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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 1912)
I TITK STTXDAY OKEGOXIAX, POKTLAJO), 3IAY . 12, 1912. l adical Peforms To ResultTpom Titanic Tpacedy t.'MJ R mil 1 --1 T-ffTTI tf H T Ari : ' "few - M4i : ls4 .fT 7f Js2 y- 1 y-rlS. Ti I K ten It w! iIK terrible Titanic tragedy will con- on benefit npon humanity. rill emancipate the lreleaa telrgraph from the arbitrary power of commercialism and place It under strict morermental regulation, aaurtng eter nal TlRllance for dlvtresi calls at aea, absolute precedence for uch alfrnals for htlp and better equipment for their utterance. The Conc-ress of the United State 1a now at work and a parliament of the c-reat nations of earth will next month, be ena-aged upon rift Id laws to prevent, in future, auch a babel of wlreteta tongues, auch a feebleness of wireless ears, such interferences by meddlesome wireless amateurs, and such greed of wireless commercial In terests as contributed to the suspense, the horror and the death toll of old ocean's most monstrous tragedy. New legislation for the "rugulatlon of radio communication" has lately been reported favorably to both Houses f Congress. It Is carried in a bill carefully framed by the wireless ex- perta of the Navy, Army and Etopart- rnent of Commerce and Labor. It is designed to put a quietus upon the long threatening monopoly of all the powerful wireless Interests not only cf America, but of the world; to give distress calls from the sea an absolute An Appeal-Toftrnie BT JESSE LEROT DIBERT. JIM A.RIEULA reached her graceful vj Jeweled hand under the edge of the mahogany table and pressed an electric button. Then with sinuous ease she sank back Into her chair to await the maid's response. She was a slender young woman with blue eyes and hair fine and yellow as If spun ly golden spiders. Her fair complexion glowed with a color accentuated by the light from a red lamp. Bhe w gowned simply yet smartly In white trimmed with blue. The door of the luxuriously fur nished room opened and a trim serv ant appeared. "Susanne. bring me a deck of cards from the library." The words fell rich and clear of tone. Could a silver bell speak It bad not a voice more sweet than that of Marietta. "Tes. mademoiselle." answered the maid with soft deference, vanishing- as she noiselessly closed the door. Her lovely mistress leaned slowly forward In her seat, drew a vase of yellow roses across the dusky red polished mahogany, and drank deeply of the rclous perfume. Satisfied with the cloying- fragrance, she pushed the flowers from her and lifted her eyes to a bronse figure of winged Hermes standing on a pedestal near the opposite skle of the table. The youthful god was balancing himself on the toes of one shapely foot, as If about to take flight for Mount Olym. pus. ILiriella extended her arms in sup plication toward the beautiful pagan deity. "Hermes. O god of chance, she spoke, and her voles was caressing and aubtly pleading. "I Implore thee b true to thy faithful votaress In her time of greatest need." There came a discreet knocking on the door. As Matiella lay back In her chair, the maid re-entered. The latter placed the cards on the table and si lently withdrew. Still reclining In her seat. Marlella stretched out her bands sod toyed 1th the glossy gilt-edged card. The rubies, emeralds and diamonds on her ; ' 1 I , IX . . .. jl ' L 1 ' i : ' v-; ( I K-' il . w right of way; to prevent the Inter ference by commercial messages with official and emergency messages. All Op-craters Be Llremaed. The first step toward giving the Fed eral Oovernjnent an actual hold upon all wireless stations In our territory or upon our ships, will be a strict re quirement that each station and all op erators must be American citizens. To prevent Interference with Govern ment or distress messages each com mercial station will be limited by Its license to certain "wave lengths" for carrying Its messages, also to certain hours of work. Under the existing system operators send out their dots and dashes upon electrlo waves vary ing In length, generally, from 100 to 6000 meters a meter being nearly a yard. To get clear results sending and receiving Instruments must be ad- Justed, or "tuned" to the same limits of wave length. The Government will tune all of Ita Instruments to receive and send waves between 609 and 1600 meters and will prosecute any private or commercial concern, which trespasses within these limits. Buch concerns will be allowed to tune their instruments above and below these pitches, but will be pre- vented from monopolising too great ranges of wave length when certain fingers flashed red and green and white. With a deft movement the young woman scattered the deck, faces up, on the table. She shoved the pictured pieces of thin pasteboard this way and that until she had found the Jack of hearts and the Jack of clubs. The other cards she pushed to one side. Straightening herself up In her chair Marlella bent slightly over the table and cased Intently at the two Jacks. Her eyes began to shine like gems of deep blue, her cheeks flamed, her bosom heaved, her delicate nostrils dilated. Her movements were quick and undulating- as a cat's She placed her right forefinger on the Jack of hearts and said aloud, "You shall be Harold Worthlngton. for he Is blond and gay and handsome and has such a darling little mustache." "And you." she spoke to the Jack of clubs, transferring her right forefinger "e paateDoara Image, "shall be John Mod ford, for he Is darM and serious and has beautiful big black eyes." Next, with lightning skill. Marlella gathered up the other cards, placed them faces down and tapped them into precise order. Thua piled she piacea them near the upturned Jacks. "And. now. Hermes." ahe addressed the bronse metal f!gure "a few words with you before I put these Jacks In the deck and learn my fate. This Is really serious business, you lovely pa gan god. Marriage Is a far more Im portant matter now and here than In ancient 'times In Greece. Previous to proceeding with this momentoua srama of chance, however. Hermes, permit me to steady my nerves a little." from a small box of silver flllcree. Marlella selected a perfumed cigarette. ugoung it. ahe puffed it daintily, blowing a thin column of bluish smoke across the table toward Hermes, as if it were Incense she was offering him. She uttered not a word until she had finished the cigarette and dropped the smoldering tip In a brass ash-tray. xou see, Hermes, you have been a very jrood friend of mine for several years." Marlella aaid to the god. "and that Is why I entrust my future hap piness io yon tonignt. How many prises at card parties have ' mv Dray- ers to yon not brought me? How often have I not drawn the lucky lottery tickets) thxoua-a you! Hew Congress and an International Parliament Plan to Force Commercial Companies to Toe the Mark No More Confusion, Interference or High Handedness Amateurs Will Be Curbed Wireless Will Be Developed So as - -- V . - . ( ' JSw- 2Ss narrow ranges will serve their pur poses Just as well. Flaes Standard Distress Wave. A "standard distress wave"- for ships is one of the most Important pro visions of the bill. A wave length of 300 meters must be nnlformly re served for this emergency call by all wireless stations, official, commercial, or private, on sea or on land. Each passenger-carrying vessel will be re quired to keep operators, day and night, an extra instrument tuned to maintain eternal vigilance for calls for help that may come moaning over the relentless deep. This emergency ear will be known as a "special distress receiver" and the Government experts seek strict legislation requiring such apparatus besides the quartermaster or lookout of every ship; also that all men employed at the wheel or upon watch shall be adequately trained to dls- hundreds of dollars have I not won by your aid at the racetrack? I give you all the credit, Hermes, for whenever I have sought your help In games of chance, I have been successful; when ever I have scorned you as Impotent, I have lost. Thus I have .come to place the greatest reliance In you. And whomever you cause to be first drawn In these cards tonight, him shall I wed. I swear It by all that I hold dear. You shall choose for me my husband, Hermes, god of gam' biers." Marlella drew the vase of roses to her again. Picking; them one by one from the Teceptable, she wove of them a wreath. This she hung about the to Be of Greatest Use in Saving of Human Lives. tingul8h,' the international distress call. "S. O. 8." whenever the Instrument utters It. S. O. S. "Save Our Skip." This distress call. Instead of the old "C. Q. D." of Jack Binn's fame, the bill adopts for America. It will be remem bered that the Tltanlc'a operators used both signals while she was going down. The "S. O. S." has been adopted by other countries because Its three dots, three dashes and three dots (. .. compose a signal readily distin guishable even by the untrained ear. While, therefore, not chosen because It abbreviates any words, sailors fix "S. O. S.'in their minds as meaning "save our ship." Each ship and shore station must be equipped to utter as well as receive this cry for help, day and night, over a distance of at least 100 miles. "Ab solute priority" is given to "signals sts.tue's neck, saying, "There, ' was ever god of Greece more prettily decked V Returning to her chair, the modern votaress of the ancient deity laid her sparkling hands one near the other on the table and fixed her lustrous eyes upon the wily god of luck. "I must tell yon. Hermes," she con tlnued, "about Harold Worthlngton and John Medford that you may better Judge between them. Of course, you have seen them here frequently, but I venture you have paid little attention to them. Now, I have made a pro found study of both men though never let them suspect that I was any thing but Indifferent to them." Bhe laughed musically. "Really, Hermes, you men are so easily spoiled It never does for a girl to allow you to know how much she values you." There followed a repetition of the discreet rapping on the door. "Come In." responded Marlella. The maid opened the door and stood upon the threshold. "Your aunt wishes to know If you expect callers this evening. If not, she requests you to come up to her bedroom and read to her." "Tell her I am expecting company. ' The neat servant remained on the threshold, hesitating; to aay something further. What else did my aunt Instruct you to tell me?" queried Marlella with a smile of amusement at the maid s ap parent embarrassment. She said that 11 Mr. Meaiora cans. you are not to be at home to him." Indeed. Susanne, Inform my aunt that maybe I'll be at home to Mr. Med ford tonlicht and maybe I'll not. It all depends on circumstances over which neither my aunt nor myself has any control." "Very wen, mademoiselle." Busanne In withdrawing was unable to sup press a glance of mystification at her charming mistress. "When we were interrupted. Hermes." Marlella began, "I was about to tell you something of the two men for whom these two fateful Jacks stand. Now this man Worthlngton is a witty fellow and much given to laugh- ing. I like a man who laughs, for he keeps one from becoming gloomy and sad. But who knows that he might not turn his wit upon me after mar riage had made lilm familiar?" The fair speaker paused and lifted her eye brows In question at Hermes. "Worthlngton Is handsome very. Etui you must have noted hit fins j 5 i-.-r X - ,1 and radiograms relating to ships in distress;" and all wireless stations afloat or ashore are required to cease all aendlng when they hear a distress calL Except when answering or aid ing a vessel thus appealing for help, they must refrain from sending until all wireless business relating to the emergency has been completed. To prevent ships from unnecessarily interrupting wireless business of shore stations near great seaports it will be required that they reduce the elec trical energy in their transmitters upon approaching within 15 miles,' and that they reduce it still further when within five miles. Ship and shore stations will be bound to interchange messages whether employing the same wireless systems or not. And at important ports where commercial wireless busi ness Interferes with the wireless work of military and naval stations the first 15 minutes of each hour will be re served for Uncle Sam's radiograms a division of time which will, however, be demanded only after other means of preventing interference have failed. Distress signals are made an excep tion to this rule, as well as to another that wireless stations must use only the minimum strength of electric en ergy necessary to carry their messages to the distance required. That interfering amateurs were part looks, Hermes. And he Is rich and that is much In these days." She sighed. "Too much, I fear. We moderns are not satisfied with the simple clothes and plain living of you ancients. It may be that we are degenerate in our fondness for money, but I must admit that I like money and what money buys. "And Worthlngton loves me. No doubt of that. And I well, I don't know, and I can't decide whether I love him or John Medford. I've tried to make choice between them for many months now. You understand, of course, Hermes, that it is time I was married. My aunt tells me so every morning at breakfast. She was married at 16 and she thinks ltterrible that I've waited until I'm 24. "But I digress. Let ..us now talk IB ly responsible for the confusion of wireless tongues that added to the public suspense following the Ti tanic catastrophe has been frequently charged. The bill before Congress puts a curb upon amateurs and all other wireless enthusiasts not engaged in bona fide commercial transmission. They will be restricted to a low elec tric power and a short wave length 200 meters. This limit the bill's framers deem sufficient for all purposes of amuse ment or Instruction -and will carry messages over a reasonable area. As attested by the variously poised wire less masts which detract from the beauty of many residential sections of our cities and towns, there now are thousands of these wireless amateurs sca'ttered through the country and tne Government realizes that some valu able operators are sometimes devel oped by this diversion. Bo, to encour age those who are really serious in their activities and who develop im provement In their art, there is a pro vision In the measure allowing those to test their skill under a special tem porary license which, during certain hours, will waive restrictions as to power and wave lengths. To further prevent Interference with official wireless business the measure forbids the erection of future commer cial wireless stations within 15 nautl- about John Medford. .The great draw back to John is that he's poor poor, that 1s, In this epoch. In an earlier and more primitive age his means would have been considered sufficient. But he couldn't afford to keep even one auto for his wife or to give her Jewels and elegant clothes or or oh. there Is bo much he couldn t do lor wife that it wearies me to think of it. "He is so serious, too. Really his wife would have to contribute all of the humorous talent at meals. John Is not half bad looking. In fact. think him very nice looking, except when he is in the same room with Worthlngton. Then the comparison is too much for him. But his eyes, oh, his glorious big black eyes, Hermes, with their long thick lashes and th whites as clear as purest milk! And when they look love at me! Oh, I tell you, Hermes, if he were not poor, he might not have to take his chance with Worthlngton at all." Marlella Bhook her head and an ex pression vaguely cynical Bhowed on her features as she proceeded. "Even my aunt would have no objection to John Medford if he had money. As it is she has forbidden me to consider him in the way of marriage under penalty of disinheritance. Think of it disinheritance what a frightful lot for me who have been pampered and petted by a millionaire aunt and taught to look forward to falling- heir to her fortune if I do not displease her! "But you shall direct the cards. Hermes, and I shall abide by the result even if John Medford and disinherit ance are drawn first. I have always been a true sportswoman and I al ways shall be." With steady fingers Marlella took up the Jack of hearts and turning it face down shoved it into the deck. She repeated the action with the Jack of clubs. There was no trace of nerv ousness In the young woman's move ments as she shuffled and reshuffled the cards. But her tense feeling was displayed by her glowing eyes, her quivering nostrils and closely pressed Hps and burning cheeks. She stacked the cards. Of a sudden the bell of the clock beat twice and Marlella started like a deer surprised by the report of a rifle. She gave an abashed laugh as she looked at the timepiece, noting It was half past eight. Hermes," she Intoned softly. "I am ashamed of myself, I never acted like , r Y . - 1st! 1 A. its? cal miles of a llsfof Important naval and military stations, not Including, however, those at our most important commercial centers. These protected points are to be es pecially a great chain of "high power" radio stations which will give America wireless dominion over the seas. The key to this vast system will be a group of giant towers already bristling above the hills of Arlington, Va.. in full view of the National capitals avenues. Hearing the Grass Grow. As old Mother Earth puts on more and more of her Spring attire the reach of wireless messages shortens. In their laboratory at Washington the Navy's experts are now experiment ing to accurately measure this effect of Increasing foliage and vegetation. 1 hlle the Summer is coming on they are receiving test messages sent at regular intervals from Philadephia, Annapolis and Norfolk and Jwith deli cate instruments are noting the grad ual weakening of the electric current. Thus, you might say, they are hearing the grass grow and the May blossoms burst from their buds. And all of this work has a direct bearing upon the saving of life at sea. Because of the ever-present foliage on the surround ing land, ships In the tropics cannot send their distress signals over more than half the range which vessels in the temperate zones can cover. 1lreleaa World Parliament. All of the enlightened nations of the world are next month to meet In the parliament which will give wireless business a universal overhauling and require commercial companies to toe a mark that is narrow and straight. This body will be known as the Internation al Radio-Telegraphic Convention and it will sit in London. President Taft will send delegates who know every wire less problem from A to Z. They will co-operate with representatives of oth er nations in framing regulations, which will require every ship of every flag to adopt the standard distress sig nal, distress wave and distress re ceiver of 100-mile range, and will re quire universal use of what are known as "pure" and "sharp" waves. The Titanic tragedy will suggest to this parliament many reforms whose need would not have otherwise pre sented themselves. A number of these will be made evident by the testimony gathered by the Senatorial committee that has for some time been sitting as a coroner's inquest upon the bones of the ill-starred Tltanlc'a more than a thousand victims. (Copyright, 1912, by John Elfreth Watkins.) WW. that before. I have lost hundreds of dollars without the winking of an eye. But this matter of a husband certain ly does make me apprehensive. Well, here goes." Marlella placed the cards carefully stacked In front of her and turned the first card face up and drew a breath of relief. It was the two of spades. Another card was turned up and an other. One-third of the pack was thus taken from the stacked portion, when the young woman desisted. She breathed hard. Lines of delicate veins stood out on her forehead like the tracery on a leaf. Again she bef?an to turn the cards. The first one called forth another sigh of relief. It was the tray of diamonds. The pack was two-thirds gone. Finally ten cards only remained with faces down. Mariella looked appealingly at Hermes, placed her finger on the top most card and flung it over. She gasped and her face went white. It was the Jack of hearts Harold Worthlngton. There came into Mariella's face no expression of relief that the choice was made and doubt ended. Instead there dawned there a deep misery. She gazed at the card blankly, then at Hermes. Despair imaged Itself upon her countenance. Then with a flash of rage. Marlella gathered the cards together and threw l. ...(Ml.- nrmrza thA fohl. Hermes. They fell pattering upon the pagan goo: ana nuiierea to xne uoor around the pedestal. ' "Hermes, you little monster' came the shrill words. A knock at the door brought Marlel la from her chair with a leap that up set it. The maid entered In alarm. But Marlella s face was already composed and cold, and next almost instantly sweet and serene. A trifling accident, she said, calm ly, to Susanne, who restored the chair to its upright position. "Mr. Medford is In the reception halL mademoiselle," was Susanne's an nouncement with a polite question In her voice. Mariella glanced at Hermes, then spoke. "Show him in, Susanne, and if Mr. Worthington calls, tell him I'm not at home." Yes. mademoiselle," replied the vanishing maid. Mariella Bank Into her chair. Her low silvery laugh rippled through the room. 'Hermes, you must excuse me." -x .(Copyright by Bhortstory. Pub. CswJ
