davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-12-26
A Remarkable Postal Performance

Washington city post office scored a
remarkable record this year in han
ding the Christmas mail. With a vol
ume Of mail matter that broke ell pre-.
vious records. every parcel and letter
had been delivered by noon yesterday.
On the day before 2s.462 parcels were
distributed by truck. as against 26.679
on the 23d OF December. 1922, that
being virtually the day before Christ
mas q year ago.
The "mail-early" injunction has
been faithfully needed In gratifying
years ago 1t was generally thought to
be sufficient to put Christmas mail
into the boxes and hoppers any time
within a week before Christmas, now
the mailing begins as much as a
month ahead. Every thousand parcels
thus deposited over a week before
eases the strain at the climax.
But there is something more than
public anticipation In this matter. The
postal forces themselves have de-
veloped a high degree of efficiency.
Better methods have been adopted.
Forces have been enlarged for the
great rush. Deliveries have been
speeded by means Of motor trucks.
The Washington ONCE was. in short,
manned and equipped at highest
efficiency this year. and hence the
gratifying record of a complete clear
ance Of everything by noon yesterday.
This Is performance Of which Post
master Mooney and his force should
be proud. and 1t Is in order to COM
pliment and congratulate them upon
their achievement.
Evening star., 1923-12-26
Plane and Dirigible.

Should the French giant dirigible
Dixmude come to grief with her COM
pany of fifty persons another great
tragedy Of the air will have been add
ed to the record. These vast gas bags
have taken heavy toll OF life When
one of them collapses or explodes or
Is wrecked by a storm, it carries to
an airplane falls it means the death
Of but one, or perhaps two Rarely
has a heavier than-air machine fallen
with mere than two. The mortality
from the airplane Is therefore in pro-
portion to use much less than that OF
the dirigible. 1t is this fact that causes
grave doubt as to the practicability Of
the dirigible for commercial purposes.
Its very advantage OF a large carrying
power Is a source of danger. Perhaps
if the airplane Is magnified to large
carrying capacity it will be exposed to
the same risk But the airplane can
land much more readily than the
dirigible. 1t requires, to be sure, con.
siderable space in approach. whereas
the dirigible, If 1t is sure Of a suf-
fcient area, can descend vertically.
But the greater bulk Of the dirigible
and relative tenderness Of its skin
make it essential that there be no
interfering object within wide range.
Furthermore, 1t must have means Of
immediate anchorage, and In actual
practice thus far 1t has required the
services on the ground Of a large
force. An airplane. given the space in
which to glide to rest, is its own con-
troll in stopping. 1t can land in the
enough.
Interest In the Dixhude's safety Is
keen apart from the concern for the
great airship's company of half hun
dred She was built by Germany dur
ing the war and was designed, so 1t
is understood. for an attack upon
New York city. She was given capac-
ity for a transatlantic flight and re-
turn, and II the armistice had not
been declared In 1918 it is quite pos
sible that this demon Of the air"
would have inflicted frightful damage
upon the greatest American city. At
the conclusion of peace the great craft
was awarded to France in the division
of German war munitions and re-
named for the scene Of one Of the
most heroic battles Of the conflict.
Now she is adrift over Africa, with
waning hopes for her safety.
Evening star., 1923-12-26
Farmer-Manufacturer Convention.


Announcement is made Of a conven.
tion to be held in Chicago January IA
and Is next Of farmers and manufac.
turers, under the auspices Of the I'LL
nois Manufacturers Association. This
might seem at first blush rather an
anomalous combination, but, as its
promoters point out, there Is much in
common between the two industries.
The object Of the meeting is to dis
cuss questions in which both are in.
terested and which bear upon their
welfare.
Consideration Of the proposed con.
vention bears out the sta, ement that
farming and manufacturing are related
in degree. Farming and manufac-
turing are the two greatest industries
In America. and the prosperity Of the
country is dependent upon their vel.
fare and their cooperation. Farmers
and manufacturers are producers;
both are managers and employers;
both are property owners.
Speakers Of national prominence
will discuss problems Of vital interest.
Remedies will be proposed for exist.
ing evils, and It IL proposed to work
out constructive program. Of per.
manent benefit. Some OF the subjects
which will interest the convention are
the economic effect of the immigra.
ton law; transportation by rail, wa
ter and motor truck; production costs:
legislation affecting the farm and fac.
tory; reduction Of taxation. federal
and local; the effect Of socialistic and
Evening star., 1923-12-26
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

Question. Does q tadpole become O
toad or a frog.--H. ". H.
Answer. The young OF both frogs
and toads hatch as tadpoles. The
tadpoles which are seen in goldfish
bowls eventually become frogs. They
remain tadpoles for about "A year.
Toads remain tadpoles but few
weeks.
Q. Can one travel to Florida from
New England comfortably by auto
mobfle7-B A. if-'s 4 sq-s
A. The American Automobile AS
ISOLATION has completed an Inspection
Of the various routes south and finds
that the trip may be made with ht-
tie incont enience. There are de ours
on all routes, the most oftwhich are
kept in good condition.
Q. Please explain the term non.
commissioned officer."-F. II.
A. A non-commiss!oned officer Is a
&c ldier holding a rank intermediate
between that of private and the COM
stoned officer. In the United States
Army non-commissioned officer Is
an enlisted man. accepted for def
mite period of seven years. and given
an appointment. or warrant by his
fmrn ediate military superior. An OFF,
Ger receives perman ent commission
from the President. and the appoint
m,nt must be confirmed by the
Senate. -,
>. Q. Is It correct to say 81 saw a
certain party last night"?-M. S. G.
A. It depends upon the meaning
to be conveyed. II the reference is
to a party OF people It may be used,
but not when the word is used as
synonym for .person." Party 10
used in the singular as legal term.
@. How old is the Leaning Tower
Of Pisa?-R. K.
A. 1t is believed TO date from
about the year 1174.
@. Do the sopranos stand to the
right or left of the choir director?-
w. J.
A. In arranging chorus it Is
customary for the soprano singers
TO be placed at the right of the di-
rector as he faces the group.
@. When do deer shed their ant.
lers?-W. C. P. =.
A. Deer shed their antlers an
nually. in March or April and new
ones attain their full size In about
ninety days. While the horns are
growing the bucks usually lead SOL
itary lives.
@. When did DIR. Judson translate
the Bible into Burmese?-R. c. B.
A. Thet translating of the Bible
into Burmese and the compiling of
Burmese dictionary were two of
the outstanding achievements of the
Rev. AdoniraIn Judson, pinoeer Amer
lean missionary. They were accom-
plished after DIR. Judsons physical
breakdown. from 1S47-1S50.
Q. What are vaccines called that
are made from culture from the
patient to which the vaccine is to
be administered?-S. c.
A. Such yaccines are termed au-
togrenous. and are considered very
ef-icacious.
Q. What causes the sparkle In
champagne?-L. N.
A. The sparkle Is due to imper-
feet fermentation. Champagne con-
tains an amount Of carbonic acid gas
generated through insensible fermen-
tation In the bottle.
Q. Who made the first vacuum
cleanera-S. c..
A. David T. Kenney of New York
IS credited with Installing the first
pure vacuum system In 1902. and
about 1905 DR.. William Noe of San
Francisco constructed the first port
able vacuum cleaner.
Evening star., 1923-12-26
A Famous Poem.

One Of the things we Will lay away
IA lavender for another year is the
old poem known as Twas the Night
Before Christmas" though that is not
the title the author gave 1t. He called
IL "a Visit From st. Nicholas" but
the children and the grown.ups whose
fancy It touched renamed it long ago.
IT may not be SO musical as many
enother poem. but perhaps no other
las been lisped by so many young and
sanocent folk. Hardly is there man
or woman who did not In some far
gone year learn this poem, or a part
.f II. and It. holds in memory more
ssanchly than any other things
Evening star., 1923-12-26

". was gunpowder known or used
petore guns were invented "A T. ",
A. Older historians agree that
empower was known before 1t was
cap Sppi,eu TOT use In guns All this
Hre similar to gunpowder were Al
ready known as early as 1880, emit
man. who has made an exhaustiyo
powder was gradually deyelopef
from Greek fire. and was known for
years pefore cannons and guns vera ,
Thought Of The use OF purer MAJ
propulsive power and led 10 the sub
sequent invention of cannons ana
guns. The Arabians were the frss
, to make gunpowder Like mixtura.-
probably about 1880 A. D.. while ths
I Idea of using their propulsive force,
that IS. the invention of guns AMI
lannon's. belongs to the monk. Bert.
Ihola Schwartz. Of Freiburr. Saxary:
the GATE Of the latter invention he'r,
! ~rchabIv iaf3 A. D. II Is accented 3
| 'ndisnutable that PunpnwHer mills I
existed at Augsburg. Germany.
1894 while the Fn~iI"h used err.
nowder in guns at the battle OF Cree
in 1346.
Q. Is there such thing as =
black srosA2-E r.
A. The Department Of Aericuitur
says that there Is tendency anon.
some rose growers to refer to al
4yt,pu,elv dart red rose az black.
Srch a statement Is not correct. AMI
IL is dorb'ed whether any one has
secured an all-black rose
4 O. How manv stone quarrins ars
there in this countrv3--L. r w.
A There are at the present. t'rne
states, with an annual product
valued at more than 100000.
@. Where. did the Punch and Judy
show oriRinate?-J. NJ. r.
A. The nuppet show Of Punch ard
indy derives its origin from tbs
Neapo''tan Pun"hlne'io. hut many oe
punpet elbows. however. were COM
mon among the Greehs. from whom
| the Romans received them.
NJ. n G. What Will dissolve 'e''uloid'
Ait can easily be dissolved in
denatured alcohol.
Q. What town IN Indiana or Ohio
has tree growing IN the tower os
the cenrthouse?-C, 3 K
| A. Greensbure. Indiana. claims
this curiosity. The courthouse with
| its tree-topDed foyer il visible frorl
railway trains passing through thu
town.
Q. Who was "the Duke OF Exeter5
| daughter?"-A. w.
A. When the rack as an instru-
inent of torture was introduced into
England in 1477 by John Holland.
/ Duke of Exeter. who was al that
| time constable of the Tower of Lon
don, it speedily became known as
'sthe Duke OF Exeters daughter"
!
.. When q freight car is spoken
| of as a 50-ton car is that its weight,
its capacity or a combination Of ths
| two?-H. T.
| A. 50-ton car is one with =
! freirnt capacity of that amount. Ono
of the 40-foot box car type will itself
weight about "a tons.
/ (The Star Information Bureau
4 tOiq anstoer. your question: This
Offer applies strictly 70 Information.
I The bureau cannot give aduice on
4, legal. medical aud financial matters.
| 1t does not attempt to settle domestic
| troubles, nor to undertake eThGBVtive
research on any subject. Write your
question plainly and briefly. Incl6se
| ttoo cents in stamps for return post
| age and send your query TO The Star
| Information Bureau. Frederic J.
| Haskin. Director, 1890 North Capitol
1 StTect.l
Evening star., 1923-12-26

communistio doctrines on farm ana
factory,
Such a convention should prove to
be very interesting and instructive.
and 1t would seem quite possible to
bring the farmer and the manufac
tnrer in closer relationship.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

The fact that Col. Bryan has bad
little to say about evolution lately
encourages suspicion that his mind
is disengaging itself from biological
science and Is again reaching out for
political economy.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

A professional wrestler in Maine
wants to divorce his wife because she
ia cruel to him. Physical prowess is
10 match for temperament.
Evening star., 1923-12-26
SHOOTING STARS.
By PHnANDER JOHNSON.
Voices Of the Peoules.

Voices Of the Peoples.
When once Of politics we read
We talked Of Jim" and BILL"
And everything the speakers said
Had familiar thrill.
But now. when to the news you 60
Suggestions wise to seek,
Some Russian you're obliged to know
As well as French and Creek
Italian, too, and many o tongue
In middle Europe used.
The woes Of Babel have been flung
Throughout q world confused.
A superhunan task 10 cot.
Although you do your best.
When through your lexicons you gst
You're ready for a rest.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

The winner of the Box prize for a
world plan Of peace has not yet been
ynade known, The subsequent fame
will compensate abundantly for SO
brief q secrecy.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Politicians all express confidence.
but are In tacit agreement that 1924
will be no year to organize Don't
Worry" Club.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

i There are a few fellow statesmen
whom Hiram johnson will wish a
happy New Year, but with reserva-
tions and interpretations.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

It is easy enough to believe that the
Russian radicals wish to introduce the
red flag into American ofl!cial life. It
Is anybody's privilege to wish.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

That Shop Early" slogan after a
brief repose will reassert itself in con.
nection with Easter buying.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

. AS patron of the professions John
Barleycorn recognizes the doctors as
well as the lawyers.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Assurances that business is good
come from all kinds Of sources, but
the farmers insist that as yet they
are claiming no congratulations.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

= President Coolidges Christmas tree
was thing Of beauty, but quite the
incest gift came all the way from
Michigan.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Every country has communist plots.
In America thus Tar the plots have
froved farcical rather than tragic.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Both tax reduction and bonus are IA
vored by several legislators. II is the
season of generous enthusiasm.
Evening star., 1923-12-26
Fancy and Fact.
Old Santa Claus il but q myth,
An influence ethereal.
The bills he obligates You with
Are terribly material.
Fancy and Fact.
Restraint.

t"Howis your boy Josh getting along
in college?" "
Fine" answered Farmer Corntos.
sci. "You ought to hear him talk. He
knows more than scme Of the perfes.
sors already. only they're kind o
touchy an he da'sn't let on"
"Dar 10 sumpin' wrong" said Uncle
Eben. when you hears a man brag-
GIN mo- bout whut he kin win In a
crap game dan bout whut he kin
earn" S
Evening star., 1923-12-26

~Jud Tunkins says there's no sin.
certify in wishing q man Happy New
Year Il you're planning to cheat him
a little In horse trade.
Evening star., 1923-12-26
The Hasty IJtterancc.

your constituents are wondering
why you don't say something"
Let US be patiently cautious" re-
piled Senator Sorghum. "It Is better
to have your constituents wondering
why you don't say something than to
be wondering yourself why you ever
said It."
Evening star., 1923-12-26

z O. How manv stone quarrins ars
| there in this countrv2--L r w
A There are af the present ttrra
abort 1000 quarries IN the United
States. with an annual prOduct
valued at more than 5000, 600.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Q. Who made the first vacuum
cleanera-s., C.
i, A. David T. Kenney of New York
pure vacuum system In 1902. and
about 1905 DR.. William Noe of San
Francisco constructed the first port
able vacuum cleaner
Evening star., 1923-12-26

@. Is there such a thing as =
black srose?-E r.
A. The Department Of Aericuitur i,
says that there is a tendency anon.
some rose growers to refer to al
4yt,euteiv dart red rose as black.
Srch statement Is not correct, AMI
IL is dorb'ed whether any one ha ;
secured an all-black rose.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

O.. Where. did the Punch and judy
show criRinate?-J NJ r.
A. The puppet show Of Punch ard
INDY derives its origin from H. }
Neapol'tan Pun"hine'lo. hut many nP
It's features are purely Eneiist.
punDet Thows. however. were COM
mon among the Greebs. from whom
the Romans received them.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Q. What causes the sparkle In
champagne?-L. N.
A. The sparkle Is due to imper-
feet fermentation. Champagne con-
tains an amount Of carbonic acid gas
generated through insensible fermen-
tation In the bottle.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Q. Who was The Duke OF Exeter3
daughter?"-A. W.
A. When the rack as an instru.
ment of torture was introduced into
England in 1477 by John Holland.
Duke of Exeter. who was at that
time constable of the Tower of Lon
don, it speedily became known a3
the Duke OF Exeters daughter"
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Copyright. 1872. by Paul v. Collins }
Evening star., 1923-12-26
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
ALI Other States.

Daily and Sunday. i yr. $40; mo-. 1oc
Daily only. ......... 1 yr., $500; l mo-, SOC
Sunday only. 49,. L yr, s2.40; mo-, zoe
Evening star., 1923-12-26

@. When did DIR. Judson translate
the Bible into Burmese?-R. c. B.
A. Thet translating of the Bible
into Burmese and the compiling of
a Burmese dictionary were two of
the outstanding achievements of the
Rev. Adoniram Judson, pinoeer Amer
lean missionary. They were accom-.
plished after DR.. Judson's physical
breakdown. from 1S47-1S50.
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Chairman Adams also takes up tar
reduction, saying that "the tax re-
ductions proposed by Secretary Mel
Ion and indorsed by President Cool
idge should be supported by men and
women of small incomes. The plan
provides the greatest relief for earn
ed Incomes which are defined as
wages, salaries and fees for profess
sional services. According to tabu-
lation by the Treasury Department
about 10 per cent of the total s323,-
oo0, 900 as proposed by the Mellon bill
will be lifted from the smaller In
comes and less than per cent will
be lifted from those incomes of $780,
600 or over"
Evening star., 1923-12-26

q. What are vaccines called that
are made from a culture from the
patient to which the vaccine Is to
he admin fet ared - q
Evening star., 1923-12-26

O. What will dissolve celiuloid?
M. G.
All can easily be dissolved in
denatured alcohol
Evening star., 1923-12-26

Q. Is II correct to say 81 saw a
certain party last night"?-M. S. G..
A. It depends upon the meaning
to be conveyed. II the reference is
to a party of people 1t may be used.
but not when the word is used as
synonym for person" Party ts
used in the singular as a legal term.
Evening star., 1923-09-09
Patricia Salmon Not a Joke

HERE is the story OF young girl
- just nineteen, born in British Co.
| lumbia, the daughter of a juggler and
a repertoire actress, playing with a
tent show since she was six years of
| age in towns most people cannot find
upon the map.
For thirteen years Patricia Salmon
has been singing and dancing with
the rep" shows of the wild west.
From child actress she grew into a
beautiful young girl. with wealth
of reddish hair, a complexion born of
the great outdoors, and healthy
physique. such as is acquired by
riding and living in the wide-open
spaces.
Fate took Patricia Salmon to Shell
before Mr.. Dempsey and Mr.. Gibbons
matched talents in the prize ring.
She played in a tent with a stock
company called the Hylan-Welty
Players. There was no theater in
Shelby, or in most of the towns this
company visited. so Miss Salmon was
simply the singing comedienne of
what, in theatrical parlance, is called
A score of newspaper men from
New York visited Shelby to cover
dramatic critics. Other cities sent
similar delegations. and newspaper
men to the number of 200 or more
from all parts of the country gath
cred at Shelby.
They visited the Hylan-Welty stock
company one night expecting to see
n Joke show. They found instead
Evening star., 1923-09-09

charming, ingenious, unspoiled child
of nature. the one bright ray of sun
! shine in the gloomy town OF Shelby.
She sang, she danced. she acted the
soubrette roles. and she played the
innocent ingenue in all the melo-
dramas. The newspaper boys rallied
round and called her great.
Hundreds of dispatches that first
night carried stories about Patricia
salmon. The sport writers and the
critics. sick of Dempsey and Gibbons,
turned loose their typewriters to ex-
plot the charm and the beauty of the
matte critic covering the fight sent in
1000 words about Patricia. His edi-
tor wired back: care not Dempsey
and Gibbons of more Importance to
the public than Miss Patricia Sal
mon:" The critic wired back one
And so. for ten days. Patricia Sal
mon figured in practically every dis
patch sent from Shelby. She didn't
know the boys were doing this: she
had never been east OF Montana,
didn't know what Broadway was like.
and never realized the newspaper
men were press -agenting her into
fame.
Night after night she sang and
danced, and the boys say that her
pretty head wasn't turned by the
attentions of the writer's.
Now Patricia is full-fledged
member of theatrical royalty. SO to
speak, for she has been gathered
into Florenz Ziegfelds famous
"FollieS."
Evening star., 1923-09-09
BY ELENORE DE WITT EBY.

lTHE amusing little sketch at Keith's
i last week, Here Goes the Bride -
presented Enid Markey as an adorable
ibut wistful bride-to-be. so super
stitious that she refused to be mar
ried with thirteen guests present. So
the sarcastic groom offered to send
her a curtain rod 30, she could hang
the veil back in It's place, and then
the fun began again.
The much discussed Seil was really
exceptionally beautiful, of filmy
bridal tulle with shining thread
| like border of gold embroidery. A
wreath of orange blossoms circled
the coiffure to hold the: t1lle folds in
place, and clusters of the delicate
white buds dropped at each side
adding an exquisite finishing touch
to the headdress.
The wedding gown was of heavy
ivory white satin, fashioned with an
Unusually long fitted basque, and a
at the center front to disclose a
Foundation of ld-fiecked lace. and
extended into a long sweeping train
at the back. The bodice was sleeve
less, but fichu collar of crushed
|tulle was draped over the upper part.
coming well over the arms and yet
only half concealing them in it's
cloudy folds. A cluster OF orange
blossoms served to clasp the fichu
ends together at the front, and a
fringe of stray buds dropped from it,
adding a pretty touch. An elaborate
motif in gold embroidery ornamented
both bodice and skirt and the effect
was particularly lovely on the back
ground of shimmering creamcolored
satin.
Dorothy Cox, as the bridesmaid.
wore frock of shaded mauve chiffon,
fashioned on graceful draped lines.
Two or three large velvet flowers in
rich fuchsia tones were placed at one
side of the crushed chiffon girdle to
add the only touch of trimming.
Inez Courtney in "a Personal APP
pearance" at keiths, first entered in
ludicrouS East Side costume, and
exhibited great proWess in the gentle
art of gum-chewing. Later, however.
she displayed an evening gown of