Evening star., 1934-07-01

weather influences than were the millrun of
men. The Dexter studies indicate the verify
of such venerable contentious. Moreover, the
tendency to bloodshed as shown by suicides and
murders is stronger in the temperate climatic
zone than in either the Torrid Frigid zones
while more violent crimes are committed dur
ing the late Spring and early Summer months
than at any other time
DIR. Dexter charted and studied crime con-
ditions in Denver Colo, for period of IA
years. More suicides took place in May and
more murders in March than In any other
month. The maximum number Of murders oc-
Cured during days of high wind European
records prove that June is the favorite month
for suicides abroad Long-term results show
that the tendency to homicide varies with the
meteorological conditions which produce the
emotional states in human beings which result
in discharge of motor stimulus responsible
for the crimes. The same weather conditions
which cause unruliness and irritability in the
child develop suicidal tendencies in adults.
Suicide is less common in the cold climates
where the metabolic processes are slow and in
the torrid one where the extreme heat pro-
duces a general depletion of energy, than in
the temperate region. where the climate Is
exhilirating and crime is at its best.
Arrests fer drunkenness in New York City
are Al per cent lower in July than in Decem-
Der. The wind rain and sunshine which TO
a certain degree govern crime also regulate in
toxication records. New Workers are most
temperate during the hot months and most
convivial during the cold weather. A high
barometer and a clear sky apparently dis
courage drinking high humidity which may
make the Winter chill keener or the Summer
heat less tolerable, prediSpoSeS toward intox1-
cation. High winds the barkeepers best
friends as liquor dspensary patronage is al
ways the greatest when they are on wing The
vitality of the body is excessive in Summer,
nf itc
qualities. Whisky is popular during the Win
ter During low humidity. the electrical po-
tential of the atmosphere is high and acts
in itself as a stimulant so that intoXicatlon
declines under such conditions.
A FTER reading DR.. Dexter's authoritative
book Weather Influences" your writer
visited the local headquarters of the American
Red Gross to round up some additional facts
about that author who for several years was
stationed in Montenegro and South Russia as
a major in that organization. In thumbing
through the Red Cross records. we ascertalned
that DR. Dexter. who is now one OF the chiefs
of the United States Veterans Administration.
is the only American who was ever indicted
into the famous Kuban and Terek tribes Of
Cossacks. In fact he IS one Of three Nordics
who have been thus honored King George OF
England and a renowned British admiral who
aided the Russians in clearing the Caspian
Sea of foes being the others We also found
out that this is the highest honor which the
Cossacks can confer. And. furthermore, that
Maj. Dexter was owner of the only complete
Cossack costume of this tribe now in the United
States.
These interesting facts urged the writer 70
learn as much as possible about Maj Dexter.
That LED to looking up his residence in the
city directory and to an unannounced call at
his home Thera We were uShered into what
we are sure is the most intriguing den or
hobby workshop to be found in or contiguous
to the National Capital. walls practically COW
cred With swords sabers and pistols from the
four corners OF the compass. each with thrill
ing tale to tell. Suspended from the ceiling IN
one corner was a collection Of some 40 home
made walking sticks specimens of rare tropical
woods which their owner had ccme across m
his travels and had converted during his leisure
into canes Close by stood a homespun refractor
telescope made from a discarded microscope,
a maple tripod and q mailing tube. A Colonial
style trunk appealed to us. and when We lifted
the lid. we observed that it had been refined
with a Newburyport. Mass, newspaper printed
in 1903 That trunk has been in the Dexter
family for some $50 years
fragment Of jagged metal now used pre-
sumably as paper weight is actually piece
OF one of the prOiectiles shelled from the
notable Big Bertha" of the Germans into
Paris. This metallic charge had hurtled
through the air for a distance Of 72 miles be-
fore it found its mark and aided in the col
lapse of a certain Partisan building. Hanging
in the adjoining closet and visible through the
half-opened door. We saw an elaborate silken
court costume worn formerly by King Nicholas
of Montenegro. The King presented that royal
costume to Mai Dexter when the latter re-
turned to the United States from his service in
Montenegro. On another hanger in the
closet was the Kuban Cossack uniform pre-
sented to Mai Dexter at the time of his in