Evening Star Newspaper, September 3, 1935, Page 8

A—8 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. THE EVENING STAIE With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY . September 3, 1935 THEODORE W. NOYES ...Editor il daflasaslidiat denth S On PR L0 The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Business Office: St. and l’!nluylvmnl._’Avt.st Chicago Office; Lake Michigan Building. hlronni Office: 14 Regent St.. London. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition. when u Tre {thl x and (when The Sunday St Night Final Rt B g e » i llection made at the end of each month. Orders may be sent by mail or telephone Na- tional 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Bunday on Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of ail news dispatches eredited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein. i Fights of publication of special dispatches erein are also reserved. The Oil of Ethiopia. Senator Nye's Munitions Committee is eonsidering the feasibility of investigat- ing the mystery of the Ethiopian oil con- cession granted to the “African De- velopment and Exploration Company” of Delaware. A thoroughgoing inquiry into that amazing transaction is de- sirable from every standpoint. The world has seldom witnessed a clumsier politico-economic venture or one S0 capable, at a highly critical juncture, of provoking serious international compli- cations. If Senator Nye and his col- leagues can get to the bottom of the in- credible deal which Emperor Haile Se- lassie has concluded with a British pro- moter on behalf of alleged Anglo- American interests, the Munitions Com- mittee will render a service comparable to the far-reaching results obtained in turning the searchlight on the machina- tions of munition-mongers. On the face of the meager facts avail- able, the Ethiopian Emperor, in barter- ing away subsoil rights embracing half of his realm, apparently calculated that both the American and British govern- ments, because the concession was granted to an Anglo-American group, ‘would lend it armed support against the impending invasion of Ethiopia by Italy. If Haile Selassie actually harbored any such expectations he will be promptly disillusioned. In both London and ‘Washington all knowledge of the Rick- ett-Selassie deal is denied. Coupled with expression of such ignorance, there is undisguised reluctance to assume any sort of official interest in or recognition of it. The British have brought pres- sure to bear at Addis Ababa, looking to the withholding of the concession, but the Ethiopian Emperor, standing on his sovereign rights to order the destinies of his country, proclaims his determination to let matters stand, despite universal protest abroad against action which gravely aggravates the tense Italo- Ethiopian situation. Great Britain's interest in the incred- {ble affair is paramount and acute. The British suddenly find themselves sub- Jected to the suspicion, both in Rome and Paris, that their motives in oppos- Ing Mussolini's war plans are far from disinterested and that they themselves cherish economic ambitions in Ethiopia which they would deny the Italians. The »pesult is that British efforts at Geneva this week to stay I1 Duce’s hand will be sorely compromised, and prob- ably thwarted. There has been little prospect that Italy would permit the League to check her Ethiopian program under any circumstances. Such chance as there was has now, it is to be feared, been blown sky high by the oil conces- sion episode. Mussolini will thunder loud and long about the “perfidious Albion” that seeks to block Italy’s “civil- 1zing mission” in Ethiopia at the same moment that it is obtaining rights to monopolize that country’s natural re- sources. French opinion echoes Italian resentment of Britain's alleged double dealing. As far as the United States is con- eerned, it goes without saying that the American people unqualifiedly object to being dragged into the Ethiopian mess through the dubious medium of an elev- enth-hour concession to an oil company, If Mr. Rickett has “sold” any idea to the contrary at Addis Ababa, the Con- quering Lion of Judah is doomed to discover that he has bought a gold brick. Uncle Sam is not investing in war in Africa, ——————— Col. Lindbergh's fame is so closely {dentified with aviation that even his glass heart will be measured in esteem, to a great extent, by its power to pre- serve life in air-crash victims. S Nobody’s Business. If you lived near a jail and were in- dulging in the Sunday afternoon recrea- tion of sitting and staring out of your window at nothing in particulis and you saw a man on the roof of the three- story jail cut a hole in a copper screen, carefully let down a rope made of sheets knotted together, squeeze himself through the hole and descend to the pavement by means of the rope and run as fast as he could around the cormer and out of sight, what would you do? Would you continue to sit and stare or would you telephone the police? A prisoner in the Federal House of Detention in New York City escaped that way Sunday afternoon in plain sight of hundreds of New Yorkers who were sitting and standing and staring, as many New Yorkers do on Sunday afternoon. But, according to the news- papers, it was fully fifteen minutes be- fore the telephone began to ring in the nearest police station and excited voices asked the desk man whether there was any significance in the fact that a man just left the roof of the House of Detention by megl of a rope made out of sheets. The police, quick-witted New Yorkers, concluded there was. Such public indifference was interest- ing but not surprising. Your average urbanite is not his brother's keeper. He is inclined to let well enough alone and, especially in large cities, to attend strictly to his own business. There are so many ways of getting into trouble with the police that he does not fnvite even friendly intercourse with the law of his own free will. And it was only when curiosity got the better of the New York by-standers that they called the police and suggested that something might be up. There is another point that may be sigmificant. The escape took place in a district given over largely to poultry slaughter houses. Re- membering the Schechter case, it is possible the citizens were agin the Government anyhow and let nature— and the escape—take its course. o The “Forgotten Man.” Can it be that Dr Nicholas Murray Butler is right when he says that ‘Thomas Jefferson is the real “forgotten man”? If he is correct, it is unfortunate for the country. Jefferson stood for the common man and for the fundamental principles upon which the Government of the United States was set up and developed. It is true that he was of the “horse and buggy era,” which in cer- tain high quarters is referred to lightly today. Nevertheless, Mr. Jefferson had principles and convictions which were of immense benefit to his country and which should not be lightly discarded, even in the day of the airplane, the automobile and the submarine. Dr. Butler remarked, in his recent address at Southampton, Long Island, that men were making & mess of the business of government almost every- where. Then he particularized, with Washington and the American Govern- ment as his target. The theories of Franklin D. Roosevelt regarding taxa- tion and the uses to which it should be put, in the opinion of Dr. Butler, do mot coincide with the theories of Mr. Jefferson, so long the patron saint of the Democratic party. “If the tax- ing power be habitually used,” said Dr. Butler, “Rot to support through a bal- anced budget an economical and wisely administered government which is mind- Ing its ewn proper business, but rather to discriminate against and to punish individuals, undertakings and groups, then without having amended our Con- | stitution in any way we shall have well begun to undermine its foundations.” President Roosevelt has made no bones about what he has in mind with regard to taxation. In his message to Con- gress urging the passage of his “share- the-wealth” tax program he announced the theory of Federal taxation to redis- tribute wealth. The redistribution of wealth in America has taken place from generation to generation. Great for- tunes made by one generation have been lost to the next. Concentrations of wealth before the World War have in many instances vanished. The new plan advanced by the President—for Federal taxation—seems, as Dr. Butler charges, to be designed to punish certain indi- viduals and groups. When the Federal Government undertakes to use its taxe ing power to punish, it can, of course, utterly exterminate. It is & power that might be used against any class of citizens, by any group that might hap- pen to be in power. Dr. Butler strikes at the critics of the older order. It is, after all, he suggests, the “profit motive” which is actuating these supporters of a new order. They are moved by a desire for a personal share in the results of the labors and savings of other men. He calls it the “wicked profit motive,” ironically, for it is the profit motive that has been at- tacked by so many of the followers of the new order. Dr. Butler finds that theories- may have changed, but not human nature. As Dr. Butler suggests, it may be as well to inquire how far these “new forms of compulsion,” governmental regimen- tation of business, of agriculture, are better than Jefferson’s theories of lib- erty under government. Indeed, the American people are waking to the wis- dom of such inquiry. R Samson slew the Philistine with & jawbone. A disdain for primitive facili- ties has not prevented oratorical efforts somewhat related to this ancient ad- venture, Much that is referred to as “inter- national” may be due to efforts to ex- pand some purely local issue to abnormal proportions, Travel Boom. The American shipping industry has experienced its best year since 1929 in the transportation of trans-Atlantic passengers. A survey made by the United States Shipping Board indicates that more than one hundred and thirty thousand persons were carried to Euro- pean ports during May, June and July, and the westbound traffic, n/stunuy, will be equally heavy. Railroad and automobile travel like- wise are booming. In New York Sunday preliminary reports from train dise patchers and bus terminal managers as well as from the headquarters of the several chains of gasoline stations serv- ing the motoring public were to the effect .that a fifteen to twenty per cent increase over 1934 was discernible. Labor Day, it seemed, was responsible for the peak movement, but every week end recently has shown improvement. For economists the significance of such developments is that of the release of money. People, some suppose, sense the end of the depression and are willing to spend. Their attitude is one of con- fident optimism. In brief, they are obeying the impulse to go places and see things. Certainly the conservative middle classes ordinarily do not begin spending until they are quite certain that they can afford to. The expense of even a short trip is a subject of thought in thousands of families. It is incurred only when ”wpun entirely justified. Logically, then, it follows that those who went abroad or who have made transcontinental tours must be reason- ably well-off. Their money, anyway, is in circulation. Quick Action. That the Guffey coal bill would be subjected to attack in the courts on the grounds that it was unconstitutional— a matter which the President, in effect, suggested might be disregarded by Con- gress—was certain. That the attack would come so quickly, within twenty- four hours after signature of the act, accounted for the element of surprise which lends unusual interest to the action brought in District Suprenie Court on Saturday. . The Guffey coal bill seeks to accom- plish, through the power of taxation— a very realistic exercise, in this case, of the power to destroy—what the N. R. A. failed to accomplish through at- tempting to invoke the interstate com- merce clause of the Constitution. The main point of attack in the action begun Saturday is that the act seeks to give the Federal Government power, through taxation, over matters not committed to the Federal Government by the Constitution. And interest in the success of this attack goes far beyond whether the Government will be able, as proposed, to regulate wages and hours and other elements affecting production in the bituminous coal industry. For if the Guffey coal bill represents a valid exercise of Federal authority under the Constitution, Government control over production in practically every other major industry in the United States is likewise valid, and will certainly be applied. —————————— ‘The Lion of Judah is deciding whether, In adding a title, he will register as a bull or & bear in Ethiopiar finance. As king of kings he has the animal king- dom from which to select. Aviation promoters are still seeking safety rules enabling them to show that the best means of &voiding automobile crashes is to take to the sky. — e “G-men” are the heroes of the hour, bringing to notice at least one letter of the alphabet that has made good in public service. ——r———————— There are so many mispronunciations circulated by microphone that Al Smith’s ready wit might easily be welcomed again on the “raddio.” ———————————— A demagogue is most dangerous when he ceases to be a personal entertainer and develops a desire to run the entire show. e —— Investigations are necessary, although they bring up the question of whether it is possible to build a sublime future on an iniquitous past. v Labor day brings back many people who, after hotel menus, will be glad to sing “Home With the Old Kitchen Range.” — The King of Kings may not conquer as a killer, but he has hopes of securing some advantage as a real estate trader. B Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Instructions in Agriculture. My grandsire sang an ancient song—his voice was full of charm— "Twas “Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a farm.” It made folks proud to hear about dear Uncle's generous ways— But that, of course, was in those good old hoss'n and buggy days. The patient farmers gather ‘round the little country store Where customers complain they can't buy pork chops any more. They say they wish that Uncle Sam would give 'em all home rule Instead of doin’ business like & corre- spondence school. Back From the Capitol. “What's the melody you're whistling?” asked the abrupt friend. “I Dream't I Dwelt in Marble Halls.” “It's a pleasant dream. But the town pand is likely to make you snap out of it. For your special benefit it's re- hearsing ‘Home, Sweet Home.'” Jud Tunkins says machinery hasn't made folks honest. You can cheat in an automobile swap same as in a hoss trade. Playing the Game. We'll gather up our little roll And haste to pay our taxes, Each with a glad, courageous soul ‘Whose patience ne'er relaxes, We'll shove more chips into the game With hearts that ne’er grow glummer And never, question what became Of those played in last Summer, Neatness. “What became of Rattlesnake Pete?” asked the traveling salesman. “He's gettin’ ready to have his picture took,” said Mesa Bill. “Shave and hair cut?” “No. He's just washing his hands for fingerprints.” Novelty Scare. Of course, wild tales will fill the land And nightmares will pursue one. Since we atrocities demand ‘Why not make up & new one? From Africa, where jungles deep Hide men with bows and arrows, Come tales that cause our flesh to creep And chill our very marrows. Of cannibals in native pride— Our precepts cannot swerve them— Who have defeated warriors fried And with spaghetti serve them. “Sometimes,” said Uncle Eben, “you meet & man so self-satisfied dat he mistakes & good digestion foh & ;hu Suggests Real “Defense” Highway to the Shore “To the Editor of The Star: Your editorials, criticisms and illustra- tions of the Death (Defense) Highway are getting down to real facts. I was under the impression that this highway was built jointly by the Federal Gov- ernmeht and the State of Maryland as a means of defense in the event of war. ‘The Star has shown how inadequate it would be in such a case. The next best move would be to convert the roadbed of the old W, B. & A. Rallway into & highway between Washington, Fort Meade and Annapolis. The branch to Baltimore, mentioned in your paper of the 26th, is of no Federal importance, since Baltimore has the State of Mary- land by the throat and so far has seen to it that “all roads lead to Baltimore.” Indeed, the newspapers and people of that city have discarded the word Mary- land and speak and write the designa- tion “The City and Counties.” Now to get down to the practical facts. The Federal Government should buy outright that part of the W, B. & A. Railway between Annapolis, Fort George Meade and Annapolis Junction. This was the original Annapolis & Elk Ridge Rallroad before it was taken over by the W, B. & A. It was chartered by the Maryland Legislature in 1882 and ran the first train from Annapolis to An- napolis Junction December 24, 1840. During the war between the States many thousands of troops were landed at Annapolis and transported to Wash- ington by this road. Who can tell if such an emergency might not occur again? Besides, Uncle S8am would have rail connection direct from Washington to Annapolis, as the Pennsylvania Rail- road tracks connect with the navy yard here and the W., B. & A. connects direct with the Naval Academy. No doubt it could be operated by the Pennsylvania Rallroad with the rolling stock now on the rails, and at a profit, as the entire road is well populated between Fort Meade and Annapolis. The roadbed is sound, with very few curves and no bridges or grades. While so much is being spent at the present time it seems that any money invested for defense purposes between the National Capital and the Naval Academy could not be wasted. This is not to be taken as a move toward Government ownership, but for Uncle Sam to take over the old An- napolis & Elk Ridge Railroad as a means of defense. PAUL SWEET. Taxi Driver Refuses To Observe New Rule To the Editor of The Star: Just a few lines to let you know that I am still operating my cab on the 20-40-60-80 rate and that I shall con- tinue to do so. To date, as you know, the P. U. C. members have refused to be gentlemen and arrange a test case with me in the local Police Court. I am a constitutional American. I demand every right and privilege that the Constitution gives me. I hold that the P. U. C. order 1401—the 20-30-50-70- cent rate order—violates about every- thing worth violating in the Constitu- tion. I shall, therefore, continue to defy the P. U. C. until they arrange a test case with me in the local law courts. If that kangeroo court down at the District Building tries to revoke my licenses I will continue to operate. I hold that my licenses are property, bought with money, the same as any other property, and that they can't be confiscated or revoked “without due process of law.” Therefore I will con- tinue to operate on the 20-40-60-80-cent rate until the P. U. C. either rescinds its insane rate order or succeeds in having the local courts uphold it. If you will send one of your camera men to the hack stand at Eighth and M streets southeast, I will be glad to let him take a picture of my cab with the 20-40-60-80-cent rate signs on it for publication in vour paper. BERNARD L. HENNING, President Cab Drivers’ Protective Union, Local 343. ——— Red Influence Suspected In New Motto on Money To the Editor of The Star: Do you know it was reported in the May, 1927, issue of World's Work that the “American Association for the Ad- vancement of Atheism,” or “The 4 A’s,” as they called themselves (they also seemed fond of alphabetic names), had as one of their many atheistic objectives getting our inscription, “In God we trust,” off our coins! In Mr. R. L. Feldman’s letter to The Star he states, “It is reported that a new issue of $1'silver certificates will bear the Latin inscription * * * trans- lated, “A new order of the ages.” And that “it appears to be as close as the Socialists can get to the phrase, ‘A New Deal,” in Latin.” * * * May it not be that the Reds see in this the entering wedge they have planned in removing “In God we trust” from our coins? Mr. Feldman's suggestion of a court injunction to’ stop the new issue of silver certificates “unless or until this inscription is eliminated” is a fine one, and our people should get behind it, d, as he suggests, use in its place, “In God we trust.” 1t is time our Nation mended its evil ways. We have bowed down to the god of money to our peril! Willing to reap a profit through short weight in gold, and then legalizing(?) our action and making gold certificates and bonds no longer payable in gold, as formerly, on demand; visioned large profits by trade with an atheistic nation and entered into diplomatic relations with her, mak- ing it easier for her to spread atheistic propaganda and bore from within to destroy our form of Government; “legalized” selling our boys and girls, ‘women and men to King Alcohol for the money it would seemingly put into our Treasury—and some private pockets; winked at gambling and lotteries for the rake-off to be had; made divorce fash- ionable, destroying the sacredness of the home, as the Reds wanted; made drink- ing by girls and women as well as young men fashionable—common even to the point of pronounced intoxication. We are now reaping what we have sown. Let us return to “the faith of our fathers” and to the worship of the one only true God, who has blessed our Na- tion above all nations on earth. Let us proclaim our faith in Him on the new silver certificates with the inscription, “In God we trust.” GEORGIA ROBERTSON. Novus Ordo Seclorum Inscription Defended To the Bditor of The Star: In last Saturday’s edition, August 31, there appeared a letter signed Richard L. Feldman taking exce) the Latin inscription on the ne face of every citizen. May I say that Mr. Feldman's criti~ eism is unwise, unfair and ynjust. This inscription has been onfhe United TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1935. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Little did Johnny Squirrel dream, as he dashed through the branches that bright morning, that he would be dead in 10 minutes. He did not reckon with the motorist who came bowling down the broad avenue, How could a little animal, intent on chasing his lady love through the branches of the great trees, know any- thing about modern automobile speed? Gayly he pursued his lady love. The sounds of their sharp claws went rasp- rasp-rasp against the bark. They were young, and the morning was beautiful for them as well as for the motorist. The latter, whoever he may have been, must have seen the squirrels dart across the street. He made no move, however, to slacken his speed, with the result that he caught Johnny squarely under his right front wheel. *x % The little animal lay still for a sec- ond, then jumped convulsively. It was not a happy sight, but death is not happy, either in the morning, afternoon or night. The squirrel gave another sharp juflp, then lay still again forever. Life, the mystery, had departed. The man who had slaughtered him, perhaps unthinkingly, but surely un- necessarily, had gone, toe, far down the avenue, without even so much as a backward glance. Four more cars passed over, each with- out slowing down in the slightest. For- tunately no wheel marred the furry body. * x x % At this point a human spectator, who had seen the entire proceeding and whose shouts and waving arms, pointing to the squirrel while still alive, had all been in vain, walked over to the crea- ture dead. ‘The sunshine glinted on its wide-open eyes. There was not a mark or spot on it, not even blood. Its liver, probably, had been ruptured by the impact of the wheel. He lifted it by its tail and carried it over to the parking, by a barberry bush, its monument for a few hours. el And it was all so unnecessary. ‘That was the thought that kept re- curring to the pedestrian, as he boarded his car for downtown, his morning spoiled. If the man behind the wheel had slowed up just & little the squirrel would have had plenty of time to make it. What difference did it make to the man whether he slowed up or didn't slow up? What difference does it ever really make to drivers whether they slow up slightly or not? They will get there in just the same time, going helter-skelter, or slowing down every now and then to give chil- dren and animals a chance. X ok X % Just why this unnecessary slaughter of living things, throughout the length and breadth of America, remains as much a problem as ever, despite the considera- tion that has been given it everywhere. Traffic experts, drivers, pedestrians, laymen, doctors—every one has consid- ered the problem. One always comes back to the same point, almost hopelessly, that most of it is so damned unnecessary, so brutally unnecessary. The man who had carried the stiffen- ing carcass to the parking and given the small head a last pat—a silent bene- diction for his little brother in fur—knew perfectly well that only by a superior mind—that of the human—had he been able to escape the same fate himself, Not a day had gone by for years now that he had not been threatened in the same way, by exactly the same care- lessness and indifference. Many a man and woman, many & child, many & pet animal, had been killed or maimed in that time by the same indifference, flowing out of a refusal to slow down even a little. Even as he had stood on the grass, stroking the head of the dead squirrel, he heard the cars rushing by him at his back, not 3 feet away. * x x % One step backward, he knew, and he would be run over in his turn. Every one of the motorists so gayly going to work who saw him there could realize, quite as well as he could, that one thoughtless step backward would place him beneath the wheels. But not a one of them slowed up, to take care of such an eventuality. Not one, evidently, gave a whoop, or allowed for thoughtlessness on his part. ‘Why, he thought to himself, isn't the thing afoot permitted his moment of carelessness, the same as the motorist? It is all right to be careless, and thoughtless, while driving a car. but death or malming is the penalty of thoughtlessness afoot. Is that 1t? * x ¥ x So it all goes back to the individual. ‘The individual motorist is the key to the ultimate solution of the traffic prob- lem, especially that portion of it which has to deal with life and death. It is unthinkable that the slaughter shall continue. It is unnecessary. But evidently it will last as long as the individual insists on refusing to give the other fellow & chance. He cannot give that chance to a thoughtless child, or thoughtless animal, when he refuses to slow down whenever he sees that there is some chance of him injuring some one or something. On what hath this, our modern motor- 1st, fed, that he should refuse to give others a chance? He cannot give that chance if, seeing others in situations where they may en- danger themselves, he refuses to concede —to himself—that death or maiming may result if he continues without slackening his speed. * ok ox This is where the individual motorist comes in. It is his chance to do what he ought to do, for himself as well as others, for surely most men and women do not enjoy running down living creatures. The actual running down occurs in the fraction of a second. Now, if there were just a few more seconds intervening, may it not be thought that many accidents would not occur at all? Those few additional seconds, or even fifths of seconds, would permit either the endamgered creature, man or ani- mal, or the motorist himself, to do some- thing about it. The individual motorist must be edu- cated, in this respect. Evidently it does | not come naturally to many to think of | others, and especially to give them a chance. Let the slogan be, “Give every- thing afoot & chance!” STARS, MEN AND ATOMS Notebook of Science Progress in Field, Laboratory and Study. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. The brain learns fastest on an empty stomach. The contractions of the stomach walls, which are the most striking physical manifestations of hunger, have a re- markable effect in speeding up learning, according to a communication just made to the National Academy of Sciences by Drs. M. H. Elliott and W. C. Treat, Har- vard University psyghologists. They experimented with rats and on learning reduced to its most funda- mental element, the conditioned reflex. The experimental animals were given re- peated electric shocks simulteneously with the flashing of a light. Eventually the two stimuli were associated so that an animal would jump at seelng the light without the shock. It required an average of 55 trials to bring about this “conditioning.” This, many psychologists believe, is the basic process of learning. Education or discipline is a matter of building up pathways in the nervous system, par- ticularly the cerebral cortex, through re- peated associations. Next the two psycologists performed surgical operations on the rats which made their stomach walls visible. The observers could watch the waves of con- traction which came at periodic inter- vals when the animals were hungry. They were kept without food for & time. As soon as a contraction wave started, the conditioning experiment would be performed—that is, the simul- taneous electric shock and light flash. The conditioned reflex, whereby the rat jumped at the light alone, was estab- lished in an average of 24 trials—less than half the number required previous- ly. The only requirement was that the double stimuli and the stomach con= tractions come at the same time. A wave of contraction can be stopped immediately by giving a rat a bite of food, no matter how small. Hungry rats treated in this way did not “learn” any faster than those with full stomachs. The contractions, they believe, give rise to volleys of nervous impulses toward the brain, which, in some way, facilitate the learning process. When rats were kept hungry for 24 hours, Elliott and Treat found, they had definite periods of intensified activity. Between these intervals they would re- main fairly quiet. The scientists de- termined that these activity bursts cor- responded with the appearance of the hunger contraction waves. There would be from 10 to 18 such periods in 24 hours, varying in length from 15 to 30 minutes. They timed their conditioning experiments with the bursts of activity and found that the rate of conditioning was the same as with the rats whose stomach contractions they could watch. * x % x It has been known for some time, Elliott and Treat point out in their re- port to the National Academy of Sciences, that “conditioning” is facili- tated by muscular tensions which are — States Seal since same was formulated. Also another Latin inscription is on the same seal, viz/, “Annuit Coeptus,” which signifies “God has blessed the under- taking.” These two quotations, no doubt, were decided upon by meditation and in- spiration; somewhat prophetic of the coming co-operative period that has been instituted by the President and his followers, FRAYK MANDRELL. setting up impulses along the nerve pathways. The whole organism seems to be involved in learning—not the brain alone. In some way, when the nervous system is in a state of activity it is easier to establish connections within its_infinitely complicated mazes. The experiments reported applied only to rats and to the most elemental sort of learning. Whether it is capable of broader application is unknown. There has long been a tradition in schools, however, that it is best to study on an empty stomach. Students preparing to “plug” all night for an examination have been advised by their fellows not to eat any supper. Educators usually have declared that there was no foundation in fact for the tradition. It was not well to stuff the stomach, with the well-known resultant lethargy due to the extra load thrown on the blood stream by the process of digestion. Professors feared students might injure their health by foolish ab- stinence from food. ‘The present experiments, however, may give some actual basis for the old belief, which has been maintained de- spite the fact that there appeared no scientific evidence to support it. For in the final analysis learning a problem in geometry or the declension of a Latin verb may be only an extremely compli- cated process of conditioning, not dif- fering much in principle from the simple learning required of the rats. * X x x Intricately hidden in the statistics of the past five years of depression is a weight loss of approximately 2 per cent for many thousands of children, accord- ing to an investigation by the United States Public Health Service. The fig- ures are based on a survey of the weights of children of 1,000 families in each of six Eastern cities since 1928 Taking the figures as a whole, no weight loss is shown. When they are divided into economic classes the dif- ference shows. The children of fam- ilies {n comfortable circumstances have shown no relative change in weight. The children of the poor who were also poor before the depression actually have gained—probably due to relief, which has resulted in better nutrition. The children of those families which were in comfortable circumstances before 1928, but whose bread winners then lost their Jjobs, show approximately & 3 per cent weight loss. It has been progressive ever since the depression started. These are essentially the children of the actual depression victims. For the chronicaliy unemployed hard times, par- adoxically enough, brought better times. For those who suffered reductions in salary but remained self supporting it made little difference. League Stalling Prom the St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press. The League of Nations seems to be stalling around so it will arrive at the tea party early enough to get credit for being present, but late enough so it can't be held responsible for any- thing that takes place. Ethiopia’s Capital. From the Omaha World-Hersld. Addis Ababa, capital of Abyssinia, 1s pronounced “Ahddis Ahwawa.” The Italians don't have to pronounce it. They expget to take it. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS By Frederic J. Haskin, A reader can get the answer to eny question of fact by writing The Washing- ton Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washing- ton, D.C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. How long do tire changes taxe durtngA ¢ u;; Indianapolis Speedway race? A. Twelve to thirteen seconds is the customary time for a tire change at the Indianapolis track. A record was set there several years ago when a crew changed a tire in slightly over eight seconds. Q. What size are the lifeboats used by the Coast Guard?—R. B. A. One type is 52 feet long, has 150- horsepower engine, accommodates 30 passengers comfortably, 50 in an emergency. There is also a 36-foot life- boat, accommodating 25 to 40 passengers. In addition to the motor lifeboats, the Coast Guard uses surfboats—a motor surfboat and a pulling surfboat. Q. When was Tuskegee Institute estab- lished?—H. G. A. This institution for the education of Negroes was established in 1881 by an act of the Alabama Legislature under the name of Tuskegee State Normal School, It was opened July 4, 1881, Q. Where is the mountain ealled Camel's Hump?—E. B. A. This is one of the peaks of the Green Mountains in Vermont, 17 miles west of Montpelier, Q. Is the octopus a fish, an animal or & plant?—E. V. A. The octopus is an animal rather than a plant, but it is not a fish. The term fish is used rather loosely to mean any marine animal, but it should be correctly applied only to vertebrate ani- mals like the cod and the trout. The octopus belongs to the phylum known as mollusca and to the class of mollusks called cephalopoda, meaning head- footed. Q. Please give a biography of the no- torious Dick Turpin—L. F. J. A. Richard Turpin, English highway- man, was born at Hempstead, Essex, where his father was an innkeeper. He was apprenticed to a butcher, and de- tected in cattle stealing, he fled and Joined a gang of thieves. Later he be- came associated with the highwayman. ‘Tom King, whom he fatally shot when trying to prevent King's arrest. He escaped into Yorkshire where he passed for a gentleman, but was soon suspected, captured with stolen horses, tried and executed. Q. How much did it cost to go to the theater in Shakespeare's time?>—M. L. F. A. In England, in Shakespeare's time, prices for theater seats varied from a penny to a shilling. Q. Does the bride rehearse her wed- ding?—D. W. A. The bride always directs her wed- ding rehearsal, but never takes part in it. Some one else—any one who happens to be present—is appointed as under- study. Q. How many mosques are there in | Cairo?—A. M. A. There are 500 mosques in the city. Q. How long has the Army had mili- tary enginers?—R. L. A. The need for military engineers was recognized in the War of the Revo- lution, and Gen. Washington was au- thorized to raise, officer and equip a corps of engineers. The corps was mustered out of the service at the close of the war. Commencing in 1794 & corps of combined artillerists and engineers had a brief existence, but the union was discontinued by the act of Congress of March 16, 1802, whieh formally estab- lished the Corps of Engineers. Q. How wide is the tunnel cut through the Wawona tree in the Mari- posa Grove of big trees?—A. 8. E. A. The famous tunnel tree, the Wa- wona, has an opening cut through it which is 8 feet wide. This tree 15 231 feet tall and 27’z feet in diameter. Q. When were the Cherokee Indian tribal rolls closed?—M. H. A. They were closed by Congress, March 4, 1907. ’ Q. What difference is there in density between muscular tissue and fat’— G. 8. A. The density of muscular tissue s approximately 1 and the density of fat is approximately 85. Q. How long did it take to bulld the subway in Moscow?—F. B. A. It took three years. Construction was begun in 1932 and completed in the early part of 1935. Q. How far above sea level is the Lake of the Woods in Northern Minnesota?— G.J. A. It lies at an altitude of 1,057 feet. * Q. How may stage stamps be re- woved from pafér and cleaned?—H. W. A. The only safe method of cleaning postage stamps is by soaking in cold water until the paper or other foreign matter is removed. Cold water could injure only certain postage stamps such as those printed with aniline ink and those printed on chalky surface paper. Stamps of this character may be “floated off” the paper adhering to the stamp by placing the stamp, face upward, on top of the water. In a few minutes the paper will be thoroughly saturated and the stamp may be easily removed. If this method is used the face of the stamp will not touch the water. The stamp should then be dried face down on white blotting paper. If the stamps show a tendency to curl, lay flat and press in a book. Stamps solled from handling or with grease spots may be improved by placing in benzine. This will not injure the stamp in any way or affect the original gum. Q. What is meant by frozen music?— E. B. A. This term has been applied to archi- tecture, A Rhyme at Twilight By Gertrude Brooke Hamilton Parking Space In blue shirt and overalls, the keeper of the space Checks out the cars to homegoers at & whistling pace. Roadster for a youthful pair, Overtime on red car there, Gitney bus the worse for wear, ‘Touring car left for repair, Limousine for special care, Cream sedan for lady fair. Check in, check out, no easy job, work 10 hours & day— Whistling girl in overalls eamning & - modern DAy,