Evening star. [volume], January 26, 1937, Page A-8, Image 8

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THE EVENING STAR
With Sunday Momini Edition.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
TUESDAY_January 26, 1937
i THEODORE W. NOYES..Editor
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herein are also reserved.
Up to Hitler.
Premier Blum, speaking jointly for
Prance and Great Britain, has put the
Issue of European peace squarely up to
Chancellor Hitler. In a public address
on Sunday the head of the French gov
ernment formally offered to help Ger
many out of her economic difficulties if
she will manifest unmistakable will to
co-operate in purging the international
situation of the threat of war. The olive
branch is timed to give Der Fuehrer
prompt opportunity for reply. He is to
speak before the Reichstag on Saturday.
Hitler customarily utilizes the innocuous
sessions of his puppet Parliament for
discussion of foreign affairs. He can
hardly evade the challenge that now con
fronts him.
Offer of Anglo-French concessions Is
timely for another reason. Germany Is
In the throes of severe economic distress.
It is a land of empty stomachs, food
shortage, famine prices and inadequate
raw materials. It is because of these
conditions that Hitler, Goering and
Goebbels incessantly clamor about the
bitter necessity of recovering colonies or
other methods of satisfying the country’s
vital needs. “Butter or cannon” is the
slogan devised to epitomize the Reich’s
plight. It is interpreted abroad as a
threat that a rearmed Germany may
venture to seize by force that which she
cannot obtain peaceably.
Premier Blum offers Germany butter
If she will stop piling up cannon. But
Prance and Britain will not "bargain”
for peace. They decline to be brow
beaten by a Germany growing more
powerful on land and sea and In the
air. The Germans, moreover, must guar
antee that whatever is done for them in
the fields of credit, raw materials or
facilities for colonization will not some
day be aggressively exploited against
those who rendered such help. M. Blum
points out that there is a “necessary
liaison, an Inescapable connection, be
tween economic co-operation on the one
hand and peaceful agreement and halt
ing of the armaments race on the other.”
If Hitler will conclude an International
disarmament convention, it would have
as its logical “corollary” an international
economic agreement which would open
replacement outlets for vast armament
Industries and their workers—a practical
program for turning swords and sword
making enterprises into ploughshares.
Hitler’s predilection for private deals
between individual powers is not ac
ceptable to France and Britain. To lay
firmly the foundations of peace, the
Western democracies demand an accord
among all interested nations and directed
against none of them. Thus is rejected
the bi-lateral pact system to which Hitler
and Mussolini have just resubscribed,
and which Is aimed primarily at Soviet
Russia.
These realistic overtures to Germany
are necessarily general in nature. Hitler
will rightly desire to be acquainted with
them in detail. But he is faced with the
brass tacks choice of affirming his will
ingness to abandon provocative arma
ments or signaling his purpose continu
ously to menace Europe with the peril
of war as the inevitable consequence
of competitive military establishments
and the aggressive purposes which they
promote.
Names do not make news In the flood
stricken areas where the sufferers are
too numerous for mention even in the
most comprehensive social registers.
Social Etiquette.
Hamilton Fish of New York, not satis
fied with the task of trying to reform
the Republican party, has set out to
reform social etiquette in the National
Capital. He proposes to put some limita
tion upon the endless—and, as he insists,
senseless—round of leaving calling cards.
His purpose is to bring some relief to
the overworked wives of members of
Congress and of Government officials,
civil and military, who, under the present
system, with treadmill doggedness, de
liver their calling cards day after day
during the “season” in Washington.
The New York member of Congress
paints a truly pitiable state of affairs.
The wives of official Washington are har
rassed by the task placed upon them by
the “system.” And when the wives are
harrassed, so much the worse for the
husbands. They, Mr. Fish contends,
“must suffer In silence while exhausted
and Irritable wives try to maintain a
social etiquette that is antiquated and
an abomination of desolation.” Zt looks
as though Mr. Fish were speaking a word
far the men, at the same time he is
striving to lessen the burden of the
wives.
And so Mr. Fish goes about it in a
man’s way. He proposes to set up a
congressional committee whose duties
shall be to “prescribe rules and regula
.. tlons In order to curtail, limit or other
wise govern the gentle art of calling in
the Capital City." This, however, he
quickly adds, must be done with the
bounds of the Constitution. Presumably,
he means, the constitutional rights of
the callers and those upon whom calls
are made must be protected. If a law
of Congress involving those rights were
presented to the Supreme Court, the
country would indeed hold its breath.
In order that the task of revising the
calling etiquette may be placed in sympa
thetic and able hands, Mr. Fish's resolu
tion recommends that the committee em
powered to make the new rules shall be
composed of the women members of the
House, half a dozen in number. Since
they themselves are among the sufferers,
it is Mr. Fish’s contention that they
should know what to do about it.
With the ever-increasing size of offi
cial Washington, the social demands
have become more and more extensive.
Of all the customs the most ridiculous
for grown up men and women is the
calling habit. The calls are made,
not to see and converse with those upon
whom the calls are made, but to leave
bits of engraved pasteboard at the door.
Since it is etiquette to leave cards, it
must be done. If the exchange of cards
be necessary, there are the mails as a
substitute, with revenue for Uncle Sam.
Probably the House will do nothing
about Mr. Fish’s resolution and the so
cial Frankenstein which has been built
up here. It has the problems of flood
and relief and labor and the farmers to
tackle during the present session. How
ever, Mr. Fish, by his action in offering
the resolution, has focused the attention
of social Washington for a moment upon
what every woman knows to be a burden.
Perhaps something can be done about it.
Nature’s Vicious Circle.
Strange anomalies accompany the
great disaster of the Ohio River flood.
Water causes fires that sweep away vast
values in property and endanger lives.
The torrents submerge the water sup
plies and deprive multitudes of their
natural and necessary drink. Rarely
has such a combination of cause and
effect been presented in the long course
of American history of disasters.
The disruption of gasoline conduits
and tanks spread the volatile fluid over
the surface of the swollen tide. An
electric conductor breaks under the
pressure of the flood and “grounds’*
in the stream and a spark sets the gaso
line alight, the flames spreading widely
and raging furiously. This is a com
paratively new danger, which will have
to be taken into account in provisions
against repetition of such horrors as
that of the Cincinnati fire. Whether
safeguards against this menace can be
provided is a question for engineers to
answer.
In every inundation the factor of dis
ease due to the drinking of impure water
has to be gravely considered. The water
sources are themselves flooded. Semir
ings from the hills whence come the sup
plies contaminate the streams. Reservoirs
are thus rendered sources of pollution.
The conduits are broken by the torrents.
The pollution is spread and in their
agony of thirst the refugees and those
marooned in their homes drink of the
waters close at hand, in many cases
later paying the penalty of disease.
No known system of engineering can
provide against' this danger. In the
event of a sudden rush of waters, result
ing from protracted heavy rains, the
strongest embankments, the stoutest
walls of reservoirs, the best laid conduits
are broken. Nature exerts its severest
stress upon them and man’s work, so
carefully planned, so faithfully and
capably executed, is destroyed.
Organization for the relief of the suf
ferers from flood aims first at the rescue
of those in danger from the menace of
drowning. It involves, likewise, the pro
vision of food and drink. With the
natural sources cut off or contaminated,
the problem becomes desperately hard to
solve. With all the experience that has
been had in this country with over
whelming waters in closely populated
areas, no way has been found to safe
guard Immediately against the ma
levolent mischief of the flood. The best
that can be done is to alleviate suffering
and, through generous and immediate
provision of funds and supplies, to main
tain the survivors in life and health until
the violence of the elements has subsided.
Medical authorities still favor old
fashioned remedies; among them a foot
bath in hot mustard water after an in
auguration, which is within the reach of
all regardless of disparities of fortune.
The visit of President Runciman of the
British Board of Trade is social in its
nature. Under some circumstances a
conventional and cordial “howdy-do” is
worth a long Journey.
The Florida Bus Disaster.
An Inter-city bus, traveling in Florida
at a “moderate rate of speed,” according
to the driver, crashed off the road into
a canal and seventeen persons were
drowned. Investigation is in progress as
to the cause of the accidei®. Determina
tion of the circumstances will not re
store the losses, but it may, and it surely
should, lead to corrections in bus trans
portation in the interest of public safety.
Conjecture has been advanced that
one of the front wheels of the bus broke,
or came off its axle. If that was the case
there was presumably a fault in the con
struction or the condition that should
have been detected in advance. If, how
ever, the wheel was sound when the bus
was started on its course, the collapse
may have been and probably was due
to the speed at which the bus was being
driven. The driver’s estimate of a
“moderate rate” can not be accepted
without further evidence. For it is known
that these vehicles, engaged in competi
tive services with the railroads, are driven
at higher rates than ordinary motors
and, with their greater bulk and weight,
are consequently always under a severe
strain.
In this case the highway was closely
paralleled by a canal, which in itself was
a menace. The margin between the road
and the waterway Is in such cases none
too broad. The least deflection from
course, due to some suddenly developing
obstacle, brings the wheels dangerously
close to the soft shoulder of the road and
from that point to the canal the way is
open to disaster.
Those who have driven on motor-bus
routes in smaller cars know that there
is peril whenever one of these larger ve
hicles approaches. Coming head on, the
bus is not swung out in the least to give
way for the smaller car. Coming from
behind the passing is often so close that
the small-car driver has to crowd near
to the edge to make room. In short, the
highways belong to the larger machines,
in point of practice. And this in Itself
constitutes a danger, even when nothing
happens to either machine to cause dis
ablement or deflection.
The momentum of a heavily loaded bus
traveling at high rate of speed, forty-five,
fifty or sixty miles an hour—and few of
them travel at lower speeds on the open
road—is a tremendous force. It is the
product of the mass multiplied by the
speed. It may be possible in this case
to determine the approximate speed of
this bus, in surer terms than that of the
driver’s self-exculpatory statement, and
it will probably be found that it was
higher than safety demanded.
Plot papers relating to plans for an
assassination of Stalin were discovered
in the sole of a shoe. Rhythmic foot falls
of Russian dancers will be listened to
with closer attention for steps with sus
piciously mufiBed sound. Soviet songs
have been accredited with insidious sig
nificance. Soviet song and dance may
claim a double prestige.
The high hat in strict vertical poise
conveys an austere suggestion of official
dignity. It might add a genial touch to
a parade on the Avenue, if at least one
member of the secretariat were permitted
to wear his topper with a Jaunty tilt
after the manner of Lew Dockstader in
the days of minstrelsy.
Everybody wants to participate in the
birthday party. There are loyal and
enthusiastic citizens who do not care for
dancing, and for these it should be pos
sible to arrange a few side-line demon
strations of wrestling or boxing.
History will take its time to show
whether John Lewis is endowed with
qualities for permanent leadership or only
another strong willed figure demanding
the spotlight at any cost.
Many proverbs face contradiction.
When seating stands for a grand but
drizzled parade are tom down, “nothing
is made in vain” must be listed among
them.
Suburban theaters have specialized on
rudimentary melodrama. In “taking to
the woods,” they frankly start for the
A1 Woods.
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
The Melodious Philosopher.
We’re looking forward to the day
That brings the mocking bird so gay
Who seems to find a thought of cheer
In everything that he may hear.
We’re waiting once again to find
That small philosopher so kind
Who sees enjoyment ever new
In what the other songsters do.
No envy mars his happiness.
He loves the greater and the less
And seeks, attentive to each call,
To be the pupil of them all.
Honest Kindness.
“Little children will one day mention
your name with deepest respect.”
“I hope,” answered Senator Sorghum,
"they will let the children alone with
their Aladdins and Jack the Giant Killer
and not bother them with efforts to
understand my speeches.”
Paths of Glory.
“Have you never been tempted to run
for office?”
“No," answered Miss Cayenne. “Poli
tics is a rough game.”
“But it leads to glory*
“I’d like glory, of course. But as long
as I can't hope to play foot ball with
any degree of proficiency I relinquish
my aspirations to arouse the unbounded
enthusiasm which really seems to count
at present.”
Philanthropic Desire.
I’d like to be an optimist
And try to give a mental twist
To Congress, hinting mid unrest,
That maybe life is for the best.
Jud Tunkins says a debate Is most
interesting when it takes a question we
thought had been decided and un
settles it.
m —
“To be indifferent to public opinion,”
said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown,
“will make you either a very great per
sonage or a very insignificant one.”
Fiction in the Pharmacy.
The drug store complicates my lot
And leaves my mind distraught indeed.
The medicine I quite forgot
And took best sellers home to read.
“A loafin’ disposition,” said Uncle
Eben, “wouldn’ be so bad if it lef’ a man
contented Jes’ to loaf. But nine times
out o’ ten it makes him want to borrow
money to git into a crap game.”
Figirting “Spaniards.”
From the Boston Trenscrlpt.
The fighting Spaniards now are com
posed largely of Italians, Germans,
French and Russians. It is reminiscent
of foot ball’s fighting “Irish.”
Has Inside Information.
From the Worcester Gazette.
A good many people in this country are
wondering what the new Congress Is
going to do. but Mr. Roosevelt is not
one of them.
A. jL
Replies to Mr. Woodson’s
Letter on Government Pay
To the Editor ot The Ster:
In The Evening Star of Friday, Jan
uary 22, 1937, E. J. Woodson criticizes
the proposed action of Senator McCjuran
to sponsor legislation for the relief of
Federal employes who receive pay In the
lower grades, and asks: "But will a pay
Increase Improve the lot of the average
Government clerk?”
Mr. Woodson speaks of the high cost
of living in the District of Columbia and
seems to suggest as a means of bettering
conditions that the exorbitant salaries
which are now paid Government clerks
should be reduced. Following his argu
ment to its logical conclusion, if a re
duction of salaries would improve condi
tions, then the total curtailment of these
salaries would bring about an ideal con
dition.
If Mr. Woodson’s services, of whatever
nature they may be, are worth but $10
a week, he should not criticize those who
are able to command more. On the
other hand, if he feels that he is worth
more than $10 a week, certainly he has
the privilege of seeking, and it is hoped
he may secure, more lucrative employ
ment. Perhaps there is somewhere a $5
a-week man who would like to have Mr.
Woodson’s Job. INEZ JUSTUS.
To the Editor of The Stsr:
Mr. Woodson’s letter to The Star in
Friday's paper contains several points
which cannot be disputed:
(a) Living costs in Washington are
high; (b) the business people set out to
get their share of the Federal employes’
wages; <c) the Government clerk thinks
he should live like the lord of creation;
<d) if the Federal employes’ pay is
raised, living costs will rise still further.
But I take exception to the statement
that the high cost of living in Washing
ton is due in large part to the fact that
Government workers are paid too much.
The high cost results from the fact that
the workers pay the high cost.
V. O. KAN ABLE.
To the Editor of The Star:
In reply to Mr. E. J. Woodson’s letter
In The Star, I’d ask him one question:
Did he ever try to raise a family on
$1,080 per year?
For every employe in National Park
Service getting $2,400 per year, 111 show
him 75 working 44 hours per week for
$1,080. For every one getting $1,400, I’ll
show him 10 getting $1,220. These are
the people who guard, clean and main
tain these grand buildings he so proudly
show his out-of-town friends.
For his information, National Park
Service grants very few raises, and at
least once a year we are asked to wait
30 days for a pay day. But the big
hearted Washington landlord does not
wait for his rent. Last year the wait
came from June 1 to June 30. I, for one,
will trade Jobs with Mr. Woodson.
E. F. DOUGLAS.
Revived Memories of
Past Inaugurations
To the Editor of The Stir:
Way up here among the hills of the
Empire State live three former Wash
ingtonians. On January 20 we listened
to the radio broadcast of the inaugural
ceremonies.
Memory plays strange tricks at times,
so mine went traveling back through
the years to another inaugural day—long
before the formation of the National
Guard.
There were the Washington Light In
fantry, National Rifles, National Fenc
ibles, Emmett Guard, Corcoran Cadets,
Washington Continentals and the Wash
ington Rifles, in which I had the honor
to serve as “a buck private.”
Of the membership of this last com
mand I recall Lieut. John Javins, Sergts.
George Collins (whom some one nick
named “Sweet Oil George”; of course,
when off duty) and Benjamin Taylor.
Others were Harry Cornwall, Frank Ash
ford, Charles Javins, Sam Jacobsen and
C. R. Tompkins.
And when over the air came the strains
of John Philip Sousa, I confess to a
strange little lump in the throat and a
mist in the eye. So. as all soldiers
should who in that day had marched
with him, I stood at attention until the
band had passed.
Those were the days of national com
petitive drills. Hence, keen attention was
paid to the last detail of military attire
and soldierly deportment.
Up Pennsylvania avenue, shoulder
touching shoulder; double rank, close
order, lines stretching from curb to curb
and straight as a string. That was
marching! Onward they swing, those
splendid men of memory’s golden days.
JAMES A. LARCOMBE.
West Winfield, N. Y.
Disappointed Because of
Omissions From Parade
To the Editor of The Star:
I came to Washington to see the won
derful New Deal celebration and, frankly,
entirely aside from the weather, I was
somewhat disappointed. Here are some
omissions from what I had anticipated
would be a magnificent and spectacular
interpretation of the New Deal.
Postmaster General Jim Parley march
ing proudly at the head of several
brigades of new bureaucrats.
Harry Hopkins heading a legion of
boondogglers, safety pin archeologists,
etc.
Secretary Wallace followed by a divi
sion of pig-killers, butcher knives
sheathed.
Plow-under crop division of the De
partment of Agriculture, with farm im
plements.
That gallant soldier, Gen. Hugh John
son, leading handcuffed tailor who was
Jailed for pressing a suit for 35 cents.
Secretary Morgenthau with a troupe
of jugglers attempting to balance the
budget.
And, bringing up the rear, that emi
nent statesman, Secretary Ickes, broad
casting epithets at any economic royal
ist who may have had the temerity to
show up. B. A. EDWARDS.
Suggests Duplex Congress
For Constant Legislation
To the Editor of The Star:
Sit-down strikers violate the laws of
Cod, man and sanitation and thereby
come close to achieving the perfect
American ideal. We are well known as
the most prolific law makers and law
breakers in Christiandom. We like so
well our national pastime of making and
breaking the law that we do the un
usual and keep our Congress in session
six months out of the year in order to
furnish us plenty of brand-new laws to
break. But in these modem days of the
new order (or lack of order) we make
and break them faster than ever, and
one Congress cannot stay in session
longer than six months because it takes
some time to fish, fix fences and cam
paign. We ought to have two Con
gresses, one to law-make for six months
while the other fished and campaigned,
and then they would change places. In
that way we could be assured of a con
tinuous supply of fresh, up-to-the
minute laws for fracturing purposes.
A. X. OOLCRBS.
A
THIS AND THAT I
BY CHARLES E. fRACEWELL.
Mangolds rapidly are Decoming tne
American gardener’s favorite annual
flower, if one may Judge from a perusal
of the new seed catalogues.
This movement took definite shape a
few years ago with the development, as
a masterpiece of the hybridixer’s art, of
a form of these flowers with less pungent
heads and foliage.
Now there are several new forms, all
of them highly praised and no doubt
worthy of planting In any garden.
There really are two basic forms of
marigolds. Calendula officinalis and sev
eral species of the genus Tagetes.
Between the two many new forms have
been evolved, with the result that there
really is something new under the sun
after all.
* * * *
The word "marigold” is a pure forma
tion, Mary, plus gold.
Calendula officinalis Is the famous pot
marigold.
There are two sorts of Tagetes, the
African marigold, so-called, and the
French.
There is also a plant often called
marigold, the marsh marigold, which
really belongs to the cowslip family.
In herbal medicine the pot marigold is
used to make a calendula tincture, which
Is reputed to be effective In the treat
ment of wounds of all kinds.
* a * *
What distinguishes the newer forms,
more properly called species, of mari
golds is the marvelous range of yellows,
golds and oranges secured.
Along with this range must come the
bright glow of the colors.
Some of these plants. In flower in the
Summer, catch every eye in the garden,
not because they are dazzling, but simply
because of a real glow of color.
There is something almost translucent
about these flaming things, which is best
expressed by the word "glowing." Yet
there is nothing about them which
would entitle any one to say they
"knocked their eyes out,” as the expres
sion has it.
No, the better forms of the newer
marigolds are distinguished by some
thing better than such an effect.
It is life, in the very petal textures;
call it "glow" or whatever one pleases.
* * * *
The object of ecomiums on marigolds
at this time of year is to suggest the
possibility of the “all-marigold garden"
to persons whose yards have plenty of
sunshine.
There are enough varieties, as the
popular language has it, to Insure
diversity.
Their use this way would help bring
back a good old custom, the popular use
of annuals.
During recent years perhaps too much
accent has been placed on perennial
plants, those which live on from year to
year, although many of them die back
to the ground.
While there are many good reasons for
the planting of perennial plants, no
doubt one of the most persuasive is
laziness. .
just put them in the ground and they
wiU grow nicely year after year without
any trouble.
That is what ••they" say, and there 1s
some truth in it—except when the plants
die or something.
Still, the modem perennial border is
mighty nice to have in a yard, and very
much worth while, no matter how many
trees, shrubs, biennial and annual plants
tbe gardener has.
* * • *
There Is no reason, however, why any
yard might not be devoted, in any given
Spring and Summer, to an almost ex
clusive plantings of various forms of any
one good annual.
We suggest marigolds.
There are enough of them now to avoid
monotony of planting.
One might try petunias, or zinnias.
These three favorites offer almost
countless varieties. Some of the larger
seed houses of America offer as many
as SO varieties of petunias—even more
of zinnias.
Hybridizers have worked long with
these three annuals. The results they
have achieved are remarkable, almost
unbelievable, especially to the person
who has not happened to think about
the matter.
Consider what once waa the humble
zinnia. A German botanist "discovered”
it in South America and Introduced It
to the world. Wherever It Is planted to
day It Is a monument to Herr Dr. Zinn.
The modem home gardener has plants
called zinnias which the worthy doctor
scarce would recognize, they are so much
more' beautiful than anything he ever
knew.
Their possibilities, however, were in the
plants and blossoms he knew, and credit
must be given to him and to all the
later hybridizers who unfolded these
beauties. Prom the stiff plants of yes
teryear, too often of a crude brick-red
color, the zinnias have grown to be of
many forms and of various pastel color
ings, as well as the clearest shades of
colors almost rivaling tulips.
A A *
It must be ever kept in mind that
neither the marigold, the zinnia or the
petunia, as wonderful as they are today,
is in the same beauty class with the
glorious peony, the lovely gladiolus, the
rose, the iris, the orchid, the tulip.
Marigolds, zinnia and petunias belong,
rather, to that great group of humbler
beauties whose members adorn our yards
at our discretion.
If we would compare them with wom
en, we might say that they are good
looking girls who yet lack something of
that super-beauty which a few chosen
women, out of the world and time,
possess. ,
Those rare beauties, fliie 4iJii~ 'ey
would be hard to handle, and not very
satisfactory to live with after all.
a a * *
It is something the same with our
garden flowers.
Every one loves the roses, but only
those who have attempted to grow them
know how capricious they may be.
In their stead many a gardener has
chosen to plant and grow the humble
annuals, such things as zinnias, petunias
and marigolds, to name but three, in
order that he may have a good flower
garden without too much stress and
strain.
There is but one restriction in the use
of these more humble but still very
beautiful plants.
Do not attempt to grow them unless
they can be given plenty of sunshine.
Petunias alone of this group are a sort
of exception. Good blossoms often may
be secured on the north side of the
house, provided the soil is to the liking
of the individual plants. In the main,
however, plenty of sunshine is essential
for all three.
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY. _
One of the major problems of a con
tinuing civilization in the future will be
the assurance of an adequate water
supply.
Some of the difficulties in the way
were stressed by Dr. Oscar E. Meinzer of
the Geological Survey in his presidential
address to the Washington Academy of
Sciences last week. The recent droughts,
he said, have brought the matter before
the public in an alarming fashion.
The actual amount of water on earth,
Dr. Meinzer stressed, probably has
changed very little since life began on
earth. The great residual reservoir of
water Is the ocean which contains all
but a small percentage of the external
water of the globe, the rest being on the
surface of the land, in the interstices of
the soil and rocks, or in the atmosphere.
Probably this water supply is being in
creased very slowly by the release of
water from the magma which forms the
interior of the earth—but this has not
been sufficient to account for any major
changes during geological time.
But there have been very notable
changes in the distribution of this almost
changeless water supply. At time vast
quantities have been locked up in ice—
enough the lower the sea level the earth
over about .WO feet. Many of the larger
cities now are located on sites that were
under the ocean since the human race
began to live on earth.
Especially variable Is the ‘land water
—drawn from the ocean by evaporation,
deposited over the continents in the form
of snow or rain, and tending to flow back
to the sea. But only about a third of it
ever reaches the sea again—about one
half in the eastern part of the United
States, only a small percentage on the
great plains and virtually none in the
Great Basin. A good deal of it is held
permanently in the interstices of the un
derlying rocks which constitute the
"water table”—a permanent reservoir un
derneath the whole country. Much is
lost through evaporation from lakes,
streams and vegetation.
But, Dr. Melnzer stressed, precipita
tion and evaporation differ markedly
from time to time in different localities.
"The variations,” he said, "may be re
garded as consisting of a very irregular
cycles of different magnitudes, superim
posed upon one another. The geologic
record, covering some hundreds of mil
lions of years, seems to show that long
ages of relatively warm and equable cli
mate, perhaps with a general tendency
toward aridity, were at several times in
terrupted by shorter periods of more
variable climate, Including some cold,
humid stages. The latest of these variable
periods began perhaps a million years
ago with the first of the quaternary
glacial stages and is apparently still in
progress. The geological record shows
that the quaternary, and perhaps also
older periods of the same sort, con
sisted of several major glacial stages
alternating with distinct interglacial
stages and that the glacial stages, or at
least the last one, consisted of two or
more substages involving considerable
climatic fluctuations. The greater hu
midity of the glacial stages was in large
put caused by decrease in evaporation.
"From intensive study of geologic,
archeological and historical records it is,
however, evident that recent time has
not consisted of a gradual change from
glacial to interglacial conditions, but
rather of a complicated fluctuation of
climate, in part regional rather than
world-wide. between periods that were
f
more humid and periods that were more
arid than at present.
“All about us we have impressive evi
dence of climatic change, such as the
great sheets of glacial drift and trains
of outwash gravel, the scores of desic
cated or partly desiccated lakes, and the
great mantel of wind-blown silt that
covers much of the interior of the coun
try and is largely responsible for its great
fertility. Looking more closely at the
evidence of fluctuations furnished by
existing lakes, glaciers, tree rings, etc.,
and the available records of measured
precipitation and stream flow, we stand
impressed by the great and irregular cli
matic variations of the Immediate past.
We must frankly admit that in spite of
all our investigation we do not know
in which direction we are trending—to
ward greater humidity or more severe
droughts.
“It is virtually certain that drought
conditions are not permanent, but will be
followed by years of abundant rainfall
and bounteous crops. On the other hand,
it is almost equally certain that the recent
droughts are not abnormal, but that in
the course of time other droughts of
equal and even greater severity may be
expected.
“It is believed that climatic fluctua
tions of the past have been the under
lying cause of much turmoil in human
history. But it is significant that the
human race has not only managed to live
through the times of drought and the
intervening cold and wet times, but also
that it has had its notable evolution in
this period of strongly fluctuating cli
mate.”
John L. Lewis and
President Roosevelt
To the Editor of Tho Star:
It is with interest that I have read
your comments on the demands of Mr.
John L. Lewis on the President. It is
evident that Mr. Lewis is just a plain
outspoken man, not trained in the tech
nique of handling political promises.
Prom Mr. Lewis’ background and pur
pose, for the $500,000 contributed by his
organisation, and his support in the re
election of the President, It is not sur
prising that Mr. Lewis is demanding the
fulfillment of the promises made to him.
From his frequent visits to the White
House before the election can any one
doubt that Mr. Lewis received promises
for his great support? It seems very
plain that the President is reaping the
fruits of what he sowed.
ROBERT JONES.
Corrects a Correction as
To the President’s Mother
To tho Editor of Tho Star:
I should like to make a correction to
the letter of Mrs. Abble Rathbone printed
in The Star of January 22. I also lis
tened to the inaugural ceremonies on
the radio (Station WMAL) and the an
nouncer said that Mrs. James Roosevelt
was the first mother to ever witness the
“second” Inauguration of her son.
MRS. W. H. KIMBALL.
Plenty!
Prom the Lowtll Leader.
Louisiana’s new Senator says that the
late Huey Long was one in a billion.
And there are those who think that may
bare been just as well.
A
I
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HA SKIN.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Batkin, Director, Washington. D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. How great a fail in temperature is
indicated by the expression, cold wave?
—P. D.
A. In the United States the term 1j
generally used to denote a fall of at
least 30 degrees, bringing the temperature
below the freezing point.
Q. What percentage of lumber is pro
duced on farm woodlands? What is the
total farm woodland area in the United
States?—E. G.
A. It is estimated that approximately
one-third of the total cut of timber 1;
produced from farm woodlands. The
total farm woodland area in the United
States is 185,000,474 acres.
Q. When was Vatican City created?
—E. J.
A. This papal territory of about 100
acres within the city of Rome was cre
ated in 1929 by an agreement between
Pope Pius XI and Mussolini.
Q. What women are eligible to mem
bership in the Colonial Dames of Amer
ica?—T. C.
A. To be eligible to membership, a
woman must be descended from some
worthy ancestor who rendered valuable
service to the Colonies and who became
a resident of America previous to 1750
Memberships are obtained only upon in
vitation from those already enrolled.
Q. Why do some candies taste streetei
than others?—R. W. C.
A. Some candles are sweeter than
others because of a difference in the
size of the sugar crystals. Such candles
as fondants have very fine crystals which
dissolve as soon as they are touched by
saliva. These taste much sweeter than
the candies made of large crystals which
dissolve slowly and so reach the taste
buds more gradually.
Q. When was the practice of having
cab stands inaugurated?—C. H. A.
1634 a Capt. Baily hit upon the
creeping several hackney coaches,
with drivers in livery, at a particular
place—the Maypole in the Strand, Lon
don—where they could be hired ae
needed.
Q. What is the title of the play on
Broadway about Keats?—W. R.
A. ‘‘Aged 26,” by Anne Crawford Flex
ner, is a story of the poet.
Q. How many islands has Maine?
—E. W.
A. The State has 1,300 wooded islands.
Q. Under whose governorship was the
capital of Maryland moved from 8t.
Marys to Annapolis? Virginia’s from
Jamestown to Williamsburg?—N. E. C.
A. In both cases the Governor repre
senting England was Sir Francis Nichol
son. In 1090 he was appointed lieutenant
Governor of Virginia, where he enjoyed
a successful administration and was one
of the founders of William and Mary. Ha
was then appointed Governor of Mary
land, but he aroused a great deal of
opposition to his administration by
changing the capital from St. Marys to
Annapolis. In 1698 he was appointed
Governor of Virginia, but he was too
tyrannical to be successful, and when
he moved the capital from Jamestown to
Williamsburg he was so unpopular that
he was recalled.
Q. Where did the Titans live?—S. T. W,
A. These mythological people were
supposed to live In Thessaly near the
Mountain of Ossa.
Q. What is meant by an inferno ski
race?—H. K. G.
A. The Swiss Inferno ski race is the
longest downhill in the world. It Is run
annually from the summit of the SchU
thom over one of the steepest courses to
the village of Lauterbrunnen, Switzer
land, a drop of 7,500 feet. To race over
this course is a trying feat of endurance
and skill. The first American Inferno
was raced three years ago on Mount
Washington, the highest peak of the
presidential range in New Hampshire.
Q. When was blood transfusion first
attempted?—T. C.
A. The earliest case on record seems
to be that of Pope Innocent VIII who is
said to have been operated upon unsuc
cessfully in 1492. There are vague allu
sions to what might have been blood
transfusion much-earlier.
Q. Is there any precedent for a Presi
dent's son serving as his secretary or as
an office assistant?—E. H.
A. John Quincy Adams' son acted as
his secretary. Andrew Jackson's adopted
son and nephew, Andrew Jackson Donel
son, had charge of White House appoint
ments and entertainments. Abraham
Van Buren was secretary to his father,
President Martin Van Buren. Robert
Tyler assisted President John Tyler and
Millard Powers Fillmore took over the
secretarial duties for President Fillmore.
President Buchanan’s secretary was a
nephew to whom he had acted as a
father. Ulysses S. Grant's son assisted
his father for many years.
Q. For whom was Fort Wood on Bed
loe’s Island named?—M. S.
A. It was named for Eleazer D. Wood,
a distinguished hero in the battle of
Fort Erie.
Q. How long can cotton be kept with
out losing value?—W. H. W.
A. The Bureau of Plant Industry says
that If cotton is In good condition and
stored properly, it will keep indefinitely
without deteriorating.
The Rising Tide of Words.
Ttom the Macon Telesreph.
Famous lexicographer tells that 300,
000 new words have been added to the
English language within the last few
years, which Is rather disconcerting to
those of us who have trouble keeping up
with half that many of the old ones.
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertruda Brooke Hamilton
. Visioning.
I tee shining in my fire
Your tender, girlish face,
Where the soul in it flames higher
For its pure, childlike grace.
Eyes full of adoration.
High courage in the brow.
A bright exhilaration
That thrills me, even now.
And as the flames enfold It
Your face so real gleams
My hands reach out to hold It . . .
Alas! But lire dreams!
A f