davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-09-07
Counting the Lost.

Wide variations in the estimates OF
the losses in Japan are the normal re-
suit of sudden disasters. Rarely does
it occur that the early accounts of
casualties are consistent or accurate.
And the reason is readily understood.
The greatest confusion prevails. There
is no order anywhere. The people are
the conditions permit, and often laden
with heavy burdens. Dead bodies are
everywhere. and many victims are
still living and crying aloud for help.
The mind of the observer is impressed
with the sense of tremendous loss of
of the wind, growing as they pass with
wild eXaggerations. 1t is impossible TO
verify them or check them.
In Toxic and Yokohama even a day
after the first shocks the fires were
still raging. The streets We're blocked
with debris and cracked with assures.
1t was impossible to penetrate the
greater part of the area for investiSa.
ton. Swarms of the people had hud-
died into places of supposed shelter
and had been trapped. The tidal waves
had taken tremendous toll of them.
The flames had enveloped them.
Only by the grossest guesswork was
it possible to estimate the losses.
What was true in one of the smaller
places, where it was reported that it
was easier to count the living than
the dead, was true practically every
where else. But it was impossible to
work for the authorities to do. and for
the relief forces hastily organized.
The living had to be rescued and in
some manner provided for, else they
would starve or perish from their in
juries. And there was grim work or
another kind to do, to maintain order
and to check the ghoulish enterprise
of the fiends who robbed the dead and
looted the ruins.
Counting the dead in the wrecked
cities became confused when it was
found to be necessary to consign the
bodies of the victims to the still raging
flames. to prevent the horrors of pesti-
lence Thus it may never be known
how many died in the quake and the
fires and from the tidal waves. Only
by later census enumeration can any
approximation of the cost be reached.
Descriptions of the catastrophe by
witnesses are beginning to come. They
are varied in detail, because no two
persons could possibly see the great
tragedy from the same angle. In re-
spect TO the awfulness of the happen
ing, however, they are in agreement.
These stories surpass in their vivid
ness and narrowing pictures of human
suffering and the sweep of convulslve
natural forces anything that has been
heretofore told.
Evening star., 1923-09-07
Running to Fires.

A schooner tied to dock at South
Amboy, N. j., last evening was being
loaded with powder from railroad cars
when a fire started in the galley. The
flames spread to the cargo and caused
an explosion. The freight cars on the
siding were ignited and blazed. The
sound of the explosion and the glare
of the flames attracted general atten-
ton, and many motor cars were head
ed in that direction. For it Is a COM
mon impulse to run to the fire" "
About a dozen Of the automobiles were
jammed into a passageway beneath
the railroad tracks when the. freight
train was being hauled out. The
flames however, were too speedy. and
the deadly loads of the cars began to
"go off," The motors were trapped
and their occupants were unable to es-
cape. At latest accounts three died
and at least twenty were badly hurt,
some of them mortally.
This is a result of the habit of run
ming to fires. In these days Of motor
ing the crowds at spectacular blazes
are so dense that the f1remen have
difficulty In reaching the scene. Police
Evening star., 1923-09-07
In Favor of Sports
AT the Bathing Beach
To the Editor Of The star.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In The Star of September | was
published piece relative to the popu-
larity of the Tidal Basin bathing
beach. which stated that Col Sheriff.
StIld "a great Improvement was made
during the year in raising the general
tone by the elimination of all kinds of
displays outside of the line of regular
bathing" l don't believe there is "a
man who patronizes the beach more
than l do, and | must say that dis
agree with Col Sheriff. in regard 10
this. | have heard hundreds of COM
plants made about this very thing,
and all say just the opposite | will
admit that the attendance has been
good. but he must remember this has
been the WarmeSt summer we have
had for three years, and, naturally,
more people have been to the beach.
III this summer had been as cool and
rainy as last there would not have
been as many. There are six days-in
the week when any one can go SWIM
ming and enjoy that alone but to saw
the average normal person would not
like on saturday afternoon to look at
Il few swimming races. high dives.
plunges. etc, is all wrong. We natur-
ally looked forward to this, and /
have heard great many of the best
patrons at the beach remark how
much it had injured the general tone
of the beach, to eliminate all such
sports. If Col. Sheriff. does not like
sports he must remember he is in a
class by himself. You cannot even
take a kodak on the beach now to
take picture of a jolly bunch or of
a nigh diver. JOHN =. WAGER
Evening star., 1923-09-07
Plea for Park Land.

The District surveyor in his annual
report deplores that the new Wash
ington which has been built north of
Florida avenue and in other directions
beyond the original limits of the Capt.
tai is deficient in park land. He adds
his recommendation to those that have
been made by other District authori-
ties, civic bodies and congressional ad-
vocates of a better Washington that
the defect be corrected as far as pos
sible. He urges that the valley of
Piney branch between 18th street and
Rock creek be acquired because of it's
1esirability as park land, and because
1t would be especially useful as an en-
trance to Rock Creek Park. 1t was be-
lieved some time ago that because of
the depth of the valley and the steep
Ness of it's sides this picturesque land
could not be used for building. but we
have recently seen as rough tracts as
this filed and leveled and made avail.
able for blocks of buildings.
Surveyor Hazen would have klingle
valley taken over by the government
for q number of reasons. 1t was be-
lieved that this tract would be passed
over by builders. but the surveyor says
to the Commissioners: ESPECIALLY do
I wish to call your attention to the
rapid encroachment upon Piney
branch and Klingle valley. They have
already been much reduced in area,
and 1t is my frm belief that Piney
Evening star., 1923-09-07

branch parkway will be lost If not ac-
quired within the next year"
The surveyor also touches on the
subject of che Patterson tract as
park for Northeast Washington out
side of the citys original limits. The
desirability of this property as park
land has been advocated. for many
years. and the prospect is that If not
soon acquired it will be built over.
The matter of the preservation of
the civil war forts and their connec-
tion by driveway is also urged. This
is one of our historic questions. The
preservation of these forts, most of
which We're built on sites commanding
wide Views has been advocated for
generations. In the sos and '90s there
was particularly strong local agitation
and considerable congressional en-
courasement for preserving the forts
and connecting them with ID fort
drive" which would pass from the
heights above Chain bridge to the
heights of Fort Lincoln and the Re-
form School above the Eastern branch.
Near Benning the fort drive would re-
sumo its course and continue to the
hills that rise at the junction of the
Potomac and OXon run. The city has
grown over many of these old land
marks, but few are left to us. Some
are a tumble of bitches and broken
ramparts. and others have been leveled,
though their sites are bare. If the
work of saving the old forts is not be-
gun soon il will be too late.
Evening star., 1923-09-07
Correction as to Use
Of Spanish ''Buenos''
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
In your edition of the 31st of Au-
gust appeared an item to the effect
that Secretary Hughes and Jack
Dempsey Chow could you utter the
two names in one breath?) were ap-
plying themselves to learn to pro-
nounce "Buenas dias, senor'' "Dia"
in Spanish is one of the exceptions
to the rule of nouns ending in "o'
being masculine, and those ending in
"a" being feminine. This rule, you
will recall. originated in the Roman
tongue. for we find dies" "manus"
etc, in Latin not following the gen.
eral rule. Greek. too, has them, al
you now.
That is, to be sure. small thing.
almost as small as the correction that
the philatelist made upon the occa-
sion of the black Harding memorial
stamp. But there have been so many
books written with French and Span
ish quotations" (most of them
wrong), that / thought The Star
would like to have it correct, and in
cidentally show your readers the cor
rect expression. which is now, was
yesterday, will be tomorrow and
probably forever, Buenos dias. Day
is masculine and night is feminine.
Why? You might ask the distin-
guished psychologist in our midst
You see, Shakespeare was right
Caesar was ambitious
HECTOR LAZO.
Evening star., 1923-09-07

The criticism of former President
| Woodrow Wilson by Lord Birkenhead
at WilliamStown. which was sharply
assailed by Henry breckenridge and
others. continues topic of sharp
discussion. with opinions widely diff
fering as to the propriety of the ut
terances. 1t generally seems agreed
that the remarks were neither taCtful
nor courteous, but, after all. there
are many editors who believe he ex-
pressed the British businesslike and
matter fact" viewpoint in what he
said. His declaration that, with
altruism abandoned. the United
States, for self-interest alone, ought
pean game, is agreed to, however by
very few editors.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer is one
newspaper which suggests were
Curzon and Baldwin to adopt the
Birk enhead view the reparations and
Indebtedness problems would be con-
siderably less perpleXing than they
are" while the GAINESVILLE Gazette, re-
calling that Count Harry Kessler
gathering, wanted the United States
to boycott French commerce." ar
CUES this was much worse than
Birkenhead and was "a gratuitous in
suit to the United States" Neither
view, however, particularly impreSses
the Manchester Union. which feels
that I'VE should dislike to think that
the curtailment of free speech had
gone so far in this country that
visitors from abroad could not give
their views without being penalized
for. imprudence." And. as to the
exact statement of the British visitor,
the indianapolis News points out cit
would be hard to prove that the pres
ent woes of the world are due to the
idealism of Woodrow Wilson, or to
Mr. Wilson's mistaken estimate of
his own countrymen. The Wilson
idealism played little part in Paris
and It was defeated by the victorious
mood of the victorious allies. I'm
doubtedly it is to Americas interest
that there should be strong, happy
and prosperous Europe, for that
would make for peace in the world
and for prosperity here. But what
can America do as long as the prac-
tical statesmen of the old world are
in command and still deaf to the
message of hope?
X X X
The Lincoln State Journal holds
"the British statesman is wrong
America is capable of acting at times
altruistically in it's relations with
other nations. We shall get back in
no great while to at least that de-
gree of altruism which can see a
profit for ones self in the prosperity
of a neighbor." The hidden and
somewhat insolent fling toward Will
son will not, land cannot possibly
injure the former President in the
estimation of his fellow countrymen,"
asserts the Utica Observer-Dispatch.
l. President Harding realized sentiment
had swung back to where it originally
! was when the peace conference closed
President Coolidge must follow Hard
iing's footsteps and support the World
tCourt with all his strength. There
Evening star., 1923-09-07
A Way to Minimize @
Grade Crossing Perils


To the Eiitor of The Star:
1t seems to me that all suggestions
put forward to eliminate the annual
toll of life taken by grade-crossing
accidents either are not practicable
or too expensive.
The present signs posted do not
consider mists or night driving. being
placed on the roadside, sometimes
out of focus of the drivers lights, and
therefore not seen.
A driver must keep his eyes on the
road and / offer the suggestion that
the present railroad crossing sign be
painted or set right across the road
500 yards before grade crossings.
On dirt or sand roads, granite blocks
which show up in any weather. and
on cement or asphalt roads, paint
could be painted on or mixed in with
the cement or asphalt when repaving.
which will also be a permanent and
sure sign of danger ahead which a
driver could not possibly fail to see.
FRED. T. DEVINE.
Evening star., 1923-09-07
Criticisms by Lord Bnkenhead
Anger and Amuse i. S. Editors

was no mistaken judgment on the
part of Woodrow Wilson" To which
the Buffalo News adds great as the
moral influence of America may be.
IL is not great enough to save Europe
from its Cwn devilish devices"
The Philadelphia Public Ledger. in
sisting that whether one agrees with
Birkenhead or not. his right to speak
his mind ought not to be questioned IS
is answered by the Lynchburg News
pointing out mo sensible human be-
ing maintains that what Woodrow
Wilson did while President must not
be criticized" but the News insists
that not alone what was said at
Williamstown but the motives and
the matter of good taste" are in
volved and "Birkenhead knew he was
taking sides upon live issue in
American politics. and derogating
the national democracy" The Provi-
dence Journal, however. feels "he
might have made sperfunctory adj
dress, but he chose to avoid mere
advice. His talk was one of the most
stimulating that we have had in
America for long time"
x x x
The address impressed the Phila-
delphia Record as "in very bad taste
and singularly inaccurate" while the
Providence Tribune argues America
is still proud that at least she sent a
message of idealism TO the peoples of
the world. even though the diplomats
of Europe, gathered at Versailles,
bowed before the American messiah
and then stole his eye teeth" Con-
sidering the source of the remarks,
the Pittsburgh Chronicle recalls
upon somewhat in the light of an
enfant terrible in English public life
In his own country he was long ago
given the name of the 'Galloper.' 1t
may not be considered too inhospit-
able to suggest that hereafter his
lordship might do his rough riding
at home This is likewise very much
the view of the Knoxville Sentinel,
which declares I'VE can well believe
that the gathering in the Institute
of Politics was stirred with pain at
this cheap and wanton exhibition of
his noble lordships heels" Decidedly
stronger language is used by the Fort
Wayne al-Gazette, which argues
that "of all the royal asses England
has dumped upon us, despite the laws
of quarantine, there has been none to
approach that stupendous egotist and
fiippant fool, Lord Birkenhead," and
characterizes his address as IAN in
famous insult"
The Detroit Free Press feels convinced
that "Birkenhead has done no more
than restate the verdict of the nation as
expressed in a 100000 majority vote
for President Harding and in repudia-
ton of the Wilson international poll
cies: he has only said what most un-
biased observers of men and events
believe to be far within the truth"
But the Richmond News-Leader dis
misses the controversy by sagely sug-
gesting that ito those London editors
who knew the earl when he was Sir
Frederick Smith, and before, when he
was simply styled F. E., his remarks
must have been highly amusing. be-
cause they were. for him, ostenta-
tiously tempered and unbelievably
mild. Birkenhead is one of the few
men who have been thrown upward
by the explosive power of hard words.
He is professionally vituperative and
has cleared bis path by the INT of his
criticism"
Evening star., 1923-09-07
SHOOTING STARS.
RY PHILANDER JOHNSON
Killing Time

huii1S Ihit.
Father plays shabby game;
Makes the caddie laugh.
Brother Willie's jokes are tame,
Irritating chaff.
Sister Kate will sing or play
Tunes she thinks sublime.
Each in some peculiar way
Starts in killing Time
Aged man, with furtive glance
That is sad to see,
Says. Il haven't any chance;
All are after me.''
He must always fear the worst
Each artistic crime
Makes him long for Safety First"
Poor old Father Time.
Evening star., 1923-09-07
America 20 the Rescue

In the first call for help for the
stricken people of Japan the American
Red Cross put the QUOTA of this coun-
try at $5,00O,00o. IL IS now stated that
this sum is to be regarded as the
minimum of the requirement, and
while there is no official announcement
To the effect, it is indi ated that a far
greater amount will i-e required to
succor the living victims of the dis
aSter.
1t is, in fact, impossible to compute
the losses in Japan or the cost of the
immediate Requirement :; for food and
shelter for the survivors. If the mini
mum of five million were multiplied
by ten. and all could se spent effective
ly and the product dispatched with the
utmost speed and distributed with the
greatest efficiency. there would still
be terrible suffering.
The first problem in d case like this
is to organize tne relief so that the
most urgent n acessities will be prompt
ly supplied. The immediate necessity
is food. Shelter may be more slowly
provided, for the weather is still mild,
and the greater part of the homeless
can subsist without covering for a
time and not suffer acutely. There is
also need of medical supplies and ply
sicians and nurses Tens of thousands
of the survivors are injured and i'll.
There is grave danger of an outbreak
rf nr1I6pr1Oir 4 X-at
unverified states that cholera has be-
gun to spread at Yokohama.
In the recess of Congress the United
States government cannot give of its
own funds for the help of Japan.
Without the least doubt if it We're in
session that body would Immediately
vote a large grant of public money to
he spent for this purpose. The people
must take up the task and supply the
necessary funds out of their own
pockets directly.
In New York, where great wealth is
concentrated, the million quota was
quickly subscribed and passed, and
collections are still being made to
bring the total to the highest possible
figure. In other cities, however, there
is some tagging. In Washington, at
the latest report, the allotted amount
was only about half subscribed.
There is no disposition on the part
of the American people to withhold
practical sympathy and aid. Although
the scene of the disaster is remote,
the Japanese people are close to US in
spirit, and there is every reason for
the extension of the fullest assistance
In the shortest possible time.
OF all the nations in the world this
give abundantly and quickly. Ameri-
cans are, too. perhaps the most fire.
quent, visitors to Japan of all peoples.
Many thousands have travelled through
those islands, greatly enjoying them
AS scenes of interest. They have today
vivid recollections of delightful days
spent there. They will be doubtless
among the first to give.
4 sense of common humanity in
spires the swiftest and most generous
every dollar given will go direct to the
relief of the suffering people. The
American Red Cross, trustee of the
bounty of the people of this country,
assures the fullest devotion of the
fund to the immediate purpose of
rescuing the stricken nation from its
terrible plight.
Evening star., 1923-09-07
Picturesuueness Vanished.

'Some of the liquor you used to get
in Crimson Gulch was awful stuff"
Not as bad as bootleg" answered
Cactus Joe. 1.-The old firewater made
more or less uncertain aim. Now the
bad men stand treat and wait for one
another to pass away mute and
foolish" IA
Evening star., 1923-09-07
Symmetry.

DO you take plenty of exercise?"
YES" replied Senator Sorghum;
"but I'm afraid it hasn't enough va
riety. In order to prevent a statesman
from overdeveloping his right arm it
ought to be permissible to shake
hands sometimes with the left hand"
Evening star., 1923-09-07

Conditions in Japan are 80 appalling
that it will hardly be necessary to
have an investigation before taking
action. The worst that imagination
can depict may be relied on as within
the limits of fact.
Evening star., 1923-09-07
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

Q. Where is the wishing tree Of
Washington?-A. II. w.
| A. Early books of Washington remi-
niscences tell of wishing tree i'm La
fayette Square, an old beech, under
Which lovers made wishes that always
came true. but the identity of the par
ticular tree has been lost
| -
| =. What is it about finger marks
that makes it possible to bring them
| out?-A. X. u.
! A. Fingerprints contain mainly salt.
and grease. BY careful dusting with
| lampblack the impression is brought out
clearly.
q. What are the earliest figures on
| the wealth of the United States p
r. F. l..
| A. The bureau of census SAYS the
hrst report of the wealth in the
United States was taken in 1850. At
that ,ns -ot time me the total wealth was ST.
was estimated in 1920 that the wealth
| of the United States was S29e 900 OOO.-
j 600, or $2.6ss.34 per capita.
! Q. What is the meaning of r. p. G.
| used on visiting cards M. p. J.
! A. The abbreviation p. =. c. on vfs-
iting cards stands for the French
words pour prendre congo" The
phrase is used on cards sent when
one is leaving the city without hav-
| ing returned calls.
Q. How is invisible ink made which
turns red with application of heat?-
A. A.
| A. A weak solution of nitrate of
copper gives an invisible writing
which becomes red through heat.
q. While passing through Marlboro,
Mass. l noticed a small sign pointing
; into the woods, which read Mary
! GoOdnow's Grave" Why is her grave
F., pointed out?-B. r. G.
A. Mary Goodnow was the daugh-
/ ter of Samuel Goodnow. on August
l8, 1907, she and Mary Fay were gath
ering herbs in meadow near d gar
rlson designed for use by her family
| and others. Indians approached
them. Mary Fay ran toward the gar
rison. but Mary Goodnow could not,
! because of lameness. Some Of the
Indians followed the fleeing girl; the
rest rest attaeked itttin Mary Goodnow. She
was later buried at the spot now
marked by d stone.
! Q. Has copper ore ever been found
on the surface in this country?-A. p.
| A: Native copper was found at the
| a dloHS the ShOreS of Lake
Michigan.
| q. Are rattlesnakes the only snakes
that give birth to their young?-E. j.
| A. Many serpents lay eggs. but
! most Venomous ones and many of the
commohest species are viyiparous
! Inc Nlviparous retain the eggs with
IN the body until Matched Rattle
snakes are viviparous and produce
| from six 10 nine young of five inches
! in length. i
-. In what class do natural gas and
! petroleum belong?-A. F. r.
! A. They are classed as minerals
G. What is the Swiss Guard?-H T
y: Ihe original Swiss Guard was a
regiment of royal body guards of the
rulers OF France. constituted by roval
| decree, 1916. 1t was COMPOSED en-
tirely of Swiss. and so conducted it,
sell that 1t became world famous for
absolute fidelity and courage The
| TRADITIONS of the guard were kent M
until after the final dissolution of the
empire The papal guard known as
/ the swiss Guard consists OF ten on
GERS and 10 men picked from Swiss
iof unblemished character and. in the