Evening Star Newspaper, October 19, 1929, Page 6

B With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C BATURDAY.....October 10, 1929 THEODORE W. NOYES. . ..Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company 11tn en. 38 Fenmayiania Ave New York Office: 110 East 47nd St. ghicaso office Lake Michigan Building. rolean Office; 14 Rexent St.. London. Carrier Within the City. R 45¢ per month Sunday Star ays) 60c per month d Eunday Star indays).... 65¢ per month Collection made ai the end of cach mont. | Orders may “e seat in by mail or telephone NAtional $000 { ) Rate bv Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virrinia. aily and Sunda: junday only All Other aly and Sun ily only junday only Member of the Associated Press. ‘The Associated Press = exclusively entitied to the use for republication of il rews dis- phiches credited to It or not otherwise eted- | ™ in this paper and also the lacal news published heréin. All riehte of publica‘ion of special dispatches lLierein are also reserved. — B The War Is Over. With the eleventh anniversary of the | armistice less than a month away, Presi- | dent Hoover took occasion at the White | House yesterdey to declere that the war is really over. He did more than that. He proclaimed an eternal truce in the conflict which raged almost with | the destructive intensity of armed com- | bat, the war of defamation which is the unfailing accompaniment of hostili- | ties on the battlefield. In sum, Presi- | dent Hoover cchoed the words of Grant, | and. applying them to the tragic events of 1914-18, pleaded, “Let us have peace.” This wholesome admonition was forthcoming in connection with the Louvain University Library which has been restored through the munificence of American friends of Belgium. The architect, and one of the prime movers in the enterprise, is Mr. Whitney War- ren of New York. For some time past, he has been fighting in the Beigiun courts for the right to emviazon the frieze of the building with an inscrip- | tion reading, “Destroyed by German fury, restored by American gznerosi The courts have decided that Mr. War- Ten is legaliy entitled to incorporate | that sentiment in the building. His | hand can only be s‘ayed by the dictates | of propricty. Mr. Hoover announces that he and those associatzd with h'm in prasenting the library to Louvain “wish emphat- ically to disclaim any approval of Mr. ‘Warren's action in insisting upon an offensive inscription upon the buildinz.” 1t is not the first time Mr. Hoover, long | before he became Pres'dent, protested | against the proposed perpetuation of war hate. Thres years ago, with his approval, the university authoritizs re- | fused to allow Mr. Warren's text to be- | smirch the beautiful structure which his architectural genius has fashioned. Mr. Hoover spoks with unusual auther- 1ty, even then. Not only is he an hon- orary citizen of Belgium, but over seven- ty per cent of the 32,000,000 francs raised for the librery huilding was se- cured by & committee of which the Cal- Wfornian wes chairman. The war s over. Germany, a chast- ened as well as & chastised Germany, is again a respected member of tb2 family of nations. Regret for her war practices, including the invasion of Bel- glum, may not be one hundred per cent universal throughout the Reich of today, but neither i there unahimity in the world as to Germany’s “responsibility” for the war. What there s, almost everywhere, is an eager desire to for- give and forget. It is the spirit of Lo- carno, not the spirit of Versailles, that nowadays dominates earth’s peoples. In the era of the Kellogg pact, on the eve of the London naval peace confer- ence, there is neither rhyme nor rea- son for immortalizing a doctrine which, flaunted as Mr. Warren would display 1t, would be as time-defying as the im- perishable granite desecram.i by its malice-breeding vindictiveness. i 1 mo. o 1t is a far cry to the old days when the equipment of a so-called lobbyist consisted merely of a hox of cigars and | 8 wine card. R Observant Owl Child. | Owl Child, distinguished member of the Piegan Tribe of Indians, has im- parted to the world that, more than 2 half century ago he got a quiet squint at the annihilation of Custer's com-| mand at the battle of the Little Big| Horn. Owl Child declares that “Long | Hair” was the last survivor of the group and that he took his own life, | shooting himself both in the breast and the head to make sure. It ap- pears from this ancient worthy's ac- count that a small raiding party of Piegans, snooping in Sioux territory, stumbled on the fight, cautiously watched it from a safe distance and then unostentatiously retired. Probably no battle in history—and it was a battle and rot a “massacre”— | has been surrounded by more bunkum than the one in question. “Survivors” have cropped up continually and as regularly been discredited. The only known eyewitnesses of the encounter were hostile Sioux, Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and they, for obvious rea- sons, never were garrulous on the mat- ter later. There has always been a mystery as to the ending of Custer and his offizers. The suicide theory has been popular and has been buoyed up by the fact that Custer was not scalped, the idea being that Indians never scalped suicides. On the other hand, a number of the command were not scalped. The matter will never be made clear. Indian accounts generally agree that such was .the insane ex- citement, the fear of reprisal, and the eagerness to go back and attack Reno and then join in the suwequent great celebration that many details of this fight were not according Mto aboriginal custom. . Probably the leading authority on the battle is Lieut. Col. W. A. Graham, U. 8. A, whose book on the encounter is the result of years of painstaking effort. According to this officer there Is nothing in the yarn that Custer re- mained unscalped because his foes re- spected his great leadership. He was not recognized during the fight, partly because he had cut off his hair and partly because the redskins did not even then know wham they were fighting. “I do ot think Custer com« v Sc ner copy | ! had seen exactly how, “He was shot through the left breast and the temple and either wound would have been almost instantly fatal. He could not well have fired both shots.” Fellow officers of Custer have always scoffed at the suicide theory. It may be that Owl Child is telling the truth, but with such a good story, why did he wait fifty years to tell it? The Indian’s sense of the dramatic and his love of the limelight ave strong and persistent and increase with old age. 'He tells his story well, in fact a little too well. It all dovetails too nicely. Probably fifty years after Ther- mopylae some ancient rural romancer erose to tell how, hidden high up, he when and®at whose hands Leonides had met his death. And the same sort of thing has been going on throughout the centuries. In such a matter it is as impossible to disprove as it is to prove statements of this sort, but a good grain of salt is always a first-class foc'| relish. ) The Army and Navy Game. Much public interest attaches to ne- gotiations now being carried on looking to the resumption of the colorful Army 2nd Navy annual foot ball game. West Point and the Naval Academy severed relations two years ago over a contro- versy as to the eligibility of players. Each side had its supporters in tie quarrel that led to a definite split, the cf right to allow players transferred from other colleges to compete on the seme basis es the students at West Point, and the Navy equally firm on the thre=-ycar varsiiy eligibility rule. Re- gardless of the merits of the controversy the result bas been that the public has been deprived of a stirring patrioic spectacle. Now both instituticns are making overtures for again playing the annual game. President Hoover has let it be known that he approves strongly of a resumption of relations on the gridiron between the two branches of the service, and it is understood that both Secretary of War Good and Secretary of the Navy Adams have discussed the matter of calling the superintendents of the academies together to smoke the pipe of peace. Except with those who are intensely partisan, a fecling exists on the part of the public that nothing should ever have interfered with the annual clashes between the twn‘; service tsams. The games were not| only good for the participants in develop- ing character and a clean competitive spirit, but good for the public in that the spectacle stirred patriotism and fur- | nished an opportunity to witness at first | hand the young military manhood of the country in maneuvers and athletics. Of course those who feel strongly re- garding the contenticns of one institu- tion or the other probably do not look 2t the matter in this light; but on broad general principles it does not seem that there was sufficient justification for celling off an event cf such a whole- tome nature. Private colleges may war on any point that they deem fit, but the Government academies ar: on a different basis altogether. In this con- nection it is significant that no other colleges severed relations with either the | Army or the Navy on the bone of con- tention that split the two service teams. In any event, encugh time has been consumed in quarreling. May the basis of settlement be worked out promptly enough so that the annual classic may be resumed this year! L The Magic of Trees. ‘Washington's good fortune in having many trees is at no time more note- | worthy than in the Autumn, when | Nature turns their leaves to gold and brown and red and sends them drifting down on the heads of passersby. For this supreme touch of artistry those with observing eyes and minds/ give silent thanks. It is not every great city that can give such a display in its very streets. { A modern city tends to become a thing of concrete and steel, beautiful in its way, but yet somehow curiously lacking in that heart-compelling beauty which Nature alone knows how to give. The National Capital is peculiarly fortunate in still possessing many miles of tree-lined avenues and streets. Al- a toll of them, thousands of fine trees give shade and beauty in profusion to the city. Washington has not been called in the past “just an overgrown village” for nothing; her trees stand as silent testimonials to the fact that villages may have their good points—even after they grow up. Now lowered temperatures are work- ing the age-old change in leaves, liter~ ally coloring the landscape for mankind to enjoy. The majesty of Rock Creek and other parks is rivaled on many a side street or stately-avenue. It is a part of the magic of trees. o Swimming the English Channel is a feat that attracts little attention when people are fiying all the way around the world. his remaining ambition in life appears R The Fifth Industrial Exposition. With virtually all of Washington's manufacturers and business interests in line the Fifth Industrial Exposition, sponsored by the Washington Chamber of Commerce, will open its doors to the public next Monday evening and during the week will show by an interesting display just how the wheels of industry in the National Capital go around. A far more elaborate program is planned for this year's exposition than ever be- | fore. More than eighty thousand persons were in attendance at the 1928 exhibit and were well repaid for their efforts. This figure, it is expected, will be far exceeded during the coming week. ‘The Washington Auditorium will pre- sent a striking picture. Foremost among the exhibits will be Washington's first business show in which all phases of office work will be taken up. A special typewriting speed contest will be lLeld to determine the champion typist. The printing industry, the building industry and many other commercial enterprises will have attractively decorated booths to display their products, Musical and radio programs will feature each eve- ning of the exposition. Nothing colild bé more wholeéome for the business interests of the National Army remaining adamant on its claim | lin connection with many things that though business progress has demanded ; As Trotsky goes from place to place | to be some place to park his typewriter. | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, THE EVENING STAR |mitted suicide” said Col ormm.[c-pml than exhibits of this Kind. Business is highly competitive. The display of various products serves in- directly to raise the standard of prod- ucts by this very competitive element. Naturally, the best wares of the various i manufacturets will be on display. Other manufacturers viewing these exhibits will strive to perfect their products to meet the competition. For the public, too, an industrial ex- position is of great benefit. Not only does the average man or woman have | the opportunity to become acquainted | with the multitudinous business activi- ties of their community, but profit ma- terially by their new store of knowledge when they make purchases for hdme or ioffice. They have standards of compari- {son, after a vis't to the exposition, that | they never had before. Washingtonians are blessed with a clean, smokeless city. Only light in- Custries are desired for the National | Capital. Washington's light industries, | however, have made long strides in their respective fields and are well equipped to stage an exposition of sur- passing interest. Every resident of this city, therefore, who reserves time next week for a visit to the Auditorium will be benefiting himself thereby. —_— e White Moon's Wizardry. A radiant presence flutters over glimmering roofs and dying gardens these magical October nights. It is the deathbed delirium of Sum- mer, whose dancing and loving are done. As the spirit drifts away from the wasted, trembling flesh, the windows of the clouds open and all the skies are filled with beckoning angels. Strains of ineffable music float about the bed of the stricken season. So passes Summer after .the martyr- dom of the harvest. Her wild sobs for the faithlessness of her forsworn lover, the sun, are quieted now. She suffers no more pangs from the stabbing dag- gers of frost. All is passed over into an ecstasy of dying. The soul of the season is carried on high in the chariot of the low-swinging moon. It is a vision of the immortality of Summer. Yet a few months and tie fair, slain maiden will rise from the dead, once mote to invest the world with her beauty and her bounty. Draw the covers of white roses and massed | chrysanthemums over the pale face. She has passed from among us for a time as a virgin saint of eld, with a truly hagiological setting for her de- parture from the earth, ‘The full October moon exhales mysti- cism. Under its wizardry an etherial beauty pervades all nature. It is like an escape of the chaste soul from the body of nature. Housetops, steeples, fields and distant hills are transformed into winged angels cloaked in light. Few more impressive scenes are included in the panorama of the revolving year. » This moon ever has been an inspira- tion for poetry, art and music. It cre- ates the requisite atmosphere 6f un- reality in which the fancy flourishes. Its light is filled with shadowy forms guiding the tired spirit into broad ave- nues of escape from the prosaic vexa- tions of life into the realms of faery. Here indeed is “the light that never D. C, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. We have seen no local review of “The Golden Wind,” by Takashi Ohta and Margaret Sperry, the first of the so- called Paper Books issued by Charles Boni, New York. It deserves mention, not only because it is a good story, told in an unusual way, but also because it is in paper binding. There is something particularly chummy about this type of book cover, an appal so well known abroad that | European paper-backed editions of the classics are to bk seen everywhere. ‘There is many an American reader, who not only has happy memories of such foreign publications, but aiso cherishes the recollection of “paper-back novels” issued in America, which he often read as a child. Some of these books were ultra-popu- lar in appeal, but others included many of the world classics, We can recall an oldstime edition bound in blue paper, with an imitation of a leather strap and buckle, which contained many of the masterpieces of Alexandre Dumas. If our memory serves us, it was in this edition that we first rend that splendid play of all time, “Cyrano de Bergerac.” What if an American does claim, and perhaps with much justice, that Rostand took the idea from a play of his? It is generally agreed that Rostand made the play his own by the inimitable way in which he handled the theme of :lhe noble self-sacrifice of the big-nosed ero, * ok K % ‘The new Paper Books are in line with one of the two main movements in American publishing. Along with a trend toward larger and more hand- some volumes, with an ever-mounting price, there has run a counter move- | ment toward good books in good cheap editions. While popular biographies in the new “mod2rn manner” commonly sell for $5 and $6, the book market has seen the | issuing of many splendid standard | works, both old and new, at prices around a dollar apiece. Perhaps the most spectacular successes along these lines are the Modern Library and the Star Dollar Library. There are many others, however, including both new and old libraries: notable among the latter glenthg Nelson's, the Everyman, and 's, In issuing the Paper Books at & sub- seription price which comes to 42 cents & volume, the publishers have under- taken a venture which still has all the earmarks of a real adventure. Perhaps even Mr. Boni is not sure of the out- come. To place good books “well de- signed and carefully made within the reach of any reader,” as is the an- nounced intention of the publishers, is an achievement which time alone can prove. If “The Golden Wind” is a fair sample, however, the average reader will remain extremely eager for the | next one, and a believer in the suc- cess of the venture, * ok ok % A collaboration always presents dif- ficulties, A reader cannot help won- dering how much each party to the pact had to do with the completed ven- ture. The young Japanese author of “The Golden Wind” is a resident of New York State, after a lifetime of adventyre, some part of which is more or less described in the book. Miss Sperry is credited with the form and &tyle of the book. The story tells of a young man ban- ished from his country for the political beliefs of his father. He goes to China, is sent to the fighting front, attempts fo desert by running away between the lines, and turns out to be a herd against his will. His subsequent adventures among bandits, picturesquely calling themselves the Kin of the Everlasting Evergreen, and in the Temple of Mys- terious Heaven, which combines religion with a meeting place for Young China, contain enough of the unusual to ap- peal to those somewhat tired of the average output of hundreds of good novelists, o B i A reader does not always stop to realize just how much the usual fills his mental bill-of-fare. A careful survey of the modern novel, for instance, will re- veal, we believe, that the mass of authors have come to a point in their own lives when only the sophisticated love intrigue interests them. Happily for them, the same sort of thing inter- ests the bulk of their readers. Far too many modern novels, it would sometimes seem, go in for clandestine adventure of moody men and women who declare heatedly that they have managed to miss romance in their lives and are determined to find it at last, no matter what sort of trickery and deceit it involves them in. Now, this theme has long been stand- ard for the drama and the novel, but today it is running riot in the latter, with the result that there is a deadly sameness in modern novel writing. There is, too, a uniformity of ability among such writers which makes much of their work seem written almost by the same hand. They are all good, but all much the same. The authors of “The Golden Wind” have achieved something different, and that is why we like it. By the use of Oriental imagery, sometimes bordering on the extravagant, a sense of unreality in reality is built up which gives the story almest the aspects of a fairy tale. And this fairy tale atmosphere, we sub- mit, is exactly what makes the first Paper Book good. R We got an almost childish enthusiasm from the line which runs as the theme of the piece: “Even in the Wall of China there are cracks!” ‘When a subtle Oriental wants to do something which simply cannot be done he winks an eye, places his finger slyly along his nose, and cries, “Even in the Wall of China there are cracks!” And some one standing by, who assuredly represents the reader there, pops up, like & Greek chorus, “Even in the Wall of China there are cracks!” Some way “The Golden Wind" strikes us as one of the most sex-determined books we have ever read, not so much because of what is said and done as through the inner nature of the hero, who lives his life simply on the lcokout for love. As Padraic Colum says in his introduction, “The women whom Takawo mects and takes farewell of— Lee, Nadja, Kay—hardly differ from each other; they might be the same women seen in different situations.” The poet introducer correctly says, after quoting a description, 'his might be from a Chinese print.” The book has that quality. In novels written in America we are not used to such state- ments as “Silence gathers up her 'tail and slinks across the ring.” The fol- lowing description we particularly liked: “For half an hour more the bandits rode on. Suddenly their way turned and the bandits passed through an im- mense gate and came at once into a shadowed street with here and there a lamp burning in a shop.” The reader can see that picture, and the same may be said for scores of other paragraph etchings throughout. It is, in a sense, a true dream story, but one which has remarkable aspects of reality. It is an intensely stylized piece of writing, in a day and age when the mass proficiency of most writers results in an almost uniform standard of goodness—and sameness. “The Gold- en Wind” at Jeast is an exception. was on land or rea.” In a few days it will be gone for another year. The,| moon is rising later and later each eve- ning. Now is the time to drink in to the full the white moon's wizardry, to ex- perience the strange transformation of the senses which it causes and to share in the heavenly vision of the dying Summer. B A successful public career is not to be estimated in mere dollars and cents, even though it leads to compensation of a dollar a word for a magazine article. - a—— An apartment house landlord is per- mitted to remain an innocent bystander interest the police. —_— e Policeman Allen has apparently found a certain amount of stimulous satisfac- | tion in the situation of a plain cop. ————— " A flat and a phonograph should make cozy living. Only carelessness calls in the attention of the police. e = Albert Fall calls for much profes- | sional service, both from physicians and lawyers. { o+ SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JORNSOR. The Clock. I sometimes wonder if the passing day, As the clock ticks, is going wrong And into discords often prone to stray Regardless of life's old sweet song. And yet it sounds reminders true and clear j . Of friends afar and folks at home. And it salutes my ear with gentle cheer, Marking the time, a cherished metro- nome. Self-Depreciation? “You have been returned to Washing- ton, D. C,, many times.” “Yes,” answered Senator Sorghum. ‘My home town'doesn’t seem to need me much and Washington, D. C,, is appar- | ently selected as the discard.” | Jud Tunkins says he wants farm re- lief, but he wishes it wasn’t made as hard to understand as the Einstein theory. Hostilities Averted. At last our passions are controlled And all the world goes right! Afother conference we'll hold And thus avold a fight. Resourceful. “Did you attend the banquet?” “Certainly not,” answered Miss Cay- enne. “I dined luxuriously, even though the seating arrangements did not con- form to my ideas of social precedence. There is a perfectly good delicatessen store just around the corner.” “He who neglects his obligations,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “faces the greatest of all losses in losing his friends.” Discontent. I used to speak in wrath sincere ©Of heat in Summer glow. And now—it's queer—I feel a fear T'll have to shovel snow! “A hoss race,” saild Uncle Eben, “is liable to leave you broke an' make you understand de idea of faith; hope—and charitg” Lindbergh Thrills Once More Glimpsing Mayan Mysteries Llndbegh as a flying archeologist has touched the imagination of the public again, but most of the commentators, while giving this latest sky jaunt its due as a stimulant to exploration and discovery, choose to ponder the Mayan mystery itself rather than the bird's-eye view of it. “The finding of Mayan ruins in Yuca- tan is not unusual,” says the Charleston Daily Mail. “Many have been discov- ered and explored, but the information they yielded has served chiefly to whet the appetites of scientists. No find ap- parently has been made in as impene- trable a region as that in which Lind- bergh made his discovery. Situated as it is, it may have escaped the fate of many Mayan ruins that had fallen prey to the acts of vandals bsfore being reached by scientists. The Lindbergh discoveries, therefore, may prove of prime importance.” “Col. Lindbergh on a holiday lark discloses the weirdly inexplicable secrets of the Guatemalan jungle,” exclaims the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and that paper explains the importance of the discovery with the statement: “It is 4 | startling revelation that a country so small as Guatemala has its terra incog- nita. That there is in the Mayan land still important work for courageous archeological explorers is a revelation which will prove inspiring. It is also one more indication of the immense value of the airplane in bflnmn%m light the secrets of the earth’s most hid- den places.” ‘The aviator's effort to “wrest from the past the enchanting story of a strange people who remain a mystery across the little known but brilliant page of American history” arouses the enthusiasm of the San Bernardino Sun, which refers to great cities discovered and excavated by the Carnegie Insti- tution, and continues: “There is the belief that there are many more such cities buried in the jungles of Yucatan. Such is the legend at least of the people of the region. Eventually the history of this strange civilization will be re- vealed, for progress is being made in deciphering the handwriting cut into the walls of the buildings. Maya art rose to high levels of decorative beauty. The priests created an elaborate calen- der and sacrificial ritual. The astro- nomical science was developed to a high leval of accuracy. They knew their year better than the Babylonians. The sculptured wor. amazes the modern observer.” “In the entire history of the human race,” according to the Providence Journal, “there has been perhaps no ethnological mystery more puzzling than that involved in the possible origins of the several peoples that built up mar- velous civilizations in parts of Central and South America centuries before Europe's discovery of the Western con- tinent. And of all the traces of these vanished civilizations that have been brought to light in recent years none are more stimulating to the imagination or more provocative of wonder than the mute evidence discovered in the wilds of Yuecatan.” The Journal adds that “Col. Lindbergh's discovery seems to have opened a new and romantic chapter in his remarkable career.” Pointing out that the Mayan civiliza- tlon “was at its peak about the time of | the birth of Christ,” the Dayton Daily News states that “the jungles swallowed it during the -%es and only the ruins remain,” but that “Col. Lindbergh’s flights have helped round out this lost history. The expedition is prophetic of the part thc cirplane is to play in future revelations,” concludes the Daily News. The Decatur Review believes that “when the ruins are finally in- spected we may learn of an advanced civilization that once flourished but was crowded out.”” The Review suggests that “why it was crowded out will be of great human interest.” “Even the most daring explorers have hesitated to attempt to penetrate the great forests, but from the air the chances of material discoveries are v allt ,” says the Bangor Commercial, with the conviction that “Lindbergh has now the way, and his present AN AR expedition may make material contri- bution to scientific knowledge of the lives and achievements of the early dwellers upon this continent.” The Jer- sey City Journal emphasizes the impor- tance of this development with the com- ment: “The skill of the ancient arti- san and the long-lasting qualities of the materials he used on the one side and the inventive genius of modern science plus the courage of a Lindbergh on the other side were necessary to enable the present generation to learn of the exist- ence of these Mayan cities. Now, by dint of hard labor and patient scholar- ship, moderns may have added to their store of knowledge more of the lore of ancient man.” “With Belize, capital of British Hon- duras, as his base,” recalls the San Antonio Express, ol. Lindbergh flew northward as far as Chichen Itza, Yu- catan. He was over a region almost unknown to any people save a few scattered descendants of the Mayas. Chichen Itza is 220 miles north of Belize in a straight line. There is good rea- son to believe that it flourished from the tenth to the thirteenth century, when it formed part of a confederacy which included Uxmal and Mayapan. Old-time chroniclers say that four great highways radiated from Chichen Itza, the easternmost of the three cities.” The Atlanta Journal emphasizes the fact that “scientists say that to have covered the same territory on ground would have required eight years of muleback travel, and then the findings probably would not have been compara- ble to those of the Lindbergh party in the colonel’s hydroplane. In the course of the flights landings were made on inland lakes and along the coast, thus proving the facility of the machine for such exploits. Score another service for aviation, and an epoch-making one,” concludes the Journal. Offer Sea Training To American Youths From the Long Beach Press-Telesram. Are there any Richard Henry Danas in Southern California ready to spend, not “Two Years Before the Mast,” but three years in the engine rooms and chart houses of the modern merchant marine? If so, they may have oppor- tunity to prepare for mariners’ licenses, thus fitting them for the captain’s bridge, the navigator's cabin and the engineer’s office. One company operating ships between New York and the Baltic announces a course of training for young men who desire to follow the sea and to fit them- selves for officers of the merchant fleet. It is considered probable that other American maritime firms will do like- wise, for commerce is growing, and there will be problems in finding suit- able executive material unless a goodly number of the youth of the land is en- couraged to choose navigation as a career. ‘Two of these cadets will be placed on each vessel of the American Secantic Line. They must be American-born, of good character and have some high school education. Regular vocational training will be given, and after the first year the cadet is free to follow his inclination toward either the deck or engine department. Besides technical training each cadet is furnished with a set of modern text books as a means for strengthening his educational and cul- tural background. This program is in charge of an ex-naval officer who will | work along the lines followed by, the Naval Academy. After three years cadets will be eligible for licenses as mates and assist- ant engineers. Under the Jones-White act, Ameri- can companies benefiting from ocean mail contracts are required to carry cadets on the deck and in the engine room, and some of these companies are exceeding these requirements by care- tully pib‘lnt young men with the pur- Poss of Lralning them to run their ships. ™~ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, i | { Parsons with the words: 1929, THE LIBRARY TABLE By the Bookiover Whether real or pseudo autobiogra- phy, the “Memoirs of & Gothic Amer- ican,” by Anne Kavanagh-Priest, is in- teresting in much the same way as But- ler's “Way of All Flesh” It is the re- flective account of the development of a child to womanhood who is almost from her earliest consclousness in.sym- pathy with her father snd grandfather and in a state of antagonism toward her mother. It is in a manner a study in heredity. And Herr Freud might also find something in it. It is not Nellle Parsons' fault that her father,; a Harvard graduate, who has aban- doned his plans for the ministry in order to lead a life of freedom and de- votion to “causes,” but is outwardly a mere New Hampshire farmer, should have married the uneducated but beau- ¢ tiful dauzhter of a town carpenter, who was bitterly disappointed when she found herself the wife of a farmer in- stead of the mistress of a parsonage in | Boston. But Nellle pays for this set of circumstances all the same, as. of course, all children pay for the clash of parental temperaments. The Par- sonses are idealists, lacking worldliness, unable to make or keep money, living in thé world of nature and the spirit— and Nellie is a Parsons. Her mother, in spite of her amber eyes, auburn hair and white skin, which make her re- semble Roesetti’s Beatrice, is an ut- terly prosaic and stubborn materialist. In her opinion it might be worth while to educate a son, not too much, but enough so that he could make a good living, but education for a daughter is worse than useless, for it is likely to make her undesirable for matrimony. * K oK K Nellie early begins to have an un- comfortable feeling that her mother hates her—because she is so much a| Parsons. But for long she loves her mother, perhaps because of the mother's beauty, and tries as best she is able to win attention, approval, a little love. That she does not succeed does not make her entirely unhappy, for she has her grandfather. He reads with her, teaches her to love nature, poetry and history, talks with her as with a companion of his own age and makes her Tong to champion the welfare of all the oppressed. Then all this plejs- ant mental life is suddenly ended. After a_village Fourth of July triumph, in which Nellie declaims the Declaration of Independence, her mother pro- nounces an ultimatum—that her daugh- ter must no longer be made “ridicu- lous” by her learning, that read'ng and| lessons with her grandfather must stop, as well as drawing lessons with Miss Spencer in the town, and that here- after all time outside of school must be given to cooking and cleaning, making soap and rag carpets, concocting messes for the pigs-and chickens. She crushes the opposition of Grandfather “I'm oniy sayin’ that I don't intend to have my daughter made the talk and the laugh- in’ stock of the town. A tomboy to be- gin with—thanks to your encourage- ment—and now a * * *a * * ¢ bjye- stockin’! A female scholar and book- worm. Yes, that, if you please, is what the new minister called her, and she only 12 years old! Do you realize that in other matters, like knittin' and bak- in', she’s not even a match for Eva Kingsley, who isn't” 10?2 And that Louise Allen. who's only 13, has already won two prizes at the county fair for cake and biscuits?"” * K k% So Nellie's Parsons life is checked, while her mother tries to make her over into a Dodd. But she continues at the academy and is graduated first In her class. Her father has plans made to send her to Vassar, by extra work and scrimping on his own part, when he is suddenly killed by a bolt of lightning. Hard, and almost triumphant in her grlel, the mother exultingly shatters the opes of Nellie for further education and announces to her that the beloved farm will be sold and that she and the two daughters will take boarders in the town. Here comes the unsatisfactory part of the book—the part that makes a reader feel that an unfair trick has been played u for the last chapter ends without telling what hap-' pened. We do not know whether Nel- lie managed to to_college, whether she submitted to help feed hated board- ers or whether she found a country school to teach. All we are told is that the author, at the time of writing, is nearly 60 and has been for most of her life a plain and unfashionable old maid “teacher, housemother, chaperone and factotum-at-large” in' a fashionable girls’ boarding school. Yet the book is dedicated to her husband! Is there a sequel in the author's mind? o The ambition of Emile Zola to be elected a member of the French Acade- my and his frantic efforts to bring about this honor are described by Mat- thew Josephson in his book, “Zola and His Time.” Thirteen times Zola offered himself as a candidate. Each time a member died he would, after waiting the customary month of mourning, send “his little note” with the informa- tion that he was again a candidate. A jester at his expense suggested that the note be printed for regular use. He visited each of the “Dukes” of the Academy, but found no friend except Francols Coppee. The academicians did not approve of the exponent of ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. ‘The resources of our free information bureau are at your You are invited to call upon it as often as you piease. It is being maintained solely to serve you. What question can we answer for you? There is no charge at all except 2 cents in coin or stamps ior return postage. Address your letter to The Evening Star Information Bu- reau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Q. How much does it cost to run a small airplane?—J. D. W. A. It costs approximately $12 to $15 an hour to run a small sport plane, averaging around 100 miles an hour. Q. When will the Bureau of Internal Revenue be ready for occupancy?— R. O. P. A. The Bureau of Internal Revenue says that it is hoped that it will oc- cupy the new Internal Revenue Build- ing by the first of July, 1930, Q. Would a soldier, enlisted for the late war, who did not get overseas, be called a World War veteran?—L. C. A. He would be & World War veteran. Q. Have there been any silver dol- lars coined this year?>—J. S. G. A. No silver dollars have bzen made in 1929. The following coins have been made this year: Gold Half eagles, gold double eagles, silver half dollars, quarter dellars, dimes and nickels,and one-cent pieces. : Q. What country was once known as Albany?—G. 8. K. A. Albany was the ancient name for Scotland and is still used at the present time in poetical works, etc. It was made official in an act of a Scot- tish Council held at Scone, in June, 1398, when the title, Duke of Albany. was conferred on the brother of King Robert III, the duke at that time acting as regent for the kingdom. Q. Who was in charge when Na- poleon was ‘taken to St. Helena?— R. E. D. A. Admiral Cockburn of the British Navy conveyed Napoleon to St. Helena and rerhained there for four months as governor and jailer. Q. In what country abroad do Amer- icans spend the most money?—T. W. A. France gets the lion's share of the money spent by American tourists. Al- most one-fourth of the $800,000,000 or $900,000,000 that Americans spend abroad annually goes into French pockets. Q. What church is known as “the Cradle of American Methodism”?—C. R. A. The John Street Methodist Church, New York City, is known as the Cradle of American Methodism. Recently portraits of Philip Embury and his wife, founders of Methodism in America, were presented to this church by Rev. Howard Ingham of Philadelphia. The pictures were paint- ed by John Barnes in 1733 and are oil portraits on wood. Q. In Barrie's “Peter and Wendy,” is the name “Wendy” Scotch?—C. A. M. A. J. A. Hammerton in his book, “Barrie: The Story of a Genius,” states that the name of Wendy came into use because the little daughter of W.E. Henley was trying to ibe Sir James Barrie, who used to home, as “friendly.” she could make to “Wendy.” Q In playing poker, deuces wild, does five of a kind beat a royal flush? —C. C. B. A. Five of & kind wins over any straight flush, not excepting & royal flush. Q. Do nuts contain vitamins?—B. T. A. Nuts are poor in vitamins A and C. but contain a fair amount of vitamin B. & Q. In quoting American prices for goods to be exported to Argentina, will these South Americans understand the dollar mark?—H. R. A. The dollar mark is insufficient since the same sign is employed in Argentina to indicate pesos. . Q. How many children did Long- fellow_have?>—D. §. 5 A. He had six—two sons and four daughters. Q. Is it true that South America has one-sixth of the birds of the world>—J. R. B. A. South America has one-sixth of the kinds of birds in the world. This, however, does not mean it has one- sixth of the individual birds. Groups contributory to the abundance of the species are the humming birds, wood- hewers, and other groups, mostly or quite confined to South America. Q. How does the wealth of ‘Southern Negroes compare with that of Northern Negroes?>—C. H. R. A. There are no actual figures as w the comparative wealth of Southern and Northern - N Southern egroes. Negroes own and hold much more real y than the Negroes of the North, it there are many Negroes in business operations in the successful North, Q. Are high' school fraternities pro- hibited in some States?—H. G. G. A. In 17 States they are prohibited by law, while some other States have authorized the local school boards to make such prohibition. Q What is zfiesmmm of the word “kaolin F. L. 8. A. It is Chinese. This important clay was found on a group of hills called Kao Ling, which meant high ridge. Q. Is Harry Wardman a naturalized citizen of the United States?—T. C. A. Mr. Wardman was naturalized October 1, 1900. Q. What per cent of the new cars sold is paid for on time?—A. J. A. In 1928, new cars sold on deferred payments amounted to 58 per cent. The lower prices of cars and stricter finan- cial terms and credit have resulted in more sales for cash. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. An empire of undeveloped land, greater in area than all the thirteen original colonies_combined, will be given away by the Federal Government to the re- spective States in which it is located, if President Hoover's recommendation be accepted by Congress. This af- fects an area nine-tenths as large as Texas. In includes 190,000,000 acres unreserved land, 10,000,000 acres now withdrawn for stock grazing and water- ing, and the surface rights to 35,000,000 acres of land classified as mineral- bearing, in which the Government would reserve the rights to all minerals. To conceive the vastness of the area involved, it is noted that it includes 7.1 per cent of all of Arizona, 62.7 per cent of all of Idaho, 89.1 per cent of all of Nevada, 37 per cent of 49.3 per cent of Oregon, 31.1 per cent of Washington, 69.2 per cent of Utah and 50.7 per cent of Wyoming. Other States are affected in smaller dTeu, yet even Virginia would receive public land amounting to 590,166 acres, equivalent to 2.3 per cent of her present area. Of course, this proposed gift to the several States does not change their State boundaries. The land concerned is today controlled by the Federal Gov- ernment, and President Hoover believes that it can be more advantageously handled by local, State officials, and that the cession to the States will re- sult in decreasing the ‘“bureaucracy,” centralized in the National Capital. * * ok X ‘This is not a new project—rather it is more than a century old—but its re- vival now by Mr., Hoover puts it in line for early action. It will come up for congressional consideration soon after the opening of the regular term of Con- gress in December. The President de- clares that all of it is “tentative” so far as detalls are concerned, to be thrashed out by a commission of 9 or 10 members, of whom Western gov- ernors are invited to nominate about Naturalism and author of the Rougon- | half. Macquart series of novels.. But Zola was not a quietly defeated candidate. “No campaign for the academy was ever conducted with more noise, with less tact and political acumen * *'* In the beginning, he had been hopeful and tranquil. ‘Hugo even had to present him- self four times. Victor Hugo! . . . The French Academy . . . consecrates the talent of a number of men whose merits the public mind is in doubt of. It is the full enjoyment of life to know one's self famous, to anticipate posterity, to have today the pleasure and priviiege of fame. But it is not only with this desire that I am anxious to enter; my chief reason is to obtain for the Natu- ralist school a consecration that it has never received. . . . They shall have every opportunity of admitting me.’” Zola’s many defeats and his lack of dignity in seeking the election gave & welcome occasion to his enemies, of whom he had not a few, and they were not slow to ridicule him. They called him arrogant, and Zola, as if to prove them right, retorted: “I shall insist to the bitter end. On the day of my death I shall present my name, . . . So long | as there is an academy I must be part of it. I am making literary history. My grandchildren will know that Zoia was refused 25 or 30 times by the French Academy. So much the worse.” Shut out from the French Academy, he was to have been the head of the new academy projected By Edmond de Gon- court and later established in his will as the Goncourt Academy, but hostility arose between Zola and Goncourt and Zola's name was dropped from the list of original members. * kK K “A Century of Fashion,” by Jean Philippe Worth, is the history of the famous dressmaking establishment of Worth from its beginning in 1826 until 1926, when the son of the original Worth died. Charles Frederick Worth, the founder, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and because of family poverty went to work at the age of 11. He al- ways loved beautiful pictures and tex- tiles and when he was about 20 he went to Paris and found employment in an establishment, which sold coats and shawls. Soon he was designing gowns for the pretty shop girl whom he mar- ried. His skill in designing made his fortune and that of his family. * ok K K Kathleen Millay, sister of Edna St. Vincent Millay, has published her sec- ond volume of verse, “The Hermit Thrush.” Her first volume was “The Evergreen Tree.” Her poems are lyrics, some of them having much beauty of form, all sincere in mood and reflecting 8] fleeting loveliness in From the totals indicated, all na- tional park, forest and Indian reserva- tions are excluded, since President Hoover considers such reservations as having a national, rather than local, importance. As for mineral lands, while the Government reserves min- eral rights for its control, royalties on minerals mined are now collected by the | had Government and paid to the several States, and such royalties would con- tinue to be so paid, hence the States suffer no loss, while authoritative con- trol would remain in the national powers, * k¥ % In somewhat the same line, will the Government continue to create and con- struct permanent water-storage works on the ceded lands, but when com- pleted, such improvements will be turned over to the States in which they are located, the States obligating themselves to reimburse the cost out of the rev- enues to come from users of the water. In this way, interstate interests will be kept from clashing and broad na- tional interests in conserving water for power, navigation, irrigation and flood control will be centralized—the only way in which it can be developed. It is proposed to give Government aid to Teclamation projects—whether State or Pnrivne—ulrndy under way, which are adequately capitalized. Millions of acres in the West are now too arid for pasturage. When such 1and recefves the water from permanent storage = reservoirs it will produce abundantly, not only grass for live stock. but farm 3\?" for in nearly all such cases the soil contains rich fertility, llckm‘lenly water. Such development through private enterprise is a very dis- ;7;1;;[1;!: pr%t;eu. m‘lm it requires ears reliminary we vast capital. L ki * Kk % Broadening productive acreage for food supply, the proposal affects the in- terests of every consumer in America, and is quite apart from local or State interest. Great Britain is now studying how to develop the idle lands in her “possessions,” so as to give employment and sustenance to her millions of idle workers. / We have heard much of the need of “farm relief,” and, to some observers, the objection to developing more farm land will arise against adding pro- ductive acres where, it is complained, we already have overcompetition. But modern inventions of labor-sav- ing machinery for farming, together with the increasing demands from world markets, vitally change the sit- uation overnight. If a million acres which might be producing food lies idle, each year, when famine reaps its bar- vest in some parts of the world. indict=meat against e New Mexico, | da; have garnered the food not produced on that million acres. The world needs are beco one big economic world &;ghlem, It is affected now by 235,- ,000 acres in America, a large part— not all—of which can be made to feed the starving of the mismanaged world, and, with improved methods of pro- duction and transportation; this need never be a hardship upon the working farmers—according to the doctrines of the conservationists. & *IE * * What will Congress decide. when the proposal is pres this Winter? For session according to economic and political interests of the y. In the early decades, after the forma~ tion of the Government, the interests of the East were opposed violently by those of the West. All States had been induced to cede their undeveloped State lands to the PFederal Government, to stop interstate controversies. The East contended that this Federal land should be sold to settlers and the proceeds turned into the National Treasury to liquidate the national debt. After an 80-year fight the West prevailed, and won the Homestead act, in 1862, under which any citizen could aequire a farm freely, if he would settle on it. The Homestead act was an issue in Lincoln's second campaign and the song was popular in the Union Army: “For Uncle Sam is rich enough ‘To give us all & farm.” Up to 1928 homesteaded farms aggre- gated 230,000,000 mu—cppraxmug equal to the area now remaining Government hands which President Hoover wants to turn back to the States in which it is located, In addition to the homestead land there have been entries under a timber and stone act, amounting to 14,000,000 acres, and 8,« 500,000 acres were sold to investors, under a so-called “desert-land act.” Th> Union soldiers were given special “compensation” in land. ‘The evil of this Government liberality was that many millions of acres of timber land were sacrificed, without adequate set- tlement of territory, and, about 30 years ago, the conservationist movement began to take form, adding its differs ences of theory to the jealousies which long existed between cattle grazers and shcep ranchers, and the “land barons” profiting by various loopholes in the laws. But for a whole century the controe versies have been acute. In 1833, Henry Clay introduced a bill to cede all the land to the respective States, and it passed, but was pocket-vetoed by Presis dsnt Jackson. In the same year that gave us the Homestead law (1862), came the Mor= rill act, under which each State received land for the special purpose of financin State agricultural and mechanice schools—this land amounting to 30,000 acres per Senator and Representative of the respective States, Then 3,000,000 acres were sold, or set aside to be sold, the proceeds to go to building wagon roads, and 37,000,000 acres were given to the States to be used as bonuses far the construction of railroads, and 500,~ 000 acres were given to each Stats for “internal improvements.” More than a fourth of the land thus given to the States was classified as “swamp,” but that was under a policy of inducing the States to undertake drainage enterprises. Probably there ‘was more fraud in connection with the selection of alleged “swamp lands" than in any other phase of the projecs. In spite of the open frauds under the swamp land laws, the laws are still un- repealed, and the Land Office reports that “the swamp land work continues {to be heavy.” * * K % In 1894, the Carey act ceded to the arid States “not more than 1,000,000 acres each,” to be irrigated by the States. Under that law, 4,000,000 acres were taken up by the States, but up to 1928, only 1168,000 acres had been ir- ted, as obligated by the States. ring the administration of Presi- dent Roosevelt, there began great agi- tation for saving forests, parks power sites. Conservation laws were adopted, under which at present we have raserved forests of 135,533,824 acres, parks more than 7,000,000 acres, coal lands, 30,145.799 acres, and other allotments for reservoirs, water reserves, naval oil reserves, oil la and phos- phate and potash lands amounting to mill of acres. & ions . The whole question which Pres| Hoover's allied