Evening Star Newspaper, October 22, 1927, Page 6

6 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, e e——— et e e e e — — — — —— ———, — — — THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY.....October R2, 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: St and Pennavivanta Av. ice: 110" East 42nd ower Buildin Regent St.. Loadon. ind. th, Orders may | hone Main 5 0 carner at end of each month. Rate Mail—Payable in Advance. by 3 Maryland and Virginia. Datly and Sunday Dails oniv ... Sunday only’. All Other States and Canada. aile and Sunday.l vr. $12.00: 1 ma. aily only €800 1 mo.. Sunday oni¥. D $400:1mol 35 Member of the Assoelated Press. 18 exclusively en cation of all new > it or not cthe ver and also the wocal news All vights of publication reserved Substituting Books for Bars. Turning an unused police station into a branch of the Public Library is not unlike beating a sword into a plowshare, and the Commissioners are to be congratulated upon making such good use of the vld Substation T, of the seventh precinct, located on Wisconsin avenue. Though the build- | ing Is small and was neither planned nor built for a branch of the Public Library, it provides immediate hous- ing for a school branch of the library and will take the place of the present close and crowded quarters of the branch in the Janney School nearby. ‘When the old substation, already un- dergoing a metamorphosis from a place of cells and iron bars to one of shelves filled with books, has outgrown its usefulness in this new field a larger building may be erected commensurate with its needs. The problem confronting the Public Library now is so to distribute its facilities throughout the city by means of branch libraries that they will be- come available to all Washingtonians. This problem was long ago recognized in the legislation which brought the Public Library into being as a “supple- ment of the public educatioral sys- tem” of the District, which should con- sist of “a central library and such number of branch libraries so located and so supported as to furnish books and* other printed matter convenient to the homes and offices of all resi- dents of the District.” So that 'n expanding, the Public Library is only living up to the wording and the intent of the law. ‘The five-year Public Libary build- ing program, already contaimed in legislation introduced in the last ses- sion of Congress and which will be re- introduced at the coming session, con- templates the purchase of sites and erection of buildings for thirteen major branch libraries, comparable to those now located in Mount Pleasant, Ta- koma Park and Southeast Washing- ton. The old Sub-T station, now to be used as a branch library, must not be confused with one of these major projects, but is to be considered as one of the twenty-five branches planned for the public schools, the two of which now existing are housed in school buildings. Providing the Sub- T station for use of the Public Library is only another indication of the sym- pathetic interest to be expected from the District Commissioners in this highly important Washington insti- tution. These Autumn Days. Genuine Fall days bring delight to thousands of persons who appreciate the keen bite of the wind, the fresh- ness of Autumn air and the pleasant sight of changing leaves and vegeta- tion. ‘The “mournful days of October” rep- resent only a poet's mood. To the mass of the people there is something at once inspiring and beautiful in the keen rush of the north winds over the Maryland and Virginia farmlands as they rush into Washington as if bent on “seeing the sights. These winds, from the 7 and west, not only revive the rits of Summer-fagged residents, but actually sweep the National Capital clean, es- pecially its alr, so that few cities in the United States can boast a fresher atmosphere, literally and figuratively, than Washington, D. C. Visitors to the National Capital, standing in front of the Union Sta- tion, often snif! the air with appre- olation, and speak of the unusually fresh quality of the atmosphere, as 1t discoursing on the bouquet of some rare vintage. The nearness of this city, compara- tively speaking, to the great sea to| the east and its location in respect to its historie river, the Potomac, partly account for its justly, famous air. Another factor is that of civic clean- liness, brought about through the co- operation of national and municipal governments with the citizenry at large. ‘Washington is a clean city, in every respect, and perhaps no season of the year makes this more noticeable than the Autumn, with its crisp qual- ity, its browning leaves, its tangy air. ‘There is, t0o, no better time for the sightseer than this. Come one, come all, and see the National Capi- tal—your city—at its best! — vt Retirement from base ball leaves Ban Johnson a subject for the his- torlans of eport and no longer a targ for idle gossip. ——— e Usurping a Title, Roy L. Gray of Fort Madison, Tow: chosen with infinite pains by a maga- zine writer as the personification of the “average man of America,” has al- veady lost his right to occupy that role. He becomes an interloper in the crowded ranks of “average men” and should be thrown out, for he is no longer representative. He ceased to be an average man when he was sin. ®led out as an average man, for aver- age men are not chosen as subjects for articles about average meng He names and pictures of average men do not appear in the magazines. He ceased to be an average man when an enterprising Chicago newspaper took him to Chicago on a sightseeing trip in order to portray the actions of an average man on a trip to Chicago, for | average men are not selected by news- papers to pose as average men, nor are the wives of average men inter- viewed for articles which will en lighten the world on what the wife of an average man thinks of her average husband. A few months ago Mr. Gray may have been an average man, but no longer can he claim the title, When a man attains notoriety he ceases to be average and has accomplished something above the average. But Mr. Gray holds out glowing promise and hope to millions of average men. Simply by “being average” Mr. Gray has ceased to be average and will hand down a fine heritage to his average children. Many years hence voung man will point to a portrait on and explain with pride: my grandfather. Tn 1927 he en as the average man. He took two lumps of sugar in his coffee, he bet on Jack Dempsey to win and he could always tell whether Babe Ruth was behind or ahead of his home-run record. Grandmother always used to say she thought he was above the average, Good-looking some Baumes Laws for Washington. Evidence of the reaction in public opinion against the trend of lighter penalties for crime during recent years is afforded by the recommendations of a special subcommittee of the W: ington Board of Trade committee on public order, just submitted to and taken under consideration by the latter. The subcommittee proposes for Washington a modified version of the Baumes laws now in operation in New York, with an increase in the maximum and minimum penalties for felonies. Final action was held over until the meeting in this city of the National Crime Commission a few days hence, when it is expected the author of the New York laws will be present and available for the giving of more detailed information. It is now generally recognized that the lessening of penalties has actually encouraged crime. The records of courts in the States, as in the District, show that with the minimizing of pun- ishments has come a decided preva- lence of second-offense crime. In short, the lessening of the punishment has tended to develop habitual crimi- nals. With prison terms shortened and with liberal allowances for “‘good behavior,” with generous pardoning and admittance to parole, the average term of imprisonment has been re- duced far below the point of a few decades ago. In New York State the reaction against lighter punishments has resulted in the adoption of a sys- tem of drastic penalties, which include life terms for “repeaters,” those who have previously been convicted of crime and persist in their lawlessness. Already & marked diminution in crime has been noted. Encouraged by this record, other States are now consider- ing similar enactments, and the pro- posal at present. under consideration for the District 18 inspired by the success of the New York experiment in preventive severity, . """ Soclety is chiefly menaced by the professional or hablitual erfminal, who adopts the career of lawbreaking as a definite means of livelihood. It is not the casual, occasional offender who, under the pressure of some emergency or sporadic temptation, steps across the line of legality for a single offense, who threatens the public peace. For such as he the comparatively light penalty now in most jurisdictions imposed upon first offenders usually suffices to | 0l Man Winter is surely on his way. | ment is lacking,” declares the New prevent repetition. But there is a dan-| The mockin’ bird is singin’ an’ the | York Herald-Tribune ger that this experience may encour- age him in continuing a criminal course. The possibility of a long term for a second offense or & life term for | Because the early morning showed a |iron zauntlet or a velvet glove. a third is a strong deterrent. In connection with the considera- tion of the proposed new “Baumes law” for the District attention is given to the matter of a new and more effec- tive vagrancy law for the District, a bill for which will be introduced at the coming session of Congress. It is now difficult in the local jurisdiction to handle the cases of floaters and was- trels who drift into Washington, loungers on the border line between law and crime. The projected enact- ment is designed to meet this condi- tion and to increase the power of the police to check up on those who con- stitute the main body of potential criminals. —_— e Edison says he still enjoys hard work. The urge of genius prevents him from regarding the reward of extraordinary effort, in the terms of the average mind, as the privilege of a good loaf. . Mussolini’s Latest Reform. Benito Mussolini, premier and vir- tual ruler of Italy, assuredly is on the Jjob. He wants Italy to work, to work hard, to make the most of its time, to devote itself to business. To this end he has just proclakmed that after the sixth of November and until further notice all ceremonies, manifestations, celebrations, inaugurations, anniver- saries and centenaries will be pro- hibited. There must be no speeches of whatever caliber, “because the au- thorities must not be distracted from their duties”; economies must be prac- ticed, particularly economy in time, and, says the premier, “we must avold satiating the public on celebrations.” As a prelude to the new order of things in Ttaly the premier decrees the readjustment of the calendar of cele- brations prior to November 6. The fifth anniversary of the Fascist march on Rome, October 28, will fall oni Fri- day. But the commemoration of that event will be held on the following Sunday in order not to lose a work- ing day. Likewise, the celebration of the Italian armistice day, November 4, will be held on Sunday, the 6th, for the same reason. No speeches, no celebrations! This is indeed reform. Whether it will go well with the Itallan population re- mains to be seen. The people of Italy love nothing quite so dearly as a festal occaslon, a holiday, a centenary, an anniversary, an opportunity to quit work and gather in multitudes and | I ceased to be an average man whem his mame and his picture appeared in a rejoice. They love to make and to listen to s be ment in the peninsular kingdom as that of the eighteenth amendment hus proved in America. But Mussolini has accomplished so much along re- formatory Jines and has speeded up the {ndustrial machine in Italy so suc- »ssfully that it may be believed that he will accomplish this greatest of all his endeavors to keep the people busy. rise to greater heights than ever., ) Good Advice. Atthough young Eric Palmer of Brooklyn, N. Y., has lost his amateur radio license for a period of ninety days, he is richer by some sound experiments. intense of intense radio fanatics. cause he sat up all night with h Eric is one of the most Be- set, dinner and breakfast, his family be | came worried about his health, They protested to Erie, but their protests went unheeded. The straw that proke the camel's back, however, was when Eric w dropped from his second school because of his lack of attention to studies. Then Mr. Palmer, senior, wrote to the Federal Radio Commis- sion asking that Eric's license be sus- pended. Admiral Bullard, chairman of the commission, in writing 1o Eric about the suspension, gave him advice on his future activities. He said: Resume your work with moderation. America is looking to its sixtsen thousand amateur radio operators, in which group you stand out, to keen it in the foreground of development Much of the progress of radio nas been accomplished by amateurs, and we expect still greater things. ‘'his is a marvelous fleld for the Amer boy and such enthusiasm as you have displayed should, as a rule, be com- mended rather than disconraged, but in order to develop into a hig, strong, healthy boy you must have regular meals and a full quota of sleep. Those of us who were pioneers will =oon he forced to turn the reins of radio over to you boys, and we want you to he strong and healthy, as the burden will undoubtedly fncrease as new avenues are opened up by you and your col leagues. Eric should ponder well these words. The future of radio, in some respects, is even now in the hands of the young- sters who work assiduously to solve the mysteries of the air. The Govern- ment is encouraging in every way the efforts of the amateur radio station operators throughout the country, and has set aside a speclal wave band for their use. Three months of rest with a redevelopment of a normal hoy’s “.p- petite will send Eric back to his sta- tion with a new keennees and :<st, and it is not at all impossibls that Eric Palmer will add materially to human knowledge of sound through the air. e An aviator who flops In midocean is accounted a success if life-savers can do their duty. It is unfair that photographers should give so little at- tention to life-savers. ———e— Numerous London actors are com- ing to America. Some are good and some are bad. Acting is much the same the world over. ———— In order to assist in adjusting oil controversies it is necessary to be a good geologist as well as a competent lawyer. ! — e For musical comedy purposes, the Atlanta pen has asserted itself as a more or less influential publicity cen- ter. —ate. Biographers are divided into two kinds: Truth tellers and best sellers. ————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON., On His Way. flow'rs are smilin’ gay, In spite of all the comrades that so cruelly were lost sudden touch of frost. Regardless of the bravery of blossoms and of song, Old Man Winter comes gumshoelng along. . Old Man Winter always keeps his little date. The colorings of Summer, tries to imitate. The golden sunshine scatters saluta- tions from the sky; But the days are growing shorter as the weeks go drifting by. Yonder cloud looks like a snowbank, and the frosty breeze is strong, As Old Man Winter comes gumshoe- ing along. Gladness. “Will you be glad to get back to Washington?” “Sure,” answered Senator Sorghum. “Every politiclan is gla® to get back to Washington.” Political Procession. The camel stands for H:O. The ostrich hides his head. The grand parade will start, we know, By patriotism led. Autumn The elephant s undismayed. The donkey's feeling fine— New animals will be displayed To cut a monkeyshine. Jud Tunkins says he'd like to be famous, but not if he has to go to the penitentiary. Tgnorance Is Bliss. “Who is your favorite poet?” “Homer,” answered Miss Cayenne. “Have you read what he wrote?"” “No. He has a wonderful reputa- tion. If I read him more I might not like him so much.” “We have had many wars” sald 11 Ho, the sage of Chinatown, *“whose result has been only to show that some great question remains unset- tled.” The Iago Complex. A foe commands respect complete Who hates without deceit. ‘That foe is worst who can pretend To be an honest friend. “A man who likes to hear his own volce,” sald Uncle Zben, “is allus in danger of sayin' sumpin’ he'll wish he hadn’t thought of.” —.—— Letters Aplenty Now. From the Boston Transcript. ‘We are not sure what Czechoslo- vakia is going to do with loan that 1t is negotiating here, but e sincerely ches, Prohibition of ora- yope it is not Intended to buy a little ciliation, and It so, his prestige, which has been | e of the wonders of the time, will | advice, which should ald him in future | refusing even to spare the time for | The chief sources of fires in the | District of Columbia during the fiscal year ended June 30, last, as enumerat- ed in the report of the fire marshal, with the number of cases, were as fol- lows: . Automobiles, 473 cases. 1 cases. leaves rush, and trash, . B AsPs, . 114 cases s, including heating plants, | This is an interesting tabulation to all householders who believe in fire prevention, and who feel that by con- sidering heforehand the chief sources {of fire hazard in the home, the like- Ithood of unwanted conflagrations may be largely mitigated. Before securing the above list from the annual report of the fire marshal, we had drawn up in our own mind a list of what we considered the seven chief fire hazards in the average home. It is int compare this ng . Accumulation of trash, . G Electricity. . Furnace. 7. Combustible materials. * K ok X Counting out the automobile fires, { which prebably in the great major- 1ity of ¢ did not endar N me Dproperties, it is seen that careless | smoking, with 351 fires, and matches, under which category the report in cludes careless handling and children playing, with a total of 199 cases, eas- ily lead the list. Matches, then, as carelessly handled, or allowed in the nds of children, or as previously applied to pipe, cigar or cigarette, were either directly or indirectly responsible during the fiscal year of 1927 for no Jless than 550 fires in Washington. Matches may thus be rightly re- garded by the average home-owner as the chief fire hazard, along with the sin of carelessness in handling smok- ing_materials. These figures should point surely to the necessity for the greatest vig- liance in handling matches in the home. Perhaps one central supply, kept in a fireproof vessel, would make for greater safety, and this to apply to all sorts of matches. Keeping of so-called “safety matches” in coats hung in closets is not a safe prac- tice. Careless disposal of cigarette and cigar butts and the thoughtless knocking out of pipe “heels” are ac- tions which evidently account for many fires. Matches, too, played thefr part in the 224 cases of fire resulting from brush, grass, leaves and trash ac- cumulations, Those who harbor large accumulations of old boxes or paper in basements, or under wooden back porches, are simply inviting fire. There is perhaps no more dangerous home condition than such untidiness, yet it may be found in countless otherwise well ordered homes. Too many persons regard the cellar or basement as a sort of dumping ground for all the unwanted furni- ture, boxes, old wood and so on that is not wanted above stairs, so that such basements come to take on the The recent conference in Washing- ton of certain Western Senators and their demand-«for greater concessions to the West within the party have been frankly debated by members of both political parties throughout the country. Advocacy of Senator Norris for the presidency arouses conflicting views. Announced opposition to a third party is commended. Senator Borah as a Western candidate also offers topio for comment. “The fire of the La Kollette move- (Republican), with the comment that *“Mr. Norris is a kindly man with a high sense 8t publio duty, not ambitious, not pas- sionate, not a boss, either with an 1o hates nobody, he intimidates nobody. He is tired of public life, especially in Washington. He does not take se- riously the presidential candidacy which Mr, Borah and others wish to thrust upon him.” On the other hand, the Portland Oregon Journal (independent) quotes Senator Borah as stating that “the West wants a candidate who knows something about the country on this side of the Allegheny Mountains,” and states: “In recent years events at ‘Washington have been based almost entirely on the effect east of the Alle- ghenie: The West has been for- gotten “By an acceptable candidate,” ac- cording to the St. Paul Dispatch (in- dependent), “is meant one who is ac- ceptable to the West. The insurgents are there quite sound. But they must not forget that this candidate must also have the high and important qualification of being capable of elec- tion. Senator Norris is a candidate in Nebraska, Senator Curtis is a candi- date in Kansas and Big Bill Thomp- son 1s a candidate in Chicago, but who, apart from Mr. Lowden, Vice President Dawes and perhaps Senator Borah, is a candidate in the United States? No one questions the sin- cerity and honesty of purpose that guide Senator Borah. He has, how- ever, one serious disqualification for leadership of Western strength in Congress. Senator Borah cannot ex- pect to unite the force of the West bebind him so long as he maintains his present opposition toward the Me- Nary-Haugen bill. Agriculture is not going to recede one inch so far as concerns the essentials for which it is fighting. It will have to be Senator Borah who does the receding.” ok “Senator Borah's suggestion of ator Norris as good presidential t! ber,” in the opinion of the Sioux City Tribune (independent), “from the standpoint of Middle Western inter- ests, constitutes rather belated recog- nitlon of an obvious fact. If a real campaign should be instituted in be- half of Senator Norris, with the back- ing of Middle Western Senators, the movement would arouse more popular enthusiasm In this section of the country than any of the movements 4 The Tribune con- orris is not a part- timer. He would fight for Middle Western equities clear down the line. There is little prospect, however, that he will be the Republican nominee for President.” “Whatever may «happen to the West, or to individual aspirants for a presidential nomination, Mr. Borah's standing in the Senate is im- proved,” says the Brooklyn Eagle (independent), and the Trenton Eve- ning Times (independent) states: “It is plain that the Western insurgents can anticipate some real concessions from their stalwart brethren. With Gov. Smith looming as a presidential candidate who may carry New York State for Democracy in 1928, com- promise and conciliation may be ex- pected to anate from the Republi- can citadel”” The Bellingham Herald (independent Republican) agrees that “their move is-in the direction of con- probably will be ac- oDt 1080 THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. appearance of a junk heap at its worst. Chimney fires probably result, in most cases, from trying to force the heating plant in very cold weather, hut also they probably arise from the failure of householders to make a practice of having the pipe leading from the furnace to the chimney re- placed every 3 or 4 years, and the chimney itself cleaned out, especially at the hase where the galvanized pipe is cemented in. Often such a pipe is so rotted out inside that one may poke a finger rough it, yet it shows no particular vidence of decay from the outside; in fact the pipe may be quite shiny in appearance. Take it down, howe and examine it from “the inside loo ing out,” it shows up for what it is— a fire hazard It is interes that only of sto ng to note, however. 75 fires are laid to the door which designation includes ! g plants. This would seem to indicate that the home gas stove is not such a source of danger as our own list would indicate. Probably most A used fires are put out in the home before the engines ve. B wiring and wliances were responsible for 117 ¢ I of the new homes in the District have been wired according to a fixed s ird. At any te, the wiring w the’ walls iS without the province of the average home-owner. }e must responsible, however, & to it that the correct fuses are used in the box in the basement, emembering that to replace a blown fuse with one higher than 10 or 15 amperes is to defeat the purpose of such safety valves. 1In the case of the use of washing machines, and so on, thers may be exceptions to this rule, but to put in a fuse of 30 or 50 mpse"* merely to prevent a blow- out is wrong practice. I your fuses blow out continually, it is new wiring vou need, not heavier fuses, * % ok ok Sparks and chimney fires may or may not be related to heating plants The need for non-combustible roofs is plainly indicated here, Frayed electric cords in a home offer another source of danger. Many lamp cords become frayed at the bhase, where the cord enters the convenience outlet. Such a condition is theoreti- cally dangerous, and may be actually s0. Amateur wiring is another plain source of fire hazard, as is the use of Jt]l sorts of gheap electrical materials. Electricity 15 too mighty a force to trust to the tender mercles of frail cords and cheap sockets. Nothing but the best should be used, if one wants to play as safe as possible, The keeping of combustible mate- rials, such as gasoline, etc., in the home is another source of danger. Most of these may as easily be kept outside the house, since they will not freeze, Reviewing the causes, it 19 seen that matches, smoking and careless- ness in general, together with the harboring of leaves and trash, consti- tute the major sources of fire danger in the home. It is well for the home-owner to consider the case of his own home in regard to these dangers, whether it be “Fire Prevention Week” or not, and to insure himself and his neigh- bors in so far as possible from fire by appropriate action followin; Demands of Western G. O. P. Stirs Varied Press Comment “The public is naturally inclined to look askance at such conferences of' the former blic,” declares the Indianapolis Star {independent Re- publican); “although recognizing its right to discuss legislative programs of particular interest to the group of Western States. The extent of its plans probably will be disclosed when Congress assembles.” The Manchester Union (independent Re- publican) remarks that “perhaps as good a guess as any is that the group is actually far from being of one mind, and would promptly divide if, fo its amazement, it found itself in }l!nsltion u; ythl:‘x‘t l:‘omebfld}' wholly of s way of nking at tl the ticket.” Ao “The only way this Western bloc can accomplish anything is to go along with the party,” in the judg- ment of the Waterloo Tribune (inde- pendent Progressive), and the Rock Island Argus (independent) takes the stand: “Better a third party, frankly advocating its principles,” however radical, than a powerful bloc en- trenched in a position where it can dictate to whatever party is in power.” A resulting general situation is described by the Dayton Daily News (independent Democratic): “The two :stablished major parties become thus common carrlers of politics, each one the scene of internal struggles of contending elements such as one now sees as between the Kastern and Western Republicans, and such as pretty regularly make the Democratic party more interesting than effective. And out of such struggles comes such health as the parties have.” The Co- lumbia Record (Democratic) finds the condition “comforting, because it in- dicates that not all the off-the-reser- vation squads are in the Democratic party.” “The economlc basis for political division s here,” asserts the Hous- ton Chronicle (Democratic). “It is bound to come. The natural align- ment would seem to be the linking of the agricultural interests of the South and West to balance the power of the industrial centers. That does not mean that harmful internecine warfare would follow, or that there would be any damper for the pros- perity that industralisSm has brought us. It means rather that basic eco- nomic interests would be given in- telligible modes of expression; that political parties would be squazed to economic realities.” UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR Ten Yea:. Ago Today Thirty-eight million men are now bearing arms in the World War, ac- cording to figures published by the War Department. * * * gSecretary Baker issues formal statement which is interpreted as meaning that the bulk of the American expeditionary force now in France will soon go into action in the trenches. He says that the allies will continue their drive and will not go into Winter quarters this year. * * * Coolness and quick ma- neuvering save the American destroy- er Cassin from destruction in encoun- ter with German submarine. Veering missile hits destroyer after command- er alters course. * * * Sugar profit- eers face curb by Hoover for demand- ing exorbitant prices. * * * Big Capronl airplane, carrying pilot and eight passengers, sets air record in fight from Langley Field, near Nor- folk, to Mineola, a distance of 330 miles, in 4 hours 25 minutes. Scouting machine covers distance in 2 hours 55 minutes, ¢ ® ¢ Alien property cus- todian to seize property and money amounting to’§200,000,000 or more be- longing to Germa) bjects and pro- ceeds used to buy ty bonds with which to finance war agalnst Ger- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 Ly 1927. THE LIBRARY TABLE By the Booklover. The editor of the Saturday Review of Literature in commenting recently upon Ernest Barker's tional Char; acter and the Factors in Its Forma tion” accepts as fairly well chosen that English author's list of “the dozen books, or poems, or passages o literature most likely to be chosen by common consent, as those which hav stablished themselves definitely as fonal possession or influence,” as follows: The authorized version of the Bible; Bunyan's “Pilgrim’s Prog. 3 the tragedies and histories of cespeare; the poems of Milton some of the earlier sonnets and some of the odes of Wordsworth: the hymns of the Wesleys and Watt Cowper; the social poems of Burns; “The Pickwick Fapers” of D Do Toe's “Robinson 5 “Blegy in Country | Boswell's “Life of Jo Walter Scott, especial of Midlothian.” * K Kk ok The Saturday Reviewer then pro- ceeds “to draw up an American canon which should include, not the most n books, but, in Mr. Barker ategory, the books which have fluenced Americans and are finitely a national possession.” which follows, “would, of » in addition to the English canon, because it is part of our En lish_heritage’ The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin; “The Declara- tion of Independence”: Irving's “Rip Van Winkle" e Legend of Sleepy Hollow' wthorne's “Scar- let Letter;” Leatherstocking Tales” of Cooper; Eme 3 and lectures; Mafk Twain's “Huckle- berry Finn’ dgar Allen Poe and Longfellow. The editor adds: “If there is to be a later addition it must be Sinclair Lewis. His books, like Dickens’, Shakespeare' given names to the languag are not time-tested, but it seems probable that “Babbitt at least will mong the few books of which reading Americans will be con- scious and which most Americans will M Lewis gets canonized How will he en- a o€’} 1y Churchyard K KX K A_novel of femininity, of spinster femininity, without eudian com- plexes, but with a ent heart problem, is E. H. Young's “The Mal- letts.” Miss Caroline and Miss Sophia Mallett are ripened spinsters, com- fortable and satisfied with thelr life in their country home, having no unsat- isfled or suppressed desires and recol- lecting but vaguely the limited emo- tions of their youth. Their step-sister Rose, much younger, has started on the path of spinsterhood traditional in the Mallett family, but'has met an ob- stacle to tranquillity in the form of an old lover, married to an invalid wife, who demands friendship and sym- pathy from Rose. She responds mea: uredly, but is always calm, sane, en- tirely restrained—a Mallett. Then ar- rives Henrletta Mallett, a niece, not at all a typical Mallett. She threatens to disturb the serenity of the spin- sters’ retreat with her vanity, her jealousy, her imagined love for Francis, the lover{riend of Rose. Through the wisdom of Rose the tangle is straightened and prospects are bright for the happiness of all. * k ko In “The Land’s End,” recently re- published, the late W. H. Hudson, independent naturalist, describes that long arm of West Cornwall which stretches out into the Atlantic. Not only the wild, rocky cliffs of the coast interest him, but also the almost treeless moors extending back inland; not_only the picturesqueness of the land, but also its life—flowers, birds, people. Ho finds in this not v fertile region countless wild flowers, many of them rare, as well as the beautiful rusty bracken and golden gorse. A lifedong bird lover, he ob- serves at Land’s End white-winged and black-backed gulls and gannets flying high and low over the waves, ravens haunting the cliffs, and, back a little from the coast, wrens, thrushes, redwings and numerous other smali birds. Cornish types of men and women, chiefly old, but some of them young,” stimulate his powers of de- scription. * ok Kk ok Anthony Trollope, dear to many readers who love a comfortable, long novel of English country life in the days before heavy war taxes and democratic legislation broke up so many of the old estates with their leisurely way of existence, has found a new appreciator in Michael Sad- leir, well known English novelist. In his biography “Anthony Trollope, a Commentar: he calls Trollope ‘“the Voice of an Epoc] He says: indeed, and to a peculiar degree, this mid-Victorian period is Trollope's pe- riod. He is the articulate perfection of its normal quality and in his books lives the spirit of its dominant class —a spirit kindly and ardent; a spirit at once gay and thoughtful; a spirit as sympathetic to individual distress as it was indifferent to class suffer- ing.” Trollope’s novels jog along at as easy a pace as did his horse when he traveled over Ireland in the postal service. He never considered that they were works of genius, and frankly wrote them, at the rate of so many pages a day whether sick or well, at home or abroad, because he needed the money. Many commonplace, self- satisfled people crowd his pages, but they are so human that a reader who really likes Trollope feels about his personages as about the inhabitants of his own home town. Trollope’s best novels are in the two series—the or cathedral town, series and iamentary series. In the first he Warden,” “Barchester Tow- House at Aliington” and “The Last Chronicle of Barset. In the second are “‘Phineas Finn,” ‘“Phineas Redux” 'and “The Prime Minister.” * ok ok Kk The British cartoonist of the World War, Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather, has written some of his impressions of the war in “Carry on Sergeant,” fllus- trated by his own cartcons. He tells how he began to draw his cartoons, when he was lying in the mud of the Ypres trenches, just to relieve the in- ward pressure of his temper. After being twice wounde Bairnsfather was appointed staff artist of the Brit- ish forces in France and sent about to the various sectors of the front. Expe- riences on these journeys are woven into his book and they are not all humorous. His conclusion is that swearing and sergeants won the war. * K K K There may be some courageous ad- venturers who never know fear, others may experience it and never tell, but Willlam Beebe is not ashamed to admit that at times inthe jungle he has been horribly afraid, has been, in fact, in a panic. In “Pheasant Jungles” he tells that once in Borneo he was so terrified when he was confronted by three shock- ingly disflsured lepers that when, shortly after, a squirrel jumped on his back he shrieked aloud and dropped his gun. A real case of nerves. Once in a Burma jungle he became panic-stricken: ‘“Before the first night was over I knew the hor- rors of acute nervous breakdown. It is probable that only explorers will really comprehend what I mean, when waking fears and sleeping ter- rors combine to kill every enthusiasm and desire for work. The thought of going on was impossible. I hated pheasants, the jungle and all its in- mates.” Of course he recovered and did go on. * * k% “For| ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. | Q. What is the bridge being buiit | in Washington across the Potomac hetween Potomac Park and Arlington called?—S. R. S. | A. At the present time the new bridge comes under the Arlington | Mlemorial Bridge Commission and is <nown as the Arlington Memorial tridge. A. A tail spin is an airplane ma- neuver in which the plane descends | spinning on its longitudinal axis, nose first, tail spinning. Q. How were Cicero's orations re- corded?—H. ¢ A. In Cicero's day shorthand re- ‘| porters were frequently present when | Cicero delivered an oration, as in the caso of the delivery of his speech for Milo. Cicero’s method struct a commentarius or skeleton of his speech which he used when speak- ing. If he was pleased with a speech he then wrote it out for publication. Sometimes he omitted in the written ech a subject on which he had spoken. Q. What ara cetaceans”—A. C. A. A. They are mammals whose struc | ture is so modified as to render them {fit for aquatic life—for instance, whales, dolphins and porpoises, Q. What percentage of the ftofal area of cotton land was flooded this year?—W. H. L. A 'he total area of land in the ited States de of eotton in 19 was estimated to be 47,653,000 acr While the Bureau of Agricultural Tconomics does not have figures on the number of acres of cotton destroyed by the flood, it does have a report on the number of acres planted to cotton last year that were flooded this year. In Arkansas there were 1.111,900 acres land: in Lou 578,700 Mississippi, res. Q. fruits, How can raw foods such nas lettuce, celery, etc.. e disin- re heing put into a re- R. F. . The Home Refrigeration Service sayvs that raw foods should be washed thoroughly, then immersed for five minutes in a stone jar filled with a fresh chloride of lime solution, half an ounce of lime to two gallons of water, Food flavor or quality will not bé harmed, and the germs will be destroyed Q. Did the Incas build stairways? —V. E V. A. The Bureau of American Ethnol- ogy ys that the Inca Indians had steps or stairs to many of their build- ings. The greater part of their dwelling houses were constructed with only one story, with steps lead- ing to the roof. They also had steps leading to the tops of towers. BY PAUL “pigs is pigs!” but they are only porkers, while reindeer are something else, and when it comes to increasing and multiplying and replenishing the starving Esquimos and hungry Amerl- cans, they have pigs beaten. There was a news item published a day or two ago stating that the United States Government was plan- ning a complete census of all reindeer in Alaska, and for that purpose all the “critters” were to be rounded up and counted. The writer of that item evidently had pictured a grand trek of those festive racers of Santa Claus, all to one corral in Alaska, where somebody would keep tally as they entered the modern Noah's Ark. It transpires, however, that there will be no such spectacular assembly, but that, according to the annual prac- tice, all owners of the reindeer will make their usual round-up and count, just as they are accustomed to d every July for branding and Autumn for butchering. * k k% Nevertheless, there is a story in the development of this great food supply which did not exist on the American continent 40 years ago, and which now has become almost overwhelming in amount. There would be one rein- deer next Christmas for each and every man, woman and child in the city of Washington if Santa Claus would part with them all. And they are multiplying at the rate of from 33 to 45 per cent annually. By Christmas, 1928, there will be three quarters of a million; by 1929, perhaps more than a million. Multiplying 45 per cent annually brings a frightful vision of the future menace of a reindeer in- vasion overwhelming America. By 1930, there will be 1,682,000 reindeer; by 1933 we must face 5,686,000 rein- deer. The herds will overrun all Alaska _and sweep down across the line, “Fifty-four-forty,” so that before the middle of the century there will be more reindeer than voters in the United States. There is no race suicide known to reindeer. * ok Kk ¥ They feed on moss and other wild pasturage in the open country, not thriving so well in forests, though they are fond of eating willow twigs. It costs about $1 a year to raise a reindeer, and, counting the income from their milk and eventually from their horns (good hatracks), their meat (which tastes somewhat like venison), their hides, which make good soft leather, and even their hair, which makes warm lining for Winter clothes and is otherwise useful, it looks like a good investment to buy a reindeer for $10, feed him a year for $1 and harvest the profits. He beats dogs as a “carriage horse,” drawing a sled over snow hummocks, to say nothing of his “flying” with Santa Claus’ sled right over roofs and up to chimneys. There is only one company of packers now shipping reindeer meat out of Alaska, and it raises some 50,000 animals of its own, besides buying from Eskimos. From 1918 to 1925 that company sent us some 2,000,000 pounds of reindeer ‘“‘venison,” and now that it has purchased a re- frigerator ship and has found the supply embarrassingly great, there is a prospect that the shipments will rapldly increase. Why chew tough cow when one may be served Alaskan “‘venison’ * ok ok ok It seems, indeed, to be the most atrocious example of the irony of fate to find that the development of rein- deer in Alaska is in the hands of the United States commissioner of educa- tion, rather than under the Depart- ment of Agriculture with its Bureau of Animal Husbandry. Yet the peda- gogues are not trying to add rein- deerology to ‘the ‘‘readin’, ’ritin’ and ‘rithmetic” of the average student’s curriculum. Nor are they training the young reindeer in special tricks, as animal trainers do with dogs and horses, No reindeer is taught to lie down and turn over, like a dog. None is trained to watch his owner’s hat or gloves. Then why have school teachers a: reindeer jockeys? 3 That query brings back the story of the origin of reindeer in Alaska, through the activity of Dr. Sheldon daughter of Henry Ward Beecher, who are now engaged in collecting and editing his letters for publication, ask of those who have letters of his in their possessinn the privilege of ac- cess or loan or communication. Origi- nals will _handled with the utmost care and pbmptly returned. Holders of such letters are e Q. What Is a tall spin?—L. R. McC. | I was to con- | oted to the raising | asked to address | Q. Has there ever been a bad | tornado in St. Louis before the recent one?—S, A. A. In 1896 a tornado wrecked a Jarge number of buildings in St Louis, 1sing $10,000,000 worth of | damage and killing 138 persons. Q. Where is Oberammergau? what language is the Passion Play given?—L. G. < | Oberammergau f& on the right | bank of the Amma in Upper Bavaria, ur miles southwest of Munich. The Passion Pla xiven in German. Q earth e A earth's Jas the entire population of tha er been determined?—A. About 414 per population is s ! he regions for which no eon tistics are ilable are A nistan, China, Indo-Chinese Pen 1, Central Africa and Polar Amers mere Q. Are the sparrows that are mow seen in such numbers in Washington | damaging the grass and shrubbery?— H . The Department of Agriculture ¥s that these birds are flocking te- gethar in search of food and that they 7d the grass seed that is now plentis ful about the public buildings attrac. tive. Coarse grass that zoes to seed apidly has bee °d. The birds ara protected by Federal or District, ad could be poisoned or trapped 1if police authorities will permit. They |cause no serious damage, however, and will scatter later. Q. What is meth —D. B. A. It is an old Saxon. fermented drink made from hon I | 1w, as used in the Gaynor Q. How much lace wedding dress worn b seventh Heaven D. It ig reported that vards of ch lace was used in this dainty trock. Q. What is the story of the “Winged Vietory"2—F. W. F. | A. The original “Winged Vietory” of samothrace was found in 1863 on the ‘nllulnfll Island of Samothrace. Tha statue bhelongs to the Hellenistia period of Greek art. There is a legend to the effect that the figure resembles a figurehead from a vessel. “Winged Victory” is in the Louvre Gallery, Paris. The resources of our free Informas tion Bureaw are at your service. You are invited to call upon it as often as you please. It is being maintained by The Evening Star solely to serve you, What _question. can we answer for wou? There is no charge at all, except 2 cents in stampa for return postage. Address_your letter to The Evening Star Information Burean, Frederic J. Haskin, dircctor, Washington, D. C. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS V. COLLINS. Jackson, a Presbyterian missionary, who found the Esquimos starving and uncivilized in 1891. Their game supply was unreliable and inadequate. The nomadic habits necessitated by the chase made it well-nigh impos- sible for missionary contact close enough to bring civilization, while the economic situation forecast ulti- mate destruction of all natives within a few years. So Dr. Jackson set to work to find food supplies to supple- ment fish and game, and also to find means of changing the habits of the people into greater domestication by giving them herds to care for. In earlier times the Esquimos Had had plenty of wild reindeer, but when firearms were introduced -all kinds of game were driven to seek refuge in the inaccessible mountain regions, The sea had had plenty of whales, walruses and sea lions, the rivers an abundance of salmon. But the white man came with his can- neries and with his modern means of whaling. All such food supplies were now shortened. Dr. Jackson is known as the Father of Alaska, since to him alone must be credited the reindeer solution of the problem. In 1890 he wrote: “A moderate computation, based upon the statistics of Lapland, where similar climatic and other conditions exist, shows northern and central Alaska capable of supporting 9,000,000 head of rein- deer, To reclaim and make valuable vast areas of land otherwise worth- less; to introduce large, permanent and wealth - producing industries where none previously existed; to take a barbarian people on the verge of starvation and Iift them to a coms- fortable self support and civilization, is certainly a work of national importance.’ Critics declared that it would be better to let the Eskimos die in peace than to attempt such a ‘“vislonary scheme” as bringing reindeer from Siberia and attempting to teach the barbarians how to care for them and breed them. But the plan was ap. proved by the commissioner of educa« tion, to whom it had been submitted, and through his official recommenda- tion, the Fifty-first Congress in 1891 appropriated $15,000 for the experi- ment. * ok ok x Dr. Jackson took this appropriation and invested part in goods to be traded in Siberia for the animals, for he knew that only by barter, not by money, could the reindeer ba procured. He got the first four deer in exchange for 1 rifle and 200 care tridges; the next four required a rifle, 200 cartridges and a fox trap; the next three cost a rifle, a revolver, 200 cartridges and a box of navy bread; the next five found prices again enhanced, for they cost 1 rifle, 1 repeating rifle, 200 cartridges, a set of reloading tools and a box of navy bread. That was all he was able to persuade the Siberians to sell the first year, but in succeeding years he added to his herd a few score each year. From this modest beginning have come the half million now in Alaska, which are hereafter to be the foundation of one of the greatest meat and leather industries in the world, It is the policy of the Government to restrict ownership of reindeer to Eskimos to prevent overreaching by whites, but some are possessed by white men married to Eskimo women. Experiments in feeding cultivated crops to reindeer demonstrate that such feed changes the character of the meat, making it finer grained and better in flavor. The future of such meat, therefore, has great pos- sibilities, aside from mere increase in quantity, * ok kK There is a demand from meat dealers for the invention of a suitable name of reindeer meat, differing from ‘“venison” and less awkward than “reindeer meat.” Reindeer meat is not venison; but it has the flavor of wild game. The new name must in. dicate the real character of the meat- source, as do the names of other meats. One does not speak of bull steak, but of “beef”; nor of sheep meat meaning mutton, nor of pig meat when it is ham or other “pork.” So why use “reindeer meat” as a mar- ket name, when & simple and distin- § guishing name would help popularize the use of it? Reindeer are not half as familiar sights in the United States as the Christmas legends seem to suggest they might be. At present a steamer is bringing from central Alaska to Seattle 300 live reindeer, together with several tons of reindeer moss for their feed. The animals will be distributed to 100 or 200 cities in time for Christ- stunts, and then they will be seng .and ] % oA » ) )