The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-27
TODAY'S LOCAL. SALES.
Capital Traction, sqs7.
National Union Ins. CO., 100N6h.
Recovery by Great Britain
Is Steadily Reflected in
the Fiscal Barometers.
BY BOERSIANER.

Sterling exchange within nodding
distance of $500 "a rise Of 81 cents
in two months) were in itself SUI
stock market; for up to a certain
point England's sterilization means
Americas fertilization. Alone in
economic strength. America would not
feel comfortable. England's COM
partnership must be comforting.
Beyond a point there is danger for
the United States. But for the pres
ent England's retrievement is emf
nently desirable. This is steadily re-
Elected in fiscal barometers. Yet,
whoever questions Europe's solvency
as a whole is put down a misan-
thrope who should eliminate himself
or be forcibly eliminated. History
is glibly quoted against him.
There was Prussia in the seven
years war. The mere contributions
levied by the invaders were appall-
ing, and the value OF what they ex-
torted was probably much less than
the value of what they destroyed.
Farms were uncultivated. The very
seed corn had been devoured in the
madness Of hunger. Famine and
infectious diseases produced by fam
inc had destroyed the country's ami
mails.
The population Of the kingdom had
decreased by 10 per cent. A sixth OF
the male population had persisted on
the battlefelds. Women had to har-
vest what crops there were to garner.
The wayfarer passed shudderins
through a succession Of ruined vii
larges, in which not single inhabi-
tant remained. The currency had
been woefully debased; the authority
Of laws and magistrates had been
suspended; the whole social system
was on the verge OF chaos. Civil
functionaries were left unpaid; In
some provinces civil government Al
together ceased to exist
Later, in France, following the Red
Terror revolution, a large part OF the
nation was devastcd. Roads had be-
come impossible. Canals were de-
stroyed. Hunting grounds and cas-
ties had been made the shining mark
of vandals. Public and semi-public
edifces we're in ruins. Money (as-
signats) was so much paper. France
was absolutely destitute OF credit. A
loaf of bread advanced to $50 francs
Eggs were thought cheap at 20 francs
each. Potatoes might be had at ESQ
francs a bushel. A turkey brought
1000 francs. Shoes were 1900 francs
a pair. and so on.
And. yet the sanguine chroniclers OF
today remind us, Prussia emerged
from her dire distress triumphant
Within a decade Frederick the Great
could say to his neighbors, his former
enemies: 1--WE have risen to greater
strength and prosperity" France
came from the blood and out OF the
ashes of the revolution the leading
nation OF Europe-or at least OF the
continent, for nothing was decided
until Waterloo.
With these two examples in mem
DRY why be skeptical OF what the
continent can now do, the critical are
asked.
For one reason. because the san
guine chroniclers pass over import
ant economic facts and fail to make
n comparison with these. Prussia--
or the Germany of Frederick-had no
exterior debts and was not confronted
with severe indcmnities. on the con-
trary, she came OF with a rich prov
ince, Silesia, added to her dominions.
Frederick had managed so that even
the interior loans were easily borne.
The terrorists. in France, had repu-
dated the debts OF the Predecessor
governments, after the manner Of the