Evening Star Newspaper, February 11, 1927, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, R |products of its particular State and|uses, has been effected with difficulty. would be constructed, in so far as pos- | Objections to the measure were con- sible, from native stone, Every build- | tinually interposed whenever it was WASHINGTON, D. C. ing would have its own assembly h:“ brought up for consideration. It was and quarters for the governor and his| only through patient persistence that FRIDAY......February 11, 1927 staff in case he should visit Wash-|coneurrent action was obtalned, and ington. the fact that eventually the bill be: THBEODORE W. NOYES. "'“m’f Naturally enough, present plans con-|came a law is an encouraging sigh y | template only indorsement of the gen-|that the urgent need of stringent eral principles of the undertaking, as restriction is recognized by the man- two hundred and fifty acres of ground | ufacturers of small arms as well as would be needed as a donation from|by law-enforcement officials. The the Federal Government and each|procurement of uniform State laws State Legislature must appropriate | putting a license limit upon all sales tion, 18 delivered by T within | for the bulldings and their mainte-|will be difficult, but the same per- i, 55,00 conte per wionth:, dafly o0N: | nance. sistence, with the same co-operation =I5 5'1- ,','-\;'E-,'rm; by mail ot} There could be no more fitting time | by the manufacturers just manifested er 5t ‘end of each month. " | than the celebration of the two hun.|in the case of the. piatols-by-post Rate by Mal i iihisvaon. dredth anniversary in 1932, of George | 18w, will surely bring results. y Mail—Pa; " | Washington's birth, for which Con- - i et ged vlr'll?'.' 75e | Eress has already made plans, to com- A Warlike Sport. afly and Sund Sally enly.. - 88| plete the permanent State building| It has often been said that Ameri- project. In all probability each State|cans take their sports too seriously. would erect a temporary structure for| They play hard. They mo at each THE EVENING STA ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. The Evening Star Nommr Compan, Business . ia Ave. fi;f:\ St.. London. 11th St. Pout Ty Nex Yok Shte 118 o s hicage Offlee: ez ice: Engl muu'szr. with the Sunday morn- o o All Other States and Canada. g "ly un1 Sunday..1yr.. 8| i?'o l‘ln 99, 02 the exposition and it would be only a|centest as though life depends on the Sunfuofin'u 17 i«.oo l: 3¢ | short step further to establish perma-| outcome. Whether in the lines of nent exhibits. With care in the archi-| professional or amateur sport they Member of the Associated Press. tecture of the various bufldings and|are concentrated on victory, and some- w0 e Associated Prose ta excly -l.;‘-lg‘g.“gfg lhou"hl to the nne'nl landscaping, | times they do not take defeat as :du‘hu o ll:'du\;n I‘l“ K ot (-u: s ;:.a forty-elght States would be repre-|philosophically as they should. AT cent ny publication | Sented in a striking manner in the| Golf has been regarded as a placid herein are aleo reserved | National Capital with benefits to both | game In which good sportsmanship States and Nation and with whole- | must prevall, and, although American A New Peace Move. some satisfaction of patriotic pride on | golfers have gone at the ancient Reaction in Furope to President|the part of the individual citizen. |pastime with characteristic ardor, Coolidge’s proposal for immediate re- b e they have until lately respected its duetion of naval armaments is some-| A Part of Greater Washington. |traditions and have allowed each what mixed, but the European powers | Citizens of Arlington and Fairfax |nine-hole or eighteen-hole match to will have difficulty in escaping the | Counties and the city of Alexandria |settle itself without dispute. Each fact that the program Mr. Coolidge |are awake to the possibilities inherent | player has been on honor to keep his suggests is supported by the logic of | in their proximity to the National|score correctly and faitly. the situation. The preparatory com-|Capital. As a part of thée “Greater W comes a new manner of mission has been sitting at Geneva | Washington” of the future they are|solfing, and it is not an agreeable for half @ year trying to work out & }on the verge of an early development |one, The other day in. California basis for the simultaneous considera- | which, if wisely directed, will confer |two golfers quarreled so bitterly tion of a reduction in sea, land and | untold benefits upon this neighboring |about the eount that finally one of air armaments, and today is in a dead- | territory and result in one of the most | them drew a gun and mortally shot lock which gives no promise of being | attractive residential sections adjacent | his opponept gnd then took his own broken. In such circumstances, be-fto any city. The chambers of com-|life. Such a thing was never known lieving that 2 bird in the hand is|merce of the two counties and of Al-|in the homeland of the sport and, worth three in the bush, the President | exandria city, in assoclation with other | doubtless, the golfers of Britain are proposes that the powers clothe their | organizations and individuals, have [aghast at the American ferocity on members of the preparatory commis-|issyed an attractive booklet for free |the links. sion with authority to negotiate a |distribution in which the ndv.m.ng'q- It is with some sense of relief that treaty for the further limitation of fof this favored section are set forth.|the latest instance of golfing tem- naval armaments, leaving the matter | The territory has had a gratifying | perament is viewed. It is reported of land and air armaments to be taken | growth during the last few years, but | from Orlando, Fla., where two play- up at a later date. with the building of the Memorial|ers, disagreeing about the score, In his memorandum to the powers | Bridge and the improvements which |agreed td settle their differences in the President restates the American{will be incident to it this growth is|duello manner, each taking a num- view that land and air armaments can {bound to be greatly accelerated. A |ber of clubs and balls and driving at best be dealt with by regional agree-|good start already has been made |the other at fifty paces. Some direct ments, whereas naval ratios are of [upon a system of improved highways | hits were scored before the law in- universal application. This is a proper [ and others are projected for early |tervened in the person of a constable, attitude, particularly in view of the | building, ehief of which is the boule- [ who effected a peaceable settiement fact that this country has nothing to | vard to Mount Vernon, which is to be | before serious damage was done. offer in the way of a reduction in land |a Federal undertaking. Thers have| The duello with clubs and balls Is, armaments that would be of interest | been some differences of opinion and | of course, far better than with the to any European or Oriental power. |a good deal of spirited rivalry over the ! pistol. But even that mode of ad- The same Is true, though perhaps to a | location of other proposed highways. |justment leaves an unpleasant sense less degree, of armaments in the air, {but there has not been engendered |of recreancy toward the fundarnfental whereas American naval drmament|any bitterness that is likely to stand | principles of golf. Good faith and may be regarded as a matter of con-|in the way of a wise and beneficent | mutual confidence are the basic rules cern by any nation in the world. solution of the questions at issue.|of match play, and the golfers who The President makes the tentative | The people of Alexandria and the two | cannot trust one anotheg to keep proposal that in the matter of cruisers, | counties have too much good sense to | #core squarely ought either to eschew submarines and other secondary ships | let persona! opinion or even immediate | the game or seek other playing mates. the United States is willing to adhere | personal interest stand in the way of | By all means American golf should to the 5—5—3 ratio as to this country, | & program that promises so much of [ not be reduced to the level of war- Great Britain and Japan, leaving the | benefit to all. Théy know it would be |fare. Disarmament is the present ratios for France and Italy and such | folly to permit minor rivalries to reach | cry in intérnational affairs, and the other powers as might efiter the con-|a point where development would be | 80lf links should not become the ference to be determined in the light | delayed, for there can be profit to no | battleground of American sport. of their peculiar circumstances. {One in a dog-in-the-manger attitude. T SR P Should Great Britain and Japan agree| One of the niatters in controversy| Aimee McPherson has shown. that to this it would remove one of the |has been over the location of a boule. | there is no use of challenging the in- obstacles which stood in the way at [ vard to connect the south end of the | fluence of a person who knows how to the Washington conference of extend- | Memorial Bridge with the Lee High. | entertain the erowd. The principle she ing limitation beyond capital ships|way at or near Falls Church. Two exemplifies is the one which offers the and airplahe carrlers. routes have been proj and each | difficulty which theater censorship en- Right here, it would seem, the Presi-|of them has earnest champions. | counters in New York. dent has put up to the governments at | Either of the proposed routes would TR R AT London and Tokio responsibility for |Serve the purpose bdmirably aend| AR interesting element of political elther retarding or advancing a pro- | eventually .both may be built, But contest might be introduced by reviv. gram to which all the world subscribes ‘m on both of them cannot begin at | 08 the old Prohibition party and pre- erein. s in theory. France and Italy undoubted- | once and it is necessary that a de. senting Mr. Wayne Wheeler as the 1y would agree to limitation of these | cision between them shall be made, | head of the ticket. secondary vessels if accorded ratios compatible with what they regarded as their vital national interests. In in- dicating the willingness of this Gov- ernment to recognize the French and Ttalian claims in this respect, the President has re-established that | 8¢t behind the project and support it} oo . iooieq foreigner suggests only “moral leadership,” the alleged loss of | earnestly, Once this boulevard s} ., "0y of & fight with easy vietory which has been causing numerous definitely routed the location of other in sight g good people such great concern. roads to serve all parts of the terri- The suggestion is advanced that the tory will follow as a matter of course. President timed submitting to Con- gress his memorandum to the powers| Recent murders have been so, thor- with & view to influencing decision as | 0u8hly concealed that they fail to give to appropriating money for the con-|the alienists anything like their usual struction of three additional cruisers, | chance. but analysis:does not warrant belief that he had any such thing in mind. No More Guns by Mail. Steps preliminary to the formal pro- Congress has just passed and the posal must have been under way for | President has signed a bill which many weeks, and the time for making | forbids, under severe penalty, the use it had to be determined at Geneva|of the malls for the transportation rather than on Capitol Hill. Besides, |of pistols and other firearms capable the President knows, of course, and |of being concealed on the person. knows that Congress knows, that to | Exception is made with respect to vote money for additional crulsers|conveyance of such weapons for the: would not place the United States at | use of officers of the Army, Navy and any disadvantage in, negotiating for | Marine Corps, the National Guard limitations. Should Mmitation be[or Militia of the States and to agreed upon it would be mecessary |officers of the United States or the only for the President o withhold the | States whose duty it is to guard |fessor. o expenditure, and the fact that he had | property and fo preserve order. It| “How times have changed! the money to spend would tend to|is also permitted that the mails shail | ciaimed Miss Cayenne. “Imagine try- strengthen, rather than weaken, his|be used for the supply of bona-fide | I8 to use a goat skin instead of a hip hand in the negotiations. dealers In firearms. Otherwise, the|flask!” S ————— post is closed to the deadly weapons. Overwhelming Demonstration. The Democratic nomination for the| This is an advance toward the| 1y ragio! My radiol presidency is a most interesfing topic | point of disarming the eriminal. Tt You puzzie me, T vow. of discussion, calling into considera- |§oes far, shutting off an easy source Your musie is & hit, but oh, tion from one angle or another almost {Of Supply. It prevents the’ “mail Your static is & wow! every subject from religion to a plain {order” equipment of the road agent, thirst, the hold-up man, the gangster, the murder plotter. Tt stops the abomi- di nable business of sending cheap but Permanent _sma Buildings. s Amakiaiat B ApGKt. T iba. Wisa Plans are being carried actively] gajver paying the price and costs of shead to lay the groundwork for the|(rapgportation to the postmaster. It erection of permanent state bufldings| gyes Uncle Sam out of business as in the National Capital for the expo-|an agent for the criminal armament sition in commemoration of the two|of the lawbreakers. hundredth anniversary in 1932, of the| gyt this is only one step and, birth of George Washington' A bear-{ ynough important, it is not sufficient. ing was held recently before the [y should be followed by others. The Commissioners and the importance of | other day a committee of the the undertaking to Washington finan-| tjonal Crime Commission, sitting at clally and to the whole country educa- | Chicago, rendered a report urging tionally’ was discussed from every|that uniform State laws be enacted angle. to prevent promiscyous personal As the first step to bring about the|armament for criminal purposes. The. culmination of this desirable project|outline of such a law was presented, the President of the United States|including the vitally important fea- will be asked to invite the governors|ture of prohibition of the sale of of the various States to Washington|such weapons to persons who are not for a conference this Spring. If this|bhearers of permits.to secure-them, meeting takes place the governorsissued by appropriate local authori- will be told exactly what the estab-|ties. That is precisely the sort of lishment of permanent buildings in|law The Star has been seeking for the Natlonal Capital will do for the|a long time to have enacted for the weltare and advancement of their | District of Columbia, the only kind States and will be urged to requestiof law thet will shut off the arms the State Legislatures to appropriate|supply of the criminal. fun@s for their erection. © { Closing the malils to the weapons Each buildin® would featurs .the traffic, save for strictly legitimate ——————————— Nicaragua experiences the difficulty which must arise in a stfuggle for the political spotlight with no proficient stage manager in sight. T The Virginia State Highway Commiis. sion has agreed to survey the two routes with a view to determining which is the more practical. this survey is made and an opinion is rendered all parties undoubtedly will To of the Chinese warriors an ] China's open door needs the red light to indicate an exit for foreigners. ot SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Valentine. A little line o’ Valentine, A little bit o’ chatter, Revealing sentiment so fine, That really doesn't matter! A little chime of passing rhyme To mark a festal playday, Yet a reminder all sublime That love still holds its heyday. e Containers. “They used to put intoxicating drinks in goat skins,” said the pro- ex- “Wisdom,” sald Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “consists not only in advo- cating peace, but in knowing what to do if a fight becomes positively neces- sary Neglected Pioneers. “Prohibition Is very influential in politics.” “Jt is,” mused Senator Sorghum. “And yet the old leaders of the Pro- hibition party don’t seem to retainany particular pull’ Higher Education “Do you know your ABC's?” “Naw,” answered Johnny. ‘‘There ain't no such radio station.” Transportation. “A hoss! My kingdom for a hoss!” Cried Richard, all a~-quiver. Today, were Richard at e loss, He'd cry, “Crank up my flivver!” Jud Tunkins says pork is going to be dear next Winter. Casting pearls before swine is impractical, the swine requiring ready cash. ‘I goes to church on Sunday morn- ing,” said Unecle Eben, “but it takes a de crap game on Sunday night.’ . O THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E, TRACEWELL. “Eddie hag funny eating habits,” sald one gentleman. ‘“He is always putting crackers or bread into milk. As a.matter of fact, “crackers and milk” is an institution in certain parts of the country where the effete habits of civilization have not put a -blanket on natural methods. Now, it is essentially natural to break or crumble breadstuffs into that greatest of foods, pure milk, and to consume the resuiting mixture with a spoon. One can scarcely say that one im- | bibes bread and milk, or crackers and milk, as the case may be, but surely the process is not drinking, nor can it be called eating with absolute cer- tainty. Consuming crackers and milk is a pleasant process known to the great, mid-belt of our country, often labeled ““Midwest,” where men are certainly men and women surely women, but where every one is more likely to do what he pleases, just so long t does not contravene any known laws of the land, State or municipality. Consumption of “bread and milk"” violates no law, unless it be that un- written one which bars the placing of crackers in soup. It must be admitted that the breaking of foodstuffs into a bowl of any liquid and the eating therefrom is not what might be called dainty feeding. Nor, on the other spoon, can such eating be termed crude, uncouth or in real violation of the standard laws of etiquette. Are not croutons permis- sible in soup? ¢ * ok % % There is a fine line, in such mat- ters, over which ‘“bread and milk,” as an institution, does not step, and we are glad of it, for & general frown- ing upon this fine and ancient insti- tution would take from American life one of its very oldest features, What “hits the spot” more than a bowl of rich milk, in which are erum- bled, one at a time, certain crisp soda crackers? For many years there was a restau- rant in Washington where this was the piece de resistance, as the French are supposed to say. Here, at all times of day and night, were to ba seen some of the brightest men of Washington, solemnly recalling the days of their youth in foamjng bowls of “half and half,” as the mixture of milk and cregm was known. Some put in soda crackers, others salty ones, others insisted on using graham crackers. ' The use of ordi- nary bread, popularly called “the staff of life,” for some reason or other was.| not so popular, except ‘in the form of soft rolls, which were used now and then for crumbling purposes. In the great stretches of the true Midwest, however, where the eating of bread and milk is n popular pas- time before going to bed, nothing was 80 _popular as bread. The bowl was only a thing of tradi- tion. As often as not an ordinary tumbler or “glass” was used,. into which the children crumbled «their bread until the brim was reached. It was the use of this vessel, to wit, the drinking glass, that brought down upon our friend Eddie the gustatory wrath of the gentleman mentioned above. He, poor soul, had never eaten ‘bread and milk!" e There was a technique, too, in the eating of bread and milk, or crack- ers and milk, which seems almost lost to the present generation of super- sweet candy consumers, Proper packing of bread into the glass n\v:\fl no less essential than the right sort of good, B\ve.e'. milk and real good bread. T too littie bread was put into the glass, the resulting mixture was likely to be soppy. The proper consistency was to be reached only when the bread was crumbled very finely, and then literally packed into the glass. Using this method, it was amazing how much bread a slass would hold. For the true glass of “bread and milk” the glass was infinitely su- perior to the bowl, despite tradition, for the latter, if so crammed with crumbs, invariably spilled over the sides, whereas the straight sides of the tumbler prevented .this catast trophe, especially if room were al- lowed for the milk. ’ Professional consumers of ‘“bread and milk” knew to a quarter of an inch just how much milk would be required for just how many slices of bread. Thus properly packed, the bread remained, if not almost dry, at least in a fair condition of drymess, owing to the impossibility of one glass of milk spreading evenly over so much breadstuff. The consumer, even at the bottom of his glass, still had the proper taste as his reward, that fine taste than which, under heaven, thefe is nothing finer to a really hungry boy. 1t so happened that, with this method of filling the glass, the last few spoonfuls in the glass were al- ways the tastiest, Of what other dish can this be said? It seemed as though the very essence of milk was concentrated in the hottom of the vessel, to be mixed with the cream, as it were, of bread waiting there so smilingly. * ok ok ok Connoisseurs would pass” from “bread and milk” to “crackers and milk,” with such _variations as “graham crackers and milk,” “‘oyster crackers and milk,” and “cornbread and milk.” Little did any one know, in those days, that milk was rich in vitamin B, and contained lime for the growing bones of childhood. Nor did they realize that “bread and milk” was a “palanced food,” or ‘that it mhade for better and deeper sleep. It was simply something to fill il the hunger gap between dinner and breakfast, a cheap dish that satisfied ‘the little ones, and sent all hands to bed in & happy frame of mind, since the condition of the mind is so de- pendent upon the “frame of the stomach."” In those days ice was not in such general use as it is today, especially in small country towns, so ice-cold milk was not known except in Winter time, when Nature cooled the fluid to its best temperature. This best temperature is ot ice cold, but about midway between freez- ing and warm. At this certain point milk is at its hest for the reception of bread or crackers. To come in, on a cold Winter night, and regale one's self with a cold glass of crackers and milk, the coldness tempered by the warmth of the crackers, fresh from the pantry shelf, is to know all that life has to offer in the way of pleasurable taste. Try it, some night, when you are tired and hungry, and are “fed up” on the elaborate foods of the daytime, Eat a bowl or glass of “crackers and milk,” the nectar and ambrosia of us earthern gods. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. In inviting the naval powers of the world to consider afresh a curtailment of their strength at sea, President Coolidge is making good a definite pledge on that score. The occasion was his address of acceptgnce of the Republican presidential nomination, delivered at Washington on August 14, 1924. “When the reparations plan is in operation,” Mr. Coolidge said, "I all deem it an appropriate time to approach the great powers with a proposal for another conference for a further limitation of armaments and for devising plans for a codificatien of international law.” The second year of the Dawes plan ended August 31, 1926. It is now in the midst of its third year, and President Coolidge plainly regards the reparations scheme to be avorking out so satisfactorily that he can justifiably urge the Kuro- pean powers most interested in it to renew discussion of disarmament. Much water will flow beneath the bridges of the Thames, the Seine, the Tiber and the Sumida before Amer- ica’s proposal will be definitely acted upon. Already the prediction can be frecly risked that France and Italy, as was the case at Washington in 1921- 1922, will prove the prineipal snags in the river of President Coolidge's de- sires. * ok kK The French and Itallan governments consented to British supremacy in Burope, in the realm of capital ships, because they belleved that French and Italian destroyers and submarines, in an emergency, could hold their respéc- tive own against British superiority in battleships and battle-cruisers. There will therefore be the utmost reluctance in Paris and Rome to abandon the one branch of naval power—auxiliary craft—with which fleets inferfor in capital ships can keep a powerful enemy at bay. It was for these rea- sons that France and Ttaly five years ago submitted to a 5-5-3 capital ship ratio for the United States, Greai Britain and Japan and contented them- selves with a ratio of 1.75 each in that elass of vessels. Resolutely did the French and the Italians oppose any restriction whatever upon their right to build and maintain as many squadrons of commerce-destroying cruisers, torpedo boats and submarines as their hearts' desire and purses per- s k¥ ok Our friends m' l-l‘runce nnd' ll;;l_\- have very practical reasons for in- sisting upon formidable strength in the lighter and speedier type of war- ships. Both countries are building up vast colonial empires in northern Africa. In future wars—and Europe, mind you, continues to think in terms of future wars—the French and Itallans would depend to an enormous extent upon supplies of both man- power and raw materials from their possessions across the Mediterranean. In the World War it was the legions of black and brown soldiers from Morocco, Tunis and Algiers that more than once sustained the gallant armies of France when the hour was darkest. From those rich protectorates, too, the French drew vital sinews in the form of food and the rudiments of muni- tons. Italy, under the militant leader- ship of Mussolini, is developing her immense African domains as the out- posts of an empire intended some day to rival in importance the “farflung ramparts of anclent Rome. From Italian Africa, a territory more than a quarter as large as the United States, Mussolini plans, when he needs them, to march onto European battle- fields & mighty host of native war- riors. * ok k¥ It is to keep open the “‘sea lanes’ that lead from the remote African pow'ful sermon to keep me AWKy 1'um | parry the mainland that France and Raly re- quire strong fleets of fast men-of-war. They are needed as wasps and ‘hor- nets that could effectively-sting and bat: tieships that 10 send into the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Without such means of defense and offense, the French and Italians argue that the British would be able to convert the waters washing the *shores of Africa into an English lake—in other words, to hold France and Ttaly at their mercy by cutting off the "indispensable resources by which nations sustain themselves in times of fateful crises. Conditions have not changed since M. Briand, for France, and Signor Schanzer, for Ttaly, eloguently and stubbornly pro- claimed at Washington why their re- spective governments could not shackle themselves at sea. * ¥ ok % Uncle Sam speaks with an undoubt- edly persuasive voice when he asks the Iuropean powers to join him in another disarmaments agreement. Great Britain, France and Italy all owe us a lot of money. They are, morepver, very heavily dependent upon the gigantic capital resources of the United States for further financial fa- vors. Money talks in international politics as well as in private relations among men. It is barely possible that if the Coolidge administration is so intent upon additional naval limitation that it cares to wield the Wall Street big stick, that weapon might be the most impressive club at Washington's disposal. The money motive would be less influential with Japan. *Interna- tional conferences, like bargaining on lesser occasions, arc always marked by give and take. Baron Shidehara, foreign minister at Tokio, reminded us only the other day that Japan does mot eonsider our exclusion legis- lation a closed incident. Perhaps Nip- pon will come along with a subtle sug- gestion that she would be more inter- ested in cutting down her force in scout cruisers, Pacific-going subma- rines and destroyers capable of steam- ing to Hawaii if the Congress of the United States, on its part, were minded to amend the immigration, laws, which the Japanese consider an affront to their national pride, * ok ok g ! When Charles Evans Hughes sprang his bombshell at Memorial Continental Hall on November 12, 1921, by inviting the world’s navles to scrap whole squadrons of batgleships, the United States’ proposal to lgad the way in sacrifices puved the road to an even- tual agreement. We had something to give up—impending leadership in capi- tal vessel strength—and announced our readiness to yield it. There is no sych tangible and psychological asset in our hands in proposing limitation of auxiliary vessel strength. In that field we lag, not lead. The competi- tion has been going on, and in it we have fallén far behind. Thus it may be that London, Tokio, Paris and Rome will in due course suggest that the bait which Broved so seductive at Washington is no longer here to tempt them. LS The sea powers now urged by Presi- dent Coolidge to stack more of their naval arms are all hard up. The prosperity of opulent America is some- thing they wot not of. It is greatly within the orbit of possibilities that they will vote the budget mightier than the sword and rejoice at the op- portunity to ease the burdens which are bending the backs of their tax- payers almost to the breaking point. (Copyright. 1927.) e et Keeping Up the Price. From the New York Herald Tribune. There was no coal strike this year. A” way has been found to keep the price up without one. #Deceit in Diplomacy. From the Baltimore Sun. 1t meswary an decelitul a2 women diplomatic service. Lo X FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1927. Speaks in Defense of Driving to Left To the Editor of The Star* I have just been reading in your valuable paper of Sunday the article Driving to Left Wastes Streets,” by Willlam Ullman. As one of the vio- lators I wish to say a few words in our defense. Every word of Mr. Ullman's article is true, but Mr. Ullman has not said one word as to the probable cause of the violation. The very streets men- tioned by Mr. Uliman are in bad con- dition on the sides. Pennsylvania avenue northwest from First to Seventh street is very rough and full of holes on the sides.. Massa- chusetts avenue northeast from Sixth street to Eleventh {s not fit to drive on except in the center. Sherman avenue northwest is very rough the whole length and hardly fit to drive on in the center. Florida. avenue from Seventh street northwest to Fifteenth northeast is not only rough but has holes enough to wreck a car. Even between the tracks It is hardly fit to drive on. Eleventh street southeast from East Capitol street to*Pennsyl- vania avenue is only fit to drive in the center. There is a hole in the street at Pennsylvania avenue near Four- teenth street southeast which has been there about a year, I think you will find this the cause of the violation you refer to mare than anything else. As a rule, motor- ists pull to the side when another blows for the road. GEO. P. SMITH. Lauds Entertainers of Hospital Patients To the Editor of The Star: Washington has many characteri: teY that are distinctly its ewn, and most of these have been discyssed so frequently that it may seem there is little left to add. Yet in a' place where there may be found an unusually large number of hospitals and homes, some mention of the amateur erftainers who help to relieve the monoto- nous hours of the patients and in- mates conflned therein seems perti- nent. They go from one institution to another, giving programs of music, vocal and instrumental, that are both carefully selected and well rendered. In fact, the numbers are given with a lack of ostentation and a quite ap- parent regard for the taste of the au- dience not always found among profe: sionals, while the talent and trainin displayed are surprisingly good. O course, the entertainments are free, given solely with a view to relieving the tedious if not painful days of the convalescent, blind or infirm, as the case may be. It is only necessary to observe how the wan faces light up, as the music carries them far away from their sufferings to a realm where there is neither pain nor sorrow, to realize how much it means to them. In an unobtrusive way these people are doing a great work, and it wou appear only just that they receiv some commendation. $LARA MANDERSCHIED. ———— Kensington Crossing - Solution Is Offered To the Editor of The Star: “Taking chances” has always been a favorite American game. Rather than spend a few dollars in properly main- taining railroad crossings, railroads will retain a corps of lawyers and risk frequent damage suits, to say nothing of anti-good-will. Rather than be a little overcautious, the motorist and pedestrian will try to beat a fast train across an intersection, risking injury or death. “Stop, look and listen!” is not always enough, A few dollars spent for a red warn- ing light and a hood for the bell at Kensington would make for a safer crossing by travelers. A warning out- fit that can be frozen up is a poor safeguard. So is one that cannot be heard above the din of modern life and the weather. Procrastination is the main reason for railroads not being up to date in eaution devigces, and prod- ding is often necessary, A comparatively {nexpensive solu- tion of the Kensington crossing is to bridge the railroad at Connecticut ave- nue and make a decent road to the Wheaton pike on the rorth side. The proposed route would be n time-saver for the bulk of the traffic and the 15 or 20 seconds lost by the rest is move than offset by the present necessarily cautious approach. Until the bridging, vhich must come eventually for other easons, is done, the freight cars should be pushed farther back on the sidings and a watchman with a stop sign and light be on guard both day and night. ‘The usual damages allowed by courts for an accident like that of last week would have kept a watchman there for 25 years or more. > W. E. ALLEN. o Ford Would Eliminate Household Drudgery From the Flint Daily Journal. “We must take the drudgery out of housekeeping and set women free to develop,” Henry Ford is quoted as saying at Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass. “The old-fashioned mother is out of date.” Ford made his remarks as he sat in the tap-room of the ancient inn, bullt in 1686. Old-time kitchen uten- sils and a spinning wheel, signs of a day when women were little better than household slaves, inspired the manufacturer's remarks. Ford her- alded synthetic days in the kitchen, a future without the messy and bother- some beef, pork, lamb and chicken— a day when foods will be made by for- mula. In the laboratory at Dearborn, Ford experts already are working on svnthetic foods, and Ford says theyM be ready when the people are. Trips to the Arctic, where men have lived entirely on canned foods, help sustain Ford's belief that laboratory production of food is feasible from the consumption as well as the production standpoints. There vanishes, as Ford speaks, the vision of the old-fashioned mother who moved with such grace among the steaming kettles and pots or sat long hours at the wheel, turning out home- spun for man's comfort, In Wayside Inn her ghost must have hovered before Ford as he made his prediction —a wraith of a beautiful woman hold- ing a steaming roast beef, trimming a flaky ple crust or spinning as she sang the old songs. Even now her ministrations live largely in memory, this old-fashioned mother, and there must be days when man, however scientific he has be. come, however he has mastered the preparation and digestion of synthetie foods, longs for that old-fashioned mother with a longing that will ngt be stilled. There is a little corner in a man's life that synthetic food cannot fill_up. Of course, we’ll change; of course, we'll progress. But how we dread it! ————— “They're After Me,” Sings Heflin From the Boston Transcript. Explanation of a number of rob- beries in Washington is that they were ecommitted by criminals who had fled from New York because of the Baumes lJaw. But Senator Heflin may be re- lied upon to discover that these des- perate ruffians have invaded the Ni tional Capital for the purpose of “get. ting” that great and good man Sena- tor Heflin. The Short-Sighted Scientist. From the a Morning Herald. The soentists who estimated that the coal gsupply would last for 200 years did not take into account strikes wili make it last twice as long. l Q. How long will a ton of hay last x;{ peil; of medium-sized mules?— A. The Bureau of Animal Industry says that a working mule would re- quire 1% pounds for each 100 pounds live weight; in other words, a mule require bay a day. provided the grain was balamced properly. Q. When did bands originate?— . M. M. A. John that, I. ilip Sousa recently said Ing to hiatorical records, the beginning of the .modern wind band may be traced from central Europe in the Middle Ages. Travel- ing minstrels gathering at great fairs, church festivals and state oc- casions often organized mpromptu bands. These, Comdr. Sousa con- tinues, weye possibly the first of the modern bands. Q. I have heard that many Malay girls are called Timar. What does this name mean’—F. D. A. This name is said to be almost as common in Malaya as Mary or J?[ne is here. Translated, it means tin." Q. How many safety razog blades are used in a year’—R. B. F. A. One well known company turns out nearly 700,000,000 and uses about 800 .tons of steel in' making them. Q. Who are some of the “Follies™ girls who have become well known in the movies -A. M. P, A. A few are Mae Murray, Ann Pennington, Marion Davies, Dorothy Mackail, Katherine Perry and Gilda ray. Q. Who wrate “My candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night. But, ah, my foes, and, oh, my friends, it gives a lovely light"?—B. K. W. A. Edna St. Vincent Milla; included in a volume of h entitled “A Few Figs from Thistles. Q. Who won the six-day bicycle race in 1926?—W. F. M. A. Bobby Walthour and Reggie McNamara, an American team, won a six-day race In Chicago, February 14 to 20, with a total of 2,296 miles and § lapa and 330 points. McNamara. and Franco Georgetti won a similaf race at New York City, March 7 to 13. The total mileage was 2,109 miles, 5 laps and 338 points. Q. lars been discontinued? A Silver dollars are being coined at the San Francisco mint at the pres- ent time. Their coinage will continue until the Pitman silver has been used. Q. What was the date of the great fire in Hoboken, N. J.>—F. W. R. A. The fire at Hoboken, N. J,, oc- curred on June 30, 1900, when steam- ship plers and vessels to the value of $4,627,000 were destroyed. The number of lives lost was 215. Q. How were the horsea of St. Mark protected when the Germans threatened Venice in the World War? —L. R. A, During the war the famous horses of St. Mark in Venice were protected by megns of sand bags, which were piled .up around them. Q. Which national park covers the Has the coinage of silver dol- 8. E. T most ground?—S. F. C. A. The Yellowstone, with an acre- age of 2,142,720, Q. What degree of heat is produced by electric welders?—O. R. P. A. The electric arc welder produces temperatures from 6.300 to 9,400 de- grees Fahrenheit. - Q. When was the School of Tropi- 2 26* This school has the distinction of being the first college of its kind established in the Americas, although several of the leading medical schools of North and South Ameriea have departments de- Voted to the study of tropical medi- cine. Q. Who was the first superintend- ent of the Governmént Printing Of- fice?—C. M. G. A. John D, Defrees, who was ap- pointed by President Lincoln. The original plant as operated during the Civil War occupied 59,292 square feet of floor space, as compared with 750, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. 176 square feet in the present build- ing. The original building, equipment and materials cost $135,000. The present building, equipment and ma- terials are ~valued at $8,000,000. Q. What is the best solution washing white woodwork?—S. B. A. Enamel paint is dulled by soap. Such paint may be cleaned by rubbing first with a woolen or cotton flannel eloth, wrung out of hot water, and then with a clean dry cloth. Spots, stains, and dirt that will not yleld to hot water alone may be removed with a fine scourer. This must be applied lightly in order not to scratch the surface. for Q. Does Eurgpe have air mall serv ice™T. A. F. A. Alr mail service in European countries is being rapidly extended and is encouraged by government aid in various ways. Regular service is furnished between practically all the capitals of Europe. European and Her foreign countries ate using our air mail routes to an indreasing ex tent. Q. What is the size of an average rallway tie?—C. 8. D. A. The size of ties most widely used under heavy traflic has increased since 1905 from 6"x8"x8’ to 7"x9"x8" 6", Q. When were latitude and longt- tude adopted?—E. D. M. A. Latitude and longitude were first laid down by Eratosthenes, a Greek mathematician and geometer, who lived in the second century B.C. Q. Are there still long-horned cattle in the Southwest”—R. C. A. There are still a few to be found in Texas. It just _been an nounced, however, that the United States Forest ice will maintain a herd of these picturesque examples of early pioneer life in'the Southwest on the Wichita National Forest in Oklahoma. They will be grazed in a pasture adjoining the one occupied by the herd of buffalo already estab lished on the for Q. Did a Navy or Army fyer first refuel while in the air?—J. M. A. Lieut. Geoffrey Cabot, United States Navy, was the first man to re fuel in the air. This was accomplished on May 3, 1918. He was a reserve offi- cer on active duty at the time. The fist time this was occomrplished in the Army was on August 27, 1923, by Lieuts, Lowell H. Smith and J Richter. Q. Can you tell me about a medal which was obviously cast to com memorate the birth of a son of the Family of France. It shows a woman reclining on a lounge, with an infant in her arms. There is the coat of arms of the Bourbons and at the top, in French, “God gave him to us,” while under the lounge is “Our hearts and arms are with him.” The reverse shows the Archangel smiting the devil and the date September 28, 1820.—A. N. A. The assistant curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art says it is his opinion that the medal which you mention was struck to commemorate the birth in 1820 of Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonne, Comte de Chambord, the son of the Duc de Berry, and grandson of the Comte d'Artois (afterward Charles X). The woman reclining on_the lounge and holding the infant Comte de Cham- bord in her arms s beyond doubt the Duchesse de Berry, his mgther. The Comte de Chambord was horn seven months after the assassination of his father, and he was therefore hailed as the ‘“enfant du miracle,” and was called “Dieudonne” (God-given). This is a special department de- voted solely to the handling s of queries. This paper puts at your disposal the services of an extensive organization in' Washington to serve yqu in_any capacity that relates to information. ~This service is free. Failure to make usc of it deprives you of benefits to which you are entitled. Your obligation is only 2 cents in stamps enclosed with your inquiry for direct reply. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic_J. Haskin, Director, Wash- ington, D. C. Press Praises Bacon Mind, Despite Life Elixir Theory The decoding and translation from the original Latin of Roger Bacon's famous work, “Opus Majus,” has dis- closed to modern eyes the medieval philosopher’s formula for the ever- sought elixir of life. Fantastic in- deed is the formula, but in the pages of “Opus Majus” modern observers find a foreshadowing of present-day science. “The work of the medieval Aris- totle, who set before himself the task of compiling all the knowledge of the world up to his time,” according to the Louisville Courfer-Journal, “marks an epoch in the development of thought. even though in that dark period of history alchemy and astrology consti- tuted what was then known of science. ‘When the elixir of life and the phil- osopher’s stone were the chief objects sought this thirtéenth century Fran- ciscan monk led the way toward a new day. He had a clear conception of chemistry long before it emerged from alchemy. He perhaps discov- ered gunpowder independently of any knowledge the East, for a for- mula for ing it is included among his manuscripts. He was the first to establish experimentation as a means of arriving at sclentific knowledge, rather than through unaided deduc- tion and speculation. * ¢ * Im- mersed in the darkness of his time, he | tending _the did discover important facts in chem istry and physics. If he really min- gled empiricism and credulousness with his work, he was still a ver great man, but one whose character and career are comprehensible. If in the thirteenth century he was abso lutely freed from the shackles of ignorance, my: m and superstl tion, he must stand in history as a superhuman intelligence beyond any appraisal or pnderstanding today.” Why Bacon did not apply his own bent for experiment to this formula, and so disprove it, is something of ystery,” says the Worcester “Perhaps the unavailability on’s flesh, the magic water and other ingredients had something to do with it. But other specifications for mate. rials readily available should hav aroused his doubts. As it is, unable to test his formula as a whole, he accepted it all as gospel. A strange mixture of scientific genius and medie- val credulity was Roger Bacon.” The Buffalo Evening News, how- ever, points out that “the fragmentary records of his life do not indicate whether he used the formula, which Suggests so strongly the witchs of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth.’ " that paper remarks that he “was not concerned wholly with the idea of ex term of human life caught a gleam of the light that was through his elixir,” but that “he made to be, and helped to further science and invention which were to come to full flower six centuries later. “One has but to obtain the ingredi- ents,” the Providence Bulletin ex- plgins as to the elixir; “refined gold, ambergris, a portion of the Tyrian serpent, mary and aloe. Mix them and Invigérating mischief work! But the portentious distillation acts best when carried through the eye directly to the brain. In the stomach it is apt to cause perturbed dreams. The brain is the only place, for these ingredients are objects around which livel cles have forever played. Pearis hav always been mysterious drops holding tive the fleeting colors of the sea: anibergris is the spirit of Summer liv the lovel love unknowable. Could anything but po- tént fumes rise from the charmed caul- dron in which these elements stew and boll? might well awalt in fear the to issue and roll into a genius above him. * ¢ * monk’s restless spirit! lived in this later day. * ok ok x “Such bosh as_this,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, condemn Bacon as a quack and char- | can be He may or may not have be- | ress science may make in many direc- latan. real contributions to the thought of his time,” ¥ * ok ok % “There were writers in thoss days,” observes the New London Day, “but precious little of what they wrote has been preserved, and Bacon’s mind was of a caliber superior to that of almost anybody of his da; The Day feels that the ‘“decoding of the elaborate cipher by which he hoped to keep these writings from prying eyes will be a satisfaction and a joy to mil- lions.” That the world “still is seeking the elixir of life"” is suggested by the Seattle Daily Times, with the com- ment: “We are on the right track of it when we adhere to the doctrine of outdoor recreation and wholesome diet. We know how prevent needless illness, last generation.” The Albany Evening News adds: “Every one knows the rules for heaith in theso s, and the rules for physical health The awed stirrer of the DPotlanq ‘the lifegiving elixir of cheerful- n But peace to the good am?;lw: mmlm and admits that He should have changes, Journal. due to anything else. That, however, leclares the | does fot encourage the hope that a 'should not|way to prevent these changes ever to certain chemical concludes the Sioux City ‘Of course. It could not be made, regardless of the prog- tieved all he wrote, for it is true that |tions in the future, which is to throughout his long life he was con- | that man ultimately discovered stantly under suspicion of wizardry |every force, every power, every secret mtwoflhd still might