, and the man who made the speech putting Calvin_Coolidge in nomination for Vice President in 1920. President Harding said in that letter: “I trust you will not weary in well- doing and that your efforts in behalf of a better presentation and under- standing of the truths of our na- tional history may produce the good resuits that we all so much desire.” The Piney Branch Citizens' Asso- ciation, by its comumittee, headed by 8. T. Cameron, attorney, is agi- tating the reform so indorsed by President Harding, but some of the teachers of history in our high schools express themselves satisfied, Qopyzight, 1925, by Raul Y Collinad