Evening star. [volume], December 12, 1936, 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.
SATURDAY__..December 1*. 19S*
THEODORE W. NOYES.Editor
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Valedictory.
For stark dramatic poignancy the last
message of former King Edward VIII to
his people has not been surpassed in
the history of tnodern times. It came
Into uncounted millions of homes by
grace of radio, and none of the multi
tudes that heard it pronounced ever will
forget the experience.
There was a manly dignity in the abdi
cated sovereign's valedictory; every
syllable of it was measured and weighed;
every word of it was spoken with deeply
impressive earnestness and plainly patent
sincerity. Introduced as a prince, the
erstwhile monarch proved his right to
the title both by what he said and the
manner of his saying it. If he did not
win sympathy from the majority of his
listeners, no appellant could.
The message Was not an apology nor
•n excuse. It was simply an explana
tion, "a few words of my own.” And it
may be regarded as a constructive con
tribution toward the imperative clearing
of the atmosphere so sadly needed
•broad as well as at home in England.
Edward told why it had been ‘‘not
Constitutionally possible for me to speak”
earlier, how for a quarter of a century
he had tried to serve his couptry and
the empire and still sought what would
"be best for all” concerned, why in “the
most serious decision of. my life” he
had chosen to resign his crown and
his throne rather than vainly attempt
to bear his burden without “the help
•nd support of the woman I love,” and
how “with all my heart” he pledged
his allegiance to his brother, fortunate
In his “long training,” “fine qualities”
•nd the privilege of “a happy home with
his wife and children”—a “blessing en
joyed by so many of you, but not be
stowed on me.”
Yet the pathos of the occasion reached
Its apex when Edward tried to thank
“all classes of the people,” his mother,
his ministers and Parliament. His voice
faltered and broke when he mentioned
the dowager Queen. But it was strong
•nd courageous again w'hen he an
nounced that “I now quit altogether
public affairs and I lay down my bur
den” and “it may be some time before
I return to my native land.” The last
words were instinct with patriotism,
promising, as they did, “if at any time
In the future I can be found of service
to his majesty in a private station, I
•hall not fail.”
It w'ould be idle to attempt to deny
that tpars dampened the pages as the
concluding lines were read. A sensitive
ear metaphorically could hear them fall.
And with them the ultimate curtain of
Edward’s regal career likewise came
down. The tale is told, and not one
single detail of It ever can be altered
or changed. By a renunciation “mine
• nd mine alone” the unhappy protagon
ist has written finis to a romantic
tragedy perhaps unparalleled In human
annals.
It is difficult not to be sentimental in
a historic crisis. The words, “the woman
I love,” frankly spoken, have upset gen
erations of calculating court formality.
The Aftermath.
Time must elapse before full effects
of Britain’s change of rulers will be
manifest, but already it is clear what
•ome of these will be. Purely symbolical
as the crown Is, the disappearance of
Edward VIII from the throne fore
shadows certain consequences of moment
both within the empire and in its ex
ternal relations. The abdicated monarch
Was represented as lukewarm toward the
Anglo-French entente and as strongly
preferring a rapprochement with Ger
many. Both as Prince of Wales and as
King he had made significant gestures In
that direction. The Hitler-Ribbentrop
program of "cultivating” the British was
rooted to a considerable extent in the
belief that Edward was strongly sym
pathetic toward it.
Berlin hopes of British friendship are
pot likely to be strengthened by a
couple of Ill-timed events in Germany
while the constitutional crisis was at its
tenith. The launching of a new battle
ship at Kiel was utilised as the occasion
for an old-fashioned naval saber-rattling
fulmination about the Reich's “day of
destiny.” At almost the same moment
Reichsbank President Dr. Schacht was
thundering that if Germany’s former
colonies are not restored, the peace of
Europe and of the rest of the world
Will be endangered. Developments like
these are not conducive to perpetuation
of the Edwardian pro-German influence.
With the single exception of the Irish
Free State, the King’s abdication has
produced no untoward repercussions on
empire relations. A bill was introduced
In the Dublin Parliament yesterday pro
viding for abolition of the office of gov
ernor general and of further use of any
'British King’s name in conducting Irish
affairs. This action 1^ la pursuance of
the long-projected purpose to divorce the
Free State from even nominal union
with Oreat Britain and veat all executive
authority in the Dali Eireann and the
cabinet. While the action now pro
posed would still further delimit co
operation of the two countries and vir
tually obliterate the crown as a link
between, them, there seems to be no
immediate plan on the part of President
De Valera’s government looking to
declaration of the Free State as an Irish
republic utterly devoid of British affilia
tion or control.
Within Britain itaelf the predominant
political result of the week’s breath
taking events is the fortifying of Primt
Minister Baldwin’s position. For a long
time, because of poor health and In
cessant sniping by his enemies, his re
tirement has been persistently fore
shadowed. It had been generally as
sumed that he would leave Downing
Street not later than the date of Xing
Edward's coronation in May. Mr. Bald
win's triumphant riding of the consti
tutional storm has immensely bulwarked
his leadership. The chances now are
that he will carry on as long as his
physical well-being permits, because of
the enhanced prestige and public esteem
acquired through his victorious battle
for the "integrity of the monarchy,” the
sanctity of parliamentary government
and the unity of the empire.
Labor’s Program.
William Green, president of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, has presented
labor's program to the Council for In
dustrial Progress. It looks first of all
to careful planning to prevent un
employment on a large scale, such as fol
lowed on the heels of the crash in 1939.
It looks further to a more equal dis
tribution of the benefits of the new pros
perity into which the Nation is now
pushing rapidly.
Mr. Green enumerates four principal
recommendations. Involved in some of
these recommendations may be a con
stitutional amendment granting to the
Federal Government and the States
greater power to deal with working con
ditions, with production, with hours of
labor, minimum wages and child labor.
Mr. Green, however, made no specific
mention of such a constitutional amend
ment.
The first of Mr. Green's recommenda
tions calls for setting up in the Federal
Government a permanent advisory eco
nomic council, with an equal number of
representatives of labor, management
and the public—the consuming public.
The duties of the council would be purely
! advisory, but its recommendations are
expected by Mr. Green to be translated
into legislation by Congress. His second
recommendation is the traditional de
mand of organized labor that entire
freedom be guaranteed for collective
bargaining. This was written into the
old N. R. A. act, although in terms that
were sometimes confusing. It was later
embodied in the Wagner labor relations
act. What Mr. Green demands is that
industrial workers be permitted freely to
organize and then proceed to collective
bargaining with the employers.
The third recommendation is for spe
cific protection to labor through legis
lation designed to establish minimum
wages for women and elimination of
child labor, to establish also other mini
mum standards essential to the welfare
of the wage earners and the economic
welfare of the Nation as a whole. Mr.
Green's comment here is interesting.
The legislation which he claims should
be enacted to carry out this recommend
ation should be "so formulated as to
make possible the establishment of such
standards not by legislative fiat but by
collective bargaining procedure between
representatives of labor, management
and the public.” Apparently he does not
propose that standards shall be hard
and fast, established by law, but that
labor be permitted to improve these
standards whenever possible, through
collective bargaining.
Mr. Green‘a fourth proposal is for leg
islation putting into effect a 30-hour
work week of five days with six hours
of labor each day. Here is the most con
crete of all his proposals. It is some
thing that Congress can sink its teeth
in. It is something that has been pro
posed in legislative form for several
years. And it is something that is surely
coming before Congress for considera
tion at the coming session—if labor can
have its way.
Only by the adoption of such a pro
gram, Mr. Green maintains, will it be
possible to bring a “balanced recovery.”
He is averse to a return to conditions
such as existed in 1939 before the crash
came. The prosperity of those days, he
insists, was a false prosperity, built upon
false values and false expectations;-a
prosperity in which but few really shared.
The program of labor will be strongly
urged upon the Roosevelt administration
and upon Congress, where it will receive
and should receive exhaustive considera
tion. Laws which deal with labor and
employers should not be lightly written
lest in the end labor find itself worse
off than before, due to the operation of
economic forces which cannot be con
trolled by law.
Chairman Grayson.
Admiral Orayson's acceptance of the
chairmanship ot the Inaugural Commit
tee was made at a distinct personal sacri
fice. for the position entails consider
able and wearisome detail and his duties
at the Red Cross demand much ot him.
A part of the President’s insistence that
his old friend take over the task was due,
no doubt, to the President's confidence
that whatever was done, under Admiral
Orayson's direction, would be in keeping
with the demands of good taste and
dignity. •
Speculation over the coming Inaugu
ration has, as usual, presented the seem
ing alternatives of a stupendous affair,
rivaling the British coronation cere
monies, or something so simple as to rob
the inauguration*of much of its signifi
cance. No President could appropriately
choose, as his own wish, anything other
than a "simple'^inauguration. No Preai
dent, without a display of displeasing
egotism, could come out as champion for
a bigger and better inauguration.
But there is a happy medium which
Admiral Grayson may be counted upon
to strike. The inaugural ceremony should
be conducted with all the dignity be
fitting the occasion. But it should ap
propriately mark an occasion of great
Importance to the American people. Ad
mitting that a parade of Tammany and
other large-waisted politicians in top
hats is not conducive to high reverence
for national institutions, it can be argued
at the same time that an inaugural
parade, and a colorful parade at that, is
a part of the ceremony and should be
held.
The selection of the chairman will now
permit plans for the Inauguration to go
forward, and the personality of the chair
man means that it will be a fitting and
dignified ceremony.
Kipling, in a favorite example of rough
rhyming, says: "If you can keep your
head when all about you are losing theirs
and blaming it on you * * * you'll be a
man, my son.” The words summarise the
Ideas due in a great human crisis. Recent
historic Incidents might as well be per
mitted to pass without further poetry.
Any one who doubts business activity
has only to look at the base ball trading
news. When its proper rating is recog
nised In American affairs it becomes
hard to understand how other nations
have managed to muddle along through
so many centuries without it.
There are so many distinguished vis
itors possible that the telephone com
panies might confer a favor by per
forating the pages of telephone direc
tories so that they can be more conven
iently torn up for use as confetti.
One radio announcer advises you to
get out of debt and stay out, while an
other tells you how easily you may bor- ;
row money in small sums. Each person
must still consult his own intelligence for
proper advice.
Preliminary discussion is so pleasant
that it requires patience to contemplate
the number of snow balls that must
melt before the first base ball is tossed
into play.
The musical saw has become so con
spicuous in melody that in contracting
for a Job of carpentering it may yet be
necessary to consult the musicians' union.
There is a cruel streak in humanity
that finds an unconfessed fascination in
the vivisection of human emotion.
Shooting Stan.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Swift Game.
Foot ball often brings us fear
That disaster may be near;
Folks contesting in the sky
Make us tremble as they fly;
Stock exchanges cause a frown
As a price goes up or down;
But for new and startling tricks.
The roughest game is politics.
Contract often leaves us broke.
Poker may not be a joke.
Yachtsmen brave the deep blue sea.
Miners work with TNT.
There are perils to be found
Overhead and underground.
But, no matter where you mix,
The roughest game is politics.
Differences of Opinion.
“Opinions are likely to differ on pub
lic questions."
“That’s very true,” agreed Senator
Sorghum, “and very fortunate. There
have been several times in my career
when the facts were distinctly unfa
vorable to my prospects. An active and
highly persuasive campaign to create a
difference of opinion is all that saved
me.”
In a Position to Remember.
“An elephant never forgets an injury."
“He can afford not to. He's usually
big enough to whip the creature that
inflicted it.”
Sad Sufficiency.
I know they will investigate,
Discovering much that’s new,
And call the world to contemplate
Things that are sad, yet true.
As feelings get another twist
By the disclosures rough,
I murmnr sadly, “Please desist!
I’ve really heard enough!"
Jud Tunkins says he can see the ad
vantage of not tryln’ to attract too much
attention. The only rabbit he got was
one who insisted on jumpin’ out and
callin’ attention to hisaelf.
Asking Too Much.
“You ought to learn to sympathise
with the interests of youth,” said the
man to whom everything seems easy.
“You mean I ought to get on closer
terms with my boy Josh?” said Parmer
Comtoseel.
“Yes. Put yourself in his place.”
“Can't always be done. When I see
Josh in a foot ball game I’m ready to
sympathise, but I’m blest if I’d think
of puttin’ myself in his place”
Bold But Impolite.
Our novelists will not behave;
And Qhe, who shall be nameless,
Pretends that he is very brave
When he Is only shameless.
“Be liberal,” said Uncle Bben, “but
don’t be to feared of hoardin’ money
dat you rushes wlf yoh wages to de
nearest Crap game.”
Somnolent Salesmen.
Prom the Seattle Star.
The days when the traveling salesman
fell asleep on the train and woke Up in
the next town are definitely over. With
world-circling air service imminent, the
day is practically here when the sales
man who falls asleep On the plane will
wake uBs,on the next continent.
^ ' #
National Amphitheater Idea
For Jefferson Memorial
To th* Editor of The Star:
Nothing could be more appropriate and
more constructive as a memorial to that
great Virginia statesman, Thomas Jef
ferson, than a great national amphi
theater, dedicated to his memory and
devoted to an exposition of arts, archi
tecture, commerce, education, history,
law, medicine, philosophy, religion and
sociology.
Leaders In all these sciences could well
devote an evening a week to a lecture
on one of the subjects mentioned, and
the public might be invited to attend.
A stiver collection might be taken to
defray expenses, such as lighting facili
ties and expenses Incurred In enrolling
lecturers for the programs.
What a splendid thing It would be if
such a memorial as suggested here would
some day become the gala scene of a
world peace center, open to all people
of all nations who are concerned with
human progress along peaceful lines,
Thomas Jefferson, I believe, would In
dorse such a monument of good will.
FREDERIC G. FROST.
Higher Ability Needed for
Protection of Car Riders
To th« Iditor of The Star:
It la regrettable that we have a Public
Utilities Commission unsatisfactory to
the people and too susceptible to repre
sentations by traction magnates. Prob
ably this is so because little attention
seems to be given to basic principles and
fundamental obligations.
A steam railroad owns nearly all Us
right-of-way, the property on which it
operates Is mainly Its own. But a street
railway uses the people’s highways; it
could not operate without such use.
It is important that such a commission
as well as "the courts should adhere firmly
to the salutary doctrine underlying the
whole law of municipal corporations and
the doctrine of the adjudged cases, that
grants of special privilege affecting the
general Interests are to be liberally con
strued in the interest of the public, and
that no public body, charged with public
duties, be held upon mere implication
or presumption to have divested Itself
of Its powers." The quoted words are
from the United States Supreme Court
decision in the Knoxville Water Co. case
(200 U. S.. 37).
Congress has laid down with particu
larity the requirements to be complied
with by street railway corporations in
the District. The commission, as well
as the public. Is aware that these require
ments too often are met in the breach
rather than in the observance. The
commission's duty to the public Is to
block every effort to get more money
from car riders until these fundamental
obligations are fully met.
The commission was furnished ample
reasons why the weekly pass nsver should
receive its approval. It was shown to be
unfair discrimination against the poor
man. It was a fantastic plan that has no
rational relation to a commutation ticket.
It worked as a game of chance, in which
the pass buyer or the railway might come
out either winner or loser when the week
ended. Evidently the railway found It
not profitable enough to continue as
started.
Two classes of riders were distinctly
provided for by a pass for unlimited
weekly street car use at $1 and a pass for
unlimited weekly bus car use at $1.25.
To approve now a pass at $1.25 is to dis
criminate additionally against the ex
clusive car user in favor of the bus car
user. It retains for the bus car user
unlimited weekly use that is taken
away from the exclusive car user unless
he pays 25 per cent above the old rate.
It is, in effect, a continued favor to one
class, but a 25 per cent increase against
the other. The $1.26 pass also should be
discontinued when the $1 pass no longer
is sold. A public interest involved should
prevent the commission from being the
medium to get more money from the
public for a transportation system by
such methods.
Where is the court basis for any In
creased fare requests? The Capital
Traction Co. has a valuation and ob
tained a court order approving increased
fares because the commission seemed
unable to protect public rights. The
Washington Railway It Electric Co. has
no valuation, the bus lines had neither
valuation nor charter from Congress to
use the public streets. Hence the Capital
Transit Co. <a merger of the three) is
a creature the court never knew, to my
knowledge.
Regardless of a new valuation that will
include all parts of the merged car and
bus lines, the Public Utilities Commission
strenuously should prevent any increase
in fares until such service is rendered as
the law requires.
JOSEPH W. CHEYNEY.
w
Middle-Entrance Street
Car* for District Urged
To the Bditor Of The BUr:
The writer begs to invite your atten
tion to what may be found to be the
proper style of street cars to be adopted
here and elsewhere.
All cars to be entered only at center
entering passengers to recognise the
conductor., and to pass to right and left
of the conductor, to either the front or
the rear end of the car, and to pass out
only at said front or rear ends. All new
cars should be so made that each end
will be provided with exit doors and
instruction printed on cars, both outside
ends and on the inside, to read "Exit
Only,” by end doors; middle doorways
should read "Entrance Only," inside and
outside of the cars.
This plan appears to have merit be
cause both ends would quickly let pas
sengers out, while a large number of
passengers could easily and quickly enter
and pass to both ends of the car. That
would always leave the center of the
car free and easily allow those wishing
to enter plenty of room. It would also
do away with so many obsolete cars and
pussllng ways of getting in and out of
tlfe present cars. Then the conductor
would be able to see that all fares are
paid via transfers, cash and pass and
the motorman would be able to give
easier and closer attention to his duties.
CHARLES H. RAUB.
Unfitting the Fit.
from the Stout Oltr Tribuns.
Leading educator urges colleges to fit
men for politics. It may be all right,
but we have seen politics unfit any num
ber of college men for anything.
Easing Unemployment.
Prom the Glendale (Oslif.) News-Press.
Anyway, managed currency apparently
has ended all unemployment among cur
rency managers.
A Smart Professor.
Prom the Arkansas Oltr Traveler.
A Stanford University professor has
found a signature of William Shake
speare which proves he was an educated
man. Somehow, we had always sus
pected that.
Air System Needed.
Prom the Chiesto Tribune.
why do they ptlt holes in Swiss cheese,
when it’s the nmburger that need* ven
tilating? 1
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL,
Templeton Jones, president of the
Anti-Sneezing Soc'ety, today issued the
following bulletin:
The ancient belief that sneezing Is
“good for you" wHen you have a cold Is
untrue.
We advise all persons to resist the ten
dency to sneeze, wherever It overtakes
them, but particularly in public places.
There is no need to do it. and no good
done to any one, especially others. To
them a sneezer does harm.
A very easy way to stop a sneeze is to
press the upper lip firmly with the right
forefinger.
The pressure must be applied the mo
ment one feels the desire to sneeze.
This will stop it 98 times out of 100,
but, if it doesn’t, for iieaven's sake,
aneese into your handkerchief, or at leaat
in a downward direction.
a a a a
Scientific teats made by thla society
show that tht apray from a good hearty
sneeze, such as some persons feel is bene
ficial to them, will fly as far as 20 feet.
On the street such flying sneezes may
go IVen farther if caught by a Wind in
the right direction.
The old idea that sneezing helps rid
the aystem of "germs" is mostly false,
since there are plenty more in the nazal
passages, and the few gotten rid of in
this way do the situation no good.
They may, on the other hand, do other
persons a great deal of harm.
The cure of a cold comes from within,
and the outward diffusion of mucus is
only a temporary relief.
It is both possible and expedient to re
sist the desire to sneeze, especially if
it is done at the expense of others.
* * * *
Few things, perhaps, show the thought
lessness of the general public more than
this.
One cannot go Into any public place,
whether stationary or awheel, without
being sneezed on.
Usually this action Is done cheerfully,
without the slightest thought that others
may not like it.
If (me were to say anything about the
matter, the offender, in most cases, would
be both surprised and indignant. He
would not understand it at all, but would
regard the intruder as poking his noee
into something which did not concern
him at all. Yet the offender already has
sneezed over many persons, in all like
lihood. poking his own effluvia Into the
nasal passages of innocent persons.
The huge loss in time and money
through the common cold is well known.
Much has been said about it. but prac
tically nothing concerning the fact that
much of It could be prevented if the
great average man would learn to stop
sneezing in public.
see*
The Anti-8neesing Society believes
that countless thousands of dollars could
be saved each year, as well as hundreds
of hours of time, simply by inducing the
average thoughtless person to be
thoughtful.
The difficulties of such a program are
well understood. To ask people, as a
whole, to be thoughtful, and especially
of others, is to ask the impossible. Ail
that is hoped for by this society is that
some, reading this bulletin, will be in
duced to join the campaign against pro
miscuous sneezing.
Many persons simply have not stopped
to think about the matter at all. To
them a sneeze has seemed so natural and
simple a matter that they sneeze with
out thinking. They have not realized
that several other actions of the system
are seemingly as natural, but generally
held in check by civilized and cultivated
persons, and especially in public.
* * * *
But if one must sneeze, in public or
private, there is no doubt that much good
can be achieved if the sneezer will take
the trouble to Sneeze into his pocket
handkerchief.
There is usually a warning tickle in the
nose, so that the old excuse, “I didn’t
have time to get out my handkerchief,’’
is seldom good.
Usually there is time; what Is lacking is
thoughtfulness for others.
Paper handkerchiefs are all right, but
not if they are discarded in waste bas
kets in steam-heated offices. This prac
tice is bad. If paper handkerchiefs are
used they should be burned. Other types
should be kept securely in the pocket.
If one must sneeze—and we have point
ed out how any one, with a little fore
thought and will power, may prevent
it—the thing to do is pull out one's hand
kerchief and sneeze into it, then fold the
whole inward.
♦ * * *
Experts agree that not only the spray
from a sneeze may be hannful to others,
but simply the breath itself.
Thus, when talking to others, the per
son with a cold can do an additional
good turn by standing at some distance.
The common practice of standing
within a foot of another, when talking
to him. Is never good practice, but is
even criminal practice when one is suf
fering with a cold.
Many persons are able to withstand
the ill effects of the common cold. It
does not “get them down.” as they say.
They do not think that their same
cold, which they are able to resist, to
some extent, may prove of the exact type
to "floor” a friend.
In an effort to be brave and buoyant,
despite sickness, the person who remains
afoot with a cold often pretends to think
such hygenic measures as here advocated
a joke.
They are common sense, as well ss most
uncommon thoughtfulness for others.
If common sense and thoughtfulness
were combined, in such a world as this,
we might have at last that famous mil
lennium.
It is just as well to keep In mind that
they probably will not be. and that none
of us needs be too much disappointed
if he keeps on seeing and hearing
thoughtless persons sneeze directly into
the face of others.
Or too much displeased if he feels the
spray from another's sneeze atrlking
him directly on the nose.
In such cases it is good practice to
close the eyes as quickly and as tightly
as possible, and to avoid breathing until
one can get outside the range of fire.
One should never let such precautions
be prevented through a desire to be polite.
It is possible to indulge in them, at the
same time achieve them in such a way
as not to call too much attention to them
or to one's self.
If others must be impolite, in sneezing
In public, there is no need for another
to follow suit and be impolite in turn.
If it is possible, however, always with
draw as rapidly as possible from the
area of the sneezer. It is impossible to
know what types of germs he harbors.
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS R. HE SR Y.
Is Creation a midget or a giant?
It may be an unbelievably tiny con
glomeration of a few billions of billions
of billions of stars with a radius of
only 3.000.000,000,000.000.000.000 miles.
It may be so big that this is only a
relatively microscopic particle of the
whole.
The two alternatives were presented
by Dr. Edwin P. Hubble, astronomer of
the Carnegie Institution of Washington,
in lectures delivered last week at Oxford
University.
The terms “little” and “big.” of course,
have no actual meaning in describing
the universe. Whatever its size, it is all
there is. By definition, there can be
nothing with which to compare it. The
alternatives come from Dr. Hubble's
latest studies of the "red shift” in the
spectra of nebulae, which has been the
outstanding puzzle of nature since its
discovery by Carnegie Institution astron
omers about eight years ago.
Until a dozen years ago man knew
of nothing outside his own system of a
few millions of millions of stars of which
the sun with its planets Is a part—the
ao-called Milky Way system. Presumably
empty apace extended beyond it forever
and ever. Then Dr. Hubble himself made
the astounding discovery that there were
other systems of comparable size lying
across such vast reaches of emptiness
beyond the outmost bounds of the Milky
Way system that It took light, moving at
186.000 mUes a second, a million years
to cross.
Shortly more and more of these ex
ternal nebulae and families of nebulae
began to be discovered, until it became
probable that there were untold millions
of them—that all the millions of stars
in the visible heavens constituted but
a particle of the universe as a whole.
Nature was millions-fold vaster than the
mind of man had imagined.
Then came the discovery of the “red
shift.” This was a displacement of the
lines In the spectra of these nebulae,
which appeared greater and greater the
greater the distance away. This would
be the effect to be expected In the spec
trum of a luminous object moving away
from the observer. Such wan the most
logical explanation, however fantastic. It
meant that the farthest nebulae which
could be reached through the Mount
Wilson telescope were moving outward
with a speed about a seventh that of
light Itself, and that the farther they
went the faster they moved.
Now, Dr. Hubble said in his Oxford lec
ture, the latest observations indicate that
the nebulae thin out slightly in all direc
tions with increasing distance from the
observer. This, it Is likely, is only appar
ent. That the thinning out is real is
highly improbable. It can be explained
in two waye. One calls for the substi
tution for the three-dimensional apace
appreciable to the senses the curved,
hyper dimensional space of the theory of
relativity. If this explanation is accepted.
Dr. Hbbble said, it calls in turn for
acceptance of the “exploding atom”
theory of the universe proposed by the
Belgian physicist, Fr. Lemaitre, who
taught at Catholic University here three
years ago.
This theory assumed that a relatively
few billions of years ago everything in
the universe was packed into a single
block of matter which became unstable
and “Mew up.” Its fragments—the stars
and systems of stars—are still flying out
ward. NOW Dr. Hubble’s observations on
the distribution of the nebulae indicate
the expansion of the “expanding uni
verse” resulting from this explosion is
hfjnniwf to slow up^
Further considerations enable him to
calculate mathematically the utmost
limits of such a system. It must be
inclosed within a curved space of a
radius of a little more than half a
billion light years—or the distance light,
moving at 186.000 miles a second, Mould
travel in half a billion years.
Offhand this might seem big enough
to satisfy anybody. But the dimensions,
if the theory is accepted, are those of
all. There can be nothing beyond, for
there is no beyond. And the space called
for is only a little more than can be
explored with existing telescopes. When
the new 200-inch telescope is set up
within the next few years there will be
nothing beyond man s ken.
Now, Dr. Hubble pointed out, one
doesn't need to accept the hypothesis of
curved space to explain the red shift
and the apparent thinning of nebulae
toaard the borders of the portion of the
universe visible at present. It can be
maintained that the red shift is not due
to recession at all. but to some as yet
unknown cause and that there is onlv
the three-dimensional space with which
the human senses are familiar.
But if this is true man never can hope
to know what sort of a universe he lives
in. It must be so vast that a region
with a radius of only 3.000.000.000.000,
000.000.000 miles is only an infinitesimal
Portion of it—altogether too small a sam
ple from which to deduce anything con
cerning its structure and properties as a
whole.
At present there seem only these two
alternatives and, so far as observations
go, one seems as probable as the other.
Need for Traffic Lightn
Again Demonstrated
To the Editor ot The Star:
Several times within the past four
years The Star has given of Its valuable
apace In re traffic conditions at Mount
Pleasant and Irving streets northwest.
The residents in our section of Mount
Pleasant requested and Indorse 100 per
cent the letters I have heretofore writ
ten The Star on this subject.
Application In writing was handed Di
rector of Vehicles and Traffic Van
Duser by the then police inspector in
charge of traffic, Ernest W. Brown, re
questing installation of “Go-Stop” traf
fic lights at intersection of Mount Pleas
ant and Irving streets northwest. Street
car and auto traffic has Increased over
50 per cent at this intersection since
1933. Several other applications since
the first, as cited, have been made to
District authorities in charge of Dis
trict traffic.
On one recent evening three autos
were in collision at this intersection. At
the Intersection of these streets Mount
Pleasant street is very much depressed.
When it rains water accumulates on the
surface of Mount Pleasant street and
street cars and autos going north or
south splash water even to the sidewalks
and over clothing of any pedestrian who
has ventured to cross.
The Engineer Commissioner’s atten
tion was called to the condition. He
had an investigation made and the in
vestigator admitted the condition and
advised that it should be corrected.
But, like the installation of "Qo-Btop"
traffic lights at this intersection, con
ditions remain the same.
Why? Many “Go-Stop" traffic light*
since 1933 have been installed elsewhere
in Washington. W. S. RYAN.
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASK1.V.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fart by writing The Wash
ington Evening star Information Bu
reau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director,
Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp
for reply
Q How many Junior blrdmen era
there?—f. W.
A. More than 400.000 boys. 10 to 21
years old, are member* of the Junior
Birdmen of America.
Q. I did not know what the middle
initial in my father's name stood for.
Will this make trouble in the blank I
filled out as an employe under the ao
rtal security act?—W. S. D.
A. This will make no difference. The
names of the parents are for identifica
tion purposes.
Q. How many secretaries and attaches
are allowed a member of Congress, and
at what salaries?—H. K.
A. Each member of the House of Rep
resentatives Is allowed *5.000 for clerk
hire. Of this not more than *3,000 may
be paid to any one person. Each member
of the Senate is allowed a secretary hav
ing a salary of *3.000 and three clerks
whose salaries range from *1,800 to
$2,800 a year.
Q. How long was the Romanoff family
on the throne of Russia?—D. M.
A. Over 300 years. Michael Teodoro
vich Romanoff came to the throne by
election of the boyars and higher clergy
in 1613. Nicholas II. the last of the
Romanoffs, abdicated in 1017.
Q How many Mexicans were natural
ized in the United States last year?—
L. P. c.
A. During the calendar year 1938 551
Mexicans took out naturalization papers.
Q Who is taking the part of Ophelia
in the John Gielgud production of
••Hamlet"?—H. W.
A. Lillian Oish has the role of Ophelia.
Q. Where was the first school Of en
gineering established?—H A.
A. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at
Troy. N. Y„ was founded in 1834. the first
school of practical science and of en
gineering in any English-speaking coun
try.
Q Who Invented the moving stair
way?—j. s.
A Jesse Wilford Reno, an electric
railway expert, invented the escalator or
inclined elevator in 1893.
Q Is there an organization that buys
and sells old dime novels?—H. J. H.
A. The American Dime Novel Ex
change, 1525 West Twelfth street, Brook
lyn, N. Y., is interested in these books.
Q. Who gave the statue of Rocham
bcau to the United States?—R. L.
A. It was the gift of the French re
public. It stands in Lafayette Square
in Washington. D. C„ and was unveiled
with ceremony by President Theodore
Roosevelt in 1902.
Q. How did Col E. R. Bradley's horse.
Burgoo King, get his name?—H. J.
A. On November 17. 1930. Col. Bradley
was holding a one-day charity race meet
on his private track at Idle Hour Farm,
Lexington. Kv. There was an unprece
dented attendance of some 7.000 people,
which caused some difficulty in the food
arrangements. James Looney, the Bur
goo king, provided the feast, and that
afternoon Col. Bradley paid tribute to
him as follows: "I wish especially to
thank James T. Looney, the Burgoo king,
for the excellence of the food and the
masterly manner in which he conducted
the feeding arrangements today. In
compliment to him and to perpetuate his
title I am going to name s good 2-year
old Burgoo King.”
Q. How many different sounds are
there in the English lsnguage?—A. N.
A. There are but 44 sounds, yet they
are represented by about 500 letters and
combinations of letters.
Q. Why is the Blue Grotto on the Isle
of Capri so called?—E. H
A. The grotto is called blue because the
light, refracted in passing through the
water at the caves mouth, causes the
interior to appear blue.
Q. What country has the highest birth
rate?—C. M. S.
A. In 1935 Japan recorded the highest
birth rate with 2,190.703 births, a rate of
31.63 births per 1,000 population.
Q. What were rings called which were
really two rings linked together?—O. H
A. These old-style wedding rings were
called gimmel rings.
Q How long did it take to make the
revised version of the Bible?—W. E. N.
A. It was begun on June 30, 1870, and
completed June 30, 1884.
Q. Where is Elisha Mitchell, who dis
covered Mount Mitchell, buried?—E. W.
A. The scientist who lost his life in
1857 while attempting to scale the North
Carolina mountain is buried on Its top.
Q. How long should a rose bed last?
—T. 8.
A. When well managed It should last
for 10 yeara or more.
Q Who was Lamia?—W. H. B.
A. Lamia was a mythical queen of
Libya, who, on being robbed of her own
children by Hera, devoted her life to
strangling and eating children. Later
she was portrayed as a vampire who se
duced and then sucked the life-blood of
young men.
Q. What was the name of Carrie
Jacobs Bonds husband?—E. K. H.
A. The composer married Dr. Prank L.
Bond of iron River, Mich., who died in
1895.
Q What primary school did President
Roosevelt attend?—M. E. C.
A. Until he was 14, when he was sent
to Oroton, President Roosevelt was
taught by French and Oerman gov
ernesses and by tutors.
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Illusory Voyage.
Brilliant the hues of the Winter aunaet
That across the Armament lingtred yet;
As the red sun dipped in the Western sky
And gay fleets of fire-tinged clouds
sailed by;
Cloud-ships aflame, over concretes and
park,
That might bear one far, could he but
embark;
Biasing a path thru the fiery skies.
Up. toward the bright gates at Paradise ^