Evening star. [volume], February 07, 1940, Page A-10, Image 10

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

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fitting Pirn”
With Sunday Morning Edition.
THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
WEDNESDAY.-February 7, 1940
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rlanes tor Finland
•
The people of Finland, men, women
and children behind the fighting
lines, who have been the victims of
merciless and barbarous bombard
ments by the Russian air force, may
take new hope from the disclosure
that fifty carloads of Italian planes
have passed through France en route
to the little Baltic republic. Shipped
originally through Germany, these
planes were held up on orders from
Hitler, and after protracted diplo
matic discussions they were sent back
to Italy and then rerouted through
France.
Although there has been no state
ment as to the number of planes in
the shipment, it is probable that
there are enough of them to form the
nucleus of the force of “several hun
dred planes” which foreign observers
say would enable the Finnish airmen
to afford a substantial measure of
protection to the undefended cities,
towns and villages that are now the
targets of Soviet bombers.
Recent reports from Finland have
made it only too clear that Stalin, his
troops repulsed on all fronts by Fin
nish ground forces, is seeking on a
scale never before attempted to win
his undeclared war by crushing the
opponent’s civilian population. Day
after day the Red bombers, making
no pretense of confining their attacks
to military objectives, have droned
over Finland, maiming and killing
the non-combatants. Against this
“modern” method of war, the Finns,
woefully lacking in anti-aircraft
artillery and combat planes, have no
defense, and in the end it may well
be expected to nullify the magnifi
cent stand of their ground forces
unless help is speedily forthcoming.
Italy, of course, has a selfish inter
est in coming to the aid of the Finns.
If Russia is stalemated or beaten on
the Scandinavian Peninsula, if the
heralded Red Army can be shown to
have clay feet. Italy’s position in the
Balkans, toward which a triumphant
Russia might turn, would be im
measurably strengthened. Realizing
that he has that interest in the out
come of the Russo-Finnish combat,
Mussolini has not hesitated to sup
port tne Finns.
This country has nothing in com
mon with Italy and has no interest
in the outcome of the conflict which
parallels that of Mussolini. But it
will hardly be contended that the
defeat of the Finns would mean
nothing to us. America has no sphere
of influence in the Balkans which
needs to be protected, but it does
have a vital interest in the preserva
tion of democracy—even in so remote
an outpost as Finland.
Unless the opponents of effective
American aid to the Finns are of the
opinion that the destruction of an
other democratic people is a matter
of no moment to the United States
they would do well to consider the
example set by 11 Duce. His interest
is alien to ours, but such as it is, he
does not hesitate to protect it because
of finely spun legalistic objections,
nor does he seem to fear, despite his
relatively exposed position, that Sta
lin will treat his extension of aid to
Finland as a hostile act toward
Russia.
Power Rate Cut
Once again the advantages result
ing to District residents and business
interests from the adoption in De
cember, 1934, of a sliding scale plan
for annual adjustment of rates of
the Potomac Electric Power Co. has
been demonstrated. The Public
Utilities Commission has issued an
order for another rate reduction, for
the sixteenth consecutive year. This
reduction in rates will mean a saving
of more than a half-million dollars
to District consumers.
There was an issue again this year
as to how the amount available for
rate reduction should be divided be
tween residential and commercial
consumers of power. Roughly, 27 per
cent was given to residential users
and the remainder to commercial
customers. This appears to be a fair
division since the commission based
Its action on the relative amounts of
current used by the respective clas
sifications.
More important, it seems, are the
facts that while power interests may
have had doubts in the beginning as
to the practicality of the sliding
scale, the company has continued to
make considerable profits through all
the years of the plan; and the best
available evidence indicates that the
local commercial power plant has
provided rates that on the average
are lower than those in any other
large city in the country.
Washington, of course, does not
have many plants which fall Into
the class of heavy Industries, a con
dition which would affect the
charges to be made on industrial
schedules.
Stockholders will rejoice over the
fact that the power company once
again has shown a good profit, while
current users will be glad to learn
that, due to efficient operation, the
company has shown excess profits
which will be reflected in reduced
rates.
Civil Liberties
At a closed meeting of its govern
ing committees, the American Civil
Liberties Union has voted to exclude
from office or committee member
ship avowed defenders of totalitarian
dictatorships in any form—whether
Communistic, Fascist or Nazi—and
members of organizations with “ob
vious anti-democratic objectives or
practices.” The ban will not apply
to rank and file # members of the
union.
Significantly or not, the action of
this group, which has set itself up as
a watchdog of eivil rights, coincides
with the resignation from its chair
manship of Rev. Dr. Harry F. Ward,
who was mentioned prominently in
the recent report of the Dies Com
mittee as head of the so-called
“Communist front” group, the Amer
ican League for Peace and Democ
racy. Dr. Ward has since resigned
from the league, which has an
nounced plans for disbandment,
due to need “for a different program
and type of organization.”
While not questioning the right
under our democratic form of gov
ernment for any persons to “hold
and utter any 6pinions” on political
or economic questions, the Civil Lib
erties Union has recognized the utter
inconsistency that results when any
of its leaders or spokesmen pleads
with one breath for American free
dom of speech, of religion and of
press, and with the next breath for
support of alien totalitarian doc
trines diametrically opposed to such
democratic precepts. “Such a dual
position in these days, when issues
are far sharper and more profound,”
the union forthrightly pointed out,
“makes it desirable that the Civil
Liberties Union make its position
unmistakably clear.”
A minority of the organization op
posed the exclusion resolution on the
ground that it will tend to “embroil
the union in the heated ideological
battles going on all over the world.”
But surely there is more likelihood of
such embroilment if persons holding
responsible positions in the union are
more concerned with defending for
eign ideologies than with preserving
American democratic principles.
Adhering to these principles, the
union properly will continue to de
fend the rights of citizens of all po
litical faiths—even the Communists
and Fascists who, curiously, never
hesitate to claim the protection of a
form of government which they hold
in contempt. The Civil Liberties
Union has added to its prestige by
acting to keep its leadership thor
oughly American and democratic.
Victory tor Government
The Government has scored an
important victory in the drive
against malpractices in the building
trades industry with the conclusion
of the case instituted in Pittsburgh,
where fines totaling more than fifty
four thousand dollars were assessed
against electrical contractors, cor
porations and union leaders who
pleaded no defense to the conspiracy,
indictments under the Anti-Trust
Act which is being employed as the
weapon of prosecution in the Nation
wide cleanup.
The heaviest penalty—a fine of
seven thousand dollars—was reserved
for the business agent of a local of
the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, an A. F. of L.
affiliate, who was described by the
United States attorney in charge of
the case as the “complete dictator”
of the electrical contracting industry
in Pittsburgh, while another union
official was fined three thousand.
Other penalties for the forty-two
contractors and thirteen corpora
tions involved ranged from fifty dol
lars to five thousand, while one
union officer was cleared.
The defendants were accused of
collusive bidding on public works
that had cost the Government a
half-million dollars and, while heav
ier fines and imprisonment were
possible, the penalties they received
served the ends of justice in the light
of their plea, and unquestionably will
tend to have a marked moral effect
throughout the industry. The fines
were the first imposed on union
members in the current campaign.
The windup in Pittsburgh coin
cided with another blast against the
Department of Justice by the Execu
tive Council of the A. F. of L., which
insists on viewing the long string of
indictments thus far obtained
against labor and building operators
as an attempt to crush the unions
rather than an effort to bring
about obviously needed reform. In
such developments as have taken
place in this particular instance,
however, where no defense to
the charges was offered, these at
tacks by Federation leaders collapse
completely.
Community Chest
Early in the winter, the most severe
in a score of years, Washington resi
dents learned they again had failed
to contribute the minimum amount
of mbney needed by sixty-seven
agencies to carry on necessary wel
fare, relief and character-building
work In their city. This was after
the amount sought had been reduced
r
> \
from that asked the previous year.
But the outlook Is encouraging in
spite of the failure to reach the goal.
Although that goal has not been
reached In recent years, Washington
has not established a “habit of fail
ure.”
In the last campaign more con
tributors than ever before joined in
this civic enterprise, and the Capital
stands high both in the ratio of
givers to population and in the total
amount raised. In presenting his
report to the annual meeting of vol
unteers and agency representatives,
Coleman Jennings, president, point
ed to two serious problems which
confront the Chest. It is true that
this method of raising funds for vital
community needs has eliminated
hundreds of more costly individual
drives for funds, the expense of ad
ministration has been reduced to a
minimum and the financing of the
member institutions has been placed
upon a sound footing. But, in spite
of the consolidation of so large a part
of the city’s responsibilities in these
lines, more than fifty fund-raising
campaigns were held last year. Few,
If anv nf fKn lniu. ....ij i__i
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lenged as unnecessary, and many
could be handled in no other banner,
but they do present a complication
which should be remembered by
every potential Chest contributor
while his hand is still in his pocket.
The second problem is that of per
manent financing for many of the
member institutions. Budgets in
every case have been cut to an abso
lute minimum, even below actual
needs in many. Physical equipment
replacement and capital investments
necessary to preserve existing facili
ties and to broaden the field of serv
ice to the community have been
forced to languish. If the present
level of contributions to the Chest
continues, this can only be provided
for by future bequests and the even
tual building of endowment funds to
meet a large part of the burden.
These problems of civic welfare
cannot be allowed to continue per
manently on a basis of hand-to
mouth existence. Many individuals
may so object to inclusion of one or
more organizations in the Chest’s
roster as to reduce their contribu
tions. Such an attitude, while it is
known to exist, results from personal
prejudice or lack of information.
The former cannot be met by any
means except an appeal to personal
logic. But the Chest has provided
means to counteract any lack of in
formation. “Go and see” tours are
provided before each campaign, and
nearly every agency on the roll wel
comes visitors at any time.
———_
A Baffling Disease
Somehow a rumor started that a
German doctor, now at the front,
had discovered a cure for one of the
most baffling maladies known to
man—leukemia.
A little Washington girl was ill of
this disease which up to the present
has proved, so far as known, inevi
tably fatal. Any exceptions, it may
be pointed out, are probably cases of
a pseudo-leukemia only discovered
within the last few months by biol
ogists of the Carnegie Institution of
Washington. This is something to be
remembered if any over-enthusiastic
physician claims to have effected a
“cure.”
The German doctor in question, it
seems, has made no such claims. If
he had found a remedy, the Reich
government was willing to co-operate
in obtaining a supply of it and the
British government was willing to lift
: the blockade to get it to Washington
in time to be of some help to the
child. It was a fine case of universal
human decency underlying war.
The rumor may have originated
from the fact that certain experi
mental work with leukemia in rats
during the last three years—Ameri
can, not German, by the way—has
brought about a considerable ad
vance in understanding of the leu
kemic process. No case, it may be
said, ever has been cured.
Leukemia is “cancer of the blood.”
A certain type of white blood cell
begins to increase out of all propor
tion to the rest of the blood cells.
The cause is unknown. The malady
constitutes about the worst possible
type of neoplasm because it is so dif
fuse, and hence inaccessible to radi
ation therapy or to surgery. A “cure
for leukemia” would probably be a
cure for all other types of malignant
growths.
Some prolongation of life may be
possible with blood transfusions.
These, however, never can be more
than temporary palliatives and, usu
ally in a very short time, the malig
nant processes again have the upper
hand. There seems to be an idea,
even among some physicians, that
some good might be accomplished
with the blood of a person who has
suffered from the malady and recov
ered. Since nobody, so far as is
known, has ever recovered from true
leukemia this is beside the point.
The outlook is not utterly hopeless.
The Carnegie experiments indicate
that rats can be protected against
the disease by a sort of vaccination
with killed leukemic cells. They can
not be cured, once the malady is un
derway. But prevention and cure
often are not far apart.
For many decades school children
have read with amazement and
almost incredulity of “The Hundred
Years’ War” and “The Thirty Years’
War.” For all they know, they may
be living right now in another.1
Those who tried to tune in'' on
Father Coughlin last Sunday may be
added to the list of those who have
encountered “The Little Man Who
Wasn’t There."
I n
\
Motorists Blamed for
Pedestrian Injuries
Says New Regulation Is Not
Properly Enforced
By Police
To the Editor of The Star:
According to an Item In your paper,
the traffic director at a recent meeting
of parents and teachers cited figures
showing pedestrian injuries had de
creased from 1,793 to 1,675 in the District
during the 10-month period the pedes
trian-control regulation has been in
force.
Evidently the director could have made
a better showing for his pet regulatory
measure than a 6.6 per cent decrease in
the number of injuries, for in the course
of his remarks he declared motorists
are not doing their full part in making
the new pedestrian-protection program
a success, and called attention to in
stapces where motorists interfered with
pedestrians crossing on proper signal.
Aroiliiicr f nr cfHrfor anfnrnnnsanf nf
the pedestrian regulation in the outlying
sections, the director referred to the 12.8
per cent decline in injuries to persons
afoot in the central district, where the
number dropped from 289 to 252.
This leaves 1,423 injuries sustained
outside the downtown area. If so many
accidents to pedestrians are happening
outside the central district it woulu be
interesting to know why the downtown
section is so strongly policed, while so
few or no policemen are stationed at
busy outlying intersections.
To many observers the pedestrian
regulation apparently was not adopted
as a protective measure for persons
afoot, but to speed up vehicular traffic
through the congested downtown area.
The measure was sponsored by organi
'zations of motorists and merchants with
an eye more to their own convenience
than that of pedestrians.
The milling crowds of pedestrians in
the downtown section seriously ham
pered the movement of vehicles. The
pedestrian-control regulation, backed by
a policeman at every corner to see that
it is obeyed, at least by persons afoot
if not those awheel, has somewhat re
lieved the embarrassment of motorists
in an agonizing hurry.
Daily at the corner near where my
business is located, as well as elsewhere,
I observe motorists failing to yield the
right of way to pedestrians on proper
signal, while the officer on duty, en
grossed with his effort to keep vehicular
traffic from becoming snarled, pays no
attention to motorists interfering with
pedestrians and beating the lights in a
mad scramble to cross the intersection.
That there should be so dispropor
tionately large a number of accidents to
walkers in the outlying sections serves
to emphasize what the director has
pointed out, that motorists are not doing
their full part in according pedestrians
the right of way on cross walks. In the
outlying sections pedestrians are com
paratively few. They do not move in
crowds as in the downtown area. Ve
hicular movement is uninterrupted and
rapid and the pedestrian must take
chances to cross the street. Until mo
torists learn to obey driving rules scrupu
lously little progress can be made in
accident prevention.
The deep interest I take in safe driv
ing and walking prompts me to wonder
whether the director and other persons
wrestling with the problem of accident
prevention may not be on the wrong
track in advocating such a questionable
measure as pedestrian control, especially
if tbe tendency of motorists to* disobey
the rules cannot be curbed.
Like a page from the Mother Goose
story book was a conspicuous red and
green advertisement carried in buses
and streetcars recently, advising the
public that the way to remain alive is
to obey the lights. Obedience on the
part of pedestrians to the present sys
tem of traffic signals is no guarantee of
auteiy ur longevity.
Since motorists will not yield the right
of wray to pedestrians on cross walks
isn't it unfair that persons afoot should
be subject to the annoyance of arrest
and conviction for crossing on a red
light when there are no approaching
vehicles? Fining overtaxed people in
discriminately for petty violations of
traffic rules has a bad reaction on a
community.
The police drive against pedestrians
should be discontinued at least until
all controlled intersections are provided
with pedestrian lights which would
permit persons afoot to cross the streets
without danger from vehicles turning
corners. MARGARET MALCOM.
February 2.
(Editor's note—of 66 pedestrians
killed in traffic last year, two were
struck while crossing at a controlled
Intersection with the proper signal.
Thirty-one were killed crossing not
at a crosswalk. Seventeen were killed
crossing at an uncontrolled intersec
tion. Eight were killed crossing
against the proper signal.)
“Working Wives.”
To the Editor of The Star:
It seems that M. P. S. has had her
toes stepped on and in her letter to The
Star of January 26 she lashes back at
the “complaining Johns who deem it
their mission in life to agitate in the
interest of eliminating married women
from competition with them.”
All through her letter one is given the
impression that “married women” are
the martyrs of the age. What does a
woman expect of life these days? Does
she not want some kind of a home, no
matter how small, Where she can raise
her young ones in the right atmosphere?
And where they can live a clean and
healthful life, and give her something
to look forward to and be proud of in
her future years?
I do not begrudge women their right
to the "true American ideals of equal
opportunity to all,” but let them decide
on a career in the world or a career in
the home. Each is an opportunity in
itself.
In closing I might add that a little
self-sacrifice on the part of married
couples today might help eliminate the
necessity of the poor “married women”
having to go to work, and it would, also,
have an equal effect in the training of
their children.
J. BURFORD RODIER
• January 31.
r*
♦
THIS AND THAT I
By Charles E. Tracewell
"CHEVY CHASE, Md.
“Dear Sir:
“I should like to comment on your
column of January 26 containing your
remarks on that ‘demon’ the mocking
bird.
“I have enjoyed your column so very
much that it distressed me to read your
column of January 26, your uncharitable
remarks and half-truths concerning this
fine bird, particularly as you glorify,
ever so often, that glutton of the bird
kingdom, the starling.
‘‘In your column of the 26th you stated,
in reply to a letter from a reader, that
the mockingbird could be discouraged
from coming around by not putting out
the food it likes. With snow covering
the ground and with all birds looking
to their friends for food, your statement
is uncharitable to say the least. If your
readers (those unfamiliar with the true
habits of the mockingbird) were to follow
this advice, the mockingbirds would not
be long with us.
“We have had mockingbirds with us
for the past several wintdw. They
come to our window sill for raisins, suet,
meal worms, etc., that are always on
hand. On the sill next to the one re
served for his majesty, the mockingbird,
we put sunflower seed, nuts and other
tidbits for the cardinals, the. titmice,
the chickadee, nuthatch, sparrows and
finches, not to mention food for that
pest, the starling.
* * * *
“It is a common sight and not a rare j
one to see the mockers on one sill, the
other birds on the other sill at one and
the same time. Where food has been
put on both sills, I have never seen the
mockingbird even attempt to bother the
other birds.
‘‘In this connection, it must be remem
bered that the mockingbird is a soft
billed bird, consequently the food it is
able to eat is not as plentiful as that
available for the seed-eating birds, the
cardinals, sparrows and finches. The
mocker’s food supply is therefore limited
and this being true it is somewhat na
tural to expect them to safeguard their
cache of raisins, meal worms, etc. With
all the feeders in this neighborhood
going full blast there is no dearth of
seed and gTain for the hard-billed birds,
the sparrows, finches, etc. The mock
ingbird is not this lucky. He is fight
ing to live.
‘‘I have studied and loved birds for
nigh on to 35 years and I have yet to
find a mockingbird as pugnacious as
those of whom you write. They have
never kept me from enjoying my garden
except where I have intruded on the
privacy of their nest. However, have
you ever annoyed wrens when they have
young, or disturbed a brown thrasher’s
nest with eggs or young? You then
know that the mockingbird is not unique
in expressing irritation at a trespasser
in his home.
‘‘Aside from this. I challenge any one
to say that the mockingbird is a garden
bully. If you will stay away from his
nest in the enjoyment of your garden he
will be only too glad to stay away from
you. Speaking from yearly experience,
I would say that my nemesis is that little
fellow the wren who refuses to let me
mow the lawn beneath his wren box.
* * * *
“May I ask that you be a little more
charitable toward the mockingbird and a
little more accurate in your remarks
concerning its habits. This will be
greatly appreciated by the genuine ad
mirers of this bird whose admiration is
based upon an intelligent study of its
way of life.
"Many readers of your column accept
as gospel truth every word you write
about birds and while you are usually
correct, it bothers the true bird students
to have your readers, or some of them,
hug to their breasts such inaccuracies
as from time to time appear in your
column concerning the mockingbird,
America’s finest songster.
“I will appreciate your comments on
this letter in your column so that the
injustice done this fine bird may be
corrected. It is only fair that the other
side of the picture be presented to your
readers through the same medium your
half-truths appeared.
“Sincerely yours, W. A. N.”
* * * *
Mr. N., whose reputation as a bird
lover extends far beyond Chevy Chase,
has indulged in that favorite indoor
sport, setting up a straw man and knock
ing him down.
Nobody, we feel safe in saying, has any
greater admiration for the mockingbird
than the writer of this column.
We simply refuse to argue the point
with Mr. N. But when a reader asks a
question, we try to answer him to the
best of our ability.
If he wants to know how to keep a
tough mockingbird away, the answer is
not to put out the foods the bird likes.
That is, undoubtedly, the way to do it.
This advice only seems uncharitable,
for today thousands of persons are feed
ing the birds hereabouts, whereas only
a few hundreds were doing so four years
ago when we started boosting this won
derful recreation. Now the point is
that hundreds of them, especially when
snow is on the ground, use bread, which
is exactly what the mocker likes, even
above raisins.
This means that no mockingbird is
going hungry.
Our correspondent's remarks about the
bird's food habits are quite true. It is
well to keep in mind that the soft
billed birds cannot eat what the mem
bers of the finch family, to which be
longs the sparrows, do.
Mr. N. has been very fortunate in his
mockers. Last year this column carried
dozens of letters, scores of them, in
fact, from irate persons in all parts of
the city, castigating, lampooning, be
rating, belittling, hurling imprecations
at, and in other ways asking how to get
relief from the "mockingbird problem,”
as they called it.
We say again, as we have said many
times, that birds are where and how you
find them.
Letters to the Editor
rroirsis iii'KCimg oi
Snow-Bound Cars.
To the Editor of The Star:
May I add my emphatic protest to
that of your correspondent of January
31 anent the ticketing of cars that are
snow-bound.
This sort of thing breeds bad feeling
toward the Police Department and makes
citizens distrust not only the judgment
of the officers but that of their policy
making directors.
The police need the co-operation of
the right-thinking citizenry to function
effectively. They certainly have called
down a storm of protest over their re
cent ill-advised procedure.
I believe that if the victims of their
zeal took the matter to court they would
win under the “act of God’’ clause of
law. But who wants to go to court with
its expense and nuisance? These mat
ters ought to be adjustable by reasonable
people.
I am not one of the ones who got
ticketed, but I feel indignant Just the
same. D.
February 1.
Complains of Noise
By Celebrants.
To the Editor of The Star:
Inasmuch as the President’s Ball Is
given in order to alleviate disease, doesn't
it seem inconsistent for the participants
to go tearing along the streets after
midnight blowing motor horns with in
credible zest and fury, thereby torturing
the nerves of armies of people that desire
rest?
In this noisy, nerve-racking age it
might be well for those who love to
"whoop it up” to remember that Zeno,
of all virtues, chose “silence,” while
Balzac’s remedy for tired, wounded
hearts was “silence and shade.” Revel
lers seldom realize that people of a differ
ent temperament prefer quiet.
EDMUND K. GOLDSBOROUGH.
January 31.
Proposes Military Training
For C. C. C. Youths.
To the Editor of The Star:
When the history of this period is
finally written, it will be recorded that
its greatest contribution to character
building on a national scale was the
founding of the Civilian Conservation
Corps. Here the Nation puts its idle
youth to work at useful tasks, instructs
them in the simple truths of life, trains
them in work from which an honest liv
ing may be derived when the service is
over, and here they learn impressively
that our country values the individual
so highly that it will spend much money
and effort to help make him the noblest
of living creatures, an honest man,
free, loving freedom, and knowing how
freedom must be used if it is to be pre
served. Why does not the United States
Government give these fine young men
the opportunity to obtain military train
ing in these camps? There is no sound
reason against it. If they want it, they
should have the chance. It would put
before them an educational opportunity
of the greatest character-building value.
If it is a wise policy tq require military
training in the land-grant colleges, it
would be wise at least to offer it in these
camps. In case of war these young men
would be drafted, like others in the same
age group, and they should have the
opportunity the college man has of being
Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the writer although the use of
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
prepared to meet this call, should it
come.
Scarcely less astonishing than our
failure to offer the young men in the
. C. C. C. camps an opportunity to take
I military training is the neglect of our
i Government to make more of the Civil
' ian Military Training Camps. Here is
a comparatively inexpensive method of
training civilians in circumstances thou
sands of men all over the country would
welcome as an opportunity to serve the
Nation and to improve themselves physi
cally and mentally. I cannot but believe
that an ill-advised but noisy pacifism
has frightened those responsible for na
tional military policy into a course of
conduct good neither for the Nation as
a whole nor the individual citizen. Let
the person who shouts "militarism”
shout on. No sane person can stand
apart and view man's behavior in Eu
rope and Asia and still believe that such
concepts as “right,” "justice,” “moral
or intellectual integrity,” or cries of
“peace, peace!” exert any appreciable
influence on the conduct of certain
powers. s. J.
February 5.
Proposal to Aid
Finland Opposed.
To the Editor of The Star:
I believe that nearly all the American
people are in sympathy with Finland;
nevertheless, I believe our Government
should make no loan to Finland. We
should first of all take care of the mil
lions of Americans living in dire poverty.
If we loan to Finland, other countries
also may ask for loans, and our last
World War loans turned out to be gifts
instead of loans.
Let Sweden, Norway and Denmark
and other European countries help Fin
land. They have more at stake than
we Americans several thousand miles
*way. j. M M
Detroit, Mich.
February 4.
South Capitol Street
Bridge Plans Discussed.
To the Editor ol The Star:
The featured story in last Sunday's
Star showing the progress being made
toward the construction of the proposed
South Capitol Street Bridge no doubt
was read with a great deal of interest
by those who were advocating this pro
ject around 1915.
At that time it was one of the aims
of the Washington-Indian Head Win
throp Military Highway Association, of
which the writer was the secretary
treasurer for a number of years.
Our Representative in Congress, Mr.
Sidney Mudd, went so far as td draft a
bill for its construction at that time, but
the measure was not introduced. Surely,
during this Interim the pressing need for
a more direct approach into Washington
from the South has increased to a point
where the organizations active in its
behalf should bring this improvement to
a successful conclusion.
THEODORE F. MENK.
February 8.
Haskin's Answers
To Readers' Questions
by Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Eve
ning Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp tor reply.
Q. What became of the famous hors*
Gypsy Queen?—L. W.
A. Gypsy Queen died on October 29,
1936. The horse has been honored by a
bronze memorial tablet in the Ro6a Bon
heur Memorial Pet Animal Cemetery in
Maryland. Gypsy Queen's fame was
established by carrying Sergt. Frank M.
Heath, United States Army and World
War veteran, 11,356 miles on the longest
trail ever traveled by one horse under
saddle, covering each of the 48 States
of the Union. They started at the Zero
Milestone in Washington, D. C., on April
1, 1925 and ended at the same point on
November 4, 1927.
Q. Please give the names of the piano
selections played by Fredric March in
"The Road to Glory.”—J. W. E.
A. They were as follows: “Piano Im
provisation,” by David Buttolph; "Made
Ion,” by C. Roberts: “Liebestraum, Noc
turne No. 3,” by Liszt, and "Prelude,
Opus 28, No. 7,” by Chopin.
Q. Who invented mayonnaise?—R.
G. H.
A. This kind of salad dressing is said
to have been originated by the Duke of
Richelieu.
Q. Where was the first lyceum in the
United States?—L. B.
A. An organized plan of instruction for
adults was inaugurated under the name
lyceum in Millbury, Mass., in 1826. This
was a voluntary association of farmers
and mechanics formed for self-culture,
community instruction, and mutual
discussion of common public interests.
By 1839 more than 3,000 town lyceums
were in existence .
Q. Who said, “'Lafayette, we are here"?
—J. R. B.
A. The phrase is taken from a speech
delivered July 4, 1917, at Picpus Ceme
tery, Paris, by Col. C. E. Stanton: "Amer
ica has joined forces with the allied
powers, and what we have of blood and
treasure are yours. Therefore it is that
with loving pride we drape the colors in
tribute of respect to this citizen of your
great republic. And here and now in
the presence of the illustrious dead we
pledge our hearts and our honor in
carrying this war to a successful issue.
Lafayette, we are here.”
Q. Please give the origin of court ten
nis.—T. L. B.
A. The Encyclopedia of Sports says:
"Court tennis, first known as jeu de
paume. originally was an outdoor game,
and was played in the Middle Ages in
the parks and fosses of chateaux in
France and Italy. Its patrons included
a long line of European monarchs and
its popularity among royalty is responsi
ble for its present name. A court built
by Henry VIII at Hampton Palace is still
extant and celebrated its 400th anniver
sary in 1930.”
Q. Who was John McDonogh for whom
the boys' school in Maryland was named?
—K. C. R.
A. John McDonogh was bom In Bal
timore in 1779. He went to New Or
leans in 1800 to represent a Baltimore
firm. By 1803 he had acquired real
estate in Louisiana and West Florida
which came in time to have great value.
He was vice president of the American
Colonization Society and worked out a
scheme whereby slaves were enabled in
15 years’ time to purchase their own
freedom. He sent many of his own
slaves to Liberia in this manner. On
his death in 1850 he left a will providing
j schools for boys in New Orleans and
Baltimore.
Q. Who was the first President to
have his inaugural address broadcast?—
L. S. R.
A. On March 4, 1925. there was a
Nation-wide broadcast of the inaugura
tion of President Coolidge.
Q. Where were dial telephones first
used in the United States?—J. G. E.
A. The dial telephone was invented in
1889 by A. B. Strowger and was put into
general use in La Porte, lnd.t in 1891.
Q. How old is Atlantic City, N. J.?—
H. S.
A. The little fishing settlement which
later became known as Atlantic City
dates from 1780. In 1854, the Camden
& Atlantic Railroad was completed to
this city and in that same year, it was in
corporated under the name Atlantic
City.
Q. How many different kinds of United
States stamps have been issued to date?
—W. OB.
A. The Post Office Department says
that there have been 558 stamp issues
printed since 1847.
Q. What famous poet was drowned
while trying to kiss the reflection of
the moon in the water?—A. G. S.
A. It is believed that this was the
fate of Li Tai Po, Chinese poet of the
Tang dynasty.
Q. From what State was the first
woman Senator in Congress?—H. P. S.
A. Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia
was appointed by Gov. Thomas W. Hard
wick as a Democrat to the tfnited Statee
Senate on October 3, 1922, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Senator
Thomas E. Watson.
*
A Pa m a
a rrayer Tor Lenr
Dear Lord, I pray that through these
days of Lent,
I may with You seek now the wilderness,
Within my heart—let not the care and
stress
Of daily need—or love of self prevent
My willingness to go as once You went,
Apart with God. But let my soul confess
My lack of faith and great unworthiness,
And humbly there each secret fault
repent.
Then give me, Lord, a clean desire and
strong,
To do Your will through every bright
new day,
Knowing full well that You will guide
the way,
And help me choose the right—reject
the wrong.
And may these forty days be full of
grace,
To all who truly seek the Father’s fact.
MONICA WILLIAMS.
♦ f