Evening Star Newspaper, May 6, 1926, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WABHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY . ‘The Evening Star Newspaper Company 110 81 e Fonayvania, Ave %0 Tower Building. Buropean Office: 14 Rexont St., London, England. The Evening Star, with the Sunday morn. Ing edition: 13 dahvered by carriers Wthin the city at 40 cents per month: dal 45 centy per munth: Sunday only. 20 (7Ted per ‘month, Orde: y be sent Telephona Saln 5000, Cofiection 18 made by er at the end of each month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Vieginia. Day Sunday. .. $9.00: 1 mo.. T8¢ Bally and, Sundar. .1 o7~ $8:00: 1 Bor 8 Sunday only 1¥r.,$8.00: 1 mo.. 2 All Other S Dally and Sunday Dally only .. Sunday only . T$8100° 1 mo $1.00: 1 mol. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is Iy entitled Jocal news publication No definite change appears in the sftuation in Great Britain during the past fow hours. The British govern ment reports an increase in transpor- tation service and the union leaders clalm an increase in the number of workers on strike. Food supplies are moving, and there is no suffering yet for lack of Great incon venlence has been caused to mil Jions of people, business is almost at a standstill, but the situation has not yet reached the point of conflict, out side of spasmodic rioting and police action to maintain order and prevent interference with bus service, On the score of food supplies, the government appears to be confident that there will no immediate privation, even though the strike should last for sev- eral weeks. It is stated that there are smoked and tinned meats on hand sufficlent to for three or four weeks and flour and wheat enough for a month. Rumors: of the renewal of negotla- tions toward settiement of the strike are met with the emphatic declara- tion by the prime minister that there will be no move in this direction by the government as long as the general strike continues. The moment the general strike is called off, he stated in the House of Commons last night, the government will be prepared to re- open the discussion of terms for the settlement of the mine dispute. A significant dispatch ‘comes from Moscow to the effect that the Soviet labor confederation has asked all Rus- sian union members to give one-quar- ter of a day's wages in aid of the Britlsh strikers. This, it is estimated, will yleld 3,500,000 rubles. Already, the dispatch continues, 250,000 rubles heva been sent to the British Trade Union Council. A Signs are not lacking that the gen- eral strike is not altogether popular in labor ranks in Great Britain. Doubt has already been expressed by some of the leaders as to the possibility of coercing the government by this means to establish the wage-fixing principle as a means of settling “or preventing trade disputes. Further- more, some of the workers who struck on Tuesday are wavering, groups of them having returned to work on the ground that the strike call was not legal. The fact is that the general strike is 2 wholesale violation of con- tracts, a fact which has not been per- haps sufficiently considered by Ameri. can labor leaders who have expressed thelr sympatify with the British walk- out of Tuesday morning. ——————— . The Pole Hunters. ‘Three parties of North Pole hunters are making ready to hop off into little- known and the unknown Aretic re- glons. Tt is said in the dispatches that the adventurers must make their flights i v or pone them till another y for are prevalent in June in the Arctic, and these make fiying extra h; . Weather this ccessities. arily cold, strong winds and heavy snows have held the dirigible Norge, the ship of the Amundsen-Ellsworth-Nobile expedition, in Russia, but news came this morn- ing that the Norge began its flight to its polar base at Kings Bay, Spitzber- gen, and in a few hours the cable or wireless may tell that the Norge is at Spitzbergen. With favorable weather the Norge will leave Spitzbergen with the object of crossing the North Pole and reaching the Arctic coast of Alaska. The Byrd airplane party has been at Kings Bay several days and storms have been reported as prevailing there. This party will hop off on its mission of discovery, and there is manifest ambition in the Byrd and Amundsen parties to be the first away and first at the Pole. The Wilkins party is still at Point Barrow, Alaska, waiting for the moment to attempt its filght to the Pole. Bad weather has delayed the start of that party, but at almost any moment news may come that Wilkins has flown over the Arctic sea on his way to the Pole. The hope of every one is that all the pajar ad- venturers may achieve their atm and return sound and happy. — e The traffic problem is aggravated in London until it is stupendous. Yet it ranks in relationship to the entire sit- uation as a minor detail. ——— Literary Art and Prizes. There are various ways of attracting public attention. One is to write a novel that gains distinction as one of the “six best sellers” in the literary market. Another way is to be award- ed a prize for such a work as the best presentation of the year of national itfe. And still another way is to re- fuse the prize, is an open letter, on the ground that acceptance of any form of reward of excellence is a menace to artistic independence. Such is the case of Sinclair Lewis, whose latest novel, “Arrowsmith,” was given the $1,000 Pulitzer prize the other day, and who has now refused to receive the award. - 1t may be granted that Mr. Lewis y singere and has no thought ...May 6, 1926, ners of self-explojtation In thus publicly re- Jecting the award, Possibly his'pub- !lishers, who gave out his letter for {publication, had an eye to the main ' chance rather than the author. Con- sideration of the possibility of shrewd ' advertising may be put aside for con- sideration of the merits of the matter. Is there anything inimical to artis- tic independence in acceptance of an award of this character? Is there any- thing pofsonous in the cashing of a check which represents the judgment of competent critics selected to nomi- nate authars, cartoonists, journalists and dramatists for annual honors? Mr. Lewls, in his letter of declina- tion, potes that the terms of the Pulitzer award specify that the prize shall be given, “for the Amerlcan novel published during the year which shall best present the wholesome at- mosphere of American life and the highest standards of American man- and manhood.” This, he con- THE EVENING and-buggy deliveries, pilots on ships and planes will be unnecessary and faflure of crops will be remembered only as past experlences of ignorant people. Whew! Coming on top of the transmission of pictures across the Atlantic Ocean and the general advance of radio these predictions are not-as absurd as they, at first glance, appear. In fact, developments of sclence in the past five years prepare the layman for almost anything. To the average person the radio is a never-ending mystery. When music, sent out from far-off cities, is picked up by this apparatus he merely shakes his head, murmurs, “Isn't this a wonderful world,” and prepares to read an announcement in the mnext day’s newspaper that if he tunes in he will be able to see the actors and actresses do “‘their stuff” a thousand miles away merely by adding Blank- ety-Blank’s “Photoseer” to his ma- chine. Nothing is too much for him tends, means that the appraisal of the novels shall be made not according to their actual lterary merit, “but in obedience to whatever code of good form may chance to be popular at the moment.” The quarrel between mode and art is perennial, Artists in all mediums to swallow since sclence is daily pro- ducing new wonders. So the thing to do now is to sit back and wait for these inventions. In this way plenty of rest can be ob- tained before it is necessary to clear the space on the roof for the airplane landing fleld, of course allowing room contend that they must not be govern- ed by passing moods of popular taste. They declare their independence of! manners, insisting that they are the creators and fashloners of modes rather than reflectors of them. It would seem to be a mere matter of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, or, to change the manner of expression, a restatement of the ancient problem of the hen and the egg. It is difbult to see why any artist should resent a declaration of coincidence between his work and the mode of the period, re- gardless of considerations of cause and effect. *“Art for art’s sake” is a sustaining traditfon, but it 13 to be noticed that no creator of any work of art rejects the emoluments that it earns in terms of sales. An artist is no less an artist because he sells his products, and, con- versely, no greater an artist because he gives them away. If the American reading public appraises a writer's work sufficlently to malke it one of the “six best sellers” he does not con- demn the taste that has caused the printing presses to work overtime to supply the demand. It would seem to be more than a trifle hypoeritical, therefore, for an author to reject the Judgment of a committee of critics chosen with care to represent an instl- tution of award because it happens to be & committee rather than the whole reading public. ————— Truck Weight Limitation. Owners of trucks in Washington are protesting the proposed change in the traffic regulations limiting to 20,000 pounds the weight of commer- clal vehicles on Highway Bridge and seven others. At a public hearing ves- terday before the Commissioners truck owners stressed the fact that the reduction from the present 28,000- pound limit to 20,000 pounds would cause them to scrap most of their large vehicles and substitute smaller trucks, which would result in greater traffic congestion. The District engineer of bridges testified that a great many of the buckle plates on Highway Bridge are bent and not capable of supporting loads in excess of 20,000 pounds, while Engineer Commis out that eve to secure appropriations for the re- flooring of the bridge and in general to add the necessary factor of safety to all of the bridges in the District. It is an unfortunate situation. Bridges should be not only safe to | carry heavy loads but should have stout railings and wide roadways. It appears from the testimony of the bridge engineer that in their present condition the structures are unable to sustain loads greater than 20,000 pounds. With this in mind truck owners should treat the matter as an emer- gency and heartily co-operate if the new regulation is promulgated. Con- gress, on its part, should realize the immediate necessity of appropriations to remedy a dangerous condition, and the Engineer Department should make repairs at the earliest possible date with funds available for the pur pose. There has been a suggestion that reduced speed of heavy trucks might accomplish the same purpose as the reduced weight limit. In view of a recent decision of a Police Court judge that there is no authority in the traf- fic act to cut down the speed of ve- hicles below 22 miles an hour it is evident that this plan would not be successful. The proposal to limit the weight of vehicles on most of the District bridges merely serves to stress the fact that Congress for years has neg- lected to appropriate adequately for their proper maintenance. District of- ficials are helpless in the face of these conditions. They must do the best they can with worn-out, antiquated equipment and the proposed limitation of trucks is solely an emergency meas- ure designed to lessen strain and danger until funds are available for repair work. Until these funds are ap- yropriated owners of trucks and pas- senger cars as well should co-operate in order that even limited use can be made of Washington’s bridges. e British taxpayers prepare to under- take an increased burden. Every great social disturbance has to be paid for, and the disorderly agitators mere- ly increase thelr own assessments as well as those of others. Looking for trouble usually results’in finds far be- yond the original expectation. e A Wonderful World. Radio transmission of letters, arti- ficlally controlled temperature, guid- ance of ships and airplanes by means of a new radio beacon and a few other little innovations that will make pres- ent-day science seem to be a relic of the stone age are predicted for an amazed world. Speaking at a dinner last night an official of the United States Bureau of Standards confidently stated that it is .now technically possible to do all of these things and that the near future would probably see them accepted as a matter of course. Alr mail will seem as slow-as horse- for a small garden of favorite vege- tables, controlled by the radio tem- perature regulator, and a small com- partment to recelve radio mail from irlend John, who arrived in San Fran- cisco yesterday and told you he would write at 10 o'clock this morning. Isn't this a wonderful world Pedestrian Pathways. Pathways paralleling all national highways are urged by the District Pedestrian Protective Assoelation to reduce the rapidly increasing toll of deaths and injurles on fast traffic roads. As Summer approaches and pedestrian travel along these high- ways, especlally in the victnity of cities and towns, increases, the danger becomes more acute, and the assocla- tion believes that prompt action should be taken in the various States to remedy an admittedly bad condi- tion. For years pedestrians have been urged by national motor associations to walk against traffic on unlighted roads. In this way the walker is able to see the approaching automobile and can take the necessary steps to avoid being struck. It is only in rare cases, however, that this injunction is fol- lowed, and consequently, with the large increase’ in motor traffic, ac dents have occurred with distressing frequency. Pathways would be comparatively Inexpensive to construct. They would involve only the cutting away, in most cases, of a narrow lane of underbrush at the side of the roads. It appears to be the only solution of a perplexing problem, and it deserves the prompt and serfous consideration of highway officials. —————— A prominent Baltimore woman wept bitterly when the proceedinis of a club meeting displeased her. The presence of women in politics creates possibili- ties of emotional drama as well as heroic tragedy and occasional high comedy. N A venerable millionaire who be- comes Interested in a young woman is in some cascs inclined to assume that he can exercise more domestic authority by adopting her than by marrying her. N —— The amount of valuable publicity in- volved might warrant making an or- der excluding a publication from the malls “adv” and adding the letters “ah,” standing for deadhead. RN The Arctic explorer has at least the satisfaction of engaging in an investi- gation which involves no personal ran- cors. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. In Joyous Confidence. When Springtime is smiling, With blossoms beguiling The sky from all threats of a storm, ‘We grow sentimental As messages gentle Are offered of “Fairer and Warm!" We're through with the blizzard; The words of a wizard Put magical joy in the air. ‘We can all get together And welcome the weather; The prophet says “Warmer and Fair!” Important Thoughts. “Have you any new ideas on farm relief?” “Yes,” replled Senator Sorghum. 've thought up some more troubles to mention. I've got to keep the farm- ers out our way convinced that they need relief in order to hold their in- terest.” Jud Tunkins says some people’s idea of belng sociable and obliging is to come around and.show you some new way of getting into trouble. Beautification in Bewildering Abun- dance. Beauty recipes I read; I hastily pass by ‘em. How terrible should I give heed And next decide to try ‘em! ‘Woman makes, with wit and nerve, Loveliness her duty. Man in homeliness should serve As a foll for beauty. Thrift. “Who is this adventurous stranger who says he can prove the world is round by juggling an egg?" asked Isa- bella. “Columbus,” replied Ferdinand. “Give him an audience and lend him an egg. But don’t trust him with more than one. Food experts say eggs will eventually be worth ten cents aplece.” In the Sunshine. There’s weather news from Danville, All gleefully displayed. Our Uncle Joe is 90, | But never in the shade. 3! “You is entitled to yoh own opinions,” said Uncle Eben. “De sen- sible way mostly is to treat ‘em like private property an’ not try to scatter STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. “If you feel irritated by the absurd remarks of two people whose conver sation you happen to hear, you should imagine that you are listening to a dialogue of two fools in a comedy.” 8o says Schopenhauer. To many, especlally the sensitive, this thought will come as a_welcome safety valve which will take the sting out of many a coaversation and throw the light of common sense over what might otherwise prove dark and brood- ing (which is doing quite well for a valve, we admit). In this life most of us are exposed, as one might say, to good and e thoughts, not only to those wh originate in our own minds, but especially to those which are the hasty and illadvised products of the brains of others. Friends and acquaintances of the varlous degrees have opinions about us and concerning what we do and s that do not always harmonize with ou own inner ideas of our own thoughts and ideas. This is not as complicated as it may seem, for we all think, or go through some sort of mental process which {8 commonly honored by that name, and these thoughts are not only original, in so far as we can make them, but also are ideas about ideas. . Most of us fondly belleve we are right, for instance. Perhaps the most striking instance of this trend of' hu- man nature Is to be seen in the male high school student. There is a pretty specimen for you! This baby fondly believes that the quintessence of human achievement is done up tightly in one large and beautiful package, to wit, himself. If there ever is a masculine entity that regards itself as the very peak of creation, the average high school boy is that interesting being. e honest- ly does not see. why he does not “know it all.” Nothing but five or ten years of experience will convince him other- | wise. Certainly he has the appearance of a | man. He wears the same clothes, often {s much broader in the shoulders and thicker in the arms and legs than men who have done something in the world. The boy feels himself to be every inch a man, and no doubt he is —but not in the way he thinks, * % ok kx Our own ideas, then, and the thoughts of others daily mix and jum- ble in almost inextricable confusion, and we are lucky, Indeed, if out of this conglomeration come only h beautiful thoughts that help us lite's way. It follow hear, now and fhen we would not willingly he: hurts our feelings, or wh cretly know to true. shrink from acknowledging, or which is utterly false. which perhaps injures us worst of all There 1s no man or woman in the world, however high or worthy, who is free from these back-slaps of ill There i something perverse in nature which makes It secretly revel in the opposite of geod will. This was all the French epigram. matist meant when he wrote, “There is something not displeasing in the misfortunes of our best friends.” He who does not recognize the truth of that saying is fooling himself. Each one of us will, at some time or other, either hear tidings of ill will relative to our precious sely or some kind friend will make it point to tell us about it, iIf we have had the good fortune to miss it on our own behalf. In the former case, it is well to bear or which h we se but would that every one of us will | something which | the German pessimist-philosopher’s thotight in mind, that you have just listened to_the dialogue of two fools in_a_comedy. Life is a play, and all the men and women in it players, Shakespeare tells us. Perhaps this is a_better way to |look at the matter than to regard !life as a comedy. Just a play, which may contain both tregedy and comedy, mixed as life alone can mix it, and ‘as the stage mixes it by fol- lowing truthfully life, with ail its shades and high lights. Lifo is this play, and we are the players, and it heips us in our en- trances and exits if we can manage to take it all with good humor, and be able to see the comic aspects. The t00-t00 Serious man or woman is handicapped in a world planned like the present one. A sense of humor i invaluable. * X X K When something we have heard MAY 6, 1926. THE NORTH WINDOW By Leila Mechkin. This is the season of conventlons. In Syracuse 4 fortnight ago the East ern Arts Assoclation, a thousand strong, consisting of teachers of art in the public schools of our Eastern States, held its seventeenth annual convention. Here, this week, the American Institute of Architects, em- bracing in its membership the lead- ing architects of the United States, is holding its fifty-ninth annual meeting. Next week the Association of Amer- jcar. Art Museum Directors and the American Federation of Art m: n.::'a ter representing 415 art museum osoctations in the United States, will_gather for conference. All of these organizations are en- deavoring to promote the develop ment of art and its appreciation. In the history of the world has there ever before been such concerted ef- fort toward this end? The thousand members of the Pastern Arts Association who attend- ©ed the meeting in Syracuse represent hurts us, let us not brood upon it, but try our best to believe that we have listened to the dialogue of two per- sons in the universal comedy of rights and wrongs. Life is not merely a comedy of errors, but contains much of truth and more of honesty in its make-up. To concentrate upon the evil, the nasty, the ill-hunmored, the mean, is to fail to see the other side. It we had our way we might, in- deed, shatter this world to bits and mold it nearer to the heart's desire, as the Persian poet said, but, since this i5 something that is impossible, we must be content to take life as we find it. Such an attitude will not prevent each one of us from trying to muke both ourself and the world a bit nearer to that heart's desire. It we fall often, as fail we must, being as we ‘are, we shall be consoled with the thought that the battle has been regarded through the ages as the lurgest which the soul of man | engages in, and is one from which one need not garner medals to be a victor in the fight. It is enough to have | won some consolation of approbation in one's conscience, if one's own con science i3 worth while. * %k Xk % Nor shall we ever be free from the importunity of good friends who, lacking philosophical insight, insist on telling us, “for our own good,” |the tidings of ill will which others { have for us. So what we do not hear ourself, we |shall most certainly be told about |later by some one! This is one of the | surest bets in the world, since it does | not depend for success upon whether a partic horse has its leg muscles |in good trim or mnot, but is based | simply upon a fact of human nature. It has been often said that the pient of bad tidings holds no of against the originator, but against him who brings the | . While this is true in some degree, it is not altogether so, clse few of us would have any friends all. Did he that about me? should reply, modeling our reply that of Epictetus, “Think of what he might have said, had he known as many of my faults as I do!" Beautiful on the mountuins are the feet of those who bring tidings of joy and peace, Isafah tells us. This i | the other side of the pictire, and one to be remembered when the other is put out of mind. No matter how many fools you hear talking as if in a comedy, as Schopenhaue- sald, therc ill_always be friends to bring one beautiful pictures, and tales of friend ly conversations. Let these, then weigh more {n the scale than the others. They ought to, and can be made to do o, If one is true to him- self. we upon Oriental Suspicion Block(fi_ Rockefeller Gift to Science It seems very generally agreed that Oriental suspicion blocked the Rockefeller offer of $10,000,000 for a great museum and archeological insti- tute In Egypt. Now that the offer has been withdrawn, the feeling in America Is that the world at large and the Egyptians themselves need- lessly suffer a tremendous loss. “An interesting light is thrown on the . manner in which the Oriental mind works,” the St. Paul Dispatch points out, “by the report that Egyp tians antagonistic to Mr. Rockefeller's proposal declared there must be some- thing fundamentally detrimental * to Egypt somewhere in an offer that appeared so generous! They were, in other words, suspicious of Greeks bear- ing gifts—and their past experience with certain archeologists gave them reason to be; but in this case their suspicions were groundless. All Mr. Rockefeller hoped to do was to assist a country that is not rich to uncover for its own enlightenment and that of the world in general the relics of an anclent civilization. This hope has been defeated by the Egyptian's fanatical hatred of the giaour.” The Seattle Daily Times declares that “‘perhaps they have no reason to trust forelgners, but it should require no great mental effort to distinguish between a studious archeologist and the person who wishes to exploit them. In all Egypt,” continues the Times, “there is not an Egyptologist who knows a tenth as much about the history of the Nile country as Dr. Breasted, who was selected by Mr. Rockefeller to have charge of the proposed museum.” ik “How baseless are the fears of menace to Egypt,” suggests the Pitts- burgh Gazette Times, “appears in the fact that at the end of 30 years the whole business would be turned over to the Egyptian government abso- lutely. Egypt should famillarize it- self with the Rockefeller benefactions, and strive to regain the opportunity that was presented to it. That country and the world will be the richer if it succeeds.” The New York World also emphasizes this view, observing: “Offers of, this kind are evidences of an international cordiality which should be encouraged, not rejected. As Cairo looks back upon the cour- tesy with which Mr. Rockefeller mod- ified his offer to suit the supposed wishes of Egypt, and realizes that this might have been the first of a number of gifts and contacts of high value, it may regret its attitude. A few years from now, when nationalist self-Sufficlency has subsided, the time may be ripe for a general renewal of the offer, but the first move should come from Egypt. s One explanation of the situation comes from the Birmingham News, which is impressed by the fact that “whoever knows Egyptian literature must know that the very oldest rec- ords of the earth transcribed on pa- pyrus come from Egypt; that the ‘Song of the Dead,’ one of the noblest threnodies ever written, exalted death and the dead and the souls of the dead. If we cannot understand this particular gesture of the Orlent mind,” continues the News, “maybe it is because we are not reverent enough, profoundly devout enough, to under- stand that the . descendants of the dead are mnot keen for violating the tombs of their ancestors.” * K Kk / ‘What Egypt has lost is visioned by the Syracuse Herald as “a project for the banks of the Nile which would have ranked in splendor with its tem- ples and pyramids—indeed, might have aurvlvedt with ll};m for end(:u ages longer , to testify. to another _an groater . of P Ak Renb Gazette, viewing the Egvptlan au | thoritfes as “steeped in gra’t and vice om the tips of their tees to the crowns of their heads.” sees objection to the proposed arrangement in the fact that it would have “lefr no pick ings for the baksheesh chisers, no money for pearls for adorn nent, no h for bac t and othe games and, in short. would have allowed no Oriental amusement “Whatever the motive of ths Egyp- tion obstructic according to the Boston Transcript, “a wrnderful thing, as matters stand, has heen lost to.the world. In a sense, the sclence of Egyptology is in its beginnings. It is full of significance for the human mind. 1t is desirable that its a-hieve- ments should be open to the world, but open to the world in Egypt itself, Land under conditions which w il as. sure, not only the preservation and safety of a myriad of objects anc their proper_accessibility, but the coitinu- ance of research. The museum would have assured all that, and it would have opened a wonderful caree for native Egyptian scholars.” * ok ok K “We shall have to wait many yeirs, says the Brooklyn Daily fore Egypt can spare $10,000.000 or $1,000,000, for such a purpose, nd even longer before she will have de- veloped the expert scholars who know how to direct excavations, and muke proper use of what may be found.' And the Asheville Times regrets that “thus goes into discard a great pr.j- ect for the study of one of the moi;t fascinating subjects in the fleld of human knowledge, the beginnings cf man'’s life in that mysterious dawn o’ human_history.” ‘“‘As far as most Americans are con- cerned,” in the opinion of the Provi. idence Bulletin, “‘the matter is regarded as one of personal business between Mr. Rockefeller and the Egyptian government, but many of them cannot help volcing their sympathy, not for the generous philanthropist who made the offer, but for the shortsighted present-day Egyptians, who neither strive to discover nor to preserve their anclent treasures, nor to match their own craftsmanship with that of their ancestors.” The Watertown Dally Times points out that “both Mr. Rockefeller, jr., and the Rocke- feller Foundation have given millions for the betterment of humanity, and to add to the knowledge of the world,"” and suggests that “the Egyptians do rot seem to be able to understand that there is such a thing as altruism.” et Exigent. From the Chattanooga News. Dr. Wiley insists that the truth be told in labels. Which is asking con- siderable. The Greater Chance. From the Bluefleld Telegraph. Statistics would seem to indicate that juries are hung much more fre. quently than are murderers. Spelling. From the Detroit News. TE Wil have to be conceded that a strong. tendency to individuality 1s not much help in a spelling bee. Nobody Confesses. From the Boston Traveler. One"’gt the rarest of birds is the chap who will own up to the fact he hasn’t a sense of humor. ——— No Mental Fidance. From the Binghamton Press. e e recall fust who is in the Fre! = ,-but, we Teahes aar hrune b DAR-CHIR only a portion of the many who are giving, their lives to this purpose. 1t is well within the memory of those still vigorous and capable when art teaching in the public schools was a novelty, a rarity. There are €ompara- tively few States in the Union that do not include it among the subjects regu- larly taught. And how remarkably the character of the work done in the pub- lic schools in this department has changed in the past 25 years! Where- as it first had a stereotyped stodginess, it has now spontaneity and vigor; whereas originally the purpose was to induce the development of artists, its object now i to increase apprectation, to relate art to everyday life, to open avenues of enjoyment to the average child. 4t is safe to say that no finer body of men and women can be got together than that composed of the teachers and supervisors of art in our public schools throughout the country. *.ok X ¥ A great many of these teachers of art in the public schools are college graduates; in fact, in a majority of the States this is made a requirement, if not for uppointment, certainly for promotion. To an extent this signifies a heightening of standard, an appre- clation of the importance af general scholarship; but, on the other hand, it works a hardship and is detri- mental. Art is a specialty, and those who fit themselves as teachers must give to the subject a large amount of time and attention, a larger amount of both than is possible when carry- ing on a full college curriculum, lead- ing to the B. 8. or B. A. degrees. Likewise, those who have secured po-, sitions and are self-supporting, are working for promotion, are obliged to neglect the subject which they teach n order to earn a degree by stud. other field. Thus many teacher: art in the public schools devote all of their holidays during the best years of their early life to acquiring degrees which are practically only useful to them in securing higher pay. Mean- whilo they are losing aptitude and opportunity for advancement in their own chosen field. Such requirements wre not logical and work a hardship. *x ¥ ¥ X There {8 today a fetish in regard to degrees, which comes as a result undoubtedly of increased competition in the scholastic fleld and overzeal for scholastic recognition. Now a degree s obviously the token of ac- complishment; it is not accomplish- ment in itself, but so it is generally today regarded. When a teacher in one of the famous preparatory schools was asked how much time was given to the study of art she replied: “Practically none at all; my students have all they can do to prepare themselves for the entrance examina- tlons"—in other words, to get in. To the question as to how much they did in art after they got in college, the reply was again: “Not a great deal; they have all they can do to cover the required courses and get thelr degree.” When one of the great foundations recently offered a number of scholarships, and fellowships to those desiring to make art teaching in the college a profession, the ma- jm-dy who applied gave as their chief objective the securing of an additional degree. Increase in knowledge is without doubt valuable equipment for any teacher, but degrees merely as de- grees are only useful in attaining positions and increased salaries, and as such they are not always all they appear. The teachers of art in the public schools or in our colleges should be especially trained for their particu- lar subject; they should not only have knowledge but the power to impart knowledge, and that rare gift of engendering sane enthusiasm ANSWEKS BY FREDERIC Q. What vegetables and fruits con tain quinine’—W. E. C. A. The Bureau of Home says that quinine is an alk:loid and that no vegetable or fruit contains it in an appreciable amount. If it did, it could not be used as a food. | Q. By what process fs synthelic nitrogen taken from the air? | A. Synthetic nitrogen is from the air by three processe: arc; second, cyanamide; third, thetic ammonia. Q. Does sound, such as a waterfall or dynamiting, interfere with growth of plants?—J. R. A. The Bureau of Plant Indus says that sound does not affect the | growth of vegetation. Q. Who was Johnny Appleseed and what did he do”—W. C. I A. Johnny Appleseed 1s discussed in a long poem by Vachel Lindsay Chapman. He crossed the Appa lachians, carrying with him seeds which he planted in the hope that they would some day cause trees to grow and bear “fruit in their se Johnny Appleseed was born, says Century, in a prefatory note, in New England in 1775. He died near Fort | Wayne in 1847. The editor says of him, “He was a sort of secular| mendfcant friar.” He lived to sce his trees bearing fruit over a territory 100,000 acres. Q. How much of the money spent for food goes for milk, butter and other dairy products’—H. M. | says that their last survey was madc | in 1918. Then a little more than one- | fifth of the money spent for food went for dairy products. Of this amount two-thirds went for milk and a lttle less than one-third for butter. The small remainder includes cottage cheese and buttermilk. Q. How much did the sale of Sorol- }x‘t's first painting bring the artist?— ‘A." The price of the first painting | which he sold, a landscape, was $1.40. | Q. Was Clara Barton a Govern- ment employe when she became a Civil War nurse?—S. S. A. Clara Barton was a clerk In the Patent Office from 1854 until she re signed to become a volunteer nurse. Q. Of the blind women in -the United States, how many earn a living and at what occupation are they most successful?—G. A. M. | A. Of the 16,385 blind women and | girls reported, only 1,270 were gain- fully employed. Of th 246 were seamstresses, 119 musicians and music 95 piano tuners, 82 school r caners, 54 farmers, et workers, 42 stenographers and typists and 18 telephone operators. Q. What were the names of Long fellow’s sons?—N. O. L. A. They were Charles Appleton and | Ernest L. | Q. What is the oldest: newspaper west of the Mississippi 1. C. C. | | ¢ onomics | E. west of the Mississippi by that time, but published. origin. troubles and ch This interesting character was John the foundry to ¢ t A. The Department of Agriculture | A. The oldest one which is still Can women be useful in war, at the front as well as in the rear? That question is now under discus- sion because a little lady has won the approval of President Coolidge in response to her proposal that there should be training camps for girls, as well as for men. As to World War experience, no- body disputes the uscfulness of wom- en who knitted, sewed or rolled band- ages, for all womankind in Americ and Europe seemed to be thus busy all the time. Nurses wore uniforms and were recognized as trained ex- perts in the service. In the Navy were yeomanettes for clerical work. Then there were the welfare work- ers—and right there the outsiders who had no view of the work of those wel- fare women sometimes have Iw_nk»d upon them as romantic xuperflmflr's. Those Salvation Army lassies! Try to slur their service and see what happens! Tl‘::re is a book entitled “That Damn ¥,” but it was written by one of the Y$ and does not mean what its title infers. If it did the veterans might “start something."” True, there was some misguided through which alone the love of art becomes contagious. A It is true that in recent years in- terest in art on the part of the stu- Gents in our American colleges has greatly increased, and with it through the students’_demand, facili- tles for art study. Yale University has lately received a gift of $1.000,- 000 for an art museum; Harvard has set an esample through the upbuild- ing of its Fogg Museum and its use as a laboratory in the fine arts, its exhibits providing material for original study and research. A plan has been drawn up by Henry Salem Hubbell, the well known painter, for a school of fine arts and a’ museum workshop in connection with the new University of Miami, Florida. Syracuse University has a well es. tablished and equipped college of fine arts in which painting, fllustration, interior decoration and music in its several branches are taught, and well taught. The Carnegie Technical In- stitute of Pittsburgh has a school of art in which painting, sculpture, ! music, the drama and poetry happily {hobnob. The University of Wash- ington, at Seattle, has lately been left « valuable collection of works of art, and rejoices in its possession. Among the exhibitions sent out by the Ameri- can Federation of Arts‘this last year were three sent exclusively to col- leges and universities. These three were shown no less than 57 times. * Kok K The time was when education in art was deemed non-essential for the averrge student, and there are many still who regard the knowledge of art as beyond their ken. Otherwise we should not have so indifferent a pub- lic in regard to civic beauty; we should not have so few who are ac- quainted with the names and works of our foremost American architects; We should not hear so often the say. ing with regard to an exhibition of paintings, “I know what I like, but T don’t know what is good”; also the ‘commercial producer of war memorials of an inferior type would not be so successful. But general education in art will alter these conditions, and one thing may happily be remem- bered, that never, even in its crass ignorance, has the public ever failed to appreciate what is really great in art. "The moderately good often fails to secure recognitiony but the superla- tive good, never. K Kk Nicholas Murray . Butler once said, «What interests the crowd is what it knows and what it dreams.” Art is some one’s dream come true, It is the aspirational quality of art which calls forth the best in man. Ramsay MacDonald, former prime minister of Great Britain, representative of the British Labor party, in an address to workingmen in London a year or more ago, said: “The educated man is a man with certain subtle, spirit- ual qualities which make him, calm in adversity, happy when alo: Just in his dealings, rational and sane in the fullest meaning of that word, ot S £ activity, inspired by untrained en- thusiasm. There were “artistic dec- orators” who raced from camp to camp, urged on with the fad of drap- ing the rafters of rest houses with purple and yellow cheese cloth to hide the crude timbers and “give an artistic or cubist touch,” which would hurry along the resting-up and speed the soldiers back to the trenches. It did! But they were “horrible exam- Dles” of the disservice of the untrain- ed, rather than proofs that little Miss Maloney and President Coolidge are wrong in saying that there should be training camps for women as well as for men. * ok x What kind of training might be given to women in such camps? The question was asked of Mrs. Irene Givenwilson, the expert of the Mu- seum of the National Red Cross So- clety, because during the World W she had had supervisory charge of several important rest houses in France, and, being a_highly trained woman, could speak from experience and knowledge of the problems. Mrs. Givenwilson answered that iscipline was one of the first es- Sentlals to be acquired by the train- ing of women, as well as of men. They must be taught to obey orders of their superiors with the utmo: Strictness. They must learn unity of action. They must become intelli- gent upon firstaid methods and Upon dietetics and hyglene. They must learn to be useful in mending niforms. U rhen the economies of the kitchens! Could a man handle such problems as well as a housekeeper? Mrs. Givenwilson, who was in command of several rest camps, told the soldiers and the officers that whatever they left upon their plates would return to them after many days, and it did. The leavings of meat were simmered (she called it “sterilized”) for three hours, and it came out in “delicious soups or stews.” If there was “gold- fish” it was made enticing. Waste bread? That was prior to certain conditions which use up the raisins now in America. Bread pud- dings_were reincarnal ut wa K. :v"fi‘.:'eg:ma, s well as “deliclous.” ‘No man. cook was used where sucl e s . He doés not, it will be noted, ::::lot‘:on art, but what else is there which contributes so surely to the power of man o be “happy when alone”? One of the great problems which confront our country today is that of the right use of leisure—the leisure which modern times and modern in- ventions have given the working- man. The avenue of enjoyment which art opens is one of the surest golutions to this difficult problem. The enjoymenf; of art is not only a game which ofb can play alone, but which gains incalculably in pleasure when played with others. Indeed, here art furnishes the touchstone participation in the most, joyous J. HASKIN. seing published is the Arkansas sazette, founded in 1819 by William Woodruff. There were six papers them is still being none of Where faro bank first ved?—W. H. M. 1t is one of the oldest banking mes and is supposed to be of Italian It belongs to the same f(am- jarsquenet, floventini and monte k. Under the name of pharaon it in great favor during the reign of Q. Louis XIV and came to America by the | way of N When was the first i in the United States?—J. N. The first iron works in the United States were erected at Falling | Creek in 1619, ut Indlan of the nused o first sue- ated on the ese Va., near Richmond Virginia Comps the rev rter of the co -t ss. T t in 1643 1t hrop, jr., and 10 other E forming the *Company takers for the Iron Works works, Wi were bu Q. When w. known?—A. J. P, A. The theater o Greeks and develoy sgether with the d heater was simply a sp ‘emple of Dionysius, wk chorus danced about the alt god. Later set places were prov he performances. During the m ges, theatrical performances b with dialogue additions. acted out i the church service for Christma Easter. It developed in the twelfth century into playvs in the vernacular presenting the chief ev storles. The first of which t to 4 per rission charge d was from 2 “how long A1d the hold Q. In Christ's d high priest fn Jerusalem offi -G. T. K A. In the ear priesthood was held f heredi! “hr w he, y the nomine Romans, during their pie: the high s day the office s of the ure. Q. Where do we get the expression “kick the bucket” as appl to dying?—J. H. A. The expression is originated from the suic who stood on a buck justed a noose to kicked the bucket and accomplished hix pu This s a special voted solely to the ries. This paper puts at your disp the services of an extensive orgar ton in Washington to serve any capacity that relates to mation. This scrvice is frec ure to make use of it deprives benefits to which you are en Your obligation is oniy stamps inclosed with your ing: direct reply. Address The I Star Information Bureau, Fred Haskin, director, Washington, D. ¢ lied 1d to have pos department de- har ! que sal is Fail- BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. women could be found, and *“ was a post of honor Mrs. Givenw liever in the labor. She has no of the special d: disagreeable, when it sort of influence miz cial course in a woman's tr camp, according other thoritles in the Red Cross. . The World War revolutionized the art of nursin; When this country ntered the war, the National Red Cross had on its ent nt between 5,000 and 7,000 t to be assigned to duty Red Cross has more t trained nur: and t and readiness to are tested out every few ards for trained nyrs higher than they were In addition, the sands of auxi are wanted. The trained in camps- but to be aids to England in_the the “V. A. D. tachment.” There was the “W. A. land: Vi ) Army “advanc of shi s need make also to emerge wveeks. S s in known_as Voluntary Aid De- A. C” of Auxiliary ove ambu- nd automobi They were sometimes women of rank. as well as of efficiency. They could change a tire or repair an en ne, bec: had been trained, and the released the men for the front. It took nerve to drive 20 or 30 miles with an ambulance filled with wounded men, perhaps driving at night, alone, and under fire; but “there were gian! those day hing & hune dred pounds avoirdupois and a million in'grit. Some were Americ * K K K The proposal to establish training camps for women does not meet the unqualified approval of £ome of the officers of the War Department. They “view with alarm” the possibility that if the War Department undertook to train women, the trainees would ex- pect to shoot and to take setting-up exercises. Therefore, the women are referred to gymnasiums and rifle teams of societ One is reminded that the women's army of the Bolsheviks, a with banners, was not terrible. tory, howeve! feated Antony of Arc put the awhile. ~We have, indeed, our Mollie Pitchers and b Frietchies, while the World War had its I Cavell, and_all nursing began “lorence Nightingale— pared with today’s sclentific nur: In 1914 Lord Kitchener refu accept women’s services, saving, “Our men must fight and our women must knit.” Three years later, when Amer- fca jolned the “associates,” Engiand had fn various services a woman's army for special duties, and was afm- ing to organize a million women, so as to release every man in England, from factorles, from trams and am- bulances and from duty as orderlies and camp cler Tn France, the same conditions applied; women op- erated farms and factorles, as well as drove ambulances and nursed in hospitals, Tt was s woman—Lettle C. Van Derveer—who wrote: “Fhe Woman Behind the Man.” ‘War! Ah, the word strikes terror To the heart of womankind! It hasn't a place in her scheme oflife, Nor a chord of response in her mind. But look—She has equared her shoul- ders, “It has come—I must do what I e And she finds her work—did she ever shirk? This woman behind the man? nglish to rout Not in the line of battle— 1Is that the one place for the brave? But just in back of the hospital shack. ‘Who has measured the services she gave? Tireless, sleepless, unfaltering, Never heeding the risk she ran, Strength she spent—strength gave— Hers a passion to save— This woman behind the man. .- (Copyright. 1926, by Paul'V; Ooliiesd she