Evening Star Newspaper, September 29, 1936, Page 12

A—12 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. ----September 29, 1936 THEODORE W. NOYES...........Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. o Shee eke Michigan Buildie mm%‘-c;‘c;‘mce;cfi Regent St.. London. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition. e Evening Star_ —=-45¢ per month m! Evening and Sunday Star (when 4 Sundays) .60c per month m:ht Final Collection t th Qrders may be'sent by mail or jonal 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. an A 00: 1 mo.. $1.00 llx}, ‘Onfg!ajnd.’ } ;r.. i L00; 1 mo., 75c y only.. $5.00; 1 mo., t each month. telephone Na- Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to #he use for republication of all news dispatches lso the local news published herein AP ine ;(sonubncn:ion of special dispatches \F ; Admiral Sims. The United States Navy probably is ot primarily intended to produce great ‘eaptains. Instead, theoretically at least, it is designed to be a powerful fighting machine in which even the most abun- dantly gifted individuals are mere cogs in a system of dehumanized construc- tion and operation. The Nation generally ‘approves that view of its marine defense and is drastically skeptical of the good faith of any critic who presumes to challenge the rigid institutional char- fcter of its fleet. But occasions never- theless do arise when the people applaud {ndependence of opinion and conduct in an officer, and the fame of Admiral William S. Sims traces back to a moment in November, 1901, when, fully aware of ‘the danger, he decided to be courageously insubordinate. Ot course, no one knows what travail ‘of soul he experienced before he risked his career to protest to his commander- in-chief against the conditions which had stirred his indignation. But it is plain from his correspondence with President Roosevelt that he was des- .perately sincere in his appeal. The Tesult is history. Called home from the East, “that young man” was put in charge of target practice and “taught the Navy how to shoot.” Had he failed he certainly would have “lost his head” for his impertinence. But it happened that he had been correct in his diagnosis of what was wrong with the naval estab- lishment. Therefore he succeeded in the reforms which he was commissioned to effect. But that was only the beginning. ‘Admiral Sims earned his stars by tireless application to a lengthy series of prob- jems in shipbuilding and management. He was a creative student of the annals of the sea, burning unestimated quan- tities of midnight oil in his devoted effort to improve the science to which he was dedicated—the art of marine protection for the country he loved. Enemies com- plained that he was Anglophile in tem- perament, pro-British in sentiment. The fact was that he possessed the genius to vision clearly the inevitable events of s future for which he desired that America might be prepared. ‘When the World War finally began he had equipped himself for the work he was to do as commander of the United Btates fleet in European waters. Also he had won the confidence of those with whom he was assigned to co-operate. With & smile he conceded that he like- wise had taught politicians the peril of interfering with his procedure. His pen was an instrument not to be challenged with impunity, and he spoke his mind without regard to consequences—espe- elally at times when he was angry, as he {requently was. Now his flag is hauled down forever and he rests from his labors and cares nothing for his honors. The tradition he leaves, however, must be respected. A personality rich and rare, he takes his place among the heroes of a community which does not forget and is deeply grateful, —————— e Nobody hears of Gugsa, who sold his Abyssinian birthright for a dish of spa- ghetti and by this time is probably suf- fering indigestion. He can certainly be of little assistance in advising Italian troops on what to do with Ethiopian territory, now that they have it. —_————— It is admitted the world over that women are powerful, but it is re- gretted In Spanish society that ladies could not be restricted to an occasional use of the poison pen instead of being required to wield bayonets in battle. The Simpson Case. There is no occasion for excitement in this country because of the conviction of an American seaman in Germany of seditious activities and his sentence to a term of imprisonment. The man con- fessed to having engaged in propaganda for the overthrow of the established German government. The fact that, as the dispatches from Berlin state, his per- formance was amateurish and ineffective does not mitigate his offense. He seems to have been prompted by a foolish de- sire to make trouble, and whatever may have been his inspiration it failed to have any results, save in his own dis- comfiture. The only ground of complaint on the part of Simpson and his friends in America is that he was held in confine- ment for fifteen months without trial, and not until the American consular suthorities took steps to have him for- mally given a hearing was he brought to court, where he frankly confessed his actions. The sole injustice was that of his long detention without a chance to face his accusers. Such long delays in the course of judicial proceedings are not unknown in America. If the case were reversed and the 4 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO subject or citizen of another country were to have done as did this man Simp- son in the United States, there would be no question of his liability to arrest and punishment. The fact that such prosecutions are not common here, that indeed they are so rare as to be of a sensational nature when they occur, does not lessen the right of the Government to act as has the German government in this instance. Because propaganda for the destruction of the American sys- tem, promoted both by American citi- zens and by aliens resident here, is not vigorously resisted and when proved punished severely, in no wise justifies an American in engaging in any manner of subversive activity in another coun- try. If this Government is more lenient it does not warrant an American citizen in undertaking to promote, however foolishly and ineffectively, a subversive movement in another land. The wisdom of taking this young sailor's efforts seriously enough to sub- ject him to a severe penalty is altogether a matter for the German government to consider. The safety of the state was assuredly not in any degree menaced by the display of a few handbills and the loosing of some toy balloons. Far more grievous offenses against the Govern- ment of the United States are committed constantly by both native and alien agi- tators for a change in the social order and are ignored. oot When Madrid Falls. With rebel capture of Toledo and other indications of crumbling government re- sistance, Madrid's fall must be en- visioned as an early probability. It is now clear that the loyalist cause, in addition to military ineffectiveness, has been fatally hampered by three difficul- ties—(1) lack of unity and concentrated control in both army and political af- fairs; (2) division of government energies between suppression of the rebellion and an attempt to organize a popular mass movement on class war lines, and (3) sectional differences which frustrated unified direction. Spain traditionally is a land of provinces. Her people habitually comport themselves as Anda- lusians, Catalonians, Castilians, Basques and the like, rather than as Spaniards. But even though the cement of common interest and sacrifice in civil war failed to weld separatist-minded communities into national cohesiveness, Madrid was a symbol around which Spaniards of divergent geographical allegiances ral- lied against the Fascist revolt. Once the capital falls, there is grave reason to anticipate that sectionalism will give way to confusion and despair. Precipitate flight of President Azana and other government leaders, said to be planned, would almost certainly undermine the national spirit that flour- ished as long as the republican flag was kept flying at Madrid. There are sug- gestions than an emergency government may be set up elsewhere, perhaps at Valencia. Bilbao and Barcelona are also mentioned as possible last-stand scenes. But it is questionable how long a fugitive regime could sustain itself. In possession of Madrid, General Franco in- evitably would sooner or later gain nation-wide control. Foreign repercussions from overthrow of the Leftist government are universally looked for. To a London correspondent, President Azana depicts the Spanish civil conflict as “the first battle in a future European war.” He suggests that the rebels are winning because of material and moral support from “certain powers” —a thinly veiled reference to Italy and Germany. Along with hints of an in- surgent deal to transfer Spanish Morocco and the Balearic Islands to Mussolini, Senor Azana points out that a Fascist victory would convert the whole Iberian peninsula of Spain and Portugal into a military, naval and politico-economic base for the Rome and Berlin dictator- ships. Such a situation would not only imperil France, but weaken Great Britaln's position at Gibraltar by bar- ring the Straits and blocking the “life line” route to India. If any such de- velopments are on the horizon, end of Spanish civil war, as President Azana warns, would be the beginning of inter- national complications of menacing magnitude, The young man jailed in Berlin for distributing Communist literature is an assurance that Hitler in aiming at all kinds of political agitation may occa- sionally hit the right mark. Expert conservation is a work de- manding patience as well as intelli- gence. It may require years, even cen- turies, to repair the injury of a single forest fire. Governor Winant’s Choice. In a day when responsibility to public office and responsibility t0 a political party are too often considered as one and the same thing, Gov. Winant strikes a new, high note in announcing his resignation as chairman of the Social Security Board in order to reply to campaign attacks against tha‘mdll security act. Hitherto it has not been regarded as inappropriate to continue to hold public office and to engage in the political cam= paign. The highest office holders are also the partisan war horses when the election draws near. Gov. Winant ex- plains that he was chosen as the Re- publican member of an independent board, not more than two members of which could be members of the same political party. This non-partisan board, he explains, was to administer an act conceived as a non-partisan effort in the direction of social security. To continue to hold office and at the same time to engage in the political campaign—even to the extent of answering attacks against a measure in which he fully believes—seemed to him . to violate an important principle. But the question naturally arises, which is the more important: To retain public office for the administration of an important law or to quit that office to answer partisan attack against the law? Gov. Winant's resignation answers \ the question, as far as he is concerned, and he thus indicates the importance which he and members of the adminis- tration presumably attach to Gov. Lan- don’s criticism. He views this criticism as creating a vital campaign issue, and he regards it as more important to go to the people on that issue than to remain silent in the performance of his official duties. For Religious Health. This evening at Constitution Hall the second annual mass meeting arranged by the Committee on Religious Life in the Nation's Capital will be held. Few occasions of its kind are more likely to stir public interest. There is something helpful in the spectacle of such interde- nominational efforts. Religious health depends upon co-operation and tolerance and good will. In the past too much energy has been wasted in diversive labor. What is wanted is unity and fellowship. A community cannot make spiritual progress without a mutual goal and a mutual method of procedure. Last year's mass meeting proved that it is possible for representatives of a score of different schools of religious thought to assemble on a single plat- form. Perhaps tonight's gathering will lead to more frequent services of the same helpful character. Indeed, it might be feasible to enlist support for one all- inclusive program of praise and prayer each week. If so, the profit to Wash- ington would be compelling. The Na- tion's Capital, surely, is the ideal city for a convincing manifestation of the people’s faith and its noblest fruits of behavior. ——————— Dr. Eliot’s five-foot book shelf con- tains the wisdom of the ages. It is a marvelous example of condensation, especially considering that the literature of a single campaign requires miles of print. It is fortunate that a “rubber franc” cannot be attempted in France on a materialistic basis. Rubber is already scarce. And there is no way of utiliz- ing synthetic rubber in synthetic finance. ————— The end of the world has been fre- quently predicted, but never before in such explicit terms of military science. ——————— Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNBSON. Misdirected Energy. Treasure waiting in the deep For the diver’s care; Mountain their rewards will keep Generous and fair For the men who toil aright! We are filled with doubt, Asking, when folks start a fight, “What's the shooting 'bout?” Miles of journey on parade At some signal slight, Idle rules to be obeyed E'en through famine's blight. ‘When the harvest song is due Comes the battle shout Calling us to ask anew, “What's the shooting 'bout?” Trial and Error. “Do you believe in trial and error?” “To a certain extent,” said Senator Sorghum, “but what's the good of a trial if the jury insists on hanging the wrong man?” Problem of Distribution. ‘We strive with mere pretense to please. A dozen boldly run To claim the labor that with ease Should be performed by one. Somebody has to pay the bill And toil to pay the taxes. The man who has most PULL is still The one who most relaxes. Near Enough. “What we want,” said the anarchist, “is a state of society in which anybody can help himself to anything he wants.” “We are already near enough to that state of society,” said Miss Cayenne. “Our cook, our butler and all the rest of the help have been doing so for years.” “They who are most audacious in seek-- ing power,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “are too often bewildered by its possession and betrayed by those to whom they lend authority—a loan which is not easily recalled.” Diamond Back. A college surely must be sad And hold, to say the least, As epicures go to the bad, A Barmecidal feast. ‘When for our terrapin we shout The chef is scarcely clever ‘Who brings an iron turtle out And no champagne whatever. “De man dat makes friends too easy,” said Uncle Eben, “is liable to be like most any other fast worker in findin’ a scarcity of permanent results.” Kansas Commends. Prom the Wichita Eagle. Kansas Republicans in session com- mended Gov. Landon, and Kansas Dem- ocrats commended President Roosevelt. Now that that suspense is over, every- body can go ahead. —_— e Ennui. Prom the Milwaukee Sentinel. Confirmed loafers are getting tired of so much unemployment. They are hnpfmt when they can watch others work. No Hiding Places. From the mn-“.:l; Bee. o Trotzky’s pl suggests anoth weakness of Soviet phitosophy. After the big world revolution has occurred, where are they going to put the professional revolutionists? — e ————— Still a Problem. * Prom the Chicago Daily News. 1t is & forward step, no doubt, fo drop 1,000 soldiers into enemy territory by parachute, but much more will be way to get them Capital Should Have a Proper Convention Hall To the Editor of The Star: Please accept the hearty thanks of all the hotels in Washington for your recent editorial about the lack of appropriate convention and banquet facilities in the Nation’s Capital. The importance of our city nationally and internationally; the magnificence of our architectural masterpieces; the dig- nity of our country’s shrines here; the beauty of our parks and poulevards; all these receive deserved tribute from the visitors to our city. A consistent high thought has moved through all the plans for the city’s com- pleteness; that all that is done shall have the approval of the individual visitor. The desire for this separate approval is laudable and the sojourner here experiences an enchantment pe- culiarly memorable. No civic consideration though has at any time been given to the comfort and pleasure of large groups of individuals meeting at one time and necessarily in one place. At this point our national and local résponsibility breaks down. In every particular excepting for the miss- ing auditorium the city of Washington is a perfect convention city. ‘What explanation is there excepting that no one has sufficiently cared? Should not then the humiliating recol- lection of the strange hybrid banquet of the third World Power Conference be sufficient to cause a determination on the part of those officials of our Govern- ment who have a responsibility to us and our civic leaders who should be con- cerned, that an auditorium adequate in every way will without delay be erected? Nor is it only for the benefit of the visitor elsewhere that such an edifice is needed. The use of such an edifice for sports, attracting large attendances and community gatherings, would bring a community benefit. And so we are found wanting in an important appointment necessary for a proper hospitality to large gatherings, guests of the city and to serve them with the dignity rightfully expected of us. Call the roll of large gathering essen- tials and hear the answers. City hospitality ... Transportation Civic order and sanitation Aplacetomeet____________ _Absent Washington, a city of charm and dig- nity, with places of interest and national shrines inspiringly beautiful; a city that captivates the imagination of all who come from other lands; surely such a city, wherein nothing has been spared to demonstrate our love of the beautiful and to indicate the permanence and power of our national purposes, should quickly remedy a situation which com- pels our citizens and visitors from other shores to partake of their food at a banquet of international scope and rela- tionship in the concourse of a railroad station because we have failed to make proper provision for such an occasion. The presence of such an auditorium would not only serve to meet the need for that, but would result in creating civic occasions because the facility for that is available. Our community shame Is the greater because it is so that every large city in the United States has such an edifice. There is a rightful place in this mes- sage about the loss of revenue to the city’s commercial interest because we cannot invite gatherings to Washington of a size greater than a certain number. The support of our citizens is asked in such action as may be taken to the end that a suitable auditorium be erected without delay. EDWARD W. MARTIN, President, Hotel Association, Washing- ton, D. C. Approves Plan for A Statue of Christ To the Editor of The Star: It does not seem possible, in this day of education and so-called enlighten- ment, that any well-informed American would so much as suggest that a statue of Christ would be erected for the pur- pose of being bowed down to or adored. As I understand the erecting of monu- ments and statues, they are placed in our Halls of Fame or in our public grounds so that those who pass them may be reminded of the individual's character or accomplishment, and per- haps be induced to follow such fine examples. Surely we are a Christian Nation, and as such acknowledge Christ as the Son of God and as our Redeemer. Could we be reminded of anything greater than a love which caused this Man to lay down His life for His brethren? I, for one, would be happy to be able to pass each day a statue erected to the memory of the greatest Man who ever lived, and whose blameless life on earth has made it possible for all humanity to enjoy an eternity of happiness, when this short life is done. F. H. HEISKELL, Dangerous Conditions on Arlington Cemetery Road To the Editor of The Btar: ‘The Star has previously brought to the attention of its readers the poor condi- tion of the road east of Arlington Ceme- tery as well as the connecting Govern- ment roads. The other day I again saw & bad accident on this road known as South Arlington Ridge road. The car turned over, as most cars do that leave this road, due to deep holes in- the shoulders on this narrow highway. I travel this highway no more than twice a week and have seen in one month three cars too badly damaged to be driven away. This road has been in this condi- tion since last Winter. It is maintained by Fort Myer but they have no funds to repair it. ‘The many people who have been badly injured have proven just cause for im- mediate action, and I trust that this is -foremost in any safety drive for the motoring public that may be undertaken, GEORGE B. KISSINGER. Ideal of Communism Is The Cure of Social Evils To the Editor of The Star: A letter from one of your readers was headed recently: “Cure of Bocial Evils Prom the Ashland (Ky.) Independent, A sports historian recalls Tony Mullane of the old Cincinnati Reds, who pitched equally well with the right or left hand. We believe this would be true of some D. C, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1936. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Cool weather is the best tonic, after all. It was exactly the one needed by most of the people who went around ex- claiming they were “all in” as the re- sult of the heat of Summer. Perhaps not in many years were there 80 many complaipts from normally vig- orous hale persons, who ordinarily would not be expected to feel weather changes much. The heat, combined with an abnormal humidity, left many in a physical slump, from which that first touch of cooler weather rescued them. It was amusing to watch people step out that morning with a “pep” and “zip” they had not shown for a long time. The morning reminded them forcibly that weather changes have a great deal to do with the way folks feel. Every one knows that, of course, but sometimes it takes a particular day to bring it home to one. o o ‘That cooler morning was such a day. It made one step out briskly, satisfied with the poetry of motion in little. Only never stop to think about that swinging arm, when you walk, even on a crisp morning! Nothing strikes one as sillier than that flail-like motion. Especially as manifested by women. If you want to get a big laugh, quietly to yourself, as you drive downtown some morning, or are aboard a public vehicle, watch the ladies as they go by on the sidewalk. In no time at all you will understand why the ladies are to be*singled out, in this gazing, not only because they are beautiful and by far the most interest- ing, any way you look at them, but mainly because of the fling they give that right arm. * X % ¥ Both arms, naturally, act as balancers to the movement of the legs in walking. The right arm and hand go forward as the left leg and foot advance, and vice versa. It is in the backward fling that women pedestrians excell. Often the most exaggerated arm mo- tion accompanies their walking. Mostly it is confined to the right hand, the left hand holding a pocketbook or something. The littlest girls swing the arm the most, it would seem to the impassionate gazer. No doubt millions of pounds of excess energy are wasted in this arm swinging business, * % % On such a brisk morning, however, nothing is wasted. There is plenty of energy in the uni- verse for all. When one stops to think of the energy in the universe, it seems silly, indeed, that any one should lack the small amount he needs to get along best. This, however, is the universal fate of all too many. Just a little more “pep,” and they might really amount to something _in the world, they think. s ‘The saving grace, then, is to look at some of the big bums you know, who have s0 much energy they don't know what to do with it, and who for some STARS, MEN reason or other never do anything with it except waste it. * ok ok o* ‘The theory among some scientists is that drastic weather changes, as incor- porated in the four seasons, in the so- called temperate zones, have had a great deal to do with the progress of the races in them. Thus cold is stimulating, particularly after warm, enervating days. The thing to see to is that the personal change is not too decided. This is at- tended to by warmth in houses and clothing. Also by adequate food. These are matters known to every one, but what difference does that make? The joke comes in because, though known, many persons fail to recognize the need for warmth in times of sudden change, especially when they feel pretty sure that within a few days entirely different temperatures will prevail again. * % kX Hence people sneezing. Many early Fall colds could be pre- vented if folks would take simple pre- cautions. The time to keep one's self warm is the moment one feels cold. It is too much trouble, in many cases, to reach down to the foot of the bed and pull up a blanket. It is too much trouble to go into the house and get a coat or sweater. Hence the sneezes. The common “cold” does not get its name for nothing. No matter what causes it, microbe, germ, virus or whatnot, the victim is actually cold at some time in its inception. This is the warning, the sign that never fails, if only a man pays attention to it at the time. Later is not enough. He may wrap up in as many blankets as he pleases, it will do him little good once the disease has got to work. ok ok x ‘The return of cold weather ought to make every one who is susceptible to common colds think twice about the necessity of being warm enough at the time one begins to feel chilly. Then is the time, and there is none other, when heat should be furnished to the languishing frame, for all the heat in the world will be merely palliative later on, So reach for that blanket, when the reaching is good, and wear a light coat if the morning is cool. Unless, of course, one is “sold” on the power of vitamins A and D to help ward off colds. While science itself is chary about attributing such virtues to these con- centrates, as manifest in tablets and capsules, there are many ordinary mor- tals who are not so hesitant, but are willing to feel thay so long as they stick to their vitamin rations they run little chance of catching cold as ordinary mortals do. Theirs is a perfect faith, and, as with so many faiths, one which seems to work. So these people alone may walk forth in the cool of the first real Fall days, without hat, coat or anything of a warming nature except three minims of cod ‘and halibut liver oils in their little insides. AND ATOMS Notebook of Science Progress in Field, Laboratory and Study. BY THOMAS R. HENRY, Debris of outer space flaming into the upper reaches of earth's atmosphere at velocities approaching 40 miles a second is yielding astronomers new data on the mysterious border line between the outer- most borders of the planet and the vast emptiness. A report on heights of more than 3,000 meteors observed by the Arizona expe- dition from October, 1931, to July, 1933, has just been issued in the journal of the National Academy of Sciences here. From the altitudes at which they ap- peared a good deal can be deduced about the nature of the medium through which they are moving. The meteor, a chunk of rock or iron from somewhere in outer space, strikes the outer atmosphere at a terrific speed and bursts into flame from friction. Usually it is quickly consumed, its ashes adding to atmospheric dust and gradually drifting to earth. Only the largest of meteors occasionally collide with the surface of the planet. A notable observation in the report to the National Academy was that of the seasonal variation in height of the cen- ters of meteor trails. This varied nearly three miles between March and Novem- ber, suggesting an actual fluctuation in the height of the atmosphere itself more or less corresponding with the annual temperature curve. The warmer atmos- phere of Summer naturally would rise slightly higher than that of Winter. The small difference between the sea- sons, however, indicates that the varia- tion is only about 50 per cent of the annual amplitude of the mean tempera- ture at the earth’s surface. The meteor observations also show that the structure of the upper atmos- phere must be quite @ifferent from that at the surface and disprove some hy- potheses concerning it. If the molecular weight of the gas constituting the outer- most layersof air were the same as that of the atmosphere at sea level a tem- perature of approximately 100 centigrade would be necessary to account for the meteor phenomena. Obviously there can be no such temperatures at 80 miles above the earth's surface. Mathematical calculations indicate that the tempera- ture is closer to —30 centigrade, calling for a somewhat smaller molecular weight —due prqbably to ionization or dissocia- tion of the atmospheric gases by the intense solar radiation. Assuming the correctness of this figure, the molecular weight should be a little more than half the sea level value. This affords little clue as to the actual composition of the upper atmosphere, but yields considerable information as to what it is not. It cannot, the report points out, be a hydrogen atmosphere, as has been postulated by several physicists. * x ok % By studying the life histories of single rainstorms, Department of Agriculture scientists have opened an entirely new approach to the problems of upstream reduction and control of flood waters. ‘The measurements, made co-operatively by Weather Bureau and Soil Conserva- tion workers in Western Oklahoma, show that the intensity of rainfall dur- ing a single storm varies markedly from locality to locality within the storm area. Previous rainfall records, based on less frequent observations of widely spaced gauges, thus ‘ provide an inaccurate record of the amount bf water falling upon the land. Thus it has been im- possible to gauge flood peaks with any degree of accuracy. In addition to the data on intensity distribution, the measurements have pro- vided valuable information relative to the extent and migration tendencies of individual rainstorms. Similar records of wind velocity and direction also have brought important findings. They show that velocities are extremely variable from place to place within the area studied. The variations take the form of channels of force which parallel the wind direction. In some cases, in parallel zones across the area, velocities ranged from as high as 25 miles an hour to less than 10 miles an hour. This find- ing may explain the puzzling fact that certain fields lose their top soil from wind erosion whereas adjoining fields remain unharmed. * ok o x An impressive array of delicate in- struments—rain gauge, thermometer, thermograph, psychrometer, hygrother- mograph, anenometer, meteorograph and hygrometer—constitutes the armament of the forester who is charged with keeping Uncle Sam's forests from de- struction by fire, according to Forest | Service executives. All are essential for the constant close observation of fire conditions. Even with this watchfulness more than 40,000,000 acres were burned over last year and lightning alone causes from two to eighteen fires for each 100,000 acres of forest land every year. U. S. Must Buy if It Wants to Sell Goods Prom the Kansas City Star. In connection with the moderate gains that have been reflected in American foreign trade so far this year, the June bulletin of the National City Bank of New York notes that imports exceeded exports for three of the first four months for which figures are now avail- able, and sensibly adds that the fact “should cause no concern.” The in- creased imports, the bulletin points out, are beneficial to this country as well as to the shipper. Here is a simple fact about foreign trade that needs constantly to be borne in mind. It is sometimes argued that exports are good and imports are bad from the point of view of a nation's economic welfare and that a country should always seek to sell as much as possible abroad, while buying as little as possible from foreign sources in order io maintain a “favorable” balance of trade. Few assumptions could be more absurd. The use of “favorable” in this connection is purely technical; it has nothing to do with the ordinary mean- ing of the word, being employed merely to indicate in which direction the trade equilibrium has been disturbed; and economists have long observed that such & condition is often extremely “unfavor- able” to a nation’s interests. As the National City Bank authorities explain, the commodities that figure in our import trade “have been brought in to satisfy needs, chiefly because the United States does not produce the quantities or qualities desired.” Fur- ther, it is rudimentary logic that we must be prepared to buy if we wish to sell. The only alternative is to lend foreigners the money with which to buy our goods, a process which, if carried on to any considerable extent—as it was in the 1920s—will simply leave us with de- faulted loans, or, in other words, we will have given our goods away. Belated Praise. Prom the Shreveport Journal. Here's a fellow who claims to have driven a million miles without an ac- cident, and says he owes most of his success as a driver to his wife. That's the first boost for the back-seat driver. A ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. How old is Helen Jacobs, the tennis player, and where was she born?—E. M. A. Helen Hull Jacobs was born in Globe, Ariz., in 1908. Q. How many pupils are carried to school by busses or other vehicles?—E. J, A. There are 2,794,000 pupils who are transported to school in 77,000 vehicles, Q. What is the highest elevation in New York City?—J. G. A. The highest natural elevation of land in New York City—430 feet—is on the summit of Todt Hill, Staten Island. Q. How old is the Filson Club in Ken- tucky?—E. R. A. The Filson Club of Louisville was organized May 1, 1884, for collecting, preserving and publishing historic mate- rial, especially that pertaining to Ken- tucky. Q. When were angels first pictured with wings?—V. R. A. Artists base their conception of the angel on the fact that in the Old Testa- ment they are described as having wings. The first Scriptural mention of cherubim with wings occurs after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. See Exodus, Xxxv.20 nd the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mergy seat.” Isalah gives warrant for E vings. Seraphim and cherubim are y lly represented by heads with one, r three pairs of wings which sym- e pure spirit, informed by love and intelligence. This manner of represent- ing the two highest orders of angels is very ancient. It is not possible to say when angels were first pictured with wings. They are the distinctive angelic symbol, and are amblematic of spirit, power and swiftness. Wings were used by the artists of ancient Egypt, Babylon, Nineveh and Etruria as symbols of might, majesty and divine beauty. Q. When was the train wreck which was known as the Chatsworth Horror? —M.E.S. A. Chatsworth Horror occurred on Au- gust 10, 1887, at Chatsworth, Ill, in the days of wooden railroad cars on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad. Q. Is there a superstition connected with jade?—J. W. A. The ancient Greeks believed, as do the Chinese today, that jade acts as a charm to cure all kidney diseases. Q. How many eggs does an alligator lay?—E. W. A. The alligator lays from 30 to 40 hard white eggs about the size of those of a goose. Q. Has Paderewski ever appeared in the movies?>—H. K. A. The famous pianist is soon to make his first screen appearance in a picture called “The Moonlight Sonata.” Marie Tempest will appear with him in the production, which is to be made at the Denham Studios in London. Q. How much have bank deposits in- creased in the last three years?>—M. P. A. Between June 30, 1933, and March 4, 1936, total demand and time deposits of all banks in the United States, ex- cluding interbank deposits, increased by about $11,000.000,000 to a total of nearly $49,000.000.000. In 1929 the total was $55,000,000,000. Q. How many of the tragedies of Aeschylus are in existence?—J. W. A. Only seven of his 70 tragedies are extant: “Seven Against Thebes,” “The Suppliants,” “The Persians,” “Prome- theus Unbound.” “The Choephori,” “The Eumenides,” and “Agamemnon.” Q. What food value have turnips? —H. W. A. They are high in calcium and phos- phorous, with some iron and copper and contain all of the vitamins. Q. What is the religion of Rexford | Tugwell, Undersecretary of Agriculture? —T. C. A. He is a Congregationalist. | Q How many radio stations have daily | news programs?—L. B A. Of the 635 broadcasting stations of the country, 500 are now using daily news broadcasts. Q. Please give a biography of Walter Lippmann, the writer—C. J. H. A. Walter Lippmann was born in New York City in 1889. He was graduated in 1909 from Harvard, where he took post- graduate work in philosophy. He be- came associate editor of the New Re- public, later joining the editorial staff of the New York World. In 1917 he served as assistant to the Secretary of War and in 1918-1920 was secretary of the organization directed by E. M. House to prepare data for the Peace Confer- ence. He is a special writer for the New York Herald-Tribune and other papers and an astute critic of political and social life in America. Q. What kind of fish is a porgy?— G L. M. A. It is a spiny-finned sea fish, often called scuppaug or scup, found along the eastern shores of the United States. It is an excellent food fish, attaining a length of 18 inches and a weight of about four pounds. - Q. What is the seating capacity of the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah?—J. G. A. It has a seating capacity of 12,000. 5 % Who discovered nitroglycerin— ‘ATt was discovered by Sobrero in 1846. Q. Who said, “A thing of beauty is a Joy forever"?—G. M. A. This is the first line of “Endymion,” by Keats. Anti-Refrigeration. From the Toledo Blade. Harvard is interested in storing the heat of the Summer for Winter use. Daylight saving isn't enough. A Rhyme at Twilight Gertrude B:mke Hamilton The Gift of Love I sit at the desk where my inkwell stands Reflecting the sunset gleams, And I wonder if this is what life demands: Adherence to duty—no dreams. Then I vision your face in its beauty, Your eyes like two bright sunbeams, And I know life holds more than mers duty, l For you give me love—and dreams. )