davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
On to the Pole Again

The snow motor is to get an Arctic
trial. One does not get much under
standing of the mechanism Of the
snow motor from pictures Of 1t. but 1t
is a cumbrous vehicle, gas driven.
which it's sponsors say will go through
deep snow. across broken ice and
through Alaska up to the shore of
the arctic Sea. A dispatch to The
Star says that Alaskan road commits
sioners and dog team mushers believe
that snow motors will not be able Ito
make the grade" We shall see. It
is an experiment, and progress re-
quires experiments. They are calling
the snow motors-there seem to be
more than one-"the iron dogs.
Their mission is to carry supplies
from the Pacific Ocean north to the
Arctic Sea. where airmen are making
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
Underwriting Crime.

A new line Of insurance business
has been developed by the bootlegging
enterprise of Californians, according
to the State insurance commissioner
OF Oregon. He has ascertained that
hundreds Of Illicit liquor dealers are
now protected" by policies: more
than 1900 mem and 100 women are
paying weekly premiums of from 81
to SIS. and in 1925 these premiums
amounted to 100000. Fees charged
by one company for the protection
guaranteed are as follows: Accidental
death while ''in line Of duty" $4,000
policy. $40 IL week; s.. 900 policy. $3.50
a week: for time spent In jail. IS
day. at 81 a week premium; for $40
a day during Jail time, 81 q week pre-
MUM. and for $50 a day. IS premium
weekly.
In short, II would seem that IT least
one insurance company on the Pacific
Coast Is underwriting its patrons for
breaking the law Il IL Question
whether these policies could he sus-
tanned in court. They are founded
upon lawbreaking. and on the score
of public policy they are OF doubtful
The policy might just as
we'll be written for a burglar or any
other professional criminal. or course.
an insurance company takes its own
risks" when it writes any form Of
policy. 1t is gambling. in effect. with
the chances. Its rates are computed
in accordance with the risks,
The question arises whether this line
OF underwriting should be permitted.
1t IS certainly Of doubtful morality.
and it may be OF questionable legality.
It is in announcement OF an Illegal
traffic. guaranteeing maintenance
while the insured Is serving time under
sentence after conviction Of crime.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27

The need Of law to prevent the
promiscuous sale OF deadly weapons
through the mails Is noted by Chief
Postal Inspector Simmons, in a state
ment in The Star relative to observa.
tons made in these columns a few
DAYS ago. The practice Of selling pis-
tolls by parcel post, collect" results
in putting these dangerous nipple
ments in the hands of the young, the
criminally minded. the irresponsible,
who may think that they need them
for defense. The Government Is
forced into the role Of partner in
this pernicious traffic. by being made
the collector of the price. under its
c. o. D. system, which was devised
as a means Of promoting legitimate
trade and facilitating the public.
AS Inspector Simmons points out.
the danger comes not only from the
armtng Of the potential criminal. but
in putting dangerous weapons into
the hands Of persons who do not need
them and who are likely to commit
deeds of violence with them. by acct
dent or by design. The ease with
which these guns are obtained. at the
initial cost Of a tWo-cent stamp. makes
the traffic especially dangerous.
OF course. the advertisements in
which these goods are proclaimed as
obtainable through the post are
couched in terms Of defense" You
need a gun for your own protection"
they say in effect, II not In terms.
Get one Of ours and you are safe.
Send no money, but let Uncle Sam
hand you the gun. Your name will
never be known"
If proper laws were enacted. both
local and Federal, every person who
really needs a gun could obtain one.
from legitimate sources. with little
difficulty, but with recorded iderttfi-
cation, and without publicity. But the
young. the mentally defective, the
irresponsible and the criminally mind.
ed could not get these deadly weap
ons, save by stealth and With risk Of
prosecution.
Surely it was never intended that
the c. o. D. parcel post system should
be used for such a purpose. The laws
at present permit the practice. En-
actment of a carefully framed statute
forbidding the transmission Of guns
through the mails save with the keep
ing Of official records which are to be
at once transmitted to the police
would at least stop this traffic, which
is flooding the country with cheap
pistols, which are dangerous to the
possessor as we'll as to all others and
which do not meet any legitimate need
Of defense.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
Preparing for Memorial Bridge.

Another step toward building the
Memorial Bridge is being taken by
engineers. The bottom Of the Poto-
mac is being examined to determine
the slope and pressure Of the mud
and other deposits which lie between
the bottom and bed rock. 1T IL said
that this is necessary in order that
engineers may decide whether the
plan proposed by the contractor for
the piers shall be approved. The
pressure against the piers by the mass
of matter between the water aud bed
rock must be computed. When this
is settled the building Of the piers Will
be begun.
Not many days will pass before all
Neutrality-suspicious. and Capital pilgrims
will see that one of the great bridges
Of the world and one Of deep senti.
mental interest to Americans is build.
ing This examination OF the Potomac
bottom is different from that made
several months ago. There were Dor
ines along the course of the bridge to
ascertain the depth Of the material be.
tween the water and bed rock and to
determine it's character. By means Of
caissons this material must be taken
from the river where the piers are to
stand, for these supports Of the bridge
rest on the basic, igneous rock under
lying the mud, sand, clay and gravel
of this region.
Each step in the construction of the
Memorial Bridge is of interest to a
large number of Washington people.
The bridge has been n matter Of hope,
discussion and belief for about fifty
years Numerous plans have been
proposed and drawn for this bridge
and there have been many sites sug-
gested. Here we have the concluding
work preliminary to building the
piers. 1t is inspiring to think that
we will soon see the great bridge rise
above the river.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEEELL.

instance. if every bum tenor could
be made to sound like Caruso at
his best"'
THAT would be an invention for
you. all right" agreed Mrs. Jones.
with her customary enthusiasm. Mary
Jones was always enthusiastic.
The perfecter, now, would make
everything sound perfect" con-
tinued Templeton, warming to his
idea. ut wouldn't make any differ.
ence. then, whether Mr.. Um-blah. the
tenor, and his friend, Um-tah. bari
tone. could sing or not.
They would just stano them in
front of the microphone and start the
generator. and say, Now boys. your
best and then. without letting them
know, turn on the perfecter.
when ola I'm bluh started the lit
tie perfecter would take all the bla.l
right out of his voice. His squeak
on the high note would be smoothed
win the eternal gratitude of every
Woodworking loud-speaker in the
United States and foreign countries.
Then every ham violinist would
be made TO sound like Fritz kreisler
in disguise. Every cowlike con.
tralto would blossom into a Homer.
a Braslau or Schumann-Heink.
Every soprano would sing sweet
ly. a veritable Gori. Harsh tones
would be irOned out, and the mis-
cradle vibrato. n common fault, made
to sound as the fall of the water
brook.
NO more would oar ears be
harasSed with the music OF some
perfectly good band coming over all
drums and brass. The little per
30 he 10 hr, a
casting station what the hard-work,
ing gentlemen who conduct them 90
not seem to be able t. do for them.
selves.
The perfecter. which would have
a brain of It's own, would realize that
in radio the best transmission and the
best reception are secured from a
small group, not a large one.
"Of course, hroadcasting stations
could secure much the same result.
with band. If they would allow ~ of
the players to stay at home. and just
ask for the services Of the other
three
Certainly nothing comes over so
we'll as the trios Give me a piano,
cello and violin trio, for real enjoy
ment, every time. The studio mana
gers know this, Of course, but some
how they forget il when the big bands
show up.
Our little radio perfecter, how,
ever, would do the trick for them.
Il would have TO be in the nature OF
some sort Of resistance device. that
would absorb. something like a grid
leak. the excess Of noise.
With the noise taken out. every
performer. whether singer or talker.
and every organization. whether band
or jazz orchestra, would broadcast
tone and musical ability, not rasp or
sour. off key notes.
Then the gentleman who gareles
when he talks would sound like De
mosthenes. There would be no occa-
sion any more for letters such as the
one printed recently. Don't let them
ladies sing any more. II must hurt
them. or something.
"A new day would dawn in radio
broadcasting. Think of it-every.
thing positively perfect"
Templeton Jones was radiant. as he
looked into the future perfect state Of
things.
Il am afraid it would be-ah, too
perfect, wouldn't it," asked Mrs.
Jones
Too perfect?" Jones asked. Why
What would you have TO kick
about then. Templeton?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
Public Lauds Guggenheim's
Splendid Gift to Aviation

progress abroad than here. Mr.. Gus-
genheim aims at establishing CONNER
cial aviation on an independent basis.
He hopes to assist in placing it on Il
foundation where it viii stand with
out Government support, maintaining
itself by its own merits" The Union
town Herald thinks it is the part of
wisdom that the venture financed
by Mr.. Guggenheim will be divorced
from politics" and that 1T will make
fundamental science its foremost
concern" The sums to be expended
will, i'll this way. the comment Contln-
ues. mot always be subject 10 the
ViciSSitudes of discussion on the floor
of Congress or the anxious pruning
Of appropriation committees"
* x !: x
AS outlined by the Akron Beacon
Journal, the purposes of the gift are
as follows: ITO promote aeronaQtical
education in both institutions of learn
ing and among the general public; 10
assist in the extension of fundamental
aeronautical science; 10 assist in the
development of commercial aircraft
and aircraft equipment; TO further
the application of aircraft in business.
! industry and other economic and So
cial activities of the Nation" But it
is to be understood, the Beacon jour
nal goes on to say, that the donor
of the gift does not want these efforts
in behalf of aviation to conflict with
any of the Governments plans" In
fact. as the Rochester Times Union
points out, military requirements for
| aircraft differ considerably from re
quirements for commercial use and
''the Army and Navy Departments
have even been criticized for expend-
ing money upon experimental work
instead of building up larger air
| f1eets.'
Even the generous sum that Mr.
Guggenheim has given will not go
far to finance anything SO costly as
experiments in aviation, and there
doubtless is no belief in his mind that
it will" observes the Fort Wayne
Journal Gazette. 1t is, however. the
beginning of something important.
Perhaps other wealthy men will act
likewise to the same end with this
most generous example to illustrate at
once a need and a method" The De
troit News also estimates the new
fund as generous but insufficient"
stating that it is "a fraction of the
sum that Europe will spend for SINH
lar purposes within the next decade"
and the Detroit paper joins with those
who hope for further gifts to tkla
science by "other rich men,"
The general public still looks upc~
travel in the air as u gamble Nii.A
life" observes the Decatur Revic,.
setting over against this opinion the
fact that lit is a tribute to the flyers
that so on day and night over noun
tain and plain that the deaths in this
service (air maid have been only two
or three in the last two years" The
Newark Evening News, speaking on
this phase of the problem, rnScludes
that 1.-The education of 10 Pablo
mind to a habit for air travss and air
carriage of goods will be one of the
fruitful fields Of effort"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

the press gallery. described johnson
as "a disgruntled Buddha.''
i r x =
Washington. it's said. is about 10 he
Dequeathed a new daily newspaper of
distinctive character. II will not con.
tam ordinary news, either local, ma
tlonal or international, but coniine it.
sell 70 reports Of governmental activi-
ties. Plans are understood 10 have
reached the point where publication
Is imminent. Although concentrating
upon the doings of Uncle Sam. the
new paper is TO be strictly non-official.
non'political and privately owned and
edited. 1t will seek its clientele
throughout the country rather than in
the District of Columbia. What the
White House, Congress and the de-
partments do from day to day-so the
story goes-is to be reported in news
paper style rather than in the garb
OF unlmpaSSioned official language
\erpatlm accounts Of So-called de-
oates in House and Senate-including
even what Mr.. Blease of South Caro-.
INA says-are TO be published. Once
upon time William Jennings Rrya n
advocated some such project, but his
proposal called for an out -and.out Gov
eminent newspaper. which the enter
prise herein mentioned is not TO be.
x 4 :: =
There seems to be nothing in the
theory that the personnel OF the pres.
ent administration gives Massachu-
sets all the national advertising it
wants. Mr.. Coolidge's home common
wealth. Is by way 81 passing a bill
through its Legislature providing for
an expenditure of $3.50, 900 during the
next three years to spread lroaJca ST
the possibilities of the Bay State for
business and residence, especially as
Summer resort. Massachusetts is
patterning after the example of Maine.
Gov. Brewster announces that Maine
advertising expenditure of $50, 900 has
brought in at least 100000 of new
capital that might not have been
otherwise attracted.
): X :. =
The Woman's National Democratic
Club in Washington occupies an old.
time stOne-front house on Connecticut
avenue, with a number that some of
the daughters of hope who frequent
it think Is of good omen. The number
is 500. On the outside of the building
the club has put up Il tablet with the
words "Eight-twenty" boldly display
ed upon it, and some of the more Op-
timistic Democratic sisters say that
it stands for Twenty eight" the year
of destiny for their party! Mrs. Wood
row Wilson is honorary president of
the club. In anticipation of a whirl-
wind campaign two years hence the
club is busily affiliating itself with the
organized activities of Democratic
women throughout the country.
!: X x X
Anybody who looks like Theodore
Roosevelt looked when he organized
the Rough Riders in 1898 can get a
good job in the movies. One If the
great producing companies is prepar-
ing to screen the life of the colonel
and build the story largely around the
cavalry regiment he took to Cuba.
Herman Hagedorn. director of the
Roosevelt Memorial Association, has
left for the Southwest in search Of
material for the Roosevelt film, in.
Guiding some plainsman who resem-
bles Teddy closely enough to be cast
for the title role.
Copyright. 1e2o)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27

exhibits such as had never been before
assembled 1t started a series Of great
fairs" in this country which have un-
doubtedly had a marked influence in
the development Of domestic trade
and industry and in the spread of
American commerce.
Since the centennial Of 1875 much
advance has been made in the art or
temporary building construction. The
Chicago fair of 1893 marked a new era
in this respect. and since then the use
of plastic materials has developed so
that rapid construction Is now pos
sible with opportunity for artistic
treatment. While It seems a pity that
large buildings should he erected for
exposition purposes, only to be torn
down ut the end Of the show. this ap-
parent waste is not a total loss. A
stimulus has been given to the archi-
tectural taste OF the people and the
net loss is relatively small. The hope
is that the sesquicentennial at Phila-
delphia will be up to the mark in its
artistic setting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
Templeton Jones shuddered.

Templeton Jones shuddered.
You will now hear a duet" came
from the loud speaker. Mr.. UNI
blah. tenor. and Mr.. Um-tah, baritone.
will sing Come Where My Love Lies
Dreaming.
This beautiful number will be fur
nished you, ladies and gentlemen.
continued the announcer. through
the courtesy Of the Ant Exterm!nator
Company, which has engaged the IA.
ctlities of this station"
Let's turn 1t off," shuddered Jones,
as he sat in his cozy living room listen.
ing to the concert
Lets tune in some other station"
suggested Mrs. Jones.
The piano at the broadcasting studio
struck up the melody which stephen
Foster wrote so long ago.
Now, Mr.. I'm blah and Mr.. UNI
tab will have to spoil 1t ALL" groaned
Temp. Jones. writhing in his coy
comfort chair. The chair was a
Christmas gift, Jones had said, to the
house, but 1t was noticed that he got
more use out of 1t than the house.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Jones had Sc.
lected the chair. they had quite a time
deciding on the exact model to buy.
The fine large "ad' In the paper had
shown variety of chairs, described
as luxurious comfort" for 1913 and
artistic comfort at $75 and solid
comfort" at $85. etc, etc.
Now, let me see" Jones had unused
at the time. Here we can get luxuri-
Gus comfort for s9s and artistic com
fort at $75 and solid comfort at $S5."
Look at this little one down here. -
had cried Mrs. Jones, eXcitedly. 1T
says 'coZy-comfort.' at $50. That is
more our price"
Yes" had chortled her husband. II
guess cozy-comfort Is about our Style
y x x
SO Templeton Jones sat in his coy
little chair as tenor and baritone
started out on Come Where My Loves
Lies Dreaming"
1t is beautiful thing, one Of the
real art songs written by Foster, once
as popular as 'Swanee River" or The
Old Folks at Home In recent years
1t has lost some of it's old popularity,
but it is undergoing a revival now.
And gently sleeps the hours away
shrieked the tenor. And sleeps the
gentle hours away" roared the bari.
tone.
Jones made a motion toward the set
No" commanded his Wife Let II
stay on-just to see how poor 1t can
be-"
wen, resigned Jones. Got them
too near the microphonc. or some
thing. l don't care how good set
you have. or how fine a loud speaker,
II would sound terrible"
Some things don't sound very good
over radio commented Mrs. Jones.
Indeed, there was d wealth Of mean
ing In her remarks for studio man
ayers and program fiXers. Despite all
the talk during the past year about
tone" the emphasis still Is placed on
distance reception.
Every morning your average radio
IAN arrives at the Office with tales
OF the distant stations he received
Never once does some one come in
with the announcement. Last night
l got WRC (or WCAP) absolutely per.
fectly"'
Push the switch, Mary" said
Jones.
There was a soft plop in the speak
er. and the music died. The duo
had been cut off in its prime, or in
its misery. whichever wa one cared
TO regard it.
Some bright boy ought to invent
a sort OF radio perfecter," said Tenn
pleton Jones. with a smile. What
wonderful thing it would be, Tor
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Wise Bird.

Wise Bird.
Be a wise bird. oh, friend.
Accept the gifts that circumstances
Unless you are an eagle born to rise
Into unmeasured distance through the
Unless you are a vulture who can feed
On anything. with dull and tasteless
greed
Be wise bird: nor beat your wings in
rage
Against the barriers Of a social cage.
Accept the dole which through tho
bars is passed
And sing as best you can, while life
may last.
Unless you're brave where storm or
stress extend
Be q wise bird, oh, friend.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-27
The Philadelphia Centennial.

Plans for the sesquicentennial Of
Philadelphia to commemorate the
150th anniversary of the signing Of
the Declaration of Independence have
progressed to the point where an
nouncement has been made that the
great fair will surely be opened next
Summer and will not, as has been sug-
sested be postponed for year. 1t
was thought at one time that it might
be necessary to advance the date to
1927 as was done in the case of the
Columbian exposition at Chicago, COM
lea. In that case the exposition was
dedicated on Columbus day, 1892, on
the 400th anniversary Of the landing.
The fair itself, however, did not open
until the following spring, so that it
was actually held year after/ the
centenary.
1t is stated in Philadelphia that the
promoters of this Sesquicen.ennial are
not striving to Guido previous expo
sitions in size. but are aiming to pre-
sent ulSnilleu, pdldIiCeu, wen dI
ranged exposition, accepting for the
purpose only those exhibits which rep
resent the pinnacle of achievement in
every branch of human endeavor."
Particular effort, however, is being
made to secure representations by the
States, and already appropriations
have been made for six State pavilions
and exhibits and others are expected.
Fifty years ago Philadelphia was
Fastening work upon the first cen
tennial exposition" and much doubt
was felt whether the great fair would
be q success. Yet it proved to be c.
triumph 1t was Il powerful patriotic
stimulus and it was marked by the
display Of national and international