Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

1t was IN the Speakers lobby at
the Capitol. They were chatting over
old-time war days. camptires and the
thrills that sometimes come when the
gods of war or the gods OF thunder
loose their wrath. That takes me back
to a Pennsylvania military camp. be-
fore DR.. Temple was member of the
House" said one of the group. point
ing to Representative Henry w. Temple
OF pennsylvania, one of the most dis
tinguished members Of the House, rank
ing member OF the committee on foreign
affairs, former professor OF information
al law at Washington and Jefferson Col
lege and clergyman by profession.
You see, Temple was chaplain OF
the regiment" went on the speaker.
everybody In the camp looked up to
him, for not only was he fine chap
lain. but he knew the world. he knew
men and how to meet situations that
would not arise in a conservative con-
gregation. What I have in mind was
the night a terrific thunderstorm broke
directly over the camp. The lightning
played havoc with the tents in which
rifles pointed skyward. More than 40
men we're laid low by shock and 4
were killed outright
Well. at the height Of the storm,
Temple left his tent and rushed to the
rescue Of those who lay SO still and
unconscious that twas impossible to
tell whether they were dead or only
shocked. Every minute counted for
possible resuscitation. In the midst OF
this situation. an orderly rushed to
Temple, saying: Half the band Is in
panic and on their knees praying. Can't
you come and pray with them?' DR..
Temple helped lift an unconscious body
from the ground, and, without turning
around shouted over his shoulder, Tell
those men this is no time to pray, and
to get to work. And they did,
Another incident Of that terrific storm
was then told which runs like this:
There is suspicion among certain
Pennsylvania Negroes that it is the
clothes one wears and not the person
itself that attracts lightning. Right
In the middle of the storm, with the
bolts striking all around and the crash
of the thunder deafening. sentry saw
a Negro, stark naked. running as II
for dear life, with bundle under his
arm. The storm had shunted strict
discipline to the side track, and. not
knowing the superstition. the sentry
put on your clothes?" The Negro, now
ashen hu flung his clothes into the
nearby underbrush and shouted back
as he continued to run, When de
light'n hits dem cloes, dis niger amt
go'n t be in EN-" And he disappeared
into the darkness.
Just when Calvin Coolidge, having
made White House breakfasts OF good
old New England maple strip and
wheat cakes and sausage famous, is
about to 60 back to the Yankeedom
he loves. up hobs one Of the bright
young boys in Secretary Jardine's COL
lection of agricultural specialists with
the daring idea Of selling to New Eng
matchleSs strip that flows in the
Springtime from the New England
maple trees.
The Publicity Service Of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture bombards New Eng
land newspapers with a notice that
cane cream" q new product from sugar
cane, originated two years ago by the
Federal department, lis now appearing
for the first time on the Northern
market" 1t Is being produced in Lou
isiana on the sugar plantations. 1t
is touted as "delicacy." The de-
partment handout says: Cane cream
makes l delicious spread for hot cakes,
waffies. biscuits, etc. 1t has smooth.
semi-solid consistency, resembling that
OF the maple cream or maple butter
so much favored in the North. Sand
witches made from 1t do not become
soggy. which is an advantage in pre-
pairing school children's lunches. Cane
creai can also be used as a ready
made cake icing"
Here we have the "unprogressive
South" challenging Yankee shrewdness
at the Yankees own kitchen door. Of
fering substitute for one of the Yam
KEGS proudest products. Next we Will
have the Forest Service of the Depart
ment of Agriculture advising the New
Englanders that. as a conservation
measure to protect their maple trees,
they should use this substitute from
the South.
In order to acquaint Libraries and
the public more promptly with the
available current publications of the
Government. q weekly list is now being
prepared. It Is believed that the in
formation therein contained will be OF
great service to libraries in the selec-
ton of Government publications that
are of special interest to their readers
and that it will also better acquaint the
public with the real worth OF manv
Government publications that might
otherwise receive little attention.