Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

positions In various branches Of the
Government service, and professors in
scientific schools and colleges all over
the country, as well as the everyday
variety Of tourists. are steering their
automobiles through New England this
Summer to visit several biological lab
oratories and museums in the vicinity
Of the new Acadia National Park, on
Mount Desert, Island, Me-, some i'm
portant sections OF which were con-
tributed by Summer colonists from the
National Capital.
While none Of the laboratories and
museums are q direct adjunct to the
park. Secretary Ray Lyman Wilbur ex-
plains, yet they are result OF the
establishment OF the park, which af-
fords an excellent field for the conduct
of their studies.
The first of these to be established
% the Mount Desert Biological Labora-
tory, situated ut Salisbury Cove. 1t
has been In operation nearly 10 years
and many important discoveries along
lines of marine biological research have
been made and reports thereon pub
lished.
The forest service of the State of
Maine has during the present year es-
tablished field laboratory at Bar Har-
Federal specialists. The study Of forest
insects, their causes and control Is the
special concern of this institution. This
laboratory Is making It's studies OF park
land and the experiments being made
are expected to lead to worthwhile re-
suits from q national park standpoint.
The Museum of Stone Age Antiquities,
which was opened about six weeks ago,
comprises an excellent exhibit Of Indian
ali akk IT, a. AWr
and has been worked out to show con-
vincingly something of the Indian oc-
cupation of early days. This museum
and equipment. together with sub
Stantial maintenance endowment, were
provided through the generosity Of the
late DR.. Robert Able, who Is well re-
membered in the Capital, and a few
friends inspired by his interest and rare
enthusiasm. It Is located on land adj
joining the Sieur de Monts Spring en-
trance to the park, and Is dedicated to
public use.
Another interesting museum at Isles
ford on little Cranberry Island. reached
by o short boat ride from either North
east or Southwest Harbor, on Mount
Desert Island, has also been thrown
open TO the park visitors. It contains
a unique collection Of prints and docu-
ments relating to the settlement and
Prof. william Otis Sawtell.
Recently papers throughout the
United States carried pictures Of the
nifty crew of the good ship Alyon, the
first women's training ship in the
world, at Deauville, France, manned by
girls prominent in society, the purpose
of the ship being to provide q new form
of physical training for them. Now it
so happens that Assistant United
States Attorney General George r.
Farnum and Mrs. Farnun, who have
just returned from France, had an
amusing visit to this ship. 1t was an
chored at the quay and one evening
| Mr.. and Mrs Farnum wandered down to
visit 1t, being intrigued by the enter
prise. and got into conversation with
one of the French navigators. Mrs.
Farnum spent her youth in Indian
Orchard, Mass, which town Is popu-
lated principally by French-Speaking
f, people. and she Is fluent converse
| ZIONIST in French. Although she has
crossed the ocean q good many times
and is married to an admiralty lawyer.
whose former practice in Boston con-
sisted principally Of marine cases, Mrs.
Farnum is no nautical expert. How
ever, she noticed that the nag was n.y.
ing, although 1t was well after sunset.
| and she called this to the attention Of
the navigator. whereupon to his great
discontinue he ran on board and yelled
down the hatchway. One of the pretty
rushed shamefacedly up and promptly
tugged the nag down.
Assistant Attorney General and Mrs.
Farnum Immediately after their return
to Washington had the pleasure Of in
PRODUCING TO Capital society william W.
and Arthur H. Henderson, jr, sons Of
the British secretary of foreign affairs,
| who had crossed with them on the
| steamship President Roosevelt. Both of
! these young men are bachelors, and re-
| side with their father, SO that theirs
is the only home in England in which
| three members Of Parliament are re-
siding.
Arthur Henderson is IS years Of age,
| a barrister and member of Parliament
! from Wales and parliamentary secretary
, to the attorney general of England.
| William W. Henderson is SO, Q journal
ist and head of publicity for the Labor
party in England, representing the Lon
| don district in Parliament.
"
The recent finding of the lost sword
Of Benjamin Franklin. which he wore
! al 1AlC COuA 10 "a GaI8AdHu Auo
| prior to the War of Independence
| arouses interest in the fact that in
the state library on the third floor
! of the old granite State War and
Navy Building, west of the White House,
which is one Of the most interesting
| rooms in this historic structure and
which formerly contained the original
Declaration of Independence, now safe
| ly enshrined In the Library of Congress,
among the most interesting relics are
the sword Of Washington and the staff
| four bequeathed by Washington to his
| four nephews and was in turn willed
| by Samuel Washington to his son, by
whom 1t was presented to Congress in
| l843.
The staff Of Franklin was bequeathed
! by Franklin to Washington, my friend
and the friend Of mankind" The will
/ describes it as my fine crabtree walk
| ing stick with gold head. curiously
wrought in the form Of. cap of lib
| erty. It was presented to me by that
excellent woman, Madame de Forbach,
| the dowsger duchess Of Deux-PontS."
Uncle Sam Is taking an interest
! even in the little picturesque adorn-
| ments of daily life. as is evident by the
fact that he recently employed an ex-
| pert, Thomas Quasi, to make q special
survey of the goldfish industry. and
has published book on the subject,
! so that every housewife who has .
bowl of goldfish In her home can now
have authoritative information regard
| ing the fancy varieties coupled with q
history of the United States interest
In the little goldfish.
The goldfish industry had its incep-
| ton In 1878, when Rear Admiral Daniel
Amen, United States Navy, presented to
| the United States Fish Commission,
now the Bureau of Fisheries. some gold
| fish that had bAen brought from ,JaDan