Evening star. [volume], October 22, 1935, Page A-8, Image 8

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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THE EVENING STAR
With Sunday Morning Edition.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
TUESDAY .October 22, 1935
THEODORE W. NOYES.Editor
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herein are also reserved.
Budget Tyranny.
In its tortuous journey toward enact
ment the District of Columbia 1937
budget has just passed another stage.
The Commissioners have submitted to
the Federal Bureau of the Budget the
tentative set-up which represents the
official revision of the estimates sub
mitted by the several departments of
the local government.
In this important stage of budget mak
ing the public is only permitted to know
the general totals, disclosure of the items
being barred by statute. The nearest
approach to giving items is in the case
of the public schools and this is split
Into only three subdivisions—operation,
buildings and land.
In this government of the District,
which is very largely a government by
appropriation, there is nothing of greater
moment to the community than its an
nual budget. All through the process
of budget making the organized citizens
manifest a lively and intelligent interest
In each item. They have positive knowl
edge of the needs both of their own
neighborhoods and the District as a
whole. They are in a position to render
valuable assistance to the budget makers
If given a fair chance.
Through the earlier stages they learn
of the items included in the estimates
submitted to the Commissioners by de
partment heads and are given oppor
tunity to point out what they consider
are the most important needs. Here
the real opportunity for an informed
public opinion ceases. From that time
until the budget is submitted to Con
gress the community, which will have
to foot the bill, has been and will be kept
In the dark as to whether the items
which it regards as the most vital are
included or not.
If the subcommittee of the House Com
mittee on Appropriations follows the
same course as last year and holds its
hearings in advance of the publication
of the budget, as approved by the Presi
dent, those appearing at the hearings
will be groping in the dark. A full
knowledge of items, when the budget is
under consideration by that committee,
would arm public opinion with as much
power as a voteless and unrepresented
community can ever hope to possess.
Then there might be a chance of arous
ing the interest of some of our legis
lators so that they would seek to influ
ence the members of the subcommittee
to give the taxpayers what they want
and for which they will be required to
pay.
The statute requiring secrecy serves
only the purpose of stifling the expres
sion of an' informed public sentiment
of the local taxpayers. This interference
with the right of petition by a people
who have no other means of political
expression is only another evidence of
the truth enunciated by the founding
fathers, that “taxation without repre
sentation is tyranny.”
Great Britain, controlling Gibraltar
and Suez, Is being studied by Mediter
rar.eon experts in the war gamble for
any possible intentions of playing both
sides against the middle.
f
Crime does not pay. This well-dem
onstrated fact does not restrain the
narcotized or paretic gangster who
works for the morbid pleasure of getting
his picture In the papers.
More Limelight for Jimmy.
Jimmy Walker is in the news again.
It is simply impossible to keep him out
Of it or for him to keep out of it. He is
a natural news maker - and has been
Buch for many years. This time he fig
ures as both a loser and a possible gainer
in the fall of the dice of fortune. He lost
all his records, newspaper clippings and
other documentary souvenirs of his of
ficial career in New York, this by a fire
at Dorking, in England, where the cot
tage that he had occupied was burned.
That loss may detract somewhat from
the historical value of a book which the
former Mayor is planning to write re
specting his experiences in the highest
office in the gift of the people of Man
hattan and its neighbor boroughs.
But that is not quite so interesting a
bit of news about ex-Mayor Jimmy as
the announcement that he is soon to re
turn to this country and that his friends
In New York are planning a tremendous
reception for him, one of those good old
time rousing whoop-de-doo affairs, with
tugs in the bay and screaming whistles
with the valves tied down, ticker tape
and telephone directory scraps filling the
air from the Battery uptown, perhaps
with Grover Whelan doing the honors,
maybe a ceremony on the steps of the
City Hall—a good time generally, lively
and loud.
But the best is yet to come, the best
for Jimmy, if not for the emotional
community over which he once presided.
For it is proposed that as soon as pos
sible after the former mayor’s return
he is to be rewarded for his long, faithful,
highly efficient and scrupulously honor
able services as State legislator and
mayor by being given a pension. It
may be merely a paltry $15,000 a year,
but it will serve to express the gratitude
of the metropolis.
There is a little hitch in the matter
of the pension, but that can probably
be overcome. The law providing for these
post-official stipends requires that the
beneficiary must be in the service of the
city upon retirement. There has been
a gap in ex-Mayor Jimmy's official
career, due to certain unpleasant circum
stances climaxing in his resignation on
the eve of a decision by the Governor
—who is now President of the United
States—on charges of malfeasance in
office as mayor. But that hiatus can be
closed. There is nothing to prevent an
appointment to office immediately upon
repatriation, some snug little job in the
district attorney's office, for example,
and then can come the final retirement
and the reward for valuable services
rendered, to continue to the end of his
days.
It is whispered that there are mixed
motives for this program of rejoicing
and reward, that it is a combination of
affection for Jimmy and a desire to
demonstrate to the national Democratic
administration that Tammany Hall is
still a strongly going concern. And the
taxpayers will pay the bill for years
to come.
“Uncle Arthur.”
One of the world's field marshals of
peace has passed on. As such, Arthur
Henderson will be honored not only
among the British people, but by man
kind, for the closing years of his life were
devoted to an effort to bind all the
nations in a common determination to
banish war. It was a cruel irony that
Henderson should have breathed his last
at a moment when Europe rocked with
fears that the peace, so precariously kept
since World War guns ceased barking,
might again be broken on a devastating
scale. Out of a merciful regard for
“Uncle Arthur's" sensibilities and pas
sionate devotion to his ideals, he had not
been permitted access to the newspapers
for more than a month preceding his
death. He went to his reward blissfully
ignorant of the calamity precipitated
by Mussolini's adventure.
Arthur Henderson had what would
have been known in America as a
Horatio Alger career. Beginning life as
an ironmolder, he rose to the heights
of the mighty. Co-founder, with Ramsay
MacDonald, of the British Labor party,
he helped to pilot it to power in 1924,
becoming home secretary in its first
cabinet, and, when Labor took office a
second time, Henderson was appointed
foreign secretary. It was from Downing
Street that he marched to world fame,
for the League of Nations chose him
as chairman of the Geneva Disarma
ment Conference in 1932. It was in the
service of that ill-starred effort to induce
a reluctant universe to abandon faith
in force that he fell—fell In action, as
gallantly as any warrior who ever made
the supreme sacrifice amid the glamour
of battle, for it was known to all that
Henderson entered upon the disarma
ment assignment shattered in health.
But his spirit was never broken, and he
fought to the end, against insuperable
odds, for the principles so close to his
heart.
Politically at home, as well as in the
realm of peace endeavor abroad, Hen
derson was doomed to end his years in
disappointment. He had broken vio
■ lently with MacDonald over Labor party
policy. In 1931 he saw’ Labor crushed
at the polls and his own parliamentary
seat taken from him. Yet the world was
to do him honor in a field far wider
than the British Isles, and only last year,
in token of his unflagging zeal for peace,
the Nobel Prize was awarded him. It
would have been a thousand pities if
his attendants earlier this month had
let it come to “Uncle Arthur’s1’ attention
that even his brain-child, the Labor
party, had voted to support a program
of force, if necessary, to suppress
Fascism's war.
No finer epitaph for Arthur Henderson
is conceivable than the tribute of the
London Times. “His career,” says the
Thunderer, “was an achievement of his
own character and personality, unsup
ported by educational or other advan
tages usually enjoyed by the holder of
high office.”
Civilization is the poorer for the loss
of Arthur Henderson, inconquerable
idealist, indomitable crusader for the
cause of right versus might. Cured some
day of the malady of war, posterity will
revere his memory with becoming
gratitude.
---
Foot ball players are heroes in high
educational circles. The public loves
them and is willing to pay for them.
Their social and economic position is
secure, since it is obvious that even col
leges may have their budgets to balance.
Farm Mortgage Decision.
The revised Frazier-Lempke farm
mortgage act has run into another snag
in the Federal courts. The act was
designed to assist the farmers who have
mortgaged their farms and who are find
ing it difficult, if not impossible, to pay
interest or principal. When the original
act was rushed through the Senate in
the closing hours of the session of Con
gress in 1934 prediction was made that
it would be held unconstitutional. It
was. Now the attempt made by Con
gress to change the law so as to comply
with the Constitution has been held a
failure in the Federal District Court
sitting in Peoria, 111. The same Judges
who passed on the original act, holding
it unconstitutional, handed down the
opinion in the new case yesterday. Again
it must go to the higher courts for
decision.
The District Court found that the new
act violated the fifth amendment to the
Constitution, since it took property with
out due process of law, and also Section
1. Article IV, of the Constitution, which
guarantees “full faith and credit to
judicial proceedings of every State.”
The Constitution has laid down cer
tain rights and guaranteed them to the
citizens of the United States, to the
people, whether they be mortgagees or
mortgagors. Hard-pressed debtors may
well be the subjects of sympathy, whether
farmers or industrialists. The persons
from whom the debtors have borrowed
money, however, have their rights. The
lenders, for the most part, indeed with
few exceptions, would far prefer to have
the mortgagors pay back their loans. As
a general thing, they have no desire to
foreclose, no wish to take over farm
property. The “Old Homestead” type of
villain is uncommon. It is to the interest
of the lenders, therefore, to make terms
easy for the mortgagors, and to await
payment of both interest and principal.
The legislation enacted by Congress
has sought to give the debtor class of
farmers new rights at the expense of
the persons who have loaned them
money. That, in a nutshell, is the view
taken by the court. It is clear that a
debtor might be in a position to take
advantage of the mortgagee, and might
do so. when the latter was in need.
For example, the widow or superannu
ated man, depending upon a return
from a mortgage for livelihood, may be
as hard put as the farmer who finds it
difficult to make his payments.
The Frazier-Lemke farm mortgage act
is of the New Deal, although the Presi
dent signed the original act expressing
the belief that It was loosely drawn. It
has been revised and again signed by
the President. And again the lower
couit has held it invalid. It has been
argued by opponents of the Roosevelt
New Deal that it is antipathetic to the
American idea of freedom of action;
that it seeks to set up a new system,
with the Government in control and
dealing justice as it desires, through leg
islation. As decision after decision has
been handed down by the courts de
claring the New Deal acts at variance
with the Constitution, the basic law of
tne Nation, it begins to dawn on the
people that the new program involves
some radical changes from their old
system of government and principles
of freedom.
There is no more beautiful little
flower than Narcissus poeticus. There
can be only regret among sincere florists
that it should have to figure even re
motely in psychopathic analysis of the
affairs of nations in connection with the
“narcissus complex.’’
Many quotations are repeated in re
minder of the penetrating sagacity of
the late Calvin Coolidge. None of them
is fraught with more prophetic sig
nificance than his simple statement, “I
do not choose to run.”
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDIR JOHNSON.
Good-Natured.
Just a plain good-natured day
Traveling mildly on its way;
No tempestuous clouds that fly
Fraught with gloom across the sky.
No fierce lightning's dazzling glare.
No rude thunderings in the air.
Sunbeams with the shadows play—
Just a plain good-natured day.
Just a plain good-natured man,
Following out a simple plan;
Not surprising friends and kin
By a great impressive din.
Flashing thoughts and thunderous tones
Are not in his line, he owns.
Smiles and helps the best he can—
Just a plain good-natured man.
Expertness in Language.
"A man has to be a master of language
to say exactly what he thinks,” re
marked the essayist.
••Yes,” replied Senator Sorghum. ‘‘But
the real trick is to keep from saying It
at the wrong time."
One of the sadly mistaken people is
the young man who stands around the
depot in a country town and imagines
all the native are regarding him with
Wondering Admiration.
Nothing New.
The world is turning upside down, ,
Sc reckless is its change
That faces wear a gloomy frown
Because of manners strange.
Oh, gloom-promoters, cease these fears.
This world at which you scoff
Turned upside down each day for years
And no one yet fell off!
The Apparel and the Man.
••Josh,” saia Farmer Corntossel, ‘‘did
you say Cicero was the greatest orator?"
"Yes. Here is a picture of him.”
"I saw the picture. You can’t fool me,
son. He might have been a pretty good
talker, but he ain't any regular orator.
Where’s his high silk hat and his Prince
Albert coat?"
Restraint.
"You never went trout fishing?"
"How could I go trout fishing?" re
sponded Mr. Meekton. “I never leave the
house without Henrietta’s calling after
me and telling me not to get my feet
wet."
Concerning Poetry.
Oh, poetry is something that is easy to
compose.
You merely get a pen and let your fin
gers Idle wag;
And beauteous thoughts come bulging
forth in sweet spontaneous glee—
The only difficulty is to think up words
that rhyme.
This rhyming, after all ir> Just a custom,
nothing more—
Much like the thought considered so
essential long ago.
If thoughts can be dispensed with, as
they generally are,
Let’s take the rhymes, likewise, and
throw them out upon the dump.
"If everybody tol' de exact truth,"
■aid Uncle *Eben, "dar wouldn’t be
enough people on speekin’ terms to make
any conversation whatevar."
Secret Treaties and
The League of Nations
To the Kdltor of The Star:
In the year 1914, there began the
largest of all wars. Many nations were
Involved. New forms of military equip
ment and materials, adapted for large
slaughtering were used. Millions of men
died in battle or received wounds or
disease from which they died. After
four years, there came an armistice, a
cessation of fighting along all lines.
The days following the armistice were
days of great rejoicing in all countries
which had part in the war. The horrors
of that war led people to desire action
which would prevent future wars. With
that end in view, effort was made to
form an international organization which
would control for that purpose. The
League of Nations, in which a large
majority of the nations assumed mem
bership, was formed.
But several times during later years
nations have attacked other nations In
violation of the principles on which the
League was based. At various times our
people expressed doubt whether the
League could ever function in a way to
accomplish its purpose.
During the last few days, there has
come a development which should lead
to such rejoicing throughout the world
as followed Armistice day in the year
1918. Fifty or flfty-one world nations
have now formed the largest peace treaty
ever formed, it being directly for the
purpose of providing security to all the
nations, large and small, small and large
—security against military attack or
threat of such attack. Then no more
war.
An important feature of this achieve
ment is the fact that it is no longer nec
essary for two or three or a small num
ber of nations to form a treaty for
mutual protection against another or
other nations. The way is now open for
all to join in this all-inclusive interna
tional security treaty.
In connection with the voting in the
League of Nations at Geneva it has been
revealed that a few member nations have
been embarrassed by having entered into
a security treaty with some other nation.
Cannot a way be found to release parties
to such limited treaties?
This new achievement, giving to all
nation members security and protection
should be very welcome to all small na
tions. CYRUS KEHR.
Foreigners in U. S.
On the Relief Rollg
To the Editor of The Star:
I read an article that made quite an
Impression on me and I want to pass It
on to the readers of The Star—that is, if
the editor will give me a little space in
his valuable publication—with the hope
that it will meet as favorable response
as It has with me.
“There are 16.500.000 foreign-born citi
zens in these United States.
“Of these 7,500,000 are unnaturalized.
“Unnaturalized foreigners on relief,
1.500.000.
“Unnaturalized foreigners holding
American jobs, 6.000.000.
“Total of the unemployed at present,
10.500.000.
“Unemployed American citizens en
titled to jobs, 9.000.000.
“Foreigners in the United States il
legally, 3.500,000.
“Foreigners now knocking at the door
of the United States waiting to enter,
192.000. "
The writer has taken these figures from
the Chicago Journal of Commerce, under
date of October 9. 1935. It shows that
we as a Nation have been very con
siderate for many years, too much, in
fact and now that we are more strict
as to the entry conditions, we must do
something very drastic to those that are
living here and for some reason or an
other fail to take out naturalization
papers. Since we have some 9.000.000
of native-born citizens unemployed at
this time and 6,000,000 holding American
jobs who are unnaturalized. I as an
American citizen and a Spanish-Ameri
can War veteran protest very strongly
that those that are not grateful enough
to this great country of ours and still
have jobs ana also on relief should either
do one of two things—become naturalized
as soon as possible or go back to the
country that they came from. So the
many millions out of work get a job and
in that way help the situation to a great
extent.
My final question is why keep on re
lief 1.500.000. especially ‘when we are
having such a problem of keeping body
and soul together, these patriotic Ameri
cans, who through no fault of their own
are out of employment, no doubt willing
to work and are now on relief rolls?
FELIX A. URY.
How Chief Justice Taft
Reproved an Attorney
To *h» Editor of The St»r:
In a recent issue of The Star the As
sociated Press reports that: “The late
Chief Justice Taft once curtly rebuked
an attorney and ordered him to stand
aside because he came before the court
in a sack suit, without a vest and with
coat open, displaying an expanse of ex
pensive shirt fronting.”
If the incident referred to is the one I
witnessed 'apparently it is), what actu
ally happened is not fairly described.
The attorney was an applicant for
admission to practice, was introduced
to the court by his sponsor, who moved
his admission. The Chief Justice, re
plying to the motion, addresed the
sponsor with: “But don’t you think he
ought to be properly attired?” Then, in
clining his head he answered his own
question—“yes.”
There was nothing further said, the
motion was not insisted upon, the appli
cant stood aside, and the incident was
closed.
The attorney was not “curtly rebuked,’’
if I am any judge of manners, and I
think I am. The late Chief Justice was
by no means lacking in courtesy and in
this instance excercised all that his
judicial office demanded of him.
EWART W. HOBBS.
Galveston, Tex.
Writer of Old Tells
The Causes of Wars
To the Editor of The Star:
J. H. Boyer, in a recent issue of The
Star, wishes some one “would tell what
causes war.” In an old book in my pos
session I found this very question dis
cussed, and I take therefrom a brief
excerpt that may throw a little light on
the question that troubles your corre
spondent. The author has been speaking
of “envying and strife,” and he continues,
in his old-fashioned language, as fol
lows:
“From whence come wars and fightings
among you come they not hence, even of
your lusts? ... Ye lust and have not; ye
kill, and desire to have, and cannot ob
tain: Ye light and war, yet ye have
not ...”
Although In condensed form it seems
to me the cause of war is well set forth
In the above paragraph—an envious de
sire for something in the possession of
another country or nation.
Mt & mpm
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
Some one said the other day that as
far as she is concerned. Autumn is the
mov-t beautiful time of the year.
Perhaps that is true as far as most
persons are concerned.
At this time the thoughts of most
turn to the abstract discussion of beauty,
and it is the only time of the entire 12
months this is so.
The turning leaves do it.
It is impossible to see these falling
beauties without thinking of beauty, and
what its abstract idea means to us.
There is the beauty of women, the
beauty of gems, the beauty of the sea,
the beauty of the great national parks—
Each has its beauty, but behind this is
the abstract beauty, the conception of
beauty in the human mind.
Longinus wrote of it long ago.
Mystical writers of all ages have man
aged to touch upon it.
Some of them wove its conceptions
into our deepest religious abstractions.
This is the beauty behind beauty,
which, not perceiving, many a person
has missed beauty altogether in beating
hands against forever unopened doors.
* * *
Even the mechanics of the loveliness
of changing Autumn leaves is not easy
to understand; how much less hope is
there, then, that the inner mystery will
be overlooked?
Scientific writers are fond of telling
us that famous old Jack Frost really has
nothing to do with it. that the change in
the color of leaves at this time of year
comes about solely through the protec
tive instinct of trees.
There are various sorts of coloring
matter in the leaves, each type having
something to do with nutrition. 'When
the period of dormancy comes around,
as it does at this season, these materials
are withdrawn by the power of intelli
gence in the great plant we know as
"tree.” It takes these materials down
into its branches and trunk, in order to
protect and conserve them.
This leaves (and no pun intended) the
red and yellow coloring matter* ex
posed. the green having been withdrawn
for future use. The leaves now have
fulfilled their mission in life ~nd are
blown off or drop down in time, merely
aided by cold and wind.
* * * *
To rule out Jack Frost, however, seems
to most of us going just a bit too far.
It is significant that these dormancy
changes do not come about until several
spells of almost-freezing weather.
If the cold itself does not compel the
changes, at least it gives & most pow
erful urge to the tree intelligence.
It is much the same as pressing the
button in photography, or ringing a
doorbell. The finishers "do the rest"
and electricity rings the bell, but the
Initial touch of the human hand was
necessary.
Most of us will continue to feel, there
fore, that Jack Frost, symbolic cold, has
had his usual hand in these far-flung
changes, which do so much to make so
many persons feel that this is the moat
beautiful time of the entire year.
This is saying a great deal, of course,
as any one realizes who stops for a
moment to recall the beauty of Spring,
the inspiring loveliness of a cold, snowy
Winter's night, the lush glory of Sum
mer.
Whether it is exactly true to say that
Pall is more beautiful than Spring is a
question. The ancients had a saying
that it is futile to argue about questions
of taste. They meant that there are so
many things In life unsettled, and prob
ably never to be determined, that it is
useless to get red in the face over an
other person's expressed likes and pref
erences. If we stop to think about it, we
realize very well that most of the argu
ments still rife are about exactly such
matters, especially in the everyday ex
change of opinions. Every one knows
how it is—how, when an expression of
liking is made, some one else present is
sure to pop up with: “Oh, do you? Why,
I think So-and-So is much better!”
* * * *
The abstract beauty ot Autumn lies in
its adherence to the laws of health.
The hidden beauty of health is known
only to ill persons and those who, as one
writer put it, are not exactly well.
The healthy man or woman does not
think about health at all, and if you
were to tell them that health is beauty
they would laugh at you, because the
chances are they have both, and nor
mally people tend to belittle what costs
them nothing.
Health is written into the construc
tion of the physical universe, but at the
same time the possibilities of ill health,
of pain and sorrow, were put there, too,
as a sort of reverse to the picture.
Health and illness are two sides to a
very thin sheet of paper, as the child
finds out when he “skins” a knee. Blood
follows smooth skin, pain comes after
laughter, infection may come after both.
The difference between the fine feel
ing of health and the unhappy feeling
of illness is only the difference between
proper functioning and improper func
tioning— but what a difference!
There are millions of persons alive who
never have known real health, and yet
they are expected to do as much as the
healthy, and to be quite as cheerful
about it.
But what is expected of them, after
all, is as nothing in comparison with
what they must expect of themselves.
A favorite sport of mankind has been to
overlook the outlook of the ill and the
semi-ill. These are two distinct classes
who merge in a great borderland of half
sick half ill.
The sickly person has all the longing
for accomplishment of the healthy, yet
must all the time be content with far
less. The fact that there are many as
tonishing instances of vast accomplish
ment by seriously ill persons is not much
use to them, after all. for those famous
persons were exceptional, and the aver
age man or woman is not exceptional
at all. but just that—average.
The hidden beauty of health is that
of being perfectly in tune with the uni
verse's idea of health, or physical per
fection. The nice side of the page of
life is uppermost. The possibilities for
pain and illness are safely hidden on the
other side.
Tne beauty of Autumn is the perfect
expression of natural change through
necessity, with the sure realization that
the changes are for good, not for evil.
This idea of good and evil, the upper
and lower sides of the same page of life,
is written into every tree, plant, leaf,
seed.
When we stoop along the street to pick
up end admire some gloriously crimson
dogwood leat we do more than worship
Autumn beauty.
We understand the abstraction of
beauty, as integrated in all that is; if
onlv for a moment, we know something
of things which are momentless and
endless, no matter how gray or old or
colorless they may become.
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS R. HESRY.
Genes, the infinitesimally tiny “atoms"
of life, serve also as the yeasts of body
growth.
In the developing organism they act
as chemical enzymes, making possible
growth processes, but remaining them
selves unaltered, according to the theory
of organic maturaton propounded by Dr.
Charles B. Davenport, noted geneticist of
the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
These organic particles, so small that
they still are beyond the range of the
most powerful microscopies, are believed
to be the sole vehicles of inheritance.
Dr. Davenpxirt's conception of their
double role goes far to clear up the
complex mystery of basic life processes.
In a report just issued from the Car
negie Institution, Dr. Davenport refers
to the long series of changes which a
child passes through during the period
when it is being transformed from a
minute, spherical egg to an infant ca
pable of complicated and useful move
ments and endowed with the capacity
for further growth. Something, he in
sists, must control this remarkable series
of orderly changes.
The enzyme-genes, he says, are found
chiefly in the egg, where are the sub
stances which provide the building mate
rial for the child's body. But these ma
terials themselves are incapable of act
ing, any more than a pile of lumber is
unable to arrange itself into a house. The
activity is brought about by the genes
which are present in the chromosomes of
every cell.
Dr. Davenport's concept of the growth
mechanism provides an adequate ex
planation of the mystery of physical
maturation—the delayed development
and functioning of various organs until
they are required in the complex life
pattern.
In this respect. Dr. Davenport believes,
the genes are like the ferments which
have the remarkable property of causing
chemical changes to take place In other
substances without changing themselves
in the process. Substances having this
property are called enzymes, from the
Greek word meaning “in yeast.” The
first member of the group to be recog
nized was found in yeast. Just as the
enzymes of body secretions play a domi
nant role in metabolism so, Dr. Daven
port holds, vital functions in the differ
entiated development of the organism
are performed likewise by the gene
enzymes within the cells which act to
produce, with enormous rapidity, the
substances in each cell at the time they
are required.
To account for the way in which these
gene-enzymes interact with cell sub
stances in the process of development,
Dr. Davenport outlines a theory based
upon the conception that the genes are
molecules having different shapes and
each having a negative electrical charge.
Under such circumstances any molecule
in the surrounding substance having a
positive charge will be attracted toward
the gene-molecules, but can connect with
them only when their structure is of a
shape that permits them to interlock
with the complicated shape of the gene.
If interlocking is accomplished, Dr.
Davenport believes, the combination may
acquire a lessened negative charge. This
reduced negative charge may, however,
be sufficient to attract a second kind of
molecule which will interlock with the
first. Thus two molecules are brought
together. Their charges are neutralized
and the resulting neutral compound
passes over to do its specific work in
the cell—perhaps to build a cell wall,
perhaps to build up a particulsr gland
ular excretion or hormone, perhaps to lie
latent until in some later cell stage it
has the opportunity to unite with still
other genes.
When the gene has thus discharged
the pair of molecules with which it has
united it becomes available for the same |
process again, and thus there are pro
duced a vast number of similar molecules
of the same structure and function. The ,
process goes on, Dr. Davenport stresses,
at a tremendously rapid rate. Possible
thousands of molecules become united
in a single second. He illustrates the
rapidity of this rate by the fact that
the newly born mouse, with developed
sense organs, nervous system, locomotor
system, capable of considerable func
tional activity and made up of millions
of cells combined in scores of tissues, is
manufactured from a few score of cells
in a little less than a million seconds.
Says Dr. Davenport: “Unless there is 1
an appropriate molecular set-up in the ;
cell substances any particular gene can- j
not act in the cell, but will lie fallow
until in some later cell generation there
have been produced molecules the chem
ical operation of which it is believed to
activate. Thus it comes about that
during development only one set of
chemical processes can take place at
one time and those that take place< In
the immediately following time depend
upon the molecules that have already
been produced. In consequence, the
genes are able to do their work at the
proper time and place, and thus the
organism is built up in orderly fashion.”
* * * *
The Department of Agriculture's two
years' search in Central Asia for grasses
and other cover crops that. will resist
drought and prevenC erosion now is at
an end and the new varieties obtained
are being tested in Government green
houses.
Last year H. G. MacMillan and J. C.
Stephens collected in Manchuria and H.
L. Westover and C. R. Enlow in Russian
Turkestan. Another expedition has just
completed its work at the edge of the
great Gobi Desert, in inner Mongolia. In
all, 2,252 lots of seeds have been sent
back to Washington. There are 798
grasses, 55 legumes and 889 miscellane
ous plants. Their value cannot as yet
be stated, since most of them are slow
growing, but reports from Western ex
periment stations indicate that some of
them are quite promising.
At Mandan, S. Dak., some of the wild
ryes and related grasses are growing
well. At the Pullman, Wash., station a
variety of wild barley offers the best
prospects for vigorous growth, erosion
control and drought resistance. Among
the Asiatic seeds planted at Cheyenne,
Wyo., some outstanding grasses have
been found, but they probably are no
more useful than some native species.
At the Tuscon, Arlz., station some grasses
have been found which promise to be
valuable for sand-binding and for for
age production.
Constant Optimist.
fltta tl» Putoni Poit.
The most singular thing about a rain*
maker is not that he never makes rain,
but that he retains undimmed faith in
Mi aaoacttz to mate u.
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By Frtderie J. Haikin.
A reader can get the answer to any
question 0/ fact by writing The Washing
ton Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Haskin, Director. Washing
ton, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q.^s it true that more electric current
was used on the night of the Baer
Louis fight that at any time during the
year?—E. G.
A. The use of electric current for home
radio and lights was the highest since
1932.
Q. How many cases of leprosy are
there in the world?—G. H.
A. The Leonard Wood Memorial esti
mates that three million men, women
and children are suffering from the dread
disease. The purpose of this memorial
is “to leave no scientific step untaken
that holds any promise of finding the
ultimate solution of this age-old curse
of the human race.”
Q. How much money did Mrs Phoebe
Hearst leave when she died?—G. M. E.
A. Her fortune was about $8,500,000
in 1919, at the time of her death.
Q. How much of Ethiopia is moun
tainous?^. G.
A. It is estimated that 90 per cent of
the empire lies above 6.000 feet. Eighty
per cent of it is approximately 8,000
feet high.
Q. What is a planetarium?—J. C.
A. It is a model or representation of
the planetary system. In its present
connotation, the word especially sig
nifies the building in which the plane
tarium is housed as well as the instru
ments themselves.
Q. How long has the word “stocking"
been in use?—E. R.
A. The word "stocking” did not appear
until the fifteenth century, when knit
ting became general. Knitted hose were
known in Scotland in 1550 and from
there were introduced into France, where
Henry II is said to have worn in 1559 *
the first silk stockings.
Q. Is the rose of Sharon in the Bible
the althaea?—F. J. M.
A. The rose of Sharon of the Scrip
tures is believed to be a kind of nar
cissus or the Autumn crocus.
Q. How tall was the late Senator Huey
Long?—S. P.
A. He was 5 feet 11 inches, and had
rust-colored hair, reddish-brown eyes.
Q. When was the Cape Florida Light
built?—L. M. B.
A. The Bureau of Lighthouses says
that the Cape Florida Light was built in
1825. It was destroyed by the Indians
in 1836. and rebuilt in its present form
in 1846-7.
Q. What war was known as Mr. Madi
son's War?—L. F.
A. The war of 1812 was so called by
the opponents of President Madison.
Q. What does cumshaw mean?—M G.
A. A bonus or gratuity. Originally it
referred to that paid on a ship which
entered the Port of Canton.
Q. When did Gigli make his debut?
—E. H.
A. The famous Italian tenor made his
debut at Rovigo, Italy, in 1915, as Enzo
in “La Gioconda.”
Q What church is known as the poets
and artists church?—B. S.
A. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in
Chicago. Its pastor, the Rev. Irwin St.
John Tucker, is a newspaper man. poet,
artist and wood carver, and his church
is a repository of works of art from
friends and members of the congrega
tion.
Q. Flease give a biography of Joseph
Urban —K. F.
A. Joseph Maria Urban. Austro-Amer
ican architect, stage designer and illus
trator, was born in 1872. He won dis
tinction with his architectural work, in
cluding the bridge across the Neva at
Leningrad, and with his decoration work ..
at the Paris Exposition. Among his illus- "
trations are those for Poe's "The Mask
of the Red Death.” Among his stage *
sets were those for “Othello," "Tristan
and Isolde.” "Parsifal,” "Ziegfeld Fol
lies” and “The Garden of Paradise.”
Urban was art consultant for the Chi
cago Century of Progress. He died in
1933.
Q. What is the derivation of mint as
applied to money?—C. S.
A. The name is derived from the
temple of Juno, Moneta. Rome, where
silver coins were made as earlv as 269
B. C.
Q In Lincoln's day, how was America
pronounced?—S. C.
A. The late Dr. W. E. Barton savs in
his "The Life of Abraham Lincoln":
“In Lincoln's day hardly any one said
Americah; now and then some one said
Americur; but Lincoln and most of his
fel'ow countrymen said Amerikay.
Q. Why is Justice Brandeis called the
people's attorney?—M. F.
A. He became known as the people's
attorney when, without fees, he de- ~
fended the people of Boston in their
long fight against local traction inter
ests and in their effort to control the
price of gas.
Q. What countries are included in
Latin America?—H. M. T
A. Mexico, the Central American re
publics, the South American republics
and the three West Indian republics
(Cuba, Dominican republic and Haiti)
are called the Latin American countries.
Q. How many consumers’ co-operative
societies are there in the United States? *
—E. De O
A. There are now 6,600 co-operative ,
organizations with approximately 1.800.
000 members. Last year they did a busi
ness of $365,000,000.
.
— " » I ■
A Rhyme at Twilight
Sy
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Light-Heeled
Where the motors sweep along
In the cocktail hour throng,
At a crossing sign
On the way to dine,
Your face in the pageant long.
Just a glimpse of laughing eyes,
A sigh as my heart replies,
Then the traffic fleet
In the brilliant street—
And the dusk hour in the skies.
Oh. the rainbow lounge is bright,
And the crooning music light—
But my heart beats slack.
And keeps slipping back
X| the curb chert wApMaad taofcbt