The Washington herald., 1915-12-19
Toe Many Sommissions.

| Editor of The Washington Herald:
II Is not often. however much my in
tsrest. that I write to a paper con-
cerning any public question. 1 know
1t does no good TO get mad. And.
also. ] believe that saying q thing I'M
measured sane way will not accom-
plish anything. I notice in The Herald
that q Representative from Florida
complains that Commission" each
| member Of which receives $50 q day.
has spent thirteen months buying i've
squares of ground for the government.
and the end 10 not yet The complaint
| Is well made. But. behold. the Repre-
| sentative introduces resolution,
creating another special commission
presumably at twenty dollars a
day"-to investigate the first commits
sion. This Commission business is
| carried to extremes by our govern
ment. Commissions are exceeding
ly expensive, including the expenses"
They are utterly inefficient as instru-
ments Of government. They are get
ting TO be nuisances.
D. E. MOTLEY.
Discusses the womIn's Page.
Editor OF the Washington Herald: Yes
terday afternoon / received a copy Of
The Herald and discovered the page las
seen by" etc. I was afraid the excite
ment would keep me awake all night.
Perhaps I should not tell a great editor.
but my first words UTTERED, of course.
In the seclusion of my room were
bless his heart"' And "thank you."
Please accept my gratitude as out
weighing all criticism. However, I know
that words are not worth anything un-
less they convey the writer's thought.
also that editors desire honest expression
of opinion. Therefore I must say that
IT seems to me inappropriate that a
page of such limited interest as an ex-
clusively woman's page should be pushed
ahead Of the editorial page, which Is Of
great general interest 1t has a pert
audacious look. like much of the agita-
ton anent the "woman's movement"
today. }
As a compliment to the President.
wife and to all those women who are
both ambitious and deserving the con-
spicuous position of the page should
certainly be appreciated. But believe
the best women resent being 'patted on
the head" as Gertrude Atherton says,
like dog that can walk on his hind
legs They shrink from publicity and
are sacrificing much in working for a
vote for the sake of securing In the f,I-
ture freedom from prejudices born Of
sex 1t Is as disaEreeable to refined,
sensible women to be thrust forward,
ahead of the men. as it Is to be liz.
nored and as hurtful to their cause
Can there be no delightful middl.
ground for women; women who are con-
servative in their tastes. who accept
gracefully the facts of life as defined
py an all-wise Creator. who admire and
depend on. the strength and nobility of
men. yet who long for an impartial rec
ognition of their own abilities or char
acteristics as individuals:
| suppose the seeming inability. or the
reluctance. of the majority of men, un-
der existing conditions, to regard women
as their sisters. as co-workers with
them. each in his or her own way, for
the welfare of State and nation, is what
leads many thoughtful women to ask for
the vote.
They do rot claim as some silly
women do. that men are al wrong. They
realize that they themselves are faulty
They simply see visions and dream
dreams of life as It is possible to live
II. of work il is possible to accom-
plish II. when personal considera ton,
are laid aside and men and women be-
come SO earnest in their strivings for
civic betterment that they can agree
TO disagree. and can remember to for
get.
Personally. I think that "womcn's
pages are often very trcSome 7 sell
dom look at them Cany more than at the
sporting page. etc.. until after | have
read the general news and editorial
pages. But know thr woma7's page IL
boon to some women. especially to
Young girls: perhaps to women. in farm
inS districts. and TO those confined close
ly at home. CORA l.. SMELL.
Doesn't Like Mary Pickfo-d.
Editor of The Washington Herald:
Reing a daily reader and true friend Of
The Herald. permit me to say. in all
kindness. how glad am that some one
has come to the rescue and is helping to
clothe Mary Pickfords life in better
words than We're used in the first few
installments. Was there anything worth
while in the detail of her poverty. tha
manner o. entering her baths. the con.
dition OF her stomach, the foolish at
tempt to make and keep A complexion?
We have all. or mostly all. had periods
of strict economy. desperate efforts to
succeed in the world and do not care for
the prattlinS of a commonplace life from
one who has not mind enough to use any
but commonplace words. OF course, one
does not expect the crystalline beauty Of
Hawthorne. the richness OF Dickens but
the true reader looks for and loves
words. forceful and beautiful words and
fine sentences. and values them.
Notice the writings of any Of YOUR
staff on the editorial and other pages and
you will find choice words. fine sentences.
nearly everywhere: often valuable rules
for better health and happiness.
Avoid Routine-and Rest" by Frances
Marshall, is worth more than any sug-
sestion in Mary Pickfords whole life To
my mind her acting is as tame as her
words and as expressionless as her face
She has the most ungraCeful walk of any
actress in the movies, and a very COM
mon expression when of guard
Nearly all her plays are so objection
able to me that do not enjoy even the
good ones. She is crude In every way
She has not only driven good actresses
and good. needy women into the shaded
in the movies. but must now try to crowd
out writer's with brains and ideas.
When you can, put her to sleep and let
some well educated writer give Us
thoughts that challenge us to be finer
than We are. thoughts that tell what are
the qualities that count for fineness and
worth and influence in the world"
thoughts that send US to work with
smile of determination to be and do the
very best We can. Very often a single
word or sentence refreshes one all day.
\ FRIEND.