The Washington herald., 1917-03-28
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

DR.. John L. Kelly chief OF stan of ST
EliZabeth's Hospital in Boston has some
fixed ideas on the matter of birth con-
troll.
Il am not a Socialist" says the
physician. who is visiting relatives and
stopping at the Raleigh. II do believe
however. that the birth control pro-
poganda will never advance because II
runs counter to nature. Those who are
advocating 1t may be well meaning, but
If they analyze the theory they are
understand that it violates natural laws
and IT, as was generally accepted. Il
would work for decrepit and delicate
womanhood in future generations"
Looking at this from the standpoint
of those who raise large families and
are unable to support them, the answer
is plain. If the country is going to ex-
pand in population, it's must give some
encouragement to those who are produc-
ing future men and women for America
If l were to suggest the best argument
against the birth control advocates. i;
would be a national law that would pay
mothers for the expense and suffering
surrounding maternity. That seems
radical. Yet, if it is reasonable. OF
course we all decry German militarism
ing this war, but still we could learn
much from them upon this subject"
I'VE owe the French a lot for the no
menclature of many of our streets and
landmarks in London" said H. G. Green
wood, of the British capital at the New
Ebbitt Hotel. yesterday.
"'Rotten Row. oddly enough called by
us by one of the ugliest names that could
possibly be concocted for the most beau
tiful driveway in Hyde Park, Is a strik'
ing example, Rotten Row Is a corrup'
tion of the French phrase route du roi
(Kingsway), and was SO named in the
time of the Norman Conquest. Through
the cycle of the centuries the phrase
easily enough became corrupted through
the attempt of Britishers to pronounce it
Rotten Row. as it is known to the trav'
cling world, is the fashionable driveway
that passes under shade trees from Hyde
Park Corners to Buckingham Palace.
Another example of corruption OF &
French name Is that of 'Charing Cross.
This landmark, just off Trafalgar Square
reminds the Londoner of the last stop
ping place of the funeral procession
which carried the body of the wife O.
Edward the Confessor on its way from
Scotland to Westminster Abbey. They
deposited the coffin at this site befor'
arriving at the abbey, and named the
site 'Chere Refine Cross Dear Queer
Cross). Throughout England the passag,
of that historic funeral procession is de
| fined by the names of cities, towns ant
hamlets which bear the name of a cross
Finally, 'Birdcage Walk, in st. james
| Park, a pleasant promenade under shad,
trees. illustrates another example of thi
| numbering of the Queens French Bird
cage Walk. popularly believed to be 81
| called, after the belief that Gagged sing
| ing birds were hung on the boughs of th'
trees to delight the promeneur, Is moth
ing but a corruption Of the French
Properly. Birdcage Walk was once known
as 'Bocage' Walk-the French for grove
Strange, isn't 1t, that once beautiful
names of our streets and landmarks
have lost much of their onetime beaut,
on account of the Britisher's inability t,
preserve their euphony in the Anglo
Saxon tongue?"