Evening Star Newspaper, September 24, 1927, Page 6

6 {THE EVENING STAR ' With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY...September 24, 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office 11th St. and Pennsslyania Av New York Office Chicago Oflice European Office: 14 R« Enl The Frening Star with the Sunday morn ing edition 1 deliversd by carticrs. within ThE Cily at 60 cents nor month: daily ovly 35 cenia bor manth Sin o onth, - Orders b Keoo, ol of ~ah mon avs only by mail or 7 15 made Ly 1 mo. 1 mo 1 mo. 000 &3 00 33 00 dvr 1vr 1vr All Other States and Canada. d_Sunday.] r.. $12.00: 1 mo.. §1.00 only 1vrl SE00°1 mo oni Jarl $1000 1 mo. Dailv Daily Sunday Member of the Associated Press. The Associnted to the use for ro atches credited 1 ted in thie b published her dispatehes herein < of publication 80 resorved, Criticizing the Navy. There is little danger that Admiral Magruder will be called before the mast for writing a critical article un- der his own signature concerning the administration of the Navy. The regu- lations only forbid the giving away of naval informatin which might be of ald to a foreign power in time of peace or to an enemy in time of war. Admiral Magruder's article contains his own opinion of the way things are run in the Navy, and while, doubtless, there ‘are well qualified officers who agree with him, there are other offi- cers as well qualified who do not. That he gave ayay any naval “se- crets” can hardly be charged against him. The interest that Admiral Ma- gruder's article has aroused within and without the Navy, however, raises the question of how far an officer should be “muzzled” in expressing his opinion when such expression is raised in criticism of the service. 1If every officer who had a bone to pick with the Navy aired his views in the pub- lic prints one wonders what would be- come of the Navy. At the same time, if officers were so strictly muzzled that the tiniest chirp meant court-martial the conditior in the service might be worse. The talkative Col. Mitchell dared the gods until the lightning struck. He succeeded in arousing a public interest which helped aviation, but public sentiment as a whole ap- proved the disciplinary measures taken against him. Officers of the Army and Navy owe first allegiance to the service. If one of them sacrifices him- self deliberately for the good of the service, his action is commendable, but the chief difficulty is to show that good comes of the sacrifice. Admiral Magruder's criticism is one ©of methods and not of individuals, and above all it is a personal criticism, conveying his private opinion. If the effect of his article is to undermine the discipline of the service which he &s a high ranking officer is sworn to uphold, Admiral: Magruder knows bet- ter than any one else of the conse- gences which must follow. Such an effect is not to be expected in this case, as the academic nature of his criticism merely revives discussion of a subject which will be debated as long as there is a Navy. ————— American people are omnivorous in their entertainment. The majority of listeners-in on the Dempsey-Tunney fight will be just as eager to hear the next lecture by Dr. Damrosch on Wag- merian music. —_——— America invented the airship. In- wventors do not always enjoy the full advantage of their brains. The Chl- mese invented gunpowder. — e Discretion was shown in placing the date for Thanksgiving ahead of the troublous time when Congress assem- bles. ‘The Ogden Indorsement. Although it was planned before Mr. MecAdoo’s announcement that he would not be a candidate for the Democratic momination next year, the meeting yesterday at Ogden, Utah, attended by representatives of seven Western States may be interpreted by the Smith boomers as evidence of the strength of the New York governor in the region heretofore favorable to the Californian. This may signify an accession from the McAdoo following. Or, on the other hand, it may be sim- P!y a public manifestation of the friendliness of those who would in any event have been favorable to the Smith candidacy. The meeting was not in a strict sense representative. It was held by invitation. The summons o attend went out to those who were known or at least supposed to be fa- vorable to th ith nomination. The outcome assured in advance, al- though there was, in fact, one dis. senting voice at the meeting. 9 € gden gathering is chiefly on the score that it shows mith boom is being actively d in all parts of the coun- Delegate hunting is in progre: k will doubtiess be other meet- i at which the sentiment of the sections covered will be expressed in specches and in votes. Whether they will be truly representative is a ques- tion. Jt is to be noted that the resolution adopted at Ogden is coucifed in cau- s terms. After declaring that Gov. Smith “represents the best tradi- tions and ideals of the party, and is the most available candidate men tioned for the nomination for Presi- den it goues on to say that those subscribing to it do not intend to usurp in the least or in any degree the duties and prerogatives of the Democratic organizations of their re spective States. They defer to the regular procedure. They make it plain that they are not holding a nominat- ing convention. Such meetings may be somewhat embarrassing to the regularly const tuted and duly credentialed Smith boomers who are in charge of specific was significe that the proy ry. re tio jwere unaware of the decision. trom New York. There is such a thing as too much enterprise. Of course, the purpose of the Smith organization is to tie up the nomination in advance of the convention, to beat the two- thirds rule without actually rescinding it. But a boom that gets too much headway in advance is in some danger of evoking counter booms. Witness the fate of the McAdoo movement in 1924. Four years ago it was easily the commanding feature of the pre-conven- tion campaign. And yet its very mo- mentum brought about the deadlock at the convention which defeated Me- Adoo and made another Republican victory certain, R Baron von Maltzan, Baron Ago von Maltzan's taking-off removes from the tional scene a figure who had signally distinguished himself in the era of post-war German-American relations. A peacemaker, in the very real sense of the term, The Govern ment and the people of the United States mourn his loss as profoundly as the government and people of the German Reich. Germany is bereft of n astute, faithful and effective public servant. America grieves over the passing of a friend. Von Maltzan had not yet completed a tenure of three years as Cerman Ambassador at Washington. But dur- ing that brief period he left upon the times which marked his mission here an impress destined to be indelible, His cosmopolitan suavity, born of long diplomatic service in foreign parts; his demoeratic charm; his zeal in adapting himself to American ways; his unfailing recognition of the dell- cacy of his position as envoy of a power with which the United States was but recently at war—all of these traits, hallmarks of the genuine diplo- mat, were the qualities upon which Ago von Maltzan successfully drew. He found German prestige at Wash- ington far below par. He has left it high. The rancors of the war vanished during his ambassadorship. It was in tangible, degree his merit to have waved the wand that scattered the mists of irreconcilability. To the accomplished and gracious partner of his life-work American sympathy will be extended fullfold. Baroness von Maltzan, as chatelaine of the German embassy, was an im- portant link in the chain of good- will with which the Reich set forth to recapture American friendship. She and her daughter should find com- fort in the heritage of that German- American entente cordiale which it was Ago von Maltzan's task and privi- lege to create. —— et Fight Casualties. ‘While there were no casualties in the prize ring in Chicago Thursday night, the affair between Dempsey and Tunney took a heavy toll of life. According to reports from various parts of the country no less than ten persons died from the excitement. Millions of people were listening to the reports from the ringside sent by radio. It is a tribute to the dramatic- ally descriptive powers of the broad- caster that he made the word picture 8o vividly realistic that his hearers were brought to a high pitch through- out the forty minutes of the engage- ment. Spectators at ball games have been known to collapse at times of great excitement and foot ball has, likewise, cost some lives owing to the tension caused by furious encounters. It is not surprising, therefore, that out of the great uncountable multitudes that heard the description of the fight Thursday night half a score should have succumbed to the strain of sus- pense and agitation. Evidently persons with any heart weakness or tendency toward emotion- al agitation should not listen in to the accounts of these championship en- gagements. There is a definite risk in hearing the story of blows exchanged and the count of seconds as a con- tender is floored. The very roars of the crowd are audible and stir the blood;, The radio, In short, brings millions to the ringside. It is a singular fact that practically all of those who heard the account of the fight at long distances Thursday night knew the result before many of those who were present in the arena, who, in their long-range seats, The question arises’ whether this facility of almost literally seeing the entire spectacle in comfort and without cost may not have an effect on the at- tendance *at future fights. —_—e There is a depressing flippancy of phrase in aviation. A flyer makes the announcement that he will “hop off,” which is too often the last that is heard of him. ————ee Pecuniary considerations are influ- ential in some forms of hostility. No- body thinks of asking a pair of prize- fighters to arbitrate. tragte interna- is gone. An Extra Hour of Sleep. An extra hour of sleep will be the portion tonight of those. citizens of the United States who have been liv- ing under the daylight-savings plan this Summer. Tonight is the end of Summer, and the clock is set back one hour to Eastern Standard time. To residents of Washington who experi- enced daylight saving for a short time during the war the only apparent benefit is the one hour's cxtra sleep tonight, although all realize that this hour was lost when the plan became effective at the beginning of the Sum- mer. There has been some attempt local- Iy to revive the scheme for daylight ving, but it is believed that the op- position will be as strong at any change in the future as it has been in the past, as Its advantages are far outnumbered by its disadvantages. The railroads operate on standard time throughout the year, and nothing but confusion would exist if they did not. Why then should the inevitable mis- understandings in regard to time be courted by running other industries on a special plan? To motorists who crowd the high- ways during the Summertime daylight saving is a bugaboo. They plan to arrive to dine with friends in a town territory. It has heretofore been stated that this Ogden meeting was held without any particular ction only to find themselves an hour early or an hour late, as the case may be, THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D ticular city has adopted the daylight- saving plan. Of course, there is one consolation. In driving from a State with fast time to onme with standard time the motorist can anake a phenom- enal hourly record, and can proudly boast in later years that he left Ker- plunk at three o'clock in the after- noon and arrived at Zingbo, one hun- dred miles away, at five o'clock. So all those who get the extra hour's sleep may be envied, ‘but they are to be pitied when they lose it at the begin- ning of next Summer. et e The Legion Meeting at Paris. All apprehensions of unpleasant reactions at Paris on the occasion of the American Legion meeting in that city were set at rest on the first day of the gathering. The French people gave the American veterans of the Great War a warm and sincere wel- come. At every opportunity they cheered them. There was not a single untoward happening. The Legionnaires bore themselves with the most scerupulous care, but their precautions were needless. The spirit of the week was one of genuine fellowship and admiration. There was, of coursg, no occasion for any unfriendliness. The Sacco- Vanzetti agitation in Paris was not in itself significant of any widely prev- alent hostility toward America. It was the work of the radicals and the lawless elements of the French capital. The reaction from the outburst par- ticipated in by these forces left a feeling of shame on the part of the great body of the people. Perhaps the enthusiasm which greeted the Legion representatives was the greater be- cause of the mischief-making of the Communists and the Apaches. In every particular the great delega- tion that went from this country to the Legion meeting was a worthy one. The men and women who crossed the sea for that assemblage went not as sightseers on a pleasure tour, but as pilgrims to a shrine. They were going back to the scene of their services in war. They were celebrating a victory that was won in large measure through their participation in the conflict. They went to clasp hands with allies and comrades and to re- view the events of the decade elapsing nce their arrival on the battlefields. They were missioners of good-will from the American people to the French, and it was in that role that they were received, The ties that bind France and the United States are strong and enduring. Differences of opinion, of policies and of practices may lead to temporary disturbance of relations, but there will always be a unity of spirit, born of THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. One ought to give in to his best sentiments. This is the matured thought those who have “been through fire, as the saying is, and have come out clean, or otherwise. The world professes to laugh at “service,” bhut deep in the heart of every one the truth is known-—that “loving service,” as Christianity calls it, is the only truly satisfylng thing in_life. There Is a conspiracy against suc- cumbing to the best thoughts that come to one, especially those which require that one spend money on another. Men have agreed to be shy about talking about such things, with the result that many of us are ashamed of the good-will thoughts that come to us. We are afraid of the best in us, if it tends to smack of the namb pamby, or leans too near the porta of the so-called *goody-goody. * ¥ k% Tt is unfortunately true that ma of the best sentiments of humanity artake of the nature of sentimental- which the world has more or less generally agreed to look down upon. Although this is said to be a_femi- nized world, the old masculine shrink- ing from an approach to tears, or the mistiness of eye that lies even deeper, still rules the world. In glving in, then, to one's hetter | impulses, it is still perhaps best to do_so secretly. Only by doing good stealthily can one seize the opportunity for self- advancement which such doing gives to a human heing. A human being, after all, is much different from an animal. KEven the worst sort of human beings are said to have their good sides, and their queer, distorted senses of honor. A human being is less than a beast if he does not make some a.tempt, however small, to act the role of a creature who has been called bu. little lower than the angels. * k% % To do the good deed that comes into one’s mind is one of the first steps in eternal wisdom. Such wise action results, in many cases, only after a man reaches a certain age, when he is able to put behind him the effect upon others, ~nd think onlv of the effect upon himself and upon the recipient. Selfishness thus may be turned int. 1 good thine, even as stealthiness m be ennobled, when it describes the secret action of good which one does without the knowledge of others. This_perhaps is what was meant when He said, “Let thy right hand know not what thy left hand doeth.” Lo T Self-advancement by service to others may be achieved in many ways. The thought to do something for some one else comes to every one, if not once a day, at least once a week. mutual sacrifices and sufferings for a common cause. —————— The aviator confidently announces a “hop-oft.” The cautious air expert seeks to impress the desirability of studying conditions with care. The new motto is “Look before you hop!"” ——————— Both the great pugtlists ¢ the mo- ment have tried in their own way to show what a young man can do by working hard and saving up his money. ——————— Candidates show no spirit of hostile aggression. Even those who wear war bonnets decline to imitate the pose of the cigar store Indian with uplifted tomahawk. ———. Some humorous opportunities have been overlooked. It still remains to be remarked that Tunney is no poor fish and that he refused to be “canned.” —————— It remained for Mayor Jimmy Walker to reveal to the careworn Mus- solini how genuinely joyous and gay a bold political leader may be. ———te—— News of the war in China has be- come scarce enough to warrant sus- picion that the press agents have deserted. —_———.—— Tunney is now credited with a neat trick in daylight saving ‘when he waited for the nine in the referee’s count. - —on—s SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, On the Way. ¥ September comes a-floating ‘ Through the sky. R October we'll be noting By and by. And the proverh we'll be quoting, “Time doth fly!" November winds are mellow. Then we'll pause To hear December bellow For applause, As the north wind hollers, “Hello, santa Claus!” Friends and Enemies. “A man may be his own worst enemy. “In politics,” said Senator Sorghum, “a man must take care to be his own best friend.” Shifty. He said he was a Socialist— That wasn’t long ago— He claimed he was a dramatist Intent upon a show. He vowed he was a Socialist. Before his tale was done, He claimed to be a “kollumist,” ‘Who said it all in fun, Jud Tunkins says a truthless man is usually entertaining enough to go on winning new audiences. Handicapped. “Oysters are supposed to be eaten in the months whose names contain the letter r.' " “Yep,” sald the lazy citizen. *“I'm such a bad speller T have to eat clams nearly the year 'round.” “No man can lose a friend,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown. “A friend worthy of the name cannot be lost.” ‘Wasted Breath, G. Washington the flute would play, But that was in a bygone day. He's out of date, we all must own— He hadn’t any saxophone. “You can’t judge by appearances,” tness and ugliness in And how many times does one give in_to it? There is no one living who cannot think with chagrin of a kind deed he might have done but did not do, of a &ood word that he did not say, of smile he did not allow to brighten his face. The thought came to do a kindly ac- tion for a certain one. It was a good thought and should have been acted on. But other thoughts came, too, whispering that the other might not understand. But he who sneaks off, in the quiet of the day, and does a good deed that can never be known, has his reward in peace of min! and soul. And this is the only real happiness. * ok ok ok One should not be deterred from manifesting the best that is in him because others do not seem to be go- ing out of their way to treat him in a similar manne Tt is precisely because those who know the truth are waiting for others to know it that the world never gets anywhere. The only thing to do is to act. “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” says the old saying, but perhaps it should be written’ this way: “A friend in need is a friend in deed.” * ok Kk K One may easily get the mistaken no- tion that he, alone, of mankind appre- ciates and tries to act on the best within him. He would be very much mistaken, however, if he harbors such an idea for long. This world is-full of people who do the best they can in doing good. The churches are filled with such persons: one should not criticize if now and then one of them appears self-con- gratulato We are all human beings in the world together, and it would be strange if we did not make mistakes, now and then, even in so good a thing as doing good, in giving in to fleeting thoughts of better things. * ok k ok After all, there is so much sordid- life that one ought to be careful to treasure the kindly sentiments that come to him. If the world had evolved a system of enshrining good deeds in statues, frames set with precious gems, might have been well for the majority of timid persons. Perhaps the nations some day may et into a frame of mind when a man who does a good deed will be entitled to the repute of a hero, or no le: medals for leaping over fears and prej- udices than came to Lindbergh for hopping across the Atlantic. Until that time comes, he who be- lleves in growing will see to it that some, if not all, of his better impulses are given out not just a fleeting and shrinking “hello. The Boy Scouts, with their one good deed a day, may set 'n example yet which will sweep around the world. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. There has been more or less discus- sion of the possible necessity of resort- ing to the draft to enforce the will of the voters of the United States in re- gard to the nominee for the Republi- can candidate for President next year. President Coolidge declares that he not only does not “choose” to be a candidate, but that “this is not a one- man cou itry,” hence the inference is that there may be many ‘“chooser” candidates when the time comes. If, however, the trend of reduction in the voters should continue a few more decades in the same diminuendo it ultimately will be found that the declaration that “this is not a one-man country” does not apply at the polls. L Americans are proud of the fact that this is the greatest republic that history has ever recorded. In com- parison, the republic of Rome was small—emall in power, in territory controlled and in the number of eligi- ble voters, for there were more slaves than citizens in Rome. To be a citizen was a_coveted privilege, which was claimed by few through birthright and which cost a great sum when pur- chased. In America all natives and all naturalized citizens have the right to participate in elections—except criminals who have served time in penitentiaries and imbeciles. Yet, ac- cording to the Get-Out-the-Vote Club, only half of these eligible voters take enough interests to cast their ballots, even in the major elections of Con- gress and of the President. LE e Ninety per cent of the governments of the world are controlled by the bal- lots of the people, men and women; so it is a fallacy to claim that the United States alone is a “land of the free,” where power comes from below and not_from the top, as in an aristoc- racy. Furthermore, the statistics of the club aforementioned indicate that the masses exercise less power through ballots in the Tinited States than in any other country having the right of popular franchise. From 1880 to 1896, in five presi- dentlal elections, 80 per cent of the qualified voters exercised their fran- chise, but eince then the proportion of votes has steadily diminished, until in the 1920 vote for President Hard- ing less than half of the men and women entitled to vote did so. * ¥k ¥k Compare that record with the re- turns in other countries. Great Britain is not rated a republic, but it is actu- ally ruled by the House of Commons, elected by the people, as is our Con- Bress. England, Wales and Scotland, ac- cording to the census of 1921, had a population of 42,767,530, of whom 21, 776,000 were qualified voters. The vote for election to the House of Com- mons in 1924 was 16,556,000—76 per cent. i The population of the United States in 1924 was 112,000,000. On the basis that 49.5 per cent are entitled to vote, the voting electorate that year was 55.400.000. The total vote cast for President was 29,099,131—52.5 per cent. The stay-at-homes were 47.5 of the qualified voters, men and women. And of these the women are worse slackers than the men—37 to 63 per- centages, The Germans had not been used to the free ballot prior to the setting up of the republic. Germany's popula- tion in 1919 was 59,858,254, or about half that of the United States, vet in the 1920 election of the Reichstag they cast 25829947 votes. In Germany men and women 20 years of aze have the right to vote, and the total elec- torate s estimated at about 35,000,000, hence their ballots amounted to 75 per cent of the eligibles. In 1924 the elec- tlon centered on acceptance of the Dawes plan of settling the war debt and there was cast then 29,388,588 votes—which was more than our vote for presidential candidates, with our population double that of Germany. Similar examples might be cited of loval voting in all other civilized coun- tries, exceeding the record of the United ‘States. The voting elsewhere ranges from 70 to 95 per cent of the qualified voters, in Furope, Australia and Canada, in contrast with the American vote of 49 to 53 per cent. * ok K ok The year 1928 will be momentous in its con=wressipnal elections as well as in the presidency. The campaign will not wait until the national conven- tions, but in some States it will begin saild Uncle Eben. “When de police is out on a trail de disappearances is mo' next March. Between March and June 17 States will hold primaries for ele depending on whether or not that par- « =~i4nant" s e s s tlon of delegates to the national gpn- ventions, beginning in March with New Hampshire and North Dakota. Senators will be elected in 32 States, beginning with Pennsyivania and Ne- braska in April, The leaders of the great political parties are seeking to crystallize their partisan issues, but there is no party greatly concerned, apparently, in arousing the apathy of the masses to an interest in the obligation, as well as the inherited right, to vote. The hardest fought campalgn of recent years was that of 1896, when William dennings Bryan so wrought up the people on his proposition of “free coin- age of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1" that he aroused the stay-nt-home voters. The natural increase of quali- fied voters in 1896 over 1892 was 1,400, 000, based on the census, but the num- ber of votes cast that year was 1,770,- 000 more than in 18 The stay-at- homes were decreased half a million and 82.8 per cent of the eligibles cast ballots. The country then was in the midst of financial depression amount- ing to panic. Today conditions are re- versed, and the world knows that America is prosperous as never before known in any country. If the great vote of 1896 was due to distress and cupidity of the people who hoped to pay debts with 45-cent dollars, what may we expect now in the days of wealth and prosperous business? Fa For many decades the women cried out for the franchise. Now they have it, the records show that of the votes actually cast only 37 per cent a by women and 63 per cent by men. In 1924 the women cast only 10,000,000 votes out of the total of 26,713,832 given for President. The women are the great vote slackers, in spite of their outery for women's rights. They we had ‘the franchise only seven years, but that is as long as Ger- many had it under the republic. Why should American women—the best educated women in the world— ignore their responsibilities in this way? * ¥ ok Kk ‘While the District of Columbia is distranchised, there are thousands of voters here who are entitled to vote in_their home States. \ Not all of the 43 States permit voting of absentees, but 29 States do s0 permit: Alabama, Arizona, Cali- fornia, Delaware, Tdaho, Illinois, fn- Qiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michi- zan, Minnesota, Miss ippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakol Tennessee, Utah. Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. In some es it is necessiry for the voter to go home to register in order to be entitled to vote. Patriotic enthusiasm in the time of the World War incited State Legis- latures to broaden the privilege of absentee voting, so the soldiers at camp and at the front might not be disfranchised. The extension of the use of automoblles, causing much wandering and the loss of “perma- nent residence” anywhere, is charged with beinz an important contributing cause of loss of balloting. (Copvrizht. 1927, by Paul V. Collins.) UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR Ten Years Ago Today Steamship Virginian reported sunk by German submarine off Irish coast. * * * House committee favors an aircraft board and recommends one of nine members. * * * Dutch en- voys see President in hope of settling embargo difficulties between the two countries. * * * Norfolk avy Yard tied up as 5,000 men quit work to force demand for new wage scale. Ten thousand more are ready to walk out and tie up Great Lakes ti * * * House of Representati moves for woman suffrage when it adopts, by vote of 181 to 107, rule to o e committee to deal with the sub- : * * * Surg. Gen. Gorgas or- ganizes a staff of specialists in nutri- tion to improve soldiers’ food. * * * Maximilian Harden, well known Ger- man journalist, asks President Wi son to call for an armistice before Germans and Americans meet in bat- tle. ¢ * * President approves vol- untary agreement by steel producers with War Industries Board cutting steel prices in haff. Wages not to be' Fedused, 0., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, Yoo¥. THE LIBRARY TABLE By the Booklover. Does the ghost of Sir Henry Ar- den haunt_his library and inhibit his would-be biographers: or is it only imagination, heightened by the sense of doing what he especlally wished not to be done, which makes them feel an “impression of an un- seen, frresistible something” holding them back whenever they try to work at the big library table on which stands his photograph? Maud Diver completes her novel, “But Yester- day,” without answering the que tion. She narrates results, but leaves the causes unexplained. We on know that in turn Clive Arden, Sir Henry's son; Alison Owen, his cous and Jarvis McNeil, his old friend, all attempt _the “Life” and after a few days and nights of work in the library all funk it. Then the “Old Lady.” his mother, survival of a past age, tougher at 81 than any of the others, her juniors, declares that she herself will ‘write the “Life” of her son. She has no patience with the excuses and delays offered her and sneers at the “mysterious difficulties” which they all vaguely suggest. * ok ok ok Clive Arden, already a writer, has “been looking toward biography a: in essence, a form of creative art,’ yet he hesitates to undertake the “Lite” of his father, because he feels himself inadequate and, more, because he knows his father had wished that his “Life” should not be written. But, dominated by his grandmother, Clive sets himself to the task and for some weeks pores over papers, lettbrs, note books and clippings, until he comes to feel himself mysteriously identified with his father's personal- ity. Then his work is ended by the experiences of one evening when he teels “his father standing near his shoulder—potently _present—restrain- ing him” from the destruction of some reasurcd letters, and when with ing eyes he sees the Persian cat ¢ to and fro ikable move- sinuating it against his master’s legs. The next morning Clive goes to grandmother and tells her she m find some one else to write the “Life, it she insists that it must be written. * K Kk Alison Owen works but three nights in the large, dim, high-ceilinged library when she is routed either by some outside presence or her own overwrought nerves. “He was there— the man she craved to see: and, some mysterious way, he was impos ing his mind on hers, paralyzing her that inimical feeling, as If the caustic, critical side of him had re- turned to unsteady her in the ve hour of achievement.” The old la willingly rejeases her from the tasl for she has never liked her. Jar McNeil remains, steady, loyal, “capa- ble, if a trifle soild.” He settles down to work in the quiet library, now avoided by nearly every one, but never gets beyond a ‘tvast blank la(\l'sk » sheet headed ‘Chapter One.’” Une plainably, “here in this comfortaile room, full of pleasant memories, he felt himself hindered and vexatiously haunted by the hampering thougnt that Henry did not wish him or any one to do anything of this Kind. + s * There it was again—that goose-flesh feeling, like a stealthy draught (though he had fastened the window himself), and a soft, scratch- ing sound behind him. * * * ‘That cat?’” The next day MeNeil finds that town life doesn’t suit him, that the east winds have “touched up” his liver, and that he must get away to his country home for a few rourds of golf. He never resumes work on the “Life.” Furious with the inca- pacity and “fanciful scruples” of the two generations below her, the oid lady takes over the writing of the “Life,” shuts herself in the library and orders that she be undisturbed. What, she experiences there no one ever knows, but the “Life” is never written. Ay * kX ok Directions how to have a good time on nearly every day of the year are contained in “Planning Your Party,” by Emily Rose Burt. Birthday par- ties, Valentine luncheons, May day festivities, Thanksgiving dinners, even golden wedding celebrations, are fully provided for. There is no discrimina- tion among the ages of man, for the tastes of childhood, middle age and old age are all considered in the party planning. . * K k% Margaret Leech, collaborator with Heywood Broun in “Anthony Com- stock, Roundsman of the Lord, makes the following interesting com- ment upon Anthony Comstock’s un- canny power to put through the re- form laws he wanted in this country: “In the popular imagination, Com- stock has often figured as a man who, by some devilish control over the legislators, was able to secure laws which were tyrannical and unconsti- tutional, an interference with per- sonal liberty. Yet, granting that such was his earnest intention, it secems too much to ascribe to him all the credit for the performance. * * * Often in the fight against obscenity he stood alone. Always he was in the van., But somewhere behind him an army of Puritans was solidly massed For this reason he was feared and hated, because he was so strong. Had his erusade run counter to the mores of his people he would have been a pitiful figure, a martyr to his lonely ideal. But. in him people cursed the spirit of enforced righi- eousness made palpable-——fleshly and menacing, with the ginger-colored whiskers and a warrant and a Post Office badge. He was the apotheosis, the fine flower of Puritanism. At the trial of D. M. Eennett for the rculation of obscene literature As- tant District Attorney Wliliam P. Fiero thus addressed the jury: A It is the United States against D. M. Bennett, and the United States is one great society for the sup- pression of vice." " x K % x The two brothers, Jerome and Jean Tharaud, are among the most popu- lar writers of fiction in France today. Their names are really Ernest and Charles, but they took the alliterative names when, as they themselves say, the craze for authorship “took hold of them at an early age.” They were born about 50 years ago into a mid- dle class family in a small town in the Province of the Limousin, in Cen- tral France. Their parents frowned upon the idea of authorship as not quite respectable and one reason for the adoption of the noms de plume was to spare the parents’ feelings as much as possible without actual sur- render. They have always written in collaboration and have produced a good number of novels. Their first, “Dingley, I'lllustre Ecrivain” (Ding- ley, the Illustrious Writer), a mnovel of the Transvaal at the time of the Boer War, won the Prix Goncourt. “La Maitresse-Servante” (The Mis- tress Servant) is a novel of the au- thors' native province, with charac- ters drawn from their own ac- quaintances. “La Tragedie de Ravail- lac” is a story of the assassin of Henry IV of France. Algerfa and Morocco have furnished the brothers scenes nd materials for a number of novels: Ta Fete Arabe,” “Les Heures Maro- caines” (Morocco Hours), “Marrakech, ou les Seigneurs de I'Atlas” (Mar- rakech, or the Lords of the Atlas). Jewish life in Palestine and Jewish towns of Eastern Europe forms the subject of “L'ombre de la Croix" (The Shadow of the Cross), “Quand Israel est Roi” (When Israel Is King) “Un Royaume de Dieu” (A Kingdom of God), “L'An Prochain a Jerusalem’ (The Next Year at Jerusalem), and Le Chemin de Damas” (The Road of Damascus). The Tharaud brothers are now at work on another Jewish novel, “La Rose de Saron” (The Rose ot Sharon) shar A ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Q. What is the largest animal which a boa constrictor has been known to swallow?—D. G. M. A. Boa constrictors have been known to swallow young pigs. Q. Will you please explain where the gasoline is carried in planes?— G. Z. E. A. Gasoline is sometimes carried in the fuselage of a plane, sometimes in the wing, but more usually in the former manner. There is usually more than one tank, an emergency tank being carried in the upper wing. Q. Where is the oldest will record- ed in Americ e, W, A. Lancaster County Court House, Va., claims the distinction of hold- ing the earliest record as well as the will of the grandfather of George Washington, The date of the will of Eptaphrodius Lawson of Rappahan- nock is dated March 31, 1662. The one-story, one-room courthouse claims to have housed records without a break since August 6, 1662. Q. Will you kindly give me some information as to the racifal origin of the names “Harris" and *“Harrison" ?— R. F. H. A. Both the names “Harris” and “Harrison” are combined forms of “‘Harry’s son.” They are derived from the name “‘Henr; which is of Teu- tenic origin and means “rich lord.” Q. Will you tell me when iron was first made use of and by what people? I read that copper was the first metal used. When and by whom?—1J. S. O. A. Specimens of iron have been found in Assyrian and Egyptian ruins. In the British Museum there is a piece of iron believed to date from about 4000 B.C. Copper was known and used by man from the most re- mote periods. Its alloy with tin (bronze) was the first metallic compound in common use. Copper remains have been found in Egypt dating back to the Fourth Dynasty, 3800-4700 B.C. Q. If the King of England, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York were all to die today, who would succeed them to the throne?—M. M. A. If the King of England, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York were to die simultaneously, the Prin- cess Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, would succeed to the throne as Queen Elizabeth. Q. What is a pocket veto?—R. E. G. A. A pocket veto is when the Presi- dent neglects to return a bill before the adjournment of Congress, which takes place within the 10 days of its receipt by him. In this way he pre- vents action by Congress which might override the veto, if it had been sent in. Q. What was Roosevelt's favorite hymn?—A. M. A. A. James Amos writes: “I have BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. heard various hymns named as his favorites. But the one he was always singing to himself. or trying to sing, was ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee.’s" Q. Is there a broad-gauge cfossing at Marshall Pass in the Rocky Moun- tains?—L J. C. A. The Denver & Rio Grande Rail. road was built from Denver acress the Continental Divide into Utah by way of the Marshall and Tennessce Passes to a 3-foot gauge. About 1890 the line was converted to standard gauge (4 feet 832 inches). el Q. What sort of surface is best for school tennis courts?—s. M. A. The surface of a tennis court should be of asphalt, cement, oll, mac- | adam or clay and loam. Other sur- faces, such as grass, may be used, but these require constant attention and care and therefore prove impractical for school use. . Q Would a given room be warmer by burning the open burner of a gas stove or the burner inclosed in the oven?—W, O. A. The Bureau of Standards says that provided the stove in question Is not connected with a flue which car- ries the heated products out of the room, it will give out the same amount of heat whether the door is open or shut, but this heat will not necessarily he given out in the same time. When the door is shut, the metal of tho oven will absorb more of the heat until an equillbrium is established, where the amount absorbed is the same as that radiated. With the door open, the metal of the oven will not reach as high a temperature before this con- dition is established. The case of the two gas burners is practically the same. The room will reach the same temperature whether the burner is in. closed or not, but.it will warm quicke with the open burner because none o the heat is being absorbed by an in. closure such as an oven. However, the same amount of heat will even. tually be liberated in the two cases. Q. Kindly advise me what a “P. B. operator” is.—A. B. A. A P. B. X. operator is an oper- ator on a private hoard exchange such as used in the majority of up-to-date apartment houses, hotels and offices. Gen. Robert E. Lee said: “The thor. ough education of people is the moat eflicacious means of promoting the prosperity of the Nation” These words of the distinquished Southern general are none the less true now than when he spoke them. Our Washe ington Information Bureaw is one of the greatest agencies for the distribu- tion of free information and educa tional data in the world. Its services are free to readers of this paper. ANl you need to do is to send in your query together with 2 cents in stamps for re- turn postage. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. 0. ‘ The recent election of Canada and Cuba along with Finland to non permanent sea‘s in the Council of the League of Nations gives the North American continent representation in the Council for the first time since the organization of the League. What effect this representation will have upon the future interests of the | United States, when problems in which this country has a proper con cern are to be soived by the League, is widely discussed by the American press. The statement of the New York World that “the eleciion of Canada, Cuba and Finland to non-permanent membership_in the Council of the League of Nations for a three-year term will be received in the United States with approval” is echoed by many other journals, especially by those friendly to the League. Sa; the Charleston * Evening Post, citizens of this country the admi of the two North American countries to the governing body of the League of Nations is most interesting and, in a new sense, inviting.” The Buffalo Evening News considers that “those who have been fearful of the possi- bility that the League might mix in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere may now have their minds set at rest. There was little possibility that this would be done in any case,” con- tinues the News, “but with Canada and Cuba in the Council the assurance of the League's non-interference is made doubly sure.” Since we are not affiliated with the League, the Butte Daily Post feeis that “Americans have nothing to do with the maiter, except to express such opinions as they feel like ex- pressing in a purely academic w The League is beyond our sphere concludes this paper. * ok K K Of the significance of the recogni- tion given to Canada, the Hartford Daily Courant says: ‘“The election is important to Canada as another of the many recent indications of that country’s growing independence. Can- ada has no desire for complete sepa- ration from the empire, but the na- tional consciousness of this nation which recently celebrated its sixtieth birthday as a self-governing dominion, is steadily growing. It now conceives of itself as a nation exercising self- determination, though bound into the empire and joined with England by unbreakable bonds. It has long oc- «upied a seat in the League Assem- bly, and it will now occupy one in the League's governing body, the Council.” Comment from the Binghamton Press is to the effect that “Canada has gained world recognition as an independent nation, and as such will now undertake to speak for North America in the Council of the League of Nations. For the first timeAthe League has a thoroughly world-wide aspect,” declares the Press. The question as to what extent the British empire has added to its already great power In the League through the admission of Canada to the Council is also discussed with interest Recalling that “one of the arguments made in the United States Senate during the League of Nations debate was that it was possible for the British Empire to exercise an undue influence in the League's af- fairs” the Bellingham Herald ob- serves regarding Canada’s new im- portance: “Assuming that Canada votes independent, the fact remains that it is tied by solemn bonds to Great Britain, and it would be less than ingenious to believe the two na- tions would not have a_common un- derstanding on mnearly all subjects of 'Seats for Canada and Cuba May Aid U. S. With League population, Canada exceeds Belgium by a million or so, and is part of a certain empire which is far from being one of the small and weak powers.” Considering the possibility that the United States might have entered the League, the Grand Rapids Press argues: “Precisely what danger might we have encountered from Canada’s election to the League Council? Or Australia’s? Or Ireland's? How would the first two of these have voted on Oriental immigration for example, it that should ever come up and Great ! Britain itself should oppose our stand? Their policy is the same as our own. And how much could Great Britain have relied on an anti-American attis tude on the part of Ireland? As a mat. ter of fact, we probably could ha: considerably more influence with the Cuban delegate than Britain has with the representatives of any of its auton. Jmous commonwealths, so far as West. ern Hemisphere questions go.” PHILOSOPHIES BY . GLENN FRANK Tucked away in my memory, taken from a source I have forgotten, I find *his maxim: “Gayety clears the ‘mind; tedium confuses it: tension warps it; the sub- lime refreshes it.” Here are four medicines for the mind. They are not all curative medicineg save as we take them wisely. Two of them—tedium and tension —make for strain. Two of them—gayety and sublimity —make for relaxation. Any one of these four medicines for the mind may be either life-giving or death-dealing” according to the way we take them. Gayety clears the mind; also fritter the mind away Tedium confuses the mind; but it may also school an ill-discipled ming to the Importance of that minimum of routine upon which even the delicate fancy of the poet and the daring feaf of the pioneer must rest. Tension warps the mind; but it may also challenge to responsible action a mind that might otherwise rest in flabby content with half-won achieve ments, . Sublimity refreshes the mind; but it may also wean the mind away from sober realities and wed it to sentimen. tal romanticism: Happy the man who knows how to take these four medicines of the mind so that they will prove both curative and tonic! The creatively normal man will nof tun his back on gayety. Gayety will save him from the sin® of overseriousness; his flashes of gayety will be intermittent vacationg of his spirit from the grind of hif main job; it will help him to ride hi work Ingiead of letting his work. ridg him; it will enable him to wrestle wit issues of statesmanship one hour an rock with laughter at a slap-stich comedy the next; it will save his soul from sterile grayness. The creatively normal man will rise above tedium. Tedium will be to him partly necessary routine to be concurred i and partly an unnecessary inefficicne; to be conquered; he will not quarre| with the tedium of the necessary row tine that goes with every task, know Ing that life would be intolerable i we were obliged always to improvisq every movement and method; but hg but it may ¢ international concern. The election was a fine gesture to Canada, but it leav no doubt of the increasing British influence in the League.” * Kok % Although the Providence Evening Bulletin considers that nada's elec- tion gives Great Britain two Council votes,” still that paper declares its confidence that Canada “can bef count- ed on under any circumstances to dis- play sound and independent judgment on issues affecting European political conditions, and it is doubtful if that much can be said for all of the other Couneil members.” The Bulletin bases this opinion on the fact that “Canada, because of her geographical location, could approach many League problems with a detachment from the intrica- cies of European politics.” The election appeals to the Worces- ter Daily Telegram as an effort on the part of the League Assembly, which elects the non-permanent members to the Council, to “overcome the ‘dictator- ship’ of the larger nations,” though it recognizeg. the fact that “in actual an will look upon all other tedium as q challenge to devise more interesting ways of doing the job in question. The creatively normal man makey tension his friend. ‘ension will key him to his bes} efforts; but, beyond that, he will b Intelligently fatalistic about results, evading unnecessary tension by realiz ing that if he has done his best it i the best he can do; he will laugh the blue devil of unprofitable wor over results. The creative normal man will court to the sublime for the refreshy ment but not for the relaxation of hig powers, 2 Sublimity will enlarge his spirif which will shrivel if it never venture: outside the boundaries of his brea and-butter job; he will know that lis tening to the music of the maste, looking at the pictured magnificencq of the artist's spirit, sailing out intq the sea’s mysteries, or tracking G through the universe will even se; him back to business a better crafts man, (Covyright. 1087.). ...ae