davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1917-04-08
UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Those who are trying to retard the
work of safeguarding the ark of the
covenant of American citizenship would
be responsible for murder If the enemy
came and found us unable to protect
our homes and families. The moral of
the situation is compulsory military
training.
From the Charleston News and Courier.
People who advocated universal serv-
ice when not more than one man out
of every thousand was in favor of it
can't be blamed now if they feel rather
pleased with themselves.
From the Columbus Ohio State Journal.
Still, we hardly think the pacifists
ought to be used to start universal mil
itary training on.
From the Yonkers Daily News.
Patriotism is all right, but military
training would be benefit to the young
men, not only from a patriotic stand
point, but from the standpoint of phys
ical development.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

From the Chicago News.
Some young patriots are too busy en-
listing to talk about the war.
From the Raleigh News and Observer.
The test of patriotism is service in
behalf of ones country.
From the Kansas City Journal.
While there are many and Vexatious
problems involved in universal service,
as distinguished from the volunteer
system every fair-minded citizen will
agree that this principle is the only
safe sane and patriotic basis upor
which military preparedness can rest
From the indianapolis Star.
Universal training and service would
mean a degree of preparedness at all
times such as would be the best insur-
ance against war. No nation would
care to attack US If we had 1000, 900
trained and equipped men ready for
service, as Gen. Scott says we would
have under a system of universal serv-
ice.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
The Evening Star Newspaper Company
National Sentiment.

This war brings every American into
the same flag and takes the same resolve
to lend all his effort to the national pur-
pose. The national purpose is to uphold
the rights of the United States and
make war upon that government which
has been making war on US. The word
American includes every man and
woman in the United States and its pos
sessions who believes in the United
States, believes in the American doc
trine of government and means to do
his or her "bit" to the end that this
system of government shall endure.
American may mean the descendants
of tho earliest pioneers of the colonies
or the newest citizen of the republic by
adoption and naturalization. It is Of
no moment whether ones ancestors came
from the countries Of the British Isles,
the countries Of continental Europe OF
from Africa. Descent and birth are not
the criteria Of Americanism. The acid
test of Americanism is loyalty to the
United States.
This stupendous event in the history
of the United States calls all into the
great American family. Political lines
are obliterated. Partisanship at such a
time is too petty to be given thought by
normal men. Individual prejudices and
individual preferences are submerged in
the great resolve that the full power of
the country shall be exerted in its de-
tense and against its enemy. In time
of peace the United States is mael-
strom of opinions. In time of war con-
troversy and argument on international
issues should be hushed
Already there seems to have taken
place what has been described as re-
naturalization Of the American people.
National sentiment has crystallized, all
tongues express the same opinion and
the pulse of the people beats in unison.
Here and there one may hear dis
cOfuAut Aotc, put tuc sVuuu 40 euioiA.
War against foreign nation frequently
has the effect Of solidifying a people
The common aim overwhelms small in
dividual aims. Glass lines-very thin
and elastic in this country at any time
are wiped out. The man of good gram
mar and the man of bad grammar are
brothers in their Americanism. The
man of great achievement and the man
of less achievement meet on common
ground, and that ground is the love and
duty they owe their country. The Presi-
dent, in his proclamation that state
of war exists between the United States
and Germany, appeals "to all American
citizens that they in loyal devotion to
their country, dedicated from its foun-
dation to the principles of liberty and
justice, uphold the laws Of the land and
give undivided and willing support to
those measures which may be adopted
by the constitutional authorities in
prosecuting the war to a successful issue
and in obtaining secure and just
peace
Evening star., 1917-04-08
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THB STAR

Fifty years ago tho Department Of
Agriculture" was under the direction
of commissioner
Commissioner of and was not !e-
garded as q very
neAASuAt"AS' important branch
of the government work. Still. its pos
sibilities were recognized. Complaints
had been made of the incumbent, Isaac
Newton, and in its issue Of April s, 1857.
The Star said:
"This department Of the government
has accomplished q great deal Of good.
and. like all other useful institutions,
has encountered a considerable amount
Of opposition. The present ehicient
commissioner, Isaac Newton, has ccme
in for a fair share of the abuse to
which all our public mon are subjs act,
and there Is now persistent effort to
have him removed from his position. 1t
is not denied that he is honest, capable
and faithful In the discharge Of his du-
ties. while 1t is admitted that the de-
partment under his management Is
really doing a great deal toward Iro-
noting our agricultural interests not
only by the dissemination of useful in
formation as to improved methods of
CULTIVATION, OuE Dy tn0 distribution OF
rare seeds. plants, etc. And here Is, no
doubt. where the trouble originates. So
thorough and impartial Is this distri-
button that many spectators in seeds
find their business on the wane and at
tack the department, which interferes
with their monopoly. These mon, and
others who cannot use the department
to serve their own ends, start the Cry
not that the present chief is dishonest
OF unfaithful. but that he is illiterate.
and exaggerated reports of his grave
errors Of syntax and prosody are freely
circulated. If such stories are true,
then it must be admitted, considering
the work Of the department, that the
commissioner has certainly surrounded
as a general thing they are not true.
Mr.. Newton Is an intelligent and prac-
tical man, with a thorough knowledge
of farming. 1t is not necessary that he
should be an Admirable Crichton' in
order to tell what manures are suitable
for certain soil, or to gather and COL
late valuable statistical information in
reference to the cattle plague or the
hog cholera: nor would his ability to
read VirgtPs Georges in the original
prove his fitness to give an intelligent
opinion as to the advantages or disad-
Vantages of steam ploWS, patent reap
ers and other improved appliances of
agriculture. Readers Of the early his
tory of this country know that in for
mer years we have had men in higher
positions than that occupied by Mr..
Newton who. in spite Of defective or
typography, proved themselves to be in
every way worthy of the trust confided
to them. and made better officers per-
haps than their more intelligent and
refined. but less honest and practical.
competitors would have done"
Evening star., 1917-04-08
April,

April, with the same old story;
Frost amid the flowers;
April with her sunshine glory;
April with her showers!
April smiling with her treasure;
April pale with fears!
April with her hours Of pleasure;
April with her tears!
Days are brief or days are dreary
AS life goes its way,
Sometimes sad and sometimes CHEEKY
All an April day.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

A row of heroes were waiting for .
car
Buoyantly vigorous with the wine Of
life which bayonet Jabs had failed to
spill and as trig as If each had como
out of a bandbox instead OF a war
zone, there wasn't a Tommy among
them who suggested the New Zealander
of prophecy, who is to stand on London
bridge and watch the ruins of st. Paul.
What they did do was to serve as n
sad example for an apparently excel
lent lady who, in passing, said to the
woman with her. loud enough to he
heard for six square yards around:
There couldn't be a stronger argu-
ment--make them fight as long as they
are able and then send them home for
other people to take care OF. II had
my way about this war. Clara
She didn't seem to know-neither did
Clara-that each soldier carried under
his British khaki a wound which en-
titles him to invisible means of sup
port when pension day comes around.
A tiny boy wearing smoked specta-
cles sat on the curb and watched other
boys playing ball in the street. He
made an excitable audience, jumping
up, waving his arms and calling out
as if he really had something to do
with the game. And sometimes-just
sometimes--a boy would think to wave
back. He was rather a pathetic little
chap. but he didn't know it. for when
a man paused to ask him If he was
having good time he piped out with
happy Importance:
Yes, sir; I'm the umpire"
That's a fine position. How did
they come to give II to your
Because l can't see straight"
The man said it was most excellent
reason. but he doubtless knew that
the boys had a finer one.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

From the Cincinnati Times-Star.
Perhaps Germany now realizes that
William Jennings Bryan is not one OF
our most influential statesmen.
From the indianapolis News.
If there are any Indianians among the
pacifists at Washington they are keep
ing mighty quiet about 1t.
From the Knoxville Journal and Tribune.
David Starr Jordan should go away
back to his California university and
sit down long enough to consider.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

of the picturesque street staireases 10
that in the Kalorama neighborhood.
Proceeding north along Ed street and
across Florida avenue to Decatur place
the numbered street continues by .
gentle grade to a point a few yards be-
yond and there halts at the foot Of .
stone staircase, which both in winter
| and summer presents gardenlike pic
ture. The sides Of the stairway where
had the street continued through would
be the sidewalk and parking are plant
ed with massed evergreens, such as ar
Dor vitae, dwarf pines and bay trees.
The first flight Of granite steps, broad
and easy of ascent, reach plaza paved
with red brick A second fight Of steps,
narrower than the first, is bordered on
each side by bed Of Ivy, and after
crossing another red brick plaza a short
fight brings one to a plaza where
fountain piays-where water falls from
lions mouth into a marble font and
then falls into semi circular marble
basin. Steps, flight on each side of
the fountain, curve around it and lead
into a plaza entering S street. McMil-
Ian Park has it's staircase from the
street. A broad stone walk from the
north and south ascends gently to this
beautiful park and its wonderful foun-
tain, but on 1st street west, opposite
Charming street, three flights of broad
granite steps, fanked by tall cedar trees,
lead to the park, and in this way one
scales the high and steep terrace which
rises above LIST street. There in the
plaza of the fountain one gains note
worthy view of the city.
There is stairway at the intersection
of Belmont and 18th streets, though
there is also a roadway for teams. The
problem Of joining Belmont and 18th
streets, because Of the difference in their
grade and the lay of the land, was one
that caused some perpie1ity to sngi-
neers, but the problem was solved by
street, building a few easy steps for
pedestrians and constructing two stone
balustrades, which turned what promised
to be an awkward situation into thing
of harmony and grace.
It is in Georgetown that one finds
number of streets SO steep that the
grade has been overcome with stairways,
and also some streets not SO provided
which are avoided by traffic. The steep
and narrow stone staircase on Seth
street from Prospect avenue down to NJ,
and the wooden stairway from the north
end of the Aqueduct bridge down to
Water street, are well known to most
of the people of Washington. Thirty
fifth street between NJ and Prospect
avenue is impracticable for traffic, and
in summer grass grows between the
rough stone blocks with which the
street is paved. Thirty third street
south of NJ is steep and rough cobbled.
A wooden bridge crosses the Chesapeake
& Ohio canal one square below NJ street
and steps lead from this bridge to the
land level between the canal and river.
Another Of the streets Of Washington
in which the terrace and stairway plan
is to be used is Lamont street frem 10Th
to Goth. Lamont has gentle decline
from Mount Pleasant street to 10th and
there it ends. The terrace stairway plan
was determined upon for this part of
Lamont street three or four years ago,
but the change is still in the future.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
YOU KNOW IT.

There's to be little change
In mems clothing this year
And that is the edict
Of fashion hear,
And if prices go up
We can say with no knock. it's
A cinch there will not
BE much change in mems pockets.
Houston Post.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

A very extended and interesting
study has been made by the United
States public health
Pnh1ic Health service on the SUBJ
ject of pub c
@Aou1AistidtAoA. health administra-
ton. AS the result Of this long study
officials of the service have come to
the definite conclusion that community
health must be understood to be an
attainable condition, and then that
practically every community may have
the degree of healthfulness which it
desires to secure and with which 1t is
satisfied.
Sanitary regulations, the experts say.
often interfere temporarily with indi-
viduaI comfort and family manage
ment, and the statement often holds
that any interference which tends to
protect the health of the community
is considered unwarranted interference
with vested rights.
The old idea, 1t Is pointed out by Of
ficials of the service. that ones health
is his own business is based upon false
and unfounded premises and has no
standing in the sanitary code Of today.
In the past, individual effort to protect
ones self against infection from without
has generally proved ineffective, they
say, and the appearance of epidemics
called for more concerted action.
The earlier efforts in public health
work found expression in local COM
munitieS before being taken up by the
state However. progress in smaller
towns and villages has in many In
stances, the experts say. remained at a
Evening star., 1917-04-08
COMMENT ON PACIFISTS.

from the Philsdelphia Inquirer.
Senator Lodge has at last given u
practical demonstration of putting the
fist in pacifist.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Senator Lodge has received congratu-
lation from far-off Hawaii. His was
evidently the hit heard round the world.
From the Wilmington Journal.
The nation is in war against its will.
Let all pacifists go back. sit down and
be quiet!
Evening star., 1917-04-08

Each person in Berlin is limited to
two Easter eggs the price of each being
In addition to playing havoc with in
ternational law, the Germans have some
what disloeated the law of supply and
demand.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
Potomac
Fisheries.

in less degree than before the strug-
gle In The Star of April 6, 1867. is an
extract from the Alexandria Journal
as follows, which discloses a state of
activity along the river. though less
ened from earlier times, far greater
than had been known for years:
'.The fishing season usually begins
at the close of March or beginning of
April, at which time the gangs of
seine haulers are gathered at the
shore. and continues until about the
1st of May, when the river resounds
with the songs of the men returning
from the landings which have cut out
or closed business. The amount of fish
caught is still considerable, but it COM
pares very unfavorably with the
amount caught many years ago. In
1852 among the memorials presented
to the general assemblies OF Maryland
and Virginia, asking for legislative in
reference to protect the fish from to-
tai destruction, is one containing a
statement Of the decrease in the catch
of herring and shad within the pre-
ViouS ten years.
The estimated decrease ranged from
20 to so per cent. this decrease being
at White Point landing and the great
est at Upper Goose bay. Even at that
period there were forty landings in ac-
tive operation from the Long bridge
on the Virginia side. six miles above
Alexandria, to White point, eight miles
below there were seventeen seines
operating; on the Maryland shore. from
Giesboro, four miles above. to Walnut
landing, sixty miles below, twenty
three. The landings, the naked beach
alone, had a rental value of $4,000 for
the season. They employed 2.132 men,
134 horses and 80 vessels on the river,
besides the large number employed in
Il nd
wharf. The average catch of shad for
the three years ending with 1852 was
1.103,500, while the number OF herring
caught annually averaged 17.90o,000.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

President Menocal calls on Cuba to
stand by her big sister republic in the
present crisis. The sentiment that an
fmates the Monroe doctrine is evidently
in frst-rat working order
Evening star., 1917-04-08
HIGH COST OF LOVING.

l tried to propose to my sweetheart.
laid my poor heart at her feet;
I called her my angel and dear heart,
And both long and loud did bleat;
I tried to propose to my sweetheart.
But what in the world was the use?
She said she'd be wed in an auto
For which 1 might purchase the juice!
Toledo Blade.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Changing Interests.

Educational standards change in war
time
Eyes. In peace education is devoted
to reading and writing. In war it's feed
ing and fighting.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
Rivalry.

"Have you given up your singing les
sons" asked Maude.
"Ies," replied Maymie. "Father's fond
of music and he says he's tired of hav-
ing me break in and interrupt the phon-
ograph.'
Evening star., 1917-04-08

Any impression that may have exist
ed to the effect that plotting is a
polite and picturesque pastime has been
ruthlessly dispelled.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
Valuable Product.

Oft when l gather blossoms sweet
This fear henceforth will fret me:
If thoughtlessly 1 grab some wheat
For larceny they'll get me.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

"Some men, said Uncle Eben, cloves
DER country same as dcy loves deir
families. Dey tries to entertain 'em wifi
conversation, Std O. workin' fur 'em."
Evening star., 1917-04-08

There appears to be no nation. tribe
or sect that Germany has not sought to
array in antagonism to the United
States.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
A Stimulant,

''Do you regard a pacifist as a helpful
citizen?"
Sometimes. Three words from
pacifst will stimulate more surrounding
war talk than ever heard before in
my life
Evening star., 1917-04-08

The recent resolution disposed of Il
certain amount of irresolution that was
becoming painful
Evening star., 1917-04-08

Uncle Sam may be depended on to
prove as earnest in war as he was
patient in neutrality.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

The wealth of America is already
demonstrating that the dollar knows
how to fight as well as work
Evening star., 1917-04-08

The necessity for prolonged investiga-
tion as to what constitutes an overt act
has at last been done away with.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

Mexicans are justified in suspecting
that the bull-fght was, after all, COM
placid and humane.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

The German submarine commander
may now take explicit instructions,
openly and aboveboard.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

The universal prayer today is that
another Easter may find the world at
peace
Evening star., 1917-04-08
AROUND THE CITY.

Of me all along my route-and when I
him.
OF course. the woman knew he
wouldn't, but. for the minute, tulip
spikes gave way to a figuring out Of
what the future can hold for a kid who
would trick another like that.
But you never can tell! He may have
been a Seeding thief on his way from
bad to worse. according to Hogarth, or
a sprouting financier who will one day
head a corporation OF the sort that has
no soul.
The only thing the woman could be
entirely sure of was that the green
spikes were going to be tulips pretty
soon.
Evening star., 1917-04-08
Alaskan Purchase
Strongly Urged.

ing soon developed
after the treaty of purchase was submit
ted to the Senate that the bargain struck
by Secretary Seward was likely to prove
a good one for the United States. In The
Star Of April s. 1867. is this item:
"A dispatch to the Secretary of War
from Gen. Halleck. dated San Francisco
April 4, says: I learn from gentleman
who has recently visited many parts of
Russian America that its value is greater
than has been supposed. The rejection of
the treaty would cause great dissatisfac-
tion on this coast, especially in Califor-
MIA Q. NJ. Gen. Meigs also writes to the
Secretary Of State that he can conceive
of no greater boon to the Pacific states
and speaks OF the value of the fisheries
and timber as equal to that of Norway.
He says AS a lover Of my country, anx-
ious for the growth and prosperity,
strength and virtue of the nation, should
value Russian America, its fisheries and
mines. beyond the hot plains of Mexico
or the fertile plantations Of Cuba Com
modore John Rodgers, commandant at the
navy yard at Boston, writes in favor
of the acquisition, urging it's impor-
tance to the navy. He says the fisheries
and timber may be very valuable, the
timber particularly so to a coast SO
bare as that of the Pacific and that the
price would be bagatelle considering
the facts that few houses in Broad
way would amount to as much and that
the value of the ground in New York
proposed for the post office is estimated
by some parties at S5,000,000. Charles
FoStdick Fletcher of Philadelphia
thinks we shall want all the Ash that
can be caught there to feed our rapidly
increasing population"
In The Star of the next day is
news note to the effect that ait is be-
lieved that the Senate committee on
foreign relations have reported unani-
mously in favor of the treaty for the
acquisition of Russian America and
there seems no doubt now that the
treaty will be confirmed by the Senate"
Potomac river fishing was inter-
Evening star., 1917-04-08

He was at the dubious age when a
mans friends char him about getting
younger every day. and the thickness
of his neck made you know that he had
doctor who warned him not to get
excited and bring on old appy. But
his pieeon-wing was fine.
He cut it with boyish abandon as
he skipped the curb from asphalt to
pavement the other twilight, and as 1t
isn't the usual thing to be expected
from a somewhat oldish and potty gen.
sleman, he felt called upon to chuckle
an explanation to his companion. whose
dignity matched his gray hairs. Also,
being a man, he naturally blamed the
woman-a shriveled leaf OF something
that may once have had its blooming
in the poets garden of girls-who was
raping out tune on a fiddle.
1t was a squeaky fiddle and the bow
called for more resin, but memory helps
whole lot when the time happens to be
Turkey in the Straw" 1t helped such a
lot that as the fiddler sawed the strings
the ancient air seemed to carry with
it the unstudied melody of a voice that
will call no more: Swing yo' part
nahs All hans shash-shay."
"Old reels like that always go to my
toes-hold on. | must stake the little
dame to a dime for reminding me OF
my dancing days. Here's where you
don't have to shell out don't believe
you ever had a dancing day in your
life, you old stick. you"
''Oh, I might as well chip in The
poor soul doesn't look as if she ever
had dancing day. either"
And the old stick slipped something
into the fiddler-woman's open-mouthed
bag.
Evening star., 1917-04-08

The city was taking its fourth COM
mandment rest when a newsboy breezed
up to a gate where woman was con-
sidering green spikes that are going to
be tulips pretty soon.
The little tacker was so alertly on
the job that the woman. who is in the
perpetual motion class herself. told him
she was real sorry she couldn't buy a
paper; she was a customer of the regu-
lar boy on the route.
The small boy explained, in turn, that
it was Just the same: the regular boy
had sent him. So the deal was made
and that was all there was to it-until
the regular boy rang the bell.
why. honey. I've already bought the
paper from the boy you sent"
The youngsters blue eyes flashed
blue lightning and his voice lost its
childhood:
Il didn't send him! He's gone ahead