davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-11-23
History of Statue.
Liberty, on Capitol, Has Had
Varied Career.

To the Editor of the Star:
In The Star of Saturday, November
3, there was a query from some one
signing himself "E.M.T" desiring a
statement of facts regarding the
statue on the top of the Capitol. In
the reply thereto it was stated that
the original model could be seen in
the Old National Museum. this model
being the work of Clark Mills in 1868.
1t may be that this date is not correct,
and if it is not too late l would like
TO reply more fully to the inquiry.
Since the supervising architect of the
Capitol claims that the correct name
for the figure is Freedom" il must
be so. However, the statue is known
by other aliases.
The statue surmounting the dome
of the Capitol sometimes is known
as the Goddess of Liberty, or the Cod
deSS OF Freedom, and also termed the
Indian Goddess. 1t was designed by
Thomas Crawford after he had made
seven models which were rejected.
probably on account of the feather
headdress. which il is claimed was
objected to by Jefferson Davis. The
statue was placed in position Decem-
Der >, 1853, after having stood in the
park southwest of the Capitol for
three years. Crawford received
$4,000 for the plaster model and Clark
Mills was paid $4,000 for the casting
of the figure in bronze. The gov
ernment betrayed the expenses for
labor and material to the amount of
high and was cast in five sections.
When completed it weighed $1,000
pounds The plaster model now in
the National Museum is not quite
correct as to some of the details.
having been constructed from various
of 2 hA n aI a
in the crypt of the Capitol: some of
them may have been missing, hence
the difference in the appearance of
the model from the bronze figure.
This will become manifest on COM
pairing photograph of the bronze
figure and the model in the Museum.
The figure was first engraved in 1860
and was first used on the bills of the
Traders and Mechanics Bank. New
York. 1t was afterward used on
the s5 greenback on the left
hand side on the face of the bill, and
evidently represents a picture taken
from the completed bronze figure.
That on the Traders and Mechanics
Bank of New York was probably
taken from the model. as there is a
slight difference in the two pictures.
At the time of Lincoln's first
inauguration in 1861 the dome of
the Capitol was covered with scaffold
ing, derrickS and tackle and was not
complete until 1863. In the mean
time Miss Liberty waited patiently
for her ascension to the lofty perch,
300 feet above the base line of the
east front of the Capitol, where she
defies the elements. but some years
ago it was discovered that her diadem
of seven stars had been injured by
lightning. and it was necessary to
replace them in platinum at the ex-
pense. including her toilet, of $500.
The head of the statue is engraved
on the new S5 postage stamp.
FRANKLIN STEELE.
Evening star., 1923-11-23
Fundamental Traffic Needs.

When all is said and done is not the
discussion Of Washington's traffic
problem being somewhat drawn out?
What the city needs is system in
which as few and as simple regula-
tions as may be are stipulated and en-
forced to two equally important ends.
The first of these ends is the safe
guarding of pedestrian traffic, and the
second the faciitation of safe yehicu-
lar traffic.
The fundamental requisite to both
these ends is an adequate police force,
imbued with the idea of keeping traf-
fic moving smoothly and protecting
those who travel afoot. Given moth
ing more than such force, each man
equipped with whistle and a knowl-
edge of how to use it, and at certain
street intersections the new-fangled
'go-go" sign, the interests of all con.
cerned would be more effectively
served than they are today.
1t is at unpoliced busy corners that
bull-headed drivers today jam their
cars through harassed lines of pedes-
trians and automobiles entitled to
theoretic right of way, to the hopeless
confusion and delay of traffic. 1t is
when some member Of the police force,
more intent upon asserting his au-
thority than upon keeping traffic NOV
ing smoothly, halts some inadvertent
violator of minor regulation and sub
jects him to an overemphasized dress
ing down that traffic fails to progress.
1t is, of course, true that such mat
ters as oneway streets, artery streets
and parking regulations must be dis
posed Of in formulating an adequate
traffic code for Washington. Other de-
tails may also require attention. These
are, however, the academic phases Of
the problem. 1t will be we'll for all
concerned to hold steadfastly to the
hasic truth that the fundamental re-
puirement for better traffic conditions
here or anywhere is an adequate and
thoroughly efficient traffic squad.
Evening star., 1923-11-23
A National Shame.

Maj. Gen. +. w. Coe, chief of coast
artillery, reporting to Secretary of
War Weeks, in his annual report as
serts that decreases last year in coast
artillery enlisted personnel leave
many of our fortified harbors practi-
cally without any protection whatever,
and none Of them with anything like
adequate protection in case of emer-
gency.
That is vigorous indictment
against Congress and no doubt is a
true bill, for it is Gen. Goes business
to know the real state of affairs. The
plain citizen is likely to inquire what
was the use of spending millions in
costly guns, installing them in heavy
Notifications and then failing to sup
ply the men to fire them? 1t takes
time and drilling and technical skill
to train a crew to man these great
guns.
Our Notifications are not so nu-
merouS nor extensive as to make a
great burden on the exchequer to sup
ply coast artillerymen. Gen. Coe sug-
Sests that the Importance of this mat
ter is such and the necessity for the
increase so great that he feels i'm
PEELED to urge that if it cannot be ac-
complished in any other way it be Sc
cured through an increase in the au-
thorized strength of the Regular Army
for allotment to the Coast Artillery
Corps.
Congress can well afford to give
Gen. Goes recommendations prompt
attention. The matter is, as he says,
Of compelling Importance.
Evening star., 1923-11-23
New National Alignments.


Out of the maze of opposing politi
cal ambitions, jealousies and even
antipathies in southeastern Europe
| there emerge more definite trends
which may go far in establishing a
balance Of power in this section OF
the world. Since the war there have
been few signs of definite alignments
internationally speaking. Such as
Crystallized We're dictated by momen.
tary political expedency in the mad
rush of the larger powers of Europe
to establish ascendancy in the general
plan of European domination. These
have not lasted. New ones are being
formulated, and when ambitions of
key, Italy, Spain and France are real
lied some concrete knowledge as to
future courses may be CLEANED.
Possibly the most striking move in
recent weeks tending toward firm
alignments is the reported aid of
France to the republicans of Greece.
Paris agreeing to furnish Greece with
certain naval units ostensibly to create
a balance of power against the grow
ing authority of Turkey in all Medi-
terranean questions. But the foreign
Office at Rome unquestionably sees a
French challenge to Italy. which de-
stres to control the Adriatic, and there
by to place itself in dominant position
~, co for a. c tho Mediterranean io nnp
cerned. To further seal Italy's as
cendancy it is known that the foreign
Offices Of Spain and Italy have come to
an agreement concerning Mediter-
ranean questions. AS result Of this
entente. unquestionably Spain will
side with the Italians in demanding
voice in the vexatious Tangiers issue.
a voice which, though not unheeded,
has been discounted in times past.
Should French influence on the
France, through cooperative endeavor
with Jugoslavia and the little entente,
would be in position to challenge any
aid all measures initiated by Italy
looking toward the latter's extension
Of influence.
Unquestionably. the real test will
come in the alignment of Turkey with
either group. In view of the known
antipathies Of Mustapha Kemal and
his nationalists of Turkey to France.
owing to the Paris failure to live up
to agreements initiated and dictated
by Franklin-Bouillon during the dark
days when it appeared that the allies
were about to go to war with the
Turks to settle the future status Of
Constantinople and the straits, it is
believed that should the Turks veer
to either group it will be toward the
Italians and the Spanish, if for no
other reason than that the hereditary
enemy of the Turk, the Greek, is
aligned with France.
But Britain's influence must be
taken into account, for England has
in the past sought, and will in the fu-
ture continue to seek, adequate pro-
lection for the nations interests in the
Mediterranean, in view Of the abso-
lutte necessity OF protecting England's
gateway to far eastern possessions
the SueZ canal.
After all, however, it is not with the
a!ignments as such that foreign chan
celleries are most concerned, but what
they may produce in southeastern Eu-
ropes state of rapid transitions.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

expenditure Of 100000 year for new
construction. This is a larger sum
than we have been spending for that
purpose. and the school system has
been falling behind for several years,
and is still falling behind the normal
increase in number of pupils. During
the period 1913-1923 high school en-
rollment has shown mean annual in
crease Of sol pupils. and the rate of
increase Is greater in the latter than
the earlier years of the period. The
increase in high school facilities has
been more satisfactory or less unsatis-
factory than In elementary school
facilities, but it is inadequate.
Enrolment in elementary and high
schools shows a gain in the rate of
increase from year to year, and no
doubt an accelerating rate of gain will
continue to be shown. The public
school situation in the District calls
for serious consideration and quick
and vigorous action by Congress.
Evening star., 1923-11-23
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Too Much TO Ask.

Too Much TO Ask.
True greatness finds the need of re-
taxation.
The fates compel a monarch to un-
bend.
a person once the idol of the nation
May vainly try to borrow from a
friend.
Napoleon met a melancholy finish,
Quite different from the status of
his prime.
Mems adulations grow and then dimin-
ish.
Nobody is hero all the time.
A man Of noted leadership financial
May make speech that sounds like
tommyrot;
Or write of love in phrases circum.
stantial
That keep a jury laughing, like as
not.
An orator may seem to those who
hear him
Ridiculous, where he was once
sublime.
Each person has some slight success
to cheer him,
But no one is a hero all the time.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

for under the pension laws later. is
not wisdom" In the opinion of the
Butte Miner (democratic), the Mellon
plan places the whole bonus question
IN different light. but one which
VIII be clearly understood and appre-
clated by every taxpayer in America
and the question is put squarely up
TO the members of the House and SEN
ate whether they will support the in
terest of the taxpayers or the desire
on the part Of the world war yeter-
ans for subsidy"
Pointing out that by the with
drawal of capital from productive en-
terprise the people who get it com
ing and going are the small business
men, the farmers and wage earners.
thereby slowing down the business
development of the nation, the Detroit
Free Press independently, asserts;
Secretary Mellon tells the truth about
the evil effects of the high surtax
and he tells it in a plain way that
ought to be an effective warning to
the nation not to listen to the mouth
ings of few demagogues who are
trying to make political capital out
of class prejudice. and are advocating
measures whose passage would make
a bad situation much worse: Congress
will help and relieve the nation i'm
mensely by following the Secre-
tary's recommendation and the ma
tion should make certain that Con
gress does follow it.
Along the same line of thought
the Minneapolis Tribune republican,
continues: Secretary Mellon has fol
lowed sound business principles toe
long to be expected to go off on spec
ulative tangentS about financial re-
quirements. and that the object he
has in view ought to have the APP
proval of every citizen of the coun
try. The Tribune affirms, THE point
is that the big and final responsible
ity rests on Congress: taxpayers will
be right in placing the blame upon,
whatsoever it may do to increase or
reduce taxation" The San Francisco
Bulletin GndependenD applaudS the
plan to make as substantial d reduc-
ton of taxation as possible and sums
up the general opinion of the western
editors that the less money taken for
taxes the more there will be for the
expansion of business and the In
crease in employment, and the build
ing up of larger resources on which
to draw in the event of any national
emergency" The Bulletin thinks that
from the point of view of national
politics an administration that re-
duces taxes will have the strongest
of all claims upon the people at the
next election, and remarks the pro
fessional politicians have been com
planning that President Coolidge sits
pat and refuses to talk, but could he
talk in more satisfactory language
than that of announcements through
the treasurer of reduced taxes
Evening star., 1923-11-23

Unless more care is exercised in
taking oysters the luscious bivalve"
may gradually become extinct. Lob
sters are already scarce. Crabs are
regarded as doomed. Chicken and
eggs, like beefsteak, grow dearer.
Laboratories are experimenting with
chemical foods which sustain life and
do not taste like anything. Existence
looms so drab for future generations
that much of the joy is taken out Of
the theory of reincarnation.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

, than those he exchanged this week
with Simon w. Straus. banker of
New York and Chicago. Mr. Straus
is president of the American Society
for Thrift. He is also the author of
History of the Thrift Movement in
America" published in 1920. Inces-
! sanity since he entered the presi-
dency. Calvin Coolidge has dwelt upon
the necessity of thrift in government.
Throughout his public career he has
by frugal living given personal
exemplification of his belief in
culated by his friends in 1920, when
they hoped to nominate him for
President. 1t was set forth that be
cause Calvin Coolidge would be inde-
pendent, he has been frugal, and he
has practiced frugality in the admin
istration of public Office" If Mr.
Straus and the President talked
thrift. they spoke language which
Coolidge understands and likes.
X !. X X
Scores of senators and representa-
tives newly elected to Congress will
be served by private secretaries who
know the ropes on Capitol Hill
through employment by other states
men. Members of the Sixty eighth
Congress now arriving for the ses-
sion are in some cases meeting their
secretaries for the first time, engage
ments having been made by CORE
spondence. a far-western congress-
man strolled into the House office
building this week, opened the door
of his own suite. and was greeted by
a young man. who said: Good morn.
ing. What can | do for yuu?" He re-
piled: We'll, ! guess you can work
for me. I'm your new boss"
x X x
Californians in Washington say
Hiram Johnson has done his native
state a disservice by running for
President before the republican ma
tional committee has selected the con-
vention city. San Francisco was n
vigorous competitor. Now. her boost
ers are convinced the Golden Gates
chances have gone glimmering because
of the G. o. P.'s fear of too much
Hiram" The coast metropolis ex-
pected to be $4,000, 900 or 10000. 900
better off If il had captured the con-
vention. Its loss may cost Hiram
votes in the primaries.
X xS
Secretary Hoovers division of for
eign commerce learns that the servi-
dor, running ice water and all the
other modern conveniences CT Ameri-
can hotel life are at last to be con-
ferred upon effete Europe. An Ameri-
an-Czechoslovakian group purposes
building a S2,500.000 skyscraper hotel
at Prague, so Yankeefed from mez-
canine to roof garden that visitors
won't know whether they're in Be-
hemia or Dallas.
Evening star., 1923-11-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

@. How many American cigarettes
are exported?-N. T.
A. Twelve billion cigarettes were
exported during the past fiscal year
This is about one-fifth Of the annual
production. China took 5000, 900, 900
of the number exported, while prac-
tically all Of the remainder were alb
sorbed in the orient. Europe i'm
ported only 25o.0O0.ooo of our Gig
arettes in the fiscal year of 1923.
Q. How should little pig be pre-
pared for roasting?-P. G. II.
A. This is an old English way:
Clean and singe A fat young pig.
Stuff it with a forcemeat of bread,
two pounds; pork, two pounds, and
veal, two pounds. Mix in sage and
thyme, lemon peel, some parsley,
together with the yolk of an egg,
Sew up the pig and set on its feet.
basting it with butter until done
Of chestnut trees in New Jersey p
B. L.
A. The Department of Agriculture
says that there may be a few iso-
'ated chestnut trees left in the state
Of New Jersey. but il knows of no
healthy trees. Just after the war an
agent was sent out with very strong
binoculars to examine the tree tops
IN the woods Of New Jersey. in order
to discover whether or not there
were any chestnut trees still alive
and bearing. He reported from fif-
teen to twenty trees. but even these
were infected.
@. What is the circumference of
the ball used in playing lacrosse?-
A The one ball with which the
game is played is of rubber sponge.
not exceeding eight inches in circum-
ference nor five ounces in weight.
Q. How wide is the English chan
nel?-M. H. X.
A. The English channel at its
narrowest point-that is, the Straits
or Dover-is twenty miles wide The
widest point, between Sidmouth and
81. Malo, is 140 miles.
Q. If Ramona" is not a historical
novel, how can there be "homes of
Ramona" exhibited in southern Cali
fornia Pr. L. P.
A. The novel Ramona" Is a min
Cling of fact and fiction. 1t cannot
be said to be historical novel. if
upon this classification. The person
who suggested the character of Ra-
mona lived in southern California
which fact accounts for the existence
of "Ramona's Home" in several places
and various objects which are shown
TO tourists.
.. In what part of Egypt did Pha-
raoh's daughter find Moses ?-W. +. 0.
a. Opposite Cairo lies the Island of
Roda. where, according to Arab ira
ditlon, Pharoah's daughter found Mo-
ses in the bulrushes. At the south
ern extremity of this island is the
nilometer. by which the rise of the
Nile has been measured by the
Cairenes for 1000 years. 1t is a
square well with an octagonal pillar
marked by cubits in the center.
Q. Did Gen. Robert E. Lee have any
brothers?-F. E. c.
a. Gen. Lee had three brothers
Carter, Charles Carter and Sidney
Smith. He also had a half-brother-
Henry Robert E. Lee was the young
est of the family.
Q. What kind of fuel is used in
steam automobiles H. X.
A. Kerosene is used, and as this is
a lower grade of fuel than gasoline,
Evening star., 1923-11-23
InaF Few Words.

I cannot very well say that want to
abdicate at once and make Holland 4
democracy, but / expect my country to
adopt that form of government in flu
ture years and there is sort of an un-
derstanding among us that some time
1t is to be.-QUEEN WILHELMINA.
The Einstein theory, with It's con-
ficting formula and inaccuracies. has
caused more sins to be committed in the
name of relativity than can be attrib-
uted to any other modern scientific
postulate
DIR. CHARLES L. POOR (Columbia).
Historians. venture to predict
will one day date the restoration OF
the German monarchy from the day
that the man who still calls himseiE
Grown Prince Wilhelm" crossed the
Dutch border on his way back from
exile. - MAMMALIAN HARDEN.
Wit, ridicule and every conceivable
humorous situation used to be re-
garded as the chief props by political
speakers-but women like their poll
tics serious and today a tendency
toward gravity has appeared in polit-
-CHAUNCEY DEPEW.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

A simple and more or less uniform
style of attire may be desirable for
schoolgirls, but teaching young wom-
en- how to dress themselves will prove
one of the most difficult scholastic en-.
terprises board Of education was
ever invited to consider.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

Senator Magnus Johnson can no
longer run his farm, but he will show
his disdain OF metropolitan luxury and
leisure by committing. 1t will not be
surprising If his experiences bring
forth a few new suggestions as TO how
railways ought to be run.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

Reports that the price of turkeys
will be low this Thanksgiving are, of
course. relatively speaking. The price
Of turkeys has not been what our fore
very long time.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

Many Germans would welcome a
Hohenzollern or anybody else as head
of the government if they thought he
could restore the old ability Of local
currency to buy something.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

Coupled with a discussion of tax re-
duction will be the usual inquiry as to
where the money is to come from for
necessary expenses.
Evening star., 1923-11-23

/, II is less expensive. About the same
mileage may be obtained from a GAL
| ION or Kerosene in Il steam automo-
bile as gallon of gasoline in an in
| terhai combustion engine automobile.
Q. Do courts in England. France
ana Italy have the power to set aside
laws enacted by the national legisIa-
nconstitutional?-H. u.
A. These countries have no courts
that are given such power.
Q: Is Washington north or south
or the Mason and Dixon line-F. A.
A. The city Of Washington lies a.
little TO the south of il. Washington
is IN latitude $50 So, while the Mason
Dixon line is in latitude 80 43' 26".
carte blanche?-F. l..
A. Carte blanche is blank sheet
OF paper with an authoritative sigma
ture to be filled up with such condf-
TONS as the person to whom il Is
given may decide; hence the general
meaning, absolute freedom OF action.
Q. How much oil and whalebone
does a single whale yield?-P. {. r.
a. The Greenland or bowhead whaIs
may yield as much as rs barrels OF
OIL and 5000 pounds of whalebone.
Q. Where was the first statue Of
Mckinley erected?-A. d.
A. Charles Henry Hackley, who
made many large gifts to the city OF
Muskegon, Mich, erected a statue Of
Mckinney there in 1901. That was the
be unveiled.
O., Is Atlantic City on an island or
on the mainiand?-NcM.
tied in 1851 on the site of a fishing
settlement dating from 1880 II Is
| built on long. sandy island known
as Absecon Beach which stretches,
along the coast for ten miles II has
an average width of three-fourths Cf
mile and is four to five miles from
the mainland.
Q. Are Gretna Green marriages
legal?-J. NJ.
a After the abolition of Fleet mar
riages in 1854. Gretna Green became
notorious as the place of celebration
or the marriages of runaway couples
from England. In England publIca-
tion of bannS and the presence of A
priest at the ceremony Were neces-
sary, but to conclude a lawful mar
flage in Scotland at that time IL was
only necessary for an unmarried cou-
pie to go before witnesses and de-
clare themselves man and Wife Gret-
END. however. in consequence of law
Whlcn DEGREES that no irregular mar
flage contracted in Scotland shall be
valid unless one of the parties r.
sides in Scotland. or has done so for
twenty-one days next preceding such
marriages.
Q. OF what material is Mount Yer
non built:-E. o. L.
A 1t is of wood. cut in blocks,
painted white to resemble stone.
q Where was the ancient city OF
Troy?-F. H. f.
A. 1t is supposed that the modern
town or Hisearlik, Turkey in Asia. is
the site of llium, known as Troy.
(Frederric j. Hdskin is erDIoged bu
fhIS paper to handle the INQUIRIES Of :
our readers. and you are inptted to
cal upon him as freely and as often
as you like. ASK anpthing that is u
matter of fact and the authority 1ciH
0e quoted you There is no char0c
Tor this serrice. ASK trtdt you tcdnt.
sign your fItll name and address and
fhctoSe cents in stamps for return
postage. ADDRESS Frederic j. Has
6th. director, The star Information
BtTeGH, I220 North Capitol Streft)
Evening star., 1923-11-23

Ancient civilizations are being re-
discovered, but none of them is
throwing any light on the question of
how to manage the present one.