davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
LONDON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

still to burst forth in all his luminosity.
Many political prophets thought Dwight
w. Morrow was cast for this role. His
demonstrated capacity as q conciliator
in Mexico was expected to be dupli-
Gated in London. Conference observers
have come to the conclusion that Sec
rotary StimSon is determined there shall
be no individual plays. Nobody on the
Delegation team, 1t appears, is to be
sent down the field on a spectacular o5-
yard run to touchdown. Any scoring
that is done is to be done by the team
as whole. The cabinet officers, Sena-
tors and statesmen who comprise the
American representation seem to &C
quiesce in this arrangement--with how
much enthusiasm Is not known.
Here's an episode that ensued the
other day at question time in the House
Of Commons:
Mr.. Wardlaw-Milne (Unionist, Kid
derminster) asked the secretary for for
eign affairs whether any proposals had
been made toward the repayment of
the loans for industrial purposes in
CURED by certain Southern States now
forming part of the United States of
America, before the Civil War, and the
repayment of which was repudiated,
and what was the amount Of principal,
with interest to date. due to bondhold-
ers in this country in respect Of such
debts.
The foreign secretary, Mr.. Henderson,
replied: 1.-THE answer to the first part
Of the question is In the negative. AS
regards the second part, would refer
the honorable member to the Council of
Foreign Bondholders, who are in DOS
session Of such information IS Is avail
able on this subject"
= x
The London Times still publishes on
its front page-which Is filled with adj
vertiSements as Of yore-its long-famed
agony column" or what is formally
termed the personal column" Weird
and mysterious messages from anony-
nous advertisers Ali it from day to day.
Here's typical one from the Times
Of February 20:
"If you are in earnest, should well
come it. for after all there Is no reason
to continue this state Of affairs. 1928"
Estranged couples and lovelorn men
and women habitually communicate, in
language known only to themselves,
through the agony column" of the
Times.
John Bull Is vastly more interested at
the moment In the United Empire
party than in the Naval Conference,
The party has just been organized by
London's multi-millionaire newspaper
peers, Viscount Rothermere and Lord
Beaverbrook. It Is an effort to bring
about protection In Great Britain, in
place Of free trade. Incidentally its
object is to unhorse Stanley Baldwin as
leader OF the Conservative party. En-
thusiasm for the United Empire party"
Is temporarily confined to the columns
Of the widely circulated popular news
papers In London and the provinces,
controlled by Rothermere and Beaver
brook. But as the result Of the ire
mendous publicity they can give the
project, its steady growth is freely pre-
dicted. How many seats the new party
could win in general election is an
other matter. Many politicians think
the only result will be still further to
weaken Conservatism and strengthen
Labor in the House of Commons.
(CopyriRht, 1pa0)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
A Great American.

Mr.. Justice Holmes Is eighty-nine
years old, but there must be more than
tinse Of reluctance on the part Of that
unnumbered host Of admirers who join
m the birthday congratulations. Eighty
nine birthdays are so many! One could
wish that there were but sixty-two Of
them, say, and that for the next TWEEN
cy-seven years, and more, there would
be sitting on the bench Of the United
states Supreme Court that grand old
man whose contributions to law and
letters and the philosophy Of living
have set him just q little bit apart and
little bit ahead Of his fellow men.
In the twenty-seven years and three
months that he has been a member Of
the court, Justice Holmes has been held
up and praised as the great dissenter, u
q term that is unfortunate and In way
misleading in its connotation. For while
he has never failed to exercise the right
OF dissent, there has been only one
ease where he stood alone against the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

opinion Of the court, and 1t has recent
ly been set down that for every dis
senting opinion he has written or In
which he has concurred, he has Wrlt-
ten or concurred in at least eight or
ten of the decisions OF the court. Not
that there Is anything to be criticized
or feared In the expression OF dissent
There should be and 1t is devoutly 70
be hoped that there always will be able
dissenters on the bench of the highest
court Of the land. But the real pic
ture OF this great man and great jurist
Is clouded and one loses its full per-
spective by dwelling too long upon the
mere fact Of his dissent. Most OF his
opinions, expressing the thought OF
either the majority or the minority Of the
court, have added to the knowledge OF
men who seek out the straight road for
those who must follow. Their pres
ervation is secured, for they become the
molds in which thought is patterned.
One may forget the points in law in
volved, what the court decided or why
it reached its decision in the Rosika
Schwimmer case, but one does not for
get that IF there is any principle
in the Constitution that more impera-
lively calls for attachment than any
other it is the principle of free thought
not free thought for those who agree
with us, but freedom for the thought
that we hate"
Such passages, and there are many,
become identified more with the strug-
giles Of men to perfect their art of
living together than with the musty
records of the law. A great American,
as well as q distinguished juriSt, has
celebrated his eighty-ninth birthday.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

now Immensely stronger than Britain
on land and In the air. The British de-
sire to 60 to Geneva and effect a re-
duction Of French land and air equip
ment and personnel. Britain cannot
successfully do so unless there is q pre-
vious exhibition Of the successful re-
duction Of armed forces on the sea
Therefore, ultimately, the British will
possibly be willing to hand the French
one more security document in return
for Frances willingness to reduce her
tonnage Of cruisers, destroyers and sub
marines.
Great Britain is getting tired Of
giving more and more security to
France. as in the Locarno treaty for
the protection Of France from German
aggression. And the British also are
more and more inclining to the Amert-
can view of the dangerousness Of COM
mitments to 60 to war to prevent war.
But just the same. in the present cir
cumstances, the British may consent TO
attach their signature to one more
promise of an armed guarantee IN rer-
erence to the Mediterranean, with the
prospect that the signatures OF France,
italy, Spain, Jugoslavia, Greece, Turkey
and Albania will follow, If the French
would thereby sleep easier. brtain
probably will be finally willing to help
mix the sleeping potion, altnougn
making faces while doing 1t.
Japan would also probably sign the
Mediterranean pact. or any other pact
keeping Japan in correct high interna.
tional society. Thus, with British and
Japanese help, France may be sootned
into deeper security and repose without
the assistance Of the United StaCes.
This would insure o fairly reasonable
limitation Of all vessels Of 10000 tons
down.
Meanwhile the reduction Of total
tonnages and expenses Of vessels ex-
ceeding 10000 tons is already quite
certain. The ultimate results OF the
conference still are in the balance.
with the pessimistic scale unduly
weighted by the extreme unfortunate
ness OF the American delegatlonS
tongue tied ttmidity In dealing with the
press.
ACopyright, lo3ol
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
BY WILLIAM HARD,

LONDON, March S.-The Naval Con-
ference may last anywhere from two to
six weeks longer. The American dele
cation has wired the State Department
for further funds to last q month and
the department has raised the estimate
for the delegation to provide for six
weeks longer.
This is thought to indicate the firm
resolution Of the Hoover administration
ell possible results have been secured.
The biggest problem the conference
now has on its hands is the delegation
from Paris. The keynote Of the confer
ence these ensuing days is the diplo-
matte duel between France and Great
Britain. The French still profess that
no drastic reduction of the French ton
mage demands Is possible without fur
ther treaties OF security. France would
ike two treaties, one covering the Med
iterranean, guaranteeing all powers
one covering the whole world pledging
the signers Of the Kellogg BRAND pact
to rush to one another'S defense against
an aggressive violator Of the pact.
= \ + 4
The American delegation Is con-
WINGED that these demands are prema-
ture. The delegation is sure that the
present figure Of French tonnage should
be considerably lowered on the basis of
existing security treaties, such as the
League Of Nations covenant, the Kellogg
pact, the Locarno treaty and numerous
special alliance treaties between France
and Belgium, Poland and CZechoslo-
vakia. The American view Is that
France already possesses more docu-
mentary security than at any previous
time In all French history and also
more special alliance security than any
other country in the world.
| On this basis the American delega-
ton believes that France will reduce
her tonnage figure before proceeding to
make propositions for additional securi-
| ty treaties. No such proposition so far
has been addressed to the American
delegation. The only knowledge pos
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Tert, jeremiah, pi;ti2: "A lodging
Mace of tDdptGrtIo men,"

Some years ago I was talking with a
man who had been conspicuous In the
industrial world, and for an avocatlon
was given to classical study, In Wmch
he had made himself place OF as
tinction, AS he talked with me he dis
closed a spirit of restlessneSS ana dlS-
illusionment He was tired OF the So
cial occupations in which from time 10
time he INDUCED, the pressure OF busl-
ness cares, and even the pursuit OF
his favorite studies palled upon him.
st wish I knew of some place to which
1 could retire and find complete sur
cease from the world Of affairs" ne
said. He was not a recluse, but on the
contrary was a lover of his KIND. We
believe that his yearning for a perlod OF
retirement was the expression OF a
normal-minded man. He was over
strained and needed that kind OF re-
freshment that comes from sense
of detachment from the pressing
activities Of life. If Theodore Roosevelt
called his age strenuous" what snail
we say about the present? At no time
in our history has life been more In
tense or the demands more persistent
than in this present period. Even the
youth betrays fatigue. Everything is
Speeded up, This very condition makes
imperative the reed Of well defined
periods for physical and mental rest
and the more serious consideration of
the real values of life. The only values
that seem to be conspicuous are those
that relate to gainful occupations, the
pursuit of pleasure or the emolument of
once. When the great Master Of men
realized the exactions under which His
immediate followers were laboring, He
called them apart into q desert place
to crest awhile" In His own brief,
intense ministry He withdrew Himself
from the stupendous tasks to which He
consecrated Himself. 1t has been true
Of every great leader in any sphere of
human action that his best work has
followed a period of deep reflection and
protracted quiet. 1t would be safe to
assume that our efficiency would be
greatly increased were we to have pre-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

M. Tardieu's disappearance from the
Naval Conference is universally and
sincerely deplored. Though it fell to
his lot to place in the conferences
path the stumbling block which
Frances naval demands constituted
the late premier's fellow delegates
acquired and retained the greatest re-
spect for him. He was tenacious with
out being truculent, carrying his
Gallo iron hand invariably within a
velvet glove. The conference press
gallery in particular will miss Tardieu.
Journalist himself to the core, he was
q past master of the art of dealing with
newspaper men. He received them
freely at his headquarters in the Carl
ton Hotel, talked with corresponding
communicativeness, and, while regis
tering apparently complete frankness,
knew always how to play Frances
game with consummate cleverneSs.
While Tardieu played first violin in the
conference orchestra the French had
incomparably the best press" even in
Great Britain itself, which is in far
from happy mood over the naval pre-
tensions OF the neighbor across the
Channel. Tardieu says he learned how
to deal with newspaper men as the re-
suit OF his year and a half in wartime
washington as French high commits
Sioner.
** *
What's in namesP In English, Tar
dieu can be freely translated into late
god" His successor Is named Chau-
temps, which can be as freely rendered
into hot time" The radical Socialist
ministry which succeeds the Tardieu
cabinet is, by general consent, headed
Tor an extremely hot time. Its demise
may be matter of record even before
these lines can be published in the
United States. Since the armistice the
French have had something more than
20 different governments-an average
Of nearly two a year. Tardieu reigned
largely three months.
4
Britons will tell you that nothing so
aptly illustrates the prevailing respect
for law In these islands as the voIun-
tary payment of radio-set license fees.
Everybody who possesses set is sub
ject to license tax Of 10 shillings
($2.50) year. No tax collector or in
Spector is ever sent around to get the
money. A person who equips himself
to 1isten-in Is simply supposed, as soon
as his outfit is In working order, to
step around to the nearest post Office
substation and buy license The au-
thoritieS believe that bootlegging OF
radio sets, ie., non-payment of the tax,
Is rare almost to the point of nom
existence. As license fees aggregate
something like $4.5oo,000 a year, it
means that roundly 100000 persons
voluntarily obey the license law. This
years revenue Is expected to run far
ahead Of 100000. as wireless" like
radio in the United States, is increas-
ing in popularity from hour to hour. It
is practically government monopoly,
though nominally controlled by q pri-
vate company called the British Broad
casting Corporation. The post ONCE
authorities collect the license tax, but
turn it over to the "B. B. c." minus
only q nominal percentage for the work
involved. All the money Is devoted to
maintenance of stations and furnishing
OF programs.
y 4
IF the American delegation at the
Naval Conference Is to develop a states
man star Of the first magnitude, he has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
The Michigan Avenue Death Trap.

A difncult situation has developed in
Brookland, in the matter Of the cor
rection Of the grade crossing at Michi-
gan avenue. That crossing Is one Of
the most dangerous ever known In the
District, masked on one side completely
and so nearly masked on the other as
to prevent clear view Of the tracks for
a safe distance. Gates have been In
stalled and are for the most part main
tanned faithfully. But gates are not a
sufficient protection-have never been
considered an adequate safeguard.
Tragedies have occurred at this point,
and as long as the street Is used at
grade over the tracks they will con-
tinue to be enacted.
A block to the south of this crossing
/ o street, OF the direct line of Michigan
I avenue travel, has been carried across
/ the tracks by . viaduct with o street
car line. 1t is not wide enough for the
full how of trafic If Michigan avenue
were to be closed. 1t is now proposed
to widen it; indeed, virtually to re-
build it. An item to that effect has
been recommended for insertion in the
District appropriation bill, equitably d.
viding the cost between the District
and the railroad company. But the
residents Of Brookland protest against
the closing Of Michigan avenue and the
detection Of trafic to the Monroe street
viaduct. They have Just expressed
themselves emphatically to that effect
in q meeting.
There should be two viaducts In
Brookland, the existing one at Monroe
street and a new one at Michigan ave-
nue., the latter either on the present
direct line of the street or on o slightly
detected line such Is is proposed BY
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission with q view to a better
utilization Of the space at this point
There should be no makcshift post
ponements of the Michigan avenue
viaduct work. Even II the Monro'
street viaduct should be widened Il
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

High-power telescopes are objects Of
especial interest to astronomers Of
present. AS a student Of the political
skies Mr.. Hoover does not need any
thing of the kind In order to discern
a prosperity constellation, which in q
short time will become distinctly visible
in all parts Of the world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
SHOOTING STARS.
BY pHnANDER JOHNSON.

New Leaves.
On New Year day when hopes were gay
I Stunned repentant grief,
And in the good old-fashioned way
Turned over q new leaf.
March winds are strong. Spring comes
along
The Winter chill Is brief.
Each tree in all the woodland throng
Turns over a new leaf.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

London players presenting Shake
speare have in one slight respect proved
. disappointment to playgoers who
think that English to be correct must
show certain differences Of tone and
enunciation from American speech. 1t
has been demonstrated that the cult
waited players Of the United States and
Of Great Britain speak their common
language in the same manner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Justice Holmes of the Supreme Court
Is in his ninetieth year, and has never
yet been under pragmatic suspicion
that he has not done everything pos
sible to speed up the work of the
judiciary. 80 -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Lieut.. Afford J. williams resigns from
the Navy in order to devote himself
to aviation. The ocean as q scene Of
fascinating adventure has been dis
placed by the boundless sky.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

The Treasury Department was hay
ing considerable difaculty so years ago
ar,..4;n~ through the mutilation Of
Silver. Msr Si1 8: : 1850 e., says vs. ,.
q portion of the metal is taken away
and its absence only aScertained by
carefully weighing the coin, has long
been a device of counterfeiterS. Until
a few months ago the gold coins were
the only ones that were nutilated for
fraudulent purposes. The case Is diff
ferent now. It Is evident that the various
silver coins are being tempered with.
Complaints to this effect have been re-
ceived at the Treasury Department. It
is almost impossible to detect the mutt
latorS as long IS the people take the
coins. They have been so accustomed
to pieces of silver with holes bored in
them that they go on taking them. A
great portion Of the silver in circulation
during the war was thus treated, not
for fraudulent purposes. but as the coin
was scarce it became the proper thing
to wear them as watch charms or
around the neck. For this purpose holes
were bored in them.
"Much of the silver now In eircula-
ton with holes bored through was the
silver Of the war: They are not, how
ever, worth their face value. The Treas
ury will not redeem them, which Is the
test of their valuation. The Govern
nent will only take them back in it's
purchase Of silver bullion, as the coined
pieces represent q greater value than
on their face the bullion In them will
bring. The holder Of every one Of these
coins is in fact out from / to 10
cents, according to the denomination.
But still the mutilated coins increase.
It is the work of professionals and
they are making q very good thing of
it. They can cut good-sized hole"1nt
every coin that comes to hand and still
pass the coin at its full value. The
standard silver dollars have been at
tackled. It Is stated that some dealers
who handle q great deal Of coin take
o little out Of each unmutilated one.
the Treasury growing out Of coin mutt
lation has resulted rather SinRularly.
The cashier Of 0 large manufacturing
establishment took In Q silver quarter
dollar with O big hole In It. Upon ex-
animation he found engraved on it q
name, q date and an address In small
letters. He sent the coin to the chief
Of the secret service and suggested that
this was q chance to arrest q man for
coin. Chief Brooks sent Il
to the postmaster Of the place with the
request that he inquire into the case.
The postmaster found the man whose
name was on the coin. He was delight
ed to hear about 1t. During the war a
young lady had given the coin to him
all fixed up, and he had worn 1t as q
watch charm. He lost 1t about eight
years ago and advertised. Offering 96
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

When there is no outsider due for
investigation a member of thee United
States Senate will occasionally request
Q confrere to report for martyrdom.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Trotsky is not wanted in Spain. No
doubt he has his trusty tipping machine
still with him and will soon be ready
to make alleged persecution theme
for political publicity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Boston having had tea party years
ago now develops q group Of citizens
who deem it their duty to upset the
demijohn.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The Star Of March 5, 1880, noted the
passing Of landmark IL the following
news paragraph:
Landmark "A buildinF' permit has
paasas been issued by Mr.. Emf
SS' wiSle, the inspector of build
ings, to Ed. Abner for the construc.
ton Of q hall and lager beer garden
on Z between Seventh and Eighth
streets northwest. The site for this
garden is the old Seaton mansion, which
Is now being torn down. This fine old
brick mansion, with wide hall, ample
parlorS and other apartments, and gar
den in the rear, has been historic for
over half century Is the residence Of
ex-Mayor w. w. Seaton, one of the
proprietors OF the National Tntelligencer
and associate editor with Mr.. Joseph
Gales. It was the resort Of all the
notable people who visited washington,
where most generous hospitality was
dispensed. It Is said that President
Harrison, who was the guest Of Mr..
Seaton, used the northeast chamber Of
the second story for the preliminary
meetings Of his cabinet before his
Inauguration. Mrs. Seaton superintend-
ed the management Of the garden, and
each Of the distinguished persons who
were visitors contributed fruit tree.
Mr.. Calhoun's pear tree was long noted
in city pomology. Mr.. Webster sent q
New England apple tree, Mr.. Clay an
apricot tree, Mr. Benton O cherry tree,
Mr.. Alex. Porter Of Louisiana Q flg
tree, Silas Wright q plum tree and
other Senators other trees, and thus
the garden was planted by senatorial
hands"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

One Of the definitions of unemploy-
ment Is too much time to attend ball
games and not enough of the price
of admission"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Occasionally q Communist" parade
Is Like q story which manages to at
tract passing attention by the selection
Of startling title.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
Copying the Aviators.

From the Cincinnati Times-star.
Far to the southwark the swallows are
taking practice Aighta.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

for its return. He gave good quarter
for the memento, and the good quarter
has been sent to the cashier Of the
mandatory making the complaint.y