THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAND. APRIL 16. 1922
8
ESTABLISHED BY HENRY T PITTOCK.
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PRESENT PORTLAND'S CASE.
The Importance to Portland ship
ping of the hearing on application
of section 28 of the Jones shipping
law, which is to be held in June by
a committee of the shipping board,
can hardly be exaggerated. That
seption was inserted by the senate
without having been considered in
committee and with little debate.
It was designed to deal with a local
situation on a part of the Pacific
coast, but, if put in operation gen
erally, would have most far-reaching
effects on movement of railroad
traffic, on the entire railroad rate
system and on the shipping business
of Pacific ports especially.
In involved language the section
directs that, when adequate shipping
from any port is provided under the
American flag, preferential import
and export railroad rates shall not
be given on goods carried on foreign
ships. The interstate commerce
commission Is given power to sus
pend operation of the section when
the shipping board certifies that
adequate American shipping facili
ties do not exist between any port
and any foreign country, but the
commission is required to withdraw
suspension when the board certifies
that shipping facilities under the
American flag are adequate The
board was about to-move for opera
tion of the section to Pacific ports
and on other coasts, but was induced
to send a committee to hold an
Inquiry before calling on the com
mission to act.
The only ports to which preferential
rates are considerable in amount are
those on the Pacific coast. Here the
difference between the ordinary and
the preferential rates is so great that
foreign ships could not pay it out of
their ocean rate. But the bulk of
traffic moving under these rates to
the Pacific coast originates so near
the Atlantic or Gulf coast that the
difference in rates to their ports is
so small as could easily be absorbed
if traffic were diverted to those
coasts. Importers and exporters
cannot be compelled to route their
traffic by American ships, and would
send it by the cheapest route. For
eign lines would exert themselves to
make their new routes to Gulf and
Atlantic port the cheapest, and
would leave Pacific ports dependent
mainly on American lines, which
would be relieved of the spur of
direct foreign competition at those
ports, while ports on the other coasts
would have the advantage of added
competition between foreign lines
anl between them and American
lines.
The effect would be less frequent
sailings frqm Pacific ports across
the Pacific ocean. As about 80 per
cent of exports from Portland is of
local origin, foreign ships would still
come here to carry them, but, being
deprived of the opportunity to fill
up their space with transcontinental
freight, could not make as low rates
as they now do. t
That situation would bring a
further danger to Portland com
merce. As the only foreign-going
ships from this port under the
American flag are those of the ship
ping board, we should have to rely
on the continuance of Its line. When
the subsidy passes congress, the
board intends to make a great drive
to sell its fleet. The ships which it
now operates from Portland might
then be sold to a company which
would run them from some other
port. One means of averting this
danger would be to establish a Port
land line, to buy ships and operate
them in Portland's service. Failing
that, the only recourse would be to
ask the shipping board to move the
interstate commission to suspend
application of section 28 to Portland
on the ground that this port no
longer had adequate service under
the American flag. We know from
experience how difficult it is to con
vince the shipping1 board of any facts
that do not accord with its policy.
It still believes that section 28 can
be used to maintain an American
merchant marine, for the principle
of that section figures in its subsidy
bill, but the terms in which Chair
man Ijisker referred to it in his
statement to the joint committee of
congress imply that doubt has
entered his mind. He said:
It is believed by many that considerable
indirect aid wilr result from the making
effective of section 28 of the merchant
marine act. The legislation is mandatory
and its true worth can only be determined
by actual trial. The shipping board is
making an exhaustive investigation of the
practical application of this section as a
preliminary to certification to the inter
state commerce commission that adequate
shipping facilities are afforded by Ameri
can ships.
In other words, try ft on the dog,
and the hearings offer Pacific porta
their last chance to escape being- the
dog. That prospect should spur the
chamber of commerce to begin la
pood season for a presentation of
Portland's case In its full strength.
The hearings mark the shipping
board's first departure from its past
practice of deciding important ques
tions secretly after private hearing
of the pleas' of interested parties
an un-American practice) which has
hftun fillrix-ri In Pni-llflnd'o riairi.
ment. An opportunity is now pre
sented to bring discussion of ship
ping questions, as they affect ports
t)i:i? now suffer from discrimination,
into t!i open. This publicity cannot
fail to win public support for the
Portland principle of fair and equal
competition. Coming when the sub
sidy bill will be under discussion in
congress, it cannot fail to command
attention from that body.
HOW NOT TO GET TOGETHER.
"There has never been a time
when the democratic party has . less
to be ashamed of or more to be
proud of," says Chairman Hull of
the democratic national committee.
From March 4, 1913, to March 4,
1919, the democratic party controlled
both the executive and legislative
branches of the government. If Mr.
Hull's words are to be taken In their
full, literal sense, his party had more
to be ashamed of and less to be
proud of -at that time than it has
now, when it controls neither branch
of the government. Of course, Mr.
Hull did not mean to imply that,
but the interpretation to which his
words are fairly open should serve
as a warning- against the habit Jf
making broad statements that sound
well but do not bear analysis, to
which oratorical politicians are too
disposed.
Mr. Hull Is also quoted as saying:
For two years after the war a small
coterie of republicans engaged in a
national conspiracy to discredit the
Wilson administration instead of getting
together with the democrats and providing
poet-war legislation.
In order to be effective, the "get
together" spirit must be reciprocal.
In order that two bodies of men get
together, each should advance to
ward the other. During the war the
republicans made several advances
to get together with the democratic
administration for the purpose of
effectively making war, but at every
step that they made in advance, the
democrats drew back a step. The
most important piece of post-war
w-ork was the making of a peace
treaty, but Mr. Wilson treated the
republican party as if It did not
exist until he brought a draft league
covenant back from Paris. Then he
scorned its advice to make a peace I
treaty first and form a league after
ward. When he brought home the
Versailles treaty, he refused to
accept any change proposed by
republicans, though they earnestly
sought agreement with the demo
crats on reservations.
The democratic idea of getting
together is that the republican party
should go over bodily to the demo
cratic side and indorse whatever a
democratic administration proposes
without offering criticism or amend
ment. This is not the way in which
people approach from different view
points a task on which they must
agree and work together.. It be
tokens the "keep apart" spirit, not
the "get together" spirit.
HOW THE DEBTS MIGHT BE PAID.
As the commission on debts of
the allies has at last been confirmed
and is ready for business, it must
now face the question how and when
to secure payment. Great Britain
and possibly Belgium can begin
paying interest this year, but France
may be expected to say that it will
pay when Germany pays reparations,
Italy is in such bad financial position
that it probably could not begin to
pay interest for two or three years,
hope of anything from Russia must
be deferred to a remote future, and
most of the smaller states may
frankly say that nothing can be
expected from them till they get on
their feet.
Yet these smaller states have great
potential ability to meet their obli
gations. Poland has rich agricul
tural soil, capable of producing a
great exportable surplus, has oil in
Galicia and has added to its re
sources of coal, iron and zinc by
acquisition of part of Silesia. Czecho
slovakia has 60 per cent of the in
dustrial resources of the old Austro
Hungarian empire, has more nearly
approached balancing its - budget
than any other central European
state, and has statesmen of ability.
The other states of the old Hapsburg
dominions and the Balkan peninsula
are very backward in development
in consequence of misrule and wai
or the constant apprehension of war
The only manner in which they can
provide revenue to pay interest and
principal of their debts is to accept
present frontiers as fixed, to cut
their armies to the minimum and
to concentrate their energies on In
ternal development.
An extreme case is that of Jugo
slavia. Its debt is almost $1,000,
000,000, of which more than $57,
000,000 is due to the United States
and twice that sum to Great Britain,
its budget is thirty times as great
as before the war, its expenses far
exceed its revenue, its money unit,
the dinar, has depreciated from a
normal 19 cents to 1 cents, and
the whole of Serbia was so ravaged
during the war that the Bulgarians
even carried away the tombstones.
Yet its statesmen believe that it can
recover, the finance minister saying:
Our state possesses within its frontiers
all the elements necessary for great pros
perity and the means of securing a more
rapid restoration than any other country
which may bave suffered the same losses.
Our coal, our Iron and other - mineral
products, our varied agricultural produc
tions, our great water power, exhaust
less forests, immense river traffic, our
contact with the great Industrial centers
of Central Burope and the apportionment
of property- among: the people all of these
conditions, I am sure, will contribute to
the rapid restoration of our kingdom. .
There is no economic reason why we should
despair of our future.
To realize on all the wealth that
lies in the ground requires wise and
close application of both capital and
labor. The Serbs, though terribly
reduced in number, can provide the
labor, but they must go outside their
own country for capital and skilled
management. When the commission
inquires what adjustment of the debt
it can make, Jugo-SIavia may reply
that, if the United States will pro
vide capital to develop its resources,
it will not only pay interest on the
investment but will thereby so in
crease its revenue that in a few
years it will begin paying interest
and installments' on the principal at
its debt. Its Improved prosperity
would also make it a good market
for American products, to which
American investors in new Industries
would give -preference. Similar pro
positions might come from Austria,
which has abundant waterpower;
Roumania, which has coal, oil and
other minerals and much timber;
Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Hungary,
Greece and the Baltic states.
The commission has no power to
accept such a proposition, but it
might recommend to congress a
scheme by which private American
capital would take up the offer, the
government obtaining a guaranty
from the interested states that they
would reduce their armies, keep out
of war and put their finances in
healthy condition.
In this manner it is possible that
at one stroke the United States
wnnlri find emnlnvmpnt for much
would nna empiovment ior mucn
American capital, markets for large
quantities of goods, ultimate pay
ment of the debts and exercise a
powerful Influence for peace by dis
couraging investment in countries
that maintained large armies and I
pursued a policy of aggression. As
in business, the only way to collect
money from an insolvent state may
be to put more money into it.
THE COSMETIC URGE.
Undoubtedly the best pun of the
season, an allusion to the "cosmetic
urge," owes its point to a newly
growing custom. We say "newly
growing" because it is not the first
time it has grown. From time to
time in ages past our foremothers
have been wont to conceal ' their
natural charms beneath layers of
paste of varying shades and thick
nesses. The passion for statistics "be
ing a manifestation of only recent
years, we do not recall just how
many times as much money was
spent a century ago for paint and
powder as for education, but the dis
parity must have been very wide.
Now it is being argued again by
those who take themselvess, and
life, with a vast and almost painful
seriousness that the civilization of
the twentieth century is threatened
by the Hp-stick and the powder pot.
We note with what we trust is a
becoming gravity that the cosmetic
issue has found its way into the
courts. Two teachers in Arkansas,
respectively Miss Pearl Pugsley and
Miss Irma Byers, were discharged
by the directors of their school dis
trict for violation of a rule against
the use of complexion beautifiers.
Miss Byers was reinstated upon
promising to offend no more, but
Miss Pugsley has appealed to the
courts, holding that her rights as a
woman have been infringed. So has
arisen what has already become
known as the "lipstick case," al
though MissiPugsley says that she
has never used paint of any kind, but
only powder. She tells the court
that she has always done this and
that it is nobody's business but her
own. The judge of a local tribunal
has refused her application for a
writ of mandamus, although he ad
mits that the rule is unjust. Since
the petitioner has previously an
nounced that she will appeal to the
highest court, there is a prospect of
an authoritative determination of
this most important question.
The discovery In an ancient Egyp
tian tomb of a complete set of toilet
articles similar to those in use in the
present day may well be considered
by the, courts. . They are not bound
in law by the ancient precedent, but
at least they may take judicial notice
of it, as showing the futility of run
ning counter to the modes. The is
sue is one of personal taste, which
it is difficult to govern by rule, but
underlying it is the question of the
authority of a school board to deter
mine whether the teacher shall em
ploy certain prescribed, or proscribed,
adjuvants to beauty or whether she
may be prohibited from doing so.
If the powder puff may be banished,
why not a certain style of coiffure?
Shall we attempt by statute or other
wise to regulate the length of sleeves
or the height of heels? Is the
"shine" on woman's nose to be de
clared more attractive, or less offen
sive, than the touch of talcum how
ever unskillfully applied?
It is, as Miss Pugsley Intimated in
her defense, a question of transcen
dant importance. Private employers
have tried to force the issue, with, as
we remember it, but indifferent suc
cess. The school teacher, as a ser
vant of the community and possess
ing certain rights not common to
private employes, is just the person
to bring the whole matter to a final
and judicial determination. We hope
that there may be no quibbling, no
evasion of the main proposition, and
that, if necessary, the case may be
carried to the supreme court of the
United States. Have or have not
women, whether school teachers or
otherwise, the plain right to paint the
lily, to improve upon neglectful na
ture, to subdue the glistening residue
upon a too-oily cuticle, by every
means that art has placed at their
command?
FOR WHOM DO WOMEN DRESS?
Two writers in the Century Maga
zine discuss the momentous question
whether women dress to please men
or for the pure love of decoration,
the latter motive being complicated
by a spirit of emulation which quite
naturally merges Into desire to ob
tain the approbation, if not to inspire
the envy, of members of their own
sex. The debate is conducted by a
man and a woman. Curiously, it is
the man who takes the ground that
the sex instinct does not underlie the
feminine penchant for doodads and
folderols, while the woman insists
that the modes have a basis In
biology. Listen to Alexander Black,
who takes what will seem to many
to be the higher ground in the con
troversy :
I don't believe that women "dress" solely
to please men, not only because they don't
have to take that much trouble, not only
because dress is so satisfying in itself, and
because, as an art, it must always be In
fluenced more than by its specialist criti
cism than by its spectators, and women
are the specialists; but because women
have other business in life, and pleasing
other women has become as important to
them as pleasing men, in vast number of
cases more Important.
- It would appear that Mr. Black
has weakened his case by resort to
peculiar instances in which women
as a matter of business concern find
it expedient to meet the approval of
others of their sex, as, we suppose,
where an employed woman Is under
the superintendency of another
woman, or where in the business of
"meeting the public" it is a public
of both sexes with which she is
called on to deal. When one thinks
of the question which is not knew
to this age or generation one re
gards it in the aspect in which
woman is free to make her choice, :
independently of adventitious con
siderations such, for example, as
those of business. The issue is j
whether a woman left to her own
devices, and presumably possessing
the wherewithal, dresses to please
her fellow women or in pursuance of
an instinct much older than any
commercial institution. On this
heading, Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gil
man makes a much clearer exposi
tion. She says:
The fact appears when mercenary moth
ers for the sake of their daughters, or
other women for personal needs, deliber
ately set themselves to please men. . . .
Even the wife, desiring some special in
dulgence from her husband, not only pro
vides the dinner he likes best, but wears
the dress he likes best, if she has one.
. . . A further proof remains, patent
and pathetic. "Some women there are who,
urged by convictions as to health, beauty
or comfort, rebel aga.nst this masculine
demand, and do not "dress" in the decor
ative sense at a!l. What happens to them?
They are let alone. -They are not danced
with, not helped about. As a matter of
! dressing, the human mind is past master
. d jng many gracefu, illusions over a
biological fact; but the fact remains.
Negative though the evidence may
be, Mrs. Gilman has scored a point
with her declaration that the women
who do not dress "in the decorative
sense" are apt to be let alone by
those of the opposite sex. If it be
said that this is only part of the rea
son why men avoid them, that the
factors which led them to eschew
decoration also enter into the spirit
of sex hostility, the proponents of
the theory are still no better off.
Doubtless the unadorned female
sheds no tears over being "let alone"
by the men, but this only proves that
if she cared a rap for masculine
opinion in this particular she would
not affect a highly superior but non-
decorative severity.
One hesitates in the face of vol
umes that have been writen upon
this fundamentally momentous ques
tion to venture to arbitrate between
controversialists who have given the
subject .as much thought as Mr.
Black and Mrs. Gilman evidently
have done. One can with safety
commit one's self no further than
the weight of the arguments, regard
less of the merits of the issue, which
they have presented. Purely as a de
bater and we go no further than
that Mrs. Gilman appears to have
established her superiority.
REVIVING THE PANCRATIUM.
Those who are still interested in
their classics may have been moved
by "Strangler" Lewis' challenge to
Jack Dempsey to review their read
ing on the topic of the contests of
ancient Greece. The Greeks had
wrestling, which it would intrigue
Mr. Lewis to know was called by
Plutarch the most artistic and cun
ning of athletic games, and they had
an equivalent of our modern boxing,
the rules of which were not unlike
those of the ring today, but they also
had a combination of the two. This
was called pancratium, and it is pre
sumably what Lewis proposes to re
vive. The Greeks took their sports
with great earnestness, as readers of
history know; in boxing and wres
tling and In the mingling of the two,
victory was the chief object of the
game. The Greeks were not pri
marily spectators as the Romans
afterward were and as Americans
are coming to- be; the Greek idea
was that athletic sports were chiefly
for the benefit of the participants.
Wherefore, after a time in which the
pancratium flourished as an exceed
ingly cruel sport its rules were modi
fied by public opinion, so that it was
somewhat less disabling than twen
tieth-century wrestling and probably
not so dangerous as a modern foot
ball game.
The Roman boxer employed a de
vice called the caestus, consisting of
leather thongs bound around the
wrist and hands and weighted with
iron studs, which has a modern
counterpart in the horseshoe that
our early-day pugilists used to be ac
cused of slipping into the boxing
glove. Nevertheless it can hardly be
said that boxing anciently reached
the state of development that now
characterizes it: there are allusions-1
in the classic writings to broken ears
and not broken noses, which indi
cate that the Greek fought windmill
fashion and did not hit out from the
shoulder, from which we are able to
conclude that Euradymus would
have had small chance in a match
with Dempsey, though he was a
powerful chap and might have been
able to put "Stransler" Lewis on his
back. But the pancratium was
nevertheless the sport of sports and
was reserved for the doughtiest of
athletes. Its possibilities for barbar.
ism seem to have been enormous,
employment of Vr. i caestus was only
occasionally forbidden and fatalities
sometimes resulted, notwithstanding
that the death of an antagonist un
less shown to be the result of acci
dent disqualified for prize.
The mixed match will fail as a
test of the respective merits of box
ing and wrestling in all probability
and will degenerate into a species of
rough-and-tumble such as one sees
among yokels who are skilled in
neither art, and rough-and-tumble
never proved anything except the
courage of the individuals contend
ing and the amount of punishment
they could stand. There is not much
likelihood that the pancratium will
be revived in this country, nor would
there be profit in reviving it, even
as a spectacle. There would be point,
however, to wider indulgence In both
boxing and wrestling in moderation
for the good they would do in pro
moting general physical develop
ment. It is fine to possess the
sense of power that is felt by the
well-made man, but since the aver
age individual is not very likely to
engage in brawls a large part of the
benefit of boxing and wrestling
instruction comes from the all
around physical training which is
necessary to produce expertness in
either line.
The Japanese have a better con
ception of the function of athletics
than most Caucasians have; their
much-talked-of and somewhat over
estimated system of jiu-jitsu prob
ably owes most of its success as an
athletic regimes to the circumstance
that it includes scientific diet, deep
breathing exercises, plenty of sleep,
abundance of fresh air and general
moderation in habits. These are In
deed the desiderata of any system of
athletics, and the extent to which
they are promoted is the measure of
the benefits derived by those who in
dulge in them.
We can see no particular objec
tion to putting Lewis and Dempsey
in a ring or, better yet, a pit -and
letting them go at one another, with
or without caestus, and it will not
aggrieve us much if they battle to a
Kilkenny finish; there is at least a
suspicion that Lewis and Dempsey
press agents are behind the whole
dispute. But we do need a revival
of interest in non-professional ath
letics, in both boxing and wrestling,
and in particular In the general sys
tem of right exercise and sound liv
ing that amateur athletics promotes.
We are in danger of degenerating
Into a nation of spectators, such as
the Romans were, and we need more
of the spirit of the Greeks, who
played their own games.
The refusal of an important group
of members of the French Academy
of Sciences to join in a courteous
reception to Professor Albert Ein-
stein and their threat to break up
the meeting if he were permitted to
engage in the discussion of a purely
scientific topic will be regarded in
this country as an extreme example
of chauvinism hardly warranted by
Einstein's record and certainly not
justified by the subject which he
was scneauiea to eiuciaate. it is
remembered that Frenchmen en-
tered a recent prize contest which
brought out numerous explanations
of Einstein's celebrated "theory,"
and it is pretty generally admitted
that mathematics is not a science
capable of being influenced by na
tional boundaries. The incident is a
reminder, however, of the attitude
of certain Americans not long ago
toward the reception of Dr. Lorenz
on the ground that he was an Aus
trian, and is further suggestive of
the expediency of abolishing war,
the after effects of which are nearly
as demoralizing as the destruction
wrought on actual biAUtfCieids.
AN ECHO FROM THE PAST.
The controversy now raging in
London between Lord Knutsford and
Miss Elizabeth Robins, the play
wright, over the decision of the Lon
don hospital to close its doors to
women students sounds on this side
of the ocean like a muffled echo
from the distant past. It Is true that
the first woman graduate of a medi
cal school in the United States re
ceived her diploma only seventy
three years ago -and that many pro
fessional colleges of this country
were closed to women long after
that, but we have a right to all the
feeling of self-righteousness that we
are able to extract from our pre
eminence. We have made a marked
advance since then. The number of
women physicians in the United
States in 1880 was less than 2500;. in
1910 there were nearly 14,000; the
census figures for 1920, which have
not yet been published, in all prob
ability will show a still further im
portant increase.
We are therefore in a position to
listen to the arguments with an ap
praising air -of superiority, - having
heard all of them during the early
stages of the campaign in America.
Lord Knutsford says, first, that male
students are much more sensitive
than women are, that it would be
highly subversive of morale and dis
cipline, for example, for a woman
physician to be placed in a position
of authority over a man who though
her senior in years might be her
junior in medical experience, and
third, that many men positively
could not survive the shock of being
cured of disease by a woman. Es
pecial stress is placed on a class of
cases in which the factor of sex em
barrassment is peculiarly involved.
From an issue whether women
shall be admitted as students in a
particular institution the discussion
has extended to the fitness of women
in general to practice medicine. Lord
Knutsford appears to have dug a pit
for himself to fall into when he
raised the question of sex- embar
rassment. Miss Robins counters ef
fectively with the suggestion that
women who have been compelled to
have recourse to men physicians for
centuries ought to be the ones to be
consulted now, and that in any event
nothing in the proposal to extend
medical education to women affects
the right of members of either sex
to choose their own medical atten
dants.
Lord Knutsford reserves what is
perhaps his weakest argument for
the last. He says that colleges that
admit women will not attract the
class of male students who excel at
football. Here in the United States,
where we know that the male stu
dent rather enjoys a chance to ex
hibit his athletic prowess before the
co-eds, we think there should be a
ready answer to that. The entire dis
cussion in other respects is reminis
cent of the files of the American
magazines in the early fifties, about
which time Rush Medical college
was being roundly censured for hav
ing granted a diploma to Emily
Blackwell, whose sister, Elizabeth,
only a few years previously had
achieved the distinction of being the
first woman to be graduated from a
medical college in the United States.
THE DRIVE FOR BOOKS.
We are fortunate in our way that
sundry drives for books have pre
ceded that which now has as its
object the recoupment of the supply
of the Portland public library, because-
i-previous occasions have fur
nished opportunity for the cleaning
out of garret and the riddance of
old rubbish, which, curiously enough,
has never seemed worth while until
the time came for people to give it
away. However much we may now
feel sorry for the recipients of those
early bounties, we are reminded that
Providence moves in a mysterious
way its wonders to perform. The
new demand for a better class of
reading matter, made insistent by
conditions over which public libra
rians have little or no control, comes
at a time when owners' of books
presumably have only to reflect
which, among a number of excellent
ones, they can the most easily spare
It is a fact of interest that al
though the library is in theory
primarily a repository of books, and
its fundamental purpose is the plac
ing of the book in the hands of peo
pie who want to read them, as a
matter of fact it is the book-purchasing
fund that in every emergency
is the first to be attacked. It ia
mostly forgotten that certain- items
of "overhead" are commonly a fixed
if not a rising obligation. Salaries
increase, though slowly, and the
physical appurtenances of the library
respond to the law of supply and
demand; the cost of the book, in
which are involved all the factors
of a more expensive system of pub
lication, including the rewards of
authorship, increases disproportion
ately to the growth of book-purchas--ing
funds. It is not generally known,
for illustration, that the average
outlay for a single book in a library
the size of that in Portland has
increased from about 85 cents in
1915 to about $1-30 in 1922. We do
not know why it should be so, and
we have our own suspicions that cer
tain publishers may be guilty of
profiteering, but the fact remains
that out of a depleted fund it be
comes necessary to replenish supplies
upon which is imposed an added
burden of 50 per cent or more.
The data thus presented are ger
mane as illuminating a topic of
interest to those who wonder why a
public institution should be reduced
to the extremity of an appeal for
private aid in carrying out an estab
lished public function. But the fact
stands out that a period of "hard
times" in the library operates not
only to retard new and necessary
purchases for current needs, but that
it also allows old stocks to run down.
The phenomenon is not peculiar to
Portland, although the situation here
is particularly acute. It is the old
story that a gallon measure cannot
be filled with a quart of material a
problem that it takes no mathemati
cian to solve.
The scope of library work mean
while widens almost immeasurably.
period
usiness
in library history when its bu
was only to cater to the taste exclu
sively of the elect. Its educational
possibilities were perhaps not even
dreamed of by Benjamin Franklin,
who was a pioneer in the dissemina
tion of education through popular
ization of books. The reading habit
grows upon the stuff it feeds on: it
is our own fault if we have invited
a Frankenstein monster into our
midst, but a fault for which there is
small reason for apology. The result
has on the whole been good. . The
demand for reading matter, fostered
by the library itself in the first
instance and accentuated by in
creased cost of books, which in turn
has depleted library supplies, has
created a kind of endless chain, or
vicious circle. Either the demand
must be met or a good deal of the
excellent work that has been done
in the past must go for naught.
It is not so well known as it ought
to be that library patrons are doing
serious reading nowadays. "Fic
tion" although it does not connote
the disparaging Implication of only
a few years ago represents a con
stantly declining proportion of the
whole. Science, particularly in this
age of the development of the auto
mobile and the radio, engages the
attention of its millions. Poetry is
more read than it used to be, under
the emotional stimulus of the war;
the breaking up of nations is re
sponded to by a large call for works
on history and political economy;
the Inquiring minds of people who
never until recently asked the rea
son for anything that came to pass
are waiting to be fed; entertainment
becomes the least of the motives of
reading where once it was the first.
The student rather than the idler is
the patron of the library of today
a fact of significance to those who
may,be planning how best they can
aid in the general scheme of uplift
out of the means at their command.
Recent donations to the library
shelves reflect, we think, an im
proved conception of the real need
of the time. We wonder at the man
who can persuade himself to part
with his copy of the. life of John
Marshall, but the thing has been
done. Classics like the "Education
of Henry Adams" came in. "The
Gay-Dombeys" is representative of a
class of not too ancient literature
that is in high demand. We are not
so much surprised by the inclusion
of Kyne's "Pride of Paloma" when
we reflect that there is a -large class
of books that are worth reading once
but that thereupon exhaust their
value for the individual and fulfill,
their highest' mission only by being
passed along. That there should be a
repeated and insistent demand for
Lorna Doone while undoubtedly
this fine old story reposes neglected
on many a shelf is only an illustra
tion of the unequal distribution of
the kind of wealth that counts. We
think it creditable to the good taste
of the reading people that no less
than 200 copies of "David Copper
field" are necessary to fill ordinary
requirements, or that some 20 copies
lof the "Outline of History", find a
waiting list that will still be waiting
six months or' so from now. For
books like Van Loan's "History of
Mankind" the demand is avid. Louisa
M. Alcott is still read, the classics
of a generation ago vie with the
best sellers of the day and promise
to outlast them. The newly estab
lished inter-relation of public library
and public school has helped to ere
ate the situation out of which the
drive for books has arisen.
It is better, in the new conception
of the function of the book, that the
volume should wear out than rust
out, and it is to this sentiment in
those who do not acquire books
merely for the pleasure of physical
possession that the library drive par
ticularly appeala
Perhaps discouraged by wet
weather and poor attendance in sev
eral years, but ambitious and hope
ful, the directors -of the Gresham
fair this year set the opening day for
August 7. For years the Southwest
Washington fair has led the season
with a- date a week or two later and
has had good weather and the sue
cess good weather carries. Septem
ber generally is a rainy month, yet
its dates are crowded. The date
claimed by the Oregon state fair is
in the last week, running into Oc
tober, and it has had a measure of
good weather, but not enough.
August here essentially is a dry
month of sunshine, and its merits
should be considered by fair, man
agements. A little dust beats much
mud. The experiment by the
Gresham people will be an innova
tion for the better. There will be no
lack of exhibit "stuff."
Several sittings of criminal assizes
in British Columbia have been can
celed this spring for lack of business.
The sureness of swift punishment
across the line is a deterrent of
crime and emphasizes the contrast
this side of it.
The reported organization of a
suspender trust reminds us that the
world still needs a suspender button
that won't come off. Let the In
ventor of one that really does what
is promised for it name his own
price.
Tfia business men who are blam
ing hard times on the lateness of
Easter will not be comforted by re
flecting that the next six Easters
occur in April. It is up to them to
readjust themselves to the inevitable
facts.
We are fortunate, as Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle intimates, that the
heavenly law forbids the angels to
butt in on mundane affairs. But we
would like a tip from St. Peter on
how he manages to enforce it so
well.
We sometimes wish that Sir
Arthur had come over in his capac
ity of Sherlock Holmes. The crime
wave calls for a master mind and
there are a lot of questions that we
think Sherlock could answer more
intelligently than the spirits do.
It is an intriguing thought that the
Genoa conference is being held at
the place where Columbus was born.
Here's hoping that when it comes to
new discoveries Genoa is able to
come back.
The ex-kaiser, now said to have
become a prohibitionist, will not,
however, be welcomed to the ranks
of the drys who still believe in hoo-
doos.
Once in a while a condemned man
contrives to "cheat the gallows." But
what, as the old song has it. is he
going to say to St. Peter at the sate 1
We still have not forgotten the pe
The Listening Post.
Br DeWItt Harry.
In these days of wireless phone and
marvels of the air ihere seems to be
no limit to the possibilities. Humor
ists and comic artists have profited
enormously- and many are the unique
ideas that they have suggested. In
terest is increasing in somewhat the
same way a snowball gains Pise by
being pushed through the new snow.
It ODcns ud unlimited vistas of
what may be. The day cannot be sol
far distant when almost everyone
will Ige equipped with a set ot receiv
ers arid in instant commuMeation
with certain sources of information
for guidance or other reasons. The
experience of a deaf man may come
In very appropos here.
This man, while not completely
deaf, was growing harder and harder
of hearing. Most of us think of those
who have any of their senses im
paired as unfortunates. Fur years
his difficulty in hearing had been
growing, but it had been so gradual
that he had not noticed the change.
He lived in an atmosphere of quiet
and had learned to like it. His deaf
ness did not seem a severe trial and
he got along all right with his daily
tasks and managed to communicate
with his friends and enjoy life.
But there came a time when his
wife prevailed on him to purchase an
audiphone. It immediately corrected
his hearing to near-normal, but it
was a punishing experience for the
deaf man. He never knew how hard
some of his friends walked over the
tiles in the corridors as they ap
proached the office, and he could not
work for the noise. The clatter of
foosteps and of typewriters and the
clamor of voices were like thunder and
nearly drove him distracted. He
could not think clearly, he who had
been accustomed to live in a world
of quiet. 1 The sudden transition was
too much, the cars, the traffic, all the
many clamors were too much. He
threw his ear sets away and once
again was content; he had learned
to prefer his world of quiet.
Not all the crops of spring are flow
ers. For Instance, there's the can
vasser crop, extra flourishing this
particular year. Hordes of them
flock to the residence districts like
song birds returning after a winter
migration1. The canvassers' songs are
of horse-radish and hominy, vacuum
cleaners and electric irons, stocks
and bonds, corsets and stockings,
magazines arid books, and go on, ad
infinitum. Not a one but offers
a wonderful bargain. And they are
of every style of persistence from the
easily handled to the stubborn who
Insert heavy-toed boots in doorways.
And then there are the men after
work, or who say they are chasing
it. The man who comes, armed with
a pair of shears, and offers to prune
the rose bushes. The one who comes
with a four-day growth of beard and
wants odd Jobs. The men who follow
the wood and coal wagons and seem
to make a fair living handling fuel
from the curb to the basement win
dow. And Just the bums, the discon
solate ones with the hard-luck tales,
the standard type of moocher.
This winter undoubtedly has been
a hard one for many men who have
not had steady work, but many
housewife will tell the world that it
has been a strenuous winter for those
who have to answer the doorbells.
Chinese youngsters seem to absorb
American languge, customs and edu
cation to a perfectly marvelous de
gree. Many of them, students in our
schools and universities, make envl
able records, and as a general rule
they seem hard-working, sincere and
bright. Their adoption of American
dress and the ease with which they
act in a fashion as truly of this coun
try as If they were Caucasians is
astonishing.
At a cafe the other night was a
Chinese party and the girlg were the
life of the evening. Dainty oriental
maids, their wearing of American
clothes seemed the most natural
thing possible. If anything they
looked just a whit more attractive
than did the white American girls
nearby. And their dancing, why it
must have made all the young fel
lows who saw long to make their
acquaintance.
Here's a joke that nearly fell flat.
Swiss cheese is the subject matter
and, of course, the holes, or lack of
them, the feature.
A restaurant programmed individ
ual imported Swiss cheeses, and the
daring patron decided, inasmuch as
he had a fondness for the delicacy,
to take a chance. The chetse came,
looked fine, tasted fine, but was hole
less. Then came the inspiration to
have some fun. So the diner called
the waitress ancrinformed her that she
had brought no holes with bis
cheese. The waitress, plainly taken
unawares, took her troubles to an
other girl, and after they bad dis
cussed the matter for a while the two
went into conference with the head
waitress, and she went in search of
the manager, who brought in the
original package and proved that ths
cheese came .from Switzerland. And
the nearby diners looked their dis
gust at the inoffensive one who had
caused so much trouble, . and the
cheese-eater felt bad for he had not
meant to cause such a stir by- his
simple little impulse.
Two boys of about 8 years of age.
who evidently believe in signs, were
on the Twenty-third-street street car
the other noon. They walked out to
the front of the car to get off. There
they stood, waiting for the motorman
to open the door, as block after block
was passed.
Finally they came back through
the car and complained to the con
ductor that the motorman wouldn't
let them off and that they were now
way beyond their street. The con
ductor inquired If the youngsters had
asked the motorman to let them off.
"No," they replied, and pointing to
the sign "No talking to the motor
man" got off, leaving the passen
gers in feales of laughter.
Herb Sichel, who uses tite grass
hooks On his escutcheon, never passes
up "a chance. He had a neat little
display of men's chapeaux in dove
tones and delicate shades for Easter
wear; but he puKcd them out of the
window. Now the window, with ap
propriate lettered cards, contains on
raincoat and four umbrellas, the
proper accoutrements for the male
lCaater earada .
Defiance.
Br Grace K. Mall.
Let no man say to you that you shall
fail:
Fling back Mb words and prove
they are but Hex!
Although your spirit falter aye. and
quail
You shall not lose until your cour
age dies;
So -long as you are brave enough to
try.
The flame of strength within you ca
not die.
If sometimes you shall feel the fatiil
urge
To let your grip grow looite upon
life's reliiH.
Lash every energy with scorn and
merge
Your forces in a drive anaiiiKt jour
pa ins;
Let no one have the chance to pass
and say
You are a weakling, wrecked along
the way.
Let no man laugh and say you've
lost your hold
" You're judged hy what you Beem
in actual view;
Within his heart he, too, may be les
bold
A thousand times than he may seem
to you;
The man who takes the upper sphere
is he
Who fights each day a stronger man
to be.
Whatever be the place that now ll
his,
Be sure he fought to be the man he if.
NATt BK'S TO.MC.
When affairs of life are pressing
sore.
And the world seem" going- bad;
When those you thought were friends
prove false.
And the heart of you la sad.
Haw you ever spent a day In ths
woods.
Away from the hurrying throng.
With nothing of noise but ths bab
bling brook.
Or the trill of some woodblrd's
song?
Have you felt the pine leaves under-
- foot.
Caught J.he odor of fir and balm.
Heard the sound of wind In the tree
tops tall.
That brings a soothing calm?
Have you noted the call of mountain
quail;
Watched the woodpecker tap a tree.
Or heard the bum, as over your head
Flew a wandering honey bee?
Have you smelled the smell of ban
tire smoke
As it curled up through the sir.
Or the ravishing odor of ooffee and
ham.
As it steamed and alxxled there?
And then at last, your hunger ap
peased. Have you stretched yourself on the
grass.
And gazed at the sky through leaf
boughs, ,
As elowly the moments passed?
Have you felt the peace of the wide,
wide space;
The arch of the sky, so broad.
Lifting your soul into closer touch
With nature and nature's God?
Oh, say! Have you spent a day In the
woods
When the heart of you was sad?
If you have, then I know at the end
of that day.
The heart of you was glad!
GKACE PADDOCK EDOERTON.
WHAT TO DO WITH EINSTKIXI
What we going to do with brother
Einstein? .
All the world he'stlltlng up askew.
Relatively speaking, he's deliberately
seeking
To smash and build the universe
anew.
Sober little planets that have plodded
Round the heavens thoughtfully and
slow
Now are being vigorously prodded.
And they're looking worried as they
go.
What we going to do with brother
Einstein?
He has gone and speeded up the
moon.
Relatively stated, with poetic glimmer
freighted.
It will visit us at morning, night
and noon.
Lovers must step out now, swiftly,
surely,
For the moon comes, sips and comes
again.
She will no more linger round de
murely. Dallying for love-sick maids and
men.
EARL E. 6TANARD.
SPRING MORMJIO,
the joy of the dawning, when
Oh,
April is young!
When the soft, wet wind of the
south Is sweet.
When the sun from his pathway the
rain cloud has flung.
And folds a new world In the Joy
of his heat.
As a beggar, beseeching, prays largess
of gold.
So the buds hold their palme for
the coin of the sun
And the snowdrop and crocus, their
treasures unfold.
Through the web of enchantment
his maglo has spun.
And the seed of old sorrow baa
mouldered away.
With the flower of Faith springing
.fair from the shell:
And I open my heart to the Joy of
Life s day.
While the soul of all beauty sing
"all shall be well!"
MARY ALETHEA WOODWARD.
THIXGS ABOVE."
Set vour affections on things above, not
on things on the earth.
A lift of wings,
And earthly things
Are lost among the cloud's white
spray;
And, speeding fast.
1 find at last
My home. In a star-sprinkled way.
The lights draw near
And half In fear.
I touch the harbor of my star;
And down the street.
Swift spirit feet
Tell me that here my loved ones are!
Soft, tender light!
Fast fading night!
Glad body, thrilled with strange,
sweet love
The Master near
With kindly cheer;
Uii"inlng Joy In "things above":
MARY ALETHEA WOODWARD.
LOOK AROISIJ.
How many people plod along.
And never hear the birds In song.
Or, Joyous, lift the listless eye
To' catch the pictures in the sky.
They never stop at close of day
To watch the sunset fires at play.
Or rise and drink the wine of mors
Or see a day when It Is born.
O friends, awake to sight and sound.
And heed the glories all around;
The world would have a different Ionic
ou would read from nature's bona.
A. UUifJUtaw.
)