Evening Star Newspaper, January 7, 1926, Page 6

6 THE EVENING With WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY. ... .January 7, 1926 STAR Sunday Morning Edition. . . Editor THEODORE W. NOYES. The Evening Star Newspaper Company Chic European with the “her ma per month, telephone Mai carrier at the end 1 tion s made by h month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. ey and_ sundas V00: 1 mo ¥ only )0 1 n Sunday only 30 1 mo. 1yr 1y 153 ATl Other States and Canada. Dally and Sunday..1 yr.. $12.00: 1 mo.. $1.00 Dally ‘Oniy -+, o.1vr. $K.00:1mo. Sunday only 1yr. $4000 1mo. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the uso for republication of wll newe dis- atches ed to it or not otherwise cred- ted in this paper and also the local news published herein Al rights of publication o1 special dispatches herein are also reserved. Memorial Bridge Contracts. An opinton by the Controller Gen eral that one of the contracts for the construction of the Arlington Memo- rial Bridge is not authorized under existing law, and therefore vold, may cause some delay in the begin- ning of work on that structure, but 1t 18 hoped that it will not materially check the improvement. It would ap- pear that the Controller General ob Jects to provisions in the agrepment for architectural service relating to fees and expenses on the ground that they tnvolve an indeterminate expend- fture and are indefinite and uncer- fain in their application. These, it would seem, are points easily to be eorrected to the end that a revised contract satisfactory to the legal au- thorities may be written. It would be deplorable to have this great work held up for any length of time because of technicality or a dif- ference of opinion regarding the terms of the contract. There is no sugges- tion of impropriety on the part of the contracting officers of the Government in the writing of this contract. The Controller General, in his capacity as “watchdog of the Treasury,” in which afficult role he is placed by law, has held that the agreement already drawn and entered into is not suffi- clently specific. That can be amended, and it doubtless will be, so that this great project can proceed. Many years have elapsed since the Memorial bridge plan was first pro- posed. At last the work is at the point of execution. The prelimina- ries of soll examination have been completed, and all is ready for the actual construction, which will prob- ably cover a term of vears. Every interest urges the utmost speed, with consideration for good workmanship and permanence. It is a large under- taking. It will cost many millions. It 1s well that the contracts should be so drawn that no question can be afterward rafsed regarding their va- Hdity or equity. This present halt in the proceedings may make for even- tually better progress. French Floods. svery few years Paris suffers from an inundation which causes a great damage. The prevalence of heavy rainfall in the central provinces finds the Seine unable to carry off the un- usual volume of water and it over- flows fts banks. The fall Is not suf- ficlent to carry off the waters rapidly enough. In 1910 the city was badly flooded, again in 1924 the waters rose to a hig point, though not as is huyers expressed preferences for highly imaginative tales and illus- trated books of verse, “‘written with a kick in them by authors who previous- 1y had made an appeal to adult read- ers.” In short, the younger readers “showed a wild desire for pep and a bit of wit, and refus:d to be put off with the goody-goody things of a gen- eration ago." This is a gratifying report. It shows that all is not running to jazz and nonsense, that serious reading is on the increase, that poetry is more high- Iy appreciated, and that, despite the wish of the younger readers for more lively literature, the general trend is pward. This is to be welcomed as a sign of the times, distinctty cheering to those who have been watching with some concern tendencies affecting both old and voung, indicative of a frivolous disposition - House the National Guard. | Building for an armc high as fourteen years earlier. Just at present the same condition prevails. The Seine is in flood as a result of abnormal rains. The Marne, which joins the Seine east of Paris, has swelled the waters of that river and great anxiety is now felt lest the quays Optimistic officials, noting ience of the Seine and the Marne in their upper reaches, be- leve that the flood will not at its helght reach the maximum of 1924, which was three meters below the record of 1910. Nevertheless, the peo- ple are y watching the stotue uave, on the Jena Bridge, famous water mark. When od waters reach the feet of the Paris is acutely alarmed. Sub- ‘e of the figure itself means disastér of great magnitude. A flood in Paris 1 especially serfous, as it affects the busiest part of the olty and always does serious damage. The co: of the flood of 1919 n into many millions of dollars. France is financial condition to stand a disaster of magnitude from natural \d the ordinary anxiety on e 1s intensified by the finan clal difficulties with which the coun- try is now confronted. be overrun the su causes, s and operators regret the tv of compelling the public to suffer, each side hoping that the other will be moved to sympathy and yield a point. — e L Better Book Taste. The report from Chicago regarding the literary tastes of that community, compiled from statements of booksell- ers and library officials, shows a most gratifying improvement in the intel- lectual attitude of the people. All book sale recorts were broken during the last six months of 1925, the sales for the latter half of the year showing an increase of from 15 to 20 per cent over the corresponding period of 1924. The Chicago Public Library circulated 11,000,000 volumes during the year,an increase of 400,000. Not only was the volume of book- buying and book-reading increased, but the quality was improved. Book dealers sold nearly three times as many volumes of poetry in 1925 as in the year previous. Biographical works were much more in demand. Buyers of fiction turned aside from the sentimental romance and favored the character novel, the psychological novel and the story of mysticism. Among the juveniles a ‘“‘curious trend” was developed, as the book- pellera poins cut, The youthtul poak Ordered to vacate its quarters at 472 L street northwest, the District Na- tional Guard, through its commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, has requested the use of the Pension Office y. In a letter to the Public Bulldings Commission vhich it Is expected will meet in a few days, Gen. Stephan pointed out that a small portion of the building would be needed, as it is planned to use the interior court for drill pur- s and the office space required would be negligible Serious consideration should be given by the commission to Gen. Stephan's request. Agitation has been going on for many years for suitable quarters for the District National Guard, which is one of the livest organizations of its type, and in Gen. Stephan has for its leader an able soldfer. It permission Is granted for use of the Pension Bullding, it is only a tem- porary measure, as the real need, a suitable armory, is still to be provided for the proper development of the organization. Gen. Stephan’s request is eminently reasonable. With the Pension Office personnel to be moved into the Interior Department Building, no better use of the vacated structure could be made. Unless some other definite plans have been made by the building com- mission or some good reason can be advanced for refusing the request of the Guard, temporary quarters should certainly be made available for Gen. Stephan and his men. In the meantime, even if permission is granted, vigorous efforts should be made to cause Congress to realize the importance of permanent and ade- quate quarters for the Guard. A cov- ered drill hall of sultable dimensions with office space should be provided, so that the organization can be forever relieved from worry as to where its next headquarters will be situated. The record of the National Guard, both In war and peace, is a splendid one. Its morale should not be under- mined by lack of recognition. A per- manent National Guard Armory 1s one of the pressing needs of the National Capital. oo Police Politeness. In a salutatory address before the Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati the other night Col. C. O. Sherrill, newly installed as city manager, had a few words to say on the subject of police politeness. He is reported as remarking: Policemen have authority and therefore do not need to bluster. They can arrest a man, where neces- sary, or use their club on him in time of need, but should not “bawl out” citizens. They must be polite. It was said in Washington that the po- lice force was so polite that an ar- resting officer would approach an of- fending woman and sa; 'Good morn- ing, Mrs. Smith. I am sorry to inform you that you're going to jaill for failure to pay a fine of ten doliars.” This picture of the Washington po- liceman may not be universally rec- ognized in this city, where at times a different impression has prevailed re- garding the bearing of the guardians of ¢he law. Col. Sherrill knows the subject, however, and Is well acquaint- ed with the police ethics of the Cap- ital, and it is gratifying that he has given the people of Cincinnati so ex cellent an impression of the manners of the police of this city. It is to be hoped that he will be able to instill the same spirit of consideration into the force there. The other day Mayor Walker of Greater New York, on taking office, enjoined all municipal employes, po- lice included, to treat all citizens with the utmost respect and courtesy. He has followed up this general admo- nition with specific Instructions to the police force, calling for a course of conduct similar to that which Col. Sherrill bespeaks. It may be some- what of a wrench for the M. Ps of Manhattan to adopt a manner that is rather allen to the general concept of that organization. It was once said that the Japanese police were the most polite in the world, and that when a member of that force was compelled to place a citizen under arrest he would accost him with this courteous mandate: “Deign honorably to accompany me to the honorable jail.” Thereupon he would tie a silken thread to the wrist of the prisoner, and, holding the other end, would stroll with his captive to the place of incarceration while they chatted amicably about the cherry blossoms. - Perhaps this picture is somewhat overdrawn, but it undoubt- edly represents the manners of the Japanese police, at least of former times. It may be that this idea of police politeness is that which is en- tertained by Col. Sherrill and which he will endeavor to establish in Cin- cinnati. —_——————————— Keeping cool is an excellent prac- tice, but fuel users are compelled to admit that at this time of year it can be overdone. Record Freight Loadings in 1925. An index of the prosperity of the country is always to be found in the records of freight traffic. That which was written during the year of 1925, which has just been compiled, was beyond precedent. The greatest vol- ume of freight traffic on record, meas- ured by the number of cars loaded with revenue freight, was handled by the rafiroads of this country during Foax just closed. The pumbes of THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. 0, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1926. 'lofldefl cars was 51,177,962, an increase of 2,643,529 cars, or 5.4 per cent over 1924 and 2.7 per cent over 1922. It ‘was an increase of 13.4 per cent over 1920, a remarkable five-year advance. Moreover, the total for 1925 was an increase of 688,392 cars, or 1.4 per cent over the estimate made early in the Spring by the car service divielon of the American Railway Assocla- tion. Notwfthstanding this unexpected swelllng of the volume of freight traffic, it was handled without any transportation difficulties by the rail- roads and with no car shortage At all times during the year the lines have had no less than 103,000 surplus freight cars in serviceable condition and no less than 4,200 surplus serv- iceable locomotives. This is a remarkable record, nct only as to volume, but as to reserves of rolling stock and power. The rail roads of the country have recovered from the bad conditions brouglit about by the war-time stress and check on improvements and exhaustion of re- serves of rolling stock. They are now in excellent condition physically and are steadily improving in financial strength. Labor conditions also have improved. There have no di turbances in relations hetween the transportation companies and their employes. The troubles over shop work have been settled, and to that fact s attributable in large measure the abundance of rolling stock and power to cope with the record volume of traffic. When tively sl tation tr. been one considers the compara ort time since rail trans introduced into this coun the fact that during a singic week at the end of August 1,124,436 cars were loaded with revenue freight stands out as a striking ev'dence of the tremendous growth of husiness in the United States, a growth which re- flects the prosperity of all the people. ———————— It might require erudite patience to determine where valuable and neces- sary information ceases and “propa- ganda” begins. Ill effects of propa- ganda might be more serfously feared if it were not so plainly demonstrated that it never prevents any question from having the customary two sides to be debated. ————— It is reported that Carol of Rumania renounced the throne for political and not sentimental reasons, thus leaving the discussion open as to whether he is to be regarded as a student of state. craft Instead of a poetic idealist; more of a Machiavelll than a Romeo. ————— No modern vouth will envy King Tut, who, with all his opulence, had to be content with fine ratment and jew- els Instead of enjoying base ball or the movies. One of the best services of archeology is to point out the ad- vantages of modern existence. ————— When Mussolini gets his plans un- der way for restoring ancient splen dors and establishing new ones the Roman realtors will enjoy opportuni. ties such as they never before dream. ed of. —_————— The earnest endeavors of Smedley Butler did not persuade Philadelphia to turn over enough of a new leaf to leave the old town room for the cus- tomary January backsliding. —_—————— The Senate is now wondering whether Presiding Officer Dawes will be able fully to reflect the policies of the Administration, so far as keeping cool is concerned. —_————— ‘When a popular musiclan and the daughter of a famous financier decided to marry there was no chance what- ever of making It a “quiet wedding.” —_————— It has remained for Hindenburg to demonstrate that Wilhelm Hohenzol- lern could be when he chose a man of gentle and retiring disposition. ——— Anthracite operators say they have not receded from the position they teok on July 9 in Atlantic City. The thermometer means nothing to them ———————— Philadelphia may be willing to con- fide her troubles to the local police, but will never again be persuaded “to tell them to the marines.” por- One of the chief requirements of a French minister of finance is the abil- ity to keep hoping for the best. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Recovery. The sun s lingering, we find, A little longer, day by day. Though bitter blows the northern wind, ‘We know that Spring is on the way. Though dark and cheerless was the plight Which found a world, by strife dis- mayed, o Humanity still loves the light And smiles no longer swiftly fade. More to Be Accomplished. “Are you going to help reduce the income tax?” “I'm going to do more than that, answered Senator Sorghum; “I'm Bo- ing to try to reduce the labor of filling in blanks so that two-thirds or more of our population won’t have to go through life feeling like tired business men.” Weary Audience. The coal strike brings us day by day Contentlons loud and numerous. By this time nothing they can say Seems either wise or humorous. Jud Tunkins says a New Year reso- lution that has lasted even this long isn't altogether a failure. Limitation. “There is a limit to the knowledge any one human being can acquire,” remarked the ready-made philosopher. “I have realized that,” answered Miss Cayenne, “since I endeavored to learn all the traffic regulations.” The Automatic Cop. The signal stands serene and stout, Its message to deliver. 1 know it will not bawl me out Nor frown and make me shiver, “When a friend tells you to forget your troubles,” said Uncle. Eben, “what he most likely means is foh you to quit talkin’ and let him forged THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. A letter from a reader: ‘“Dear Mr. Tracewell: We are wondering what happened-to charmiilg Estey alley and its homey people. At times we used Lo be quite envious of those lovely back- yards, with their brilliant hollyhocks and spicy potted geraniums, because we were compelled at that time to gaze upon an outlook resembling a barracks. “Our rectangle, the heart of a city block, was bounded on all four sides with double-deck porches of motley array, and only a subsoil of yellow clay for its floor. It took two years of strenuous effort and many appl tions of ‘top soll’ to induce anything to begin to grow, and by that time our patience had Leen exhausted, and we had sold our interest in the place and moved into the suburbs where all na- ture smiles @'en though for the past few days it has been a somewhat cold, though not formidable attempt at cheerfulnes “We like most of your artlcles, but agree with a reader in thinking you have left Mary Roque and Col Ball somewhat in the air 1se see tha gets home safely, and back into business life, for we need our Mi ixit quite frequently, and, for hi 4 ke, release the colonel fron utches of that real estate agent in Florida! It's too forcible a reminder of various late unpleasant- nesses among your readers to savor of peacerulness of mind. Thanks for vour various sketches ind books in general. We me time there would bout John Ke He is our favorite Of course, the Lowell biography is splendid, but one ays interested in learning what may think of their especial fa- , for almost always a new view- lished and a deeper un derstanding of the author is arrived imething Sometimes, when genius lags (f it ever does with you), come out on the Heights for inspiration. Our people are just ‘home folks' in their relation to you and The Star. We have some fine trees, the noble river and some fine cats, which might prove Interest- ing to you. “Hut best of all n one sense are the birds. We wish you were ac quainted with our friend, the Cardi- nal. He always gives a new mean- ing to existence when he sings, carry- ing one straight to the center of life itself. We have wished 1 times ome one would herald his vir- you have done for Jack ¥ With our Cardinal genius is ever He is always able to kindle a flame of some caliber in even the most sluggish mind. We do not recall 1 single article of yours hout birds (we hawe missed an occasional one although we have read the consistently since March, perhaps our little friend: peal to pou ve . but w hoping they do, since they are well worth any attention we may give them, and ean teach us many lessons. Sincerely, E. M. C. R. B RN The writer of the above closed the following poem, which seems to me of sufficient merit to wargant printing ECHO. The crested Cardinal sang his song From the 10p 0f & maple tree, hars and strong, In the still, cold air of an Autumn morn. On the topmost boush. of its beauty shorn, ‘ at afiame, letter in- 0 hiear the sound What cared he that the ckies were gray? That his leafy bower bad blown away? In the kreat witlin, where the white shrines stand. He has felt the touch of an unseen hand. And. although unknowing from whence it came, 0T e Feasan that it should be. o_gave hig all at the cull divine. While he sang in the mapie troe the tree had given he: mensur In requiem low and sweet, When West Wind carried her tre: To_enshroud the earth at her fe So this {ovous songster ponred forth his lay in the Autumn chill of the gray still day, While the year was ebbing its life away. As | the traix It brought (o remembrance that shrine with- n At whose font alone flows surceass from sin. Theu. the brotherhood realm in the hearts of men, As the changes rang through his song again: And the Weaver who sits at these shrines = within, Guiding the threads while the shuttles spin, That the warp und woof of the fabiic of lité | gleam only in golden Of the textile woven within tho, Heariug the impress of what we g1 . from tree and bird, {rom you ‘and me, The color and tone of the, weh will be The result of the way we live. threads Sing on, bricht Cardinal, your echo true, Ot the fong of life, and our faith renew. THl ull mankind find the solace sweet Of that love wliich is peace, at the Master's ect * ok ok % The letter above received on the grayest day of the Winter to date, when Washington had taken on some: thing the appearance of London in a fog, and a mist hid the top of the Capitol dome, and every one went around saying, “What a miserable day! The cheery letter, displaying such knowledge and apprectation of these daily writings, made bright the day for this writer; and it is with the hope that its recital will do some- thing of the same sort for readers in general that he prints it her. One touch of human nature makes the whole world kin: one rk of the homely helps unite ty of homes. There are, officially, ween 0,000 and 90,000 homes in Na i the Each of these home e who live there, the ultimate in Did vou, kind reader, ever stop to think of that? Such of the virtues iy of us know are found in the home.* The very Nation rests on_the home. Therefore, the writer of this col umn has a sense of pride in recalling that he has written, chiefly and fore mostly, of the home, the American home. the Washington home, the “Home, Sweet Home" of the immortal song represents, for ok oxox If I were to answer E. M. C. R. In publie, as it were, I would say some- thing along this line: “Dear E. M C. R—Fstey alley 1s as charming as ever, thank you! A multitude of toples has taken us away, for a time, from that one. but letters such as vours are pulling us back again. “Naturally, the alley 100ks fts best in Spring and Summer, when those big pink hollyhocks are nodding be side the . and old Sam Jones is declaring. for the twentv-fifth time. that he is going to paint the tin sides of the automabile barn “Of course, we know that Sam is simply talking. Every Spring he has talked so. At first we helieved him but now we know he is all bluff. The galvanized garage gets graver and grayer, and we have to look right across Estey alley at it, unblushingly utflitarian, “Spring will help! and waving flower to hide those unpainted walls f-om | our esthetic vision. Then Africanus and Cato, cat newcomers to Este) lley, will roam and roam. Then Juck Spratt will arch his back tal and growl like a doj “As for Mary Roque, star-eyed Mary if we continue to receive such letter: we will be forced to start her adven: tures again. When Mary stepped off in Union Station, she almost h joy, she was 80 pleased to k home again. As for Colonel all that will be ‘continued in our next.’ ““We hope to have several articles on that great poet. Keats, at an early date. And thank you very much for those kind words about genius. Some- tlmes we need the inspiration of the Cardinal, too! Music and birds are two topies not touched upon in this column as yet; we are holding them in reserve. With best wishes, sincerely yours, C. E. T." ‘Then green grs will do their be: wept W Public Sees Difficulties In Rubber The proposed congressional inquiry into the high price of rubber main- tained by the world monopoly of this product under approval of the British government s viewed with some un- certainty by the public. There is no agreement as to what can, be done, and there is some tendency to believe that any interference with the world market would have no beneficial re- sults. “Perhaps it all means,” the Cin- cinnati Times-Star (Republican) sug- rests, “that we are about to awaken, in part at least, from that dream of unprecedented affluence which came to America at the time of the armi- stice. Then all the world was im: pressed by the power and wealth of the Upited States. Our word hud a tone of finality In international af- fairs. After all, it Is industry and raw materials, not money, that make nations wealthy. When our own great supply of raw materfals is matched by the monopolies of other countries in vital materials, like crude rubber and wood pulp, we shall not feel as rich as we did in 1819. But that may not ba a bad thing, even for us, in the long run.” x ¥ X K Against this point of view, how- ever, is that of the Seattle Daily Times (independent Republican), which says that ‘“canny Britishers are wondering whether the specula- tive era in rubber is nearing an end, and also whether the insiders are re- tiring from the field while their pock- ets are well filled.” The Times be- lieves that “if the bubble is bursting the ‘little fellows,’ as usual, will be left holding the sack, consisting of shares in companies organized over- night to capitalize popular enthusiasm for rubber, engendered by the large and rapidly acquired profits of the established concerns.” The existing situation reminds the Wichita Beacon (independent Repub- lican) of the fact that “British busi- ness men do not have a tradition of 10 centuries of world commercial su- premacy for nothing,” and the Beacon suspects that “they have learned a thing or two, and are going to try to put their knowledge to work in these days when Great Britain is hard up and needs money with which to pay {ts war debts.”” The Little Rock. Ark., Democrat (Democratic), with the same point of view, declares that “if the British are ‘squeezing’ us a bit on rubber prices, that is merely our temporary hard luck,” and that “we have the satisfaction of knowing that we have ‘squeezed’ them a time or two; that, in lowbrow language, it is merely a case of ‘dog eat dog.'" The Democrat adds that “‘the average man is going to buy a new set of tires whenever he needs them regardless of the British monopoly.” B Calling attention to the position of the American market as “practically the only one for many commodities produced abroad,” the Detroit News (independent) states: “After all, it is merely another product of an un- balanced world. The only remedy that can help in the long run is for American statesmen, as well as those abroad, to direct their thinking to those measures which will tend to re- store legitimately the balance that it is now attempted to restore by a species of economic banditry.” Some questions are asked by the S'%'I“Ml.! Post-Dispatch fi(:mndsm); ' ‘the congressional inquiry threat. on te meet thin extortion with re Price Inquiry prisal? Not with Mr. Hoover's con- sent. Financial coercion by a censor- ship of American foreign loans? That policy is already in_ effect, though not in full force. Will our investi- gators appeal to commercial fair deal- ing? They will have to be accom- plished hypocrites to make such an argument over the schedules of the tariff law and demands of Senators Borah and Reed for every last cent we can squeeze out of our debtors. Fair dealing, like charity, begins at home.” The Kalamazoo Gazette (in- dependent) also holds that “as long as we put the economlc interests of our own country above all other con- siderations it ill becomes us to whine when Great Britain or any other natlon assumes the same attitude.” The Portland, Oreg., Journal (inde- pendent) maintains that “the rubber monopoly does noj cost half as much as the Fordney-McCumber tariff.” * % % ¥ Secretary Hoover’s reply to charges in Great Britain “that we take the same advantage of our cotton and wheat production that the British rubber interests do in respect to their commodity” is called convincing by the Providence Journal (independent). In that reply it is pointed out that “it we had a price-fixing system like that in operation for the British rub- ber industry, the export price of our wheat would be approximately $8 a bushel and the export price of our cotton would be 75 cents a pound.” The Journal continues: ‘“The finan- cial and commercial relations of the United States and Great Britain are 80 intimate that it s difficult for many of us to understand why the British persigt in thelr attitude. We shall puff out his o never cease to use moral suasion to correct the manifestly unfair situa- tion, and, of course, we shall increase our efforts to acquire plantations that will make us less dependent on the British_supply.” The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (in- dependent Democratic) agrees that “other sources of supply will be de- veloped, and it is probable that reali- zation of this imminent possibility will serve the purpose of actual exist- cnce of the supply, by persuading the rubber growers that half a loaf is better than one that is all crust.” * Xk *x % “Curtailing_consumption and scrap- ing the world for odd lots and small lots,” a Hoover remedy, is indorsed by the Birmingham News (independ- ent Democratic), which says: “‘Secre- tary Hoover calls for reduction of 23 per cent in consumption. If the mo- torists want relief they can get it by standing resolutely to him in the fight. Viewing the crisis as assuring “a long farewell to Filipino independ- ence,” the Akron Beacon-Journal (Re- publican) belleves it will “force the American _Government to put the rubber-producing soil of the Philip- pines to work,” while the Knoxville Sentinel (independent Democratic) calls attention to advances in American production of reclaimed rubber, and expresses the opinion that this “will affect the forelgn price.” As to the investigation, the Dayton Daily News (independent Democratic) argues that “export control of rubber in the Brit- ish East Indies is a matter of purely domestic concern, and the American Congreas has no more to do with it than the British Parliament might have to do with our attempted con- THE NORTH WINDOW By Leila Mechlin. Every one was a little startled when, a fortnight or more ago, announce- ment was made that Mr. Munsey, newspaper man and publisher, had bequeathed the greater part of his estate of $40,000,000 to the Metropol- itan Museum of Art in New York. We have got used to million-dollar bequests and gifts, they have become guite usual, but so many millions for art, and from one who was not a col- lector and who had not evinced special interest in the subject—it was dum- founding. According to a press report, & Roman Catholic priest in Boston pro- tested against this amount of money going to an art institution, declaring that the giver must have forgotten the needs of humanity when he made his will. Obviously it was the needs of the body that the priest had in mind, the so-cafled charities which provide food and raiment, shelter, medical care, the burial of the dead. But have we not the best authority for declaring that life is more than raiment, and that “man doth not live by bread alone™? Do we not often forget ti physical life is of mo value whatso. ever without the spiritual attributes * K K ¥ More than a year ago the Carnegie Corporation of New York, one of those great foundations which have as their object the spending of large sums for the betterment of mankind, undertook an inquiry into the place of art fn our vican life. As a rule, the Car negie Corporation bestows its benefl cence through the instrumentality of other organizations, but In this c it instituted a survey on its own ini itive. A group of advisers was call 1 in, men and women who were ther producers in the field of art or Abit chservers, collectors, work ers. The result, as set forth in a re cently published report of the presi- dent, Frederick P. Keppel, one-time AssiStant Secretary of War, s inter- esting and significant. Searcely was the enterprise under way when it was discovered that its scope must be limited. “Art being as broad as human life i f, Mr Keppel, “an inclusive study of its place in our American life was soon en to be impracticable.” Ah, there we have it, and never better sald—art broad as human life itself, not <omething to be confined in fixed di- mensions, hung on the wall, set forth in a gallery or museum, but part and parcel of human life, differentiating it from the life of the heasts which per. h! The crude painting on the wall of the primitive people, the desizn of he woven fabric, the piece of jewelr the house and its furnishings, the out of our streets, the monuments t our heroes, the altar to our God—art is a part of all'of them. And vet, how tie does the average man recognize the necessity of a knowledge of the fundamental principles which govern all are! * X ok % Oddly enough, the actual result of the Carnegie Corporation’s inquiry was to disclose the weakness along these in_our present-day college cur- There has been no end of com- m thoughtful people in recent s were not turn- ing out educated men and women, and by this {s meant men and women with ured minds, as distinguished from specialized knowledge. The lack, ap- parently, has been felt not merely by those from outside, but those within, and one of the most striking para- graphs in Mr. Keppel's report states that “there is no more interesting or significant _phenomenon in recent American education than the growing interest of the students themselves in art.” “Contrary to the general im- pression,” he says, “the movement is affecting the men in large numbers, as well as the women. In the last con- ferance of the deans of the men's col- leges in New England attention was called to the growing number of previ- ously somnolent students who ‘wake up’ in the classroom of some course in the fine art The demand has come from these students themselves, aided and abetted by voung instructors, for more competent teachers and for bet- ter equipment in this field. * ok x * The Carnegie Corporation Is re- sponding to this call by inaugurating a system of scholarships and fellow. ships to enable candidates of promise to prepare themselves as college teach- ers of art, and by setting aside a sum of $100,000 to provide sets of teaching material to be offered to a selected list of colleges in the United States and Canada which now lack adequate arts equipment. By doing this it hopes to accomplish substantial results, which will be felt later in the schools and in everyday life; for—and here is a star- tling calculation—“whenever 10 per cent of our students get some concep- tion in college of the normal place of the arts in human life, we shall have an army of more than 50,000 going out each year as a leaven to work in the community at large.” What an army and what an opportunity! But, on the other hand, how neglectful we have been, how shamefully we have kept closed the gates leading to those avenues of supreme delight which should be free to all! * k x The normal place of the arts in human lite does not signify stressing one subject at the expense of another, of lessening the student’s earning ca- pacity by feeding his imagination— quite the contrary. The late Frank Munsey, it is said, went to New York as a young man with forty—or was it four hundred?—dollars in his pocket and dled at the age of 71 worth $40.- 000,000. No one can say that he was an impractical man. Who are they who have bullt up our great art col- lections, who have brought to this ountry the great treasures of art of rope, but the men who have earned their way In most instances, who have been successful in the field of busi- ness and have turned for their chief pleasure, their real recreation, to art? Lk ok ok X Ramsay McDonald, former prime minister of Great Britain, representa- tive of the Labor party and a laboring man at one time, in an address to workingmen in London a year or more ago, described an educated man in these terms: A man, he said, “with certain subtle spiritual qualities which make him calm in adversity, happy when alone, just in his dealings, ra- tional and sane In the fullest meaning of that word In all the affairs of life.” That little phrase, ‘“happy when alone,” is unusual and significant. A lsnowledge of art s one of those things which contribute to this happiness, and this is one reason why it should be included in every scheme of educa- tlon. It 1is, perhaps, as Mr. Keppel says, not practicable to determine the exact place of art in our everyday American life, but that it has a place, and a large place, we are assured. L ‘What will be done with the millions Mr. Munsey has left the Metropolitan Museum of Art? No doubt the trus- tees of that Institution could not them- selves say at this time, but fudging from what they have done with the funds previously placed at their dlis- posal it may be surmised that it will be primarily to Increase the resources of the museum for the benefit of the people at large. No one familiar with the widespread activities of the Metropolitan Museum can fall to recognize it as a large instrumentality in the betterment of the lives of the people of our great metropolis. Visit ‘it any Saturday afternoon and note the democratic character of those in attendance, from the woman of society in sables to the lately arrived immigrant in kerchief or cap; from the children of the rich, arriving in_limousines, to the street gamins, who come on roller skates. Or attend one of their !free orchestral conoerts, when 6,000 from ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. When a man is sald to be of medium height how tall is he sup- posed to be?—A. C. E. A. He is considered of average height if he is 5 feet 8 inches to b feet 9 inches. Q. How many pounds of wool on the average does a sheep shear?—P. M. F. A. The Bureau of Animal Industry says that the average fleece weight for the United States is approximately 73 pounds. There is a great differ- ence between the Southdown and the Rambouillet breeds, the wool produc- tion varying in Southdowns from 6 to 7 pounds; in well bred and well fed Rambouillet, from 12 to 16 pounds. Q. Does the south magnetic pole at- tract a compass needle?—J. P. R. A. While the north magnetic pole attracts the north end of the needle and repels the south end, the south pole repels the north end and attracts the south end. This is true no matter in what part of the earth the needle is placed, and there is no reversal of the needie when the magnetic equa- tor is crossed. Q. What is the largest and smallest bets taken In the mutuel machines?— G. B. A. The Maryland Racing Associa- tion says the minimum amount that can be bet in the mutuel machines is 2, and betting booths are provided at’ which tickets are sold for larger amounts, the largest ticket being for Were there elephants es when man y?—@. J. B. A. Fossil remains of the American type of elephant or mastodon have | been found in various parts of North Amerfca. The actual association of man and mammoth in America has not been proved, however. In Afton, Okla., there is a sulphur spring from which have been brought to light re- mains of the mammoth and mastodon. In this spring were also found numer- ous implements of fiint, principally arrowheads. Prof. J. M. Clarke of Attlca, N. Y., found bones of a masto- don 4 feet below the surface of the ground. Similar remains have also been found at Big Bone Lick in Ken- tucky. in the inhabited Q. How fast does one man paddle a canoe, and how fast cun two pad- dle?—M. R. A. A man paddling a cance at a good rate may be able to paddle at about 3 miles an hour; two men at about 4 miles an hour. Q. Is there any relationship between the Kashmu and Kapurthala fam- illes?—J. E. A. The Ind! office in London in- forms us that there Is no relationship whatever between the Kashmu family and the Kapurthala family. The former family is Rajput Dogra by caste and could not have any relation- Nh}l([;‘ with the latter, which is Jat Sikh. Q. How did the expression origi- nate, “The King is dead! Long live the King!"?—E. E. H. A. This famous saying originated as follows: “The death of Louis XIV was announced by the captain of the bodyguard from a window of the state department. Ralsing his trun. cheon above his head }e broke it in the center and, throwing the pleces among the crowd, exclaimed in a loud volce, ‘Le rol est mort! Then selzing another staff, he flourished it in the alr as he shouted, ‘Vive le roi’ This phrase has been used by peoples of different nations since the day of Louls XIV. It means simply that there s no interim between the death of one king and the accession of his heir. Q. Is it improper to eat the lettuce upon which a salad is served?— A M. E. A. Inclination may gulde a person. The lettuce may be eaten if one chooses. Q. What is meant a shoe catch?—J. McK. = e A. A shoe string catch fs made when the catcher bends near the ground in order to catch the ball. Q. What fs ether’—A. S. R. A. Tt is the medlum through which, according to the wave theory, light waves are transmitted through space, ete. It has been assumed that inas much as ocean waves are made of water, and sound waves &re made of air, light waves must be composed of something, and to supply this want in our knowledge a medium called the ether was imagined. Experiments of different kinds have cast a doubt on the existence of ether, but the facts of radiation and of other familiar phenomena demand a connecting me- dium which conveniently is cailed the “ether." Q. Who was Mme. Tussaud?—E. §. A. She was the founder of “Madame Tussaud's Exiibition” of wax figures in London Born in Bern in 0, she was taken to Paris while a child by her uncle, who practiced wax modeling as a fine art. She became an adept and modeled many of the great people of France. She married a Frenchman named Tussaud, from whom she soon separated. Removing to London, she took with her part of her collection in the Palals Royal, and the idea of her “Chamber of Horrors." Her wax figures were successfully shown and her exhibition became per- manent, she being succeeded by her £on and descendants. It has lately been reported that a reorganization and reopening of the exhibition, after having been damaged recently by fire. is planned. Q. What part of water?—FP. T. D, A. More than four-fifths, or 87 per cent, of milk is water and the re- mainder is milk sugar, fat and protein cow's milk s The resources of the National Cap- ital provide more information of every kind than can be found in any other place in the world. Fortunately this enormous volume of knowledge is evailable to the czpert in research We are organized to get it. The Evening Star Information Bureau was established for the se of making this enormous body of knowledge ac- cessibie to you. Ask whatever you want to Rnow and send 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Address The Evening Star Information Bu Frederic J. Haskin, director, ington, D. C BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. The government of France has an asset which in a period of 75 years will produce about 140,000,000,000 francs income; a trading Yankee of- fers to buy it for 18,000,000,000 francs, half cash and the balance in yearly installments. § Query: Why did the American expect serious consideration of his rgain offer”? One answer, Sug- gested by an official, is that France needs the money, and that “a bird in the hand” has a greater value than a flock in the bushes. The cash offer of 9,000,000,000 amounts $450,000,000 even at today's exchange values THis asset is the French govern- ment’s monopoly of tobacco. Although France has refused the offer, there may be future negotiations, hence it is interesting to analyze what it is that the would-be investors covet. Every doughboy of the A. E. F. knows the quality of French tobacco. Few would chameau. possible, French “smokes” are im- vet French consumers are willing to use enough to net the treasury nearly 2.000,000.000 francs profit annually. This fact gives rosi- nes the Imagination of the Ameri- can olonel Sellers” who sees ‘‘mil- lions in it under American standards of quality and the push of improved advertising and methods of distribu-| tion. Under the government handling the distribution is almost exclusively reserved for occupation of former soldiers or their widows, hence patriotism, as well as national in- come, Is a factor in the negotiations. * X XX France is not the only country ‘which uses a monopoly of tobacco as a source of national Income, and in all cases the same low quality is found wherever the traffic is a monopoly— Portugal, Spain, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Poland, Turkey and Japan. ‘What a brilliant field there appears for major American enterprise in buying up government monopolies which are frayed at the edges, renovating, de- odorizing and rejuvenating them! French matches, too, are monopolized by the government. What if French matches could be made to strike fire! In ancient days nearly all taxes were thus farmed out to enterprising in- vestors, though it is not recorded that the prefiteering tax collectors were very popular. ‘Whether possession of the French tobacco monopoly by Americans would greatly benefit American tobacco grow- ars {8 not held to be a certainty. The investors might be more interested in their own dividends than in patriot- ically upbuilding the fortunes of their to | “walk a kilometer for a | 4.6 pounds, and Americans, 4.07 pounds. While these fizures are not urate in comparison capita pounds, yet omparisons between the nations. Certainly In the United Kinzdom, where smoking by the ladies is much more prevalent than in France, there would now be found a greater per capita per annum. Accurate f for France show that in the they in 1922 it was 4.500 pounds—the of the war influ ence. In 1923 it had dropped to 3.53 pounds and in 1924 had gone slightly below the pre-war average: it was 2.847 pounds. * ok ok ok Competition between nations supply ing French leaf tol 3 American expor lead. In we sold but in the 6.620.8 me two months vear only 1 pounds. In the same two months, 1924, Brazi France 43,872 pounds, but 1,905.656 po In in 1924 we supplled all 207.453 pounds out of her total ports of 6,525.308 pounds, while year, In the same two months, wa gave her only 1 per cent of her imports. This was due to our short crep and not to any loss of favor: at the same time the French crop was unusually large. The French tobacco monopoly is straining every effort to become in- dependent of imports by stimulating home production, but America sup- plied total leaf imports of 37 per cent in 1923 and 59 per cent in 1924. Al sace-Lorraine is supplving 12.000.000 pounds, formerly cominz from the United States. * %ok % One of the great tobacco trad: number of varieties the absence of any publie standardiza- tlon by which buyers and dealers may understand each other. If a manu- facturer in any other country desires to place an order for a particular va- riety and grade in America, he must mend personal representative with samples, to be sure that he will get what his purpose demands. Conse- quently, only dealers who have previ- ously sold the dfstant buyer, and so know what he uses, can possihly fill an order. Dealers consider thefr lists of customers, with the records of the varieties and grades they use, an in- valuable asset In busine. For years the Department of Agri- ‘ulties in the ca is the vast confreres in the tobacco flelds of Vir- ginfa. (All America is counted “Virginia” when Europeans talk of tobacco.) It might transpire that the Amer- ican-Franco Tobacco Trust would ais- cover how to increase tobacco flelds in France and Algiers, and it is cer- tain that they would use French labor for making tobacco products, rather than higher priced American cigar and cigarette makers. All cigarette paper used in America comes from France, 8o the freight on what would be need- ed in France with the expected in- creased demand would benefit French mills rather than American. France has a protective tariff on tobacco products, although leaf tobacco is ad- mitted free. * k ¥ * The French are not the greatest smokers in the world. We Americans smoke 50 per cent more per capita than they do. Some years ago statis- tics indicated that the English and Scotch used 1.4 pounds of tobacco per capita annually; the French, 2.3 pounds; Belgians, 4.7 pounds; Swiss, all the walks of life assemble and in complete silence share a great artistic pleasure. Or again visit its lecture rooms when classes for salesmen and designers are in progress. Perhaps Mr. Munsey did. If so, he must have discovered here a practical demonstra- tion of the normal place of art in American life, and thought it a sure way to return, with interest, his wealth o thageopla, R culture has been working out a stand- ardization. There are found to be 29 distinct varieties of tobacco produced in the United States, including Porto Rico, and each varfety Is produced in many grades—numbering from 40 to 106 gradss to each variety, or a total of more than 1,000, perhaps 1,500, items in the list. The dealers and warehouse manag- ers are generally opposing the de- partment’s efforts to standardize, claiming that it is an impossible un- dertaking. They object, because each company has its own confidential grades, and they are fearful that the law will force the use of the standard- ized grades, and compel the dealers to keep more complicated records even than are now required. It s stated officially, also, that the dealers fear that the standardization is in the interest of the co-operative assoclations of growers, since such organizations must have a uniform basis on which to make accounting to thelr members. With legal grades the facilities in the markets of the co- operative organizations will be en- hanced. They will then be able to compete in the export markets, for buyers can then clearly designate va- rieties and grades. Hence the six great co-operative associations, and many others, as well as all the great manufacturers of tobacco products, are supporting the standardization. Not many vears ago the same fr- regular grading of grain and eotton was standardized, against equal op- position from dealers or ‘“‘middlemen,"” but the law now niakes it compulsory for interstate marketing. (Coporigbt. 1826, by Paul V. Celliash