Evening Star Newspaper, June 20, 1936, Page 6

A—6 THE EVENING STAR With Sanday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY June 20, 1936 THEODORE W. NOYBS..........Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Bustness Ofice: 11tn 8t "ind Pennsylvania Ave. et e Eoke Michigan Buudin ce: Lake Burcpen Omee 54 Hegent St. London Endiand. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition Fhe Evenins Star e Evening and su‘nduy Star (v 45c per month -60c per month _65c_per month (when 5 Sundays)-. -bc per copy The Sunday Star__ Night Final Edition. Night Final and Sunday Star___70c per month Night Pinal Star.__ e 55¢ per month Collection made af the end of each month. Orders may be sent by mail or telephone Na- tional 5000 ble in Advance. Maryland and Virginia, unday onl. All Other States and Canada. atly and Sunday . $i2.00; 1 mo. aily only_ $5.00: 1 mo 8unday only.. $5.000 1 mo. . 40c $1.00 50c Member of the Associated Press. The Assoclated Press 1s exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein All rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. -— S Borah and Gold. Senator Borah of Idaho is “rather anxious” to run again for the Senate— provided he can run without committing himself to a return to the gold standard. He is, in other words, perfectly willing to stand on the currency plank of the Republican national platform, but not on the personal platform enunciated by Governor Alfred M. Landon of Kansas Just before he was nominated for Presi- dent by the Republicans at Cleveland. ‘The Republican platform declared for a “sound currency.” Mr. Borah main- tains that this does not necessarily imply a return to the gold standard. Governor Landon, on the other hand, in his telegram to the Republican Na- tional Convention said that he con- ceived the pledge for sound currency as meaning an eventual return to gold. The Idaho Senator does not believe in the gold standard for this country this time. He may be opposed to it at any time. Governor Landon meets Borah's views at least to the extent of being opposed to a return to the gold standard while such action would injure American farmers and other producers r: materials. Who is going to however, whether the farmers ured by a return to the gold That is a point that Mr Borah probably would like to have de- termined. Will the farmers determine it, or will the financiers of New York? Back in 1896, when William Jennings Bryan and his “free silver” demands were resounding across the country, Mr. Borah campaigned for the re-election | of Fred Dubois, then Senator from Idaho. as a “silver Republican. was defeated But four years later Dubois was again elected to the Senate, running as a “silver Republican.” In 1907 Dubois retired from the Senate and Borah took his place, elected as a Re- publican. Since that time Borah has been constantly a member of the Senate. The Idaho Senator has made his record. It is known to his own party and to the country. He has been one of the great Senators of the United States and so recognized at home and abroad. It would be unfortunate if at this time the Republicans in Idaho whould not agree that Borah is the man to nominate and re-elect to the Senate. The country needs men of his caliber in the upper house. It needs men who will stand four-square for the Constitu= tion of the United States and for the Supreme Court. There are other ques- tions of vital interest to the American people at this time beyond the question of return to the gold standard. It would be a mistake on the part of the Repub- licans, either in Idaho or nationally, to turn aside from Borah because his in- terpretation of the currency plank in the party’s platform differs in some respects from that of Governor Landon. T S Lack of co-operation in the demands of District of Columbia citizens for representation in Congress does not prevent a delegate from this city from being proud and happy in enjoying the advantages of a ringside seat at a convention. e Senator Carter Glass says he has never cast a vote which he would withdraw or for which he would apologize. In present parliamentary procedure there may be intervals for a fight, but there is no time to apologize. ——————— Rapid Transit Fares. A proposal for a revision of the rapid transit fare schedule has been pre- sented to the Rapid Transit Commission by the Capital Transit Company which will now be taken inta consideration and weighed with numerous considerations affecting the decision. The proposition of the company is for the abolition of the weekly pass, an increase of token rate from seven and a half to eight and & half cents, a uniform cash rate of ten cents on all lines and the abolition of transfer charges. It is estimated that these changes, if approved, would cost the local traveling public approximately $431,000 additional annually. These proposals grow out of the recent acquisition of the Washington Rapid Transit Company by the larger unjt and are likewise a factor in the effort of the Capital Transit Company to increase the number of one-man cars on its lines. They will be resisted by the car riders. The Rapid Transit Commission in its consideration of the application must take into account the fact that there ‘is a decided objection on the part of the patrons of the transit lines to the one-man car, which is rated by them as a less efficient, less convenient and in some respects less safe method of transport. Abolition of the weekly pass would most seriously inconvenience a large number of people, who have found that system of material service and has mate- rially increased car and bus riding in / at | " Dubois | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, Washington. It was the transit com- pany’s own proposal. The question arises whether it has been found unprofitable. It has undoubtedly added to the volume of travel. There has been no corre- sponding increase in the service. There- fore it does not appear to have been & cause of increased cost of operation. It is announced that the company’s application will be subjected to a long and careful study, after which public hearings will be held by the commission before action is taken. It is thus as- sured that the petition of the company for advances in fares, for the abolition of the passes and for such other changes in the present set-up as may be inci- dental to the proposed revision of rates and conditions will not be granted with- out the most thorough inquiry and con- sideration. This will give the riding public a chance to present its case, an opportunity which will doubtless be seized. Anti-Fascism in France. Premier Blum has lost no time in showing his teeth to the Fascist or semi- Fascist elements which harbor more or less definite designs upon the republican regime in France. Boldly accepting their challenge, he has proceeded by decree to apply the law passed in the previous Parliament providing for dis- solution of “combat groups and militia.” The order of proscription directs the or- ganized forces of the Croix de Feu, Jeunesses Patriotes, Solidarite Francaise and the Francist party forthwith to dis- band and desist from subversive efforts. After these various groups first came under fire during the late Laval ministry six months ago, some of them sought to escape suppression by changing their names and by other recourses. But the Blum government, convinced that aims and methods remain the same, decided to resort without further ado to stern repressive measures. The January law, under which action has been taken, or- dains that “leagues” could be dissolved which provoke armed manifestations in the streets, possess a military character or have for their purpose attempts by force to alter the form of government. That the militant elements now under official ban are not disposed to accept without protest the order of proscription is evident from the defiant protest | Feu, largest and most active of the | Fascist groups, by Colonel de la Rocque, | its fiery leader. He brands the disso- lution of his organization as illegal and refuses to abide by the order. He charges that the government’s action is equivalent to proclamation of a Socialist=- Communist dictatorship and abrogates Frenchmen’s rights of free speech and meeting. Professing to speak for more than one million men and women, De la Rocque foreshadows the creation of “a great French party, outside all exist- | ing political alignments.” It will form its own conclusions, the colonel warns, and “envisage without flinching all the consequences of our action.” | the breath of revolution in this mani- | festo. The Croix de Feu chieftain, World War veteran and acknowledged leader of a great body of ex-service men, is a resolute and resourceful figure. He has often avowed his readiness to resort to extremes. During the recent parlia- mentary campaign spokesmen of the Popular Front assured the country that any government which took office under its banner would not shrink from steps to crush reactionary elements, no mat- ter how powerful or truculent, The Blum government is thus proceeding boldly to fulfill its election pledge. The energy with which it met the recent strike menace justifies the expectation that the premier will take equally drastic action against the Fascist threat. Dan- ger of resultant conflict coincides with a recrudescence of labor unrest. It is in an atmosphere of correspondingly wide- spread domestic explosiveness that France's first Soclalist government es- says the task of carrying out its elaborate program of political, social, economic and financial reforms. If M. Blum rides the storm now brewing, he will promptly establish himself as one of the “strong men” of modern French history. R Minute details arise for consideration in the course of modern schooling which includes not only measurements in space, but gives attention to the exact amount of mayonnaise dressing a thrifty hostess should be expected to display on a lettuce sandwich. e —————————— The advice to students by Senator Tydings to seek education in national affairs is impressive. Patient study may yet eliminate the custom established among citizens of wondering after each election whether they have not voted the wrong way. e Death of the Lobby Bill. To be added to the oddities of the sesslon of Congress now coming to a close is the House vote reversing itself on the famous anti-lobbying bill, vig- orously thrusting that measure so far back on the shelf that it will not be heard from again for many a long day. The Black bill requiring registration of lobbyists, with other information per- taining to their supporting organizations, was passed with a whoop by the Senate as indication of the resentment felt in that august body over attempts of the utility magnates to influence the holy processes of holding company legisla- tion. The House, some time afterward, passed a less stringent bill by Represent- ative Smith of Virginia. The vote in the House on Wednesday was on ap- proving the conference report, which the House turned down, two hundred and sixty-four to seventy-seven. After doing that the House laid the report on the table, killing it deader than a door- nail. ‘What is the explanation? In the first place, the critics of the bill contended that a closer examination of its provi- sions revealed that while the naughty lobbyists, representing the various “in- terests” and the money barons, would be able to escape registration, the noble lobbyists, re?xesemmx the American | launched in the name of the Croix de | ‘There 1s | Federation of Labor, the farmers, the ‘Townsendites and various and sundry organizations of high and lofty purpose, would have to submit to registration, together with filing all sorts of informa- tion about members and dues. So the House killed the famous bill that was to stop the nefarious business of lobbying. It did more than that. It demonstrated, clearly and succinctly, the obvious fact that there is no power on earth to siop vicious lobbying except the honor and integrity of the indi- vidual members of Congress. Once you try to substitute a law for the safety that lies in honor and integrity you get into all sorts of hot water. Here- after members of Congress will have to judge for themselves as to the legitimacy of expressions of public sentiment, in telegrams and barrages of inspired let- ters, something that they have always had to do in the past. Americans are not keeping up the former high rate of tourist travel. Any one desiring to learn of foreign customs and personalities can find a liberal education among the populations of New York or Chicago. — e Gugsa, who took precipitate refuge in an Italian cook tent, might have done better if he had remained a part of Selassie’s family retinue for a sojourn among the chefs of Paris. R == Public display has always been influ- ential in political discussion, but tax- payers are becoming so much inclined to economy as to wonder whether a torch- light procession is worth the price. It will be a tensely studious campaign if the critics of the administration settle down to go over the books with a de- termination to examine all the entries, Photographers in displaying Republi- | can portraits make it cheerfully plain that the political smile has not been copyrighted by the Democratic leaders. - Mussolini may in time be called upon to name a successor who will feel like an heir to a glorified name with an uncomfortable burden of taxes to meet. e Hitler’s life has been threatened. No man is able to be an arbitrary dictator | and remain a favorite with the affable | and persuasive life insurance agent. e America will easily keep out of war if war can be persuaded to be so polite as to stay in its own hemisphere. e 00llll" Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Men Who Count. We need the man of mighty mind To help the world along; We need the folk who are inclined To laughter and to song— And be the talents great or small With which you may be blest, You're only needed, after all, As one who does his best. Although the duty may be slight That falls upon your lot, If you fulfill the task aright You will not be forgot. Though flerce ambitions shun repose, Resplendent 'mid unrest, The men who really count are those ‘Who simply do their best. His Position. “Your speeches have stirred up a good deal of antagonism.” “Yes,” replied Senator Sorghum. “What are you going to talk about when you meet your constituents?” “I'm not talking much now. I've be- come a topic.” Encouraging Sociability. “Your boy Josh knows the scientific designations of all the insects that attack crops.” “Yes,” replied Farmer Corntossel; “put I don't believe it does much good. I ain’t sure that callin’ 'em by their right names doesn’t make ’em want to hang around an’ git more familiar than ever.” Literature for All Old Juvenal I shall not read. A pessimist was he; For Homer I find little need. Of war he talked too free. So when myself I would amuse, A joy it is to greet More modern lines as I peruse The signs along the street. How oft the signal “Stop and Go” My grateful eyes has caught! And “S L O,” which stands for “slow,” A lesson fine has taught. “No Parking Here,” though brief in phrase, With meaning is replete. Why ask for books when we can read The signs along the street? “If you are an artist,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “and work only for money you soon become no longer an artist, but a financier.” A Hazy Impression. “What's your idea of true poetry?” “I haven’t any,” replied Mr. Cumrox. “According to mother and the girls, it has to be something I don’t understand, written by somebody whose name I can’t pronounce.” The Personal Exception. On patience we put special stress. All projects should commence with it. Tis something others should possess, ‘While we ourselves dispense with it. ‘ «p tricky man,” said Uncle Eben, “goes on tryin’ to be smarter an’ smarter till finally he fools even hisse'f.” Red Menace. From the Oklahoms News. The city fathers seem about ready to do away with right turns on red signal lights and that is probably a more seri- ous red menace than any Hamilton Fish might ‘u nto. Lawrence Asked to Clarify Minimum Wage Law Article To the Editor of The Star: The comment on the New York minimum wage law case in Mr. Law- rence’s column in The Star for June 2 appeared unjustified to me at that time. I felt that the statute, far from being “clumsy,” as Mr. Lawrence termed it, was clearly and accurately drafted to meet the requirements of the Adkins case, and that the changes in the statute that he suggested, such as including both men and women and changing the stand- ard from the value of services to a standard based on “health,” would be impossible, in view of prior Supreme Court decisions. Indeed, the standard of “health” set up in the District of Columbia statute was the very basis of the decision in the Adkins case, and the Supreme Court in the Tipaldo case interpreted the New York court’s deci- sion as holding that the New York statute included this defect. Mr. Lawrence’s comment was, no doubt. the result of not having sufficient time to give the case the necessary consideration. Tuesday morning I read in the United States Law Week, of which Mr. Law=- rence is the president, a clear and con- cise statement of the case, which con- firmed my previous views, i. e, that the majority of the Supreme Court simply refused to reconsider the Adkins case and, upon the basis of that case and the New York®court’s irterpretation of the New York statute, held the law within the rule of the Adkins case. The article in the Law Week states that “a reconsideration of the principles of that decision (Adkins case) in a case in which the principles are directly involved may result in a decision upholding minimum wage legislation.” The article does not indicate that the New York law was a “clumsy” one or suggest that an identical law might not be upheld. In view of Mr, Lawrence’s apparent change of opinion, would it not be proper for him to state this in his daily column, so that his many readers may have the benefit of his views as expressed in the Law Week? JAMES H. ROWE, JR. e American People Will Not Sanction Loans to Debtors To the Editor of The Star The Star, in large black lettering, front page of its noon edition on June 18: “France Refuses Aid U. S. Envoy Asks.” Subcaption: “Straus Appeals for Police Action Against Strikers at U. S. Hospital. Request of Ambassador Straus Refused.” France wants a large money loan now from the United States, notwithstanding her World War and after indebtedness and defaulted interest thereon up to and including June 15, 1936, and the John- son law, which forbids money loans, bond floating, etc., in the United States to or for European indebted and inter- est-defaulting nations (and France, after England, the largest). England and France especially want the United States | to stabilize the dollar in or with their monies Why? So the United States’ $10,407,000,000 of gold may be distributed to them. Is the United States fool enough, financially, to do these things for $12,000,000,000 indebtedness, plus mil- ; lions of dollars defaulted interest up to and including June 15, 19362 The 125.- 000,000 plus America first, American taxpavers protest. More, they won't stand for it. W. E. RYAN. e “Grass Roots” a Factor In Presidential Campaign Prom the Springfield (IL) State Jou Cynical political observers who be- littled the “grass roots” convention held in Springfield in 1935, now admit that it was a gathering of great importance to the Republican party. Its effects were noted in the primary campaign and they have been emphasized in Cleveland. It can be truthfully said that the Lan- don campaign had its real beginning at the Illinois State fair grounds. When the Kansans came to Springfield it was with the idea that men responsible fors the calling of the convention had in mind the indorsement of some particular candidate, and they were prepared for a Landon drive. Their decision not to make it was the initiation of a campaign policy which, carefully adhered to, made possible their success at Cleveland. Restraint shown by the Landon back- ers at Springfield did much to convince the delegates from other States that the Kansas executive was a level-headed man; that he was not trying to push himself to the front as a self-appointed Moses The impression was a good one, and it affected a most substantial, repre- sentative body of votes. Delegates to the “grass roots” convention went home thinking pretty well of the Kansans and their candidate. ‘With the favorable feeling thus created, the “building up” of Gov. Landon as a presidential candidate became easier. Eastern leaders who had made up their minds that the candidate must come from the West or the Middle West wanted to know more of the “prairie State Governor.” What followed is his- tory, and when the story of the 1936 campaign is written it will emphasize the influence of the “grass roots” convention of 1935. e Veto of Separate Items Of Appropriation Bills From the Shreveport Journal. ‘There are two estimates regarding the virtue of consistency. One of these pre- sents consistency as a “jewel”; the other calls it “the hobgoblin o: little minds.” A wise man changes his mind; a fool never, etc. Senator Vandenberg of Michigan evidently trails with the Emer- son school, scorning consistency when it stands in the path of some new proj- ect of his senatorial mind. The gentle- man from Michigan has in recent months been one of the most ardent and vocal critics heard against the delega- tion of more and more power to the President of these United States, yet we find him sponsoring a proposal to so amend the Constitution as to give the Chief Executive authority to veto sep- arate items in any appropriation bill. Such power, as a matter of course, would enable the President to cohtrol absolutely the expenditure of the public funds— not only emergency funds, as at present, but in all cases and at all times. “It would amount to a major change in our form of government,” the Detroit News points out, enabling the President “not merely to propose the budget, but to force the budget’s acceptance by Con- gress.” There is no necessity for any such amendment, now or at any time; the Chief Executive already has all the authority he needs, delegated to him by Congress from time to time as oc- casion demands; to place this additional responsibility upon him, it occurs to us, would be extremely unwise. Any man who becomes President of the United States, it has been said by medical authorities, shortens his life by 10 years at & minimum. The man who is given the proposed additional burden would be treated most unfairly. Perhaps Sen- ator Vandenberg, who has ambitions to some day occupy the White House, would enjoy this added authority and responsibility, but we do not believe Franklin D. Roosevelt cares fof it. 4 SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1936. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Does the wren drive away the thrush? This is the question in one suburban garden, where, for the first time in six years, the wood thrush is conspicuous by his absence. This also is the first year in that time the yard has been graced by 2 family of house wrens. The owners are wondering, therefore, if Jenny Wren is responsible. In past years the daily walks of the thrushes in the yard were one of the real delights of the Summer. The beautiful song is by no means the only charm of the thrush seen and heard so often in the suburban districts. Its beauty, demeanor and gentle, con- fiding actions are always welcome, along with its air of genuine culture. * K K x The gardeners in this case have no doubt in their minds that the English sparrows, which joined the scores of other birds at feeding stations all Win- ter, drove away the pair of bluebirds which inspected the fine bluebird house that last week of March. All one cold day the beautiful birds looked into, the house, sat outside and debated its possibilities. The feeding stations still were in operation at that time. When the sparrows saw the bluebirds they made flights from the feeders to the bluebird house, to which hitherto they had not paid the slightest atten- tion; they flew up into the branches of the tree to which it was affixed, they fluttered around the door, they even poked their heads in. The bluebirds decided to look else- where. After that the English sparrows paid no more attention to the bird house! * X X ¥ When Johnny Wren flew up from the South early in May, and busied himself looking over the various houses in the yard, the gardeners felt themselves well repaid, after all. A wren, no doubt, was acceptable, if the bluebirds simply would not grace the house intended for them. When Jenny Wren appeared a few days later she looked over the various offerings carefully, then decided upon the commodious and handsome blucbxrd house. Its door. of course, was half an inch larger than a wren prefers, but its sit- uation amid a cascade of bittersweet, 10 feet high on the side of a great tree, decided her. “We will take this one” she must have told Johnny, for they did. The work of collecting the materials for the nest went along steadily. As May went by, and June came along, the bistersweet vines grew leafier and leafier, or more leafy and more leafy, just as any one prefers. The little wrens came along, too, and one could hear them cheeping for their perpetual dinner. Johnny and Jenny flew themselves into a veritable frazzle, trying to fill those hungry mouths. * ¥ X *x All this time that loveliest of birds, the wood thrush, was staying away from the yard. No more those excursions along the ground, especially beneath the rhodo- dendrons by the back of the house. This always had been a favorite re- | treat of the thrushes. In years past as many as four of them could be seen there at one time, hopping gently along, bright eyes peering in- tently. The hour they preferred for this was between 6 and 7 o'clock in the evening. | Usually there would be two or three STARS, MEN on the ground, and one in a tree. The latter would sing sometimes for the entire period. * X ¥ ¥ This was a delightiul bird interlude, and it is not to be wondered at that the gardeners miss {t. Many thrushes sing ia the neighbor- hood, so they do not miss the music, but still they lament the absence of the birds from their particular garden. The rhodies are still there, but the thrushes walk no more. If Jenny Wren is responsible for this, it is a heavy responsibility on her pretty little head. Yet she is a belligerent small creature. It well may be that her very presence intimidates the larger but more peaceful birds. It even may be that her queer noises drive the thrushes away. The thrush is 2 musician. Few, if any, birds surpass him in song. ‘Whereas the wrens, with all possible due respect to their vocal powers, are rather more noisy than musical. As one bird lover said the other day, “A pair of wrens is all right, but suppose you had a whole flock of them!” * % * x Few persons in their right senses would be willing to trade the gracious personality and beautiful song of the wood thrush for all the wrens that ever lived. The latter are interesting, engaging little creatures, in their way, and make an especial appeal on account of their tendency to come back to the same wren house every year, but perhaps few bird lovers would be willing to accept them in lieu of wood thrushes, if they could have the latter. Not every community has these beautiful singers. In the early days of America they were regarded solely as forest birds, hence their name. As the country grew the wood thrush, instead of retreating into the woods, along with its cousin. the hermit thrush, decided on a bold stroke. It would become the bird of the sub- urban areas! It was a bold decision, indeed. As we look at this pleasant creature we well may wonder how it made up its mind to it, for there is nothing pushing or forward about this thrush. It comes and goes gently, without the sheer noise of some birds. Its every action is a thing of grace and good demeanor. If the old-fashioned word “genteel,” unfortunately going out of use, can be applied to any feathered creature, sure- ly it is to the wood thrush, whose ac- tions, song, appearance and evervday habits are cultured in the true sense. * * ox % It is a maxim of bird observation, however, that one must take them as they come. If the home gardener is to be a friend of birds he will go slow in hating or de- spising any of them. It will not do to emulate those bird enthusiasts who develop a positive, cor- roding spleen against the English spar- row, for instance. Some of them say that this bird is so lazy that it will not leave a feeding station in the Spring if food is continually put out. This posi- tively is not true. We had many English sparrows leave our feeders weeks before | the feeding was ended for the season. The last birds to patronize it were the cardi- nals. cowbirds, mourning doves and pigeons. The sparrows had gone of their own accord days before. So it is with wren and thrush. If the latter cannot endure the former, then it is just too bad, as the saying it. The gardeners will take delight in the wrens, and enjoy their busy, bustling presence. They are swell little birds, after all. AND ATOMS Notebook of Science Progress in Field, Laboratery and Study. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. The first symptom of the breaking mind is lack of orientation in time. Such is the thesis presented to the American Psychiatric Society by Dr. Max Levin of the Harrisburg, Pa., State Hospital. Dr. Levin describes this symp- tom as “rudimentary delirium.” The characteristic of delirium is lack of orientation and when the condition is complete the victim not only is disori- ented in time, but in ability to recognize persons or places. Said Dr. Levin: “We can understand why in partial delirium 1t is the sphere of time which bears the brunt of dis- orientation. This is the most complex of the three types of orientation and hence is the most easily disturbed. The last to be acquired, it is the first to be lost and the last to be regained.” The significance of this, Dr. Levin pointed out, is that while one might be well oriented as to person and place, he still might be suffering from partial delirium, or incipient delirium. The relative ease with which orientation for time is lost is, he said, in keeping with the theory that in uniform dissolution of the nervous system the degree of dis- turbance of functions varies as their degree of complexity varies, the most complex functions being disturbed first and most. * k% % Hibernation with temperatures run- ning as low as 26 below zero F. doesn't injure some warm-blooded animals. This is notably the case with the common brown bat, described by Dr. Alexander Wetmore, assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in the current issue of the Journal of the Amer- ican Society of Mammalogists. The study came about largely by acci- dent. One evening in early December Dr. Wetmore let down the awning over one of the windows of his office in the National Myseum. As he did so a bat fell from one of the canvas folds, par- tially benumbed by cold. Apparently it had chosen window awning for its ‘Winter sleep. Hibernating animals usually know what they are doing, but it seemed doubtful whether any warm-blooded creature could remain alive throughout a severe Winter in such a place. To test this out Dr. Wetmore placed on the window ledge a small, ventilated box. A double layer of soft woolen blanket was tacked along one side and the bat placed head down within the folds. This was approximately a duplication, so far as temperature was concerned, of the quar- ters the creature had chosen for itself in the fold of the canvas awning. Then a thermometer was inserted in the box with a long scale which could be read from the outside. The entire arrange- ment was intended to stimulate the con- ditions that a bat might encounter in a tree hollow partially filled with rubbish and with a small external opening. The box was exposed to the sweep of cold west and northwest winds. Then, throughout the Winter, Dr. Wetmore recorded the temperature of the bat’s sleeping quarters every morn- ing. During the four Winter months the readings ran- from approximately 28 degrees above zero F. to 26 below. A thermometer outside the box recorded about the same n.ns‘ of temperatures, but showed that fluctuations took place less rapidly inside. One balmy afternoon in March Dr. ‘Wetmore opened the box. The bat was later Dr. Wetmore removed the screen covering the opening of the box and the animal flew away, apparently none the worse for its long, icy sleep. —— { More Than Money at Stake in the War Debts From the Indianapolis Star. Mussolin! is entitled to credit for not keeping Uncle Sam in suspense. We sent him a polite “please remit” note some time ago, just as we did to others in Europe who owe us. He was informed that on June 15 he would be due to hand us $63,494,976 on account. Our Govern- ment has just received a formal reply from the Fascist dictator’s treasury de- partment conveying the not so very surprising information that the money will not be paid.- The 1talian note, along with the atti- tude of other debtors, shows to what extent civilization is dependent on the faith men and nations have in one another. Before the World War nations trusted in treaties. It was unthinkable that any ruler would consider his solemn promise as “a scrap of paper.” Treaties have meant nothing in the Orient in recent years, and almost less than noth- ing in Europe. A man or a nation that signed on the dotted line a promise to pay should not have to be dunned. He should pay as a matter of honor and honesty. A citizen who defaults can be haled into court. Nations thav fail to keep their pledges and then say, “What are you going to do about it?” are worse than deadbeats. They are defaulting not only financially, but declaring themselves bankrupt of the self-respect and honor on which international relations should be based. More Weather Worry. From the New York Sun. By 1940 the Weather Bureau will be forecasting the weather two weeks ahead. 'I'hlst will be something new to worry about. Ancient Sun Treatments. From the New York Sun. Skeletons 8 feet tall have been dis- covered by fishermen on an island off the Florida coast. That sounds as if somebody did stretch out on the beach. The Florida Canal. From the Detroit News. What we're afraid of is that, if the canal is , Florida will appear in the California press as “one of our island possessions.” Peace and Patriotism. From the Worcester Gazette. A clergyman asserts there should be a campaign to make peace patriotic. It’s a good idea, but it probably wouldn't hold up Yy well during war time. | George Shelby. now | | him, | sion?—. awake and in fighting mood. A few days | ANSWERS TO QUESTIORS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Washe ington Evening Star Information Bu= reau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp Jor reply. Q. When and where are the trials for the United States Olympic base ball team going to be held this year?—M. K. A. The final tryouts to select the base ball team which will represent the United States in the demonstration of base ball in connection with the Olympic games will be held at Baltimore, July 1 to 12. An entry fee of $60 is required for each individual entering the play-off. Q. How can a person have his finger= prints recorded in the civilian files of the Department of Justice?>—W. V. 8. A. Twice daily, at 10:30 am. and 2:30 pm., tours are conducted through the Department of Justice. After the tour all of the visitors are invited to have their fingerprints taken and recorded in the civilian files. There is no charge for that service. Q. When was the term “congressional pork barrel” first used?—J. O. G. A. It seems to have been first applied to a rivers and harbors bill passed March 3, 1823. Q. When was “Uncle Tom's Cabin” first played?—W. N. B. A. The first dramatization of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was given at the Troy Museum, Troy, N. Y., on August 23, 1852, and was made by George L. Aiken, who took the roles of George Harris and Greene C. Germon played the role of Uncle Tom. Q. What university started an organ- ization for yellow journalism?—R. L. K. A. Undergraduates of Harvard Unj- versity organized a League of Yellow Journalism this Spring. Q. What constitutes the shortest poem in English?—H. F. A. Strickland Gillilan’s poem, “Lines on the Antiquity of Microbes,” “Adam— Had ‘em.” Q. Who was Casabianca?—H. M. A. Louis Casabianca was a French naval officer, born in Bastia about 1755 and in 1798 captain of the flagship L’Orient in an expedition to Egypt. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of the Nile, August 1, 1798; the ship caught fire, his 10-year-old son would not leave and both were floating on the wreck of the ship’s mast when the final | explosion took place. Q. How did New Bern, N. C, derive its name?—M. P. H. A. It is named for Bern, Switzerland, the home of Christopher, Baron de Graf- fenried. who in 1720 emigrated to and settled near this place. Q. What is the Westminster Confes- A. R. L. A. This was the confession of faith framed by Presbyterian and Calvinistic divines at the Westminster Assembly, whose sessions lasted from 1643 to 1649. The confession was mainly an exposi- tion of the Calvinistic doctrine. Q. On which of his works of art did Rodin spend 20 years?—M. J. A. He worked 20 years on his “Portal of Hell,” which is a bronze door for the Museum of Decorative Art, Paris. Q. What is ant rice?—A. T. A. Ant eggs are known as ant rice and are an important food in some parts of Africa. Q. Are there many native dialects in | the Philippine Islands?—H. S. A. There are about 85 distinct dialects. | A few of these are distinct languages. Q. Did Pagamm play an exceptionally fine violin?—B. A. His violin v\as a very fine Guarne- rius. He bequeathed it to Genoa, Italy, his birthplace, where it is carefully pre- served. Q. How long has the Y. M. H. A. been in existence?—C. G. A. The Young Men's Hebrew Associa= tion was founded in 1874 at New York City. Q. How many buggies were manu- fa;:ured in the United States in 19332 A. The number of buggies was not reported separately in 1933. However, under the heading of carriages, buggies, sulkies and two-wheel carts the Bureau of Census reported the number as 1,074, valued at $61,246. Q. Have many books been written on the mountaineers of the Southern Ap- palachians?—R. L. G. A. One bibliographer, Everett Edwards of the United States Department of Agriculture, has listed 830 books and articles on these people, their customs and handicrafts. . Q. Please name some of the favorite flowers of Queen Mary of England.— S. W. A. Hydrangeas, delphiniums, carnations, sweet peas. Toses, Q. What does the abbreviation “cir.” mean when placed before a date?— F. McC. A. It stands for the Latin word “circa,” meaning “about.” It is often used in connection with dates which cannot be fixed exactly. Q. What United States mint has been in operation the longest?—M. J. H. A. The mint at Philadelphia, long known as the parent mint, which has been in continuous operation since its establishment in 1793. Its coins bear no mint mark. A Rhyme at Twilight Gertrude Brooke Hamilton One Afternoon. A truant from my desk on a Ji I sought my town-parked car ai away. Far' out mzo the country, where the breeze Was filled with odors of the fields and trees. e day, drove Shinlnz m sunlight with a brilliant Dlpmn‘ md rising up, now gray, now Swlyed hy the Summer wind as I spun by, On either side the road great flelds of rye. And farther on I found a wayside inn ‘Where food was not just heated from & tin; Then” struck a cross-road thru a forest glade, Rested awhile in the refreshing shade. Homeward I drove beneath a setting sun cm);mnz my stolen afternoon well done, A