Evening Star Newspaper, November 10, 1936, Page 10

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1936. —10 : o ST el P O SR L 2 s : » THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY November 10, 1936 e e THEODORE W. NOYES...........Editor e S ey The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Bustness Office: 11th St a5 Pennsylvanta Ave New York Office. 110 East 42nd 8t. Chicago Office: Lake Michigan Buildine, Furopean Office: 14 Regent SL.. London. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. 45¢ per month when 60¢ per month e Event e e The Sunday Star. Night ight Pinal and Sunday Night Final Star__. Collection made & Orders mav be sent by mail or telephone Na- tional 5000 70¢ per month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia, Datly and Sund; . $10.00; 1 mo., Dails only __ . 3007 1 mo. Sunday only_. $4.00; 1 mo., &3¢ Aoe Daily and_Sundi Dailv only_ Sur’ v only. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press 1s exclustvely entitied to the use for republication of all news dispatches eredited 10 it or not otherwise credited in this paver and also the local news published herein All_tights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. —_—— After Madrid’s Fall, ‘With Madrid's fall apparently now only a matter of hours, the Spanish situation once again projects the menace of wgrave international complications. While General Franco's aircraft was spreading renewed devastation through the capital during the week end. Premier Blum made the startling suggestion that France is ready to scrap the mnon- intervention agreement and come to the nid of the Leftist government if Great Rritain joins in such action. It is easy to credit the consternation caused in London by this sudden change of front at Paris, for, even with insurgent vic- tory imminent, Anglo-French armed gupport of the crumbling republican government would almost automatically precipitate counter-action by Germany and Italy. In addressing the Socialist National Council, M. Blum indicated that French gid for the Spanish Leftists, which the Paris government was always inclined to render, had been withheld only be- cause assurance of British co-operation was lacking. “We could not allow our working class to walk into a blind ad- venture,” the premier explained, “for, if a general war had come along, France would have found herself alone except for Russia.” It can safely be sssumed that both France and Britain hanker to see the curtain rung down on the Spanish tragedy speedily and with finality. All concerned are pain- fully aware that in prolongation of hostilities lies enduring peril of a Euro- pean conflagration. Yet another danger of foreign com- plications looms in the reported plan of Catalonia to set up a republic in- dependent of the rest of Spain as a bold and ingenious method of ending the war, Catalan delegates now in Paris are understood to be atiempting to en- list French sympathy for such a project. Tts essence s that a government based on Barcelona would be established under guarantees that it will be liberal repub- lican, and neither anarchist nor Cpm- munist, in return for the benevolent pro- tection alike of France, Britain, Ger- many, Italy and Russia. The Catalans would be willing to cease fighting and recognize the rule of the insurgents over the remainder of the country. They reason that the idea should be attractive to both Germany and Italy, beuau.»e‘ neither of them wants a red regime in Barcelona. France is comprehensibly hesitant to entertain the Catalan pro- posal for fear of offending Franco, as well as his German and Italian friends. On the other hand, once Berlin and Rome recognize a Spanish Fascist gov- ernment, France will be on the horns of # dilemma no less embarrassing. The prospect of a friendly Catalonia appeals to the French because of Musso- lini’s ambitions to dominate the Mediter- ranean. An independent regime at Barcelona could safeguard the safety of France's vital communications with her North African empire, which would be seriously threatened if ihe east coast, along with the rest of Spain, were Fascist-controlled. For all these rea- gons, it is disquietingly apparent that while Madrid's fall will signify insurgent victory, it will not necessarily mean the end of civil war. It will distinctly not banish the aftermath specter of far- flung European strife. —— e Invective is entertaining but seldom Instructive perhaps for the reason that a state of indignation does not favor a Jogical process of thought. DTS There could be no stronger proof of freedom of print than the fact that the names of Communists appeared in bold type on ballot forms. o Mr. Garfinckel’s Will. ! Those persons who profess to fear and distrust individuals who possess large wealth surely would encounter difficulty in any effort to explain Julius Garfinckel within the terms of their theory. He was & man who, by the application of his own genius to circumstance, created an important business institution and earned a vast fortune. But did he use his powers to tyrannize over, oppress or exploit any fellow creature? His will, filed yesterday, provides the answer to that question. Mr. Garfinckel left money to Emer- gency Hospital for “the relief of human suffering.” A similar amount he gave to All Saints’ Unitarian Church to establish and maintain a home “for needy and worthy members * * * incapacitated from earning their own living.” The ultimate residue of his estate he assigned to the Young Women's Christian Association for “a home and school” in the interest of the industrial arts and in specific memory of his mother, i But the most congcinz evidence of Mr. Garfinckel's integrity and maturity of instinct is to be found in the impulse of appreciation which prompted him to bequeath one thousand dollars to each of one hundred and nine employes. They were his friends and his collaborators— not merely “hired hands” paid wages simply to pursue a routine of labor under his supervisory direction. It follows that his remembrance of them in his final testament witnesses to the fundamental honesty and Justice of his soul. Small- minded, mean-hearted men do not do such things. ‘Washington let Mr. Garfinckel depart with regret. Now it has additional cause to mourn him and to hold his name in grateful reverence. He was worthy of trust, deserving of the confidence of the community he served and has endowed. — ey Labor Troubles, ‘William Green, president of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, has not minced words in his latest comment on the at- titude of John L. Lewis and the C. I. O. He gave it as his opinion that Mr. Lewis’ refusal to consult with him and the declination of the C. I. O. to appoint & committee to meet with & group ap- pointed by the A. F. of L. council was “one of the closing steps in a delibera(e plan” to set up a rival organization to the American Federation of Labor. The re-election of President Roosevelt, it had been predicted, would mean ndency of Mr. [ewls in leadership of organized labor. {his was predicted, not because Mr. Gréen did not support President Roosevelt for re-election, but because Mr. Lewis had been the fair- haired boy at the White House. ‘It was further predicted that Mr. Lewis and his Committee for Industrial Organiza- tion would have the tacit support of the administration after the election. This remains to be demonstrated. President Roosevelt may have another problem on his hands, a problem entirely within the ranks of labor. Lewis has the support of powerful unions which have grown and developed under the organization of the American Federation of Labor. Green has the support of other such unions. Mr. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America, took that or- ganization into open and pledged sup- port of the re-election of the President early in the campaign. Mr. Green and the American Federation of Labor stuck by the traditional policy of non-partisan political action of the parent organiza- tion, although Mr. Green announced his own hearty support of President Roose- velt. The first showdown in the contest be- tween Lewis and the C. I. O. and Green and the A. F. of L. will come at the na- tional convention of the American Fed- eration of Labor in Tampa. Of the unions which followed Lewis into the C. I. O, two or three will be represented, Mr. Green states, at the national con- vention. He mentioned the United Hat- ters, Cap and Millinery Workers and the International Typographical Union in this connection. The unions which followed Lewis into the C. I. O. were suspended by action of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor. It is apparently the intention of Mr. Green to ask the conven- tion to ratify this suspension and to ask that the unions be called upon to give up the C. I. O. for reinstatement in the A. F. of L. Apparently Mr. Green has come to the conclusion that the time for conciliatory methods is past. From now on, it is to be a fight., ———————— Madrid is caught in a situation that requires patience until some kind of a town council can be reorganized to confer with citizens' associations. —_— Dictators are fortunate so long as they can prevent the people they immediately control from being interested in foreign fashions in dictatorship. ———————_ The music of the campaign was tem- perate, with never a suggestion of “Ca Ira” or the “Carmagnole” hinted at in the song sheets. —————— Some of the farmers are said to favor the A. A. A. system as a piece of labor- saving machinery. e Seizure of Telegrams. A somewhat anomalous situation re- sults from the decision of the District Court of Appeals, rendered yesterday, in the matter of the seizure of telegrams by the Federal Communications Commis= sion at the instance of a Senate Lobby Investigating Committee. The appellate court, affirming the ruling of the lower court, holds that the commission acted not only without authority, but in vio- lation of law when it seized the tele- grams and turned them over to the Senate committee. It likewise holds that, despite this trespass upon the privacy of individuals, it has no power to prevent the use by the Senate of the messages s0 seized. In other words, it was wrong to seize the telegrams, but there is no way in the law to estop the improper disclosure of the messages. The appellate court declares itself in clear terms in respect to the limitation upon its power of injunction, seying: “The legislative discretion in discharge of its constitutional functions, whether rightfully or wrongfully exercised, is not & subject for judicial interference, The Constitution has lodged the legislative power exclusively in the Congress. If a court could say to Congress that it could use or could not use the information in its possession, the independence of the Legislature would be destroyed and the constitutional separation of the powers of Government invaded.” | This does not suggest, a doubt as to the power of the courts to pass upon the validity of legisiation in terms of the Constitution, which has been repeatedly maintained and demonstrated. 1t does, however, hold that ‘the courts cannot prevent the use in legislative debate of In other words, it is wrong to get pos- session of the private correspondence of the people ‘ seizure, but once seized such correspondence may be made the subject of discussion by Congress. The court reflects that “the assumption may properly be indulged that, attention being called to the unlawful nature of the search, the Senate will not use the proceeds in disregard of appellant's rights.” The long and the short of the matter, as far as ‘this ruling goes, is that it 1s wrong to seise telegrams, but' mothing can be done about their use if seized save to rely upon the constitutional con- scfnce of Congress in the matter of their use. It would seem that the only way for the sanctity of private correspond- ence to be respected is to penalize those who obey the orders of Congress in its seizure,” Congress cannot beé punished, but its agent of exploration may be. The ruling has yet to be confirmed by the Supreme Court, which may in its review of the case go further and de- clare any use of illegally seized mate- rials to be itself unconstitutional. —_—a—— American citizens who had engage- ments abroad during the campaign had little time for sightseeing if they: listened to all the important news that was going across by radio. ¥ —rt———— The habit of figuring in large terms has possessed the world to such an extent that there are even suggestions of an effort to assert personal proprietorship over the Mediterranean, If one hemisphere can be brought to & state of harmonious understanding it may enable the other hemisphere to come over for advice more valuable than cash or munitions, e An elephant never forgets an injury, but that does not prevent him, even when vexed, from taking his cue to stand on his hind legs and walta, ——— Labor leaders have not brought con- troversy to a point where agvbody can assume a magnanimous attitude and give assurance that there will be no reprisals. —_ ————— Some of the W. P. A. products, while representing employment to some extent, threaten to put a number of able and industrious art critics out of business, e ‘The art of speaking gently has its ad- vantages, but there is no use of expecting to make a strike or a lockout less objec- tionable by calling it a “holiday.” et Europe is arming at a rate that prom- ises little valuable advice from abroad in the art of budget balancing. _ Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Immediate. We frequently grieve about Adam and Eve And the fearful mistakes that they made; Of Samson we learn and with sadness we turn ‘The page where his deeds are displayed. To Solomon’s wealth and his physical health A high admiration we vow; Yet in paying respect it is wrong to neglect Plain folks who are living right now. There were heroes so true that our an- cestors knew, And rapscallions perhaps here and there. A Helen of Troy tempted men to employ Some methods of warfare unfair. But earth must revolve and its problems we solve, And we gently inquire as to how We will manage the cares that each season prepares For us folks who are living tight now. He That Complies. “Have you changed your mind since the election?” “No,” said Senator Sorghum, “it is the same old mind, but I have deemed it proper to make some changes in my phraseology.” In the Discard. The old band wagon Goes its way. A great, grand wagon In its day. The old band wagon Now is sunk; i Second-hand wagon; Merely junk. Avenger! “Would you sell munitions abroad?” “No,” answered Mr. Bombsport. “Not unless I could punish those wicked war- makers by cheating them without mercy.” “The greatest compliment,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “that you can pay a talkative friend is to be a patient listener and not intrude &m his self- esteem by correcting him, thus asserting & privilege which he regards as belonging exclugively to his wife.” Cutting a Figure,, . A snowbound group of travelers told, In &' New England climate cold, Among their stories, short and plain, How Miss Vermont met Mr. Maine, Upon the ice, with fairy grace, Electoral figures they would trace. The crowd, in admiration great, Cried, “Whata charming nm 8!” “Don’t make fun of anybody's hard Iuck,” said Uncle Eben. “Try to tell him how to get over it, ‘causé hard luck is one o' de most contagious ailments dar is.” History Up-to-Date. Prom the New Haven Mml-efi;ln. e Empire"—headline, Our fln school um;o ‘wonders what Arminius would say to that! "~ 'Choice of Evils. Y. M. C. A. Employment Agency Asks No Fees To the Editor of The Star: In The Evening Star of November ¢ sppeared a letter headed “Protests Y. M. C. A, Plan for Employment Agencies,” signed by William A. Brown. The writer implied that through this employment service, the local Y, M. C. A. was sailing under false colors. He did not specific- ally mention the Washington Y. M. C. A, but used as illustration “the Y. M. C. A, in such centers as Kansas City, Mo,, and other large cities,” where he said & man seeking employment would not even be sent oyt for an interview for employment unless he had paid a fee. The Washington Young Men's Chris- tian Association does not, mor does it intend to, charge a fee of any sort for the regisiration of unemployed, for inter- viewh or placements with employers. It has been our policy, and will continue Lo be, to serve all young men, regardless of membership, or non-membership, who apply for service or aid through our service and employment departments. In 1935 the employment department had 1,295 interviews with young men seeking employment; 489 interviews were ar- ranged between applicants and employ- ers and 236 positions fillled. For this service no fees of any kind were charged or received, The writer in his letter evidently re- ferred to the Y. M. C. A, program of vocational guldance and counseling serv- ice which has recently been developed and in which the association has the co-operation of a host of business men and representatives of such organizations as the public high schools, the District of Columbia Public Employment Service, the National Youth Administration in the District of Columbia, the Kiwanis Club Guidance Committee and the Ro- tary Club Boys' Work Committee, Under this system, which is known as a “planned guidance for youth,” weekly lectures are given by experts in the vocational and professional fields, coun- selors are provided to help youth to select the kind of vocation or profession they want to follow. Where a youth has already made a decision, a counselor is provided to discuss with him the kind of education he needs to properly fill the position. All of this and a complete out- line of the plan was covered in the news article which appeared in The Evening Star on Thursday, October 29. This activity is an extension of the service of the employment department of this association and for this service no fees of any kind are charged. The writer also points out that the Y. M. C. A. should not pose as a char- ftable organization. The Y, M. C. A, has never posed as a dispenser of charity, although during these depression years hundreds of young men have been given free lodging in our dormitories for such periods as were needed to help them to make economic adjustments. In many instances, needed articles of clothing also were furnished, which were secured from members and residents of our dormi- tories. Free memberships also have been given to numerous young men and boys. The writer also questions our right to claim credit as & character-building or- ganization. The Washington association has been in exisience for 84 years, and on this point the record speaks for itself, During its entire existence this associa- tion has not swerved from its stated ob- Ject—the improvement of the spiritual, mental, social and physicab condition of young men and boys. The emphasis through all these activities is the build- ing of Christian character. The Y. M. C. A, through its various activities, pro- vides opportunities that lead to higher standards of living, serves as a training center for good citizenship, combats juvenile delinquency and crime and in- stills those high ideals of social respon- sibility which enables men to fill places of leadership in the community. To participate in such a program, 3,245 men and boys enter its portals every day and find opportunity for wholesome activity in one or more of 563 clubs and groups in the association, L. W. DEGAST. General Secretary, D Testimony for Y. M. C. A. Employment Services To the Fditor of The Star: Referring to the letter of William A. Brown, in The Star of November 6, I would like to give my personal experi- ences with the Y. M. C. A, but, first, let me say that I am not & member of the Y. M. C. A. (nor have I ever been) or in any other way associated with it. I walked into the Y. M. C. A. Building in Detroit, Mich., in the Winter of 1929. I had never been in the Y. M. C. A. be- fore and knew no one there. I re- mained there only long enough to inquire for a position and was given a card re- ferring me to a business institution of national prominence. That I did not accept the position with that concern at & remunerative salary was no fault of the institution nor of the Y. M. C. A. For this service I paid not one penny. I have a number of friends in the local Y. M. C. A. whom I have won solely by personal contact and through no service which I have rendered the organization. Last Winter I interviewed the employ- ment secretary, whom, at that time, I did not know personally and who knew little of me, and every effort was put forth on the part of his office to secure & suitable position for me. That our combined efforts would have secured me a position, I have no doubt, except that through the efforts of another offi- cial of the Y. M. C. A, who was in no way obligated to me, I received an envi- able position with a leading concern of the city. For this service, likewise, I never paid any money, nor has there been any indication before or since that any contribution whatsoever was ex- pected, and I feel certain that this is true in all cases at the local Y. M. C. A. I feel that I would be shirking my duty did I not at this time come to the de- fense of my friends and benefactors who, I believe, are delivering one of the great- est services of any welfare organisation in this or any other city. J. W. HARVEY, Hitler’s Plan for Monarchy Indication of Weakness From the Atianta Journal. many, and that the creation of & mnew kaiser to share his glory would not be & gesture of friendship toward the Hohensollerns, No, if Hitler is willing to set up a throne, even s dummy throne, 1t is because he feels the need of such ‘There have been some very pretty sky effects recently, both morning and even- ing, with sunlight on changing foliage of great trees. Not in many years have individial irees shone s0 gloriously. This is something to take particular note of, as one walks around the eity, especially in the suburbs, or stays at home. ‘The yellows are fine this Fall. Many specimen trees are to be found which gleam with a most goiden light when the sun falls upon them. Perhaps the mass effect of many trees is not quite as good this season, but these individual specimens more than make up for it. Even when the sun is not shining upon them some of these yellow masses give & complete effect of sunshine, so that the spectator feels warm at the sight. % xx ‘These are special effects; the real show comes in the morning and evening, at sunup and sundown. Great masses of red gleam on the horizon, in old but ever new displays. Most of these illuminations last*but & few minutes, changing second by second. If some one calls to you, “Come and look at this sunset,” do not hesitate long, because if you do the best part of the display may be over. Watching such a feast of color through trees is the best way. This breaks up the uniformity, gives in contrast, makes the fading more lovely. It may be news to newcomers here that Washington has been noted for glorious sunsets in particular. In intensity of color and surpassing artistic effect these displays are peculiar- ly effective for a cily where usually | Nature, in her more subtle manifesta- tions, is somewhat muted. The crimson glow to be seen in our Autumn skies is well worth looking for, and speaking about when seen. Do not keep this beauty to yourself. Call some one to share it with you. Remember that it will fade rapidly, often so quickly as to surprise you. This is one of the most beautiful of all natural “moving pictures.” And the best part of it all is that one does not have to travel to Italy, or any other place, but can stand in one’s own doorway and see something as beautiful as any. *x x We are sure that if an artist painted some of the recent sunsets few who | looked at the painting would believe the view was of Washington. This, of course, provided the artist were & real one, who knew his business, and particularly how to capture the ex- act shade, tint, whatever one calis it, of color light. Color is one thing, light is another, color light a third. Light color it might be called. perhaps. but color light is better, for it brings out the fact that light has color, that it may be seen, and comprehended as one sees. This seems to be the essence of artistic comprehension of any sort. It is not enough just to see, and to exclaim, “Won- derful!” or “That's swell!” It is neces- sary to realize that the thing is fine while seeing it. Not afterward. After- ward won't do. ‘The very time, itself, is the essence of the whole matter. * % %% Beholding these glories of the morning the lesser beauties of individual trees and and evening skies, one should not forget shrubs at this season. Though lawns grow brown, in some instances terribly so, without apparent reason for so doing, leaves of trees and some shrubs take on added beauty as they hang. Even on the ground these leaves add one of the most colorful of notes. The inquisitive pedestrian will not kick hrough them, merely, but will look at hem as he walks. He will discover an amazing variety, not only in color, but in shapes. He has known about the latter all his life, but it takes true realization to see the varying shapes and differentiate them as he walks over them. Thus a pedestrian may be never so busy, he still has time as he goes along for something not visible on the schedule. Perhaps it is by this honest utilization of time that one makes great gains in this world. We are too much given to concentrating on the gains known of all, when we might make gains of another sort if only we would think about them at the proper time. Waiting in Union Station is one thing, but watching the people while waiting is another, and takes no more time. * * x This utilization of time is open to every one, whether walking or standing still, whether sitting at a desk or standing be- fore the kitchen sink. Time is mystic, as well as actual Maeterlinck, among others, has written on the mystic side of time, how it exists, yet does not exist, how it holds all and yet holds nothing. how it is everything yet fades into nothingness at less than & touch. Time is a giant bag, a container of a sort, into which one crams little or much, depending upon the individual nature. Here only the inner eye counts, because no one outside can tell what another has managed to put in his time. Time is every one's property, but he who watches and waits may put as much into it as another who chases all over the world. It is no wonder that the mystics of all ages and nations have thought much about time. what it means to the in- dividual soul and how its best qualities may be utilized in the individual life. Looked at from this standpoint, time is not just emptiness, here today and gone tomorrow, but a sure thing, which en- dures. and stands still, and lives. In time, thus comprehended, lie all the 5L, present and future; these are seen not three parts of time, but each one all of time there is or ever will be, The time we take to watch a beautiful sunset or notice an unusual leaf on the sidewalk is not time out, especially it is never time lost. Let no one ever tell you so. Time is too big for that. Time holds more. it means more, if it is supercharged with extra noticings. No one will ever surround and comprehend time, in its full meaning. but any one, by taking extra thought, will get nearer to the center of things, and become some- thing extra, in himself, if he adds to life by filling his own time more full of the small beauties of everyday experience. STARS, MEN AND ATOMS Notebook of Science Progress in Field, Laboratory and Study, BY THOMAS R. HENRY. ‘The United States now has a 10 per cent deficit of children, This is one of the findings of Dr. O. E. | Baker, Department of Agriculture popu- lation expert, in a study of present popu- lation trends of the Nation. The balence, Dr. Baker finds, was reached about the year 1930 when the number of births was just about sufficient to sustain the population without immi- gration. Since then the 10 per cent deficit has developed. The ratio of births te the population had been declining for a long time, Dr. Baker points out, but the drop was sharply accentuated shortly after the war and for the past 10 years the rate has averaged more than 2 per cent a year. This can only mean, he says, an aging Nation, an eventual decrease of popula- tion, probably increased centralisation of wealth, declining property values, great changes in the way of life of the people, and eventually very serious consequences. For a long time a city birth rate inade- quate to hold the population stationgry was compensated for by an excess num- ber of rural births, although the rural birth rate also was declining. For & time this may mean, on the ‘whole, unparalleled productivity and ease of life, he explains, but this will be only a temporary phenomenon. He sees some hope of & change in & restored farm or village family system, replacing, in part, the individuslistic economic system of urban life. The decline in the American birth rate, Dr. Baker points out, has been in prog- ress for more than a century—and all this time there has been a correlation between it and the Nation's growing urbanization. Between 1300 and 1810 there were, it is shown by the old census reports, about 976 children under five years of age for every thousand women. In 1830 this number had dropped to 938, but the actyal decline was concentrated in Southern New England, where manufac- turing was beginning to replace agricul- ture as the chief means of livelinood. By 1840 the number had fallen to 835 and the area of decline, following closely the factories, had spread to include most of New York and New Jersey. By 1880 the number of children had dropped to 714 per thousand women and large secondary areas of population decline were spread- ing out from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Twenty years later, with the great in- dustrial expansion which followed the fallen to 2,300,000, a decrease of 22 per cent in 15 gears in actual numbers, but of more than 35 per cent per 1,000 of population and an even more startling decline in relation to the number of women under 45 years of age. In England there has been the same sort of reduction until within the first three months of this year there were fewer births than deaths—probably for the first time since the great plague swept over the country in the seven- teenth century. “Inevitably in & declining population” says Dr. Baker, “old people will consti- tute an increasing proportion. This vear there are more persons 15 years of age than there have been heretofore or will be hereafter. unless births or immigrants increase. These children were born in 1921, the peak year in births., Most of them are completing the elementary school course and many are looking for Jobs. Ten years hence there will be more people 35 years of age than of any other age. Most of these young people will be about to marry and start homes. Miny will be slready married. Millions of new houses will be needed during the next 15 years. Thirty years hence there will be more people of 45 years of age than of any other age, and the need for more houses will have passed. Fifty years hence there will be more people of 65 than of any other single year of age, if births continue to decline and immi- srants do not increase greatly, “This aging of the population has been in progress since the Civil War, but has become accelerated since the World War, Between 1920 and 1930 the number of people over 65 years of age increased 35 per cent in the Nation as a whole and 50 per cent in the cities. The increase will continue at a similar rate for at least several decades to come, for these people are middle-aged now angd the number who will live to be 85 or over can be estimated closely. A quarter of a century hence the number of old people in the United States will be twice as great a8 at present, and 50 years hence about three times as great.” This age distribution, Dr. Baker points out, places s larger number of persons than ever before in the produc- tive age group between 20 and 60. This group will reach its maximum in num- bers during the decade from 1940 to 1950 and then it will start to decline as more and more persons become too old to work and fewer children grow up to take their places. The result, he says, is bound to be a reduced national income and an eventual serious depletion of the national wealth. “The consequences of an economic sys- tem which is undermining the family,” he says, “will not come suddenly like a thief in the night, but slowly and quietly like the progress of the seasons. There will be warm days and then cool days, periods of prosperity and then of de- pression, but the trend will be toward Winter. We cannot fully foresee the conditions which will develop when there are only one-third as many children in 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. Is it possible to take a train in Paris and arrive in London without leaving the train?—H. B, A. Trains are now being run onto ferries built for the purpose for the Eng« lish Channel crossing. Travelers may take a night train in Paris and awake in London, or take a night train in London, arriving in Paris the following morning. Q. Where did the custom of wearing berets originate?—E. R. A. The style probably originated in the Pyrenees Mountains and in the Basque country, where some peasants never re- move their berets. A beret festival was held recently at Cauterets commemo- rating the custom as originating in the Pyrenees. Q. How many conductors has the Chi cago Symphony Orchestra had during its existence?—M. R. A. Since it was founded, in 1891. by Theodore Thomas, the orchestra has had only two conductors, Mr. Thomas and Dr. Prederick Stock. Q. Which is preferred, got or gotten? —E. M. H. A. Got is the accepted modern form. Q. Can turnips be made into a product like sauerkraut?—C. D. A. Sauer ruben, or turnips, is an eco- nomical means of keeping turnips for Winter use. Much of the turnip odor and flavor is lost, which improves the product for many palates. Q. Where are the senses of balance and direction located?—W. H. M. A. The senses of balance and direc- tion are located in the semi-circular canals in the inner ear. These ranals are arranged in three planes so that a person can feel his balance or lack of it in any position in which he is likely to be placed. Q. Please give a biography of Dorothy Parker —E. L. H. A. The writer is the daughter of .J Henry and Eliza A. Rothschild. 8he was born at West End, N. J,, August 22, 1893, and atiended Miss Dana’s School at Morristown, N. J., and Blessed Sacra- ment Convent, New York City. In 1917 she married Edwin Pond Parker, 2d, from whom she was divorced in 1928. In Oc- tober, 1933, she was married to Alan Campbell, an actor. Among her books are “Enough Rope,” “Laments for the Living,” “Sunset Gun.” “After S8uch Pieasures” and “Not So Deep as a Well.” Q. Who painted the famous World War poster, “Carry On"?—J. W. A. It was the work of the late Edwin Howland Blashfield, muralist, Q. Why did Paisley, Scotland. become a world center of cotton thread manu- facture?—J. B. A. The Clark brothers of Paisley per- fected a smooth cotton heddle varn to take the place of silk for heddle eves on looms. When the Paisley shawl industry declined and mills were idle, the cotton thread industry sprang up in its place. Q. What is a clog almanac’—L. R. 8. A. This was a square piece of wood, brass or bone about eight inches long, which might be either hung in a room fitted into a walking stick. It was a ‘perpetual almanac, showing the Sundavs and other fixed festivals. It was intro- duced into England by the Danes, Q. How many offices are held by Goering?—M. H. . A. Gen. Hermann Wilhelm Goering is air minister of the Reich, prime minister of Prussia and commissar for raw mate- rials and foreign exchange. He has re- cently been made special commissioner in charge of the Hitler four-vear plan of intensive development of Germany's resources. Q. When was tear gas firstsused by the police to quell a riot?—E. M. A. Tear gas was used in 1921 when a riot broke out among the prisoners at the Western State Penitentiary in Penn- sylvania. Q. What is meant by the term, close in heraldry?—D. M. A. When the wings of & bird are down and close to the body, it is described as close. The word is used only with refere ence to birds addicted to flight, Q. Where is the Zero Stone in Wash- ington, D. C.2—M. K. A. The Zero Stone takes the place of the itinerary column planned by L’Enfant for a place one mile east of the Capitol, from which all distances of places throughout the continent were to be calculated. The column was never bullt. The Zero 8tone is immediately south of the White House grounds and is & block of granite four feet high, with a bronze compass design on top. It stands on the meridian of the District of Columbia. Q. Please give the birth date of Ernest Dowson and the date of his death.—C. R. A. The poet was born on August 2, 1867, and died on February 23, 1900. Q. Will the new organ at Westminster Abbey contain any parts of the old one? —A. R. A. The new organ will incorporate as much as possible of the old one and it is said that the handsome oak cases wiil be retained. Q. Is pop corn eaten abroad as gener~ ally as in the United States?—8. T. A. Pop corn still seems to be & pee culiarly American produet. Iberian Education. Prom the Louisville Heraid-Post. Spanish 1llliteracy must have been sharply diminished under the new re- gime if the bombardment of Madrid with pamphlets is expected to get any results worth talking about. A Rhyme at Twilight Gertrude Br::kc Hamilton Friends. Links that hold friends are not forged in an hour . . . They're like the cables a great bridge is swung on, Myriads of fine, frail wires, yet of such power That any weight of traffic may be flung on; . Hundreds of wires, twisted all together, Making unbreakable the mighty cable; Resistless to all strain or stormy Priendship like this s ever astrong A\