Evening Star Newspaper, January 25, 1927, Page 8

reg v THE EVENING STAR ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY......January 25, 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES. . ..Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company ‘Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsrivania Ave New York' Office: 110 Bast d2nd St. Chicago Office: Tower Building. European Office: 14 Regent St.. London, England. The Evenine Star. with morn- mE adition, i delivered by within the city at 60 cents per month: dail only. 45 cents rr month: Sundays onl%. 20 cents per month. Orders may_ be sent by mail or telephone Main 5000. Collection is made by carrier at end of each month. the Sunday by _earrler Rate by Mail—Payable in \dvance. Maryland and Virg 750 - Aoe Iy only e Sunday only " All Other States and Canada. Daily and Sunday..1yr.. $12.00: 1 mo. $1.00 l1yr. $8.0001mo. ibc Daily_only 100 15r. $4.00: 1 me Sunday only’ . o Member of the Associated Press. Associated Press is exclusively entitled r republication of all news dis- s credited to it or not otherwise cred- ited in this paper and alko the local news published herein. All rights of publication of special disvatches herein are also reserved = A Supreme Court Site. During the consideration yesterday In the Senate of the first deficiency appropriation bill an amendment was adopted without discussion and with- out debate appropriating the sum of $1,700,000 for the acquisition of a site for a building for the Supreme Court of the United States in this city. The manner in which this item was added to the bill is significant. The building had been authorized in the public buildings act of 1926, but no site had been provided for. Had it not been for the Inclusion of the Su- | preme Court building project in 'the | legislation of last Spring the proposal of an appropriation for a site would | have led to long debate, with the pos- sibility of its failure. As’it is, there can he no doubt that the provision will become law and the appropriation | thus definitely made, with the pros- pect of an early beginning of this work after many years of considera- tion and procrastination. The site for this building is chosen, consisting of the square lying immedi- ately north of the Library of Con- gress and east of the Capitol. It does not comprise all of the land originally contemplated for a Supreme Court site, extending from East Capitol street to B street, and thus corre- sponding exactly to the site of the Library of Congress. The Supreme Court itself would not require so large a space, though at one time it was proposed that the bullding to be lo- cated on this larger site should house both the Supreme Court and the De- partment of Justice. That idea has been rejected on the ground that it is not desirable to unite the judiclal and * executive branches of the Government in this manner in a single equipment. Realization of the great advantage afforded by the general public build- Ing act of last May is effected by this latest step. The Government, after long waiting, decided to proceed to the provision of sufficlent constructions to give it for the first time in its history & complete accommodation. There will be no more piecemeal work. The act of May 25 authorized constructions to the extent of $50,000,000 in this city. It is contemplated and understood that further appropriations for sites for these buildings will be made as rapldly as the progress of the great project requires. There is now pend- ing a bill appropriating $25,000,000 for the purchase of all the lands within the Mall-Avenue triangle not already owned by the Government, to provide locations for all the buildings includ- ed in the immediate program and others that will be hereafter author- ized. Its passage is confidently ex- pected at this session, as evidently there is no opposition to it. Thus is officlal Washington develop- ing rapidly though after long delay and according to a fixed plan and in & manner to yleld the best results. The hopes of the Capjtal community are coming to fruition with a speed that as a result of long walting seemed until lately impossible of attainment. Within a' decade this city will bé transformed from its unfinished state to a condlition that will make it in truth the most attractive and im. pressive city in the world. —— e The Chinese have regarded the world outside their own political boundaries 238 barbarfan and unimportant. Here s new material for that slow, hard process, “‘education of the m_mlne!." Washington’s Airport Need. Congress soon will be asked to orovide for the development of com- mercial and civil aviation in the District of Columbla by taking initial steps towards the establishment of a munieipal alrport, to which brief ref- vrence made in these columns | Saturday. The District of Columbia Chapter, National Aeronautic Assoclation, an organization which initiated the movement in earnest last August, and which is the logical agency to . sbeak for the air needs of the Capital, 's making final plans to present the matter to the legislators within the next week or two. With the rapid expansion of com- merclal and civil aviation throughout the United States, alrports are being opened up in the principal cities, and uny project now afoot for the estab- lishment of such a terminal will have 10 be consummated sooner or later. The necessity for a municipal field is rapping at the door$ of many city ireasuries, and Washington s in- ¢luded in that number. Alrports are difficult to acquire, principally because large areas, with clear approaches from at least two directions, are not always avaflable. In the District's case, no stretch_of ground is ideal except one, and that is at present under a foot or two. of water, The proposition is, therefore, to fill in that submerged area, which lies between Hunters and .Gravelly Point, and locate the airport there. From every viewpoint Ghis site, once filled in, would make the alrport o model for other citles. business and governmental activities and adaptability to four-way landings. All of the area need not be filled in at once, but a fleld sufficient to meet the present needs could be estab- lished with the privilege of enlarging | as time goes by. United States engineers are unof- ficlally enthusiastic over the plan, as the bullding of land in the designated area is in line with their plans for the future development of the Poto- | mac River shores. Today Washington is unable to offer any Inducement to commercial or clvilian aviation interests because it has no facilities to house them. Bolling Field, a military reservation, cannot make repairs on private air- cratt, furnish fuel, hangar space, nav- igational aids, and lacks for public accommodation numerous other fac- tors that make up a modern alrport. College Park, Md., and Hoover Fleld, Virginia, the latter adjoining the amusement park at the south end of Highway Bridge, are in no wise adaptable to a permanent airport | because of their distance from the center of the city in the first in-| stance and the apparent impossibility of expansion to meet present as well as future needs. The Federal and municipal govern- ments have afforded facilitles for every form of amusement and sport, golf links, bridle paths, bathing pools, tennis courts, base ball diamonds and foot ball gridirons, but nothing is available for civillan flying. Doubt- less there are many persons here who are anxious to purchase aircraft for pleasure or for business purposes, but to do so now would be to take a long chance on finding no space for the use of such an equipment. Within a short time, conservative aeronautical authorities predict, aerial mall, express and passenger lines will | be considering Washington on their | routes, but they will be unable to make this a port of call if there is no port to enter. Every State in the Union Delaware and North Dakota has at least one municipal airport. In the State of California there are thirty- eight municipally owned airports, while Texas ranks second with twen- ty-elght and Arizona third with twenty-six. except —— e The People’s Counsel. The President has withdrawn Mr. Blaine Mallan's appointment as peo- ple’s counsel. The affirmative requirements and the negative limitations imposed upon the President in making an ideal ap- pointment to this office are of wide range and peculiarly exacting. Not even the sweeping requirements of the law concerning eligibility to ap- pointment as Public Utility Commis- sioner suffice to fix the conditions and the exactions of the gauntlet which the candidate for people’s counsel must run. The Public Utllities’ Com- missioner, performing a judicial func- tion, must be clean, able, fair-minded, capable of dispensing even-handed Justice between the small section of the community which supplies to the city transportation, light, heat and telephonic communication and the vastly larger comparatively unorgan- ized section of the community which receives and pays for these public or, semi-public services. The people’s counsel must not only be clean, able and fair, but he should have the max- imum of, strength through successful experience in court battles to fight ef- fectively as the advocate and sincere champlon of the users’ and consum- ers’ rights in controversy, in and out of court, over public utility issues. He is the advocate and not the judge. The duties of the people’s counsel will be performed under critical eyes in the blaze of pitiless publicity. The President is properly applying In ad- vance the intense light of searching publicity to the fitness and prepared- ness of his appointee as people’s coun- sel. e The Cape May Mystery. The mystery of the death of Miss Mary Clarke of this city at Cape Ma: N. J, ten days ago remains unsolved. This case has puzzled the authorities of Cape May. It is alleged that the investigation was bungled by the State police. The body was found on the beach in a frozen condition, with evidences of foul play. A dispute arose between the police and the coroner on the point of whether death was by natural causes or by violence. The dead woman, though known to be possessed of considerable means, was without fvund.ur and fewels that it was known she carried with her were missing. Other valuables which it is belleveld shie carrled to the shore re- sort have also disappeared. There is every superficlal evidence of crime. An autopsy reveals no indication of poison or wounds, but certain bruises suggest violence. There are no clues to the perpetrators of this crime. It is altogether one of the most baffiing problems of recent times. If death came from natural causes a robbery was comniitted afterward. But the presumption is that the robbery pre- ceded the death. ‘“Jersey justice, long famous for its certainty and de- pendabllity, recently falled in a cele- brated case, and may now fall again, though apparently effort is being made, safter a loss of very valuable time through misunderstanding and wrangling, to unravel the mystery and fdedtity the. criminal ——r—ee— A hero once established is hard to depose. When the well organized op- position to Aimee McPherson falls, what is the use of a few novelists | attacking a lofty and serene character | like that of George Washington? e e | Passing Urban Glory. Carmel, N. Y., basking for a few hours in the spotlight of public at- | tention, owing to its selection as the scene, of a sensational separation trial, lapses quickly Into obscurity as a change of venue is ordered and THE:- EVENING ' STAR,. WASHINGTON, D. of vantage. Automobiles lined the streets. The parking problem sud- denly became acute. Carmel was on the map. Then came the crushing blow when the case was shifted. | White Plains is a larger town with more accommodations and, moreover, is close enough to New York to per- mit “commuting” during the trial. It will not enjoy the same advantage that Carmel would have had if the trial had been continued in its for- mer setting. A few months ago the little town of Dayton, Tenn., came inté promi- nence through the holding there of a celebrated trial, that of Prof. Scopes, charged with violating the State law forbldding the teaching of evolution in the schools of that com- monwealth. For weeks Dayton was the center of national attention, and even international notice. Its towns- | folk became public characters. It was photographed and fllmed anad its scenes were shown on thousands of | screens to millions of people. The | trfal came to an end and Dayton | passed out of public thought as do | the snows of vesteryear. It is even | difficult now to remember the name | of the town. Thus do small communities gain public attention. Somerville, N. J.,| had its period of refulgence during | the Hall-Mills trial. Sometimes it is a crime that focuses the eyes of the country, sometimes again merely the aftermath of crime. For a short while these little cities and towns profit by their notoriety. Curlosity seekers go there and spend money for board and lodging. A certain sense of pride fills the breasts of the inhabitants. They rejoice in seeing the names of their towns heading the news dispatches in the big city papers. But the reaction Is hard to | bear. Business slumps. The streets | —or street—intensely crowded for a | few hours or days, become vacant | again save for an occasional flivver or perhaps a buggy or an ox cart.| The post office forum is attended by | only the town seers and prophets and philosophers who ‘“reminisce” over the case and who for months, perhaps for years after, become ex- pounders of the law. The town has had its thrill. —————— | Her recent experiences have been embarrassing, but Aimee McPherson | has been enabled to utilize them to | great practical advantage as publicity material. The public still regards Almee as something of a mystery. | But Almee knows her public. —_— e “Trouble ahead” generalizes the opinfons of Mussolini as to the future. The Italian dictator has seen so much trouble that he naturally regards it as inevitable and epidemic. —————— A lone bandit with a gun can intimi- date almost any number of people who have cash or jewels in custody. He illustrates in a rough way the power that a minority may assume. —_—————— Debts to the U. S. A. when con- tracted were supposed to be evidences not merely of financlal obligation but of deep and abiding sentiment toward a friend in need. Chinese have no love for foreigners, and are inclined to give a place side by side with the wise words of Con- fuclus to the United States slogan, “See America first!" o o Thrift week has come and gone. Seven days in the year cannot be depended on for much influence in checking the extravagance of cam- paign funds. —_— et Instead of being referred to as “Darkest Russia,” the country is now mentioned as “Reddest Russia.” —_——t——— ‘ A film comedian has to be an astute financler in order to go on being for- ever merry. ——e—s Base ball is a game in Summer and a struggle of internal politics In ‘Winter. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Individual Reform. I know just what Bill Bings should do To straighten his affairs. Advice from me would see him through A lot of needless cares. 1 héave a sympathetic sigh For worries Bill has known, And then I realize that I Have troubles of my own. We bravely seek to point the way That other folks should tread. Our follies are not on display; We view a friend’s instead. An easier working world we'd see Could each man strive alone For good and realize that he Has troubles of his own. Mental Relaxation. “What do you think of the theory of evolution?” “It's valuable relaxation,” said Sena- tor Sorghum. “It gives people some- thing to think about besides the Mon- roe Doctrine and the League of Na- tions.” Halting at the Threshold. ‘The things that people say or sing Of wrong or right Bring comfort slight; And yet while we keep quarreling ‘We are not quite In any fight. Jud Tunkins says a fisherman should always tell the truth. Yet it requires heroism for a man to render himself uninteresting. Said with Flowers. “Who is the man who sent you the beautiful bouquet?” “Isn’'t 1t an exquisite creation of| blossoming art!” exclaimed Miss Cay- | enne. “I quite forgot the name of the | man who sent it and fell in love with the florist.” | the .suit, is shifted to White Plains, thirty miles south. Carmel had pre- pared itself for a big time. Its hotel accommodations were all engaged and boarding houses were taking In guests in numbers never before known. Extra telegraph wires had It would |been run into the place to carry the | Uncle Eben, ‘caused 'Rastus Pinkly pussess two sterling characteristics, a | “load” of news reports. Photog-|to change his first name to ‘Sabbath,’ Money or Your Life. | The burglar said to the bootleg man, | ‘We form a large, important clan. Between us two flerce words are rife; I say, ‘Your money! and you say “Your life! “Shootin’ craps on Sunday,” sald ort distance from the center oi raphers were camped at every point ’cause he's always gettin’ broke." C., TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1927. THIS AND THAT | BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Sometimes proper names strike one as strange. This little creature with golden hair and blue eyes is called May. Why should she be called May? Simply because she was named May once, she is May forev There is no escaping this tyranny. Washington is Washington, New York is New York, Calvin Coolidge is Calvin Coolidge. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, the poet tells us, but y reason to think that he was mistaken; that names mean some- thing in themselves, that time and growth play important parts, that what is once named cannot be un- named. We would find ourselves sadly at loss if names given to creatures, places and S0 on. Imagine a_man telling about a trip from New York to Washington, if there were no such thing as names. Grant that life would be just the same, that great cities would as they do today, but that somehow mankind had_never named anything. " he would begin. “What river?” + “Oh, the river discovered by an ex- plorer——"" “What explorer?” “Oh, he came from across the sea——"" ‘What sea?"” ‘'The great wcean that rolls be- tween this land and that land.” “Yes, yes; go on.” “Well, as 1 was saying, I left the city last night, on the raflroad— “The railroad?"” Yes, the raflroad that hauls more passengers and carries more freight than any other railroad in this coun- tr G T “What country?” “The country founded by a brave group of men, at the initial state of which the embattled farmers fired the shot heard 'round the world.” “Oh, I see! And what did you see on vour way down?" 1 passed through cities—"" “I don't understand which cities—" ““The first one was founded by a man who belleved in brotherly love, and who_treated the original inhibitants of this country squarely.” “Original inhibitant “Yes, the men with copper skins, who smoked tobacco and scalped their enemfies.” “And what country did you say?” “Oh, our country, the one discovered by the man with the three funny-look- ing little ships; you never saw such ships, you would be scared to go out in them nowadays. But they weren't.” ““Where did he come from?" “He came from a land across the water. The queen——"" “What queen?” “Oh, the queen of that country, two large she helped him out: *“Helped who out’ “The man whq, discovered this it were not for the proper | country, you sap! I just got done tell- ing ya. ' * kX X X make yourself quite after you left the “You didn't plain. But go on first big city- 1 passed through the second one over that way, not very far from here, the one vou motor over to, you know, and then I arrived at the sta tion in my destination. “You mean “Sure, the city where the Govern ment holds forth, on the banks of the river that runs along by the house that the father of this country lived T “A great man.” he was. I came to this city his {llustrious ‘Meaning: ) ‘The man who was elected by the people of this country to be at head of the vernment. It s on the day popularly called the initial day of the vear succeeding to the pre- vious one. “This man— “You have me somewhat confused; there are several men at the heads of things here.” “‘Sure, but of everything. sandy halr, and the plea: when he smiles, only he doe: very much.” “Oh, you mean the man who has spoken over radio about ‘the fore- fathers of this great republic.’” Yes, that's the man. Well, on this initial day stood in line in front of his hous vou ought to see that house t's white, all over, with wings and things—some house, all right!" “And after I had been standing in line for several hours, I got a chance to shake his hand at last, and after I had done that I got back on the train, and passed through the first city, and then arrived at the biggest it the one with the most people, and walked up the avenue that is the fifth, in rotation, and so home.” * Ok at the head with the ant smile, n't smile s man is tht g. The fel Such would be a typical conversa- tion, if there were no such thing as proper names uch naming is one of the little regarded _triumphs of mankind. Language is a growth of centuries, crying with it, like the ship of state, all the hopes and fears of the people. Every atom of humanity that comes into the world s given a name, often a very long and imposing one, in order that it may be distinguished from others, that it may benefit by the very dignity of a name. “Who is that?” “Why, that is Bill Jones"—and Bill Jones it is! A name is as immemo- rial as the pyramids. It is the one thing that survives the grave. The smiles of loved ones gone remain only in memory, but their names may be, and should be, pronounced often. Even pet anin have names, and assume a new importance the mo- ment they get them. This is Fido, this is Rover, and no one mistakes the one for the other. Years pass, and Fido goes to the place where ali good dogs go. and only a worn collar remains, but it is stili—Fido’s collar. Franklin, Father of Thrift, Gains Stature as Years Pass Joint observance of Thrift week and the 221st birthday anniversary of Benjamin Franklin served to awaken new Interest in the remark- able personality and career of the American “father of thrift.” “Franklin is one of the immortals, and he grows In stature the more his career and achievements are con- templated,” according to the Saginaw News-Courder, which adds the tribute, “Truly it may be said of Franklin's time that ‘there were glants in those days,’ ang of this great man himself that he was a glant among giants.” Of his services that paper recalls that he was ‘“successively journeyman printer, publisher, journalist, diplo- mat, statesman, always a philosopher, always a worker, and it might fairly be sald he gave public service throughout his life.” The Christian Science Monitor feels that “on the anniversary of the birth- day of that many-sided genius—the 221st—it is fitting to call attention once more to the lessons he has taught.” The Monitor quotes two of Franklin’s epigrams as typical of his spirit, “The noblest question in the world is, What good may I do in it and “If you would reap praise you must sow the seeds; gentle words and useful deeds.” “Franklin, the statesman, the dip- lomat, the scientist, the philosopher and sage, belongs to all the world,” declares the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, which feels that members of the Poor Richard Club of its own city, by annually rendering ‘“honor and homage to Franklin’s name, are, in a_marked sense, representative of all Philadelphians, without distinc- tions of any sort. They render a pub- lic service; they speak the public volce; they embody the universal thought of respect and even reverence for this great American founder.” * K X X The broad observance of the anni- versary impels the Oakland Tribune to exclaim, ““All this for a lad who, at the age of 10, went to work in his father's candleshop; a lad who had good habits, was never idle, because he knew the worth of time, and who was fond of books and reading.” Of his mature life, the Tribune remarks: “Inventors, studying the records of research and investigation in the past, are amazed to discover how often, in connection with one thing or another in the fleld of mechanics and science, appears the name of Benjamin Frank- lin. It would seem he was forever turning his hand and mind_ to im- provement and discovery. The one who is interested in this honest old American as a writer discovers he filled a surprising number of pages with essays, homilles and articles on an equally surprising range of sub- jects. Likewise is there enough in his career as a diplomat and a states- man to satisfy a claim for fame, and he is, moreover, the recognized father of the thrift movement.” - ith the query, “How did Franklin nu‘:’zmpllsh :uch amazing feats in one the Winston-Salem Sentinel re- plies: “His own words, give the secret. Sald Poor Richard: ‘Dost thou love life? Then do not squander tl;n”e, for that's the stuff life is made of. The Sentinel also, after observing that he “performed such a variety of tasks that it would be easier to say what he did not do than what he did,” de- scribes some of the services of Frank- 1in to the Nation in its earlier days “Nationally minded he was, Frank- lin could not keep out of the colonial controversles with England nor out of the Revolution. At 70, he went to England to plead the cause of the colonies before the King. Returning, he helped Jefferson draft the Declara- tion of Independence. Recrossing the ocean, he presented the waning colo- nial cause to France and secured the help of that nation, without which the Revolutionary War could not have been won. * ok Kk K “A marked revival of interest in this genius of Revolutionary America” is noted by the Philadelphia Public Ledger, which thinks “his country is rediscovering him” and that “the pass- ing of generations has not dwarfed him; he seems to tower a little taller among his cotemporaries as the per- In the of spective of history lengthens.” course of an elaborate review Franklin's qualities, the Ledger stat. ‘““He would have been at home with Edisqn, Ford, Pupin, Osler, Steinme Ehrlich or Dr. Walter Reed, Lloy George, Stanley Baldwin and Winston Churchill, Briand, Poincare and Foch, Senator Borah, Andrew Mellon and Calvin Coolidge. He would not be lost in this modern world of ours or bewildered by it. .While he fitted into his own age, he belonged to ‘another not yet born. Possibly that is why generation has gone so far in re- discovering him.” Hailing him as a pioneer of peace, who yet joined in the Declaration of Independence, the Erie Dispatch Herald says of Franklin: “He stood with kings. He was our first colonial Ambassador to England and our Minister to France. He was a disciple of wisdom, friendship, harmony, order, as against indiscretion, hatred, discord and chaos. Mirabeau, orator of the French Revolution, said of him after his death, ‘Antiquity would have raised altars to this mighty genius who, to the advantage of mankind, compassing in his mind the heavens and the earth, was to restrain alike thunderbolts and tyrants.’ " The Yonkers Herald recalls: “In his day, Franklin, honored as he was by his fellow countrymen, enjoved among them no such profound regard as was accorded him in France, or perhaps in England. He was the first American writer whose works were translated into Italian. In England before the outbreak of the Revolution, he had won high regard, His homely, sagacious counsel, sin his death, has been on nearly every tongue.” The Utica Observer-Dispatch adds that ‘“by many French students of literature and history he is considered the great- est American that country has ever known. -—ne—s Play Jury or Censorship? From the New York Times. An honest, open appeal to public opinion on the question of play cen- sorship bes been made by the district attog There are several plays now runny which have been severely critichi d; at least one has been in- spected and passed by the play jury. But people continue to protest against it, and against others which have not been examined. What ought to be done about it? Criminal law provides a penalty for the production of a play which might corrupt the morals of youth and others. But enforcing this law is a slow and clumsy process. The play jury, which was intended to speed up the elimination of salacious plays, has been satisfactory to theatrical people and the public generally, but there has been enough opposition to it to raise the question of finding a better method if possible. The protest comes from those who feel that the play jury is not condemning enough plays and that an individual in whom all the powers of censorship were vested would be more rigorous. If narrow severity of judgment is all that is required of stage censor- ship, a solitary judge woud certainly do the job better than a group of twelve representative citizens. For no matter how sound the judgment, how catholic and delicately balanced the taste and how honest in intention the censor might be to begin with, the weight of responsibility would al- most certainly warp his freedom. A consensus of opinion of a dozen people, none of whom has any actual authority &lone, is more likely to re- sult in-an unbiased decision. 1K, against such a judgment, there are still objections from dissenters, they may console themselves wth the thought that there is as yet no law compelling, them to witness a play which is not to their taste. Elevation. From the Baltimore Evening Sun. The little fellow you used to shoot craps with back of the old blacksmith shop becomes a ‘‘statesman” as soon as they send gim to Ll\a Legislature. | gaged i NEW BOOKS AT RANDOM LG M. | IN BARBARY. E. Alexander Powell. | The Century Company. “I never see a map but I'm away” | —such s Alexander Powell's send- {oft for “In Barbary.” Not many can make good that “awa; though the magic of the map is as clear to some of these as it is to this author. Nothing but a flat surface, to be sure, commonly an ugly one, blocked | off in nolsy reds and greens, buffs and blues. Over these is laid a net- |work of straggling black lines. | Flanking or invading certain of these chromatic patches are feather marks, either grouped or strung out random wise. The whole is peppered with fiyspots, a name for each of them. Such to the casual glance is the sum of a map. Yet, as the point- ing finger moves across it, the blood of the map lover begins to quicken and the eye to brighten. And a wide landscape springs to life under that evoking finger. Green fields stretch away, great rivers flow, mountains struggle skyward or rol} away In long protective barriers In our own country, the innumerable place names from the rising sun to- ward its setting repeat themselves in homesick reminiscence. ~From East to West they point to the New England pilgrims pushing outward across the country, resting their caravans here or there for awhile, naming the spot for the old beloved home farther East,. then onward, again, in succeeding generations, quite ‘out-to the Western coast. In the Southwest these names of place and river and mountain bespeak the Spanish explorer, priest and con- queror. Along the Mississippl they give out the Gallic flavor of a new France set up by voyageur and missionary. And so it is the world over. A mere map, to the eye of the imaginative mind, sets out old lands anew, recreates history and reanimates the sum of human life. A mere map may glve wings to de- sire, it may objectify dreams and give clear call to adventure. Fight and adventure and outfaring, how- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. Who won the last marble-shooting contest?—J. A. The championship for 1926 was won by Willis Harper of Bevier. Ky.| He won four straight games, lost the | fifth and won the sixth. Q. Why are made of wood A. P A. Afrplane propellers are made of wood instead of metal because metal is too heavy, and a light metal could not be used because it loses its shape and | pitch. | national E. F. alrplane propellers instead of metal?>—R Q. How many makes of vacuum cleaners were exhibited at Philadel-| phia this year’—R. G. W. A. Three makes of vacuum cleaners were exhibited at the Sesquicentennial International Exposition. Q. Who was the old Dutchman who had tobacco and pipes buried with him?—W. O. H. A. Mynheer Van Klaes had smok- ing materials buried with him. It is stated that “At his feet were placed a bladder of the finest Dutch golden- leaf and a packet of caporel; by his sides were laid his china-bowled pipe and a box of matches, and steel, flint and tinder.” Q. What was the date of the large fire which occurred in Baltimore 20 or more years-ago?—W. N. T. A. Evidently reference is made to the great fire which occurred Febru- ary 7, 1904; 2,500 buildings were de- | treaties of stroyed. Q. What combination of chemicals or elements is repelled by the earth? —F. B. G. A. The Bureau of Standards says that ‘t knows of no alloy or a combina- tion of chemicals or eiements that is repelled by the earth, as all material objects with which we are familiar are attracted to the earth. Q. When was sugar cane intro- duced into this country?—J. W. C. A. Sugar cane was introduced into the New World shortly after its dis- covery, and it is recorded that in 1518 many sugar mills were in operation oh the Island of Santo Domingo. It was not untll 1751, however, that the plant was grown in continental | by which it is alleged that the ana. From that time it was culti- | vated in a desultory manner until the « end of the eighteenth century, when the failure of indigo and other crops forced the Louisiana planters to turn thelr attention to the manufacture of sugar as source of revenue. Es tablishment of the American sugar cane industry may be sald to date from when the first successful mill operations on a_ planta tion 6 miles from New Or leans. began about Q. Are stones formed by the soil in which they are found?—F. M. A. Stones are fragments of rocks vhile soll represents the complete ntegration of rock by the processes weathering. Hence, stones are not formed by sofl. However, the stones and the soil of a certain region may have the same rock as ancestor Stones are transported from one place to another by water, in which case the soil and the stones bear no relation to each other. Q. In United Sts meant the Claims"?—S. L. A. Reference against the Unite ly against France for illegal captures and condemna tions of American vess th French prior to the treaty of 1500-1801 Unite States abandoned the claims for n pe. lease from the obligations of the 1778, and thus became liable for their payment. In 1885 Con gress authorized the Court “lal to adjudicate these claims and in began to make appropriat ment of the judgments v what is Spolfation is made to claims tates, but or: for compen: Stop a minute and think about this fact. You can_ask The Evening Star Information Bureau any question of fact and get the answer back in a4 personal letter. It is a great cduca tional idea introduced the lives of the most intelligent people in the world—American newspaper readers It is @ part of that best purpose of a newspaper—service There charge except 2 cents in for return postage. Get the habit ar asking questions. Address your let- ter to The Evening Star Information is no stam py America, as a result of the import: tion of cuttings by Jesuits in Louisi- ever, are for but the one in a mil- lion. For the rest there is only a vicarious crossing of the seas or climbing to the crest of the world or handshaking with strange peo- ples and curious ways of life. The vast majority have to depend upon the rovers, upon the adventurers, to make their maps swarm with the life of distant places. Such an adventurer is Alexander Powell. A restless man at home, so he says. An easy and illuminating wanderer, however, and a sheer ex- pert at putting life into charted paper and printed page. Reading here as this most companionable writer leads the way, one feels that certain parts of Africa are more familiar to him than New York is to many a lifelong resident. Two other books on Africa by this author serve to accent the vivid effect of “In Barbary” itself. A nice sense of selection, an eye for the picture in- herent in scene and incident, a flair for dramatic projection—these gifts of the art of writing, added to the author's sound political and historic feeling for localities coming under his observation, constitute both the value and the charm of this most interesting travel writer. g Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and from these countries Into the Sahara, provide the groundwork for the study in hand. Here the French are en: in the familiar business of empire-building. It is with this aspect of the region that Mr. Powell deals fundamentally, building upon it in- numerable features suggested by studies of native tribes in their characteristic outlook upon a strange future that resembles not at all a long and honored past. Old customs are brought here. Ancient buildings _temples, palaces, centers of religious rite and fanatic deed—come to life under the industry and enthusiasm of Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Dircc- tor, Washington, D. C. . i BACKGROUND OF EVE! BY PAUL V. COLLINS. Day by day the news regarding China grows more and more serious. China, with 2,000,000 men under arms—fighting under two or more flags today, but sure to combine in one patriotic force when foreigners invade to protect “foreign devils,” whom all China is determined to ex- pel—or kill—is not an inspiring spec- tacle. Nor is the open activity in China of bolsheviki from Russia in- citing antipathy toward foreigners encouraging to_civilization. China’s population is 445,000,000. * k% * It has been a fortnight since the Chinese drove the British into sur- rendering Hankow, and ever since then the news has come that the ven- geance of the attackers is directed especially against the English. Little actual violence has yet been shown toward Americans, but an infuriated mob 1s not likely to be overnice in differentiating between Anglo-Saxons who speak the same language. The animosity toward the English is particularly strange, in the light of the pronouncement of one of Eng- land’s foremost writers on China— Mr. Stephan King-Hall, whose book, “Western Clvilization and the Far East,” was published less than two years ago. He explains: “Unofficially, the Americans have much the same ideas as other people— that is to say, they are out in the East to trade and make money. * * * The unofficial Americans in the Far East are rather fond of abusing their this zealous investigator. The blend of the old life with the new is held in hand, tentatively, by Mr. Powell for consideration. And with it all, with this general gathering up of the present and past of Barbary, the author holds to his usual manner of 2asy intercourse—a manner that might seem casual and possibly haphazard to some. It is an easy manner, a most engaging one. but a way nevertheless that is backed by definite plan, by an orderly unfolding of this plan in relation to the author's exact knowl- edge of the sallent facts of life in the region under his consideration. In- deed, so simple and clear and orderly is this development. so painstaking in direction, so sensible in advice that “In Barbary” might be used as a guide to travel in this reglon, instead of standing, according to original pur- pose and plan, as a travel book for the information and entertainment of those who have to do their world by way of Inspired writers such as this one. * k k * EAST OF SIAM. Harry The Century Company. Off again, with another incorrigible wanderer, with another maker of interesting travel books. We've been with Harry Franck before—in Japan and Formosa, up in northern China, and down to the southern part of thi country. So, over into French Indo- China we go with him, knowing what to expect in the personal idiosyncrasy of this roving observer of men and places. We know, quite well, that we A. Franck. owrr Government, which, they declare, gives them no assistance and spends energy in behalf of the Chinese which would be better expended in backing American business. But, on the other hand, unofficial Americans usually support the missionary and educa- tional work, because they see in it the equivalent of much expensive ad- vertisement. (Sic!) “This is idealism as a business and well worth the prime cost, when it is calculated that of the future rulers of China, perhaps 50 per cent will have been American-educated.” EE It is noteworthy that “unofficial” Americans are credited with “ideals” —even though ‘‘practical”—but we must not count on being appreciated by the “heathen Chinee,” for Mr. King-Hall continues: “Now it might be supposed that even if one grants that ‘unofficial’ Americans are looked upon by the Chinese as on a par (1) with other for- eigners, then the fact that the be- havior of officlal America toward China has been more idealistic than that of the other powers would be a fact entitling America to a premler position of respect and esteem in the minds of the Chinese. It is doubtful if she does hold this position. She has erred in promising so much and performing - so little. * * * The American Government has so fre- quently publicly expressed solicitude for China (in accordance with the na- tional American tradition of idealism) that any departure from this standard are going to tramp and tramp miles upon miles. But we know, too, that we are going to have countless stop- ping places along these great stretches of footwork. At these points we are going to get completely into the things that the people along the way are doing, into their ways of thinking, into their outlook upon today, into their lack of preoccupation with the future. There are five of these French Indo- China provinces for us to tramp with Mr. Franck. They are literally packed with population and, if there were time and enurdance enough, it is cer- tain that we'd have to deal with all, practically as individuals. This rover does that way. But what an aston- ishing amount of information he col- lects, and how exact it is, and how well placed not only in respect to its immediate surroundings, but in rel tion to its historic past as well, and in projection to its near future! Now and then great and exciting moments draw us to them. Here, a pageant ceremonial born of religion in a past beyond our reckoning. There, a per- sonal honor to our companion and guide by way of which he received a decoration straight from the hand of the King himself. The bulk of our going to and fro, however, is among the people, among those who do the work and bear the burdens and give birth to thoughts that are good for those to knew who feel the real im- portance to any country of the basic feelings and opinions of those burden bearers. The absorption of Harry Franck .is invariably with this rela- tively enormous lower stratum in these densely peopled quarters of the earth, for this is the layer within which the future of those regions is breeding. Patient, almost plodding in effect, is this walking traveler, inex- haustible in resource when it comes to getting at the vital and compre- hensive truth of the matter before free in his revelations, but inspectacular in offering them, ck is one of the undeniably ble students of the common he common people in quarters pn the surface, invite to showy theatric projections. His of that, u and e becomes most obvious, and of all the obvious departures and the most shocking to the Chinese was Presi- dent Wilson’s double-dealing with Japan at China’s expense over Shan- tung Province. The details of this episode, though scandalous from the point of view of American standards, were commonplace to ordinary Euro- pean diplomatic behavior, and need not be repeated here, but the whole busi- ness dealt a blow at American pres tige in China, from which, notwith- standing the Washington conference, it has yet to recover. Many Chinese were confirmed in ther opinfon that all thefr unselfish “generosity toward *hina,” have had no Hankow attacks yet, however impractical commercially are our efforts to help the Chinese. But it is explained “In_China, more than anywhere else, it is not the pushing, hustling bagman, replete with the results of commercial correspondence and adver- tising courses, who is required; the Chinese like best to do business with a gentleman of education.” How, then, can Americans compete? g B The Associated Press dispatch from Shanghai states: “From Hongkong the British dis- patched three brigades (16,000 men) of Punjabi troops to Shanghal, while from the Sasebo naval station four Japanese destroyers departed for un- announced points in China.” These Punjabi troops are assumed to'be Indians. Yet it is just a month since Great Britain announced its policy to the representatives of the Washington conference powers as being concilla: tory toward the. Peking government, saying: “The British recognize that in many respects the Chinese treaties with for- eign powers are now hopelessly out of date, and, if order is to be brought out of chaos now engulfing China, the Occidental powers must face the realii ties, take account of changed condi- tions, and, by working along new lines, preserve their position in China without resorting to the antiquated appeal of brute force.” But the “appeal of brute force” supersedes the ‘‘business of educated gentlemen” without waiting for the co-operation of the “American ideal- istic hustlers.” The announced Brit- ish policy is to “preserve their posi- tion” as to Chinese concessions, which New China is determined to abrogate, and that seems to call for arms. Americans hold no imperialistic_con- cessions, and there is not the slightest indication of any ‘“appeal to brute force” by our administration. * ok x % How much has China developed, on which to base its claim to be relieved of its greatest humiliation—extrater- ritoriality, or, as shortened now in usage in the East, “‘extrality”? In the most recent appendix to the Encyclopedia Americana is an article by Edgar L. Morgan, editorial secre- tary China Baptist Publishing So- clety, who cites certain objections to abolishing this right of all treaty na- tions to protect their nationals from Chinese courts, and to try them be- fore their own consuls. Citing the claim of the Chinese, that since the concession of this "ex- trality,” in 1842 to the British and in 1844 to America, “China has enacted beneficent laws and established courts with learned and honest judges,” his answer is: (1) At present China has no strong central government. She cannot con trol herself; how could she control others? (2) She has no constitution. In 20 years she has had five constitutions; the last one has been declared null and void. (3) In the last 80 years no new I amounting to anything have been enacted. A provisional crime code has been drafted, but not adopted by any Parliament. (4) Chinese laws are not su forelgners. They would allc American to have as many wives as he could support, and divorce by mu tual consent. (5) Maladministration of courts is 2 bad as or worse than in 1842. J are not permitted. Witnesses are not aws s the Americans were good talkers, but poor doers, and that a lot of fine sen- timent which has come from Wash- ington during the last 30 years was hypocrisy.” A0 Of course, our good English cousin did all in his power to disabuse the minds of the benighted Chinese when they so misjudged us. For he con- tinues: “Which nation, then, does enjoy to the greatest degree the confidence and respect of the Chinese? The answer, in my opinion, is that British presti is predominant in China. The-Ameri- cans have many monuments to the generosity of its citizens toward China, such as the Rockefeller Insti- tute at Peking. It is typical of the British that perhaps their greatest achievements toward the general bene- fit of China are strictly commercial and equally beneficial to themselves. (SteY These fool American idealists, with books are for the students as well as for those readers who choose travel writings, as so many readers are com- examined by the litigants, but by the . and only through the court can nt ask question: In a recent case a judge ruled out all witn: as unnecessary, saying that the judge hed made private examination. In an Anglo-Saxon court the magistrate is not permitted to make pes amination except in the p both litigants. In China, homicide and manslaughter are treated as the same, except that for homicide the condemned is beheaded and for man- slaughter he is strangled. IHe s as- sumed to be guilty until he proves his innocence, but he cannot call any witnesses. Before execution, he must confess, and any amount of torture to wring confession is permissible. In d fault of payment of a judgment the defaulter must stay in jail for year no matter how small the debt. B The Chinese law of “extension” holds parents, brothers and cousins of the accused equally guilty of his of- tense, however serious may be the a cusation. So the many relatives are all executed for murder if one is com- mitted. Whole villages or tribes are sometimes equally involved in such “extension” of responsibility. That is the law under which Ame: icans would be caught, if “extrality ing to do. Beautifully and abundantly illustrated with photographs and sup- lied with that prime essential in a k of this sort—a good map—one can find valuable substance and high enjoyment out of this further adven- ture of Harry Franck in eastern Asia. were abolished. Russian Reds sway the courts against all “whites.” Bribery is prev- alent, according to .the encyclopedia | anl:d Rev. Morgan, the secretary of the (Conyright. 1927. by Paul V. Collins.)