Evening star. [volume], June 03, 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.
THE'RSDAY___June 3, 1937
THEODORE W. NOYES..Editor
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How Much Is Involved?
It would have been enlightening to the
taxpayers to have obtained from the
President and Secretary Morgenthau, in
the course of their expressions of right
eous indignation over tax-dodging, some
estimate of the amount in revenue
actually lost to the Government through
the activities in tax avoidance of slick
lawyers and the "so-called leaders of the
business community."
But from the figures presented by Mr.
Morgenthau the greatest losses in reve
nue-amounting possibly to $100,000,
C00—result from loopholes in the law
rather than wicked connivance between
the lawyers and their wealthy clients
seeking escape from high surtax obliga
tions. Mr. Morgenthau's case histories
of these villainies suggest that possibly
as much as $2,863,000 may be involved.
But even such a rough estimate is con
fused by the fact that in some cases
mentioned by Mr. Morgenthau, the
culprits merely "sought" to avoid tax
payments and apparently were not suc
cessful.
A discussion of the actual amounts
estimated as lost through tax-dodging
contrivances, however, might have taken
considerable wind out of the President's
storm against wealthy tax evaders. For
the amount doubtless would be relatively
small—not enough to figure materially
one way or the other in the business of
trying to balance the budget. There is,
as the President says, a moral question
Involved in the avoidance of obligations
to one’s country—financial or otherwise.
But there is a collateral question of why
there should be such a rush by the
wealthy to avoid the payment of taxes.
The answer lies a little deeper than
mere human selfishness. It is furnished,
at least in part, by the belief on the
part of many wealthy citizens that they
have been singled out for persecution
and punishment for politcal—not reve
nue-raising—purposes. Thus singled out,
they have shown a natural inclination
to escape. ’
The present surtaxes in the higher in
come tax brackets—affecting only a
small proportion of income tax'payers—
are political, not economic. In their
structure. It is a question whether the
law of diminishing returns is not as
much Involved as the evasions of the
revenue law in accounting for the drop
in returns under estimates. Less than
one per cent of individual income tax
payers pay taxes on Incomes In excess of
$25,000, although they pay well over
half the total individual income taxes
collected. The members of this small
group may feel they are bearing a dis
proportionate load and seek to avoid It,
especially by the purchase of tax
exempt securities, w’hich probably repre
sent the most widely utilized form of
“tax evasion.”
By all means the loopholes left in
hurriedly, carelessly-drawn “soak the
rich” revenue acts should be closed. By
all means the wealthy tax-dodgers
should be brought to book and perhaps
sent to join A1 Capone at Alcatraz. But
if “taxes are what we pay for civilized
society” there is a moral obligation on
the part of the Government to increase
the number of direct taxpayers, cutting
down in some reasonable proportion the
number of those who now get their
civilized society free. That would re
quire considerably more political cour
age—and produce considerably more
revenue—than a grand and colorful
round-up of a few rich tax-dodgers. But
it would teach the people what their
Government is really costing them, as
well as end the pleasant fiction that
such excessive costs can be taken out
of the hides of the wicked “so-called
leaders of the business community.”
— - » itr ■
Who recalls those scorching District
days of long ago when John Citizen's
only permissible concessions to this
tropical climate were an “iron collar”
of slightly lower build, a hard straw hat,
black seersucker coat and either a black
umbrella or palm-leaf fan, or both?
- . ■ ■■ *■ -
Consider the Hawk.
Those who fatalistically complain
about the anarchy of nature are invited
to consider the hawk. Dr. Arthur Cleve
land Brent of the Smithsonian Institu
tion recently has directed attention to
the high degree of ornithological civili
eation which the red-shouldered variety
of the falconidae family has attained. A
representative example of the tribe, he
says, “gets married very young, and,
unlike most of the feathered philander
ers, never deserts his wife. He stakes
out a home and does not leave it. He
even puts up no-trespassing signs made
of fresh sprigs of evergreen.”
Human contemporaries, it seems,
might do worse than be mindful of the
hawk's philosophy of matrimonial law
and order. But Dr. Brent caps the climax
of his report by citing one of the bird’s
habits which is downright marvelous in
1U implications. He declares that it is
4
the custom of the species to decorate the
cradle of its fledglings with violets! Such
a gesture, certainly, is poetic in char
acter. And the point may be stressed,
even labored perhaps, in the interest
of the amenities of life in the homes of
“the lords of creation.”
Under the strain of modern conditions
in the world the average human scene
is apt to be colorless, commonplace and
unromantic. People follow a routine pat
tern of existence, taking each other for
granted. Indeed, there are families in
which it is considered “bad manners” to
manifest affection. To illustrate the
difficulty, an anecdote of local origin may
be mentioned. A clerk in one of the
Government departments encountered a
colleague in a bus and, seeing him laden
with flowers and candy, inquired: “Wed
ding anniversary?” “Oh, no,” was the
answer, “merely pay day.” “If I did
that,” affirmed the first speaker, “my
wife would think I was drunk.” His
friends smiled: “Why not try the ex
periment? It’s really great fun.”
No argument is needed to point the
moral. The hawk knows the value of good
manners and kindness in domestic prac
tice. Also, he understands the signifi
cance of a theoretically useless senti
mentality. It creates pleasant memories,
if nothing else; and the heart, as it
happens, lives on remembrance.
No European War.
While the European situation, sur
denly complicated by Germany’s high
handed reprisal against Spain, still con
tains explosive possibilities, there are
reassuring indications that danger of a
general war has abated. Italy has taken
a perilous step in ordering her Mediter
ranean fleet to prevent munitions and
supplies from reaching the Valencia gov
ernment. That action is aimed at Soviet
Russia, but diplomacy has gone promptly
to work to obviate what would amount
to an Italian blockade of Spanish ports,
doubtless with German participation.
Meantime, both Germany and Italy
have withdrawn from further connec
tion with the international naval
patrol, although the two dictatorships
continue nominal membership in the
London Non-Intervention Committee.
They will abandon even this tenuous
contact with other “neutral” powers
unless cast-iron guarantees are forth
coming that foreign shipping will be
immune from Spanish attack. Sympa
thizing with this demand, Great Britain
is moving to bring about joint naval
action to give it effect, as a practical off
set to threatened establishment of a
Fascist blockade. With both Germany
and Italy rushing reinforcements to
Spanish waters and maintaining a
truculent attitude toward the Loyalist
regime, there is apprehensive recogni
tion that speedy steps are required if
the shattered “hands-off Spain" pro
gram is to be rehabilitated in time to
avoid catastrophe. Italy and Germany,
under the international patrol scheme,
undertook to watch Spanish govern
ment-held coastal territory. Their re
nunciation of that assignment leaves
unguarded a considerable region through
which fresh sinews of war, especially of
Soviet origin, could reach the Loyalists.
Hence the zeal of Great Britain, acting
in close co-operation with France, to
hasten a situation w'hich will remove
the chance of Italo-German-Russian
complications and immeasurable other
consequences.
Amid these fluctuating maneuvers and
alarms "over there,” the influence of the
United States has been throwm into the
breach in behalf of peace. Without in
any sense projecting the slightest sem
blance of American intervention, Secre
tary Hull urged both Berlin and Valencia
to seek a warless solution. It may be
assumed that similar representations, if
and when desirable, would be made to
Rome and Moscow. The hour every
where calls for coolness, caution and
conciliation. The American people have
neither desire nor intention to become
embroiled in the latest complications
arising from the Spanish war. They
would resent any action, however
altruistically conceived, that went be
yond disinterested affirmation of the
United States’ hope for a peaceable set
tlement of the conflict exclusively by
the parties at interest in it, which de
cidedly do not include this country.
The main boom of the challenger En
deavour II recently broke. Perhaps one
of the reasons for the change over to
the triangle rig was because these
fragile floaters could not stand the gaff.
—- ■ " » -itf
The British inch and the American
inch do not precisely correspond, ac
cording to officials of the Bureau of
Standards. Possibly because the trans
Atlantic cousins add an "h.”
There are, all told, only about six
hundred "G-men.” However, in the
case of this Light Brigade, its ranks are
unlikely to become depleted because
"some one had blundered."
Remembered Dogs.
Formal burial of a dog, It seems, stirs
derision among those unfortunates who,
sadly enough, never have had canine
friends. But a majority of men and
women probably understand the grief
which motivates the decent and honor
able interment of the remains of a brute
companion. In any case, there is ample
precedent for such a policy of respect
and affection. Among the epitaphs in
the “Greek Anthology,” as translated by
Prof. J. W. Mackail, may be found this
sentiment of an unknown author: “Thou
who passest on the path, if haply thou
dost mark this monument, laugh not, I
pray thee, though it is a dog's grave;
tears fell for me, and the dust was
heaped above me by a master's hands,
who likewise engraved these words upon
my tomb.”
And the poet Simonides, quoted in the
same volume, was not ashamed to have
penned these lines for a Thessalian
hound: “Surely even as thou liest dead
in this tomb I deem the wild beasts yet
fear thy white bones, huntress Lycas;
and thy valour great Felion knows and
%
splendid Ossa and the lonely peaks of
Cithaeron.”
Later prophets likewise shared the
universal instinct. St. Bernard of Clair
vaux is reported to have sponsored the
common axiom: “Qui me amat, amet et
canem meum,” usually rendered in Eng
lish as: “Who loves me will love my dog
also”; and Erasmus, brightest of Dutch
philosophers, echoed the thought with
approval for modern times. In search
of explanation, a reader may turn to
Alexander Pope’s bitter commentary on
human faithlessness: “Histories are more
full of examples of the fidelity of dogs
than of friends.”
But the basic value involved is the
power of remembrance. People are sen
sitive. It hurts them to think of a de
pendent creature once dear carted off
to nameless destruction. They want
their memory of the lost pet unspoiled
In their hearts; they know that they
cannot forget, and they prefer to re
member without remorse. Hence, dog
cemeteries, mocked by a few, but tol
erated if not Indorsed by many. The
idea may be silly in the judgment of the
cynic, yet it can be defended as a symp
tom of the love which mankind shares
with One who notes the fall of the
merest sparrow.
—--» --—
The latest local murder mystery
promises to develop features that will
tax the ingenuity of all the super
sleuths and crime analysts of the various
jurisdictions within which it conceivably
falls. The State of Maryland and the
Federal Government will probably not
clash in the effort at solution.
Neville Chamberlain, Great Britain’s
new Prime Minister, begins his regime
with a parliamentary defeat on a pro
posed tax on rearmament profits. He
withdrew the bill in the face of opposi
tion. That is perhaps the surest sign of
statesmanship, to avoid a definite re
verse.
Japan is changing prime ministers at
a rate that promises to challenge the
French record of seven "governments”
within a year. At Tokio, however, there
is no such multiplicity of blocs as pre
vails in Paris, for at least in form Japan
adheres to the two-party system.
The office of poet laureate of England
is certainly not an overpaid sinecure.
John Masefield gets $350 a year as a
salary, with $135 in addition in lieu
of the “butt of sack” which is the tra
ditional perquisite of the first singer of
the realm.
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Pictures in the Paper.
Here's a diffident confession
That has struggled for expression
As the printing presses greet me day
by day
I admire the fine oration
With its vast illumination
When a great investigation's under way.
But the genius photographic
That reveals a smile seraphic
Is what gives true satisfaction to recall,
And in spite of all the glories
Of the jokes or bedtime stories
I like the Pretty Pictures most of all.
When a serious committee
Sends to countryside and city
The results of an investigation deep
I tremble and I shiver
At the warnings they deliver
Of the power that’s at work while others
sleep.
But amid the lofty learning
To which all the world Is turning
I like the Pretty Pictures best of all.
So please be kind and gentle
In the moment sentimental,
When the cameraman is asking for a
pose,
For names make news ’tis certain;
Yet we like to draw the curtain
For the human touch that Art will oft
disclose.
So despite rhetoric thunder
And the hints of tragic blunder
That relate to man’s experience, great
or small,
In the course of an inspection
Of the journalist's collection,
I like the Pretty Pictures best of all!
Clowning.
“When I was a boy,” said Senator
Sorghum, “I wanted to run away and be
a clown in a circus.”
“That would have greatly disappointed
your parents.”
“They felt that way about it at first.
Later on they w’ished I had succeeded
in being a regular high-salaried clown
instead of making myself amateurishly
ridiculous in politics.”
Frivolity Triumphant.
His arguments were bold and strong,
They didn't help a bit.
He told a joke and sang a song,
And made a real hit.
“Ambition Is commendable,” said Hi
Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “but not
when it eventually discloses itself as
envy in disguise.”
A Pretender.
"Bliggins Is a great fisherman. He
reads everything he can get hold of on
the subject of fishing.”
“Yes. A man who sits around and
reads as much as he does can’t fish
much.”
Common Humanity.
Now have we not become polite
As we with interest intense
Hark to the details of a fight
Along with patriot eloquence!
To the same plane folks high and low
Approach. Prize fighters making good
Do to each other, blow by blow,
What statesmen sometimes Wish they
could.
“De man who trusts to luck,” said
Uncle Eben, “is liable to feel like an
other victim at misplaced confidence.”
1 •
Senator Depew and the
Shutter of a Hotel Window
To the Editor of The Star:
Lucy Salamanca, some time ago, in
The Star, wrote of Congresses of the past
and of the men who loomed large in the
long ago. Naturally, lack of space for
bade her to mention everybody who was
anybody, omissions were unavoidable.
There was Chauncey Mitchell Depew,
who only a few years ago (1928) died
at a great age (94). He was Senator from
New York (1899-1911) and at one time
also a strong candidate for the Repub
lican nomination for President (1888).
In his politics the affable Depew—famed
as a story teller and even pronounced “a
peach” by the tough “guys” of New
York's East Side—was as hardboiled as
any of them. He was “big business” all
over. But in his personal contacts with
underlings he was certainly a kindly old
gentleman. I know.
When in Washington he often stopped
at the Willard Hotel. One evening about
11 o’clock, this writer received a call to
come to a certain room. I went. There
sat the Senator, then about 90, and there
facing him sat his beautiful wife, much,
much younger than he. They objected
to the light from the outside and asked
to have the wooden shutters closed. As
it happened, only a few of the rooms
had them, and I—the only man on duty
for such late work—didn’t know a thing
about these contraptions. Sizing up the
situation, I couid make neither head nor
tail of it. Sparring for time, I told Mr.
Depew that I would have to go back for
tools. That took about 15 minutes. Re
turning, I fumbled around in great style,
but I didn’t have the least idea of what
I was doing. The two were watching me,
of course. “Was my face red?” It was.
Laboriously rising out of his rocking
chair, the "peach” came over. Mister,
please let me have that screwdriver. I'll
see what I can do." Within about 2
seconds he had everything shipshape.
Handing me back the tool he also
proffered me a quarter. I certainly
hated to take that money. “Why, Sena
tor, you did all of the work. You earned
that money yourself.” “Just take it,”
smiled the lady, “Mr. Depew wants you
to have it.” “Good night and thank
you very much." “Good night” from
both.
Now' some “high muck a muck” would
have reported me for asinine incompe
tence. This would have got me fired, or
at least a good “bawling out” would have
been in order,
FRED VETTER.
Prohibitin': Injunction
of Peaceful Picketing
To the Editor of The Star:
On the 28th of May there appeared in
your paper an item under the heading
“Court Bars Move Against Picketing.” It
reads, “The case involved the picketing
of Phil's Grill by the Hotel and Restau
rant Employes Local No. 781.” The pro
prietor asked the court to enjoin the
union, contending there was no bona fide
labor dispute involving the employes, and
the picketing was against the wishes of
his employes. The union claimed that
the restaurant was being picketed be
cause of the discharge of a bartender last
month, and as a result of the picketing
the proprietor claimed his business had
been reduced one-third.
In refusing to enjoin the union, Judge
O'Donoghue said the evidence had shown
the picketing was peaceful, and the
lawyer for the union claimed the court
had no power since the Norris-La
Guardia act prohibits the injunction of
peaceful picketing by a Federal Court.
This writer with many others in con
nection with the foregoing wonders where
this country is going to land under such
a law? They can violate justice if they
only refrain from smashing the windows
and creating a riot.
Let us suppose the White House dis
charged a cook, and the union started to
picket the White House. What would
happen? R. LAPPIN.
Golden Rule Is Medium of
All Civilized Countries
To the Editor of The Star:
In a certain class room last week, a
student was asked: “What country' do
you think is the most civilized?” The
child answered, “The United States, of
course.” That was the expected answer
and that is what all of us would like to
believe.
While civilization is only a relative
term, yet there must be a standard and
medium by which all countries can be
measured by the same principle yard
stick—the Golden Rule. This applies to
every living human being.
All wars, pestilence, crimes and deaths
should serve as an impetus to apply this
principle. But does it? At best, it serves
only to increase the efficiency of wardom,
vary the kind of pestilence, make the
crimes more horrible and the deaths more
inevitable.
Do the recent floods, traffic casualties,
airplane crashes, explosions, crime wave,
etc., mean anything or are they just an
other series of fatal events?
What does Congress think about it?
Many of these events could have been
averted. All resulted from acts of omis
sion or commission of men.
AUBREY J. CARPENTER.
Congress on Whole Has
Been Fair to Veterans
To the Editor of The Star:
Recently you published a letter from
Mike Chetrovich, complaining about war
risk insurance.
Congress, as a matter of fact, has just
extended war risk insurance and on the
whole it has been more than fair to
veterans in general.
But the great white father, whose
antipathy toward them has not gone
unnoticed, continues to step on us.
JOHN B. ROGERS.
Knew His Subject.
From the Chicago Daily News.
That Indiana farmer who preached his
own funeral sermon at least had the
advantage of being familiar with his
subject.
■ > * ■ - - —
Neutrality.
From the Newburgh (N. Y.) News.
The problem of neutrality nowadays
seems to be mainly a problem of drawing
up laws that will permit us to enjoy all
the profits of peace without running any
of the risks of war.
Not Quite Convincing.
From the Indianapolis News.
Spain has formed a win-the-war cabi
net, but even that may not be regarded
by Europe's puzzled statesmen as con
clusive. «
Proud Race.
From the Grand Rapids Press.
\We are a proud race, refusing to sur
render our independence, pride and man
hood except to make money.
One-eent Francs.
From the Charleston (W. Va.) Mall.
If the franc should drop to 1 cent
many more tourists could afford to visit
Prance. But if the franc should drop
1 cent probably no one would wish to
visit Prance. ^
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
Last year at this time the 17-year- ’
locusts were attracting the attention of
all persons interested in Nature—and of
many who weren’t.
This year some of the annual locusts
have appeared, and they look remark
ably like the others to the unpracticed
eye.
There is no high-pitched drone in the
trees, though, no fire-engine siren shriek
at the end of the ditty.
After all, it was that unmistakable cry
in the treetops which set the cicadas
apart, and helped make them one of the
real natural wonders.
* * * *
Do you know a bird whose call is re
markably like that of a giant insect?
It is the flicker, whose long drawn out
“quirt, quirt, quirt, quirt, quirt,” rapidly
ascending and then descending, for be
tween 20 and 30 repetitions, sounds very
much like the song of some of these “hot
bugs” which make the famous welkin
ring on humid Summer nights.
The flicker is a nice bird, but it has
an outrageous song.
Some persons have rendered it as
“wet. wet, wet, wet,” etc., but it is dif
ficult to read that word into the sounds.
Prof. Mathew, in his book on the music
of the wild birds, gives it the reading of
“quirt,” and that is much nearer.
* * * W
Actually it is a very unpleasant sound,
it seems to us, not in the same class with
the tiny wren's ecstatic measures, which
it somewhat resembles. It lacks the
clear, bubbling quality of the latter.
The flicker s sounds are more noise
than song. Really it becomes a sort of
minor nuisance, until one stops to realize
that music demands some dissonance.
The crow is much more entitled to the
appelation “song bird’’ than the flicker,
at least according to our ear.
There is something eminently satisfy
ing in the “caw, caw’’ of the big fellow.
Scientifically, the crow is a song bird,
owing to the development of his throat
muscles, which put him in the classifi
cation.
Actually he has a much better voice
than the flicker. Yet the latter un
doubtedly is a song bird. too.
* * * *
One might think this bird with the
red patch on his neck a veritable hen
cackling over the laying of an egg.
He makes this long sound at all hours
of the day, but, in common with most
birds, prefers the evening, when he re
doubles his efforts.
It is possible to have flickers in the
neighborhood without hearing this call.
Evidently it is a nesting song. If one
accepts the territorial theory of bird
songs, wherein the song is supposed to
be a literal “staking” of the bird's claim
to so much territory, one must admit at
once that the flicker does a rather
handsome job of it.
Tree stubs are perhaps the favorite
nesting place of this bird.
One might live six or seven years in
a neighborhood without once hearing
the call noted above, but let a tree die,
and the trunk cut off at from 10 to 20
feet from the ground, a flicker family
is almost sure to show up.
★ * * *
This bird is, of course, a woodpecker.
If any one should ever doubt this
classification he would admit it shortly
after wptching the male bird drill into
the stub, and soon dig out a perfectly
round hole, with plenty of space be
hind it.
The nest we are familiar with is about
12 feet high on the stub of an old Nor
mandy poplar which was killed by the
severer Winters of 1934-35-36.
Since the trunk held the radio an
tenna, it was allowed to remain.
This Spring the flickers found it, and
within a few days two nests had been
established, one at the height given, the
other three feet above it.
Just why the birds prefer the stumps
we do not know, unless it is easier drill
ing, owing to the lack of life, the co
hering force.
Flickers are rather large birds, being
about 11 inches long, as the ornithol
ogists insist on measuring them.
The red crescent on the nape of the
neck is plainly tdsible, and is the best
distinguishing mark.
These birds are among the most avid
ant eaters, and may be recognized from
this habit, in most cases, even by an ob
server who has never seen a flicker be
fore.
They love to eat ants crawling over
the rough bark of the locust tree. They
will spend minutes at this pastime, eat
ing their way along carefully all up and
down the trunk.
They are much more familiar than
most members of the woodpecker family
seen in these parts.
4* * * *
While other birds are being discussed
by the watchers, some thought should
be given to the faithful robin.
He is so common that many persons
tend to forget him.
Try observing him at dusk, just before
last light. That is a favorite robin time,
as with most birds. He may be seen
poised on the lawn, watching for the
last worm of the day.
Straight as a small statue he stands,
eyes eagerly watching for the slightest
twitch of the ground.
Dowm goes his strong bill, up comes
the worm, down goes the worm.
* * ★ *
We have missed this year the fine
sight of wood thrushes running around
over the lawn at tw'ilight time.
It may be that the small feeding sta
tion still kept in operation, with its
daily guests of English sparrows, a pair
of doves, and four pigeons, keeps them
away.
The doves are most fine birds, but the
others can scarce be called a good ex
change for thrushes. Still, one must
take w'hat comes to a feeder.
The turtle doves are favorites. Their
call is pleasing, after one gets used to it.
The mournful quality seems to vanish,
after one has listened to doves for a
certain length of time, and w'hat is left
is pleasantly monotonous, as if the
creature were saying to itself, "This is a
pretty fine song, why should I vary it?"
So it never does.
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study. '
BY THOMAS R. HESRY.
A hidden disease which simulates
the syndromes of at least 50 better
known diseases and is confused with
them in diagnosis is being uncovered by
Dr. Maurice C. Hall of the National
Institute of Health.
It may affect as much as ten per cent
of the population of the United States.
This disease, known in the world for
a long time, but supposedly very rare
until the recent investigations of Dr.
Hall and Dr. Benjamin J. Collins, is
trichinosis, or infestation of the body
by the larvae of a tiny w’orm w'hich is
found in raw or poorly cooked or cured
pork.
Their first findings were announced
before the American Association for the
Advancement of Science last Christmas.
They had examined nearly 2.000 bodies
of persons dying in 24 hospitals scat
tered all over the United States. They
found evidence of trichinosis in more
than 12 per cent, although not a single
case had been diagnosed as such and
all had died from other causes. How far
the trichinae infestation was a con
tributing cause of death cannot be
estimated.
The reason why this prevalent malady
has remained hidden, Dr. Hall says m
a paper just published by the Public
Health Service, is that the symptoms it
causes are easily and naturally con
fused with those of other conditions.
What they are depends on what part
of the system is infested with the tiny
worms. The list prepared by Dr. Hail
Is nightmarish:
Intestines: Gastroenteritis, constipa
tion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdom
inal pains, cold sweats, hot flushes, in
testinal hemorrhages, fever. Such a
case may be diagnosed as typhoid fever,
paratyphoid fever, cholera, cholera mor
bus, intestinal influenza, malaria, pto
maine poisoning, food poisoning, gas
trointestinal eatarrah, appendicitis, col
itis, peptic ulcer, gall bladder involve
ment and acute alcoholism.
Blood stream and muscles: Eosino
philia. oligemia, oligocythemia, hypo
tension, leucocytosis, splenic enlarge
ment, anemia, edema In various parts
of the body, dyspnoea, orthopnoea, dia
phragmatic breathing, pleurisy, cough,
hiccough, asthma, hemoptysis, pneu
monia, dysphagia, aphonia, laryngitis,
myositis, myalgia, furunculosis, cuta
neous eruptions, urticaria, rase spots, des
quamation, sweating, apathy, lassitude,
somnolence or insomnia, anorexia, con
junctivitis, corneal ecchymoses, my
driasis, photophobia, diplopia, pulse
often slow by comparison with height of
fever, albuminuria present or absent,
indicanuria present or absent, positive
diazo reaction, casts in urine, positive
Kernig’s sign, loss of patellar and Achil
les’ tendon reflexes, neuritis, rigor, per
sistent or remittent fever, and men
strual disturbances; diagnosed as arth
ritis, rheumatism, rheumatic fever, der
matomyositis. pelvic inflammatory dis
ease, pleurisy, asthma, upper respiratory
infection, pneumonia, laryngitis,, con
junctivitis, nephritis, multiple neuritis,
intercostal neuritis, angioneurotic edema,
syphilis, tuberculosis, undulant fever,
tetanus, scarlet fever, measles, mumps,
influenza, frontal sinusitis, erysipelas,
and lead poisoning.
Larvae in heart.—Symptoms: Myocar
ditis, systolic murmur at apex, cardiac
lability, and dicrotic pulse; diagnosed
as myocarditis, rheumatic myocarditis,
endocarditis, or other heart diseases.
Larvae in brain and meninges.—Symp
toms: Encephalitis, meningitis, cephal
algia, hemiplegia, delirium, and coma;
diagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis,
tuberculous meningitis, and poliomvelitis.
In many cases. Dr. Hall admits, the
trichinosis may give no clinical symptons
and have very little effect on the person's
general health. He eayi*
■■ — I
In any invasion of a host by a para
site, the parasite brings to the conflict
its appropriate weapons of offense and
defense and the host In turn brings to
bear its weapons for the destruction
of the parasite. The war rages, with its
gains and losses, in this and that part
of the host terrain and from the con
flict the patient emerges triumphant—
perhaps with little injury, perhaps scar
red and doomed to a shortened life.
Obviously such a weak spot in the host
defenses as an already weakened heart
may turn the tide of battle in favor
of the parasite, with the war terminat
ing in death of the patient—with no
suspicion on the part of the physician
of the parasite that worked the essen
tial injury.
Between light infestations, producing
zoological, but not clinical trichinosis,
and heavy infestations, producing severe
clinical trichinosis, there is an unstudied
no-man’s land of infestations of inter
mediate degrees of all sorts. These
probably make up the majority of all
cases.
"The material for study is obviously
at hand almost everywhere in the
United States, and notably abundant
in such localities as the New York-New
England area and the west coast.”
Dr. Hall gives two tests for the presence
of the trichinae in the system, both ad
mittedly inadequate, but the pest at
present available. He urges that they
be used by physicians whenever there
is the least reason for suspicion. The Na
tional Institute of Health, he points out
will co-operate with physicians in mak
ing such tests. They should, at least
give a better picture of the prevalence
of the infestations than the autopsies
Fairness to a Prisoner.
1 Prom the Worcester Gazette.
They have a new law in New York
which permits a jury to recommend life
imprisonment instead of the death pen
alty, in convicting a person of first-de
gree murder. The jury's recommenda
tion, however, is not binding on the
judge.
,,So' the Westchester County Court
the other day, when this recommenda
tion was made by the jury which had
just brought in a verdict of guilty
against Novio Santoro, the prisoner had
no assurance that he wouldn’t be sen
tenced to death.
As his lawyers promptly moved for a
new trial, this held up the sentence in
definitely, and he had the prospect of
waiting for weeks or months in uncer
tainty regarding his sentence. It was
at this point that County Judge Gerald
Nolan went out of his way to relieve the
man's apprehension.
"It would be unfair to keep you in
doubt,” the judge said; and told him, if
a new trial were not granted, he would
be sentenced to prison, not to death. A
spirit of fairness and consideration is
no unusual thing on the bench, but the
incident presents Judge Nolan in an
agreeable light.
With death in the offing, uncertainty
can become a refined form of torture.
Hard-boiled criminals are expected to
take it as a part of what they have com
ing to them. But justice is not dulled
by the demonstration that a judge is
endowed with a humane and under
standing mind.
Timely.
From the Indianapolis News.
Some of the steel workers evidently
struck while the Iron was hot.
Promising Infant.
From the Indianapolis News.
One trouble about a little N. R, A. Is
that it may grow up to be a big one.
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDF.RlC J. HASKIS.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. How early were transcontinental
trips made by motor busses?—L. F. G.
A. In 1928 the first bus from Los
Angeles to New York made the trip in
5 days and 14 hours.
Q. Are the people of the United States
increasing or decreasing in weight and
height?—C. G. B.
A. There has been a marked increase
in both height and weight in the United
States in recent years. Measurements
of 8.694 men and 4.124 girls at the Uni
■ versity of Cincinnati in 1916 and 1935
show that freshmen now are younger,
taller and heavier than they were 20
years ago. The reasons are better nutri
tion, less communicable diseases, better
standards of living and higher average
health intelligence. Even in 20 years
there have been definite racial better
ments. If figures were available for 100
years ago the gain would be very marked.
Q. How long has Justice Cardozo been
a lawyer?—C. R. F.
A. He was admitted to the bar in 1891.
Q How long will the eclipse of the
'sun, on June 8. 1937, last?—T. C.
A. At one point in its path, in the
middle of the Pacific Ocean, it will last
7 minutes 4 seconds. At the points of
ob.servation selected—Peru and a tiny
uninhabited atoll in the Pacific—its
duration will be between three and four
minutes.
Q. How many different kinds of musi
cal instruments are there?—B. T.
A. A precise enumeration has never
been made, but at the forthcoming musi
cal exposition at Moscow there will be
between 900 and 1.000 different kinds.
Q. What is the name of the London
church in which no sermons are
preached and no hymns are sung?—R. E.
A. It is the Chapel of the Ascension,
near Marble Arch, Hyde Park. The
walls are hung with pictures of re
ligious significance, and there are seats
from which to Mew them and cushions
to kneel upon in prayer. The church is
open daily.
Q What college had the first course
in library training?—E. M.
A. The first school for the training
of librarians was established by Melvil
Dewey, at Columbia University, New
York City, in 1887.
Q. Who was awarded the Daniel Gug
genheim Medal for 1937?—E. W.
A. The aviation award was made to
Dr. Hugo Eckener.
Q. When did Lenin die and by whom
was he embalmed?—J. W. C.
A. Lenin died January 21, 1924, and a
commission was appointed for his em
balming. The head of this commission
was Prof. V. P. Vorobiev, who used the
method of Prof. Melnikov-Razvedenkov.
Q Is there an animal called the
agouti?—J. M.
A. The agouti is a rodent allied to the
guinea pig and common in the jungles
of Eastern South America. It is about
the size of a rabbit, has a rudimentary
tail and ranges in color from yellow to
brown.
Q Is there a Federal law requiring
railroad companies to preserve their pay
roll records?—R. N. G.
A. The Interstate Commerce Commis
sion orders, effective July 23. 1935, re
quire railroads to keep their pay roll
records permanently. Prior to that order
the records had to be preserved for six
years.
Q. What is Satsuma ware?—K. B. B.
A. It is a famous variety of Japanese
pottery. It is pale yellow and has
minute crackles in the glaze. It is rich
ly painted and lavishly gilt. It was wide
ly manufactured in the last century at
Awata. near Kioto. The cracked ap
pearance is partly due to the process of
firing.
Q. What was the method of treating
wounds developed during the World War
by Dr. Alexis Carrel?—M. R. S.
A. With Dakin he invented the Carrel
Dakin method of treatment of wounds
by irrigation with neutral sodium hypo
chlorite solution.
Q. How many cigarette wTappers were
sent in by participants in the Old Gold
puzzle contest?—E. H
A. Ninety million wrappers were re
turned.
Q. Who was Casabianca?—W. M.
A. Louis Casabianca was a French
revolutionist and naval officer. At
Aboukir Bay, In 1798. he was In com
mand of the Orient, which caught fire.
He refused to quit his ship and his
young son refused to desert him. This
event is the basis for Mrs. Hemans’
poem.
Q In w'hat motion picture did Ruth
Chatterton appear first?—E. M.
A. Her first screen role was In "Sms
of the Fathers."
Q. What period in United States his
tory was known as the "Era of Good
Feeling?’’—I#. J.
A. The name was applied to the period
from 1817-23, when the Federalist party
having declined, there was little open
party feeling. The phrase was coined
at the time of President Monroe's good
will tour through the North.
Our Presidents
And Their Wives
What do you know about our Presidents
and their families? Who was the young
est man to be inaugurated President?
Who v-as the oldest? Which President
was a bachelor, and who was his White
House hostess? A distinctive 48-page
illustrated booklet gives such interesting
facts about all of the Presidents and their
families. An indispensable reference book
for every home library. Send your name
and address with 10 cents to cover cost,
handling and postage.
Use This Order Blank and Mail.
The Washington Evening Star
Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Haskin, Director,
Washington, D. C.
I inclose herewith 10 CENTS In
coin (carefully wrapped) for a copy
of the booklet, PRESIDENTS AND
THEIR WIVES.
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