davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1932-01-29
Nation RediscOvers
Genius of Franklin
bury Park Evening Press.

From the ASbury Park Evening Press.
The 226th anniversary of the birth
of Benjamin Franklin came at a time
when there is q marked revival of in
terest in this genius Of Revolutionary
America. His country is rediSCoyering
him
The passing of generations has not
dwarfed him. He seems to tower more
and more over his contemporaries as
the perspective of history lengthens.
This is hardly because Franklin
brought the lightning down from the
sky, or because he collected data on
waterspouts and earthquakes, or de-
yiSed a remedy for smoking chimneys.
or invented bifocal spectacles, or made
a clock, or had more than an average
knowledge of medicine.
Nor is it due to his political serv-
ices, great as they were, nor to his
publishing and printing activities; nor
to his having signed the Declaration
of Independence
He was the first Civilized" public
man in America. That accounts for
his ever-growing fame.
1t was the many-SidedneSS Of Frank
lin, along with his humanity ard his
magnetism, that has projected the
greatness of him down to the present
time In his era the man was a mod
ernist. There was nothing reactionary
in his makeup and yet he was never
radical.
Benjamin Franklin's enduring fame
rests upon the fact that he was far
in advance OF his day and generation.
He would not be lost in this modern
world, nor be bewildered by it. 1t is
in the many ways in which he differed
from his contemporaries rather than in
his kinship with them that he STANDS
out from his time,
Evening star., 1932-01-29
The Dance Marathon.

WaShingtonS most disgraceful sport"
spectacle has reached its inglorious con-
clusion. For nearly fifty-five days the
dance battle of the century" as its pro-
moters so elegantly termed a most sordid
event, went on. Who won? Who cares?
No credit is due to any one. The sooner
the whole affair is forgotten the better.
1t was blot on the Capital City to per-
NIT such an exhibition. Boys and girls,
some of them in their teens, dragged
themselves around an arena while
morbid minded customers shouted
their conception of raucous glee. Little
children of two, three and four skipped
over circus seats in the spectators gal
lery while their mothers gazed popeyed
at the so-called dancers. Nickels, dimes
and quarters were tossed to the con-
testants who particularly pleased the
fancy of the crowd and wild scramble
ensued for the elusive coins, which
under the rules of the contest was CON
tinuous motion"
Money money, money was the slogan
of this sad, sad commentary on civili-
zation. The promoters wanted it, and
the contestants wanted it. The dancer
who was so exhausted while the music
was going on that he had to be carried,
or apparently "a - hs partner - Q
Evening star., 1932-01-29
New Spirit Seen in Effort
To Settle Rail. Wage Scale

Studying the estimated 5 per cent re-
Guction in operating expenses, the Boise
Idaho Statesman holds that when one
considers the present financial condi-
ton of the roads, it is not difficult to
see what such a saving would mean"
Considering the financial require
ments, the Philadelphia Evening Bull
letin advises that railroad share in
the benefits of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation is access to an
anodyne," but adds: When Uncle Sam
levi4te their pain. The cure must be
attempted by other means. The rails
are not victims solely Of depression.
They are sufferers also from the oper-
aticn of laws conceived in economic fall
lacy Congress intended in 1920 to al
low them to earn a fair living Realizing
that rate standards sufficient in some
cases for this purpose would result in
oyeIfeeding in others, 1t incorporated
in the transportation act the recapture
clause providing for sharing of eX-
cessive earnings with the Government,
the proceeds to be. used by Uncle Sam
in strengthening the weak roads. The
reasons why recapture has not worked
are we'll understood after II years of
experience. But it took an industrial
calamity to demonstrate that the prin-
ciple is wrong"
Another long jump away from de-
preston" is suggested by the Charlotte
Observer, which sees "the country'S
bond and stock markets all expectancy
The Hartford Times maintains: I'm
less the ratio between income and fixed
charges can be made more favorable
the depreciation of railroad bonds will
have a very injurious effect on many
institutions. es well as mean bankruptcy
for the roads"
Evening star., 1932-01-29
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

tiOn Of his outstanding attainments and
achievements, will be the principal
speaker at the johns Hopkins Univer
Slty COmmem0ration day exercises at
Baltimore next month. The celebra-
ton Of the fifty-sixth anniversary Of
the uniycrsity's founding will take
place on February %. The exercises
will be held in Peabody Conservatory.
Portraits of several of Johns Hopkins
notables will be unveiled Sir Will
motifs rare gifts as raconteur and
widely appreciated in Washington, but
his platform appearances have been
infrequent. A rare treat is in store
for the Johns Hopkins celebrants.
Speaker OF the House Garner and
Mrs. Jack Garner, honest Texans both.
whose distaste for pomp and ceremony,
social affectations, swallow tails and
satin trains Is mutual and deep seated
were among the notable absentees at
this weeks White House reception to
the members of the House. Repre-
sentative Oscar De Priest of Chicago,
only colored member Of Congress, and
Mrs. De Priest, whose diamond brooch
lent an added touch Of brilliance, were
among those present. They passed down
the receiving line early, and after greet
ings by the President and Mrs. Hoover
they tarried in the east room, where
the crowd converged and where music
and dancing were in order. If the
Garner presidential boom keeps up its
present pace, the Texan may live to
see the time when a top hat by day
and boiled shirt by night will be in
escapable and when White House
Soirees will be one of his regular chores.
X
Mrs. Dolly Gam is indefatigable in
her speech-making activities on behalf
of Mr.. Hoover. She is a loyal and
sturdy campaigner. At Omaha, Nebr,
one night this week she is reported to
have fairly swept her audience off their
feet with her panegyric of the Presi-
dent. "As a result Of constructive
measures President Hoover has taken"
she said the great masses of the peo-
pie have never discovered that they
were in hard times and have gone about
their mirthS and their employmentS
without ever having found it necessary
to limit in any degree their standards
of living. To see his strong. inspiring
and steadying influence withdrawn from
international councils would be an i'm
measurable calamity, not only for our
country, but to the whole world
(Copyrisht, 1922
Evening star., 1932-01-29
The Railroad Wage Agreement.

The details Of the Chicago agree
nant between railroad management
ard railroad labor, represented by
twenty unions, are Of minor impor-
tance when considered in relation to
the fact that there has been an agree
ment For the mere act of agree
ment is thing Of great significance.
Twenty years ago it would have been
out Of the question To-day it Is
marked by voluntary acceptance on
Che part Of railroad labor OF a wage
reduction of ten per cent, without some
OF the partially compensatory features
sought by labor. Yet the employers
of railroad labor will not regard the
outcome of the negotiations as vic
tory on their part any more than the
labor interests will look upon the
agreement as their defeat. TIE Chi
Cago proceedings of the last two weeks
have been marked throughout by high
ly intelligent approach to g problem
ASnas IN common Ahks so labor snd 10
Evening star., 1932-01-29

When troublesome questions arise
avail yourself Of the service OF this de-
partment 1t costs you nothIng-you
have only to send cents for postage
on the personal letter you will receive IN
reply Any question on any subject, pro-
vided 1t does not ask for legal, medical
o. financial advice, will be answered. Ad-
dress your letter Of inquiry to The
Washington Star, Information Bureau,
! Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washing
ton, D. c.
@. Has a camera been invented
which will take pictures in total dark
ness?-M. r. B.
A. None will take pictures in total
darkness, but camera has been mace
which will take pictures at night With
the use of highly sensitized plates.
@. What per cent Of the people Of
the United States have college edu-
cation?-H. r. A.
A. The Office of Education says that
l person in 70 Of the total population
for 1880 has been graduated from
college. One person in l8 of the total
population has been graduated from
high school and not from college.
G. How many is pair of twins, two
or four?-M. r.
A. 1t is two. Twin is defined as one
of two persons or things closely related
/ by ties of birth or resemblance.
@, What Is a kibitzer?-J. w. r.
A. Kibitzer Is a YiddiSh slang term
| for one who NEEDLES With others al
fairs. In playing bridge it is specitl-
cally person who, although not a
player, makes suggestions and gives un-
asked advice to the player.
@. Is 1t possible TO impeach a justice
of the Supreme Court?-L. Z. j.
A. 1t is possible to impeach or accuse
a Justice of the United States Supreme
Court or any other national officlal
The Constitution makes provision as to
the bringing Of the impeachment by
member of the House and the trial OF
the accused by the Senate, sitting as a
court.
@ In what cities has the largest
amount per capita been spent for rellel
work?-B. T.
A. The highest rates are shown in
cities of New England and the North
Atlantic States. Rochester leads with
1886 per capita; San Antonio Is last
with but IS cents per capita. This
survey was for the first nine months OF
| 1881.
@ What is the liquid used to initiate
beer, champagne and whisky IN the
movies or on the stage?-J. c.
A. Usually near beer is used Tor peer
ginger ale for champagne, and cold tea
for whisky.
@ How many miles Of telegraph wire
are there in Canada?-C. T.
A There are $4,000 miles OF wire
In 1880 about l7,50o,00o messages were
transmitted.
@. Please give biography OF John
Garner, Speaker OF the House OF Rep
| resentatiVeS.-E. 5.
A. John Garner was born IN Red
River County, Tex, November p, 1869.
His education was limited. On Noyem-
Der 25 1895, he married Ettie Rheiner
Five years before he had been admitted
to the bar and he became a member OF
the Texas House of Representatives IN
1898. He served in that body until
, 1902 and since 1903 he has served as
a Democrat in Congress from Texas,
from the fifteenth congressional dis
trict. He has been a delegate to sew
eral Of the Democratic national con-
yentlons.
Evening star., 1932-01-29
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

@. When were stills first used?-
S. @.
A Stills were originally designed for
use in crossing rivers and marshes AS
a means of amusement stills have been
used by all peoples in all ages as we'll
as by the inhabitants of marshy or
flooded districts. The city Of Namur, in
Belgium which formerly ---1cred from
the overflowing Of the Rivers Sambre
and MeuSe, has been celebrated for its
silt walkers for many centuries. Not
only the toWnspeople, but also the SOL
ders used stills. The home of stilt-
walking at the present day is the de-
partment of Landes, in Gascony,
where. owing to the impermeability of
the subsoil, all low-lying districts are
converted into marshes.
G. Which is hotter, red hot or white
hot?-D. S.
A. The Bureau Of Standards says
that the phrase red hot is used popu-
l9rly to designate any temperature be-
tween about TOO degrees C. and 1000
degrees c. Above 1000 degrees c. the
phrase employed to describe an object
would usually be white hot, although
the color would still be primarily red or
| reddish yellow.
Ind, get its name?-E. S
A Early settlers selected the name OF
Santa Fe, which was rejected by the
Post ONCE Department because there
was another Indiana town so called. A
compromise was made whereby Santa
was retained and Claus substituted
for Fe.
@. What classical authors have used
the theme of Electrs?-W. L.
A The story of Electra has been told
by Homer, AeschyluS, SophocleS and
Euripides.
@. Is the barometer high or low at
the approach of a storm w. E.
A In general. it is the rule that fall
ing barometer indicates rising tempera-
ture and the probability Of preciptta-
ton, whereas rising barometer usually
indicates clear weather with lowering
temperature.
@. Is a foreigner residing in the
United States for 20 years entitled to
yote?-C. C.
A. He must become a citizen before
he can vote.
@. How long have they had public
libraries in England?-H. G.
A. The first act of Parliament au-
thorizing the establishment of public
libraries was obtained by William
Ewart in 1850.
@. How many regiments were there
in the famous Light Brigade p
c. D. r.
A. Five-the 4th 9th, 18th and 18th
Hussars and the 18th Lancers.
Q. Who wrote the novel The Way of
All Flesh"?-S. E.
A The English writer Samuel But
lei, l835-l902.
O. What is a complete set of first
day covers of the new George WASH
lngton Bicentennial stamps worth?-
F. A
A There is no established price. 1t
would depend primarily on how anx-
ious the buyer was to secure the set.
@. Didn't the Indians have another
name for their pipe of peace?-N. B.
A. The pipe of peace was also known
as the calumet.
@ What is the difference between
sweet oil and olive oil?-L. V. n.
A. There is no difference. The term
sweet oil is often used when the oil is
used for medicinal purposes, while in
cookery it is called olive oil.
Evening star., 1932-01-29
Suggests Bantam Autos
Parked i'm Double Decks
o the Editor of The Star

To the Editor of The Star:
Government employe goes TO his
once In one Of three ways-he walks.
or rides in street cars, or drives his au-
tomoblle. When he walks he monopo-
ltZes about three or four feet of public
highway; when he rides in q street car
he monopoliZeS much less space il he
has to stand up or Is fortunate enough
to get q seat. In either OF these two
ways, his monopoly OF public space has
ended when he arrives at his destina-
ton. When he rides In his own car,
the size Of which is not less than feet
wide to IS feet long and more. he mo-
nopolizes anywhere around 80 to 100
square feet Of public space, and not only
for the few minutes 1t takes him to go
to work, but for eight consecutive hours
while he parks his car in the street
For the Government to try to solve
the problem Of parking these cars by
building huge garages seems a waste Of
money and Of precious ground space.
Why does a man monopolize such an
amount OF public space? Simply be-
cause a car built to take along the
whole family is wastefully used to carry
one single person. Count them-six
cars out Of seven have only one pas
senger.
The size Of parking places cannot be
increased at will. The size Of cars can
and should be considerably reduced
Let American ingenuity devise a
small four wheeled seat with a motor
under the seat, the whole of which
would not cover more than l8 square
feet of ground space by measuring not
more than 3 feet wide to feet long
and about feet high. Then it would
be the easiest thing to line up such
tiny cars in small spaces and even have
platforms 6 feet high as double-decker
arrangement. With the much smaller
space required to maneuver such cars
into place. eight to ten times as many
cars could be parked in the space re-
quired now.
OF course, no private enterprise would
dare go against the weakness Of Ameri-
can people for bigger and bigger cars.
The Government, which does so much
to help the public in general problems
Of one kind or another. should go ahead
and offer a substantial money prize for
the best designed individual incloSed
motor seat, comfortable, inexpensive
and of simple mechanism. with a
speed of about 35 miles an hour. 1t
would pay the Government in Wash
ington to contract for many thousands
of these cars, turn them over to its EN-
ployes at cost plus then furnish park
ing space for only that size of cars.
either free or at nominal sum, and
forbid allday parking in the parks and
around Government buildings. The
general public has not enough vision
1t must be educated.
Individual transportation used to be
the vogue at the time of horseback rid
ing and the bicycle. Let us revive 1t
again IN motorized way for the sake
of saving space in the center of cities.
Large family cars have their places in
the residential zones, but if their own
ers want to park them in the business
section, they should pay an extra tax
according to their ground coverage.
Then you would see in downtown Wash
ington public garages spring up and pay
a fair return. FELIAN GARzIA.
Evening star., 1932-01-29

capital. Neither side went to Chicago
in the spirit Of fighting it out" Thc
| outcome represents the considered
view Of the ccnferees that what ha2
been decided upon is the best solution,
for the time being, OF a question thai
had to be answered.
No one can become enthusiast,
about reduction of wages on any
body's part The fact that there will
be such a reduction Is bitter pill.
for it denotes more than the actual loss
of ten per cent in wage scales that
for the most part merely provided thc
means of Subsistence. 1t means that
there Will be other reductions in other
wage scales that never reached even the
relsti"e Insight Of railroad pay.
Bit it also signals the fact that one
Of the Nations greatest industries is
facing, with a minimum of emotional
resentment or display, what many re-
gard as the inevitable consequence OF
the defiation and what many believe
to be the most important single essen
tial clement to recovery. The conse-
quence of the defiation, or depression,
or whatever one chooses to call it, Is
the widened gap between cost OF pro-
duction and profit. The essential thing
for recovery is to close that gap, to re-
adjust on a new level; in other words
to balance the budget and start out
again. The readjustment process has
been going on. The railroad agreement
will hasten it. If the wage reduction
is the last resort, confidence should
spring from the fact that it has been
adopted, intcll- gently and courageoualy;
The practical benefit OF the wage re-
duction toward balancing Of budgets Is
a reduction in operating costs to the
railroads of approximately s250000, 600.
The increased rates approved by the
Interstate Commerce Commission Oh
selected commodities, and effective
until March, 1882, are expected to yield
from s10O, 900, 900 to $50, 100000. The
total can be viewed in relation to the
approximately S400, 10000 which the
railroads expected might be the yield
of blanket fifteen per cent increase
in freight rates and which was then
considered as essential to railroad re.
covery, but which was refused by the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Evening star., 1932-01-29
Hoover Economy Plea
Is Held Jeffersonian

From the Spokane Spokesman Review
When President Hoover issued his
earnest appeal few weeks ago for
economy and retrenchment and declared
that I'VE cannot Squander ourselves
into prosperity" had he psychic means
of divining that few hours later the
gentleman that he defeated in the
presidential race in 1928 would be ad-
vocating at keynote banquet of the
Democratic party, huge Federal bond
issue for public improvements to spread
Jobs, declaring that 1t would loosen
money now cared for in sugar bowls.
between mattresses and in safety de-
post boxes and restore purchasing
power, to benefit all along the line?
With all due respect to ex-Gov.
Smith and the other speakers at the
Jackson day banquet, we yet believe
that President Hoover is a better eX-
ponent than they Of some principles Of
Jefferson, Jackson and Cleveland How
little those great leaders knew, when
they were inveighing against extrava-
gance in Government, what would be
coming down the century, and its cul-
mination in 1882, in widely concerted
raids on the Federal Treasury for un-
told billions
Jefferson and Jackson thought in
terms of thousands, or at most hun
dreds of thousands. The word billions"
was not in their vocabulary.
Evening star., 1932-01-29

Washing the hands Is such prosaic
task that few give it any thought.
Yet it is one of the biggest little
jobs of the average day.
Like most ordinary actions, 1t can
be overdone and underdone.
Those who wash their hands toe
often. In a given time. come under the
classification of medical eases.
Those who do not use soap ant
water enough In this respect are not
as clean as they ought to be, both fol
their own good and that Of others.
We speak not here of those whose
work calls for grease and CRIME. They
might as well let their hands 20 unit!
they eat. For them there are any
number OF special cleansing prepara-
tions.
There are hundreds Of people how
ever. who handle papers, typewriter
carbonS, etc, etc, whose hands be-
come quite soiled during the day.
The habit Of frequent hand lavings
will rebound to their physical and
mental credit and most of them have
found this out
Hence the toll Of towels. Papers
smeared with fingerprints are neither
necessary nor desirable. 1t is best to
wash the hands.
" 4
This simple act is both practical and
symbolicsl both physical and intel
lectual. 1t even has spiritual rami-
fications. Since the earliest times il
has had special significance
AS the hands are. so is the state ot
mind, or the heart. as the ancients
rite to show cleannegs of mind and
heart We use the expression caught
red d-handed" to mean apprehended in
he act When someone comes into
a case with clean hands" it does no;
mean that he has used soap and water
but that he brings no hidden guile with
him.
For average daily use one may dis
pense with the inner meanings Of this
rite and stick TO the plain, evident
facts. But in passing 1t may be worth
! while to look into the condition OF the
person whose hand washings become q
mania. This is a form of psychic
disease well known to medical men
The word psyche" or soul. is used
very loosely in this construction. The
psychologists and psychiatrists really
mean the mental aspects when they
talk learnedly about the psyche"
1t is evident that there may be @
transference Of the idea Of physical
uncleanlinesS to the mind and that
this in turn may induce the victim tC
wash his hands whether they need il
or not.
The test. then, of the need for such
procedure is whether the hands really
are soiled. This is where no second
person can enter. The feel of the hands
is even OF more importance than the
visual aspects.
Not all types Of soil leave smudges
Oils and the like are peculiarly objec-
| tionable TO persons whom their more
| stolid brethren are likely 10 call FIN
icky'
81 ght traces Of stiCl:iness as most apt
I to be left on the fingers after eating
| candy no matter how carefully handled
| are more unpleasant to many people
than ink blobS.
1t will be necessary. then, for such
persons to exercise their great Ameri-
can privilege of free dom and to wash
their hands upon such occasions.
Rightly done, the rite takes only
few minutes. 1t is somewhat surpris-
ing to note now many persons there
are who fail to realize that this simple
procedure requires a certain amount OF
skill. Hasty hand washing may do as
tonishingly little to remove dirt, and