Evening Star Newspaper, February 4, 1929, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ¢, MONDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1929.° __'__—___—_______——_—“__——_—__——————-——l———_—'—'_— ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. THE EVENING — _With Sunday Morning Bditien. WASHINGTON, D. C. «MONDAY.... THEODORF W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office 11th St and Pennsyivania Ave New York Office: 110 East 42nd 8t. Chicago_Office: Tower Buildine. Turopean Office; 14 Resent St., Lotidon, ngland. Rate by Carrier Within the City. The Evenine Star.............45¢ per month The Evening and Sunday Star (when & Sundays) The Evening and Sunday Star (whe d 4 60¢ per month c per month L. .be per copy Collcction made at’the end of rach mon'h. Orders may be sent in by mail or telephone Main 5000. Rate hy Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Dally and Sunday....1 yr., $10.00: 1 mo.. 85¢c Daily onlv ©70071 yrll "$6.00: 1 mo., 50c Sunday only ... . $4.00; 1 mo., 40c All Other States and Canada. Daily rnd Sunday..} yr..$12.00. 1 mo., $1.00 Daily only 137, 38.00; 1 mo. 73 Sunday only 1 $500; 1 mo., 50¢ ‘Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is cxclusively entitled to the use for republization of all ~ews dis- atches credited to it or not ofLerwise cred- Leb‘ in this paper and aiso the local news oublished hergis, All rights of publiation o spal fches herein are also reserved. i Ape = Assets and Liabilities. The average Washingtonian, who is neither prosperous nor poor, who sup- ports his family on a salary and is buy- ing his home, who pays his taxes, shovels coal into the furnace in Winter, mows the lawn in Summer and spends a good portion of his life riding street cars to and from his work, will find food for concentrated thought in the suggestion that the Federal Government's share in maintaining the Capital City should be lightened because of the “very con- siderable economic benefits accruing to the Distriet owing to the presence here of national monuments and great public buildings which make Washington the mecca of hundreds of thousands of tourists,” There are, perhaps, certain assets ac- cruing to this average Washingtonian by reason of the presence here of na- tional monuments and great public buildings. But if they are tangible as- sets the average Washingtonian may be pardoned if he demands to know how the building of the Arlington Memorial Bridge or the location in the Botanic Garden of the Grant Memorial will make it easier for him to pay his March installment on real estate taxes. If ' they are intangible, or esthetic, assets, - the a'verage Washingtonian would ap- preciate some attempt to balance the + aasets against the Habilities. How many Lincoln Memorials, for instance, are - meeded to offset the Post Office Build- ing at Eleventh street and Pennsylvania avenue? If the Capitol and the White | House are placed in one column and the | State, War and Navy Building, the Pen- | slon Office Building and the Veterans' { Bureau in another, will the"balance be | written in red ink or bjue? But, it is recalled, these bulldings, monuments and whatnot attract to the Capital . thousands of tourists, Our STAR tion. than sport; it is character-building. Correspondingly, they hold that when s boy applies for entry to a college or university ke should not be X-rayed ex- . .February 4, 1929 clusively through academic lenses. He — should be sized up from the standpoint of what sort of & general contribution he is likely to make to the campus. “The cut of his jib,” as the sailors say, should be surveyed. Does he look like a future captain of his fellow men in all forms of student activities and in after life? Representative Hamilton Fish, jr., of New York, one of the most famous foot ball players of his day and captain at Harvard in his senior year, identifies himself unreservedly with Mr. Rockne's views., He told the audience before which the Western coach spoke that | practically all the merabers of the un- beaten Harvard eleven of 1908 are to- day successful American men of affairs. {Few of them were academically distin- guished, though Mr. Fish himself holds the unique record of graduating in three ! years with a cum laude degree. | This scion of a celebrated family as- serts roundly that four years of foot ! ball are calculated to breed in the aver- age man more of the ingredients of success in life than almost any aca- demic course he takes. The theory is revolutionary, but it is something for our college leaders to think about. If | generally invoked, it might put a crimp {in the “key” industry, but it looks asif | it would increase the supply of gradu- ates capable of making marks in the world, no matter how low were the ones they had when they entered col- lege. B Sy The Spanish Diotatorship, | Revolt in Valencia will probably be | short-lived, but there is small chance Hayes show the form that made him an outstanding star in his brief sojourn away from Washington last Summer, and ‘will Sam West come into his own not only as a clever outfielder, but as a fine batter? Many questions and doubtless many different answers suggest themselves, but all food for base ball fah consump- tion. With the regular team, composed of Goslin, West and Rice in the out- fleld; Myer, Bluege, Hayes and Judge in the infleld, and Muddy Ruel behind the bat, pretty well settled even at this early date, what the pitchers will do stands out as of surpassing importance. Jones had one of his best years in 1928. Is he good for another one? Hadley, after a slow recovery from his operation, hurled fine ball. Will he realize on the promise he has shown? Marberry gained his heart’s desire, that of being made & starter. Will he continue the good work? And so forth and so on ad infinitum. It is a good team, no doubt about it Potentially it is a great team, provided the players deliver as they are capable of doing and the “will to win” is a part of the make-up of each one. Johnson has plenty of responsibility ahead of him, but there is no reason to doubt that hes will meet it in the way that he has met other situations in his long career on the pitching mound. —— o New York theaters cannot control producers, players, musicians and stage- hends. Thanks to Commissioner Whalen they can, at least, control the chauffeurs outside. —————— Artists have secured results that may imply the influence of a “fourth dimen- sion.” Some of the products are as difficult to reduce to ordinary terms of that with it will be crushed all embers of resentment of the Spanish dictator- ship. It is far more likely that the pavements of Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Granada, as well as Valencia, one day will run red before the yoke of Rivera is permitted to rest unmolested upon the necks of King Alfonso and his people. Spain has survived more than five years of the dictatorship. It dates from September, 1923, when leading officers of the army, headed by Gen. Primo de Rivera, then governor general of Bar- celona, rose against the government of the day. Without bloodshed the revolt spread throughout the country. King Alfonso refused to support the cabinet, which fell. Obnoxious ministers hurried into exile. Alfonso called on Rivera to form a cabinet and dissolved the Cortes, leaving the general as president of a military directorate charged with the administration of the state and whose decrees would have the force of laws. Spaniards did not take unreservedly to the new regime. To impose it upon them martial law prevailed until May, 1025, and at w later period from Sep- tember, 1926, to January, 1927. At the end of 1925 the military directorate re- signed and Gen. Rivera was immediate- 1y appointed premier, with a new cab- inet called “civilian” because it con- tained some' ministers who were not sverage Washingtonian, who works in s Government department or in some jother local industry, is mo doubt re- | warded by the emotional stimulant | received in watching the tide of pa- | triotic Americans, come to worship at | the shrine of liberty, rise and fall year in and year out. And our average | weshingtonian who has put his savings {in hotel stock or in street railways, or [has invested in a going restaurant is { thankful, just as his brother who lives 'in Baltimore and owns stock in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad is thankful ifor the tourists who help to pay the , dividends. And our average Washing- ! tonian, whose salary depends upon the ! continuance of normal business and | prosperity, is thankful to the tourists “whose demands have built up one of the ' Capital’s few industries. But this same average Washingtonian often wonders, perhaps, if the economic . benefits he receives from the visitation 'of the tourists are not more than offset by the fact that Aunt Jane and the children, who live in Nebraska and have hearty appetites, are coming this Spring for a “long visit,” because “we must see Washington,” and that the arrival of Aunt Jane will coincide with the de- parture of friends from Texas, Who, while eating three square meals & day, have absorbed, in addition, all of the public buildings end are going back home chockful of food and enthusiasm for their National Capital. e i Being the possessor of an inquiring mind, the Prinee of Wales went into the mining regions and found more to ‘oecupy his attention than a brass band eng a parad i What Price College “Marks”? It is a pity that all the educational leaders of the Nation could not have been packed into a Washington club- room last Saturday to listen to a dis- cussion of college athletics. It ranged eround an informal talk by Knute Rockne, celebrated Notre Dame foot ball coach. Lamenting the prospect of Is poor team of “Fighting Irish” mext | Fall, Mr. Rockne, & gridiron philosopher @s well as mentor, dwelt suggestively upon the marking system to which col- { leges and universities adhere in the ad- mission of freshman classes. In a quaint aside Mr. Rockne ob- served that the Notre Dame faculty seems determined “to pay some atten- tion” io academic standards in the ac- ceptance of students. He indicated that other universities, toe, nowadays seruti- nize the “credits” with which a would- be matriculant turns up. Mr. Rockne concedes the indispensability of mental equipment for college men, but boldly declares that educational authorities overstress its importance and under- “estimate personality. He deplores the habit of accepting without question the “undersized, nar- row-chested youth in horn-rimmed gog- gles,” who has an average academic mark of 86 or 90, while the upstanding, broad-shouldered lad with nothing bet- ger than 75 or 80 is usually set aside. The brawny boy, Mr. Rockne points out, may be far more richly endowed with qualities of leadership, but because he 15 not so strong on “math” or Greek the registrar of admissions accords the mocolade of preference to the fellow with greater Phi Beta Kappa prospects. army men. The dictatorship remained. By decree the King gave full status to sl acts thenceforward signed by it. Under this camouflaged autocracy Spain has been living a more or less fitful existence. The National Assembly is convened on & selective basis, with Rivera doubtless functioning as the se- lecting board. It serves in an advisory capaeity only. Against this virtually complete dictatorship the Valencians have now rebelled, resulting in reported bloodshed and reproclamation of mar- tial law in their region. ‘That Gen. Rivera is not unaware of the significance of the revolt is indi- cated by today's dispatches from Mad- rid. “The premier is less concerned,” it is stated, “about what has taken place st Valencia than he is about general tendencies—a series of occurrences which he terms isolated, but yet impor- tant.” Undoubtedly Valencia is a symptom. It will remain one even though royal decrees dictated by Gen. Rivera sum- marily suppress it. A-eourt-martial or two cannot permanently paralyze the movement of which the outbreak in Spain’s third largest community is an omen and a warning, Alfonso XIII wears resentfully the puppet’s crown. ‘There can be no question that it will be reconverted with his own connivance into the kingly diadem he inherited the moment he and the Spanish Royalists conceive the moment ripe for a grapple to the death with the dictatorship. ‘The Riveraistas may find the sporting monarch a pliant tool for the time being. But all that is known of him in America suggests that Alfonso will not enduringly remain clay in their hands. —_—ra—————— ‘When Dr. Einstein completed his cal- culations he announced that very few persons could understand them. This was, at the outset, a warning that they could have but little influence in prac- tical life. ————e— ————— The “0ld Fever.” ‘With steam in the radiators and Win- ter in full swing possibly it is too early to think much about the coming base ball season, but inasmuch as Sam Rice, veteran star of the Nationals, has just signed his 1929 contract because “he felt the old fever coming on,” there ap- pears to be no logical reason to believe that a certain percentage of Washing- ton fans have not likewise turned their thoughts to April days when the Clark Grifith Stadium will resound with their shouts as Walter Johnson's warriors take the fleld for battle. g True, it is more than two months before the opening of the season, but what harm can there be, provided the windows are shut and the electric heat- ers are turned on in rooms that simply will not stay warm, in cogitating a bit on the forthcoming pennant scramble? ‘Will the Yankees repeat or is their base ball machine broker in too many vital places? What will Philadelphia do? Is it capeble of making another gallant fight or is it liable to curl up again when the going gets hottest? Far more important, however, are the prospects of the Washington team under & new manager, the beloved Walter Johnson, Will he be able to get results from his players? Will Goose Goslin rise to greater heights in batting, having gar- The Notre Dame coach thinks this is | nered the crown for the year of 1928? Al wrong. He believes college directors | Will Buddy Myer, returned to his first In particular take a myopic view of the | major league team, provide the needed significance of foot ball. As Mr. Rockne | hitting punch in the infleld, and will mnd other front-rank coaches #he game, foot ball is some! ! Ossie Bluege be able to convert himself more again inte a shortstep? Wil Jack ratiocination as Einstein's theory itself. —— o ‘There have been influences of gloom in Great Britain. A determination to bear up and be cheerful is evidenced by the fact that London Punch continues to publish some excellent jokes. ——— o No intimation has yet been offered by Charles Curtis as to whether he will, as presiding officer, undertake to carry out all the ideas for regulating Senate procedure suggested by Charles Dawes. ———ratns. Tobacco is affording an enormous element of public revenue. The ciga- rette, once despised, is asserting itself as an economic asset. ———— e Financial experts will deal with reparations plans. An “I. O. U” is & simple matter until it gains an inter- national status. SIS Regardless of climate, the ground hog is accepted as a prophet of some rough going in Congress. et There are laws against weapon-carry- ing. They do not appear to apply very rigidly to professional gunmen. oo SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Too Much to Expect. Oh, let us all be Good and Kind! Let us be fond and true! Be thankful, in the endless grind, ‘That there is work to do! Oh, let us all as models be That Sweet Perfection paints, From mortal faults entirely free— Oh, let us all be Saints! Popular Appeal. “Do you believe in the Einstein theory?” “Absolutely,” answered Senator Sor- ghum. “He'll sell a lot of coples of his formula. In science, the same as in politics, the fact that people do not understand something makes it the more interesting.” Jud Tunkins says & man who wants “to be boss” is often disappointed to find that he has picked out one of the hardest jobs on earth. Ponce de Leon in Politics. A Fountain of Youth flows from Florida sand, ‘While years we are journeying through. Political questions, so sncient and grand, Survive as eternally new. Qualified Admiration. “Do you admire the ukulele?” “Sometimes,” answered Miss Cayenne. “But rather seldom the young gentle- man who plays it.” “We bow in reverence to our ances- tors,” said Hi Ho, the sage of China- town, “even though they knew nothing of airships and radio. Our self-pride accords them respect because they were Our ancestors,” Marital Cruelties. The whipping post in several States The beater of a wife awaits. ‘What punishment shall men contrive When wives as husband-shooters thrive? “De men wif de loud volce” sald Uncle Eben, “ain’ no nearer sure of winnin’ in politics dan he is in a crap game.” b0 Thermometer Should Have Dropped. From the Saginsw Sunday News. Speaking_ of Illlllh' thefts, there's the chap who stole & 25-pound block of i ids, Iowa, while the b3 le at Cedar Raj he &rlmpltbfln Showing Off. Prom the Savannah Press. The Los Angeles flew over the w W Zero. mcmbelzo{ueonu just to show them i large they grew them in Washing. It’s a Real Trip Sometimes. From Columbus. Ohio. Btate Journal. About a year more and the man of sedentary pursuits will be taking a taxi from the parking place to the office. —oor—s Cause of Freckles. From the Dallas Journal. The sclentists are now ascribing hysical troubles of man to sun spots, kles are undoubtedly due to that cause. 'Well, Babe’s Reducing Again. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ‘There is a mix-up somewhere along the line. The itinerary for the Spring training 1s announced before the first holdout appears. Or Else “Good-by.” Prom the Rochester ‘Times-Union. When money talks it “Charge it, please\” __ e THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. One hears a t deal nowadays about the fun of “wild parties” but very little about the pleasures of sleep. To listen to some of the would-be “jazz bables” talk one might suppose sieep an outworn custom, observed only by old fogies. As a matter of fact, everybody sleeps, but not everybody knows how to get real enjoyment out of sleeping. Tt is necessary to begin at the begin- ning, if one wants to sleep right. Just as no one appreciates wealth like the man who was once poor, so no man can truly enjoy sleep unless he has been 5leer|ess upon occasion. These people who either do or claim to fall asleep the moment their head touches the pillow scarcely know the full pleasures of the art. It makes no difference how soundly they sleep, or how long, or how re- freshed they feel when they wake up, they have not put their mind uj the problem, and so miss what men ity can add to anything. * ok kK ‘There can be little doubt in the year 1929 that no good thing is Quite enjoy- able until it has been run through the magic sieve of the mind. Perhaps this is why reading enjoys such continuous prestige. It is not pos- sible to read without using the mind to a slight extent, at least; the printed word can be apprehended only by the application of the brain to it, and though the process often degenerates to the merely mechanical, there is still enough of the mastery of mind over matter left to entitle it to the title of “Wonderful.” In no field of practical endeavor— and often sleeping is very much that —is the use of the mind more necessary than when seeking slumber, because without its use the process becomes a simple animal function. While there are many philosophers who insist that the strictly aninal life is by far the best and happlest, since pain is the only reality, and mankind increases its portion of this inevitable reality by thinking of its past and future, as well as enduring it the present, the generality of mankind prefers to believe with other more widely known ehllowphers that the benefits of men- ality are greater than the ills. * ok kK ‘The gains of thinking shine out clearly in respect to the process of sleeping, which may be either a bore or a pleasure as one refuses to use or as one uses the mind in the process. ‘This is why it is necessary to begin at the beginning if one wants to get out of sleep all there is in it. The preliminary frame of mind s, quite as necessary as a more or less calm physical structure. Pain or se- vere illness takes all the pleasure out of sleeping, but a wrong mental atfi- tude will do even more to render it futile. We use “futile” in reference to the pleasures of sleep. If one is content to merely sleep like a lump or a clod, he will find no need for being an artist in sleep. ¥k * K K K The actual contemplation of sleep is the first and one of the truest pleas- ures to be derived from the whole proc- ess. It presupposes some peace and quiet, and a certain modicum of respect | g from others who are willing that the WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE Virginia Hoovercrats, who swung the Old Dominion to the G. O. P. by a plurality of 14,717, will meet in con- ference at Lynchburg tomorrow for the purpose of “conserving the fruits of the recent victory.” The call for the conference, which was issued early in January, is signed by 12 Virginians from as many different counties of the State, with George N. Conrad of Har- risonburg as chairman. Although the invitation to the meeting was sent out on the letterhead of the “Headquarters Committee, Anti-Smith Democrats,” of which Bishop James Cannon, jr., is chairman, the latter had nothing par- ticular to do in connection with the . The Hoovercrats have two imme- diate objects in view—to consider the formation of a permanent organization and to determine what position they shall take in the Virginia State elec- tion this year. It is possible their plans will prove contagious in Dixie. * k k k One of the prime movers in the Vir- ginia mutiny is Frank Lyon, Washing- ton attorney and Fairfax County farmer. Mr. Lyon has just addressed a letter to Chairman Raskob, in which he expresses a readiness to contribute $50 toward the Democratic national deficit “provided the speeches of Gov. Smith are not printed and distributed.” Mr. Lyon added: “Havin departed from the traditions of a lifetime because of Gov. Smith’s speeches and believing that the doctrines he expressed in those speeches are what led to the over- whelming defeat of the Democratic party at_the polls last November, T do not feel I am justified in adding to the further discomfort of the party by ursuing a course of action that would nmd to drive Democrats to other parties.” * Kk ok 1t is not generally known that a bril- liant young American financier-econ- omist, Walter W. Stewart, has com- pleted his first year as economic adviser to the Bank of England. Mr. Stewart has just arrived in the United States with Montagu C. Norman, governor of the bank, who is holding his annual consultation with the New York Fed- eral Reserve Bank and other lords of Wall Street. Stewart hails from Man- hattan, Kans., and is in his 44th year. From 1922 to 1925 he was director of the division of research and siatistics at the Federal Reserve Board in Wash- ington. Then he went into private banking business in New York. Gov. Norman came in contact with Stewart’s unusual talents at the end of 1927, and induced him to become the first Ameri- can to be emvlo{:: by the “Old Lady of Threadneedle Street” in all its ancient history. After graduation from the Uni- versity of Missour, Stewart studied at Michigan and Columbia, and later taught economics at Missouri, Michigan and Amherst. His job in the Bank of England is to keep it posted on Ameri- can economic trends. * %k kK Louis B. Mayer of Hollywood, who has been offered the American ambas- sadorship to Turkey by President-elect Hoover, is the first movie magnate {0 mount into public life from the silver £ been a Hoover en- thusiast. fornia delegation at Kansas City, Mayer rendered yeoman service in helping turn the convention chariot into a Hoover bandwagon. He and Mrs, Mayer are great cronies of Mabel Walker Wille- brandt. The appointment of a distin- guished Jew to the American embassy in Turkey would carry out a precedent frequently observed by American Presi- dents since the late Oscar 8. Straus was sent to Constantinople. Two others, Abram I. Elkus and Henry Morgenthau, both of New York—were Ambassadors there after Mr. Straus. Mayer is the “producing end” of the Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer combination. He is a composite of artistic sense and business acumen. Priends say he is made of the stuff that should equip him to be an ideal envoy to the court of Mustafa Kemal. PEER Cuba is the latest foreign country to draft an American expert to help it out of its troubles, Dr. Van H. Manning, former director of the Bureau of Mines and later director of the American Pe- troleum Institute, has been appointed consulting petroleum engineer to the g‘vummnl at Havana. He has been in ba since early in January. His as- sigument covers a survey of all fuels, to | it Would be easier to locate the owners. enjoyer of sleep may confidently look forward to his repose. ‘Thus thoughtful neighbors in a civi- lized community do much to make sleep an art. Without the co-operation of others, it is in no wise possible even for an enthusiast to get his well be- loved rest. To believe with confidence that one may go to bed when he pleases, with a clear conscience, undisturbed by the gloy strains of “I Faw Down, m!” is to enjoy the first pleasure of sleep. * ok ok ok The soothing lethargy which steals over one is the second pleasure—a real one, too, as those who lead normal, civilized lives know from experience. Those who fondly pride themselves on being “strictly up-to-date,” whatever that means, and who never seem to enjoy life until most people have gone to bed, necessarily lose this pleasure of sleep, for they are in such an ill tem- per with themselves and every one else by the time they get home that such a thing as “soothing lethargy” is un- known to them. Yet the simple, wholesome desire to go to sleep which bit by bit steals over the home lover is one of the greatest pleasures in the world. It is simple, because every one may know it, but it has something about it which is great, as most simple things have. It is whole- some because it is the result of decent, pleasant companionship in the sanctity of home—the home where wrangling is unknown and respect for others always on the alert, even when one is going to sleep. * ok ok ¥ The actual process of falling to sleep is none the less enjoyable. One does not plunge into it recklessly, as if drunk, because to do so is to miss the fine bloom of the fruit of sleepiness. There must be an actual realization not only of those things and qualities which we have already enumerated, but even more of the actual situation and surroundings in which one finds him- self. Just as the picturesque and honor- able ancient custom of saying grace before meals focused attention on the meal, as well as offered up thanks to the Almighty, so due consideration of the actual bedroom, the bed, the sheets, etc., adds to the enjoyment of sleep. * Kk Something of grace is lacking, indeed, it one is content to plunge heedlessly nsleagonke an ungrateful boor who has no thought except for his selfish self. Thus we have the paradox of refined selfishness being in essence unselfish. The enjoyable feel of fresh, clean bed clothes and linen is to be mentally tasted, lovingly, as an epicure might a fine dinner, if one is to really know the pleasure of sleep. In the same way the sleepy one needs have full realization of the comfort of covers of the proper length, so that they will not come out at the bottom, allow- ing the tender toes to meet the air, nor be too short to come closely up to the chin. (We write of Winter sleep- ing, of course.) The actual falling asleep is no less enjoyable. One may follow it curiously up to a certain point, but beyond that not even the most curious sleeper may 0. No man ever yet caught himself actually falling asleep. liquid and solid, and their derivatives, used on the island. Its particuler pur- pose is to fix the place which oil and coal are to have in Cuba's future fiscal scheme. The Bureau of Mines at Wash- ington, under Dr. Manning’s direction, was acknowledged to be one of the outstanding divisions of the Interior Department and commanded the re- spect of geological authorities through- out the world. Manning is a Missis- sippian and his father was a congress= man from that State. * ok K K Not only are the movies now talk- ing, but it looks as if they were de- termined that nobody else should do any. At any rate, news reaches Wash- ington, in the midst of the banqueting season, that a_novel method has been discovered in England for suppressing Writer Claims Revolt In Guatemala at End To the Editor of The Star: As many other students of political and _economi conditions in Latin , I have followed with atten- tion the articles of Mr. Gaston Nerval w&cflm in The Sunday Star. The author shows deep knowledge of his subject, great fairness and a remark- able gift of expression. The Star is to be congratulated on having secured the contributions of such a specialist. The article of Mr. Nerval in your issue of the 27th of last month deals with conditions in Central America. It is not my desire to refer now to Hon- duras, Nicaragua, etc., but as regards Guatemala I feel called to supplement Mr. Nerval’s observations with a few re- marks. Evidently writing some days ago, Mr. Nerval says: “At this time peace no longer reigns. * * * Factions are openly engaged in war and the political fate of the republic rests upon the outcome of arm conflagration. * * *” Now, everybody knows that at pres- ent such is not the case. The last cable I received from the President of Guate- mala, on the 21st last, said that ce and order been re-established everywhere in the country,” and fur- 3‘\“ and more complete information in e rapidity, efficiency and thoroughness the revolutionary attempt was sup- pressed. What happened in Guatemala blic press has shown with what | J. ‘The answers to questions printed here each day are specimens picked from the mass-of inquiries handled by our great Information Bureau, maintained in Washington, D. C. This- valuable serv- ice is for the free use of the public. Ask any question of fact you may want to know and you will get ‘an immediate reply. Write plainly, inclose 2 cents in coins or stamps for return_postage, and address The Evening Star Informa- tion Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, di- rector, Washington, D. C Q. Who won the junior world series base ball championship for boys’ teams in 1928?—H. D. ¥ The team from Oakland, Calif, A. won the 1928 junior world series. Q. Are former Gov. Al Smith’s cam- paign_speeches available in book form? —J. E. A. They are being compiled and will be available through the Demo- cratic national headquarters in New York City. Q. When was rayon invented?— . G. M. A. In 1889, as a result of research, Count Chardonnet gave to the world its first commercial successful process is a new proof that, in that country at least, the era of military upheavals is at an end and that no revolution will succeed which does not have public sentiment on its side. As Mr. Nerval clearly explains, in Guatemala “a few high-ranked army officers, finding themselves dissatisfied because their ambitions were not real- ized,” rose in revolt. And the Guatemalan people, let me add, the army, the merchants, the whole of the sane elements of the population, declared themselves at once for Gen. Chacon and his government. Why? Because in this case tyranny, pilfering of public funds, suppression of liberties were identified, not with Gen. Chacon and his followers, but with the leaders of the revolt. ‘With great appearance of reason, Mr. Nerval attributes political disturbances in Central and South America to three causes: Democratic inexperience, psy- chological heritage, material necessities. To these reasons let me add one more, which I take as predominant: Lack of instruction and education in a great part of the lower classes. In regard to Guatemala, I do not doubt that if Gen. Chacon, an upright, generous, kind man, succeeds in famil- iarizing the people with the practices of real democracy by upholding a regime of order and liberty, he will be para- mount in creating in the masses a senti- ment of responsibility, a notion of each man's rights, which will prevent them from siding with the first set of ad- venturers who, as was the case lately, without motives, reason or patriotic ideals, do not stop at treason, following simply the dictates of their guilty am- bitions. Much in this sense has been done, as the collapse of the last “revo- lution” has proved. And, as could be foreseen, the result of the revalt has been that the legal government has emerged stronger and that the Presi- dent, Gen. Chacon, is now more popular and respected than ever. JOSE TIBLE MACHADO. e ReviewsPlea forTeaching More Modern Languages To the Editor of The Star: In taking exception to the claim of Prof. Magoffin that 75 per cent of Eng- lish words are of classic origin, I did not expect to start a debate, but in your issue of the 29th ultimo Mr. William D. Johnson claims to have discovered 166 words in my 500-word letter that are of Latin and Greek origin. Any one can see that that falls far short of indorsing the claim of Prof. Magoffin. 1 do not wish to prolong discussion of a question that has already been set- tled so far as this country is concerned. I made the special point that in view of the marked increase in the number of-subjects which must be dealt with in our educational system, the study of Latin and Greek is out of place. The time is happily past here when the young scholar was forced, even at the point of the rod, to wade through Cae- sar, Cicero and Virgil, to say nothing of “Greek fire,” before entrance to col- lege. To drive home this point, the interested reader is invited to consult Bulletin No. 35 of the United States Bureau of Education, entitled “The after-dinner speeches. At a recent func- tion in London, the speeches were not delivered, but thrown on a screen to be read. The staid London Morning Post observes: “This strikes us as the first step toward the repression of a nuisance which, in extreme cases, may interfere with the process of digesting a decent dinner. A few—a very uw—lfie&nu exist who harmonize very well with coffee, a liqueur and a good cigar, and can even kindle that ‘sudden %,' as Hobbes called laughter, which is ft- self an aid to the eupeptic mood. But the vast majority of these performers are tiresome to their hearers and a tribulation to themselves.” * ok X K Making the rounds of the country is a Coolidge story about something that occurred at the White House a couple of years ago, but which has not ob- tained general circulation in Washing- ton. It reveals a prankish side of the President, which people seldom associate with his austere temperament. There’s a bell in the wall of the north portico of the White House. One day the Ver- monter thought it would be good fun to ring the bell, scamper from the scene, hide, and see what happened. What happened was that a detail of secret service men turned up as if by magic, | Wt but, finding nothing to do, as quickl; disappeared. From a distance Mr. Cool~ idge observed (and enjoyed) their con- sternation. As soon as they’'d gone, the President stole back to the portico, pressed the button again, and got an- other laugh when the secret service men once more did their stuff. Eventu- ally, so the story goes, the secret serv- ice detail found out what was bein, done to them and put in another befi in a spot unknown to the President. (Copyright, 1929.) Rescue League Seeks Owners of Lost Dogs To the Editor of The Star: Lost dogs are advertised every eve- ning in The Star. I wish every dog owner in Washington knew that dozens of dogs are picked up and sent to the Animal Rescue League daily. Some are returned to their owners, but many remain there for weeks and new homes have to be found for them. If all owners of dogs would keep thelr dogs properly collared and tagged at all times ‘Those who want dogs as pets also should know that there are always; many good dogs at the league waiting for homes. At present there are among others several collies, and a sheep dog, very friendly and playful, who would be a splendid companion for Trend of Coll Entrance uire- ments, nu-m?g Under cha*}fm of “Summary and Conclusions” this bulle- tin states that the percentage of educa- tional institutions not requiring Latin increased from 58 in 1913 to 76 in 1922; that about 10 per cent required Greek in 1913, and in 1922 only 2 per cent. At this rate the vanishing point is in sight for classic language study as a requirement for entrance into the col- and universities of the United States. It is reported that even in France more French and less Latin is ;qy‘ull,r:d, 1;23' the:;ag: are said to be af to erman . Jol n would not throw old things into the discard; he does not wish to see the paintings of Leonardo da Vincl and Raphael ignored. I will go farther and say that the sculpture of Phidias and Praxiteles, the music of Palestrina, Bach and Beethoven, the Oration on the Crown” by Demos- L "g!ud" r“n:moT“' the medy” o nte, “Don Quixote” by Cervantes, and the paintings above referred to have never been sur- | in passed in their line and perhaps never will be. But who wanupw age them forced on the rising generation to the exclusion of the newer arts and ideas? ould Mr, Johnson like to see “Mona Lisa” or the “Madonna” flashed on the screen in all our theaters to the exclu- sion of other pictures? Of course there should be opportunity and encourage- ment for all who, by reason of taste or professipnal requirement, wish to pursue classic studles, but there is no use try- ing to turn back the clock of time and public taste to demand knowledge of Latin and Greek as a requisite to col- lege entrance here. It cannot and should nog b: go&e. ul time to pay more attention to the study of modern languages, in our American schools. The mastery of the vocabularies and grammars of Ger- man, Spanish and French will give our students all the mental exercise they need in those lines. No spelling books are needed in these languages, as is unfortunately the case in English; they are pronounced as written. Thousands of natives of these countries are here to converse with. Germany has staged a wonderful come-back in commerce as well as in the arts and sciences, and it is worth while to learn German to keep track of their textbooks, to say nothing . ‘we are g to realize how important is the Spanish to us in a practical and the French in an esthetic sense. Not always can we rely upon our natural resources and good fortunes to keep a place in the sunshine; we must keep track of these world languages for what they can teach and bring us. Even Russian and children. These dogs were advertised in | f The Star as found dogs, but have never been claimed. There are also always there a number of small dogs, who would make pets. MAg.IogN STUART CAKE. Preparedness. From the Buffalo Evening News. Nations renounce poison gas and then keep on experiment in order to be ready in case temptation should over- come them. May Be Any One. From the Little Rock Arkansas Democrat. ‘When a Chicagoan hears a loud noise m'ua.um"w know whether Nn'l , & New gang war or New Year resolution blo”px w. can read the and Lermontoff in the original has a source of intellectual delight not sur- in the of i terature; Italian 15 verbal music itself, and Span- ish is like the dark-eyed senorita who fisps ‘it—a charm led. Y 8. PERKINS. Treason. Prom the Muskegon Chronicle. It doesn't seem that Mr. doing right by his native California by going to for a vacation. s s Deficit to Be Omitted. n;: the mnm hfl:flrln-.vaurm!. an effort to have a novel e tion Chicago has decided. that it will omit the customary deficit. . Hoover is for producing rayon. This he accom- plished in his laboratory by having chewed up chemically not only the mul- berry leaves, but also the tree itself, with very likely a few worms thrown in for luck. The fiber he produced so much resembled natural silk that it was termed “artificial silk,” by which name it has been known until four years ago, when the word “rayon” was agru? upon by those who made and sold it. Q. How many grocery stores are there in the United States?—L. O. V. A. A recent survey showed 230,941 groceries in this country. Of these, about 40,000 belonged to chains. Q. What is the salary of the Vice President and what allowances has he? —F. 8. C. A. His salary is $15,000 and he has no allowance for expenditures. = Q. How far can a wild goose see?— . J. R. A. The distance a wild goose can see depends on the climatic conditions and the altitude. They can see farther in a dry country than in a damp one. Their vision is telescopic, so they can see farther than human beings. Q. What chemicals are put in a gas mask, and how long will they last?— V.B. J. A. About one-half pound each of soda, lime and charcoal is used in_the canister of an Army gas mask. How long they will stand constant use de- pends on the nature of the gas. Q. Do all fish have the same number of bones?—G. P. A. All fish do not have the same number of bones. The number of fin rays, vertebrae, etc., varies. Q. What is the reason that the serial number on a bill is sometimes prefixed with a star?>—W. E. 8. A. The star indicates that, after num- bering, some imperfection in the note has been found, necessitating its con- cellation, in which case, to serve me- chanical convenience, said imperfect note will be replaced by a perfect note efispedchlly numbered with a star pre- xed. . How many clerks are there in the United States who issue marriage licenses?>—R. F. A. There are over 10,000 rsons, counting deputies, who are authorized to issue marriage licenses. Q. How long has Robert Bridges been poet, laureate of England?—W. T. A. He has been poet laureate since 1913, when Alfred Austin, his prede- cessor, died. Q. What is meant when a black tri- angular flag is displayed above a square blue one?—H. S. A. These are weather forecast flags. The blue flag signifies rain or snow, while the triangular one is the tempera- ture flag. If displayed above the square flag, it signifies warmer; if below, colder. Its absence indicates no change in temperature. Pease descrive Franklin's ex- periment in bringing lightning from the clouds.—A. M. A. Pranklin's experiment was to prove the identity of ligh with the discharge of mmu"‘ . What he did was to fly a kite in the face of an advancing thunderstorm. A pointed wire was fastened to the top of a kite and a short strip of silk was tied to the kite s .- At the Junction between the kite and the silk strip a doorkey was tied. As long as the kite string was dry, no re- sults were obtained, but as soon as it became wet with the rain, making it a better conductor, Franklin found it possible to draw sparks from the key by bringing his finger near it. Q. When were the Dark ?— W.T. A * o A. The term “Dark Ages” generally describes earlier centuries of the Middle Ages, the period between ancient and modern history. Hallam regards the Dark Ages as beginning with the sixth century and ending with the fifteenth. Q. Where was the first American flag made by Betsy Ross flown in battle?>—T. 8. T. A. A monument marks the spot where it was unfurled at Cooch’s Bridge, 14 miles southwest of Wilmington, Del., September 3, 1777. Howe’s army passed this spot going. Elk River to the Battle of Brandywine at Chadd’s Ford. Q. Which are the largest community trusts in this country?—J. Y. A. The five largest are the New York Community Trust, Boston Permanent Charity Fund, Chicago Community Trust, Cleveland Foundation and In- dianapolis Foundation. Q. Are there many swamps in New Jersey?—H. A. T. A. There are many swamps in New Jersey, particularly in the vicinity of the seacoast. Many have been reclaime ed into cranberry bogs. Q. Are mature fowls of the same color that they were as baby chicks?— P.A A. The color of the mature fowl of any breed or variety is often materially dme;enb from that of the newly hatched Chick. Q. What is the oldest scientific or« ganization in America?—A. T. D. A. The American Philosophical So< ciety is the oldest of America’s sciene tific_societies. The society originated in the Junto established in Philadel- phia by Benjamin Franklin in 1727, Fifteen of its members were signers of the Declaration of Independence and 18 members helped frame the Consti- tution. Nine Presidents of the United States, including Washington, Jeffer- son, Woodrow Wilson and Herbert Hoo= ver, have been elected from the soci~ ety’s membership. other Presi- dents, Cleveland, Roosevelt and Taft, became members after election. All sev- en Americans who have won the Nobel prize have been members of this or- ganization. Q. What palm has a sap which is used as wine?—W. G. A. The kitul palm in India secretes a sweet, aromatic sap which, after fer- m&nnmn, is an excellent sort of palm wine. Q. Do ants sting or bite?—A. E. W. A. In ants a sting is sometimes pres- ent as in the Poneridae, which sting like wasps and bees, but in the workers of the ordinary ants it is either vestigal or entirely wanting. Some ants se- crete an active poison, formic acid. This they inject into the wound made by their jaws in biting. Q. How many vessels did the Kron- prinz Wilhelm sink?—C. A. W. A. Kronprinz Wilhelm sank alto- gether 13 vessels of 53,659 tons. On April 10, 1915, the vessel was obliged to enter the neutral harbor of New- port News. In Septembes, 1916, it was transferred to Philadelphia. It was sunk by several British cruisers on November 2, 1917. Q. Does the Government share in mineral rights beneath land that is privately owned?—F. O. D. A. Oniand privately owned, minerals discovered belong to the owner. Q. Name the actresses that were fa- mous for their interpretation of Ibsen rolAes.—FJrh 8. 9 Hennings was the first actress to act the role of Nora in “A Doll's House.” Mrs. Fiske, Mme. Duse, Shaw, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Mme. Nazimova and Carlotta Nilsson all were known in Ibsen roles. What one editor describes as “a per- sistent, determined effort to put new wine into old bottles” is quite generally viewed as the cause of the retirement of Dr. Clarence Cook Little as president of the University of Michigan. The not questioned, but there are differences of opinion concerning his zeal for re- forms and his methods of seeking them, which brought him into disastrous con- flict with the State authorities. “For the retiring president, Michigan can have nothing but the best wishes,” says the Kalamazoo Gazette. *‘Although Dr. Little" has not succeeded in carry- some of his more important reforms effect, he has sounded a keynote of educational progress which—let us hope—will be caught up and maintained by his successor.” The Chattanooga News, taking a similar position, declares: “He attempted strictly to discipline stu- dents on morals and drinking. He in- formed Ann Arbor police that the law- breaking students should be treated just as any other persons who broke the law. The police in college towns are notori- ously indulgent with collegians. Their attitude encourages widespread drink- ing among students. * * * On student morality, Dr. Little was right.” The Grand Rapids Press offers this comment: “The administrative plans of President Little were generally wise, and it is a matter of concern to many friends of the university to see them interrupted. But his neo-Malthusian propagandizing and his attack upon the governor and Legislature, after ha: ing alienated a large section of the pul lic, were so unwise and so certainly a fajlure that they undermined his use- fulness and made prompt acceptance of his resignation a foregone conclusion. It would be pleasant if the president of a g’:n State university did not have to a politician. But the fact is that he has to be, in the highest sense of the word.” * ok ok Kk Reviewing the same situation, the Ann Arbor Daily News argues: “Poli- tics and education simply cannot mix without restricting the freedom of education. Some of Dr. Little’s pub- lished opinions were not satisfactory to the Michigan governor. At the same time, some of Gov. Green’s policies were in disfavor with Dr. Little.-To the extent that the opinions and the poli- cies in question were concerned both with education and government objec- tions by one or the other were of course warranted. But since Dr. Little was not responsible to Gov. Green, we fail to see why it made any particu- difference v;het:\der t::'yl ‘were agreed U purely educational ques- tions. ngn governor had a perfect right to disagree with the presldberln ‘(‘)‘: uf any subject under the sun, m{n to ‘use political weapons to force a resignation would be a different story. “Dr. Little may have none to blame but himself for his inability to ac- or commodate himself to the desires of Cleveland News. hand, his tion may represent a New Wine, Old Bottles, Caused College President’s Downfall institutional policy, Dr. Little's down- fall seems to have been due to very much the same thing that terminated the career of Woodrow Wilson at Prince- ton and that of Alexander Meikel~ john at Amherst—a persistent, deter- mined effort to puf new wine into old rank of Dr. Little as an educator is| bottles. * ok ok K Linking the name of Dr. Little with that of Kenyon L. Butterfield, who left the Fresidency of the Michigan Agricul- tural College, the Springfield Republi= can remarks: “Of late both the State Agricultural College and the university, entirely separate institutions, have had exciting and regretable experiences with their presidents. * * * The cause of President Little’s troubles is not well understood in the East, but such in- formation as comes through indicates that his ideas concerning college dis- cipline were not well received, nor his E;xbllc utterances on various subjects ighly charged with controversy.” “The State-supported and State-con- trolled university must, we think, ways have less of independence, less of academic liberty, than its rivals,” con- tends the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and the Canton Daily News, observing that Dr. Little “tried to conduct a liberal insti- tution of learning,” adds that “he lasted three and a half years, which is longer than could reasonably have been ex- pected. More critical is the statement by the Flint Daily Journal, “The eflectlsyenm of his advocacy of educational policies no doubt was hampered by the persist- ent espousal of his personal views on highly controversial subjects outside the realm of university administration.” The Milwaukee Journal predicts for Dr. Little “a place of usefulness and leader- ship,” but adds, “We think he will see now that a man must establish very ;lrml_g hb“:g‘l:mgom as an educator be- fore _he s to use that posi publicist.” Ronina o al- * kK * “Some college presidents leave the impregsslm? that with L‘h:: tl:g outside field appears to be more impor- tant than the one they are paid to fill,” asserts the Charleston Daily Mail, while the Nashville Banner lays down the principle that “he who would effect changes at a State educational institu- gi"orlxegéuz b; cnnzmc, for the pregent, » to depen methodl.."' pend on the evolutionary The Lansing State Journal states “Michigan must prefer heads for'-hh:: ee:;’l insm:xtu;n:hwr,:” into and e of ‘the insth m%es{nupa.x; fwg:'"u tutions and of lense of . Little’s - out reservation, hcwev:r,mul}fn‘:x 7‘:2‘11 fhe Tribute: “iwiih" his-endca en - tablish the university, not uw: b in the mass production of and bent on creating a mediocrity, that knows ol of education, but a real transformer of character by exemplify- Bh B e S siine e uf vision of thnynwurld. not as : o money, but as the gatewa: grievous denial of academic freedom, something which is unfortunately not unknown in these times.” The Chat- voices the view that, his troubles were due to advocacy Q¥ innova tions in the way of ation.” 5 and a higher social and e are thoroughly in sym 5 Huron Times-Herald “his was a voice that awakened the peo- le of Michigan (and. ideed £o* the educational needs. ot the gems SIS D A