Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1926, Page 8

mE EVENING STAR'dGD'-h» Steel fabrication can be nr-:hc could not again be tried, but his ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY.....December 14, 1926 YHEODORE W. NOYES. . . . Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Bustness Office: 12¢h St and Pennarivai Flsrth'k Ofice 1o l:n;‘ ‘fim: ‘engo Office: Tower B Earopean Office’ 14 Regent St.. London. ‘England. The Prening Star. with the Sunday morn. g aditicn’ I8 delivered by carriers Within the citv .t 60 cents per month :jv only. 86 centa her month: Sundays only. 20 cente may_be sent by mail or "MCallection is made by month. Rate by Mafl—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Iy and Sund: 1¥r.$0.00: 1 mo.. 75¢ ailv only . unday only 137 Sa00: 1 mo.. f A Other States and Canada. 1yr 00: 1 mo.. 2. !lv an¢ Sunday..] yr. $12.00:1 m ally on's 11 T 8800: 1 m b Menber of the Associated Press. ~ated Press is exclusively entitled for republication of all news dis- jiied to it or not otherwise cred. ) o puper and also the local mew re n % ot publication | ‘are also reserved $1.00 36c n. A'l rich diepetches ierein Public Library Expansion. A favorable impression, it is evi- @ent, has been made upon the sub- eommittee of the House District com- mittee now considering questions af- fecting the welfare of the National Capital by the proposal of a five- year building program for the Wash- ington Public Library to carry its| facllities to the people of the District through branches. There are now three branch libraries, located, in order of their establishment, in Ta- Lkoma Park, in the Southeast section @nd in the Northwest section. They are all busy to the limit of their cepacity in the distribution of books. Tt is proposed to establish eleven more major branches in separate buildings and fifteen or more branches In schooliouses, mostly in the suburbs. In view of the experiences of the branches already maintained, it is cer- tain that this projected extension of the Public Library will lead to a great increase in the use of the col- lection by the people, with a maxi- mum of efficiency and a minimum of inconvenience. Decigion having been reached by the trustees of the Carnegie Founda- {on that no further funds will be ad- vancrd for the purpose of establish- ing branch libraries in Washington, it becomes incumbent upon Congress to provide by direct appropriation for the expansion of the institution founded upon the beneficence of Andrew Carnegie. It i3 estimated that the projected five-year building program to provide the necessary branches will call for $1,250,000,, by appropriations at the rate of $250,000 ® =w?, This proposition is similar to tha five-year building program adopted for the public schools. lof a bridge. ried to any desired height. In the case of the Hudson River Bridge of the dimensions proposed, long land approaches are necessary and a great part of the cost lles in the acquisition of these areas. On the New York side this cost is especially heavy owing to the great amount of. improved property which must be taken. This bridge will be of great utility in the handling of traffic between New York and the “mainland” to the west. The Hudson is at present not | spanned for many miles above New | York and traffic must be carried in | direct approach across the river by ferry boats. A vehicular tunnel has just been finished and will soon be in operation, but even with this facility thefe will be an urgent need The question of venti- lation in the tunnel occupied by in- ternal combustion motors in great | numbers is a serlous one, and' despite success of tests already made { the possibility of using this tunnel ! for highly congested traffic is some- what problematical. The old Brooklyn Bridge was hailed a: one of the wonders of the world. It will be dwarfed by the new Hudson River span, which will stand as a monument to American engineering skill. -ornt No Impeachment Trial. consclence preyed on him to such an extent that he could no longer remain silent. ‘Whoever killed Mrs. Mills and Mr. Hall {s wardigg off at this moment the same attacks of conscience that influ- enced Koch to confess. Consclence is an insidious thing to the wrongdoer. It may seem small at first and insig- nificant, but it is like the action of water wearing away sold rock, In the end it becomes an obsession. Locked in the hearts of persons walking free on the streets today are secrets of ecrime and violence. The wearing-away process s too ‘strong for some and they confess their deeds; in others it is successfully concealed. The murder in New Jersey was re- volting. A surge of overpowering anger was necessary to commit such an act. The person guilty of this deed has long since lost the feeling which motivated him to the killing. More than four years have passed. Who- ever is guilty is facing the world with extegnal calmness. But what is the murderer feeling internally? Koch could not stand the gnawings of conscience. Will the person or persons responsible for the deaths of the two New Brunswick lovers be able to resist confession or will they be unable to fight the constant specter of conscience? ————————— A so-called girl bandit robbed a Yesterday by a vote of seventy to nine the Senate dismissed the im- peachment proceedings against for- mer Judge English, who resigned his office after having been impeached by the House of Representatives. This action was in accordance with the precedent established in the case of Secretary Belknap, who in 1876 re- signed after accusation of malfeasance and before impeachment. A trial was held in the Belknap case despite the fact that the official had quit the of- fice before he was formally accused by the House. Had the Senate proceeded with the trial in the circumstances, it could, upon conviction of the accused, have imposed upon him only the penaity of never hereafter holding office under the Government. His resignation had made impossible a sentence of dis- missal. But the Senate could not well have gone on with the case inasmuch as the House of Representatives, in a formal resolution, had expressed its desire not further to urge the articles of impeachment. The House had, in effect, entered a “nolle prosequi” in the case. It had virtually withdrawn the indictment, although its resolu- tion was couched in the form of an expression of “desire” to abandon the proceedings. The managers for the House were present yesterday when the Senate resumed its session as a trial court. Had the Senate rejected the resolution dismissing the impeachment proceed- ings an unprecedented situation would have been caused. Would the House then have proceeded through its man- The Public Library is by virtue of fts organic act established as a branch of the public educational system of the District. From the outset it has functioned in that character. It has not, however, been permitted to grow in keeping with the public school sys- tem, through lack of provision for buildings, supplies and administra- tive organization. Through the beneficence of the Carnegie Founda- tion three branches have been in- stalled. It is now for the Congress to carry on this work which has proved of immeasurable value to the com- munity in providing the people with books. While the program outlined may not be adopted at the present session, owing to the shortness of time, it is effectively .presented for action by the next Congress, and judging from the reception given by the special House subcommittee be- fore which the case was stated yes- terday an encouraging start has been made to that end. g AIr, Ormiston has demofstrated how | famous the usually obscure broad- caster may become, if he only goes the wrong way about it. America was never more prosper- ous than it is today. Prosperity brings envy. e The Hudson River Bridge. The last obstacle to the construc- tion of the projected bridge across the Hudson River between New York end Jersey City has been removed with the approval by the War Department of the plans for the structure already adopted. This for- mal action by the War Department is necessary under the law which gives that branch of the Federal Government supertisory jurisdiction over all constructions across navi- gable streams and between interstate areas. Immediately upon receipt of the formal authorization from the department, in a few days, the Port Authority of New York will advertise for bids for the piers and other foundation work, and it is expected that actual construction will begin eerly in 19 The new bridge will be of a sus- pension type, with a span of 3,500 feet and a clearance over high water of 207 feet, und will cost approxi- mately $60,000,000. A banking syndi- cate has secured the award of $20,000,000 of bonds at 4 per cent, which will be offered for public sub- scription at once. These bonds are secured by a first lien on the rev- enues and tolls arising from the use of the bridge. The States of New York and New Jersey will advance $10,000,000 jointly toward the struetion. This will be the biggest undertaking ever projected United States. It will he summation of a plan long in contemplation. Yearf ago it was proposed and the idea was ridiculed @s impracticable because of the length of the span necessary and the helght that would be required to make a clearance of shipping. Bridge engineering has been developed, how- cver, in recent years to the point ot which the physical difficulties in con- bridge in the the con agers with the trial? That is doubt- ful. It was evidently the wisest—in- deed, it was the only—course for the Senate to pursue to adopt the reso- lution dismissing the proceedings and thus ending the case. ——— Blue Law Enforcement. Proceeding on the theory that the best way to get rid of an obnoxious law is to enforce it, Irvington, N. J., movie theater owners last Sunday inaugurated a campaign, which has stirred the town as it has never been stirred before. Told to close up their theaters on the Sabbath, the movie men, after a conference, decided that if films could not be shown because of an anciént law, business in the town should stop because of the same statute. Accordingly, a merry time was had last Sunday, Gasoline station proprietors were arrested, also newspaper sellers, confectionery store owners and even the reporters sent out by the New York newspa- pers, because they were engaged in “gainful occupation on the Sabbath.” Altogether ninety-elght persons felt the heavy hand of authority under the terms of the blue law of 1854 and a two-dollar fine was slapped on each one. Without going into the merits or demerits of Sunday moving pictures and theaters, those responsible for the crusade of Sunday may well be congratulated by their townsfolk. If every community would dig up un- reasonable statutes and flaunt them in the face of the present-day public they would speedily be repealed. Old and unenforced laws are dangerous fand should not be allowed to lie dormant, to be resurrected for dis- crimination against certain”interests, and then to be laid to rest again un- til needed. This is the age of tolerance and fair play and the sooner that only laws applying to present-day conditions are enacted and, enforced the better off the country will find itself. Texas bank of a thousand dollars and offered no explanation to the police, except that she wanted the money. It is a melancholy contradiction of char- acter that one should be so truthful and at’ the same time so dishonest. ——o—s. Chicago gun men are prominently mentioned. A great and growing metropolis is always confronted with the problem of making its achieve- ments in literature and music more conspicuous than its police news. ——————— Among the ChYistmas glbes now obsolete is one about the queer neck- ties and cigars a woman presents to her husband. All neckties are now queer and many women are excellent judges of tobacco. ——— Having failed to solve one of the world’s greatest murder mysteries, New Jersey will now try something easy and revive a few anclent blue laws. ——————— The result of the Hall-Mills trial was not definite. It still leaves the impression ‘that De Russey’'s lane ought to be provided with a traffic cop and some policewomen. e Aimee McPherson took a vacation. How she spent her time is a matter of conjecture. Some say she engaged in erudite meditation; others say she merely backslid. ———eee— Hog cholera has asserted itself in the country nearby. Wealth used to be reckoned in pounds of tobacco. Riches may yet be estimated on the basis of a pork chop. —— et By selling his Monte Carlo interests Zaharoff shows he is one of the few ‘who are wise enough to quit the game when they are winners. —————————————— It is evident that Senator Hiram Johnson does not propose to encour- age any early shopping for United States ships. DR P R Recent events recall the fact that Lole Fuller, whatever may be her record as a diplomatist, was in other days an exceedingly fine dancer. e —— Philadelphia promoters are candidly wishing they had left out all the Sesquicentennial Exposition except the prize fight. vt A “lame duck” is always hopeful of being tamed and made a pet by official appointment. oo / SHOOTING STARS. 'BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. The Vanquished Male. A woman can toil like a man. She 1s able to drive her own motor, | Or form a ‘political plan Ta dazzle the average voter. She can start for the bargain array. There’'s nothing on earth that can stop er. But poor, feeble man, so they say, 1Isn’t even a good Christmas shopper! Mythical Bird, “What is a lame duck?” ‘““There isn’t really any such thing,” answered Senator Sorghum. “I never yet saw a so-called ‘lame duck’ who couldn’t travel at a prodiglous rate of speed to take an appointment abroad.” The 01d Sleigh. 1t Santa now should bring a sleigh, He'd lose his smile seraphic. A copper sure would holler “Hey! Speed up! You're blocking traffic!” ot The irony of fate is illustrated in the case of Houdini. He spent a large part of his life attacking spiritualism. His name is now utilized by spiritual- ists as one of their best publicity points. —— Conscience and Crime. A case which In some respects par- allels the famous Hall:Mills murder trial just concluded in New Jersey has made its appearance in Berlin, | Germany. Twenty-two years ago Ju- { lius Koch killed Albert Sohn. Five years after the murder Koch was ar- rested and tried. He was acquitted because of lack of evidence. There the similarity to the Hall-Mills case { censes. Yesterday Koch walked into | police headquarters in the German city and confessed that he was the real murderer of Sohn. Speculation on this strange case naturally leads to the question: Will the person or persons guilty of killing the choir singer and the minister ever confess in the ledger of unsolved mysteries? The old adage that “murder will out” is sustained in the German af- the way of such a work are over- come. Caissons for underwater constructions can be sunk in almost { gny conditions to any necessary fair. Koch has confessed that his peace of mind deserted him the min- ute he killed his chum during a quar- rol. Having been tried and acquitted or will the case always remain listed * Jud Tunkins says he used to tell his troubles to a policeman. Now the traffic cop knows them first. Affection for an Enemy. “We ought to love our enemie: “A great many people do so,” sald Uncle Bill Bottletop. t's common to see a man go out of -his way to be friendly and forgiving toward his worst bootlegger." Disillusion. Myths fade away 'neath Time's relent- less touch, As care and toil attend us in the strife. It might be better not to know so much And dwell in Fancy's wonderland for lite, “Do a little work right now,” saild Uncle Eben, “so's when you gay ‘Merry Christmas' you kin show prep- arations to make de wish come true.” e Government Still Lives. From the Boston Herald. Congress is in session, and the Gov- ernment at Washington still lives. . Find:Need for Rehearsals From the New York Herald Tribune. It looks as if the next Democratic national convention would hgnu for a few advance rehearsals. BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Here are some recent letters from This and That flles on a varlety of subjects, from tobacco to canary birds: From Deets Pickett, secretary of |he interesting and informative. the research department, Board of Temperance, Prohibition and 'Public Morals of the Methodist Episcopal Church: “Dear Mr. Tracewell: Your letter in The Star of Tuesday under the head of This and That has been brought to my attention. “Odd though it may seem, your comment upon the leaflet, ‘Ten Rea- sons Why No One Should Use To- bacco,' is in accordance with our own point of view. Dr. Phelps was for a short time with this board sorhe years ago. “In regard to tobacco, our policy is outlined by a resolution passed by this board several years ago: “‘The Board of Temperance, Pro- hibition and Public Morals of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while approving all proper efforts to edu- cate the public to a realization of the harmful “ effects of the use of to- bacco, and approving the prohibition of the sale of tobacco in any form to minors, hereby places on record the fact that it recognizes the funda- mental difference between the traffic in tobacco and that in alcoholic liquors, which had heen declared by the courts to he responsible for most of the Insanity, pauperism and crime, and the board further places on rec- ord the fact that it does mot contem- plate any attempt to prohibit the pro- duction, sale or use of tobacco, ex- cept as above indicated.” “We have consistently held that while the use of tobacco is not a vice, its use by children should be forbidden because it has a de- moralizing effect upon them, and that ,trade promotion of the habit among women {s to be deprecated be- cause of the probable racial harm resulting. We have also on several occaslons called attention to the fre- quent lack of consideration on part of smokers for those non-smokers to whom tobacco is distasteful and who are frequently actually made {1 by the odor of a smoking cigar, pipe or clgarette. Vex;y t*mly ivm"!' etc. “gSir: 1 enjoyed your tobacco ar- ticle greatly and thought you were most moderate with * ¢ * (excuse my plain talk). I wonder it you are familfar with the following beautiful ‘pome’? “Tobacco is a filthy weed: T like ft. It satiefles no earthly need: 1 like it. It makes you Cross; ean; It takes the hair right off your bean; It's the worst —— stuff that was evér seen: T like ft!!! “Very truly, M. K. R” “My Dear Sir: That's a bully to- bacco story—the kind of a story that mortises into countless family chinks, giving mamma a sort of an I-told- you-so argument to sling at pop, and lots of material warnings to Tiny Tim and Flapper Fanny. “I'd like to see the other side have a chance, if there's any space for it. You know that those nasty fellows who chaw and spit and sputter would get ghoulish glee out of Rev. Charles Kingsley's tribute in ‘Westward Ho.’ “Senator Thomas L. Clingman of North Carolina, famous Confederate soldier, in his eightieth year spent quite a bit of time in Washington, came to my office often, and contin- ually talked about his efforts to ob- it makes you tain official recognition of tobacco &s the American elixir of life and cure- all for diseases of every sort. If he Jeft any literature about it, it 'm:fl of your work is tip-top, and you de- serve a Merry Christmas and a Hap- py New Year, too. ““Yours, S.D.F.” * ok kK “Dear Mr. Tracewell: Being one of your regular readers, I feel it a pleas- ant duty to tell you that I liked your article about the birds. It is, indeed, a cruel and heartless practice to im- prison birds and confine them to a life in a theater of a hallway, or worse. Even under the best condi- tions it {s not the life that they know and love. To those who do these things it may seem proper, but that only means an undeveloped sense of kindness and thoughtlessness. “I have never forgotten your article about the slaying of animals for fur. Truly a hideous and bloody business! The ~exasperating sight of seeing many people willing to pay almost any price for an inartistic, gaudy, composite pelt, sometimes hundreds of animals to a coat! We have made progress, but still not so far, in some respects, from the cave gentlemen who slew through necessity. “May I suggest an article about St. Francls. This is the seven hun- dredth anniversary. He was, as you know, devoted to the animals. He raised his volce against the cruelties against animals. Even in his day their cruelties were not so organized and deliberate as in our day. “With high appreciation for all the good you do in this little old world, T am, “Very truly yours, M. B.D." ‘With a clipping of am Associated Press dispatch from Toronto, in which Premier Ferguson was quoted as saying, in reference to the new lquor control bill, “There will be just enough stores to serve the public de- mand and no mor came the follow- ing letter, on yellow paper: “Dear Sir: The premier of Ontario must be a greater, more subtle joker than either Prof. Leacock or Will Rogers. Observe his statement, “There will be just enough to derve the public demand, and no more.’ Only a hog would want more than enough. His remark reminds one of Oliver Wen- dell Holmes' ‘Contentmen! “Yours, J. A. MacM.” * kK ok “Dear Sir: T have just finished reading your column and how glad I am that some one has come out in defense of the poor little birds. * ¢ ¢ “Sincerely, MRS. C. H. 8, “Dess Sir: If Jack Spratt inssred the beawty in tonight’s arflcl.s then please give Jack an extrs, Jit of stroking for me. The lines fhclosed, that are newly born and which, were I to wait until tomorrow, I would not send, are for you both. E.K.C” The poem referred to follows: Enough. One visiontbeautiful, one love remem- bered, One heartbreak sigh, one budding rose, The poignant beauty of a soul's sur- render, One understanding glance, one faith that grows Beyond the bounds of hope's high * promise— Speak of numbers, heart that knows Our need, and gives, Christ’s gift su- preme bestows. K. friend—one BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. Last Sunday was the quarter-cen- tury anniversary of the first trans- mission of wireless messages, When Marcon! in Cornwall, England, sent the letter “s” over the ocean to a sta- tion in Newfoundland. i That was not his first experiment, but previous efforts had been over short ranges. It was his first demon- stration that the curvature of the earth did not prevent the transmission of wireless waves “‘over the top’ from one hemisphere to the other. Within three months thereafter, while he was en route to the United States, he re- ceived, on shipboard, a complete and intelligible message from England, 1,600 miles away, and within one year private messages were traveling be- tween England and America. Three years later, wireless messages gave the news, across the 150 miles of ocean to Welhaiwel, of the battle between the Russians and Japanese wiping out the Russian fleet. * ok kX In the romance of the coming of wireless to the world, there are out- standing the strange facts that the Itallan inventor made his first real introduction between _ English-speak- ing peoples, and that the first great, practical use of the invention came from a major event on' the other side of the'world, between two nations then far from being recognized as in the van of advancing clvilization, and from the initial experiment in long- range wireless until its full adoption by civilization only three years elapsed. at quick acceptance was itself a miracle. What other major invention has ever come into use with such/ a whirl? Not steam ep- gines, nor flying machines, both of which required decades befoere accept- ance as of great practical value. * ok ok x It will surprise many readers to learn that with some folks the world's rotundity is yet a matter of dispate, not alone in Asia or Afric Here in the United States there is a sect which is dow sending out maps of the “flat” world, based upon “proof” brought by Lieut. Comdr. Byrd that the world is not a globe but s as flat as a pancake, and shap- ed like a flapjack. Lieut, Comdr. Byrd flew over the North Pole. That proves that that ole is the pivot of the world, and ‘the sun circles around it the Bible says it does.” But nobody ever has flown over the South Pole, and when Comdr. Byrd tries it he will find that the South Pole is not the center but is the circumference of the “pancake”—it is in every direc- tion from the North Pole, and as sure as he flies over or around that rim he is going to fall off into abysmal space—exactly as predicted of Colum- bus when he dared sail over the horizon, nearlv five centuries ago. Last week the present writer was halted within the sacred precincts of the Nation's Capital and buttonholed by a most earnest “scientist” who held him as the Anclent Mariner was held from the wedding :feast while the scientist announced that there was a "‘good story’ in his dem- onstration that space is not filled with ether, and that light is not vibra- tion of etheral molecules-or atoms or electrons or what not—light com- ing on journeys of millions of years from the starting point across space matter in forward motion,” though flying at the rate of 6,000,000 million miles a year, and some of its courses havi been measured by astronomers and found to stretch out from the Milky Way to earth, 40,000,- 000 milllon years. * % K X But if there be no ether in space, how does wireless vibration in & tiny Instrument located in Europe, with the speed of light, set up vibration in Washington? Twenty-five years ago any man who declared such a pos- sibility ‘would have been incarcerated in a padded cell. Today it is the familiar knowledge of the amateur boy, toying with his wireless, or of the listenersin, as they hear the music of the antipodes. By ‘“‘tomor- row” the Jenkins wireless glass disks will enable our officials to wit- ness upon screens, similar to those used with stereopticon or movie pic- tures, the actual progress of battles or other scenes in Europe or Asia, while the original act is in process. All this power comes from the Mar- coni discovery and demonstration of the wireless transmission of the one Tetter “s,” only vears ago last Sunday. * k x % Already, it has revolutionized the science of navigation, with its broad- casting of weather conditions and prognostications, and with its “direc- tion finders,” by which a ship at sea may get signals from stations on land, of known location, and thereby, through triangulation, fix with exact- ness its own position, regardless of clouds or fog: With its use; the ocean bottom may be surveyed accu- rately and rapidly—a great advance over the old method of taking sound- ings with the “lead.” The discovery has created new in- dustries In manufacturing radio in- struments and spare parts, and the vacuum tubes used in receiving sets are found of great value in other scientific uses. Above all, the intercommunication by direct conversation, between men of all parts of the world, is wiping out racial prejudices and will do more toward the cultivation of international understandings and fellowship than all the diplomatic efforts—yes, also the attempts of missionaries and travelers—can possibly accomplish. So the last quarter of a century marks a greater stride toward the fruition of the “brotherhood of man,” with resultant peace and good will, than many preceding centuries. And the inventor whose science made all this possible is still alive and active upon improvements yet to come. R Yet, Nature is not mocked. It still says to man, “Thus far shalt thou come and no farther, and here shall thy proud (short) waves be stayed. ‘The very success of Mar- coni's long-distance transmission 25 vears ago opened up new flelds of inqu! How could a straight beam of radiation encircle the curve of the round earth? It could not bend. The wave of radiation s sent out from its source in every direction, but in straight lines—like the beams of light; it could no more bend around the r tund earth than can a beam of light. Sclence s demonstrated that beam which goes stra‘ght out into space, as the earth curves, it, strikes a reflecting surface, about 100 miles up, made up of ‘“‘ions"— electrified electrons—which both re- fract and reflect it back toward earth. ‘The reflecting ionized layor is non- conductive, or nearly so. The radio beam penetrates it a little, but ther is curved back toward earth. Thus, in encircling the hemisphere. it may zigzag, bouncing between ebth and the lon surface, 100 miles up, many times before reaching the final receiv- ing station. The impenetrability of that ion ceil- ing answers the query as to our ever broadcasting up to Mars or to our listening-in to Martian jazz by radlo. It ean't be done—not yet—until Mar- conl adds some penetrator of the ions, which will break through the celestial roof. < (Copyright. 1026 by P"- £aitine.) the ! way from | NEW BOOKS AT RANDOM L. G M. EVERYBODY’'S PEPYS. Editor, O. F. Morshead. Harcourt, Brace & Co. MORE UNCENSORED RECOLLEC- TIONS. Anonymous. Harper & Brothers. Here are two books, identical In purpose, that are separated in pro- duction by about 300 years. Popular today, both of them. Therefore, a truly vital essence must sustain them against the destructive effects of time. These two books represent one and another of the forms of gossip into which the great bulk of all printed stuff is nowadays gathered. Here is the diary at whose head stands the immortal Pepys, supported by John Evelyn of his own time, and emulated by & host of later and lesser diarists. Here again is the memoir, with Saint Simon as one of its classic exponents, which has bred so fecundly through the vears. Here belongs the second of these volumes, ““More Uncensored Recollections.” And, oncé more again, there are the newspapers of the day devoted in impressive bulk to gossip. And nine-tenths of the popular novels depend upon gossip for both existence nd sustenance. Only a deep uni- ersal demand could produce such unanimity of response. * ok K K “Everybody's Pepys” is a most intel- ligently projected abridgment of the full Pepys record. Expurgation, as commonly understood, seems not to have been the controlling purpose here. Rather was it the intent of this editor so to select from the great diary as to present a true and proportioned view of both the times and the man. A competent and satisfying volume greatly enhanced in enjoyment by pictures whose underlying ideas take form in a delightful artistry. 'More Uncensored Recollections” is a continuation of this anonymous writer's earlier effort. A volume of shrewd brisk gossip surrounding, in the main, the figure of Edward VII, both as King and Prince of Wales. An amusing body of comment, clearly calculatea %o give general pleasure, that bring$ out many a conspicuou Englishman in good revelation, that brings out the author as well in self- revelation. Looking carefully into the matter, it becomes fairly plain that gossip is a natural human function, as digestion is or circulation. By as true an instinct as food of varjous sorts passes into the stomach and out therefrom into the blood, so into the special human maw of gossip do the multitudinous affairs of other people pass and from this into the individual system for certain legiti- mate uses and satisfactions. This common function, this univer- sal practice of gossip, has lost its natural birthright of genuine useful- n by virtue of the fact that the world, persistently failing to appre- hend its real nature, has misplaced it in the scheme of existence and has taken before it a false and ignorant orlentation. The general polite posture before this beneficent function is that of execration, regret, denial even—an attitude of sheer hypocrisy, or plain lying, or a quite moronic brand of self- delusion. Gossip 1s, in essence and natural effect, the great human safety valve. It gives voice and currency to a thou- sand secret individual desires. It bjectifies—in broken acts, to be re—but it does objectify the drama of one’s own deeply buried dreams It offers vicarfous courage to timid retreating souls. It mouths in the open day innumerable tabus dear to the heart of many a-stern upholder of accepted convention! These desires and dreams, these tjmidities and fears—all coming from od knows where—if pent up with- out easement in the deep heart of man would make of every human in the world an Etna, a Vesuvius, whose outbreak and self-destroying eruption would be but a matter of time and favoring circumstance. » But happily for the individual these emotions are not pent and confined. Instead, through the naturéil outlet of gossip, they escape in a thousand rills of tittle-tattle into the universal sea of hearsay &nd rumor. The very word itself bolpaau a pure origin and substance, with even a religious implication about it. The word ‘“gossip” is neither more mnor less than “god-sib.” The second syl- lable connotes “alllance: the first on “God.” So, originally, gossip is com- muriion—communion among friends, communton with Gog even. * ok k¥ It is an odd ard puzzling cireum- stance that this function, sourced in human nature and named in religion, should, in turn, have become perve: ed through an afiliation with rell- gious rite. You recall that the God of the Hebrews accepted the ceremony of the scapegoat: “I will unload my sins upon this creature and I will send it forth into the wilderness that I my- self may walk upright and go forth without blemish.” Clearly, it was the religious theory of the scapegoat, tal- lying so close to the natural fears and cowardice of man, that brought gossip to its ultimate downfall as a means of self-revelation and self-rescue, to was this that converted it, instead, to a most fruitful means of general pollu- tion. And how does the scapegoet theory of gossip work out in fact Let one be accused of theft and every potential thief joins lustlly with the pursuing rabble. Let some one be suspected of murder and the man in whose heart murder is a possibility is the first to support the suspicion. It takes a thief to catch a thief and a liar to uncover a liar. Let a soclal charge be laid against one. In the twinkling of an eye the great army of the suppressed, of the overfed and sated are the most clamant of the accusers. And so it goes through the whole catalogue of human conven- tions and inhibitions. Such perver- sion of a clearly wholesome and natu- ral function under the meretricious theory of the scapegoat accounts, in part at least, for the great common hunger for news gossip, for the gossip of novels and plays, for the small mal- ice of the people against one another— all unloading their own possibilities and potentialities upon some one else, upon any one else. And since sex emotions are the single universal prepossession of mankind the gossip against this common endowment is of special virulence and hatred. Within it, indeed, the world itself is entangled. * ok k% Novels. the press, diaries, memoirs, recollections and chronicles, the most popular of all forms of writing, be- cause they are the most per<onal, are ministering to a natural human func- tion of mossip. A sadlv perverted function, it is true, and in this state one of the most harmful effects. If here and there, however, gossip can be led back to its original design of self-revelation, of self-rescue, of vicari- ous enjoyment in respect to times and eircumstances beyond personal reach, then gossip is one of the great build ing forces of the world instead of be- ing what it so generally is now, one of the truly terrifying and destructive agencies working to pollute human lives everywhere. But, good or bad, it is certain that the literature 'of gos- sip has, and will have, the most of lure, the most of influence, since it deals, well, m.'wm- the secret man or W that within pm heast. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. What is meant by a “blind date” . —M. M. A. This is modern slang for an en- gagement with a person one has never met. Q. Where is the largest land- locked harbor?—B. L. L. A. San Francisco has the largest land-locked harbor in the world. It is the home port for 113 steamship services. }Qi Iss lime stucco of modern usage? A. Among the ruins of Mesopo- tamia, in buildings dating back prob- ably from 3000 to 3500 years B.C., are to be found at the present time walls covered with stucco, which, in a measure, owe their preservation to its use. Q. How did ogwood" name?—H. 8. A. It is supposed to be a corrup- tion of “dagwood,” a name equivale, to its other names, “prickwood, “skewerwood''—so called because, be- ing firm, hard and smooth, it is used to make butchers’ skewers. Q. Is it possible to go around the Falls and through the famous gorge at Niagara by automobile?—F. J. W. A. There is no automobile road through the gorge corresponding to the trip made possible by the Niagara Belt Line. Q. How many telephones has Los Angeles?—T. L. A. It now has 300,000. Only four citles have more—New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia. Outside the United States, only London and Ber- lin have as many telephones. 8. What causes spoilage of the top layers of sauerkraut?—P. E. M. A. Spollage of the top layers of vegetables fermented in brine is sure to occur unless the scum which forms on the surface is frequently removed. This scum is made up of wild yeasts, molds and bacteria, which, if allowed to remain, attack and break down the vegetables beneath. They may also weaken the acidity of the brine, in which way they may cause spoilage. The fact that the top layers have spoiled does not, however, mean that all in the container are spoiled. Q. Why are storms more frequent at the time of the equinox?—A. C. M. A. The Weather Bureau says that there is no reason why storms should be more frequent or severe on Septem- ber 21 or 22 (Autumnal equinox) than on September 10 or 11, say, or 29 or 30; nor, in fact, are the ‘The, same is true of the Spring or vernal equinox. This whole notion about “‘equinoctial storms” is erroneous, and it even is uncertain how, where, when or by whom the idea was started. We only know that in one :ofllr; ‘o'f another it goes back at least 23 . Q. Is there evidence of economic improvement on the various Federal reclamation pi . H. from Federal rojects A. The land irrigated reclamation works in 1924 produced crops worth nearly $110,000,000. This is an increase from the previous year of more than $7,000,000. The value of crops grown in 1925 will be greater than in 1924, resulting from the in- crease in the cultivated acreage and the improvement in prices. Q. How old and how heavy should a steer be when the meat is at its best? How should the meat look?—R. H. C. A. It should weigh from 900 to 1,200 unds, and should be between 14 and 0 months old. The color of the meat should be light red flecked with fat. The color of the suet should be white with a slightly yellowish tinge. Q. Who wrote “O Little Town of Bethlehem''?—J. B. A. This was written by Dr. Phillips Brooks when he was rector of a Phil- adelphia church. It was first sung on Chi as, 1868. The composer of the music was the organist of Dr. Brooks' church, Lewis Redner. Q. Does much of the lumber supply get its of the United States come from Tt 1 said e - = at nearly onethird our forest lands are comprised wlthg Q. What disease caused the great- est number of deaths among our soldiers in the World War?—R. A. P. A. Pneumonia headed the list. More than 40,000 died from this cause. Of these, probably 25,000 resulted from the influenza-pneumonia pandemic Which swept through every camp and cantonment in this country and caused thousands of deaths in the ex- peditionary forces. Q. Who was the strongsst man that history records and how much did he weigh?—S. A. D, A. The bulklest strong man known to history for the past thousand years was the one who visited the United States — Higaschl, champlon Suma wrestler of the world—weighing 450 pounds, who ate ten meals a day and could throw a dray horse with ease. Q. Please give the names of the dead towns of Georgia—E. P. A. They are Old and New Ebenezer, Frederica, Abercorn, Sunbury, Hard- wich, Petersburg, Jacksonbourgh, Francisville (Crawford County), Hart- ford (once capital of Pulaski County). Q. What is the meaning of the name ‘“‘Amana’ -R. M. H. A. The biblical name “Amana” means ‘“believe faithfully” (Glaub treu). The community which bears this name was first called “Bleib treu” (Remain faithful). This was so difficult to express in an English word that the biblical one was chosen. Q. Can women gerve as rural mail carriers?—M. H. A. Women are not eligible to posi- tions as rural mail carriers unless they have military preference. This means, broadly, unless they served in the World War. Q. How many Jews are there in the world?—H. W. K. A. There are about 14,600,000. Of this number about 3,600,000 are in the United States. Q. What is the meaning of the phrase “the breaking of the alabaster box"?—A. D. A. It originated in the story of Mary Magdalene, who, tradition say broke such a box to anoint the feet of Christ. Q. What are the dimensions of the new Cathedral being built in Wash- ington?—L. A. M. A. The new Cathedral is to be 535 feet long; central tower, 262 feet high; the interior, from the floor to the top of the roof, 95 feet; outside, 147 feet. Q. Can a man set traps on his own land during the hunting season with- out a license?—M. J. A. The Blological Survey says that a resident land owner and his family may trap on their own land during the open seagon without a license. Q. What kind of oil is used for roads?—Ww. H. A.. The Bureau of Public Roads says that crude oifl with an asphalt mblld Ish\:lled (?lr rfitd-lbll:‘udln[ pur- s, while crude ofl with a n base is not used. o Q. What relation to Louis XV was ui the gra: n of Louis XV. Louls XVI was the son of Louis, Dauphin of France, son of Louis XV. His father's death in 1765 made Louis XVI heir to the throne. Take advantage of this free service. If yau are not ome of the thousands who have patronized the bureau since its estadlishment we want you to start now. This is a service main- tained for the benefit of the readers of The Evening Star, and we want It. Send your questions to us. Inclose 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Address The Evening Star Informa- tion Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, di- rector, Washington, D. C. Rail Wage Decision Regarded - As Omen of Peaceful Future The compromise decision giving wage increases to Eastern railroad conductors and trainmen in the first test of the new rall labor law is re celved by the public generally as a step forward. There is a feeling in some,quarters, however, that the suc- cess of arbitration between the rail- roads and their employes makes it all the more necessary that the shipping and traveling public look to the guard- ing of its own interest. “If the rallroads simply expect to raise wages and then pass the buck to the shipper and passenger,” warns the Louisville Times, “the railroads are laying out a course that runs di- rectly into trouble. The shippers and the passengers are quite willing for the roads to pay high wages to rail- road workers, but they want to know that the rallroads are carrying their own burden, not shifting it to the shoulders of others.” The Milwaukee Journal also declares that “the farmer who has been nursing the idea that maybe he was to get a reduction in rall rates on farm products will do t|some more hard thinking about an economic structure which brings wage increases and a great Christmas of industrial dividends while the prices he gets for his stuff stay anemic. The St. Paul Pioneer-Press assert that “every cent will eventually be passed on to the publie” and that “the public is deprived of all control over the most important operating expense determining the rates it has obliged itself to pay.” . Due weight is given by the Balti- more Sun to the contention of the railroads that “the great improvement in operating records recently has been due to large capita! expenditure and bettermeiit of equipment,” but to that paper it seems “difficult to belleve that loyal co-operation of their em- ployes has not contrihuted to their achievements.” If this is the case, the Sun believes that “the public will be glad to see the service recognized, anticipating from continuance of ela cient, contented and properly remu- nerated labor further economies in operation which will redound to the benefit of the people as a whole.’ * K ko ‘The New York Herald Tribune also feels that “the public, which uiti- mately pays the increased of service, will not begrudge the advance 1f it helps to make rail operation safer and more efficient. The carriers will not begrudge it, Herald Tribune, “if the Federal regu- lative powers—Congress and the In- terstate Commerce Commission—are willing to recognize frankly the full implications of the conciliation and arbitration act.” . “The arbitrators made a very de- tailed study of raliread wages, both nominal and real,” remarks the Rich- mond News-Leader, “‘and had many meetings between October 10, the da of the last appointments, and the tims of the final award. Their resuits, no doubt, represent to some extent the usual compromise of conflicting clalms, but in a much larger.sense they reflect what the arbitrators con- sider a preper readjustment of wages since the now historic ‘deflation’ of 1920-21. The award probably does not presage any general march’ in wage demands, but when its statis- tical basis s le public it may be found to include much illuminating information as to general changes in purchasing power since the fevered immediately following the war.” “The bright side of the award,” in !M opinion of the Providence Bulletin, 8 in the fact that it was a compro- mise. The trainmen asked for an in- crease of ahout 19 per cent. They re- celved less than one-half 'of what they demanded, so the bill to be met by the public will be only $15,000,000 in- stead of more than $35,000,000. But it is commonly expected that wage demands will be cut at least in half {: n:‘:lnll len;emont, 80 presumably e nmen obtained all they reall: hoped for.” v & The Chicago Daily News points out that “not infrequently arbitration and conciliation result in ‘splitting the dif- ference’ instead of in scientific or judicial determination of the issues involved,” but it suggests that 11, arbitration and conciliation are pref- erable to friction, ill-will and suspen- sion of operations.” * ok k% “If the wages of all railroad em- ployes were to be advanced 7% per cent above the 1925 scale, the addi- tion to annual operating expenses for all roads would be close topgxoo.oon.- 00! says the Wall Street Journal, which believes, -however, that ‘“no such uniform increase s likely to take place at once,” although “the wage increase movement of the last 60 days will be greatly stimulated b; the arbitration board's generosity. Notwithstanding . this, the Journal asks: “What alternative to submis | sion of the dispute to this form of. arbitration had the carrie They .‘( might have forced the matter before | an emergency board appointed by the| President. But what else would such/! & board have done than compromise?” | “The peaceful manner in which the negotiations were conducted" is viewed by the Harrisburg Telegraph as il triumph for the Federal railroad arbi- | tration law,” while the Philadelphia/ Evening Bulletin makes the comment: i/ e rallroad managers should be satisfied and feel' that they can well afford to pay the! increases decreed. The railroads hav been coming back Into their own, and although they have not yet got so much that there is any reason public to begrudge them their pros-| '| perity, this award will not be a serious detraction from their net earnings. And 1t will be a paying investment in | | peace and in confirmation of the peaceful method of adjusting the in{ dustrial disputes of the railroad world."” “The public has reason for satisfac- || tion,” declares the Santa Barbara i News, “in the apparent discovery of ' ' a system which permanently the menace of railroad strikes. The / principle of collective “::nlllnt ( seems to have been establ on & . X sound basis.” The Waterbury Repub- Hean states that ‘“the outcome will probably prove satisfactory to both the brotherhoods and the rallroad op- erators.” ‘The Boston Transcript seeg “a test ity for