davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-05-22
Nature an Experienced
Keeper of Time Sheet

To the Editor OF The Star
Has our precious individualism so
nearly disappeared we must now turn
to inanimate things, and conscript our
clocks?
Legislation should be first for the bene-
fit of those who toll 1t would appear
daylight-saving time is desired mainly
by those seeking recreation.
In the hot Summer adequate rest is
necessity. Let those who need to sleep
in the cool morning hours Let those
who desire more daylight arise earlier.
They could not play golf in the wet
grass, to be sure. But there are
compensations.
There is no more exquisite hour than
early morning, when 'jocund day stands
tip-toe on the misty mountain top"
The weekend gardener. those who
arise early for health or pleasure, the
ones who slumber, all benefit during the
cool. early morning hours, and no one
should be denied the privilege of utiliz-
ing this time as each may desire.
Most Offices are aforementioned now
and Office work can be done efficiently
and with comfort during the hottest part
of the day.
The country is so large daylight-saving
time would not be practicable for the
entire area and would just add to the
confusion resulting from natural differ
ence in time.
Why not abandon daylight-Saving laws
entirely and let nature, who has had
rather more experience in such matters
than man, keep the time sheet?
M P. WORSTER.
Evening star., 1937-05-22
Russia Reaches the Pole.

For the fifth time man has reached
the North Pole A Russian fying partv.
headed by Professor Otto Schmidt, has
made the point of ninety degrees North
latitude and no longitude by flight
from Rudolph Island, which is one of
the group called Franz Josef Land. The
expedition was the climax of a long
continued course OF preparation, under
taken with the view of establishing a
MoscowSan Francisco air route. The
actual polar point was attained it is
reported in dispatch from Moscow, the
plane flying above it and around it sev-
eral times in search for suitable
landing place. which was found at
point about thirteen miles from the Pole.
In a short time. according to present
plans, four other planes will follow from
the Rudolph Island base, and four men
will be established on the ice, to remain
about year. If the project is carried
through planes will fly from Rudolph
: Island from time to time in the prepara-
ton of the contemplated air course
across the top of the world.
Peary in 1909 by sledge, Byrd by air
plane In 1926, Amundsen- Ellsworth
Mobile by dirigible in 1926 and Mobile by
dtrigible in 1928, reached the north
polar point. Cook claimed to have pre-
ceded Peary short time before the lat
ter's attainment Of the Pole, but his
claims were rejected, and the credit and
Evening star., 1937-05-22

Could the American Indian read
wampum?"
There is a widespread tradition. fos-
tered in some cases by Indians them
selves, that certain North American
tribes had a bead language in which
they recorded secret lore, ceremonials
and business dealings. Vari-colored
beads were arranged in strings or belts
supposedly in such fashion that the
initiated could attach specific meaning
to each bead or pattern of beads.
This belief has no foundation, says
J. N. B. Hewitt, Smithsonian Institution
ethnologist, who has succeeded in re-
constructing the Is strings of beads used
by IroQuois sachems while reciting the
'requickening address, This was essen
tally the funeral ritual of the Six
Nations, passed down from generation
to generation from the semi-legendary
DeganaWida, who with HiaWatha, estab-
hshed the great league of the 1roquos
While a sachem recited this address,
he held the strings of beads in his
hands. Supposedly he relied upon their
arrangement at least for cues Actu-
ally. Mr.. Hewitt has determined. they
were intended to serve for an entirely
different purpose. They were the
sachems badge of office for this par
ticular ceremonial. They made the rites
official.
Mr.. Hewitt, who is the foremost au-
thorlty on the language, laws and cere-
monies of the Iroquois, was unable to
find the slightest evidence that the
strings had any function as medium
of record. The speaker depended en-
tirely on his memory for the text of
the requickening address, he has de-
termined. He finds the same true of
all other supposed Iroquois wampum
records. In some cases living Indians
will pretend to read" these belts or
strings and maintain that the meanings
OF the bead confgurations were revealed
to them by their ancestors. In every
case he has investigated, Mr.. Hewitt
says, 1t is clear that the meanings"
have been read into the wampum pat
terms. The supposed readers may be
sincere in their claims, but they actually
know nothing about the ways of their
ancestors
The same holds, so far as he has
been able to determine, for all other
native American tribes. Bead writing
never existed. Long ago somebody may
have worked into wampum belt the
figure of wildcat. This now might
be interpreted as referring to some man
named wildcat" or to some memorable
wildcat hunt-but nothing was further
from the mind of the man who made
the belt.
The belief has been SO persistent, Mr..
Hewitt says. that in some cases wampum
belts have been conf1scated in the Belief
that this would destroy records Of
treaties or business dealings. In times
past such belts have been seized and
destroyed with the mistaken idea that
the Indians then would have no records
of their heather" ceremonies and
hence would be obliged to abandon
them.
Evening star., 1937-05-22
Dublin Affair Shows That
Irish Have Long Memory

To the Editor OF The Star:
The Irish have long memory. I note
where in Dublin King George lis statue
was blown up. 1t was this same King
who. at Dettingen in 1743, defeated the
French. And so what?
Why, with the French there was the
famous Irish Brigade" that two years
later gained great renoWn at Fontenoy
sons of those Wild Geese" who left their
country after that fateful day on the
waters of the Boyne in 1890, where their
chief, King James II, had run away.
Change Kings with us, and We'll fight
you over again." Such was the Irish
answer to an English taunt
Under the brilliant Patrick Sarsfield,
and assisted by some French forces, the
Irish continued the war, but the defeat
of Aughrim put an end to their efforts.
Then came the treaty of Limerick tthe
broken treaty. as its result.
Ten thousand followed Sarsfeld into
exile rather than live in a land where
all hope of national freedom was lost.
When the wild vail of the women who
stood watching their departure was
hushed. the silence of death settled down
upon Ireland For 100 years the country
resigned itself to a peace of despair" !"
(GreenD
This is of the past. But these memo
ries endure. Look into history, and what
has been hidden from you will assume
shape. You'll know the answers. In any
case, it'll take your mind off relief and
taxes. FRED VETTER.
Evening star., 1937-05-22

the honor Of initial achievement Of the
top Of the world" went to Peary.
Whether the Russian plan OF main
tanning an Affair route Of travel from
Moscow to San Francisco by way OF the
Pole is ever accomplished, this initial ad-
venture in the establishment Of a base is
undoubtedly feat Of Importance. It
is not however. assured that this can be
done, merely by the present attainment
Of the polar point. There remains the
question of whether the party now to
be left on the ice during the Winter can
survive, and after that comes the prob
lem OF the maintenance Of even an ap-
proximately scheduled service over the
roof Of the world for practical transport.
This immediate achievement, neverthe-
less, is notable and deserves the highest
praise as a demonstration of scientific
planning and daring enterprise.
Evening star., 1937-05-22
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL,

Now that the mosquito season Is here
again, many persons should heed the
age-old advice, as difficult to follow as
1t is good.
Don't scratch!
Insect bites are bad enough, In them
selves. but when they are made worse
by digging, rubbing and scratching, there
is resulting danger Of infection.
The world has seen much improve
ment in the general care OF small cuts,
wounds and insect bites during recent
years, as the advisabiity Of antiseptics
has worked its way down through the
general populace.
A great deal yet remains to be done.
While the sight Of a man staunching
cut finger by applying to 1t q bit Of
torn paper picked up off the street is
no longer met with-an actual case
there still is much indifference along
these lines.
In general, however, it is no longer
considered Sissy" to take care of a
small cut or scratch.
Most persons today realize that germs
and other forms of ininical life are
much smaller than the cut!
Dangers from infection are perhaps
greater today than ever before. Maybe
it is an aftermath of the Great War, or
prevailing conflicts in other parts of the
world
There seems to be real growth in
dangerous and sudden infections, espe-
cially of the throat.
1t behooves every one to take special
precautions, and these must include
proper care of insect bites, including that
famous trio, the mosquito, the chigger
and the flea.
Those who snicker are those who are
not molested.
No person with thin skin, whose
taste somehow appeals to the insects,
will ever find anything funny in the
idea
1t is serious business, this OF being bit
by one or more of the forms of life
which some scientists declare are out to
conquer the world and will do so unless
man is on guard.
Tough-skinned persons have no idea
of the number of times one MOSQUITO
can bite one susceptible person overnight,
or even while walking along a shrub
lined avenue.
Many suburban communities. owing to
the overgroWth of shrubbery, are para
discs for insect life, including the mos
quito.
The susceptible who happens to walk
that way may be bitten scores of times
within block. whereas the tough skin
ned person will not receive single bite
Hence the latter may be inclined to poke
fun at the other, as if his bites were a
sort Of fraud.
The bites themselves, while dangerous
are not as much SO as the infections
which may result from breaking the skin
in scratching.
There would be no occasion to point
out this universally known truth. per-
haps, If it were not for the equally WELL
known fact that the temptation to
scratch EN-" is one which any adult
ought to be able to resist
He will not be able to do so, however
unless he thinks about the matter some
time when he is not subjected to the
temptation.
Evening star., 1937-05-22

II he will get firmly in mind the neces-
sity for leaving such bites alone, except
to sterilize them, if possible, he will 20
long way toward good practical ideal
OF everyday life.
Even the mosquito susceptible will not
care to go around perpetually with cit
ronella or the like dabbed on his faithful
epidermis.
Maybe he doesn't like the smell any
more than the mosquitoes!
He has no hankering to attract the
attention of his fellows through his per-
slstent, oft-the-records odor. OF all
smelly things, citronella oil and its
modern derivatives, toned down for in
cluSion in mosquito Creams" as they are
called, are among the very "loudest" 1t
is no wonder that mosquitoes are sup
posed to fly away at the first smell.
One is reminded of that classic of yes
teryear "Pecks Bad Boy" in which the
indomitable bad boy placed a sign on
the grocers offering, 'Ten cents a smell,
and one smells enough" eyes, that
seemed very funny, in the old days
Maybe if the old readers were still 10
years old, they still would think it
funny)
X X
AS with the common cold, there will be
multiplicity of remedies suggested.
Everybody has mosquito bite remedy,
most of which, by the way, are worthless,
or almost so.
1t must be remembered that although
human beings are surprisingly alike, in
fundamentals, they are very dissimilar
in their reactions.
One person loves the sunshine, the
next withdraws from it.
One likes beefsteak, one does not
One prefers blonds, the next likes
brunettes.
When it comes to allaying the fire of
insect bites, what is one persons cure is
another's poison.
Alcohol, bicarbonate of soda, various
rubs and lotions-there are hundreds
which may be tried.
Perhaps the best "cure." after all. is
simply to let the bite alone It will itch
itself out" in time, if let alone
This procedure requires one great in
gredient, however, which may be recon-
mended to all, whether bitten by mos
quitoes Or not bitten by them.
1t is will power.
ul lids Uttl1 tIle subject OF writer's
and preachers for centuries, but it is
also something which comes home to
the bosom of the man in the street"
The power which comes with the
proper exercise of will is not simply
theoretical, but is very practical thing,
too, one which may be used to good
advantage in a thousand matters, from
the greatest to the least.
Not least, by any means, is the mos
quito or other insect bite, especially when
sustained by one of the great tenderskin
clan
The desire to scratch requires real will
power to resist, but it pays dividends. not
only in permitting the fire" to draw"
itself, but also in creating more power
to resist wide range of inimical tempta-
tions in the everyday life.
Successful living is built up this way,
rather than through official schooling
Show us the man who can refrain from
scratching mosquito bite when it really
itches, and we will show you a man who,
if he is not yet an executive, at least
ought to be made one.
Evening star., 1937-05-22
Ambassador SEE.

Washington Is about to lose an old
friend, and the diplomatic corps one OF
its seasoned, popular and able members,
with the impending retirement Of DR..
Sao-Ke Alfred SEE, Chinese Ambassador
to the United States The National
Capital has special interest in Dr.
SEE, because, man and boy, he has been
identified with the citys life for the
better part of a generation. Following
his graduation from Central High School
in the late nineties and later from
Cornell University with the class of 1901,
the veteran Chinese envoy has spent
roundly twenty-three years In the foreign
service OF his country, some twelve or
thirteen of them at Washington. DR..
SEE had two separate tours of duty on
the Potomac, preceded on both occa-
sions by assignments as Minister to
Great Britain. Two years ago he be-
came the first Ambassador Of China
ever accredited to this country, having
previously held the rank of Minister.
He now goes home with the unique
record of having represented China
abroad probably for longer period than
any other man who ever carried her
diplomatic credentials.
Americas traditional interest In
China, exemplihed by the proclamation
of John Hays open door policy at the
dawn of the century, found an effective
reciprocal exponent in Ambassador SEE.
1t fell to his lot through the years, often
under difficult circumstances, to inter-
pref to the English-speaking world the
aspirations OF the struggling young
republic and maintain western faith in
its destiny. That he has notably sue
ceeded in this endeavor is high tribute
to his professional talents and personal
qualities, and merits for him the endur-
ing gratitude of his government and
fellow countrymen.
AS chief of the Chinese delegation at
the 1922 Washington conference on
armaments and Pacific affairs, Dr. Sze
played prominent role in the Sino-
Japanese negotiations, conducted under
American auspices, which led to the
restitution of Shantung and to general
regularization of China's relations with
her powerful neighbor. Subsequently,
as his peoples spokesman at the League
of Nations, DR.. SEE had still wider op-
portunity to present and plead China's
case internationally. Among his con-
crete achievements at Washington in
recent years was the conclusion of i'm
portant agreements between the United
States and China respecting silver and
wheat and other economic interests
DR.. SEE and his accomplished wife
enjoy wide circle of friends and ad-
mirers, who sincerely regret their de-
parture and wish them Godspeed in
whatever sphere their future activities
may be cast. Sino-American friendship
is stronger for the constructive contri-
buttons made by Alfred SEE to the cause
OF mutual understanding and good will
between the two countries.
Evening star., 1937-05-22
Judicial Retirement Law
OF Doubtful Validity
TO the Editor of The Star:

TO the Editor of The Star:
The second clause Of Section II, Article
II, OF the Constitution of the United
States, sets forth that the President
shall nominate and, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, shall
appoint judges of the Supreme
Court" etc.
The bill for reorganization OF the
Federal judiciary, sent to Congress with
the presidential message February s.
1887, follows that language of the Con-
stitution as to judges, "The President
shall nominate and, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate,
shall appoint" etc.
But in the law approved March l. 1887,
for retirement Of justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States, it is enacted
that "the President shall be authorized
to appoint successor to any justice of
the Supreme Court so retiring from regu-
lar active service on the bench,' ETC.
1t Is quite evident that the President
must first nominate judges to sit on the
Supreme Court of the United States,
but can appoint only by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate. The
wording of that retirement law raises
grave doubts as to it's validity. for it does
not seem to conform to the language of
the Constitution.
A justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States now has notified the
President that he desires to avail himself
of the rights, privileges and judicial
service specified in the act of March l.,
1887, entitled "An act to provide for re-
tirement of justices of the Supreme
Court"
If the act of March 1, 1887, be null and
void by reason OF non-conformity to re-
quirement of the Constitution as to ap-
pointment of his successor, can that JUS
tice of the Supreme Court retire under
an invalid law?
And if the law be invalid he could not
legally receive his salary after retire.
ment could he. if. also, no disbursing
officer of the United States Government
may pay out money under an invalid law
without being held personally re-
Sponsible?
The seriousness of the present situation
requires that close attention be given to
that retirement law of March /, 1887,
to determine definitely whether it is a
valid and operative law for the purpose
intended.
JOSEPH w. CHEYNEY.
Evening star., 1937-05-22
Shooting Stars.
UnSuSpectinR Victim.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

UnsuSpecting Victim.
Young Mrs. Flifkins loves to 90
To see temperamental show,
Where, with magnificent display,
famous 'Actoress" holds sway.
She diligently represents
Grief, Hate and kindred sentiments,
But she is most Impressive when
She hits tantrum, now and then.
She prances up and down the scene
And is an Idol of the screen.
Our interest she will soon engage
In awful but artistic rage
Jack Flifkins has a simple heart.
He thinks his wife just dotes on Art.
He never dreams she has in mind
The Art of Quarrels most refined.
She studies temperamental wrath
That cows the man who blocks the path
OF woman Wild with drops and curves
That indicate state Of nerves.
She notes them all-the latest kinks,
In fierce but ladylike high jinks.
And then, Alas!-likewise Alack!-
She tries them out on poor old Jack
Evening star., 1937-05-22
A Gratifying Victory.

The power of eminent domain given
to the Alley Dwelling Authority might
be viewed as the foundation Of the prin-
ciple on which 1t is proceeding in the
conversion Of blighted areas in the Dis
trict to new uses. Deprived Of that
power, the Alley Dwelling Authority
might still be able to function, but only
to limited extent. Certainly it would
never become the effective agency in rid
ding the city Of sore spots which, in time,
1t will become. For that reason it is graf
flying that in the first test of the Author
ity's power to condemn property Chief
Justice Wheat of District Court has
upheld that power without equivocation.
A point made in the case by the plain
tiff was that the use to which certain
group Of alley dwellings was to be put by
the Authority was not public use; that
after acquisition the Authority could sell
or lease the property or take over its
management. But the Governments
answer, in which the court apparently
agreed, was that whole purpose of the
Alley Dwelling Authority act is to rid
certain areas of the District of condl-
tions prejudicial to the community's pub
lie health, safety, morals and welfare.
To accomplish that purpose, it may be
necessary to condemn property. And
after condemnation the Government is
free to make whatever use 1t chooses of
the property thus acquired
AS the Alley Dwelling Authority is pro-
ceeding on the theory that some alley
property is better fitted for other pur-
poses than dwellings, and that its con-
version to other uses is sometimes best
accomplished by sale or lease, the fact
that it has won in this first test of its
powers is vitality important to a continu-
alton OF the good work it has begun.
Evening star., 1937-05-22
The ever Normal" Vote.

Jim" Farley is having trouble main
tanning his lever normal" Democratic
storehouse. The chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee has slipped
a cog. Despite all his strenuous efforts
Tor the past few months, and despite the
huge store of Democratic Senators in
the present Congress, normalcy has
taken wings. The revolt of the Demo-
cratic Senators against the Supreme
Court packing bill has been an amazing
development-and probably amazing to
Mr.. Farley. 1t is an unusual experience.
Getting Democratic Senators to go along
with administration measures has been
one OF the things for which the ma
tlonal chairman, not to mention the
President, has been justly famous.
The other day Mr.. Farley suggested
that Democratic Senators might have
an uneasy conscience when they 20 to
the White House asking support for pet
legislation, after having voted against
the Presidents court bill 1t was an
SNAA'NSN
ire of those Democrats who had an
nounced their opposition to the bill as
perhaps nothing else that has occurred.
If anything, it solidified the Democratic
opposition to the court BILL although
obviously that could not have been the
Farley objective.
The quld pro quo is nothing new in
politics. But it is not always advisable
to drag it into the open. Undoubtedly
that kind of operation has been relied
upon to aid in getting a sufficient num-
Der OF Democratic Senators to rally back
of the President in this court issue fight
Any shifts now, from the opposition to
the administration camp, will be eyed
askance.
AS a mere matter of political acumen
It may be interesting to consider the
future course of Mr.. Farley and the
President toward the Democrats who
have differed with them on this court
issue. What are they to do about the
Democratic Senators who have defied
them? Will it be good politics to seek
their defeat when they come up for
denomination and reelection? 1t does
not seem possible that political leaders
famed for astuteness as are Mr.. Farley
and the President, will follow such a
course. The late President Woodrow
Wilson undertook to bring about the de-
feat of comparatively few Democratic
Senators who clashed with him. The
result was not signally satisfactory,
although Mr.. Wilson succeeded in caus-
ing the defeat of isolated individuals It.
was the beginning of a disintegration.
1t Mr.. Farley and the President con-
tnue to insist upon the court bill, with
its provisions for increasing the Supreme
Court they may find an increasingly
difficult situation from party point OF
view. In the first place, they will put
old friends, men who have supported
them through thick and thin. on the
spot. In the second place, they must
think OF the program of the President
for the remainder of his administration.
The bitterness engendered in a knock
down, drag-ou fight over the court bill
Is not likely to be dissipated in a hurry,
The lever normal" Democratic vote in
the Senate may become a thing of the
past.