Evening star. [volume], June 01, 1937, Page A-10, Image 10

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

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THE EVENING STAR
With Sunday Morning Edition.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
TUESDAY_June 1, 193.
THEODORE W. NOYES.Editor
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Germany Goes to War.
Long latent possibilities that the
•Tittle World War" in Spain would
fooner or later be translated from a
nickname into a reality are brought
perilously nearer by Germany's reprisal
for the bombing of the battleship
Deutschland by Spanish government
planes. In grim retaliation for that
attack, a Nazi fleet yesterday shelled
the Loyalist seaport of Almeria, killing
many persons, wounding hundreds of
others and causing widespread devasta
tion of property.
The grave international situation pro
vokpd by these events is disquietingly
obvious. Hitler has not waited for an
Inquiry into the underlying facts. He
proceeds in typically mailed-flst fashion
to take the law into his own hands.
Perhaps intoxicated by the patriotic
emotions generated b” the anniversary
of the Battle of Jutland, Berlin did not
choose to let the Non-Intervention Com
mittee at London establish (1) exactly
what business the Deutschland had in
the harbor of Iviza, (2) whether, as
Valencia claims, the battleship flred
first on the government planes, or (3)
whether the bombing of the German
craft was wanton and unjustified. Ber
lin, manifestly eager to display Nazi
armed power and demonstrate that it
may not be challenged with impunity,
preferred to rush heedlessly into action,
the precipitancy of which is fraught
with menace to European peace.
The Deutschland is one of the Ger
man warships taking part in the in
ternational patrol of the Spanish coasts.
It is not yet clear whether the identical
area in which she was attacked was or
was not within the German "beat.” A
squadron of British, Italian and Ger
man patrol vessels fell afoul Loyalist
airplanes near Mallorca a few days ago,
resulting in the death of six Italian
officers. There have been other more
or less similar incidents involving for
eign ships. It has remained for the
Germans alone to take ruthless protest
measures, in cynical disregard of the
consequences to which retaliatory
"frightfulness" can lead.
Without any attempt prematurely to
pass judgment on the righteousness of
the Nazi measures, it is undeniable that
Germany, like Italy, has been in a
state of undeclared war against Spain
for months. The Fascist dictatorships
rot only recognized General Franco as
B belligerent, but supported him with
forces which notoriously are the back
bone of the insurgent campaign. With
out such aid rebel resistance would have
collapsed long ago. German aircraft
has been particularly active, notably in
the Basque country, scoring at Guernica
h record for savagery in attacks on help
less civilians that shocked the world.
Even if it be determined that Loyal
ist planes violated international law in
bombing the Deutschland, all these
things need to be remembered as ex
tenuating circumstances in the Spanish
government's favor. It was not Madrid
or Valencia that made war on Germany.
The shoe is on the other foot—on two
feet, in fact, the additional one being
in Italy. If the unthinkable—a general
European conflict—emerges as the result
of Germany's procedure, there will be
Bn almost irresistible inclination in the
outside world to place the blame pri
marily in Berlin and Rome.
Senator Byrd's curiosity with regard
to Virginia housing enterprises of the
Government has produced some factors
of finance that may mount into po
litical problems of considerable diffi
culty.
It is suspected in some quarters that
Herr Hitler's tears over the fate of
German sailors on the pocket battle
ship Deutschland are somewhat of the
Saurian character.
Congressional Hog Calling.
As a diversion from the strenuous
duties of the congressional session, Rep
resentatives Wearin of Iowa and Mouton
of Louisiana have “signed up” for a
hog-calling contest, to be conducted
coon- on the front steps of the Capitol.
No details of the competition have been
arranged, but it is understood that each
of the competitors will call his imaginary
hogs in the language of his own locale.
Representative Wearin will emit the
comp ’ling word “Sooie,” which is the
porcine summons of the Hawkeye
State, while Representative Mouton will
enunciate the phrase, "Eh, la bas,”
which countless generations of Creole
State porkers have learned to recognize
as their own particular command to
report for nightly shelter.
There will be no hogs of either the
Iowa or the Louisiana variety to test
the range of these competing voices.
It is not yet announced by what means
the distances at which the calls may
be heard will be measured. Perhaps
sensitive microphones will be set up at
intervals along East Capitol street to
record the vibrations. It is to be noted
that as the plans now stand the voices
will be directed toward the east. Per
haps a better method would be to have
the voices thrown from the west front
toward the White House, with the
award going to the Representative who
could make himself heard there. A
congressional voice that reaches the
presidential ear may conceivably become
a political asset of value, especially in the
matter of potential pork.
Demonstration of which has the
louder voice will not necessarily add to
the congressional efficiency of the win
ner. Time was when the legislator who
could make the most noise received the
most attention from the presiding officer.
But things are different now'. The
privilege of the floor does not assuredly
go to the one who can catch the
Speaker's ear. Nor even, indeed, the
one who can catch the Speaker's eye.
Matters of recognition by the chair are
differently arranged. The privilege of
the floor is not granted to the possessor
of the strongest lungs. A whispered
word at the psychological moment is
more efficacious than the most penetrat
ing call from the floor.
One of the competitors, when asked
if he and his opponent would aim their
shouts at anything in particular, an
swered: "We'll just call and see what
comes.” That is in accordance with
the present congressional psychology.
There is a great deal of calling, but not
much coming in these days.
Fear of War.
There was something bitterly sardonic
in the fact that news of the bombard
ment of defenceless Almeria came during
the day when America was engaged in
solemn commemoration of the heroic
dead of other wars. People read the
reports from the capitals of Europe with
horror at their import. Those old enough
to remember the events of 1914 felt again
the fear and dread which disturbed
the Spring and early Summer of that
year. History repeated, in effect; and,
because of abundant experience, the gen
eral reaction was one of protest against it.
Have the nations learned nothing from
their losses? To answer in the affirma
tive would be to confess a bankruptcy
of human intelligence. The fact, rather,
appears to be that it is governments, sys
tems of authority, which are to blame for
current conditions of conflict. Millions
of men and women have been educated
to distrust an appeal to arms. They
simply do not believe that any issue can
be decided equitably or justly on a field
of battle. Momentary victory, ephemeral
triumph, certainly may be won. Yet
nothing actually is settled; the elemental
problems remain unsolved—commonly
more complicated than ever.
But the folk point of view is not re
flected in the chancellories and military
bureaus. Possession of power promotes
a psychology of belligerency, sometimes
polite, but more frequently provocative.
Both Hitler and Mussolini were born in
the working class, both as young revo
lutionaries felt the weight of arbitrary
authority, both are acquainted with the
cost of war in blood and tears. Yet
each rattles the sword. The spectacle
would be laughable, if it were not so
tragic.
Meanwhile, the future seems dark.
Hope for peace, it is indicated, depends
upon the pressure of the masses upon
their leaders. The duty of resistance to
another holocaust surely is plain enough.
But will the populations of such coun
tries as Germany and Italy, France and
Russia meet the challenge before it is
too late? They have been cowed, forced
into submission, mistaught, misdirected
so long. Perhaps they will follow their
dictators down to disaster like sheep.
Such was their fate a score of years
ago. The danger of repetition is acute.
- —- t «
Threatened with the loss of its chief
industry, ‘'waitless weddings,” under a
newly enacted State law requiring forty
eight hours’ notice, Elkton, Md., has
tried a short cut to repeal, which would
be a grant of grace to the American
Gretna Green. The move was started
by the consolidated cab drivers who. for
such a comparatively small town, have
demonstrated an exceptional political
aptitude.
A hog-calling contest between two
members of the House of Representa
tives will be staged on the Capitol steps,
instead of in the legislative chamber.
It is already demonstrated that each
of the competitors can call "Mr. Speaker”
loud enough to catch the ear of the pre
siding officer, even if that legislative
potentate may not officially hear him.
Norman Prince.
Probably It is true that Norman
Prince is not remembered by “the man
in the street.” He died in 1916, one of
the first Americans to give his life that
democracy and constitutional freedom
might survive in the world. His fame, of
course, burned bright in the days when
his country was joining in the struggle.
Then, gradually, as might have been
expected, it faded. After more than two
decades, it perhaps would be altogether
extinguished—except for a fact which,
providentially, insures its immortality
forever.
The flier's parents loved their son. In
tribute to him they gave the beautiful
Chapel of St. John at Washington
Cathedral where now his remains are
to rest. The Chapter set the' sanctuary
aside for the sacred use of the Army,
the Navy and the Marine Corps. In the
Autumn, when General John J. Pershing
returns from France, it will be dedicated
with solemn ceremony.
Meanwhile, the cause for which Nor
man Prince sacrificed everything save
honor does not perish. Dictators, of
course, may flourish; tyrant systems may
arise. Yet the longing of the race for
liberty—for self-respecting self-govern
ment—survives a thousand deaths. In
deed, it may be wondered if there la
anything in human experience more
convincing, more marvelous in char
acter, than the capacity of the soul to
dream and to fight Itself free of chains.
Are there Americans discouraged by
changing conditions? If so, let them
take heart again from the story of
Norman Prince. He crashed, he perished,
he was forgotten. But there was no end
for him, no final defeat. His ashes come
back to his native land, his name is
enshrined in a glorious church. He is
close to God, and all is well. It Is for
those who choose a different, a less
brave, a less noble course that pity should
be expressed.
Dr. Townsend seems to have alienated
congressional support of his old-age
pension plan by his attacks on the
court bill. It would have been wiser
for him to hold to the role of economist
even though his celebrated “plan” is no
longer considered as a serious issue in
politics.
A move in the direction of pubTic
safety might consist of a change of
certain holiday “dates" in this country
to fixed days of the week rather than
of the calendar, thereby avoiding double
and triple occasions for exposure to the
risks of roads and waters.
- " ■■ ■■ I *-— ■■ —
Stalin proceeds to eliminate suspects
by the mass trial and execution method,
at a rate to cause an appreciable reduc
tion of the immense population now
subject to the hammer and sickle symbol
of government.
Now that he knows that none of the
members of his family will attend his
wedding, the Duke of Windsor can send
a few invitations to favored relatives
without risking the displeasure of those
who are ignored.
Governor Horner of Illinois is ap
parently taking no leaves from the book
of Governor Murphy of Michigan in
the matter of suppressing disorder in
cident to strikes.
— - " - ■ - » -4 - ■ ■ — -
For a country at peace with the world
the United States presents a rather
saddening aspect in continuous con
flicts between the forces of the law and
those of disorder.
——-» i ■ ■■■
The revolution in Spain continues to
develop plenty of international com
plications, even if it does not progress
to any very definite local conclusion.
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Bigger and Worse Mosquitoes.
Evolution surely brings
Very many wondrous things,
And of late it has been seen
Mixing insect with machine.
Once upon some swampy ground
Small mosquitoes would abound.
Now the ground's an airfield small.
Where great monsters soar or crawl.
Though mosquitoes once would bring
Slight annoyance with a sting,
Their successors huge and rash
Threaten with a total crash.
Like a monster insect still
Each comes buzzing with a will.
We stand by and say "Alack!
Give us our mosquitoes back!"
Vanishing Taxpayer.
"What did you do with that letter
signed taxpayer?” asked Senator Sor
ghum.
"I threw it into the waste basket,"
answered the office assistant.
“That's right. Out home everybody is
so flat broke, I don’t believe there is any
such person.”
Etiquette.
“Do you read the hints on etiquette?”
"No,” answered Miss Cayenne. "My
determination is to be so powerful a
fashion leader that I can make up my
own etiquette as I go along.”
Vacation.
Vacation days are here once more
And they are happy as of yore
Except for those compelled to say,
"We've got to take ours w-ithout pay.”
Jud Tunkins says a radio salesman
has a great advantage in getting right
into the family circle without even being
obliged to ring the door bell.
"Unfortunately,” said Hi Ho. the sage
of Chinatown, "it is often easier to
invent a hundred promises than it is
to fulfill one.”
Feminine Franchise.
When women voted
. In their pride
Advance was noted
Far and wide.
Yet we're observing
With regret
Some things deserving
Notice yet.
They help our morals.
Now and then
They have their quarrels,
Same as men.
“Money,” said Uncle Eben, “is called
a circulating medium. Maybe dat's why
it seems to me like it's goin’ into a
trance.”
Why Qualify?
From the Kansas City Star.
An Eastern optometrist says a blond
at the wheel of a motor car at night is
potentially more dangerous than a
brunette. Why, wonders Eddlhix, does
the optometrist include that qualifying
clause, “at the wheel of a motor car"?
Examination Marks.
From the Baltimore Sun.
A machine has been perfected that
marks examinations. But as an anxious
parent just at this time we are far more
interested in the perfection of the ma
chines that take them.
The Great Need.
Prom the WiUiamiport Sun.
Medical men report the discovery of a
cure for cold feet. A greater need Is a
cun tor hot head*.
A i
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G. GOUI.D LINCOLN.
The greatest drive to organize the
workers of the country is under way.
Nothing equal to it ever has been seen.
The race between the American Federa
tion of Irabor and the Committee for
Industrial Organization for supremacy
is responsible in large part. The boost
given collective bargaining by the Wag
ner labor relations act. recently held
constitutional by the Supreme Court,
also must be taken into account. And
the general friendliness of the Roose
velt administration to organized labor
more than lurks in the background.
Industries that hitherto have been run
on the open shop principle and in which
labor unions have not had even a toe
hold—like the automobile and steel in
dustries—are on the way to being
thoroughly organized. The rival labor
organizations are going over the ground
with a fine tooth comb, seeking new
groups of workers to sign up in their
particular unions.
* >l> u u
The C. I. O. under the leadership of
John L. Lewis has made truly remark
able strides. Nevertheless it has a job
on its hands in its tussle with the A. F.
of L. There is plenty of life and fight
in the older organization. The C. I. O.
officials maintain that because their
unions take in all the workers in a plant
—and do not divide them up into craft
unions—their organization is the better
for the purposes of collective bargaining
with the bosses. In other words, when
a demand is made upon an employer by
his entire working force, and not by
just one group of the workers, it is
likely to be more effective. Certainly
it does appear that if there is to be
just one big union in industry—the
C. I. O.—the head of that union will
be in a position to exercise tremendous
power over industry and the workers of
America. It is conceivable that such
a leader, by pressing a button, could
call a general strike and tie up in
dustry throughout the country.
Organized minorities of workers are
taking their fellow workers into camp—
whether they want to be taken or not.
With business and industry gaining
ground, such organization is easier. Dur
ing depressed conditions, when jobs
are scarce and wages low, labor strikes
are apt to be a drug on the market.
The vast army of labor in the past
has been unorganized in this country.
The American Federation of Labor in
its big chain of unions counted three or
four million members and that was
about all there was to it, except for
the railroad brotherhoods. Unions are
springing up like mushrooms nowadays.
The whole picture is changing.
+ * * *
Labor costs are a big factor—the
biggest factor—in nearly all kinds of
business and industry. That is one
thing labor must not lose sight of. or
else it must be prepared to lose along
with the industry. There is a limit
beyond which labor costs cannot go
and have the industry continue to
operate. Labor leadership doubtless
will take this into consideration. Wages
cannot be squeezed out of a concern
that is losing money—that is, not for
long. On the other hand, employers
who have been used to making huge
returns out of their businesses and the
capital invested will have to give labor
a greater share of the earnings. If
there is anything to collective bargain
ing between employer and employe it
should be possible to reach a reasonable
ground.
^ m m
Having established by law the right
to collective bargaining for the workers,
it now is proposed by the administra
tion that "standards of labor” be set up.
These standards include a minimum
wage and maximum working hours;
they include prohibition of labor by
children under sixteen years of age,
and also prohibition of goods in inter
state commerce which have been pro
duced by concerns which do not obey
the Wagner labor relations act and
permit collective bargaining, etc. The
new Blaek-Connery labor standards bill
has already made its bow to the public,
with an indorsement written by Presi
dent Roosevelt himself. Theoretically,
it has a pleasant sound. Practically, it
is almost a pain, particularly to those
who have to whip it into shape for
final passage through Congress. Or
ganized labor does not like the idea of
fixing by law. or through a labor stand
ards board, minimum wages and maxi
mum hours. It prefers to do a bit of
collective bargaining with the employers
on those subjects—and if a bargain
cannot be reached it prefers to strike.
* * * *
When collective bargaining was writ
ten into law and presumably made en
forceable, the greatest weapon ever placed
in the hands of organized labor had been
forged. It does look as though some
kind of law must be passed to compel
labor to live up to its contracts, as an
offset, or there may be a chaotic condi
tion in industry. The plethora of
strikes in this country today is not an
encouraging sign. The more strikes
there are the worse it is for labor as
well as for the employers. The em
ployes may gain an increase in wages,
but if it comes at the close of a pro
longed strike the workers never catch
up again with the money they failed to
earn while they were on strike. It is
gone. It never was, to be more exact.
The most capable labor leaders, there
fore, are those who are able to win
victories for their unions without strikes
or lockouts; who gain their points by
bargaining.
The wave of strikes, accompanied by
rioting and bloodshed, in this country, is
not pleasant to contemplate. Where,
because of the loyalty of the workers,
it has been impossible to stage sit
down strikes, the strikers and agitators
have sought to seize the plants by
battle. There was a lack of decisive
action against the sit-down strikes when
they got under way the first of the year
that bred considerable contempt for
the right of private property and the
orders of courts. More recently the
C. I. O. organizers have been leading
their followers into full-fledged union
ization warfare, which is not sitting so
well on the public mind.
For the first time since President
Roosevelt entered the White House a
vacancy in the membership of the
Supreme Court occurs—or it will occur
tomorrow, when the retirement of As
sociate Justice Van Devanter becomes
effective. Justice Van Devanter is leav
ing the bench after 26 years of able
service. What he has done in all those
years is lost sight of in some quarters
because of the great interest in the
fact that the President is at last to
have an opportunity to make an ap
pointment to the Supreme Court. Mr.
Justice Van Devanter has made for him
self an enviable record as judge. His
only failing—and it is held a failing
only by the New Dealers—has been a
conservative view of the Constitution
and the law. Presumably the President
will appoint a liberal to take his place
on the court. There are rumors of
other retirements from the Supreme
Court. It is said by those who should
know that no member of the court has
Sett aura keenly the atrlcturp made
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAC EWELL.
Enduring memorials to the name and
fame of C. E. Weigel, Swedish physician
and botanist, have just finished bloom
ing in hundreds of thousands of Amer
ican yards.
This has been a fine Spring for speci
mens of shrubs in the genus Weigela,
whose pronunciation has caused so much
confusion.
Just as sure as one home gardener
dares to pronounce it as Wi-gee-la, with
the accent on the second syllable, his
friend says it is written Wi-gel-a, with
the accent on the first syllable. (The
“i” Is ‘eye”)
Either is correct, with the first given
above favored by most authorities.
This shrub has several forms, blooming
at different times. The favorite pink
one, with the long sprays of blossoms,
has just completed its flowering.
The sprays of blossoms were unusually
deep pink this season, and, for a wonder,
heavy rains did not ruin them, as is so
often the case.
★ * * *
The man after whom the genus is
named lived between 1748 to 1831, be
longing to a long list of distinguished
men of that period whose names are re
membered today by thousands who know
it not in the saying.
It is almost thrilling to think that,
in naming plants in our yards, we often
use the names of men of the past.
Famous fellows, these, interested in the
plant life of the planet, often sending
to far ends of the earth for specimens
they desired, or bringing them back from
their travels.
Plant naming, according to modern
standards, had just begun.
There was a great intellectual stir in
the air. America was still a New World
in the 1700s. dt had not got soiled yet.)1
It was all fresh and clean, overrun with
scores of new plants, birds, animals.
The collection and drawing of these,
and their naming, occupied many years
with those who were "in on the ground
floor," as it were, naturally getting the
lion's share of the honors.
The immortality of the scientific names
of flora and fauna of the world is an
undoubted one to any person who has
made even the most rudimentary study
of nomenclature.
It is a real honor and a genuine im
mortality, this of the plant name which
incorporates a human name in either
the genus, or first name, or the species,
or second name.
This stuay is a fascinating one for the
person so minded. He will come to
realize that in uttering the names of
many things vastly familiar he has been
naming some human whose achieve
ments art thus caught up and crystallized
for the knowing
As in those esoteric doctrines which
have one manner of speaking for the
initiate, and quite another for the out
lander, so plant and animal names, ac
cording to scientific usage, may mean a
great deal or strictly nothing, according
to what one knows.
* * * *
Two of the grandest of all climbing
roses now’ grace Washington and nearby
suburban gardens with their beauty.
We refer to Paul's Scarlet, magnificent
rose, whose bright glow almost ap
proaches that of a neon light, and to the
Dr. Van Fleet, perhaps the loveliest of
all climbers.
These are the common names. The
second is neculiarly well known to Wash
ingtonians, since Dr. Walter Van Fleet
was at the Department of Agriculture,
from which he sent forth year after
year the glorious fleet of his hybridizing
creations.
Owing to the vivid difference between
glowing scarlet of the one and the pale
flesh-colored pink and white of the sec
ond it Is immensely difficult to decide
which is the better.
After many years spent in viewing these
two favorites, we unhesitatingly, although
with some regret, place the Van Fleet
first.
It is a magnificent achievement, both
in leaf and flower. Sturdy beyond most
climbers, its glossy leaves so fresh and
green, give grace to any place it Is grown,
while its delicate but immense blossoms
yield in sheer beauty to no other rose,
we think.
There are hundreds of roses, particu
larly among the hybrid perpetuals, which
are rose beauty Incarnate, but it is doubt
ful whether any of them can be said
to be really any more beautiful than the
Van Fleet flower.
It is here as with all flowers; who can
say there is grander gladiolus variety
than Picardy?
Surely there will never be a better
peony than Le Cygne, when grown prop
erly.
How is it possible to think of a more
magnificent song than “Der Erlkonig"?
* * * *
No doubt if by some magic we were
able to walk through the old herbalist
Gerard's garden we would find many of
his flowers puny and unattractive, in
comparison with species known today.
This is progress, in plants, but it took
several centuries to do it.
In one's own day and generation there
probably will not be so much difference,
although it must be admitted that some
marvelous things have been done with
day lilies, gladioli, iris, peonies, lilacs,
indeed the list is long and glorious, a
tribute to the mind of man. working along
lines laid down by the Creator.
What we mean, however, is that a
gardener who has had the old Sohwaben
in bloom will possess much of the real
beauty of modern day gladioli, or glad
ioluses, as one prefers. We like the latter.
He or she whose borders contain that
magnificent old peony, the Festiva
maxima, nped not apologize to any one
who presents a later variety.
* * * *
Happy gardening is to be satisfied with
the wonderful old things, in the main,
but to mix with them a few of the newer
sorts.
Old forms, multiplied by the millions,
are cheap, but- just as wonderful as ever.
Recently we saw a huge bouquet of
old-fashioned purple lilacs which it
would have Wen difficult to match with
the most gorgeous of the newer French
hybrids.
Make the garden mostly of time-tried
and tested older varieties. It will be
cheap and highly satisfactory from
every standpoint. Mix in a few of the
more costly new varieties.
This is a common sense way for the
average amateur to garden.
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.
New features in the biggest of the
stars—the yellow-red Betelgeuse in the
constellation of Orion—were reported
today by Dr. Walter S. Adams, director
of tiie Mount Wilson Observatory of the
Carnegie Institution of Washington.
Working with a powerful spectrograph
attached to the Mount Wilson 100-inch
telescope. Dr. Adams found that many
of the dark lines in the Betelgeuse *>pec
trum were double, divided in the middle
by narrow, bright lines.
The dark lines in a spectrum are
caused by the absorption of light of cer
tain wave lengths by the medium
through which it passes. Analysis of
this doubling phenomenon proved that
it could occur only when the number of
atoms along the path traversed by a
star's light is very great. In most stars
the conditions are quite unfavorable for
such an effect and its widespread ap
pearance in Betelgeuse indicates that
much of the light must come from a
great depth within the star.
This conclusion. Dr. Adams said, har
monizes with the well-established fact
that the density of the giant stars is
only about a thousandth part that of
air. The diameter of Betelgeuse. found
by other means, is approximately 250,
000.000 miles.
Dr. Adams also found that many of
the lines are shifted from their normal
positions in the spectrum or show other
peculiarities, in agreement witii the tur
bulent conditions to be expected within
the enormously thick atmospheres of
these stars.
The spectrum of a star showing a
dozen lines of iron which never have
been seen on earth was another astro
nomical discovery reported by Dr. Paul
W. Merrill of the Mount Wilson Ob
servatory. These "forbidden lines” ap
pear in spectra of R Hydrae, a typical
variable star of the long-period class,
whose cycle of light changes covers 415
days.
The positions of the lines in the
spectrum were calculated on the basis
of the structure of the iron atom and
are accepted with complete assurance.
“Suppose,” said Dr. Merrill, "you dis
cover lying in the street a pile of small
boards, of odd shapes. Taking them
into a nearby house you find that every
one fits snugly into a hole in the floor,
and that no holes are left over. You
would conclude that you knew where
the boards came from.”
▼ 'e w
A newly discovered 100.000.000-year
old horned dinosaur pasture in the
Rocky Mountains will be explored this
Summer by Dr. Charles W. Gilmore,
Smithsonian Institution paleontologist.
Scattered remains of these strange mon
sters were found last year by Govern
ment geologists in beds of rock 4,000 to
5.000 feet thick in Central Utah. These
rock strata were laid down in the Upper
Cretaceous period, approximately 100,
000,000 years ago. This was the period
which just preceded the Eocene, or
“dawn” age, when mammals, birds, flow
ering plants and relatively modern types
of reptiles and Ashes became the domi
nant forms of life on earth.
The Upper Cretaceous, represented in
the Utah beds, was the time when the
great dinosaurs were making their last
stand against extinction. They were
gone by the start of the Eocene. The
upon the Supreme Court and its mem
bers—particularly what was said about
the age of the justices—than has Justice
Brandeis, for years regarded as one
of the most liberal. His retirement at
this juncture would be a blow to the
administration. *
horned dinosaurs of the period repre
sented a high specialization of a race
on its’ way to oblivion.
New dinosaur beds, Mr. Gilmore says,
have become very rare finds. Only
under exceptional circumstances—such
as being mired in quicksand or caught
by the lava showers of a volcanic erup
tion—was it at all likely that these
animals would be preserved as fossils,
and possible dinosaur territory all over
the earth has been carefully combed for
remains.
If time permits. Mr. Gilmore may ex
plore other cretaceous beds in Southern
Utah which might contain fossils of the
ancient reptiles, although no actual finds
have been reported there. He also may
make some diggings in rock beds of
Triassic age. approximately 180.000.000
years old. nearer the Petrified Forest in
Arizona, in search of fossil remains of
phytosaurs. This is the classic area for
these reptiles. They were great croco
dile-like creatures with armored backs
and with heads five or six feet long.
The phytosaurs stand close to the be
ginning of the age of dinosaurs, which
was destined to continue for about
80,000.000 years before more adaptable
creatures replaced these very small
brained animals as masters of the
planet. They appear as "crocodiles.”
Their closest survivors are more plastic
animals of the same general body form.
Yellow Fever Germ Is
Not Conquered Yet
From the Ann Arbor News.
Until recently, most well-informed
Americans supposed that medical science
had finally “conquered” yellow fever. Be
ginning with Gorgas, Reed and their
confreres in Havana, science had shown
that the disease was transmitted solely
by one particular species of mosquito,
called aeges aegypti; as this obnoxious
pest was brought under control, yellow
fever was sure to vanish.
The annual report of the Rockefeller
Foundation, however, reveals that the
picture is not so rosy. For it has been
discovered that yellow fever can and
does occur in regions where aedes aegypti
has never appeared. Vast areas of South
American Jungle are centers of the dis
ease, and some entirely new villain must
be sought.
There are no brighter chapters in all
medical history than those which tell
of its fight with yellow fever. It may
be discouraging to learn that the fight
has not yet been won, but has merely
entered a new phase. And yet, in view
of past performances, who can doubt
that medical science will find the brains,
the courage and the stick-to-ltiveness to
carry on until the victory is final?
Taxes and Refunds.
Prom the Worcester Gazette.
It's probably just as well the Govern
ment doesn’t have to refund those 993
million dollars of processing taxes. This
administration is having enough trouble
finding new taxes, without having to
hunt up old ones.
Playwright’s Hard Luck.
Prom the Orand Island Independent.
A board of censors decrees that a cer
tain play comes “within the law.” This,
apparently, is the worst break a play
wright has had in some time.
Be Up to Date!
From the Chicago Daily News.
It you are a suburbanite it Is time to
•quip your lawn mower with a radio.
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASK1N.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Pureau, Frederic J.
Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. Is there any way of knowing how
many people read the "Answers to Ques
tions" column?—D. T.
A. According to a survey made by The
Evening Star, this department is read
by 75 per cent of its subscribers as a
daily habit.
Q. How many G-men are in the em
ploy of the Department of Justice?—P. A.
A. There are 622 special agents operat
ing for the Federal Bureau of Investiga
tion of the Department of Justice. A
large per cent of that number operate
from field offices.
Q. Who was the first woman to take
a course at Johns Hopkins University?
—L. W.
A. The Columbia Encyclopedia says
that Christine Ladd was the first woman
student to enter Johns Hopkins < 1874 >.
her special studies being directed toward
logic and the theory of color. She was
married in 1882 to Fabian Franklin,
mathematician and editor.
Q. What was the attitude of the lead
ing New York critics when Anne Nichols
first produced "Abie s Irish Rose'?—
H. W.
A. Not all the reviews w-ere adverse.
W. B. Chase spoke well of the play and
Alan Dale found It good entertainment.
Alexander Wollcott reported that it had
a surprising amount of merit. It was
denounced as impossible, awful and ter
rible by Hevwood Broun. George Jean
Nathan, Robert Benchley and the late
Percy Hammond.
Q. If an employe neglects or refuses
to obtain an account number under the
social security act. what should his em
ployer do about it?—E. W.
A. A Treasury regulation stipulates
that in this event the employer must file
an application for an account number
on behalf of the worker.
Q. What city has the greatest capital
investment in its airport?—S. D.
A. Cleveland leads with an investment
of $5,800,000.
Q. What caused the death of Isadora
Duncan?—F. L. M.
A. The dancer was accidentally
strangled by her scarf while motoring in
Nice, France.
Q. How many Carnegie hero medals
have been awarded?—W. H.
A. In the 33 years of lbs existence the
Carnegie hero fund has awarded 19 gold
medals. 551 silver and 2,395 bronze
medals.
Q. How old are the "Arabian Nights'
Tales"?—T. C.
A. Some of these collected tales are
so old in the East that there is no record
of their origin, but they are comparative
ly new to the Occident. The collection
first appeared in Paris as late as 1704
in a translation by Antoine Galland. The
first translation into English was in
1707.
Q. Has Nebraska a State tree?—W. M.
A. The State Legislature of Nebraska
has designated the American elm as
the official State tree.
Q. What is the origin of the term,
“sixty-four shares." with reference to a
marine vessel?—R. J. R.
A. The expression, “sixty-four shares.’’
representing full ownership in a marine
vessel, goes back to the merchant ship
ping act of 1854. by which every British
ship was divided into 64 parts and every
owner of such a part was registered as
a part owner of the vessel. These parts
could not be subdivided, but any number
of them from 1 to 64. could be reg
istered in a single name.
Q. Please give a list of some cities that
are built on islands—A. L.
A. Some of the cities that are built on
islands are: Atlantic City. N. J.; Key
West, Fla.; New York City, Venice,
Italy; Amsterdam, Netherlands. Stock
holm. Sweden; Singapore. Portsmouth,
England; Hammerfest, Norway; Flush
ing, Netherlands; Leningrad, Russia.
Q. What is the name of the man who
originated agricultural experiment sta
tions in the United States?—W. R.
A. Norman Jay Colman (1827-19111 is
sometimes called the father of the ex
periment stations because he was the
author of the Hatch bill which author
ized their creation in the States and ter
ritories. As commissioner of agriculture
under President Cleveland he succeeded
in raising the Bureau of Agriculture to
an executive department represented in
the Cabinet. He was the first Secretary
of Agriculture and was editor of Col
man's Rural World, a Missouri farm
paper.
Q. Do fig trees bear blossoms?—A. K.
A. The bloom of the fig is within the
fig itself. The small figs make their ap
pearance in the Spring. The time varies
slightly with climate and type of the
fig
Q. How much helium does it take to
lift one pound?—A. F.
A. It requires approximately 15.4
cubic feet of helium to lift one pound.
Q. Which of Meredith Nicholson's
books is about James Whitcomb Riley?
-W. B.
A. “The Poet" is a Actionized account
of Riley's life.
The Word Book.
This is a concise guide to correct speech
and writing in English, treating of more
than three thousand words most fre
quently mispronounced, misspelled, or
misused by the average person. Evers
one can learn to use the English lan
guage properly if he will give attention
to the use of words. A little study with
the WORD BOOK will start you on the
right road to overcoming the common
errors in speech. It is an essential refer
ence work in every home library—a handy
aid to every school child. Send for your
copy of this helpful little booklet today.
Inclose ten cents to cover cost, handling
and postage.
Use This Order Blank and Mail.
The Washington Evening Star
Information Bureau.
Frederic J Haskln, Director,
Washington, D. C.
I ‘nclose herewith ten cents In coin
(carefully wrapped) for a copy of
the WORD BOOK.
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