Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 34, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 June 1931 — Page 8

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sen I PP 3 -MOW/UtO

A Rare Opportunity Seldom does there come to any citizen such a chance as is that of Arthur Sapp, just named a member of the highway commission. He was fonner head of International Rotary, whose motto of profit as the result of service fits so well into the needs of the particular body of which he is a member. Conditions in the highway department have not been wholesome for some time. The inquiry by the legislature was revealing. It required considerable political and personal pressure from high places to prevent the abolition of the board itself. To say that its activities have been under suspicion is to paint, the situation with mild words. The passing of member Murden will not be lamented by any citizen who desires to have the vast funds of the highways administered >vith some regard for public welfare instead of political advantage. That he is succeeded by a man of such reputation and principles as Mr. Sapp is the most encouraging incident in the present administration. The ourden upon the new member will be as enormous as the disrepute of the department has -been vast. It wall require unusual courage to destroy all the influences that have permeated the department. It will require wisdom to throw light into the dark spots and drive out the verminous evils that, have infested the place. But such tasks as these are a challenge to men who cievote themselves to preaching and practicing high ideals. Here is a job worth while. It is the job for a man. And in that task every good citizen will give not only every support but every encouragement to the new member. The state has all too few of his caliber in its service.

A Correction William H. Hodge of the Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation takes exception in a public address to an editorial published in this newspaper. The editorial in question stated that profits of electric utility companies increased by nearly $44,000,000 last year. Mr. Hodge says, and is quite correct in saying, that the $44,000,000 increase was in gross earnings, not profits. We thank him for catching our error. In spite of the error in use of terms, the editorial was written on the assumption that the $44,000,000 was gross earnings, and the logic of the editorial stands. The editorial dalled attention to the fact that this increase, breaking all utility company records for the second successive year, occurred during a time of depression when most other industries were losing money or closing their doors. It pointed out that the prosperity of the utilities undoubtedly had prevented additional hardship in related industries. And then it stated that the utilities are concentrating wealth more rapidly than any other industry. This is the part of the editorial which caused Mr. Hodge most distress. He rejects the idea that wealth is being concentrated in the utility industry, by asserting that 3,000,00f> people own stock in the power companies, and is proud of the fact that “no other industry so persistently and successfully has diffused both ownership and returns on investment as this one.” Even if Mr. Hodge’s figures of 3,000,000 stockholders is accurate, it means little in regard to diffusion of wealth. So far as the public is represented in that figure, the ownership is almost entirely in stocks of individual operating companies which earn moderate rates of return. Holding company stocks are not widely distributed among the public. And the wealth is in the holding companies. Operating utilities are subject to regulations by state commissions, and that in some cases keeps the net earnings low. A large portion of the gross earnings are transferred rapidly to holding companies in the form of fees for sendee. No one regulates the holding companies. When the federal trade commission attempted to examine the books of one of the largest holding companies to discover its annual earnings and expenditures, the company refused to permit this and sought protection from the courts. The books never have been obtained, though the trade commission still is attempting to get them. The commission has secured certain other data, however. It found, for instance, that a construction company subsidiary of one of the big holding companies has been earning 66, 80 and 93 per cent profit collecting fees from utility operating companies. The construction company is, of course, not regulated. The utilities showed very low rates of return —4, 5 and 6 per cent—during the same period. The construction company profits find their way at once into the holding company coffers. The commission discovered also that the three million holders of utility stocks do not always possess exactly what they think they possess. Investigating the affairs of the Electric Bond and Share group of companies alone, it found that book values of the companies Included In this group have been “written up” approximately $325,000,000. In other words, the book values, upon which securities are issued, are not, to the extent of $325,000,000, supported by finding of economists in the trade commission. As our first editorial stated, no one wants to see the utilities impoverished. However, we still believe that the fortunate few who receive the bulk of utility earnings through holding company profits are acquiring a disproportionate and unjustified share of the country’s wealth. Feudal Mines Judge Rowand's injunction restraining national miners’ union members from interfering with operation of “the first 100 per cent mechanized mine in the world,” at Wildwood, near Pittsburgh, is a standard document of its kind. It not only prohibits injury to mine property, but forbids picketing nearby, and forbids inducing employes to quit their jobs, anywhere—all medieval terms, familiar to Pennsylvania. It is the first injunction asked or granted in more than three weeks of strike turmoil in western Penn-.

The Indianapolis Times <A SCRIPPS-HOWAKD NEWSPAPER) dally (except Sunday) bv The Indianapoli* Times Publishing Cos„ We*t Maryland Street. Incilanapolis. Ind. Price in Marion County 2 cents a copy i e*?ewfcere. 3 cents*-—delivered by carrier, 12 cents a week. COTD~GURLeT ROY W. HOWARD. FRANK G. MORRISON. I resident Business Manager PHONE—Kite? FRIDAY. JTJKE 19. 1931. Member of L'ait*d Prete, Scrlpps-Hotrard Newspaper Alliance. Newspaper Enterprise Aisoelation Newspaper Information Service and Audit Bureau of Circulations. “Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way.”

sylvania Perhaps this augurs a better state of mind all arour.d than obtained in former strikes. But that the company, most modern of all in the world In its methods of mining coal, which boasts that its men are electricians and mechanics rather than miners, should resort to the medievalism of injunctions, shows that the coal industry's social advancement certainly has not kept pace with its mechanical progress. More Wheat 4 Farmers of the southwest have begun to harvest a bountiful crop cf wheat. Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma alone will produce 370,000,000 bushels, it is estimated. Tune was when this would be cause for much rejoicing. But r.ot this year. At today’s July options in Chicago, the farmer's wheat is worth only a little more than 40 cents as it leaves the combines and threshers. In most instances this is below cost of production. Since the prices of livestock and other commodities are low and still declining, the hardpressed farmer has little relief in prospect. ■lt is likely that grain will be stored in the hope of higher prices because cf adverse conditions in spring wheat states and Canada, and other factors. The outlook, however, is not promising. This year’s crop is estimated at 200,000,000 bushels more than is required for domestic needs. The carryover from last year is greater than normal and export demand is light. This is the situation after two years’ experimentation by the federal farm board in stabilizing prices. The board is out of the market, but it faces the biggest task of all—disposing of what remains of the 200,000,000 bushels of grain it acquired at prices well above a dollar in the biggest grain operation in history. Marketing of new wheat, foreign crop conditions, export demand and the action of the federal farmboard will affect the future trend of prices. Whatever ! happens, it seems clear that any material improve- i ment will be slow and difficult. - _ _ Astrology on the Air Watson Davis recently raised an interesting point' in regard to the intellectual ethics of radio broad- j casting. He declared that astrology should be ex- i eluded from the radio. He did not regard the fact that one prominent! astrologer received far more letters each week than a President of the United States does upon his election as sufficient ground for broadcasting astrological lore. He said in part: '‘That there are many gullible persons who by wishful thinking persuade themselves j that astrology contains some essence of truth is no excuse for the inclusion of such pseudo-scientific! material in radio programs. In. general, radio has its own house neat and clean, but here is one dark corner.’’ ✓ The best way to combat it, however, might be the organization of programs by reputable and articulate scientists exposing the history and fallacies of astrology. To ban astrology would give its exponents the advantage of the persecution cry. Show the people why they should not waste their time on astrology except for amusement. Don’t tell i them they can not have it to listen to if they want it.j Another interesting phase of this issue is the fact! .hat some economic, political, and religious doctrines, > which are as antique and dubious as astrology, are broadcast profusely over the air by most reputable persons. rhe difference is that in the case of astrology we can check its fallacies by the exact and well developed science of astronomy. We have no such perfect and agreed upon sciences of economics, politics, morals and religion. Anew “robot'* mechanical man smokes cigars When one is built to pick ashes off the parlor ca°rpet that will be news Maybe business in this country is shackled because it is in “chains.” An auctioneer, when you think cf it. does a lot of knocking around.

REASON by FR ™*

npHESE are the days when commencement orators Jt . n , ing colle e e graduates all about it and nW h tf J USt gl l en the once '°ver to a speaker who imnrSSn bos;S girls to g 0 forth and a lasting to reside “ COmmunity in which they are goini # a f emlnds us that on ce upon a time we did ' t L l 7J ning: We made a ve ry deep impression in a city which we were then honoring with our society. t_i " w “ dow , n f fc Great Neck, which is on Long J2S5 d ’ thC valu . able P iece of real estate which the paleface acquired from his crimson brother in return cr a jumping jack and a little loose change. *t st t* i happened like this. We were driving two of the kids m a car which we had secured by making a payment down and executing a mortgage with a very long wheel base. y All three of us were In the front seat, for we didn’t know much about driving and felt that there was strength in numbers. a a a VX7ELL everything was synchronizing perfectly v untll suddenly a hornet flew into the window and commenced to loop the loop around the kids. It is a fact now conceded by motorists that a hornet, so welcome at other times, possesses vast chariot* 6S 0J * con^us^on v’hen he enters a gasoline St St St Instantly the mighty instinct of the protector took possession of us to the utter forgetfulness of all other considerations, including the navigation of the iron We concentrated on beating at that hornet with a hat. * * St Automobiles seldom display any discretion when left to their own initiative and this one was no exception. When we finally chased the hornet into the realms we gazed straight into the broad expanse of the rear of the town hack. St St St were within six feet of it and it loomed up ▼ t like a mess of buckwheat. We smashed it as Borah smashed the league of nations, the result being a dent into which one could comfortably lay a hank of pork. br oke the nose of the auto, but what we are thinking of now is that dent. * St It is still there on the back of that hack as it cruises up and down Middle Neck road. A friend saw it and told us about it today. Not only does it remain, but our credit remains for the accomplishment, for the driver referred to us in the most intimate terms. tt tt a It's a great consolation to reflect that we have made this lasting impression on that community and so we indorse all the commencement orator told the graduates.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

M. E. Tracy SAYS: It Isn't What You Give or What You Get, but the Principles Back of It. New YORK, June 19.—Services at Harding's tomb were con- | eluded with the singing of Mrs. Bond’s beautiful “The End of a Per* feet Day.” Wonder if Harry M. Daugherty, who occupied a place on ! the platform and heard President Hoover tell how Harding had been i betrayed by some of his associates, | got the point? Appropriately enough, when “Scarface Al” Capone appeared bei fore the United States court at Chi- ! cago to enter his plea of guilty, it was in a 6Ulphur-colored suit. ! The fourth son of ex-Kaiser Wil- , liam rises to remark tjiat Adolph i Hitler is “God’s own gift to Ger- : many.” No one haring come forward to ! pay Mussolini a similar tribute, he ! does it himself. Calling religion indispensable, he says the state is all- ! important and “that’s me.” a a a The Right Spirit DISTURBED over conditions in this country, as painted by a | local African, natives send the Presbyterian board of foreign misI sions $3.77 for relief. The amount is trifling and the misconception apparent, but more then one of us could find something worth copying in the spirit. It isn’t what you give, what you charge, cr what you get that counts fermest, but the principles back cf it a a a A Tariff Argument SYDNEY ELEORNE, running as a conservative candidate for parliament in the Ardwick district, exhibits a tweed suit which he says was imported from Poland to retail at $2.36. He is using it, along with many other samples of “dumped goods,” in urging a tariff to protect British manufacturers. Whatever one may believe regarding the tariff there can be no doubt as to the effectiveness of such argument. It represents another idea whT'i we Americans would do well to copy. Most of our political chatter, whether with regard to the tariff, or anything else, is mixed up with such stupsndous sums of money and such complicated statements as no ordinary human being can understand. ttttt What Alcohol Does Dr. P. j. HANZLICK of the Stanford medical school gave five pigeons pure alcohol for two years. They became such hopeless sots that they wouldn’t touch water, but when killed were found in good condition. Dr. Hanzlick concludes that it is not alcohol which causes the trouble, but impurities. One can agree with this conclusion and still doubt that alcohol helps to drive a car straight, or keep the home fires burning. After all, it is not the effect on lights or lives that makes liquor a curse, tut on the mind. ana Still More Speed IF what Fred Duesenberg says is true, we are going to need all the mind we have and then some. According to this renowned designer of racing cars, the time is not far off when we shall be hitting the pike at 100 miles an hour. Interesting as it may sound to those who get their biggest kick out of stepping on the gas,.it increases the problem of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for school kids, mail carriers and other people who have to walk. Maybe the falling birth rate is not an unmixed evil, if w 7 e are foredoomed to such speed as scientific knowledge and mechanical progress suggest. Certainly, automobiles traveling at the rate of 100 miles an hour and airplanes capable of making 600, not to mention rockets, appear to leave little room for children. It is a pet theory that nature prepares the way for evolutionary changes. Maybe she is bringing about childlessness to clear the road for joy riders. a a a Fewer Children AT any rate, we definitely are approaching an era cf comparative childlessness, to let the statisticians tell it. According to one, v. T ho thinks that dieting, or social pressure, is the cause, we have six times as many childless marriages in this country today as we did 100 years ago. According to another, if the birth rate continues to go down as at present, it will equalize the death rate and cause the population to become static at not more than 150,000,000 half a century hence. According to still another, thk£ tendency which pervades western civilization indicates nothing so definitely as the ultimate control of human affairs by those Asiatic races which show no signs of succumbing to it. Such predictions and conclusions would justify a most pessimistic outlook were it not for the one great weakness of statistics. Statistics can reveal only prevailing tendencies, and calculate results on the assumption only that they will continue, all of which is quite contrary to human experience.

Questions and Answers

What is the meaning of dogmatic? It means employing or characterized by positive assertion; making statements without argument or evidence; hence authoritative in speech; arrogant, overbearing. What is the measurement of a cubit in feet or inches? It is variously estimated at 16 to 22 inches. It was the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. How old does a lilac bush have to be before it will begin to bloom? Lilacs start to bloom between two and ten years. Some are extremely shy bloomers. The common variety has been known to go for from ten to twelve years without bearing flowers. Science gives no reason fori tbia

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Silica Dust Inhaling Perils Health

This is the first of trvo articles by Dr. Morris Fishbein on silicosis, or dust disease, which menaces the health of workers in several industries. By dr. morris fishbein Editor Journal of the American Medical Association and of Hyfrcia, the Health Masazine. ALREADY several institutions in our country recognize the fact that inhalation of dust containing silica may produce changes in the human body that are dangerous to health and to life. Twenty-five years ago people thought that any one who inhaled some dust was making his lungs subject to tuberculosis. There was no attempt to distinguish one kind of dust from another. Now a great many industrial diseases associated wtih the inhaling of various kinds of dusts are being studied and analyzed and some scientific evidence is being applied to the situation. Workmen used to talk about miner’s tuberculosis, grinder’s rot, and potter's ret.

Times Readers Voice Their Views

Editor Times—l understand that the President of our United States was in our midst recently and talked to a large number of the favorite sons and daughters of our great state of Indiana. While here he was dined and given the opportunity to express his view’s and tell his listeners via mouth and radio just exactly what was the matter with them and the remainder of our people that they were not enjoying that so-called prosperity with a full dinner pail. He upheld every piece of legislation enacted by his party during his term of office, and per usual again notified the people, prosperity was “just around the corner.” I wonder if it is possible that a man such as Herbert Hoover, a wonderful engineer, etc., is supposed to be only talking to just a favorite few, such as big business men, public utilities and such others. I hardly believe it was possible for him to even think that the common laboring man or the hard-working farmer was to be included as one of those who was going to look around the corner and see enough money there whereby he could make ample provision for his family, and for the farmer to lift that old plaster from the homestead, which has about eaten the whole farm up, and a great many have had to resort to plastering farm implements, stock and household effects, so that they and their families could keep themselves i physical condition to raise wheat and other necessities for themselves and the town folks. I don’t think Mr. Hoove# did make any explanation as to how he was going to feed the poor ignorant class this coming winter, but he might have had in mind the fact that w’heat, etc., are selling about one-half what they are usually worth, and he might have been under the impression that the grain brokers, large bakery companies, etc., were going to reduce their retail prices accordingly. But even if he "might” have thought so, he did not tell these poor unfortunates, not ignorant class, what they were going to use for money. For myself, I belong to the socallecHower class, ignorant, etc., and in behalf of the vast amount of people who are in my company due to the financial and industrial crises, it is my desire to extend a cordial invitation to Mr. Hoover to play a return engagement and tell the voters, and the so-called lower class the exact date of arrival of the train bearing just a minimum load of prosperity. I am quite sure if he will designate the time of arrival, and the location of the station where it will arrive, there will be more people there to welcome it than he recently saw upon his arrival in Indianapolis to address the Republican editors and a few others. Mr. Herbert Hoover, please come back with this information. We can’t give you chicken to eat, but we “might” be able to give you a whole lot of food for thought, though we will not be able to tell just what effect this sort of food will haveon your mental and digestive organs. J. E. FLAHERTY 1100 North Pennsylvania street. i- *

It’s a Tough Stretch

It now is recognized, as pointed out by Professor E. L. Collins, that all of these diseases represent exposure to just one kind of dust, that which contains fine particles of silica. Silica dust is widespread in nature and largely associated w r ith various industries. It is present in quartz, quartzite, and flint, in sandstone and in the rocks through which various ores run, and in grindstones and in millstone. It also is used in the manufacture of silica paints and in some abrasive soaps and stones. Silica dust also is used in manufacture of china and eathenware. Men working in open quarries run less risk from the dust than those who work on stone under half open sheds. Metal grinders working in factories have severe exposure, but the hazard probably, is worst among miners in under ground galleries. In various foreign nations, the law grants compensation for oc-

Editor Times—The recent murder clusively that law is a great mess. The fact that the jury was hamstrung is not entirely the fault of the trial judge, whose darling boy nobly defended the culprit. The chief fault is due to the warding of the law. Law is couched in w r ords that are even obsolete and is formed from old English law centuries old. Even simple contracts are “made and entered into,” and the principles “covenant and agree.” In all cases the words are repetitions, jumbled together, to put the jurymen, in a quandary. It is high time that the musty words of law be cleaned out and made to read so that any American that can read will understand it. Maybe then a jury will not be befuddled into giving a little oneyear sentence on a crime that deserves death. BERNARD L. KOBEL. 251 Aughe street, Frankfort, Ind. Editor Times —It seems as though you can’t read a newspaper these days without some comment on Russia. Most of the news is about the menace of Red Russia. Previous to this, it was the failure of Red Russia. Can it be that the Soviets are succeeding nov; and arousing us from a deep sleep? Is it convict labor or convict capital that is causing all the rumpus? Is it possible that the Communistic system is so superior to us that we can not compete? If it is true that their system is superior to ours, then let us be sports and tell those ignorant Russians that they have a better system and boost them in their effort. Why is it that in Russia there is no unemployment, no bankruptcies, no farm problem and no tax problem? Also, why is it that, in spite of the world depression, Russia is going ahead stronger than even the most optimistic dreamed of? Will someone who knows please answer? HERMAN HOWITT. 4243 College avenue. Editor Times—Despite W. F. Mcntavon’s statement, in The Times of June 12, II Duce declared, “The Catholic Action Society did have a political character, banners, badges, cards and all the other externals of a party. Its leaders were almost entirely members, or leaders, of the strongest party opponents of Fascism. “The Catholic Clubs were dissolved in defense of the state. There had come the absurd situation of a strong organization taking orders from a foreign power, Vatican State. Mussolini is much closer the scene than is Montavon, who safely can call him a bully from this side of the ocean. RAY ALLEN. Editor Times: Never was there a time in the history of this state, when the truthfulness of the old adage, “United we stand, divided we fall,” was so evident of the Republican party, as in this coming election. There is one man of bugernatorial timber who can unite every fraction

cupational silicosis. South Africa has recognized the prevalence of the condition among gold miners. Great Britain, Australia, and Canada, and most recently Germany, have provided for compensation for workers in other industries in which silica is a hazard. So important is this subject, th-t an international conference was called to consider the situation in August, 1930. Very fine particles of can be inhaled just like smoke or vapor. Large particles get into the breathing tubes and become entangled in mucus. They may be swept out by coughing or they may become entangled in the tissues, whereupon degeneration ocurs and Inflammation of the bronchial tubes follows. Very fine particles of dust containing silica ara taken up by cells in the spaces of the lungs and set up a reaction lead!::- to death of the cell, fibrous changes and the formation of nodules in the lungs which represent very small tumors.

of the party, farmers, townspeople, and corporations. This man is none other than Lieutenant-Governor Edgar D. Bush. Let every Republican get behind Lieutenant-Governor Bush for governor and defeat the strong Democratic machine that is being groomeq for this coming gubernatorial election. A VOTER.

R?C OAM’IB THe-

EMBARGO ACTION June 19 ON June 19, 1917, it was announced that President Wilson had decided to exercise in full the powers conferred upon him by the embargo clause in the espionage law and thereby make it impossible for neutral countries or the allies of America to export from this country so much as a bushel of wheat or the smallest quantity of any other, essential commodity without obtaining a license and the approval of the exports council. The council was to be composed of Herbert Hoover and representatives of the departments of state, war, navy and commerce. The statement was made through Secretary Redfield of the department of commerce. President Wilson was to assume full responsibility for the decisions made, and in reaching his conclusions he was to have at his disposal all the information and advice of Secretary of State Lansing and Mr. Hoover. Has any scientist been able to create life from a cell in which life did not already exist in some form? There is no authentic case on record. Where was Sarah Bernhardt born? Paris, France. •

For the Bride Our Washington bureau has ready for brides a packet of ten of its helpful bulletins, particularly interesting and valuable to the June bride. The titles are: 1. Love, Health and Marriage. 6. Good proportions in Diet 2. Marital Happiness. 7. Menas for 50 Days. 3. Cooking for Two. 8. Budgeting Household Accounts. 4. Calorie Values of Foods. 9. Household Hints. 5. Care of Food in the Home. 10. Safety in the Household. If you want this packet of ten bulletins, fill out the coupon below and send for it. CLIP COUPON HERE Dept. A-16, Washington Bureau, The Indianapolis Times, 1322 New York Avenue, Washington, D. C.: I want the Bride's Packet of ten bulletins, and inclose herewith 30 cents in coin, or loose, uncanceled United States postage stamps, to cover return postage and handling costs. Name St. and No ~... City state I am a reader of The Indianapolis Times. £Code No.)

JUNE 19,1931

SCIENCE BY DAVID DIETZ—

' Lightning Is Divided Into Four General Types. THE summer thunderstorm may spoil an afternoon of golf for you. but it is an excellent chance to study the behavior of nature. The study of lightning is in itself an interesting subject. Lightning, on the basis of its appearance, is divided into four general types. The first is the familiar ! “forked lightning.” This is the zigzzg flash from cloud to cloud or cloud to earth The second is known as “sheet lightning. ' This is the sudden ughting up of a sheet of rain or cloud. It is nothing more or less than the illumination of the rain cr cloud by a flash of forked lightning which happens to be invisible to the ob--1 server. The third type is known popularly as “heat lightning.’ it is the sudden lighting up of the atmosphere m the distance, usually low cn the horizon. It may be seep even when there are no cumulus clouds or “thunderneards, visible to the observer. Like sheet lightning, it is the result of an illumination caused by a flash of forked lightning which Is invisible to the observer. In this case, the flash has taken place below the horizon. Heat lightning” gets its name from the fact tnat it usuallv occurs during a hot spell. This is‘not unnatural, since thunderstorms are usuayy likely to occur after a hot spell has been in progress'for three or four days, sea Ball Lightning THE fourth type of lightning differs from the ordinary forked flash, it. is known as “ball lightning.” For a great many years scientists were inclined to doubt the existence of ball lightning, its occurence is very rare. It now is agreed generally that instances of bail lightning do occur, but it is felt that most descriptions of it are exaggerated badly. In this phenomenon, the lightning takes the form of a slow-moving ball of fire. There are a number of reports of such lightning balls suddenly disintegrating or blowing up with a loud explosion. The length of the ordinary bolt of forked lightning is a fraction of a mile, although there are records of lightning flashes twenty miles long. Many amateur photographers have obtained excellent photographs of lightning flashes. These are obtained by setting up the camera with the shutter open. Care must be taken to point the camera at a parts of the sky where there is no danger of arc-lights or other ground lights getting into the lens and fogging the plate. Immediately after the lightning flash, the shutter should be closed and the film changed unless the observer wishes to photograph more than one flash upon the same plate. Interesting effects can be obtained by pointing the camera in the direction of tall buildings, a tower or steeple, or trees. These frequently will show sufficiently on the photo to give most interesting effects. a a a Record Storms THE frequency of lightning flashes is higher than most people suppose. Prof. Alexander McAdie of Harvard says that in a severe thunderstorm which accurred in London there were 6,924 lightning flashes recorded in six hours. He saj’s that the average number of flashes to the minute was nineteen and the maximum number forty-seven. There also are records of as many as fifty flashes, a minute at the peak o fa storm. “There are all kinds of flashes,” writes Prof. McAdie, “from the comparatively slow-moving harizontal to the intense direct vertical, from meandering flashes to impulsive rush discharges. “And perhaps the greatest puzzle of all is the so-called ball lightning, a red luminous ball or hollow sphere, sometimes hazy in outline, sometimes dazzling bright, accompanied with a humming or hissing sound; and disappearing, sometimes silently, sometimes with a light snap, and sometimes with a blinding explosion.” There still are many questions to be cleared about the nature of lightning. Knowledge in this field is being advanced by experiments with enormous electric currents by which lightning flashes can be simulated. One of the pioneers In the study of “artificial lightning,” was the late dharles P. Steinmetz, the “electrical wizard” o fthe General Electric Company. His experiment save being carried His experiments are being carried G. E. laboratory. The subject also is being studied by the department of terrestial magnetism of the Camegie Institution of Washington and by Dr. R. A. Millikan’s laboratory, the Norman Bridge laboratory of the California Institute of Technology.

Daily Thought

He that committeth sin is of the devil.—l John 3:8. A great sin is a course of wickedness abridged into one act.—South