Evening Star Newspaper, December 1, 1936, Page 12

A—12 5 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Editien. WASHINGTON, D. C. December 1, 1936 THEODORE W. NOYES The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11th 8t Fand Pennevivanta Ave it. ane en NSy > Ne s '{’fll‘k Office: 110 42nd oOffice: higan Building Buropen Smre T4 Hesent 6t London. Endiand. Kate by Carrier Within the City. Rerular Edition. e Evening ing Ben- 4 pun en TL\"EV" ing_and 'B?m r' ien 5 Sundays) 45¢ per month 60c per month - 65¢ per month Edition. st 70c per month 85c_per month B per copy ¢ end of each mont) or telephone Na- Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Aul Other States and Canada. Dafly and Sunday..l yr. $12.0 -00: 1 mo., $: Dnux only_ 1 yr. $8.00; 1 mo. Sunday only 1 yr., $5.00; 1 mo. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news s credited to it or mot otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein All rights of publication of special dispatches herein_are also reserved 60c Comparing Tax Burdens. Cities, like individuals, vary in their spending habits and spending policies. ‘With identical incomes and responsibil- ities to begin with, one man manages to live within his means and to save money while another is unable to make both ends meet and becomes heavily in- debted. So it is with cities, which show 8 wide variety both in expenditures and tax burdens. Some of the differences in spending policies and tax burdens between cities may exist because of differences in char- acter of population. Some may be due to differences in environment. The effect of economic changes may throw extraordinary burdens on some cities that do not fall on others, Some cities may suffer from careless, even dishon- est, administration, causing wasteful extravagance, while others insist on strict economy and accomplish it under hon- est and efficient administration. Whatever the causes, these differences render difficult the definition of what constitutes a “fair” or “adequate” bur- den of taxation by a comparison of city tax bur€ens, unless the comparisons take note of the special considerations that should be applied to some cities. In their attempt to measure the ade- quacy of the tax burden in the District of Columbia, if such an attempt is made through comparisons of cities in expend- ftures, etc., the President’s special com- mittee now studying fiscal relations will doubtless guard against manifest un- faimess to Washington by special at- tention to the choice of cities with which ‘Washington is to be compared. To be included in the comparison, cities should be comparable, not only in population, but in general environment, location and character of population. From the list should be excluded those cities which, for one or more reasons, are notoriously high in their expendi- tures and in resulting tax burdens. This process of selection does not imply hand-picking to produce a desired re- sult, but merely the exercise of caution in determining whether cities are com- parable. It is difficult, for instance, to find common ground for comparison be- tween residential Washington and heav- ily industrialized centers of dense popu- lation, or between Washington and cities located in the Far North, where cli- matic differences play an important part in municipal expense. The effort should be made to select cities which, by popu- lation, environment or character of pop- ulation, naturally suggest comparison, and, in addition, to include cities which are noted for progressiveness and good government, rather than those noted for heavy spending and lax government. The effort is not, of course, to show that Washington’s tax burden is lower than the highest or higher than the lowest, but to determine whether, in total and per capita expenditures and receipts, which indicate the tax load, it is bearing & tax burden commensurate with what other cities choose to bear. Averages sometimes distort the picture because of the inclusion of extraor- dinarily heavily taxed cities. If Wash- ington compares favorably in total ex- penditures with comparable cities of approximate population, or compares favorably in per capita expenditures with cities where the population is either larger or smaller than Washington, the question of adequacy of local taxation should rest. That Washington may be below or above a mathematical average of tax burdens may be without signifi- cance as far as the adequacy of local taxation is concerned. ‘The statistical tables printed in the brief or argument of the Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations show that in per capita total tax levy Wash- ington exceeds St. Louis, Baltimore, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louis- ville and Richmond, and is exceeded, in the list of eleven cities compared, only by Chicago (slightly), Buffalo and Minne- apolis. When per capita interest pay- ments are deducted (as it is now gen- erally agreed they should be) Chicago's per capita falls below and Buffalo's closely approximates that of Washington. Is not Washington adequately taxed when its tax burden nearly equals or largely exceeds those of these cities, most of which enjoy the reputation of being progressive, up to date and well governed? Are all of these cities (including Washington) undertaxed because such cities as Boston, Jersey City and Yonkers, to meet special conditions, have taxed themselves far more heavily? The Crystal Palace. Pire last evening removed the Crystal Palace from the list of world-famous buildings. Its passing will stir a sigh in hearts not young enough to receive such news impersonally. Constructed origi- nally in Hyde Park for the World Fair ©f 1851, the huge framework of iron and THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1936. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. glass symbolized the era of Queen Vic- toria. It probably was indebted for its inspiration to her consort, the good Prince Albert—a man who dreamed great dreams and was marvelously gifted in the genius to realize a prodigious number of them. Millions of people visited the hall while it was in its prime, and still other millions made pilgrimage to it after it had heen reassembled at Sydenham, on tae southern edge of London. Sixteen hundred and eight feet long and three hundred and eighty-four wide in fits transepts, it was an ideal gallery for exhibition purposes. For a while after the armistice of 1918 it served as a tem- porary home for the Imperial War Mu- seum. Its grounds included a boating lake, a cycle track, cricket and foot ball fields. Within its shadow periodical dis- plays of pyrotechnic art were staged. It was, in fine, a “cockney paradise.” But the age to which it particularly belonged has faded into history. Only centenarians can claim to remember the Crystal Palace when it was new. Never intended to compete in durability with the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal, nor with the Woolworth Building, it disappears from the experience of living men and from the concern of their successors of a generation perhaps over-supplied with wonders. Yet it may be hoped that some will recall the days when the present patterns of life were being formed and when the beauty and the luxury of pe- riods still to dawn were being visioned. Victoria and Albert sponsored an experi- ment whose influence is permanent. Not even a conclusive cataclysm can contra- dict that truth. Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires, which means good air, derives its picturesque name from the fact that the founders of the South American metropolis discovered that its site was perpetually caressed by fresh winds from the contiguous pampas. Today, in the Argentine capital, amid the most salubrious air in Pan-American history, there assembles a conference of the twenty-one republics of the Western Hemisphere. They are convening in an atmosphere altogether conducive to at- tainment of those results in the domain of peace and inter-American fraternity, which inspired President Roosevelt to suggest the assemblage at whose open- ing ceremony he is delivering a keynote address. There has been a long succession of Pan-American conferences during the past forty-six years, but none of them was characterized by that cordiality and esteem that underlie present relations between the states of North, Central and South America. In that circumstance— in the vitally altered spirit in which the Buenos Aires conference swings into action—lies the outstanding and all- important aspect that distinguishes it from its predecessors. For that happy consummation President Roosevelt re- ceives the lion’s share of credit. It is primarily his “good neighbor” policy that has converted Latin America’s stereo- typed conception and mistrust of the Colossus of the North into an attitude of confidence and respect. Here and there, no doubt, ancient suspicions of “Yankee imperialism” and “dollar diplo- macy” persists, but nowadays all the way from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn there is a preponderance of faith in the intention of the people and Government of the United States to deal with the Latin republics on & basis of unselfish friendship. The enthusiastic receptions showered upon President Roosevelt at Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires clearly betoken that Latin America has come to look upon this country with reciprocal good will and trust. Thus, in the mood of equals dealing with equals, the American states will discuss ways and means of making Pan- Americanism an invincible force for co- operation on this side of the Atlantic and the Pacific and for promotion of peace throughout the world. Knotty problems like the future of the Monroe Doctrine, defense, neutrality, trade and co-related questions fill the Buenos Aires agenda. Patience, wisdom and tolerance are essential to their solution. There are ample indications that there is no lack of those requisites. The conference meets amid chaotic and perilous international conditions. In the interlocking universe of today, with rival political ideologies fiercely contest- ing for supremacy across far-flung bor- ders, it would be rash to dogmatize that because this hemisphere is momentarily immune from that strife, it will per- manently be spared from embroilment in it. It is to set the troubled world beyond our shores an example of pacific soli- darity and to take all possible precau- tions for sterilizing American soil against the malady of war that the sister democracies of the West are about to counsel with one another. Because of their common aims, interests and craving for peace, there is every reason to expect that fruitful and epochal results will be achieved. ——— ‘Things That Do Not Matter’ Not long ago certain strangers had the duty of disposing of the property left by a man who had ceased to stand in need of earthly possessions. They unlocked the doors and opened the windows of his home, closed and de- serted for years, and in room after room, from cellar to garret, they compiled an inventory of his furniture, his books, his pictures, all the contents of the house. In the end, everything saleable had been listed for the auctioneer—everything, that is, except a few small articles ap- praised as being of no market worth. And those rejected relics of a great career honorably terminated were a curious miscellany. Gathered in a little pile, they included: A group photograph inscribed, “Class of 1873"; a valentine of white lace marked “To Elsie, 1880”; a calling card engraved, “Mr. Alvey Au- gustus Adee?; an unused ticket for President McKinley's inaugural ball; a copy of Theodore Roosevelt’s pamphlet on.“simplified spelling,” with many mar- ginal notations; a broken paper knife L from the 8t. Louis Fair of 1904; a lump of green slag with & fragment of a horseshoe imbedded in it; an imitation pink carnation, sadly faded; a cardboard trunk labeled “Lotto”; a silk handker- chief embroidered with the arms of Canada and “The Maple Leaf Forever,” ink stained; a pencil sketch of a cot- tage surrounded by trees captioned, “July and August, 1910”; a celluloid button, reading “Liberty Loan”; an envelope con- taining a dried rose, still fragrant; a yellow ribbon printed in .gold, “Fiftieth Reunion”; a charred pipe with “K” scratched on the bowl, ‘and a handful of clippings. Of course, no one wanted such trash. The person charged with the obligation of clearing the premises glanced it over casually and ordered it burned. “These,” he said, “are things that do not matter.” And there naturally was general agree- ment in the verdict. The souvenirs were precious only to their departed owner. He had kept them as symbols of mem- ories carried in his heart, and now those memories were merged with the infinite —safe beyond the danger of any de- struction. The janitor picked out the valentine for a final glance. But it did not appeal to his modern concept of what is beau- tiful. So he tossed it into the furnace with a conclusive gesture of contempt, banged the door and went upstairs to bid on a radio. ————— The Department of Agriculture has equipped itself to act in an advisory ca- pacity on the growth of cities as well as the growth of oats, peas, beans and barley. Political botanists are naturally puzzled by the announcement that the next num- ber on the program will be a Kansas sunflower giving an imitation of a modest violet. —_— e Vociferous agitation by the Depart- ment of Agriculture has not disguised the fact that some of the big work in human affairs has been going on under the auspices of the Department of State. Literature has had able contributions from Mr. Claude Bowers, whose present experiences are equipping him to write some of the most worthwhile things he has ever put into print. —_————— Aviation is referred to as in its In- fancy. Judged by the primitive equip- ment sometimes revealed in & crash, so is railroading. ————— Some of the leaders in organized labor are inclined to believe the Federation is able to develop all the politics it cares to attend to right within its own ranks. —_———— President Roosevelt has the tactful gift of avoiding a look of boredom, although there may be room for suspicion that by this time a parade is no treat to him. —_—————— Trying to teach an American schoolboy not to salute his country’s flag is a hard job; something like trying to give lessons in how to be happy though lonesome. - soam o Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Mystery Story. Mystery draws nearer 'Mongst mortals here below. The things that should be clearer Still more mysterious grow. Affairs are problematic On earth and in the sky; And even love ecstatic May fade—we know not why. Life’s episodes we follow With interest intense. Some seem a little hollow And others seem immense. The world with all its glory In wonderful display Is just a mystery story— We read it day by day. As Politics Is Played. “Do you miss the serene dignity which distinguished politics in days gone by?" “No,” answered Senator Sorghum. “Formerly politicians fought duels in deadly earnest. At present politics is more like a foot ball game. It looks terribly rough. But at the finish it is always discovered that nobody is very seriously injured.” Jud Tunkins says when a man laughs all the time, laughter losés its meaning and he might as well wear a comic false face, Awaiting a Superman. Maybe some one will come along With intellect so big and strong That he can show the world a way ‘To shun the sorrow and dismay That life has been compelled to know Since days of very long ago. Maybe some one will yet draw near ‘To conquer every human fear And bid us heed what we were told By Wisdom in the days of old. Maybe we'll find some man so great That he can end .all mortal hate. “Pride,” said Hi Ho, the sage of China- town, “becomes a great man, since it must be inspired by a respect for the opinions of others.” Toe Much te Expect. “You have had much to be grateful for.” “For instance?” queried Farmer Corn- tossel. G “You had a fine Thanksgiving dinner?” “Yes. But you can't expect one turkey to keep a man uplifted with joy for & whole year.” An Explanation of “Nerves.” Earth on its axis turns again— No wonder that we sometimes fret, And, without knowing why, complain ‘That we feel terribly upset! “A race horse,” said Uncle Eben, “is de only sure winner. He gits his rent an’ board paid whether he loses or not.” 3 '\ X Detroit Not Entirely " Rid of Street Beggars To the Editor of The Star. ‘The Star of November 27 gives a letter of C. E. Rightor in regard to begging on the streets of Washington, and I heartily agree with him that this is a matter that should be curtailed to as small a degree as is possible. However, I believe the conditions per- taining to the size of the Community Chest fund should not be based on a dollar comparison only. Mr. Rightor says that one-third of the Washington population is employed by the Federal Government. Right there is the key to the problem. Where is the other two-thirds portion to secure its employment? ‘Washington has no large factories and medium-size plants to absorb or furnish part-time work to the unemployed. At the present time, with auto plants and kindred industries booming, Detroit is in an especially good spot. But when he states that Detroiters have been free of begging on the streets “for many years,” I must, from my own experience, contradict this. I remem- ber one night in a 20-minute walk get- ting requests for help from 18 different people. The experience was so depressing (I was out of a job myself) that I went back to my hotel. Grand Circus Park, Michigan, Washington and Woodward avenues up as far as the Art Museum were all covered by the needy in an effort to get something. It is true that many are not worthy, but among them are many who have fallen, not through their own fault, but through circumstances beyond their own control. I know, for while out of work for two years and traveling in many cities, I contacted many whose past posi- tion radiated from behind a shabby suit. Many times he had been penalized on account of the fact that he had filled a superior position and had been fired to cut the size of the employer's pay roll, while others were kept because the inferior position they held did not carry salary enough to make it a factor. Let’s be patient with the unfortunates walking the streets, and if his condition does not warrant it, pass him up. If you feel you can't afford to help him pass him up with a smile at least, for remember, in this great depression “it happened, to him; it could have hap- pened to me.” J. H. MacCLANE. Washington is the Proper Stage for Army-Navy Game “To the Editor of The Sta. ‘The Army-Navy game of 1936 has been played. But this service game was not played here in the Nation's Capital, the logical place for the Army-Navy game to be played. No, there wasn't a suitable stadium. There is & suitable site, the property already owned by the Government. There are millions of dol- lars lying idle here in the vaults of the city’s banks. The welfare organizations of Washington are spending millions of dollars every year feeding thousands of able-bodied idle men needing work, but the men here who should put their shoulders to the wheel and direct the work have not got the civic enterprise to start the job and put it across. A stadium seating 125,000 would make ‘Washington the center of the Nation's athletic life, drawing many capacity crowds everv season. Washington has had two world series of base ball during the last 50 years. It could have as large and as enthusiastic a gathering of foot ball fans three or four times every Autumn. Nearly 30,000,000 people live within 10 hours conveyance of Washington. Great intersectional games played by the sea- son’s famous teams as well as the well- known gridiron classic of the year for which Washington is drawn upon to furnish the social and official color would arouse an urging desire. Social life in the Nation's Citv would throb with re- newed energy. Millions of dollars would be drawn into the commercial coffers of all Washington every season for the next 100 yvears. The people of Washington who have attended these Army-Navy games during the last 37 vears have taken enough cold cash from the city to finance the con- struction of the different stadiums where this gridiron classic has been held from | year to year. ‘Why not begin building a large sta- dium right here in Washington this next Spring? JACK SPRATT. R ] Public Opinion Inadequate | Safeguard of Merit System To the Editor of The Star. In the leading editorial of your issue of November 25, you take the ground that a constitutional amendment is not necessary tn safeguard the merit system as urged by the National Civil Service Reform League. You state that re- liance may be placed upon public opinion to preserve the system from the en- croachment of the spoilsman. The history of legislative exceptions to the merit system does not bear out this view. It has been the quite in- variable habit of Congress for several years past to insert a provision making exceptions from examination when creating new agencies. What assur- ance is there that this habit will not be continued in the years to come? Congress was not deterred by public opinion from making exceptions when creating the alphabetical agencies or any of the agencies in the past two decades. Although the President had full au- thority to make exceptions, Congress deprived him of this authority in these instances and itself provided that ap- tments be made without regard to the civil service act. Ohio, New York and Colorado found it necessary to provide against legisla- tive tinkering with their civil service laws by constitutional amendment, and the Federal Government can only be saved from spoils provisions by like means. The President should be left free to make such limits to the com- petitive system as he may deem the interests of good administration to re- quire, JOHN T. DOYLE. Repetition of Announcers Antagonizes Radio Hearers To the Bditor of The Star: Just a comment in agreement with the editorial, “Plague of Repetition,” No- vember 21. Granting the necessity of sponsored radio - programs, it would appear the good sense of the listeners is greatly underestimated. So very much of the advertising is in the imperative mood chandise, stated, “No! I hate their an- nouncer.” N. L. HAMLIN, Prophets. Prom the Shreveport Journal. An exchange wishes to know what of the efficiency How the birds at the feeding stations enjoyed their Thanksgiving day! Surely no human family, full of turkey and “fixin’s,” could have been as happy as those birds. How could an observer know? It was easy. By the flying back and forth across the garden, time after time, for the sheer exuberance of motion on the wing. When a bird flies, just for the fun of it, and not for safety's sake, it is happy. All day long, from shortly before 7 o'clock in the morning, to 3:45 o'clock in the afternoon, flocks of sparrows flew back and forth from one feeder to an- other. With them, from time to time, went blue jays, cardinals and nuthatches, with an occasional titmouse. These constitute the home garden bird picture at this time. Later there will be other species, flying in at the touch of cold to join the free lunch. * ok % % It almost seemed as if the birds recog- nized that it was a special day and tried to show it and prove to those who pro- vided their food just how much they appreciated it. Now, how would & flock of birds be able to show appreciation? Surely, by exuberance of flying. They always fly around, of course, but there was a special quality in their ac- | tions that day. It was a raw day, which would make them eat more, of course. A birds warmth comes mostly from what it eats. If it has plenty of carbonaceous foods, such as seeds and grains, which build up heat, any wild bird can ‘stand any amount of cold. Zero, or subzero, tem- perature, makes no difference to him or her. Usually they do a great deal of flying, but mostly up into the shrubbery, almost on a fixed plan, as if with the wisdom of their race, which says that too much time at any one spot is bad. Usually birds at a feeding station will fly, with one accord, into the shrubbery about once every 30 to 60 seconds. No doubt this is done to be sure that pos- sible foes are fooled. Such is the wisdom of their race. * x ¥ % On this Thanksgiving day, however, the flights were across the yard, all to- gether, boys, in a mass flight, but quite spread out, as if to make the best possible picture for their human friends behind the windows. No one who likes bird watching will think this too imaginative an interpre- tion. And to those who might think the idea overdone, let us tell them to hold their judgment, try bird feeding for themselves this Winter and then see if they do not agree that birds have ways | of thanking their friends. The humble English sparrow, so con- | sistently a city bird, loving to congregate | near the crowded dwellings of man, also will come to the suburban areas, if food is put out. The sparrows, all of them—and this includes many varieties—are very clever | fellows. They rank near the top of the bird tree. Nothing shows their efficiency better than their ability to scout out food wherever it is put out. The newcomer to bird feeding will hope for what are called the more de- sirable birds, but he will be sure to have plenty of English sparrows, along | to be against him. Very trul with a few white-throated sparrows, song sparrows and a few other members | of the tribe. STARS, MEN And this, no matter where he lives, whether in the city or country, for these English sparrows are capable birds and will find their food no matter how far they have to fly for it. * k¥ ¥ A great many people really love the English sparrows, especiaily at feeding stations, for they are energetic, happy creatures to a bird. One correspondent writes: “Dear sir: Once again I feel prompted to thank you for the real enjoyment aflorded by your wonderfully interesting articles on such a wide range of subjects, especially those relating to birds. “It is particularly gratifying to read your generous defense of the sparrows, for to me they are the most lovable little birds of them all. “After three or four years of daily feeding, I have yet to see a single in- stance where these greatly misjudged creatures have been in the least ob- Jjectionable. “They do very little fighting even amongst themselves, and the accusation that they drive other birds away is simply ridiculous. The blue jay and the starling are surely past masters at this, but the former’s shortcomings are gen- erally forgiven by most people because of his unusual beauty. My sympathies are really with the poor starling, how- | ever, for, while he cannot help his fight- ing proclivities, almost everybody seems “AH C° * ¥ % % Blue jays were in on the Thanksgiving feast, but only for a limited period, as is their custom. There is a feeder on a locust tree, placed about shoulder high, and to this one the jays come every morning at exactly 7 o'clock. They do not stay more than 15 minutes, but while they are present the | yard is filled with color, In some respects this is really a more beautiful bird than the favorite cardinal. ‘The blue jays usually number eight in this little flock. The feeder, which has a circular trough, or tray, will permit only two of these large birds at one time. We have detailed previously how each pair of birds, in turns, ousts the pair in possession, and so the flashing color parade goes on. ‘The flights across the vard, first one way, then the other, did not assume their full beauty until in the afternoon. Then the birds, flocks of about 50, began to fly across the garden once about every 15 seconds. These flights had a leisurely quality to them that had in it nothing of the shorter trips for safety. The birds were widely spaced. They would sit chittering away in the branches of trees and shrubs for a time, then, of one accord, wing their way back to the | feeder from which they had just flown. Often there would be two flocks. of | about the same size, one taking off in one direction as soon as the other had completed the flight the other way. This constant flying of these little birds was varied, now and then, by a complete resting period, when the entire gallery sat in some tall tree and seemed to rest up from feeding. The chattering which went on then reminded observers of nothing so much as the conversational noise which goes | on in a theater during the intermissions. All in all, it must have been a very satisfactorv Thanksgiving day for the birds, as it was to their watchers. AND ATOMS Notebook of Science Progress in Field, Laboratory and Study. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. Fantastic cup-shaped animals were | building up great limestone reefs in the | shallow sea which covered the present area of the Appalachian Mountains a half billion years ago. Dr. Charles E. Resser, Smithsonian | Institution paleontologist, has just dis- covered one of the largest deposits of | limestone rocks filled with the fossils of these strange creatures yet known in North America in the Appalachian | Mountains near Austinville in South- western Virginia. They were the archaeocyathinae, or | “ancient cup bearers.” They appear at the very beginning of the Cambrian geological era, approximately 500,000.000 vears ago, and may represent one of the important links in the evolutionary chain of life. Morphologically they seem to have stood about half way between two of the major divisions of the animal world—the sponges, which represent nature’s crudest attempts to organize a mass of single cells into an animal body, and the coelenterates represented by such living creatures as the corals and the dreaded Portuguese man of war in which the organization had reached the point of a primitive digestive system and the beginnings of a nervous system. These two are the second and third lowest steps in the evolution of animal life. The “ancient cup bearers,” hitherto unknown except to specialists in paleon- tology, may have constituted one of the steps by which the coelenterates evolved out of the sponges. Another possibility | is that sponge, coelenterate and archaeo- cyanthinae, all were derived from a com- mon _ancestor. The strange creatures existed only during the Cambrian period and had completely disappeared before it ended. They were contemporaries, for the greater part of their millions of years of existence, of the crablike trilobites which constituted the dominant form of life during this dawn age, and the wormlike brachiopods, or lamp shells which have a few living representatives. The earliest archaeocyanthinae fossils, however, seem to slightly antedate the trilobite and brachiopod fossils, but this is probably because the higher forms of life took advantage of the shallow water over the reefs which the cup bearers built. The archaeocyanthinae-evolved many species and multiple forms. Some of the fossils collected by Dr. Resser look like lead pencils. Others were cup shaped, but with all sorts of variations from the tiny demitasse through the wine glass to the coffee mug. Some looked like first discovered in Labrador in 1861 and since then scattered deposits have been found throughout the Appalachian area | from Vermont through New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland to Virginia. | One of the largest known deposits was found about the middle of the last cen- tury in Sardinia, and scattered speci- mens have been picked up through the Cambrian regions of Central Europe. The building of the Trans-Siberian railroad brought to light several strata of them, | and Russian geologists now are carrying on an intensive search for them through Southern Siberia. In North America the chief deposit found to date is along the shores of the Strait of Belle Isle in Canada. The late | Dr. Charles D. Walcott, former secretary | of the Smithsonian Institution, found an archaeocyanthinae area extending from Northern California into Nevada. Up to date, however, the most extensive and best-preserved fossils have been found in the Beltana Mountains of South Australia where they occur in ancient limestone reefs in company with many other forms of pre-Cambrian animal life. The cup bearers apparently were one of the chief forms of animal life on earth for millions of years, perhaps twice as long as the mammals and birds have existed. Concerning Authorship of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” To the Editor of The Star: While others are guessing as to who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” I can say that I feel sure I am one of the few people living who really know who was the author, because I was told 60 years or more ago by John Roulston's sister, Mrs. Ansley, about the writing of the famous little rhyme. Mrs. Ansley lived in the little town in ‘Wisconsin where I was born and raised. She was a very fine old person with a marked Boston accent. I saw her very often as she was an intimate friend of my grandmother, who was born in 1818. I think Mrs. Ansley was a little older. She told me many stories of her gifted brother, who died very young. They lived near Boston, Mass., as children. Several years ago a controversy much like the present one was being carried on in the Chicago papers. I wrote to one of them—I think it was the Tribune —and told the story as I knew it. My article was printed in the paper. The story told by Henry Ford at the time is, I think, the true one. Mrs. Ansley told me that some woman added several lines to the original ones written by her brother. I think we elderly people should tell the things we know for the benefit of the present generation. I am a retired Chicago school teacher and have been living in Washington for nearly three years. (MRS.) HARRIET L. POST. Abattoir Approved as A Source of Revenue ‘To the Bditer of The Star. 1 thaoroughly approve of the abattolr. Anything that will bring more money i 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. If a person is more than 65 years old, will he be taxed for the old-age re- tirement fund?—H. H. A. An employe, who would otherwise have been taxable, but is 65 years old or more, is exempt. He is not taxed and is not benefited by this phase of social security, Q. What is the name of the man who is walking around the world?—E. W. 8. A. Jean de Vaudreuil Manchot of Brussels, Belgium, has been walking around the world since 1920. He makes an average of 20 miles a day and expects to complete the trip within two years. Q. How do Japanese boys’ kimonos differ from the girls’?—B. L. A. The boy’s kimono is made of dark striped material, with the sleeves rather short and the garment held together by a black girdle. He wears heavy socks that reach just above the ankle and straw sandals indoors and wooden clogs for street wear. The kimono of a girl is much gayer than her brother’s. It has a pattern of flowers and birds, and is fastened with a bright red sash. Her sleeves reach to her knees. Q. How many people enter contests of various kinds?—J. L. W. A. More than 20,000,000 Americans compete in contests annually. Q. What was the first United States air unit to participate in fighting on the Western front?>—E. L. G. A. The 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron. of which Eddie Rickenbacker was com- manding officer, was the first American aviation unit to engage in combat on the Western front. This unit was credited with 69 victories, the largest number of any American unit. Rickenbacker headed the list with 26 victories. Q. Howv many libraries did Andrew Carnegie found?—R. W. § A. He established 23811 libraries throughout the world. In this country he gave 1946 libraries. Q. Which State has the most counties and which has the fewest?—M. 8. A. Texas has the most—they number 354. Delaware has the fewest—onl three. Q. Who invented the railroad ticket? —J. M. A. The ticket owes its origin to Thoma Edmonson of Lancaster. England, who in 1836 was station master and bookinz clerk at Milton, on what was then the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway. Q. What is the circulation of the chzi grocery magszine, the Family Circle? —M. R. A. The circulation is now 1,508,600. Q. Is Great-grandfather Peter, the oldest tree in the world, still living? | =M. R. A. Great-grandfather Peter, an Aus- tralian Macrozamia palm on Tambourine Mountain, Queensland, was cut down re- cently by unknown vandals. Dr. A. D. Herbert and 200 volunteer workers from the University of Queensland. replanted the tree which was still living, coating the cut end with malachite green to prevent decay. It is believed that the 15,000-year-old tree will survive, Q. Who was the first President to ride in an automobile in the inaugural pro- cession?—M. N. A. President Harding was the first. Q. Who were the Seven Sleepers? —E. V. H. A. They were seven noble youths of Ephesus, according to legend. who fled in the Decian persecution in AD. 250 to a cave at Mount Celion. After 230, or in some versions 309 years, they awoke, but soon died and their bodies were taken to Marseille, France, in a large stone coffin which is still shown in Victor's Church. Their names are Constantine, Dionysius, John, Marimian, Malchus, Martinian and Serapion. Q. Who discovered Salvarsan?—G. R. A. It was discovered by Paul Ehrlich, German biologist, in 1910. Q. When was “The Oceanides” first played in the United States?>—G. T. A. Jean Sibelius, the composer, di- rected the orchestra on the occasion of the first performance of his work in this country. This was in 1914, Q. Did Prancis Bacon design wearing apparel?—M. B. A. Prancis Bacon, the celebrated essev- ist who some people think wrote Shake- speare’s plays, spent his spare time de- vising new styles in men's clothes. He made 1,200 drawings of freakish raiment and had tailors make some of them up. When no friends of his would wear any of the wild and giddy costumes, he hired men to put them on and promenade the London streets. Q. In early days did some States have ll;l! galnn the manumission of slaves? A. Laws of this sort were passed not only in Southern States, but in Con- necticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania There were also many statutes passed prohibiting freed Negroes from entering other States, Q. How many peace dollars coined in 1921?—C. M. A. Of the 87736473 silver dollar: lulued in 1921, 1,006,473 were “peace coins. were - -——— International Bridge. Prom the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Italy will double its navy. Great Brit- ain most likely will redouble. And woe to the one that tries the first finesse. e A Rhyme at TTrilight By Gertrude Brooke Hamilton Fire Dreams. Alone by my fireside Crossing the Great Divide: Breaking bonds of the world; PFoot-loose and fancy free Tramping strange roads, and whirled Windward, beyond the sea; On—with the wanderlust Strong in the heart of me. Nightfall, and cry of loon: Afar a gray wolf whines; A magic wisp of moon In the dense darkness shines; A bracken bed. And soon Sleep—and the scent of pines. For the dream lay the blame On my hearth’s fitful flame. | i