davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
THIS AND THAT
; BY CHARLES &. TRAcEWELL.

It still believes that innate knowledge
may triumph over cleverness, especially
when that cleverness is of the sort in
volved In coming over great die
tionary until one has dragged out few
OF the differences and peculiarities in
herent in words and their meanings
and constructions.
The hope springs eternal in the
human breast OF every person APP
preached by another bearing "psy-
Geological test" of some sort or other
that he will be able to see the point"
at once. and by an instant response
flatten the pretenSions Of the other as
wafer-thin as the proverbial pancake.
~ y n
He has no chance. however.
Not only are all such tests" of the
all puzzles. in the best sense Of the
meaning of that word.
A puzzle is a puzzle-a problem con-
trived to exercise ingenuity and pa
thence. Declaring such to be "psy-
Geological test" does not change the
basic aspects of the matter
Especially in regard to word study
is this true. Where the so-called psy-
Geological test of the amateur falls
down Is that it fails to take into &C
count the psychology of the human
being, depending for its effectiveness
on a stampeding Of the faculty Of
thinking
It is undoubtedly true that many
persons who know the most are the
most easily ratified, when called upon
for an instant release Of their knowl-
edge.
To make such a demand upon the
average human being Is to defeat at
once the purposes for which legitimate
psychological tests were devised. The
popular "teasers" show nothing except
that one can or cannot answer such
questions quickly. They are not tests
either of knowledge or of mental as
tuteness. but simply of whether the vic
tim Is able to think his best under the
circumstances of a sudden demand.
The man who for his life cannot
suddenly think of something upon de-
mand may have no difficulty at all
in thinking of it when he needs 1t in
his work or play. II he needs it. and
cannot think Of 1t, he knows where he
can go to find 1t. He may be able 10
place his hands upon the word at any
time he wants it, but be totally unable
to answer some trick" question put
to him out Of thin air.
It Is a notorious fact that the best
solvers Of crossword puzzles are not
the brightest persons, the most learned
persons, or the most intelligent persons.
but young men and women who spend
a great deal of time at such puzzles
and are gifted with a certain cleverness
along that particular line, the line Of
the cross word puzzle.
Those who really understand and ap-
preciate words. as such. and in their
combinations, never make good cross
word puzzle fans" Addicts are per-
petually coming to one with true word
knowledge for help, only to go away
disappointed because his mind does
not run that way"
The ability to solve crossword puz-
zles does not brand one a master of
English. 1t simply shows that one can
work crossword puzzles. The mastery
of bridge or chess shows only master
OF bridge or chess. The power to cor
rectly answer rapid-fire psychological
tests" shows nothing much, one way or
other. when served up outside the SCI
entific laboratory.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02

after Mayor Walker in hanimer.and-
tongs fashion. Despite the fact that
La Guardia has made himself the party
nominee against the desires of some
of the Republicans Of the greater city,
he Is likely to receive the united sup
port of the party on election day. He Is
likely, too, to receive the support of
many of the independent voters-he
was elected to Congress in 1924 as a So
cialist. but swung back to his allegiance
to the Republican party in 1925. He
was president of the board Of aldermen
in New York City in 1920 and 1921.
La Guardia has had a picturesque
career. He was born In New York City
AZ years ago. His father. soldier,
took him to Arizona, where he went
through the grade and high schools
He returned to New York and studied
law. Later he entered the consular
service. became an interpreter in the
immigration service at Ellis Island and
still later was deputy attorney general
of the State of New York. He entered
Congress in 1917 and then went to war.
He became commander eventually of
the United States air forces on the
Italian Austrian front.
1t has been the ambition Of the flying
for a long time to make
the race for mayor of his city. 1t
is a great executive Office in this coun-
try as well as in New York City. The
contest which Mr.. La Guardia wages
with Tammany-and Mayor Walker
will be followed with interest In all
parts of the Nation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02

A friend pokes slip Of paper under
your nose.
Here. quick" he orders. give me 9
synonym for the word ice"
What is this--a trick2" you counter
TITS no trick; it's scientific test.
TEST of what?"
TITS a test of you"
mot of me; refuse to be tested"
"oh, 60 on; it won't hurt you. Give
me word, quick"
MY brain won't work that fast
You've got to give me time"
That's the point: To see how fast
your brain works"
I'm afraid you are going to be dis.
appointed, then. My trusty old brair
gets in q fuddle when somebody pokes
paper at 1t and demands an instant
reply"
"Or an endurance flyer, or great
composer, or an explorer Of the African
jungles, or a bridge shark, or o cross
word puzzle fan. You are right, never
will"
The guy who pokes paper under
your nose and demands jubilantly that
you answer something which ne Is
pretty sure you will not be able to an
swer is one of the most aggravatine
specimens before the American public
AS often as not he is a good friend
That is why it is so peculiarly discon-
certing. II you hated the sight OF the
fellow. things might be different. II
he were an enemy of yours, bent on
putting you in a bad light whenever
he could, you could refuse, either po-
litely or impolitely, as best suited the
mood of the moment, the brain teaSer
which he prof1ers.
The trouble is that you are but
human. You have a hope. away down
deep. that somehow or other you will
be able to answer his question IN q
most nonchalant manner, rlgnt on
the bat" as it were. thus putting him
to flight and utter confusion:
These trick questions which noat on
the popular wave are to the average
human being as sticky fly paper to
flv. We suppose a fly thinks 1t can
walk on the paper abstract the sweet
ness thereof and walk away without
getting caught Some of them do.
No doubt the rest think they can,
and the stolen sweets take on added
sweetness through the very danger In
volved.
The best way to answer friend who
RreetS you WIN d IlSU Va WINS ofN
asks YOU to do something or other
with them-instantly-w be to
wave him politely away.
If you refuse even to look at his pa
per, he cannot say to others, and Ger
tainly not to himself, that you have
failed miserably in a dainty little task.
There will always be the doubt in
your favor in his mind. II you, had out
tackled the thing. you might have got
away with it in fine style. Even ne can
not say YOU failed when you wouldn't
even exert yourself to the point OF look
ing at his list.
Human weakness. however, Is too
strong in the average human being 10
resist just looking at the words, or ques-
lions, or whatever the trick may be.
Mankind still believes in magic.
1t still thinks that by reading a book
1t may become versed in politeness,. or
be able to make speeches, or hold q
board of directors spellbound, or learn
the difficult French language over
night, or suddenly become healthy,
wealthy or wise.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
Flying High.

Representative Fiorello Henry La
duardia, the flying Congressman. who
served as major In the Air Corps dur
ing the World War, Is about to hop of
In an endeavor to smash record. He
seeks to bring to an end the long con-
ttnuance of domination by the Demo-
Gratis and Tammany in New York's city
hall. Mr.. La Guardia was the choice
last night Of the Republicans Of New
York City, meeting in unofficial con-
vention, for the nayoralty nomination.
His nomination must be confirmed at
the city primary later. There seems no
doubt whatever that he will be the Of
ficial nominee of the G. o. P. 1t is
the hope Of Mr.. La Guardia and his
supporters that he will also be consid-
cred the fusion candidate" to carry
the campaign against Mayor Jimmie"
Walker and Tammany in the coming
mayoralty scrap.
Tammany's strength in New York is
proverbial. When the Tammany forces
act together they can usually be count
ed upon for victory. Upsets have come
In the past when public opinion has
been strongly aroused against Tam
many. While there have been criticisms
OF the city administration during the
Walker Tammany regime of the last
three years, there is still lacking EVIL
dences of q great uprising such as has
been necessary in the past to bring
about an upset in the control OF gov
ernmental affairs in the greater city.
Tammany in the last few years, how
ever, has been facing a new problem.
The great increases in population In
Brooklyn and the counties which 60
to make up the greater city have lett
New York County, the home of Tam
many in a minority position. This
change In the population may have its
effect on the coming mayoralty election.
Mayor Walker has achieved a repu-
tation as a jester, "wise-cracker." He
may defeat Mr.. La Guardia in the
coming election-indeed, Walkers VIC
tory has been predicted many times,
no matter who should carry the Re-
publican banncr-but it is not likely
he will be able to laugh of Mr.. La
Gnardias candidacy. Mr.. La Guardia
is q fighter, and before the campaign
\ many days old will be found going
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
Plea for Straphangers
On Street Car Line

To the Editor of The Star:
Since Frederic William Wile's letter
to The Evening Star in re everyday,
morning and evening straphangers, pa
irons of the Mount Pleasant, should be
Mount Unpleasant, street-car line, l
have waited to see If more cars would
be put on in the morning and evening
hours. Well, there have not been. The
conditions Mr.. Vile daily experienced
for the past year still obtain. There
are four members of my family who
use the Mount Unpleasant, straphang-
ing cars daily-two trips each, each day
three for morning and evening trips.
Personally, can--as a rule-get seat
going south at 10 or 1890 am. But re-
turning north, even at 2, 2:30 or pm,
as a rule. / have to straphang until
Eighteenth street is reached. Cannot
the Public Utilities Commission order
the Unpleasant street car line to in
crease the number of cars on its line
and thus lessen the number of its Scent
fare straphangers? w. E. RYAN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
Cleveland Contempt
Case Is Criticized

From the Kansas City Star.
= A Cleveland judge has just heard his
own case against two executives OF a
local newspaper and dismissed charges
of contempt of court which he had
brought, based on editorial comment
appearing In the paper. The paper had
criticized the judges action In connec-
ton with the issuance of an injunction.
The dismissal left similar charges OF
contempt still pending against two other
executives of the paper.
Irrespective Of the merits of this par
ticular case, 1t Is an extraordinary con-
cept Of justice that permits q Judge to
hear a case which he himself has
brought when 1t concerns criticism made
outside his courtroom. Obviously, a
Judge must have broad powers to en-
force order In his court, but the theory
which makes him judge and prosecutor
of case like this requires Of him an
almost superhuman sense Of fair play
and violates the American tradition OF
justice.
If Judge feels that he has been per-
sonally libeled or that the influence of
his court has been impaired by criti-
cism, ne should be able to bring action
before another court. But no law should
permit or compel him to hear his own
charges,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
Legislation Favored
To Curb Loud Speaker

To the Editor OF The Star:
noted with considerable interest
the recent letter on your editorial page
signed by A. M. Gardner. In this letter
1t was pointed out that the numerous
radios In the neighborhood have had q
tendency to become very annoying Of
late. I am heartily in agreement with
this persons views. The situation is
becoming almost unbearable in some OF
the residential sections Of Washington.
Usually one or the other neighbours
radios are going all day long. Not only
that, but the people run their sets so
late at night that it is in many cases
impossible to get to sleep until after the
local stations have signed of, which Is
usually at midnight. Why can't there
be legislation in this respect? ANA
teurs are not allowed to operate spark
sets on the broadcast wave lengths, and
even low-powered regenerative sets are
on the taboo, but nothing is said or
done about loud speakers, which keep
a whole neighborhood awake at night,
not to speak about continuous annoy
ance during the daytime. II has even
been asked that the Government fur
ther limit the time allowance Of the
amateur. And amateurs are not even
on the broadcast wave lengths! If
there Is any move in this line, a bill
ought to also be put before Congress 20
limit the loud speakers. 1t wouldn't be
so bad II they weren't run late at night.
1t seems TO me that sure way to stop
the night owls is to stop the broadcast
ing stations in each time belt at, say
$50 pm. II no other legislation could
be accomplished, it is fairly certain
that regulation of broadcasting time
would help matters greatly, for If there
were no broadcasting stations going,
there could be no loud speaker annoy
ance. Certainly midnight is a crazy
late hour to sign broadcasting station
of. Even 10 or 1890 pm. is late ct
night. G. B. CHASE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
The Fare Rate Battle.

The first week of hearings on the
street car companies application for
higher fares has not been notable for
smashing victories or defeats for either
side-the public or the corporations.
The street car companies have failed
In an effort to have the Public Utilities
Commission sanction divorce OF
merger and economies of unified opera
ton from the pending rate case and
the commission has succeeded in put
ting the Capital Traction Co. on record
as refusing to interpret anything but
universal fare increase as meeting its
own demands for financial relief. These
points of view on the part of the rail-
way companies and of the Public
Utilities Commission were anticipated
from the beginning and were not sur
prising.
But the weeks hearings have been
notable in showing the temper and the
mettle of the new personnel OF the
Public Utilities Commission. The fire.
ouent clashes between representatives
of the corporations and of the Public
Utilities Commission have been chiefly
interesting because of contrast. They
have enlivened a proceeding which, in
the past, has been more or less routine
and altogether dull The members Of
the Utilities Commission have in some
instances conducted what amounts to a
cross-examination OF the corporations
witnesses. and the reaction on the part
of the witnesses has not been marked
by iovial good nature or cheerful COM
pliance. The impression is left, not only
with the public but doubtless with the
corporations as well, that the Public
Utilities Commission is determined to
leave no stone unturned in getting at
the root Of the fare question. That
should be accepted merely as the
primary duty of the commission, but
the uproar caused when an effort is
made by the commission to turn up
stone gives to the proceedings a color
and significance that have been lacking
before.
The Public Utilities Commission &C.
cupies a quasi-judicial role. 1t must
determine as between the merits Of the
corporations claims and the rights Of
the public. Its questions from the
bench are right and proper and If at
times they have assumed the char
acteristics of the public prosecutors
cross-examination, the purpose and eff
feet are desirable. The corporations
will gain nothing by their occasional
show of resentment over the nature of
the questions, and the continued search
on the part of the commission for facts
that are not clear. The commission,
and not the corporations, is the judge
of whether these questions are trivial
and unimportant. Nothing that has
even remote bearing on higher street
car fares is to be considered as I'M
worthy Of consideration.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

that a commemorative stamp is asked
for. Besides that, the department Is
deluged with crank suggestions from
persons who urge black bordered stamps
to match black bordered mourning
stationery, and lavender colored stamps
depicting lovers knot, for missives an
nouncing engagements and weddings.
Five special stamps are on this year S
schedule. Three have already been
issued and two more will be announced
soon.
Installation of the air conditioning
and cooling system for the Senate
chamber is now completed, in ample
season for the resumption of Senate
session in mid August. Mechanical re-
frigeration equivalent to the melting OF
$50 900 pounds Of ice daily will be en-
ployed to keep the Senator's comfort
able This Is the equivalent of $500
pounds per Senator. The Senate system
furnishes 10000 cubic feet Of air per
minute passed through oil filters to re-
move dust and dirt, then through water
sprays to cool it. Senatorial tempers
should be improved.
Washington newspaper correspondents
have a new incentive-in theory al
least-for bestirring themselves. A
81 900 cash prize now bangles before
their eyes, to be awarded by the Ma
tional Press Club for the most meri-
toriouS work" by q Washington CORE
spondent In 1929. The award Is ac-
tually from Chester D. Pugsley, New
York banker and philanthropist, who
has donated the cash. The Press Club
merely sets up the machinery for the
determination of the prize winner
The club is working on tentative plans
for q jury of five, none of whom shall
be active members of the club and at
least three of whom shall not be resi-
dents Of Washington. 1t is fully realiz-
ed that the decision will not be an
easy one to make and that. in the field
of three or four hundred eligibles. leach
man Is apt to think his own best"
(Copyright, 1920
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
Dollar Buys More,
Government Holds
From the Louisville Times.

From the Louisville Times.
The American dollar. once called
almighty" and, since the World War,
somewhat scoffed at because Of its re-
duced purchasing power, is looking up.
the Federal Government AYERS. 1t
bought more In June than it did three
years ago.
It bought little less butter, cheese
and meat last June than it commanded
in June, 1926, but 1t bought almost twice
as much rubber In the form of auto
mobile tires.
Nearly all Americans can do with a
little less butter, cheese and meat In
June If need be.
We, the American people. can live
upon the leafy vegetables In June II
only we can have tires which will not
be likely to blow out at 20 or so miles
IN hssKs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
Michigan Lumber
ssFrOntier'7 Vanishes
From the Sioux City Tribune.

From the Sioux City Tribune.
The tide of empire, according to the
old proverb, has been pushing its way
westward for a good many years. Here
and there it has left short stretch of
frontier behind, surrounded by modern
completely. But these spots are fast
vanishing. Year by year they grow
gether too much for them.
The last Of the great white pine log
drives Is now being finished in the
upper peninsula of Michigan. Nearly
100000 feet of logs are coming down
the Manistique River. When the drive
Is finished, lumbermen say, Michigan
will have seen the last Of the really
large-scale affairs Of that kind.
Thus another lost bit Of the old
frontier, anonymously preserved In as
up-to-date a State as Michigan, passes
his log drives were things of the from
tier. beyond all argument. They started,
as far as Michigan was concerned, when
Michigan was one vast wilderness, and
they are coming to an end because that
wilderness has vanished, giving way to
farms, manufacturing towns, railroads,
paved roads and golf courses.
1t was way back in 1882 that Michi-
gans logging days started. Some one
built. @ SaWmill at Saginaw In that
year and from that moment the axes
of the lumberjacks were constantly
flashing and ringing. Gangs Of men
worked month after month, heaping
tremendous piles Of odorous new logs
by the river bank. Then in the Spring.
when melted SHOWS gave the river added
power, the logs were "tumbled in and
floated down to the mills-fioated down
with busy lumberjacks along to make
the wild river behave itself. fioated
down to the tune Of danger and hard
ship and endurance and death.
And Michigan's forests disappeared
BY 1900 the lower peninsula was about
cleared. Ten years later the bulk of
the big operations in the upper penin-
sula were finished. There are still log
ging camps there, to be sure, but the
great days are ended. The Manistique
River is floating down its last big drive.
After this the story will be just about
closed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-02
Widened Ohio River
Will Spur Shipping
From the Pittsburgh Post-oazette.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Rivermen and shippers will not be
the only persons to feel gratifcation
over the announcement that United
states engineers have plans for an
extensive dredging of the Ohio River
The widening and deepening Of normal
channels is to be q sort of finishing
touch to the completion of the final
lock and dam in the canalization
project.
This Fall, Pittsburgh, with other
Ohio River towns and cities, will 1T
'tingly celebrate the completion Of the
big job. When the marine parade
leaves the local harbor on October IL
1t will move in greater ease and safety
as result of the dredging. All other
navigation will likewise profit through
iessened hazards and the possibility Of
making bsttss tinA ketuesn pertss