Evening Star Newspaper, February 19, 1927, Page 6

re " THE EVENING With Sunday Morning WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY .February 19, 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES. ... The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office 11¢h St and Penneylvania Ave. e TIT Bagatnd st. o ia Yegens St London, Englaud. N nth: Sundays only lers ‘may he sent by 3000 Coliaction is made by ach Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. 1 yr. $0.00: 1 mo 1ar. $6000 1 mo 1 ¥r. $6.00; 1 mo. States and 1 vr. $12.00 130 S8.001 1 m 3. $4.00.1m Member of the Associated Pre oes or mil last persons , be- { reny '.’l]l likelthood if these representatives of the remoter regions were to gear themselves as others do and explain to thelr folks back home that it is the order of the times they would even- | tually gain rather than lose from thelr change. A story is told of James Hamilton Lewis who, while a member of Con- | sress and standing for re-election, had occasion to address a meeting “back of the yards,” that reglon near the great cattle market of Chicago where personal garb s reduced to the lowest common denominator of mnecessity. Having Leen warnad that he should don 2 shabby for the occasion, he d, and turned up at the meeting in the fullest of full dress and stated to his hearers that he appeared before them in the garb of a gentleman, ad dressing gentiemen wearing the clothes of thefr own choice. Ho was cheered by his hearers and gained votes by his courageous and frank position. There is no “political dynamite” in good clothes or appropriate clothes Legislation is no better and no worse for being enacted by mwn who wear the garments they prefer and that gesture of forgiveness. Yesterda: vote indicates that the generosity has been repented, and if the House con- curs, which is expected, the unusual spectacle will be presented of a con- viction, a pardon and a cancellation of parden within a decade. F Sentimentality has caused this en- tire unpleasantness. It was sentimen- tality that put the wife of the dis- graced governor up for election and that put her in office. It was sentimen- tality that caused the vote of amnesty. Texas has suffered severely In prestige in consequence, and now it would ap- pear that the rule of reason has been evoked to restore normal conditions. The welfare of a Commonwealth has been menaced by this excursion, and now it {8 to be hoped that the incident is closed. A DIl was introduced in the House yesterday providing for the construc- tion at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York Harbor, of barracks for a regiment of Infantry at a cost of §1,086,000. It should be passed at this session. Its urgent need was shown by a recent fire at Governors Island represent their tastes. Reference to them as “head waiters” is not calcu lated to advance any cause or to make for the good feeling that in the crisis of the session is the surest emollient for results > — e Traffic Violations Bureau. Although universal approval has bheen given to the project of the estab- nd sacr ips, the eco- s which vays is not because but because they r. that they believe v should be prepared to defend itself against aggression. They know that, the natures of men and of nations being as they are, unde- fended riches always have and al- ways will invite attack. At the meeting yesterday there were survivors of the war between the States, of the war with Spain and of the late world conflagration. These veterans know of their own knowledge that in all these wars there was needless suffering, need- less sacrifice of life, because of the inadequacy of preparedness. They saw raw troops sent into battle without the training necessary to make soldiers of them and officered by men whose training for ‘command had been as meager. They saw men die like flies in camps because of & lack of medical supplies and per- sonnel and themselves went hungry and improperly clothed and shel- tered because there was no commis- sary organization capable of ex- pansion to meet the needs of war. The veterans pledged themselves to support the policy of limiting . armaments by agreement among the mations, but when such agreements have been reached they want the United States to maintain its de- fenses at the full strength provided for, and to maintain them in a state of efficiency. They want Congress and the Executive to carry out the spirit of the national defense act, which involves the training of a “ civilian reserve, so that there always will be a nucleus of officers and men who have the rudiments of military knowledge as a foundation for the creation of an Army of defense. They demand that neither “economy mor pacifism” shall interfere with a program upon which the safety of the Nation depends. The truth that “he laughs at scars who never felt a wound” might well be paraphrased to read that he scorns preparedness who never knew war's horrors. These men know whereof they speak and they are entitled to be heard by the Congress, by those in executive authority and by the Nation. —_—————— Women compete successfully in every field. Billy Sunday must look to his laurels. ———r————— Some of the most artistic screen performers have highly inartistic love affairs, nomic and moral loss Clothes and the Law. During a recent night session of the Senate u member of that body, in a moment of impatience at the low tones n which the debate was being con- ducted, referred to the evening dress of the Senators who were engaged in colloguy and spoke of them as garbed “head waiters.” The reference was received by one of the led s0ions Who had the floor at the moment, and the cpisode passed without friction. It registered, how- ever, o fact that may give rise to Some speculation in the country. It s not the custom of legislators to attend the sessions of House or Senate in the usual habiliments of so- fter slx o'clock for the reason ssions are In almost all before that hour. en evening sessions are held some of them return to their places in the costume they i of business d purned usy assume for din- 10 80 to the hallg Others pre 5 such ions in legizlation on oc There Is no sartorial ir Individ members of the House would think soup and fish” combination of cloth- ing in any umstancy There was a notable instance rs ago of a Southwestern statesman who served n both House and Senate for a num- ber of terms without ever appearing in the conventional evening dress. He war even said to have taken an oath not to don efther a spike-tail or a din- ner jacket, adhering strictly to the frock coat of late Victorianism, with A low-cut vest, a biack bow tle and, when out of doors, a broad-brimmed “slouch” hat. lle held rigidly to this attire, even when in attendance at high soclal functions. There seems to be a fear on the part of some of the statesmen that indul- gonce in the conventional garb of the rule Con- Some and Senate wearing the Bress astes gover: never of some | tishment in Washington of a traffic violations bureau, there appears to be scant hope that action can be obtained at the fast waning session of Con- gress. Designed to relieve the Traffic Court, which even with four judges working night and day is unable to keep up with tho unending procession ¢ cases, the bureau would operate to dispense swift, sure and impartial Justice to motorists convicted of minor offen: It is estimated that more than thirty-five thousand cases a year would be taken care of in this way if the bureau were established, and each of thess cases shifted from the Traf- fic Court would yield that much rellef to the court. Both Chicago and Detroit operate similar bureaus. The procedure is simple. A motorist is tagged for a minor violation. He has the option of paying a stated fine at the bureau without trial or he may elect to stand trial in court. There is no possible way for him to evade appearing before either the bureau or the court. A du- plicate of the ticket in the policeman’s notebook s turned in immediately to the department, which provides a thorough check-up. In Detroit the benefits are strik- ingly fllustrated by the police records, which show that while there were 6,000 arrests last August for parking violations the number dropped to un- der 8,000 with the establishment of the bureau. One policeman arrested 467 and this officer was required to appear in court only seven times. Congress, despite the rush of the short session, should give attention to this desirable project for the Na- tional Capital. It is patent that its operation here would work manifol benefits, There would be no more “talking your way out of an arrest.” ‘There would be appreciably less court congestion and the courts would in this way be enabled to deal with the grave cases of violation. Justice would be impartial and certain, and the same reduction In the number of violations as Detroit has experienced would prob- ably be noted. Care must be used, of course, in the selection of offenses to be treated by the bureau. No major violations should be allowed to slip in to be dealt with in such a wholesale manner. Parking, light, turning and minor cases of speed infractions could easily ba handled to the satisfaction of both the motorist and the District, but major offenders should get the full dose of justice in the courts. The cost of the bureau in Washing- ton is estimated to be approximately $8,000 a year. In comparison with other means of enforcement this is a trivial sum. Congress should most assuredly give consideration to a proj- ect that has met with hearty approval on the part of the Commissioners, traffic officials and the citizens of Washington. ———t————— George Washington's face is on a two-cent stamp. Abraham Lincoln's face is on a three-cent stamp. No- body can remember whose portrait is on a hundred-doilar bill. The monetary estimate falls in matters of fame. et The Ferguson Saga. Another chapter was written in the Ferguson saga yesterday at Austin, Tex. The State Senate, after a pro- tracted wrangle, passed a bill repeal- ing the wmnesty which had been granted by legislative action to former Gov. James E. Ferguson following the election of his wife to the governor- ship. This amnesty restored to him the right to hold public office, which he forfeited when he was impeached as governor in 1917. The friends of “Jim™ fought desperately to prevent action, filibustering and offering de- laying motions, but were finally de- feated by a vote of 19 to 7. The meas- ure now goes to the House. The Impeachment and conviction of Gov. Ferguson were based upon mal- feasance in office. He was ousted from his position, and at once began a fight for his return. He was unable to make headway, but in a subsequent campaign his wife was nominated and clected governor, and took office with him as the real power in the State house. Her administration was from the beginning a camouflage for “Jim."” He directed policies and reached de- cisions and made appointments, and she signed “on the dotted line.”” He dictated the grant of a record-breaking number of pardons, in her name. She was u candidate for renomination and was beaten by the attorney general, who was, of course, elected, Texas night will cost them votes in their constituencies. heing a one-party State. Meanwhile in which destroyed a large number of wooden structures erected during the war, Luckily no lives were lost, though a great amount of property was sacrificed. This establishment on Governors Is- land is the most conspicuous military post in the country. It is virtually at the gateway of America. Its garrison has néver been adequately housed. Many years ago old Castle William constituted the post, but it was long since outgrown and straggling struc- tures have been erected. When the war broke temporary barracks were thrown up on the island, constructed of materials hastily obtained and as sembled. They are virtually tinder boxes. In an inspection just on the eve of the recent fire the commanding officer of the post found that it was possible to ignite the outside wall of one of these barrack buildings merely by holding a lighted match against the surface. There are scores of these military posts in this country. Recently at Quantico a quarters bullding burned and two persons lost their lives. The house occupled by one of the officers on duty at the post burned like match- ‘wood, and the rescue of all of its occu pants was impossible. This was buta sample of the war-time constructions which for reasons of economy have been permitted to remain in service, menacing thousands of lives. Not long ago attention was called to conditions at Camp Meade, Md., where the structures, erected in a hurry at the outset of the entrance of the United States into the war, have fallen into such disrepair that the officers and men stationed there are subjected to severe hardships. A move has been made to remedy the condi- tions at this post in some degree, but they cannot be wholly remedied be- cause of the character of the construc- tions. As rapidly as possible all these war- time quarters, barracks, storehouses, qmcors' dwellings at the military Posts in this country should be swept away and replaced by permanent, sub- stantial bulldings. The expense, how- ever great, should not be cause of de- lay. The United States Government has no right to house its military forces in shacks that are an hourly invitation to disaster. ————— Visitors who requested a seat in the gallery at the Capitol are likely to change to a demand for a seat at the ringside. ————— Evolutionists revive the monkey to respectful attention. And some of the jazz makes people feel more kindly toward the old hand organ. —_———— Chopin was a great musician. It needed radio to reveal his practical possibllities as an ad writer. In providing“rules for debate there is a tendency to go away back to the Marquis of Queensberry. ——— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Le’s Go. Le's go along—the world is gay While speeding toward the Milky Way. The Spring and Summer haste along Amid the blossoming and song. Then Autumn hours are fraught with glee; And Winter lights are fine to see. What was impossible of yore Is easy, as we swim or soar. Though cvanescent scenes are strange, We're going through eternal change. Some things seem right and some Aeem wrong-— Le's go along! Ie's go along! Rejoicing in Impecuniosity. “Have you saved any money?" 0,” answered Senator Sorghum. “There is so much prejudice against money in politics that poverty be- comes a positive asset.” Station 1. 0. U. My Radio! My Radlo! T wigwag the selector, While fearing that what you I owe May call the bill collector! Jud Tunkins says an old-fashioned fiddler needs a billion-dollar finan- cial backer to make him popular, Hand-Seeking. “Many noblemen have sought your hand.” “Always my left hund,” sald Miss Cayenne. “That's the one in which I carry my purse. “Many an honest book agent,” H1 Ho, the sage of Chinatown, access to influential soclety by pre- tending that he is a bootlegger.” Mild Feb. ‘We do not fear the chilly blast In Winter's plan. ‘The old thermom goes up so fast, ‘We need a fan! “De fitvver horn,” said Uncle Eben, “has put de days away back when a While there may be|a sentimental mood the Legislature | string of sleighbells was considered # some ground for this apprehension, in had voted amnesty to “Jim,” with &' capable of makin’ & loud nolsey . BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. POSITIVELY NO SOLICITORS PATRONIZED. This sign, on a small card stuck in| the glass of the front door of one Washington. residence, ought to come into common use. The nuisance of house-to-houss can- vassing is becoming worse as the months go by, as every woman knows, and as every man can find out if he will stay home some day. He must answer the doorbell per- sonally if he wants to find out just what the busy housewife is subjected to by the agents of those wanting to sell hing under the sun—and moon, too. This business in the last few months ever: has started to make use of the tele- phone, so that from morning to night the bells are ringing to inquire if you don't want to buy something. It is the ubiquitous young gentles man in the neat suit who is the worst offender, however. He cannot be offended and ha cannot be put off. He is, forsooth, a “high-pressure salesman!” The great field for this bright young man is the new community, where fhose starting in to keep house need 80 many things—vacuum cleaners, sashing machines, soaps, sewing ma- *hines and a host of smaller articles, running the gamut from flavoring ex- racts to a “peck of nice apples for 25 ents, m'am. At the homes of the great, the rich and the almost rich a salesman is net by a servant, so that he never sets “within a mile” of the lady of he house. The homes of the poor, on he other hand, lack the cash, So the houses owned by the moder- itely well off men and women of the sreat middle class offer the best pros- rect for anything or everything one as to sell. * ok ok Kk We learned all this from a tall gen- tleman in a brown suit who stopped 1 our front door to sell us brushes. Now, his brushes are good brushes, and we told him so, but we added: “Do you realize that you have to bear the burden of the 11 men and 3 women who have previously rung this doorbell today? To this he looked his wonder. We went into detail. We told him )f each and every salesman, and how he last one had tried to stick his foot n the screen door, only luckily we had t latched. “In other words,” we added gently, ‘you and all your kind are becoming nothing but a nuisance. Do you pes- er this particular community only, or do you spread yourself all over town?” He informed us that we.were not the only section so favored, but that the homes of the great “middle class” B similarly visited throughout the city. Then we told him of the lady of our cquaintance who had placed the sign, “Positively No Solicitors Pat- ronized” at her front door and had seen immune ever since, and how we were going to follow in her steps or 80 her one better. Yes, that was what we would do, we told him. We would get ourselves printed a neat sign, so that when he " BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. While dirt farmers and gentleman agriculturists are holding their reaths in suspense as to what they should sow or plant after the crop of vetoes is harvested, the Depart- ment of Agriculture is interested -ather in what will develop from the ‘ecent importations of new varieties )f vegetables, grains and fruits from China. For two and a half years Dr. P. H. Dorsett and his son of the Department »f Agriculture have traveled in China, seeking new plants suitable for growth in the different parts of America. They have only recently returned. in safety, and while they had heard that there was growing unrest in some parts of that vast country, they bring no storles of romantic adventures, though they penetrated into regioms where hostilities are now rampant. On the other hand, they found cor- Jiality and co-operation everywhere. They made headquarters first in Peking (after stopping awhile in Shanghai); then, from Peking they they moved on to Harbin, Manchuria; thence, later, to the tropics, visiting the islands of Ceylon, Sumatra and Java, and finally returned to Harbin. Much of the traveling was on foot, with burros and coolies to carry the baggage and specimens of seeds, trees and plants. Everywhere the natives showed the explorers all co-operation, without charge, except in one case of a farmer, who acutally demanded money for certain specimens of seed—14 cents, Mexican, equivalent to about 6 or 7 cents American money. In some in- stances the official co-operation went 80 far as to supply the American sclentists with a private car and free transportation on the government- owned rallroads, Even the Russians in China joined readily in co-operating with the Dor- sett expedition. A Russlan botanist, teaching agriculture in the Harbin High School, planted 100 varieties of s0y beans and several of mung beans in order to supply them to the Amer- fcan explorer, and he gave the vines and all. EE ‘The most important seed obtained is that of a variety of soy beans, which, it is belleved, will add 1,000 to 1,500 square miles to the available bean territory In the United States. All _sclentific agriculturists agree that what American farmers need most, to stabilize their profits, is greater diversity in thelr crops. If they can be induced, therefore, to plant soy beians, where now they de- pend on grain, they will lessen their chances of crop failure: Besides, beans conserve fertility by extracting nitrogen from the air and leaving it in the soil, in place of feeding wholly on the stored fertility of the sofl. In China, 9,000,000 acres are devoted to soy beans; alveady in America, 4,000,000 acres are so planted. * koK ok The soy bean is used not only for food, but especially for ofl, the base of certain varnishes, soaps and curds. Dr. Dorsectt sent over 100 varietles of the beans, not merely the seeds, but wholo vines, bearing seeds and leaves, which fullness of exhibits enables the botanists to save a year in studying the imported specimens, instead of waiting to grow crops from the seeds. Among other new things brought over from “backward China” is a secdless banana, which can be repro- duced only from the root, or by graft- ing. Perhaps it may flourish in our Gult States, . 'A11 of ‘our presént varietlos of chest- nut trees are .being destroved by a fungus blight. Dr. Dorsett has found what he belicves {8 a disease-resistent chestnut, growing in China and Korea. It will take years to replace the destroyedq chestnut trees now dying, but if it be proved that the Korean tree does resist the disease, the result of that importation alone will well repay the cost of the Dorsett explora- tion * ok ok ok Some years agd, other explorers imported.into the United States and his brothers came our way they would be met the following: WE HAV. A washing machine. An oil burner. An electric refrigerator. A sewing machine. More brushes than we need. Plenty All the mag Most of the books, children. More vegetables than we can eat. A very fine laund Yes, we are per- fectly satistied with their work. The best butf in town. Very fine bread: no, we don't want to try yours, We already drink the best coffee In the world. Note: If you are selling anything else, we already have it, but have for- gotten to put it down here! So don't ring the bell. This means you * k ok * This house-to-house soliciting has gone to such extremes in the District recently that the possession of an | articie does not save one from im- portunity. “I am selling the Blah-Blah vacuum cleaner,” said the young man who called at our door the other day. “Thank vou,” said we, “but we have the So and So.” “Wouldn't you like to trade it in on one of ours?” was his bright re Joinder. “Not so you could notice it,” said we, very harshly, slamming the door in his face. Of course, he has to earn a living, but we are tired his doing it by ringing our front doorbell, especially by pounding on the latched screen door with his clenched fist, If there is anything that infuriates our normally calm soul it is to have some one hammer on the door when there is a perfectly good pushbutton handy. There are some real salesmen among the daily trudgers from house to house, but there also are an _unconscionable number who couldn’t sell silver dollars at 50 cents aplece. Poor, timid souls, how we pity them! They should be doing clerical work somewhere, or tending flowers, or keeping shop, or filling any job in the world but canvassing. The embarragsment they suffer is written on_their faces. Yet mostly the salesmen get treated very nicely—far better, we feel, than they deserve, in view of the fact that they have been trained to be dis- courteous by refusing to take ‘“no” for an answer. Each salesman fondly imagines that he is the first along a street, no doubt,* but if he could know that he is the 13th in the procession that day and the 976th during the week, maybe he would not be so chipper. Maybe—fond hope—he some other section of town, and leave our community in peace, and stop stubbing his fingers on our trick latch at the screen door, which we kept up all Winter just to keep him out. . The look of hurt amazement on his face when he boldly grabs the han- dle, intending to walk right in, and finds that he can't—ah, that is the only good point we can see in his business! would try China two varieties of barley, one | of which now constitutes 60 per cent | of all the barley we raise. Dr. Dorsett has imported some 400 | varieties of barley and wheat in the hope that among them will be dis- covered seed superior to what we now grow. Not more than 25 years ago farm- ers of the Midwest were unable to | grow wheat west of the 100th| meridian of longitude—about the middle of the Dakotas. Then an ex- | plorer in Asia Minor sent us maca- roni or durum wheat, which thrives | in drier regions than the old varieties. i Today durum wheat is a standard | crop in the Dakotas and Montana, | and while it is not used in bread | it has a steady market for macaroni and similar uses. It grows well where rainfall is only 12 to 18 inches a year, as in v\;estem Dakotas. * Amongst other good things to be credited to the Dorsett exploration are two kinds of apricots—one a | dwarf and the other tall; a new berry from the mountains of Manchuria, hence hardy; some new red and black currants, apples, crab-apples, peaches and plums. It was in just this way that the famous Georgia peaches were introduced, hence there is hope that fine fruits will be found in these new importations. They come from 300 post offices out of a total of 500 offices | throughout Manchuria, consequently they are acclimated to all conditions of that cold country, and so are adapt- ed to our Northern State: In the United States, we do not count persimmons as a northern fruit, but in Manchuria Dr. Dorsett dis- covered persimmons stored under snow and ice, with no protection ex- cept a light covering of straw mats, and, in Midwinter, with addftional covering of straw or cornstalks. The persimmons are 4 inches in di- ameter, and according to native prac- tice, they were piled on the ground Jn heaps 12 by 20 feet and 2 feet high. This open-air storage was possible be- cause of the dryness of the climate, but some of our Northern States have climates equally dry ‘While we already grow persimmons in Florida and California, irom intro- ductions from Japan, the possibility of extending our persimmon field is important. Nowhere else in the world are persimmons so handled as in Man- churia, 8o it is recognized that the variety must be extracrdinary in its hardiness. ‘The apricot above referred to grows wild upon the mountalns, and the fruit is small, and mostly seed, but Dr. Dorsett believ. s that it can be developed here into oetter fruit, while the hardiness of the tree and its abundance makes it worthy of a trial by our horticulturists. Some of the scientists of the depart- ment show far less interest in the adoption or veto of the proposed Me- Nary-Haugen law to stimulato the growing of grain and cotton by the one-crop farmers than they mani- fest in the enthusiasm for diversifica- tion of crops, even including abandon- ment of such “staples” as they clai are dependent upon the world mar- ket for their surpluses. * Ok ok ok Further investigation of the alleged invention by which every farmer may “produce potash upon his own farm,” as formerly stated, discloses that it was not potash but nitrate which was meant, and that the pro- duction requires large factory equip- ment; it is not a farm possibility, though of benefit to farmers. On th other hand, the Department of Agri- culture, by Dr. J. W. Turrentine, chief of the Bureau of Soils, has made extensive investigations of potash de- posits in several regions of the United States—-Texas and the “blue sands” of New Jersey and down the Atlantic Coast. There is great confidence in early developments which will for- ever free us from dependence upon importations of potash, the important l}lemen! of fertilizers and of ammuni- tion. There is a brighter future ahead of agriculture, they assure our farmers, | Plenish the earth.” | ever, through | pile and if Congress will hold up the hrl' from | against further imm| lon of farmer THE LIBRARY TABLE By the Booklover. The tie of family, stronger among certain racial and national groups than among others, stronger formerly everywhere than today, has been made the central idea in a number of bis "hackeray, “The New s, of the various branch: amily of Newcomes nimous_lot. recent years the family novel come a {requently practiced type, ¥ not too frequently, for it is a difficu type to carry out convincing!: al worthy, in his “Forsyte Su th the m ytes among men and women. three generations, of a family Hamburg “merchants. Kathleen in the one novel which rises her popular average, “Certain People of Importance,” has traced the i !1||\' fortunes of the Crabtrees from before the Civil War until the early part of the twentieth century. * ok ok w tern in her two novels, “The ch” and “A Deputy Was " has created, or drawn from life (perhaps both), a ynique family of Vienna Jews, whose branches spread out from the original ancestors, Simon and Babette, over all Europe. Through seven generations and two centuries the Rakonitz have migrated, have intermarried with Israelite and Gen- tile, and have fuffilled the command i Jehovah to the anclent Hebrews, “Be fruitful and multiply, and re By degrees, how- the generations, the mily wealth and prestige have les- ened. The men have died early, the women have been exceedingly long- lived. Excitability, imperiousness, the gambling instinct, hospitality and family loyalty have characterized nearly all of the Rakonitz. Huge losses through speculation in precious stones have brought tha Victorian generation low. The twentieth cen- tury members of the family are ail moderns, the products of their age, but they still remember that they are Rakonitz and an appeal to family feeling rarely remains unanswered. In 1925 the matriarch, Anastasia Rakonitz, dies at the age of §9. Her granddaughter, Toni, most modern of moderns, yet recognizes in herself, only just past 30, many of the traits, both ‘admirable and unadmirable, of the 0ld Anastasia. Other members of the family recognize more of the traits than Toni admits to herself, and s cretly call her “the young matriarch She, of all the younger generation, accepts, or seizes, the responsibility of | becoming the family center of equi- librium. So, when she finds that she must leave her beloved London and make her home at San Goffredo, in the Italian hills, she buys a large | house instead of the cottage that would be sufficient for her immediate family. “I want spare rooms, quite a lot of spare rooms,” she says. “She could not quite confess * * how her secret longing * * was to have room for any members of the Rakonitz tribe who might at any time need to be sheltered and fed. So she has 17 bedrooms, and they are all filled most of the time with Rako- nitz guests. . * k ¥ ¥ Cheerfulness is suggested by Grace S. Richmond’s title “Cherry Square” and cheerfulness and good humor pervade the story. Its scene is the old Cherry House, on Cherry Square, In the village of Cherry Hills, nét far from Stamford. Mrs. Schuyler Chase, whose husband is a New York clergy- man, is one of the Cherry family. | Her aunt, old Miss Eldora Cherry, left her the Cherry House in her will. At first Mrs. Chase had no especial use for it, but after two or three years, when her husband goes to Europe, she brings her children to the old family house at Cherry Hills for the Summer. There some mild ro- mance develops and, as Sally Chase is already married, two attractive young unmarried women are intro- duced for the purpose, Josephine Jenney and Adelaide Sturgis. * ok k¥ The beginning of the age of metal, succeeding the stone ages, is imag- inatively described by James Henry Breasted in his “Conquest of Civiliza- tion.” He says: “It was probably in the peninsula’ of Sinai, at’ least 4000 B.C., that soma, Egyptian wandering thither may have chanced to bank his campfire with pleces of copper ore ly- ing on the ground about the camp. The charcoal of his wood fire would mlng!e with the hot fragments of ore around to shield the fire, and thus the ore would be ‘reduced,’ as the miner says—that is, the copper in metallic form would be released from the lumps of ore. Next morning, as the Egyptian stirred the embers, he would discover a few glittering glob- ules, now hardened into beads of metal. Before long, as the experience was repeated, he discovered whence these strange shining beads had come. * * * Without knowing It this man had stood at the dawning of a new era, the age of metal, and the little bead of shining copper which he drew from the ashes, if this Egyptian wan- derer could have seen it, might have reflected to him a vislon of steel buildings, Brooklyn bridges, huge fac- tories roaring with the noise of thou- sands of machines of metal, and vast stretches of steel roads along which thunder hosts of speeding locomotives. For these things of our modern world, and all they signify, would never have come to pass but for the little bead of metal which the wandering Egyptian held in his hand for the first time on that eventful day so long ago.” E b i Cesare Borgia was whitewashed last Summer by Rafael Sabatini and this Winter Charles IT and George 1V have been whitewashed by Johw Drinkwater and Shane Leslie respec- tively. Both Charles II and Georg® IV were ovidently delightful mon- archs, not at all bad for England, as has long been supposed, and not so very much more immoral than others of thelr times—that is, not more so than kings were entitled to be. These two defenders of kings do not deny any of the frivolities, drunkenness or mistresses, but imply that some of the mistresses were far more interesting than the two queens, Catherine of Braganza and Caroline of Brunswick That Charles accepted bribes from the King of France and that George com- manded lttle respect either in his own country or abroad are perhaps unimportant facts, though they are generally considered to have some bearing on the rating of the two kings in question. * k K X The difficulties which have always been in the way of would-be biogra- phers of Guy de Maupassant were deliberately created by his mother im- mediately after the death of her son Determined to conceal if possible cer- tain facts in the life of the wonder- fully gifted man, who died an insane, wreck, after attempting suicide, she zealously destroyed or concealed all the documents in her possession which might have revealed much about that darkened and shortened life competitors trom abroad, It is golng to be possible yet to be happy, thoug! a farmer, for diversification, they say, will add to_farm profits without in- creasing th@'cost of living for the con- sumers. Thay demand not more farms Tnor more fagmers, but more variety of crops. « 1627, by Paul V. Collizis.) eat cream as ?—C. 8. H. A. No, but _its popularity is creasing abroad, particularly in land and Germany. ngland is re- ported to have increased consumption more than 100 per cent in 1925. Q. What 'kind of electric current is used on the S. 8. Leviathan to fur- nish light in the rooms?—A. T. A. The electric current used on the 9. 8. s direct current. in- are required quired 9,488,226 average Is H. A. In 1924 China re volume The annual nearly 10,000,000, Q. What was the height of the fer- ris wheel at the Chicago World Falr? -D. E. M. A. The ferris wheel at the World's Columbian Exposition had a diameter of 250 feet. Its circumference was 825 feet, and the width 30 feet. Q. What country ? R. O, C. A. Iceland. The permanent neu trality of this country was established by the Act of Union in 1918 with Den- | mark. . as neither army Q. When were boxing gloves first used?—W. W. A, It is generally thought that the first glove contest was between John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett in 1892, T. S. Andrews, however, says that a French publication tells of an exhibition at Aix-la-Chapelle, F on October 8, 1518, as follows: terday a great exhibition was made by English boxers. The two cham- | pions were built like Hercules and | were naked to the waist. They entered the place with their hands guarded with huge padded gloves. After a severe contest, one of them, more adroit than his rival, struck him so violent a blow on the breast that he fell, and victory was thus decided.” Q. How large is the Bell Telephone system?—R. A. G. A. The toll lines of the Bell system— that is, the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and associated com- panies—link together in one compre- hensive system of communications more than 16,700,000 telephones and connect over 70,000 cities, towns and rural communities. Q. Why is the eucalyptus called the “gum tree”?—W. A. S. A. The bark of several specles of the eucalyptus tree yields a rosin, hence the tree is called the “gum tree.” Q. What were the Roman house- hold gods of the time of Augustus?— D. . E. ‘A. The household gods of the Ro- mans in the time of Augustus were generally_known as the Lares and Penates. The Lares were the spirits of ancestors and the gods of land on which the man’s house stood. The Penates were the guardians of the food supply, particularly of the store- room and kitchen. Both Jupiter and Juno were {ncluded in the household gods. Q. In what month did the in Passale, N. J., occur?—W. J. A. The flood to which you refer be- gan at 8 o'clock on the morning of October 9, 1903, and it was not until October 12 that the waters began to subside. In Passaic the damage amounted to $1,000,000. Eight thou- sand wage earners were out of em- ployment and eight hundred homes were flooded. 1903 flood . Q. What is meant by a “signed” edition of books”—C. R. K. A. A ‘“signed” edition of a book means merely that the author has placed his autograph in each copy of the edition. This is thought to en- as_much fce) ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. co the Intrinslc value of eacl | book. Q. Wiil you pleass tell me on wha date and in what year If. M. 8. Vi toria was sunk off the coast of Trip How many nien Tost?. Victorfa was su eighty-three offic ing Admiral lost their lives. Q. Will you please tell me how t estimate the number of tons of loosa 1. C. Industs od less 'd to Al 800 packed hay, 5 has stood me 430 cubic feet pe Please tell v T ogic us that the bi known as “whistle rare in this cour wise known as Q. are due They Where did the expression “cr roker sack™ come “croker” and aiso the word * are from the Arablc “kurkum™” = the Old English “ecroh.” m “saffron.” 'The is =0 ealle from the color, Q. If a person gets a post off money order in the Unite able in It in gold or siiver c A. Th that if a person gets in the United Statc the payments are 1 or silver cofn. ' money order is able in the United Q. Why is New Y¢ referred to as “Giotham A. The term to New York satir The allusion is to a parish by t ame in England noted for the simplicity of its fnhabit ants, which has d into a prov erb. In the si nth century a collection of stories said to be by Dr Andrew Borde was made about them, including the hymn about the “Three Wise Men of G The_term was first used b ashington Irving in “Salmagundi” in 1807. Q. Have there ever been any white graduates of Howard University G. G. B. A. The k City ofter -R. L. G * s applied secretary of Howard Uni- ver S that white students have graduated from that institution. One white boy graduated from the medical | school last year. The school was | established for students of all -races nd all creeds. There are no white Students attending the university this year. . Q. In what year were the Red Cross Christmas seal stamps issued?—J. A. H ‘A. The first Red Cross Christmas seal stamps were issued in 1907. The answers to questions printed here each day are specimens picked from the mass of inquiries handled by the great information ' bureau maintained by The Bvening Star in Washington, D. C. This valuable service is for the free use of the pub- lic. Ask any_gquestion of fact you may want to 'Knolo and youw will gef an immediate reply../Write plainly, mcloge 2 cents in stamps for return postage, and address The Evening Star Information Buréaw, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. World Court Is Now that foreign opposition to American reservations has closed, tem- porarily at least, the prospect of affilia- tion by the United States with the ‘World Court, friends and foes of the court view the situation from much the same widely divergent viewpoints which have prevailed from the outset. ‘Those who opposed the whole idea are glad the American terms were unac- ceptable. Many believers in the court are still hopeful that the adhesion of the United States will come later, not- withstanding present obstacles. “If the court was worth going into at all,” in the judgment of the New York Sun (independent), “it was worth going into on terms of equality with the other nations. But as the people of the United States had emphatically refused to join the League of Nations, and as it was evident that the court was inseparable from the League, in all logic the court was not for us.” The New Orleans Item (independent Democratic), while holding that “this conclusion doubtless disappoints a con- siderable faction in the United States— a faction recruited largely from those who favored membership in the League,” admits that “equally without doubt it pleases the majority who be- lieve the World Court inseparably imbedded in the League and who are suspicious of both.” “The United States insisted,” says the Portland Oregon Journal (inde- pendent), “that all reservations be ac- cepted unconditionally and without further discussion, though the view- points were reconcilable. And now the United States is very definitely, and perhaps permanently, out of the ‘World Court, an organization created and maintained for the peaceful and proper settlement of disputes instead of and by the old method of guns, can- non and poison gas.” But the Providence Journal (inde- pendent) insists that ‘“none of the reservations would have limited the usefulness of the court”; that “the re- sponsibility for our lack of member- ship, therefore, devolves not on us, but rather on the nations which have taken exception to these reservations.” * ok ok ok ‘Numerous newspapers still look for- ward to a time when the United States may eventually become a member. The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin (in- dependent Republican) declares that “those who have faith in the court as an institution embodying American ideals and framed largely on American suggestion will continue to belleve that United States adhesion will come some day.” That the door is still open is the suggestion of the Buffalo Evening News (Republican), the Co- lumbus Evening Dispatch (independ- ent) and the Albany Evening News (independent Republican). The Har- risburg Patriot (independent Demo- cratic) sees hope in the fact that “the League and court are dealing with principles that are eternal,” and the Rock Island Argus (independent) con- Now Viewed By Press With Varied Ideas (independent) remarks: “It may sur- prise some to learn that this Nation is not felt to be indispensable even to a World Court, but such seems to be the case, and certainly the World Court s not felt to be indispensable to America.” “Now Coolidge has called for a world arms reduction conference,” mys the Birmingham News (independent Dem- ocratic), with the c ent: “May it prosper exceedingly! It affords some hope that we may be spared the drift back into the old hates, the old jeal- ousies, envies, the old will to sion, the ancient trade doors. But c Nation ever attain again to the great that marked her . and even after, when Wilson passed through English and French cities where ‘the house- tops seemed to heave and sway, the church spires flamed, such flags they had’? By what green degrees, through what hells of suffering. may we ever win back to that loftiness of attitude that caused us to belleve that we wanted to be a member of the Leaguo of Nations?" * % % ¥ “Until the time arrives when we can seck membership on a parity with other nations, we had best remain aloof,” argues the Casper Daily Trib- une (independent). The G ids Press (indepen judgment: “Our nowhere. It is rejected. It makes new enemies for the United States. It sets back the day when interna- tional law will acquire through the court an accepted and codified mean- ing, respected by all civilized nations. And, for all our loudly voiced fears, It leaves us no ‘safer’ than as if we had come in and taken our share of the cost and responsibility.” “While the plan to substitute law and reason for force in the settlement of (nternational disputes is funda- mentally sound,” says the Seattle Times, “one numerous group-of Sena- tors saw red every time it men- tioned. ~For the sake of peaco and domestic tranquillity the country is glad the dispute has been ended.” “It was all a melancholy record of thrifty partisanship scheming for ad- vantage, with a great internations! expedient for preserving world peafe as the stake,” rts the Syrucuky Herald (independent), “and now, in the face of that Senate vote of 73 for the World Court to 18 against, we age told that the United States s ‘defi- nitely outside of the tribunal.’ ** On’the other hand, the Chicago Trib- une (independent Republican) Insists that “if Great Britain or any other nation for any reason whatever will keep the United States out of the World Court, there'll be reason for be ing everlastingly obliged.” The Lex ington Leader (Republican) also be lieves that “Furope has a set of inter ests remote from our own,” and adds that “the Senate’s action has kept the country out of the court for better or cludes: “We are out because the poli- ticlans made the people belleve that our entrance would be to our national disadvantage. As long as the people continue to believe this we ought to be out. But the time will come when they will know better. “Let Uncle Sam, while not adhering to the organization, so conduct hi hat he will be recognized as a lend of the court,” advises the Ann Arbor Times-News (independent), while the Boston Transeript (Independ- ent Republican) remarks that “we in- deed remain outside of compulsory Jjurisdictions, but our national disposi- tion is highly favorable to friendly tion."” e I Indianapolis News | tions.’ worse,” who can say which?” The Manchester Union (independent Re- publican) is convinced that “the little bloc of 10 votes the court could com- mand at the end reflects with fair a curacy the proportion of the public still in mood to favor American adher- ence to the World Court on the court’s own terms. And it safely can be said that but a weak minority would dis play solicitude for our acceptance on the terms of our own making.” The Reno Gazette (Republican) holds that “the United States has a position In regard to the rest of the world that would have made it impossible to join the World Court without reserva- &