Evening Star Newspaper, September 15, 1931, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY . ...September 15, 1981 ‘I'IIEOIM;EE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company ‘Business Office 11y 8t agd Pennevivanis Ave. Now York Ofce, 110 Stk Budine. 14 Regent M., London, Bugland. Rate by Carrier Within the City. 3 rening Star ... . . 43¢ per month iRy B e per month | i ae e coRy | o the end of each mon S e gTmat o luitohone | tiection ma Orders may Fhtional 3000, Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virgini: 7 and Bunday.....13r. 31000 1 e 1Vl g8 5"onls . 1yr. $4.00; 1 mo.. 40c All Other States and Canada. d Sunday...]yr.3$12.00° 1 mo., §1.00 ..'llfl! V.n ' 1yr., l!ulmo. 8¢ Finday’ oniy 170 §300 ime sec Merber of the Associated Press. Associated Press is exclusively ei tit 2o the v ot fepubiication of ‘il news di O e Eredsied fo It or nO: ONerwiss ¢12 s e this. paper and. aiso “he lncal news published herein. Al rights of publi:ation ef special dispa‘ches herein are also reserved. No Laughing Matter. T can't imagine anything more ridic- wious.” Gen. Harbord told the Ameri- can Legion's unemployment conference, “than your going to your Detroit con- vention with & progtam to relieve the country’s unemployment and depression problems in one hand and & Hn cup, in the other. You would be laughcd out of the country.” pl Unfortunately, there is an eventuality even more ridiculous American Legion may hold out the tin cup with both hands and describe it} as the Legion's plan for relieving un- employment and depression and—mo; tragic than ridiculous—there are plenty | of politicians who will be only 100 anx- fous to fill the tin cup under the guise of solving the unemployment and de- pression problems. And neither the| Legion mor the politicians will bey Jaughed out of the country It is unfair to the Legion to accuse ft thus early of having made up its mind to demand the full bonus pay- ment. The Detroit convention is vet to be held. There are wise and calm elements in the Legion who are pon- dering this latest of fantastic schemes and who obviously must be laving their | plans to fight it. It remains to be seen whether the Legion at Detroit is willing to gamtle its prestige and influence against the mess of pottages that the; cash payment of the remaining face | value of the bonus certificates would i constitute. But Gen. Harbord's advice is sound, and it is timely. The greatest contribu- tion that the American Legion could at this time make to the solution of the, unemployment and depression problems would be some positive and independent | action of its own—some action that| | would find the American Legion living | up to the fine traditions that brought it into existence and going ahead on its own initiative in a drive to find work | for its able-bodied members, or able- bodied ex-soldiers who do not happen to be members, without hanging back and calling for more reinforcements from & Federal Government, that is busy filling up the gaps on other fronts. That would be the appropriate atti- fude to be expected of the Legion. It may refuse to sdopt it. The hot heads may win, and a campaign may be cen- | tered on getting the bonus paid and out | of the way so that some lobbyist council ©of strategy can map out & plan of at- tack to win pensions as additional cumulative interest on the Nation's “debt of gratitude.” 1f so, one does not believe. with Gen. Harbord, that the Legion will be laughed out of the courkry. But & new genera- tion, which is coming along pretty fast and which must pay a lot of bills, may decide to relegate the Legion to the position of an organized minority that guessed wrong. s A lady who writes best selling novels complains that she finds American youth talking about nothing but ath- letic games. One point that is being urged in favor of the games is that they take the minds of youth off the novels o The philosophy which molds gAngster's career seems to involve the | pagan belief that in some mysterious | marner he will be permitted to enjoy the magnificence of his own funeral. Horticulture having patented a new rose will, in order to prevent infringe- | ment, be obliged to add to the gar-| dener’s pay roll by including a law firm | in the list of hired men. — s Smith's Position. Ever since elsction night, 1928, efforts have been made to obtain from Alfred E. Smith, former Governor of New York, a statement regarding his politi- can plans for the future. Some of thoss who have sought a declaration from Mr. Smith are heartily in favor of the former Governor's renomination by the Democratic party in 1932, Others have | been actuated by a desire that Mr Smith definitely take himself out of the race. To all these attempts to smoke him out politically Mr. Smith has been fnattentive.” He has contented himself with taking the, position that a man is A fool to say what he would or would not do four years, three years, two vears, or one vear in advance of the next na- tional convention of the Democratic party. Within the past week & report was published asserting that Mr. Smith would not permit his name to go be- fore the national convention next year. Given wide publicity, it immediately drew from Mr. Smith & denial that he had authorized any one to speak for him or that he had anything to sav about the presidential nomination at this time. Except to relieve the minds of his opponents or to satisfy the curiosity of others there is no real reason why Mr. Smith should announce his posi- tion on the presidency today. It is quite true that four years sgo it was well understood that he a candi- date for the nomination and his friends had been at work for him in many States. And if there is to be a drive for Smith delegates in- the prima l i States next Spring and Summer, it ma be necessary for the Smith following to get to work again. But the Smith following is ready to go into action at is uniformity in this respect, as there only jes' git stung.” 1 [ vear. it it were only an automohile. racketeer has become so highly financed | any time, and in all probability would have no difficulty in arranging in some of the States for the selection of un- instructed delegations favorable to a renomination, if there was to be no open Instruction for the former Gov- ernor. 1t is obvious that if Mr. Smith should declare his withdrawal from the race or should announce his backing of an- other candidate, his own influence would wane. As long as he is a potential can- didate himself, with a huge following in his party back of him, Mr. Smith is a power seriously to be reckoned with, Practice will be necessary to make the the neighbo It for no other reason, it would be foolish for him to declare an intention not to run for President and so cast away this influence. ble that a man who has been politically minded from his youth should now give how long he can remain the Sphinx of | the Democratic party is a guestion. He may keep his mouth closed until the convention has begun balloting next Some of his friends helieve that in the end the convention may be deadlocked and in that event will swing with & h to Smith and renominate him. Calvin Coolidge, after his "I do not choose to run” statement, kept the Republican party in a ferment up to the very moment of tie nomination of President Hoover by the manner in which he held his tongue. All kinds of rumors are -current re- garding the desires of Mr. Smith. One group holds that he is strengly opposed to the nomination of his old friend and supporter, Franklin D. Rooscvelt, the present Governor of New Yors. VArious, of employment should include the be- 1his| ginning of all these neglected and post- | | alleged hostility. On the other hand. poned plans snd th: meeting of an! it is said to be not beyond the bounds | these needs that have been put into | reasops have been advanced for It is thet the | of possibility that Mr. Smith is merely | the | hoiding his great influence in reserve |State, if Gov. back of the candidacy of ' approved, is about to raise an emergency | | Rooseveit next year and thus insure | fund of $20.000000 through additional ! his nomination on the first ballot. |axation as fts contribution for meeting to throw it Certainly If the former Governor of New York favors the candidacy of any other man than Roosevelt, unless it be to seek the nomination himself, Mr. Smith will be set down as an ingrate, and mo far no one has been able to charge Al Smith with the fault of in- gratitude. o emee Pick Strongest Men. Civic leaders of Washington are pre- sented with a valuable opportunity to perform an important service to the National Capital. The District Commis- sioners, desirous of eclecting a civilian board to handle pending pblice prob- lems, have asked leaders of various civic organizations to nominate candidates for this investigating body. These nominations are to be made at once. In scanning the fleld these civic leaders have two opportunities. They may nominate men whose very forth- rightness, general ability and vision will insure fair, impartial and conclusive decisions. Or they may select men who are under obligations to the police of Washington, or who, because of one | affiliation or another, may be expected to approach any investigation with a tendency in the interest of the police. The Commissioners want and the city expects as members of any Investi- gating board only men who can ap- proach a verdict without prejudice. The Commissioners desire and the city demands men who eannot be swaved by pressure of whatsoever character tmside or outside the immediate scope | of the board’s activities. The probiems that are confronted are far-reaching in character. Now is the time to solve them. when the District has the aid of the Federal Government, which insures fair and unbiased investi- gation. The so-called Staples and Hunt cnses must be handled solely by the Di trict authorities. They have deciced that the fairest way is to have an un- biased, impartial, fair-minded board of citizens to sit on all cases. ‘Wisdom, courage, determination and fairness are the qualities needed by the members of any board considering Dis- trict affairs. All these qualities will be needed be- ‘| tore the present series of inquiries is ended. Civic leaders must remember that Washington's future and Washing- ton’s honor are at stake. And any nomination must be considered from the standpoint of the welfare of the city as & wkole. —oes 5 A private yacht is now held up b gangsters with as much assurance as The that expense cuts no figure in any en- terprise which happens to strike his fancy. e The weather expert who announced | some weeks ago that no further hot wave ordeals were to be expected is another example of the individual of whom, in apology for mistakes, it can only be said “he meant well.” e —e——— For increased tax collection the British government will rely to some extent on beer, having no system of bootleg racketeering to absorb the last possible penny of revenue from that source. ———— The New Left-Turn Rule. Today the new “left-hand turn™ goes into effect. Drivers of motor cars who have been faithfully observing the old rule, driving over to the right at light- controlled and police-supervised ercss- ings and then waiting for the signal be- fore going to the left, must now amend their movements. They must drive along the central lanes of traffic and turn directly into the cross street. They have been warned for weeks of this change. They have hagd the benefit cf diagrams to show them the wey. Now they must practice the “Hoover turn, as it is generally called, the turn that prevails in practically »I1l cities 2nd that should have been estzblished here long ago. Uniformity in traffic regulations is requisite nowadays, for motoring is no longer strictly local. Motorists go frcm city to city with a freedom that was impossible a few vears ago. A Wash- ingtonian may in the course of a single day's driving pass through half a dozen large centers of population. If each city has a different set of trafic rules the District driver is ccnfused and is perhaps led into trouble. For a consid- erable period the Capital has been dif- ferent from virtually all other cities in respect to this left-hand turn. and sitors to it have been confounded and lorg! drivers have been vexed snd en- dan, THE ‘EVENING should be in all others, the soundest judgment prevailing in the framing of the regulations iIn all cities. ¢ ‘Tolerance is required on the part of trafic policemen for the mistakes of drivers In the matter of this nmew left- turn rule. For a few days no driver who errs should be penalized. Corrections should be patiently made, with & mini- mum of the unpleasant emphasis that the official street director is prone to employ. It should be assumed that everybody is trying to drive in accord with the rules. Only a few days of | inew rule as familiar to all street users |8s the old one. And it will be found i that by virtue of this new mode of traf- 1t s inconceiva- ! fic direction there will be more progress | fruit spiled’ in vehicular morement and less con- lhl!inn and congestion and fewer mis- Lover nis interest in public affairs. Just haps. — e Relief Through Civic 0dd Jobs. In every city in this country there is work to be done, clean-up work, con- struction work, little jobs and big jobs of municipal housekeeping and develop- ment. These works have been neglected, | perhaps because of lack of funds, per- | { haps because nobody has thought 1t worth while to undertake them while other projects of clvic betterment were | under way. Now, with unemployment at a high percentage, with several mil- lion men eager for any chance to earn a little for sustenance, all these works should be started and carried through at once. | | the suffering of the people due to lack New York | proposal 1is some day" category. Roosevel! |the emeigency. This money can b: spent in many ways toward numerous | | projects. Every city should do the |same, in proportionate scale. 1 all the works that have been left | undcne, awaiting a favorable oppor- | tunity or the return of “good times,” werg to be started at once throughout the rcountry there would be no unem- { ployment. The idle of every community would be engaged. Jobs would be | offered to every able-bodied man. And !the country would be in better shape pivsi-ally, the cities would be more attractive, their services more efficient. | Such a program of unemployment | velie would be the best possible salution | of this problem. It would not be charity. It would not bz a dole. It would be a | constructive co-operative enterprise. And iwhen ths emergency passes with the revival of industry, the reopening of the | mills, the return of activity in business ! the result would be a sound investment | 1o improvements and facilities. S In favor of a sales tax it may be sug- gested that it will not call for the sacri- fice of time demanded of the average citizen when he searches his con- science and his diary in order to make out an income tax report. - s New York City appears to be in need of a few good business men's Juncheon clubs to counteract the publicity which may cause out-of-town buyers to be | scared away by the night clubs. ! —— No doubt exists as to abundance of resources that may be made available [ for relief purposes. The old “problem of distribution” again asserts itself. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. The Automel It's fine when the world is an automo- bile That merrily whirls you along. Where the sunshine is bright and the stars seem to feel In humor for laughter and song. It's fine when the motor with steady refrain Keeps up its reliable pace, And therc’s never a reason to fret or complain— 3 it’s flerce when a breakdown takes place. But A mile is a trifie. The flight is 50 swift That we scarcely know how it was made, | Nor think of the chance to give some one a lift Who is toiling on foot up the grade. It's fine when the world like a motor car glides, With nothing its progress to balk, But it's fierce when it skids or it stalls or collides, . And you find you.must get out and walk, So let's bear in mind, when it's our turn to speed At a rate that is swift and secure, The feliow compelled on his way to pro- ceed At a gait that is plodding but sure. { Then stifle your pride as you thought- " lessly plan A scare with the whistle or gong, And remember to leave right of way for the man Who has to keel Growing Impatient. ““You must call on your constituents to help you save the country.” “That's what I did.” replied Senator Sorghum. “One of 'em said I had been on that job for a good while, and if I hadn't got it saved yet, it was time to look into the matter.” Praise Without Envy. “You consider Americans generous and unselfish in showing appreciation?" “Certainly. Any man will go to a ball game and brag about a home run #s enthusiastically as if he had made it himself.” Difference of Opinion. Hanging from a rusty tack Swings the kitchen almanac. Cheerfully you take & look. “Summer's over,” says the book. But the old thermometer Grins at you and says, “No, sir! Hot waves still are due, you bet. Summer’s over? Not as yet!” | trudging along. Mental Endurance. “Do you think Bliggins has great in- tellectual strength?” “He must have,” replied Miss Cay- enne. “He has himself cn his mind all the time: and that is a great burden.” “An npmrtunlt)g'_snld Uncle Eben. “is like a bee. One man kin foller it l =% ‘The Nation-wide campaign to relieve STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. | ‘The Society for Grammatical Reform will now come to order. The meeting will be opened reading from Carl Sandburg's ham Lincoln: The Preirle Year: On page 11 of the new dollar edition —vwhich a great many people will wel- | come, no doubt—we find the following: | “His folks talked like other folks in hood. They called tham- | selves ‘pare’ people. A man learncd in books was ‘eddicated.’ What jvas cer- tain was ‘sartin’ The syllables came through the nese: joints were ‘j'ints’; instead of spoiling; in corn-planting time they ‘drapped’ the seeds. They went on errands and ‘brung’ things back. | “Their dogs ‘follered’ the coons. | Flannel was ‘flannen,’ a bandanaa a ‘bandanner, a chimney a ‘chimbly,’ a shadow a ‘shadder, and mosquitoes plain ‘skeeters’ A creex was a ‘crick,’ a cover a ‘kiver.’ “A maf silent was a ‘They asked, ‘Have ye et?’ There were dialogues, ‘Kin ye?’ ‘No, I cain't’ And if a woman had an idea of doing some- thing she said, ‘I had a idy to’ They made their own words. Those who spoke otherwise didn’t belong, ‘puttin’ on.’ This was their wil s lingo; it had gnarled hones and gaunt hours of their lives in it.” ok k¥ Many a person present was brought | up on “chimbly,” and “skeeters,” and “erick. Now, many vears later, in s great | city, some of us still have qualms of | h a -nothin"." | | our birthplace as to talk about “chim; neys” and “mosquitoes” and “creeks. We know those pronunciations to be correct: but is correciness, after all, all there is to Janguage? Certainly not! Saving what on» wants to sav. mak- ing cne's sell understood. must remain the primary purpose of words. Many an ungrammatical person has a perfect genlus for putting himself on record unmistakabl There is, too, a flaver to certain words, which, although it may be rather strong, and smack perhaps too much of the strect, nevertheless has in it pleturesque qualities. These qualities gradually make them- selves felt. and in time the former! objectionable word becomes tolerate #nd finally admitted without questio: into the Jexicon of the proper. | i But we have befors us. ladies and gentleman, a larger sucject than words, as great as they are. being the working material of writing and speaking We have grammar liself to consider and certain ungrammatic forms to taks up. These a1e clamoring for our atten- tion. The prestige of the Societv for Gram- matical Reform is such, we like 1o think, that once this great body has put itself on record as being in favor of certain forms, e remainder of the world will follow We have five grammatical mistakes which are so oft*n ‘made. and by the | very best people. that we present them to the society for considsration. | “It's me” is the first of these In a million homes. when the chil- dren come in late, & voice will call, | “Who's that?" . | | 'And a million young voices will an- | swer, “It's me!” ok | | Not a voice will T ! mother.” And why not. pray? Because all of those youngsters, with the unerring instincts of youth for the picturesque and the interesting. know | | that there is something at once highly { musical and highly natural about “It’s me,” which the correct form lacks. reply TALIA. Paris (Exterritorial anti- Fascisti publication) —In the ef- fort to restore a degree of order and law-abiding conditions to the country, the Italian government lately revised in a most radical as is consistent with nat- the cniite “criminal code” of Italy. It need <carcely be observed that since Fascism bacame the dominant power in the state. many acts are considered offenses against the law never so designated in any other country. Capital punishment is now author- ized for many misdemeanors and de- linquency formerly punishable only with fines and imprisonment The majority of these so-denom- inated offenses are of & political char- acter. Under the new svstem, all pris- oners, regardless of whether their guilt is proved. will be required to labor at various tasks to balance the expense of remanding them in custody. In this way all in Italy contribute to the support of the dictatorship, for un- less the desired service is rendered’ willingly, all subjects soon find them- selves in jail. x oo ox Dispute Deprive Citizens of Transportation. El Mercurio, Santiago.—Puerto Montt is without street car service. The franchise of the Tramways Service Co. expired and, due to disagreements be- tween the city council and the trans- portation_enterprise. has not been re- newed. The result has been great in- convenience and discomfort to the ir habitants. who are now signing petitions which will be presented to the Citizens’ Association in the hope that they may be able to have the service resumed. ke “Modern Gluttons / Have No Imagination.” Irish Independent, Dublin.—A protest by the London vcgel;l:nln oclety | against proposals for public ox-roasting, | A tabiy "t Brentwood. in aid of the District Hospital, has received the sup- port of Mr. Bernard Shaw. In a letter to the secretary of the society, he writes: ““The ox-roasting seems to me a very tame attempt to revive ancient fes- tivities. Why not bait a bear, burn the village atheist, flog & Quakeress, pillory a Dissenter. duck a scold. fight 8 main of cocks, have a match between two ovster eaters, and do the thing in style? ‘These feeble modern gluttons have no imagination.” * % K has fashion. utal proclivity * Holds Chinese Vegetables Unfit To Eat. The Bulletin, Sydney. N. S. W. (A reader’s contribution) — Halkwan:" As one who lived in Shanghai for man years T take leave to differ from “Nal hoda” about the excellence of the food. the vegetable part anyhow. Beans and such things may look well enough, but flavor is missing, and they are mostly of a woody or watery variety. It is unsafe to eat Any raw market vegetables like tomatoes or lettuce. If akhoda” ever ate good lettuce or| celery in Shanghai. T'll bet it was im- | ported. Bubbling Well Cemetery is a | mighty overcrowded gpot these days, | largely owing to the effect on Euro- peans of uncozku‘d ghlneu rreenstufl.' * Mexican®Pyramids Rival Those of Cheops. | El Universal, Mexico City.—Tourists | in Mexico from foreign parts all hear, | sooner or later, about the marvelous | pyramids of Teotihuacan. These stu- | pendous monuments of our ancestors | were erecled during a period of | antiquity variously estimated to be | from 3.000 to 6,000 vears since. The 'Spanish conquistadors found them in exico more than 400 vears ago, and ever since they have " constituted a problem exciting both the intense in- terest and concomitant amazement of archeologists. Besides ths Teotihuacan pyramids there are 50 or 60 other simi- ed hy their mistakes. Now there up an’' find honey where another will jar massive piles. some of them 3o |is least likel evergrown with trees and shrubbery | | double negative, -has aspects of useful- | meets their needs most satisfactorily. conscience when we so far repudiate sand so on—— the “Ayes" have it, and Highlights on the Wide World {demands were diminishing and TRACEWELL. Perhaps not a one of those who so thoughtlessly and happily reel off the incorrect form would willingly use the other, unless reminded of it by some purist to whom the form of language }s everything and its happiness noth- g The Society for the Reform of Gram- mar will now vote on the proposition whether “it's me.” as it stands, shall be a preferred form? The question is before the society. Those in favor say “Aye.” those opposed say “No.” The “Ayes’ have it, and it is so ordered Books of grammar will revise their codes accordingly. * ¥ * ¥ "Phe next proposal which we are glad to lay before you is the place of the phrase "It ain't.” As will be seen from our reading of Sandburg, this form has an honorable history. Just why uneducated people then, ‘as now, had to distort words is a question which we will consider at an- other time They said n't” for cannot. That form we canno: quite stomach yet, but its successor, “ain't,” even though a ness. “I ain't gonna do it” is said a million times every hour, at least, mostly by the young and thoughtless. ‘They use it because, not being blinded by harsh rules of grammar, they find it We move, therefore, T ain’t” be recognized. that the form “ All in_favor, it 15 so ordered. oo “It looks like rain” is the third form knocking at thz doors If this were not used so many times, | by so many people. in all walks of life. | of all degrees of orthodox and formal | education there might be some ques- tion of it Even ils use in the farmer song, in| which he adjures his horse Napoleon o “giddap,” would not necessarily give it | public sanction. Who gives it sanction, then? Why. the public itself, of course! We therefore take pleasure in asking for its admittance as good English: and, in the total absence of any voice to the | contrary, so declare it: Books of grammar will codes accordingly. P “Mister, you better let them hornets alone.” 1s our next offering It is a pretty sentence, filled with life, vim and vigor, to say nothing of | its_plain common sense. No one would protest if it were phrased. “Mister, you haq better let! them alone.” When the word “hornets” is inserted, however, the very deuce s to pay grammatically speaking, which is rather absurd. since it is the same sentence and the same “them.” Without further argument pose this form: those in {avor s those against say “No": the have it. and it 15 so ordered Our last offering today is you vote for?” Press accounts of the mecting dcwn South stated that the crowd. neckiing | the Governor of Texas. yelled out:! “Whom did you vote for?" We submit that not a man in that crowd yelled “Whom did you vote for?” but that each one said “Who did you vote for?" It is more pleasing. euphonious in every way. and we take pleasure in proposing it. Ah, thank | vou The vote is so overwhelming in its | favor that we are glad | What a time of it that grammars are goug to have of it, before we gel through with them! | The Eociety for Grammatical Reform | stands adjourned until its next meeting. | revise their we pro- Ave." Aves” | Who did natural and | Excerpts From Newspapers of Other Land they were first thought to be hills Several, after excavation, have been found to be even larger than the cele- brated pyramid of Cheops, and as care- | fully and scientifically constructed. | Of the group to which we specific- | ally refer, the most worthy of study and contemplation are two pyramids the larger being 215 feet in height and with each side of the base measur- ing approximately three times the al- titude. It is known as the Pyramid of the Sun, and was used for the worship of that source of light and life. There is a wide stairway leading from the base to the apex. The small- er pyramid is some 150 feet high, and measures about 450 feet on cach side of its Lase. T r similar in! characteristies to it compai fon. is supposed to been dedi- cated to the moon Since these pyramids, and the more impoitant ones in other loc,Mftes. have been denuded of the bushes s foliage grown over them throughout the turies, both the scientist and the lay | visitor 1o Mexico are able easily to de- | termine the appeara: and imposing | qualities of these religious edifices when originally erected. They are well worth intensive inspection znd con- fecture as to the nature and source of the culture and intelligence of these bygone ages. r—es Acts of Kindness Take Sting Out of Depression To the Bditor of The Star: Here are some items that may in- terest some of your readers: A crew of about 20 carpenters were working for one man who handled small contracts. There had not been any interruption for a long while, but the opinion prevailed that the outlook was discouraging. On a Saturday, as the work of the week closed, one workman said to the boss, “The outlook is not bright, your business is constantly slowing down, and as I am not entirely dependent on this employment, but most of. your men are, T'll withdraw that they may nave the longer run. So you need not look for me back Mond: The contractor, with a look of surprise, replied. “Yoiu are certainly generous, and when work picks up, come back and we shall all | be glad to have you join us again.” | The wife of a minister in Ilinois, broken down in health and under the guidance of her physician, was «sent South. The husband wrote a friend. who was a pastor in Florida, and ex-| lained his condition, and requested aid | n efforts to find a pastorate in Florida. ! The pastor replied: “Come on and| bring vour family with you and we'll turn over our manse to you, and your wife will not have to be separated from you at a time when she needs you most. You can serve the church and receive our salary while we take & vacation.” ‘The minister and his family came and took charge, profoundly grateful for such a favor. In a few weeks he found a good church, where he and his wife spent the balance of their lives, which had been increasingly use- ful and happy. ‘The pastor and his wife returned from their vacation much refresned and greatly enriched in character from such a deed. ‘You may have readers who can profit by _the sufie‘funn these incidents bring. If everybody was living by the stand- ard of these exemplars there would not kg any depression. 2 W. B. WITHERSPOON. r———— Wants Heaviest Penalty. From the San Antonio Evening News. Three States contest for the right to try a bank robber—but which of them ly to give him a suspended . large have, sentence, SEPTEMBER 15, | unhappy state. | o | port 1931. NEW BOOKS AT RANDOM L G. M. UNITED 'STATES POSTAL POLICY. By Clyde Kelly, author of “Postal |space is limited and would not accom-| Legislation.” New York: D. Ap- pleton & Co. Written and - sealed, the letter. Weighty, maybe, with matters of deep import to many or to few. Light, more likely, with friendly gossipings and home news. Sharp, possibly, with reproach and accusation. In any case it is a helpless thing, lying there on desk or table. A little pink stamp, set to its upper right-hand corner, however; a slip into the mail chute outside the office door or into the letter-box at the corner, and this scrap of paper becomes of im- mediate concern to the great Govern- ment itself. Swift traln or ocean vessel or flying carrier waits to bear it round the world, acrpss a continent, past a border State’ line or merely across the town itself. Safe, too, as if tended by an ermed guard, as in fact it is. To trouble this messenger on its ! way becomes an offense against the rules of the land and is punishable as such. All for a letter. Every day, every hour of the day, these unseen hosts are spreading the news, public and private, important and inconsequent alike, to the wide four quarters of the earth.. Under a regi- mentad control of the highest efficiency these armies of communication move. playing havoc with ell prior claims of time.and distance upon their powers of separation and isolation. We are used to the great mail service, as we are used to many another clear benefi- cence—air, sun, rain and science ap- plied to daily life al innumerable points. But stop the mails for a day, for an hour. Stop them everywhere. Panic would seize the world A great institution, the Posta] Serv- ice. Very great. Does it pay? Oh no; it does not pay. Not only are its pockets habitually inside out. empty and dangling, but it is in dept. woe- fully in debt: maybe hopelessly, in that Yes, I know. The most us have come to think that any enterprise must pile up a surplus of gold to get into the class “great.” Here is an exception. A steadily losing business—yet it pays. Al least so the Hon. Clyde Keily, member of Congress, | affirms in a book devoted to a declara- tion of certain imponderable profits that have. time out of mind, heen the coin in which idealists have measured the gains and losses of life. Here is the story of our postal system Next, in general interest. to any tale of account stands the one telling it. re know? Was he there in any part of its action? Did he lend a hand, both hands, at critical moments of choice and decision? Is he in close touch with how it began and under what influence it went ahead. or lagged, or halted? Beside all that, can this one tell the story with vim and vigor. in its own colors and with its own drama This is going_to be a popular story Bound to be. For th~ entire citizenry of the country has a direct and partak- ing share in it uself is a neighborhood of ready ex- change in matters of every sort of re- nowadays in trib- ‘The Hon. Clyde Kelly called “Father of the Air Mail” ute 13 his competent zeal—has for vears | given interest. support and wide knowl- edge, both general and special, to the postal system. Probably virtue of his personal devotion, coupled with legislative zeal and power, this Representative has put the people of the United States in debt to him. And he has. moreover. qualified himself to speak with authority upon the mail service. Here. in sum. is affirmative answer to the queties set a couple of paragraphs back. The seeming inability of the postal department to make monev—that without which nothing” of modern life—developed an alternative in purpose of the institution itsslf. A business concern or an sgency of serv- ice? Which shall it be’ Mones count as answer to the first of this dis- agreeing pair. The second explains it- gelf. If both cannot be secured under expert management, which shall stand paramount? Mr. Clyde Kelly takes a sturdy stand. the people—and profits be hanged if need arise This dilemma of decision and action began long ago. It still serves as the to and fro of political strife no than as a point of serious disagrezment among statesmen themselves. To s-rve the intent of an adequately complete survey of the theme Mr. Kelly spreads American, history out from the colonial period to the preseni. Over this long and wide area of time and circumstance in the New World he traces the couise of our postal system from its origin on to the current dis- agreement as to policy for its future Like the netting of national motor roads today does this interlacing line of post roads run to cmbrace the country now, out of that early starting point on the Atlantic Coast. We were English- men then and King Willlam made a present of us, postally speaking, to a friend of his, one Thomas Neale. away back in 1691. And Thomas accepted us. merely as coin of the realm. for the money we could deliver to him by way of our need to get in touch with fri*nds and home. Right there our postal sv: tem, as a business, took its start. Busi- ress is to yield profits. What else? Then came a war. And we were no longer Englishmen. A fascinating story. | the part of the couriers and riders in the war itself. Everybody knows Paul Revere. Well, he was a mail carrier— and a lot besides. Then, in no very long time, Benjamin Franklin became the head of the system. Wisdom as well as war was needed in the case of the confused and not quite reconciled Colonials, suddenly turned political in- dependents in a new kind of govern- ment. Nekv to them. So the story runs along the way stations of this postal route, ever reaching farther into the heart of the amazing new country, till |at last—not so very long ago in terms of a Federal development—it came out. the story of postal expansion, clear on the other side of the United States itself. And there it paused for a wiile, Possibly with a mildly speculative eye still ranging westward. ofl islandward, v. toward Hawaii or the Philippines At every stage of this ou may be sure, scussions in The efficiency men drawn up As they have ever The one Congress. against th> idealists, been since the world began. counting costs, dwelling ‘upon shortages and deficits. The other vegretful. to be sure, and hoping to ‘temedy tn> financial infelicity of the case, but resolute, nevertheless, on the side of service to all the people of this big stretzh of country. Hill men, desert men, forest men—the isolate ones all over the land must have, shall have the touch of home and company and friendliness that only this one mighty, and blessed, institution can give to them. And the old battle still goes on. It is all set down here. Set down, too, in terms of measures, of legislation, in terms of comparison to show what a no-account st business this letter man is. U dollars and dollars just to climb a bac! road to deliver some word or other to the sequestered folks Wwho stem to choose to keep by themselves. Might as well carry letters to the squirrels and cther furtive things of those hedged-in sections. Now. if you are s student of your country's career, as every good Amer- ican suppos2dly is, here is a book for you. Its theme is vital to each passing mcment. It is_historic in source and development. It reaches into expert studies of finance bearing upon the subject itself. It touches upon the so- ciclogicel importancé 6f this great sys- tem. It deals in statesmanly fashion with the two policies set by history and expanding with the mareh of events, period by period. In a word, here is 2 fessionally unbiased view of the postal systems in the two-part Does | By way of post office | and friendly carrier. the United States the most use- | fully great of Federal institutions. By | the | less | pansion taere | lugubriously | | { | | windows AN | SWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. Many readers send in questions signed only with Anitials, asking that the an- swers appear in ‘the newspaper. The | modate a fraction of such requests. The answers published are ones that may interest many readers rather than the one who asks the question only. | All questions should be accompanied by the “writer’s name and address and 2 cents in coin or stamps for reply. Send your question to The Evening Star In- formation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Q. When does the racing season begin and end in England?>—M. J. H. A. The flat racing season in England opens March 23 and closes November 28. Steeplechase season is from Janu- ary 1 to December 31. Q. What are the motion pleture screens made of?—J. W. F. A. The average theatrical screen used in_the large motion picture theaters is made of prepared fireproof white mate- rial which is porous to permit the sound ! to filter through. The material is called | alabastine, Q. How many people are employed in our Consular Service?—R. T. C. A. The Department of State says that the total number of peogle employed in the Consular Service is 1,175 Americans and 2,067 foreigners. Q. How much money is collected in taxes in the United States?>—C. W. F. A. Approximately $12,609,000,000 is collected in taxes by the Pederal, State, county and city governments. This amount is approximately 11.9 per cent of the income. Q When was the Eiffel Tower built? What is it used for>—M. M. A. Eiffel Tower is a notable structure in Paris. It was built by Eiffel for the exposition of 1889. The designer. Gus- tave Eiffel. constructed it of iron lattice work, with three elevators giving access to the summit. It is 1,000 feet high Eiffel Tower has been used as a me- teorological observation station and also for aerodynamic research. Since the World War it has also supported a vireless station. Q. Why does hair grow again when it is pulled out by the root?—T. T. A. The root is not pulled out. It re- mains under the skin. Q. Why do monkeys pick at each other's fur>—M. L. H A. They are searching for fleas. This is not only to 1id the fur of the fleas but also for food, since fleas are relished by monkeys. Q. Who first started to teach art by correspondence?—E. C. A. The first correspondence course in {art was a feature of the old Chautauqua Course and was taught by Prank Fowler in 1880-1888. Q. At “what hours does the Britith Haquse_of Commens sit’—E. G. R A. The British House of Commons. when 1 session, sits from 2:45 to 11 on . Wednesday and Thursday and from 12 to 5 on Priday It begins with uncontentious privaie bills and other formal husiness. Ques- tions to ministers (which are not put on Pridays) occupy, or may occupy. the time till 3:45. As soon as quesiions have been disposed of the public bus ress of the day begins. Opposed bu: ness is not taken after 11. unless belongs to & special “exempted” class or unless the 11 oclock rule is sus- pended. Q. Frost forms on the inside of our in the Winter time. Is this healihful>—C. B. A.° Humidily in houses should be from 30 to 50 per cent. but in most houses it is probably 20 per cent or Is Discusse The death of Sir Hall Caine, British novelist and celebrated Manxman. has aroused both memories and inquiries— memories among those of the older generations who enjoved his Writings 25 or 30 years ago and inquiries from the younger readers. who know little of of course. beside the idea of service to | his work. as to just who he was and what he wrote. His worth as an au- thor and the permanency of his place in the literary world are matters of varving opinions. “We forget who it was described the late Sir Hall Caine as the ‘Rembrandt of Victorian fiction.' says the Fort Wayne News Sentinel. “but the descrip- tion is & fairly good one. The younger generation, especially on this side of the Atlantic. may know very little about him: but for years he commanded the | attentionl of a vast public on both sides. His early literary efforts brought the laughter of the critics and the com- mons, but Sir Hall lived to_enjoy the fame-—and the wealth—which his writ- ings eventually delivered.” The J ille Daily Gazette reviews the author’s life and work: “Hall Caine was a Manxman. He wrote first when battiing to get his bread and cheese, of the Manx people. those of his own Isle of Man. His ‘Deemster’ brought him | his first_ray of fame and good meals The Manxman' added to fame and started fortune. ‘The Christian’ won him more money. and from the pley based on the story he gained a fortune. Long ago he was said to be the richest author of the British Isles with wealth won from writings or plays. His royalties were up in the million class. So he went back to the Isle of Man * * * bought a castle amd lived as did the Deemster of his first book.” As the Harrisburg Telegraph puts it. “the author’s life was as striking a romance as he himself ever set to paper.” * x o ox As to the title he carried. the Rock Island Argus says: “For presenting the English side of the World War to American readers he was knighted in 1918. He had criticized America severely for not sooner entering the war. For some years he sat in the House of Keys, the Manx Parliament. His death ends a literary career covering about half a century.” During that period. according to the Savannah Morning News, “novels and pl came from his pen, not in a copious stream, but in & golden flavor of quality that will last nd this paper expresses the hope that as much of a “Life of the Christ"” as he had completed before his death “will be offered to the public.” One of his achievements, as indicated by the Baltimore Sun, was helping “to make a new public for the novel, and as one excellent historian of the period, Holbrook Jackson, says of him: ‘He worked tirelessly for the abolition of the outmoded three-volume novel’ a labor that was completely successful. The Sun further commehts that “if none of Caine’s books are ever read again. he will still be remembered for a part in that literary revolution.” . Will or will he not be remembered! Then Many opinions are expressed on this, policy which public events and cut- look have given it. So much for the student’s opportunity in one of the special studies which, after all, give heart and substance to more gen- 1 historical considerations. And if by some happy chance you | like adventures in living where ideal- ism with brawn and muscle to it makes way through the tanglewood of less heartening growth—why, in that case take up this book and go along mm it. You will learn important of the sound economic stuff, find ad- venture and eyen—no, other sort go. Emipently worth finding though, that other bne. As s00n as you have read and studied Clyde Kelly's “United States Postal System” reach out immediately for “Old Post Bags” that ?Ivin «F. Harlow wrote. Ag 1nctcmp.r-beu£‘:uof lm- torians, these two good in the Pederal service. Y Besides, you will, in the midst | robably let the | P lower—too dry for health. The drer the air the more difficult it is to heat & house, as moisture in the air carries end retains heat. If frost forms freely on the inside of the giass, there is probably enough humidity. If there is no sign of frost, the air is too dry. Q. Where is the Harbor of Mahon? A. The Harbor of Mahon is in Spain on the eastern coast of the Island of Minorca. It ir a perfectly safe port capable of sflording sheiter for the largest. squadron. Q. I would like to know where wa- termelons were first grown.—N. B. W, A. The watermelon is a native of Africa. It was early taken to India, & seems indicated by its having a Sanskr.. name, It reached China about t'- tenth century AD. It has no nat in the ancienl Greek and Latin lan- guages and was probably not knov these people much before the Christian era. Q. When President Coolidge’s at Amherst voted for “ti likely to succeed in lif L R. A. Bruce Berton, in an article President Coolidge. says that Dv 3 Morrow won. Coolidge himself recciv one vote, that cast for him by Morrow who won? Q. How can the weight of a plece of ice be approzimated by knowing its measurements?—W. W. D. A. One cubic foot weighs, approxi- mately, 57.2 pounds Q. Does poison ivy Brlong to the § family?—L. P. A. The poisor plants with ivy. but i brcause ¢ vy ¢ 3 umacs an¥lis m the Eng-" Q. What is the of flour’- H. E A. Starch, 65 teins. 9 to 14 pe pe A. Sir British nove born of mi parentage Rossetti, w corresponden: for some ti setti” was 1885 he beg career as Manx sublects his election A. The America on Due to a fi cember and Js Lisbon. The 1 again t v naries laved for ti of Africa. Cap: Six-weeks Guiana Charleston and grea th J‘Literarv R‘ank of Hall Caili;- d by Americans tion. the most vital that g any auihor ing how the “masses. in two con accla Hall Caine as one of preme luminosities on the tall nacles of all the temples bia (S. C.) State says: * then, and will vet. His day sinking but not vet horizons. millions a_tremen i We are heie, as w¢ be amused. And most. him we ¢ Emperor. Hail. well” With th Uniontown Morning_Herald clares: “No one who lived during the time of Sir writing activity w his output did not possc erary merit. He had th ing & story both p vincingly. of avoiding both mush and dismal homilies. work was paipable, hearty, sincere an ever easy to read. becaue he first-class story teller who devised first class stories to tell That “Hall Caine public and wrote would appeal to it the Lowell however, think em he that n as Hal * % ) know his & Sehanrhit 1s_the verdict of Leader ch, not necessarily adverse criticism to say that he was a popular novelist.” and concedes that “talent he had above the ordinary for vivid and colorful. if not inently distinguished fiction.” Not to be overlooked, in the estima- tion of the San Francisco Chronicle, is the fact that he was “the interpreter of the people of the Isle of Man, that interesting island in the middie of the Irish Sea. once ruled by a Danish King | and still boasting a constitytional gov- ernment of its own. He carved a piace in literature for the island and its people.” who are described by the | Chronicle as “an isolated people. proud | and God-fearing, living, marrying and | working among themselves, “speaking | their own language, differing aliogether from their ciose neighbors on either side. the Irish and the English. It was the soul of this race the novelist sought to interpret in the books on which his reputation was founded.” The Chron- icle pays tribute to his success in this effoit in its statement. a little sea-girt area of nc than 200 square miles, with a popula- tion never much more than 50,000, to a high pinnacle of literature and world interest was a writing achievement not often equaled.” As to his place in literature, the Port Huron Times-Herald has this to say | “Certainly the man who can so touch the great heart of the world that his books and plays become simultaneously the talk of two continents can afford to smile at the labored efforts of the critics. Hall Caine is dead, but Hall Caine lives and will live through the ages in the men and women he made real by his pen.” So also the Newark Evening News: “Posterity may neglect his better known works, but for many years he rode the crest of the literary wave. He was a tremendous worker and his bibliography is imposing.” In its criticism the Providence Journal declares that “hqw substantial his ulti- mate place in English letters may be 1§ a question that remains to be dete mined. At the moment, novels of the | type he wrote are out of fashion. There | has always been a pronounced dis- | agreement among critics as to the merit | of his work. Doubtless an accurate ap- praisal would place him somewhere be- tween the two extremes. He hardly had the clement of greatness that his a | mirers attributed to him, nor did his | writing reveal the tawdriness that the | more hostile critics alleged.” The St. | Louis Times, apropos of the discussions of Hall Caine’s permanent place in lit- erature, exclaims, “Hall Caine and his vogue remind us, as we are so ofte reminded, of Rip Van Winkle’ thm tive cry, ‘How soon we are pe