Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 185, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 December 1934 — Page 17

It Seems to Me HEVMD BROUN SOMEWHERE in the North Atlantic the ships of many nations stood by to save a battered little freighter. Rudder and bridge were swept away by the pounding seas. The captain and two Junior officers were killed by the flying missiles of the gale. Her plight was desperate and the cry for help went out till the wireless, too. gave in to the shriek of tha storm. From near and far came tankers and luxury liners nosing into the teeth of the gale. There came the ships of America, of Holland, of England and of Germany to rescue the Japanese freighter Victoria Mam. There is no East nor West nor any question of national aggrandizement which can disturb the fraternity of mariners when the cry for help goes up along the Atlantic lanes. It is a case of man against the sea and every skipper knows tn-

stii tlvely which side he is on. Yet thigh this rule of help anu co-oper-a n from "very quarter is ancient, 1- >ored a.id ex: ’lent it does net up urious study in sheer irony. At the •cry moment the captains are flashing messages oi helpfulness and cheer the kings, and premiers and special envoys are exchanging bristling notes about scrapping of ships and the possibility of a cut-throat race for naval superiority. I wonder whether it might not be an excellent idea to put all the diplomats under the seal of silence and let the problems of the Pacific be ironed out by sailormen trained

He . wood Broun

in the ways of rescue rather than in the deeds of destruction. * an* They Are All Brothers WHILE the tempest rages it, is agreed that all men are brothers and sturdy ships are under the most solemn obligation to help weaker sisters even at the peril of wind and wave. But as the storm abates and the seas calm down it becomes again a matter of concern to adjust a fighting ratio In such a wav as to assure bloody conflict along, each navigable coast. It seems to me that every lover of peace has a right to worry once ambassadors begin the exchange of little notes. Os course the avowed object is “to reach an understanding.” But it is an object seldom attained by any such correspondence. The way of a diplomat is devious. It is a tradition maintained quite tragically through many centuries. There is the firm note and the conciliatory one. They differ very little in their spirit. No diploma! would consider himself worthy of that title if he paid much attention to the other fellow’s words. Instead he reads between the lines. Always the trup spirit of the dispute is set down In some sort of invisible ink. When the note is warmed before r fire these mysterious characters come out quite plainly. They have a dull copper tinge like the rolor of dried blood. The words were set down with a steel point hidden in the recesses of a velvet glove. m m m Many Will IVot Race TWO or maybe slightly more can play the game of diplomacy, but it is pot a sport in which the multitude is permitted to participate. And this I think is very foolish and a truly tragic error. A war is invariably an allcomers’ touma. >er .nd in it the diplomat draws a bye. According... ,ie should not be permitted to indulge on his own in the preliminaries without outside aid and interference. For instance. Norman H. Davis is our ambassa-dor-at-large. I didn't put him there. Did you? I think I seem to hear a resounding “no” from all around the circle. The situation being what it is. I believe that, Mr. Davis may quite possibly take far too much upon himself when he is seized with an epistolary urge toward Japan. M~. Davis has been quoted as saying that Japan endangers the security of the whole world bv refusing to continue the 5-5-3 naval ratio. Unless there is some alteration in the Japanese plan Norman H. Davis threatens that they must prepare themselves for a naval race and that the fault will be all their own. Why don't you speak for yourself, Norman? Race or nor race. I’m not going to run. and I can find numerous others who would like to sit out any feverish period of preparedness. If there must be this business of the writing of letters I’d like to see rather more people in on it. Let’s make them round-robins. (Copyrlcht. 133*)

Today's Science BY DAVID DIETZ

THE conversion of sunlight into electricity, long a dream of the scientific world, may become a reality as the result of research now in progress at the Westinghouse Research laboratories under Dr. E. D. Wilson. Scientists have long contemplated the amount of energy in the sunlight which falls upon ths ground. It is this energy', of course, which wa;ms the earth and makes it habitable. But except for that part which is absorbed and directly utilized by growing plants, the rest goes to waste. It has been estimated that the energy falling every second upon every square yard of earth is the equivalent of one horsepower. In electrical terms this is about 750 watts. In other words, if all the energy of sunlight on a square yard of earth could be converted into electricity. it would light 10 75-watt electric lamps. The first step in the solution of the problem has been taken by Dr. Wilson, who is one of the Westinghouse research engineers, with the development of the "photox.” This cell, which converts light into electricity on a small scale is now in commercial use in the iight meter, a device used By illuminating engineers to measure light intensities. The light meter consists of two parts. One is a small box about the size cf an average size vanity case. This is the photox. or photo-voltaic cell. The other part consists of an ammeter such as you have on the dashboard of your automobile. a a a WHEN light falls upon the photox. it is converted into an electric current, which in turn operates '.he ammeter The more light received, the larger the current which is developed. That is vhv it is possible to calibrate the meter in terms of light units instead of electric units. • While the photox is extreme!, accurate and therefore suitable for a light meter ’ Dr. Wilson explains. “its efficiency is not yet suf ent io make it suitable as a source for obtainin< electric current from sunlight.” The photox is an extremely simple device. Essentially. it is little more than a flat disk of copper. This disk is heated in air to a temperature of 1000 degrees. Centigrade. Asa result, the surface is oxidized, producing a surface of copoer oxide. “One might compare the cell < the ordinary electric battery which has electrodes of two metals and a chemical solution.” Dr. Wilson says. “Our cell has the two electrodes but no chemical solution. The place of the solution is taken by light.” a m m THE action of the cell is simple. When light strikes it. the light waves penetrate the transparent gold film and strikes the layer of copper oxide. The effect of light upon the copper oxide is to knock electrons out of the molecules of the oxide. Now electrons are the units of negative electricity. These electrons are attracted to the gold film and their accumulation upon the film causes it to become electrified negatively. Now an electric current is nothing more or less than a stream of electrons in motion. Consequently. when a wire is attached to the gold film and led to any electrical device, such as the ammeter, an electric current flows from the gold film to the device and through another wire back to the copper disk. • At present we are working on methods to improve the construction of the photox." Dr. Wilson says. "This, we hope, will yield to a higher output of electricity. “We are not trying any other substance because the copper oxide is extremely durable ana ve want to be certain that we are getting its highest possible yield of electricity before we try other substances.”

The Indianapolis Times

FuU Lm4 Wire Service of the United Pres* Association

THE MURDER OF BABY LINDBERGH

Betty Gow’s Boy Friend’ First Important ‘Suspect’ in Kidnap Case

ynllowinc t the third of the Sidney R. Whiniile eerie* of IS dlipatrhe* relattnc the "inilde'' eterr af the Lindbergh kidnaninr and murder. It deala with the (trance eirrumutanees and roinridenee* that led to early suspicion that certain servants—ard associates af servants—within the Lindherch establishment had afforded the kldnaners complete knowledce af the household’s dally activities. mit * BY SIDNEY B. WHIPPLE l 'lted Press Staff Correspondent it oyright. 1534. by United Pressl IN the summer of ’931, Baby Charles Lindbergh was the “guest” of his grandparents. Senator and Mrs. Dwight W. Marrow, at their homf in North Haven. Me., and was directly in care 'f nursemaid Betcv Gow. a personable Scottish girl who had come well- 'ommended tc the Lindberghs. Romance, during the long summer evenings in the pleasant Maine seaport, came to Betty in the person of a red-haired Norwegian named Henry Johnson, a paid seaman aboard Thomas W. Lamont’s yacht, the Mahala The maid and lhe seaman walked the little island together and danced together, and pledged a continuation of the friendship when they should return, with their respective employers, to New York and New Jersey. Winter found Betty comfortably placed, for the most part, at the Morrow mansion in Englewood. “Re-. ” Johnson, out of a job since the vacht had been taken out of the water, found plenty of time to and..-e attendance upon the nursemaid, and was a welcome and favored visitor in the below-stairs group at the Morrows’. When Betty Gow was summoned, shortly before noon on March 1, from Englewood to Hopewell, because of Mrs. Lindbergh’s sudden change of plans, one of her thoughts h 1 been to telephone to “Red” Johnson and break an engagement for mat evening. Johnson was not at his

boarding house, and she left word for him to call her later, at Hopewell. The call came through, during the evening, and was duly recorded on the books of the telephone company. Beyond informing ‘Red - ’ that the baby had a cold, its substance was purely the light chit-chat of two persons who were fond of each v ther, Betty told the police. “And where is your friend now?” she was asked. “I don't know, but you might try his brother s home, in East Hartford,” she suggested. tt U tt POST haste, the police communicated with the Connecticut authorities. They found, as Betty had thought, the young man peacefully sleeping. In front of the house was his small blue automobile, mud-covered. He had driven, he said, from Englewood the night before, arriving at his brother's home early in the morning. Rummaging through the auto-

—The DAILY WASHINGTON MERRY jO-ROUND By Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen —

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—N0 one has been more amused and a little irked than the President at the action of the United States Chamber of Commerce barring the Washington Town Hall forum from its palatial building. Although the Town Hall is privately financed, it was Governmentinspired by forthright John Studebaker, new Commissioner of Education. And it has had Roosevelt’s enthusiastic support. The first meeting was held in the sanctum of the Chamber of Commerce. It was a staid affair, at which Glenn Frank, president of

the University of Wisconsin; Hen’- Wallace. Secretary of Ag- I riculaire, and other reasonably respectable citizens spoke. But Silas Strawn. high mogul of the Chamber, forbade luture meetings. He described the speakers as a “cross-section of crackbrains.” . Chief among the “crack-brains were; The Earl of Lytton, Donald Richberg. S. Parkes Cadman, Sir Willmott Lewis of The London Times, Benjamin Anderson of the Chase National Bank, A. A. Berle, city chamberlain of New York, William Green of the American Federation of Labor, and Norman Thomas. Among the sponsors of these “crack-brains” are General Pershing. Eleanor Patterson. Justice Owen Roberts. Senator Joe Robinson. Mrs. Roosevelt and Father Edwin A. Walsh. So. although not yet generally known. Roosevelt has determined to get PWA funds with which to build a forum where free speech can reign regardless of the United States Chamber of Commerce. a a a ONE of the hits in Eddie Dowling's side-splitting new political take-off on Washington is a skit suggested by Louey Howe and the President, himself. It depicts Rex Tugwell. No. 1 Brain Truster, and his agricultural chief. Henry Wallace, stand - ing in Times Square. New York. They are bent upon carrying out their crop curtailment program and they are leading one cow and four pigs. All day they stand trying to give them away. Thousands pass. Finally at the end of the day. they call up the President in Washington. “What,” he explodes, “you spent all day in New York and couldn't give away one cow and four pigs! Well, what am I going to do with the millions of other cows and pigs I've got to get rid of?” Louey and the President even worked out some of the lines in the skit. a a a SENATOR GEORGE NORRIS is considering retiring to private life when his present term expires in 1936 Ten years ago he proposed shaking the dust of Washington in order to reorganize the government of Nebraska. Liberals all over the country deluged him with appeals to remain in the Senate, and he finally bowed to the demand. At the recent election his pet project of abolishing two-cham-bered legislatures and substituting a unicameral body was over* v nelmin±ly adopted by Nebraska. Now, 71 years old. and with more than Hi' years of strenuous House and 'senate service behind him. he it spying he believes he has earned a rest, once more is talking of out of harness. (Copyrtßht. IM4. bv United Feature Syndicate. Xnc.. Eastern itar Group to Elect Naomi Auxiliary. Order of Eastern Star, will meet at 2:30 tomorrow in the Masonic Temple. N. Illinois and North-sts, ior election of officers and exchange of Christmas gilts, it was annomeed today.

mobile, police an empty milk bottle. “Oh, I very frequently buy milk and drink it along the road,” Red said. “I like milk.” For hours he was questioned at Hartford headquarters. A nightrestaurant manager who “thought” he had seen that übiquitous group —the “man, woman and baby”— on the night of March 1, viewed him and shook his head. But the police shook from him some “damaging evidence.” Henry Johnson had no right to be in America! He was an illegal entrant. mum “ \ ND where were you during the evening on March 1?” the detectives persisted. “When I found out my date with Betty was broken, I went out with Mr. and Mrs. Johanne Jung, Morrow servants,” he declared. The Jungs were interviewed. “Yes,” they said, “Red Johnson was out with us all evening.” Johnson’s declaration regarding his penchant for milk was verified by interviews with others who

BOY SCOUT TROOP TO GIVE MINSTREL SHOW Second Annual Entertainment to Be Offered Tomorrow. Members of Troop 59, Boy Scouts of America, will present their second annual minstrel show at Washington High School auditorium at 8 tomorrow night. The high school band, directed by Robert Shepard, will furnish special music. R. C. Rahm is directing the show which is being promoted by 100 business men in West Indianapolis. Features will include acrobatic and tap dancing by Miss Mary Lou Noe; the banjo wizaiti. Art Hicks; musical bottles, Billy Gill, and 6inging by the Junior Wonder Quartet. DELTA UPSILON WILL HOLD PARTY MONDAY Fraternity to Stage Christmas Event at . Board of Trade. The annua! Christmas luncheon of Delta Upsilon Fraternity will be held at noon Monday in the Board of Trade dining: room, it was announced today. William Roose, traffic manager of American Airlines, Inc., will show a company movir.g picture, and gifts will be exchanged.

SIDE GLANCES

Ti -r i„ ■ . —Tg~grrnTr.iT- ngi "11l 1I - "rTTT'I il

“The trouble is they’ll probably just send us the usual socks and handkerchief^'

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1934

i -31 figHT .a# W ' wW

Henry (Red) Johnson .... Quizzed in Vain

knew him. His trip from Englewood to Hartford was checked and

YULE EXERCISES HELD IN SCHOOL Festival Celebrations Are Enjoyed by Washington High Pupils. With vacation only eight days away, the Christmas atmosphere has descended on Washington High School and a number of festive celebrations already have been observed. The National Honor Society gave its annual Christmas party Monday. The Misses Myrtle Johnson, Vivian Ely, Martha Dorsey and Juanita Vance, faculty members, were guests. A musical program, Yuletide reading and songs and games featured the party. The Washington Latin Club celebrated the anicent Roman holiday, “The Feast of Saturn,” Tuesday. Monica Padgett spoke of the history of the holidiy, to which present Christmas festivities have been traced. Games pertaining to the Saturnalia and carols sung in Latin followed Miss Padgett’s talk. An English atmosphere was added to the week’s celebrations when the Girl Reserves gave their Christmas party Tuesday. Old English carols were sung and gifts were exchanged. Safety experience will be the subject of a special convocation at the high school Monday, when Miss Velma Schaaf, school nurse, will discuss work in the clinic. This program is part of a city-wide plan for ■safety campaigns in Indianapolis schools.

By George Clark

verified as to time. But the question constantly intruded: “Did he.

I COVER THE WORLD it a a o a a By William Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—International help is vitally needed to put chaotic China on her feet, the Rev. James J. A. Troy said today upon his arrival here after a year in the interior of that troubled land. Father Troy is a major in the Officers’ Reserve Corps, U. S. A., and is a Chevalier de la Couronne Beige. For months he lived on the fringe of the Communist area in South China, never safe from kidnaping or worse. “There is little truth in reports that the Nanking government has dispersed the so-called Reds in Central China,” he said. • , “Campaign after campaign is

CIVIC CLUB COMMITTEE ELECTS NEW OFFICERS Rothermel Named President of South Side Group. Re-election of Walter C. Rothermel as president featured the annual meeting last night of the South Side Civic Club’s Central Committee at 1214 Prospect-st. East Side Civic Clubs were voted membership in the Central Committee. Other officers named were Edward H. Wischmeier, first vicepresident; W. J. Gagen, second vicepresident; D. B. Griffith, secretary, and Robert Sloan, treasurer. JUNIOR DENTAL GROUP ORGANIZED AT SCHOOL John Buehler Will Head .Indiana University Association. Formation cf a Junior American Dental Association of the Indiana University. School of Dentistry was announced today. John E. Buehler was elected president at the organization meeting last night. Other officers named were: Robert L. Peden and James B. Bunnell, vice-presidents; Otis Sscott. secretary, and William L. Hammersly, publicity director. Next meeting will be Jan. 8. The American Dental Association is sponsor for the group. NEW SKATING SURFACE TO BE FROZEN IN LAKE Weather Permitting, Pond Will Be Flooded at Riverside. As soon as the weather permits quick freezing, the city recreation division, park department, will flood the artificial Lake Reginald Sullivan in the nursery grounds at Riverside Park for smoother skating ice, Hugh Walden Middleworth, city recreation director, announced today. The ice now covering the lak.* is rough. Attendants-will keep outside fireplaces burning and will warr skaters away when the ice is not safe. 1438 TO BE ENLISTED IN STATE CCC CAMPS Registration Begins Today at Employment Office. Registration for Indiana Civilian Conservation Corps camps was begun today, according to announcement by the Governor’s Commission on Unemployment Relief. A total of 1438 has been set as a quota of young men between the ages of 18 and 25 who will be admitted to camps throughout the state. Marion County registration is being conducted at the Indiana State Employment office, 60 W. New Yorkst, every week day afternoon except Saturday from 1 until 4. Young Republicans to Dance The West Side Young Republican Club will give a charity dance Friday night in their hall, W. 10th-st and King-av. it was announced today. The program will be sponsored for the purpose of filling Christmas baskets for needy families.

(hen. perhaps unconsciously, reveal to some outsider the change in Mrs. Lindbergh's schedule, and unwittingly inform the kidnaper that Charles Lindbergh Jr. would be put to bed in Hopewell instead of Englewood?” mum r T''HE usual crop of fantastic “identifications”—by long distance—of Red Johnson as the “man with a baby” who had been seen in at least a dozen different localities, arose to plague the officials, and one by one were beaten down. For weeks, Johnson was held under surveillance while the investigators explored his past, tracked down his every friendship, eliminated each of his associates and. with some reluctance, finely arrived at the only possible conclusion, that he was wholly innocent of any connection with the crime, knowingly or otherwise. In punishment for having afforded them so much trouble, the red-headed youth was turned over to immigration authorities, for deportation. Far from discouraging the young man, the episode left him grinning, in his engaging manner, and promising to return to America, legitimately the next time. tt tt a FOR a moment there was a flurry of interest in Betty, when the detectives learned she once had worked in Detroit. An effort to tie her name to that of “Scotty” Gow, a Michigan gangster, fell of its own weight when the police established there was no relationship, and that her chief interest had been one William Coots, to whom she was reported to have been engaged. And while this inquisition was proceeding, anew scene in the drama was unfolding in the Bronx, where an emotional old gentleman had just received an amazing letter from the man who proclaimed himself the kidnaper of the Lindbergh baby. Tomorrow—Jafsie’s deal.

waged against them, but the Communists divide before the advancing columns like water before a boat, then come together again behind. “Sometimes there is fighting. Generally, however, the Communists divide and allow the opposing factors to proceed through a sort of corridor thus created. Naturally the attackers get the impression that the Communists have scattered or been defeated. “Communism, on the contrary, seems to be growing.” a tt tt

"TJ OWEVER, in my judgment, II Communism is not the remedy for China,” he said. “Neither is the overlordship of Japan. International co-operation is needed —the help of Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy. The United States should not participate, if China is partitioned, but it should uphold the open door and right to trade.” Father Troy said the Orient is in a state of unrest and that anything can happen. The United States should do its utmost to stay out of war, should one come, but in his opinion the best way to stay out is to have an air force and a navy second to none. Father Troy visited Kanchow, in Kiangsi, in the interior west of Fukien, a Communist stronghold. He traveled for weeks by train, sampan, muleback, sedan chair and afoot. Conditions in that region he found well nigh indescribable. POVERTY abounds there such as Americans never dreamed of. Living conditions are frightful. Opium smoking is widespread, and once in a while some poor man or woman addict is beheaded in a public place as a warning. Yet, he said, the provincial war lords, at whose orders the beheadings take place, encourage the opium traffic and get large revenues therefrom. His own chair coolies, he said, would carry him two hours, then “rest” two hours, taking out their pipes, needles and little lamps end cooking their “pills.” There nothing he could do about it. At Kanchow he visited the f nous Bishop O’Shea who, despite all kinds of dangers about h’m—bandits, kidnapers, Communists, war—refuses to leave. He says he iz a shepherd and will not desert his flock. Father Troy was the first white man Bishop O'Shea had seen in six years. The bishop kept him up all night the first night to hear about the 1932 elections, President Roosevelt and the New Deal. LAW SCHOOL FORMS PUBLIC SPEAKING UNIT Patrick J. Smith Will Act as Class Instructor. Formation of a department of public speaking at* the Benjamin Harrison Law School was announced today by William R. Forney. dean, with Patrick J. Smith. Indiana Supreme Court Assistant Librarian, as instructor. Classes will meet Tuesday nights. . Mr. Smith has taught public speaking at the University of Michigan. Central States Teachers College, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., and at De Pauw University.

Second Section

'tntered a* Seeond-llaas Matte* at Postoffice, Indianapolis. lag.

Fair Enough MtßOOfflLfß THE proposal to establish a national Bum-a-Souvenir week, in order rid the counter of the mounting accumulation of sentimental rubbish, receives encouragement from two patrons of these dispatches. Your correspondent regrets that he has neither a sailfish nor a moosehead. mounted on a board, to contribute to the pyre, but he would gladly throw in a clutter of enameled brass badges left over from the last half dozen holdings of the world series (they

entitled bearer to free highballs and chicken salad in the official fallingunconscious room) and a signet stick pin which seems to have been put away 20 years ago on the tfieory that it might come back into fashion again some day. There is also a rare document, being the only souvenir program of the Republican National Convention oi 1928 which was not autographed by Will Rogers. This is really a museum piece which probably deserves a place under glass in some public building but. as a leader of the movement, your correspondent, would hardly be justified in holding

it back. After all, will it really matter a hundred years from now? There comes an enthusiastic indorsement of the idea from Sal Crino of New York, a man who has suffered much and sounds desperate. u t m He Had It Rad “T WILL say it certainly is the bunk, collecting this 1 and that for many years and then it becomes all junk.” says the first recruit to join the movement. “More than 30 *-ears ago I used to save programs from all picnics and balls that I went to. Then, when I had a big pile of them, I burned them all up. Now, for the last 20 years, I have been saving official badges from A. A. U. athletic meets being an official. Well, the pile I have is rusted junk and good for nothing. And still I look for souvenirs, but I don’t know why. “I took the trip to Holland with the Olympic team in 1928 and, say, most every one on the ship was looking for autographs and other things. Coming back, every one was loaded up with souvenirs. “How do you refrain from gathering souvenirs? I know that newspaper men have many opportunities. “Every time I go to Grand Central Palace I look for some kind of souvenir. Then I give them away. I w’ent to the liquor show, but did not get any samples. I only got a pencil. “At a hockey game some spectator got excited and broke his cane. When the game was over I took half of it home. Another time I took home part of a hockey stick. After a long while I threw them away. “Why I want and gather such things I do not know.” s Rosewell Ward is only half persuaded. Like the socialistic-capitalists of the New Deal he is neither one nor the other at the moment, but he sees some good in the movement which is a promising sign in one who says his family has been active in*’ museum work for there generations. Mr. Ward agrees, at least that the “Rover boy or magpie type of collecting”, should be discouraged. a a tt Any One Can Join ••wTHEN I was in the air service,” he writes, "they VV used to have to put a guard around a crashed plane. Souvenir hunters would tear it to pieces. “You have written a text on the type of collecting that drives curators crazy, but I regr/et that you do not clearly draw the distinction between magpie collecting and the careful selection of significant material which permits people to actually see the panorama of our slow and muddled progress. “Museums constantly clean house. Yet, to get an important item the poor curator frequently has to accept a carload of junk. If you do find attic trash, the alderman’s spectacles and his favorite birdcage in an expensive glass case, don’t blame the museum man.” Mr. Ward needs working on. Meanwhile, on his next trip to Washington, your correspondent will call on Steve Early at the White House and ask him to contribute a two-headed calf of an easy chair made of old buffalo horns out of President Roosevelt’s daily tribute from loyal but morbid subjects, together with a letter from the indorsing the campaign. The letter, with the autograph, would make a significant item of fuel, for autographs in the last few years have come along to take the place of the German spike helmet as the most difficult phase of the problem. Joiners are invited. After all, what did posterity ever do to us? (Copyright. 1934. by Unite and Feature Syndicate, Inc.)

Your' Health -BV DR MORRIS FISHBEI.N

TOYS and other playthings in recent years have become more and more useful. The child is not so much amused and entertained nowadays by things that sparkle and things that go, as it is enlightened and entertained by the opportunity to make for itself various useful objects out of materials ready for assembling. Many a child is attracted by movement and many choose mechanical toys, if permitted to make their own selections. Many mechanical toys have a useful purpose, but in some cases they are poorly made and may actually be hazardous to the child’s health and safety. Poorly constructed tin toys with sharp edges and cheap paints do not endure much over the holiday week, and many cut the fingers or break up, with damage to the eyes, almost before the child has had an opportunity to use them. n a m TOYS may, of course, be highly educational. Construction toys have this capacity. The child who becomes interested in developing a railroad system with electrical trains, signal stations and similar accessories, may begin a piece of work that will lead him into a useful occupation. Moreover, the use of such toys offers opportunity for gradual development as the child grows older. Much of the radio material of today tends to make the child interested in pop-guns, pistols and similar devices. There is no reason why the child should not play policeman, but dangerous weapons such as air rifles or bows and arrows should be given only to children who are old enough to handle them carefully. A young child with an air rifle or a strong bow and arrow can do a lot of damage, not only to the home in which he lives but to the safety of those who live with them. n m * PARTICULARLY useful and helpful to the average child is a tool kit or a bench where he can do wood work. There are also available small sets of chemical supplies and even small microscopes with slides and other materials necessary for this kind of study. Frequently an educational toy of this type helps a child in selecting its future career. A child that has been properly educated will appreciate gifts such as clothing, sweaters, mittens, heavy walking shoes, or a muffler. Since the holiday season is the period of cold, such gifts have a special value from the health point of view. Fortunately, the fad which caused mothers to send children out into the cold with bare knees, under the mistaken notion that this would harden them against catching cold, is gradually disappearing. The biggest season for the common cold is jus* after Christmas and extends well into February. Suitable protection against exposure is healthiuL

I

Westbrook Pegler