IS WASHINGTON REMOTE?
A playful phrase from a terse pen variably engages the attention and ralisati
reads, "When you go south even personal concern of everyone ing this one. ward from New York
ork or northward in the British Isles - What occurs from Charleston, you leave pubne in Paris only excites the interest of
are dangerous, includ- teen Senators of the nority party, but we forget these current major- ities, in our views of
he city and
Experience has taught us all, think only of the "great majority" opinion behind you, No such thig Parisians. The United States is so even though we are tyros, but go of the departed. We think of the is known in Washington? A balance large a country that Washington ernment is the most complex of unity of our national history. You might be struck from another out- seems remote: Besides, the average subjects, and we need to be cau- cannot read the inscriptions on the standing columnist. "The pressure American dearly loves to think tious in analyzing it. There is a mix- buildings without feeling the senti- of public opinion in Washington is things out for himself.
ed appeal as one looks at the staines ment of continuity. of Davis and Lee in the Capitol and
like the pressure of the atmosphere,
you can't see it, but it is sixteen If you stop overnight in a pounds to the square inch,none the village in the United States, less." The pathetic way the Ameri- can Capital settles down, after each national crisis, verifies both com- ments: The well-worn legend that
small the statues of Grant and Meade on you the "Mall." The two widely parted
By Frederick Brooks Noyes
V
Washington is not remote, when it leads us to feel the long move- ment that ends in the modern life. More than any other place in the world, it makes tangible the inborn. restlessness of human nature, and
Washington has no other standard will be brought, nearer to the heart currents, into which the main plainly tells us that the only un- than the fear of public opinion, will of the nation than in Washington. stream of political thought and sen- changing thing about men, is their always be a matter of speculation, A tourist may go to Washington and timent has divided, are forcibly il- changing quality. Reform is inevit- And it is just here that we catch resolutely refuse to be dazzled with lustrated. Washington is not a place able, but the freakish crusaders and a glimpse of the groove that is cut the stock "sights.” He may min- for dogmatism or assertion. The impetuous cranks are sooner or lat- between the nation's capital and the gle with the crowds in railway sta- architecture of the Capital brings er merged with the practical politi- nation itself.
tions and parks, in order to steer the past to life, and after all, archi- cians. Common sense wins in the some conversation and discover pub- tecture is the only historian All end. There is something tangible in Though its name appears in large lic opinion, but he will be rewarded is explained as we walk down the the dependent survival, through type on the front page. every day, with no disclosure. The people he "Mall" from Washington Menu- monumental architecture, of the the debate still continues, "Is Wash- meets, a cross-section of the coun- ment to the Capitol, with the effec- three firm checks on mis-govern- ington remote?" Its detached posi- try, will talk about the acute race tiveness of department buildings, ment, the White House, the Capitol tion has been immensely interest- problem of the city, the low price in the "middle distance," as
the and that vast pile, covering acres, ing-to-foreigners. The city is a for potatoes received by the farm- French say.
the new Supreme Court home.
To be sure, there is often an in- terlude of semi-comic relief at-Wash-
great work of art and a great piece ers of the "East shore” in Virginia, of life, yet one often questions the new "bad check law," or "tenant whether it reflects the nation, in land law," which Congress has either capacity, or, on the other passed for the District of Colum- In the Senate Chamber there is a ington, but it remains true, that hand, whether the nation holds Wash bia, the peculiar organisation and jarring realism in the small section eventually, someone talks sense, and ington's image in its own art and operation of the "city-state" gov- occupied by the little group of six- things get done. life. Though behind all the impres- ernment. He will be reminded that
•sive architecture one feels the dig- the taxpayers furnish the streets on nity and value of everything na- which the government buildings are tional, the very place seems, at the erected, and that taxation, without same time, separated from everyday representation seems to prevail. existence. Also, one wonders how much meaning there is in the sur- mise, now and then, that “Washing- ton has heard from the country."
The size of a nation makes the difference.
What takes place in London
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After "crashing the gate" of pub lie opinion, the casual tourist will find it impossible to summarise. Al- all though the temptation is irresistible
THE-
WORLD GOES BY By "ULYSSES"
NOMEBODY is always ailing from How amusing to try and guess
to talk about the hopeless remote- SO something or other. Friend what Captain Kettle would have
ness of the Capital, we are held in of mine got so the doctor had to done. He might have played "Abide in- check by Dumas saying, "All gen-inject cultures or something in him with Me" on his accordion. asked
Rebels Occupy Santa
Maria Hills
Bilbao, Yesterday. bombed the Republican "ironring The Nationalist forces have around Santander. occupied the Santa Maria hills WOUNDED IN BRITISH SHIP and Republican trenches, near Meanwhile, says a message from Santa Cruz in their advance on Paris, 400 badly wounded Spanish Santander, and on this sector Government soldiers have arrived are only 37 kilometres from San-at Bayonne on board a
tander itself.
steamer.
"There," said the medico, when he the pirate chief if he know any had done, you now contain a co-good (clean) limericks and then lony of a hundred million creatures have scientifically knocked the whole more than you had before. They'll gang, single-handed, into law-abid- scavenge you properly." "Did you ing or defunct passengers. count them carefully, Doc?” en-
quired the patient. "If I find short
delivery I must deduct a discount" Temper The doctor laughed. I didn't, when
My temper, never angelic, has I heard the story. Of course you begun to fray badly, and now looks know why. I'm an ardent, non-
eight-year-old
subscribing sympathiser with the something like my
shirts. I am overworked, being, of
S.P.C.A., and this struck me as a British
glaring instance of overcrowding do- course, the only one in the office in this condition. I get so violent mesticated animals. I tried to get
and despairing at times that I be a prosecution started, because duty takes precedence of friendship, but come sick of my job. it hangs fire because the police, can-
Detachments of the Spanish For-
They had participated in the eign Legion which captured the fighting on the Santona and San- Escudo hills, east of Santander, tander fronts have now advanced as far as Bega de Pas.
The wounded, many of whom have had arms and legs amputat-not make up their minds which to Other detachments are advanced, are now in hospital at Bayon prosecute, the doctor or the patient. ing on the Burgos Santander road, ne. Trans-Ocean.
In any case, they are much too busy meeting with slight resistance.
chasing cholera and refugees all round the place.
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Nationalist planes have again Dollar Boats Will TWENTY MILLION Call At Shanghai On The Ferry PASSENGERS IN A WEEK
It is announced by the Dollar and American Mail Lines that all steamers of the two companies will call at Shanghai on outward and homeward voyages. London, Yesterday." The "President Jefferson," Interesting details of the unpre-which has just disembarked re- cedented passenger traffic dealt fugees from Shanghai at Manila, with by London's Underground will not call at Hong Kong on her Railways during Coronation Week homeward voyage but will sail are given în a souvent brochure either from Manila to Shanghai or ~issued by the Transport Board direct to Kobez
During the week ended May 15th, The President Hoover, twenty million passenger jour-arrives in Manila neys were made and it is estimated refugees from Shanghai, will, that over
60 per cent of the however, call at Hong Kong and travellers were visitors from the Shanghai on her return journey Provinces and Overseas British She is due to arrive here from Wireless.
Manila on August 26.
Editor: I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps I had better see about en-
gaging..
Me (hastily) Tut-tut! I wish you wouldn't take everything I say so literally. And please don't in- terrupt me. You make me Lose the Thread of my Discourse. Get me?
Editor: I get you Me Then get
It
I spend a fair amount of time
Talking of temper reminds me of each day on our ferries, and with that dreadful occasion when I hurled the foolish idea of "saving" that the telephone against the wall. time and turning it to profit I be was a glorious crash and the gan to carry a book to read
on thought of it still makes my blood these journeys. Of course I never tingle. Such treats are rare, in- could concentrate, become absorbed frequent, and to be made the most sufficiently, to gain anything. How of. When I refused to pay for the could I, with a long slim pair of mending of the thing, they prosecut- legs next to me? And anyway why led me for wilful and malicious should I read (say) Conrad when damage. They failed, of course, be- can look at the sea. And then cause was easily able to convince automatically think of the decline the magistrate that I acted in self and fall of piracies. We haven't defence. The telephone had attack- had any for man moons. Thinkfed me without provocatio when I of that occasion when the Chinese was in the middle of one of my soul- took command of the ship and shock ful poems, which
editor lets. hands with the skip on leaving I shall publish to