Evening Star Newspaper, September 1, 1927, Page 8

HE EVENING STAR | With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. these bids, which put the lowest esti- mate upon the character of the indi- vidual. Lindbergh made his flight to Paris in a sincere effort to demonstrate the THE EVENING STAR previously unmentioned character? Playwrights now have considerable difficulty in effective’ “‘exposition,” the setting forth of facts and identities for the information of the audience, THURSDAY...September 1, 1927 | teasibility of transatlantic aviation.|without strain upon the credullty. THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper em’n; Busivess Office: oy Yok A ow s TE0” Eant “hind 51, Butid] Furopean Office g Regent st ‘Loridon. The Evening Star with the Sunday morn- ered by carriers within nth, Orders may be sent hy one lnln 500, Coltection is of each month er at Rate by Mall—Payable in Advance. land and Virginia. 0.00: 1 mo.. 78¢ E} and Sunday 3 e A : 856 All Other States and Canada. ang Sunday.] yr.. $12.00: 1 mo.. $1.00 . 3 \8.00: 1 e Be BE=k CEEE Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Preas s exclusively entitled %0 the use for repuhlfvation of all news die- rllt\u !‘h ted to it or not otherwise cred- tonishod Reretier ATLrithis ‘0f Sapliorion B "Vpeclat Alogatches herein are also reser A Distriot Building Truce. A reasonable spirit of accommoda- tion prevails at the Treasury in the matter of the ouster of District offices from buildings located on the site of the projected Commerce Department structure, and in consequence those bureaus of the municipal government will not be forced out of their pres- ent locations until Congress makes provision for them elsewhere. Exca- wation work will be started for the mew department building at another point on the great site, and this oper- ation will in all likelihood not extend to the portion now occupied by the District offices before legislation can De had. This is the most satisfactory ar- rangement possible in the premises. Yet reason for prompt action remains, and it is to be expected that all speed will be made in getting Congress to spprove expenditures for the hiring of suitable quarters for the Women's Buregu, the House of Detention and the Health Department Clinic for the period covered by the wait for a per- manent housing for these and other municipal activities. This experience should cause a con- eentrated effort to get definite au- thorization at the next session of Congress for the project for a new municipal center, located at a con- wenient point such as that which has been proposed, on the north side of Pennsylvania avenue between the Capitol and Sixth street. It will take some time to prepare the plans for such a group of structures, but the made by wr. .. $6.00: 1 mo. 3+ $300° 1 mo. He is an enthusiastic airman, who be- lieves firmly in the future utility of the plane as a means of transport. It is belleved that the thought of per- sonal advantage did not actuate him in the least in his courageous en- deavor, which proved so wonderfully successful. And his flight has stimu- lated interest in aviation to an un- precedented point. He is now engaged in a scheduled natfon-wide tour to carry on this work of arousing the American people to a realization of the importance of flying, out of which he will personally profit little and which is drawing severely upon his energles. He is giving himseif prac- tically free to the cause. No matter what Lindbergh himself has said in denial of these solicita- tions, there will continue to be an effort to exploit him merely by ask- ing him to do impossible things—im- possible because of his character and his sincerity. Public admiration of this young man is not lessened, of course, by this unseemly spectacle, but on the contrary is increased be- cause of the persistent manner in which he is refusing to cheapen him- self and his achievement. ———— A Blow to Aviation. From Rapid City, S. Dak., comes word that President Coolidge is op- posed, supposedly on the grounds of economy, to the Navy turning over a fast cruiser to enable Lieut. Al Wil- liams and his crack racing plane to reach Italy in time for the blue rib- bon event of aviation, the Schneider Cup races. This unofficial statement is a severe blow to Williams’ hopes and those of the American people who are interested in the development of aviation .and who have that pride of conquest which goes with possession of major flying records. Williams has done everything that is humanly possible to assure Ameri- can representation in ' the Italian races. When the Government with- drew from racing plane development, and, consequently, participation in the Schneider event, Williams, who is rated as one of the best speed pilots in the Navy, sought to interest pri- vate capital in the overseas venture. He succeeded, and a special plane was built for him, but, due to unavoidable delays in trial flights, there is now no prospect that he will be able to reach Venice in time to take off in competition with the tiny craft of England and Italy. The races are to be held on the The new direct-to-theloud-speaker drama may be a distinct creation therefore. It might be suggested that a composite of radio movies is a pos- sibility, with “titles” cut in by means of off-stage devices somewhat similar to the old Shakespearean placards which identified locations and situa- tions. ———— The Theater Ticket Brokers. Some months ago Federal internal revenue agents discovered that cer- tain theater ticket agencies in New York were failing to pay income taxes jon their profits on the sale of admis- sions to places of public entertainment in that city. Prosecutions were suc- cessfully instituted. The investigation drew public attention to the fact that an excessive differential existed be- tween the prices prevailing at box of- fices and at the agencies, a difference that in part represented the commis- sions paid by the brokers to theater employes if not to the managers them- selves. The managers took cognizance of this situation and started a reform. Whether or not it was sincere, it was undoubtedly in response to an aroused public sentiment. One of the largest ticket brokers of the city devised a plan for distribution of tickets through bonded agencies which would operate on an established scale of prices only a moderate degree above the box office scale. This plan was submitted to the ticket brokers throughout the city, but Tuesday the association of brokers met and turned it down. Now the man- agers will meet and devise a scheme of their own, which, if it goes into ‘effect, will deprive all but a very few brokers of the privilege of ticket selling. The only advantage to the public in the sale of tickets through estab- lished agencies is a wider distribution and greater convenience. For this ad- vantage the payment of a reasonable commission or excess charge is bear- able, and not unwelcome. But when the game is played to the point at which prices are doubled, as has oc- curred in New York and other large cities, the public feels that it has been victimized, and especially if there is evidence of collusion between the brokers and the box offices. In the in- vestigation by the Federal authorities it was brought out that the box office managers of the larger and more pop- ular places of public amusement re- ceive more than their salaries from the brokers for the allotment of tickets. Whether any of this money went “higher up” was not disclosed, twenty-fifth of September. The only ship that will get him there with enough time for adjustments to his general outline of the scheme can be put into form in season for congres- sional action this session if the matter s taken in hand as a specific project. 1t is certain that as the sites for Fed- sral buildings within the Mall-Avenue triangle are taken and put into the hands of the excavators and erectors the business now located within that area will seek and secure location elsewhere. A general readjustment will be in progress. There is already @emand for new sites outside of the trisngle. Pre-emption of a particular grea for a municipal center cannot be . effected merely by the recommenda- tions or suggestions of commissions. There must be a definitive proposal, eoupled with authorization for con- demnation or acquisition by direct purchase. Experience proves that this process is always slow. It is there- fore in order to move now, to devise @ broad scheme and to be ready for #ts definite presentation when Con- gress meets. Otherwise valuable time ‘will be lost and the District will re- main in a state of uncertainty and inadequate equipment for an indefl- mite perlod. In this connection the annual re- port of the surveyor of the District | ealls attention to a matter that re- quires immediate correction. The laws gelating to the condemnation of prop- erty for public uses are such as to cause protracted delays. Invocation * of technicalities makes for reviewsand rehearings and repetitions, with the inevitable consequence of the ultimate increase in the cost of the lands ac- | quired for streets and sites. This is & matter requiring early correction through a revision of the condemna- tion laws, to the end of permitting greater expedition without impairing the rights of property owners . whose lands are sought for public purposes. It should be pressed for congressional action at the coming session. B A play based on a Washington po- Htical novel has been received with uncompromising distavor in Philadel- phia, which finds it neither interesting politics nor good drama. The “Wash- ington-novel” has long been the hope and the despair of literary circles. The man who gathers enough information to write one automatically attains enough discretion to make him avoid the enterprise. In the Autumn preceding election yesr Do resl “favorite son” of any Btate 1s denied the compliment of a presidential boom. Exploiting Lindbergh. Scarcely had Col. Charles A. Lind- bergh made his flight across the At- Jantic than he was beset with business propositions by people who wished to exploit him. He was recognized as the world's most outstanding indi- vidual, and he was immediately made the object of solicitations by enter- tainment promoters, manufacturers and advertising schemers to sell his pame and fame to them for large considerations. His ~hlef secretarial aide, writis In a current magazine, has just compiled the proposals th Lindbergh has recelved since his flight and shows that he could have become » millionaire several times over by accepting the business offers made to him. One proposition heads the list for its munificence. It was an offer of $1,000,000 for going through a real marriage ceremony in front of a movie camera. It is needless to say that Lindbergh declined. This disposition to make capital of ¢ @elebrities is one of the saddest mani- plane is a Navy cruiser. Commercial ship sailings do not give him any margin within which ‘to work, and, because of the ungracious refusal of England, the races cannot be post- poned. It would seem to be apparent that the President is not apprised of all these circumstances. If he is, how- ever, his refusal to lend Navy aid to a venture that will result in incal- culable benefit.to this country is in- explicable. There is nothing that so develops the science of aeronautics as the testing out, under race condi- tions, of powerful motors and delicate plan : England and Italy are spending a great deal of money in this kind of development. England is lkewise sending several cruisers to convey its interested only to the extent of lend- ing two twenty-four-cylindered, twelve- hundred-and-fifty-norsepower motors, the first of their kind ever bulit, to Willlams, and is willing to do this for the technical data that he will obtain on their performance. ‘When all is said and, done, it would appear that the United States should not lack initiative in assuring the representation of this country, not in a stunt performance, but in the races, which cannot fail to be' of benefit. The Chief Executive should ponder this matter carefully before he defl- nitely shuts out this Nation from par- ticipation in an event that is calcu- lated to advance man’'s knowledge of the mysteries of the air. —————— It is related that John D. Rockefeller rewarded the New Jersey cop who commandeered his car to chase a speeder with five bright silver dimes. Mr. Rockefeller's offhand donation is usually only one polished ten-cent plece. The extra thrill of the pursuit was doubtless considered worth a bonus. It may even have resulted in the salutation, “Thanks for the buggy ride! —————— Direct Radio Drama. Utilization of the speaking drama for radio entertainment has been car- ried on for some time by means of studio work in which the actors suc- cessively register their words in mi- crophones, while an “announcer” in- dieates the stage business. For this purpose plays have been chosen which involve a minimum of action, but de- pend for their dramatic climaxes upon the text. Now it is proposed to broad- cast theatrical performances directly from the stage as the plays are being performed for the benefit of the im- mediate audience. No detalls of the scheme are forthcoming, and several questions arise relating to the effect upon the audience in the theater. Will the microphones be in evidence s0 that those assembled in the theater will see a sort of glorified studio per- formance with the {llusion of a well staged drama destroyed by the mech- anism? Or will the microphones be deftly concealed behind stage proper- the to lessen this distraction? It is concelvable that an ingenious stage manager could camouflage the trans- mitters, but it would undoubtedly take a good deal of manipulation and would impose a demand for a new acting technique to permit the Thespians to but a suspicion prevailed that in some cases a large percentage of these fees for favors to the brokers reached the managers or promoters of the shows. ———————————— Reports of extravagant beauty par- Yor charges in- Moscow make it clear that Russia has not found a way to make luxuries so expensive that many persons are sure to feel that they can- not afford necessities. gt There is said to be a supply of stage choristers in New York far in excess of the demand—a situation resulting THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. A sense of humor is a queer thing— even men who have it seldom have it in_relation to themselves! ‘We know a professional humorist whose work we have admired almost since we could first read who recently interrupted us abruptly while at work with the remark, “I have a good cat story for you.” “Fine!” we replied, stopping the flow of our thought, such as it is, and turning to him instantly. Had he been the King of England, after whom we were named, we could not have achieved interest any better. Knowing him to be a man with a really wonderful sense of humor, we essayed a line of our own, thinking he would take it in the way it was meant; but, alas, we failed to take into consideration the queerness of the aforesaid sense, or, indeed, the general touchiness of human nature! | “Fine!” we said. “We have culti- vated an ability to be able to stop anywhere. We have had to.” And do you, kind reader, think for an instant that the humorous gentle- man- appreciated this line, which we uttered In an_honest, sincere belief that he would take it for its face value? ‘Well, not on your or our did. He instantly begged our pardon, looked hurt and walked away; and the next time we passed he gave us a curt, though sufficient, good morning. * K Kk Why cannot truths be accepted without connotations? Why 18 it impossible for one to make an honest statement without some other person instantly reading into it a flip something which actually was not there, and which was never meant? There can be no other answer, of course, but human nature. None of us is accepted as he is, but invariably as the other sees us, with all the lamentable lacks which others see in us. 2 How sad a thing it is, to be sure, that the other fellow can never see us as we see ourself! Bobble Burns lamented, in good verse, that we cannot ‘“see ourselves as others see us,” but we wish he had devoted his talents to telling people to try to see others as they see them selves. There would not be half the ill in life, if this were done to some extent, as there is now, when every one is devotedly busy in seeing other people as they are not, but as one wishes to see them. lite he * K ok ok The illustration with: which we opened this article derives its point from the fact that the person men- tioned is, as we happen to know, very touchy himself upon being interrupted at his work. Our plain idea, in making the re- mark as we did, was to appeal to this feeling in him. We had innocently thought that he would accept the re- mark in a brotherly spirit, that he would “get it,” in other words. As it turned out, the only person who “got it” was our blundering self. These misunderstandings, of course, must be accepted as a part of life, Very few of them ever achleve the dignity of a whole column' all to themselves! They occur daily in this world; per- haps they will not be a part of the next life, we do not know. Often we have wondered why St. John did not enter into a description of the mental and spiritual life of the next world, instead of devoting so much space to the picture of the golden streets and the other foiderol. Surely the heaven of which the world dreams will have something bet- ter than fancy paving to recom- mend it. * kK % The next world, if it is to be worth a rap, must be a place where there will be no misunderstandings, no arguments, no attributing of motives which do not exist. Then we shall see clearly, “face to face,” as the prophet said, not in the muddied fashion of this world, where all of us are sitting around anxlous to be insulted. Think of all the persons who are willing to be offended! Not a one of them ever says to himself or herself: “Well, now, that strikes me as a flip remark—but is ? Let me calmly analyze the thing. Perhaps he did not mean it that way. In fact, has not experience taught me that my first reactions are invariably vicious?" Why are first reactions to remarks and acts so often vicious? The an- swer is, we belleve, because they are | the response of the elemental man within. Notice we do not say animal re- sponse. No, we put a much higher valuation upon the reactions of rhe animals. Animals are innocent things, even in the acts which man designates with the word “cruel.” The cat play- ing with the mouse is doing no more. in its way. than a modern man eating his breakfast to the sounds of jazz mugic from his radio. The mouse is the breakfast to the cat, the toast is the man's breakfast. ‘the preliminary play is to the cat what the music is to the man. * ok ok % No, the elemental man was distinct- ly below the level of the brutes, be cause he was up to all sorts of cussed- ness through the use of his reason. It was this same reason, of course, that was to elevate him, so we must not be too hard upon it. Elemental man must have been a crude, awful thing—that is why his responses to stimull were so invari- ably tinged with suspicion, meanness, envy, jealousy, hatred, murder. He was 80 close to the need for self-pres- ervation that he knew nothing else. So today, when one attributes wrong motives to others, he needs must take heed that he is not simply letting the old elemental man In him get the bet- ter of him. The God-given self upon which the world of mankind prides itself does not remain content with the instinc- tive responses, either to the acts or words of others, but tries to look upon them with some approach, at least, to that great love which warmeth the world. Only by so doing, in everancreasing measure, will mankind arrive at full =‘ature. This is the call of civiliza- tion, to try to think and act as civi- lized men ought to think and act, not only in the grand tactics of life, nor yet even in the major tactics only, but also in the minor tactics. Perhaps the minor tactics of living, which involve the everyday affairs, the relation of neighbor with neigh- bor, associate whth associate, friend with friend, demand_this good think- ing most of all, for there are so many more opportunities. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. There is staid old Boston, with its “pale cast of thought,” which should not be disturbed with riotous noises. possibly from too many beauty con- tests which confer publicity regard- less of talent. ———————————— At the age of 61, Princess Lowen- stein-Wertheim decides on an effort to bring the influence of mature discre- tion to make these airplane boys be- have. The influence should be valu- planes to Italy. The United States is|able. e As an originator of bright, small boy remarks, the juvenile King of Rumania might in emergency assist the royal treasury by coming to America and “syndicating his stuft.” —_———————————— A Coolidge delegation from Massa- chusetts to the Republican convention may prove as obdurate as the Ala- bama group that voted for Oscar Un- derwood. ———————————— ‘Washington, D. C., will be a plc- turesque place if all the war bonnets acquired during the Summer will be worn as official costume. —————t————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, Hypocrisies. Said the Brain to the Lips, “You must never be caught Distinctly pronouncing My actual thought.” Said the Lips to the Hand, “Be reluctant, we pray, To put into action The things that we say.” The ways that we take Grow exceedingly rough, ‘When every expression Proves partly a bluff. Victory Wrested from Defeat. “Have you never said anything you were sorry for?" “Never,” answered Senator Sor- ghum. “I have been compelled to change my mind, but in doing 8o have been compelled to exercise my utmost abilities to produce an open-minded and convincing argument.” The Other Side. With Canada we talked for hours. Said she, in language terse, “Your smugglers are as bad as ours; Your licker is much worse.” Too Independent. “Does an aviator make a good hus- band?" “I shouldn’t think of marrying one,” said Miss Cayenne. “A word of dis- agreement may send a man from home to sulk in his club. But in an hour’s time an aviator can easily be a hun- dred miles away.” “The only usefulness of some lives,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is in affording examples to be avoided by prudent youth.” give a convincing performance on the boards in such circumstances. Again, would the details of the stage business be transmitted from the wings or from the stage itself? Would not plays have to be rewritten, or perhaps writ- ten specially for simultaneous rendi- tion to immediate audience and the festations of modern enterprise. No , consideration whatever is given to the " personal inclination of the object of ‘unseen” audience of listeners In? How about the sudden entrance of & Retort Unheard. My Radio! My Radio! At your remarks I scoff; And when you holler, “Please Stand By!” 1 bellow back, “Lay Off!" “De way to keep out o' trouble,” said Uncle Eben, “is to think fast talk slow,™ . Not since the Indians swarmed down to the harbor and, with raucous whoops, threw a lot of tea into the salt water, have the proprieties been 80 shocked as they have been in the recent Sacco-Vanzetti riots. ~That must not occur again, and while they are facing the nuisance of unseemly noises in the public streets, they will scientifically analyze the causes. So today there are professors on the un- dertaking, measuring every rattle and cry and rumble which disturbs the peace. Boston chooses to have silence Perhaps it is only a preliminary r port which the scientists have given out, but the Boston Transcript r ceives it with open-mouthed wonde The way to have silence in the houses is to revert to small-paned windows, for small panes do not make the wide vibrations made by big panes. When the Indians lived there, before the Mayflower boomed into the harbor, the paths were quiet and the ways were ways of peace. Even when the Pilgrim Fathers built their log huts they used no single-pane sashes; they used oiled paper. That gave out no rumble or rattle. So it must be the windows that make all the noise Small panes, colonial sizes, but mod: ernized by using plate glass at least half an inch thick! Then if the rivet- ing machines do not respond to the officer’s “Hush!" let all subscribers to the Transcript go out and remonstrate with “Tut-tut!” Just like that! That is language that the riveters must un- derstand—Tut-tut-tut!” So far, the scientific analyzers seem to have considered a remedy which fits only Winter, when the windows are closed. Is that because of this Summerless season? Have they so soon forgot that even in austere Bos- ton windows are cut decollete in Sum- mer? How be quiet when windows are run wide open? * K K K This passion for silence has !prvead already and is epidemic in New York. There the cause of the nul- sance noise {s not windows, but milk- men. These rattling milkmen are using fron tires on their wagons and arriving in reverberating courts at unseemly hours, so disturbing the morning beauty naps of residents who have just left the Great White Way and long to have quiet. An in- junction is demanded which will end in rubber tires, for there i8 no short- age of rubber necks available as raw material. Rubber makes for silence! And if the sleepy New Yorkers suc- ceed in their slogan, “It's time to re- tire!” probably they will o a step farther and demand rubber heels on the horses’ hoofs. In some countries thée people require their milkmen to “show them” where they get it, and so the goats are driven right up- stairs and milked before the Xentle': men ‘“from (fgurative) Missourl. New York, too, is nrogreus‘!ve, and may yet get the milkmen's goats. But they must be deaf and d.umb goats, fully denaturized as to “but- ter: * ok K X After all, this matter of nuisance noises s serious in all cities of the first class, whatever it may be in towns of the sixth class, such as tolerate a Will Rogers mayor. Tesla, the sclentist, once declared that by ascertaining the keynote of any build- ing or stone archway he could cause the stoutest masonry to crash, simply by playing that note upon a wviolin. There are people who quite agree with that statement, after enduring unnecessary noises so long that their frenzied nerves crash and everything tumbles about their distracted brains. If a violin can bring down the house what of a trombone persistently prac. ticed? All things have keynotes. Every noise requires a certain amount of physical resistance, even though the listener is unconscious of the sound. One acquires a subcon- scious habit of refusing to hear un- welcome noises, but they tax the nervous powers of endurance and re- sistance, just the same. One may 1 live longer in peace and silence than in a nerve-racking hubbub. It is amazing how one may get used to noises and shut them out of his conscious attention. Yet they still tap his nerves. An officer in the late war was billeted directly |across a marrow street in a French village, opposite a railroad track on which one of those French switck engines was strutting up and down the track all night, every night, and all its steps were marked by shrieking, ear-piercing screeches of its whistle. But the tired soldir slept through the squealing as if it did not exist. Later he was in the vicinity of air raids, and an exploding bomb, 2 miles away. was enough to bring him upstanding out of sweet slumber and reachng in the dark for his uniform and the exit. There never was a more startiing si- lence in all the world than that which followed 11 o'clock on Armistice day, when one was impelled to wish for the peace of renewed cannon roars— s0 soothing (o strained nerves. How uncanny it is to have the throb of a ship’s engines cease in the night in | midocean! Silence is awfully trying. * Xk X Yet Boston and New York demand lence. They may get it in Winter, with half-inch-thick glass in six-inch panes. They might get some of it by Dburying their elevated railroads and muffiing their honking trucks. But if it comes too suddenly it will drive them mad. People in apartments, too, even in placid Washington, should beware of sudden improvements with blanket- ed walls, stopping all the gayety of the neighborhood gossips and making it really difficult to understand what the neighbors are saying to one another. Might as well be in an airplane 43,000 feet high as to live in such muffled stillness. How dreary is the silence of a des- ert or prairie! What would this world be without its bird songs and crickets and frogs? What so soothing as the roll of waves upon a long beach or the sigh of the winds in the trees? What so merry as the pre-daw:, co cert of the birds in the forest? Just a few days ugo some misanthrope ar- gued that there is no melody in bird warbling fit for musie. Poor fellow He's fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils. L In 1820, the House of Representa- tives called in experts to devise reme- dies for the miserable.acoustics of the House chamber—the Rotunda, now used as Statuary Hall, in the Capitol. Henry Clay was chairman of the com- mittee, and when he reported that it would cost $5,000, Congress refused to make the appropriation of so ex- travagant a sum just to hear states- men when they talked. » But acoustics, the baffling mystery for modern architects, was well under- stood by ancient Greeks. Twenty-five hundred years ago, in a Greek audi- torfum, next to the Acropolls, in Athens, Demosthenes spoke to 30,000 and all heard every syllable. There were no electric amplifiers in those days, and the auditorilums were all open to the sky. There Draco gave his laws, Solon presented his Consti- tution, Aristides the Just and The- mistocles roused the patroitism of the Greeks with their stirring eloquence. Today, no hall seating a third of the ancient Greek audiences is able to deliver the sound of an orator's speech without electric amplifiers, and |they were invented less than a decade ago. . (Covyright. 1927. by Paul V. Collins.) Wanted, A Half and Half! The Nashville Banner. Both parties would feel better if they had any earthly idea of how or where to obtain an amphibian candi- date for 1928. Batchelors’ Patches. The Flint Daily Journal. Now that rubber socks have been produced, inner tube patches will be the bachelor's best friend. WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1927. PHILOSOPHIES BY GLENN FRANK I an old book, written a hundred years or more ago, I unearthed an al- most perfect example of the inveterate habit of judging other peoples by nice and neat formuiae. This habit of pigeonholing a peo- ple with a phrase is a very real fac- tor in international relations, and so it is worth examining. . In this old book, five nations’ are dissected and described —the Spanish, the English, the German, the Dutch and the French. These five nations are analyzed in terms of their itudes toward the adventures, the acquisitions and the achfevements of the sea, as they set sail upon it for commerce or for con- quest. In the business of navigation, ac- cording to this old book, these five na- ::Onl display these five distinct quali- es: The Spaniard is brave, The Englishman is clever. The German is sclentific. The Dutchman fs industrious. The Frenchman is adventurous. The business of navigation, accord- ing to this old book, means to these five nations these five distinct things: The sea means conquest to the Spaniard. ‘The sea means enterprise to the Englishman. The sea means research to the Ger- man. , The sea means gain to the Dutch- man. The sea means adventure Frenchman. In the business of navigation, ac- cording to this old hook, these flve na- tions like these five distinct kinds of voyages: The Spaniard likes long voyages. The Englishman ‘ikes important voyages. The German likes useful voyages. The Dutchman likes profitable voy- to the | ages. The Frenchman likes rapid voyages. _ According to this old hook, the sea is regarded by these five nations as follows: To the Spaniard the sea is a road. To the Lnglishman the sea is a dwelling place. To the German the sea is a study. To the Dutchman the sea is a means of transportation. To the Frenchman the sea is a post- chaise. There may be a hundied and one factors of environment and necessity that justify these judgments about the attitudes of these five peoples to- ward the sea. The trouble is that we carry this habit of cataloguing peo- ples to absurd lengths until we fix in our minds false pictures of the varied peoples of the earth as a series of wholly different and eternaily con- flicting groups. The fact is that just as the Colonel's Lady and Judy O'Grady are essen tially the same, despite their differ- ences of taste and training, so the varied races of earth are human un- der the skin. It will be a great step toward per. manent peace when we drop the dia- bolical habit of pigeonholing whole peoples with a phrase. (Copyrixht. 1927.) Disobedience to Law Is Menace to Nation To the Editor of The Star: It is difficult to understand why a few so-called inteliigent people can be deceived in the present campaign be- ing waged against the eighteenth amendment to our Constitution. Those familiar with the object of the propa- ganda of this agitation recognize the import of this braying and squawking of these agitators. The reasons are as obvious as the noonday sun in Mid- summer. A few office seekers in a few Eastern States noted for their cor- ruption are responsible for this condi- tion. The agitation had subsided very much until the campaign of 1924, when these designing political syco- pbants began their appeal to the igno- “ance and prejudice of a stupid citizen- ship in these States. The leader of this campaign was. seeking the United States senatorship from the State of Maryland. He brayed long and loud during that campaign, and now he is a private citizen and holding his peace. It is obvious why he espoused this cause, thinking that the citizenship of that State were so out of love of home and country that they would repudiate the Constitution of their country. All true Americans are loyai to that Constitution, regardless of the deception of wily politicians. This is one incident among a few others which I could mention to prove my point, but this one is sufficient to convince all citizens with open minds that the corrupt and criminal office seekers are responsible for a continu- ance of this agitation. It is a humili- ation of the citizens of these States that they will permit such office seekers to deceive them on an issue which they cannot change. A candi- date who presents no other qualifica- tions for office than that he is opposed to our Constitution and the laws of our land places a high estimate on the intelligence of his constituency. It is high time for a campaign of good eiti- zenship and civic righteousness to be inaugurated in such Commonwealths. It is the duty of every good citizen of the United States to abide by the Con- stitution and the laws of this Nation. To do otheriwise is anarchy. An appeal to the baser and criminal instincts of the criminally inclined is S0 dangerous a proposition that every true American should be on his guard as our forefathers were on their guard, ‘When a people disrespect their Consti- tution and laws it is the surest sign of the ruination and downfall of that Nation. The enemy within our coun- try is far more dangerous than the enemy without. The enemy within has caused the downfall of more na- tions than the enemy without. Our enemies are within our Nation, mas- querading as good Americans. Beware of these traitors! Orderly govern- ment cannot exist without orderly citizenship. Orderly citizenship up- holds and obeys the Constitution and the laws of our land. ‘The leaders of this campaign against our Constitution and orderly govern- ment object is to keep in office and to get into office, and they care not for the future of our Natlon. If you/ teach and encourage the violation of one law, it will not be long until it causes the disrespect of other laws. This fact has already occurred in this land. A number of our laws are openly violated in this city daily, and the culprit thinks he has performed a heroic act; at least, he acts and talks in this manner. Whither are we drifting? Such conditions drift to an- archy. If this argument is true, then the agitators responsible for this con- dition are anarchists. This deduction is taken from the examples of other nations which have suffered in this manner. ‘We have many notable examples of great Americans, present and past, who demanded obedience to law and order as true Americanism. Listen to what the great Roosevelt said on thi subject, “We do no man an injusti when we require him to obey the law. Teddy always stood for our Constitu- tion and the respect for law and order. He aided in subduing the West when law was a mockery; the same is true of New York City and the rest of the Nation. No disloyal blood coursed through his veins—every inch an American. Permit me to quote from one of our forefathers, who was a 100 per cent American and respected law and order —Benjamin Franklin—as follows: “A 100 per cent American is one who puts his duty to his country above his selfish desires and who is more anxious that his children and his children’s children may live in a coun. try where justice and liberty prevail than for any profit that he may make ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. Q. Why are not the letters on a typewriter keyboard arranged in al- phabetical order? Who invented the typewriter’—E, 8. A. The keys of the typewriter are arranged according to the frequency with which certain letters of the alpha- bet are used. The modern typewriter, says one authority, is the outgrowth of various crude machines for produc- ing printed characters on paper with- out the use of movable type. In the year 1874 the first really practicable typewriter was placed on the Ameri- can market by E. Remington & Son, a firm engaged in the manufacture of guns, at Ilion, N. Y. The original model of this machine was designed by C. L. Sholes, S. W. Soule and Car- los Glidden of Milwaukee, Wis., but to Sholes is due the chief honor of per- fecting a workable model. Q. What sort of finish should be used on a radio loud speaker.— C. H. C. * A. We understand that the nature of the finish does not affect the opera- tion of the loud speaker and that you may use shellac, varnish or lacquer finishes as you prefer. The number of coats would also depend upon the appearance desired and convenience rather than upon any technical re- quirements of the apparatus. A typi- cal finish for black walnut would be as follows: After sanding the surface ‘smooth, apply water stain if desired. When dry, sand lightly with fine sand paper and apply walnut paste wood filler. When the glossy surface of the filler turns dull, the excess filler is wiped off with rags across the grain of the wood so as to leave the pores filled with the colored material. Allow | at least 24 hours for the filler to dry and finish with shellac, varnish or lacquer, as desired. Q. Is Lucrezia Bori a name assumed by this soprano? Is she an Italian? L. M. A. Her real name gia, or Borja in Spanish. She pre- fers to be known as Bori. She is of Italian descent, but is a native of | Valencla, Spain. i Q. Did John Wesley come to Amer- fca before or after the Methodist Church was founded”—W. J. T. A. John Wesley commenced preach- | ing about 1730 and landed in America February 6, 1734. On his return to England for some time he preached without any organization, but on No- vember 11, 1739, the Methodist Society was founded. i | Q. What was the amount received | for the- property sold to the other | governments by the United States aft- | er the war?—C. S. W. | A. The total amount of all sales of | property made to the allied govern- ments by the United States was $822,- | 923,225.82. Q. How many people live Hawalian Islands?—L. N. A. About 300,000. Q. For whom was the State of Utah named?—R. 8. T. A. For the tribe of Ute or Utah In- dians. Q. How long has CurrentEvents | been published?>—C. S. D. A. For 25 years. It was established | in 1902. Q. How much land is there in Me- ridian Hill Park, what did it cost, and was any of it given to the Govern- ment?—L. J. 8. A. Meridian Hill Park includes about 10 acres. The cost was $470.- 000. Tt was bought by the United States Government under condemna- tion proceedings. It appears that there was not sufficient money to purchase the ground and we under- stand that the late Col. Blount, an old resident of Washington made the deficiency. is Lucrezia Bor- | in - the up Q. How man; people can the Leviathan carry?—W. G. Mecl. A. The berthing capacity of the Leviathan shows that she can ac- commodate 973 first-class passengers, 548 ‘second-class, 944 third-class and officers and crew number ), bring- ing the total to 4,889. et Q. How many of our Army officers are West Point men?—L. F. B. A. Of the present 11,913 officers in the United States' Army 3,394 are West Pointers. . How much would all the pen- nies in circulation weigh?—W. F. M. A. There are 45,370,000 pennies in circulation, weighing a; itely 300,305 pounds. Q. What is the paradise nut?—K. T. A. ‘A. We are now buying small quan- tities from South America of what is known as the “paradise nut.” sembles a Brasil nut in shape, but is said to be a little finer in flavor. There is an interesting story told about this nut, which grows in a large round pod with a small cap at one end. As the story goes, the gas which forms in the pod after it has fallen to the ground forces the cap out with a loud report. This report attracts the monkeys, who then search for the nuts in the thick undergrowth, where they have been blown by the force of explosion. This is given as the chiet on for the small supply of para- dise nuts brought to our markets. Q. Does starching keep textiles clean longer?—S. M. A. It does. because it covers and holds down the tiny surface hairs that catch the dust and dirt. Q. What was the Ford Motor Co. called before it bore this name?— g A. The Detroit Automobile Co. was organized by Henry Ford and was the predecessor of the present company. Q. How many automobile models are there on the market’—G. G. A. The National Automobile Cham- ber of Commerce said recently that there were 620 models of American motor cars on the market at prices ranging from $300 to $9,000. These were the products of 43 makers. Q. How much money is lost annual- Iy by banka through forged indorse- ments of checks?—B. F. A Nation’s Business says that the amount is less than $50,000. Q. Who received the first American medal of honor given in the late war?—R. L. R. A. The first American medal of honor was presented to Lieut. Col. Whittlesey. rabbis are How many Jewish | there in America’—D. B. A. In the United States and Canada there are about 500. Q Please give some information | about the United Churches ot Can- ada?—P. W. A. A. The union of the Methodist, Pres byterian and Congregational Churches | of Canada, constituting 30 per cent of the church membership of the nation. was completed June 110, 1925, after 22 vears of negotiatiofi-and effort. The Baptist Church did not unite with them on account of its separatist idea with respect to the rite of baptism. { The Methodist Church contributed 414,000 members, Preshyterian 216,000, Congregational 12,200. Q. Where is the grave of Roger B. Taney, who administered the oath of office to Abraham Lincoln when he be- came President?>—A. R. C. A. The former Chief Justice Is buried in St. John's Catholic Ceme- tery, East Third street, Frederick, Md. Take advantage of this free service. 1f you are mot one of the thousands 1who have patronized the durcau since its establishment we want you to start now. This is a scruice maintaincd for the benefit of the readers of The | Washington Star. and we want you to pet your share g{f;gp,-m, from it. Send your question 19 us. Fnclose 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Address The Evening Star Information Bu- reau, Frederi¢ J. Haskin, director, 1,334 fourth-class. In addition her ‘Washington, D. C. Congress Expected to‘ 'facklé Problem of Merchant Marine The opposition of President Cool- idge to a program of expansion for the existing Government-owned fleet has resulted in a revival of conflicting views on the long-argued question of how America shall build up & mer- chant marine. As in the past, there is a clear division between those who favor and those who oppose public ownership of vessels. Some news- papers interpret the President’s posi- tion as favorable to a subsidy, and it is rather generally assumed that Con- gress will have the whole problem on its hands at the next session. “Overseas commerce now bulks so large in our affairs” declares the Seattle Daily Times, “that its com- servation and extension become a na- tional necessity. Two things are primarily essential to the welfare of this business. The first is a carrier fleet under the Stars gnd Stripes. The second is a Navy adequate to protect the carriers. If America is to retain and expand its foreign trade. Congress must assure both.” In considering this situation the Worcester Fvening Gazette says “it has appeared more than once to be impossible to get through Congress a measure which would encourage or even muke possible the growth of a; great merchant marine in private hands,” and adds: “As an essential part of the Navy in time of war and as an essential element of national prosperity in peace, development of a merchant marine by ‘private ownei seems one of America’s greatest needs. The President’s renewed statement of his views, it is greatly to be hoped, forecasts another effort to obtain ac- tion in Congress.” x k% * A definite stand in favor of expan- sion of the present fleet is taken by the New York World, which asserts: “Nothing is being done, either to maintain the fleet against obsolescence or to balance it. Mr. Coolidge is em- practically out of date when we took them over 11 ‘years ago, and which cannot replace the ships now in service or even be operated at all without & heavy outlay for reconditioning. If the Government is to develop trade routes which private capital can later take over and maintain, it will have to provide service comparable with that of its foreign competitors, and it can- not do this if it fails to look ahead to future requirements.” Recognizing the same state of .af- fairs, the Philadelphia Evening Bul- letin nevertheless remarks: “To enter on a vast program of building great ocean greyhounds, at any rate until some permanent national ‘shipping policy has been pted, would be highly speculativ The Bulletin contends that “governmental ship op- eration has not only proved profitable, but it has actually tended to demoral- ize private ship operations by the fa- vored position it enjoys from the com- petitive standpoint.” On the other hand, the Springtield Union holds that “if the Government can turn over the merchant marine to development in private hands with- out impairing ts value] either to the commerce or the defense of the Na- tion, well and good; but if purchasers jcannot be found under the conditions laid down, a policy for maintainir~ and possibly adding to the fleet 1day need shortly to be developed.” The Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch also hoids that “certainly if private capital is not ready or willing to go into the shipping business on a large scale, there is no alternative but for the Government to continue its activities through -the Shipping Board or some other agency. not as a wearto-year development, but until such time as American capital will guarantee an American mérchant marine.” * ook % “Our merchant marine has been sacrificed to strensthen British su- premacy in merchant ships as well phatically opposed to the Govern- ment’s building any new merchant vessels and says that for a long time to come the ships now laid up will be adequate for supplying additional , needs. On this point we believe that, the President is mistaken. Among the lnid-up vessels are only two passenger | ships, ex-German liners, which were | e ¢ during his own life by| cheating How does that sound for a thorough- bred American? We need more such | Americans in public today with mo-| tives, objects and ideals of Benjamin Franklin. Don't let them deceive you braying and squawking *‘personal lib-| erty.” ‘Personal liberty” does not teach commercializing _crime, nor does it stand for or uphold crime. Only } the impostor and the sycophant, to give caste or to shield their own un- tenable position, appeal to such terms to deceive the ignorant and timid citizen. Did you ever see justice and liberty | prevail in any nation dominated by’ the liquor interests and the criminal element? I should say not! Justice and liberty are words not found in their vocabulary. Tyranny and an- archy are better words for this ele- ment. Compare the Americanism of Roosevelt and Franklin with the de- tractors of our Constitution and our laws and determine whom you should follow, True Americanism should be taught in every school in our land. % ‘THDHM J. MOYER. as fighting ships,” charges the Raleigh News and Observer, and the Water loo Tribune asks, “When wil our shippers—our producers of agrieul- tural products included ee the ad vantage of a competent merchant ma rine flving the American flag 4and giving preference to delivery of Amer iean merchandise?" Quoting the President's view ¢hat “a large commercin]l fleet would as sist the Nation's fighting “orces.” the Louisville Courier-Journal declares that “the President has appeared in the role of auctioneer of the merchart merine and made 4 move toward s <hip subsidy " And with an expres sion of Aouht as..to eco anal action. the Chatleston Daily Mail | Ainds fhat “anits a mimher of Ameri- ican owners of seafaring craft seem to think that, according to repors. ‘the permanency of t] 2 merchant ma- rine can he assured under private operation. if the Government grants Indirect aid. preferably in the form of mail contracts.”" While recognizing the need of a | ereat fleet. the Chicago Tribune as- serts that “no such fleet can or will be built up unless the process is a paving one, and it will not be a paving one so long as the Govern- ment retains control.” The Portland Oregonian maintains that “when poli- ticians have clutched a business through public ownershin they take a grip like -that of a devilfish, and a herculean effort is required to jar them loose.”