South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-23
WASHINGTON NOTES.
e. BY Gibson Gardner.
'''s

WASHINGTON. Aug. 2O.-How
hard it is to kill rats tails may be in
ferred from the fact that after a num-
Der of tails had been dried for eight
days and heated for two hours at a
temperature Of 90 degrees they were
successfully grated TO living rats All
OF which appears Ia the latest report
OF the Smithsonian Institution just off
the press; Sc it must be true
Other peculiar things about the
resurrection of apparently dead forms
Of life appear in this report in an ar
ucle by Paul Becquerel. the eminent
French scientist. He writes on latent
life and particularly on the ability of
certain germs TO come to life after
they would seem by all the rule of or
binary life to be thoroughly dead. He
tells now the rOtifers of the gutter and
the water beaTs' may remain dried
up for five months amid MOSES or
dust without evidencing the slightest
trace of life and when moistened re-
sumo their vital functions. Another
little animal discovered by Bee
Querel, an animal with a life sycle Of
10 months. was resurrected after be-
ing slowed away for 2S years.
The rat tail experiment was con-
Quoted To find out how long the liv-
ing elements in flesh would continue
and against what adverse conditions.
Becquerel himself experimental with
seeds bringing 10 life some which had
lain dormant for from IS To 81 years.
He subjected them in certain cases
also TO great heat and cold: also to
wet and dry conditions, discovering
that the life principle is most perss-
tent. being something like that thing
in the riddle which fire does not kill
nor water burn.
The department Of Justice officials
find there is no law to prevent the
conduct of Germany of paid propa-
ganda in the United states for the
purpose of influencing public opinion.
The remarkable letters recently pub
lished exposing the activities Of Ger
man agents in trying TO create public
opinion against the export of arms
are not evidences of any crime or mis-
demeanor. Even the part taken by
FrantZ Won Papen, military attaChe of
the German embassy. will not call out
any official action. Like the activities
\ of Captain BOy-Ed in securing the
forgery of passports and hiring spies
I To serve in Great Britain, these ac-
tiOns are a violent strain on diplO-
matte relations with Germany and
that is all. If the German government
wishes to spend millions i'm this cOun-
z
or 10 finance alleged neutral societies
I for the agitation Of an embargo or
arms. there is no law 20 prevent il
4 III the public cannot distinguish be-
tween propaganda and straight news
they are destined TO be misled.
Elihu Root IL declining in strength
as a presidential possibility. In ad
ditiOn 10 the reactiOnary exhibition ht
has given as presiding officer at tn,
I New York constitutional convention
his age is beginning 10 tell agains
him The fact that he would be :.
when he assumed office and 76 befor,
he Quit his first term is regarded bl
the practical politicians as a serious
objection The republican propa
gandists are now turning their atten
ton Co John w Weeks OF Massac hu
sets The latter is likely 10 figure al
a strong second choice and heir 10 tn
Root following.
! Visitors 10 the national capital vii
be grieved 10 learn that the old tim'
herdic bus on Sixteenth ST. has heel
discontinued They will be cheere,
10 leJTn, however that in its place ha
come the festive iitney. washington
now has several jitney lines connect
Ing with the suburbs, and every da,
the individual Ford car is more an,
mere breaking into the field