Evening Star Newspaper, April 1, 1926, Page 8

HE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY........April 1, 1926 THEODORE W ;IO‘IES. .. .Editor The Evening Star 1ien st and New York Office Chicazs oM Building 14 Recent St. London, England 2 with the Sunday morn 0 cents per month: daily onlv 3 month Sunday only. 20 cents er month. Orders max he sent by mail or t2lanhane Main 5000 Collection is made by earrier at the end of each month The Evening Star « delivered ' v 45 cents per y Rate hy Mail—Payable in Advance. aryland and Vieginia. v and Sunday Jye $900 1 Is only 1ve S8 O0 1 viay only 1y All Other States and Ca Ir and Sundav 1 yr.$12.00 v onlx 1 s 00 viay only 1yr., $4.00 1 1w ated Press. s s cxclusively entitled of w1l news s Member of the Ass The Associgted P fie ise for republicatic hes credited to {t or not atherwise cred in this paper and also the local news Vighed herein: ANl rights of publication «nrrial dispatehes hetein are also reserve: An Adequate Tax-burden. Washington's 0 is undeniable that fairly com ol pared with thosa of other cities, cov school district and at of State tax-rate cannot county’ without percentage ering ity taxatfon, lenst the represents State ducting which w seal inealeulable tax-rate the tax shington enjoys noune of the polit rights of hundreds powers and American value, the of millions of dollars in bounties and the Nation Since the benefits, it tax-burden. snbsidies, which bestows nupon enjovs the States, Capital State should | State 1T the State tax percentage of the total tux no bear no yate is deducted, as it obviously equitably should be, it leaves Wush fngton’s comparative tax-rate well up in the low tax and high assessments, At the 1 rate Washington exceeds 24 and is exceeded by 7. when the State tax At 15.44 yate Washington exceeds 23 citiex, 14 exceeded by 12 ene. St. Louis is the only which exceeds the 17 tax Jand and Cincinnati, as Touis, exceed the 15.44 It seems clear also payments which represent permanent constructed and enjoyed Jist of cities of tax cities is subtracted. the tax the great ate: Cleve well as St rate, and is same city that interest improvements, with horrowed money by other cities, but not Washington, should be deducted in proper percentage from tax-rates be public enjoyed by | i fore a fair comparison between Wash fnzton and the other cities can be made. if the interest percent tion to the State tax Washington's 16.88 rate exceeds those of 33 citles and is less than those of 3 cities; ‘while its 15.33 rate exceeds those of 30 cities and is less these of § cities. In this connection jt should be remembered that in view of the unique conditions and peculiar disabilities of the seat of Government Washington's tax-rate and actual tax- burden would naturally be found to i deducted ze adii he distinctly less than those of the| commercial cities approximat great in size among the 36 other ing it ae- | tes! | than | tion of the Baltimore and Ohio grade crossing at Hyattsville, Not long ago Rhode Island avenue was paved only to the District line. It paved in Maryland through Mount Rainier for about half a mile northeast of the line. At the end of the paved way traffic turns southeast paved street from Mount Rainier ugh Brentwood and Cottage City (he Washington-Baltimore boule vard, turns northeast to Bladensburg, veers north to Hyatisville and crosses the railroad at grade. Extension of Rhode Island avenue for about one mile northeast of its paved way Would with the Washington-Balti more boulevard on the west side of the frallroad at Hyattsville Traffic be [ tween Washington, Baltimore and in ex would not make the it Rainier to Coltage cilvoud the i now on thy [ termediate pl M ud would ity ol cross the Hyattsyille Foute is obvious. al The advantage of Hyatsyille problem vade crossing al is A similur gl and it problem uifered Spring lowering avenue-Silver by by ihe crossing. the below was ihat ruilroad. met it ight The engi whether shall To vailvoad would cost highway pass the determined Hyatsyille e the railro neers have not d the houle at pase under build it Jess and o build it below sundry advantages When the extension of Rhode Island there over the would give avenue came under discussion was @ plan to byild a short highway o the Rhode Isiand from Bladensbur sion aud close the cross The objection e exte Hyattsville, i would aven at , ing this was that Bladensburg rond from the fre street and Florida avenue (o Hyatis of s character leave much of side boulevard n Fifteenth ville something ax a through way. ———— A Fantastic Situation. Urafti aspect today. problem Mure Washin sur -x 1 fantastic one hundred thousand motorisis ik with tha operiting their autom the slightest District permit Washington mot vight Lo drive. < null and void. | Bvery ¢ car driver is | Every And it is no [ technically # law-breaker. | Fools' joke either. i gress has failed o pass legisl | tion extending the time for reissuunce of permits which expired on the 31st duy of March, according to the terms f the traffic code. Not enly that, but ongres jed. the code, | provide sufficient funds to the Trafic | 4t this time. | | under to | Bureau for reissuance He the situation Bllls are pending in both the lHouse conditions. But for im land Senate o remed ! the prospects, unfortunutely, Lnedinte passage ave exceedingly slim | Priction has developed over the terms {uf the wmended which must out weasure. Lefore inunp | be smovthed Washington | can be rescued from edented | ditemu With all its other waffic troubles it seems # pity that this situution should Congress began its present ses One of the first arise sion lust December. matters brought to the District com mittees of both houses was the de- plorable inadequacy of the hurriediy passed traffic code, and remedial leg- islation was urged. vely shown that the | | | | It was conclus | traffic director was laboring under was | nd take | Capital. While Washingtonians b not become reconciled to the situa tion by any manner of means, they have leirned to grin and bear their troubles with a certain degree of stoicism, but the visitors will have learned no such self-control. - The longgr repuirs are delaved the more they will cost. In nothing is this Guer than in the maintenance of streets, because every vehicle con- tributes its bit to the general decay. It ia most assuredly up to the street and highway department to get busy wipe out a condition which is| bringing discredit upon the city. and —oe Where Is Washington? chosen national | has been the 1925 grand Albany, Gu., the board of aw fire waste contest prize winner rd of as the having during of loxses, This is 4 community sunx hus received the pr were shown the thut and reduc the tirst less thaw Breatest progress vear in the preven of fire time that 20,000 b The v grouped under tion rivux cities considered aecording w population: 20000, those 0,000 wnd 50,000, between 50,000 o 100,000 und cities 100,000, last group interests the National Capi tal. . Where is it? The eye runs down (le” list. Portland, Oreg., comes first Then follow Philadeiphia, Wilming ton, Del rhester, 1 Paso, In dianapolis, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Sucramento nnd Kansax City, Kans No o there. Hagerstown, Md., third prize in citiex between 20, 20,000 1 the of Washi Wil huve hix chest that “This Ix the Nutional Capital, ed ulike by by mankind, 1ix buildings are high, not too crowded. A broad flows by fts doors. 1is streels are wide und tuirly Its dunger geueral between 2! | The Cities over | | | | nfort [T u resident ston o swell over fuv nature and not viver very ooth, level und s from contlugration, com pared with pertl In indus trigl centers, is practically nil. P haps that I8 the rewson that se wany bustling towns wre more careful. The inflsmmable contents of Washington e of immense vulue, ireplaceable in It gov- ernment officlals, including the mem- bers of Congress, which appropriates foi it. 1t ought to be the safest from fire lussex of any clty in the United States. Perhups its ranking along that line ix so high already that it was precluded showing any great reduction ing last vear. Again, perhaps not. The con stant dgitation high-pressure system for the downtown section and the more than vecasionul emergencies i which the fire department finds it self du not Indicute any such pinnacie Neither does the fact that seven vears past specific recommendations the elimination of five hazards in eeded in | the sume muny cases. houses many from progress du u for for the locul schovls have gone conflicts of District plenty bLecause of upinion officialdom. of at the top and the name Washington should head the list next vear, and next, and the year after until a prac- tical perfection s obtained which | shall be a mark for all other munici- | | palities to shoot at. ! | England finds so many men willing | school ud There is always room L .o £ | to nim every | “Heap good medicine. | prove | frugrance kept coming up out of our STAR, WASHINGTO THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. ‘Sassafras is selling for 15 and 20 conta a bundle at Center Market these avs. This great American institution thrives today much as it did in 1602, when the English sent an expedition to Massachusetts to secure, among lr\‘lh!r articlen, the aromatic root and ark. Before the Revolution sassafras root #sold for 3 shillings & pound. There was a legend in circulation to the eof- fect thgt this odor was wafted to Co- lumbus®on his first voyage. Cartalnly no one who has smelled ssafras in his youth will ever for- ket it Memories of it are wafted up time he takes a drink of 100l beer. of which it is a constituent. No doubt an Indian held out a plece of the root 1o Columbus and sald, Dociors of period declur and stimulant.’ Women ai Center Markel, on the south side. hold up a bundle tied with string and assert, “I1t's good for what ails vou, very suesafras Most of us have memories of drink ing at some time in our young days a cup of “saseafras tea,” a none too pleasant pink fluld, which we vainly trled to disgulse with sugar and creanm. Hundreds of bundles of the root and ark on sale at the big markel today the prevalence of an anclent belief in all its glory, the pre-revolutionary 4. “Excellent sudorific real American Knows about | * e x ¥ We have described Centar Market Lefore in this column. so there is no need of telling in detail our search for susxafras, We went past-the hundreds of pots of hyacinth, scenting the crisp Spring air; t the commission merchants with their buxes of oranges and grap: fruit, on tu the south side of the mar- ket proper A strewm of along the narr by the siunds the space. A tall mun was peering #t a bundle of sassat Us that? iznorance: be outdone, we popped in question. “What's it good | we asked, 1Us good for people was flowing w o sldewalk, made so which take up most of he nsked. What Not to what ails you! iverywhere the answer was the sume. varied, at this stand, by the | formula, “1t’s good for the blood,” and at another by “It’s good for the com. plexion."” We were ought up on sassafra %0 We're putting on our ignorance. We would know that odor if we, too, were discovering a new world. We would not choose blindly, how. ever. We passed up scores of bun- dles at 1b cents & bunch and went to a specialist had all sorts of herbs we asked, pointing to sassafras, Twenty cents.' Wrap it up.” we suid, belleving | that when « thin is thoreughly ex pensive it is thoroughly good. | Sassafrax root Is one articls in | which we can indulge our liking for the best | o All the way home a tantalizing overcoat we at pocket, From time to time would take a surreptitious whiff our roots. We tried to recall what we had read | | BACKGROUND OF EVENTS | or, deeper and deeper, somewhat oily BY PAUL V., COLLINS, THURSDAY TRACEWELL. I About this interesting tree, a member of the laurel family (technically, Sassafras sassafras), common in the Eastern United States. Cattle do not share in man's liking for this root. It is not liked by them, consequently the sassafras tree is one of the first to reforest pastures. In s0me parts of the country it grows as high as 100 feet. The camphor tree is a cousin of the sassafras. In fact, all the members of this family are aromatic, therefore ap- pealing to man. ‘The animals, having more sensitive nostrils, probably shy trom it on that very account. Since its discover sansafras has been reputed (o have great medicinal and household practice in this country has made an infusion common in the trextment of colds and as a Spring tonic.” The root Ix #lso used as u fluvoring in drinks, notably root beer, the oil for perfumes in soap, and part of the twigs and pith as mucilage. It is an ull-around tree. Probably the higgest use of sassafras is in the time-honored Spring tonlc business, For years it was an Ameri- can custom to dose the children every | Spring with sassafras (ea. It was supposed (o “he good for what alled them.” and maybe it was, who knows? i xox o “What,is this”’ we triumphantly asked, hdlding up our bundle. “Sassafras’ came the delighted answer. “Now we can tew for suppe “Are you su have some sassafras you will like i7" “Very fond of it.” we said, positive- ly. What, not like sassafrax tea? Is it not an American institution? Even though we live in the city, do we not remember the davs of our vouth? And do not the honest country people vearly, at thix time, bring in bundbes of the root? Certainly we like sassul only that, we demand it. for what alls you.” It will clear the blood and give one « glowing com- plexion. let ux have u cup of that delightful sassafras tea, by all means. We remembered just how to make it You cut up some of the bark. quite & handful, throw it fnto a vessel of water, then boll ft and boil it and boll it, untll the brew gets a deep rich color We watched the process very care. fully, At first the water took on a pale vellow tinge, then this deepened, the water becoming of a rose-red col- 5 tea! Not It s ““good looking. The whole house was filled with the | ragrance, recalling Thoreau’s words, “The green leaves. bruised, have the fragrance of lemons and & thousand spices.” “Ah!" we said. sitting down to our cup of sassafras tea, the first since bovhood. “It's good for what ails you ~the woman told me #o.” A wry face followed. had brewed it a bit addition of sugar helped some, bu not_very much. Cream gave an added interest. that of color shading. By the addition of 18 4mounts of cream we finally i w perfect “'bois de rowe” shade, | Mavbe we too strong. The nec our throat burned and we wondered if we had made an infu- | sion of hemlock by mistake. The next morning, failing to note ! any improvement in our beauty, we | threw the rest of the sassafras away, After all. the animals know best. ! slight THE NORTH WINDOW By Leila Mechlin. On a portrait of Erusmus painted by Holbein in 1522, which now hangs in Longford Castle, England, there ix a Latin inseription, which, being lbe ally translated, reads as follows: “I am Hans Holbein: it is easier to criti- cize me than to copy me."” How many artists today, if they dared, would place this same inscrip tion on their paintings! How much easier it is, in truth, to criticize than to do! And yet the majority of per- sons who visit exhibitions of art feel that they are called upon to eriticize. Some years ago aL one of the Car- negie Institute’s international exhibi- tions a bewildered layman stepped up to a well known artist who had been expressing [reely his appreciation of a certain painting and sald, “Will you kindly tell me, sir, what you see in that picture to admi It hap- pened to be an extremely subtle work, and after looking «n ingtant in the be. wildered countenance of the inguirer the artist sadiy shook his head and re- plied, “If you don't see it vourself 1 fear T cannot tell you.” Thix was a discouraging answer, but to the paint er the lack of understanding was not only incomprehensible, but an insur- mountable obstacle to a common un- derstanding, just as the inquiries of totally deaf person would have heen to a musician if the inquiry had had to deal with an orchestral perform ance. There are, of course, those persons who “know what they like, but don't know what is good”; and, alas, there are still many more who do not even know what they like, but like what some one tells them to! The real basis of understanding, however, ix an abllity to comprehend the artist's viewpoint, a receptivity to varied forms of expression. oA “There has probably never been a time of greater confusion of thought in regavd to what constitutes merit in works of art than there is today, and this confusion is within ax well s without the profession. Not only Is there contention hetween the academi- ans and the modernists, but among the modernists themselves. Post-im pressionism, cubism and futurism have been turning things upside down, and some of their chief exponents are now claiming recognition as classi- cists, ax the real heirs of the ages. But despite all this confusion there are certain basic prineiples npon which the majority will agree, and a know! edge of these will materially help the layman not only to discover what is good, but why. oo The first of these is design. | i a natural supposition on the part of the casual observer, particularly in connection with great works of art, that they happen, as it were, by accident. Before a supreme accom- plishment in this field—a portrait by a great master, a superb work of sculpture or a building perfect in proportion and detail—the result is fell to have been unavoidable, in evitable and that it “could not have been otherwise.” Not only do we ot wish it changed, but we cannot believe (here could have been any question in the mind of from the moment of its conception. This is one of the supreme tests of @ work of art. Let the artist nod ever so little, fall short the amallest atom of a degree, and we are apt 1o be conscious of a fumbling, a uneasiness, which arouses a query in our own minds. One cannot talk long with a_group of artists without hearing oft re- peated the words “design.” “pattern The modernists stress the impor- tance of pattern fn composition su premely: subject is as nothing in comparison: but the great masters have done the same. only they have ultimately subordinated it what seemed to them the larger®®Mirpose of their work. We have pattern and design in carpets, rugs, cretonnes. the artisi| ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. taken internally, but very objection able from an esthetic standpoint. Q. What is abaca?P. R. A. In the commercial world it ix known as Manila hemp. The plant i= native to the Philippine Islands, and the cordage made from this hemp i considered the hest. Q. What is the cause of twitehing of the eyelids?—B. T. M. A. This condition is frequently as- sociated with overwork and partieu- larly overstudy. There may be ssSé- clated errors in refraction, causifi eyestrain and when this condition eA- ists, it may be relieved by glasses Fwitching of the eyelids may also due to inflammations of the eyve and will cease when condition ix cured Q our show Q. In what way was Esterhazy nected with the Drevfus affair? M. K. | A. Maj. Esterhazy became notorious | through his connection with the Drey- fus case. Jt was he who accused Dreyfus of being the writer of the famous “hordereau.” alleged to have heen sent to certain German military officers, revealing ench military secrets. In 1896 Col. Picquart, head of the intelligence bureau of the war office, made discoveries pointing to Maj. Esterhazy as the author of the “bordereau.” Investigation was made and it was believed that Ksterhazy forged Dreyfus’ handwriting and was the real traltor. He was not con victed. however, but was forced to leave France and is said to have dled in England in 192 | | M Eskimos come | E. 8 made a life ple and We are displaying cut glass in window. Will the sun affect it in any . 8. D A. Any glass is subject to discolor them, | atlon when exposed to bright sunlight « and | especially if decolorizers are used in wrigin. | correcting the color of the slass " even | the sun's rays fall on a portion, the may | rest remaining in shadow. 1t is por 2 R o aia, thev developed | sible that differences in temperature whence they finaliy ed north- | Q When ““; ’:Hfl"!l‘! Bible Con ward and spread ot o e ety | cordance first published? o W H. peech in closely connected with the | ALl Alacgies Cruden puis primitive dialects of America. while | €07 1787, i legends and customs resemble.| @ 1o what people was Lhelt lenst suggest, those of the In- || fio grat applied?—J. dians | A. It was first applied to the inhab- OETETE ckE bealh ass | |1ANISOC K6 bARkS o€ the Niger River S o T e E V- B in Africa. The word means black. soc! vith E: . V. szl A. The use of eggs at Easter nmo[ Q. Where should T get a permit to i the result of a custom of greatest | 1.\ goif on the Potomac links?—C antiquity, the egg having been.con- | R <idered in widely separated pre-Chris:| = g lian mythologies as the symbol of | ang’ public Lesurrection. 1t is probable that the ! i not required in Christian Church adopted and conse- |, the Potomac I'a erated an earlier custom. The egg I8 |y West Potomac ienerally regarded.as the wvmbol of | ners and the fee Spving, life and fecundity of nature. | yound of nine holex on e 10 cents for one round eenlan America Rink, who study of Greenland and its pe is the greatest authority on held that most Iskimo weap implements are of American He advanced the theory that, though the Eskimos originally Did the from Asta or A. Dr. H. Q. the term “The Ofce of Public Buildings Parks says that a permit 2 order to play golf © links. The links Park are for hegin i< 5 cents for one week days and 1 of nine holes Sunda vs “The links in Fast Po tomac Park are for those avalified 1o and | 1oV and & fee of 15 cents rged Canandaigua. There is an Indian {0, . round of mine holes on week i e the effect that one of the | 0 0% 375 onts for one round o Fods buried his hand in the ‘soft | ying joles on Saturdavs, Sundavs and B e he space occupied by the | UGV There 1s an instructor on thumb and fingers became lakes. | (he Jinks. Q e @ Coast Guard con L. W. G | way A. The Coast Guard is under the | o Treasury Department in time of peace | ipe and is automatically transferred to|jong the Navy Department in time of war. Q. How long has it taken to forni the deita of the Nile?—F. T A. Geologists are of the opinion that the I Nile has been at least 13,500 vears in building up its delta (0 its present size. It has advanced | Very little in the past 2,000 years. Q. What Is “contraband”?—P. O'H A. The definition of “contraband” is. with respect to time of war, “any-| thing which will give aid, comfort or | assistance to the enemy.” The United States Con ss has during wars of | the United Statex defined what shall ynstitute contraband articles. What are the Lakes? J. G > The chief of the Finger Lakes| e Seneca, Cayuga, Kenuka and gest the 1 holiday long 1% the Lincoin high B & to automobile mileage. highway is 3323 mil How 5 € Accordin; Lineoln Under what department does the Tnformation Rureau answcers questions in a hundred fields acience. business,. politics. Govern- Jaent, history, the howsehold and as wany other phases of daily life as Jou may care to add. [t ia imporsi- ble 1 mate a complels eawmeration ot subjects giving an adequule idea of the scope and range ir which the bureau can serve yow. All questions are answered in_a reliable and thoritative way—by referring them to ezperts. What do you vart to knou? What question can the bureau ansiwer for you? There is no charge for sevv- ice except ® cents in stampa to cover the return postage. Address The enin Star Information urean, :yr‘tlrrl‘g J. Haskin, Director, W ash- ington, D. € Star The Q. If a vinegar eel is swallowed harmful?—R. B, A. Vinegar eels are harmless is it when enatorial Battle Political Event Keystone S Outstanding | ! Pennsylvania senatorial con-| quarrel will be so disturbing that It three Republicans of | will give the Democrats a chance 10 ations, is accepted | carry the State, still.” the T'tica Ob- by all observers as the outstanding |server Dispatch (independent) thinks political battle of the year. Gov. “there is possibility that this might be Pinchot, one candidate, is definitely | the result.”” The Asheville Times (in- The teat. involvink country-wide reput: | handicaps too great for even un expert | and capable official to surmount. Glar | ing ambiguities in the tratfic code we | demonstrated to be raising havee with he Briand cabinet of F T tall placed as a drv, while Senator Pep- | dependent Democratic) also, admitting per's attitude on prohibition ix a sub- | that the Democrats are greatly oul- Ject of discussion, and Mr. Vare, the | numbered in the State, says that Philadelphia party leader, is classed | “they make known their intention o is noted that in lLyon at to a farm produets re- ilke. It may surprise some o know lower prices than | ) ; that we also have them as dominant they do in Washington, and oW |fociors in portrait paintings, figure coffee, which is imported. sells at|compositions, landscapes and still accept small sum of money rvather than go to work that the |facing another crisis. and today's or| S N e R | tomorrow s news may bring. word that fie instead of solving the unem- [y pag again fallen, through opposition American cities with which compari- son is made. These facts and figures and the de |t to the limit by any divisions ductions therefrom are elaborated in correspondence printed else editori: where in The S - Buy an Acre! An inspiring example is set by the Geographic Society in its gubseription to the henandoah Ni- Park fund of a sum sufficient o buy 1,000 acres of a tract chosen | ofor reservation. This organization has | Anne much to promote geographical | knowledze and to develop the coun- try's appreciation of its natural won- | ders. Ten vears ago it subscribed <ufficient {0 buy 1,000 acres of Giant | Redwood lands in California, for in-| corporation in Sequoya National Park. aw it takes part in a movement to preserve forever a region marked by axceptionally natural beauty, and yet readily accessible the people of many States. The appeal for funds for the p ~hase of this land should elicit ken (-mx in Washington, which has so large an interest tion of this national park. of them the great scenic park ureas ©f the West are but names. They ure *umable visit them the E-n:(h of time required and the dis- Mances 10 be covered. Here within a faw hours of driving is a region that bwith a comparatively smail expendi Mure can be made ace: le, and that when once preserved by law will re- always a source of infinite pleasure. e slogan of this campaizn 1y acre!” Each cost= $6, Tt 1s hoped that the “sale now in progress will go fast as far as Washington is concerned. This Shenandosh National “<ale” i a veritable real estate boo There are big profits in sight. "These profits will take the form of pleasur ahle excursions in the future, Every hody can participate, can “get in on ‘the ground floor,” as *There are no cholce One acre W just as attractive us wnother and Just as certain to yield a vich return. ——— National tional | ; i ‘ to response in the crea To wany to owing to main an cre on an ave ark n the phrase runs. sites, Rootleggers made it &et vid of the corner saloon without adding to the responsibilities of the vorner drug store. r——— e Extending Rhode Island Avenue. The extension of Rhode Island ave- nue in Maryiand to Hyatisville, where It join the Washin, n-Balti more houlevard, and of 1he railroad and boulevard grade cross- ing at Hyattsville, will improve transit between Washington and Baltimor remove a danger point on the houle- vard and advance the interesis of Northeast Washington, Mount Rai- nier, Hyattsville and other towns. dispatch from Baltimore to The Star says: tate Road Engineer MacKall stated 1qday that surveys and other prepara tiong for extension of Rhode Island avenue from the District of Columbi 10 Hyattsville had been completed and (hat beginning of the work de penda ufgn the decision as to elimiza- would eiimination | carefully v | editorial impossible to | Al Wid plans for betterments renewal of large number permits on April 1 wus shown as im- practicable with the meager revenue allowed for Truflic Buresu mainte the of nance. And yet April 1 arvives and notk has been done. The han still as great as they were before, per haps greater, the ambiguities in the code causing tremendous confu <ion and Washingtonians are driving their automobiles illegally. Is it not time for congressional ac- tion? e There is great rivalry for the posi- fions connected with the guming tables at Monte Carlo. Roulette has the reputation of being on the level, and it seems too bad te have it mixed up with politi S has plunged L with n which indicates his appreciation of the fuct that publicity W the impor tant consideration in almost every line into his old enthusiasm Protsky w is of business, .- No amount of business can the Wall Street from being hard Lo guess, r———a - Repair the Streets and fifty visitors are osperity keep markets $ hiundred thousand and convention expected In Washington within two months. These one hundred fifty thousu whom will be 1 to the Nationul One tourists next any first trip W person aking th Capital, due for 4 disappointment, I i yeurs it has been the proud boast of the Dis- (rict that i was one of the cl |and best-puved cities in the world. is still one of the cleanest, but it 1o longer rank us one of the fortunate of smouth motor travel. And visitors from fur and an ities ssed nts why o for commu payen; that these is ot streets, an mpression budly walutained streets, bumpy rutty and streéts that raise havoe with auto- mobiles that are forced to travel them. Comparatively little patching has been done since Winter. There is nardly « thoroughfare in the city over which even the most luxuriously up- | holstered car be driven without agony 1o the occupunts, Seventeenth sireet from P street to U street is merely un exumple of the decay into which the streets have been allowed (o full. Others are Just as bad and be- |coming worse daily through the pounding of wutomobile Wheels. Washingtonians were hopeful that sufficient funds would be available under the gasoline tax for the proper | maintenance of the streets. But condi tons since (his revenue was given the District have not improved, and from a glance, or a drive, over the streets, today it would seem that de- terinration haz set in. Tt i= particularly unfortunate that these thousands of visitors will take away this impression of the National “ streets can the | of | and near will take back o their homes | Moy it. The lure of ing” ix eternally 1t problem, appears to increase “something for noth irresistible, - - | Mussolini expects to be able quite o New | Rome which will be attractive to in-| vestors seeking homes in a growing | community, thoroughly restricted and | supe | soon to anneunce plans for u vised. [ Investigations continue to be plan?| ned in spite of a general suspicion | that there is already more informa- | tion available than anybody knows whet to do with. -t | Brokers have been compelied to| wipe out a number of speculators who permitted their investments to park overtime. to| - ' No blue laws could be devised which woyld convince a fuiraminded public thal the way to be good i to be un- happy o SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. | | e wondering what can be meant and three-quarters per It appears we are now on the brink Of a new mathematical drink. Our minds it will greatly displease If there comes & new form of disea Aund hip-hypochondriaes turn 1 methods to learn. Strange medic Perpetunl Reformutio “Youu have a great deal of reform work to do?” It answered Senator Serghum. “When we (hink we have ition corrected we are likely a find vurselves obliged to start 1oand reform some of the re- never ends.’ 1 con not 0 agui forms, [ One ( p of Hard Workers, Some folks may leud @ restful life “dud loaf the huppy hours away, But in this age of reckless strife "The old Grand Jury earns its pay. Jud Tunking says the man who got him to say “I'm getting better every day” displayed mighty little respect for the example of George Washing- ton. A Chungeless Style of Talk. “What changes the fashions ght about! Remarkable!” replied Miss Cay- enne. “But the comment on every change remains about the same as it was when grandmother used to be shocked from season to season.” “Opportunity.” When now and then the market slips And grows dejected, I'm very grateful for the tips “That 1 neglected. “Pe more you learns,” said Unele Eben, "de less ronfidence you has in things you used to think you I.uw‘:. . have br | 1t_has been part of the duties of this| | official, while m France, to study the | 10 the program of taxation. « There ire “prophets of evil” pre dicting a Krench dictatorahip. a ench Mussolini or a French Soviet revolutibn. Other reports portray the French peasant us refusiog to pay | taxes or make patriotic sacrifices 1o serve his country, and suddenly ceas- ing to exercise personal thrift -the traditional characteristic of the peasant—but_indulging In extravagant | purchases of modern jmprovements and Iluxuries for his cottage, and wutomobiles for his joyrides. R | An official of the United States jovernment who has spent the last seven or eight years in France. and has recently returned to Washington. laughs at the propaganda which is now picturing the French peasant as a spendthrift indulging in luxuries while refusing to pay legitimate taxes. cconomic conditions there. He denies the entive story thut French peasant homes are lighted with elecivicity and that peasanis have bought auto- mobiles, except a few small motor trucks for economic use in their farm ing or gardening operations. In the United Siates there are cer tuin “nuisance” taxes which cost more to collect than their revenue. In France there are many small farmevs excmpl from taxation for two main reasons—the disproportionate cost of collecting small taxes and, particular Iy, the government recognition of the reut need of encouraging and helping agricultural production. Farming in France is typlcally small farming 10 or 20 acres per peasant. R R During the World War every Frenchman of active age was in the army, and pay was equivalent to about 2 or 3 cenis a day—nominally 25 centtmes. All farm production dur- ing the war was accomplished by old men and by women working in the thevefore, agriculture could not produce a surplus. After the war the survivors retirned to their peasant, homes and took up the work. In a quarter of the country the felds had been devastated and homes ruined. The most outstanding need of the country was to rehabilitate farms. Just as in America, there were farm loan facilities, under Federal control. Loans 1o farmers were arranged, with year amortization, at ¢ per cent in- | terest, bat “when the beueficiary was | u pensioned military man, or & elvil- inn vietim of the war, the interest was L per cent, less half of 1 per cent for | each legitimate child born after the | wa A former soldier who has (wo children born after the war pays no interest on his lonn. if he operates the land. nor is it the policy of the state to tax such a farmer, for he is still serving the country by producing food which otherwise must be jmported. There are also government facili- | ties for short-time loans to encourage farming. Aid is given, without secu- rity other than personal good faith, for the purchase of land by ex-soldiers, provided the borrower guarantees to work the land personally or with the aid of his family, The American official points to the distress of even American farmers in recent years, and contrasts their com- plaints with the assumption that French peasants operating their small holdings are able to sport modern lux- uries, as has been represented. * K K X An official report from American Consul_Watson last October showed the costs of food at Lyon in the open’ retail market—remarkably close to Washington market prices: Meat, 25 cents a pound: lard, 20 cents: cheese. 25 cents; potatoes, 1% cents: coffee. 4] cente: hutter. 30 cents: eggs. 32 cents; wine, § cents a guart; milk, 439 cents & quart. , | capes | ficial quoted above is that the French equivalent price. These guotativns are reduced (o American money by, the consul, so as 0 be more readily | comprehended in America. Wine, | which sells in the reiail city murket at & cents a quart, is produced by ! the peasanis. who recelve for it less | than 3 centa & quart. Cider, except in special apple regions, cosis more than wine, 'These markel prices on | the products of the farms, savs the | expert, illustrate the absurdity of the| reports that peasants are extrava-| gaot or are complaining of being “forced to use cider instead of wine.” ok ok ow | An analysis of the economic situ- ation in France appeared in the last quarter of 1925, published in the monthly Revue Politique et Parlia- mentaire. It contains this para- graph: “Although there are about 5,000,000 farmers operating their own farms only about 300,000 are listed as tax- payers, their total income on which they ure taxed being 1.400.000.000 francs. The average Individual in- come of (he 4,700,000 farmers who escape taxation may be estimated at | 4,000 francs, a total of 19,000,000,000 trancs on which no taxes are paid. “The present basis for estimating farmers incomes is too low. The taxed income of 1,400,000,000 should be tripled, giving in round figures 4.000,000,000 francs. The total in- come from agricultural pursulis is therefore, about 23,000,000,000 francs.” Since the peasant who (hus es- taxation has an income not exceeding 4,000 francs for his year's labor and that of his family in pro- ducing food for French markeis. it is noteworthy that that is equivalent to §140 in American money—a. franc being worth 31; cents. Out of that $140 a year, after buying clothing and other “luxuries,” how much can he apend for automobiles and modern improvements, having evaded taxes? The Revue further explains what the small farmers are doing with their $140 vear—for, speaking d ewnership, it say ‘The splitting up of such lands seems to have increased during the last ten years, because of the profits made by farmers since the wi In practically every part of France, numbers of farmers who formerly paid rentals or cultivated for others now own their own farms. The Revue further Indicates & comparison of tax exemption in Great Britain and France, showing venues exempt In Great Britain amounting to £5.8 per cent of the whole, und In Frauce § * ox o x ision of the American of- ‘The concl peasant has been misjudged in the assumption that he is unlawfully evading taxes and so refusing to sup- port his government, but that it is the policy of France to stimulate home production of food and to assist the small farmers to that end. This cun- clusion does not undertake to question whether that policy is wise or unwise. It s further confirmed by the Revue's citing the dency of the peasants to become landowners, for they have found that money hidden in stockings no longer represents stable wealth, when even gold money does not retain fixed exchangeability. 1t ceases to be “money.” but must be exchanged at banks for paper at the face value of the depreciated paper money—gold cannot be saved and used in making purchases. Contradicting the recent canards as to governmental fear of arousing peasant rebellion, peasant ownership of land is stabilizing patriotic support of government against any inroads: of sovietism or socialism and is re. awakening the old faith that “th peasant is the hackhone of Franee. (Cepyricht. 1926 by Pgul V. Coffine.) w ife. Hear what Kenvon Cox sald o he subject; “The word ‘design’ con vevs the true idea of an original, sulding thought. a principle of unity, out of which the parts and detafls of @ picture ure developed by a natural and organic growth. You compose a pudding or a black draught—you design & work of art. Design is arrangement, is order, is selection. Design is the thing that makes A work of art a unit, that makes it a whole rather than a hap- hazard collection of unrelated things tor a slice of unassimilated nature. It does not merely concern itself with great decorative compositions or arrangements of many figures—it is necessarily present in the aimplest problems art can set ftself You cannot escape from design: you cannot avold composing. You may compose badly, but compose vou must ¢ * and the task of com- position s mnot done until the last touch hax been placed upon the can- vas." Birge Harrison. likewise a distin guished painter, has given as one of the rules of composition in landscape the following: “Don’t try to say two things on one canvas, and don't divide your picture into spaces of equal size and proportion. A vast sky always lends nobility to a plcture, while the suppression or neacly total elimina- tion of the sky tends to convert the canvas into a sort of transcendent still life, Don't repeat the main line of vour plcture with another impor- tant line parallel to it. And above all.” says this master, “don’t let the domimant line of your picture end aim- lessly in midalr."” “But.” says the layman, “how am I to know good design from bad?" First and always through careful observ: tion of this factor, by noting it as an element in the beauty of the work. even going ®o far as to experiment with change by holding one's hand at arm's length and eliminating portions of the design: by asking one's self whether this change or that would be desirable. and. above all. again. by endeavoring to get the painter's point of view, It would be as foreign to the average layman to design a painting as to de- sign & chair. vel trained perception very promptly tells whether the de- signing done by another is good or bad, whether ail the elements of the composition have been put together with & nice adjustment of values and a keen sense of proportion rvesulting in rhythm of line, strengih and grace of mass. * X oK % And then there is color. As Harold Speed has said: ‘“There is no other word for color and all the stimulating qualities that fine color gives. Color has an expressive vitality of its own that many artists revel in, quite apart from form or tone.” It is perhaps the most winning and popular of all the instruments of the artistic orchesira Color is very much like sound—it may ‘be harsh and offensive, soft and lovely. It is like the notes in music and may be deep and resonant or high and clear. S8ome color 18 so lovely in ftself that it fairly thrills the observer and when beautifully combined is capable of creating esthetic ecstasy. For ex- ample, the colored glass windows in Sainte Chapelle, in Paris. As the sun- light falls through these amazing win- dows it i= literally molten color, and, coming upon the scene suddenly by way of the spiral staircase leading up- ward from the basement, the visitor is swept off his feet by the glory of the vision. Tt is the color, as well as the draftsmanship of the early Itallan painters, the Venetians In particular. which makes their works supremely heautiful. uBII' color is te & great extent rela To the average person shadow us wet. profit “All indics paign | which may develop within the Repub- |that will sweep Pennsylvania from | lican ranks.” ‘“he factional fight it- border 1o border,” savs the Seattle | self looks to the Louisville Courier- Daily Times (independent Republican). | journal (Democratic) like “an open “All three men are experienced politi: | race,” and thai paper concludes that cally, ure able orators and are well | “ipe fact that the President wiil adopt known, not only in their own State, | 4 hands.od policy in all senatorial but outside its confines. No polit primary fights of his party this vear battle of the year promises to attract | does not tend to make the race in more attention the country over than | pepnsylvania a foregone conclusion.” the fight for the senatorship in the | .i’pder the long-tried convention sys Keystone ‘ommonweath. The | tam, with its chosen delegates and Charleston Evening Post (independent | .c0 nizeq leadership.” avers the Har Democratic) also helieves that “it | i¢prg Telegraph (Republican). “there ought to be interesting,” and suggests |\ SWTE AR Ol ibility for party that “the sesquicentennial celebration | [0l Lo Fx o the ambitions of aspi of the signing of the Declaration of rants fo place have no restraining Independence i to have an ACCOM | check, Self-starting candidates are paniment of old ""h"“"’f'fi nock- | | romoted by a few easily préeured oW G S ane e petitions through which it is made to e it | appear that there has heen an up. The prospect of a “most satisfying | rising of the people in support of a Donnybrook” is seen by the Worces: | particular individual. -1n choosing a ter Hvening Gazette (independent), | {"nited States Senator and a governor and its summary of the situation is:|tpere iz abundant reason to allow the ‘fhe well known chaos which once | (pink vank te function.” plaved such hob with =Europe and | g 3 4 ffairs (see any .American G fl‘e"‘:.‘;:;?_::,."m e Vears immediately| The Watertown Daily Times (inde Tollowing the war) seems now to héve | pendent). however. asserts that A attacked the politics of the Keystone | Pinchot wins. it will be a substantial State. particularly Republican politics | victory for progressive policies.” The i Gere any other kind in Pennsyl- | Spokane Spokesman Review (inde- nia 7). pendent Republican), looking upon “it's nothing in of | Vare as a wet against {wo drys. points course” remarks the Baltimore Eve-| (o the “danger that one more avowed- ning Sun (ndependent). “but the stew- | Iy wet Senator may be added to the fng of the pglitical pot in the great |little group already there. and that iIf State of Demhsylvania has a certain |the Philadelphia boss should be elected general inter Here are three men. | his victory would be misconstrued as F hoping fo be Senator. The first of | indicative of public opinion in general these 1s our old friend. Gifford Pifichot, | throughout the United States.” politically the drvest of the d “The wet and dry aquestion. ac the other extreme is the amiable and | cording to the Canton Daily News loteresting W. L. Vare, whose plat-| (Democratic), “may cloud other jssues, form is the weitest we have ever|but it will not hide them. And Pennsyl- heard of. And hetween these tWo|vania politics is such that real con- there i the present holder of the sena- | gideration of definite issues never ia torial toga—one Pepper. The drys say | allowed in general elections. Mr. Vare I bepper is 4 wet. The wets sy he | comes forward to reassert the method o e “What he really is doubtless | of procedure.” The Portland: Oregon | depends larzely npon Andrew Mellon. | journal (independent) welcomes the This Mellon, frankly, is a puzzle. | candidacy of Gov. Pimchot with the Somehow we can't help cupping our| giaiement that “the United States cars to hear what Mr. Mellon is 20inZ | (ould he better off it there -were to say about this prohibition question, | nore Pinchots in the Senate, while whether he says it in his own person|ihe waco News (independent Demo- or through the Hon. Mr. Pepper. cratic) calls him “clean and coura- * X ¥ ¥ geous.” On the other hand, the Akron 1t Pennsylvania is as ‘wet’ as the | Beacon Journal (Republican) remarks, ‘wels' would have us believe, the gov- | “The governor. according to his habit, ermor does not stand much chance o | arrays himself in the robes of Sir get the nomination.” according o the | Galahad. and will seek to give hiy Kbilene Reporter (independent Demo- | State a new exhibit of the world's orati). “for he has been consistent [only honest man, (he same being Wdvocate of strict enforcement of the 'himself.’ dry laws. ‘But his fight for the nom ezt Ination will be watched with considera- PR ble interest mnnm|mn 'm» co lr;\‘." Einstein’s The Springfield Union (Republican) is | St 5 b egentative | From the Passaic Daily Herald e gy opitkirE haC R e el ¢ Prot. tein spoke with a great deal more clarity on the subject of " | Vare's candldacy makes the outcome doubtful. and adds: “In Philadeiphia | nationality than he did on his theory of relativity. and in the industrial cities of western Penneylvania his opposition to the Volstead act will win him many votes. . v “Pinchet has not grown more | “Why,” he asked in a recent fnfer- pmvu:;f‘ i::‘:“:.‘;"n:‘:‘ '};:Kls:ll;‘_lx:»l-uhr::;l‘.\: vlew,_‘dl: some ;-'e..pu-' .nnallk of g'rh“' not displeasing to hin ‘,_‘]l“"",[‘,‘:':n;‘flfl“roll Englishmen'! Goethe always coming Summer and Fall, V1| protested most vigorously against be- Combn “should offer one of the best|ing called a German. Great men are political shows in the countr {simply ‘men,’ they are not to be con- * ok ox * sidered from the point of view of na- “while it is not probable that the | tionality. Neither should the environ- WAl ment in which they have peen brought — === | up be taken into aceount. Great men 18 without color, but to the artist it is | g, simply born.” Tl of color, The artist Is as & rule | 'The Finstein theory of greatness is peculiarly sensitive to color; the lay- | interesting bug semewhat ultra-mod- man often has to learn to see it. The |ern, Internationalism has not yet be: come so all-prevailing that any indi- vidual can escape the identitying tag artist attempts to recreate the fllu- of his homeland. In Europe especial- sion of vision, not to Imitate some- thing in nature or man-made; there- Iy nationalism is paramount to genfus. ‘While the fundamental qualities of fora, to judge a painting do not com- human greatness, so called, may he pare it with what you Know, but con- sider whether or not it adds to your knowledge. opens your eyes to ‘Wwhat | universally the same, it ix doubttnl has not heretofore heen saen, it men will readily drop the time-hon: ored distinetions of race-and o0 us andgee accounted good. - | lsm just sew. ions point to a cam our lives, Here are two reasons why paintinge appeal