davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Colored Nurse Mourned.
Melvina Fletcher, Dead at O..
Served Blair Family Since 1853.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Notice of the decease OF the late
Melvina Fletcher on the 18th day OF
March, 1925, as published in The
Evening Star of the 10th, conveys to
our oldest and most respectable color
ed citizens the sad message that one
of their number has been called in
her eth year to render a final &C
count and receive the just reward OF
a most exemplary and Christian life
Melvina was born slave in Prince
Georges County, Nd, and when Is
years of age was given her freedom
by deed of manumission by her
mistress, Priscilla Rantin, as certified
to by certificate of the county clerk
of Prince Georges County, dated June
I, 1S45. Shortly after obtaining her
freedom Melvina came TO Washing
ton, where she served as a domestic
with many of the prominent families
of that day. In the late Fall OF
1858 she accepted her last employment
as a nurse maid with the family OF
the late Montgomery Blair, who at
that time occupied the old residence
of the Blair family, which some Of
our citizens may remember as NO.
6 Presidents square" now designated
as 1861 Pennsylvania avenue, and
owned by Maj. Gist Blair
Melvina nursed, with that unfailing
devotion so characteristic of the
colored nanny, five children who were
born to the Blair family. She was
not only child's nurse, but by in
telligent application became a very
efficient sick nurse. whose assistance
was always sought by all the pro-
fesstonal nurses employed by the
family. and as member of the house
hold she shared alike the joys.
anxieties and sorrows of the family
during her % years of active service
and 16 years of semi-retirement, when
she was surrounded by faithful at
tendants and every comfort con
ducive to a happy old age and peace
full end.
Melvina was the oldest member OF
the Zion Wesley Methodist Church OF
Washington. She was respected by
every one white and colored, whose
privilege II was to know her. Her
devotion and loyalty to those she
served was a conscientious duty, sec
ond only to her religion. Love for
children was a dominating interest i'm
her long and unselfsh life.
WOODBURY. BLAIR.
Evening star., 1925-03-19
American Forest Week.

President Coolidge, by proclamation,
has designated the week of April 81
May as American Forest week. He
urges that Arbor day, the national
plant-a-tree day, be observed within
that week, so far as not inconsistent
with State laws designating specific
Arbor day dates.
But Arbor day tree planting is only
a minor feature of the proposed For
est week observation. A more i'm
portant feature. but still not the
major one. is forest fire prevention.
1t is a national scandal that each year
about 100000 acres OF standing tim.
Evening star., 1925-03-19
New York Housing
Conditions and Rents
From the New York Herald-Tribune.

The State Housing Commission's S
finding that housing conditions in
this city are steadily growing worse
instead of better is based on a
study of the percentage of vacancies
in what are called the old-law tene-
ments. This is the barometer which
shows the pressure of rent increases
in the great mass of the population.
In 1916 6la per cent of the flats In
tenements of this sort were vacant
all the time. Now the percentage of
vacancies is down TO 1.S1.
1t was the hope of the trainers of
the new tenement house regulations
that the old-law tenements would
gradually be wiped out, economic
conditions allowing occupants to
move into better quarters. But the
war and the cessation of normal
building have operated to drive ten
ants from better to poorer apart
ments New building has helped only
the fraction of the city's population
able to live in high-rent apartments.
The rent laws stabilized the situation
for hold-over occupants. Hut mt the
same time they discouraged the con-
struction of lOwer-cOst houses and
have led TO n rapid deterioration.
through lack of maintenance, in pre-
war apartment houses.
n vicious circle mas Dcch cstaD-
Iished. Capital will not go into the
sort of construction most needed he
cause rents are regulated by law.
Landlords hesitate to keep houses in
proper repair unless they get re-
turns from such expenditure. Hold
over tenants who move must seek
accommodations in an artitcially re-
stricted market. They must either
pay much higher rents or take lower
grade apartments. The free play of
economic laws is suspended in order
to meet the demands of what was
originally n war police power emer-
gency.
1t was a mistake for New York not
to let the rent problem solve itself,
as 1t was permitted to do nearly
everywhere else in this country. The
Legislature was unwilling to risk tina I
experiment.. II would have involved a
great deal of Immediate discomfort
and hardship. But by this time II
would have brought about n pretty
complete economic readjustment.
The main housing and traffic prob
lem here is to get manufacturing and
the manufacturing population out of
Manhattan and distributed through
the outlying boroughs and suburbs.
The rent laws have retarded the re-
gional planning program, which the
Housing Commission also has at
heart. The two programs are. in fact
inconsistent with each other. Yet
| repeal of the rent law is confronted
with serious political difficulties. The
voting power of the city rent payers
| is enormous and probably neither
party would be willing to advocate
repeal in 1926. A venture of this sort
| is not easily liquidated. The crisis
+ iCl IL oh a.
| mains 1t may abate somewhat by
/ 1928 or 1880. But the only way &c
! end it will be to remove restrictions
| on economic law. let the population
| shift and create a condition within
| the city under which rents, like COM
| Inodities. will seek a natural eco
| nomic level
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Washington is now about TO seek a
solution Of it's problem in the same
way. In New York, however, with
a vast renting population, and the
fear of immediate increases in rentals,
there may be some delay before gov
ernment control is finally abandoned,
as undoubtedly it will be abandoned
in the end.
Evening star., 1925-03-19
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
At the Newsstand.

At the Newsstand.
Give me a Record, mister,
With the latest Congress news.
I'm tired of the crossword twister
And the comics that don't amuse.
I'm tired Of the news, so checkered
OF crime or a sad misstep.
It's the old Congressional Record
That's providing the real pep.
What do I care for the stories
OF sweetheart or sleuth today,
When 1 catch a hint of the glories
OF Webster or Henry Clay.
The fiction that ripples gaily
Proves futile with all its skill.
Just give me the Record daily
That's providing the real thrill!
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Queens Opinions Differ
On Headdress Styles

Queen Mary of England frowns
upon bobbed hair. So comes the word
from the press agents or the court
gossips or whoever 1t is that keeps
royalty in the limelight
Presumably the Queen also frowns
upon cigarettes. She ought to; she is
true grauddaughterin in law of the late
Victoria.
But just across the channel dwells
the Queen OF the Belgians. Way back
before the war, Elizabeth was gayly
smoking cigarettes, and now she has
gone bravely forth and had her hair
bobbed.
When Queens disagree, you know
what happens. The girls will simply
have to go on using their own judg
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Press.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

the beholder. What one sees is
whatever he is trained by habit or
education to look for, however un-
consciously he exercises that train
ing. A nodernist protested that he
| must paint what he sees"-he must
express himself" Whistler conceded
that liberty, but added: Yes, my
dear fellow, paint what you see, but
the shock comes when you see what
you paint"
The unframed public, not learned
| in the dadaism of modern art, per-
sist in choosing, in opposition to the
art juries, the pictures for their
homes which may not express the
artist" but by which they are sooth-
ed eomforted or inspired. Is that
not arts mission?
Some artists profess that they care
nothing for truth of drawing-and
prove it-and still less for the
| thought behind the color.
rs art thought? Has art mes
sage beyond its technique? Should
a modern artist be tied TO the use of
models?" they protest.
DR.. Parkhurst rejoins: "Is art not
which derive ultimately from nature ,
If the expression of these percep-
tions be technically so detached from
| the comprehension of the layman.
| can it carry a message?"
The inference is that art without
| message is void.
But art is not imitation of ma
| ture." was suggested.
Certainly not" replied DR.. Park
hurst. but neither is it art if it be
bound up in the chemistry OF optics.
Art is the expression of the esthetic
| ideas of the artist. For example at
the Corcoran exhibit is a painting of
Spring" From time immemorial all
peoples have expressed by dancing
| their joy at their relief from cold
Winter. In this picture is the spirit
| of the Spring dance. 1t is true to
nature and the scene-not to a mere
scientific color formula of vividness.
Monet never forgot the fundamen-
| tails, but many of his followers have
| exaggerated the science of colors
while they forget the art of color
| and the true aim of art
Sir William Orpen, president of the
Royal Academy, writes in his out
| lines of Art:
The public, as we'll as the techni-
cal expert, can appreciate good draw
ing, attractive color and we'll balanced
design; but these things alone will
not serve to capture it's imagination.
| 1t demands rightly that a picture
| should contain an idea or an emotion
that can be clearly grasped"
y X
One of the strongest American
! champions of the modern art tech
nique-the Monet science in extreme
was the late DR.. Ernst Fenallosa of
the Boston Art Museum, one time spe-
cial art commissioner of Japan. DR..
| F'enallosa contended that the test of
art was it's rythmic flow of lines, its
| proportions, it's pattern" and it's
pointillistic handling of pure colors,
which get their blending in the eyes
| of the beholder and not on the pal
cite. The thought expressed in a pic
ture was of no consequence-all that
mattered was technique. If thought
| were emphasized, the picture would
| be literary" condemnation be-
+, yond hope.
Let the washington public rise
1 from its lethargy and answer cate
gorically yes or no--after seeing the
exhibits.
1uopyuSht. 49,, py paw y. Galuaa1
Evening star., 1925-03-19
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

The Washington Society of Artists
has an exhibition OF paintings at the
Corcoran Art Gallery. Another show
ing of art is in progress at the Ma
tional Museum, and next Saturday
third exhibit of pictures will be
opened at the Auditorium in connec-
ton with the Board OF Trade in
dustrial exhibition.
Nevertheless, the public of Wash
ington is diagnosed by the artists as
having locomotor ataxia or anemic
indifference as to whether their
paintings are archaic primitive"
"Renaissant," "Barbazonic," "lumi-
nistic." "plein- air. ''shut-in,'' tight"
loose" impressionistic'- or
neo sane" insane" 'fauviste,"
"cubist." "futurist," "jazzistic" or the
'I-know -what-I-Like" school
The innocent bystander asks naively.
What is art?"
The wife of one of Americas most
famous artists confided to an inti-
mate friend: My husband is now ia
nous; his pictures are given the
place of honor in all exhibitions. The
critics praise his technique and art
lists defer to his skill. But we are
still poor, for nobody buys his can
vases, even after they take prizes. l
can't understand why
Another artist, whose pictures
Sing" with the joy of the beauty of
nature, has orders ahead for his
color dreams. Yet the art juries
often grudgingly poke his canvases
into obscure corners and damn with
praise more neutrally evasive than
whistler symphony in White"
Why? Which artist is expressing
art?
DIR. Burleigh Parkhurst, pupil of
Sartain, Bouguereau and Tony-Fleury
"a popular college lecturer on art,
author of the standard handbook,
THE Painter in Oil," and of books
tracing the history and development
of successive ideals-a critic today
sojourning in Washing ngton-declares
that for centuries the public had be-
come accustomed to accepting GER
tain symbols of art and had learned
arts language as interpreted by the
great artists. Then some so years
ago Monet invented a CONSTRUCTED
language" based on -Chevreurs sell
ence of juxtaposition of pure colors.
whose optical effect is more brilliant
than that of pigments mixed into
tints, upon the palette. Certain fol-
lowers of Monet have adopted that
Constructed language" and seek to
carry their messages to the public in
the invented vocabulary, regardless
of whether the public knows the new
words and phrases.
"It is like the invented languages
of Volapuk and Esperanto says DR..
Parkhurst, mot understandable ex-
cept to the inventors and their pu-
pills. Not so is any language brought
into general use. 1t is not through
invention, but by gradual evolution
and accretion and expression, that
language gains use.
Not long ago, in France, there
was an attempt made to create in
literature a new use of words. The
dadaists attempted to rely on rhyNh-
mically expressing messages by
using familiar words entirely apart
from their accepted meaning and Sc
quence. The dada writer perhaps
| knew what he meant, but certainly
others could not"
What is recorded in a painting
could not exist except as it has come
| through the mental acceptance of the
| artist; nor be comprehended except
Through the mental recognition Of
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Arrangements will be required to
secure an orderly system of seat
ing diplomats at a senatorial debate.
The privilege Of listening at the Cap
itol, hitherto largely ignored. has be-
come one of valued Importance.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

An impression on the part of Sena-
tor Borah that the atmosphere of
Washington is weakening to backbone
must be regarded as an objective spec
ulation. Subjectively it cannot be be-
lieved that Mr.. Borah has noticed any
thing of the sort
Evening star., 1925-03-19
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

| for the most part have been unsuc-
cessfuL Among the best known are
Brook Farm and New Harmony, Ind
The Shaker communities at Mount
Lebanon, n. Y: Union Village, Ohio.
and Watervliet, N. Y, still sur
vive. Others are the Oneida Com
munity, n. Y: Amana Community
Iowa, and Fair Hope, Ala Com
| munities OF this type were established
in America during the nineteenth
century.
O. Is there more than one kind or
smallpox?-C. L. r.
A The conviction is growing that
| there are different strains OF the dis
! ease, one Of which is naturally mild
and one that is severe.
O. How many Jews have returned
| to Palestine?-W. Z. T.
A There are about 80 colonies
who are working some 10000 acres
of land.
N. c. Gov 0'd Is Nno4o' NiHHikeFoos
A. This American writer was born
in London in 1887.
.. What part of the films used in
| the motion picture industry is fur
nished by the United States?-C. =. +.
| A. In 1924 the United States fur
| nished 90 per cent OF the films used
| in the entire world.
! O. What was the Revolutionary
| Calendar?-E. X. l..
| A. IT was calendar adopted dur
ing the French reign OF terror, de-
creed in 1898 and continuing until
Napoleon restored the old system in
1905.
Q. Is it against the law 10 Offer
a reward for the return OF stolen
property and promise mo questions
asked"?-C. w s.
| A In England the advertiser. print
er and publisher OF such a reward
may be fined, but in this country
such advertisements are common.
Q. How vast are the forests OF
AIaska?-w. A. T.
A. The forest area expressed in
miles of Alaska may be estimated a.
about 100000 square miles. This is
not the exact figure, since a great
deal is not known about the interior
stands.
Q. When was "The End OF Per
feet Day" published?-C A. y.
| A. This song, by Carrie Jacobs Bond,
was published in 1910.
| O. is it true that the rubber trees
| of India were started with seeds from
South America ?-J. A. p.
| A. About 1876 Mr.. wickham, an
nglishman, smuggled out OF Brazil
a great many rubber plant seeds
| He carried them TO India and there
planted them.
Q. Does the King of England pa,
the expenses of keeping his pal
laces?-O. J. E.
A. The King is required to pay
| for the upkeep of the royal court
and any private estates h may have
The salary Of the King and Queen OF
England is s2,256,ooo.
Q. Where is the original monument
from the grave Of Thomas Jefferson?
w W.
A. The original monument is at the
University of Missouri. Columbia.
O. Which is the oldest museum IL
America?-S. W. w.
A. The Charleston Museum IN
! Charleston, S. c., is so classed.
(The person tc5to loses out Is the one
| soho gueSseS. The person tCho gets or
| is dl,Udys the one t0Ho acts upon reliable
Information. This paper employs Fred
eric j. HdSkisL TO conduct an tnfor~r41-
ton bureau for the public. There 70 no
| charge eTcept cents in stGntps for re
| turn postage. Write to him today for
| any facts pou desire Your inqut-u
! should be addressed to The Stdr IN
| formation Bureau, Frederic J. Hd.sleiu.
director, Tt1enty-frst aud @ Stree-S
| northtCeStD
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Long ago the question What's the
matter with Kansas" used to be pro-
pounded in more or less whimsical
spirit. Criminologists are beginning
to make the same inquiry in all Sc
riousness about Chicago
Evening star., 1925-03-19

An administration which couples
an economy program with systematic
tax reduction cannot fail to impress
the country as being eminently prac-
teal in its ideas
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Suppressed Emotion.

How do you account for the de-
cline of oratory in this country?''
Some of us statesmen" answered
Senator Sorghum, got so in the habit
of filibustering that we kind o. for
got the art Of speaking out in genu-
inc earnest
Evening star., 1925-03-19

The one prominent success Ger.
many has enjoyed in connection with
the war is that attending her hopes
Of prolonging the argument as to final
settlement.
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Rate by Mail-PayabIe i'm Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
All Other States.
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
TO the for republication OF all news dis
patches credited TO 1t or not otherwise credited
in this paper and also the local news pub
Iished herein. All rights Of publication of
special dispa tches herein are also reserved.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Having nearly weathered the Win
ter's coal bills, the ultimate consumer
is now confronted with threats of a
raise in cost of Summer gasoline.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

fact, that he only permitted it in mar
rative form when the student could
relate a personal adventure with a
work of art. This is an excellent
rule; such adventures give true un-
derstanding whereas criticism too
aftan Leaves apa cpldx On tbs Qutside.
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Inert incubation

The quietude of last Inauguration
day
A rather slight impression seems to
make.
1t was a vaccination fine, they say,
But it apparently has failed to
"tAke."
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Meeting an Emergency.

You discovered moonshine liquor
in your settlement
Yes" answered Uncle Bill Bottle
top.
did you send for the police?"
I'VE forgo. about that. We were
too busy trying to get a DOCTOR
de man dat gifts de most benefit
FUN religion said Uncle Eben, "is
de one dat keeps thinkin' bout 1t
stid o. talkin' bout it,
Evening star., 1925-03-19

The confirmation of Mr.. Sargent
was so prompt as to bring some high
ly interesting oratory to an abrupt
conclusion.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

The Evening star with the Sunday morning
edition, is delivered by carriers within the
city at ~ CENTS per mon h: dntly only, IN
cents per month: Sunday only, % cents per
month. Orders may be sent by mail or tele-
phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car
riers at the end Of each month.
Evening star., 1925-03-19
THEODORE w. MOVES. =. Editor
The Evening Star Newspaper Company

Business Office IIth St and Pennsylvania Ave.
New York Office: 10 East 43nd st.
Chicago Office: Tower Building.
European Office l8 Regent st, london, England
Evening star., 1925-03-19

The Attorney Generals office has
become a notable stepping stone from
comparative seclusion TO general
fame.
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Spring Poem.

They say none should ever be lofty
or proud,
Yet the season approaches when
boasting's allowed.
The chiding of Winter is laid on the
shelf
And Nature is throwing bouquets at
herself.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Jud Tunkins says faith in human
nature is a fine thing, but it has got
so there's no use expecting it from
a prohibition agent.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

It's a poor climber who can't get
on his own feet without getting on
some one else's.-Wall Street Jour
nal
Evening star., 1925-03-19
Faniliarities.

Il was surprised to learn the man
you threw out of the card game was
a stranger"
You might have known it." an
swered Cactus Joe. "Only q stranger
would have tried to make hisself per-
fectly at home all over the Gulch the
way he did,
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Q. What was the Revolutionary
Calendar r?-E. X. L.
A. IT was calendar adopted dur
ing the French reign OF terror, de-
creed in 1898 and continuing until
Napoleon restored the old system in
1905.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Q. What part Of the films used in
the motion picture industry is fur
nished by the United States?-C. =. +
A. In 1924 the United States fur
nished 90 per cent OF the films used
in the entire world
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Q. How old is Meade Minnigerode? :?
M. c.
A This American writer was born
in London in 1887.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

What Is recorded in a painting
could not exist except as it has come
through the mental acceptance of the
artist; nor be compre rehended except
Through the mental recognition of
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Q. Which is the oldest museum 1;
Americas. W. w.
A. The Charleston Museum j!
Charleston, s. c.. is so classed.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Q. How many Jews have returne q
to Palestine?-W. Z. T.
A There are about 80 colonies
numbering more than 10000 people
who are working some 10000 acres
of land.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

@. Is IT against the law 10 Offer
reward for the return of stolen
property and promise mo questions
ask ed"?-C. W. s.
A In England the advertiser, print
er and publisher OF such a reward
may be fined, but in this country
such advertisements are common.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Q. When was "The End OF a Per
feet Day" published?-C A. n
A. This song, by Carrie Jacobs Bond
was published in 1910.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

Q. How vast are the forests or
Alaska?-W. A. T.
A. The forest area expressed in
miles of Alaska may be estimated a.
about 10000 square miles. This is
not the exact figure, since great
deal is not known about the interior
stands.
Evening star., 1925-03-19

O. Does the King of England pa
the expenses of keeping his pal
aces?-O. /. E.
A The King is required to pay
for the upkeep OF the royal court
and any private estates hp may have
The salary Of the King and Queen OF
England is $2,256.oo0.