Evening Star Newspaper, December 12, 1927, Page 8

THE EVENING STA With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY.....December 12, 1927 R —_—— THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor s R AR S The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Offico d_Pe A a Ave. ow Yor Office’ 110 East 32nd. St. Chicago Office: Tower RBuilding. Buropean Offce: 14 Regent St.. London Eogiand. The ing Star with the Sunday morn. toe ition 1t delivered by carriers within the city at 60 cents per month: daily on! r month: Sundays only. mephons Main 5000, Collection is made by carrier at end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. D’Ilryllnd and Virginia. ly and Sunday. . aily only. ... us 1 vr. $0.00: 1 mo. 1 yr. £6.00: 1 mo.. inday onlv..". 1 vr. $300° 1 mo. 2| All Other States and Canada. and_Sunday.] vr. $12.00 1 mo.. $1.00 2 1vrl SR80 only. . €8.00: 1mo. 75¢ day only....ll] yr. $4.00:1 mo. Member of the Associated Press. asociated Press 18 excingively enti 1o ke A Tor Fepuniication of all bews di ches red: o o ptherwiag cred: and a0 the e ectieneg. Retemy AT\ rizhis 0f publication herein are alén tesarved ted to it or not in lished epecia) disn: The Mexican Charges. A situation of delicacy and diffi- culty arises in the matter of the en- deavor of the special Senate commit- tes just appointed to secure the pres- ence before it of the Mexican consul general at New York. Certain charges have been made to the effect that money was paid on behalf of the Mexi- can government to members of the Senate, who have not yet been named, in order to promote a propaganda in behalf of the administration at Mexico City. It is alleged that the transaction took place through the agency of the consul general. The Senate has with propriety and justification sought to ascertain the fact, and has summoned that official to appear before the in- wvestigating committee. The Ambassa- dor for Mexico declares that the con- sul general is immune from summons by reason of his official position. There is no treaty between the two governments which specifically ren- ders its respective consular representa- ¢|certain and immediate death by the tunity to learn the business, perhaps for a year, drawing during that time a salary that will far exceed that of the highest paid professor in the edu- cational institution from which he has graduated. If he can make the grade in these conditions he will be worth his hire. ——— e Motorists, Beware! The deadly peril of monoxide gas trom the exhaust of an automobile in a closed garage was never more vivid- ly illustrated than in the heroic treat- ment necessary to maintain the spark of life in a young chauffeur who was overcome by the fumes a few days ago. Rushed to the Georgetown Hos- pital after collapsing as he was warm- ing up truck motors in the early morning, the driver was saved from administration of oxygen by the Fire Department rescue squad. For twen- ty-four hours he lay in a coma, the slender thread of life being main- tained by frequent and sustained oxygen doses, and blood transfusions from two volunteer medical students. It is now expected that he will re- cover, but he owes his life to prompt and skillful medical treatment. Monoxide gas is odorless and in- visible. Unconsciousness comes quick- Iy to the person who inhales it in suf- ficlent quantities. Every year warn- ings are broadcast throughout the country of the perils of this deadly gas, but it seems as if there is always a small percentage that falls to heed admonitions of safety. Every motorist should make it an mnflexible rule never to start the mo- tor unless doors or windows are open. No matter how cold it is on the out- side, it is far better to shiver with open windows and open doors when tinkering with the engine than it is being Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island, which hold annual sessions; Mississippi and Vir- ginia, which meet biennially in the even-numbered years, and Alabama, which meets quadrennially, the next session being held in 1931. In any one of the forty-one States in which conditions arise demanding or justify- ing special sessions between times, in a year In which a regular meeting is not scheduled, there may be a block- ade, owing to the refusal of the ex- ecutive to summon a session; in two others the same situation may occur in the alternate years, while in one there is a lapse of three and a frac- tion years in which no session is pos- sible unless formal call is made. It is not known whether the charges against the Governor of Oklahoma are in any degree justified, but it is unmistakable that his refusal to allow the Legislature to meet to consider them raises a prefudice of opinion against him. He may take the ground that the Legislature elected in 1926 is not qualified to pass upon his actions, when it was chosen for a briefly lim- ited term and has discharged its reg- ular functions. Still, it remains as the State’s law-making body, with a potential power of impeachment, until displaced by the election of a ne Legislature through formal election, The possession of the power of im- peachment is of no utility unless it can be exercised at any time when conditions warrant. There is no safe- guard against malfeasance in office on the part of State administrators if the way to correction is blocked by re- fusal of the executive to call the Leg- islature in special session for the pur- pose of investigation and accusation. Thus, the spectacle of an armed force summoned by the governor to prevent to take a chance on the Endless Sleep. There Is no warning when monoxide gas is in the air, there is no way of telling when it begins its insidious work on the human organs, and if at the last minute the victim realizes his danger and makes a dash for the open air the chances are great that he will be overcome before he can reach it. Instances have been reported when a person partially unconscious from the effects of monoxide gas has been tives thus exempt from service for the giving of testimony, but nevertheless | 3¢mosphere, but too often bodies are | Viscountess Astor, able to reach the life-giving outside the Legislature from assembling for the purpose of considering charges of misconduct on his part has a decidedly unpleasant significance, which is not lost upon the country at large. —————————— ‘The Prince of Wales intends to visit Hollywood. A thrifty person must shudder at thought of the salary of- fers the dignity of his position will compel him to turn down. ——— “Ladies, you must not smoke!” said thereby demon- the exemption is claimed by virtue of | found in positions that indicate a |strating that in order to raise a gen- » general rule of immunity respecting diplomatic and consular officers. The Mexican government has spe- cifically and repeatedly denied the tutile struggle to get to the door. So every motorist should paste in his garage a small cardboard notice, “Never Start the Motor With the eral laugh an after-dinner speech need not necessarily be humorous. ———— The reduction in the cost of many authenticity of the documents which | Doors and Windows Closed,” to re-|things at this time may cause 1927 to have been lately presented to Ameri-|mind him constantly of a deadly peril | be remembered as a record-breaking can readers through newspaper publi-| that can be avoided by simple meas-|Santa Claus year. eation, declaring them to be forgeries. It would seem to be the most desirable eourse for it to permit the attendance of its representatives before the Sen- ate committee of investigation. If these documents are forgeries it now has its opportunity to prove them to be such. The Senate is quite within its ures. Better do it today. may be too late! ‘Tomorrow The Farmers’ Market Makeshift. According to report, it is proposed by the District Commissioners to rec- ommend to Congress the location of the Farmers’ Market temporarily on —_— et fONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1927. THIS AND THAT She was a store clerk who had made her work an adventure. She explored humanity as it pre- sented itself to her at her counter. Tell us not in empty numbers that she was just a Christmas-time helper, drafted for the rush period, and not typical. The point is that she had achieved an outlook which no man or woman in the world might not emulate with profit. Instead of being bored with her task, this girl approached a customer with’ ardor. Her enthusiasm was contagious. How fine the world would be if all of us might enter’ into our daily work in the same spirit, as an opportunity to view the most curious creatures in the universe, Mr. and Mrs. Man! DY Tt was not so much what she said or what she did as the look with which she peered over her counter as she gazed at the rapid procession of worn- en and still more women, with here and there & man, The fate of man shoppers at Christ- mas is a sad one, unless they, too, look upon the thing as an adventure, an exploit to be undertaken with good humor and zest. If they possess this happy outlook, they are likely to find Christmas shopping almost as much fun as the woman-folk do! To get back to the happy clerk! Tt was not so much that she entered into her work with such “pep”; it was more the outlook-upon her work which impressed. She was getting a real “kick” out of standing there behind the counter and trying to help the people out front. How different she was from so many other tired girls who alrcady showed marks of weariness. One gentleman tried them out, one after the other, just to see the difference, and found it something as follows: The tall blond with the bored ex- pression answered his plea for a to- bacco jar by plumping two clear glass containers on the counter and letting it go at that, despite the fact that he had assured her these were exactly the sort of jars he did not want. “Haven't you anything else?” asked. “No, sir,” she countered, as if dar- ing him to contradict her. He went away unconvinced. Such a large establishment, he felt sure, must have in stock at this season a large supply of tobacco jars, to meet the requirements of the trade. The customer refused to take ‘no" for an answer, as every good customer should. He approached the counter trom a different angle, and happily came face to face with the interested young lady. “What can we do for you?” he she beamed. Her attitude was clearly this: Well, now, here is another one, I wonder what he wants. Well, whatever it is, if it is here, and he has the money, he is going to get it! Sure enough, that was exactly what happened. “I want a tobacco jar, but not one A few statesmen will soon be wish- ing one another “Happy New Year” with no confident expectation that the wish will come true. The Dearborn Independent lost its most important asset when Henry rights In taking cognizance of & charge | ., yja)) petween Seventh and Ninth | Ford canceled his subseription. affecting the integrity of its own mem- bers. Indeed, it could not ignore that charge, however it might doubt the genuineness of the documentary ma- terial that has been laid before the public. It cannot proceed with its in- vestigation effectively without the presence of those best qualified to speak regarding the alleged transac- tions. Refusal to permit service of summons to appear before the investi- gating committee, while possibly with- in the technical rights of the Mexican government, could not fail to be inter- pret-1 as an avoldance of this oppor- tunity, leaving the matter in an inde- streets. This suggestion is induced by the fact that it will be necessary to vacate the present site of the Farm- ers’ Market in a few weeks to permit the excavation work for the new In- ternal Revenue Building. Even if an appropriation could be secured for a permanent provision for the Farmers’ Market within &a~¥iontH, “Which s doubtful, there would be no time to prepare the new market in season. So this makeshift arrangement is sug- gested with the idea that meanwhile an appropriation will be granted for the establishment of the market on a SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOENSON Mocking Bird. We listen to the mocking bird, i So.faithtnl and so shy. He sings the melodies we've heard In memories gone by. In patient sweetness he conceals The griefs that drift away; And sings along, as earth reveals The pleasures of today. He knows no rule collegiate terminate state in which public senti. | Permanent site which will later be| ;' ocuiate his song. ment would be likely to change trom | "ecommended specifically by the Com- | gy waits for tunes to congregate skepticism to belief. —————————————— A mew method of farm relief has missioners. This may be the best move in all the circumstances. But it should be And gayly sings along. He loves them all, both great and small— been discovered by Harry Thaw, who | very definitely and explieitly provided | mpg gtrains so fondly heard. turns his attention from agriculture |that any construction on the Mall is | The gweetest singer, after all, to the movies. ————————— It only remains for the polite rob- ber to request the proprietor of the shop to call a taxi. A Golden Chance. Under the heading, “Vice President | tion and funds for the erection of the | Past.” ‘Wanted,” an advertisement appears In & New York paper which will prob- ably elicit numerous responses. In- deed, were it not for the fact that ap- plicants are asked to write and not to ‘make their approach in person or by telephone, it is probable that the serv- lces of the police will be necessary to keep in check the throng lured by the announcement. The company that needs a vice president is described as leading the world in its line of busi ness. It wants a man to take charge of all of its marketing activities, who, for perhaps a year, will have to busy of a temporary character, with a defi- nite time limit, and the solution of the immediate problem of what to do with this establishment in making way for the Internal Revenue Building should Wot cause any relaxation of effort to obtain a site for its permanent loca- necessary structure. “Temporary” use of the public parks was justified during the war emer- gency. But even now, nine years after the signing of the armistice, there re- main souvenirs of that situation in the form of acres of unsightly, crumbling structures in one section and a pair of massive concrete buildings in another section. It is confidently expected that the former will be removed as soon as the new housing program of the Government, just starting, gains headway. There is, however, no as- surance regarding the concrete build- 1s just a mocking bird. Modernist. “1 should like to hear your opinions on the War of the American Revolu- tion.” “You are going too far into the answered Senator Sorghum. “If I want an argument I refuse to go more than two years back for the data.” Power. Aviation, without doubt, ‘Will rule the Christmas scene; For Santa cuts the reindeer out And uses gasolin Jud Tunkins says children no longer believe in Santa Claus; which is tough luck for Santa, who used to be so fond of children. Reticence. “Who is the most prosperous man himself in studying and in earning the | ings on the north end of Potomac|in your community?” right to leadership over the able jun- for executives who are now at the head of the sales force. During this probation he will have to be content with a salary of $20,000 to $25,000 a year, but just as soon as he proves himself he will be made vice president In charge of marketing. There are probably a good many thousand men who believe that they meet the requirements of this attrac- tive advertisement. They may not have had experience in marketing or In salesmanship on a small or a large scale. But they have confidence in their abilities. Certainly they have the belief that they are worth from $20,000 to $25,000 a year while on pro- bation, and that they can earn the right to promotion to a larger stipend. If they believe themselves thus quali- fled, strongly enough, they may have & chance. The competition that is thus proclaimed is just the place for & hustler, but it is no place for one who has any doubts about his ability. Many a university graduate, who has specialized in the humanities and the cultural subjects offered by higher sducation, will perhaps regret that he has not specialized in business econom- ics and methods when he learns of this opening for talents. Most of the colleges and universities are conduct- ing courses of this kind, to train men for precisely the sort of work that is described in the advertisement, for it is recognized that business offers a better fleld of occupation and reward than even the learned professions and the arts. It is to be noted that the newcomer Park, which are still officially classed as “temporary.” —————— Every journey Lindbergh makes proves a hopeful and interesting event. He has a happy faculty of caus- ing people to forget neighborhood al- tercations for & time and talk about nothing but aviation. Oklahoma’s Crisis. Oklahoma is again in evidence in the news in a situation which may lead to a conflict of authority. Charges have been brought against the gov- ernor and other administrative officers of the State. Impeachment of the ex- ecutive is proposed. Members of the State Legislature have called a special session, without the sanction of the governor, and on the eve of tic meet- ing the governor declares that there is no legal authority for the session and calls out the National Guard to prevent the houses from meeting. This is the second time that such a condition has developed in the State and the outcome will be awaited with interest. Under the constitution of O¥lahoma the Legislature meets biennially, in the odd-nunibered years, each session being limited to sixty days. It assem- bled last January and will not regu- larly meet again until January, 1929, following the election held in Novem- ber, 1928, Th» governor may summon it in extra session at any time he deems it mecessary, but there is no formal provision in the law for the Legislature to assemble itself, in what attracted by the advertisement must |it considers to be an emergency. This enter into a competition with a group | is the condition in many of the States. of able junior executives now 1 3 service. 'Will he have a chance v OPPOE the| All but seven of the forty-sight Shats Logtdatires o ¢ “I da'ssn’t bawl him out,” answered Uncle Bill Bottletop. “He’s a boot- legger.” Erudition. “Is your boy Josh a student?” “He is,” answered Farmer Corntos- sel. “He has invented a college yell that the dictionary knows nothing about. If you want to know what it means, you gotta ask Josh; and even then he probably won't have time to explain it.”” “A good book,” sald Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is a faithful friend who may be relied on not to contradict his assurances.” Holiday Feast. “I do not choose,” I said in accents nice, And yet they doubt my word And keep on saying, “Have another slice 2 Of this fine turkey bird.” “Don’t shout yoh religion,” sald Uncle Eben. “You's gineter need all yoh breath foh its actual labor.” BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. of those clear glass ones,” sald the man, in his set speech. “I know!" she exclaimed. “I don't see any here at all.” 'We have them, though. I will go get what we have.” And away she went, to return with her arms full of Jars—large jars, little jars, round jars, tall jars, in various shades of green pottery. “Just the thing,” said the customer. And one of them was, sure enough, just the thing. * K ok % There is a lesson in this young lady for every person, if he is wise enough and honest enough to take it to heart. There is no particular thrill in stand- ing on one's feet all day long behind a counter, unless one can put the thrill into it. Per se, thousands of jobs contain no particular excitement, no undiluted Joy. The very fact of their daily repe- tition tends to take the pleasure out of them. One has to put happiness into them before he will get any out of it. This, of course, is another one of those ac- tions easler to talk about than to do! Yet the clerk of these holiday adven- tures managed to do it, and if she did, why can’t every one? She had her eyes wide open for what was happening. She had not lost the ability to see and to understand, at least in part, the tremendous drama of everyday life, She had a strange face, not pretty, but interesting. She had a wide smile, and large eyes, of the type that seem- ed to reflect an anxious mind—intent, that is, on seeing everything. Her sense of humor enabled her to understand what so many of us miss, including shop girls and all. That everyvday life is not monotonous, but is highly interesting, if one is able to actually see it as a sort of play. It is not at all necessary to go to the theater or to the movies to “live,” al- though these have their use for jaded appetites, One may “live” anywhere, if he can see it in that light, It is really too bad when repetition causes one to lose his vision of the immense pageant of daily living. Even whole nations face the deadening ef- fect of the same thing, day after day; hence wars. Life is not the same, however, even in its dullest aspects. Often enough the dullness we find in the “daily grind” is merely the reflection of our own dullness. If once we recognize the necessity for “pepping up” ourselves as well as we recognize it for the other fellow, we might easily enough come to look upon daily tasks as new studies in human nature, fresh ventures along paths that ceaselessly upfold new by- paths, Then the lines of unhappiness might disappear from a million faces, the look of vexation from as many brows, and the opaque light of boredom from two million eyes, as people everywhere came to the realization that every one is living in the now and the here, first of all, no matter what the morrow may bring, that this very day is the “very latest thing" in life! WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Lindbergh remains the most careful and cautious of flyers, but he turned down, with amused contempt, the sug- gestion that he be ‘“personally con- ducted” on his flight to Mexico. It's like thi Some of “Lindy's” closest friends suggested that he ought to let them, in the name of safety, pave the aerial way across the border for the Spirit of St. Louis. They offered to mwm a series of flares, emergency stations, repair depots and other appurtenances all along the chosen air- way from Washington to Mexico City and urged Lindbergh to assent. “Pshaw!” he demurred, and added that under such circumstances the trip “wouldn’t be any fun at all!” So the scheme was promptly abandoned and “Slim"—that's what the newest holder of the Congressional Medal is still called by his closest associates—will wing his way over the Rio Grande as unguided and uncharted as he flew the Atlantic seven immortal months ago. R Beyond the shadow of a doubt, Amer- ica’s woman unique is Mrs. William P. MacCracken, jr., wife of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronau- ties Bhe declined numerous invita- tions to fly with Lindbergh. Mrs. Mac- Cracken capitulated on turday and soared over Washington in her hus- band’s official bus, with “Slim” at the controls, but after she had persistently refused, since last June, innumerable bids from the world’s most famous pilot. Now she knows all her qualms about flying were, 8o to speak, trifles light as air, When Mrs. MacCracken, a fair daughter of Texas, the former Sallle Lucille Lewis of Waco, went up with Lindbergh, her fellow passengers were her mother, her 4-year-old son and Secretary MacCracken's father. The youngster boo-hooed valiantly when the flight was over, so “Slim” took him out again, this time with the Secretary and Speaker Longworth. * K ok K The Democratic-Republican-Progres- sive alliance that barred Smith and Vare from the Senate put over a bit of strategy which the country at large hasn’t generally grasped. It has wiped out indefinitely the Republican major- ity in the upper house. The roll call now is: Democrats, 47; Republicans, 46; Farmer-Labor, 1. If the Senate had finally rejected Smith and Vare, the governors of Illinois and Pennsylvania could and would have appointed their respective successors. But successors to Smith and Vare can't be appointed because the latter haven't been kicked out; they're only ‘“standing aside,” pending investigation. Until _their cases are disposed of, no Republican “majority” In the Senate is possible except with the aid of Shipstead, Farmer-Labor, and the Vice Presi- dent's vote. That state of affairs will endure until “Jim” Reed’s committee reports on Smith and Vare—in the sweet bye-and-bye. * kK K Enter the season of welrd political prognostications. The very newest thing under the sun, in guessing and gassing circles, is that the G. O. P. tcket in 1928 will be Hoover and Hughes. If a Westerner is nominated for President, an Easterner, of course, will be named at Kahsas City as his running mate. For sundry and divers Teasons, a spirited contest to be tied up with the Hoover boom is already in lively undercover progress. Moses of New Hampshire, Tilson of Connecticut, Edge of New Jersey, Blair of North Carolina and “Wild Bill” Donovan of New York—Attorney General Sar- gent’s right-hand man—are being hon- ——————————— Blind Chance. rom the Canton Daily News. In France the other day they ran a horse race in the dark. Bettors are used to playing 'em that way. An Ignored Law. «vom the Indianapolis News. The statute of limitations may apply in the courts, but in political | cases the voters. have shown a dis- position to disregard it. orably mentioned as possible tail-end- ers on a Hoover ticket. * K K K ‘Washington's eminence as a world capital is to be officially signalized on December 14, when the city's newest organization—the Foreign Press Asso- ciation—will make its debut. Consist- ing of the growing group of newspaper correspondents from abroad now sta- tioned here, the association will enter- tain at dinner in honor of Frank B. Kellogg, Secretary of State. Prime movers in the foreign news-writers’ so- Joseph W. Tolbert, Republican na- tional committeeman from South Caro- lina, came to Washington for the G. O. P. powwow in his unfailing garb —i.e., without a neektie. He assures this observer that “a necktie's a use- less piece of property,” and adds, ““That’s why I've never worn one.” Tol- bert has left orders to be buried as he has lived—tieless. He went to the White House diplomatic reception shy a cravat and in ordinary business clothes—Ilong-tailed cutaway suit of grayish brown and nineteenth: cen- tury vintage. The only sartorial concession “Joe” makes in the laryngological area fs a stiff turndown white collar. He lives on a vast tract of ancestral cotton acres outside of Greenwood, C., where Talberts have dwelt nce prerevolutionary days, and, like all his progenitors, he is a planter. Once he restored a Revo- lutionary fort that stood on the family property. As national committeeman from a Dixie Democrat-bossed State, Tolbert is Republican patronage czar of the palmetto country. * ok x x You just can't keep Indiana down in Washington. Not satisfled with the postmaster generalship, the secre- taryship to the President, the secre- taryship to the Vice President, the secretaryship of the Senate, the chair- manship of major committees in both houses and the presidency of the Na- tional Press Club—to mention only a handful of Hoosier honors—now comes an Indianian and gobbles up the chairmanship of the press galleries of Congress. That blue ribbon of ‘Washington journalism has just been awarded by his confrees to Mark Thistlewaite of the Indianapolis News. Thistlewaite left newspaperdom for a while to be “Tom™ Marshall's private secretary, Later he edited Marshall's brilliant memoirs. A fair Hoosier in high place at the Capitol is Mrs. Martha R. Gold, astute secretary to Senator Moses, President pro tem. of the Senate. * ok ok ok “Are you busy this session?” an associate justice of the Supreme Court was asked the other day. “We're al- ways busy,” the jurist smilingly re- plied, and explained: “Not many know that every case argued before us is studied and decided by each member of the bench, just ae if the decision of the court depended upon his individual verdict. Not until the bench meets in conference is it deter- mined who shall write the majority— or, if any, the dissenting—opiniol No schoolchild in the land has any- thing on the Supreme Court in the way of “home work.” About 50 per cent of the judges’ labor is performed in the supposed privacy of their dwelling places. Some of the slower- working judges plod all Summer to keep abreast of the docket. (Covyright. 1027.) UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR Ten Years Ago Today Gen. Crozier tells Senate military affairs committee that slow and in- sufficient appropriations by Congress are responsible for lack of ordnance. Says we have enough for the troops in France, but those training in this country must wait until Summer for guns. Also says it is a problem to get labor enough for munitions fac- torfes. * * ¢ All past records for voluntary enlistments in the Regular Army are broken when 9,041 men en- list in_a single day. ® * ¢ Secre- tary Baker defends Natlon's war progress and says no other country has done so well in such a short space of time. In eloquent address he praises our draft Army and predicts a triumph over Teuton foes, * * * German mass attacks near Cambrai win 500 yards of British trenches, but enemy is checked after a seven-hour battle. Attempt is made by the Ger- mans to crush resistance by sheer force of numbers, * * * U-boats sank 21 British vessels last week, an clety are Willmott Lewis of the London Times, Dr. Max Jordan 0(1(?; 3Aerllner Tageblatt, Robert Remy of the Agence Havas l:‘fl Sir A. Maurice Low of the London Morning Post. Influential as- soclations of foreign correspondents ut in the principal Euro- increase of 4 over previous week. Then Watch His Senate. Tr ‘hould be-a ine ‘stroke if some- body should convis Big Bill that Chic bandits Citizens Are Advised On Highway Payments To the Editor of The Star: As the time s short within which the owners of property on I street northwest between Twentieth and Twenty-third _streets, and also on Twenty-second street northwest from G to I streets, can pay bills lately rendered them for replacing I and Twenty-second streets northwest with- out a penalty, and as they should be prevented from losing the money paid to the collector of taxes for assess- ments under the Borland act, the writer advises those who at any time do make payments for such assess- ments to be sure to write with red ink upon thelr assessment tax bills, “This bill is paid under protest, by me as owner or agent,” signing their names, to insure the return of money 0 paid for work done under the Bor land act, restitution to be made upon the gepealing of said Borland act. Many of the owners in the old first ward affected by the Borland act will have the West nd Citizens’ As clation take this matter up vigorou at its next meeting, which is sev- eral weeks off, and most too mnear to January 1, 1928, before which date these bills must be paid. Hence it is hoped that you will at once give this matter all the publicity you can, so that all affected by that act now can protest, themselves, and tell others how to do so, for the following reasons: This act unjustly causes the prop- erty owners repeatedly to pay for im- provements and repairs to sidewalks, roadways, ete. These streets, etc., belong to the Federal Government and the District of Columbia and not to the adjacent property holders, they having once been paid for under a former assess- ment plan by the present or former owners, Future improvements should be paid for out of the general taxes as has been the previous custom. The property holders do not own or in any way control, and in many instances seldom use, the streets, roadways or alleys. The taxpayer can more easily pay a small increase of a few dollars now and then on his general taxes than accept this method of a sudden large special assessment or demand all at onme fell swoop, and on such limited time to make payment, with threats of penalties for non-payment, especially as this work has once been paid for and was so paid for all time for said purposes by the present or past owners. C. H. RAUB. Hikers Invited To Scenic Trails To the Editor of The Star: I was very glad to see the full dis- cussion that was given to the Potomac Gorge Park project in The Star's editorfal of December 9. It would indeed be a calamity if the natural beauties of this region were lost to ourselves and future generations through commercial exploitation. In- creasing numbers in this hectic ma- chine age are coming to learn of the benefits to be derived by heeding the advice of the poet to “go forth, under the open sky, and list to Nature's teachings.” There is a work which has recently been started by the Potomac Ap- palachian Trail Club of this city which should appeal to many of the readers of The Star. That work is the con- struction of hiking trails in the moun- tainous regions near Washington, primarily along the Blue Ridge. The trail along the Blue Ridge will even- tually become a part of the Appala- chian Trail which is to run from Maine to Georgia, following a skyline of the Appalachian system. The section of the trail on which the club is working will extend into the proposed Shen- andoah National Park. All who would like to share in some way in opening up to hikers and nature lovers the scenic mountainous country within two or three hours’ drive from Washington are asked to get in touch with the secretary at Room 519, Metropolitan Bank Building. H. C. ANDERSON. Feeding Birds in Park Urged Upon Citizens To the Editor of The Star: I was greatly touched this noon in passing through Lafayette Park with my bay” of scraps for the birds to find how very hungry they were. When the weather was balmy enough for folks to sit outside, these birds were almost overfed, Now that the days are bleak and cold, folks pass by on the other side. May I suggest to those who have a heart and pass by Lafa- vette Park every morning to gather up the scraps every night and re- member the little feathered creatures on their way to business? VIOLETTA HURST. PHILOSOPHIES BY GLENN FRANK Every profession or organization in America needs to be subjected to the continuous cross-fire of two types of criticism: The criticism of satire. The critcism of social interpreta- tion. The satirist keeps a profession or organization aware of its buncombe and its banality. The social interpreter keeps a pro- fession or organization aware of its dignity and its duties. The professions and organizations in America are in little danger of lacking satirists to keep them re- minded of their weaknesses. H. L. Mencken, as sort of latter-day Voltaire, who has traded the rapier for a rawhide whip, is prophet and promoter of an American school of satirists animated by a holy passion for hunting down hokum. Sinclair Lewis, with his red head and restless spirit, is a companion god of this emerging school of satirist but Mr, Mencken is its legitimate father. Mr. Mencken is abnormally sensi- tive to artificiality. Mr. Mencken can scent a pose across the continent. There is a touch of unreality about the weak thunderbolts forged by some of his imitators who have caught his style without catching his spirit, but, by and large, the group of critics who have caught even a little of the infection of his satire are exerting a (fil:flnlln‘ influence upon American e. In Irreverent essays on ‘“the docs” they are developing a healthy criti- cism of the medical profesion. In jovial gibes at ‘“‘schoolmarms” and “the rolling mills of the higher learning” they are making the teach- ing profession in general and the uni- versities in particular gratifyingly self-consclous and self-critical. In fun-making thrusts at the new Pharisees of service, at the some- times too naive liturgles of luncheon clubs, at the dawning professionalisms of realtors and morticians, they are making us realize the necessity of putting reality back of the rhetoric of these ventures. The supply of satire seems decently assured; we are in greater danger of lacking adequate social interpretation that will keep the professions and organizations of America reminded of their potential social significance in the evolution of American life and culture. ‘While Mr. Mencken is reminding the “realtors” and the ‘“Rotarian: and the ‘“schoolmarms” and the et of service” of their artifi. ‘we need social interpreters to hold before these professions and Bt (Copyrignt, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. Why is holly so called>—M. G A. The name nolly is said to be derived from the use of the branches Christmas, called holy tree. Q the phrase bill of health? A. This refers to a certifi onsul, health officer, as health of the crew, when the s come from a suspected port. A bill, a suspected bill, the three shcrt nmames given to the several degrees of health. In shipping, what is meant by 2 N. ite of a the ip hi clean Q. Where did Frieda Ifempel make her debut?—T. M A. She made her debut as the Queen in “The Huguenots” at the Royal Opera in Berlin in August, 19! Q. When does the hunter's moon appear?—G. N. : A. The full moon immediately fol- Jowing the harvest moon is known as the hunter's moq Q. Wha designed the Parthenon? Give some information concerning other work of the architect.—F. A. A A. Ictinus, the chief architect of the age of Pericles, designed the Par- thenon at Athens, the great hall for the mysteries (Telesterion) at Eleusis, and the temple of Apollo Epicurius at Phigalia. He is said to have written an architectural treatise on the thenon. Q. What illustrated weekly Is the oldest?—V, R. A. The Iliustrated London News is the oldest illustrated weekly. It was founded in 1842 by Herbert Ingram. Q. Why do authorities differ con- cerning the distance of the North Star?—P, D. A. The United States Naval Ob- servatory says: The parallax, and hence the distance of a star, is very aif- ficult to determine accurately. The dis- tance of 44 light years for Polaris is an old value obtained about 40 years ago. All modern observations, made with improved instruments and methods, in- crease this distance very much, but even yet it is by no means accurately known. The best values of the paral- lax from modern observations give the distance as 200 light years or more. The value of the parallax adopted in the star catalogue recently issued from this office gave a distance of 300 light vears. If at any instant the North Star ceased to give out light, the light given out during the 300 years pre- ceding that instant. would be received at the earth during the 300 years fol- lowing that instant. Q. When and where was rye grain first known?—W. H. W. A. The nativity of rye appears to have been in the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian. Its cul- ture has been chiefly in the north, and, though ancient, is not of the highest antiquity. It bears more cold than any other grain, thrives on light and otherwise barren soils and can be grown continuously on the same spot. 1t is most extensively grown in central and northern Europe, where it forms the almost exclusive breadstuff of large populations. It is less nutritious than wheat, though in that respect standing next to i Q. What is the derivation of the ex- pression joss house?—K. S. A._The word joss is a corruption of the Portuguese word deos, meaning God. Joss house is a term applied to the Chinese temple, or house for the Chinese mode of worship. It is a col- loquial term. Q. How do Eskimos bury their dead?—D. D. A. When an’ Eskimo man or wom- an dies, the body. is removed from the house through a window or through a hele in ti wall, never through the doorway, since this might induce the ghost to return. The \ nd a foul bill are | ined graves are found mostly t sides near the village it the death oc. curred in the Winter, os near the camp upon the seashore if in Summer. Tso. lated graves are sometimes found on the top of high hills, this place being reserved for distingulshed he An inclo: wall of stone It around the stones being piled up in an oval or oblong, two or three feet high, leaving just enough | space for the > bottom fs with moss and the body ig wrapped in deer skins and placed with being covered with a large flar The effects of the dead man gre on top; some while te the spirits, at the he left mostri order to avert hill- stone, All sons present must stop up reindeer moss in tamination. Q. Who with flowers"?—E. L The late N, P. Lindbers of Rug. orth Dakota, was credited with oining of the phrase. It is merely an calling attention to the fact lowers are an appropriate gift sions. pe en he slogan “Say it What would be the result if tal set were hooked to the same al as a_tube set?”—J, A. The Loomis Radio College says it e to hook a er | as a tube s have both sets bring in signal factorily. The best way to do this to hook the tube set up as 1 then take the antenna wire f antenna binding post set and wind it tightly antenna wire above the poin it is connected to the tube set. wires should, of course, be elect insulated from each other. tight twist of as many turns as you can get into a space about three inches long. This conveys the signals to the crystal set by induction. Eac should use a separate ground wire, but the final earth connection may be the same. . Where is the Apollinaris Foun. —W. F. A We assume that your inquiry refers to a mineral spring near Neu- enahr, 25 miles northwest of Coblentz, Prussia, which was discovered in 1853, Its waters are largely exported. Q. Of what nationality was Henry M. Stanley?—P. E. K. A. The explorer was born in Great Britain, came to America and was naturalized. Later he became a Brit- ish subject and was knighted. Q. What preparation do acrobats use on their joints to make them more pliable?>—C. B. McC. A. The flexibility of acrobats is due to constant exercise and intense train- ing and not to any preparation which they apply to their joints. Q. How many dolls are made in this country?—H. S. A. About 25,000,000 dolls have been made within the past 12 months. Q. How is the name of the Prest- dent of Mexico—Calles—pronounced’— "A. 1t is_pronounced as if spelled kal yeth, the a having the sound it has in cat. Stop a minute and think about this fact. You can ask The Evening Star Information Bureau any question of fact and get the answer back in @ personal letter. It is a great educe- tional idea introduced into the lives of the most intelligent people in the world—American newspaper readers. 1t is a part of thet best purpose of & newspaper — service. There no charge except two cents im stamps for return postage, the ‘Rhabit of asking questions. Address your letter to The Evening Star Information Bu- reau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washington, D, i Dawes Helps Lowden’s Cause Without Impairing His Own In formally declaring that he is not a candidate himself and is for Lowden in the Republican presidential race, Vice President Dawes is believed by many political observers to have strengthened the cause of his friend without in the slightest impairing his own chances in case Mr. Lowden fails to muster winning force when the convention meets. To the Des Moines Tribune-Capital (independent Republican) it appears that “the West can have a farm President if it will now center on Lowden,” and this Corn Belt paper adds: “A farm President of Gov. Lowden's training and talent can put agriculture permanently to the fore among American activitie; ‘Why not commit America definitely to the farm home and to the scientific production of food? Looking 100 years ahead, that is more worthwhile than any- thing we can do.” The Dawes declaration is viewed as unexpected by the Indianapolis Star (independent Republican), which holds that “although he frankly declares that he is not a candidate for the nomination, he thereby stimulates the admiration which is turning the minds of many Republicans to him as an available leader for the party in 1928.” Declaring that there is a “strong current of favorable opinion running toward Dawes and Hoover,” the Star says “the linking of Dawes and Hoover as favorites in the popu- lar running may be interpreted to in- dicate an increasing desire for a man of action.” Yet the Bangor Commercial (Re- publican) recalls that “when Lowden has lent considerable strength to that ge.ntleman‘s aspirations.” “In the last national convention,” it is pointed out by the Bellingham ‘I:Ierfild (independent Republican), ‘Lowden polled 311% votes as his maximum strength. His ‘maximum’ on paper already is far in excess of that total and, as his able mathemati- cian sees it, he will go into the con- vention with close to one-third of the total number of delegates in his pocket—a decided achievement, any politician will concede, for any can- didate at this stage of the campaign. But there usually is considerable mar- gin between claims and delegates, as well - as between setting eggs and hatched chickens, and too much faith will not be put in such figures until some of the other returns are in.” * K Kk ok “Gien. Dawes s unquestionably sin- ¢ cere,” concedes the Providence Jour- nal (independent), in saying that Goy. Lowden is his candidate. But it is entirely conceivable that after a num- ber of ballots in the next national convention, the Lowden delegates will be released and will, to a larze ex- tent, transfer their allegiance to the governor's good and loyal friend.” Similarly the Utica. Observer-Dispatch (independent) observes: _“There is really no probability that Mr. Lowden will be the choice of the convention. What more likely than that, when the Lowden movement has spent its force, his support and the support of other States will turn to Dawes?" “The evidently friendly relations between the camps make it entered the field in earnest, politicians understood that Dawes would stand aside,” and continues: “But how long will he stand aside? Political observ- ers, at least in the Hast, are quite con- vinced that ex-Gov. Lowden cannot achieve the nomination, although they are fully willing to agree that he will have a very material following and will make a good showing in the early ballots at_the convention. But in their minds Dawes, if a candidate, would be more formidable than Low- den. They think that if Lowden should drop out, Dawes could have the Lowden support and other sup- port that Lowden cannot obtain.” * K kX ‘Sentiment in the Middle West,” cording to the Santa Barbara Daily News (Democratic), “is strong for Lowden. He is recognized as a real farmer, or at least as near a real farmer as any man can be who has wealth enough to be simply the busi- ness manager and director of farm: At the same time he is a business man of recognized standing and finan- cial position. Mr. Lowden has taken a strong position in favor of legisla- tion for the benefit of the farmer and for that reason he has the strongest possible support in the Middle West dnd Northwest.” “Aside from its effects in Illinois,” says the Chattanooga News (inde- pendent Democratic), “Gen. Dawes’ declaration will contribute toward the consolidation of the West and Middle West in the support of Lowden. Since there has been little response to :Senator Curtis’ announcement, it looks as though Lowden’s only serious opponent in the West will be Senator Norris, should the latter decide to get into the running. Whatever may be the eventual result of it, Gen. Dawes’ open avowal of his support of Lowden will invest with dignity and signifi- cance these professions and om tions after they have been out of kum by the satirist. Nowpaper Syndioate.) more than ever probable that one or the other may nominated,” sug- gests the Davenport Democrat (Demo- cratic), and the Newark Evening News (independent) remarks: “Mr. Da is committed to Mr. Lowden and'loyalty js one of his virtues. He would not be the Dawes his friends know unless he effaced himself and stood by his friend Lowden. But the announcement will neither nom- inate Mr. Lowden nor take Mr. Dawes out of the picture.” “With Mr. Lowden an open candi- date for the presidency,” in the juds- ment of the Buffalo Hvening News (Republican), was superfluous for Mr. Dawes to say that he is not. He would be the last man so to violate the canons of friendship as to enter the race in a manner that would be a handicap to Mr. Lowden. The only sense in which Mr. Dawes could be a candidate would be as the lesatee of Mr. Lowden’s strength, and hardly ‘would be consistent for MI- Lowden's friends to admit, even '@ themselves, that he is going to have a legatee. —_——————— Better Appetite. From the Watertown Dally Times. Our transatlantic flyer who star:ed out with a ham sandwich must no the difference in the menu when he lunches with the President. —_———e————— A Pest. From the Helena (Mont.) Record-Herald. R Now that Winter is comins, lm declare war on the fellow who kn all about curing a cold except Where to get the prescription. Placidity, From the Charleston Evening Post. T g T