Evening star., 1938-08-14
d. C.. Woman Back in u. s.,
Sa,v Nazis IL, Serious Men
Mrs. 4. K. Balls and Scientist Husband
Found Germany Land of Uniformed
People and Restrictions.

S~
Mrs. A. K. Balls. alumnae trustee
Of Sweet Briar College and wife OF
DR.. A. K. Balls. principal chemist In
the Department Of Agriculture. has
just returned with him from . series
of scientific conferences In Europe
which he attended as an expert on
engines. She tells an interesting
story Of her impressions Of conditions
"over there" particularly In Germany.
Incidentally, engines are accelerating
substances in the chemical changes
which occur in all cell life-such as
digestion. fermentation. decay. etc.
She Is q leader In college educa-
tional circles here and possesses q
national reputation as one Of Sweet
Briar's most distinguished and widely
Travelled alumnae. Born and reared
In Louisville, KY, as Elizabeth FRANKIE,
with maternal connections among
many Of the prominent families Of the
Old Dominion. she was familiarly
known in her girlhood community as
that red-headed one of the eight
FRANKIE sisters"
An outstanding student at Sweet
Briar during its formative years, she
majored in chemistry and biology for
her A. B.. was president Of its athletic
association. treasurer Of its student
government and business manager of
student publications. After securing
her M. A. at the University OF Louis
vile. she obtained her Phi. D. in physi-
illogical chemistry at Columbia Uni
versity and went from there to q post
as instructor at Cornell University
Medical School. under the late DR..
Stanley Benedict. one Of the worlds
most eminent authorities In blood
chemistry.
Lived In Prague.
Abandoning her own career when
she married DR.. Balls, an associate of
her Columbia University days, she has
continued to maintain an active In
terest and participation In general ed
ucational problems
The Balls. who make their Wash
ington home at 3406 Lowell street
NV, are no strangers to Europe. Be-
fore DR.. Balls went to work In 1891
with the Agricultural Department they
lived four years in Prague.
Our sojourn in Prague, where my
husband originally planned six months
Of intensive study under Prof. Wald-
schmidt-Leitz, leader Of one Of the
worlds great engine schools, was one
of the most interesting in our lives, -
says Mrs. Balls "As the six months
heightened into three years. we not
only had stimulating intellectual ex-
perience. but an intimate glimpse into
the conditions that are q part Of to-
days acute problems.
Even seven years ago" Mrs. Balls
continues. feeling ran 50 high be-
tween the faculties Of the Czech and
German Universities located in Prague
that social intercourse between their
PROFESSIONAL families was virtually i'm
possible. In those days. though, the
Germans in Czechoslovakia were split
up into 10 or Is parties. with appar-
emily no possibility Of unity between
them"
Uniforms Everywhere.
According to Mrs. Balls. ones first
impression Of Germany lis Of q nation
in uniform" This she believes Is "in
part due to its uniformed peace ac-
tivities as well as to those which have
to do with preparation for war"
Everywhere, she adds. In addition
to the uniformed troops. one sees
groups of young people of both sexes
marching along under . leader to the
music Of their own songs. intent upon
camping expeditions somewhat similar
to our American Boy and Girl Scout
activities"
Not only Is tremendous emphasis
placed upon physical fitness and sports
of all kinds among young people Of
school age. but among employed groups
as well. Every business establishment.
for example. is expected to have at
least two excursions year. with all
Of its employees going as guests. Gov
eminent leaders even meet with the
heads of establishments to plan these
excursions. 80 there will be neither
overcrowding. duplication nor lack OF
pleasing variety.
There Is also an intensive effort upon
the governments part. 80 Mrs. Balls
was informed. to encourage people to
get the most out Of their vacations by
seeing more Of their homeland than
they have yet envisioned. In advo-
cacy Of this plan. there is much ad-
vertising Of cheap vacations on the
government-owned railroads.
The Work Army.
OF especial interest are the men,
bers Of the smartly uniformed Ar
better Armee." or work army. In 1t
every boy and girl in all Germany
who is physically fit must enroll be-
fore the age of 2l without regard to
class distinction. Other than board
and lodging. no compensation Of any
kind is given for this service except
to those who supervise it. With the
girls it takes the form Of assistance
in the capacity of nursery governess
or Of helping with farm and house,
hold tasks. In the case Of the boys
the emphasis Is upon manual labor
upon the farms. the roads or other
specified form of state enterprise.
In Northern or Hanoverian Germany
30 strong is the governments infiu-
ence in regard to a curtailed use Of
such cosmetics as rouge and finger nail
polish that it is almost considered
declassee to resort to them. Their
absence, however. among the younger
members Of Germany's rosy-cheeked
blond femininity Is not particularly
While In Bremen Mrs. Balls visited
in a German home. The government
regulation permits . German house,
holder to purchase an allowance Of
only one-half pound of butter q week
for each person who Is regularly Q