Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

a real interest in ones environment, no
problems are likely to arise. The lack
Of understanding that comes from ac-
tual ignorance is notorious.
+ X X
UHARVARD UNIVERSITY has just
l. initiated an investigation which
will undoubtedly prove to be valuable
contribution to knowledge, and Incl
dentally to friendship. A committee
has been appointed. with five years to
work in, to complete photography for
each of the Latin American republics
One of the members of this, committee.
DR.. Waxman, visited Porto Rico, Santo
Domingo and Cuba short time ago,
and the reception in these places evil
denced their appreciation Of the inter-
est shown in their writer's by the great
Northern university. These ir1VeStiga-
tors may well prove to be cultural mis-
sionaries in the sense in which our Wis
iting professor from Spain used the
word.
Again, the Interamerican Commits
sion of Women is a very vigorous and
very friendly force in promoting friend
ship and understanding. It is the illus
trious offspring Of an agency, at first
purely unoficial-a committee Of four
of the National Woman's Party-which
won popular and governmental ap-
proval, resulting in the official creation
of the present body. It consists Of one
representative from each of the coun-
tries of the Pan-American Union, ap-
pointed by the Sixth Pan-American
Conference, to determine the present
status of women in these 81 countries
and to make a report to the seventh
conference when 1t meets in Montevideo
in 1888, together with recommendations
looking toward the establishment of
equal rights for men and women in this
hemisphere.
THE commissions first year has
largely been devoted to the vexed ques-
ton of the nationality of married
women and their children, a subject so
vital and immediate that it has claimed
the attention Of the press all over the
world, thereby serving to introduce the
purposes and methods Of the commits
sion under highly favorable circum-
stances. The consequent friendly and
widespread response throughout the
Americas has been overwhelming proof
that women and. I assume, men in our
different countries can cooperate
quickly, efficiently and delightfully."-, once
their interest is really aroused and they
are convinced of the need of action.
alton is the Institute Of Public Affairs
of the University Of Virginia. The
growth and increasing interest in the
round-table on Latin American rela-
lions Is proof of the general desire for
accurate knowledge. the determination
to do away with old barriers Of igno-
rance and misunderstanding. Williams
town has for some years past been
proving the same thing.
Last year, in another section Of the
institute mentioned. some one made a
stirring plea for fewer and better bill
boards The reason was the wholly
scape from DETACHMENT. But how many
has stopped to think in how great part
billboards and other advertising repre-
sent and misrepresent us abroad?
TOO often our advertising is written
for that mythical Latin American of
the cheap novels-the one who, fortu-
nately, has never existed in human
form. But many pages of advertising
matter carry material written for his
presumable taste. 1t is another way Of
offering Latin taste and creating an I'M
conscious prejudice against the United
States.
IN our advertising In English here
in the States we often show a fine i'm
agination. poetic and practical at the
same time. It would be helpful in many
ways if we employed those qualities in
the matter sent to advertise our prod
ucts in Spanish America. Even mat
ter which is excellently presented in
English may not prove effective or even
intelligent in Spanish. This is particu-
larly true Of that favorite device Of our
advertisers, an appeal based on a pun;
which, of course, loses all effect in q
foreign language.
Science, of course, Is the great in
ternational bond. Especially has medi-
cal research helped to unite investi-
gators in this hemisphere. It has been
prophesied that the next quarter CEN
fury will be the greatest yet known in
the history Of tropical medicine; and
American research, North, South and
Central. Is already playing a very i'm
portant part in making it great Men
like Ashford" in Porto Rico, Lutz in
Brazil. Iturbe in Venezuela. by their
organized work of investigation and
their generous interchange of informa-
ton and ideas, are of the noblest type
of international mediator.