Evening Star Newspaper, March 30, 1929, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR 2 Wb Oupduy Mivaing Bliiive. WASHINGTON, D. C SATURDA' THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The E Star N 11n st Ma0 Peniasivanis Ave. S S Evening lnd:'gle:nflu i T The y Collection mads Orders may be sent in by mall or tel ain 5000, Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Vi .. 35 e de All Other States and Canad: g:fly and Sund: ¥r., $12.00: 1 mo. Iy 5o unday only Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication c{ all 1 ews dis- Patenes credited to it of not otherwiss cred, ted in this paper and also the local new. ublished herein. All rights of publication of Epecial dispatches herein are also reserved. The Young Visitors. They are here in great numbers, the young visitors to the Capital, the Easter guests. They have come from near and far, from States adjoining and from States a day’s travel by rail, and from even farther. Most of them are high school “and college students, enjoying the trip to Washington as a reward for diligent study. All of them are having the time of their lives. ‘Washington greatly regrets that the ‘weather is unkind on the occasion of this visitation. The Spring beauties of the Capital, though still delightful, are not so vivid as when the sun shines, as it usually does. But the cherry blos- soms in Potomac Park are ablow and the forsythia flumes in all the reserva- tions and the magnolia glows here and there and the tree foliage is at its ten- derest. ‘The city looks well, even though somewhat draggled with an un- timely shower. It is not, however, for the arboreal delights that these young visitors have come to Washington: They are here mainly to see the City of Government, the workshop of the United States. ‘They are going around through the pub- lic buildings and learning at first hand just how the Federal machinery oper- ates. Congress is not in session, so that they cannot witness the process of law- making, and the incidental speech- making, but they can look in upon the scene of statesmanship and imagine the process. Recital of what the young visitors can see and learn while here is simply a catalogue or guide-book enumeration. The fact is, they cannot see everything in the short time that they have to spend here. They can only get a pass- ing glimpse of the Capital. Yet that glimpse is an inspiration. It is a val- uable part of their education. It makes them feel more truly American for hav- ing been in elbow-touch with the or- ganization that was created a century and a half ago for their benefit. To some of these young visitors the trip to Washington is but a lark, but “even these derive something substan- tial and lasting in the way of impres- sions from the few hours they spend in the environment of the Federal es- tablishment, in the beauty of the Cap- ital, Mount Vernon, the Lincoln Me- morial, the Library of Congress, the ‘White House, the Capitol, the Engrav- ing Bureau, the National Museum, the art galleries—these and other points will give them enduring souvenirs of an experience that should be had by every young American. They are so much alive, so keenly interested in life, so happy in their va- cation, these young visitors, that they are a joy to meet as they troop along the streets or assemble on the corners of rendezvous or swarm into the cars and busses. There will be many thou- sand more of them before the Summer comes, and all will be warmly welcomed. ——o——————— Embalmers are boasting so much of the preservation of Lenin's physical remains. that some doubt may arise as to whether he is to be more esteemed as a former statesman or a present work of art. —_——————— Bank management has tried to make «++.vsMarch 30, 1920 fourth-offenss conviction still carries a mandatory sentence of ' life imprison- ment. ————— The Triangle: Traffic Problem, ‘The Public Buildings Commission ccr- rectly urges careful planning in advance to meet the transportation problems in- volved in the concentration of thou- sands of Government employes in the Avenue-triangle group. The commission points out that while the area has been generally provided ior, there are detalls still to be worked out concerning the most desirable routes for streets, street car Unes, bus lines, automobile parking and sidewalks. The transportation problem alone should command the attention of city planners until the best solution is adopt- ed. While the buildings are still neb- ulous, one has only to watch the downtown trafic during the morning and afternoon rush hours to under- stand how far from nebulous is the bridge to be crossed when the buildings are occupled. Here is one bridge that must be crossed far in advance. ‘The layout of street car tracks would be simplified under merged operation of the lines, which will probably come long before the time to put down the tracks. But the concentration of so‘ | many street cars in such a estricted area during the mornirg £nd afternoon —cars that are arriving from or depart- ing for all gections of the city—will cause a congeston that is easy to visualize. While there has been some aiscussion with suggestions for subways or sunken tracks, no one procedure has reached the stage of being examined thoroughly as to its advantages or disadvantages. Parking, loading and unloading Lusses is another problem, and there is only conjecture, so far, as to whether the| end of downtown automobile parking !is to come with the occupation of the new buildings or there is to be a studied | attempt to provide for all-day parking of private machines. Washington has always had to deal with a treffic situation peculiar to this city alone. Its ability comfortably to handle the morning and afternoon rush to and from the riangle will go far toward determining the success of this great new housing project. A special committee of experts might well begin serious consideration of this phase of the problem now. It is as important as the strength of the foundations now being laid for the buildings themselves. —ra——————— Vast Flags for Vast Spaces. Every one realizes what an extra inch on the end of a nose would mean and an eminent artist who has passed away in recent years was convinced that a, few extra feet in the size of a flag are fully as important. Joseph Pennell, etcher, lithographer and' painter in water colors, was the artist in question. Striking evidence of his contention is contained in more than one of his works which are now enjoying & special exhibition at a local gallery. | Mr. Pennell had always been an enthusiast as to the impressive vistas | existing in and around the Union Sta- | tion in the National Capital, with spe- cial reference to the towering, eagle-sur- mounted flag poles which stand in front of the structure and back of the Columbus Fountain. He believed that the banners displayed from these staffs are not large enough, except per- haps on special occasions, to get the maximum artistic and impressive effect. In several of the drawings now dis- played he has made these flags larger than they are in actuality and féw who see these are likely to disagree with him. One etching in partigular shows & vista through the great front arch looking toward the Capitol dome which is framed by the curve and flanked by the two masts from whose tops hang great i ETgREEE E?ézméé el Iii § i $2 publisher. It was partly for that reason that he was selected as director of pub- licity of the Republican national com- mittee, during the Hoover-Smith presi- in the preconvention campaign, declar- ing emphatically that Mr. Hoover should be nominated for President, although the Kansas delegation to the Republican national convention stood pledged four- square to Vice President, then Senator, Charles Curtis. : ‘The prospective Senator from Kansas is a colorful figure and an eloquent speaker. When he was retired from the office of governor in 1923, his enemies 2ll declared him to be politically dead. It appears, however, that they were mistaken. His appointment to the Sen- ate by Gov. Reed holds good only until the election next year. However, it fhay be expected that Gov. Allen wili be a candidate to succeed himself as Senator and that he will make a hot race in a State which has been cele- brated for its politics as well as its cyclones. Gov. Allen’s appointment to the Sen- ate, it is said, will bring satisfaction to President Hoover, although it is by no means so satisfactory to Vice President Curtis. The Vice President and Gov. Allen have been on the opposite sides of too many fences to be political friends. However, the Vice President determined last Winter to keep hands off in the scramble for the Senate seat which he held up to March 4. Had he wished he cquld have resigned early last Winter | YOU and thus given former Gov. Paulen, his friend, an opportunity to appoint his successor. But the Vice President held on as Senator and as Republican leader, at the request of former Preésident Cool- idge, to aid in putting through the ad- ministration’s program of legislation, ———— The cherry blossoms awaken new admiration for diplomacy which estab- lishes relationship in thought by an appeal to a mutual sense of beauty. A new chief is made happy on the first day of service by the hope that congratulations will go on for six months or maybe even a year. —— et The true aviation enthusiast will never be content until there are as many landing flelds for plenes as there | are filling stations for motows. RN TIPS Sinking of the I'm Alone is not ex- pected to cause international complica- tions. In deference to its deflant title, it will probably be let alone, ‘Thanks to radio, polar exploration at least enables a relief expedition to know when to start and precisely whither it is bound. ‘The New York stock market reveals a large number of new resolutions that were not fully attended to on the first of the year. ————— One of the serious lesses involved in stock speculation is loss of sleep. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Disillusion. The future skies seemed blue and clear, As Hope assumed her rule, At the beginning of the year— And now comes April Fool! Our sentiments were all in-line. Yet, life’s the same hard school. ‘We half believed St. Valentine— And now comes April Fool! The Plain Faets. “Are you always careful to give the exact facts in your speeches?” “Always,” answered Senator Sorghum. the small Wafl Street gambler take his | pillowing banners. In several other ex- | «A . 3 process ‘of careful elimination losses and quit. The determined gambler | amples of Mr. Pennell's work his pre- | necessary to accomplish this, and m:.: frequently takes his losses, but Le never | dilection for oversized flags is apparent. | why I can occupy an hour or so in quits. ————t———————— With marked improvement imminent in the plaza lying between the station telling the members of an audience that we must uphold the Constitution, and Aviators are in favor of country clubs {and the Capitol, it might be well if | that if we are good we will bs happy.” especially designed for their foregather- ings. An aviator likes his rough-and- those in charge of the matter should consider seriously the opinion of' an Jud Tunkins says he might have Weady clothes better than a dinner coat. | expert so versed in line, mass, perspec- | avoided some gold bricks and oil stocks ——r—t———————— Mercy in Michigan. ‘Michigan's repeal of its statute mak- Jg life imprjsonment mandatory for Jourth offenders in minor cases will be generally applauded throughout the country. The law was doomed from the eutset. In theory it was good, In prac- tice it was unjust. The mere fact that 1t became known as the “life-for-a-pint” statute removed from it the dignity which must clothe the administration of justice and wrote the indictment which -gpelled its faflure. When justice is not tempered with mercy and circumstances are not allowed to alter cases, respect for Jaw turns into sympathy for the law’s victims. tive and color and take steps necessary to “equip these masts with emblems noticeably larger than those commonly in use at present. Nothing can be more impressive and inspiring than a great banner slowly rippling and billowing in the breeze. —————— When Al Capone surveys his em- barrassments due to Mabel Wilte- brandt, he must admit that some of the worst troubles causéd by women involve no romance whatever. ——————— Allen to Be Senator. Henry J. Allen, stormy petrel of Kan- sas politics, is to succeed Vice President Curtis as Senator from the Sunflower it he had been as particular as a boot- legger is about making friends. Delicate Reminders. My Radio! My Radio! Your art evokes a sigh, And makes me think of what I owe For things I have to buy. Studies in Apparel. “Women's clothes have become com- paratively inexpensve.” -4 “That,” answered Miss Cayenne— “that may be the reason why they have grown so scanty. Who wants to wear anything cheap?” “It is the man 6wn_heart, Chinatown, “who, The Michigan law was drafted on/State. Gov. Clyde M. Reed, upon whose | oys to tnspire the principle of New York’s Baumes law, which is intended to énd the men- sheulders has fallen the duty of picking the new Senator, has announiced that ._! e iz : 2 i i B e LS ?di 2 solemnly advised the world ielous of the g i g L haste to our Dickens shelf, t we might have unwittingly the same ground, for one of most shining young couples is “The Couple.” X'"r'--m&'& of that chapter, ho ever, convinced us, as it any one r ne-wm fo Gasover tnat man, rel ver the e'"vmmn up our state- ractical i 1y instance,” he begins, be too much of a good thing, than is presented by a loving couple,” e means, of course, in public. “Undoubtedly it is meet and proper that two persons joined ther in holy matrimony should be loving; and un- questionably it is pleasant to know and see that they are so; but there is a time for all things, and the couple who happen to be always in a loving state before company are well nigh in- tolerable.” S0 said Dickens, in this “Sketch by Boz.” He declares that in taking this position he did not seek alone the sym- pathy of bachelors, who might be ex- ith him on general ly wanted to hold * ok ¥ X “Let all couples, present or to come, therefore profit by the example of Mr. and Mrs, Leaver, themselves a loving couple in the first degree.” The' Leavers, by one of those qucer quirks of fortune (which occurred so often in Dickens that one must sus- ct that he made the fortunes to suit 1f), happened. to be named Au- gusta and Augustus, thereby giving our author a chance for the repetition which he loved so well. Do you recall the dialogue? “Augusta, my soul,” says Mr. Leaver. “Augustus, my life,” -Teplies Mrs, Leaver. “Sing some little ballad, darling,” oth Mr. Leaver. “I couldn't, indecd,” returns Mrs. Leaver. “Do, my love,” says Mr. Leaver. I couldn't possibly, my love,” replies Mrs. Leaver, “and it's very naughty of to ask me.” X “Naughty, darling,” cries Mr. Leaver, “Yes, very naughty and very cruel,” returns Mrs. Leaver, “for you know I have a sore throat, and that to sing would give me great pain.. You're a monster, and I hate you. Go away!” Times have changed, indeed, since Dickens wrote the preliminary sketehes which showed him and the world that he_could do novels. Tmagine, if you can, a writer of to- day serving up such dialogue! It would run_more along the following lines: “Hello, kid," said Gus. “’Lo, Gus,” replied Avis. “Sing me that hot one about ‘You're the Cream in My Coffee.’" the bum.’ “Aw, g0 on. W, no, let’s have it.” ou make me sick. Play it your- self.” A Students of the art of writing, of which there are some thousands in the Washington high schools, will note that Dickens used “says” twice, “replies” twice, “returns” a like number and “cries” and “quoth” once each. ‘woman | writings from turns “Aw, chase ycurself, my throat's on Yet this diversity dces not save his s wl peculiar qumtywwhle: this? Perhaps .time are two nuomb’ 3 dant prolixity of the man himself, and the other the style and manners of his age. Dickens was, in truth, a peculiar writer, with mannerisms so manifest that many are repelled by them. The chief, of these is rather redundant style, the opposite of the direct Prench manner, found in so many of the great = | novelists of that nation. Happy is the reader who tan see the m in every great writer. He is un- or the undoubted great because is somef uncongenial between the two of them, writer and reader. Thus many today profess a dislike for the poems of Longfellow, declaring that by no means can they stomach his verse. Yet they will fall into ecstasy over Browning, as peculiar in his manner- isms as poor Longfellow ever thought of being in his own. The true reader takes Dickens with his faults and his virtues, Browning with his faults and virtues, Longfellow with his virtues and faults, happy in being able to see the good in each one, proud of his catholicity. Let us return, therefore, to our con- sideration of “The Loving Couple,” of which _every one knows & specimen or two. What if Dickens did “overdo it” a bit? Dickens wrote so, and if you want to get the good in him you have to accept him as he was. As one of the popular songs has it, “If You Want the Rainbow, You Must Have the Rain.” The Leavers are at home when the dialogue about music occurred, “and maybe only three or four friends are present, but, unaccustomed to reserve upon this interesting point, they are pretty much the same abroad.” Dick- ens then launches into some typical Dickensian deseription, showing the great powwow made by the super- loving Mrs. Leaver when her darling Augustus fell ofit of a boat, etc. He ends his sketch with the historic line: “Very few of the party missed the lov- ing couple: and the few who did heart- iy congratulated each other in their disappearance.” In a like vein he ends his considera- tion of “The Egotistical Couple”: “This would be well enough if Mr. and Mrs. Sliverstone kept it to them- selves, or even to themselves and a friend or two; but they do not. The more hearers they have, the more ego- tistical they become, and the more anxious they are to make bellevers in their merits. Perhaps this is the worst kind of egotism. It has not even the poor excuse of being spontaneous, but is the result of deliberate system and malice aforethought. Mere empty- headed conceit excites our pity, but os- tentatious hypocricy awakens our dis~ gust.” Ostentatious hypocrisy! There the hand of the master sticks out. It was just the phrace we strove to recall when writing about the lady who insists on holding her husband’s 'hand in public. All such public pawing is nothing more nor less than ostenta- tious hpyocrisy and its inevitable result i3 to disgust all beholders, with the exception of those few who invariably “fall” for such demonstrations. “Aren't they sweet?” such a one de- | clares, falling like a fish for a neatly | bajted hook., Perhaps the lady who | holds her husband’s hand in public, or who slobbers over him with “dear” and “darling,” once caught a glance of ad- | miration from one of these easily | pleased persons. But most of her audi- | ence—and we have Dickens for support | —are merely disgusted by such osten- | tatious hypocrisy. “Is. There Something Half-Baked In the American Mass Mind?” 1s there “something half-baked in the American mass mind"? This question suggested by Dr. Pranklin H. Giddings of Columbia University is raised by the Cincinnati ‘Times-Star in reflecting rather generally held impressions of the significance of Oklahoma’s impeach- ment of another governor. Successive impeachments are regard- ed as evidence that the voters on elec- tion day have failed in their duty, by many papers, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dallas Jourral, Manches- ter Union and Columbus Ohio State ournal. : “A State may develop an internel dis- ruption over issues wholly indiscern- ible to the inhabitants of neighbor- ing States,” thinks the Fort Worth Rec- ord-Telegram. “In this instance that was particularly true. The readers of the Nation never e to_know what it was all sbout. * * * * If governors can be impeached because of ‘general incompetence’ claims of political en- eémies, what governor of the 48 may feel at ease?” “The new governor, W. T. Holloway, advises: the Houston Chronicle, “may well feel that he is in a tight place as chief executive of the State. His two immediate predecessors left office at the request of the Legislature. Look- ing up at the portals of Oklahoma's executive m! , he may well sig,l’!: “Abandon hope, all ye that enter here. The Syracuse Herald concludes that “the average Governor of Oklahoma follows & path of roses to the State Capital, he is fortunate if he doesn’t leave his office in a shower of brickbats. * ¥ kX : wrhe star actor in Oklahoma's latest comedy-drama,” as observed by the Newark Evening News, “leaves the stage uttering one triumphant line. To & p of faithful adherents he said: acquitted me :‘{‘ every mc‘g::; fi; t incompetence; they col 3 el;gompehnlt’.thVamc and immaterial.’ This- is worth ranking with the last words of Cardinal Wolsey and Julius + the orb and scepter, the i :‘Ve‘_’ other States of the Un'hi'n can only say, 'W;lt:‘h your step, Bill! is_stretching, we believe, the ‘of the Legislature to take such right contends the Scranton Times, ¢ Mirror f¢ 1 | verbal reprodus :{rule rather than a novelly introduced action sets | though full years for ‘because of incom- | peal to _ admirable example of legislative | pendence.” E Considering the impeachment court's | decree of ‘“incompetence.”. the Nash- | ville Banner holds that “the State can | be wrecked on the rock of incom | tency,” and also argues: “An honest | man whose ability is not such that he could manage successfully * * * should | certainly never be trusted to manage the | affairs of a great State government. Of course, competency and utility are | not the only requisites. Honesty is | essential as well. But an incompetent | man can wreck a State government as quickly as a dishonest man. In_the end, the effect is the same on the State and its people.” “Oklahoma is to be congratulated in one respect at least” concludes the Santa Barbara Daily News. “Even though they have proved singularly in- efficient in the selection of officials, they at least have the courage to apply a drastic remedy when they find they have made a blunder.” inde- Day of Opportunity Restored to Actors From the St. Louls Daily Globe-Democrat. The definite abandonment of the silent drama by one of the very largest amusement enterprises in the United States is announced to the public in terms that by no means underestimate the importance of the departure. "Just what it means, however, is not likely to be appreciated in full until its turn- ing point is looked back pn from the future as both an innovation and a restorative in the history of the mod- ern stage. Possibly in such future retrospect we shall wonder at the enormous vogue of the mechanical drama appealing only to the eye, Assuredly the opportunities of that narrow fleld have been most elaborately and ingeniously utilized, and audiences that total every few days a number equal to the entire population of the country may indicate the place which ‘the sense of sight has among the other senses. However, we. may Te- member that the creations in which dramatic art had its origin magnified appeal to the ear and subordinated ap- the eye. Now in even the me- chanical drama {tself, without detrac- tion from merits grasped by the eye alone, we are to have twin featutes that will speak both to sense of sight and sense of hearing. If it is a departure in which other amusement ente! will join, s0 that will become the into _picture reproduction, a turn back to the sf conditions of n‘:ng yl::r: ago is or h: little w'ay shead. years ve been that “suits to '-g; mm""' the art—and valuable art it is—that suits the of musical ; are human ized. nate who is turned against one of | in there thropisty and the director of the ‘Institution for the Blind, where Laura Bridgman was his most famous pupil, was the husband of Julla Ward Howe, author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Their five children all | ¢ found it natural to express themselves | Burea; lhroug\o Their second child, Mrs. Hall, fn_her book X rence rm picture. of he Howe family in vil War days. The South Boston home of the Howes, Green Peace, was very warm Summer, so Dr, Howe and his friend H. W. Longfellow hired a house together at Newport, which they called “CUfT 'House,” and which became the resors 9t many of their friends. Another in- ttent home of the family was the Institution for the Blind, where the “Doctor's Wing” was often occupied during periods of domestic upheaval. But, says Mrs, Hall, “while the Insti- tution for the Blind was our pleasant refuge, our permanent and dearly loved home was Green Peace. As you came in the main door of entrance and looked down the long haliway of the house you saw directly opposite to you Byron's helmet, filting symbol of the man who dwelt there, My father had hung it up, as a returned pilgrim did his staff and cockle-hat in the olden time, or a warrjor ' his sword and shield” Dr. Howe had aided the Greeks, as had Byron, in their revolution against the Turks., To Green Peace came many distinguished visitors, for Dr. Howe was famous as the educator who had estab- lished communication with the world for the blind and deaf Laura Bridgman. “All European travelers of note wished to see Laura Bridgman, the Helen Keller of the nineteenth century, and the man who had brought her into the human fold.” Dr. Howe's sympathy with all foreign movements for freedom also brought many refugees to his home and the Howe children had a number of tutors from among them. Among the famous guests at Green Peace were Charles Sumner, Dr. Kane, the Arctic explorer; the Hungarian patriot Kos- suth, James T. Fields, Arthur Hugh Clough, Fredericka Bremer, Charles Dickens, Edwin Booth and Charlotte Cushman. Grave and Gay,” gives a 4 m%ma 'x’m ot M. A * ok k% The Howe children went to various schools, in addition to having a succes- sion of governesses and tutors, but there was always time for fun in the Howe family, and, what was more im- portant, there was a mother who was able to make fun for herself and her children. Under her direction the older children edited and published (at home) a weekly periodical, the Listener, which chronicied the events of the family, their friends and the school at- tended at that time. Some stories were contributed by schoolmates and the mother wrote occasional _editorials. The Howe children were permitted all| the elegant amusements of the time. riding, dancing, swimming, physical culture, music, dramatics and partles. Mrs. Hall says: “Our physical culture began early. We learned to swim with- out especial instruction, each of us fol- lowing out his or her own ideas, brother Harry keeping his head under water, sister Julia paddling dog fashion, I swimming on my back. We learned to ride very young, beginning with Jose, a little Spanish donkey presented to us by Albert Sumner, a brother of Charles.” Dancing was learned from the famous dancing master of three generations of Bostonlans, Lorenzo Papanti. “Mr. Papanti duly instructed the elect of the class in the gavotte, It was a proud moment when you were chosen to take part in this. The ‘shawl* dance was even more select. The single couple—a brother and _sister—who danced this had reached the helight of human ambition at Papanti’s.” In Win- ter, skating took the place of some of the other amusements. “My father taught us tq skate first with one foot, thereby nvo‘i}flng some tumbles. There was a great:revival of skating shortly before the Civil War. Jamaica Pond in high favor, the cars going there being jammed with people. Father re- vived his skating, as did many older peo- ple, a certain general arousing unfavor- able comment by appearing on double runners, ie., skates with two blades.” When Dr. Howe bought Lawton’s Valley, R. I, as a Summer home many new pleasures were brought into the lives of his children, boating, tramping, sketch- ing, picnics, in all of which relatives and friends shared, for Lawton’s Valley was always full of guests. As the chil- dren became young men and women and the Civil War spread a cloud over the family life, there were nevertheless compensating pleasures. Weekly hops at the Naval Academy at Newport and on board the old frigate Constitution were attended by the Howe girls and their guests. They were rowed over in the ship's boats and danced happily with midshipmen to the strains of the naval band. * X' ¥ ¥ One of the ladies in waiting of the last Empress of Russia has written an ntimate bi phy—"“The Life and Tragedy of Alexandra Feodorovna, Em- of Russia,” by Baroness Sophie Buxhoeveden. The portrait drawn is much the same as that by other biog- raphers—a fanatical, narrow, old-fash- joned, kindly, domestic woman, who might have been happy leading a simple private life, but was entirely unsuited to the complicated intrigues of the Rus- sian court. The blind devotion of the Empreds to the impostor Rasputin, so hard to explain in the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, is attributed by the baroness to the belief that Rasputin wes the only one who could cure the heir to the throne of his mysterious dis- ease. * ok k% “Streaming over the dunes, the storm howled on west over the moors. The islands of the marsh were brownish- black, the channels leldf: and whipped :F by the wind, and along the shores the desolate islands channel waves broke , _chidingly, tossing up hea jlets of lifeless white. A scene of e desolution and cold. . . . For a mile or so offshore the North At- lantic was a convulsion of elemental fury whipped by the sleety wind, the great parallels of the breakers tumbling all together and mingling in one seeth- ing and immense confusion, the sound of this mile of surf being an endle: booming roar, & seethe and a drea grinding, all intertwined with the high seream of the wind.” This is a_de- seription of a February storm on Cape Cod to be found in “The Outermost House—A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod,” by Henry Beston, The huthor’s house, s0 near the sea that the highest tides almost reached it, was his observation tower, and from its 10 windows he watched the contend- ing elements on days when he could not roam over the bsach. ok ok k% In ‘her character of Orientalist, L. of r history, Buddha, icius and of founders of Oriental religions R ‘There has been some discussion from time to time as to what the Nobel Prize ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ' ' BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. devoted | Pisher of Yale in his book; “Stabilizing Q. How tall is President Hoover?— 'A. " President Hooyer is a trifl 5 feet 11 inches in hel(m.. s *Q. Is a doctor assigned to a police department called a “doctor” l:‘ a “surgeon”?—G. R. B, A. The generie term of “surgeon” is generally used in reference to physi- cians who give medical care to police officers. The general term “surgeon” is also applied to physicians in certain services of the government, as, for example, “army surgeon” or ‘“navy surgeon.” Q. What makes an electric light bulb give light>—R. F. . A. In an electric light bulb, the heat- ing of the filament ause of its re- sistance to passage of current causes the filament to give off light. Q. How many men e a Mexi- ‘can firing squad?—J. ;’wnpm A. A Mexican firing squad in the case where one man is to be executed consists of five men and one under- lieutenart. I more than one man is to be sh.t, there is still cne command- ing officer, but five men are added for each man to be executed Q. Why is Lake Nerni being drain- ed? Are the ships at the bottom of the lake laden with gold?>—H. D. A. 1t is in the interest of archeology that Lake Nerni is being drained in order to recover the barges of Caligula. There is an old tradition that the barges were laden with gold. However, it is not in this that the scientists are interested. They wish to learn something | of the type of boat used and the equip- ment with which the people of that time furnished, their boats. . What is the Hindu belief as to the creation of the first man and wom- ., ere are many different concep- tions in Hindu theology as to the origl?n of the first man and woman. The most general conception is that orig- inally there descended upon the earth one lesser god who split into the male and female élement. Under this theory Yami, the wife of Yama, was the inde- ;;e.ndent self-poised sister, twin to ma. Q. What is a compensat L o pensated dollar? "A. The term “com; sated” or “sta- bilized dollar” was wt?:znd by Prof. lr:lng I the Dollar.” Tt is a theoretical dollar having a constant purchasing power. The theory of the compensated dollar . | is to convert the present gold standard into a true commodity standard—that Is, to standardize the dollar as a unit of purchasing power. Thus, there would be a gold dollar of constant purchasing power with varying weight instead of a gold dollar of standard weight and varying purchasing power. Q. In how many States is it possible to obtain liquor uj icians’ - llfl(:l!e&?—.’fl F. T.m sl A. There are 25 States and the Dis- trict of Columbia in which small qunnf!- ties of liquor can be prescribed unde: certain restrictions and regulations. Q. What does the mark “Pure coir mean on old silver spoons?—J. McM. A. It is an old marking, meani solid silver—that is, silver that has not been plated. Silver thus marked va usually not so carefully refined as ster ling siiver is. Q. How did the daily cost of the World War in this country compare with the cost to France?—V. J. A. The military cost of the war to the United States was placed at $24,- 010,000,000. The United States took part in the war from April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, or 584 days. The total cost therefore represents a daily approximate cost of $41,113,012.70. The military cost of the war to France was $38,272,915,000. France took part in the war for 1532 days. The daily cost therefore was approximately $24,982,320. Q. Where are be located?—V. A. A. The United States Public Health Service says that the location of two narcotic farms will be determined by a board which will include the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of War. There are meny factors to be considered before any location is selected. This board must keep in mind that it wiil have to get a place near the approximate cen- ter of the two leading areas of convic- go‘gs of Infractions of the narcotic Q. What is the Targum?—M. M. T. A. The Targum is a translation or _ppnphrnse of some portion of the Old Testament in the Aramaic common in Judea. The Targum of Onkelos is a Babylonian Targum of the Pentateuch. the two dope farms to Q. How much water does drink?—F. L. TS A. An oyster drinks about 60 quarts of water in 20 hours, at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When it is colder it drinks scarcely any. Q. What is th eight of the Cit Hall, Pnfladelphm?—n?‘s. i A. Its height is 535 feet. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. “The King (of Washington) is dead; long live the King!” The new “King" of the Capital City, Maj. Henry G. Pratt, has come up from the ranks in the city police force, just as he did in the Army, from private to major. He wins his place as chief of police on merit, not “influence,” and he takes | up the responsibilities of office with | the good will and confidence of all law- abiding classes of the city, and with "due respsct from the other classes. » * ok ok x Prom the first indication of a pend- ing change of administration the American went _on record in- dorsing Maj. Pratt for chief of police. Legion backing can never be partisan, but is in aceord with the principles of the Legion, pledged by the preamble of its constitution to “inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the com- ‘munity, State and Nation.” 8o the American Legion feels a spe- cial interest in the new Legionnaire cfi!‘uel of_police, and the George Wash- Dost, No. 1. of which he is a | charter member—along with Gen. Per- shing and more generals and colonels and shavetai)s then one-could shake billy at—proposes to celebrate this ap- pointment by tendering a Legion recep- tion to him, at the George Washington Post Building, 1441 Rhode Island ave- nue northwest, next Tuesday evening. “Legionnaires! Attention! The chle(L" Ev Legionnaire in the District of Columbla is invited and absentees will be counted as falling to realize what a whale of a situation the new chief faces, with all the lawlessness of the present generation. * ok * % 1t is generafly conceded that “we. the | ot people,” of this generation are giving more work to the police than did our ancestors. We scoff at law and park in wrong places and race the traffic cop, or we (if members of Congress) carry the wrong kind of baggage when : we come back from Cuba or Canada. Was there ever a time when youth was so rash and unruly? Youth goes to movies, and school boys and girls smoke cigarettes and do other terrible things. It will be the duty of Chief Pratt to stop all this, so far as Wash- | ington goes—Iif and when he finds that the present generation is going to the bowwows faster than did that of their parents. * Kk kX Of course, our forefathers—and even some of us when we were sowing wild oats—used to read yellow-backed dime novels, the awful predecessors of to- day's colored supplements of certain bad newspapers. Some dissolute young- sters to go to the 10-cent “variety show,” where damsels danced some- thing outrageous. That was before the demoralizing age of the “talkies” and even back in the geclogic age preceding the silent movies. * Xk A careful research of the conditions of scofflaw confronting the new chief of police and the notorious increase of crime in the last one or two decades brings us to a study of statistics. Now nothing is so dry as figures— except when they refer to the wets. Nothing is so convincing as such figures as confirm _previous convictions or| gy prejudices. From the Police Depart- ment the following statistics are de- rived, let them tell what they will: * ok kK In 1924 there were 321 arrests for joy-riding; in 1928 there were 623 such arrests. (But there were nearly 50,000 more Wfiun)luea or temptations in the latter year. Tn 1024 there were 367 arrests for assaults with dangerous weapons, but, fke Monsieur Coue, we have been getting better and better every day so in 8 we assaulted only victims. ‘There were 28 murder cases in 1924, . Whit COLLINS. and in 1928, 1545—the last year's sales were only more than those of four years previo exemplifying the “quick and the dead,” for there are no birds in the 1924 nests—they are dead— while today's survivors are quicker in their getaways. In 1924 there were 9.876 arrests for speeding, in 1928 ofiv 7,128, although there are many thou sand more automobiles on our streets than ever before _In traffic accidents the improvement is very marked. The total number of accidents in 1924 was 9444 and in 1928, 4,110, in spite of the increased number of automobiles on the streets. Even pedestrians are living Jonger today Much has been said about the needed restriction in the sale of revolvers and other weapons to criminals. The sta- tistics of the local police show that the use of revolvers in crime has decreased in Washington from 129 in 1924 to on'y 94 in 1928. Each vear shows a decline in the fashion of siaying with guns, but knives are gaining in favor, as shown by 127 cuttings in 1924, 147 in '27, and 34 in '28; razors preferred—22 in 24 and 25 in '28. Thrown dishes are lln'v!:!n"éhpuse——-m :: '.'M‘nand only 2 in '28 - proves the increasin, Y married life, i * x % % Reference has been made to t! follies of present-day youth. Is !‘l':: accusation well founded? The police statistics deal in facts—not prejudices or old folks' notions about their own greater virtues. ‘There were in Washington the fol- luv;lnzgl numberlx of youths between 17 an years of age—th k b 1 8¢ e age of pranks . 18,846 7.242 26,088 white 0. Colored . 10,1% 36,160 That gives an increase in the 16 yearsiof 21 per cent of youths. In 1912, there were 228 arrests for felonies of youths between 17 and 21 years of age If the retio of increased population of such youths, 21 per cent, were applied to the number of arrests, it would show a total for 1928 of 274 arrests in the latter year; instead of 274, there were 1,029 arrests—an in- crease of 350 per cent for felonies. flCalu-mng misdemeanors and minor offenses, as well as felonies, there were, ln.lDll?‘. 3,366 m;r;sts and in 192;10.“4 —an increase of 214 per cent, in a pop- ulation_which is onl;)eincrmsed fllppgr cent, In short. the follies and crimes of youth in the last 16 years have grown ten times faster than the in- crease of youth population. Surely the jazz age has a reckoning ahead, and none know it more closely than do the police. * o x X A study of the statistics of youths younger tzan 17 years is also sieni'ficntxll‘: Even the children have very serious police charges against them—such as 44 cases of housebreaking in 1912 and more than 200 each year for the past four years—265 in 1927 and 242 in 1928 Yet the children are not more incor- rigible than they were 16 years ago. In 912 there were 129 cases of incorrigi- bility and in 1928 only 68. Are indif- ferent or incomnetent parents responsi- ble for some of the cases of juvenile crime? Are parents becoming less com- petent disciplinarians since children manifest increasing corrigibility? * K K * ‘The population of children under 15: 55,011 +122,115 77,126 68.344 27,935 96,279 That shows an increasé in population in | ot 19,153—25 per cent. The arrests in 1912 were 2,096 and 28 |in 1928 2973—an increase of 43 per mam:llmn in the four years. PoThe total arrests for felonies in 1924 in four years of nearly fifty per cent. ' Volstead law grew from 4,239 up to , the Vol a in fotosies ibo_vilations of the Shep- in Literaturs is_ really awarded for, | pumbered 3,165, and in 1928, 4,545—an | the but in | Increase cent. So criminal children are growing more numerous than the ratio of in- crease of population warrants. o Nevertheless, Chlef Pratt insists that figures are misleading. so long as the statistics count in all the traffic arrests and also while they fail to note that, under the liquor laws, offenses are 50 defined that were mot counted as violations of law prior fo the passage of the Volstead law in 1919, 5 mmmnim wmum each year, up to 14.119 last -year. A there! St » e et e assauits and only for Iy conduct in 1912 were 305; Efi?wflél“. 112, .‘Q‘n.'l 19: lb’e‘-' own its'