The Washington times., 1921-12-24

Wattsrson, Dana, Pulitzer.
1900 Years, Slow Work.
The PuzzIing Gold Atom.
Destroying vaIue-FolIy.
By ARTHUR BRISBANE
Copyright. 1911

by ARTHUR BRISBANE
Copyright. isai.)
Henry Watterson is dead,
Northcliffe says he was the great
est American editor since Charles
A. Dana. Comparisons are worse
than odious, they are inaccurate,
where human beings are concerned.
Dana was a first-class editor Of
one kind; Greeley Of another;
Joseph Pulitzer, able man, in soma
ways the most powerful Of all,
was Of still another kind.
Watterson's reputation depend
ed entirely on his own work. Dana
had Clark, Bogart, and Mitchell,
besides many other good workers,
to help him build up his reputa-
tion. He would have made the
reputation anyhow, but he hap
pened to have some Of the best
men. Pulitzer had Carvalho. God
dard, Cockerill, and a dozen
other able helpers, and knew
how to get out of them all that
was in them.
Watterson's reputation was
based entirely on HIS OWN
WRITING. Dana was a powerful
writer; so was Joseph Pulitzer.
And Dana knew Pulitzer's power,
for he put Pulitzer's early articles
from Washington on the editorial
page of the Sun, signed with Pu-
litzer's name. He did that for no
one else.
Watterson did more writing
work than either of the others. He
was wise enough to keep out Of
politics. That killed Greeley.
Tomorrow the white races of
the world, and some Of the other
colors celebrate the birthday of
One who said:
"Love one another"
After nineteen hundred years
the Civilized nations" are trying
to agree on some limitation of
facilities for killing others in war.
Not what you would call very
great progress.
German scientists laugh at the
yarn about transmutation Of met
als-home-made gold that will
enable Germany to pay her debts
to France.
Germany is manufacturing
something more valuable than
gold-new national life by hard
work-and that is what the other
nations will have to do If they
want to get out of the hole in
which war has put them.
When you analyze matter. YOU
find molecules. made up Of atoms,
floating around, as far apart in
proportion to their size as the
earth is far from the sun. And
when you dissect the atom, as
scientists have done, you find that
the Greek a temno-not to bs
cut-does not apply to your atom.
For it is made up Of many cleo
irons. Each atom is little solar
system, with a center like the
sun, and the electrons whirling
about it at a speed inconceivable
to US. :,
The various elements-gold.
silver, hydrogen, iron, etc.-have
atoms made up OF more or fewer
electrons. and matter is nothing
apparently but units of force held
together.
But it will take more than the
feeble intelligence of homo sd-
piens, brand Of 1921, to build up
the atom out Of electrons. the
molecule out of atoms. and pro-
duce the gold.
Nature holds back certain Sc
crets, such as control Of sex,
transmutation of metals. and a
few others, waiting until we grow
older and fit to be trusted with
dangerous knowledge.
Germany owns 800 Diesel en-
gines, finest ever made, better
than any other flying machine
engines ever built, it Is said.
The French say they should be
destroyed, because Germany
might use them for flying ma
chimes, which isn't allowed. The
United States says it is a pity to
destroy them.
It is more than that, it would
be a stupid crime.
Why not sell these engines to
the United States, to be used in
Post Office flying machines?
Their value could be charged
against money that Europe owes
the United States. And those
interesting engines, probably,
would represent all we are ever
to get out of ten billion dollars
worth of debts.
We have been let into a
treaty which the Senate ought
to reject. Under that treaty,
the United States, with England,
France, and Japan, Is to uphold
-.-lA- l. D. .,Ao