THE NORTHMAN
8
World Review for the Week
AN ARTICLE OF MILLINERY—a
ladies’ lid de luxe—a chapeau extra
ordinary—has become a subject of inter
national interest, and the incident is very
likely to be of far-reaching effect and oc
cupy a high perch in history. Of course
the great jeering throng of mannerless,
impolite, discourteous, ungallant and un-
chivalrous masculinity will don a grin as
wide as a warehouse door, but the incident
is, more than likely to mark an epoch in
the realm of the bonnet beautiful.
At the convention of a millinery jobbers
association held in New York on the 6th
instant, a letter was read from Ambas
sador Jusserand, of France, setting forth
that President Deschanel has refused to
permit Madame Deschanel to accept a
token of affection from three thousand
American milliners in the form of a hat
valued at $5,000, for her indorsement of
the “four seasons for millinery.” This
little invention in head gear was made
from material supplied from each of the
forty-eight states and decorated with nine
plumes of Paradise each valued at $500.
Vanity has ever been, and ever will be
her own greatest enemy. In his letter the
ambassador goes on to say:
“I am instructed by the president of the
republic to inform you that he sincerely appreci
ates the motives of your offer, on behalf of
American irillliners, of a specially devisfed hat for
Madame Deschanel. He joins those interested in
the scheme in hoping that, in this, too, namely,
a question concerning both trade and art, the two
countries will more and more work together to
their common advantage. As for the gift itself,
since it is not possible for Madame Deschanel to
receive, under such conditions, any gift of value,
the president begs you not to realize your inten
tion for which he begs me, however, to tender you
his sincere thanks.
To the milliners then was read a cable
from the society for the inmprovement of
millinery art in France, giving “14 points”
why Madame Deschanel should not accept
the gift. The points are set forth as
follows:
1. Bad precedent; Paris only style center.
2. America took advantage of Paris during
the war.
3. Americans dangerously resourceful.
4. Paris never produced so expensive a- hat as
$5000. Big novelty as Eiffel tower.
5. Paris Milliners object to acceptance of hat.
6. Such gift is. like carrying coals to New
castle.
7. South American trade stolen from Paris by
New York.
8. American prohibition will help Paris re
gain South American trade.
9. America should not give away what it will
not buy—paradise.
10. Milliners should be content to buy the
dictates of Paris.
11. American buyers already act dictatorially
toward Paris creators. They want what they
term “American style.” This must stop.
12. The label, “Made in Paris,” must be in
cluded in all world-wide styels.
13. America has no artistic atmosphere—
nothing but colossal wealth.
14. Rate of exchange gives America unfair
advantage over Paris creators.
Before the sages have settled the peace
of the nations, Folly flies to the fore in
gold-embroidered coat seeking to set up
new thrones for Vanity.
In every one of the fourteen point is to
be seen lurking the little devil enemies of
peace and human happiness, and each
might be made the subject of sermons
without end. And all this is a part of our
boasted civilization!
When next you attend an assemblage
representative of society’s best, look about
you for the best dressed woman present
and see if you find her in an inconspicuous
creation or in something that looks like
$5,000.
CONSULAR CO-OPERATION.
ALL AMERICAN CONSULS in the
British Isles will meet in London May 18
and 19 to work out plans for the more ex
peditious and efficient handling of the af
fairs of Americans in the United Kingdom.
The meeting is deemed necessary by
Robert P. Skinner, the consul-general in
London, owing to problems arising from
the enormous increase in American ship
ping coming into United Kingdom ports,
export restrictions and other affairs which
have fallen on the consuls as a result of
the changed conditions since the armistice
was signed.
HAMBURGERS STUDYING ENGLISH—
’ THE FOREIGNER in America may
not see the advantage of learning English
or American, but the German sees it. The
city of Hamburg, which suffered a slump
in maritime importance, is rapidly con
verting itself into an English speaking
city. Reliable reports say that the stores
are full of English grammars and diction
aries and almost everyone is learning Eng
lish. There is, of course, method in this.
William E. Nash, writing from that city to
the daily press news service, quotes Dr.
Kaegbein, of the Hamburg-Amerika line,
who says:
The general plan is to secure co-operation be
tween German and American interests. You have
ships, but neither sailors nor engineers to run
them. We have the men, but no ships. If a
contract can be made for a certain term of years
by which the shipping board can use all our
prestige, docks and business connections abroad
it will benefit both sides. Without such an ar
rangement, I hardly see how you can utilize most
of the tonnage you built during the war and since
the armistice. Without such an agreement I
know that England will capture forever the
greater part of the German trade. Without it
our problem of unemployment and maritime re
construction will remain unsolved.
THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION.
MEXICO is in the throes of another
revolution. Newspaper reports state that
President Carranza is in flight, has been
captured, is in hiding and that this,
that and other things have happened to
him, but out of all this about the only
thing that can be gathered definitely is
MEN, STAND UP!
J. G. Holland.
God give us men. The time demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true
faith and willing ‘ hands ;
Men whom the lust of office does
not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office cannot
buy;
Men who possess opinions and a
will ;
Men who have honor; men who will
not lie;
Men who stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries
without winking;
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live
above the fog
In public duty, and in private think
ing.
May 13, 1920
that he has departed from the capital.
Practically nothing is known with certain
ty. Meanwhile the United States govern
ment, while continuing a policy of watch
ful wainting, has taken measures to afford
refuge to Americans. There are estimated
to be 6000 or 7000 in Mexico, among whom
are many draft-dodgers and radicals who
fled to escape the law. The navy depart
ment has ordered the super-dreadnaught
Oklahoma from New York to Key West
for possible duty in Mexican waters. She
will take a full company of marines before
steaming south. Meanwhile the naval
transport Henderson is loading 1200
marines from the navy yard and proceed
to Key West to await developments.
American destroyers have arrived at Tam
pico, joining the gunboat Sacramento and
the cruiser Dolphin also has reached that
port. Other destroyers have reached Tux-
pam and Vera Crux and three more will go
with the Oklahoma.
REPORT ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
THE REPORT of the War Department to the
highways committee of Congress, made public
a few days ago summarizes conclusions reached
as a result of the army convoy of seventy-three
trucks which blazed a trail from Washington to
the Pacific Coast last summer. The report
recommends the construction of a federal system
of national highways summarized as follows:
First—That the necessity for a comprehensive
system of national highways including transcon
tinental or through routes east and west, and
north and south, is real and urgent, as a com
mercial asset to further colonize and develop the
sparsely settled sections of the country, and,
finally, as a defensive military necessity.
Second—That the existing roads and bridges,
especially in the sparsely settled sections of the
Middle and Far Western states, are absolutely
incapable of meeting the present day traffic re
quirements, and until modern types of roads and
bridges are constructed which will permit the
rapid movement of heavy motor cargo vehicles
during any season of the year and in all condi
tions of weather, economical transcontinental
highway traffic will continue to be but a vain
hope.
Third—That the road problems of the Middle
and Far Western states are national rather than
local problems, as these states, while possessing
vast area and tremendous mileage of highways,
. have only sparse population which cannot
possibly undertake the needed highway improve
ment work, which moreover is usually of greater
importance to the country as a whole than to the
individual states.
Fourth—That the radius of action and resulting
utility value of the motor vehicle is limited only
by the condition of the roads, and that the pro
vision of adequate roads will have a far-reaching
effect on the economic development of the country
at large.
Fifth—That the types of motor vehicles, es
pecially those used by the army, should be co
ordinated with the road conditions. In other
words, until such time as all sections of the
country are connected by improved highways
that are passable to heavy motor vehicle traffic
at all seasons of the year, the size and weight of
vehicles should be limited to types of light and
medium capacities.
A COLOSSAL POWER PROJECT.
Uruguay will afford excellent opportunities
for the sale of many kinds of construction
materials in the next few years, according to a
report issued by the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce.
The biggest single project now being considered
is a proposal for an international power plant to
be erected on the Uruguay River by Argentina,
Brazil and Uruguay jointly, with guarantees for
the equitable distribution of power to the three
countries concerned. On the site being con
sidered it is calculated that 2,500,000,000 kilowatt
hours per annum could be developed, or an energy
equivalent to that of 3,000,000 tons of coal. The
project contemplates the construction of two
dams, one movable and one fixed, with canals to
the power plant. It will utilize a fall of 77 feet.
The installation would also open for navigation
419 miles of river which now is inaccessible, and
would permit the inundation of adjoining zones
which are suitable for agriculture.