POUR THE MICHIGAN DAILY rofessor Waterman Traces History of Busral SCENE OF FORMER WARS ONCE MORE THEATER OF STRUGGLE FOR MASTERY Captured and Recaptured Throughout Ages, "Gairden of Eden's Again has Importance lAS GREAT STIATEGIC VALUE DURING PRESENT WORLD WAR India and Western Asia.! It was because of its important po- NS PROGRESSING F sition, that Basra was selected as thePAt The Thoaor pthe work o Michi- gan in Arabia. oByhmeans of this en- JDVLII W90nCONCEGT ~ terprise, the students of the University ..New Bill at Majestic of Michigan are, ,through the Stu- , fferers of Europea1 Coniflict Will The bill which opens tonight at the dents' Christian Association, support- Receive Proceeds; Songs to Majestic for the remainder of the mng a doctor and his wife, and a nurse Feature Program wees oethatrlooksdgooadhas fromMiciga, wo a prsen ar - _..week is one that soaks good and has frommany strong acts to recommend it. It carrying on the work among the Brit- Plans are progressing rapidly for ais teadedn by what might be termed ish soldiers mnBusrab.tH the "Potash and Perlmutter" of vaude-j - --- - - terium on Friday evening, February rIle, "Solomon's Bargain," a con- 1 S, for the benefit of the Armenian nercial comedy in which Hyman Adler T H E PIT ar sufferers. tickets i be placed and company appear. on sale within the next week. All Back asthe Pit the seats will be moderately priced The Kilkenny Four, also on the bill, Prom Pole to Pole" Two sopranos, one tenor, and one vio- are a quartet of remarkable singers linist, all native Armenians, have been who are making their first tour of the secured for the occasion. west. To the strain of popular airs, AHalth,.................... this clever quartet has a singing nov- COUNTRY ADDS MUCH TOC AL DEVELOPMENT CULTUR- OF ENTIRE WORLD Writing the original account of th creation and of the flood as we know it now in the book of Genesis; devel oping the cuneiform or wedge-shape method of writing, and inventing th sexogesimal system of numbers, ar counted among the things for whic the world is indebted to the origina inahabitants of the region that is th center of conflict between Turk an Briton in the Tigris and Euphrate valley. The present situation is typical o the history of this region. From earl iest recorded times, this district ha been the meeting place of races whos< struggle for mastery has been fraugh with far-reaching consequences fo: the larger world. Early Civilization Legend has it that more than 60 0H years ago, or long before the cre ation, a creature, half man and hal beast, swam up the Persian gulf an brought the arts of civilization to th people of lower Babylonia. Archeo logical and modern historical evidenc confirms the essence of the legend i that it agrees that civilization wa: first brought to the Tigris and Euphra tes valley by a foreign people, par of whom came up the Persian gulf. These people conquered the origina inhabitants and were called the Sume .rians because they gave the name o Sumer (Biblical "Shinar') to this re gion. It is to them that the worl is indebted for the first record of th flood and of the creation. With thes people the flood was an annual oc .currence, and from the flood ever year there emerged a new "garden o Eden," so the explanation of the cre ation naturally grew up. By 280 B. C.,these people, under their king Lugazaggisi, extended their domain t the Mediterranean, including Syri and Palestine under their sway som 1500 years before Israel became a nation. They invented the wedge-shaped method of writing, which was late adopted by the Semites as a means o writing Semitic. In the later form i became the vehicle of diplomatic lan- guage throughout Western Asia and °gypt. By dividing the ecliptic into the 12 signs of the zodiac and by establish- ing a uniform month of 30 days, they constructed a solar year of 360 days and so divided the great circle of the sun's path into 360 degrees. Conquered by Semitic Bedouins Another great struggle took place when the Semitic Bedouins, who had always roamed the Arabian deserts and who even today make up the major portion 9f the population, came to- gether and conquered the Sumerians. From that time, they becane the torch bearers of civilization from the Per- sian gulf to the Mediterranean.° Chaldeans Gain Independence. The conquering Assyrian nation never ceased to contend with another Semetic people who lived in the swamps around Basra (Busrah). These were the Chaldeans, and they finally gained their independence. Un- der King Nebuchadnezzar, the great- est historical figure to emerge from the civilization of Lower Babylonia, they made the Jews captive and ex- tended their empire from the Persian gulf to the borders'of Egypt. Changes in Modern Times The modern Basra did not exist in ancient times-even its site did not exist because the coastline of the gulf used to extend about 100 miles farth- er inland. However, because of grad- ual deposits of land from the rivers the land has been made firm, and now Basra is the center of one of the finest date centers of the world. Position Strategic The present Busrah is regarded as being a strategic point because of its being the center of the trade that comes down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and much of the trade of the great interior lands of Armenia, Asia and Arabia. The fertile valley of the Euphrates is one of the best wheat growing regions of the world. Not only is Basra a great trade center, but it is a connecting link between I filled this cup to one made up of loveliness alone, A woman, of her gentle sex the seem- ing paragon-- Her health! and would on earth there stood some more of such a frame, That life might all be poetry, and weariness a name. -Pinkney. * * This revered column was ordered off' the magazine page of yesterday. And is getting bruised by that continued process. But we feel that we would be slightly abashed at our surround- ings if left on that page. It is only upon examination of the magazine page that one gets an idea of the real value of some of the men with whom we rub elbows. It is worth reading. * * In fact, valuation of men can not come only through class standing.3 Certain members of the faculty wish to turn out leaders in the profession which they teach. But they seemingly do not consider that grades do not create leadership. Personality has as much value. And personality is not developed by abstaining from collegej men and affairs.j * * * . The Pit wagers ten cents worth of advertising in this column against a free ticket to the affair, that the Un- ion Leap Year party will differ from other dances in name only. At Pennsylvania, flirting , if dis- covered among freshmen women, is punishable by a fine, laid by the sophomore women. Michigan Codes please do NOT notice. * * * But wouldn't that start a lovely, war? * * * # Righto! Dear Gee: That was a smart gink that stuck his shoe ad at the fot of your line. L. L. 1. ** * Yes, it took us a few minutes to get it, also. Some day we are going to copy some of the jokes (pardon the term) that are laughed at at the Majestic and use them as proof that it takes all kinds of people to make up this woundrous world. But thebiggest jokes are the ien (again pardon) that stand outside the stage door after the show. Which only proves the advantages of a college education. 4. * * I 1e program will Incude songs in ' w ° _i Armenian, French, Italian and Eng- elty of merit. lish. Several Armenian folk-songs The six Military Dancers who ap- will feature the prograi. The variety pear in a West Point setting, perform of songs is well shown by the contrast their terpsichorean maneuverw with a military precision and dispatch wh.ich make their offering delightful. Three girls and three boys take part with numerous changes of military coAtmnes and many new dancing en- sembles.- THE[MUSic COLUMN Miss Leonora Allen, of the Univer- sity School of Music faculty, left Tuesday night for Milwaukee, where she will appear as soloist with the Lyric club of that city. This is Miss Allen's second appearance in Milwau- kee this year. On Friday afternoon of this week a public students' recital will be given at the School of Music at 4:15 o'clock by advanced students of the piano and violin departments. The general pub- lie is cordially invited to listen to the following program: Prelude on a theme of Bach..... Liszt PIenetential Song......Beethoven-Liszt Gladys Viola Seelye . lo Spring ......................Grieg By the Sea ..................Arensky Impromptu................Reinhold Tom Hinshaw Romance, Op. 26...........Svendsen B. J. Hildinger Sonata, Op. 28 (1st movement) ......--.... .. Beethoven Earle S. Epps Rhapsody, Op. 117. No. 4.... .Brahms Andrew C. Haigh I3IOVIATI COMMITTEE TO MEET IN ST. LOUIS FEB. 8 New York, Jan. 19.--Chairman Wil- liam F. McCombs, of the National 11,enocratic conunittee, issued a call tday for a meeting of the committee on arrangement for the national con- vention. This committee will meet a the Jefferson hotel in St. Louis on I ebruary 8. At the session a decision will probably be given as to a can- didate for temporary chairman for the convention who will be elected by the committee. UNION FUND FEATURED IN 'CAMPUS_'NEWS NOTES' Issue ContiiNs Charts Showing Money lDonated by Cities, States and cavses EE) MEN TO SEND OUT BOOKS The two color, large sized issue of Campus News Notes, just off the press, comains some of the most interesting data yet arranged. with regard to the Union campaign for the new build- ing. Chief among the data are the subscription charts showing the amount pledged by cities, states and former classes. The class chart shows that the earliest class of Michigan has pledged just ten times as much for this fund as has the last class, 1841, $1,000 pledged; 1920, $100 pledged. Fourteen graduates have pledged $5,000 each. The present senior class has contributed $13,351 and the junior class, $20.000. Every class, beginning with the class of '56, is on the list with some sort of a fund, while there are no classes between '41 and '56 repre- sented. The charts do not constitute all of lhe issue, however, for there are ar- ticles and illustrations of the new and proposed buildings on the campus, pictures of several campaign groups and a history of the Union campaign- in foreign lands. The regular issue of the University Bulletin is now on the pres: and will be ready for mailing with Campus News Notes Friday morning. Inasmuch as the Union is mailing thirty thousand of both of these, including a letter from Presi- dent 1Hutchins, it has need for the services of over one hundred men and is again sending out the call for vol- unteers. Russians Institute Another Offensive Berlin, by wireless, Jan. 19.-A new offensive movement has been institut- ed by the Russians east of Czernowitcz near the western Arabian front. MISS RSE IIAGOPIAN of New York Ciy, soprano, who will apear in Hill auditorium on Friday1 evening. February 18. between the opening and closing num- bers. The first number, to be sung by Miss Rose Hagopian, soprano, is "oj Patria Mia-Aida," by Verdi, while the1 closing number is a duet by Mrs. Za- belle Panosian, soprano, of Boston, and Mr. A. Chah-Mouradian, tenor, of Paris. They will sing "Haberban," a song with which the Armenian peas- ants often accompany their folk-danc- ing. The concert is to be repeated at the Garrick theatre, Detroit, on Sunday afternoon, February 20, also for the benefit of the war sufferers. Among the patronesses xho have been secured for the Detroit concert are a number wonen prominent in Detroit society circles. FAULYMEMBERS TAKE PARTS IN FRENCH PLOY Informal Dance to Be Held After Presentation of Cercle Francais Play Vour members of the cast of the La- biche comedy, "La Grammaire," which will be presented next Saturday even- ing in Sarah Caswell Angell hall, are of the faculty of the French depart- ment. The other part, the only femin- ine role, will be taken by Miss Ger- trude Patterson. This play, which is to be given as the fourth number of the Cercle Fran-i cais series, will occupy 50 minutes of the evening. Preceding this, Miss Inez M. Gose of the School of Music, will sing a solo in French, Lee Parker, '17, v ill play the cello, and Rodney Par- ker, '16, will offer two vocal, numbers in French. The remainder of the evening will be given over to an in- formal dance. The cast of "La Grammaire" is as follows: Caboussat, retired merchant...... Albert F, Hurlburt Poitrinas, president of the Etamps Academy...Prof. Arthur G. Canfield Machut, veterinary surgeon........ Prof. Edward L. Adams Jean, servant of c(aboussat....... Prof. Herbert A. Kenyon Mile. Blanche, daughter of CaboussatC Miss Gertrude Patterson Students holding associate member- ship tickets of the Cerce will be en- titled tc admittance free of charge. Others will be charged 50 cents, French Aeroplanes iombard Stitio Paris. Jan. 19.-French aeroplanes bombarded the railway station at Metz and Arnaville, dropping 22 shells, following a raid by German machines on Nancy the nights of Jan- uary 18 and 19, Eiler's Circus, as its name implies, is an animal act that is entirely dif- ferent from anything vaudeville has yet presented in its varied career. The C chief performers in the offering are a troupe of trained goats that have been taught to do tricks far beyond tle usu.al conception of their intelli- gence. Lending a lively tone to this prom- ising vaudeville bill will be Callowar and Elliott, blackface comedians, who joke, sing and dance at a lively pace. They are usually good for a laugh a minute and may be counted on t o make one of the hits of the bill. White Beats Azeiedo in First Round Boston, Mass., Jan. 19.-Ciiariey White, the Chicago lightweight, had Carranza Declares Villa an Outlaw no trouble in getting a decision over Washington, Jan. 19.-General Car- Joe Azevedo of California . in their ranza telegraphed the Mexican ens- bout here. White was in his best bassy here today that he had for- form and stopped the Spaniard in the mally proclaimed Francisco Villa an first round. outlaw and authorized his execution - --=- 4-- by any citizen of the republic who The Ann Arbor Press.-Phone No. 1. might encounter him. 9DLJ -B a~ ~l £ r , It produces wild oats with sweetest of toilet water odors. * , * the And large labels on suit cases. By Gee. CASUALTIES TOTAL 2,325,769 Gernans Lose 5.,980' Killed to Date According to London London, Jan. 19.-German casual- ties for the war have totaled 2,325,769, according to a statement made by Har- old J. Tennant, parliamentary under- secretary of war before the house of commons this afternoon. His figures, place the number of wounded and missing at 1,566,549; of killed at 588,- 986; and of prisoners at 356,153. In addition he stated 24,080 had died from other causes. English War Planes Active London, Jan. 19.-"On Monday 16 of our aeroplanes attacked an enemy sup- ply depot at Lesars, northeast of Al- bert, causing considerable damage," says tonight's official English war statement. "During the day there were 19 air encounters in which five of the enemy's machines were driven down TheStandard ofService HIS great railroad system is owned by 30 stockholders. It is operated by their Che officers for the public service. It gives employment to 150,000 workers, to whoi pays $118,780,000 annually in wages. For supp bought from the public it pays out in addi $96,429,454. For taxes alone, $14,293,000 and interest and dividends on stocks, bonds and oi securities held by the public it distributes $43,784, making a total annual disbursement in which public has a direct interest of $273,286,454. These railroad lines and their owners, the comma ties they reach, the millions they serve, and the wor they employ, all have the closest mutual inter; The more these mutual interests are understood; furthered, the greater the degree of service render To be a faithful, efficient, punctual and depends public servant, to make every branch of its sere the best possibleis the ideal and standard of the ____) Nelr tra1 Li1nes Michigan Central R. R. "'he Niagara Falls Route" .6'- ,000 osen m it plies tion bin ther 000, the iuni- kers psts. and red. able vice ,4 1 1'v I' 1 jc I and two of our aeroplanes lost." In future all' cars stop at Good- year's Drug Store. tf Call Lyndon for a good flashlight. eod-tue Good Printng. £hHe Ann Arbor Press.