davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-11-22
Getting Movie Sets
Far From Real Scenes

To the Editor Of The Star:
In the motion picture entitled The
Hunchback Of NotTe Dame" there is
shown an exterior view of Notre
Dame Cathedral that looks as II pho
tographed In Paris. AS matter OF
fact, the scene was photographed
near Los Angeles. where the writor
learned some of the methods OF mo-
ton picture making. An exact rep
Iica in size and shape was made OF
the lower fourth or the No're Lame
The people and moving objects werc
photographed next to this fuli-sized
replica, but the upper part of the
building. where there was no motioh,
was photographed separately on the
same film from a very much reduced
miniature OF the upper three-fourthS
of the building close up to the ca NJ
era to make 1t appear large enough.
This produced a practically perfect
illusion.
Sometimes the same effect Is pro-
duced by what is called glass work.
This is picture made from paint
ing on glass to represent high COLI
ing of an interior scene or the upper
portion of the exterior Of a very high
building. This saves the expense of
building very high sets as in some Of
the scenes OF robin Hood" Several
of the scenes. In The Prisoner fof
Zenda" were glass work.
Motion pictures, however. are not
perfect. The directors make some
errors and anachronisms, that are in
excusab bile. In every historical or pc
riod picture from the timo of Adam
and Eve to the European war all of
the actresses are shown With fig wigs
coming down over their ears and COW
ering much of forehead and face. al
though this style fby~ the wartime
ffappers carried to an extrenne) has
seldom been used In tho historical
past. THOMAS w. Gu1MEs3
Evening star., 1923-11-22
Rumsey was the pioneer. Above and
below Shepherdstowu the Potomac is

Rumsey was the pioneer. Above and
below Shepherdstown the Potomac Is
a calm and sedate stream, and Shep-
herdstown is an old and dignified
town, which once hoped to be the
Capital Of the United States -
The steamboat of John Fitch was
making. regular trips carrying passep-
gers on the Delaware river between
Arch street ferry. Philadelphia. Bur
lington. Bristol, Bordentown and Tren.
ton in $780,, That is proved by old
advertisements. The claim. is made
that Fitch was opera ting a steamboat
on the Delaware in 1886 and that his
invention was Of the date of 1885.
These claims appear to have been
proved. James Rumsey. operated a
steam-driven' boat on the Potomac
river in 1887. That has been proved,
and the claim is made that he was
experimenting with the boat. with
more or less success, for two or three
years before that date. A model 0f
ehS AsuAAScy bodS duo pSlil VI as orig
inal equipment are in the National
Museum. and the descriptive card says
that the boat was Tested on the Po-
tomac River at Shepherdstown. Va.
1881" -
The Fitch-Fulton controversy broke
cut in the House of Representatives
in February, 1915, and The Star of
February 90 contained this: y.
The claim BY the state of Connecticut
that John Fitch OF Windsor, In that
state, was the first man to place sue
cessful steamboat In the water was pre-
scented on. the floor OF the House late
yesterday BY Representative Lonergan
of Connecticut. Mr.. Lonergan said that
Fitch was operating a steamboat in 1886
and that his invention dated from 1856,
which antedated the Clermont. Of Full
ton by eighteen years.
The first commercial steamboat to
appear on the tidewater part of the
Potomac river was the Washington.
She was Of the Clermont type. The
first reference to her is found in the
National Intelligencer in the spring of
1915. She was built at New York in
1913 for a Washington steamboat
stock company, but seems not to have
come to the Potomac till 1915. ~
Evening star., 1923-11-22
Widening Potomac Drive.

When the .roadways OF Potomac
Park were laid out it was thought
they were wide enough for any traffic
that would use them. Men believed
that for a hundred years these broad
drives would carry all the family car.
riages and horseless carriages Of
Washington. The. park has grown in
aatractiveness and popularity, automo.
biIes have amazingly increased. and
:Iow the park drives are too narrow
Tor traffic. The splendid drive around
Hams point is being given greater
width by fifteen feet, and hundreds OF
the famous cherry trees are being
transplanted that traffic shall have
more room and that the trees shall
not grow SO close together Another
thing worth observing is that the East
Park golf course has come to be used
by 80 many players that new road is
being built that it may be reached
more easily, and that cars to and from
the course shall not add to the burden
Of the main drive. Traffic is setting
us many problems.
Evening star., 1923-11-22
Party Plans in House.

In advance of the respective eau
cuses Of the democrats and repub.
Leans Of the House, set for Decem-
Ter l, talk at the Capitol takes in
the subject Of organization of the
House and possible party and fac
eaonal combinations on prospective
legislation. Representative Garrett Of
Eeanessee, slated for democratic floor
leader, is quoted as saying that there
~ no truth in the report that the
democrats might combine with the
ultra progressive faction Of the repub.
Leans apd take over the organization
of the House-the election of Speaker
and officers Of that body. The demo
Gratis do not want the responsibility
ef controlling the organization. it is
said. 81.
In the interest of effective legisla-
tion and to make possible the placing
Of responsibility for action and non
action. the dominant party should
Have the organization. Mr.. Garrett
intmates, however, that when it
comes to combined action on legisla.
ston-that is another question The
vast bulk of legislation is bipartisan.
of necessity, and in these days of
varying shades Of factionaI opinion in
both parties the temptation 10 utilize
factfonal combinations is irresi stible
it times.
In the last few days there are said
20 have been outcroppings Of threat.
ened near-rerolt among House repub-
Leans over the Mellon tax-reduction
plan. The latest report is that not
less than twenty-five republicans from
the west. and possibly fifty, will seek
% open up the bill for a further
siashing Of the taxes and for rein
Statement OF the excess profits tax
and imposition of heavier taxes in the
higher brackets Of the revenue bill.
AS the Mellon plan is expected TO
be presented as an administration"
measure. it will be unfortunate if the
republicans show serious differences
over it. The outcome of the iegisla-
ton would threaten to be hodge
podge act in such circumstances, for
which neither party could take the
credit or be required to shoulder the
responsibility.
Evening star., 1923-11-22
The Steamboat Inventor.

A noted Washingtonian speaking
before the Washington Study a few
Days ago said that credit for the in.
vantion OF the first steamboat should
Rave gone to William Thornton, a
member of the commission for laying
out the District of Columbia. and,John
Fitch, his partner. 1t is an old cues.
ton. and it has been established that
Fulton 81: Cfermont was not the first
commercial steamboat. There is no
deposition to take from Fulton the
laufels that are his, and he was the
man who seems to have put the
steamboat on the map. as the current
saying is: The Clermont was launch
ed on the Hudson and was in opera
ton between New York and Albany
m 1897, and a. steamboat of the Full
ton model. the Phoenix. put to sea in
1soSand Travelled between Sandy Hook
ana Cape May. The contest between
partisans Of Fitch and Fulton seems
to have been decided by a majority
vote Of history students In favor OF
the former, but the controversy be-
tween .partisans Of John Fitch and
James Rumsey is still an open one.
The claim is still maintained the
Rumseys operated a steamboat on the
gotonac river at Shepherdstown. w.
va. prior to- F1tchs steamboat on the
Delaware. A. monument to. Rumsey
at Shept,erdstowN,z about twelve miles
abeye Iiarpers Ferry, sets forth that,
Evening star., 1923-11-22

public opinion Is crystaiiizing against
q government that government floats
Its kite" to distract public attention
and give it new things to think about.
When a government stands upon the
abyss Of overthrow. there emanate
strange rumors OF reports of measures
ABOUT to be. .consuu1ulated by that gov.
ernment whicNwill act as a panacea
Tor Objectionable conditions, The
British have used the ruse repeatedly
to determine public reflexes. to given
subjects. The French are past masters
at the art. But II is the Germans who
now are employing the !"serni. .official''
report to further governmental ends.
When a German government Is tossed
about by various conflicting political
currents. when economic conditions are
bearing down heavily upon the people
almost to the point Of causing their
revolt, when for any reason 1t ap.
pears that the government is about
to fall. many things are tried But ap-
parently sune defeat for the enemy
''an American loan" -Cuno used it to
effect, Stresemann continued, support
for himself on at least two critical
occasions by whispering that interna-
vonal bankers were coming to Ger
many.s assistance. the" most notable
case being the last, when week ago
II was reported from Berlin that Ger.
many was about to receive 400, ,000.-
900 sold marks from abroad. Instant
ly the wave of Indignation against the
government subsided. Possibly before
the Germans have cessed to hope it
Is all true the Stresenann government
will have weathered its most critical
period. - -s.-.. -
While Stresemann may use the re-
port to good effect in meeting con-
trary domestic tides, no truth can be
attached to the report, inasmuch as
j. Pierpont Morgan only last spring
voiced the views of international hank
ers that Germany could not be aided
until there was settlement of the
reparations question and internal con-
diuons within Germany grew better.
Since that date they have grown
worse. Rather than go to the aid Of
the Germans, with their financial, eco
nomic and social conditions in COM
plete state of chaos, international
bankers are playing thumbs down."
But the German people evidently do
not know this. And Stresemann must
chuckie as he resorts to the apparent
social ills.
Evening star., 1923-11-22
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

Wright's immortal hop at Kitty Hawk,
n. c., in 1903. The aviation world VIII
take due note Of a date forever glorious
in its annals. Wright made TOUR
flights. The first lasted twelve seconds;
the last. which was the most SUCCESSFUL
lasted fifty-pine seconds and covered a
distance of S52 feet. The recorded
speed was at the rate OF thirty-four
miles an hour in a twenty four. mile
wind. The. other day Lieut. Lieut.. St,cSs; HrGw;
Field at the rate Of 277 miles an hour:
and in May, 1923, Lieuts. Macready and
Kelly. u. 8. A, hoped across the
American continent in nonstop
flight of 26 hours SO minutes and 80 2-S
seconds.
Senator Magnus Johnson Of Minne-
sofa, talking to a distinguished mem
Der OF the administration In the north
west not long ago. tersely epitomized
farmer-labor political philosophy
thusly: 'At present the manufacturer
has his hands In the retailers pocket; ;
the retailer has his hands, in the con-
sumer's pocket, and the consumer mas
his hands in the farmers pocket. Now
what the farmer wants is to get ms
hands in the manufacturers pocket and
then eSerything'll be all right. Perhaps
this doctrine gives. a clue to Magnus
Vox's mysterious plan for. alleviating
economic distress in Europe.
4
Secretary Wallace has brought joy to
the vegetarian gourmets heart by in
Producing a new southern vegetable
known as the chayote. It's native Of
tropical America and produced by a
-, ioJ t.o
other day the. Department Of Agricul-
ture sent DR.. Rowe, director general OF
the Pan American Union. a cargo OF
chayote. which was distributed among
the Central American diplomats in
Washington. Their grateful acknowl-
edgments convince Dr. Rowe that the
vegetable was received IN the spirit of
mama from Heaven, and the Statesmen
whose palates were tickled promise to
become chayote propagandists. They
have long been familiar with the vege-
table I'm Central America and pronounce
the Wallace specimens. grown in Flor
ida, to be magnificent. Chayote In
Mexico and Nicaragua goes by that
name. but in Guatemala and Salvador
its name is wisquiles, and in Honduras
patastes.
Mono of the outstanding aspirants
for the presidency-either republican or
democratic-is likely to lack substan-
tial sinews Of war. AS in William
Howard Taft's case, Senator Underwood
possesses a brother. William T. Under
wood, millionaire ironmaster Of Bir-
mingham. who is understood to be
ready to do the noble to boost the
family's most famous member into the
seat of the mighty. Senator "Jirn"
Watson has fond and plutocratic
brother. too, who made his pile in Okla
homa oil and now stands ready to in
vest il in family pride.
Copyright 1921
Evening star., 1923-11-22
SHOOTING STARS.
BY pHILASDER JOHNSON,

Playing the Game.
A little game Of poker
Down IN Crimson Gulch they, play
Sometimes they. use the Joker
To make action swift and gay.
They OFT disguise their feelings
AS they bluff with great delight,
But they brook no crooked stealings
And they seldom starea fight.
Now. a diplomatic meeting r
Is like poker, more or less.
Smiles are insincere and .f1eeting:
Everybody has to guess.
But you want to play It neatly,
Keeping all the rules in sight. =.
The game has failed completely ;.
II it winds up in a fight.
Evening star., 1923-11-22

to bring the American people TO the
support of the league Of nations
They cannot be led against their
better judgment even By so highly
dent" That is also the opinion saT
the Philadeiphia North American
independently. which insists his
words were unwise. 1t makes
veal that time and meditation hav"
not made his judgment more gen
erous nor softened the acerbi'ies
that express an embittered mind"
The Philadelphia Bulletin Gnde-'
pendent republican, insists that the
address, 'Tnarred Armistice day. The
American people stand ready to do
their part in world restoration, but
they are not in mood to be whipped
into course from which, by a most
decisive vote. they once have turned"
The New York Evening World Cnde-
pendent) feels not all the selfishness
In the world is in Europe and Wood
row Wilson is the man OF all men
to talk straight talk to the people
of the United States. He Is the men
of all men, on this anniversary, TO
remind Americans of what they are
too easily persuaded TO forget.
MIR. wilson has spoken petuiant!S
and harshIy of the American peopl'.
who twice honored him with election
as President of the United States"
the st. Paul Dispatch independently
insists. THE voice from s street is
the voice OF a man who cannot adapt
himself to the will of tho majority
in representative government; who
will play no part in leading the
world to the proper mingling or
idealism and common sense which
viii go to make up anything new in
international relations that will pre-
vent future wars. We are sorry "
is so! The natural laws which made
all things what they are made
woodrow Wilson. OF the stern stuff
that will break but never bend
The Memphis News-Scimitar Cndc-
pendent democratic) voices its re
crets that Mr. Wilson was impelied
to give utterance to such caustio
comment, because of the inevitable
effect his words will have abroad.
His Interpretation will have it's In
fuence in Europe and may disturb
faith in our earnest desire 10 render
a helpful service without surrender
ing a traditional policy of aloofness
from entangling alliances"
Evening star., 1923-11-22

, foliage composed of mere needles
| and others dispense with leaves Alto
gether.
O. What is the wood best adapted
for shipbuilding?-F. T.
A. Teak has long been known as
| the best shipbuilding timber in the
world.
@. What is an "open policy in
insurauce?-E. V. r.
"A An open policy is one in which
the value of the. object insured has
not been fixed, but has been left 70 be
determined in case of loss, or because
addition Of other things whenever oc-
casion demands.
@. When was the Interior Depart
ment established?-E. !. L.
A. The Department of the Tnterinr
was established by an act OF Con
gress of March 3, iSis.
Q. What was the worst food in tfr
history of the worlGS so far as loss CT
life was concerned?-A- B.
A. Accurate food statistics are no+
available, but the greatest disaster OF
which there Is authentic record was
the overfiowing OF the Hcanyho, China
III 1887. in which the loss Of life was es-
timated at from I.500.0 to 1000, 900.
@. When was coke first used III
melting iron ore2-S. ..
A. Coke was substituted for coal in
melting iron in 1850 in England by
Abraham Darby.
Q. When couple leaves the street
car should the woman go first?-J. p.
A. The man should precede the
| woman to assist her down the ca-
steps
@. What are the most popular
games in Latin America?-M. w. Y.
A. Basket ball is being introduced
into a number Of the countries Of
hand ball game. is also very popular.
Chess is one of the great indoor ma
! tional games. while card playing ls
popular with all classes OF the people
Q. What is the difference between
gutta percha and other rubber?-S. G.
A. Gutta percha is not rubber. for
il is plastic rather than elastic.
Q. When was the first orchestra
! established in America?-T. w.
A. Bethlehem. Pa. Is the most re-
markable town musically in the
!, United States, The settlement had an
orchestra as early as 1880. Their
ferred to as the American musical
Oberammergau or the American Bey-
reuth.
Q. How many kinds Of birds are
there in our own United States?-M
E. r.
A There arc 500 distinct kinds OF
birds in this country.
@. Has an ohioan ever been Speaker
of the national House of Representa-
tives?-J. l. G.
A. Gen. J. Warren Keifer, republi-
! can, was Speaker of the House IN the
Forty seventh Congress. 1sS1-1ss3.
(Take advantage OF the free. ~
/ formation 5breaE tohich this retcs-
! paper ntoiRtaiHS. II there Is q 5a4ea-
] ffon yoE cant aHstcsTed, don't hest
/ tate to use this service. All repl&cS
! ore sent direct TO the Inquirer. i'd
dress Frederic J. HaskiH, director,
! The Star Information Bureau 1870
! North Capitol street. Itclose 2 cents
in stamps for return post19e)
Evening star., 1923-11-22
Allied Demands on Germany.

Premier Poincare of France has
assented to the more moderate poll
cies Of Premier Baldwin Of England
in dealing with Germany.
1t matters little his reason. the out.
standing fact being that he has wisely
suppIanted jingoism of dangerous sort
with moderation designed to per
petuate the entente, a thoroughgoing
working Of which is essential if the
continental political bark is piloted TO
safer waters.
When the council Of amba ssadors
forwarded two. notes to Berlin last
night, one regarding the perpetuation
of the interallied military control and
the other In regard to the presence
OF former Crown Prince Frederick
William in Germany, it was the first
time in two years that there had been
unanimity of action on broader meas
ures- When the conference ended the
warmth OF fellowship existing between
the statesmen Of France and England
indicated that many of the clouds that
have been lowering over their reia-
tionships had been dissipated with de-
termination to shape their respective
nationalistic policies. at least for the
moment. in perpetuat.on of friendly
cooperation. -, 81.
The notes themselves are not Of
striking phraseology or provocative in
character, though determination must
be read between the lines. In one in
stance the allies notify Germany that
the interallied military commission
must be continued and that the reich
government will be held responsible
for the safety. Of it's members. 1t is
significant, however, that it is stipu-
lated that commission inspections
shall be made where "realizahle and
necessary The Berlin government
will have much say in guiding the
pathways OF the interallied commits
sion over Germany, in view of the
present disturbed situation. Though
designed to be a Control commits.
sion in fact, without the complete
cooperation Of the reich. it will be-
come a control commission in name.
Even London and Paris already admit
that the Versailles treaty terms limit
ing the German military forces to
100, 900 will become obsolete unless the
German government ..co-operates. as
garization in quarters where military
inspections by the allies are neither
'reaiizable or necessary" e.. :
In regard to the German crown
prince. the allies merely state their
determination to hold the reich re-
sponsible for any outbreaks designed
to the restoration of the old order,
But. even Paris admits that puni-
tive measures, in view of Premier
Poincare's retreat before the British
threat Of refusal to cooperate on any
Of the interallied commissions, are
unlikely if the entente is to be pre-
served. .-.s..r,
But the French are not going to
modify their national policy. of pro-
tecting France against future incur.
sions Of the Germans, and as a conse-
quence it may be expected that they
will continue to coordinate their po-
sition in the Rhineland and the Ruhr,
there to remain until domestic con.
ditions in Germany, warrant with
drawal or until Germany places her
right. foot forward. in general fulfill.
ment Of the treaty Of Versailles -.
Evening star., 1923-11-22
Compliments Drinkwater
]. C. Knott Says He Has Caught
Spirit of Robert E. Lee.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
The adverse criticism of Drink
waters Robert E. Lee" which your
Sunday issue contains draws from
me this word: Having known Lee
from John Esten Cooke. Col. John S.
Mosby, my own uncle. who was Lees
courier. and from a three-year resi-
dence at Washington and Lee Uni
versity as a student. where professors
and old students spoke continually
'of Gen. Lees characteristics and SEN
timents, I feel that 1 am in position
to give an opinion on how far Drink
water has caught the spirit Of the
southern chieftain.
Barring the introducing of Lee at
the commencement Of the civil war
as a man with full gray beard and
white hair. the minor matters that
might be noted as objections pale be-
fore the outstanding fact that the
play has given US the real Lee as he
has never been represented before.
could but wonder how It was possi-
BILE for a man who was obliged to get
his information secondhand could,
tice, catch the essential points of
Gen. Lees character. and so we'll sup
port him by the fine representations
of Stuart and Jackson. The admirers
of Jefferson Davis will resent the
rather weak and yet autocratic char
acter who sits at the head of the gov
ernment at Richmond. But 1t Is no
secret. that as Lincoln was the tower
ing figure on the Union side, OF the
controversy Robert Z. Lee WAS the
man, of pre-eminence on the Confed-
crate side. To be true to history,
Drinkwater was obliged to make Da-
Wis appear weak k.heside Lee.
L go further. in my statement and
say: While the representation of Lin
coin was more dramatic, and had a
more telling close, where Lee offered
his sword to Grant: still, the Robert
E. Lee" OF Drinkwater was far more
pathetic. and sympathetic. and prob
ably produced a more definite i'm
preston. i have marveled that 80
few have seen that the Lincoln" of
Drinkwater Is largely an ideal. He
is represented in his early years as
very prayerful, which he was not.
and never was. for that matter. He
struts and :, polnpously moralizes,
which was untrue to fact. Lincoln's
character Mrs. Lincoln is made to
be a perfect prig. shifting about the
room to catch the odor of tobacco.
,Linceln is not the slow-talking,, un-
calmly man in the beginning Of the
play which he really was, but quick
/ in movements and almost sophomore
in his deliverances. Between the two
plays, I give my judgment that
Drinkwater's ]"Lee" is even superior,
in pointxof scatehine-the spirit Of the
men, to the much -lauded Lincoln"
: :. - J. o.. KNOTT