Evening star., 1924-11-30
Arts and Letters.

Three more "ImmortalS." as the
members of the French Academy are
designated. have been elected to MEM
bership in that august body. The
total membership is 40. The three
members elected TO fill vacancies are
Georges Lecomte, president of the
French Authors Society; Emil Picard
mathematician, and Albert Besnard,
IS wears old, artist. The last named
bears the distinction of being the first
painter ever to be elected to the
academy.
\ publishing house has announced
the translation of the Old Testament
into modern English by DR.. James
Moffatt, Scotch theologian and Greek
and Hebrew scholar. DR.. Moffatt has
taken the belief that to be properly
understood the Bible must be trans
lated afresh for each generation. His
is the first translation of the Old
Testament since publication of the
King James version in 1911. DIR.
Moffatt's translation is startlingly
modern He speaks of the Garden of
Eden as n park: calls the City of
David "pavidsburg" and refers to the
Ark of Noah as a barge" Whether
DR.. Moffatt's translation will attract
new readers of the Bible remains to
be seen. 1t is doubtful whether it
those brought up" on the King
James version.
CiUics.
Congress, which convenes tomorrow,
viii adjourn until Wednesday out of
respect to members who have died.
On Wednesday the Presidents mes
sage on the state of the Union will
be delivered and read in both houses,
~, OF u Lx,., lii
custom re-established by President
Wilson, who read his messages to
Congress in person.
According to House leaders, who
called on the President last week, the
short session will be devoted mainly
to the passage of the annual appro-
priation bills. Little other 1egisla-
tion of Importance will be taken up.
Island State Senators spent a COM
Portable Thanksgiving holiday, thus
reminding the country of one of the
strangest political situations the
country has ever witnessed since It's
foundation. The State Senators have
been in Massachusetts since June 10,
last. They are virtual political ex-
Hes" though their exile is voluntary.
They left Rhode Island last June
dIIci udS anu uiSh I'll heCtiC slS
in the Senate chamber over a pro-
posal to amend the State constitution
The Democratic governor and lieu
tenant governor of the State, the Re
publicans charged. were using duress
to make them vote for the changes
by keeping the Senate In continuous
session. On June 10 gas bomb was
exploded In the Senate chamber, driv-
ing members out and nearly ending
the session. Then the Republican
Senators left the State so that they
could not be arrested by the sergeant
alarms and required to put In an ap-
pearanee in the Senate chamber. They
have been in Massachusetts, since.
And in Rhode Island a pretty state Of
affairs has come to pass. No legisla-
ton has been enacted. no appropria-
tions made, State officers have gone
without their salaries and public en-
ployes have been paid by, banks
against the time when appropria-
tions will be voted. In the last cleo
tion the Republicans won an over
wheiming victory but the governor
and lieutenant governor do not leave
until January 6. Then the trium-
phant exiles are expected to come
marching home.
AS expected, the Republican Sem
ate caucus on Friday elected Sena-
tor Charles Curtis Republican Senate
leader. filing the vacancy caused by
the death OF Senator Lodge. Senator