davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-03-18
TWO WAYS
BY THE RIGHT REV JAMES E. FREEMAN, D, D. L..
Bishop OF Washington go

country we still maintain the outward
forms of religious observance and re-
gard them as the essential con-
comitants Of good breeding, the con-
servators Of the best social usage
How far our religious faith and prac-
tice constitute a vocation is an open
question. A vocation is "a stated or
regular occupation, calling" 1t Is
more than the profession Of o creed
or the reverent observance Of q reli-
gious service. It Is more than the
recognition Of the sanctity Of Sunday.
It Is definite commitment to a habit
of life in conformity with the will and
purpose Of Jesus Christ. 1t is the
pursuit Of way Of living the
antithesis Of the practice Of walking
according to the course Of this
world" It Is the substitution of. a
definite moral code that affects the
habit and practice Of life for q way
that Is variable, without fixity Of
conviction and aimless and that issues
In disillusionment and dissatisfaction.
To think of our religious practice as
q vocation means to give it is proper
and indispensable place In the scheme
Of life, to make it something more
than o pleasing accessory or adorn-
ment. Many Of Us regard 1t as an
avocation, "a casual or transient oc-
cupation," quite unrelated to the init
mate and immediate concerns Of our
life, practice to be recognized on
occasions, interesting but not essen
tial. Where 1t Is a vocation 1t re-
lates itself to conduct, regulates it,
gives 1t quality and character. Voca-
tion calls for cultivation. We find
refreshment and satisfaction in de-
veloping it. With the passing years
it means more to us in that it comes
to constitute the source of our deep
est happiness and peace.
The great Master gave no assurance
to men that the way Of life He set
before them was an easy way. He
did affirm that 1t was the only way
that led to the noblest and best in
life, vocation that lent to life its
truest and deepest Joy and that at
the end insured its peace and its as
s,rance.
Walk worthy Of the vocation
wherewith ye are called"
Evening star., 1934-03-18
For Peace in Gran Chaco.

That vast South American wilder
ness known as the Gran Chaco, over
which Paraguay and Bolivia have
waged fierce war for more than
year, is again in the international
limelight. The occasion is a "final
offer by the League Of Nations to end
the bloodshed and subject the con-
tsOversy to arbitral settlement by the
World Court. Geneva's latest effort to
bring peace to South America follows
a series Of abortive attempts by the
League during the past year.
The newest plan for cessation OF
hostilities would free the whole Chaco
region from the forces Of both bel
ligerents until the World Court has
had a chance to hand down a de-
cision on the issues involved. The
Paraguayans would retire $50 miles
from their present advanced positions,
while the Bolivians would withdraw
from l25 to ITS miles behind the bat
tie lines they now occupy. Within
three months each army would be re-
duced to five thousand troops and re-
plenishment Of war materials would
be restricted. Pending the arbitration
the Chaco area would be patrolled
chiefly BY Parasuayan police. Bolivia
Evening star., 1934-03-18

In looking at life q great teacher
conceives that there are two distinct
ways Of pursuing its course. In a
letter written to those to whom he
ministered. he speaks Of their former
habit Of living. saying: I'm time past
ye walked according to the course OF
this world" In q later passage. In
the same letter, he admonishes them
concerning their new outlook on life
and its purpose, saying: walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye
are called"
The two observations define ways
of living as old as the human race.
Possibly today the ways Of looking at
life are more sharply defined than at
any time in recent history. We are
all familiar with the practice of walk
ing according to the course OF this
world" We know precisely what 1t
means. To use the old phrase. 1t
directs, when In Rome do as the
Romans do;" live your life according
to your desires; place no restraint
upon your capricious whims or fancies:
give your 4IcC ICllts ~ AAACoAAo
living without o moral code. 1t Is q
popular course and one that Is fol-
lowed by the multitude. It makes its
appeal particularly to the youths, who
are irritated by any form Of restric-
ton that is laid upon them. To do
as they please and to live as they
please inevitably issues in selfishness,
self-indulgence and an entire lack OF
consideration for the happiness and
comfort of others.
The evidences Of this habit OF Iv-
ing are conspicuous in our time. A
Russian writer states in recent book
that in Russia all moral and religious
restraints are abandoned-religion has
no place In the economy OF his
country's life. He says: THE new
man in Russia has lost all faith in
God, and all fear Of God. The very
idea or concept Of God has no place
in his consciousness" To pursue un-
let and unhindered the course Of this
world, according to this writer. car
ries the official imprimatur OF the
State. Under such a system, the 80
ciety of the Goddess" meets with wide
spread and popular favor. In our
Evening star., 1934-03-18
That Lazy Feeling.

The season approaches when per-
CONS who customarily entertain the
lazy feeling throughout the entire
year need no longer apologize for ex-
Jsting. BY common consent laziness
as fashionable late in March or early
In April. Something stirs lackadai-
eically in the universe; then tnconti-
nently slips back to slumber, and
millions of people reflect the somno-
Hence of nature. BY curious mischance
their torpidity of spirit Is called
'Spring fever" when in point of fact
1t Is not feverish at all, but rather the
very opposite-slow, sluggish. stolid,
almost comatose. The victims ask
nothing more than: Please go way.
and let me Sleep" And those who
perforce are obliged to resist the i'm
pulse spend half the little energy re-
manning to them in prodigious yawns.
The coffee shops do a veritable land
ofice business on the theory that in
dulgence In Java has the effect Of
awakening the recalcitrant nervous
system, but the myth has little merit
frequently enough the seeker for
relief mods over the remedy. proves
himself bankrupt of the power to
respond to the stimulant and has to
be fished out Of the cup by an attend
ant almost as muddled as himself.
1t Is the time when mind and body
want to rest. Any demand for effort
Is an aggravation. Just to lie at ease.
10 relax, to "loaf." as Walt Whitman
aaid. Ia the thing desired. The elock
Evening star., 1934-03-18

of Life beats slowly. and few care.
Peace and quiet, freedom from duty,
liberty from obligation-the average
citizen simply does not wish to be
bothered by any necessity to get his
corn meal made. In a thousand years
It will be all the same-why fret?
More righteous brothers or sisters
may complain, but the great majority
will sympathize with the Lazy
Bones" who never heard q word ]
said"
Perhaps it Is as 1t should be-nat-
ural and proper in the circumstances.
Folks have had o strenuous Winter.
They have worked and worried, faced
all kinds Of storms. fought all kinds
of battles. II they are exhausted. is
it any wonder? II the lazy feeling
has laid hold of them, Is 1t any mir
acle7 A lethargic echo answers: No,
and ut is so ordered"
Evening star., 1934-03-18

would also be assigned q sector for
policing, and between the two forces
. neutral zone, to be patrolled by the
League Council. would be provided.
The proposed method Of settling the
Paraguayan-B Bolivian war clothes the
World Court with an entirely new
function. Hitherto its activities have
been confined to strictly juridical dis
putes. It is now planned to extend
the Courts jurisdiction from the
purely legal into the political field.
No excessively high hopes are en-
tertained that the Leagues latest
venture as peacemaker In South
America will prove any more effective
than the preceding measures. Each
county remains confident that it Is
able In a military sense, should fight
ing continue. to enforce decision
in its own favor. The Paraguayans
are particularly insistent on this score.
as a result of substantial victories in
the field. Even while the League
Commission at Buenos Aires this week
was announcing its latest plan the
Paraguayans continued to take more
forts and advance their lines.
Apparently the only American par
ticipation included In the Leagues
program is that the Pan-American
Union, following the World Courts
decision. will be requested to convene
a conference Of neighboring coun-
tries "to study the coordination Of
all geographical and economic fac
tors which might contribute to the
development and prosperity Of the
sister nations"
The Bolivian -Paraguayan conflict
has been long, costly and sanguinary.
1t has contained the ever-present pos
sibility of embroiling other South
American nations. The good neighbor
policy which Is at the root Of the
PAN American idea demands that the
Chaco controversy be ended as speed
ily as possible.
The League Council having des-
ignated the dispute as a "state of
war" Geneva is discussing the even
tual possibility that the League Of
Nations may be forced to invoke
sanctions" against the belligerent
parties. That thought conjures up
a suggestion of lively interest to the
United States, for sanctions, If they
took any military form, might run
counter to the United States concep-
ton of what the Monroe Doctrine
permits non-American countries to
do in this part Of the world.
Evening star., 1934-03-18
Britain Agitated
About Its Surplus
BY A. q. GARDINER.

LONDON, March 17.-with the
budget looming In sight. a fierce con-
troversy has sprung up in regard to
the disposal Of the expected surplus.
It Is too soon to say definitely what
the dimensions of the surplus are
likely to be, but they will be con.
siderable-probably something in the
neighborhood of $50, ,0o0, 900.
That there should be q surplus at
all is, in the circumstances, q welcome
fact. It is due mainly, of course, to
the marked and continuous improve
ment Of trade since last Summer.
This Improvement has been chiefly
In the domestic market. Though the
external trade on which the prosperity
Of Great Britain so largely depends
is still little more than halt what 1t
was In 1929, there are welcome signs
in many directions that the tide has
turned. We feel that We have I'm
ished scraping bottom and that the
ship Is afioat again.
The improvement Is reflected In
the sustained fall In the unemploy-
ment figure. The February return
showed a bigger fall (71.15g than
has been the case in any February
since 1927, and compared with year
ago there are now $4,000 fewer un-
employed. The total, 2,3l7 ,909, Is
still very high, but 1t represents
among other things an enormous
saving on unemployed relief compared
with the position when the national
government came into ofice In 1881.
X 4 II X
There Is little disposition In any
quarter to give the government credit
for the more cheerful outlook, but my
Evening star., 1934-03-18
Government and Taxpayers Faced by
Perennial War Veterans Problem

economy act and as q result over AGO.
600 World War and 10000 Spanish
War veterans were cut from the list
of pensioners.
Now the drive Is on to restore most
Of these cases. How well it is sue
ceeding can be seen from the present
bill. It restores Just about all of the
Spanish veterans to their former sta
tus on the public pay roll. while plac-
ing on the Government the task Of
proving that World War cases, in
which some disability has appeared.
are not service connected.
II this bill received presidential ap-
proval there would be restored pen
sion total of s138, ,ooo.6 GOO annually out
of total savings on pensions of $780,
100000 made through the economy
act.
What Is in store for the future
may be cleaned from the Spanish
American War experience, since that
Is nearer than the Civil War record.
In that war $4,000 men served 10
days or more. OF that number 2e4,-
900 now are living. And Of those
284, 900 there were 5000 drawing
pensions before the economy act went
into effect. Back in 1920 the num-
ber Of Spanish War veterans getting
pensions was 23,144 and of these over
5000 had service-connected disabili-
ties.
It was after 1920 that the real
drive to put the veterans on pension
tolls got under way. The total rose
rapidly. Laws were changed so that
the Government gave more gener-
GUS pension to a veteran who was
suffering from some peacetime all
ment than to one who had been
wounded in service AS result near
iy every one went on the non-service-
connected rolls.
In the case Of the World War
there are 4,222, 900 living veterans. OF
that number 5000 were on the pen
sion rolls before the economy act
reduced the total TO 345,000, Of whom
3o5.111 had disabilities that were con-
nected with their service.
y -
OIQeI tl1e laws uOW pIOpOSSQ, UIllS
number would be increased by many
thousands and few in the Veterans
Administration believe that it will be
many years before an even larger
number of veterans will be on the
public pay rolls. The expectation is
that the World War experience will
duplicate that Of other wars.
Should that happen, taxpayers In
the year 2034 still will be paying pen
sions to dependents Of thoee who
served in the World War. The Gov
ernment today is paying out monthly
awards to seven dependents Of those
who served in the War Of 1919 and
there Is quite . large roll Of Mexican
War cases that draw monthly checks
from the national exchequer.
As q matter Of fact, Gen. Frank r.
Hines. administrator Of veterans af-
fairs, told q committee Of Congress
that the payments to veterans by 1s45
probably will have reached $21, ,0Oo,- =
0,000, or an amount equal to the
total cash cost Of fighting the war.
And by 1s45. If experience is any
criterion, the World War pension pro-
gram will just be getting into full
swing.
Copyright, 1p34.l
Evening star., 1934-03-18
Real Needs.

IN the rough and tumble row over
airnail and ocean mail contracts
"subsidies'-it is just as we'll for the
American people not to overlook the
fact that this country needs domestic
air lines and an overseas merchant
marine. 1t would be welcome news
to some Of our foreign friends If the
American flag should be again taken
of the merchant vessels which sail
the seven seas and carry the COM
nnerce Of this country with others.
And to those who look with suspicion
and perhaps with hostile eyes to-
ward American shores, a halt in the
development here Of aviation would
be Just as welcome. America needs
these services on sea and in air for
Its commerce and for national de-
Tense. To kill all Government aid to
airline and merchant marine would
be essentially unwise, provided such
sid is necessary, and there is every
reason to believe that 1t is.
President Roosevelt is "sea minded"
He has always been. And he has
frankly revealed himself, according
to the reports of White House press
sonferences, as favoring Government
aid to the overseas merchant marine.
The President has gone so far as to
say. 1t is reported, that there should
be no can1ouf1age about Government
bid to the merchant marine, that it
should not longer be given in the form
of mail contracts, but as an undis-
kuised Government aid or subsidy.
Ehis doctrine may bring shudders to
those Democrats in Congress who
have raised their voices many times
In the past against ship subsidy, and
10 some of the progressives who have
ttaken similar positions. It Is, how
over. common sense. The Government
has undertaken by indirection to give
the needed aid to the overseas rner-
chant marine. through the making
Of exorbitant ocean mail contracts.
Every one knew that the contracts
were designed to make it possible for
the ships to operate In competition
with foreign flag merchant lines.
which paid their crews far below the
rates insisted upon by the American
Congress and which did not provide
the more favorable working condi-
tions demanded by American law.
The late President Harding sought
vigorously to have frank ship sub
eidy law passed through Congress,
soon after the close Of the World War,
hhen America realized that merchant
marine was a real necessity and ad-
vantage to the country. But he could
taot prevail upon the Congress to pass
such law. Perhaps President Roose-
Welt would have more luck with such
q measure. Surely, as he says, 1t
would be far better than the SUBJ
terfuge of ocean mail contracts. The
country would know what the money
was being expended for and could
Judge Of the results accordingly. And
IN view of the vast subsidies which
Congress has voted for farmers of
cotton, wheat and other crops within
The last year It might be more
hrenable to q suggestion from Presi-
lHent Roosevelt that It do something
Slirectly for the merchant marine and
FOR aviation
Evening star., 1934-03-18

School teaching Is one Of the activi-
ties in which Uncle Sam now is en-
gagged. OF course. for many years the
Government has been conducting
certain highly specialized institutions
Of learning. The Military Academy
at West Point, the Naval Academy at
Annapolis and the Coast Guard
Academy at New London rank high
among colleges. But, latterly, another
activity has been embarked upon
which Is nearer the reach Of most
people. The Department Of Agricul-
ture and the Bureau Of Standards
both now are conducting schools
which may be attended by Govern
ment employees.
One need not have the political in
fiuence or the academic standing re-
ouired to gain adnittance to such
places as West Point or Annapolis to
obtain the benefits Of these schools at
Washington. One need only be q
Government clerk.
The Department Of Agriculture
Graduate School has the broadest
curriculum, that at the Bureau Of
Standards being almost wholly tech
nical. A Government clerk may at
tend the Agriculture School for a tut
ton fee Of $l2.50 a semester or II two
semesters are taken, s12.50 for the
first and 50 for the second. The in
structors are the scientists heading the
various divisions in the department.
Each one holds high rank in the SCI
entific world and is an expert IN his
particular field.
The hours of study are arranged
so as not to conflict with working
hours. The Government work day
ends at 4:30 o'clock and classes begin
Immediately afterward. the Offices.
conference rooms and other apart
ments Of the Government buildings
being used as study and lecture halls.
Certain classes have the advantage
of using the laboratories. which are
equipped with the best available ap-
paratus.
An effort is made to provide IN
struction in subjects for which there
is demand. For example, a course
in modern Russian has been insti-
tuted. There Is class In beginners
Russian and another In advanced
Russian. Stress Is laid on CONNER
cial terms. Other languages also are
taught.
Wealth Of Subjects Offered.
Few schools furnish so wide a va
riety Of subjects as the Graduate
School of the Department of Agri-
culture. For example. one may take
a course in glass blowing. In these
days, when nearly all the types Of
glassware used In ordinary pursuits
are made by machinery, the art of
the glass blower is forgotten save by
scientists. But the chemist. the bac-
teriologist, the physicist. the biologist,
all depend on the glass blower to pro-
vide them with all sorts of queerly
shaped test tubes and other apparatus
Of glass which Is not made by ma
chinery. The course provided in
structs the student in how to become
a glass blower or how to learn enough
to blow glass into shapes for his own
scientific experiments.
OF less technical nature Is the
course On the history Of American
agriculture. 1t Is almost a classical
course In that. in the course Of fol-
lowing agricultural history. all sorts
Of other history has to be brought
| in. For example, the student is
Evening star., 1934-03-18

impression Is that It's financial policy
has been remarkably sane and judi
cious and that Neville Chamberlain
has filled the office Of chancellor Of
the excheouer with great prudence
and fairness.
The controversy over what should
be done with the prospective surplus
RACES around the competing claims Of
the taxpayer and the unemployed.
When the crisis came In 1881 and the
national government was elected, the
favorite slogan was equality of sacri-
fee" In virtue Of this slogan the
burden of the taxpayer was increased
on the one hand and the standard Of
relief to the unemployed was reduced
by 1c per cent on the other. cuts"
on the same scale were made in SAL
aries of civil service workers. school
teachers and others in the public en-
ployment It is pretty clear that,
however favorable the balance. it will
not be sufficient to satisfy both
claimants, and the question Is which
claimant shall have the priority OF
relief.
Those who advocate the restoration
Of the "cuts" to the unemployed
base their case on moral grounds.
There Is no doubt that the pres
ent standard Of relief, even with
the low price Of the necessities Of
life, Is very near the border line Of
bare existence and the argument Of
people, like the Archbishop Of York.
is that no regard for the taxpayer
should take precedence over the needs
Of the poorest and most unfortunate
part of the community.
On the other hand, it Is urged that
the present rate of taxation Is one
of the chief hindrances to the revival
of industry and that more would be
done indirectly for the benefit Of the
unemployed by Tightening the burden
than by preserving the present taxa
ton and increasing the relief. It Is q
plausible argument against q direct
appeal to the conscience Of the ma
ton.
No one doubts that the present tax
alton is q heavy handicap on enter
prise In business. The fiat rate Is
five shillings In the pound on all
assessable incomes, rising with the
surtax on higher incomes to over
half the net income. When the pro-
vision for death duties is added, the
total claim of the tax-gatherer upon
the great estates reaches and may
even exceed three-quarters Of the
revenue Of the estate. Under the
operation OF these drastic charges, the
old country aristocracy Is vanishing,
and both In the country and IN town
the great family mansion is becoming
o thing Of the past.
But these considerations carry lit
tie weight with the electorate and
the argument based on the stimulus
to business as q cure Of unemployment
counts for little against the iInmedi.
ate appeal Of poverty. I have little
doubt on which side the government
will come down. Whatever happens
to the taxpayer, it will restore the
"cut," for in this matter the ballot
box is the decisive factor.
The outstanding fact Of postwar
history is the vast transfer of wealth
from the rich to the poor through
operation Of taxes and no one can
doubt that that transfer Is mainly
responsible for the remarkable way
in which the country has 50 far come
through the terrific ordeal Of the past
four years. 4+.
lceryz1sht. iss4A
Evening star., 1934-03-18

French statesmen refer to q Ger
man menace and German statesmen
refer to French menace. Duels con-
Quoted in the name of personal honor
were long since abolished, and the
same thing may happen to ethno-
logical feuds conducted In the name
Of patriotism.
Evening star., 1934-03-18
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PH1LANDER JOHNSON.

The Forecast.
A gust Of Winter hurried through
1T blew and snew and then it thew.
The grounding had It cruel fling
And then I heard a robin sing!
When all the world Is IN disnay
Tt still goes on its ancient way.
TO herald the awakening Spring,
1t lets you hear a robin sing!
BY some consideration small
Our hearts are guided, after all.
And 1t becomes a glorious thing
When you can hear a robin singl
Evening star., 1934-03-18

Col. Lindbergh speaks with the
proper confidence Of one who has
been awarded enough medals. prizes
and college degrees to qualify
him for service in any brain trust.
and also to adopt for his own the
phrase made famous by the beloved
and honored Calvin Coolidge. "I do
not choose"
Evening star., 1934-03-18

by the Government quality standards
stamped on their purchases. Fifty
two per cent of those who chose by
grade were in favor of the adver-
tised brand when both advertised and
little-known brands were marked
grade A." even though the adver-
tised brand cost more.
lceryT.shs. 1es<S
Evening star., 1934-03-18

Ownership of a motor car involves
much documentary detail and q few
more highway crashes may suggest
as a further inducement some form
of blanket insurance with every sale.