Evening star., 1926-08-23

rr,vo scientists and a 16-month.old
h.hv are destined to spend the next
three wears in q cave OH uesert
mountain peak in southwest AFRICA.
The scientists are William II. Hoover
and Frederick A. Greeley, employed
by the Smithsonian institution "
make daily observations OF SOAR I'd
diation at Mount Brukkaros. The paoy
is Betty Jean, Mr.. Hoover's daugnter'
whose aunt is going along as 1ne
fourth member Of the party Long,
ranee weather forecasting predicated
on the daily variations in the sun
heat Is the object which the smith
sonian institution has In view. ODserV-
atories for the measurement OF solar
radiation are already located In Can
fornia and in Chile. The new one
in Africa will serve as "check on
the reports Of the other two. Extreme
accuracy is essential, and observations
taken under conditions approxin1ating
as nearly as possible the top or the
earths atmosphere are sought.
Hence the selection of a. mountain
peak a mile above sea level and rising
ali alone from a level plateau. DR..
Abbot. assistant secretary of the in
stitution, searched the world over for
the ideal spot before finding Mount
Erukkaros.
Isolation in the wild places of the
earth will prove no new experience Tor
either of the observers. Mr.. Hoover
for the past two years has been
in charge of the solar observatory OF
the Argentine government, While Mr.
Greeley for three years has been sta
toned at the Smithsonian obserVa-
tory in Chile-this. too, on mountain
top-and before that he was couple
of years in the Arizona desert The
party sailed from New York last week
on the first lap of their journey. Their
contact with the outside world will be
by radio. The National Geographic So
ciety, with a contribution of $4,000. is
financing the venture.
Il \ X *
The new ten.million. dollar. building
being erected on the site of the his
toric old Ebbitt House by the Ma
tional Press Club for it's permanent
home is now beginning to rise above
ground. When completed, six months
hence, 1t will stand as one more hand
some Capital landmark, an impress
sive building in a city of many fine
buildings. The National Press Club
was organized In 1908. 1t now has
a membership of 1892. The active
resident list numbers 400. These are
the newspaper fraternity in Washing
ton, men actively employed on news
papers, periodicals and press associa-
tions. They are the voting members.
The nonresident list, comprising ed
itors. publishers, authors, writer's and
artists outside of Washington, total
$50. Former newspaper men here,
now in other occupations, total 159
and are on the non-active list. There
are 343 associate members. None but
the active members vote or hold Of
fee, but all enjoy the club privileges.
Uric Bell, Washington correspondent
for the Louisville Courier-Journal' is
the present president. John Hays
Hammond, long a warm friend OF the
newspaper profession. has had a lead
ing part in the financial program for
the new building.
x II *
A committee on world friendship
among children Is the latest adjunct
Of the universal peace movement
This committee proposes that Amer1'
can school children send a generous
| number Of dolls to Japan to partici.
pate in the japanese festival Of dolls.
The American dolls are to go as ''am-
bassadors of good will and friend
ship" Announcement Of this plan
contains an interesting account of
an ancient custom of old Japan--the
Festival of Dolls. which takes place
each year on the third day Of the
third month. On that day each fam.
fly brings out Of its ancestral treas
ure house the. dolls of mothers. grand.
mothers and preceding generations
| for a renewal Of acquaintance. They
are placed in serried ranks for in
spection and comparison. The little
girls dress In gay costumes and not
only enjoy their own ancestral dolls,