The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-10-26
Kaleidoscope EUROPE
By Lucy Meacham Thruston


turnIthe bits of glass shake into diff
ferent patterns. Such quick chang
es are the only comparison for Euro
pean news of today. But with diff
ference. The pieces of glass in a
Kaleidoscope are bright, the patterns
attractive. But take the shifting
news of European areas. and try and
interpret them into active patterns
and try as one may the result is any
thing but bright. A despairing
thought goes back to the time when
Europe was all one piece, then to
the breakings and the constant rear
arrangements. Wandering Saxon trib-
es Cor Teutonic tribes), Slavic inva-
sion, Roman empire, and then the
emerging of distinctions which still
remain. Though consultations, an
nexations, change of boundary lines
are still being made.
European news of October 1894
says a new shift is taking place.
This is shift of power which hopes
for a shift in boundary lines This
special change of pattern is brought
about by Russia's entry into the
League of Nations. Russia's en-
trance into the League is recognized
as a turning point in European his
tory. For the last decade Russia
was on the side of Germany in that
country's stand against the postwar
territorial settlement. The new shift
lines her up with France. And that
part of Europe which is Poland and
Germany show dark color at the
change.
! A brighter color shows in the Bal
kins. Here Greece, Turkey, Jugo-
slavia and Roumania signed a pact of
friendly cooperation in February
Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania have signed a parallel
pact. The Eastern Locano pact is
still in the making. Dark colors of
unrest mark Poland and Germany
and hover over new boundaries of
Balkan states, of the Little Entente,
of the Baltic countries. A rude
shake-who can foretell what pat
terms may result? The greatest of
all difficulties is in the power behind
the Kaleidoscope tube. 1t has been
fear 1t is fear. If that power
were of basic thought for all the
parts of the continent and not for
only one small part and for progress
of all instead of one, color might
shine brighter for each broken bit of
the continent and the whole show
those hues which mean hope hope
which the world needs.
Soviet Russia is relaxing her class
warfare. On October 9Th, instruc-
lions issued for the coming elections
granted the right to vote to huge
groups hitherto considered enemies
of the Soviet State" The grant is
not only for the right to vote, but
for equality in living conditions, in
educational privileges and social APP
proval and this is extended to en-
ployees of religious communities
excepting clergymen = to former
gendarmes, prison officials and form
er soldiers in the White Army.
London has a trade court known
as The London Court of Arbitration
which has been in existence for AZ
years. During the past three years
it has been used by % of the world s
leading countries according TO re-
port Just issued. One of the main
objects of the Court is to encourage
resort to arbitration in commercial
disputes And during the last rs
years there have been only three APP
peals from its decisions.
A League of Mercy has been form
ed in the Netherlands for taking care
of the sick, the unemployed and the
ooodx, dur;pU tho coming wintor