Evening Star Newspaper, December 9, 1934, Page 67

Horn Blowing Has Usages, But Abuses Often Noted Inexcusable Blasts Seldom Accomplish Any Good Purposes and Gcnerally Cause Annoyance and Delay. BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. ITH the transit companies and the majority of the solid-tired trucks glvlnig away to {meumatic encased rubber wheels, it is high tim romising quieter street cars e at he motorists of this city give some consideration to operation with less noise. Noise in regard to motorists applies almost entire’* to the too frequent use of automabile horns, or sirens, as in many cases, they would be better termed. ~ Now a horn has its usages, but also its abuses. If it were not for its usages automobiles would not be so equipped. No horn should be used instead of the brake. Their use is for a warning, but that warning does not included scaring the warned nearly to death or to waking up half of the sleeping population of the city at night. A gentle tap on the horn button generally is all to be desired. If the driver warned by this sound does not heed, the chances are he will not heed a louder blast or a succession of toots. It is aggravating for a driver at an intersection controlled by traffic lights not to move off when the green signal appears. But it is far more disagreeable for the car behind to try to blow him off the road. A gen- tle tap on the button in city driving should be sufficient at all times. It should be enough to indicate to the car ahead that you wish to pass. Continuous blasts invariably will cause the driver ahead to get stub- born and refuse to pull over. That action, of course, constitutes one of the chief dangers to be found in the city, and your horn action, whatever it may be, is not an excuse. Country Warning Different. Horn blowing in the country is slightly different. There, because of higher speeds and curves, additional warnings are needed. But even there discrimination can be used. Bus horns on busses and bus horns on pleasure vehicles in the city should be handled gently. If not their noise sounds like a steam locomotive. Luckily horses are not much in evi- dence these days, for even the mod- ernized dobbin would die an untimely death from fright. One of the most inexcusable noises is from horns blowing in traffic jams. ‘Unquestionably the driver of the car ahead is anxious to move off as quickly as the drivers behind him. He may be held up by some circumstance unseen by those in the rear, or he may have stalled his car. In the latter case a continuous blast from many cars back of him is liable to greatly disconcert him or frustrate him that the get-away is more de- layed. Along this line the American Auto- mobile Association has something to point out. In a recent release the A. A. A appeals to city officials to follow the example of foreign capitals in “noise disarmament” and outlaw raucous sounding of automobile horns. ‘The national motoring body states that London, Paris, Rome and Berlin have already put anti-noise ordi- nances into effect and secured notable success, with the police dealing in drastic fashion with those who violate the regulations against unnecessary noise. Safer Motoring Seen. “In addition to bringing about a new era of quiet on the streets of American cities, particularly in resi- dential areas,” said Thomas P. Henry of Detroit, Mich.,, president of the A. A. A, “a ban on the loud and continuous blowing of automobile horns would also contribute to safer motoring conditions. The horn was and is intended as a warning signal to cars ahead and behind, but not one out of every hundred blasts carries any such significance today. If this abuse was brought under control motorists would pay more attention to the brakes, The result would be more respect for boulevard stops, slower speeds in turning corners, less hurrying in congested traffic and a decrease in the number of drivers con- stantly weaving their cars in and out of the lanes of traffic. “Any program to reduce noise on our streets might also include a drive against open exhausts on motorcycles, backfiring of engines and other un- necessary noises.” With reference to “noise disarma- ment” in foreign capitals, the A. A. A. says: “London authorities recently banned use of auto horns between 11:30 p.m. and 7 am, with the threat of a $10 fine for offenders. Reports on the campaign are to the effect that motorists responded to the order and that within a five-mile radius of Charing Cross there prevailed a de- gree of quiet unknown since the ad- vent of the automotive era. Whether anything so sweeping could be at- tempted in the United States is open to question, but there is certainly room for experimentation and im- provement. Undoubtedly, & campaign of public education would accom- plish much in the way of eliminating useless noise. “American tourists returning from Berlin have expressed surprise at the absence of noise from automobile horns and street cars. A 50-mark fine ($20 in American money) is imposed for the unnecessary blowing of auto horns and sirens. It is alse inter- esting to note that the chief of police of Berlin has visited a number of cities in this country and was amazed at the failure to do anything to stop the nerve-wracking din that charac- terizes the streets of all American cities and towns today.” Fatigue in Driving. Mental and bodily fatigue looms as an important element to be con- sidered in relation to reduction of highway accidents, according to con- clusions reached by the Keystone Automobile Club through extensive study of accident reports. Club investigators have found, for example, that automobile accidents in the morning “rush” hours are only about one-third of the number re- corded in the evening “rush” hours. Over a period of five years, this ratio of highway crashes held good in the reports examined. “There is a lesson for motorists in these figures,” says a Keystone bul- Jetin. “The motorist, fresh and alert in the morning, drives with ease and confidence. After a hard day’s work his physical, mental and nerve efii- clency is not up to par, and hig driv- ing lacks the assurance of the morn- ing run to office, store or factory. Reactions are slower and he becomes involved in accidents that he would have avolded without conscious thought in the morning. *“Motor car manufacturers who are making extensive researches into the causes of driver fatigue as it relates to automotive equipment are to be commended. Unquestionably, good results will follow correction of con- ditions found to contribute to ‘that tired feeling,’ but the individual must alwsys take into consideration his own state of mind and body before starting to drive. “Common prudence dictates that the driver who is tired before he takes place behind the steering wheel d give himself—or huull-’-a greater margin of time to reach home or other destination. The motorist who can ‘make’ the office in 20 minutes flat in the morning, should allow half an hour or more for the return trip in the evening.” Traffic Border Guards. A trafic-impeding system of border guards, under which States virtually become “small nations,” may spread along many boundaries in this coun- try, it is forecast in a report made public here by the National Highway Users' Conference. Such a system already has been adopted by Kansas through a “port of entry law,” which calls for inspec- tion of all busses and trucks entering the State on main highways. Proposals to install this inspection machinery probably will be placed be- fore several State Legislatures when they convene next year, it is stated. The Kansas plan, subjected to field studies by the conference, was de- vised to check gasoline bootlegging. The original idea has been expanded until now the system includes inspec- tion of equipment for safety, enforce- ment of insurance provisions and scru- tinizing of loads, as well as collection of taxes. Sixty-five “ports of entry,” manned | T by 176 inspectors, have been estab- lished at points on the Kansas boun- dary lines. Study of the Kansas plan, which is expected to serve as a model for proposed extension of the system to other States, reveals difficulties and objections encountered in actual oper- ation, the conference report states. Commenting on the report, Roy F. Britton, director of the National High- way Users’ Conference, says: “Our findings are that while the ‘port of entry law’ has not met with serious opposition—due to the rea- sonable attitude of the administering authority, and because there was no increase in the gasoline tax rate— still serious implications arise which militate against its effectiveness, “First, the system involves a high ratio of costs of colleetion to receipts; second, it still leaves a large gap in the enforcement of the ton-mile tax, because it does not affect those in- trastate operators who do not leave the State. The safety results based upon inspection practices are ques- tionable in view of the cost and other possible alternative and more effective measures.” More than 130 Studebaker dealers and distributors from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina gathered at the Shore- ham Hotel last Monday to a preview showing of the 1935 line of Stude- baker cars. Plans were discussed for sales during the coming season. Speak- ers included C. K. Whittaker, factory executive, and J. P. Roche, advertising counsel. R. C. Heiner, regional man- ager of the local branch, was in charge. ‘The 1935 Hudson and Terraplane automobiles were previewed here last Thursday by dealers and distributors of the Hudson Motor Car Co. from this territory, Washington was chosen as one of the 30 key cities' for the preview. Those attending were the guests of L. R. Colburn of the Packard Washington Motor Co. George H. Pratt, assistant general sales manager, of Detroit, directed the exhibit. Ad- vertising and promotion programs for the coming year were discussed. Donald 8. Richberg, executive direc- tor of the National Emergency Council of the N. R. A, has accepted the invitation of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association to talk to the dealers at their convention in Detroit January 14-15, it is announced by F. W. A. Vesper, president of the N.A.D. A. Indications are that there will be several thousand dealers pres- ent at this “On-to-Detroit” meeting. Plymouth deslers throughout Wash- ington met at the Washington Audi- torium last Friday afternoon to pre- view the new 1935 Plymouth models. J. W. Frazer and P. L. Irwin of the Plymouth Motor Corp. unveiled the new cars and outlined the company's merchandising and advertising plans for the coming year. The new car probably will be on display at dealers show rooms here within a few weeks. A L. S. U. STUDENTS DECLARED COWED IN CENSOR BATTLE (Continued From First Page.) with the faculty or is on the State pay roll. The Law School cannot voice itself, because the law students have to pass the bar examination in Louisiana, and they are afraid that if they incur the disfavor of the present adminis- tration they will be failed. The engineers are looking forward to positions with the State Highway Department, which have been prom- ised them, and hence they are afraid to say anything. ‘The Teachers’ College has voiced no protest, because these students are dependent on the State administra- tion for their future positions in the public school system in Louisians. Students in general are afraid to say anything because their scholar- ships or their university jobs might be taken away from them. Scholarships Are Cited. Most of the scholarships in the uni- versity have come from a political source, and they are given away quite freely. The sad part about it is that the students really need them to go to school. L. §. U. is one of the cheapest uni- versities to live at, and s student earn- ing $15 a month, along with a scholar- ship, can get along very easily. There- fore quite & number of the students are given university employment. These' students likewise are afraid of losing their means of livelihood. (Copyright. 1934, by the North American Newspaper Alliance, Inc.) 5 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMEER 9, 1934—PART FOUR. DOWN THE ROAD—Recoliections. Helpful Hints Gleaned For Milady’s Motoring PI.ANS ARE BEGUN Stepping Up Generator's Charging Rate May Cause Damage by Overloading if Normal Limit Already Is Attained. BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL. 'HE woman who says laws aren’t properly enforced evidently never tried to park alongside a fire hydrant. Providing more current by stepping up the gencrator's charging rate is something that should not be done upon the advice of any mechanic who takes a notion to prescribe & remedy for electrical Winter trouhles. There is danger in damaging the generator by overloading it, especially since most generators already are stepped up to their normal limits. If more than the normal amount of current is genuinely needed the best plan is to install a new generator—one that is designed for & heavier charging rate and protected with suitable air cooling. Maximum generator output is usually regulated in accordance with car speed in high gear. That is, on one make of car the maximum charging rate is 12 am- peres with the generator hot and all lights off when the car is traveling 21 miles per hour in high gear. That reminds me to warn against becoming alarmed should the amme- ter indicator point to a much higher than normal charging rate some cold morning. Until the generator heats up. the charging rate will be consider- ably higher. I have often seen the ter swing over as far as it can g0 toward the charge side. Having the car serviced for each season of the year ought to suggest the idea of buying service in keeping with weather conditions, but not many owners take this tip. I've known plenty of people to phone for battery service when they were unable to start the motor on a cold night, but I've never heard of an owner asking to have the brakes adjusted because the temperature was just right for the job. It's not & good idea to have the valves ground during or just before an extremely cold spell because the motor will have to be choked a lot. Dur- ing that sort of weather I'd suggest an ignition check-up as being most prac- tical. Longer coats this Winter suggest watching to see that coat tails are in- side the car before slamming the door shut. With cars so much lower it is all too easy for the long ends to catch in tMe door and be damaged by the elements. After the car has been in the shop always see that the edges of the running board are wiped clean. They are frequently a repository for grease put there by mechanics who grasp the running board when crawl- ing under. It you park your car in & heated garage or store it there at night be sure to make arrangements with the management not to permit any one to add water to the radiator. Careless watering of radiators in cold weather is a frultful cause of loss of anti- freeze and consequent radiator dam- age. At no season of the year should water be added to the cooling system when the engine is cold, much less in Winter when later expansion will re- sult in spilling of anti-freeze out the overflow pipe. This Winter you will hear a lot about non-rusting anti-freeze solu- tions. The non-rusting element is usually a special oil that mixes with water, It can be used with alcohol, glycerin, ethylene glycol and other kinds of frost protection. Further- more, it is nothing now. Experienced motorists have used non-rusting anti- freeze concoctions for several years. Before that they always put a little oil into the radiotor to keep out the rust and keep the water clear. When the man who tends your car's needs goes through the business of looking after the storage battery be sure to see that he tightens the battery in its carrier. Because this little attention is so frequently over- looked batteries are free to bounce around until they inflict a lot of self- damage, including loose terminal con- nections. That gurgling noise you hear un- der the hood comes from the car’s hot-water heater and indicates that there. is air in the system. This may be due to the cooling system not having enough water. On top of the heater is a small vent for let- ting air out of the core, just as you let air out of a home radiator. Often air will work out of the lines automatically. Excessive and per- sistent gurgling indicates that the motor’s pump draws in too much air around the packing. Remedying this now will save a lot of rusting and Summer cooling complaints later. Yes, it does pay to have good brands of tires retreated for Winter service, provided the carcass of the tires are not weak and that the tires bility of retreating was unfortunate enough to go 6,000 miles before noting that misalignment of the front wheels causes the tires to lose their treads rapidly. There was a good founda- tion for the new treads. A woman of many years’ experience at the wheel told some friends that if she were learning all over again she would spend a couple of days becoming familiar with running the engine. After all these years she finds her greatest handicap is not fully understanding how the throt- tle. starter and spark control the action and speed of the motor. Her success in driving is similar to having a cake turn out all right without knowing how she did it or what steps | to follow to obtain equally successful | results the next time. Highway Condition Changes Are Listed For Capital Drivers Changes in the condition of highways within 100-mile radius of Washington are supplied to readers of The Sunday Star by the Washington office of the American Automobile Associa- tion. Recent bulletins include: United States 30—Contruction between York and Pennsylvania 194 is completed. United States 522—~Contruction from Maryland line north to Pennsylvania 226 is completed. United States 222—4.9 mile good detour between Lancaster, Pa., and Mylins Corners, via Dan- ville. Maryland 2—25 miles recon- struction between Prince Fred- erick and Sunderland. United States 1—Reconstruc- tion between Kingsville and Bel Air. Md,, is completed. United States 1—Paving ap- proaches to Porters Bridge, Md., is completed. Pennsylvania 5—Bridge con- struction at Downingtown is com- pleted. United States 12—North of Warrenton, Va., contruction on new location. Virginia 3—Contruction be- tween Front Royal and Washing- ton, on new location; no trouble. BY LEW E. WALLACE, Superintendent. Motor Vehicle Department, Towa. - Becretary-treagurer. American As: :gcllllon of Motor Vehicle Administra- rs. HE glaring headlight still con- tinues to be one of the great menaces to night motor driv- ing. The casualty insurance companies, engineering com- mittees, automobile manufacturers and headlight designers have worked for years to discover some device which will take the glare out of the of meeting drivers and st the same time sufficiently illuminate the roadway. They have discovered a system of lights which appears to accomplish this purpose, but motorists are slow to use them or to keep them adjusted after they have installed them. It- cannot be said definitely how many lost their lives or suffered in- jury last year because drivers were blinded by headlights. It has been estimated that more than 7,000 cars were - involved in lecidm:l due to —ny rrank seck | |[Commiission Is Writing | Report on U. S. Aviation Recommendations to Condreu Expected to Have Far-Reaching. Influence ' on Flying. PLAY TOURNAMENT Rules of Last Season’s Stage Competitions to Govern New Series. Plans for the 1935 District of Co- lumbia one-act play tournament, con- ducted by the Community Center De- partment, February 4 to 16, inclusive, in Roosevelt Auditorium, were out- lined recently, when Mrs. Elizabeth K. Peeples, director of the Community Center Department, met with the five members of the 1935 committee for the annual tourney, including Prof. W. Hayes Yeager, Thomas M. Cahill, C. Melvin Sharpe, Mrs. Marie Moore Forrest and Bess Davis Schreiner. It was decided last season’s rules will hold for the coming tournament and that all adult drama groups in the District of Columbia and the metropolitan area of Maryland and Virginia are eligible to enter the lists, with a number of provisos, among which is one that all participants in the tournament play must be regu- larly recognized members of the group. No actor will be allowed to appear in more than one play and all applications must be in the hands of the Community Center Department not later than January 5. A meeting of all tournament play directors will be held at Franklin Ad- ministration Building January 14 for final discussion of detailed plans with the Tournament Committee. Groups may obtain copies of the 1935 tourna- ment rules within the next 10 days at the Community Center Department. Within the two-week period allotted for the tournament, there will be five evenings of short plays, and the last night of the series, February 16, will be for the finals. The Washington Choral Society will be heard in the third annual candle- light service at Epiphany Church, De- cember 21 at 4:30, and the Wash- ington Oratorio Association will sing Handel's Christmas oratorio, “The Messiah,” December 23 at 4 o'clock in Central High School. Co-operating with the Kiwanis Club, the Washington Community Players will stage scenes from Lewis Carroll’s famous dream fanstay, “Alice in Wonderland,” at Roosevelt High School, December 23, for the crippled children of Washington. ‘The Roosevelt-Macfarland Young Men's Club will remain open through- out the Christmas holidays, closing only for Christmas Eve, Christmas day, New Year eve and New Year day. Lessons in Safe Driving 'HEADLIGHTS No one is more active in the campaign to persuade the automobile driver | Corps to exercise the care, courtesy and common sense which will reduce the ap- palling number of accidents than motor vehicle administrators. the facts. Ten or them, officers of national and regional associations, have described the most common driving and pedestrian faults, this cause. We do know from figures supplied by the National Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwriters that from 6 p.m. to 6 am., the nor- mal hours of darkness, last year, 342,610 accidents resulted in 16,230 deaths. This death rate per accident was 43.5 per cent worse than during the hours of daylight. In other words, there were 413,890 automobile acci- dents during the daylight hours, but they resulted in only 13,670 deaths. It is up to the motorist to avail himself of every possible improve- ment in headlights. Every driver knows when his lights are glaring, and it is ‘an easy thing to dim them as he. approaches another motorist. Indeed, the police in manylocalities forbid the use of glaring lights. Out on the country roads, where the trouble is the greatest, it is up to the eomchn nce of the driver. BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON. Wrn{ the results of months nf personal investigation, backed by broad experience in deavor and the testimon: in every line of civil and m! various branches of human en- of more than 200 experts tary aeronautics, members of the Federal Aviation Commission have set about the vital task of writing their recommendations to Congress governing an all- embracing aviation policy for the United States. There is little doubt in the minds of any who have watched the inner worldnf‘: forces behind it t! of this commission or had ex] at the recommendations now be! rience of the framed will have a potent influence on American aviation in the coming years. The recommendations of the Morrow board of nearly a decade ago have shaj d American aviation progress during the past elfiht er years. They led to the organized programs of development un which the Army Air Corps and Naval aviation have grown to their present status and they laid down the framework for the develop- ment of civil aviation under the Department of Commerce. There seems to be little doubt that the effects of the present commis- sion will be of ' even more lasting importance. Avistion has developed greatly since the Morrow board finished its task. There have been trends no man could foresee at that time, and aero- nautics has outgrown the structure erected for it by that board. The Federal Aviation Commission is seek- ing not only to catch up with this growth, but to anticipate that of the future and to lay down a broad set of policies to guide future growth to the best advantage of the Govern- ment and the people of the United States. Permanent Body Seen. It seems almost certain that the commission will recommend the creation of a permanent non-partisan commission to take over the control of all civil aviation activities of the Federal Government, including pos- sibly the rate-making duties of the Interstate Commerce Commission, though this last is regarded as some- what doubtful. It is regarded as. unlikely there will be any recommendation looking toward a merging of Army and Navy aviation activities; to the creation of A separate alr force or a separate department of military aviation. The commission is expected to advocate Federal co-operation in & program of commercial lighter-than- alr development to keep this Nation abreast of similar developments abroad. This recommendation may g0 30 far as to ask Federal construc- tion of airships to be operated by commercial lines in international trade. Whatever recommendations the commission may make will be based upon studies as thorough and pains- taking as any which have been made for the Government by any similar body. Its members have given un- sparing energy to their duties, and have been conscientious to an extreme in their search for vital information to support their recommendations. No official aeronautical survey in the history of aviation in this country has been so exhaustive. American aviation has been a battleground for many months, and jealousies and strife have torn at its vitals. The whole industry is look- ing to the consummation of the com- mission's work as a hope for re- generation and revitalizing of Ameri- can aviation. - Local Airport Growing. Expansion of Washington Airport to keep pace with progress of the four great airline systems now using the fleld is under way. Although the Federal Government, despite years of agitation, has not yet settled the question of its claims to a major por- tion of the airport’s landing area, new construction work is so urgently needed that it is being undertaken in the face of possible governmental confiscation. The airport terminal building is being increased in size approximately 50 per cent, by the extension of the two wings, and the old brick adminis- tration building on the former Hoover Fleld section of the airport is being moved to increase by approximately 100 feet the width of the runway crossing Military road. ' A new glass-inclosed control tower is being constructed on top of the present tower to give unobstructed vision in every direction and to house the airplane control Hghts which flash take-off and landing instructions to pllots. Concession stands, telephone and telegraph lines along Military road in the line of the widened runway have been raised, the lines being laid under ground in this section. Construction of the big non-rigid airship hangar on the former Hoover Field area is nearing completion. In it is to be housed one of the fleet of Goodyear airships which have been flown here from time to time for use in advertising, passenger hopping, charter flying, serial photography and similar activities. This urgently needed construction program at the local airport has been delayed for several years because of uncertainty as to the intentions of the Government. . For more than seven years Congress has been petitioned year after year to establish a sultable airport for Washington and atrport bills have been passed by one or other of the legislative branches on several occasions, only to fail of enactment. The situation is complicated by the unsettled claim of the Government to the property along the Virginia shore. In view of the uncertainty of gov- ernment action, the airport manage- ment - is assuming s heavy risk in going ahead with the present con- struction work. It is “taking & chance” to keep Washington from being left with a complétely obsolete air trans- port terminal Johnson to Speak. Former Representative Royal C. Johnson of South Dakots, World War veteran and' former Military Affairs Committee member, will address local Army Air Corps Réserve officers at the regular conference meeting in the Air projection room, Munitions building, at 8 o'clock Tuesday eve- ‘They know | ning. Mr. Johnson is to speak on the gen- eral subject, “Aviation,” it was announced. Capt. W. V. Andrews, Air Corps, local reserve instructor, will be in charge. Capt. Andrews is operations officer at Bolling Field. The night-fiying schedule for ldtal reserve officers of the 409th Attack Squadron for Tuesday night will be cancelled ' to permit officers of the squsdron to attend the lecture meet- ing. Tuesdsy and Thursday evenings have been regularly scheduled for night flight training at Bolling Fleld. The local attack squadron has been reorganized this Fall and, under com- mand of Maj. R. E. Whitehead, squad- ron commander, is making' good progress with a more concentrated program of squadron training.- Plans are being considered for the allotment at Bolling Field of a separate hangar for use of the squadron, which will make it possible for the unit to func- tion for the first time as a separate the Anacostia Naval Air Station, have commenced, to a report to the Navy Department. Due to con- struction of runways on the station fleld, night fiying operations have not been scheduled at present. Ground training of the enlisted personnel is progressing satisfactorily, with all personne! taking Navy train- ing courses except those men seeking ratings as aerographers and photog- raphers. The aerology and photography departments of the local station will co-operate in the training of these men. Squadron VJ-TMR, Marine Reserves, at the local station, has been engaged in navigation and radio training flight operations. Radio communication was maintained during the lasf drill period between planes in flight and between planes and station. Officers’ ground training in radio and navigation was continued and enlisted men’s classes in rigging, radio, ordnance and school of the soldier were conducted. Train- ing flight operations totaled 72 hours in 67 flights. Birds Use Carriers. ‘The broad flight decks of the Navy's airplane carriers afford refuge not only to the sea-wandering brood of carrier airplanes, but also to storm- beaten sea birds of all kinds. There are few storms which do not bring birds to rest on the carriers and many Temain aboard for days at a time. An ‘account from the U. 8 8. Saratoga, received at the Navy Bu- reau of Aeronsutics, relates that Lieut. G. A. McLean, while making his rounds on watch during the latest cruise of the carrier, came upon an awkward but friendly looking bird. The officer held out his finger and was surprised to see it disappear to the hilt down the bird's throat. “There is recalled to the mind of one of the pflots,” says a paragraph from VS Squadron 2 in the news letter of the bureau, “the memory of a rain squall at night near French Frigate Shoals, 550 miles northwest of Hawall, in which hundreds of birds landed aboard a Navy mine-sweeper, being attracted by the lights. So thick were the birds and so fearless of humans that they worked their way into various parts of the ship, three of them following officers into the ward room. Birds apparently are not able to fly at night in the rain any better than aviators.” Local Airport Listed. Capitol Airport, near Bladensburg, is described by the Navy hydrographic office in its latest notice to aviators. ‘The airport is listed as “a_commercial landing fleld.” Its location is de- scribed as “on the southwest side of the B. & O. R. R. tracks, 1 mile south of Bladensburg and 45 miles northeast of the United States Capi- tol, Washington, D. C.” The runways at present available, pilots are informed, are north and south, 1,400 by 300 feet, and north- west-southeast, 1,200 by 300 feet. Work is in progress extending the runways, it is stated. The important obstructions are a road and trans- mission line parallel to the east boundary, and railroad tracks to the northeast. Facilities available include specifi- cation fuel and oil and repairs. There are two hangars, 40 by 50 feet, with 12-foot clearance. Twice Again Today. 'I'Hos! colorful and informative travel talks of Burton Holmes continue their interesting and in- structive course at the National Thea- ter. As an illustrative theme for the fourth talk in the series to be pre- sented this afternoon Mr. Holmes turns to Italy. The tour is to embrace the high spots of touristic interest from the Alps to the sea. Mr. Holmes will also repeat his lecture on Russia again tonight. CISAI! ROMERO, youhg Cuban- American, whose brief Hollywood experience has given him but com- paratively minor roles in four produc- tions, today was borrowed from Uni- versal by Paramount for the romantic lead opposite Marlene Dietrich in her current starring vehicle, “Caprice Espagnol.” Josef von Sternberg di- rects. Romero replaces Joel McCrea in the cast. Romero was in the road company of “Strictly Dishonorable” before coming to Hollywood. “Silver Cord" Tuesday. “THE SILVER CORD,” one of Sidney Howard’s finest plays, will be presented by the students of the Studio of Theater Arts under the direction of Constance Connor Brown, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings this week at ‘Wardman Park Theater. In the cast are Catherine McCord Troupers Glimpses of Stage Folk in Washington. EW AND FAR BETWEEN are the gentlemen from Pennsylvania who have gone into the black- face comic business, but “Slim” Tim- blin, native of Butler, Pa., is one of the rara avis. As a child in that diminutive hamlet outside Pittsburgh, Tim took to the stage like s pig takes to unshucked corn. He made himself known as a child prodigy in local theatricals, and by indirect routes the word reached Gus Edwards, most famous of all minstrel impresarios. Edwards sent an'agent down to look the boy over (his prospect was then 13), and promptly acquired his talents in the minstrelsy. “Slim” stayed with his sponsor until the troupe, then on tour, reached Atlanta, Ga., whereupon he ran away and took a private side glance at & strange and new world. He found things cooler on the down side of footlights, strayed like a lost lamb for a while and then hit the road for home. He remembers that in Wash- ington a certain stage hand, now & behind-the-scenes mogul at Warner Bros.’ Earle, took up & collection and presented him with enough capital to buy a ticket back to Butler. Timblin steyed at home for a While. One night he drifted into a theater in Pittsburgh, saw Bert Williams work in vaudeville and suffered a renewed at- tack of the stage fever. He skipped off to Atlanta promptly, threw a brick through a window and was brought into court. “Young man,” said the judge, “what was the idea?” “I wanted to go to jail so I could work on the chain gang with some negroes,” said Slim. “Is that all?” the judge asked. “Yes sir.” “Case continued.” The next day the boy found him- self at labor with a rallroad track gang, headed by a colored straw boss called “the singer.” Instead of giving orders, this swarthy minstrel of in- dustry would sing out: “Swing those picks, 0-0-0-oh, swing those picks.” “Chop” went the picks. “Swing em.” “Chop,” again. “It ain’t like the old days—chop— like the old days—chop—o-0-0-a-ah boys, swing 'em—chop.” After eight months of that, “Slim” Joined a “tab” show as a comic, worked up the famous blackface preach er act he per- forms this week at Loew's Fox. He has gone around with it for more than 15 years, changing material only when fre- quent recall per- formances in the same town de- mandedanew line, Shortly after — the war, “Slim” spent almost & year in Walter Reed Hospital here. He is going back this week to call on some of his old wardmates—a few still patients there— and put on his act for the amusement of men he knows need it. He is, incidentally, a great friend of Detective Sergt. Frank O. Brass, an ace sleuth of the police force here, His stories of Brass' exploits are a colorful part of the legend growing up around one of the bright young men of the Metropolitan department. Brass himself, once worked in a Southern “tab” show, and did you know that? —R.B. P, i BILBO IS EXPECTED T0 PLAY QUIET ROLE Own State Has No Idea Senator- Elect Will Try to Rival Huey Long. By the Associated Press, JACKSON, Miss, December 8.— Mississippians who really know “the man Bilbo,” and every schoolboy in the State knows something about him, are not expecting the “stormy petrel” to “out-Huey Huey” when he ur;n his seat in the Senate in Janu- ary. Although Mississippi voters recall that Bilbo, stormiest figure that ever blazed a political trail in the State, made the facetious boast that he was going to put Huey Long to shame, neitker the electors nor Bilbo believed that he could do it. g Nor was Bllbo elected because of this “promise” to outshine Louisiana’s brightest star. Bilbo was elected be- cause he is Bilbo, because his name is a magic one in the hinterlands of his native State. Close friends and political advisers of the ex-Governor, only politician of his generation to serve Mississippi twice as Chief Executive, say Bilbo is goirez to adopt a sane course of “wa'chful waiting” when he arrives in Washington. Even the bitterest po- litical foes of the new Senator cannot accuse him of speaking out of turn, except on rare occasions. Some call him “smart,” others dub him “crafty,” but nobody in Mississippl calls Bilbo “crazy.” —_— PALM BEACH SPLENDOR ENHANCED BY BUILDING By the Associated Press. PALM BEACH, Fla., December 8.— A million and a half dollars of con- struction, largest since 1920, has brought new splendor to this fashion- able Winter colony with the come pletion of 22 new private homes. An imposing array of ante-bellum architecture, typical of Charleston, 8. C., features & new trend in build- ing here—a tribute to the “deep South.” Largest of the new homes is that of Dr. John A. Victor of New York, built at an estimated cost of $250,000. Court yards, balconles and white iron grillwork grace the residence, and the other dwellings as well. e FIRE TESTS LOVE Boy of 7 Bady Burned in Prov- ing Devotion. PHILADELPHIA (#)—Wayne Ag- new is only 7, but love sent him to & hospital. “If T stick my hand in the fire” Wayne told his playmates, standing before an incinerator, “it means I love Patricia.” He did. He has second degree burns. Authorized Service Harrison Radiators