Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
Aunt Dorothy's Letter

Dear Children: When / began the study
of geography one of the first things taught
me was that the world was divided into
two hemispheres-the eastern and the west
ern-and further that the principal body OF
land of the western hemisphere was divided
into two continents the North American
and the South American, the two being
Joined by narrow strip OF land near the
center of the whole.
/ often wondered why the two great
oceans did not wash away this narrow piece
of land and thus separate the two con-
tinents. and If they did what would occur
then
Among my schoolmates was little girl
whose home was in Chile. and in studying
our geography lessons together we would
talk over these questions about the two
continents and the danger of their becom-
ing separated and soon found out that this
narrow connecting strip was hard, hgh
ger of being washed away than were the
continents themselves, and that whf.e men
would like to have canal or passage
t May har th sn one could not a be made
By and by. forty or fifty years ago. they
began to say 1t could be done, and soon
after set about making plans and surveys
! for constructing 1t. Some wanted 1t made
at one place and some at another. Many
years ago a company composed chieny OF
Frenchmen started to build it.. but failed
When our war with Spain began few
years ago most of you will remember how
one OF our own great warships, the ore
gon. that was at San Francisco ana was
wanted about Cuba with our other war
ships had to sail all the way around Cape
Horn and up to Florida, having to go such
d long Journey, and taking so much time,
all because she could not get quickly across
the narrow strip that joins the two con-
tinents-a distance. think, OF about hfty-
four miles.
the United States government set to work.
and in practical effect said we are bound
to have this canal built, and are no longer
going to sail from New York to San fran
cisco away around Cape Horn when we
can take a short cut across the narrow
strip.
q, And the government went to work and
bought out the French company and what,
Il had done, and before you read this all
things will probably have been completed
for building the canal. All this Is going to
be done now in a very few years by our
own government
1 tell you about the building of this canal
because l want you to forever remember IT.
1 think Ii the greatest event that has taken
place upon this hemisphere excepting only
the establishing of this government under
the guidance of Washington.
q 1t will go from Aspinwall to Panama
through the portion of the little narrow
strip of land, belonging to the government
of Colombia, that runs nearly east and
west. Don't you think, as l do, that 1t is a
great event? You will hear much about it
Yours. sincerely, DOROTHY DAY.
= Roll of Honor
Letters. drawings, stories and other con-
trfbutions of interest from the following
children are hereby acknowledged with
thanks. as all cannot be published:
Lille Miller. Dolores Burns,
Eleanor F. French, Dorothy Kinkad,
Emma Viola Speiden, Bessie Birch.
M Eloise Butler, Willie Yost.
Watson Davis, Ethyl SUNNY.
Duplicate honor badges have been sent as
follows:
First to Marvin Towne. 1O1 sth street
southeast. -
First to Dorothy Tibbitts, III 10th street
northeast.
Second to Pearl Philpitt, 2122 9th street
northwest.
First to ]. E. Levy, 400 New Jersey ave-
nue..
First to Urban Rosen. rs It'll street north
east.
First to John Lyon, 2O15 10th street north
west.
First to William r. Baum, Is 10th street
southeast.
First to Inez Jenkins. Fairfield, Va
First to Virgie Humphrey, GIG N street
northwest.
First to Guy Church, Broad street, Falls
Church. Va.
First to Mayne R. Coe Langdon. D. C.
First to Frank Fuller 1921 Rhode Island
avenue.
Edward Robson, please send address. as
requested before, for February gift, which
is waiting for you.
Answers and Inquiries.
Ethel T. 1416 18th street, must send cou-
pom and envelope for receipt of badge.