davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| riyes, whether it be the sixth. seventh
| or ninth floors, or whatever number, the
| only exit is by way of the laugh, either
genuine or simulated.
One may pretend, Of course, stolid
/ indifference. The danger of this
method, however, Is that the wise
cracker, offended, struck in his vitals by
upon you.
Then one may be forced to laugh out
of the other side of his mouth. The
easiest way. and perhaps the best, every
thing considered, is to lead the cheering
section. Begin to grin the moment the
clever boy begins. Let him see that
you fully appreciate his abilities. Let
him deduce-and he is ready deduceT
that you think, with little more
practice, he could replace Will Rogers
almost any time.
The result will be that he will reserve
YOU for victim for the eighth floor
You fool him by getting off at the
seventh.
There still remains the why" of
these attempts to be clever.
One would not say anything against
cleverness. 1t has its place in society;
but, after all, it is only place.
ClevernesS cannot take the place OF
integrity, of uprightness, of honest
thoughts and purposes, of decency, OF
Righteousness, of kindness, of a hundred
and one qualities which men and women
may acquire.
Yet it is commonly observed that
thousands of persons would rather turn
bon-mot, even If it is against dear
friend, than suffer the accusation OF
being good.
To be told that they are good causes
them to blush but to know that they
perhaps hurt the feelings of friend by
their talk only makes them declare,
"Oh, he'll get over it,
The sad part of it is that only very
small percentage of the aspiring humor-
lists have any ability along their chosen
line.
God did not intend them for funny
men. He made them decent citizens,
perhaps. good fathers, good working
men. Yet every last man OF them pc
lieves himself clever, able to turn an
how cheap, after all, is laughter, de-
pending upon nothing, too often not
worth laughing at.
X
One might think, offhand, that the
smart city Teller" might be more given
to attempts at clevernesS than the coun-
try boy.
The truth is that there Is no more
vicious wisecracker than the morons
of the small towns, to whom no one nor
any subject is sacred.
No, the desire to be thought clever,
at any price, lies deep in human nature.
Perhaps it is based, as so many other
desires are, on deep seated infertority
! complex. Illiteracy has left its faint.
Those who know the least aspire to be
regarded as real bright"
Their children, even though they be
educated in evGry sense of the term,
still harbor that old inferiority COM
pick. Fearful that others will regard
them as dumb, they try hard to place
themselves as bright and shining lights.
The world would be better off If all
such would content themselves with a
simple, courteous exchange of greetings
with their fellow human beings. Let
them leave cleverness to the truly clever,
and be happy by being decent. though
dull.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16

time, large saving on bulk freight,
extend and distribute industrial devel-
opment and help to decentralize con-
geSted centers of population"
THE Presidents hope for valuable
system of inland waterways is not
beyond attainment" comedies the Okla
homa City Times, adding that "the inn
mediate benefit of the new measure is
that it will place a large number of
men at work at time when many are
jobleSs." The Birmingham News sees
"a substantial stride toward improving
the transportation facilities of North
America" and predicts that "as the
years pass, billions will go into the
dredging and deepening of waterways.
not only, but into the cutting of canals
for the furtherance and expediting OF
the Nations commerce"
The New York Evening Post offers
the Judgment: MANY of these projects
are largely founded upon faith that
improved navigation will bring re-
vival of shipping on rivers and chan
nels whose traffic almost vanished in
the great era of railroad expansion A
renaissance of river shipping has come
in that part of the Mississippi system
where Improvements have already been
made, but time alone will justify some
of the great OUTLAWS made by the Gov
eminent"
Commerce will be able to move to
the sea at New Orleans through con-
tinuouS adequate river channels" says
the New Orleans Times Picayune, OBJ
serving that "the Government now
stands committed to the plan in its
entirety" The Erie Dispatch Herald
lauds the project as whole, and es-
pecially approves provision for the
Delaware River and for Western Penn
sylvania. The Little Rock Arkansas Ga
Zette calls it "the response of Congress
to one of the greatest needs of the
Nation" while demanding future atten-
ton to the Arkansas River The Salt
Lake Deseret News calls it "a ma
lestic scheme" while holding that athe
West has other water improvement pro-
grams in whose efficacy it firmly be-
lieves"
During the session." states the Chi
cago Daily News, Congress was criti-
c1zed for many sins of omission and
for much woeful waste of time and en-
ergy. Yet it has to its credit con-
structive service of great value. Its
waterway legislation alone is enough to
make the session memorable in a posi-
tive and progressive sense. The pre-
posterous limitation of water flow at
tached by Congress to the Illinois link
OF the LakeS-to-Gulf Waterway must
be eliminated at an early day. Until it
Is eliminated the legislation so de-
servedly lauded by Mr.. Hoover will be
marred by grave and wanton blunder"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
Old and New History.

Ore hundred and forty years ago
today, on July 49, 1890, President Wash
tngton affixed his signature to AN act
for establishing the temporary and per-
manent seat of the Government of the
United States" and the destiny of the
Capital City on the banks of the Po-
tomac was formally written.
There is to be a patriotic ceremony
this afternoon at the odd Brick Capt.
toll concentrating the event. The
date itself is relatively insignificant,
for the Presidents signing the measure
merely followed in due course the long
and heated battle that had marked its
frar!ling and passage by Congress. The
choice ofthe location involved the youth
full Nations fiscal policy as much as
geography and came in the nature of
q compromise between the already
sharply conflicting views of the North
ern and Southern States. Through
swaps between Jefferson and Hamilton,
the measure itself was passed by the
Senate on July by the slender margin
of two votes, and by the House on July
Q by three. July Is stands as con-
venient mile post, and its recognition
is appropriate.
The future Capital, more than the
past, however, is important to the half
million or so Americans who live here
today. They have witnessed the dawn
of new era in Capital building. Long
and pitiful years of mean and parsi-
monious neglect have been followed by
an awakened consciousness of RESPONSE
bility on the part of the Nation to
symbolic, in the Capital now building,
the Nations spiritual and physical at
tainment "Old Brick" everywhere is
giving way to white stone.
Coupled with this recognition of the
need for material development and
Identification of the Capital, the mem
bers of this community look forward to
the day when their fellow Americans
will open to them the doors of full par
ticipation, as Americans, in the affairs
of the Nation that they have helped
to build; will free them from the
bondage Of taxation without repre-
sentation and will realize that those
whom fate or fortune have destined to
live in the Capital of free republic
are not forever to be set aside as aliens
IN the affairs of its government.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

A grateful but slow-moving Republic
has just done justice to faithful ma
tional servant, Elwood Babbitt, United
States trade commissioner at VAN
couver, British Columbia. He has been
awarded substantial sum by Congress
for the loss of all his personal effects at
Toxic during the Japanese earthquake
of 1928. In addition, Mr.. and Mrs.
Babbitt suffered the loss of one Of their
daughters on the same tragic occasion.
The family arrived in Toxic the morn
ing of the very day the earthquake
occurred. Not long afterward Mr.. Bah
bitt was transferred to duty as COM
mercial attache in Australia and later
to Vancouver. The appropriation be-
latedly compensating him was included
in one of the eleventh-hour deficiency
bills at the instigation of Senator Pitt
man, Democrat, of Nevada.
X
Mrs. Reed Smoot, charming bride of
the senior Senator from Utah, is famed
throughout the Mormon world for her
zeal in behalf of the Latter Day Saints
Hospital for Children at Salt Lake City.
For years she has devoted the bulk of
her time to its supervision, especially to
the task of raising funds for its mainte-
nance. Mrs. Smoot hit upon the idea
of asking children to contribute annu-
ally a penny apiece for each year of
their respective lives. The result today
is revenue of some 10000 year to-
ward upkeep of the hospital. Mrs.
Smoot rejoices to know that there's a
kindred spirit in the senatorial circle at
Washington-Senator James Couzens,
Republican, of Michigan. Jim" Couzens
has lavished millions upon welfare
projects for poor and crippled children
in Detroit and elsewhere.
X X
From Michigan some observant VOL
VERNE reader of these observations rises
to comment on recent reference to
Senator Vandenberg's dazzling white raj
ment-one of the glittering features of
the pending naval treaty debate. Don't
let Arthur get away with any claim
that this outfit is new" says the cor
respondent, because it amt. He had
it made for his campaign out here in
1923. He always wore it when he was
addressing woman voters. 1t was on
one of those occs-'~7S that an OPP
ponent insisted on having Vandenberg
say whether he was waging a sartorial
or senatorial campaign"
Copyright, 1e3o)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
States Should Be United in
Better Laws for Workers

To the Editor OF the Star:
How often do we say, the United
States of America? Let us say that
over again, united" Are we united?
Is it not one State trying to Guido the
other and at variance for industries?
We do hope that Congress will pass
a law for the five-day week, eight-hour
day. Take the married women OUT of
industry and business, women whose
husbands are earning good salaries;
teachers, paid social workers, Catholic
charities, Y. w. C. A., city pay rolls
and State pay rolls. Parents educating
their sons and daughters feel discour-
aged because there Is no employment
for them. So many positions are given
married women through politics.
President Hoover knows of Russia's
trials, of the starvation, hunger, when
people ate the bark of the trees, the
grass; and were found dead of starva-
ton with grass in their mouths. Ma
tllre had been unkind to Russia. The
sun can be cruel as well as good. The
drought of Russia caused more sorrow
than all the wars. Now Russia is
forcing its women into industry. Any
one witnessing the distress of the young
animal taken away by force from its
mother can understand the heartaches
of the Russian women. A country
cannot be a happy one that builds its
wealth and progress on the heartaches
of its women and children.
In some States the employees work IA
hours a day. Let us have uniform
hours through all the States. The
high tension of the machine and the
monotony! The 'employe should not
work more than five days a week.
That will distribute the work more
freely. Some employment for all those
who wish 70 work. Idle people are I'M
happy people.
we have too many churches-more
religion in everyday life. Stone and
mortar does not make religion. We
have also too many automobiles.
PEOPLE who do not walk five blocks,
how can they keep well? How can
they keep their blood in circulation?
Here in New Bedford, the cotton
mills and factories are in an ideal
place, right on the water, with an
abundance of French windows. The
employees have a beach, Hazelton Park,
with tennis grounds, bowling alleys,
and the loveliest trees. When think
of the factory help crowded In the sub
ways, in the sitting, soft coal smoky
city, how fortunate the New Bedford
owners are to give their employees the
bright clear sky with the golden sun
shine and the COOL balmy airl New
York is not ideal for the worker in
Summer. The trolley cars are clean
and comfortable with leather seats.
There are three or four parks. The
Commons has the loveliest garden OF
roses. Fairgrounds for the children.
There are neat, trim cottages with gar
Gems, Now that June and roses are
with us, it is exquisite. My dear
mother and always go to the poor
district when we visit a town. There
we can understand the heart OF
the people. The tariff may prove a
blessing. Mr.. Hoover has solved very
trying, difficult calamities. He will
lead America out of unemployment.
GERTRUDE FERGUSON.
New Bedford Mass.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16

c. Who is the president Of the Bank
of international Settlements? Where is
ito. E.
A. Gates McGarrah, formerly chair
man of the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York, has been elected the hrst
president of the Bank of International
Settlements. The bank is in Basel,
Switzerland, where exceptional tax-free
privileges have been granted It. 1t will
deal only with nations, and not tndi-
viduals. The directorate Is made up, in
the main, of direct representatives of
the great national banks of England,
France, Germany. Italy, Belgium and
japan. 1t is an outgrowth of the
Young plan and is to act as trustee
to receive the payments of war repara-
tons from Germany and allocate them
to the allied and associated powers
which won the World War.
@ What is a trot line?-A. D. G.
A. 1t is a stout line reaching across
a stream, or for some distance from one
bank, bearing at frequent intervals
single hooks hung by short lines.
@. How many islands comprise the
City of Venice?-H. M.
A. It is situated on 100 islands in a
shallow bay of the Adriatic Sea, the
Gulf of Venice. The islands are close
together and are only separated by mar
row canals, which serve as streets.
There are about IT'S Of these. over
which there are 378 bridges. The city
is 2I2 miles from the mainland and
connected by railroad bridges which
contain 222 arches. 1t covers an area
of 944 square miles and the population
in 1921 was 519,208.
@. Why did oxford choose the Bixby
letter of Lincoln's as an example of
good English?-W. S. 7.
A. The Bixby letter was written by
President Lincoln to Mrs. Bixby at the
time he learned that she gave six or
seven sons to the Union cause. It is
considered one of the best examples of
rhythmica1 English and is written in
somewhat the same manner as free
verse. It is said that oxford University
regards the Gettysburg address and the
Bixby letter as two examples of beauti-
full rhythimical English.
Q. What is the population of Ceylon?
A. The population of Ceylon is esti-
mated at about 5,25o,0O0.
@. How many community trusts are
there in the United States?-W. N.
A. There are now rs, and they are
administering trusts totaling $32. 000,0 900.
Last year they distributed $803.636.
@. What is the chief center of the
worship of Khrishna?-P. S. G.
A. Mathura is the center of the wor-
ship of the Divine Beloved"
@. Was domestic news published in
} the first English news sheets?-C. N.
A. The sheet was limited to foreign
news.
@. Has the New York Athletic Com
mission ruled out foul blows?-F. F.
A. The commission has legalized low
punches, but permits the fighters to
wear a special protective apparatus
which will obviate injury from blows
in the abdominal region.
@. Which is more stylish, bobbed or
long hair?-D. L. G.
A. Each style has its opponents. It
is stated, however, that in a single
chain of beauty shops women had 1000
fewer haircuts this February than in
the corresponding month of last year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
The "U. S. of Europe. !"

M. BRAND has cause for satisfaction
with the replies now piling in upon him
anent his memorandum proposal for
European federation. Two answers
which are of paramount interest to
France-from Italy and Germany
must fill the master of the Quai d. Or
say with hope that his grandiose plan
for United States of Europe may some
day come within the scope Of realiza-
ton.
M. BRAND is entitled to regard it as
a fortuitous circumstance that his over
lures for closer union of Old World
states synchronizes with a decided cas-
ing of the strain in F'ranco-Italian
naval relations. Italy has just acoui-
esced in Frances proposal of a six
month building holiday" after the
French had declined Mussolini's sugges-
ton of an indefinite suspension.
Both Italy and Germany, as well as
some OF the lesser European countries,
have underlined in their rejoinders to
BRAND that no federation of Europe
should be considered that would, or
could, become a rival to the League
Of Nations. Germanys communication
sent to Paris last night, is emphatic
on this score. She insists that the
League must not suffer by the activity
of any pan-European arrangement, and
she opposes the setting up of any new
group formations within the League.
All forms of closer European co-opera-
ton, Berlin stresses, must be tested by
their effects on Geneva and, If neces-
sary, submitted to the whole League.
Paris dispatches report that Ger
many's views had been anticipated
M. BRAND. None of them, 1t is de-
clared, is considered impossible of full
fillment. II the contention of Italy,
Germany and other states for United
States of Europe, that shall in no wise
dim the glory or crc-s the purposes of
the League, is sustained it begins to
look at long range as if Brands feder-
alton might eventuate in nothing but a
League of Nations in another and per-
haps attenuated form. If, too, Ger
manyS insistence-and that of others
that in no way shall it be used for dis
elimination against any country or
continent"-ie., the United States of
America, primarily-is indicated, Uncle
Sam can view the federation without
alarm.
AS all of our Presidents since Wood
row Wilson have pointed out, the
League of Nations has virtues and uses
for Europe, with respect to which this
country has no semblance of quarrel
or i'll wishes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16

ship by about one-half. This viii
make q very large additional carry
ing capacity for the pay load" In
addition to its superiority to aluminium
in the matter of lightness, it Is even
more durable. Aluminium is subject to
an internal disease known as fatigue"
Beryllium, as far as known, is not
subject to this ailment.
At present the metal is produced only
in the form of beryllium oxide, which
is but one step removed from the pure
metal. The present success in cheaper
production is believed to promise an
early further reduction to 50 pound,
at which rate it will be practical to
begin large-Scale production and to
start the use of the metal in the manu-
featuring of planes.
The coming of aluminium marked an
epoch In the development of the metals
using arts. Beryllium may carry them
farther forward. One wonders whether
new discoveries. are in store to assist
man in his mechanical evolution.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This great service Is maintained by
The Evening Star for the benefit of its
readers. who may use it every day with
out cost to themselves. ALI they have to
do is ask for any information desired
and they will receive prompt answers
by mail Questions must be clearly
written and stated as briefly as pos
sible. Inclose 2-cent stamp for return
postage and address The Evening Star
Information Bureau. Frederic J. Has
kin, director, Washington, D. c.
@. What size flag should be hung
from 90-foot flagpole?-W. C.
A. A nag 1oxl9 feet would be suit
able.
@. In reading stage directions, on
which side of the stage is right center?
Is it the right of the actor facing the
audience, or the right OF the audi
ence?-H. w.
A. It is to the right from the specta-
tors point of view.
@. What is the status of Richard E.
Byrd in the Navy?-B. M. G.
A. 1t is that of rear admiral retired,
on active duty, and on extended leave.
He receives the pay of rear admiral
retired, which is $4,000 year.
@. What German dialect is consid-
cred the standard pronunciation?-B. G..
: A. In Germany there is no standard
of pronunciation that Is acknowledged
and absolutely followed by the mass OF
intelligent people. The so-called stand
ard of some people is the pronunciation
of the stage, which again is divided into
the pronunciation of tragedy and COM
edy. In the latter, of course, Is heard
the more natural pronunciation OF
everyday life. The sectional differences
are very marked, but in general there
is North German and South Ger
man pronunciation.
@. What is the maximum weight the
average steel, clincher rim bicycle wheel
will hold?-G. r. w.
A. There are quite a few different
factors which enter into the strength OF
a built-up wheel as well as the road
conditions and the conditions of the
tires. AS far as we have been able to
ascertain there have never been any
definite tests made to determine this.
An authority says he has known bicy-
Gle to carry q weight of approximately
800 pounds on two wheels, but he does
not know how long the bicycle could
stand this weight nor whether it would
have been possible over rough, stony
road surface. The condition of the
tightness of the spokeS, as well as the
angle of the lacing and the strength Of
the spoReS, also contributes to the serv-
iceability and strength of the wheel.
@. Should one say "I wonder who I
shall see today" or II wonder whom
shall see today?"-N. E. H.
A. The objective form whom" is
correct.
@. How many college graduates are
there in the United States?-P. A. B.
A. According to the latest statistics
available, there are 1,694.218 college
graduates in the United States, 1,099,-
428 Of which are men and 594,890 Of
which are women.
@. How much money is given to
charity in the United States?-C. H. G..
A. Elwood Street, director of the
Community Chest in Washington, D. c.,
estimates that the total amount given
to charity in the United States is over
$500, 900, 900 year.