The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-01-19

food and drink reform simply made
them weary, and when WI gets himself
into long pants" and a jimswinger
coat he will not be one, two, three as
dinner attraction.
Was tie Spindle Shanked?
There is an awful story going around
that Washington, big as he was, had
spindle shanks; that, If anything, his
legs were as much of a misfit for his
big body as his artificial teeth were.
He carried the teeth in his pocket
good deal OF the time. but there was
not anything in the world that he could
do to cover up his weakened shanks, as
knee breeches were then all the rage
and long trousers unheard Of 1t is
said that the artist who painted the
Washington which hangs in the halls
of the House of Representatives was
fearfully discouraged over the artistic
merits of his picture if forced to use
Washington's own legs as model, so
ne persuaded Gen. Smith, an officer of
the Revolution, to lend his legs, and
that is why we have this most famous
portrait of Washington produced with
perfectly formed legs So far as size
and appearance go, if Washington's
legs were really proportional to his
long wooden stockings which hang in
the Smithsonian Institute, there is no
reason why the artist should, have torn
his hair over the Smallness of them.
The stockings are simply enormous, and
might have clothed the legs of man
who weighed at least 400. 1t should be
remembered. however. that Washing
ton measured six feet four in his stock
ing feet, and that 400 pounds would
not have been such On awful lot of
flesh for him to carry.
Raise Rice.
NJ. y. McLane. of New Orleans, who
has recently been in Washington, is
trying to interest the people in raising
m He says that down in Louisiana.
CeXas and mary other Southern States
are thousands and thousands of acres
of low land devoted to rice culture, and
that some years it is not worth while
harvesting l,eca use the people do not
eat enough rice. Still he says:
There are more people in the world
whose staple food is rice than there
are who rely on wheat as a staple. We
are cooks enough to know that there
are 40 different ways in which rice can
be prepared to build up body and brain.
"'Oh, WE'LL you say. people don't
like raisins. corn ard rice so very Well
It's all q matter of education. There
was a time in your life when you didn't
like anything save milk. Later on, in
stead of going in for things like rice
for olives. greasy pates. high seasoned
pork. white wheat dough in many dis
guises and such.
Just think what would happen if
we all went in for raisins, corn and rice
and prunes. too, to the extent we do
for meat. Why, our Swamps and deserts
would become farms and vineyards.
Morally, physically, nationally, we
would be better and bigger, for we
would solve the problem presented by
the increasing disproportion between
country and city population.
The cause of the cost of high living.
trust oppression, general weaknesses
and most other public curses about
which the public is roaring really lie
pretty close to the public stomach
That organ has been educated as a wise
man wouldn't educate a good dogs
stomach"
Mr. McLane SAYS that some portions
of the State of Florida are particularly
adapted to the raising of rice. It is
also stated by eminent food specialists
that the unpublished rice, properly
cooked and served with milk Q: cream
is almost balanced ration.
For Better Citizenship.
The Catholic clergy of the country
are working upon colonization prof.
ect which, it is hoped. will not only
turn tne Tue OF emigration from the
cities to the country, but in a measure
control Catholic emigration to the
United States. The official title of the
organization is THE Catholic Colonial
ton of the United States of America"
The founder and First President of the
colonization scheme is Rev. Julius E.
Devos, pastor of st. John Berchmann's
and a number of other big churchmen
are said to be behind this movement.
1t is said that the organization will
search out the most available agricul-
tural lands in the United States and
direct emigrants to these lands 1t also
intends to check undesirable emigration
to the United States thru cooperation
with the local clergy in these foreign
countries. from which the greater part
of emigrantS come. The organization
also expects to establish church and
a school in each of the colonies thus
formed, in order to give permanence to
the community. 1t is thought that the
headquarters of this colonization
scheme will be in Washington and pos
sibly at the Catholic University of this
city, where the society can keep in
touch with all the Catholics of the
United States as well as those Of for
eign countries. The Very Rev. Alex
ander p. Doyle. Rector of the Apostolic
Mission House at the Catholic Univer-
sity, has been very close student of
the emigration problem, and it is large
ly thru his efforts. perhaps, that the
colonization scheme is taking form. He
says:
The headquarters should be located
in Washington as the central point
from which the work can be directed
1t is a National Catholic movement the
fruition of which will be higher class
of immigrants, of whom the country
will never be ashamed. The Catholic
~
working in this matter for the, benefit
of future generations in the United
States"