davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-08-22
Almost Over.

Safe arrival Of the American world
flyers in Greenland, after longer
"hop" than was originally planned
from Iceland, marks probably the
passage of the last serious obstacle in
the great route. Originally two
hop move from Iceland to the
southernmost tip Of Greenland was
planned, but the ice conditions on
the eastern coast were unfavorable to
safe landing, and the longer flight
was finally decided upon. 1t was sue.
cessfully made, one of the planes
being forced to make a sea 'land'
ing" resuming the flight soon
afterward.
From Reykjavik, Iceland, to
Frederiksdal, Greenland, is s35 miles.
not a particularly long flight in nor.
NAL conditions, but difficult in view
of the state of the waters in the
northern ATTITUDES. From Frederiks'
dal to Indian Harbor. Labrador, is q
shorter "hop," and there is little like.
lihood of encountering blockadjng ice
at this time Of the year. When
Labrador is once reached the way
southwark to Washington and thence
across the continent to the starting
point will be comparatively easy.
The delays encountered in the
northern waters have upset the
schedule, but the flight is being
pressed TO a successful conclusion
nevertheless. Two of the four orig
inal planes remain in service, and
there is reason to expect that both
of them will reach this city.
In view of the troubles met with
in the northern zone Of the fight, it
may be that If another round-world
venture is made another route will
be chosen. Planes have flown over
longer distances than those that
have been covered by these planes in
the northern region. Obviously there
can be no round.world flying Of any
practical utility If such long lapses
must occur in waiting for favorable
conditions.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

the Martians. but we have gone
beyond the canal stage. We have
railroads, fivvers, flying machines,
moving pictures and Photographic,
and if there are any people in our
solar neighborhood from Mercury to
Neptune, or all the way out to
Uranus. who excel US in culture we
shall be glad to meet them.
Some men have heard sounds from
Mars, but the matter was not given
as much consideration on earth as it
deserved. We were too busy. 1t is
believed that the Martians may try
to talk to US on the occasion Of their
visit to these parts, and radio fans
are standing by to take the message.
If we knew what wave length the
Martians will use. and If more Of us
were familiar with the Martianese
language, the matter would be
simpler than it is. No doubt the
language of Mars is quite a warlike
tongue, and it may be that the Secre-
tary Of War or Secretary of the Navy
will be able to decode the message
and give it to US in United States.
Evening star., 1924-08-22
No Watchman, No Gates!

The latest grade-crossing disaster
adds heavily to the argument for an
immediate beginning of the work Of
eliminating the death traps that are
scattered by thousands over the coun-
try. Near the town of Crawford.
n. j., a much used highway crosses
the tracks of the Central Railway Of
New Jersey. There is no watchman.
There are no gates. Only a bell
sounds upon the approach of a train.
For some distance on each side of
the crossing the track Is straight, and
it Is a favorite speeding stretch for
engineers to make up time when their
trains are behind schedule. Yesterday
morning a passenger train was thus
speeding, at about so miles an hour,
toward the crossing. Freight trains
on side tracks obscured the view Of
the main track from the road. A
heavy dirt truck, with two men on it.
approached the crossing at the same
time. Bells were ringing, but the ap-
proach to the tracks was upgrade
and the truck was laboring and max
ing so much noise that the bells were
inaudible. Furthermore, the bells had
been ringing more or less all the
morning, as the freights were shift.
ing. The driver. of course, thought
he had a chance to cross safely. He
was mistaken. The express locomotive
struck his truck squarely and threw
it IS feet, killing both the occupants.
| and then the train was derailed and
two of it's occupants were killed and
many passengers were hurt. But for
the fact that the cars were Of steel
the casualties would have been very
heavy.
This is a notoriously bad crossing.
1t has been styled the worst in the
State Yet it has never been pro-
tected. The railroad company has
never thought it worth while to hire
watchmen or install gates. But yes.
| terday's accident will cost it, in dam.
aged rolling stock and injuries to pas.
sengers, far more than safeguarding
service for several years.
Here is a crossing that everybody
has recognized as deadly dangerous.
! yet with no action by the State to
compel correction and no move by the
railroad to protect it's own right OF
! way from trespass. Many other ac'
cidents have occurred there, without
| leading to action. Now, probably, &C.
ton will be taken. 1t seems always to
require shocking tragedy to bring
about a correction of obviously dan.
gerous conditions. The worst of the
matter is that these corrections are
only made piecemeal, a crossing at a
time when compulsion is felt.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

sale, gun possession and gun carrying
has been under discussion by reason.
able persons for many years, and 1t ie
question that comes into greater
prominence as time passes. Finally
it will be dealt with in that effective
way which Is generally called
drastic"
One of these free gun.play cases
came before a New York Judge Q day
or so ago. and 1t was reported that
Magistrate House. from the bench
of the homicide court, denounced the
manufacture and sale Of deadly
weapons, and declared that he would
gladly become one Of q group OF
citizens to get behind q movement for
q law that would make the manu-.
facture Of such weapons a felony"
This judge said that "all attempted
legislation for the regulation of
traffic in pistols has been quickly
defeated by the invisible empire OF
the underworld"
In the District Of Columbia certain
iHciicCIlVo Ic6tI lCIAOilS tt0SC UCCH put
on the sale of deadly weapons, and
the law prohibits the carrying Of con.
cealed deadly weapons. Until these
laws are superseded by one that pro.
hibits the sale of such weapons to
any one who has not an Official per.
NIT to purchase one. there will be nc
security from indiscriminate mur.
derous armament.
1t Is easy for criminals and
dangerous-minded persons to get pos
session of deadly weapons, and this
matter must come up for settlement
sooner or later. Perhaps we shall
come to the point where the manu-
facture of deadly weapons, other
than under Government supervision
will be forbidden, and the sale OF
such weapons under other than
public authority and direction will
be a felony.
Evening star., 1924-08-22
Warm Tribute Paid to
Matthew F. HallOran
10 the Editor Of The Star:


Your interesting sketch of the life
OF Matthew F. Halloran. one of the
real workers OF the Government, in
the issue of Sunday. August II, 1924.
will be reaC by thousands who will
not hesitate to testify to the truth
Of your statement that Mr.. Halloran's 8
helping hand was unvarinGly extend
ed solely because he he'd a heart in
his breast, and he had a place in that
heart for all humanity.
Thus there came to Mr.. Halloran,
unsolicited on his part, this reputa-
ton of being a square man." in
which capacity he won and holds
today in the hearts OF thousands Of
men and women a place which will
be his own as long as he lives.
For 35 years he administered the
certidcations OF civil service eligibles
without fear or favor, creed or politi-
cal views of those eligibles never
being considered or questioned, as
may be proven by the manv who
have had occasion to know the'facts.
and only those who do not could
intimate that such was not the case.
that his policy encompassed no ia
voritism of that nature for motives
Of personal benefits.
So absolutely fair and just were
his acts as to win the praise of all.
He nut that kindly touch Of human
sympathy into his contact with peo-
ple, as to not only win their eternal
gratitude, but to make real friends
for and inspire confidence in the
commi ssion itself, of which he is the
backbone and brains at the present
day, although he is not in SO promi-
nent a position there, ostensibly, as
during the World War. He does not
interview every eligible these days.
but nevertheless is the 'man behind
the plow" in an inconspicuous way.
Mr.. Halloran holds a niche in the
institution Of civil service dear to the
American people. 1t is not surpris-
ing that services such as his have
received such high and splendid
testimonials Of appreciation so ably
and admirably expressed in your
commendable and just paper. He sits
now, day after day, in his little pri-
vate ONCE at the commission, Whicn
he has helped so much to build to
the best Of mis- ability, maintaining
his wonderful serenity at all times.
radiatiuE to all a divine spirit or
peaoe, quietness and calm achieved
by few, of soul satisfaction and pre-
paredness for the hereafter. because
Of a life we'll spent. in doing for
others helping the other fellow along
at every opportunity.
II would be we'll for us to emulate
Mr.. Halloran's example and strive to
attain in some degree his rare virtues
~ G. A. AND x. s. KNOWLES
Evening star., 1924-08-22
The Common Sense Vote.

xUC OUumUu 0CuSC vUIC.
It is fashion in politics to classify
and group the voters according to
conditions and stations and geo.
graphy. Leaders and conductors of
campaigns talk Of the farmer VOTE
the labor vote" the woman VOTE"
the Eastern vote" the western
vote" all sorts of votes" as if they
were separated and wrapped up in
common inclinations and prejudices
and preferments, to be taken as a
whole or not at all. Many a cal
culation has been upset by the fact
that these packages are not as COM
pact as they have seemed to the
calculating eyes of the vote seekers.
Gen. Dawes. taking his cue from
President Coolidge's speech of ac-
ceptance, yesterday, in refusing to
pose for motion pictures as he was
making his way eastward to start
his campaigning, said: I'm going to
be myself. 1 am after the common
sense vote"
That is a new one. AS matter
of fact it has been always with US.
but it has never before been classified
as a separate entity in the political
equation. If Gen. Dawes can capture
the common sense vote of the
country for the ticket of which he is
q member it will win in November.
Just what is the common sense
tov nl,oh fn
Dawes. it is that of the people who
are not beguiled by the old-style
line of talk in platitudes and general
tiles, who are not aroused by what
has been inelegantly but expressively
called fiap-doodle, who look to per-
formances Of the past as indices OF
future prospects, and who try to judge
candidates by their real characters
rather than by the characters they
assume in the course Of a campaign.
Political psychiatrists may aver
that what one candidate may call
common sense on the part of the
voter is actually disordered mentality.
The country has been recently
treated to surfeit of talk about the
effect Of unduly and untimely and
prematureg calcined glands, about
the overdevelopment of the ego
about the lurking within the human
organism Of tendencies toward
savagery, until no one can really
trust to his own judgment as to his
mental health. To read Cock
Robin" in youth may mean dis
rupted mentality.
Common sense may be as unique
as the perfect mental balance that
the Chicago experts have lately been
describing in terms Of extreme rarity.
But there is one almost universal
public delusion, which is that every
body is confident that whatever else
he may have or lack, he is possessed
OF common sense. No one ever
acknowledges his deficiency in this
respect. From it's own point Of view
the common sense vote is the total
vote. If Gen. Dawes can get it,
therefore, he will win unanimously.
Evening star., 1924-08-22
Coming of Mars.

Mars is very much in the public
eye. 1t is feared that the pugnacious
pacifists may object to the promi-
nence Of Mars in the public prints and
In the sky at this time, and the ap-
proach Of Mars toward the earth and
the approach Of National Defense day
may be given an Interpretation at
variance with that offered by less
belligerent Americans than pacifists
But be that as it may, it seems hard
to devise any plan by which Mars
ran be shooed off. If this planet
which bears the name Of prominent
war god and which has long been
considered to have some intimate
relation with war, chooses to come SO
close to the earth as thirty-five mil.
lion miles, it is its business, and II
would be useless for the earth and
any man on it, no matter how inf1u
entail, to protest. At times Mars is
about 24s.o00.0O0 miles away, and
when it slides up to a point within
$4,000, 900 miles there may be some.
thing significant in its action.
According to deductions from
previous observations of the planet,
in many ways Mars resembles our
earth. It is believed to have atmos.
phere, seasons, storms, clouds and
mountains, and vast white patches
having the appearance of snow and
Ne cover its poles. Scientists have
said that the canal system of Mars is
well developed, and other scientists
have said that there are no canals
on Mars. But as Mars comes within
a mere 35,ooo.0oo miles Of earth the
great telescopes may reveal some
facts about Mars which have not been
jotted down before. There has been
good deal OF gossip about the
superior evolution and culture Of
Evening star., 1924-08-22
Gun Play.

A New York news story tells that
"a gunman with an automatic pistol
In each hand shot down four or FIVE
persons In Bleecker street at 4:30
o'clock in the afternoon, pocketed his
weapons, plunged into a tenement
house and disappeared. Two Of his
victims will die"
This il somewhat OF an extreme
case Of reckless gun play. but q day
does not often pass without accounts
Of man.killiny by gunfire, the guns
being used by criminals or by per.
sons OF unbalanced mind m uncon.
troilable temper. Regulation Of gun
Evening star., 1924-08-22

Among the old proverbs Of the
Chinese none 10 more worldly-wise
than: "A whisper can bring on q
war"
That proverb applies more to the
present conditions in the Near East
than to Cathay, for in the Balkans 1t
appears that less than Q Whispered
order may at any moment precipitste
war involving not alone the little
states" but even the great powers.
through their involved inter-relations.
their 5ealousies and their nervous de-
lenses against bolshevik Russia. The
Soviet government 10 openly accused
of attempting to play upon Bulgarian
ignorance and vindictiveness, to
spread sovietism and to bring on war
through bandit" raids into Greece
and Macedonia-the alleged bandits
being actually agents Of bolshevism.
A*+
The Balkan countries Of today were
all. at one time. q part Of the Ottoman
in-Europe. To comprehend in any
degree the present dangerous situa-
ton In the Balkans. 1t 10 essential
taken into consideration, showing the
resultant character OF the people.
According to Ferdinand scheviil. pro-
fessor OF modern European history.
University of Chicago, and author of
THE History Of the Balkan Penin-
sula." the "rayahs." as all Christians
were called by their conquerors, the
Turkish Moslems (the term meaning
herd" or "cattle"), were ruled with
tor
abasement and deceitfulness became
the very fiber Of the rayah character.
That did not mean Christian humility
and submissiveness. but rather the
c-aftiness which justified any un-
faithfulness to pledges given under
duress. Moslem cruelty and untrust-
worthineSs were thus reflected in the
conquered Christians.
This characterizes the great masses
OF the population-the peasantry-
about IS per cent OF all the people.
The other Is per cent constitutes the
educated leaders-the ruling class,
who, under Turkish sovereignty, were
permitted to own the land, and, as
great landlords. to dominate the peas
ants, collect the taxes and administer
local affairs.
When Napoleon III seized the
Ffench throne, in 1851, Gear Nicholas
OF Russia refused to address him as
brother" as monarchs were wont to
call each other. Napoleon was an up
start, whom genuine royalty, such as
the Gear by divine appointment, be-
lieved 1t their royal duty to snub.
Napoleon prodded the Gear by asking
iof Turkey certain concessions in
Palestine, and then the Gear demand
ed equal or greater concessions, and
finally set UP a claim o! q pro-
tectorate over all Christians in Tur-
key-especially Turkey in Europe. That
would have deprived the Sultan
Of his sovereignty over much of his
domain, and he called upon France
and England to come to his support
against Russian pretensions. Thus
| came the Crimean War between Rus
sia on the one side and Turkey,
France and England on the other,
until the fall of Sebastopol, after a
years bloody siege by the allies,
ended the war 1S56) and the Rus
sian protectorate over the Christians.
The latter were left to Turkish rule,
limited by protectorate conceded to
the combined powers of Europe. To
the "rayahs" II seemed that the great
powers had simply used them as
pawns In international war, and then
abandoned them again to their Turk
ish oppressors. The Ottoman empire
Evening star., 1924-08-22
ARTICLE XVIII,


The drink evil. along with other
concomitants Of the established order,
was legislated out of existence, off,
cially, by the bolshevists with rigor
truly Volsteadian. But booze, boot
Logging and moonshine thrive and
flourish in Russia
Communist legislation has been as
ineffective in abolishing the alcoholic
uyge as in eliminating the desire for
gain, the love Of family life and other
tendencies of misguided human nature
under the capitalistic system. Not
only is oficial countenance given to
the beer and light wines idea ('Iight."
according to the interpre tation of the
Soviet authorities, running up to 20
per cent alcohoD, but spirituous bev-
erages Of almost any character and
description can be obtained anywhere
for the asking.
The only absentees are imported
whisky and brandy and certain for
eign aperitives and liquors, and
am not at all certain these could
| not have been located had I mani
Tested sufficient interest in the search.
II the Russian or foreign visitor
wants perfectly legal. legitimate
spree and doesn't want to slake his
thirst on government manufactured
and sold champagne or high-power
vodka, there are the 20 per cent
proof ports, sherrys and madeiras, one
bottle Of which is guaranteed to whet
| the alcoholic to keen, sharp edge
| and two or three to start perfectly
good Communist singing God Save
the Tar"
Twenty per cent is the ostensible
maximum alcoholic content as laid
down by the decree, but under the
stress of competition government,
Communist co operative and private
winners, who are allowed by the same
decree to reinforce the lighter wines
| with straight alcohol, are careless
about thir arithmtic.
Champagne - . Quart.
During my stay in Russia the
| monthly sales reports of the Com
| munist-Co-operative stores showed
the sales of alcoholic beverages
| tripled each month for three sue
| cessive months; in fact most Of the
| officially encouraged merchandising
establishments in the center OF Mos
COW exist for little else than the sale
| of bottled goods.
Champagne. imported or Russian.
can be obtained in any desired guam
tity, the latter costing 81 q quart for
the best grade produced by one Of the
onicial establishments. Imported
French wines are available, but
rather expensive. There are many
very worth while domestic vintages.
| some Of these, such ~ the Kahetian
wines from the Caucasus, being noted
for their fiery qualities. The govern
ment itself manufactures . vodka
and other >spirituous drinks with an
ostensibly 20 per cent kick (pretty
poor stun, most Of them), but the
queen Of all beverages, 50 far as
wide consumption and potency are
concerned, is moonshine vodka, the
drink Of the Russian masses.
This is distilled and imbibed every
where. The government vodka mo-
nopoly. the backbone Of the Russian
budget under the Txars, furnished its
devotees with Q 20 Per cent vodka,
but the moonshine stills, operating
In every town and village, 80 far
beyond this. A drink Of 1t custom
aEtiy runs from 60 to IS par osnt
And how it 10 served. rhere is =
Evening star., 1924-08-22

Michigan poets are justified in
wondering why Henry Ford felt II
necessary to go to New England and
start riot Of Longfellow publicity
Flivverists also may be nerved to
inquire why he should develop SC
much sentiment for one Of those
bumpy old-time stage coaches.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

According to Gen. Dawes the Com.
munists who wanted to indorse
Robert La Toilette are still entitled
to sympathy for the abrupt manner
in which they were dismissed.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

It Is not to be assumed that John
w. Davis will allow the Coolidge and
so strong between themselves as to
create the impression that the
Democracy has slipped into the posi-
tion Of third party.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

The North Carolina insurance COM
missioner who threatened to hit
Senator Dial with a chair offered a
strong argument for the Importance
of the line Of business to which he
is giving supervisory attention.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

Their recreations indicate that
Thomas Edison sometimes enjoys
avoiding the metropolitan blaze Of
electric lights, and that Henry Ford
likes to get away from the parking
problem.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

Suggestions that Mars is already
radio-listening is embarrassing. The
old planet may have tuned in in time
to overhear some rather badly re-
hearsed political proceedings.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

Opposition to the Defense day
program may be based on /, the idez
that the way to discourage any
foreign promoters of a next wa,
is to avoid any demonstration tha
might give them the slightes
publicity.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

In our "palmy day" reflections on
the prize ring let US be as cheerful
as possible and talk about generous
old John l.. Sullivan instead of
Kid Mccoy.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

There might be some punishment
Babe" if they could know how tire.
some they have become to the
average reader.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

Much Is demanded Of a judge. In
addition to knowing a great deal of
law he must be able to follow all the
fine points of psycho-analytic
argument.
Evening star., 1924-08-22

The farmer will come in for con.
gratulations If he lives far enough
from a big town to avoid the griev.
ances arising from parking regula.
tons.
Evening star., 1924-08-22
Slow Auto Pace Is
Not Traffic Solution
=, -. rditor Of rne star:

10 the Editor Of The Star:
The statement recently made by an
expert of the Automotive Trade As
sociation of Washington that the in
creasing number OF motor cars on
streets and highways is making 1t
easier to drive, because of being COM
pelled to drive slowly is strong argu-
ment for the reduction of the speed
limit II no accidents occur In con-
Eested districts, where autoists are
compelled to drive slow. It IL logical
conclusion that the speed limit should
Evening star., 1924-08-22
Avoiding 0bsefyation.

did you have q pleasant Summer
Al the seashore?''
NO. answered Miss Cayenne. my
impression IL that everybody II un.
comfortable in Summer. and we like
to get as Tar from home a. possible
so that the neighbors can't notice It"
When q friend tells you bout yoh
faults foh yoh own good" aid Uncle
Eben, ..you may be gtttin' de benent.
but he's gfttin' de enjoyment"