Evening star., 1923-04-25
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

steadies machinery. Would that all
the world would beat time and sing.
The crazy world is suffering. Keep
steady!
Another means OF steadying nerves
would be to look through a great
telescope, and behold the immensely
of the universe, and the nmitless
sweep of the stars and planets
through endless space. They are not
crowded, as mankind is. They are
not hurried as we are. They are not
jolted and Jared. They do not
hesitate and turn back and decide to
distracted mortals do-that there is
a power ruling the destinfes of the
infinite universes, and that Gods on
His throne; alrs we'll with the world"
What a wonderful example of
their courses are keeping steady"
What are we crazy little mortals. that
we fret and worry and forget TO
Keep steady"
There is a new craze" Which ought
ito outrun the marathon dance. It is
courtesy week" which has been an
nounced in many cities. 1t is remark
able what a difference is manifested
in different localities in the matter
Of common politeness. 1t is not neces.
sary that man or woman be trained
in high society, or by a dancing mas
, ter, in order that he may be courte
GUS Courtesy suffereth long and is
kind. Courtesy vaunteth not itself; is
not puffed up; doth not behave itself
unseemiy.
1t is easier to snap at an offender
than to retain poise and self-respect
enough to excuse the offense and as
sumo that 1t was not intentional. 1t
is very noticeable that in some cities
IL is the common form Of speech for
stranger-perhaps q policeman or
street car conductor-to address d
citizen as "brotherS in answering an
ordinary inquiry. How much better
that form, is in smoothing difficulties
than the use of abrupt and too often
sarcastic speech, upon the assumption
that sarcasm or snappiness OF manner
betrays superiority. 1t indicates only
churlishness such as gentleman IS
always ashamed of.
4 4 i
This occurred a few nights ago on
Pennsylvania avenue: A policeman
! was waving both hands frantically,
but unintelligibly. 1t was apparent
| that the waving was meant as some
| kind of signal, SO the driver stopped
and inquired what he was to do
stand where you are. Don't you
see my hands? Back up. around me,
| and then back up. Understand"
"All right. officer: now where do
go? want to get across the Avenue"
Turn the ether way"
But | don't want to go in that dI-
rection."
Cant you understand? I'll send you
| a letter tomorrow with a full expla-
| nation. Turn the other way"
SO the chauffeur turned the oppo-
| site direction from where he, wanted
| to go and drove to the police station
I TO inquire what crazy regulations
had been put into force suddenly To
| stop progress on the Avenue. 1t was
! there learned, for the first time, that
there was IRE on the Avenue.
! Common courtesy on the part OF
/ that sarcastic traffic officer would
/ have expedited traffic and shown bot
ter sense. 1t will be delightful if wc
| Courtesy year" in Washington.
| Eventually; why not now" begin
ming with traffic officers?
| = x x
The American Legion, through its
Amerfcanization director Garland W.
Powell, urges the II 900 posts to IN
| aagurate a new special day-Friday,
April 27--as Americanization day. The
| selection OF this date is to counteract
the May 1 celebrations of radicals and
political extremists of all kinds.
The observance of Amcricanizat ton
day is to be with speeches on patriot
! ism at public mass meetings and in
| schools. 1t is unfortunate that the
! plan has had too little publicity i'll
advance, this first year, but there may
/ De d beginning now, especially in the
schools, whicn will bear fruit next
year, and the day become a fixture
among the special holidays, such as
Memorial day, July and birthdays of
notable Americans
| Work is progressing on the cree
tion, back OF the State. War and Nav
building, of one of tho most beautiful
monuments in Washington. 1t is in
commemoration of the lst Division.
A. Il. F., and its design is by the IA
nous architect, Cass Gilbert, and the
equally famous sculptor, Daniel Ches-
ter French. The features of the de-
sign arc d plain round shaft, sur
mounted by bronze figure of Lib
erty, holding high the American nag.
1t is an impressive and inspiring fig-
ure. 1t is safe to predict that this
monument will never be condemned
by the Fine Arts Commission as un-
| worthy.
Copyright. 1923. by T. V. Collinsl