Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 202, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 December 1925 — Page 4

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The Indianapolis Times ROY W. HOWARD, President. FELIX F. BRUNER, Editor. WM. A. MAYBORN. Bus. Mgr Member pf the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance • • • Client of the United Press and the NEA Service • * • Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Published dally except Sunday by Indlnnapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-220 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis * * * Subscription Rates: Indianapolis—Ten Cents a Week. Elsewhere—Twelve Cents a Week • • PHONE—MA In 3500. *

No law shall be passed restraining the free interchange of thought and opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely, on any subject whatever.—Constitution of Indiana. ,

A Cup as a Symbol i q |0 Franklin is to receive a S2OO loving cup 1 iJ) after all! We wonder what the town will do with it. Really, one can imagine nothing more useless than ,a loving cup, unless it be municipal parades or beauty contests in which loving cups are awarded. The cup in question, you remember, was awarded for the best float in the municipal Halloween parade. It was said to have been worth S2OO. When the cup arrived at Franklin it was discovered to be worth about $5. Franklin naturally resented receiving a $5 cup. It wouldn’t look well on the mantel when it began to tarnish. But all is saved. A mysterious group of business men, who refuse to let their names be known, have collected S2OO to buy anew cup. The incident of the cup simply emphasizes the’ extent to which some individuals will go in the name of “boosting the home town.” Nothing in the world ever was accomplished by a “greater home town parade” or most of the other so-called booster movements. The only way to develop a community is to get down to brass tacks and work at it. Actual accomplishment usually is in exactly inverse ratio to the amount of red fire burned in a given movement. ' If all the energy wasted by so-called boosters who make speeches and eat luncheons and wear badges and attend dinners in a city the size of Indianapolis were devoted to useful effort the city would lead the world. The Franklin cup is a fitting symbol of results achieved by these means.

Speeders and Fines HIEF RIKHOFF arrested a speeder. He said the speeder was traveling through a city street at the rate of seventy miles an hour.' Rikhoff charged him with going fortyfive miles an hour. We don’t know why. The speeder was taken into city court and fined sls and costs. The chief kicked because the fine was too low. Fifteen dollars certainly isn’t much of a fine for a speeder who is a potential killer. Something might be accomplished if a judge could go out and arrest a speeder once in a while. Perhaps his honor would not be so lenient. All of which reminds us of Chief Rikhoff’s threat to enforce a ten-mile speed limit in the downtown district. The limit, by the waj T ANARUS, is not being enforced. You can’t enforce a ridiculous rule or even a ridiculous law. But what effect would the ten-mile speed limit have had on the young man whom the chief said was driving seventy miles an hour? Would he have traveled any more slowly than he did under the present twenty-five-mile rule ? It isn’t likely. It’s the speeder and the reckless driver who should be punished— -not the sensible driver. WHEAT prices have gone up. Didn’t the President say everything would be all right with the farmers? * # • THE island of Yap has been devastated by a tidal wave. Its total disappearance a few years ago would have solved a lot ol problems. * * * A IEMPRRATURE of 24 degrees was reported in Florida. Simultaneously, a temperature of 23 degrees was reported in Indianapolis. The “publicity persons” will have a hard time making much of one degree.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

You can get, an answer to any ques“°noi fact or information by writing to The Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau. IJ22_ New York Ave.. Washmgr ton, D. C.. Inclosing 2 cents in stamps for reply. Medical, legal and martiai advice cannot be given nor can extended research be undertaken. All other questions will received .a personal reply. Unsigned requests cannot be answered. All letters are confidential.—Editor. Where was Ricardo Cortez, the movie actor, born? In Alsace-Lorain, France. What is the derivation and meaning of the name “Snodgrass?” It is of Anglo-Saxon origin. “Snod” means “smooth or trim,” therefore the name means "smooth grass.” Can you name five or six of the best known woman novelists of America? Among them might be mentioned: Willa Cather, Edna Ferber, Edith Wharton, Zona Gale, Mary Roberts Rinehart and Kathleen Norris. I saw a reference recently to Daniel Webster’s "7th of March speech.” What particular speech was referred to? On March 7, 1850, Daniel Webster delivered a powerful speech in the United States Senate on the proposed compromise on slavery, in which he opposed the views of the abolitionists and of all who in any way desired to restrict slavery. The one great aim of his speech was to smooth over the differences between North and South. It has been charged that this speech was a virtual recanting of his political opinions for the purpose of aiding his

Mt. Athos Is Wet SHE Near East Relief has inadvertently broadcast the astounding news that Greece is wet. In fact it has gone so far as to transmit an invitation from a Greek Governor calling attention to the wetness of Mt. Athos. Some “busy publicity person” is blamed for giving America this surprising bit of information. Dr. Shumaker should investigate immediately. It may be a violation of thfe rules of some group of dry sleuths to mention the fact that there is a spot on earth where wine can be obtained. At least, that is- the impression that would be gathered from the rumpus that is being stirred up about this bit of publicity. Os course, no one believes that the Near East Relief is opposed to prohibition. But why all the fuss? Everybody knows that wine is consumed in Europe. And everybody knows that anyone who has enough money to go to Greece has enough money to obtaiVi his wine right here in Indianapolis, if he is inclined to violate the prohibition law. Poolrooms and Paroles EOOLROOMS as breeders of crime still are under fire in Indianapolis as one after another of the city’s youthful criminals blame poolroom environment for their troubles. Judge James A. Collins of Criminal Court suggests that license fees for poolrooms be increased and that the proprietors be put under bond to bar minors from their places. It is a sensible idea. There is nothing essentially wrong about a poolroom. The trouble is with some of the people who frequent poolrooms. In these places crime plots are hatched, much as plots to buy booze are hatched by youths of a little higher social status in country clubs and cases. The difference lies in the fact that the poolroom boy frequently goes out and commits a hold-up sometimes with fatal consequences; while the other youth goes out and drives an automobile while he is drunk, sometimes with fatal consequences. Both boys usually land in jail. In the case of the poolroom boy, he usually receives a light sentence followed by a parole. In case of the other boy, his influential father frequently maneuvers things so that even a parole is unnecessary. The trouble with both systems lies in the fact that too many boys who get away with it once are likely to repeat. It ’looks easy to them. Hopeful | A | BUSINESS man was telling an n v Ll±J quaintance why he had sent his daughter to a small “freshwater” college. “I figured that; the college itself didn’t make such an awful lot of difference,” he said. “After all, all any college can do is bring out what’s already in th estudent.” Recall that remark the next time you hear our, colleges assailed because of too much football, too many dances, too much drinking, etc. A really intelligent, ambitious lad is going to get his education even if his college does have a lot of distracting outside activities. And a dumbbell won’t get educated no matter how soberly he may be cloistered. A CHICAGO woman accuses her husband of having forty-nine wives. lie would have to shop early.

presidential aspirations, but the charge seems unjustified. Webster simply followed out his other speeches In favor of the Union. This speech, by winning other northern Senators to support the compromise, probably delayed secession for a period of ten years. What ship brought the body of the Unknown Soldier to the United States? When was it placed in Arlington national cemetery? Who originated the idea? The ship was the Olympic, Dewey’s flagship at the Battle; of Manila in 1898. The body rested in state at the Capitol in Washington while many thousands filed by in single procession. It was then taken to Arlington in a great funeral procession and the body was laid to rest on Armistice day, Nov. 11, 1921. The man who originated the idea of commemorating the Unknown Soldier was Prof. Antonio Sciortino, a noted artist of Rome. How are names and designs etched on glass? There are three methods: First, by means of an engraving wheel, which requires some manual skill. . Second, by means of a sand blast, making a stencil of the name, fixing this on the glass, and then, by means of a blast of air, blowing sand oh the glass. Third, by using hydrofluoric acid. The glass is covered with beeswax or parafine wax, of some acid resisting Ink or varnish; the name or design is then etched out of the wax by means of a knife,

and the glass dipped in hydrofluoric acid, which eats away the glass at those parts where the wax has been cut away. Are there any tracks in the United States where whippet races are held regularly? Such tracks are maintained at Miami, Fla.; Atlantic City, N. J., several other places. . What is Mandel fur? A registered trade name for the pelts of Mediterranean sheep. Does the President of the United States hold a rtink In the Army superior to that of a general? He is commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and therefore Superior to a general. Is there more than one kind of tubercular test applied to cattle? There are three kinds, the technical names for them are: subcutaneous test, ophthalmic test and intradermic test. Where is Fly River? Fly River in Papua rises tii the Victor Emmanuel Mountains eiear the western border of British New Guinea, an extensive island north of Australia, and flows in a southeasterly direction, the Gulf of Papua by a delta, at about 8 degrees, 40 minutes, south latitude. It is one of the largest known rivers of Papua and is navigable for upwards of 600 miles. Its chief tributaries are the Strickland and the Alice.

THE INDiAN'APOLIiS TJLME&

A Sermon for Ttfday By Rev. John R. Gunn

Text: “And there were in tlie same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”—Luke 2:8. mT was while these were abiding in the field attending to their flock that the heavenly host appeared unto them, announcing the birth of the Christchild and chanting their hosannas of peace on earth and good will toward men. These men were busy at their common task. They were doing just what they ought to have been doing—"keeping watch by night over their flocks.” Had they been carousing in some place of frivolity, had they been gadding about in idleness, had they been sleeping at home when they should have been awake in the fields, they would never have seen the angelic singers or heard their song of "good tidings of great joy.” It is always so. It is to people who are doing faithfully and well their plain and simple duty, that heavenly revelations are made. These shepherds were a very simple people. This, too, is significant. It was Aot to a select circle from the inflirential centers of the

RIGHT HERE IN INDIANA By GAYLORD NELSON—

SHOP EARLY; MAIL EARLY mHE Indianapolis postofflce Tuesday handled more mail —1,654,747 pieces, according to Postmaster Bryson, who personally counted it, we suppose —than ever before in its history. The previous high mark was hung up Monday with 1,000,822 pieces. Nine-tenths of the deluge was outgoing mail —mostly Chritsmas stuff, belated Christmas cards and gifts. "Shop early and mail early” has been the Christmas slogan for years. It's a lovely motto. But, judging from the inundation of the postofflce and the crowds of pop-eyed, desperate shoppers swirling through downtown stores yesterday and today, the motto has made scarcely a dent in the lastminute Christmas rush. Procrastination is a great human accomplishment. We don’t like to do today what can be put off until tomorrow. We won’t even get to our own funerals on time unless we are carried. Human inertia is the most solid fact in the world. Because of it the world doesn't really move—it is pushed. Maybe nex tyear we will all do our Christmas shopping early—but we can’t do it this year. In a few hours we don’t do it at all. Which reminds the writer. He must dash out, purchase gifts and mail ’em. Another big day for Mr. Bryson. HATCHING A TRUST capitalists, it is reported, are negotiating a i $50,000,000 merger of Indiana quarries in the BloomingtonBedford district. If plana are consummated approximately 75 per cent of the stone output of the district will be controlled by the combine. As more than CO per cent of the building stone used in the United States comes from the limestone quarries of the L’.loomington-Bod-ford area in the Hoosler State a pretty sizable trust is apparently in process of hatching. A few’ years ago the prospect of such a merger would have caused a shiver of apprehension down the spines of populists and "common peepul.” The cry of "monopoly" would have been raised from coast to coast and the tocsin would have sounded summoning the trustbusters to do their stuff. Now a $50,000,000 merger that will put the control of a necessary building material in the hands of a single corporation is given only inconspicuous notice in the newspapers. No popularity-seeking politician froths at the mouth and views with alarm. No steps are taken to prevent the consolidation. The trust-busting days are past. The country no longer fears big business just because it is big. Even Standard Oil no longer has to sneak down the alleys to escape the mob.

THE PORK BARREL BEGINS TO ROLL GREENI I WOOD of Indiana has lnl I troduced bills in Congress asking appropriation of $330,000 for postoffice buildings in three cities in his district —Bicknell, Sullivan and Vincennes. Other Hoosier Congressmen are similarly seeking to plant Federal buildings —a dozen or more—in their districts. As usual when Congress meets, the scramble for Federal buildings is on—the pork barrel begins to roll. Sullvan, Bicknell and other Indiana towns in their class are probably entitled to postoffice buildings costing SIOO,OOO or more. Scattered throughout the country are many smaller and coynmercially less Important towns with Imposing Federal buildings costing double that sum. But does the postal business in such cities justify the expenditure? Is a, SIOO,OOO postoffice In a 6,000 population town good business? Even Henry Ford wouldn't last long if he conducted his business in that extravagant manner. No wonder the postoffice department accumulates a deficit of $45,000,000 a year, operating a service which if privately owned would be the most profitable business In the country. It tries to live up to its buildings, provided by pork barrel Congressmen. Congressmen shed tears o(ver the oppressed taxpayer, and talk convincingly of economy in Government. But how they do love un-

world’s life that the angels chanted their hosannas, but to a band of quiet, hearty, homespun Shepherds. It seems strange that shepherds and not princes should hear the heavenly birth-song of the king of kings. But most of those who have seen the opened heavens and heard the angelchorus have/been everyday people. The shepherds were silent, thoughtful men. They spent much time in meditation as well as work. “While I was musing the fire burned,” said the shepherd-psufmist. These men mused. They were students of the sky. They were ready for the heavenly visitants that came to them that night as they were keeping watch over their flocks. [ There is in this a significant lesson much needed in this day of rush and hurry, of anxious strain and stress. Visitants from the heavens do not appear to us because Wo do not scan the sky. The greatest revelations of spiritual truth are vounchsafed only to the quiet and thoughtful. This was why the Shepherds of Bethlehem were chosen for the visitation of the heavenly messengers who came to announce the Ijirth of the world’s Messiah. (Copyright, 1925, by John R. Gunn)

economic Federal building appropriations for their own districts. THE LAST ECHO | APT. "BUCK” SUMNER, Indianapolis police officer, won’t have to serve a jail sentence and pay a line of $75 assessed against him by Judge Givan for contempt of court. Tuesday he formally apologized for his contemptuous action and the case was dropped. That’s the last echo of the city’s primary election held seven months ago. What was the captain’s offense? In the factional fight to swing the mayoralty nomination the hardy capiain ordered the arrest of armed horsethief detectives working at the polls which was contrary to a nocturnal restraining order issued by the judge. A purely political squabble between Republican factions. He was cited for contempt. Since then the case has dragged along languidly and has been appealed to the State Supreme Court. Last winter a factional fight to control the Republican city convention was hurried, into the c’ourts. Injunctions and counterinjunctions were issued thick and fast by judges routed out of bed. Appeals were made to the Supreme Court. Life, liberty and the foundations of the Republic were threatened. Those were stem days. Eventually the uproar subsided. The sun continued to shine, and the city politicians found that they still lived. But as far as the plain citizen knows the cases started during the squabble still hibernate on court dockets. Indianapolis politicians who run whining to the courts for aid in their factional fights certainly overwork judges. And the public pays.

MR. FIXIT Confusion Caused by Similarity in House Numbers.

Let Mr. F*xlt present vour problems to city officials. He Is The T'mes’ representative at the city hall. Write him at The Times. Should you stagger into the wrong house on Caroline St., one of these balmy evenings, you have a good alibi. It would appear from information Mr. Fixit received today. DEAR MR. FIXIT: We arc subjected to a great deal of annoyance and inconvenience because of conflicting home numbers. We liv< at 1930 and 1932 Caroline St., which was once Cooper St. This has beer our number for at least fifteen years During the past summer sever houses were built south of Roos' velt Ave., which hear the same nurr. bers .as our house, thus causing . great deal of confusion. Will you please see what you car do or what we should do to eliminate this as all the houses north of us bear numbers in sequence to ours. MRS. VIOLA SCHMEDEL, HENRY BOHLSEN. The city engineer’s department is eager to straighten those numbers. Please call Mr. Branson and give your lot number. Mr. Fixit is face to face with a determined offensive of the Hooeier Traveling Man, a constant correspondent, who contends’ the traffic department has many things to learn. Here are some statistics he said he garnered: Heavy traveled corner: 8:10 to 8:15; 61 cars, 19 did not stop -or slow up; 17 were lighted. Senate Are, 5:25 p. m.; delivery truck going north, came across Washington St., between twenty-five and thiry miles an hour, jammed right into south bound traffic, struck curb, dumped half the load on the sidewalk at the Best Laundry. Twenty-Second and Capitol Ave.: Sunday, woman driver alone, understand second time driving, did not stop at tho corner and then ran straight into a parked car. Mr. Flxdt appeels to the Hoosier Traveler to compare Indianapolis with other large cities from viewpoint of traffic regulation. He has that opportunity.

The -SAFETY VALVE It Blows \\ hen the Preeeure Is Too Great. By The Stoker*———

We have just received a copy of "Calvin Coolidge, The M u Who is President,” by William Allen White, with the autographic legend—-“In fear and trembling, from Uncle Bill." It does seem a pity for any man of parts to write a life of Coolidge. As Henry Clay said in 1850: "Sir, I would rather be right than be President." Speaking of the impending dog fight over the location of a Roosevelt Memorial over against th* Unco In M mortal in Potoinac Par’ in the I>. C., we move to amend tlu there be no memorial erected at public expense to hny public man until lie has been dead sixty years HINTS FOR THE CITY MAN “Bacon rinds, rubbed on fruit trees, will keep rabbits from ‘‘barking’ them." He and his sister had been brought up to be kind to animals. They had been taken as a special treat to see the big movie spectacle where the cruel Roman Emperor has the Christians massacred by the lions in the arena Up to this time the little boy had seemed to enjoy the show but at this point he began to weep. Appropriate remarks were made to soothe him; but his parent had missed the point. Finally It came out, "That lion hasn’t any Christian,” he wailed. One of the singularities of our postal rates is that It costs 8 cents to send a book from Washington to New York while a package of the same weight will go to Italy for 4 cents. Don’t ask us why. The young Senator from Montana, Mr. Burton K. Wheeler, is now accused by the Department of Justice lawyers of violating the "unwritten law * about public land permits. We knew the "unwritten law" had something to do with virginity but didn’t know 4 it covered virgin lands. Cooks, maids and household workers, says a dispatch from Moscow, will be paid according to the earnings of their employers, and not according to the service rendered, If a proposed regulation is made law. Wha| a wow John D’s cook would have under such an arrangement! OTHER THEATERS TODAY Other theaters today offer: William Faversham in "Foot-Loose” at English's; Stella May hew at Keith’s; "Dancing Pirates” at the Lyric; burlesque at the Broadway; "The Scarlet West” at the Circle; "Pretty Ladies” at Zaring’s; “When the Door Opened” at the Colonial; "A Woman of the World” at the Apollo; "Mannequin” at the Ohio, and a complete new show at the Isis.

Very Merry Happy New Year pßi

With Best Wishes for Your * Happiness at Christmas and the New Year 111 Hatfield Electric Jllf |||k Company Jmf} “The House Electric” Maryland at Meridian

Opens Tonight

jjr J J H El

Sarah Truax

When William Favershaw opens a three-day engagement tonight at English’s in “Foot Loose” Sarah Truax will be seen In the leading role opposite the star.

What’s New on the Stage

The Eleven Musical Misses have been secured by the Palace Theater to present the headline entertainment on their special Christmas program which will be giv.en the last half of the week. In addition to the five acts of vaudeville and the feature film the Palace orchestra will give a number entitled “The Toy Shop” and a tworeel fantasy, "Santa Claus,” will be run especially for the children. The eleven syncopators provide the newest of popular songs and also give "The Evolution of Dixie," a special descriptive piece. Dorothy Henry is seen in several toe and acrobatic dance numbers. Ned Norworth and his company stage a singing and dancing revue whose keynote is "color-pep and originality." Mason and Cole have named their offering "Spring.” This comedy episode reveals Misii Cole as a hysterical young woman. "Vintage of Forty Nine" stars Gordon and Spain in a series of Rube comedy characterizations made only to provoke laughter. One of the better known stage and screen comedians is Nick Cogley, who appears in his sketch “The Striped Man” in which he plays the role of an escaped convict. "The Pace That Thrills” is the photoplay with Ben Lyon and Mary Astor. Scenes showing veteran race drivers who have appeared many times at the Speedway are in the film. Pathe News, a comedy, and topics of the day are given.

THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 192^

A WOMAN’S VIEWPOINT

Secrets Not to Be Sold JVT! By Mrs. Walter Ferguson r —*■ NEWSPAPER reporter any* I/\ I that the world awaits 1 VI breathlessly the matrimonial behavior of a certain European count and his rich American wife, who have recently arrived in this country. ....... Well, hardly that. The world pretty generally can guess what .will happen, and It should have known long ere this. For this same noble at the time of his marriage to the heiress wrote and sold numerous newspaper articles relating the tale of their hec r tic love affiir. He pictured the beautiful story of their devotion -ejnd outlined in detail the cooing love passages which took place between them. He laid bare what he called the innermost secrets of their hearts, and sold for cash what •,he Insisted was tho supreme romance Os his life. Quite naturally such things' culminate in the divorce court. For true love is ever reticent and never seeks such publicity as this. One reads these days so many so•.ailed confessions, a large number.of ’hem coming from literary lights who need never stoop to such effortsg to get their productions in print., * And the general public reads these things with its tongue in its cheek. It may be silly, but it la never foolish enough to believe that the man or woman who loves another can ruthlessly dissect the emotion that sways the heart, or would subject the object of Its adoration to- the glare of publicity. But we Americans are fast losing the fine quality of reticence which marked the characters of noble men and women of bygono generations. We are mad about money, and to get money we will resort to any device, even, It seems, to our souls’ dearest secrets. And when we would make our love the rqfajjf of obtaining gold, we have Indeed sunk to the bottom of the pit materialism. Perhaps this Is one reason jwhy so little lasting love can be found In our matrimonial records to<j(ptf. We have continued to desecrate a noble passion, and have deliberately slain a beautiful spiritual attribute. True love is*a gift of God to jjjoirtais and when we seek to commercialize this loveliest of our possessions. it is but fitting that it should take fight and leave us with shattered fusions and divorce courts overflowing. ... ■ How rapidly Is she number of horses In the United States decreasing? „ On Jan. 1, 1910 there were 19,329,338 horseH in the United States.j,On Jan. 1, 1925 there were 17,689,000 horses, a decrease of 1,631,338 in fifteen years. Ti*