Evening star., 1922-07-30
Heard and Seen

uoHl from crime TO remarkable de-
gree. This despite the fact tina:
many Of the alleys running through
the various squares are unlighted.
But several requests were put in
by citizens through their local citi-
xens association to have the commit
tee on streets and lights have alley
lights put up. This was done with a
promptness that fairly dazed those
who had sought them.
However. since they have been put
up. some Of the citizens are begin
ming to be doubtful Of the effective
ness of light as a protection against
crime.
A member of the Petworth Citi-
zens' Association arose at the meet
ing the other night and thanked the
committee for it's efforts. and praised
its work most highly.
But my neighbors tell me-" he
said, that they never had any shorts
stolen Off their lines until after that
light was put up in our alley. 1t had
been SO dark before that the thieves
were unable to find the family wash"
Brig. Gen. J. c. Castner, u. s. A.
and well known In this city. having
been at one time assigned by the War
Department as adjutant general of
the District OF Columbia Militia, ap-
peared in Paris one day. after trip
from the front.
The general has had wide experience
in the Army. having received many
dificult and trying assignments. some
Of them in the wiIds of Alaska. and
he is noted for his frankness.
Shortly after he arrived in the
French capital. wearing the bright
silver star of brigadier general on
his shoulder he met Gen. Pershing,
commander Of the American Expedi-
tionary Forces. After hearty greet
ings, Gen. Pershing said to Gen.
Castner. looking with surprise at his
stars:
Who ever had the nerve to recon-
mend you to be a brigadier general,
Castner."
"Oh. 1 don't know" responded Cast
ner, in his straight"from-the-sh shoulder
manner. Il suppose some old fossil
who didn't know what he was doing"
That ended it for the time. and the
two laughingly parted. But when the
war was over and Gen. Castner re-
turned to Washington he found that
he had been made a brigadier general
on the highest recommendation of
Gen. Pershing himself
As it we're yesterday l remember the
day We landed at Castle Garden" says
Secretary James J. Davis OF the Depart
ment Of Labor. The we included my
mother. sister and five brothers. ] re-
member how We walked up Broadway
and stared at the great buildings /
remember how We changed my Welsh
name from Davies to Davis. / remem-
strange new country to Sharon. and the
little home there that my father was
struggling to own My own early strug-
giles come back to me. But no one can
tell me that opportunities exist no more
In this country. 1t cost me an effort
to md mine, but 1t was there waiting
for me.
1T is the warmest desire of my heart
to bring that experience now to service.
For as Secretary OF Labor one OF the
greatest duties that has fallen to my
lot is to welcome the incoming tide Of
aliens. It is expected of me to sift the
undesirables from among them and send
those back from whence they came The
others ! am charged with. the. duty of
making good citizens and good. Amer;-
cans"
Representative Benjamin @. Hum
phreys OF Mississippi has had his share
in the hubbub Of life-and had an active
experience in three wars. When he was
only three years old he was bundled out
Of the Mississippi executive mansion
when his father, Brig. Gen. Benjamin
c. Humphreys. Confederate states
army. after serving three years as Gov
ernor of Mississippi. was forcibly elected
from the executive mansion by Federal
soldiers under the command OF Brig.
Gen. Adelbert Ames, L. 8. Army, who
succeeded him as governor. When war
was declared with Spain Mr.. Humphreys
then a district attorney. organized
company and served through the war
under Mai. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. He was
prominent in the democratic majority of
the House. handling legislation covering
the American participation in the world
war.