davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-04-02
Testing Automobile Brakes.

Traffic Director. Eldridge has struck
at the heart Of the motor accident
problem in his decision to put into
effect stringent automobile brake
regulation in the National Capital.
Faulty brakes are probably the most
prolific cause of automobile wrecks.
Carrying out the terms of the new
traffic law, which authorizes the. di-
rector to make reasonable regulations
in regard to horns, mufflers, brakes,
etc. Mr. Eldridge has, with charac-
teristic vigor, attacked first the preva-
lent evil in present-day motoring.
His announced plan is to school
two policemen under Bureau of Stand
ard experts. These men will special
ize solely on brakes. Under this sys-
tenn Of training they will become
thoroughly familiar with all types and
will be able to make suggestions to
motorists for proper care Of their
brakes in order to keep them operat-
ing at the maximum efficiency.
Accidents Of all kinds will be in
vestigated by these special officers,
who will report on the condition of
the brakes, and, in case they are
found defective, a heavy penalty will
be imposed. The time-worn excuse,
"My brakes do not work properly,
but 7 have been meaning to have
them fixed" will bring more than a
In {Ia ~,
it will bring a stiff penalty, and mo-
torists will be only too glad to CO
operate to save 'their SKINS
Motor car manufacturers are, with.
out exception, installing good brakes
on automobiles. Some Of them are
practically foolproof. It is a surpris-
ing thing, in view Of this fact, that
there are so many motorists who,
either through false economy or care
lessness, run through the streets of
the city with ineffective brakes.
Although testing out the brakes Of
the more than 100000 motorists in
the District promises to be a tedious
and thankless job for the policemen
involved, once the plan is under way
it is evident that Director Eldridge
intends to carry it through. With
his lifelong study Of automobiles and
traffic he has reached the conclusion,
as have traffic experts in all parts
Of the country, that. a brake law is
essential, and it is his announced de-
termination that Washington shall
have the benefit of such a law.
Evening star., 1925-04-02
the seventeenth century.

the seventeenth century.
Q. A list of Mexican exports item
ICES flies" What are they used for?
"A. }.
A. The Mexican embassy says the
flies referred to IN your letter are
used for bird food. These flies as a
rule Sre dried.
Q. How long is q lunar year2-
W. H.
A. The lunar year is a period Of -
lunar months. The lunar astronomical
year of IL lunar synodical months has
length of 354 days, s hours, 4S min
utes and "a seconds. The common
lunar year consists Of IL lunar civil
months, or about 354h days.
Q. What physician first used ether
anaesthesia in the United States?-
A. F. A.
A The fact that sulphurio ether
could produce insensibility was
known to Faraday in 1918 and was
shown by the American physicians,
Goodwin (1822), Mitchell (1832),
Jackson (1833), Wood and Bache
(1S3G; but it was first used to pre-
vent the pain Of an operation by
DR.. Crawford w. Long of Georgia,
who removed a tumor from a patient
under ether in 1912. Unfortunately
LOuB Olu not PUBLISH his uJsCONCIy
to the medical world and failed to
utilize his opportunity. Upon the
suggestion of DR.. Jackson, DIR. w. T.
G. Morton, a dentist of Boston, after
experimenting privately, introduced
ether anaesthesia into general use in
1846. At the request of DR.. John &.
Warren, Morton administered ether in
an operation at the Massachusetts
General Hospital on October 16, 1S46.
In December, 1S46, Robinson and
Liston, in England, operated on pa
tients rendered insensible by the in
halation of ether vapor.
O. Has a census cf cattle and sheep
ever been taken in Mongolia?-W. W.
A. It has been announced that the
first census and statistical survey or
the sheep rearing and cattle industry
will be taken next year.
Q. How long did it take Edward
Everett to deliver his Gettysburg
speech?-R. n.
A. The speech Of Edward Everett,
upon the occasion of the dedication
of the National Cemetery at Gettys-
burg, occupied a period of two hours.
Q. How do women compare in
numbers with men employed on
farms2-E. B.
A The occupational report Of the
Bureau of Census for 1920 shows that
there were 1868, ,O3O men and 1884
12S women engaged in agriculture.
This report is shown for persons 10
years of age and over.
(Ij you haze q question you 1Od7,t an
s1oered send it to The Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Hdakin, Director,
TUenty-frst and G streets northwest.
The only charge for this SeTvice Is 2
cents in stamps for return poStGge.)
Evening star., 1925-04-02
Supporting the National Guard.

President Coolidge's decision to per-
NIT the expenditure Of part of the
deficiency appropriation for the Ma
tionaI Guard armory drills, which he
held up temporarily last week, is
matter of congratulation. To have
deprived the National Guard of this
money would have been to injure the
organizations in many States and
the District of Columbia. 1t might
have proved a severe blow to the
morale of the Guard.
Under the decision of the President
funds will be available for a total of
48 armory drills-the minimum num-
ber required by law. The maximum
is 60, and it had been planned to
have So. Owing to growing interest
and enthusiasm, the Guard has been
increased in numbers during the year,
and the appropriations made for pay
for armory drills proved insufficient.
In the second deficiency appropriation
bill an item Of 1882, 900 was in
cluded at the instance of representa-
tives Of the National Guard Associa-
ton. The Presidents action in holding
up the use of this money was predi-
Gated on the fact that the estimates
of the Budget Bureau had not con-
tanned the item, and also on fear that
the Presidents economy program
would be attacked by such expendi-
ture. Consultation with Secretary
Weeks and his military advisers con-
WINGED the President that if the en-.
tire amount was withheld, owing to
the increase in the personnel of the
Guard, many of the units would be
unable to hold the minimum num-
Der of armory drills prescribed by
law.
The Presidents decision is welcome
Yet in the District of Columbia, as
in other places, some of the armory
drills planned for the Guard will have
to be eliminated before the end Of
the present fiscal year. Here in Wash
ington new units of the National
Guard, authorized by law, and with
Army facilities available for their use,
will not be able to go ahead with
their organization because of the
armory drill pay curtailment, unless
there should be still further conces-
sions by the Chief Executive.
The strength of the National Guard
Of the District of Columbia is 81
officers and 707 enlisted men This
represents net increase over last
year Of II officers and 81 men. These
increases have been made by enthusi-
asm and hard work. The threat to
curtail armory drills by Withholding
the deficiency appropriation at a
period of the year almost immedi-
ately preceding the Summer encamp-
ments was particularly serious.
Evening star., 1925-04-02
Would Reduce Taxis.
WriterDeclares Companies Should
Cut Number in Use.

To the Editor of The Star:
In a recent issue of your paper
space is given to the effect of too
many taxicabs in Washington
Reading your article over again
merely increases my first conclusion
relative to that .articIe-namely, since
the several large taxi concerns have
increased their fleets in such large
numbers they find it extremely diff
ficult to keep men, due to the fact
that there are only so many taxi
jobs in the city.
Heretofore a man working for one
of the larger concerns could take his
cab out. and, after a decent day.
turn in around $50 or z pm. with
between SIS and SIS total take-in.
Now try to find that much.
Speaking of the Independent owner
as nuisance, let us. sum 1t up. First,
he must have considerable energy to
save enough money to make a down
payment upon a cab. Second, if he
is such a thrifty person and on his
own initiative has the courage or
nerve to enter into a field already
crowded, L say more power to him.
Thei. are too many taxieabs in
Washington and at closing hour of
the theaters one is almost tempted
to walk to the street car to come
home on account of the unnecessary
lines of taxicabs cruising in front of
such places seeking fares.
Why not bar these lines of vacant
cabs and give room for the private
cars and those cabs holding return
coupons. Sufficient vacant cabs could
be parked nearby, and, when re-
quested, could be called, first giving &
q call for one company then follow
ing with the others, unless requested
by the fare to do otherwise.
If the taxi concerns want fewer
cabs why not take out some cabs,
thereby giving their other men that
much more opportunity to increase
the number of fares they would find.
Any taxi concern having 200 or
more men, hauling both white and
colored trade, will have some bad
eggs in the basket and their influence
Is felt all along the line.
Take off some of your cabs, you
larger concerns, and notice the diff
ference in the men you keep. Watch
the smiles come back to their faces
as they find their average growing.
Notice the different class Of men who
apply for those jobs, knowing they
will make a better living because
they do not have to resort to low
means to get a dollar or two.
J. GARDINER.
Evening star., 1925-04-02
Defends Army Hospital.
Walter Reed Patient Denies Fa-
voritism Is Shown.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Recently you published a news item
entitled Veterans Attack Bureau
Fund Use For Walter Reed" and I
want to answer some of the COM
plants therein and beg you to pub
lfsh this letter.
I am a 72 per cent disabled veteran
and spent most of three years as a
patient at Walter Reed General
Hospital, most of that time in bed
and while there had several opera
tions, so am able to speak with some
knowledge.
First allow me to say that at no
place in the United States is there such
a surgical staff so ably prepared to
treat war injuries, and particularly
bone conditions resulting from old
wounds. No other man in the United
States has had the experience with
such conditions as Col Kellar Of that
institution.
I was first a patient there as a
soldier and later 1 was there 10
months as a Veterans Bureau pa
tient and during both periods Of my
stay there no patient ever received
more consideration or care than I.
L assure any one interested that the
military discipline" prevailing there
is of mild nature, quite necessary
and not nearly so stringent as the
rules of private hospitals and the only
men that could possibly object are
malcontents and in need Of very little
medical attention.
The statement that Officers
wives are often treated in the per-
manent wards and veterans housed in
temporary structures" was not made
from, full knowledge of the circum-
stances. The main buildings" so
called because 1t houses the execu-
tive offices and operating rooms, is
used to house post-operative cases of
all kinds, and at no time in my ex-
perience there were the woman pa
tients greater in number than men.
While two of the largest temporary
buildings house officers wives.
Another objection that was offered
was the mixture of 'colored men and
white men and I know that they are
mixed at Mount Alto.
H e. TRAMMELL
Evening star., 1925-04-02
Carman Is Praised.
Capital Traction Conductors
Courtesy Wins Tribute.

Te the Editor Of The Star:
am writing this to pay my tribute
to the kindness and sympathy of Con-
ductor 780 of the Capital Traction
line. =
On my way home from office Sat
urday, %, I noted his kindness to
three different elderly persons He
was very careful to see that they got
off at the right place, and gave them
plenty Of time, particularly one man
who was not as active as he might
have been.
( 1t only took a minute more of time,
and the persons he helped and all the
rest of the passengers in the street
car reached their destinations much
happier than If he had been cross and
surly to them.
DR.. Frank Crane wrote once that a
cranky street car conductor had in
his power to spoil his whole day for
him If he happened to ride on his car.
Kindness hasa ray that pierces the
darkness in three ways 1t warns
the heart Of the giver and the re-
ceiver and the one who is q witness.
In. the rush and grind OF our
present day civilization, many of us
fail to take the time to realize that
the effect Of kindness Is felt to the
uttermost rim of space where the
morning stars sing for Joy.
ISABEL MELLUNs
Evening star., 1925-04-02
The Night Auto Court.

Judge Gus A. Schuldt, presiding
judge of the Police Court, and his
colleagues on the bench are to
be congratulated upon their decision
| to open next Monday the Night Traffic
Court for the prompt trial of alleged
, violations of the traffic law. This
plan promises speedy disposition of
such cases, an improvement in the
lot of the traffic policemen and a
saving in time of citizens who are
hailed before the court. AT present
officers who make arrests sometimes
awaiting the calling of their cases
for trial, a fact which has had a
| marked effect upon the number of
men available for traffic duty during
the day. The new plan will, it is
anticipated, remedy this state of
affairs.
The idea is that the four judges
will, in future, alternate on the three
benches. Starting next Monday,
Judge Isaac r. Hit will preside over
the traffic cases in the Traffic Court
on the top floor. United States cases
will be presided over by Judge John
P. Mcmahon in the large courtroom
on the top floor and Judge Schuldt
will dispose of the District of Column
bia cases in the large courtroom on
the second floor. Judge George III.
Mcdonald will preside over the Night
Traffic Court in the large courtroom
on the second floor. 1t is planned
that he will probably open court at
pm. and will remain on duty until
IL pm.
In consequence the Police Court
will be open from $50 in the morn
ing continuously until II at night for
traffic cases. One of the most salutary
reforms expected from this swift dis
position of traffic cases will be the
doing away with forfeiting of col
lateral. 1t will be possible to impose
fines for convictions and thus perfect
the record in such cases, preventing
convicted persons from escaping the
penalty Of forfeiture of licenses for
repeated offenses. The long wait for
jury trials will also be prevented, as
juries will be available most of the
time.
The judges are reported as hoping
that speedy trials will diminish traffic
violations. On the whole, the new
system promises material benefits.
Evening star., 1925-04-02

I the family conveniently moved to
Athens, where the father drops out
of sight. eolipsed by his son.
Diogenes made such a nuisance of
himself, petitioning the philosopher
Antisthenes for admittance as a dis
ciple, that the latter finally gave
way, after cuffs and kicks had failed
to quench the ardor of the candidate.
Diogenes took up the study of the
cynical philosophy, and soon came out
with a brand of 1t entirely his own.
1t must be remembered that the phil
osophers Of Greece occupied a place
in the body polite somewhat similar
to the prophets of Israel.
Fighting and philosophy were the
two main endeavors Of men. What
today would be called eccentricity
was regarded then, in the proper
light, simply as difference.
Diogenes was not like other men
that was what made him interesting
and worth while to Alexander and
to men of good sense ever since.
If Dogenes had worn a purple toga
and lived in marble home he would
be as unknown today as the thousands
of other Greeks who did wear the finest
purple in their day and lorded 1t over
many slaves.
Those of us who are inclined some
times to sneer at the unusual and make
fun of the different man. should think
Of Diogenes. and be still.
Diogenes believed in freeing himself
from all the superfuities Of life. He
would not have been welcomed by mod
ern commerce. Advertising would blunt
itself In vain against such a MANI
How many things there are / do not
want" he exclaimed, as he looked into
the shop windows of Athens
A wise man, Diogenes said, in order
to be happy must be Independent of
fortune, of men and of himself.
Now that is a pretty large order. Let
us see Some of the things he would have
to hate, genuinely, and not merely in
words.
Such man would have to have no
regard for riches, power, honor and all
of the enjoyments of life.
He would have to do as Diogenes did
eat little food, go barefooted, wear no
coat, wear g. long beard and sleep in a
tub.
But most of U.s. unless we were men,
tally constituted as Diogenes was, could
not be happy so. Yet from it all we can
Once when Diogenes saw a boy drink
ing out Of his hands he threw away his
own wooden cup, from then on regard
ing it as superfiuous
He def1ed the weather and scofing
inveighed against vice and corrup-
tton, and probably made something
OF nuisance out of himself to ali
those who did not agree with his
views.
A dramatic incident in his philo-
sophlc calm came on voyage to the
Island OF Aegina, when he was cap
tured by pirates and sold as a slave
to Xeniades, a Corinthian who lived
in Crete.
Xeniades, evidently man of per-
oeption, gave the philosopher his
freedom, retaining him as instructor
of his children.
So Diogenes won out again.
Like a wealthy man, he spent his
Summers at Corinth and "Wintered"
at Athens, thus setting the precedent
for men of today spending the
Winter in Florida
In his ninetieth year he finished
his career with a typically Dioge-
nesian flourish
Tradition has 1t that he died the
same day with Alexander, his old
admirer
Feeling death at hand, Diogenes
seated himself on the road leading
TO Olympia and died there in the
midst of a large crowd.
Evening star., 1925-04-02
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

@. How soon will fishing be good
In the rtver?-E. w. S.
A. The Bureau of Fisheries says
that the best fishing along the Po-
tomac River will start in about three
weeks. Shad is usually the most
Plentiful, while some yellow perch,
catfish and sunfish are found.
@. Who planned the Chesapeake
and Ohio Cana1?-M. E. c.
A. Historic Highways says: TN
April, 1924, an appropriation OF
$4,000 was made to procure surveys
and estimates to prove the feasibil-
appointed Brig. Gen. Simon Bernard
and Lieut.. Col. Totten and Civil En-
gineer John l. Sullivan of Massa-
chusetts as a board to outline the
most suitable route for a canal from
the Potomac tidewater to the Ohio
River. Their report was made Octo-
ber %, 1926" &
@. Has a monument ever been
erected to both the victorious and the
defeated in a military engagement?-
T. G. n.
A. In the governors garden at Que
bee is O. granite column bearing the
name of Wolfe on one side and that
of Montcalm on the other. 1t Is said
to be the only instance on this con-
tinent of common monument to the
victor and the vanquished.
C. B B. S. '
A. In taking the census Of manu-
factures the Bureau of the Census
does not include as factories those
establishments doing work only to
the order Of the individual consumer,
such as custom tailoring, dressmak-
ing, millinery and shoemaking.
Q. How long have finger rings been
worn?-K. G.
A. The finger ring is believed to
have originated with the early Egyp-
tians and was evolved from the seal
or signet about 16 centuries BIC.
O. Who owns the ice that forms
on a river?-G. T. K.
A Ice formed on private waters,
and that includes rivers owned by
individuals, is real estate and is the
property of the owner of the soil
over which it is formed. Ice formed
upon navigable streams in States
where those streams are held to be
public property belongs to the first
person who appropriates 1t, but gen
orally ice forming upon private fresh
water streams belongs to the riparian
proprietors, who may prevent others
from removing it.
O. Which organized first, the rail-
road conductors or engineers-F. NJ
A. The Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers was organized in 1853 and
the Order of Railway Conductors in
1868.
Q. How long ago did 'fts" come
into common use?-P. T. D.
A. The possessive form its did
not come into common use until after
Evening star., 1925-04-02
The Sale of Government Ships.

The United States Shipping Board,
in a 4-to-3 decision, has agreed to sell
to the Dollar Steamship Line the five
big combination passenger and cargo
ships Of the President type now being
operated out of San Francisco to ports
OF the Far East by the Pacific Mail
Steamship Co. The latter company
had also submitted a bid.
Irrespective of the question of the
wisdom Of selecting the Dollar Co. as a
purchaser instead of the Pacific Mail.
the sale of these ships by the Govern
ment, to be operated by private Amer
ican capital, should serve a valuable
purpose. 1t should demonstrate
whether American flag vessels, with
out the backing of the Government,
can compete in the Pacific success
fully with the japanese and British
and other foreign flag merchant ves-
sells. 1t should show, too, whether the
former Government vessels in private
ownership and operation can be more
successfully operated, and at a greater
6dAIA tiA1il uuueI the SU-CdllSQ NJ. ~. q
or managing operators contract
by which the Government vessels are
now being operated.
Under the agreement of the Dollar
Co. with the Shipping Board, these
vessels are to be operated for a period
Of five years after purchase on the
present routes to the Orient The ma.
jority of the Shipping Board has con-
strued that this is a sufficient guar
antee under the Jones shipping act of
American operation of vessels sold by
the Government. Critics Of the deci-
sion to sell the ships to the Dollar Co.
declare that five years constitute but a
brief period in ship operation, and
point out that at the end of that period
the Dollar Co. may do what it wants
to with the ships, including their op-
GRAFTON Under foreign flag.
The bid of the Pacific Mail Co. diff.
fered from the Dollar Co. bid in that
it provided for the acceptance by the
Government Of preferred stock In q
Evening star., 1925-04-02
Urges Steps to Save
Arlington Flagstaff

To the Editor of The Star:
1t made me heartsick to read in
recent edition of The . Star
that the beautiful flag is to be re-
moved from its old place in the
Arlington National Cemetery be-
cause the tall flagstaff is not consid-
cred to "harmonize with the beauti-
full surroundings"
I cannot understand how any one
could fail to venerate the shaft where
this American flag has been both, q
benediction and a help to many O
weary soul all these long years, and
it seems to me IL it has been taken
down there ought to be some .au-
thority to- have It replaced where II
has been SO long and that 1T shoull
always be allowed to stay there
keeping watch over the many. who
died for it.
ask that something may be done
before, 1t is too late: ask it as ar
American citizen, and one who loves
and reveres the flag. a.
LILLIAN CARY THOMPSON
Evening star., 1925-04-02

strychnine, in the body does not harm
the pelt. But the wastefulness and
the cruelty of the action reported are
alike contemplate. The deed is on
par with the action of the man who
throws a couple of sticks Of dynamite
into a river or lake to get himself
mess of fish. With apologies to the
beasts themselves, who know no bet
ter, the poison trapper" is COM
parable to a combination of two well
known North American animals and
one Of warmer ATTITUDES. One is the
skunk; the second is the wolverine,
commonly called .'glutton," and the
third is the sloth.