Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 207, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 January 1931 — Page 4

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SCKI ttttj - H OW AM L>

Keep the Faith Tomorrow will welcome the biennial session of the legislature, more important this year because the neople hftve given an unmistakable mandate to the lawmakers. That the senate and the house are of different political complexions should not prevent the enactment of laws which the people emphatically have declared they desire. If the Republican majority in the senate is wise or endow-ed with any political sagacity, it will impose no obstacles to the platform pledges made by the victorious party in November. The veto power of the Governor is no more than a gesture of protest. It can not be effective as against a majority vote. The people were promised and have every right to expect some very definite action. In the forefront is a registration law’ to give honesty in elections, a demand made by the League of Women Voters. Next is the old age pension act, sponsored by the Eagles’ lodge and a law in numerous progressive states. There also is the promise of an income tax law to replace property taxation in raising state funds, important to the farmer and the owner of real estate. These things are contracts with the people. There are other reforms which should be given by a legislature dedicated to the welfare of the state. This city should have the right to own and operate its street car and transportation system under nonpolitical management, with strict civil service for employes. The pardoning power should be taken from prison trustees and placed in the hands of n separate board. The highway commission should be changed so experts have the job of spending more than twenty millions a year, instead of turning over these funds to those whose sole recommendation is their political regularity and their friendship for certain material interests. There is a general contract underlying the specific contracts. That is to give decent government in place of partisan, political plundering. The Expected Happens That postmasterships have been sold by congressmen, or rather one congressman, should not occasion any surprise to those who understand the history of Indiana politics. The moral viewpoint of the state from the time that D. C. Stephenson took charge of Republican politics would not condemn such practice, even if federal law frowns upon it. The state has only in the last election finally freed itself from the vicious influences brought in by the apostle of hate. Nor is it wholly free now. The men who bargained and consorted and conspired with the most famous guest at Michigan City still run the party. One phase on which the public should be enlightened is why the state and national committees last November spent time and money in trying to re-elect the congressman who now is charged with such betrayal of his powers of office. They can not plead ignorance. Open charges were made during that campaign that the sale of jobs was a common practice. The postmaster-gen-eral now says that these charges were true. Yet the national and state committees did not hesitate or weaken in their support of this protege of D. C. Stephenson. The matter can not end with the discharge of those who paid. There still are many weeks before congress adjourns. Conceivably the vote of this one member might decide the laws of all the people. A federal grand jury now, not after the statute of limitations has run. or his term expires, should investigate. Government by the venal and corrupt never can be good government, probably not repre- • sentative government. Obnoxious, Says Court The United States supreme court’s denunciation oi illegal search and seizure as “obnoxious to the fundamental principles of liberty” is gratifying, particularly so in light of some of the court's earlier decisions. It may be that the court has rediscovered the fourth amendment to the constitution, designed to protect citizens in their homes. The decision came in a case where prohibition agents had entered offices with a defective arrest warrant, claiming it to be a search warrant, and confiscated books and papers designed to show a conspiracy to violate the prohibition laif. The high court, reversing a lower court, ruled that the documncts must be returned and that they can not be used in evidence. Noteworthy in the opinion of Justice Butler was his declaration that the fourth amendment forbids issuance of warrants on “loose, vague or doubtful bases of fact.” , “It emphasizes,” he said, “the purpose to protect against all general searches, since before the creation of our government such searches have been deemed obnoxious to the fundamental principles of liberty. They are denounced in the Constitutions of every state in the Union. "The need of protection against them is attested alike by history and present conditions. The amendment is to be construed liberally and all owe the duty of vigilance for effective enforcement, lest there be impairment of the rights for the protection of which it was adopted.” The decision of the court should have a far-reach-ing influence in restraining the “legal lawlessness” of federal agents, which has become so common, and which many believe is a primary cause of the breakdown in respect for law. Federal police will be less likely to resort to invasions of personal rights if they know the courts will not support them, and the higherups in the bureaus at Washington will act with more circumspection. The Packers Decree Packers will be permitted to go into the wholesale grocery business under a decision of Justice Jennings Bailey of the District of Columbia supreme court, modifying the “consent decree” of 1920. subject of so much litigation and dispute. The decree was an agreement between the packers and the department of justice, under which packers consented to give up dealing in all commodities except meat, if the government would drop threatened antitnm proceedings. /Although the packers express themselves as satis<fcd, they won only a partial victory. They will not be permitted to resume control of stockyards, terminal railroads, and market newspapers. Nor will they be permitted to engage in retail trade—and this is one of the most Important parts of the decision. The packers will be able to use their selling and distributing forces, and their branch houses throughout the country, in packing, handling and distributing all kinds of food to the doors of retailers. §

The Indianapolis Times <A SCRII*rH-nOWAKD NEWSPAPER) Owned and published dally (except Sunday) by The Indianapolis Tiroes Publishing Cos 214-220 West Maryland Brreet. Indianapolis. Ind. Price in Marion County. 2 cents a copy: elsewhere. 3 cents—delivered by carrier. 12 cents a week. BOYD GUI!LEX. KOI W. HOWAUD. FRANK G MOURIBON. Editor_ President Business Manager PHONE—Riley. K)I WEDNESDAY. JAN. 7. 1931. Member of United Press. Scrlppa-Howard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Association. Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”

Unquestionably they will become an important factor, with their vast resources, in a situation complicated by the growth of the chain store systems, and the decline of the independent merchant and wholesaler. Justice Bailey forbade retail trade, fearing annihilation of independent dealers, and development of monopoly. But he saw no evidence of monopoly now, nor danger of it. What the ultimate result of Bailey's decision will be, time alone can tell. At first blush, it is difficult to see how the consumer can suffer, if there is genuine competition among the packers, if they are to come into competition with chain stores and independent wholesalers, and if the independent retailers are to be preserved. It was to preserve competition that anti-trust laws, under which the 1920 decree was entered, were designed. Wholesalers, naturally, are not pleased. It should be noted that the judge took cognizance of changing business methods, and apparently tried to adjust the decree to conform to them as well as to the purpose of the anti-trust laws. The packers argued, and with seeming logic, that during the last ten years conditions of production and marketing have undergone material changes, citing the tendency toward mergers, and the growth of chain stores, and that they were at a disadvantage with the restrictions imposed on them. The Issue Clarifies Out of the ruck of infancy and maternity aid bills now before congress emerge two measures. One is the Jones bill, almost certain of passing the senate, a bill that safely can be supported, since it reenacts in all essentials the highly successful SheppardTowner act of 1921-29. The other is the Cooper bill, a house measure that has been brought into recent prominence by letters broadcast by Mrs. Aida Breckinridge, saying that this measure “alone has the President’s approval.” It includes general rural health in its scope and turns administration over to the United States health service, instead of to the children’s bureau. It is interesting to know, but difficult to understand, why the President should cast his lot with the small group of medical men and others seeking to strip the children’s bureau of a function it so ably administered for seven years. One suspects the influence of Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, a medical man, who in a speech last June came into the open long enough to voice a rather remarkable doctrine. “The care of children,” he said, “is primarily a problem for trained men ancf women—for physicians; it is not primarily a problem of welfare, it is a medical problem.” Be it said to the everlasting credit of Miss Grace Abbott, chief of 1 the children’s bureau, that she sees with more than a microscope and hears with more than a stethoscope. Had she not administered the Sheppard-Towner act with a view toward education, sanitation and social welfare as well as medical science, that act today could not be credited with the stavings of 25,000 babies and more than 300 mothers annually. Science, of course, is the answer to the disgraceful death rate of babies and mothers in the world’s richest land, But since when has science been medical? Social science, that sees also germ-laden slums, unsanitary homes, ignorance and poverty, will save these precious lives better than any unassisted medical bureau. Miss Abbott’s department, under-financed, despised and sneered at by the big-wigs of the medical profession, has proved itself truly scientific by its works. Why should the President take sides, if he does, against this useful institution? Why should not the Jones bill be enacted? A British scientist says the universe will explode some day'. Already you can hear poppings in Chicago. The market may give some investors a pain, but even holders of seats on the Stock Exchange have had to stand for it. An opera is to be opened at Palm Beach this winter, says a news item. There should be no lack of divas there, certainly. You may talk about your Dawes plan, Young plan and five-year plan, but the most popular of all will continue to be the installment plan.

REASON

POLITICAL conditions in Chicago are clearing rapidly. The Republicans failed to agree on a candidate to beat Thompson for the nomination for mayor, Big Bill now having three opponents. If all three stay in the fight, Thompson will be renominated. a tt tt And then Bill’s enemies will go into a huddle and decide to elect the Democratic candidate as has been done before It rnvolv no oarty loyalty, inasmuch as Thompson openly foi. t Ruth Hanna McCormick in her late fight lor the senate, supporting James Hamilton Lewis. a tt tt Factional fights among Illinois Republicans are about the most savage and complicated affairs in the nation, this being due, not to any unusual barbarism among the statesmen, but to the great G. O. P. majority and the absence of a state boss capable of swinging the whip of authority. t tt tt tt THEY have an ideal situation up in Winnipeg, so far as heating is concerned, the city planning to heat the entire town from a municipally owned hydro-electric, plant. It is figured that the cost for each house would be reduced from 12 tj 40 per cent, but the fellows who have been carrying out ashes will find life very tame. , tt tt it We believe Lindy is somewhat enthusiastic in his prediction that before long airplane driving will be as common as automobile driving is today. If it’s so, life will be somewhat safer for the pedestrian than now. a tt u THERE’S one offense the motor driver commits now that he should cut out with the new year and it’s the habit of chasing pedestrians to cover when he makes a turn into crowds that are crossing when they have a right to cross. Under such circumstances the pedestrians have the right of way, but many motorists don’t seem to know it —or care. ' it tt a The scientists differed as to the fate of the earth at this recent convention at Cleveland, many of them seeing nothing but ultimate destruction, while others thought the old sphere would glide on forever. There’s no evidence one way or the other and a fellow’s viewpoint depends much on the condition of his liver. * tt This New York girl who had the million-dollar coming-out party may amount to something in spite of it. „ They do, now and then,

FREDERICK LANDIS

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

M. E. Tracy SAYS:

The Mexicans Find it Hard to Believe Our Intentions Are Good When Our Manners Are So Bad. EL PASO, Tex., Jan. 7.—Except that the Mexicans don’t want | to sell any territory; couldn’t if ! they did, since their constitution ex- ■ pressly forbids it, and regard every move made by Americans with that I end in view as a gratuitous insult, i Senator Ashurst's proposal to buy | Lower California and part of So- : nora is all right. People in other sections of this country may be able to ignore it, ; or laugh at it, as just one more of ! those useless affronts which have played such a prominent part in our attitude toward Mexico, but down here, they can’t. Down here, where so many activ- | ities and enterprises hinge on a good understanding between the ' two countries, they can’t see the ; funny side of irritating Mexico with j suggestions which humiliate her, but which have no possible chance ! of success. tt It tt Not Fair to Mexico IT is quite true that the Colorado river flows some miles through Mexican territory before emptying into the gulf of Lower California, which entitles Mexico to some share of the water and complicates the irrigation problem. The economic and political advantage we would gain through exclusive control of the river is obvious. So, tco, is the economic and political advantage we would gain by acquiring the fertile land which lies adjacent to it, as well as the rich mineral resources of Lower California. But it is our idea of international equity and fair play to wave money in a neighboring government’s face and demand the right to buy some of its territory every time we see an economic or political advantage? Os course, it isn’t, but how are we going to make the Mexicans or Latin Americans understand that it isn’t, with proposals like that of Senator Ashurst cropping up every so often? tt tt tt See Sinister Move TRAINED to be subtle, and naturally polite, the Mexicans misconstrue our crudeness. What appeals to us as no more than a coarse bit of humor, or a little windjamming, cuts trtem to the quick. They find it hard to believe that intentions can be good where manners are so bad. Taught never to put the worst foot forward, they assume that no one else does, and they can’t get over the idea that there must be something more sinister behind the scenes than appears on the stage. If the Colorado moves us to bid for Lower California and a part of Sonora, they argue, why won’t the Rio Grande move us to bid for half a dozen more of their states some day, and if we can’t buy them, why won’t we try to take them just as we did a third of their territory in 1848? All things considered, the Mexicans and Latin Americans have a far more genuine excuse for some of their alarms than we have for some of our bullying, browbeating antics. tt tt n Rio Grande Has Value ' j ''HE Colorado represents exactly A the same kind of problem as the Rio Grande, though on a rather smaller scale, and could be handled with rather less difficulty. The Rio Grande flows between the United States and Mexico for about 1,000 miles, not only separatin them, but contributing something of great value to each. When our government built the Elephant Butte dam. ninety miles above El Paso, it agreed to allow Mexico a sufficient share of the water to irrigate 25,000 acres of land at all times, which is about onesixth of the whole. • That was no more than fair, since 80 per cent of the water now being used in the Brownsville country comes from Mexican tributaries of the Rio Grande. t a Dense Ignorance Shown HpHE physical aspects of our reJL lationship with Mexico and other Latin American countries is no more important than its moral and intellectual aspects. There are conventions to be observed, as well as obligations. If Mexico is due some share of the water from jointly owned streams, she also is due such respect as belongs to a sovereign government and in such way as will leave no doubt of its sincerity. The notion that she should make full allowance for our peculiarities while we make none for hers, is absurd. Her failure to understand us is no more conspicuous than our failure to understand her. Both countries are afflicted with dense ignorance concerning each other. We are less excusable, because we have better means of overcoming it.

Questions and Answers

How much black-eyed peas should be sown to an acre? If drilled for seed and not for forage, from five to ten pounds will sow an acre. If grown for forage, as much as thirty pounds may be required. What river forms the boundary between Indiana and Kentucky? Ohio river. What is a prado? It is a Spanish word and means “public park, lawn or meadow.” Who was the first woman member of congress, and when did she serve? Miss Jeanette Rankin of Montant, the first woman member of the United States congress, was elected in 1916. What is the average height of the Japanese people? Five feet, one inch. What is Ihe charge for a page advertisement in the Saturday Evening Post? A single page advertisement in black and white costs $8,000; a center spread, tow pages, costs $19,000.

Toys Stimulate Imagination of Child

BY DR. MORRIS FISHEEIN Editor. Journal of the American Medieal Association and of Hveeia, the Health Mazarine. THE chief purpose of toys for children is to keep them amused, but they serve also as a means of developing imagination and stimulating the intelligence. Toys may serve to indicate the talents of an older child and guide the parents in the choice of its training. Thus some childrefi seem to prefer painting and drawing, whereas others seem to incline naturally to engines, motors and mechanical apparatus. Some boys are attracted by chemical outfits, others by electrical devices. * Ffer these reasons the toy industry has developed greatly, and parents have a wide range of objects from which to choose during toy time. Unfortunately far too many parents choose the toy that amuses themselves rather than what will be attractive to the child.

Times Readers Voice Their Views i 7*

Editor Times—Democrats and Republicans in the next legislature should remember that the controlling issues of the last campaign were economic and the “upsets” were a protest against waste, extravagance, and excessive taxes. Another “protest” will come in two years if relief is not given. When there is so much unemployment, such a slump in business and farm products, the lowest in twenty years, it seems presumptious, the height of folly, to talk increased public expenditures. And yet every state institution is holding up its hands for more money for “pressing needs.” A lot of these “needs” are for new “power plants.” Some promoters are trying to “work” the state for some “patent” system, when the old plant is good for years. And now comes Purdue university and asks for an increase of a million dollars over the last appropriation. These theoretical educators seem to believe that money grows on trees. I am not opposed to education. I want all the children to have the best training possible. I have helped a dozen students get through college. But I decidedly am opposed to the waste and extravagance in our schools from the township to the universities. Look at the budget of Purdue. For the next two years Purdue asks for $591,688 for “special” expenditures in lands and buildings. And yet four years ago the four state schools got a “special” tax levy of 2 cents to run for ten years—amounting in ten years to $15,000,000 for “building purposes.” This levy was granted on the proviso that it was “in lieu” of all ‘special appropriations for building purposes for ten years. Why this demand now for more? The agricultural experiment and experimental departments are asking $150,000 more. This is for the purpose of sending a lot of young “theoretical” men out over the state to teach the farmers how to set a hen or raise a pig. Farmers know more about their work than the “traveling agents” and “walking delegates” of this institution. Purdue was established by the national government # in 1870 as an “agricultural college” and if managed as such the federal appropriations would support it. But it wants to teach everything under the sun. Os the 4,544 students now enrolled only 395 are in the school of agriculture. Let us open the books. The annual report of Purdue for the year ended Sept. 30, 1929, shows total expenditures of $5,023,484.91. Taking present enrollment of 4,544, this means an average of $l,lOO a student a year. Os this amount $195,647.47 was spent for athletics. Among the items was $6,168.83 for “competition expenses.” Was that for buying football players? lowa university was outlawed for that practice. The budget committee has a sacred and important duty to perform. Too often such committees are "packed” for special interests, like the state schools. Their work is more perfunctory than accurate or practical. When they visit the institutions they are feasted, toasted, and blinded so they can’t give a thorough and careful investigation. The biggest waste is in the payroll. This should be scrutinized vigorously. If there ever was a time for the

DAILY HEALTH SERVICE

Almost everybody knows that too many toys are a bad influence. This does not mean that parents who are able to do so should limit the children to one or two toys altogether. The proper method is to purchase the toys that seem to be desirable, to have a place in which to keep them properly, and to limit the child to the use of one or two toys at any one time. It must be remembered that the child may not be interested in any one toy for more than an hour or two. He will have, however, his favorites and when he culls for them they may be available. Dr. D. A. Thom has suggested that the toys keep pace with the child’s mental age. Tiny infants are satisfied with animals of wood and rubber. It is merely necessary to make certain that the paint is not easily sucked off the toy. As boys get older, they prefer

legislature to get down to brass tacks, it is now. The people are not in a humor to be “exploited” any longer. He who serves the people best will serve his party best. Let politics be adjourned for a year. The budget committee also should look out for duplication of work. For instance, why should Indiana university conduct a school of education when we have two state normals and a dozen nonstate normals and there are 6,000 idle school teachers in the state? WILL H. CRAIG. Noblesville, Ind. Editor Times—l wonder just how far the voice of the people will be heard in the state legislature. The voters have shown themselves. They have thrown out all the Republicans, who, as * Republicans, had no effect, either / good or bad on this same depression, that is, all of them they legally or morally could throw out on such short notice, and have substituted Democrats who are just about the same type mentally as the men whose places they are taking, and who have just about as vague ideas on what will help the people. Lacking as I am in the wisdom of the world, it seems to me that if any real help Is ever given by a state legislature it is either because of a miracle or because some lost soul who really has a conception of the people’s needs and a truthful desire to help the people, commits a political blunder and gets himself elected to the legislature. Then, too, we have with us the average citizen who helps the farce along beautifully by absolutely In an active way forgetting that there is such a thing as a state lawmaking body as soon as the election is over. The only representatives of the people who band thier respective selves together and really show the powers that be that they control

PUTNAM’S BIRTH —January 7 ON Jan. 7, 1718, Israel Putnam, an American soldier, prominent in the French and Indian revolutionary wars, was bom in Danvers, Mass. When news of the battle of Lexington reached him while he was plowing on his farm, Putnam left his plow in the field, as had Cincinnatps, and, mounting a horse, rode to Cambridge in one day, a distance of sixty-eight miles. In May of that year, he led a battalion to Noddle’s island, burned a British schooner and captured a sloop, He later won renown for his bravery in the Battle of Bunker Hill, which was fortified largely on Putnam's advice. On the evacuation of Boston. Putnam was placed in command of New York, but following his defeat Brooklyn Heights be was removed from command. He later was restored to the command, when he was found guiltless for the defeat. In 1777 he was appointed to the defense of the Highlands on the Hugsdn.

mechanical devices and girls prefer dolls and all the paraphernalia that goes with them. As age advances, construction devices, building blocks and more intricate mechanical devices may be used, as well as outdoor toys, such as wagons, motors, boats and gymnastic apparatus. Light metal toys, such as autos, trucks and boats, with sharp edges are dangerous, and frequently children are cut by such playthings. Small babies never should be permitted to play with marbles or beads,, because it is the tendency of the baby to put small things in the mouth and not infrequently to swallow them. The baby without teeth may have small celluloid animals or playthings, but from a year to 16 months the child may bite these toys or tear them apart and then be cut by the sharp edges.

enough votes to get what they want compose such groups as AntiSaloon Leaguers, Insull interests, other public utilities—if any—and the American Legion. They, however, are not to be condemned. I don’t blame Insull, he has a purpose there. He must help the unemployment situation by having twenty-seven lobbyists who receive reputed tremendous sums a year, so that more money will be in circulation. And its only too true that we need him more this year than in others —ditto other public utilities, if any—YOU are welcome. As for the American Legion, it is made up of just a good bunch of fellows, who once in the history of the country really did try to do something for it, even though some think they might have been misguided youngsters. But the Anti-Saloon League—never! If its lobbyists are representatives of the people, then I ■am not of the people. I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt and name them all fanatics, and so pass them by with raised eyebrows and a pitying shake of the head. But such would be hypocricy. For in reality they are nothing but the narrow-minded, tent revival type, know nothing and proud of it, small town Hoosiers, the same as have grown famous throughout the United States, with Georgia crackers and Missouri mules, and all in about the same category—which might be construed as an insult to the mules. I wish I might dare hope for an interval of happiness at this session without them, but I don’t. Their lobbyists will be -there, intimidating the legislature as Shumaker tried to intimidate the supreme court, I am glad that judges are made of sterner stuff than legislators, and those members who can’t be at the statehouse will be, as usual, hanging over their back fences, whispering things about their neighbors. Being sincere, I am, A REPUBLICAN. What is the name of the song sung by Ruth Chatterton in “Sarah and Son?” “Lullaby.”

Giving a Party? Our Washington Bureau’s bulletin on Party Menus, Prizes and Favors will prove helpful to the hostess planning a big or little party. The bulletin will be particularly valuable to the hostess who wishes to make up herself, inexpensive and unique prizes and favors for her party. It contains many suggestions for such small gifts—particularly “booby prize” gifts that any hostess can prepare herself from inexpensive materials. Fill out the coupon below and send for it. CLIP COUPON HERE Dept 108, Washington Bureau, The Indianapolis Times, 1322 New York Avenue, Washington, D CI want a copy of the bulletin PARTY MENUS, PRIZES AND FAVORS, and inclose herewith 5 cents in coin or United States stamps, for return postage and handling costs. Name { ... Street and No " City state. I am a daily reader of The Indianapolis Tiir ts (Code No.)

.JAN, 7. !5?1

SCIENCE

BY DAVID DIETZ 1 Discovery That Cosmic Cloud Exists in Space Is Important Revelation of Astronomy in Last Year. THREE great advances marked , the progress of astronomy during the year 1930. The most spectacular. though not necessarily the most important, was the discovery of the planet Pluto. The other two concerned the cosmic cloud and the fcinstein curva. ture of space. Both of these, like t the discovery of Pluto, upset previous notions widely held. An Oxford wit lias said that the progress of science might be defined as the continual process of discovering its own mistakes. There , is a germ of truth in the statement, though like many an epigram, it states the case unfairly. For the true scientist always regards his present beliefs as the best under the facts then known and stands ready to alter them as new facts are discovered. Until Pluto was found, astronomers believed there were eight planets revolving around the sun. Thanks to an anno.incement which came from the Lowell observatory of Flagstoff, Ariz., on March 13, 1930, all the books of astronomy will have to be revised to read nine. On that date, they announced the discovery of the planet beyond Neptune whose existence had been predicted by the late Professor Percival Lowell. Pluto first was thought to be about the size of Mars, that is, about half the diameter of the earth. Recent calculations, however, reveal that it may be as large as the earth. o u u Cloud in Space CONFIRMATION of the existence of the cosmic cloud upsets the old notion that space in the universe is empty. Os course, the work to date does not concern the universe as a whole, but only that portion of space that is within our own galaxy. (We must keep in mind three divisions of the universe, just as in addressing mail, we must take note of city, state and nation. First, there is the solar system—nine planets, including our own earth, revolving around the sun. Then there is the galaxy, a great lens-shaped body of 40,000,000,000 stars, of which our sun is one. Finally, there is the rest of the universe in which there are many other galaxies, the so-called spiral nebulae or island galaxies. Astronomers in three nations contributed to the conclusion that there is no such thing as empty spare within our galaxy, but that space is filled with an extremely thin cloud. The theoretical groundwork of the new view of space was laid by Professor A. S. Eddington of Cambridge, England. Observation wprk confirming this theory has been supplied in this country by Dr. Otto Struve of the Yerkes observatory, Dr. R. J. Trumpler of the Lick observatory, and Dr. De Kamp of the Leander McCormick observatory, and in Canada, by Drs. J. S. Plasket and J. A. Pearce of the Dominion Astrophysical observatory. The cosmic cloud, however, must not be compared with the clouds of such density as we experience here on earth. The best vacuum which we are able to obtain in a vacuum tube still contains more atoms of gas than does the cosmic cloud. It has been estimated that the cosmic cloud consists of about one atom to the cubic inch. (Five million atoms could be placed in a row across the period at the end of this sentence. tt tt tt Comet’s Tails npHE existence of the cosmic A cloud is extremely important and will have bearing upon all branches of astronomy. It has been pointed out, for example, that the obscuring effect of this cloud will dim the stars, hence making necessary a revisal of stellar distances which have been estimated on the basis of the brightness of stars. Many other interesting theories are being developed on the basis of the cosmic cloud. Among these are the theories of Dr. Harlan T. Stetson of the Perkins observatory. Dr. Stetson believes that the tails of comets, heretofore regarded as gases emitted by the comet, can be explained as illumination of a small portion of the cosmic cloud. His idea is that sunlight, striking the head of the comet, causes electrons to be expelled from the comet’s head. These, in turn, cause the particles of the cosmic cloud near the comet to become phosphorescent causing the tail effect. The rapid movements of the comet’s tail, as it swings around the sun, always have been difficult to explain. They are explained easily by Dr. Stetson’s theory. The third important event of 1930, the confirmation of the curva- * ture of space, is leading to new and interesting theories about the structure of the universe^ (But that, as Mr. Kipling would say, is another story and we will have to save it for tomorrow.) DAILY THOUGHT It is more blessed to give than to receive.—Acts 20:35. Great minds, like heaven, are pleased in doing good, all the ungrateful subjects of their favors are barren in return.—Rowe.