The Washington times., 1923-12-26
Wide
World
BY Herbert Kaufman

MOT much news today, but,
IL such as it is, quite en-
couraging. At the mo-
nnent, there are only two red
spots on the map. And they're
somewhat inconsequential rows.
Mars hasn't faced poorer pros
poets in a decade.
The three contending Chinese
armies have agreed to hole-up
for the winter, leaving Mexico
in rebellion and few Spanish
army corps at odds with the
Riffs.
Europe passes the first
Christmas in nine years with
out the peal Of guns interviewer
In its carlton.
Peace rules the Continent
even il good will is still an
exile.
See What Kris Krinsle
Brought!
DETAILERS report a 6 per
H cent advance in. holiday
sales. A remarkable showing, in
view of such q mild December.
If the weather had been 10
degrees sharper, stores would
have done at least 10 per cent
more business. Considering the
light purchases of heavy gar
ments, fundamental conditions
must be far better than balance
sheets attest.
Charitable organizations dis
cover far less perjury than
usual, and breadlines aren't
even in 1925 lexicon.
A half million free Christmas
dinners and baskets signify an
exceedingly stable people and
prove that prosperity, like
sterling, is SO per cent plus
fine.
Stocks moving toward new
highs, whisper of luscious divi-
dends in the immediate offing,
cheap and plentiful money, and
seven billion dollars snug and
safe in local savings banks
demonstrate our ability to make
q living and cache a bit for
rainy days despite sub-normal
European markets.
'We Glue the Button and
You Do the Rest"
DARIS toasts st. Nicholas
i from a 200, O00-quart cham
payne bumper as the franc
takes a further slide. A ID
per cent initiation within twelve
months after the seizure of the
Ruhr. Leave exchange alone.
The worst is yet to come.
Meanwhile French scientists
lay plans to talk with Mars
next summer. We'd be much
more interested to learn .f
Pofncare was about to say
something to Secretary Mellon.
Americas third and last
member Of the internationally
powerless reparations commits
sion will be Mr.. Robinson, of
Los Angeles, which leaves Wall
Street and the East utterly out
OF the investigation. Mr.. Rob
inson, like General Dawes,
wears a Legion of Honor
rosette.
AS the elected drummer said,
when each of six partners
kicked him down a different
flight of stairs: "Such a ssys-
tenn, such wonderful system:"
Or, paraphrasing a famous
advertising slogan: eve give
the button and you do the rest"
It takes Gaul to beat the Dutch.
Uncle Sans Hat in the Air
CENATOR WALSH of Massa-
- chusetts wants to throw
Uncle Sans hat in the air.
Should the powers not agree
to a mutual clipping Of wings,
then Old Badly should have the
mightiest pinions of all.
Easier said than done. It's
comparatively simple to effect
land and sea disarmament, but
restriction of Government avi-
alton programs is practically
impossible unless production Of
civilian machines is correspond
ingly regulated.
Treaties, specifying a given
number of flying dreadnaughts
and cruisers, will be leaking
buckets If each nation can make
Is many "fIivvers" as it pleases.
You can't destroy a battle
ship with a rowboat, but a sin
gle well-planted bomb is suffi-
Gent to smash a Yep or a
Darling.
No word yet from the Dix
nude, supposedly blown into
the Sahara by Mediterranean
gales. The incident dampens
enthusiasm for our own Shen-
andoal's projected Arctic trip.
Every dirigible needs a con-
voy of powerful scout planes to
render emergency assistance
and maintain communication in
event of radio or engine trou-
bic.
Out of the dozen machines
one can always be counted upon
TO escape disaster. make a
note ont" Admiral Moffatt.