Evening star., 1923-08-08
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

a profession for tender eraCes. but
one in which lighting is the goal OF
training. and that part of the neceS
Sary preparedness of soldier comes
through his personal preparedness I"
meet the enemy and knock him out
before being knocked out.
To that it is answered that box /.
ing, in which are only points Sho" >
ing skill and alertness. will answer
the same purpose in developing
good fighting soldier, and that the
efficiency of an army does not largely
lie in the fists of one or two cham
pionS, but rather in the science Of
gunnery and of military tactics. II
former wars great stress was laid
upon the skill of sword practice. and
even in the world war some officers
shipped their swords across the water.
only TO hide them when they arrived
near the front and discovered that
they are not being worn any mores'
Perhaps the day is here when per
sonal prowess in fisticuffs will he
if just such an emergency arises a
calls for it. but not absolutely esSer
tial in making a general. 1T is glo-
rious. but not war.
1t is claimed by some officers thai
boxing develops self-reliance, alert
ness, determination and personal
courage. So does foot ball. together
with teamwork. The main objec
tion advanced by opponents of priz@
fighting is that it develops those eXs.
cellent traits only in the partic1-'
pants-two at a time-but not in the
1000 or 100000 fans who eat peanuts
and shout for their favorites. II
them it develops esprit du corps
but Is neutral as to other desirable
training.
While the farm bloc is agitatirS
for government relief for the farmers
will some scientific farmer explain
why there has not been greater prac,
teal Improvement in crops through
the decades of scientific agricultural
increased its average yield per acrc
more than two bushels? What CROP
increases are especially notable?
The Department of Agriculture re
ports thai III the last five years the
average yield OF potatoes has beer
9S.7, while in the five-year period
186s-1s72 the average was 94.5
bushels.
There are some regions now that
yield 300 to 400 bushels, but that
is not due to scientific farming, but
to the exceptional suitability of the
soil and climate. Everybody has
great respect for scientific agricul-
ture. but what Is the matter with its
practical application on American
farms? How will the average farmer
be persuaded that agricultural Scief-
tific knowledge is power" in practi-
cal crop yields? A half century of
research and teaching might be ex-
pected to produce more than or
1 per cent Improvement.
X x
On Friday afternoon. at the time
that the body OF the late President
Harding is lowered to its last resting
place at Marion, ii is suggested all
activities of American citizens will
pause for a period of five minutes
Wherever there stands an American.
he will stand at attention. or with bowed
head in silent prayer. Every train will
stop; every street car, every automobile
every factory wheel, every pedestrian
and all workers, In all activities of life
will pause. The nation will stand silent
before the passing Of its beloved chief
X X y
There have been few silences so su-
preme as that must be. None living. ex-
cept the soldiers who were in battle on
Arnistice day, and at IL o'clock heard
the roar of artillery suddenly CONCEALED
into absolute silence, can have any con
ception of what throbbing silence can
be. Nor conceive the thoughts which
will crash through such a silence.
How partisan differences are swept
into oblivion in this week of common
grief! Strong men weep, and former
opponents vie with his intimates in
praising the lovable character of a noble
American. Silence!
There will be the sobbing toll of bells.
and the long-draYn notes Of the bugle-
TAPS" No other sound, and such as
those solemn tones will but accentuate
the silence. Pompeii, buried through
the centuries in the volcanic ashes, was
not more silent than America will be
while paying its last tribute.
We will be patient and assuage the feeling
We may not wholly stay,
BY silence sanctifying, not concealing,
The grief that must have way.
-Longfellow.
Copyright. 1923, by P. V. Collins.)