Evening Star Newspaper, August 16, 1937, Page 10

A—10 =% THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. _____August 16, 1937 THEODORE W. NOYES The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11 St and Pennsylvania Ave Nflw"’y"nrk Office: 110 East 47nd St. ©Onicago Office: 435 North Michigan Ave. Rate by Carrier—City and Suburban. Regular Edition. v nd Sunday Star The Evening and,Sun Y month or 15¢ per week The Evening Sta The Sunday Star Night Final Edition. ight Final and Sunday l:h' Final Star_. c per month Collection made at d h month or each week. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- phone National 5000 ¢ per month or 10c per week 50 per copy 70¢ per month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryiand and Virginia, Dailv and Sunday. st $10.00% Daily _only _ 65005 Sunday only $4.00; 1 mo., 85¢ 1 mo., 50c 1 mo.. 40c All Other States and Canada, Daily and Sunday_ 1 ¥yr., $12.00; Daily only 1 yri. S800; 1yr Bunday only- $5.00¢ 1 mo., Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the ‘use for republication of all news dispatches eredited to it or not otherwise credited in thls paper and also the local news published herein, of ication of special dispatches All rig herein s0 reserved War at Shanghai. declared between Japan and China, war in its most cruel form is raging in the latter country. At Shanghai hostilities are in” progr that, taking the native civilian population and the foreign res- idents and visitors by surprise, caused the death of many innocent per- sons, including several Americans, and the injury of numerous others. Not until after these casualties had occurred did the foreign minister at Tokio order the | Japanese Charge d’Affaires at Nanking, China’s capital, to close the Emba: and leave “at an opportune moment.” There is no binding obiigation, in treaties or in other international agree- ments, to require the giving of notice that war is about to be waged. In any case belligevents are free under terna= tional pi ce to assume the ive without notice. If neutrals of other na- tions are ca in the zone of conflict that is their misfortune. However, ther is an unquestioned moral ob. under the unwritten laws of civilization, that oppor v be given to non-com- batants to remove from the arena of conflict 1t instance the war be- | na and Japan—as yet unde- n in the N at Peiping, in the form of a series of skirmishes that spread to Tientsin and other places in that section of China. That, perhaps, could have been regarded as adequate warning that the warfare might and probably would spread to other areas, even as far south as Shanghai. Indeed, it was q hin the probabilities that Japan would strike at that point, the scene of a bitter conflict a few years ago, the issues of which were not determined. It may be that those foreigners who re- mained in Shanghai or who went there subsequent to the subsidence of the northern outbreak of hostilities have taken their own risks. Certainly there s no ground for formal action or direct protest by this Government against the manner in which this contest between the two Asiz and in some cases caused the death of its nationals. have | | prevent | emergency outlay for their care? [ it be lated to the District of Columbia to be included in the Government's care. The Civilian Conservation Corps could put the whole territory in order in a few months. Clearing away the accumu- lated debris of the floods of years gone by would help. The elimination of poison ivy and the planting of appro- priate trees and shrubs on both shores would represent improvement vastly to be desived. Paths should be straightened and paved, new bridges of substantial materials constructed, shelter houses builtt Of course, some expense is inevitable. But, in a period when money is being scattered hither and yon for boondog- gling projects much less meritorious, no- body would be inclined to object to rea- sonable investment in renovation of a scene at once historic and naturally lovely. The problem deserves the attention of the public. It has been neglected in the past, but there should be no excuse for similar neglect in the future. e Welfare Estimates. Visions of sugar plums appear to have been dancing in the heads of some of the welfare officials as a result of passage of | the act to raise more than $7.000,000 in Although war has not been formally | new District taxes. The thought of all this new money no doubt inspired the heavy expansion of budget estimates just filed by District welfare agencies. The Board of Public Welfare asks for $11,349.567, or 62 per cent over the present vear. Nearly all of the score of welfare agencies B services seek large outlays for buildings or for considerable expan- sion of their staffs. For instance: The board seeks no less than $4.385.297 for relief programs as against but $1.876 - 000 this year. There would be more liberal outlays the unemployables. for caring for more aged and blind persons and a new item of $1, 000 is sought for relief of 3.000 families and individuals classed as employable. for Can it be possible that 3,000 employ- | ables have been on a starvation basis | here since last Winter when the Budget Bureau refused large Can committees to approve a that congressional later studied the have so underestimated the need? The now requested would be which badly money case not | available until the year beginning July 1,1939. If these cases are “employable” now will they still be jobless a vear and | a half after their need was placed before the Budget Bureau? It is hard to believe District tax- payers would balk at the cost if addi- tional funds actually are needed to real distress, but certainly re- | quests for any 62 per cent or 100 per cent increases in government must be based on more convincing evidence of need than the welfare officials have $o far supplied. - Largest of Flowers. The largest flower known to science | is the so-called Amorphophallus Ti- | attain tic nations has endangered | | oddity. Nevertheless the spectacle of the pro- | miscuous bombing from the air of an area that has been specifically set aside for the residence and business enterprise of foreigners, including Americans, with & gruesome toll of death, is certainly not calculated to justify consideration of this present conflict as civilized warfare. Both sides are blameworthy. Each sought an advantage through has tion. The peril of life in the foreign settle- ment at Shanghai was demons the earlier conflict between China and Japan in 1932, located at that city. The actual arena of the fighting was in Chapei, which lies north of the interna- tional settlement, a distinctly and ex- clusively Chinese section. Care was then taken to cause the least possible danger to the foreign residents, living a very short distance away. Those for- eigners who remained throughout the contest did so at their own risk, having had opportunity to depart. Now the case is different. The attacks from the air and the counter attacks from warships have disregarded the sanctity of the gettlement—if that word can possibly be applied to such a space in such a land—and a lamentable loss of life has been taken. Eventually this anomaly must be settled, whether penalties for these sacrifices are imposed in this pres- ent case or not. ——ee—s. In addition to having the welfare of Alaska to worry over, Mr. Ickes has equipped himself with a good sized Maryland farm that will perhaps give him some new ideas concerning a citizen and his taxes, ——ee— A perpetual smile adorns the features of John Nance Garner. Smiles do not last long under present conditions and he who has one should be invited to the microphone to explain it as fully as possible. : S Great Falls, The Great Falls of the Potomac are deservedly famous because they are dis- tinctively beautiful. ~ But both their celebrity and their appeal to the esthetic appreciation of visitors might Qe en- hanced by the inauguration of a rational policy of conservation in their neighbor- hood. To reach them under present conditions, a pilgrim must submit him- #elf to a tedious and exhausting ordeal. The approach from the Virginia side probably is the more convenient, yet it involves a long walk through a littered picnic ground. As an alternative, there is the cable toll bridge on the Maryland side—an expedient to be negotiated with & trembling heart. Perhaps the entire environment of the Falls ought to be a national park under Federal control and management. Near to the Capital as they are, the cascades might be regarded as closely enough re- ’ rated in | the ! minute under | protection. tanum of Sumatra. A specimen, brought from its distant home to the New York Botanical Garden, recently bloomed to celebrity as “the most ,photo- graphed plant” in the history of botany. Crowds of people flocked to see the It was, in effect, a floral circus. Carefully watched by its custodians, monstrosity blossomed minute by a supervisory system of The temperature in the con- servatory was kept at eighty-five degrees to coax its development. Graduall central sprout of relatively diminutive roportions grew into a spadix eight feet five inches tall. It rose above a green- | ish yellow and maroon bell twelve feet ten inches wide. But the prodigy was not beautftul. 1t resembled in form and color the night- mare creations of the latest esthetic ex- perimenters — the surrealist school of painters. A monster in appearance as well as in the abnormal principle which 1t represented, it contradicted all natural instincts of grace in design. It was, actually, a hideous error. If proof for | such a judgment be demanded, it may be found in the fact that the flower could be approached by its guardians only when they were equipped with gas masks. Perhaps the huge outlaw might serve as the theme of a sermon. Size, it seems, is not necessarily a guarantee of value. “Small packages,” the ancient proverb says, “sometimes contain great treas- ures.” The little business man, for in- stance, is commonly as important as the big one. Indeed, they are mutually de- pendent, mutually useful. The present economy of transition ought to remem- ber that truth in the drafting of its blue print of reform and alleged reconstruc- tion. oo Mr. Black of Alabama is what is known to the world as a “joiner” and evi- dently the Supreme Court appeals to him with the fascination of another lodge. ——e—s. Noteworthy Centenary. George H. Eckhardt, writing in the New York Sun, calls attention to a note- worthy centenary. The exact date, he suggests, is unknown, but there is no question about the period when the first soda fountain, “a thing distinctly Amer- ican,” was placed in operation. It was an invention of the decade between 1830 and 1840. Just about now, then, is the moment to celebrate its hundredth birthday. The earliest’ patent for soda water apparatus appears to have been granted in 1810. A French perfume merchant, one Eugene Roussel, domiciled in Philadel- phia, is credited with having “conceived the idea of bottling soda water with added flavor. Lemon was the first flavor used. The first bottled soda water, with flavor added, sold in New York was made by Roussel and shipped to John Tweddle for sale. In 1843 three soda water bot- tling establishments opened in New York within a week.” Mr. Eckhardt says: “The first marble soda fountain was operated by G. D. &/ THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, M Dows, in Lowell, Mass,, in 1858.” Hun-- dreds of thousands of visitors saw its ornate apotheosis at the Centennial Ex- hibition of 1876. Soon pharmacists and caterers realized the possibilities of the business, and fountains flowed in the metest villages throughout the land. If only because they appealed to the imagi- nation of sweethearts, they were as- sured of popularity everywhere. The angels alone know how many proposals accrued from pilgrimages to corner drug stores for cups which cheered, but did not otherwise intoxicate. Of course, latter-day youngsters have more modern facilities for romance. But their parents do not envy them. Look- ing back, the older generation recalls experiences rich and satisfying enough. Acquaintance with the draped and gilded glory of soda fountain elegance is among them—an immortal memory without a current parallel. e While distinguished Americans express satisfaction, after the manner of Mrs. Ellfott Roosevelt about their success in fooling the reporters, there will be no difficulty in identifying them in case they happen to land where there is actual fighting in progress. ——— Among the difficulties which arise in tity. Chinese are accused by Japs of slaying one another, which might be re- | garded as pretty good strategy—of its kind. e China and Japan have both been tak- ing lessons from Europe in warfare and may each be looking for a teacher to come along and lend expertness to the demonstration. e A Democratic “love feast” is a cheerful incident of current affairs, but, a plain old-fashioned contest to a finish is as easily arranged and may be more in- teresting. — e Things move rapidly at present, but there is no system of measurement to show how long & “new deal” can be expected to last. e Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER Idleness. I sought to find an idle day, But all the search was vain— The winds came searching through the bay And bade the waves complain. JOHNSON. The flowers nodded as they turned Their petals to the shower, And said, “The right to live is earnc E'en by the careless flower.” Even in sleep my dreams renew The daytime joy or stress, And though I sought the long through There is no idleness. years Melodious Irony. “Why did the tears come into your eves when the band played 'Hail, the | Gang's All Here'?” “In view of the factional fights we've been having.” replied Senator Sorghum, | “the tune sounded downright ironical.” Jud Tunkins says the man who boasts that he's never been arrested advertises the faot that he doesn't own an auto- mobile. In the Stock Market. How many big deals we recall Amid the excitement intense, When the actual cash was but small But the bookkeeping something mense. im- Sport Costume. “Kin I git in this poker game?" in- quired Three-Finger Sam. “If youll send East an’ git yerself a bathin’ suit,” answered Cactus Joe, “mebbe we'll let you sit in.” * “What's the idea of the bathin’ suit?” “It ain't got no pockets ner sleeves to tempt a man to hide out aces.” “Men engage in lpng and sometimes violent arguments over the laws they shall have,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “whether they intend to obey them or not.” Conservatism. The katydid will bring The same old tune As Summer days take wing— And none too soon. The locust and the bee And all the rest In 'customed melody Have done their best. The butterfly so gay, ‘Whom we admire, Holds to the same old way In its attire. Though novelties are sent To both strange and bold Dame Nature is content With fashions old. “No man likes to stay home all de time,” said Uncle Eben. “He wants to git some place where he has a chance of bein’ took serious when he brags a little ‘bout hisself.” ——— Subtle Attack. From the Bangor (Me.) News. Commenting on a resolution against farm bill lobbyists, a Senator said that “anybody with a white collar on won't be admitted to hearings.” This will be interpreted in some quarters as a sub- versive attack on the laundry business. % - o Perfect Pay Plan. Prom the Duluth News-Tribune. In the dispute about extra pay for the legislators no one has suggested the per- fect plan—make the compensation in- versely proportional to the length of the session. Bovine Queen. From the Omaha World-Herald. Los Angeles crowned a cow as queen of a festival. It is the only way, these days, to get & contented beauty queen. r & | Senator the Asiatic slaughter are those of iden- | Senator Pittman Defends Members of Committee To the Editor of The Star: The article written by Mr. H. R. Bauk- hage which appeared in the August 12 issue of The Evening Star has reflected upon certain Republican Senators who are members of the committee. I arise to their defense. The implication fis untrue. T.am not criticizing the writer. The heat is quite intense and we forgive any-attempt at originality. KEY PITTMAN, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Rela- tions, United States Senate. ———— Finds - Senator Black Qualified for Court To the Editor of The Star: I have been puzzled for some time to know how any member of the present Congress could be eligible to appoint- ment on the Supreme Court, in view of the provision of the Constitution, paragraph 2 of section 6 of Article I, as quoted in your leading editorial of the 14th. However, T find,that Webster defines civil service as follows: “Broadly, the public service other than thdt of the Army and Navy; in a more restricted sense, all branches of the public service that are not military, naval, legislative, or judicial.” If this definition is correct, then a judgeship is .not a “civil office” and Black is eligible, but I have not seen where any writer or speaker has alluded to this point. T. R. FREEMAN, L Ui Suggests New Parti For New Deal Measures To the Editor of The Star T respectfully suggest that after Pr dent Roosevelt has exhausted the Tres ury so that he can no longer help the “forgotten man,” he can still retain his popularity with the “great unwashed” by adopting a method employed by Roman and other old-tdme emperors and gs. who pardoned, released and re- stored all those who were condemned, ns I confined and exiled. He could start in by releasing prisoners from jails extend his benevolent activities by un- locking the cages of balmy guests in State hospitals—in plain English, those who are off their onion, or have bats in their belfries. By these means he could secure several million admirers who would shout their heads off for him—or such heads as they have left—when he tries to get an arch- bishop to crown him in 1940. BENJAMIN TORRENS. Oakland, Calif. Black Appointment Will Not Win Public Approval To the Editor of The Star f what avail is it for the Congress to defeat the obnoxious Supreme Court re- form bill and then vote to fill the vacancy on the bench with one of the chief pro- ponents of the bill. Publiz opinion re- volted against this raid on the Supreme Court and applauded the courage of Senators who staked their political lives in defense of the Constitution. Will the American people now applaud the plac- ing on the bench one of its defamers? Will they accept graciously the principle invoked by this appointment? The an- swer is nc. JOHN STUART. ———— New Deal Violation of Pledges More Flagrant To the Editor of The Star: The spectacle of a political bureau- cracy at work—whether it be labeled New Deal o some less flossy title—is truly a | spectacle to hand down to our grand- children. For their study, dissection and rejection mean—not emulation The need for economy and govern- mental reorganization is more pressing now than in the era of election promises | and beasts of New Deal achievement, presumably in the face of great difficul- ties. But these pledges have joined prior pledges; have been sidetracked in favor of new ways to increase outlays. new schemes to boom the national debt and new ways to gyp taxes for fresh experi- ments. The issue has been clouded by inflic- | how far-reaching and how lasting these tion of new attacks on industrial roval- ists, proposals to mulct the under- privileged and royalists alike while assuaging the former with rebuke of the latter. J. WINSTEAD. Argentina’s Objection to Loan of Ships to Brazil ‘To the Editor of The Star I take note that Argentina fights the | United States loan of outmoded battle- ships to Brazil. I cannot see that Argen- | tina is showing either co-operation or a | neighborly policy by so doing. In all the vears Argentina has not suffered wrong or persecution by the United States. On the other hand she might not now be a sovereign nation had not the United States stood as a safeguard between powerful nations and South and Central America. The time has come when it is necessary that Latin America should join the United States in a concerted defensive actuality. If Argentina con- tinues to be suspicious of our every move or act, then it is not humanly possible to co-operate with her, and we | shall be compelled to believe that the suspicion of Argentina is merely a jeal- ousy of Brazil, unfounded and unfair to the peace of all the Latin American countries. If Argentina continues this Jealous attitude it will no longer be pos- sible to co-operate with her. The United States is not advocating that Latin America join an armament race. She is merely asking Latin America to take upon her own shoulders her own share of national defense. This will permit the United States to spend less of her income in building armaments to defend these two continents. -~ MRS. MARY M. WILLIS. —————— —— Planning Time Allowed. From the Owensboro (Ky.) Messenger. Michigan has passed a law putting State employes under civil service, effec- tive January 1, thereby giving the poli- ticians five months in which to plan ways to evade the regulations. ———— Nocturnal Cheerfulness. From the Iilinois State Journal. Chneerfulness is described as the mother of many virtues, but whistling in the dark sometimes disturbs the neigh- bors. oo The Crucial Time. From the Kansas City Star. You never really appreciate the as- tounding number of careless drivers there are on the streets until you start break- ing in & new car. —— e Backward Georgia. Prom the Sanford (Fla.) Herald. Georgia has been having an epidemic of prison escapes lately. They probably don’t have a pardon board. ~ and penitentiaries, and then | ONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1937. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Now zinnias come into their own in a million American gardens. Modern forms of this favorite annual are beautiful beyond the dream of the person who discovered it years ago. Today the zinnia occupies several pages in any seedman’s catalogue, and many square feet of ground in gardens every- where. This flower is the friend of the new gardener, because it grows so quickly, and usually is so sure-fire, It is liked by the older hands because of the many art forms and beautiful col- ors of the newer varieties. The specialist will see in this flower an opportunity to breed newer and more exquisite species year after year. * kX K No one can say what the zinnia of twenty years from now will look like. Thirty years ago few would have dared to predict some of the finer forms seen everywhere today. The old red brick color, familiar in the famous gay 90s, has given way to & mul titude of hues. There are forms of zinnias today which scarcely resemble the type. Their flow- ers are four times as large, and they have lost all the cast-iron look of yesteryear. A few years ago more than 60 varieties (really species) of zinnia were listed in one New York seedman’s catalogue. Since then there has been a decline in interest, but at the same time new and better species are being offered to make up for the fewer varieties. * ok K * The present trend in zinnia is toward larger and smaller ones. The first is a great flower, softer in outline, with purer tints. The second favorite is the smallest of the types offered, a real pompom zinnia, also with better tones. ‘These smaller varieties are particularly good for vase work. An especial favor- ite with many is the light tan one, really a coffee-and-cream shade. A vase of these against a neutral back- ground makes an extremely effective grouping. The stems are good and the blossoms long-lasting. Many of the larger forms may be used similarly, if not too many are put into a vase. These do better with mixed foliage of light character, x ok ok The cultivation of the zinnia is very easy. Nothing more is required than good seed, to begin with, and ordinary garden soil in a sunny location. While this annual may be grown in a shady place, the results are never very satisfactory, especially when compared with the plants in full sun. A mildew often develops on zinnias, even under the best of cultivation and location, but it is particularly disagree- able on plants in the shade. Too often the zinnia in a semi-shady place grows very tall and spindly. It is trying its best to reach the light. We would not sav that good specimens cannot be grown in shady gardens, but the results are so much more satisfactory in sunshine that there is no comparison. One of the common heartbreaks of home gardening is the attempt to grow plants-which require good sun in a situa- tion where only part sun prevails, or where there is practically no sunshine at all. An hour of sunshine is not enough. It must be remembered that where there is much shade, in practically all cases, there are trees, and where there are trees there are great hungry roots reaching out many feet for food and drink. Even where trees are far enough from a border to permit sufficient sunshine, which is sometimes the case, their roots will be directly under the border. This means that the flowers planted there will be handicapped before they begin, and particularly so as they come to flowering. ‘When it is recalled that very few ama- teur gardeners spend enough money on fertilizer, it may be realized what the poor zinnia plant, for instance, is up against in such a situation. * o x X Grown in sun, zinnias offer few prob- lems. Even when the leaves mildew in muggy weather, they usually take care of them- selves, thanks to the powers of the sun- shine. & When the weather is very dry, they will need a little water. This is best applied directly to the bed, getting as little as possible on the leaves. The zinnia is one annual which may be planted very late in the season, if, for any reason, the gardener gets a late start. Seeds have been put into the ground as late as the latter part of July in a very hot Summer. These resulted in nice blooms in September and October. These late plants were fresh and in their prime when earlier-planted zinnias were practically done for. LI The longer one gardens, unless in it for money, the surer place in his affections there is for these fine old things, mari- golds. zinnias, petunias and many others. Such sure-fire things, known to all gar- deners, and some of them containing the finest flowers that grow. have met the needs of millions of gardeners. That they are still susceptible to growth is shown by the new species cre- ated annually, and by the plain fact that they are grown everywhere. A new and better petunia is an event As such it wins plaudits everywhere, and admission to gardens owned by those who must have “the very latest.” It is a happy sign of better gardening in America that the more humble plants —zinnias, marigolds. petunias—are now found among the elite of the plant king- dom, the newer varieties discussed and admired exactly as most gardeners have been wont to bow low before the latest hybrid gladioli, roses and peonies. There is just one thing to remember about the zinnia—give it plenty of sun- shine. And resolve at this time of vear to notice them in gardens evervwhere, and so determine to plant more of them next Spring. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS As Congress comes down the “home stretch” of a session which has been as hectic from many standpoints as any which has ever sat in Washington, more and more attention is being focused on the realignment and readjustments | which will be made in political parties as a result of the strife and turmoil over many questions on which this Con- gress has been called to act. Although much can happen and many changes | take place between now and the time of the congressionai elections next year, | and still more water flow over the dam before the presidential elections in 1940. it is recognized by far-seeing polit- | ical observers that deep-seated feelings have been created during the past six months which will affect permanently the course of coming events. Difference of viewpoint have arisen which will play a vital part in the political battles of the next few vears. It would be little more than guesswork, these observers hold, to attempt to forecast at this time just differences are. and how deep they will cut, but they do not hesitate to predict without hesitation that existing discords and discontent will bring about changes of sweeping character in the political line-up. Much interest has been aroused here over the announcement that Senator Borah, recognized as one of the leading authorities in the United States on the Constitution and questions related there- to, is to deliver an address to be nation- | ally broadcast on that subject on the evening of September 16, preceding the day on which there will be national observance of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the historic document. Arranged under Masonic auspices, it is recognized that Senator Borah, who for many years was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, will make a pro- nouncement of telling importance which will have a bearing on many of the problems that face the country today. Added timeliness is given to the address by the fact that today, to a greater degree than at any previous period in recent history, the Constitution of the United States with all its significance and implications ig in the limelight of public thought. The celebration of the sesquicentennial of its signing furnishes appropriate background for a deep and considerate discussion of this great American contribution to the world's political advance. * K kK Diplomatic representatives of the United States in any part of the world must always be prepared to get “on the firing line.” Last year it was in Spain where a young secretary of embassy, Eric C.>Wendelin, during the early days of the Spanish revolution was deeply engrossed in looking after the welfare of the American citizens in Madrid and in seeing to their safe evacu- ation from the war-torn capital. Today the scene shifts to China, where Nelson T. Johnson, American Ambassador. and the other diplomatic and consular officers of this Government are charged with the heavy responsibility of seeing that every possible precaution is taken to safeguard the lives of their fellow citizens. It is a duty which rests heavily on these officials, one which demands their unremitting attention and their unflagging zeal. In spite of their stand- ing orders and of special instructions which are sent to them from the State Department, it is necessary for them at times to use their own judgment as to how best to handle the intricacies of a situation whic arises and which re- quires immediate decision and action. This often requires diplomacy of a high order; but the Government knows that it can count on these foreign service officers, no matter what difficulties con- front them, to give their best service to their country. * x k x In helping to create the “good neigh- bor” feeling among the American repub- lics, much has n accomplished during the past few vears by the concerts of the auspices of the Pan-American Union and which are broadcast not only throughout the United States bui on short wave to the' other nations of the Western Hemisphere. Starting some vears ago music from these gountries. most of it kttle known in the United States. was secured by the Pan-Amer- ican Union and furnished to the Marine, Army and Navy Bands to play. Today they possess a large repertoire of choice selections by the best composers in all the Latin American countries. An outstand- ing artist from one of these countries | sings at each concert, & number of which are given each year. At the next one, to be given on the evening of September 2, the United States Marine Band wiil play and the guest singer will be Mario Martinez Silveira, well-known Argentine baritone. * ok ox o Weather forecasts play such an im- | portant part in the development of avia- tion that every advance toward greater | accuracy in these predictions is looked on as a step forward in the progress of flying. The United States Weather Bureau, which is constantly making im- provements in the methods and ma- chinery which it has set up for this purpose, is now engaged in mapping out an enlarged program to make its air- way weather observations more precise, according to W. R. Gregg. chief of the bureau. As a result of larger appropria- tions to permit an expansion in this work, there will be an increase in the number of pilot balloon observations to be made daily at all airway stations in the country, providing information on the velocity and direction of the wind. Further, an increased staff of trained meteorologists will be assigned to the airway weather forecasting centers to prepare the additional charts and maps necessary for regional and terminal fore- casts. Outmoded equipment in many instances will be replaced by improved and speedier apparatus. A system of abbreviations now being used permits sending of reports by machine faster than they could be transmitted by the speaking voice. LR Japan holds second place in the im- port trade of the Philippine Islands, hav- ing passed Indo-China in 1917 to take rank next to the United States in this commercial field and having held that place ever since, with the exception of 1924, according to a report just received here from J. Bartlett Richards, United States trade commissioner at Manila. The definite campaign on the part of the Japanese for increased trade with the Philippines became fruitful in 1934, the commissioner states, when their share of the total imports into the islands Tose to more than 12 per cent, to be fol- lowed by a further gain the next year to more than 14 per cent. In several instances, particularly in the case of iron and steel goods, the report reveals, gains in the Japanese proportion of trade were accompanied by losses in the American share, and in some cases Jap- anese advances have been at the expense of Europe also. * ok ok X In the midst of the troubled condition with which Shanghai is now beset, comes a report which shows that China is en- Jjoying some of the most up-to-date com- forts of modern life. Air-conditioning, which has made great strides in the United States since its beginning several years ago, is thought of by most citizens here as an American innovation. But Julean Arnold, commercial attache at Shanghai, reports that air-conditioned CArs are now available in first accommo- dations on the capital express, which makes the 200-mile run between that city and Nanking. (Copyright, 1037.) e Easy Walking. From the Manchester (N. H.) Union. Medical science has discovered a drug that makes walking easier. A comfort- able pair of shoes will accomplish the Latin American music arranged under same purpose. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Evening Star Injormation Bureau, Fredevie J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. How many Federal employes ara affiliated with the A. F. of L.2—W. B. H. A. There are 25016 members in the American Federation of Government Employes affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. There are about 64,000 members of the National Federa- tion of Federal Employes. This is not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, Q. What colors do color-blind people confuse most often?—sS8. O. A. Red and green, and brown and green. One experimenter found that 1 person in 55 cannot tell red from green and 1 in 50 confuses brown and green, Q. How many farms in the United States are supplied with electric currant? —R. H. A. About 1,118,000 farms have electric current. This leaves about 5,700,000 which do not have this utility. Q. When was Fort Leavenworth built’ —F. G. A. This military post was built in 182" by Col. Henry Leavenworth to protec the traffic on the old Santa Fe Trail. Q. When will General Motors concert; be on the air again?—M. T. A. Phe concerts will be resumed begin. ning Sunday, October 3. Q. What is “Avogadro's Hypothesiz? —J. H. A. The established facts concerning the relation of atomic weights and vor umes led Avogadro, a professor of pnysic in Turin, Italy, to offer. in 1811, as m explanation his hypothesis, which his proved of great value in the developmert of modern chemical theory. It is usualy stated thus: Under the same conditiors of temperature and pressure, equal vo- ume of gases contain equal numbers d molecules, Q. What is the hardest wood growirg in the United States?—G. H A. The Forest Service savs that hardest wood found in the United State is black ironwood. which grows in tr State of Florida. The scientific name fa this wood is Rhannidium ferreun. Q. Were steel pen points at one quite expensive?—A. W. A. When steel pens first appeared h England in 1803 they cost $2 to $3 eaci although the price was reduced to P cents in the course of 10 wears. time Q. When were synthetic perfumes firt made?—L. H A The first synthetic perfumes wer discovered by Cahours, Grimaux ani Lauth in 1851. but the industrv hardl developed until the discovery of coumari in 1868. With the synthesis of vanfllh by Tiemann and Haarman in 1885, fo- lowed by heliotropin the same vear, tre industry took a sudden rise. Q. What is the real name of the ele phant in “Elephant Boy"?—T. D A. His name is Iravatha. In the me tion picture, his name is Kala Nag. Q. Who was Brian Boru?—H. P. A. He is called the liberator of Ira Jand. He was an early King whn tel the country and fought off ea foe: He has become to the Irish the svmbe of Ireland shaking off the foreign yoke Q. Is it possible to get informatio from the Patent Office in regard to a1 invention upon which a patent is pend ing?—R. R. Y. A. The Patent Office has an iron-cla rule to give out no information whateve concerning any article on which a paten is pending. Q. Please give a list of some famo musicians who were or are active whey past 70.—J. W. A. The list would include Verdi erewski, Auber, Saent-Saens Liszt. De Pachmann, Rosenthal and Toscanini. Pac Wagne, Wi Q. How much will the 200-inch tele scope increase visibility of the stars —J. McD. A. Astronomers estimate the new 200 inch telescope using the great mirror tc double the distance man can see to zome 3.600.000.000.000.000.000.000 miles. Tt i expected to bring into view 10.000.000 gal- axies like the one the earth's solar syste moves in; to give new light on the riddle of what the universe is doing. and per- haps to solve the intriguing question of whether there is life on Mars. Theo- retically. but not practically, the mam- moth telescope will be powerful enough tn show a skyscraper on the face of the moon or to spy across the country intn the windows of the Capitol in Washing- ton. Q. How much does the average person perspire?>—H. B. A. The amount of perspiration nor- mally discharged by a healt ;w‘ varies from about 1'z to 5 pints®p day, increasing with exercise and h temperature. Q. Did Philadelphia once have a hotel which was the largest States?>—W. H. A. When the Continental Hotel was erected at Philadelphia in 1860 it was the largest hotel in this country. The front of the building was six stories high and the back part was eight steries. It was one of the first hotels in the countr to install passenger elevators and the management built the first hotel fire tower for the protection of its patrons. in the United Q. When will the Kentucky State Fair open?—J. W. A. The fair will be held at Louisville September 13 to 18. Q. How much money has the Gov- ernment paid to veterans since the Revo- lutionary War?—H. G A. Disbursements to veterans since the Revolutionary War amount to a total of $21,827,570,000. A Rhyme at Twilight By Gertrude Brooke Hamiltos. A Mood The wood was very still; the trees Scarce stirring in the evening breswze, Long, golden ribbons of sunset Crept thru and on the mosses met, While the faint twitter of a bird That from its leafy nest was head Failed in its sweetness to efface ‘The stillness of the quiet place. Only a little forest stream Sang softly of its twilight dream; And 1. beside it knew the mood That solace finds in solitude. r