davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Have Mercy on
the Work Horses

To the Editor of The Star
The writer has noted with regret
and sometimes Indignation the I'M
necessary suffering caused work ami
mails during the recent intensely hot
weather. Office men will go home
and fan themselves, and give not a
thought to the toiling creatures who
help to make life easy for them The
lot Of work animal is hard enough
at the best. but when compelled to
work under painful conditions 1t is
much harder.
The colored drivers do not seem in
tentionally cruel-just ignorant Of the
best way to- harness and drive their
teams. Some of them have a super
stition Gt is more than a prejudice)
that spirited animal can only be
controlled by a tight checkrein.
Nothing is farther from the truth. A
spirited animal frets and chafes un-
der a painful checkrein, and many
a runaway has been caused because
the animal was trying to run away
from pain. After their teams have
worn themselves out fretting over the
pain, the checkreinS are still retained
to torture them.
The important lumber firms are the
most cruel as to overlooking A cou-
pie OF the most important GARY nrInS
do not lag far behind. Some of the
city horses are compelled to suffer the
tortures of the damned
The writer has also noted that many
of the horses on the streets Of the city
have sores on the tops of the neck.
The American Ice Co. has helped the
condition of it's horses by using
breast collars. 1t is suggested that
other firms follow suit in the interest
not only of mercy to helpless crea-
lures, but out Of consideration to
their pocketbook nerve.
MRS. CARRIE K, HUNTINGTON,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This greater pressure SqueezeS 1t to ~
smaller volume. This i'm turn causes
the temperature of the compressed air
to increase. Now. this increase of
temperature is so great that. generally
if a quantity of air a couple of miles
above the surface We're forced down
to the earth, it would on arrival BE-
several degrees warmer than the SUI
rounding surface air. Similarly. ris.
ing air expands and thereby cools
Hence, even if the outer air were
thoroughly mixed up. the lower All
still would be relatively warm and thu
upper air comparatively cold.
Q. Is balsa wood porous?-E. A. 7
A. Balsa wood is very absorbent
and when placed under water light
pieces may absorb as high as 500 t.
600 per cent moisture It's life T.
said to he short under ordinary coudi
tions unless treated with a preServa
tive.
q. If bronze paint reduces the
radiation of radiators shouldn't it be
removed before repainting"--F. A. II
"A. The Bureau of Standards says
that bronze is not an inSulator. but
is a poor radiator of heat energy
If Il bronzed radiator is afterward
II "Oulu Eduldtp neat as wei
as though it had not been bronzed
O. What was Marie Corelli's rea
Nance w.
A. Marie Corelli's birth certifcate
was published recently, which showed
that she was Caroline Cody, daughteI
of Thomas Cody. laborer.
@. What was the origin OF thu
slang expression. dough face"?
A. NJ.
A. John Randolph of Roanoke +
credited with the invention OF tn,
term dough face" applying II to
Northern men who made comproinis'
with slavery for reasons of eXpediency
@. How long has a train run regu
larly without d stup?-G. r. c.
A. The Bureau of Railway Zee
romics says that the longest LOGON"
tive run in the world was or train
and s of the Missouri. Kansas
and Texas Railway. from New Frank
lin. Mo, to San Antonio, Tex, q di>
lance of $50 miles.
@. What did "R" stand for in thu
name of Robert II. Livingston"--T
p. L.
r. Robert r. Livingston assumed
the initial "R" as equivalent to Rob
ert, the son of Robert, to distinguish
him from the numerous other Roberts
in the family. The practice of assum
ing an initial was quite common IN
the Livingston family.
Q. How long is a sea post Clerr
away at a time?-E. G.. V. A.
A. The length of time away from
the United States varies from two
weeks to two months.
ASK Uncle Sam about IL through
the Washington Information Bureau
of The Washington Star. All kno1rI
edge the Government is gaining
through research and Investigation Is
available to you. Don't hesitate 4"
make your 1cGnts kno,on. 4 2-cenf
stamp aciU bring you the Information
you need. This serricc is for all read
ers of The Washington Star and is
designed to be helpful to all 1rhO Avail
themselves of It, An effective clear
ing house betUecn the Government
and the people 1tiH aid you. and help
Is yours for the asking. Address your
Tdnts to The Washington star Infor-
NATION Bureau. Frederic j. HGSEiH
Director, Washington, ID. G..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Fears Apartment Plan.
Former Representative Foresees
Drop in Realty Values.

To the Editor of The Star:
I have been reading with some in
terest and a sincere effort to digest
the "wonderful' proposal made by
Herbert Hoover to house the $4,000
Government employees at $3.50.
per room and must confess that / fail
to warm up to the proposition.
There isn't a man anywhere in the
United States more interested in the
welfare Of Government servants than
myself. For years, / Travelled hither
and yon aiding in my feeble way to
secure just retirement laws and salary
increases for the men and women
who labor for Uncle Sam. In addition
to that, / served two years in Con-
gress, during which period it was my
leading effort to make Government
workers happy and contented and
prosperous. ] mention these personal
activities for no other reason than to
show that / am not against doing
anything which will help these under.
paid public servants, but will the
Hoover proposal be of benefit to either
the employees or the Capital. in which
so many reside and are compelled to
buy their daily bread? l fear not.
a careful analysis of the PROPOSE
ton leads me to believe that the trans
ferring of thousands of persons from
their present domiciles to one or two
large buildings will not enhance the
social atmosphere of those thus
"bundled' together. They are to-
gether all day and change to other
environs in the evening Is both
broadening and beneficial. While
they are servants" during the day,
they become "citizens" after office
hours and enjoy an atmosphere"
which, in my opinion, they will not
get "huddled up" under one roof.
AS a citizen and taxpayer of the
city, l have another fear and that is
that with the removal of thousands
of persons from individual homes to
single building, or even two or three
buildings, we will be face to face with
a serious slump in real estate values
which will be reflected in both rent
ais and taxes. Houses that now sell
for say, $4,000 will no doubt slump
to $1,000 or $4,000. which will mean
a larger tax rate or less money with
which to beautify and keep orderly
our splendid city. IF this slump
comes, and l don't see how it could be
prevented, thousands of these very
employees, for whom a great philan-
thropist" is now offering to erect 81.
gantic apartment houses, who have
already purchased homes and are
paying for them on monthly basis,
will find that they are paying for a
$1,000 home on $4,000 basis. In
other words. in accordance with
agreements already entered into they
will be compelled to pay far in excess
of the value of their homes and
thereby become losers of large
amounts.
The whole thing looks dangerous
to me and I trust the people Of Wash
ington will study the subject well
before hurrahing for the scheme"
CHARLES I. STENGLE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Again the Charge of Plagiarism

Another charge of plagiarism has
been made against a successful
author. A woman who recently won
a magazine prize for a story Is sued
for $500, 900 in a California court by
another woman, who alleges that the
plot of the winning story was taken
from a scenario filed by her with q
film corporation. The successful
author declares that she never heard
of the claimant before and that there
is nothing to the suit.
Plagiarism charges have been more
frequent since the development of the
motion picture industry than ever be-
fore. Scenario writer's who are not
productions, have a decided belief
that their story schemes and plots
are stolen from them and turned over
to the staff writer's or favored film.
story authors for development. That
this is not the case has been vigorous
ly asserted by all the producers and
the professional scenario writer's.
Back of the belief, however, is perhaps
some measure of justification.
There are only a few stories in the
world, but there are infinite combina-
tons of those few fundamental plots.
Themes are repeated over and over
again They are set in different
periods. They are developed along
different lines. 1t is probably true
that many, if not most, of the patrons
of the motion picture theaters recog-
nize in the tales that are told on the
"silver sheet" concepts that they have
had previously and in some cases that
they have written.
There are many cases where anna
teur writings have been utilized by
professional scenario authors, but in
the reputable studios credit has been
given to the initiators Of the plots or
perhaps payment has been made to
them. But that there are other
studios where this rule of honesty
does not prevail. however, has been
evidenced from time to time.
Plagiarism is difficult thing to
prove Authorship is often affected
by subconscious memory, and fire.
quently writer's are inspired and
guided by ideas that they have alb
sorbed without realizing their source.
Simultaneous creation of similar
stories and plays has occurred with
perfect honesty on both sides. A
claimant for first honors charging
plagiarism is required to prove not
merely that his, or her, production is
similar to that of another, but that
the other had access to his writing.
Few of these cases ever come to trial,
for the difficulty and cost of prosecu-
ton are heavy. and therefore the
claims are either dropped or settled
out of court, usually the former. In
this present instance, with profess
sional writer as claimant, there may
be court proceedings, in which case
some interesting disclosures are pos
sible.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

Payments Lower Than Man,
Expected Under New Scale.

10 the Editor OF The Star:
The retired Government workers
who are now beginning to receive
their checks from the Pension Office,
under the law of July 8. 1926, and Of
whom a good many supposed they
would receive three or four times as
much as they actually are, seem to
think that they have not been treated
fairly.
Mr.. Alcorn, referring to the new re-
tirement law in The Evening Star,
stated that some action might be
taken next September or October
looking to a more liberal bill.
AS a member Of the National Asso-
citation of Retired Federal Employees,
who are most vitality concerned with.
the new retirement law, and through
whose efforts, aided by the loyal sup.
port of the local press, 1t was finally
put through, l feel confident that no
attempt will be made by our assocfa.
ton to introduce any bill at the com.
ing session of Congress, but some eff
fort at remedying the defects of the
new law might be attempted.
The new law raises the maximum
annuity from $720 to 81 900 per an
mum, but only about one-tenth of the
annuitants are so benefited. More
than three-fourths of all the an
nuitants retired in 1920 drew salaries
ranging from 5000 to 1900 per an
mum, and these will get an increase
of $3.50 to $3.50 per month.
Since the bill to liberalize the annui.
ties was principally brought about
through the distressing circumstances
in which several of the retired Gov
eminent workers were placed, mostly
loW-salaried people. one would mag
Inc that If relief measure were
passed. this class would be the first
to be considered. instead of dismissing
them with few dollars a month.
If those who had charge of the hill
in the House and Senate would allow
the maximum salary for the purpose
OF computing the annuities remain at
$1,000, as in the original bill, then mul.
tiply the average basic salary bv the
total number Of years not exceeding
30 and divide by So, it would give
$1,000 for the maximum, which had
the Presidents sanction; then all
whose basic salary equaled or ex
ceeded 1900 would receive an an.
nuity of $1,000, and all those whose
rate of compensation was below 81 200
would receive FIVE sixths of their an.
nual basic salary.
The deductions of 31a per cent from
the salaries of the Government ern.
ployes would be amply sufficient TO
take care Of this increase. which womb
not add above 81 100000 a year to the
present expenditures, and all would
be happy.
l hope that the next Congress will
give this matter due consideration.
EDMUND MURPHY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Silent Construction Possible.

Tests at the Bureau Of Standards
promise relief from one of the draw
backs of modern civilization. An eN-
reriment has been made i'll the sub
stitution of electric welding for rivet-
ing together the members of steel
structures. The bureau tests consist
in putting under strain sections of
orders that have been thus welded to
determine the relative strength of the
structures in the two methods of
union. The welded girder, it is re-
ported. buckled. while the joint held
fast. and this, it is believed, demon
strated the possibility OF uniting
structural steel members noiselessly.
1t will be an infinite relief to city
jewellers If buildings can be erected
Without the clatter Of the pneumatic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

many 'moonshiners' have been sent To
prison in 60 years" continues the
Eagle, for insisting on what they con
sldered an Inherent right, that prison
for Langley means no disgrace at all
That explains the primary vote in the
tenth Kentucky. The mountain
women fought nobly"
The Nashville Banner (ndependent
says that when Mr.. Langley disre
garded Federal statutes interfering
with what they believed to be liberty
or conduct, as precious to them a.
life, he became their hero: he still oC
cupies place in their hearts and their
votes are ever ready to hold him OF
his in power" The Springfield Union
Republican) interprets the result a.
striking evidence of a public desire H.
that part of Kentucky to vindicate
conspiracy to violate"
1T is curious commentary on the
established equality of the sexes" AZ
cording to the Charleston Evening
Post independent Democratic), that
there should have been so many in
stances of what might almost be r.
garded as political dover, the almos'
inherent right of the wife to her hus
bands political estate. Thus far TIL
political equality OF women has not
given notable ILLUSTRATION Of political
independence of and by women" The
Philadelphia Public Ledger dndepend
ent) remarks that IF this 'vindication
idea spreads politics will become even
more complicated. and a new caste OF
office-holding families with a family
lien on the Office may be created" The
Schenectady Gazette independent
Democratic) questions the value OF
this sentimental vote" and adds this
when we elect a person out OF syrt
pathy we are overlooking necessary
qualifications.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

q. What should [ feed Il hawk
about three months old?-W. H.
A. The Biological Survey says the
food should consist of small mammals
or birds so that 1t will get feathers
and hair. Care should be taken not
to feed the hawk birds that are pro-
tected by law.
O. What kind of willow trees are
those with the low-hanging branches
at Hams Point?-R. A. j.
A. They are Sails babylonica.
@. Which is the more popular In
strument In the United States, the
saxophone or ukulele?-P l.. II.
A. The music dealers of Washing
ton seem to agree that the ukulele
is more popular than the saxophone
in the United States, Judging from
the sale of these instruments. This
is attributed to the fact that. while
one can learn to use the ukulele at
home by written instructions in two
or three lessons, one must take lessons
and practice often to play the saxo-
phone.
O. Which of our colleges give train
ing in public health work?--A. {.
A. Among the universities which
courses in public health work are
Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Yale.
@. In sunstroke does the body get
hot or cold?-L. B.
A Sunstroke occurs in two forms:
Heat stroke cheat fever), in which the
temperature of the body Is very high,
and heat prostration. or heat eXhaus-
ton, in which the surface of the body
is cool. sometimes considerably below
normal The difference is important
because of the different treatment re-
quired.
O. Should strawberry beds be weed
ed after the berry season is over?-
A. G.
A. They should be weeded so the
plants can grow well. Next years
crop will be improved by giving the
plants attention this Summer and
Fall.
@. What are the so-called unsophis-
ticated foods?-M. P.
A. This phrase is used by Lieut..
Col. Robert McCarrison. a distinguish
ed British military surgeon. He uses
the term in reference to whole grains,
milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables.
@. Why is the Isle of Man so
named?-A. r. E.
A. The name is derived from its
MANI name, Vannin or Mannin,
which means the middle. The refer
ence Is to its position in the middle
Of the Irish Sea.
O. What was Rembrandt's first
painting?-C. S. T.
A. In the Stuttgart Gallery there
is a signed and dated picture of st.
Paul in Prison, which is Rembralidt's
earliest piece with an ascertained date
1927.
@. Who was known as the First
Gentleman Of Europe?-K. D. w.
A. This sobriquet was applied to
King George " of England.
@. Why doesn't the cold of the
upper air come down on warm days
and the warm air rise, the two mix
ing as they would in room?-
E. r. T.
A. The Weather Bureau says that
as the upper air sinks for it does sink
at times and often more or less) it
comes under greater pressure by the
weight of the air passed through
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Housing Plan Endorsed.
Federal Employees Urged to Sup.
port Offer of Capitalist.

To the Editor of The Star
] read the editorial entitled "a Co.'S
Price Housing Plan" In The Star o.
August z. The editorial seemed T.
study the interest Of the realtoi
rather than the interest of the Gov
eminent employee. There Is a report
current that there are many vacanI
rooms in apartment houses and THAI
the owners allow them to remain
vacant rather than lower the rents.
The s165. 900, 900 public buildings an
grounds bill has become a law. and
Of course. 1t Is just a question Of uIns
as to when the Government hotels
will be torn down. / thoroughly az
prove the $165 .000,0 appropriation
for Government-owned buildings To
house Government activities, but
also believe that the Government
worker should have comfortable liz
ing quarters. The cost Of living H.
very high and salaries should he ade
quate. II they are not, the Govern,
ment should see that it's workers havp
comfortable living quarters. either b.
building houses and apartments anG
renting or selling them to workers o..
by issuing a Federal home loan :"
that workers could borrow money al
a low rate Of interest to buy homes
There is no independence In staying
mot living--in rooms in other people =
homes. Every mature, normal person
wants a home.
The integrity and ability as a finan
cter of Herbert Hoover Is information
ally known. IF there were an
grounds for skepticism, Mr.. Hoover
would not formally announce thu
project Of an unnamed philanthropis'
to build apartments in downtown
Washington for Government workers
at $3.50 a room. For selfinterest, II
for no other reason. the Government
employees should stand as one to back
this beneficent project.
Please give my thanks to the ut,-
named philanthropist through the CO,
umns Of your paper and ask him tn
reserve two rooms, kitchen and bath
southern exposure. for me.
BLANCHE G. HOWLETT,
U. S. Tariff Commission
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

On occasion we love to browse
through various residential sections
or washington, as one might turn the
leaves of a book in idle moments.
The other afternoon we paid a visit
to Quietville, where no sound is
heard except the murmur of trees, the
occasional voice of a human being
and the distant hum of a trolley.
Think not, readers, to place Quiet
Vile on the District plats. We will
take very good care that you shall
not, for we have no desire to have
some realtor quote us.
Know. then, that every one who
thinks he knows Quietville is mis-
taken. What we say here of this
community might be said with equa
justice of several. SO that no man but
ourselves may know where Quiet
vile Is.
The homes are detached. Some OF
them are well cared for. others not
so well, others not cared for at all
shingles and siding showing unmis-
taxable evidence of undue weathering
What a shame that yonder shingle
house has been allowed to go without
any stain for SO long a time that
three-fourths of the surface is prac-
tically bare.
One who cares no more for the out
side of his home than that ought not
to be permitted to own a home. Ger
tainly, there should be organized a
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Houses. in order that worthy
structures might not suffer the raw
ages of sun and rain, snow and ice,
to too great a degree.
It distresses the sensitive observer
to see a good house decay, Simply
because the householder has no sense
of the eternal fitness of things.
Perhaps we are unjust to him.
Maybe the poor fellow is doing all
he can to carry" his home. Per
haps his payments are more than he
ought to bear. Yet it would seem
that any one living in this commu-
nifty might be able to scrape up
enough cash for a painting job at
least once in three years.
Upon this point, of course, home
owners split into two camps. There
are those who take good care OF
their property and there are those
who do not 1t is unnecessary to say
more.
We remember this house as it was
three wears ago. Today it looks neg
lected and untidy. There is an air
Of actual wood suffering along the
uprights Of those back porches. The
grass Is not good and the shrubbery
is yellow.
These people seem rather to be
camping out than living at home, II
YOU get what we mean.
Over there is a real home. There
is no evidence of weathering in those
sidings, neatly and thickly painted.
The house looks better than 1t did
when built. The side porch is
equipped with roller shades. Com
Portable wicker chairs peep out at
one.
We would like to go up there, and
sit down in one of those chairs, and
when the owner came out to inquire
at our temerity, we would like to
say, "Sir, l do not have to enter your
home to know that it as we'll kept
inside as outside.
"You have written your character
in paint and grass. in healthy shrub
berry. in yonder row of iris along the
garage wall. Every blade of grass
here is a testimonial to those who
live here 1t has been pleasure and
an inspiration to sit here. Good-day.'
x X X
The outstanding trait Of Quietville,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

Miss Ederle has introduced q v Try
important question relating to The
value OF pie as an article Of diet
In athletic training. Pie has satisfied
the hunger Of patriots and states
men in hours Of stress. American
athletics may awaken physiological
science to the fact that pie, and Its
concomitants, cake and ice cream,
are no longer to be regarded merely
as decadent luxuries.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20
Relationships.

There are many outlaws at large
in the country
They go ahead in their own way
and don't ask for political advantage.
The outlaws through the country
don't worry me as much as the in
laws in my wife's family"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

able time, but took old Chesapeake
while it was giving an imitation of the
English Channel Ruth Kitchin made
a good swim, and If 1t is her aim to
attack the English Channel may good
luck be with her.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

O.. B. Shaw fears that his money
Is not worth as much as it used 70
Ing about the value of his private
fortune is delightful paradox
calculated to restore faith in Brit
feh humor."