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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1938)
SEEN and around the NATIONAL CAPITAL py Carter Field •*) Washington.—A horde of medio cre, irresponsible, yet well-dressed and smug people is an unatural sight to behold. For, outside of Washington, men and women are known by their looks. The stamina of the laborer is written in his weathered face and t>n his hard hands. How the banker gets his living show's in his prudent eye. The store girl’s ability to endure monotony and an ill-manered pub lic is told by her weary smile. The preacher, the ticker lounge cam bier, the petty thief, the college pro fessor—all look their ability to make their way. But in Washington, as nowhere else, you see the dull, unworried tax leeches by tens of thousands, smug in futile security. From half past three on, just as the workers in competitive life are buckling down to make hay of the day’s effort, the capital crowd swarms out of its mar ble palaces, gaily Jamming the poky street cars and two-bit taxis, head ing for cocktail lounges or more hours of indolence at home. If it’s winter they’re muffled up in wool ens and furs. In summer they're arrayed in white linens, marred only on the scats by chair varnish melted in the capital’s steamy heat. Massed faces show not a trace of the alert concern that marks men and women who sail under their own steam. Along miles of corridors in the Departments of Commerce, Agricul ture, Interior, Post Office, you see them going through the motions of work earlier in the day. But much of the work is mere motion, for by gesture and voice the worker re veals that it doesn't matter much whether the task turns out good or bad. Many don’t even make mo tions; they lean back in swivel chairs, powder their noses, or sit staring at the electric clock. When the gong rings they spill out of the buildings like gravel from a dump truck. Not All Are Drones How many of these jobs are nec essary to the nation’s welfare no body knows. Probably more than half are justifiable, maybe three quarters. But generally speaking two out of three of the jobs could be held dtiwn by any bright person who wanted to try. The workers are not sought for the jobs; the jobs are piled up for the workers. Every five or six people must sup port one for government. Nothing will be done about it. But there are happy exceptions in this city of drones. Most con gressmen, doubt it or not, are fairly devoted to toil. The post office su perintendent of air mail, for exam ple, works like a musher dog. The chairman of the maritime commis sion is a demon for labor and he keeps the whole outfit on its toes. A young fellow in the machinery di vision of commerce drives ahead just as he would in a private firm— or get fired. The young woman as sistant to one ambitious brass-hat goes home too late and tired to eat dinner five nights a week. There must be thousands who do their honest best. A big order from the chief in the White House re verberates along the Ionic colon nades and thousands must lay to, whether they like it or not. Some times ambitious effort gets govern ment workers ahead. But not ofjen, and they know it. They can see plainly enough that even many of the leaders of government are not chosen on merit Wants Labor Law One of President Roosevelt’s greatest ambitions, a labor stand ards law to give the unorganized mil lions of workers a minimum wage of about 40 cents an hour and a maximum work week of 40 hours, has gotten exactly nowhere in a two-year battle of words. The President’s total program di vides the United States into three big groups. They are industry, la bor and agriculture. That includes the bulk of the population. He be lieves that industry exploits and op presses labor and agriculture, thereby causing most of the coun try’s ills. So he started out to get laws to regulate the country’s in dustries, and laws to assist labor and agriculture. How far has he gotten with his program? Pretty tar. To cite a few examples, the securities exchange law put a severe snaffle bit in Wall Street’s mouth. The labor relations act forbids business to interfere with the formation and functions of la bor unions. His bill to liberalize the Supreme court was beaten but the battle changed the make-up of the court. The social security act Is an overwhelming victory for the common man—if it works, years hence, when it’s supposed to. In a few weeks Mr. Roosevelt will sign his crop control law, which limits production and gives millions of farmers stable prices and at least a living—if it works. But there is now considerable question whether the wage-hour chapter of the Roosevelt program can be realized. A mighty effort will be made in the latter part of this session of congress to enact it into law. A wage-hour law is such an important factor in the whole scheme that if it isn’t passed the New Deal must be considered as having failed to cross over to the land of milk and honey. Unorganized Labor For after all, only a small per centage of American labor is or ganized and able to demand high wages through collective bargain ing. The rest arc scattered, help less and unable to make themselves heard. Families by thousands sub sist on such weekly incomes as $14, $18, $25. Mr. Roosevelt and his fol lowers contend that people living in such conditions are not of much use to society and are not good custom ers for business. Why has the wage-hour bill made no progress? Because only the ad ministration is fighting for it. In dustry is against such a law be cause it fears the government, giv en an inch, would take a mile and ; clamp more irons to its leg. The C. I. O. and A. F. of L. say they are for it, but they do nothing. Bar gaining for labor is their particu lar business, and they don’t want the government muscling in. The South put up the bitterest fight of all, because it pays as low as ten and fifteen cents an hour and thinks its small industries would go broke paying 40 cents. Besides the administration, of course, the millions of common workers want a minimum wage. They can vote, and it would seem that congress would respond to them. But congress responds pre cisely as pressure is brought to bear. And the lower third, which Mr. Roosevelt says is ill-fed, ill clothed and ill-housed, can’t afford to hire lobbies and print propa ganda. If the President and his support ers can enact a 40-40 wage-hour law they can hoist their banner, stack arms, and wait for the morning sun to show what manner of country they have captured. Take Up Dirigible* Next summer another German airship, much like the giant Hin denburg which burned 36 people to death at Lakehurst, N. J., last May, j will cross to the United States. Its first passengers back to Europe will be a few adventurers willing to risk anything for a thrill. In time a second German ship will enter the transatlantic service. If no acci dents befall, more and more travel ers will blimp the Atlantic. Mean while the United States will get into the dirigible business and, if successful, eventually will outdo Germany. For this country owns about all the helium there is, and Germany must buy it from us. Probably never again will passen ger airships' be inflated with hydro gen, the highly inflammable gas that turned the Hindenburg into an inferno. But though the United States has a monopoly on helium, Germany seems to have all the skill in build ing and flying dirigibles. German dirigibles bombed London during the war, kept the British people and the war office in constant jit ters. Count Hugo Eckener’s flight around the world and recently his regular runs to South America in the Graf Zeppelin were feats equal to Pan American Airways’ pioneer ing around the world trips in flying boats. Meanwhile the United States failed dismally in lighter-than-air pi oneering. Why? While Germany studied lighter-than-air as a distinct science, this country treated it merely as a sideline for the navy. Critics say we sent sailors, not aero- ^ nauts, aloft in our dirigibles. That P is why we came to grief. If our ships had been owned by private I interests, depending on successful j enterprise for earnings and reputa-! tion, we would have done better, j For certainly it cannot be assumed that the Germans have some super- i natural knowledge or secret formu la. No, the critics say, the Ger mans just worked hard at the job, that's all. Ask Financial Help Right now three or four American companies are asking this govern ment for financial assistance in 1 building airships. One of them has what seems to be sufficient achieve ment behind it to justify federal aid. If congress passes a bill now before it providing subsidies for oversea aircraft as well as for sur face ships, the United States will be in a sort of loose dirigible serv ice partnership with Germany. Out of our association with Ger many, we shall learn all the Ger- I mans know about building and fly ing lighter-than-air craft. Certainly this country is acting in entire good faith toward Germany. But in case Germany went to war against us, or, under our neutrality law, against any country, we would stop her supply of helium. Even continued German aggression in South Amer ica despite our Monroe doctrine, which says that Europe must stay out of the western hemisphere, would be sufficient cause for keep ing our helium at home. In fact, if Germany creates any considerable advantage for herself with helium, military or commercial, the supply will be stopped. Of course scientists in all mech anized countries are trying to de velop a gas to substitute for helium. The best of them say it's a pretty hopeless task—but so it seemed be fore the Wright brothers was man's attempt to fly. £ Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service. Night View in Washington. Visitors to the National Capital Find an Infinite Variety of Sights Prepared by National Geographic Society. □Washington, D. C.—WNU Service. HATEVER the visi tor’s particular curi osity may be, the na tion’s capital seems to offer something to satisfy it. Residents of Washington are amazed by the variety of sights their visitors wish to see. More news and photo graphs originate here than in any other city and pilgrims to the capital usually have their own ideas of where they would like to be taken. Show ing the home folks the infinite variety of sights, scenes, and dignitaries is a major form of entertaining out-of-town guests. Long propinquity has made Wash ington residents accustomed to the presence of the famous and near famous. If a man prominent in pub lic affairs grows weary of the adula tion of hero-worshipers, he has only to retreat to Washington to enjoy virtual anonymity. A rather shy-appearing elderly gentleman used to walk four times each day, to and from work. Among other pedestrians he passed unno ticed, though in most cities he would have attracted a queue. He was Andrew Mellon, then secretary of the treasury, the man who quietly presented to the United States one of the finest collections of paintings and other works of art ever assem bled, and added to the gift a $10, 000,000 gallery in which to display them! People everywhere are familiar with the government departments through the extension services that reach all parts of the country. For information on almost any topic within reason, one has only to call the proper office. Great Place for Students. Thousands of students come here not only because of excellent uni versities and colleges but also be cause government agencies and pri vate institutions afford unparalleled opportunity for research. If it is necessary to ascertain the names, nature, or classification of rare spe cies of flowers, for example, they carry the question to the Depart ment of Agriculture or to the United States national herbarium, where an expert quickly supplies authori tative data. If a question arises concerning trade practices in a foreign land, accurate information is available in the Department of Commerce. For human-interest material and statis tics on other countries, there are the embassies and legations of those na tions. The Library of Congress and the archives of the United States furnish a wealth of material on his tory. The national bureau of stand ards is a mine of scientific informa tion. There is not a government department that does not stand ready to help the serious inquirer. Almost everyone is amazed to dis cover how much really unspoiled natural country remains in the na tion’s capital. There still are many tracts of perhaps a hundred acres of woodland and meadow where wild blackberries and strawberries grow, where coveys of quail scuttle to cover at anybody’s approach, where youngsters build concealed huts and defend them against all rivals. District is a Bird Haven. The District of Columbia wel comes more than 300 species of birds each year, perhaps 150 of them casual or rare visitors, but many of them year-round residents. Since the passage of a protective law in 1932, the District has been a veritable wild-bird haven. The bald eagle, the turkey vul ture, the wood duck, the pheasant, the black-crowned night heron, the quail, the starling, several kinds of owls and hawks, and about 25 other birds are permanent residents. Within the city it is not unusual to hear the song of a wood thrush or sight the bright flame of a cardinal. Theodore Roosevelt listed more than 90 kinds of birds seen in the White House grounds or near by. and 17 of them nested there. Wrens, chickadees, finches, orioles, swal lows and sparrows are perhaps the most numerous, but bluebirds, ce dar wax-wings, juncos, golden crowned kinglets, and even cuckoos are not uncommon. There are five kinds of wild squir rels here, the gray fox squirrel and the red most numerous; also cotton tail rabbits, woodchucks, muskrats, and chipmunks. Beavers and pine martens, which used to inhabit for ested districts, are virtually gone, but occasionally a red or gray fox, a raccoon, or an opossum may be seen in woodland areas. Of snakes, the District has 23 kinds, only one, the copperhead, poi sonous. It is a comparatively short time, however, since rattlers lurked in some of the wild blackberry patches. Rock Creek park is a constant source of delight, with its more than 1,800 acres of natural woodland and its pretty stream breaking into foam over scattered bowlders. There are more than 30 miles of bridle paths in the park, and hiking trails climb cliffs and hills steep enough to give the enthusiast a taste of mountaineering. When motor ing through this recreation area, one has choice of many winding roads totolfcg more than 25 miles. In one of the most restful spots in the park, old Pierce Mill has been restored exactly as it was in the half century before 1897, when it closed down because a shaft was broken. A white-haired miller proudly superintends the grinding of corn and wheat, and the visitor may purchase water-ground cornmeal, or graham, whole - wheat, or white flour. The surplus is sold to the cafe terias in government buildings. The National Zoological park has been greatly enlarged and devel oped since 1925 by Dr. William M. Mann, who recently was in Sumatra at the head of the National Geo graphic Society-Smithsonian Institu tion East Indies expedition, obtain ing new specimens. It ranks as one of the most extensive and interest ing in the world. Some Zoo Inhabitants. In the up-to-date birdhouse and the flight cages near it live Andean condors and flightless cormorants from the Galapagos, besides hun dreds of more familiar species. About 100 wild black-crowned night herons have made their permanent home near the largest flight cage, apparently to keep their captive rel atives company. Separated from the public by glass screens in the reptile house— the last word in comfortable quar ters for serpents—are cobras (six varieties), rattlesnakes, water moc casins, African puff adders, coral snakes, and other poisonous kinds. Boa constrictors, pythons, and ana condas live in compartments which resemble their habitats. So far as possible the zoo dis plays other specimens in their nat ural surroundings. Flight cages con tain miniature mountains and crag gy heights; tropical animals are housed in realistic jungle scenes. Washington loves outdoor sports, and the city provides full opportuni ty for their enjoyment. In the pub lic parks alone there are 89 tennis courts, 32 baseball diamonds, 10 golf courses, 35 horseshoe courts, 26 pic nic groves, 23 playgrounds. Among the recreational highlights are polo, the equestrian drills at Fort Myer. and the army, navy, and marine band concerts held in Wash ington parks in summer. Botanic Garden Ranks High. Last spring the National Botanic garden displayed 1,700 azalea plants in full bloom. This show was fol lowed by one of rhododendrons, to gether with Easter lilies, hyacinths, and other flowers. Under the di rection of the Congressional library and the office of the architect of the Capitol, the Botanic garden has gained recognition as among the fin est in the world. In one part of the new million dollar building the visitor finds him self literally transported to the trop ics. Exotic plants from mysterious jungles thrive amazingly under sci entific care. Here are the finest arti ficially grown specimens of the long stemmed Peruvian plant from the fibers of which Panama hats are made. Another room contains a bewilder ing collection of cacti, ranging m shape from the spherical bisnaga to the wandlike ocotillo, and in size from tiny spikes half an inch tall to 20-foot giants from the Southwest. To the newcomer by train Wash ington is a delight, particularly if he has come from a crowded city of skyscrapers and industry. He steps out of the Union station to look across a charming plaza to the Cap itol. An elaborate fountain plays above a large reilecting pool, and ne little suspects that beneath it lie a vehicular tunnel and a subter ranean garage for 270 congressional automobiles Here is real spaciousness, room to breathe. The sky is clean. There are no skyscrapers thrusting spear heads at it ADVENTURERS’ CLUB HEADLINES FROM THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF!=__ ”Death Spits Five Times'' By FLOYD GIBBONS Famous Headline Hunter Hello, everybody: Here, boys and girls, is the doggondest story you ever read in your life—the story of a lad who was called “yellow” and didn’t like it. The story of a lad who, to show that he wasn’t yellow, sat unmoved while they put up a wreath of flowers in his lap—a lily in his hand—while death darted at him five times across a theater stage. His name is Philip Luongo—this lad who faced his maker rather than be called a coward—and he lives in New York city. And if you have ever got a job to do that calls for real courage, just get Phil to do it. After what he went through six years ago, in that crowded theater up in the Bronx, there isn’t anything in the world that is going to scare him. Phil Didn’t Like to Be Called “Yellow.” It was a dare that started Phil Luongo off on his big adventure. A famous French sharpshooter was appearing at a vaudeville theater on Tremont avenue, and every night he called for volunteers to be his human mark—to wear a headgear with five small glass balls on it while the Frenchman shot them off one by one. Other lads who had seen the show dared Phil to go up there and be shot at. And when Phil said he didn’t like the idea they called him “yellow.” Phil didn’t want to be short at any more than you or I do. But they couldn’t call him yellow and get away with It. With his friends he went to the theater, ready to make them eat those sneering words of theirs. They took seats in the first row of the orchestra and waited for the Frenchman’s act to come on. The fourth act had just ended and the Frenchman was due next. He came out suave and smiling—made a short talk about his war record and showed a short moving picture of himself flying a plane in action Phil Was Scared to Death. on the Western Front. Then he went into his shooting act, performing with every kind of gun imaginable, and never missing a shot. Volunteered to Be Human Target. As his act drew to a close, he warmed up to his big stunt of the eve ning. He stepped to the front of the platform, asked for a volunteer to put on the headgear. But at the same time, he warned the audience that anyone who did put on the headgear would be doing it at his own risk. It was Phil’s moment to speak up, and darned if Phil wanted to do it. He kept thinking of what would happen if the French man should miss. But suddenly out of a daze, he found him self holding up his hand—crying to the man on the stage that he would volunteer to be his human target. The Frenchman seemed to look surprised—then he smiled. Phil was ushered to the stage by the Frenchman’s assistant seated in a chair over by one of the wings. He was scared to death, but he tried not to look it. Only his heavy breathing betrayed the fact that the inside of him had gone ice-cold and that his heart was pounding so hard that he felt sure it must break through his chest. Nobody tried to make it any easier for Phil. In fact, it seemed as though they were deliberately trying to scare him out of it. They put a wreath of flowers in his lap—a lily in his hand. The orchestra began playing the Funeral March. The audience laughed. Apparently they were getting a great kick out of it. But Phil wasn’t. He hung onto the sides of his chair, fighting off the desire to get out of it, to run off the stage and back to his seat in the orchestra. But always when he thought of quitting, there came before his eyes the picture of those pals of his, sneering and calling him yellow. Suddenly the orchestra stopped playing. The Frenchman pushed a trunk to the middle of the stage, lay down on his back and began sighting at Phil’s head along the barrel of his rifle. A new fear gripped at Phil's heart. He hadn’t known the Frenchman was going to shoot at him from any such crazy position. Found Himself a Hero. The Frenchman’s smile disappeared. His brow knit, and little veins stood out like ropes in his forehead. There came a sharp crack, and the first little glass ball on ^hil’s headgear fell to pieces. Another crack—and another. Then Phil’s courage came back to him. He sat calm and unafraid while the Frenchman shot off the other two balls and came toward him smiling, with outstretched hand. The theater roared in thunderous applause. Phil suddenly found the spotlight focused on him. He tried to go back to his seat, but again and again he was brought back to take bows. It might have been the big moment of Phil’s life, but it wasn’t. The real thrill came when the Frenchman stepped forward to make a little speech. He congratulated Phil on his courage in facing his gun—said it was the bravest thing he had ever seen done. And then he made a confession that surprised Phil himself. In all his years on the stage, the Frenchman said, this was the first time anyone had had courage enough to take such a chance. Usually he admit ted, nobody volunteered, and he had to use his assistant for his final feat. And what a look Phil gave his friends down in the front row when the Frenchman said those words. Copyright.—WNU Service. Famed Tower of London Not one, but many towers compose the famed Tower of London. Nor mans built the fortress on the ruins of another fort constructed by Ju lius Caesar’s legions. It has served since as the royal palace, a prison, and, finally, as sort of an historical museum and resting place for the crown jewels. Until 1834 it also housed the royal menagerie. Though many persons believe it still is an impregnable fort guarding London, its chief weapons are an cient swords and armor of historical value. Brick Used in Longfellow House The brick used in building the Henry W. Longfellow house at Port land, Maine, was brought by boat from Philadelphia. A mansion of the formal type, it was built in 1785 by Gen. Peleg Wadsworth. Human Race Blamed “Human misfortune,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “cannot be cured by censure. The human race has only itself to blame for all the unpleasant things that have hap pened to it.” Dolls of the Ancients “All the world loves a doll”— though what passes for a doll in some places wouldn’t be recognized as such elsewhere. In part£ of South America it’s a bone, wrapped in a blanket if a boy, and in a petticoat if a girl. Boys and girls in Asia Minor play with pillows as “dolls.” Ancient Greek dolls were sometimes made of wax. Those of old Egypt ! had clay beads for hair. Cortes, on his first conquest trip into Mexico, j says the Washington Post, found Montezuma and his Aztec court \ playing with elaborate dolls. Mules in Missouri Missouri, famous for its mule®, was almost unacquainted with the animal until the Santa Fe trail to the Spanish settlements in New Mexico was opened in the early part of the Nineteenth century. Why Sherman Lost Speakership In 1859, John Sherman of Mans field, Ohio, lost being elected speak er of the national house by two votes. It is said he lost because of his opposition to the extension of slavery. Applique Swans Lend Fresh Note to Linens What more delightful needle work could there be than luring these graceful swans across the ends of your towels, scarfs and pillow cases! And mighty little coaxing they need for you cut them out and apply them in a Pattern 1581 twinkling (the patches are so sim ple). Finish them in outline stitch with a bit of single stitch for the reeds. You can do the entire de sign in plain embroidery instead of applique, if you wish. Pattern 1581 contains a transfer pattern of two motifs 5l/z by 15 inches, two motifs 4 by 15 inches, and the ap plique pattern pieces; directions for doing applique; illustrations of all stitches used; material re quirements. Send 15 cents in stamps or coins (coins preferred) for this pattern to The Sewing Circle, Needlecraft Dept., 82 Eighth Ave., New York, N. Y. Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets made of May Apple are effective in removing accumulated body waste.—Adv, Recreation in Its Place Make thy recreation servant to thy business, lest thou become a slave to thy recreation.—Quarles. ARE YOU 3/ lilir-0 ONLY A 74 WIFE? Men can never understand a three-quart*, wife—a wife who is lovable for three weeks of the month—but a hell-cat the fourth. No matter how your back aches—no matter how loudly your nerves scream—don’t take it out on your husband. For three generations one woman has told another ho^w to go “smiling through" with Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. It helps Nature tone up the system, thus lessen ing the discomforts from the functional dis orders which women must endure. Make a note NOW to get a bottle of Pinkham’s today WITHOUT FAILfrom your druggist—more than a million women hav* written in letters reporting benefit. „ Why not try LYDIA E. PINKHAM’S VEGETABLE COMPOUND? Personal Burdens Life’s heaviest burdens are those our own hands bind upon our backs.—Grace Arundel. LUDEN'S Menthol Cough Drops 50 contain an added 1 ALKALINE FACTOR | The Will Makes the Giver For the will and not the gift makes the giver.—Lessing. Many doctors recom mend Nujol because of its gentle action on the bowels. Don’t confuse Nujol with unknown products. WNU—U 8—38 Personal Architects Every man is the architect of his own fortune.—Salter. To Get Rid of Acid and Poisonous Waste Your kidneys help to keep you well by constantly filtering waste matter from the blood. If your kidneys get functionally disordered and fail to remove excess impurities, there may be poisoning of the whole system and body-wide distress. Burning, scanty or too frcqusnt uri nation may be a warning of some kidney or bladder disturbance. You may suffer nagging backache, persistent headache, attacks of dizziness, getting up nights, swelling, puffiness under the eyes—feel weak, nervous, all played out. In such cases It is better to rely on a medicine that has won country-wide acclaim than on something less favor j ably known. Use Doan’s Pills. A multi tude of grateful people recommend Doan's. Ask your neighbor]