Evening Star Newspaper, December 29, 1928, Page 8

B % THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY...December 29, 1928 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor Thé Ev;nl.n‘ Star Newspaper Company ‘Business Office: 11th St and Pennsylvanta Ave. New York Office: 110 East s2nd Chitago Office: Tower Building. European Ofice; 14 Regent St. London, Englan Rate by Carrier Within the City. The Evening Star. 45¢ per month (when 4 Sundays) . 60c per month The Evening and Sunday Star (when 5 Sundays) 65¢ per month The Sunday Star .. ¢ per ccpy Collection made at each month. Orders may be sent in by mall cr telephone Main 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. ally and Sunday....1 ¥yr., $10.00; 1 mo., 85c aily only ‘131, 86.00: 1 mo., £0c Sunday only . 1 yr, 3400 1 mo.. 40c All Other States and Canada. Daily and Sunday..l yr., $12.00; 1 mo., $1.00 Daily only 1yr. $8.00; 1 mo. 7S¢ Sunday only 1yr, $5.00; 1 mo, S0c Member of the Associsted Press. ‘The Assoclated Press is exclusively ¢ntitle to the use for l’eflub(“cntlon of all news dis- fted in this paper and also the local rews published herein. All rights of publication of special dispatches herein sre also reserved. e e The Wilson Foundation. The Woodrow Wilson Foundation will make no award for the advancement of the cause of peace in 1928, it is reported. ‘The foundation is well within its rights to determine whether an award shall be made or not. But for a principal speaker at the annual dinner of the foundation in New York to take occa- sion to deride the efforts of this Gov- ernment, through the multilateral treaty renouncing war, for international peace is at least questionable propriety. Henry Morgenthau, former Ambassa- dor to Turkey in the Wilson administra- tion, addressing the foundation and its guests, eulogized the late President Wil- son and his conception of the covenant of the League of Nations. But he did not stop there. : “And now,” the former Ambassador continued, “even the outgoing admin- istration at Washington joins the ad- miring ranks (of Wilson admirers). Pres- ident Coolidge declares that the crown- ing achievement of his seven years in the White House is the multilateral peace compact—a weak thing, to be sure, a timid imitation, a mere shadow of Wilson's great conception of the League of Nations, but yet the com- pact is conceived in admiration of Wil- son’s splendid vision.” If the Woodrow Wilson Foundation does not believe that the Kellogg multi- lateral treaty remouncing war, signed by all the great nations of the world fected by mixtures of selt, water and ground nutmeg. Such delusions come and go of thelr own accord. General health education has little effect on them. It is not likely that the quack remedies do a great deal of hurt to the hypochondriacs, other than reducing their pocketbooks. The activities of quacks among the second class of victims are far more serious. ‘This class consists of the truly sick, frightened and despairing. Their allments are chronic. The progress of medical practice is slow, uncertain and often merely palliative rather than cura- tive. In their terror and lost faith these people will clutch at any straw, however strong may be the arguments as to the worthlessness of the procé- dure. They are beyond education. Mere- ly ms defense reactions against the thoughts of approaching death they { built up systematized delusions. Such | persons not only are defrauded but killed by tHe quacks. ——— s The Summer White House. The President's recommendations for a “Summer White House” near Wash- ington, as outlined in his interesting letter to the fiftieth anniversary edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, have been followed by the introduction of several bills in House and Senate. Some of these, it is feared, are based more upon a desire to advertise the sublime qual- ities of “home States” than upon a ‘whole-hearted determination to carry out the wishes of the President. But all of them are deserving of careful considera- tion, and the hope is that the matter will not be allowed to rest, now that the sympathetic interest of the public has been enlisted in this sensible project. ‘The President's letter has met wide and favorable response throughout the country. From far-away New Orleans, for instance, the Morning Tribune points out the Summer White House should have been provided long ago, and sug- gests, as an altogether suitable site, Harpers Ferry where Maryland, Virginia THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. - THIS AND THAT gy opportunity for censorship there! But try it once, just once, and see what would happen! The restaurant owners may content themselves with the thought that when advertising statements become what is commonly known as “hooey” the public is quick to classify them as such, and when that happens the advertisers are just as quick to do their own censoring. Modern Marathons. “In days of old, when knights were bold” men matched their strength and skill in the lists for the light in a fair lady’s eyes, the curl of her lashes or for the mere pleasure of hacking each other to pleces. In these tamer days the promoters are reaping harvests out of all kinds of endurance contests, dancing marathons, and the latest, vocal marathons. What an up-and- coming promoter might have been able to do, with a little press-agent work, at the court of King Arthur, when it was possible to stage real fights with lance, sword and mace at any time of the year or day, is enough to make these modern efforts pale into insignificance. ‘The promoter who thought up and staged the vocal marathon which is now under way in New York City must at least have had a sense of humor. It is a contest in which women and men both have entered. For ages it has been sajd that woman could out talk her male companion. What will happen in the event a man is declared winner in the talk race in New York? Women may be content to let it go at that. They swim the English Channel, fly across the Atlantic Ocean, so why bother with a mere conversational test? The old phrase “mother tongue” may give way to “father tongue.” A promoter of parts might reap a golden harvest if he could sell admis- sions to the talkfests in which the Sen- ate of the United States has been known to engage in the past. The Sen- ate itself has some famous long- distance talkers. It was not so long ago and West Virginia meet, and where the beautiful and historic Shenandoah and Potomac join in their last march to the sea. The New York Herald Tribune suggests the eligibility of sites on the Monterey plateau in Maryland and Pennsylvania, or in the neighborhood of Berkeley Springs, W. Va. The Rich- mond Times-Dispatch ventures the opinion that the President’s recent trip to Swannanoa may have served to impress him with the desirability of some such retreat within “striking distance” of Washington, and heartily approves the idea of a Summer home in the hills of Virginia. The New York ‘Times refrains from picking the site of the President's Summer home, but sympathizes with the President’s belief and about to be ratified by the Senate of the United States, is worthy of any award, that is the business of the ‘Woodrow Wilson Foundation. But why 1s it necessary to drag criticism of the treaty into a eulogy of the late Presi- dent? It would have been in good taste, since the foundation did not care to make an award to Secretary Kellogg, not to say anything about the multi- lateral treaty. For whether the foun- dation regards the treaty as a great step toward international peace or not, there are millions of people in this country and abroad who do believe that the treaty renouncing war and pledg- ing the nations to settlement of inter- national disputes through peaceful means is a real step in the direction of better relations in the world. ‘The address delivered by Mr. Mor- genthau will be interpreted far and wide as a criticism, if not an attack, on the multilateral treaty. It comes at a time when the movement for the treaty is at its height. It comes at a time, too, when the chief critics of the treaty in the Senate are men who were stren- uously opposed to the League of Na- tions. —————————— The formality of a general rejoicing ought to be favored by various statesmen in something of the same spirit that requires pugilists to shake hands before the fierce encounter begins. . A solemn, sullen play is made welcome. The theater must consider the public that wishes to be grave as well as that which craves to be gay. Quack Remedies. ‘The callousness of quack doctors is proverbial. ‘Their ludicrous cure-alls have been exposed over and over again, only to reappear in new packages under other names. Year after year they con- tinue to reap a bountiful harvest, only occasionally stepping far enough out- side the law in their advertising and use of the mails to render themselves liable to prosecution. Some of the most recent examples of the worthless remedies foisted on the public are revealed in the annual re- port of the food, drug and insecticide administration of the Department of Agriculture to Secretary Jardine. “Among the products which received fraud orders” says Walter G. Camp- bell, director of regulatory work of the department, “were an alleged consump- tion cure, consisting of turpentine gum flavored with cinnamon; a tuberculosis cure made of a number of worthless mixtures and marketed by one wholly ignorant of the disease; a so-called cure for cancer through the use of & bread and milk poultice; a pernicious anemia cure consisting largely of ground granite; two imported sirups similar in composition to New Orleans molasses, clamied to cure all ailments of the kidneys. It is well enough to say that these quacks succeed only because people are sufficiently simple-minded to believe their silly claims and that what is need- ed is a campaign of public education. This is not entirely true. It is doubtful whether any practicable amount of public education would do much good, for the simple reason that the quacks are dealing with almost uneducatable factors of human nature. In the first place, they are preying upon persons with hypochondriacal delusions. Such delusions, in a more or less pronounced form, are very wide- spread among people of middle age and those on the threshold of senescence. In extreme cases they are symptoms of various types of mental pathology, but in their milder forms they are al- most universal accompaniments of cer- tain stages in human life. It is from Athese people that the guacks get their that some place should be provided where the Chief Executive may obtain relaxation from official duties denied him in Washington. 1t is believed in some quarters that the President's suggestions for a Sum- mer home could be met by suitable renovation and repair to buildings which already stand on the Mount Weather property, now belonging to the Govern- ment. It is pointed out that such work would require little expense and that Mount Weather's proximity to the Capital would make a Summer White House there readily accessible. The proper place for a debate upon the desirability of all the locations suggested, however, is in some com- mittee room at the Capitol, where a properly representative commission, charged with the duty of selecting a Summer home for our Presidents, could weigh the pros and cons and take definite steps toward its acquisition. Adoption of Senator Fess’ measure, providing for the creation of such a commission, is the logical first step in carrying out the President’s suggestion. This bill should receive attention now, while interest in the proposal is fresh and before another President is to undertake the tedious routine at the White House which led President Coolidge to point an easy way to lighten his burden. It is an achlevement in statesmanship for a man to get himself on the legisla- tive mind. Much attention is being bestowed on the question of what Senator Borah is going to do next. ————e—. ‘The abbreviation “flu” was at first ‘used in a spirit of semi-jest. So was the word “bootlegger.” Both have come to be taken with great seriousness. e —e— Gunmen in a poker game are liable to find that a party has been crashed, so as to make the occasion a question of “your money or your life.” —_— e Censorship and Cigarettes. In righteous wrath the Restaurant Owners’ Association has protested to the Federal Radio Commission against that brand of cigarette advertising which might lead the listening-in public to be- lieve that cigarette smoking is more beneficial to the human system than | the eating of ham sandwiches. As the Federal Radio Commission has no power of censorship over radio programs, the action of the restaurant men must be construed as blowing off steam. If the cigarette advertisers take the logical next step, they soon will be advocating the substitution of cigarettes for nursing bottles and milk as the ideal “food” for infants. But the Radio Commission could do nothing about it, no matter how mournful became the cries of the milkmen. The restaurant owners and others whose business or sensibilities might be injured by radio advertising will find that in the end their refuge and strength lies in the common sense of the public. It is certainly a safer refuge than censorship of radio programs. For if censorship ever came to pass where would it end? A large body of public-spirited, solid citizens might protest heatedly against allowing male quartets on the air, for instance. These citizens could strength- en their protest by citing figures and facts concerning the demoralizing in- fluence of listening to male quartets and allege that the only thing that could possibly be worse is a female quartet. But if the Radio Commission attempted to censor from the programs all efforts by quartets of either gender there would come an answering howl from those who can think of nothing more stimulating than listening to a male quartet, This sort of thing would affidavits, sworn to before notaries, wengernlns the muzaculous cures” efr-GRd - SounlerclAswWhat = Wondoerful thing to”do witly it g0 on withou¥ end. Political claims that Senator Smoot of Utah held the floor for a dozen hours or so, and Sena- tor Burton of Ohio, clad in easy slip- pers, paced the Senate chamber all night while a continuous stream of Faot] Young America was awheel. It was the day after Christmas, and all through the community every crea- ture was stirring. > On skooters, two-wheeled bikes, roll- er skates, velocipedes and in wagons they rolled along, according to their age and ability. There went Tom, 3 years old, in a large and glistening wagon which his short legs barely managed to push. Yet he made a very good job of it, thank you. Mary was out on her gayly enameled “two-wheel bike,” as the children call what the manufacturers designate as sidewalk bicycle. Bill and Ben and John went whir- ring along on roller skates. It was the joyous day after Christmas, in some ways the par of Christmas itself, since the former is dedicated to the indoors, while the latter is strictly exterior. On Christmas the children made only tentative experiments with their new vehicles. them so many other things, many of them impossible to bring outdoors, that they were willing to remain indoors for the day. ‘There was the morning excitement of the gleaming tree, the midday fes- tivity at the dinner table and the long afternoon spent with various floor toys, games and books. Who is there old enough to forget the breathless expectancy with which Cl?‘xl-ldstmas morning is awaited by a child. Fourth of July may be celebrated for weeks in advance, but Christmas is never observed except upon the day itself. Even the littlest youngsters know that. * K ok ok ‘The observer who might have ex- pected to see the sidewalks swarming with brightly dressed little ones on Christmas morning was disappointed, since the self-same little ones studious- ly kept indoors. The same quiet pre- vailed in the afternoon. Of course, if there had been snow one would not have thought much of it, although no doubt the ‘white cover- ing would have attracted last year's sleds. Did any child receive a sled this Christmas? It is doubtful. The boys and girls £ today, especially in this particular @itude, where snow is observed more t%zoretically than actu- ally, prefer vehicles on wheels. These latter range from the words fell from his lips. Some bill, per- haps a river and harbor “pork barrel” measure, was the object of their “fili- buster.” At all events they stood like Horatius at the bridge, or Foch, in mod- ern days, at the Marne, and the bill did not pass. So far, however, the Senate has insisted that only one speaker talk at a time. The New York promoters have arranged to have all the speakers work together. Each has his little stage, and the spectators wander from one to another, listening to each orator who is straining his voice and his health for a money prize. ——ra—————— “Another war” may, as some students of economics declare, be inevitable. But the common sense of the people should insist that it be postponed until the world has fully recovered from the most recent one. ————————————— The Congress has many adverse critics. Yet, in the history of civilization, representation of the people in govern- ment has been considered worth many a hard fight. ————————————— ‘While scheduled to “retire,” a number of eminent political figures have dem- onstrated that they are not at all sieepy. ———r—e— Antarctic exploration has diverted public interest from the North Pole. So the spotlight shifts, even from one end of the world to the other. No traffic policeman has been awaided all the life-saving medals he is en- titled to. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Resentful Exception. . We'll smile, whatever may befall. Yet when we would affirm Our joyous purpose, far from small, Along there comes a Germ! But boldly we repeat the call That fits the wintry term. A Happy New Year, one and all— Excepting to the Germ! Good Listener. “I understand you never refuse an audience to any of your constituents.” “I shouldn’t think of such a thing,” said Senator Sorghum. “Listening to their troubles is a large part of what I am paid for.” Jud Tunkins says his idea of a happy New Year is to keep as far away as possible from the midnight jazz and get some real sleep. Inspiration. Patience the farmers must employ, While cherishing a great desire. At least they surely must enjoy The oratory they inspire. Artifice. and “bikes” mentioned to elaborate toy automobiles and trucks made in striking imitation of the real thing, elaborately fitted up with windshields, horns, lights, etc. The rolling stock was so shiny, so very new, that even careless boys and girls hesitated just a bit about taking it out for its initial airing. How nice it looked, too, sitting so gleamingly beneath the Christmas tree. The col- ored lights reflected themselves in the enamel and shone from the nickel work. It was a pleasure, even for a rest- less modern child, nurtured in homes where the automobile occupied almost the place of an ancient god, to be able to contemplate so much of bright beauty as yet unsullied by contact with the crude world of hard sidewalks and still harder curbings. Somehow even the smallest boys, whose regard for property amounted to almost nothing, were able to grasp the fact that this beautiful wagon, which 25 years ago would have been BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Santa Claus had left |j; (o3 very rich, was something to be treas- ured—at least for a day. * K Kk K ‘The day after Christmas, however, they were all out on their skooters and their skates, on their bikes and their velocipedes, in their wagons and their little automobiles. Dick, 5 years old, appeared in a bright red dump truck, with a horn that squawked and thick rubber-tired wheels which went round and round. The wonder of it all had not yet vanished from his eyes. “Say,” he said, breathlessly, “Do you know that Santa Claus brought me exactly what I wanted?” It was plain to be seen that old Santa was a marvelous fellow—had he not guessed exactly what/ Dick wanted and brought it to him upon the day appointed? Certainly it is a curious thing, how knowing Santa Claus is! When one considers abstractly the likes and dis- ikes of a city full of little children, and realizes how much they get their hearts set upon certain toys, it is really marvelous how well Santa Claus does by_them. It was not always so. Once upon a time, when Santa Claus was poorer than he is today, few chil- dren got elaborate toys. Even in the homes of the well-to-do a few games, some fruit and candy constituted the entire bounty of the saint. Nor were the children disappointed. Many a child in those days felt as happy over a few popcorn balls as the brightest boy of today does when he contemplates that gleaming, expensive toy automobile of which he may grow tired before the year is ended. * K K K ‘What would a modern little miss think, do you suppose, if she received a solitary silver spoon for Christmas? Yet a young lady this week told us an anecdote along that line. When she was a child what the poets and plain people called “hard times” were wont to visit villages. ‘Then every family in the community was hit the same way. It was during such a period that Christmas came. And this child hung up her stocking with the same faith with which little ones of today expect Santa Claus. With exactly the same beating heart she went downstairs “before it was light,” and investigated her stocking. Dipping in her hand, she felt nothing. Disappointment welled in her eyes. “Santa Claus forgot me,” she said, mournfully. “Santa Claus forgot you? Why, cer- tainly not!” Her mother was cheerful. “Reach away down in the toe.” In plunged a fist, and up came—— A beautiful, lovely silver spoon, with flowers on it! Instantly the face of the little girl underwent a transformation. Smiles wreathed it, and satisfaction shone upon it. She was, so she recalled, as happy as if she had received all the presents in the world. Nor was she an isolated case. It was simply the spirit of the times. ‘Today no child, it is safe to say, would be satisfied with a spoon for Christmas. Times change, and with them the hopes and expectations of the people. Posses- sion of means, widely diffused, leads to enlarged standards all around. Christ- mas, it may be suspected, is exactly to- day what it was a quarter of a century ago; what has changed has little to do found only in the homes of the with the real Christmas, which is of the heart and mind. Pan-American Unity Forged By Hoover Southern Trip Advantages for his own administra- tion and for pan-American conditions in general are predicted as a result of President-elect Hoover’s journey through Central and South America. One be- liet that is expressed is that his recent hosts on the trip will feel a greater personal interest in their contacts with the Government of this country. It is also held that his experience as a world traveler has enabled him to observe keenly along the way and to gain information that will be of value in the diplomatic and commercial affairs of the future. “The numerous addresses he was called upon to deliver in Latin America countries,” according to the Springfield Republican, “were notable for tact, friendliness and brevity. * * * He comes home with increased knowledge of Latin America. Such an experienced {raveler as he is can absorb information about the new countries he passes thrcugh with comparative ease and rapidity.” The Topeka Daily Capital adds that “South and Central America will know better whom they are dealing with in the Hoover administration in their North American relations than they have known in the past, and this cannot but have a good effect in better understanding and better official rela- tions.” * ok ok K “The purposes of the tour,” says the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, “have been abundantly fulfilled. The President- elect has smoothed his own path in the treatment of Latin American problems by the knowledge acquired, the friend- ships gained, the personal contacts established.” The Jackson Citizen Patriot believes that “an understanding has been reached that should enable Mr. Hoover to avoid the friction which in the past has been caused by our failure properly to estimate Latin American temperament and customs.” Recognizing South America as the “great,ommeground of American trade today,” the Richmond News Leader feels that “it argues well for Mr. Hoover's sense of reality that he selected a good- will tour of South America as his first service after the voters had instructed the electors to name him President.” On the commercial side, that paper comments: “In 1926, three hundred and fourteen million dollars of the four hundred and forty-one million dol- “She has a remarkable complexion!” “That isn't a complexion,” rejoined Miss Cayenne. “It's a disguise.” “To forgive an injury,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is good, but to forget it is not always wise.” Automatic Retribution. The fierce policeman calmly said A gunmen does not fret him. He'll wait and let him go ahead Till other gunmen get him. “A hoss race,” said Uncle Eben, “is ‘bout de oldest form of guessin’ contest.” —————————— It Sounds Inviting. From the New York Evening Post. An American dancer, in Paris on his way home, is reported as saying that he will go back to Russia in April to dance on the invitation of the Phil- harmonic Soclety of Moscow. That's a fine way to treat an invitation. " —on ~ Let’s Pay Our Shares. From the Butte Montana Standard. Five $100 bills have just been received by the United States Treasury as con- science money. If it all came in, we could probably pay our national debt. B They Can Afford to Have. From the Saginaw Daily News. Citizens of Monaco, where Monte Carlo is the chief industry, are reported to show symptoms of a “maral awak- ening.” Possibly the fact/that the Casino had a r season has some- lars of exports to South America consisted of manufactured articles. Wise direction of our trade and the frce pur- chase of the products of South America will raise these encouraging figures much higher.” The interest of the South in these predicted results is expressed by the Birmingham News, which declares: “In the new day now dawning in this conn- try’s relationships with Latin America, no section of the country should be so thrilled by the prospect as should the States of the South—particularly those of .the lower South. * * * Men are needed with the Ulysses-like spirit who will dare to fare forth and take their places on the far-flung linc of their country’s commerce, &nd teke them there as gladly as their forbears have taken them on the firing line in time of war” The News adds that “the President-clect has done his part, and done it effectively. His countrymen now need to do theirs.” * kK K “He has made a good job of the good-will tour,” in the judgment of the Charleston Evening Post, “and has passed profitably a period which is al- ways difficult for a President-elect, and he is entitled to some leisure and time for reflection and recreation before en- tering upon the great task which lies ahead of him.” “He came as a friend desirous of be- coming better acquainted,” states the Indianapolis Star, with the further sug- gestion: “That is the most subtle form of effective diplomacy. In becoming more familiar with a part of the world he had never visited and in assuring his official hosts and the people generally of his personal interest and the friend- liness of the United States, Mr. Hoo- ver's mission has been highly success- ful from this historic journey will begin to come in evidence after Mr. Hoover is inaugurated as President,” remarks the Pasadena Star-News, “and after he be- gins to lay down his policies and his recommendations to Congress. Already there is a wholesome reflex of good feeling toward the Government and the people of the United States from the republics of Latin America. This in itself is worth the entire journey made by Mr. Hoover. But much more than this will result.” The Altoona Mirror holds that “it is apparent that he be- lieved one of the essentials at this time was a friendly demonstration.” * k k% “Throughout the tour,” says the Madison Wisconsin State Journal, “it has been the evident aim of Mr. Hoover to impress upon South American coun- tries that the relation between them and the United States should be one of comradeship and a belief in mutual de- pendence. * * * If this has indeed been accomplished, his trip has been one of great results, not only to the United States, but also to the world. * * * Mr. Hoover has been an ambas- sador of great value to his country.” “His use of the four-month interval between election and inauguration,” ad- vises the Cleveland News, “is commend- able enough to be imitated on future occasions of the kind. And certainly there is no popular impatience on this occasion because the action of the elec- torate is so long in taking effect. But we surmise that the movement to shorten the interim may seem some- what sensible to Mr. Hoover himself be- fore March 4.” The Brooklyn Eagle thinks that he comes back “with the knowledge that he has made an out- standing contribution to the closer in- tegration of the New World.” The Manchester Union offers the ver- dict: “He has not been able to make all our Southern neighbors our trusting admirers and friends. To do that would be to work an international miracle. But unquestionably he has made great progress toward securing a better un- derstanding.” 10 Dcl)wning Street Credited With Pact |} To the Editor of The Star: It seems to me regrettable to make The Star’s policy that of keeping up this bitterness of 10 years. That W. W"Jflmn never in the slightest way took to him- self the credit of concelving or of writ- ing the covenant of the League is known to the most casually informed, from his own spoken word, ant A Van Dyke is merely stating a historic fact and not unearthing a secret. What W. Wilson did do was to make it a living thing, and it is for that that Geneva, with its splendid work, and the whole world gives him credit. To step aside for an instant, I take it that you would be shocked and doubting to hear that the archives of the State Department contain equally convincing proof that Monroe never wrote the Monroe Doctrine, but that it too, issued from No. 10 Downing street, its actual author being W. Canning, England’s prime minister at that time. What President Monroe did was to make it a living thing. MARGARET HOLMES COULSON, Not Side-Tracked Often, Either. From the Indianapolis Star. Notre Dame’s foot, ball traveled more than 10,000 miles, w] is equiva- ‘l"eont to a considerahle number of first wns. . —————————— Well, That Might Help. From the New Castle News. ' “We heard of a woman who is trying to reduce by dieting between meals. And Dad’s Paying for ’Em. ing News. Winter will s "n begin in earnest. op . their SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1928 THE LIBRARY TABLE By the Booklover Carl Sandburg, poet, wrote oz of the most delightful of the blographies of | j. Lincoln, containing much authentic, new material, and written in prose poetry. Amy Lowell, poet, wrote what is considered by most critics the author- itative blography of Keats, heavily an- notated, rather too lengthy, and schol- arly rather than poetic in style. Rachel Annand Taylor, a less well known poet, has now written a rather striking biog- raphy of Leonardo da Vincl, “Leonardo the Florentine.” In an introductory note Gilbert Murray, regius professor of Greek at Oxford, gives unstinted praise to Mrs. Taylor’s “exquisite crafts- manship” in her volumes of verse, “Rose and Vine,” “The Hours of Fiam- metta” and “The End of Fiammetta,” and then says of “Leonardo the Floren- tine”: “I am told that unprincipled critics in disturbed states of society have been known to write reviews of books which they have not read. If I were to follow that criminal example, I should say that Mrs. Taylor's ‘Leo- nardo’ will offend many readers and be- wilder more; that it will be strange and perhaps morbid, and at times star- tling; that it is sure to be written with wide ‘knowledge, sincere feeling and exact scholarship, but that such quali- ties will almost be forgotten, for good or ill, in an exotic and riotous luxury of imagination and phrasing and a power of poetic interpretation which at times acts like a flashlight. Altogether a book dangerous in its power of illu- sion, as Chaucer is dangerous to a weak speller; dangerous to students who can- not pick and choose among its highly rersonal pronouncements, and particu- larly to those young writers who are already too prone to be intoxicated by beautiful language and strange doctrine, but full of value and new light to sober persons who care about style and art and human personality, and neverthe- less know how to keep their heads.” EE Gilbert Murray might further have said in his excellent introduction that much knowlew®: of the Renaissance pe- riod comes not amiss before beginning to read “Leonardo the Florentine.” Mrs. Taylor deals in bare facts as little as does Walter Pater. Her treatment is allusive, has an implication of “You already know this, so why repeat?” ‘This in no way detracts from pleasure in the book. If you do already know, you feel complimented; if you do not have the knowledge taken for granted. you keep a history of the Renaissance at hand, or are content merely to enjoy a delightful excursion into medieval Italy without carrying too heavy im- pedimenta of historical fact. After all, Mrs. Taylor’s book is literature, rather than simple biography. Perhaps a lib- eral definition would allow it to be called poetry. There is no straight nar- rative, but one is drawn imaginatively into the spirit and atmosphere of the Renaissance, where one almost longs to stay, far from the unromantic practi- calities of modern life. Caa any one resist the appeal of the Milan of the Renaissance in this description?: “Whatever Milan had been, she was barbaric and splendid when Leonardo sought her courts like a new Citharoe- dus, barbaric in her excess of pearl and gold, in her clouds of perfume, her rose-drift cupid-broidered - palaces, her snowdrift incredible cathedral, her mythic pageantry of pleasure and power, barbaric like Grecian cities of old richly corrupting into strange colors in Asia and in Egypt through sweet, spendthrift, luxurious moods. * * * Through the ages called ‘dark’ Milan remains, a dim flame of rose, a rumour of litanies and a tumult of spears and eagles. She had great traffic with kings and popes and emperors; she had spoken haughtily in the gate with many powers and principalities, and she | had felt the clash of armies from all| ;' the ways of the world shiver in her beautiful breast.” Thc headings of the five parts of the book show that the subject is not Leonardo alone. The story and significance of all Italy dur- ing his lifetime form the subject—"The City of Lorenzo,” “The Court of Lodo- vico,” “The Wandering Years,” “The Hostel of Francis” and “Leonardo da Vinci.” Some of the best writing is to be found in the description of the bril- liant court of Lodovico Il Moro of Milan, husband of Beatrice d’Este. It was a court of beautiful women, whose gay, feverish lives were all too short. Bi- anca, the natural daughter of Lodovico, the little princess of Ambrogio Predis’ portrait, was the “dearest play- mate” of Beatrice, Lodovico’s wife, and the two died in their early youth within a short time of each other. Bianca died first, and Beatrice “keeps her sad vigil in the Chapel of Santa Maria delle Grazie by her playfellow’s grave, and the tears of her suffering soul fall through to the dead, sweet breast of Bianca, who never hurt anybody; and then she is clad in her brocade of fly- ing white doves on a red ground and her cuirass of jewels for the evening, and dances herself into agonizing death. Little avail Lodovico’s long days in the black chamber of lamentation, and the hundred tapers burning silver in the darkness where she lies in her most golden camorra, and the hundred masses sung to quiet her restless soul, little the lovely tomb where she shall be sculp- tured her sweetest.” * Kk K % From a vessel on a shining sea a man in proper traveling costume starts on an excursion beneath that liquid sur- face. The man is William Beebe, and he tells of the excursion in his book, “Beneath Tropic Seas.” “You standing on a metal ladder in water up to your neck. Something round and heavy is slipped gently over your head and a metal helmet rests upon your shoulders. Thus were the knights of old helmed by their squires for the grim business of war. Instead of a slotted vizor, however, you find two large frames of glass before your eyes. Turning your head, you see emerald waves breaking upon the distant beach of ivory, backed by feathery palms waving in the sunlight against a sky of pure azure. * * Then the world hanges. There is no more harsh sun- light, but delicate blue-greens with a fluttering of shadows everywhere. Huge pink and orange wths rise on all sides, * * * Now your feet touch ground and you walk slowly about on the cleanest white sand in the world. An ostrich feather of a seaplume as tall as yourself sweeps against you. * * * On a mound of sand you gently seat yourself, sand-colored crabs and small fish skittering just out of the way. Dozens of fishes, all strange, all graceful and beautiful, play about you, nibbling at the coral, rushing toward the sponge which you have lifted from its place, hoping for some disturbed titbit. When you sit quietly they gather closer and peer in through the glass at you again and again. * * * A great blue-enameled fish glides past. * * * Only a moment has passed since you left the world overhead; or was it many hours?"” % * ok K K During last Summer both George Bernard Shaw and H. G. Wells put some of their ideas concerning Socialism into books which both veteran British au- thors evidently intend to be in the na- ture of creeds. spiracy” Mr. Wells advocates a religion of happiness for every one here and now, not in another life at some far distant time. He thinks it has been proved that self-interest, even the most In “The Open Con-|land and ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Did you ever write a letter to Frederic . Haskin? You can ask him any ques- tion of fact and get the answer in a personal letter. Here is a great edu- cational idea introduced into the lives of the most intelligent people n the world—American newspaper readers, It is a part of that best purpose of a news- paper—service. There is no charge ex- cept 2 cents in coin or stamps for re- turn postage. Address Frederic J. Has- kin, director, The Evening Star Infor- mation Bureau, Washington, D. C. Q. What is a dead man’s hand in poker?—B. J. D. A. It is a poker hand contalning a pair of aces and a pair of eights. It is seid to be the hand held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was shot at a card table in Deadwood, August 2, 1876. 1 Q. What pictures have won the photoplay gold medal?>—K. N. E. A. “Humo “Tol'able David,” e Covered Wagon,” “Abraham Lincoln,” “The Big Parade,” “Beau Geste” and “Seventh Heaven"” have been the winners in auccs:slve years. Q. Why do quail cease to increase in number after a time, even when not molested?—C. W. H. A. Probably for lack of cover and food. After a territory has its full population of quail the birds do not in- crease in number unless man, by plant- ing food and cover, makes more covey ranges. Q. Were wagon masters during the Civil War enlisted men or hired civil- ians?—G. W. H. A. They were hired civilians under the quartermaster general of the Army. Q. How was blotting paper in- vented?—R. O. A. Blotting paper came into use as the result of carelessness on the part of a workman in a paper mill in Berkshire, England, nearly a century ago. The worker forgot to put the necessary siz- ing in some pulp and when it was rolled it had to be discarded as useless. Be- cause of his negligence, the worker was dismissed and several days later it was noticed that the discarded paper had absorbed a large pool of water. Experi- ment then developed blotting paper. Q. What early Democratic President was openly opposed to slavery?—L. E. C. A. Van Buren came to the White House in 1837 an anti-slavery Demo- ml:;\d remained such until his death Q. When did Mme. Schumann-Heink make her first appearance in New ‘York?—N. R. A. In 1898. Since then, she has been identified for the most part with the American opera and concert stage. Q. Does an airplane have a propeller for each engine?—W. O. A. There is a propeller for each en- gine used in an airplane. Q. How many buffaloes are there in | this country now?—E. S. B. A. The Department of Agriculture does not have any authentic statistics showing the number of wild buffaloes, and buffaloes held in captivity later than the figures given in the report of the American Bison Society for the years 1924-25-26. These figures, repre- senting the seventeenth census, .how that there are in the various United States Government herds 1,828, with 2,348 held in private ownership, or a total of 4,176. In Canada, the wild herd 1s estimated at 1,500, with 10,457 held in captivity. Q. Where is most of the vanadium produced?—W. M. G. A. Two-thirds of the world supply comes from the Minas Rigra, Peru. Q. What radio station broadcasts in Polish?—J. K. A. The Federal Radio Commission says that station WEDC of Chicago, 1Il, sometimes broadcasts in the Palish language. Q. Was Levi Z. Leiter a Jew?—A. N. A. He was not a Jew. His stock was Dutch Reformed on his father’s side and Dutch Lutheran on his mother’s side. Q. How long is Hell Gate Bridge?— T. H. 'A. Including the approaches, it is 18,000 feet long. Q. How many miles of electrified road has the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul?—C. S. A. It has 677.48 miles of electrified road. Q. Do the shells of eggs admit air?— R. 8. "A. In eggshells there are minute pores which permit the passage of air. QB. How does cinnamon grow?—H. A. Cinnamon is the pale, yellowish- brown inner bark of the cinnamon tree. It is dried in the sun, and is strongly aromatic. Q. Is it necessary that the Prince of Wales marry before he ascends the throne?—M. W. A. It is not necessary that the Prince of Wales marry before succeed- ing to the throne. The question of marriage is an entirely personal one with the King of England. It is cus- tomary that do marry, although it is not so speci by law, Q. When was the first scheduled race between an airplane and rallroad train?—K. N. M. A. The first race was from Chicago to Springfield, Ill, on September 29, 1910. with an airplane piloted by Wal- ter Brookins and a train of the Illinois Central as contestants. The prize of $10,000 was won by the airplane. Q. Was the office of cupbearer a high one in ancient times?—B. E. A. To be a cupbearer was to hold high office with Egyptian, jan, Assyrian and Jewish monarchs. His duty was to fill the King’s cup and to present it to him personally. Q. How many chrysanthemums can be grown on one stem?—S. A. R. A. In Japan a method is known of making one plant bear as many blos- soms as possible. It is called senrin zukuri. By this method one plant was n:eude to bear 1,100 flowers on one stem. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. €OLLINS. One of the old-time favorites in new!filfnr editorials was “the deadly parallel,” in which two stories were printed side by side, for the sake of their contrast. If we y were to repeat “the deadly parallel” where would we find a contrast so “deadly” as the story of great prosperity and wealth the United States, beside that of é‘}:lnme and death by the millions in ina. In the United States we read how our number of millionaires has increas- ed from seven millions in 1914, to be- tween thirty millions and fc ‘millions in 1928. We see evidences of luxury on every side—beautiful homes, countless Egtomohiles. a general Christmas trade 'yond all precedent, little unemploy- ment, and everybody f ‘upon plenty 0f food, with plenty of shelter, plenty of clothing, plenty of entertain- ment. Of course, “the poor we have nlw:rs with us,” but how easy it is to provide comfort for such cases of need da |as come to one’s notice! Thank God, we are not like other people! * K K % . ‘True, there is the expert financier of the Federal Reserve Bank, Mr. Fred Snyder, who analyzes this “prosperity,” and shows f}ww much 01:1 ullt‘ is merely “paper profits” or gaml margins. But how does that account for the fine homes, and all the luxuries such as have never been seen outside of America, and never seen here before the last decade? He says the apparent gains are “largely illusory,” and he warns, “Clearly, the true prosperity— that is, the general diffusion of com- fort and well being among the largest number of the population—is not de- pendent upon the inflation and boom.” That sounds like wisdom and warns against our being unduly purse-proud; but how is it that one out of every five Americans owns an automobile and business employs a larger percentage of people, at incredibly good wages, than it ever did before—more men than it ever employed, in spite of the fact that one out of every eleven housewives is also employed at wages? Mass pro- duction of home necessities, such as are | the cooking done by bakeries and deli- catessen shops, has incrcased hundreds of per cent in the last decade, reliev- ing the homekeeper of her drudgery. American life has been eased and made luxurious. * K K ¥ How we Americans might strut! (Some do.) Who is so shrewd in business as a Yankee? Who has so broad a horizon in trade? What nation possesses such stores of natural resources—such great opportunities for success? Look at us! For He saith, “By the strength of My hand I have done it, ana by My wis- dom; for I am prudent; and I have|roamed the streets naked. culties of transportation across the ocean in great steamships or over icy, trackless mountains upon human car- riers. It can’t be done! Those millions of Chinese victims are doomed. Civili- zation with all its modern methods has failed—has broken down! As many will die from starvation this winter as the total of our great armies of 1918 abroad and at home. A mis- sionary’s estimate is that from five mil- lions to seven millions will starve t death before Spring. * %k Xk % ‘What causes such repeated tragedies in China? how an American missionary, Rev. W. W. Simpson of Kansu, answers that question when he writes to our Department of State: 1. War between the government and some rebellious tribes in 1925 wasted food supplies and hindered iction. 2. Large increase of armies of the government to defeat rebels of North China took young men from the farms of Kansu. (Kansu is located just south of Mongolia, near the center of China.) 3. General resumption of opium- growing in place of cereals reduced food production. This was not due to the 1 norance of the farmers, but was forced onto them by militaristic rulers, wh) then extorted taxes on the opium, ;mht:&ey co“lll:s no!rh have collected supplies. e ies re- qumamml of the solrpp 3 of some Mohammedan generals and their armies, with the fanatic support of Moslem _civilians, who form a large percentage of the pop. ulation of Kansu, devastated large dis tricts of the province, preventing har- vesting of grain that had been sowed, and also consumed food reserves. This Tebellion and its massacre of hundreds of thousands of non-Moslem Chinese caused the Chinese government to send hrze forces into Kansu to restore order, and these patriotic armies also con- sumed food reserves without compensa- tion—as is the Chinese custom. They Tequire food for the armies whether any is left over for the civilians or mnot. People of the city of Hochow, besleged :x’;:du:;‘:sh::g cropa‘,uha;i ‘;o contribute pounds of flour the defenders of the city. S 5. Nearly a million, driven from their homes by the rebellion or unable to pay th. military taxes, wandered in search ?gmfeo:d b::gs a!gelu‘:h or in desperation ev;n E‘J’{‘b:)l:tdlodms.p e e 3 nate military taxes 2 heartened producers, whoryfound no‘”lé- centive to work when they might profit better in loafing, begging and stealing. 7. Incessant wars, with utter stag- nation of business, raised prices of cot- ton cloth, so that people became rag- ged and half clothed, while children Now the removed the bounds of the people, and | temperature is around zero, with mil- have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants, like a valiant man; “And My hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people; and as one gathereth eggs that are left have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing or opened the mouth or peeped.” ' Shall Americans boast of the mor- row? “Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry, for thou hast much goods laid up in store.” Rather, “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life. ‘Turn now to the this “deadly paralle! Central China, in the province of Kan- su, where several times as many people are starving to death without hope of relief as all the erican exneditionary forces which only one decade a l rossed ‘to make the wor{do ansu has an area Pennsyl- vania, New York and al tion of twelve millions, enlightened kind, does not serve the|of the best ends in promoting universal wel- fare, and nothing short of universal welfare will satisfy Mr. Wells’ idealism. His book is not all theoretical; he has many concrete plans for the direction of humanity toward its own good. An educated superior class, eugenics, or- ganized work for every one, reduction of bureaucracy, and international co- operation are some of his suggestions. ‘They all seem familiar {from our having encountered them before in Mr. Wells' upon the h to feed twelve ite le. It can’t be done! Civilization failed. Picture the “bridge of ships” and the con railroads of the United States carrying rations to our cross the seas in 1918=-a paltry two with a partial supply for allies! Multiply 1 A lions of people exposed to freezing. 8. Drought added the climax of the calamity. In vast areas there has not been enough rainfall in year for the water to eaves. Seed rotted in groun :a;ouwd and blistered in the broiling * kxR “It can't be done—but here is, was the motto of the Amrlmnuavy during the war. The missionary also adopts that motto in his frantic ap- mfi m’::nh:t.‘; impractical. Maybe spen I3 er people’s resources in his asks that the manu- 8 nd tons hundred miles a day, after full al- lowance of surplus capacity for trucks out of action. He calls upon the oil companies to contribute enough of idle and starving to build roads for trucks, in Midwinter, and keep them open, and to employ two z:\null‘m chaut- Is humanity capable of ch an awful crisis? mm forces of ni.‘"u- XSS W&“&W e w&m*wm&w