davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-08-23
Americans Stranded Abroad.

1t is reported from Paris that there
are three thousand Americans in that
city at present pennilcss and jobless.
Most OF thom went over there to en-.
Joy life. and after their savings were
exhausted they could find no work
and had no friends who could help
them. Some of these are former sol.
diers. who wanted to see again the
country where they once fought.
Some went over to start in business.
but found conditions adverse. A few
are comparatively wealthy persons
who have overstayed their time and
spent all their funds and have been
obliged TO borrow in order to return
The American Aid Society is helping
10 the extent of its resources to get
these people back Last year II re-.
sponded to 1.065 out of isis appeals
for assistance. little more than one.
third. American consulstes are not
provided with repatriation funds. and
thus the Government cannot help
these unfortunate Americans.
In addition to those who crossed
the seas on the chance Of finding
means Of returning or of supporting
themselves abroad there are many
who neglected to buy their return
passages and are now in straits for
lack Of accommodations. The east
ward movement of tourists this sea.
son has been exceptionally heavy.
Evening star., 1926-08-23

come by q medal for those qualities.
The aim Of taxi companies is to en-
ploy only men who are polite and pru.
dent; that Is. men who will get bust.
ness for the company and who do not
run up a list Of lawsuits and damage
bills. The taxi driver who is "on his
own"--the Independent hacker---fnds
that as a general business proposition
1t pays to be civil and careful Civility
brings In naore fares and tips and care
makes the cab last longer. Also there
might be some merit in the suggestion
to reward 3oliteness in taxi patrons
1t has been observed that not all men,
hers of the general public, not even
those calling taxicabs, are we'll
grounded in the practice Of good
banners.
Evening star., 1926-08-23
A Wet Week.

Sympathy is to be felt for those
who took last week '"off" for vacation
rest and recreation. They were de-
cidedly out of luck. Wherever they
went they ran into persistent bad
weather. If they started to tour by
motor they were running most of the
time in the rain, with slippery high
ways ard with muddy detours. If
they went to the seashore they were
held indoors most Of the time by the
storm. The boardwalk" was gloomy
place of slickered and umbrellaed hu.
nanity, the beach was soggy strand
Of misery, the sea was either too
rough for bathing or too dull and
gray and desolate for beauty. Golfing
was impossible and tennis was pro-
hibited. Even croquet was banned.
II they went into the country for
rural peace they got it too decidedly.
Rural boarding houses were damp and
chill, with few resources for diver
sion. The fields were soaked beyond
the point of strolling, the roads were
thick with mire. If they tried to 60
fishing they found that the conditions
were utterly adverse 'Pleasuring"
became a task. 1t was hard to find
means Of passing the time. Radio,
the card table and reading were all
that offered to make the slow min
utes and the leaden hours pass.
1t was bad enough in town, while
the week dragged along with daily,
almost hourly, deluge. But in Re-
sortia the case was indeed desperate.
Nature was at its worst. Scenery
was obscured and bedraggled. Every
prospect displeased. The main diver
sion became the watching for signs
of a change in the direction of the
wind, the drift of clouds, the slant
of the rain. the nursing of hope that
the daily forecast Of fair tomorrow"
would be verified. And but for those
optimistic predictions, which wavered
only during the last days Of the week
doubtless most of the vacationists
would have cut their losses in mid.
week and returned home, preferring
the routine of work to the routine Of
idling.
Nevertheless, there were compensa-
tions in the week of moisture for
those who found themselves far from
home, in strange situations. They
could at least, If philosophical, settle
down to the pursuit of literature, un-
distracted by the pursuit Of mere
pleasure. True, they might be handi-
capped by the limitations of the H.
braries available. The average resort
bookshelf is rather stale collection.
But the creative mind might perhaps
be stimulated by the necessity of mis-
fortune and the writing impulse
obeyed, possibly with no permanent
addition to the worlds stock of
thought, but with some profit to the
writer.
Evening star., 1926-08-23
Writer Says Her Works
Have Been Plagiarized

To the Editor of The Star:
This is a note of thanks for your
editorial on plagiarism. 1t Is my
opinion that unknown writer's. struG-
CLING for place in the literary world.
suffer from this form of theft oftener
than is commonly supposed.
The successful writer. who has ar
rived. does not fear plagiarism. His
reprtation and his pocketboOk will
nrotect him. Besides, little. if any, Of
his "stuff" is sent unsolicited to
magazine: 1t is contracted for before
it is written.
But the unknown writer is diner
ent. AS everything he sends In is
unsolicited, it has to be, to gain any
attention at all, exceptionally original.
II the idea is old. the manner OF
presentation must be unusual. The
commonplace or borrowed idea may
"get by" in the known writer, but
not in the unknown writer.
Now, the unknown writer who sends
in an original concept. story. poem
or play, Is at the mercy of the maga-
zine or corporation to whom the
literary effort is submitted. II 1t is
pla giarized, the author is, as rule.
without money or influence, and fears
to risk suit 1t may be evident.
even to the casual observer, yet it is
almost impossible to prove.
My opinion is that only reputable
magazines or large corporations are
guilty of this despicable thieving.
Small concerns can't afford to risk
their reputation.
sent a scenario to a Reputable"
picture company. They kept 1t
long time. then they returned it as
unavailable Shortly after a pic
ture was produced by this same com.
pany. the same as my rejected
scenario. In like manner a "repu-
table" magazine offered special
price for a certain type of poem.
submitted one. which was rejected.
A month later. my concept. in almost
| the same words. was published in
this magazine.
This is very discouraging. It is
| difficult enough to meet fair COM
petition. without having the fear that
ones best work can be grabbed, and
| that there IL no redress.
MARIE DAgHImLIA
Evening star., 1926-08-23

mortals.
T. Carus Lucretius was brave
man in his day and generation when
he dared to write chapter in his
famous poem, "The Nature Of
Things" denying the superstition.
and telling mortals that thunder and
lightning were merely the results Of
natural forces.
Before him Epicurus had said the
same thing, and Greece and Rome
and later countries called him all
the evil names under the sun. 1t took
courage once to say what all men
admit today without argument.
What shall we do to keep the zest
Of life? This is the ever-recurring
cry of men, after they have gone
through the usual routine Of life. as
one might say. Life loses its SAVIOR
in some strange, inexplicable way.
and we cast around, like mariners
adrift, for something to lay hold of,
something to give our restless hands
firm touch, our minds food, our souls
satisfaction.
May not one of the easiest and best
ways be simply a due regard for the
wonders of the universe, not the least
of which Is the weather, a thing we
have with us every day, yet pretend
to scorn?
There is no real Scorning something
that means life or death to thousands
differently put, something that spells
a stocked larder for ourselves, or the
lack thereof. We cannot escape the
weather, if we would, for the very
air in which we breathe and have
our being is a part of it.
X X y 4
Let us of the cities, then, accept
the weather gladly, since accept 1t we
| must In God is our trust. These
clouds. these rains. are all the result
of divine theories. worked out and set
going thousands of years ago.
You are interested in antique fur
niture-why not be enthralled over
| rain? Because a thing has always
been. and apparently always will be,
is no reason why we need try to
| ignore it.
The point of it all is that we can
not ignore the weather, no matter IT
we would We have it with us
always, whether the day be fair or
rainy, stormy or bright, whether 1t
| meet our personal wishes or not.
Rain, rain, go away, come again
some other day." say the little chill
dren, but grown men and women ac-
cept it on the day 1t comes. and make
"Is it hot enough for you?' there
| fore, is proper question enough. "How
do you like this rainy weather."
should be met by the statement. Very
we'll. thank you, how are you?"
City streets unstained by flashes
of rain would remind us too much of
that somewhat dreary Heaven once
pictured, where streets Of gold always
shone, where angels always sang,
where life apparently never varied.
What was the real trouble with
| that Heaven?
Why, there was no weather there.
God. who made the heavens and
earth and all that do dwell therein,
somehow forgot his pleasant, pic
turesque weather system, and allow
| ed His Heaven--so they told us-to
become something like a cross be-
tween the Sahara Desert and a school
| picnic.
We do not believe it. IF we wake
up in Heaven, as we hope we will,
we want to see rainbow somewhere.
and be greeted by the genial rays
| of our old friend the sun. and later
| be bathed in refreshing showers of
Gods cool water. We will feel more
| at home that way.
Evening star., 1926-08-23
Railroad Efficiency Lauded
When New Records Are Set

we'll functioning system of railroads
has been one of the most importanS
elements in the exceptional prosperity
of this country during the last two
years"
"As compared with 40 years ago.
saws the Sioux City Tribune, when
the railroads we're admittedly rolling
i'm prosperity, increased volume of
business and increased rates are again
beginning to show normal financial
effects. Automobile competition has
affected expansion in freight traffic to
a. large extent, but the railroads are
doing "A much larger volume of bust
ness than they did 40 years ago. and
are getting better rates. Increased
operating expenses and increased
taxes have taken over some of the
gross gains. Arbitrary expansions in
Capitalization also have encroached
materially upon the net percentage
revenues" The Tribune considers
that 1.-THE general business gain Is
more than disclosed on the surface"
but advises 1.-THE mere fact that the
principal railroads of the country are
getting back on n sound basis should
not make them the victims Of political
agitation. and probably will not have
that effect If the railroad managers
do their part in the way of keeping
the general public satisfied
1.-The most encouraging feature of
the report in the opinion of the
Knoxville Sentinel. "is that instead of
receding at the turn Of the half year.
business was continuing at IL high rate
of activity, and today shows no tend
ency to decline" The Louisville
Times emphasizes the fact that ''the
railroads, which forecasters said were
in for a hard time after the World
War, and threatened with ultimate
ruin because of the advent of freight
trucks and passenger busses, now are
embarrassed by their riches" The
Cedar Rapids Gazette sees added profit
in the future from Coordination Of
railway, automobile and airplane
freight and passenger transportation,
believing that "the railroad will al
ways hold the bulk of commercial
transportation"
Evening star., 1926-08-23
No Need to Import
Sweet Acorn Trees
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
In a recent issue of your valuable
and usually Informative paper.
read an excerpt from the Philadel-
phia Public Ledger-"Replacing the
Chestnut" Uree). 1t is stated IN the
article that Chicago millionaire is
giving consideration TO importing
into the United States sweet acorn
trees variety of the oak tree) from
the Island of Majorca, to take the
place Of the vanishing chestnut. 1t
is also stated, 1.-The Majorcans cat
the acorns as we eat cheStnuts,"
finding them entirely without the
bitterness of the fruit of the Amer
lean oaks" Why import an oak or
its acorn from the Island of Majorca? I?
We have, indigenous to our soil, in
western New York, along the
wooded banks of the Genesee River.
north of Rochester. sweet acorn
trees" Many of the sweet acorns
have I, as a boy. eaten. The sweet
acorn" is oblong in shape, while the
bitter acorn is round-or nearly so.
This fruit is not large nor is 1t very
small. 1t is quite sweet. OF good
favor. W. L. RYAN.
Evening star., 1926-08-23
THIS AND THAT
by CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The weather Is the oldest topic of
conversation in the world. There
was weather before there was any
thing else, according to the records.
In the early days of man the state
Of the weather was an absorbing
topic, one mixed with dread and won
der. Today much of the dread Is
gone. but the wonder still remains.
1t is for this reason that we have
but little sympathy with those who
refuse to discuss the weather. 'It
only makes you hotter to talk about
it," they say, with a superior air.
We do not believe" that for an in
stant.
We like to discuss the weather, not
because it makes us hotter, or colder.
or wetter. or dryer, but simply be-
cause it Is interesting.
Newspapers have demonstrated
their fundamental sanity by giving a
conspicuous place to the daily weather
predictions and by chronicling the
men, women and children, in news
stories.
Anything that contributes to the
well-being or suffering of humanity
is worth being talked about, and the
weather does this perhaps more than
any other one thing, for upon it de-
pend food, transportation and other
vital factors of civilization.
One who selfishly refuses to pay
any attention to "the weather"
therefore. would seem to be in much
the same state Of mind as the ostrich.
which sticks it's head into the sand
and fmagineS no one can see it,,
simply because it cannot see.
The weather Is fundamental, and
ought to be so treated.
" + y y
The hopeful thing Is that it is so
regarded by the great mass of hu-
manity. One does not have to be a
farmer, and have ones very living"
depend upon the rain. to appreciate
to the full the essential importance
and interest of the elements, as we
call them.
What Is there more picturesque. In
all this grand universe. than clouds,
rain, hail. thunder lightning. snow?
No gr.ander scene in all Nature Is
to be seen than the rolling deeps,
| lashed into the fury of the storm at
sea, created by pressing winds. aided
by inky skies and torrents of water.
1t does not take a man long at sea
10 WOFk up d roSpeCtdWe interest Ill
! the weather, even If he never had it
| before. There is such a thing as
being "citified' to the extent that one
does truly forget the forces of Nature
and the supreme part they play in
life.
Walking on smooth sidewalks. pro-
tected by police. warmed by clever
machines, cooled by electricity, housed
against all the elements, it is not
| strange that some incline to regard
| the weather as a mere inconvenience,
| or aid, in their daily life.
If 1t rains such a one deplores the
| weather: if the sun shines he feels
| that Nature Is blessing the picnic.
Nature however knows nothing of
! us and our little affairs, but goes
right on turning out her various
brands of weather, according to her
seasons, and the mysterious plays of
| vast currents that roll between us
and the stars.
In the early days of mankind thun-
der and lightning were ascribed to
"the gods" Even so civilized people
as the Romans popularity picture Jove
hurting thunderbolts at offending
Evening star., 1926-08-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

| Springfield he had a force of about
1000 men.
@. How many corporations pay an
income taxi. NJ.
A In 1922 the grand total of cor
porations for the United States was
3S2 $50. of which 212,535 reported net
incomes.
@. How many laws are passed by
the various States in a year, r. G..
a. Legislatures met in 80 States in
1925 and enacted 13.01S bills into law
Figures for the current year are not
available.
Q. What is the longest term OF
office of any Government officiai?-
+. c..
A. The controller general of the
United States and the assistant con
troller general hold their offices for
is years The incumbe nts of those
offices. Messrs. McCarl and Ginn. were
appointed July /, 1921.
q. What are the total resources of
the labor banks of this country
II. d. d.
A. The resources of the labor
banks of the United States are in eX-
cess of $101 900, 900.
O. What Protestant ministers are
paid most highly?-A. G. Nj.
A. Salaries are not matter or
public record Among the churches
which have highly paid ministers are.
st. Thomas Episcopal Church, ffth
Avenue Presbyterian Church and
park Avenue Baptist Church, all "f
New York CITY: Fourth Presbyterian
Church and Hyde Park BaptlSt
| Church of Chicago. and Old South
| UongregationaD Church of Boston.
O. How does Magellan's time in
circ,1mnavigating the globe compare
with the present record?-N. I.
a. Magellan's ship made the first
tourney around the world in l.
davs less than years. 404 years AZ"
O519-1522;- The record made 10y
Evans and Wells on arriving in New
York on July "a. 1925, was IS DAYS.
IA hours, 36 minutes. D seconds. The
Evans-Wells mileage schedule was:
Bv rail land motor carr. 4,l00; by plane,
$500; by steamer, 5000.
@. If a State claims that it pro
duces the best wheat. what is the
basis for comparison?-M. V. *.
A. 1t means that the wheat makes
flour which has characteristics most
sought for by bakers.
Government statistics bring out III"
| fact that the uneducdtcd man has
OnlU one chance in 500 to attain dis
tinction. There is no reason 1Chy any
| one should lire under such n hdndtcdp
, in these days of free schools and free
| information. This paper supports In
Washin gton, d. c.. the largest free
information bureau in eristencc. Ut
1riU procure for you the dnsicer to
dny question yOm may ask. Ardu
yourself of its facilities for your self
in, prOrement. InclOSc a 2-cent Stdmp
for return postage. Address Thr
| Wnshin1ton Star Information Bureau.
Frederick j. Hdskin, Director, Wash
ington, ID. C..
Evening star., 1926-08-23
Decoration for the Cabby.

A plan has been broached in France
for the public decoration of taxi
drivers. Those who secure a vote of
confidence for their patrons and who
are considered polite and prudent will
be honored by a badge of merit. The
fate of the drivers is in the hands Of
their patrons. This is a reversal of
the old order. Each passenger Is re.
quested to note the chauffeur's abil.
ity and whether he toots carefully at
crossings. slows up when he should
and attempts mo acrobatic stunts
with tramcars and other vehicles" ."
The decoration is to be given by a
French automobile publication. While
the order of merit given in that way
may not have so much authority as
that bestowed by the government, yet
1t is assumed that taxi driver who
has been decorated will be given the
accolade by his fellows and saluted as
a driver Of merit, or as politician or
diplomat who has been able to win
favors from the public.
A decorated driver should get more
patronage than a driver not so dis
tinguished He ought to make a
strong appeal to American tourists,
who would dote on q taxi driver deco
rated as n chevalier for merit. Ladies'
ought to signal such a driver and. II
il goes not too hard against q woman's
nature, give him a special tip.
This offer to decorate French taxi
drivers for politeness and merit is en-
couraging. Washington taxi drivers
Afe like all other classes OF men.
1%here are drivers prudent and polite
and there are drivers who will nevey
Evening star., 1926-08-23
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

but visit and enjoy those of their
neighbors 1t is gala day. Another
choice doll may on this day be added
to the happy family circle. Practl-
cally every family in Japan owns d
doll festival set.
President Coolidge has a new easy
armchair In his study at the White
House The chair is new to Mr..
Coolidge. but it is not a new chair.
Mrs. Coolidge found it in the White
House attic and it bore a tag read!
ing. president Jackson's favorite
chair" Mrs. Coolidge had 1t brought
downstairs, busted and placed in her
husbands study, and, according to re-
port. it is much to his liking. dis
carded table was also brought out
of the attic, repaired and put in one
of the reception rooms. The Cool
idce habits of thrift are being vigor-
ously applied to his own household In
the matter of new decorations and
new furnishings. Notwithstanding that
Congress appropriated $4,000 for this
purpose. The attic storerooms were
first ransacked before buying any
thing new.
An astonishing quantity of mail is
received daily at the offices of mem
bers of Congress here despite the fact
that they are all away either holiday
ing or back home campaigning. One
New York CongreSSman'S Washington
mail has averaged 35 letters day
ever since adjournment of Congress.
according to his secretary. and there
is no sign of any "1et-up.' His is a
typical case. Here is what the post
man brought to his office one morning
last week: Three letters enlisting his
aid in pending Veterans Bureau cases,
one about a pension claim. two re-
lating to hurrying up passports. one
accounting office case, four letters re-
lating to post Office appointments and
post office promotions, one letter about
a. Department of Justice investigation,
one letter seeking a Federal pardon,
seven letters requesting public docu-
ments. two letters relating to immigra-
ton cases, five from personal ac-
uuaintances among his constituents
discussing politics and Offering sug-
gestions, three letters seeking chart
table donations and one just plain
crank" letter. Total. 81.
Most of these letters required three
answers-one of Acknowledgement. one
referring the request 10 Ine proper
department. and the third forwarding
to the writer the departments re-
sponse. I'VE find that those who
write in always like to have a de-
partment letter as we'll as one from
the Congressman" said the secretary.
A dozen years ago the mail was mostly
about free pamphlets and free seeds,
but the Veterans Bureau with it's
million or more cases. difficulties aris-
ing out Of stringent immigration laws.
ETC., have increased tenfold the Con
gressman's Office work.
X * * X
A sidelight on the progress being
made in getting the Government out
Of the shipping business is contained
in the current report of the Shipping
Board as to ship sales. In the last
five years-dating from the beginning
of the Harding administration-1,O ,O6s
ships have been sold. aggregating
4.158.264 dead weight tons. for which
the Government has received S75.731,-
633. Wood and cargo ships sold for
scrap, which have furnished the fuel
for periodical bonfires on the lower
Potomac, comprised 456 of the total.
Copyright. i926l