Evening star. [volume], December 14, 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.
MONDAY__December 14, 19S6
THEODORE W. NOYES.Editor
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The Chinese Puzzle.
Even keen students of Oriental poli
tics will have difficulty in fathoming the
true inwardness of the latest turn of
the Asiatic kaleidoscope. The mutiny of
troops in China's Shensi Province, com
manded by Gen. Chang Hsueh-Liang,
former "little marshal” of Manchuria,
followed by their seizure and imprison
ment of Chiang Kai-Shek, generalissimo
of the Nationalist government, presents
a Chinese puzzle utterly without parallel.
Pending clarification of the circum
stances which produced it, only one
thing is certain—that it plunges the
Whole Far Eastern situation into incal
culable confusion. That it may hasten
War between China and Japan is the
first and natural conclusion which will
be drawn, with imminent peril of that
general conflagration in Asia, for which
conditions have so long been ripe.
Marshal Chang professes to be actu
ated by a patriotic desire to liberate
China from the Japanese yoke. After his
capture of Chiang Kai-Shek, the muti
nous general called upon the Nanking
government, besides declaring war on
Japan, to pledge itself to recover all lost
territory, including Manchuria, and to
readmit Communists to the Nationalist
party on terms of former equality. The
government's reply was to strip Chang
of all authority and declination to con
sider any of his demands until Chiang
Kai-Shek is liberated. Refusal to com
ply will result in a drive to suppress the
mutinous leader as a common traitor.
Chiang Kai-Shek has been engaged in
ft progressively successful effort to re
establish Nanking's authority in the
Northwest. It was essential, for this
purpose, to eliminate Marshal Chang,
Whose loyalty was gravely questioned,
especially since his troops were reported
to be fraternizing with the Chinese
Communists they were supposed to fight.
Chiang himself planned to lead govern
ment forces against the mistrusted mar
shal and went to Sian, capital of Shensi,
on that mission. There, on Saturday, he
Was surrounded by Chang's men and
•kidnaped,” together with a group of
his principal aides.
Curiosity Is widespread as to the sub
terranean role Japan may be playing in
this weird business. When the Japanese
began their Manchurian adventure in
3931. Chang held the province with
250.000 efficient troops, whcfwere ejected
Without resistance by three Japanese
divisions. During the intervening years
Chang has worked in more or less good
faith with Nanking, which gave him
various posts of responsibility and oppor
tunity to rehabilitate himself.
Chiang Kai-Shek’s disappearance from
ttie leadership of the government at this
time Would be a calamity for China. He
has succeeded to a remarkable degree
fci unifying the Nationalist spirit and
tnaklng it possible for the Chinese to
Show their teeth to Japan recently in a
tnanner that has not been without effect
In Tokio. The suspicion Is bound to
arise that it is more than a mere mutiny
by Marshal Chang that has brought
ftbout the suppression of the man who
has come to be the chief thorn in the
aide of Nippon's war lords.
Elizabeth.
The abdication of her uncle, Edward
Yin. and the accession of her father,
George VI, brings the little Princess
Elizabeth within a single brief step of
the royal and imperial throne. She Is
but ten years of age, yet she is heir
apparent to the heaviest crown in the
world. Any slight mischance that would
fchorten the life of the former Duke of
York would have the effect of placing
the scepter in her hands.
But such an event was anticipated, at'
fcer birth, with the result that Elizabeth
already has received competent training
for the role that she may play. Even
as a baby, she was put to school to her
Inherited responsibilities. Her mother,
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, daughter of
the fourteenth Earl of Strathmore, real
ized from the start her obligation to
bring up the child in a manner and
according to a routine fitted to her sta
tion. The same regimen was adopted for
Princess Margaret Rose, bom In 1930.
Both youngsters have been educated for
toe service of England and the empire.
Their natural simplicity and charm,
however, have not been spoiled. Queen
Mary, their grandmother, is said to have
hisisted that they should be protected
from any and all influence that might
render them unhappily old beyond their
pears. So, they have had their toys and
dolls like other little girls. And lessons,
too—the familiar three R's—have been
directed by tutors and governesses em
powered with authority enough to con
stitute the nursery a class room. The
children, in that regard at least, have
had a theoretically average bringing up.
But Elizabeth knows, perhaps instinc
tively, the difference between herself and
her small contemporaries. Her well
beloved Uncle David is said once to have
told her frankly: "England once had a
very great Queen of your name. Why
not again?” And she has seen the adula
tion, heard the applause of hundreds of
thousands of people, as she rode in a
state procession, assisted her father at
the opening of a public institution and
accompanied her mother to public enter
tainments. Moreover, she remembers her
grandfather, the late King George V—a
man whose stature grows with the pass
ing of time. And with such an example
in her memory she may be counted upon
to be equal to any occasion. The world
will watch her progress with interest,
confidence and affection.
'Another Program.
The fact that "big business’’ has seen
fit to give the infant Council for In
dustrial Progress the cold shoulder,
ignoring its sessions here last week, does
not worry Major George L. Berry, co
ordinator for industrial co-operation and
chairman of the council. Nor should it,
if the claims concerning the represent
ative character of the council are cor
rect. Back of the council and its chair
man, according to the claims, stand
organized labor and the' employers of
an estimated sixty per cent of the Na
tion's employes. Such an alliance com
mands respect.
And its legislative program commands
interest. For if the forces thus repre
sented are given articulate strength on
Capitol Hill this Winter, a new and
persuasive voice will make itself heard
in the shaping of new laws.
The concluding act of the council,
however, was not to offer a legislative
program, cut, sawed and polished for
presentation to Congress. To Major
Berry and a committee was left the
task of taking the material furnished
by reports approved by the council and
using it in the construction of a pro
gram. No easy task, when the nature
of some of the material is examined.
On their face, the principles embodied
in some of the reports are contradictory,
evidencing a certain desire to have one's
cake and eat it, too. Strict application
of the anti-trust laws was indorsed,
along with the re-creation of a modified
N. R. A., designed principally to help
the "little man’’ in business, and con
taining the necessary exemptions from
anti-trust laws. The "economy of abun
dance" doctrine was blessed, along with
such elements of control over production
as are represented in minimum wage and
maximum hour regulation. The codes
for effecting agreements among em
ployers as to better business practice,
wage and working conditions, outlawry
of unfair trade practices, etc., would be
accomplished through "voluntary” agree
ments among those concerned. Yet such
“voluntary” agreements, if they include a
"preponderant percentage” of industry,
would bind all of industry.
Major Berry and his committee have
been given practically carte blanche
authority to weave a legislative pattern
from such fabric. And it will doubtless
be accomplished neatly enough. Its
adoption. Major Berry says, will be sought
through laws that are within the frame
work of the Constitution, which might
appear to some as another contradic
tion. But if that is not possible Major
Berry and the council are willing to work
for the proper amendment of the Con
stitution.
The Council for Industrial Progress
may not represent all of industry or
even that part of industry that usually
has the commanding voice. But it is
moving distinctly in step with the ad
ministration—of which it may be said
to be legitimate offspring—toward objec
tives that are beginning to assume tan
gible form.
The G. O. P.’s Future.
The hope of the Republican party
lies more particularly in education than
in organization. Until the people, the
farmer and the laboring man, as well
as the business man, reach the conclu
sion that they prefer the G. O. P.; until
they are convinced that the Republican
party and its principles are to their best
Interest, organization can do little.
Political movements of major impor
tance come from the people. This does
not mean that there must not be leaden.
But a leader is secondary. When a leader
is the proponent of ideas which have al
ready germinated in the minds of the
people, he moves forward. It is because
a leader is imbued with these ideas that
he is able to take the spotlight. •
In this Nation and under its form of
Government a strong minority is an es
sential. And always a strong minority
has developed. It Is far too early to make
predictions regarding the future of the
Republican party. It has, however, a his
tory. At its roots was a great movement
of the people themselves. It may, per
haps, be wise for the present-day leaden
of the party to think back. The party
has stood for freedom. It has demanded
sound financial basis for the Government
and for the country. It has demanded In
the past better and better standards of
living for the American people. These
are principles that any political party
may regard with pride.
In a democracy, such as exists in the
United States, too much power has in
evitably proved a stepping stone to dis
aster, politically. It is for that reason
particularly that a party in control of
Government should welcome strong op
position—though short slghtedly that is
not often the case when a party is in
power.
There is a feeling in some circles that
the Republican party has passed Us days
of usefulness; that It must make way for
a new party. There is a demand that the
Republicans—some 17,000,000 in number
as shown in the last national election
throw into the discard an ancient and
honored party name. But the chief rea
son for advancing that idea is that the
G. O. P. has suffered two overwhelming
defeats in succession.
There is a demand, also, that the Re
publican party model itself along the
lines of the New Deal Democratic party.
Such a mpve would bring into being two
major political parties with principles
almost parallel. ^Jf that wen to happen.
no reason for transferring control from
the Democrats to the Republicans would
exist. There must be an essential differ
ence if there is to be a change in con
trol of Government.
This does not necessarily mean that the
Republican party should not be progres
sive, or that it should not respond to the
demand of the people for liberal meas
ures, looking to the betterment of the
laborer and the farmer. It does mean,
however, that the G. O. P. has much to
hope for by holding fast to the principles
which first gave It birth.
In this country there is a division of
sentiment—perhaps arbitrarily made—
between liberal and conservative. The
liberals of today become the conservatives
of tomorrow, as history has shown, nils
renders all the more difficult a definite
interpretation of the term liberal. It
would be a boon to the Republicans if
the party leaders, who in many instances
are demanding that the party become
“liberal,” give a sound definition of what
they mean by liberalism.
Some references have been made to
modern society as revealing “barnyard
morals.” No person Intelligently related
to the Department of Agriculture will
indorse the reproof. The management
of a barnyard requires scientific knowl
edge which shows when to impose re
straints and when to relax them. A
moral point may be perfectly clear yet
a mixed metaphor may weaken its ex
pression.
Funny Octogenarian O. B. Shaw,
coarsely referred to in horse race circles
as “Heebie-G. B.,” names a feminine
character in an impromptu newsical
comedy “Daisy Bell.” That was the name
of the song heroine who was assured,
“You'll look sweet ... on the seat . . .
of a bicycle built for two!” Such a
bicycle Is as hard to get back to as the
old hoss ’n’ buggy.
-- , .
About all the reliable information that
has come out of the London crisis is that
somebody has been deferring definite
announcement in the hope gat some
body is going to change his mind.
Amateur actors come In for a great
deal of harsh criticism, but there is an
unlimited ovation always awaiting the
Industrial chief who really knows how to
play Santa Claus.
Working days per week are subject
to close calculation, but when a social
and political crisis arises in government
the week ends may reveal the most
significant industry.
As reminiscences crowd In Theodore
Roosevelt’s "Ananias Club” cannot be
forgotten. Neither can George Ade's
satirical creation, the ‘‘I-knew-hlm-when
Club.”
A return of the old base ball game
Is being requested by old-timers. There
is also a wish for Salvini and Henry
Irving In the theater.
Shooting Stars.
BT PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Conversation's Power.
Just talking things over
By night and by day—
Well all be in clover
At last in that way.
A luncheon so hearty;
Perhaps a cigar;
A neat little party
And friends, there you are!
For men and for nations
There’s nothing in life
Like plain conversations
To keep us from strife.
No more a swift rover
The Peace Dove will roam.
Just talking things over
Will keep her at home.
No Logical Candidate.
"Were you what Is called a logical
candidate?”
"I tried not to be,” declared Senator
Sorghum. "Out where I oome from logic
isn’t nearly as influential as free lunch
and a brass band.”
Indomitable.
Old Man Worry
I hanre tried to send away.
He manages to scurry
Through even scenes so gay.
He hinders all dances
And Interrupts the song.
Embracing any chances
To keep things going wrong.
Though he pretends to hurry,
Moved by my warning wise,
Old Man Worry
Always has a new disguises
“You are sometimes led by a too great
sense of importance,” said Hi Ho, the
sage of Chinatown, “to imagine enemies
among those who have forgotten you.”
f ! I
Financial Botany.
The root of evil, money is.
This warning oft youll strike it,
And yet you need it in your biz
And most folks seem to like it.
Monotony.
“Why did you tell him not to come
to see you again?”
"He talks of nothing except himself,”
answered Miss Cayenne.
"But he has had Interesting experi
ences.”
"Very true. It's none the less tire
some to feel as if he had mistaken you
for a stenographer and was dictating his
autobiography.”
Ne Inertia.
Good times or bad times
Still require endeavor.
Gay times or sad times
Cannot last forever.
“Hab faith In human nature,” said
Uncle Byn, “but don’t carry It so fur as
to make yoh’aef de final custodian of
all de counterfeit money In de neigh
Iborhood* v *
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
President Roosevelt returns to Wash
ington this week to tackle the job of
formulating for Congress his recommen
dations for legislation. He has on his
hands, also, awaiting action, the ap
pointments to many important offices
in the Government. Despite a great deal
of early rumor about his cabinet for the
second term, beginning January 20, there
is a growing belief that the President
will not disturb his official family greatly
and if changes are to come they will
come later.
* * * *
Hie Chief Executive will find plenty
of recommendations for legislation, sub
mitted by different organisations and
Individuals. With the general agree
ment among industrial leaders that
there should be greater co-operation with
the government on their part, the form
ulation of a program for legislation
dealing with Industry and labor may be
more easily carried forward. Hie Coun
cil for Industrial Progress, headed by
Maj. George L. Berry, is ready with a
program of its own. to turn over to the
President. The council is asking for a
new N. R. A., framed to avoid, if pos
sible, the objections raised by the
Supreme Court when that tribunal in
a unanimous opinion held the old law
unconstitutional. It wants also amend
ments to the anti-trust laws to make
them more workable, and a plan for
Government-guaranteed loans to small
businesses, similar to the loans made by
the Government to home owners. The
Federal Government, during the depres
sion, came to the assistance of business
and industry with large loans. through
the Reconstruction Finance Corp. The
loan program desired by the council,
however, is designed to be permanent
and to aid particularly the small busi
ness man.
The council asks, too, for authority to
make a census of the unemployed, and
to make such a census every five years.
A real census of the unemployed should
be valuable both to industry, labor and
the Government in working out prob
lems. Whether Congress would prefer
to turn such a census over to the Census
Bureau remains to be seen. There have
been several attempts during recent
years to have such a census made, but
without effect.
a a * a
William Green, president of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor, offered an
extended program when he addressed
the council last week. Included In it was
a demand for the passage of legislation
for a 30-hour work week, five days with
six hours of work each. It is Mr.
Green’s contention that only by short
ening the hours of labor will it be pos
sible to find sufficient jobs to give all
the workers in this country opportunity
to find employment. It is not a new
proposition. Congress has had before it
for several years bills sponsored by Sen
ator Black of Alabama ajid Representa
tive Connery of Massachusetts for a 30
hour work week. There will be a very
definite drive to put through such a law
during the coming session.
* * * a
Senator O'Mahoney of Wyoming,
Democrat, and Senator Borah of Idaho,
Republican, are supporting proposals for
Federal incorporation of businesses en
gaged in interstate commerce. O'Ma
honey believes that by such a law it will
be possible to establish standards for
labor, both in the matter of hours and
minimum wages, and also to put an end
to monopolistic practices by corporations
now holding charters from individual
States. Borah is more particularly in
terested in attacking monopoly and the
“trusts” through the operation of such a
law, although he believes, too, that some
thing may be done to bring about better
standards for labor.
* * * *
These are only a few of the many rec
ommendations which have been or will
be sent to the White House for the
President's consideration. The first ses
sion of the Seventy-fifth Congress,
which begins January 5, promises to be
a busy one. Already congressional
leaders returning to Washington are
talking of being here until June 1, or
even later. In some quarters It is urged
that the President himself would be
willing to have Congress hold a com
paratively brief session this Winter and
Spring, but that the pressure from many
groups for legislation of various kinds
will be so great that a considerable pro
gram will be undertaken. One of the
most difficult Jobs of the Roosevelt ad
ministration will be retrenchment, les
sening of Government expenditures, a
matter which seems to be near the heart
of the President. The riots and strikes
which have followed the movement of
the W. P. A. in several States to cut down
the W. P. A. rolls are indicative of the
opposition that may be expected.
* * * *
Senator Burke of Nebraska has re
turned to Washington Intent upon
pressing for a constitutional amendment
limiting the President of the United
States to one term of six years. As he
plans now, the amendment he offers will
make it Impossible for a President after
having served one term of six years, to
seek another even though another
President may have set In the White
House. The Nebraska Senator does not
believe that a President of the United
States should, or should be compelled,
to go campaigning around the country
seeking re-election. He does not believe
that it is to the best interests of the
people that a President should be com
pelled, almost from the time he enters
the White House, to plan for his own
re-election. Already Senator Burke has
received assurances of support for his
proposed amendment from many of the
Senators and Representatives. ,
The Nebraska Senator also has an
other problem In mind, growing out of
the disastrous droughts that have
affected his State in the last few years.
It has been definitely established, he
says, that there is a vast flew of water,
not many feet below the surface of
Nebraska, which could be tapped with
great benefit to the farmers. He may
propose a bill which would make it
possible to loan money to the farmers for
this purpose.
| The Republican National Committee is
to meet in Chicago at the call of Chair
man John Hamilton on Thursday. He
has announced he will submit his resig
nation as chairman at that time. Judg
ing from the many expressions of sup
port which have come from members of
the committee, as well as from other
Republican leaden, Hamilton’s resigna
tion will not be accepted, unless he him
self announces that he will not con
sider going on in the office of national
chairman.
Former President Herbert Hoover was
In Washington for one day last week,
a tending a meeting of the board of the
Carnegie Institution, of which' he is a
member. He would not talk politics.
However, there U reason to believe that
the former President does not consider
the Republican party dead by any
means. But a party which merely seeks
to run parallel to tbs New Deal Demo
eratte party will not get vary f«f.
b
THIS AND THAT ]
MY CHARLES, E. TRACE WELL.
Observation at shrubbery. Including
the evergreens, along a familiar route,
la one of the beet way* to occupy one’s
self while going around town.
Familiar routes, of course, are best.
Then one can note changes, from time
to time, as they occur.
elaborate plantings, while catching
the eye, are by no means beet for this sort
of observation.
Often it is more interesting to note
the addition of one small shrub to an
otherwise bare yard in the downtown sec
tion than to see vast changes worked out
where good already exists.
It is in finding such changes, wherever
they exist, that the best reaches of this
outdoor sport are found.
If any one doubts this is a real sport,
let him engage In It for a time, before
passing Judgment.
* * * *
An interest in plant life, of course, is
necessary before one can do this good
looking.
Let it be said, however, that no expert
knowledge is necessary, that all that is
-required is a simple liking for and inter
est in the growing plant life of the globe.
That this as a special Interest may be
admitted, but at the same time It is an
Interest possessed in little by so many
persons who do not regard themselves
In any way as botanists or horticulturists,
that many will Immediately be able to
keep a watchout for such changes.
One of the real beauties of this good
looking of which we speak Is that the
observer Is conscious of seeing what so
many miss.
Seeing good, where so many others lit
erally see nothing, is one way of adding
immensely to life as we go along.
It Is a way open to all. One may not
be an “executive,” but at the same time
one may, at least in this regard, surpass
the best of them. For it is notorious that
the true executive is interested almost
exclusively in his own. He has little time
for other matters. Hence that stern,
almost forbidding air. (He forbids too
much.)
He may never see the new dogwoods
set out in the place of the small umbrella
trees which for years adorned little em
brasures In the shrubbery along a famous
avenue.
But the observer, of the type all may
be who choose, will see them the tpry
day they are planted.
“What's this?” he says to himself, as
he goes riding by.
Those little umbrella trees were old
friends. Many a time, walking that way,
he had stopped to enjoy their small
shade on a hot Summer day.
Often he had tried to catch the cool
ness which legend has dropping down
from these trees. If there was any spe
cial coolness there, not of the simple
shade itself, he was not imaginative
enough to feel it.
Still, they were swell little trees and
he is sorry to see them go.
Who got them and why? Who put out
the dogwoods? The latter are, perhaps,
a good exchange, for surely along sub
urban streets there are few prettier small
trees than the various dogwoods.
Much good publicity in their behalf has
been put forth in recent years, all of it
merited and all helpful. Surely the dog
wood Is a precious thing.
* v * *
You have heard about blighted areas
In great cities.
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
.
MY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
It couldn’t poMibly have been Charley
Michelson who arranged It that way,
because the Democratic publicity boss
has been on a flying tour over the Carib
bean and the Canal Zone, but from the
New Deal limelight standpoint things
couldn't have turned out better than to
have the British constitutional crisis
boil up and simmer down while Presi
dent Roosevelt was out of the country.
By the time P. D. R. returns this week,
the Edward-Simpson affair will be pretty
much. If not altogether, off American
front pages. All over Washington,
they're dubbing this coincidence more
“Roosevelt luck." At any rate, the press
deck is nicely cleared for the President
at the very moment most useful for his
purposes. Congress will convene right
after the turn of the year, and national
interest, so long riveted on London, can
once again be concentrated on Washing
ton. The country will thus be able to
listen undistractedly to whatever Mr.
Roosevelt cares to impart regarding the
budget, work relief, the Government’s
future attitude toward business, taxa
tion and other issues soon to be of cur
rent and burning importance.
* * * *
There's much curiosity as to how the
Latin American countries, which in vir
tually all cases, except Brasil and Haiti,
are of Spanish origin, are lined up In
the bloody war now raging to a finish
at Madrid. In Washington quarters
competent to know, it is stated that the
masses in the other American republics
almost universally sympathize with the
Spanish Loyalist regime. Many of their
governments, on the other hand, are
said to favor Gen. Franco and the
Fascists, and hope that the rebellion will
succeed. One or two of the smaller
states beyond the Rio Grande are under
stood to be in mood to recognize the
rebels. Pro-Fascist sentiment in Cen
tral and South America is thought
mainly to be the result of the stream of
German and Italian propaganda con
stantly reaching this side of the Atlantic
by short-wave radio. Many of the broad
casts glorifying the authoritarian idea
are saturated with subtle suggestions
that what the Latin nations should
avoid above all Is anything that would
make the United States too dominating
an Influence in the Western Hemisphere.
* * * *
Prime Minister Stanley ♦Baldwin,
laurel-crowned hero of the battle be
tween crown and Parliament, is well re
membered at Washington from his visit
here 13 years ago this Winter, when he
headed the British debt-funding mission.
It’i now Baldwin’s job to consider how
and when John Bull should approach
anew the problem of settling his debt to
Uncle Sam, which this week stands at
$800,000,000 In arrears. Although Mr.
Baldwin In 1923, functioning as chancel
lor of the exchequer, obtained from the
United States a deal regarded In this
country ss making substantial conces
sions. he was subjected to violent criti
cism for not brtugiug home far more
generous bacon. While the British are
ready to resume debt discussion, it
seems probable that Prime Minister
Baldwin, recalling the panning be suf
fered on the previous occasion, will hesi
tate to accept any revisionary plan that
fails to accord Britain conspicuously
liberal treatment.
* * * *
. Washington war-debt authorities read
significance Into the appointment of
Georges Bonnet as French Smbeieerior
to the United States, as the early suc
oemor of M. de la Boulaye. M. Bonnet
Is a former French minister of finance.
Despite his name (pronounced Bonnay)
he isn't expected to talk j^trough his hat
Rundown houses, yards nothing but
clay, etc.
Sometimes such conditions prevail in
a neighborhood, to a certain extent, at
least, without any one consciously caus
ing them.
That is, lack of sun will cause the
growing of grass to become a genuine
task. One neighbor after another finds It
out. The problem Is further complicated
by the fact that many such yards in the
famous city proper are so small that
nothing really good can be achieved, at
the best.
Hence a lethargy creeps into the sit
uation, probably without any conscious
effort at all by anybody or any group of
anybodies.
It requires real willpower, then, for any
one person to arise In his might in a
horticultural sense and assert himself.
* * * *
Yet only the other day an observer saw
where such a man had arisen, had as
serted himself, had planted a very fine
little evergreen in an otherwise perfectly
bare yard.
In time that one specimen may grow
to several, grass may appear where only
clay was before, the example may become
contagious, others may buy evergreens,
become interested in green grass, may
make real efforts to secure the same, with
the result that In time an entire block
may be transformed.
Going from door to door lecturing these
people, telling them that property value
is enhanced by good foundation plant
ings and so on, would do no good at all.
It simply would "set” the householders
against improvement.
But that one little shrub, put out and
cared for. If it is cared for, in time may
do what all exhortations could not do.
* v * *
The observer will felicitate himself on
seeing such determinations toward good.
He sees them where otners see abso
lutely nothing. He is able to be in the
van of progress, which has more depart
ments than are known of in some phi
losophies. Planting a new dogwood also
is a good deed in a naughty world. Some
one has to do the planting, or those who
tear down and destroy finally would tear
down and destroy everything.
Often no bands play when good is be
ing done. Sometimes it seems as if it is
always the other way. But the con
scious observer of small deeds of good
ness. to be seen and caught on the fly
everywhere, will know better than most
men just why It Is that destruction never ]
seems to go quite as far as some fear
it may. It is because there is always,
and at all times, and in all places, a spirit
of construction, of building up, of doing
good in little, to offset the forces of evil
and destruction.
We know this to be so, but often we do
not realise Just why it is so. If we do not,
we are unable to give credit where credit
is due, but will be cajoled into believing
that only those who blow their own horns
loudest, and talk about themselves the
most, are the doers of good and the
achievers of a bulwark against the inim
ical forces which at times threaten to
overwhelm us all.
Not so! Give credit to innumerable
small persons who do innumerable small
deeds of goodness. Let us not be ashsmed
of even such a phrase as 'sweetness and
light,” but feel assured that the wise man
who coined that phrase knew it meant
something. We may, too, if we look hard
enough.
over here when he gets down to brass
tacks on debt matters. The circum
stance that M. Bonnet was in confer
ence with former Premier Herriot just
before accepting the Washington diplo
matic appointment is looked upon as a
favorable augury. M. Herriot resigned
the premiership in resentment of the
Prench Parliament's refusal to continue
payments to the U. S. A. and has con
sistently advocated resumption.
a a a a
Signs are piling up that the ticklish
question of relief funds will not only be
the first to agitate the congressional
waters in January, but may lead to as
acrimonious and prolonged a controversy
as the famous W. P. A. prevailing-wage
scrap. Battle will rage over the amount
to which work-relief appropriations
should be curtailed. The administration,
aiming at budget-balancing, wants to
effect at least modest cuts in expenditure.
As revealed by the recent Mayors’ Con
ference. there is bitter opposition even
to such economy. If relief costs can be
limited during the next fiscal year to
something like $100,000,000 a month, it's
thought that a balanced budget might
be just around the corner. Relief
workers, merchants and others are
capable of bringing strong local pres
sure to bear on Congress. Some members
are supposed to be sewed up by cam
paign pledges to keep relief dollars
rolling.
Herbert Hoover's personal denial in
Washington last week that he has any
intention of taking up his residence in
England recalls how the former Presi
dent, in his capacity of Belgian relief
administrator in 1914-15-16, fought many
a pitched battle with the London gov
ernment over blockade matters. Some
Britons feared that American food sup
plies imported and distributed by
Hoover's organization might reach the
German army of occupation, instead of
the oppressed residents of Belgium. The
Yankee relief administrator was called
upon to remonstrate vigorously and in
cessantly in Downing Street, to keep
the Belgian relief stream flowing. His
friends say the records would disclose
Hoover as a two-fisted scrapper and
triumphant all along the line.
T T V
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, president
of the District of Columbia Board of
Education, spun at a public dinner the
other night an amusing yarn about one
of her early “sacrifices” for women's
suffrage. She narrated that 22 years
ago this Fall a certain young Harvard
man invited her to a big foot ball game.
Gridiron fan though she was. she passed 1
up the date in order to march in a
suffrage parade at Boston. “But I got
that young man back again,” she ex
plained, “and he’s now my husband.”
When Mrs. Doyle was graduated "with
distinction” at Radcliffe In 1914, Dr.
Doyle was an Instructor In romance lan
guages at Harvard. He’s now dean of
Columbian College at George Washing
ton University,
* * * *
Czechoslovakia has just sent a former
army officer to Washington as Its Min
ister—M. Vladimir Hurban, who was
military attache here from 1918 to 1921.
Since then he has served In various
diplomatic posts, Utterly as envoy to
Sweden.
<Oaevrt«fct. less.)
Coming Fashions.
From ttM Indianapolis Star.
If the long range weather predictions
are correct, it will be smart to be caught
In red flannel^.
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HA SKIN.
A reader con get the answer in a*v
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau. Prederic J.
Hatkin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
. Q. Are all school busses painted tha
aame color for easy recognition?—M. L.
A. At present they are not uniform In
color. TTie National Safety Council and
American Automobile Association rec
ommend this procedure. The colors
widely used are yellow or orange with
black trim and black lettering.
Q. How many catalogues are issued by a
large mail order house and what amount
of sales can be counted on from those '
receiving them?—W. H.
A. Nation’s Business says that one of
the largest mall order houses print*
twice a year 6,000.000 copies of its regu
lar catalogue. It is estimated that each
copy has an average of four readers and
from these 34.000.000 people will come
25.000 orders averaging |4 each.
Q. How many tall peaks are there in
Colorado?—E. H. ,
A. There are more than 30 in the
State which exceed an elevation of
14.000 feet.
Q. What city in the South has a rep
lica of the Parthenon in Athens?—H. W,
A. This building is in Centennial Park,
Nashville, Tenn.
Q. When was the steam shovel in
vented?—M. S.
A. It was invented in 1838 by William
S. Otis of Massachusetts. It was first
used on the Western Railroad in that
State.
Q Who was the Rolfe who prepared
the annotated editions of Shakespeare*
plays?—L. T.
A. William James Rolfe <1827-1910)
was educated at Amherst and taught in
Massachusetts high schools until he re
signed to devote his time to Shake
spearian textual and literary criticism.
Q. How long has the Post Office De
partment had a philatelic division?—
E. W.
A. The Philatelic Agency of the Post
Office was established in 1921 under the
administration of Postmaster General
Hays. 4
Q How much are dancers like the
“Rockettes” paid? What happens when
one or more of the team are sick or
otherwise incapacitated for work?—
N. M. B.
A. The Rockettes (Music Hall, New
York) are paid about $50 a week. ThPre
are 46 of them in the team, but only
36 appear in their ‘act.” so there are
always substitutes available. The extra
number also makes it possible for the
girls to have one week's vacation in four.
When at work they work 12 hours a
day. with four shows, and seven days a
week.
Q. Who developed cubism in art?—
J. H. W.
A. Cubism was evolved by Picasso, in
collaboration with Braque, about 1908.
Q Please give a biography of the
author of the Elsie Dinsmore books.— ■
C. H.
A. Martha Finley was bom at Chilli
cothe, Ohio, in 1828. Educated in the
schools of Philadelphia, she later be
came a teacher. She is well known for
her numerous Sunday school books and
for the series of more than 25 Elsia
books and a companion series of seven,
the Mildred books. Among her other
books are “Wanted—A Pedigree,” "Tha
Thorn in the Nest” and “An Old
Fashioned Bov.” She died at Elkton,
Ind., in 1909.
Q. Where is Land's End?—H. R.
A. Land’s End is a headland in Corn
wall. England, about 60 feet in height, *
consisting of granite cliffs bristling with
sharp fangs of rocks. It forms the
southwestern extermtty of England and
is the entrance to the English Channel
from the Atlantic Ocean.
Q. In the Middle Ages what was the
superstitious belief connected with a
light s growing dim?—N. G.
A. A taper was thought to bum blue
or grow dim at the approach of specters.
Q. How many libraries are there in the
United States?—W. G.
A. The American Library Directory
lists 9,212.
Q When was grapefruit first put up in
cans?—W. H.
A. After several years of experiment
ing, the first commercial Florida park
of canned grapefruit was put on the
market in 1920.
Q. What were the last words of
Zachary Taylor?—E. W.
A. Hie President's last words were: “I
am about to die. I expect a summon*
soon. I have endeavored to discharge
all my official duties faithfully. I regret
nothing, but am sorry I am about to
leave my friends.”
Q. Who instituted the circus as known
to ancient Rome?—S. C.
A. The legendary founder of Rome.
Romulus, is credited with introducing
this Roman spectacle. In other words,
it is older than authentic history.
Q. Who first wrote a treatise on small
pox?—L. H.
A. The Arabic physician, Rhazes. who
lived In the tenth century, wrote tha^
oldest account in existence of smallpox
and measles.
Q. Where is the Hobby Guild of
America?—E. M.
A. The Hobby Guild of America has
offices at 11 West Forty-second street.
New York City.
A Sober Truth.
Prom the Jameitown (N. T.) Journal.
Saving clippings and souvenirs is easy.
The hard part is to remember, a year
later, why you thought them worth
saving.
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Sky Radiance.
When the city had shed the noisy cars,
In the silent hour near dawn.
Prom my window I gazed at the vault
of stars—
Peeling small as a chessboard pawn;
And wondering If, in our bain unrest.
We had simply failed to sight
An answer to our eternal quast
In these quiet points of light—
These asteroids in the vast night sky
Seemed torches to light the way
Por a great procession passing by
To clearer, finer day. *
t