Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
Capital Sidelights
by VILE r. KENNEDY.

Near East and half the world away?
Let George n. Farnum tell you. He
used to be assistant attorney general
IN charge Of ali claims against the
Government, in the course of which
work he gained an intimate knowledge
Of the mental, moral, physical and
spiritual condition Of many foreign
countries. During the past Summer
he has rounded out that knowledge by
an extensive tour all over Europe and
the Near East Behind all of his
high official experience Mr.. Farnum
has an understanding heart and is
truly human"
Still under the spell of the haunt
ing and troubling charm" Of the Near
East, protesting that ut will take me
some time to adequately assimilate all
my Impressions" Mr.. Farnum tore
himself away from perusal OF Wash
ington Merry-go-round" to do little
moralizing:
Altogether, it's sad, puzzled world
that lies across the sea-" he concludes
1.-THE disillusions of peace and the hard
memories Of war rest heavily on the
minds and the hearts Of the people OF
every land. There Is vast deal OF
talk of trade relations, business adjust
ments, foreign markets and the like
and doubtless these have their impor-
deeper issues. Europe Is suffering from
q state of nerveS-old prejudices and
age-old animosities still exercise their
sway. Mutual distruSt is universal, and
the populations Of most lands are hard
ridden by the specter Of stark fear.
How can international relations ever
attain a normal condition and resultant
trade ~slations ever be put on q salts
factory basis while this situation con-
tinues? You can write all the treaties
that the ingenuity Of statesmen can
conceive, but nothing fruitful VIII come
of them until you have completely
changed the outlook and redirected the
thinking of the man on the street. The
world may need better business men
but it cries out above all this for great
moral leadership--the kind of inspired
leadership that can lead the people
out of the morass of doubt and diStrust
and fear and hatred into q new world
of mutual respect and confidence and
faith in the march OF humanity
toward a single goal Of spiritual under
standing and happiness for all"
\ \ \
Uncle Sam Is conducting post-grad-
uate scientific educational courses at
his big research university, which the
public generally "wotS not Of" just
now when the new school year is OPEN
ing up and the unprecedented unem-
ployment era has gradually impressed
upon many graduates Of last June that
the world was not so impatiently wait
ing for them to run it, as many Of
them supposed during their cap-and-
gown heyday, 1t may be interesting to
some of the recent college graduates
out of q job that there are advanced
courses that they may take at the
TV1fk Nf
DR.. C. X. Burgess, director Of the
bureau, tells US that plans are now
being formulated for number Of grad
uate study courses in physics, nathe-
mates and chemistry to be given at the
bureau during the coming Winter start
ing September AZ.
Courses of this character have been
given regularly for nearly q quarter
of century and have been recognized
by many Of the leading universities in
allowing credit for advanced degree
Although these courses are planned
primarily for members Of the staff
Of the Bureau Of Standards, they are
open on the same terms to any person
who can furnish the instructor evil
dence OF satisfactory preliminary
training.
The educational Committee has
adopted the following two cycles as con-
shutting the fundamental part of a
graduate training in physics:
Physics cycle-Theoretica mechan-
| les, electricity and magnetism, advanced
optics (due this year,.
Mathematics cycle-Theory Of func-
tons, diherential equations and Fouri-
er series (due this Year,.
One course Of each cycle IL nor
mauy given each year. In general
each course VIII have q one-hour class
twice week. Some of the courses to
be given during the current year are
Physical optics, conducted by G. j.
Humphreys, and viii consist for the
most part OF a classical treatment of
optical phenomena including disper-
sion, interference, attraction, polariza-
ton and the properties of double re-
fracting crystals. Some attention will
be given to the mechanics of wave
motion and the propagation Of Eadia-
ton.
Fourier series and spherical har-
monies, conducted by DR.. w. e. DEM
Ing, covering the theory Of the series,
solution Of differential equations in
series-complicated boundary condi-
tons. Applications to problems in heat
CONJUNCTION, potential theory and cleo
tromagnetic theory.
Statistical mechanics, conducted by
DR.. Seeger. to be an introduction TO
the present statistical theories of mat
ter. radiation and electricity, with par
ticular emphasis on their application to
the electrical properties of metals.
Rad1oactivity and atomic nuclei, con-
Quoted by DR.. Warren w. Nicholas.
Newtonian potential function, con-
Quoted by DR.. p. r. Heyl FIRST term).
Einstein's RELATIVELY and theory, con-
Quoted by DR.. p. r. Heyl.
Relatively and ELECTROMAGNETIC the
DRY, conducted by DR.. G. Snow.
Integral equations and allied topics,
conducted by DR.. G. Snow.
Chemical thermodynamics. conducted
by Or. R. Gilchrist, designed to Clarity
great mass of the material studied In
physical chemistry.
Ceramic Photography, conducted by
Dr. H. Insley.
a semester course in glass blowing,
beginning in February, Is under con-
sideration.
How fast can a piano be played?
mat Is one OF the questions recently
studied by some of the bright Young
scientists working under the direction
OF DR.. q. K. Burgess in the Bureau of
Standards, Uncle Sans great wonder
box OF scientific narvels. The speed
record has not yet been approached by
any OF the ightninglike finger manipu-
great piano artists. The rapidity Of ac-
ton OF . piano key was recorded cleo
trically on the oScillograph.
1t was found that an action can be
constructed which will respond as
rapidly as 1900 strokes per minute. a
speed much beyond that attainable by
any artist.