davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-03-22

What an interminable amount OF
thinking and planning one can put
upon something that another would
regard as altogether inconsequential!
We, having conceived the building
of a terrace in the back yard. find
ethers strangely uninterested in our
project.
1t is true the thing cannot be re-
garded in the same light as the Lo-
| carno treaty, or the world wide un-
employment problem.
Perhaps the prohibition issue Is
| paramount. Maybe the questions of
schools. Fairgrounds. the sad state OF
| modern youth and the necessity for
| the abolition of excess bugs are to be
studied first.
But that terrace. now. Having con-
ceived the project, we find 1t daily as
sumes large importance In our eyes
and we wish our friends would become
interested in it, too.
We intend to talk about it early
| and late. that terrace project, SO
that friends everywhere will be
forced, in the long run. to talk ter
race TO us, as we desire to talk ter
| race to them.
We are so interested in this ter
race business that we might as well
become scientific, and look up the
definition in the dictionary that is
| too big to he consulted every day
| CThat is our excuse for being lazy.
"Ter-race," says Webster's. 81. A
| raised level space. step, or platform
| of earth, supported on one or more
| faces by a wall. a bank or turf, OF
| the like, whether designed for use OF
| pleasure, often one of a series ar
ranged one above the other on g
| slope"
There we have our primary def
| nitiOn Now for the secondary: "AlsC
such bank OF turf, etc, and the raised
| level collectively, or natural plat
form resembling such a raised leve
and such side or sides"
Now we will have to make a def
| milton of our own. for the sort of ter
race we intend to build is neither q
| platform of earth nor a raised leve
| collectively, nor a national platform
| resembling such a raised level and
| such side or sides.
Our terrace is going to be a level
| true enough, but 1t will be of fancy
slabs of stone. and as for its side oi
| other materials,
| No, the kind of terrace we contem
| plate building, is simply stone
| place to sit on. built adjoining the
back of the house. on the north. where
the sun strikes so infrequently that
| flowers grow poorly there.
| This use of the word terrace" is
becoming more common in the East
having been imported from Cali
| fornia, we believe. Such a terrace is
| made of tiagstones and usually has a
pergola over it. on and through which
| twine climbing roses.
| Some might call it a plaza" but
| right or wrong, we prefer terrace
and will so designate what we intend
to construct.
| Already we speak in terms of tons
| Talking to a very pleasant woman
who has the distinction OF owning a
| quarry, we found out that we could
secure ton of three-inch slabs for
| So. which struck us as a reasonable
price.
| We like reasonable prices. Most
people of any experience at all have
their own ideas as to reasonable
prices, we have discovered. and vii
| not object at all if the price quoted
is below. and very little if it is some
| what above.
| When the price. however, goes con
siderably over what they regard rs
Evening star., 1926-03-22

and oil of turpentine are also used
in some varieties.
@. What is the population of Rus
sia?-V. r.
A. The latest estimate is about
135, ,000, 900.
O. Why is X street in Washington
SO much wider than the other
streets?-C. NJ. K.
A. In 1892 or 1893 a bridge was
constructed across Rock Creek ex'
tending from X street. and the
theory of making K street as wide as
Pennsylvania avenue was that
great deal of wagoning would cross
the creek and 20 on out toward
Bladensburg.
@. Why is Beethoven's Moonlight
Sonata" so called?-S. A. NJ.
A. 1t is due to the fact that the
critic Relstab likened the first move
ment to Lake Lucerne by moonlight.
@. When did the first Jews come
to the United States?-E. +.
A. There are indications of isolated
arrivals in the colonies, but the hrst
important settlement was made IN
New York by a party Of Jews from
Brazil in 1854.
O. What is the derivation OF the
word tariff" "?-B. G.
A. There was a town, Tarlfa. on
the north coast of Africa whence
Moorish pirates levied trlbnte on
passing ships Our word probably
comes from that.
@. What is the difference between
white and black pepper?-A. >. ID.
A. White pepper is we'll ripened
black pepper.
Q. OF what form were the ancient
poisoned rings?-T. W. ID.
A. There were two forms OF
poison rings. those simply affording
| in the bezel a secret receptacle, so
that the poison might always be at
| service for the purpose of suicide.
and those provided with hollow
! point to which, on touching the spring.
| the venom ran as in a snakes fang,
so that the murderer could give IL
! fatal scratch while shaking hands.
&. When was the first English
common law against adulteraton
of foods "A. r.
! a. The first legal statute in
which adulteratiOn of food appears
dates from the reign of King John.
| in England. 1908. when proclama-
ton was made throughout the nation
enforcing the legal obligation as re-
CARDS bread In the following
reign of Henry Ill. statute was
/ passed entitled "Pillory and Tumbril
act for the express purpose of pro
tecting the public from dishonest
practices of bakers, vhtners. brewers,
/ butchers and others This statute.
which carried severe penalties, was
not repealed until the reign of Queen
Anne in 1903.
! GEN Robert f. Lee said The thor
ough education Of people is the most
/ eficdcious means Of promoting the
| prosperity of the Nation. These
1cords of the distinguished Southern
general arc none the less true noU
than trhen he spoke them. Our
| Washing gtOn Information Bureau Is
ono Of the greatest agencies for the
distribution Ot free information and
educational data in the rOrld. Its
serrices are free to readers Of this
paper. All yqp need to do is to send
in pour query together NTH 2 cents
in stamps for return postage. Address
The ErfHin0 Star Information Bu-
rc0n. Frederic j. HdsEin. director.
/ Washington, ID. c.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

@. How much wine is drunk in
F'rance?-C. F.
A. Last year more than a billion
gallons were consumed.
Q. Please explain about "ether
drift. Il. G.
a. All space is supposed to be filled
with an impOnderable substance called
the luminiferOus ether. If this is
true, we should be able to measure the
"ether drift" or the motion of the
earth through the ether, but all pre-
ViouS attempts to do so had failed.
Einstein said that such mea surements
were fundamentally impossible. and
his theory of. relatively is based in
part on this assumption. DR.. Miller
has now been able TO measure this
'ether drift" and has shown that pre-
vious failures were due to insufficient
altitude. the ether apparently being
dragged along near the earth so that
It's drift past the earth can be de-
tected only on high mountains. This
proof is likely to make necessary a
modification of the Einstein theory.
q. Is it proper in addressing a let
ter to a person in the same city TO
address it City" or should the name
VI Liic Dldtt De written OUT - l.. T..
A. The Post Office Department does
not advocate the use of the word
City" when a communication is being
sent to an addressee of the same city
as the sender. II is less confusing
for the postal clerks when the city
and state are written after the street
address.
Q. Are there any cuckoo birds here
in America?-C. B.
A. The blackbilI and yellnwbilI
cuckoo occur commonly in Summers
throughout the United states and
Eastern Canada, but pass the Winters
in Central or South America. The
blackbill cuckoo does not occur west
Of the Rocky Mountains in midvear.
The yellowbill cuckoo is known as the
rain crow. It's note is supposed to
predict rain.
G. What is the purpose of the Com
mite on Public Relations Of East
ern Railroads?-S. W. r.
A. 1t is an association maintained
by the Eastern railroads to answer
questions that the general public
wants about the roads in that section
Q. What is the meaning of the name
"Wasatch" %. Men.
A. 1t Is an Indian equivalent for
Lake of Many Waters"
@. How is paste made To put on
wallpaper?--C. w.
a. Paperhangers' paste is wheat or
rye -four beaten in cold water to per.
feet smoothness and the whole lust
brought to a boil while being con.
stantly stirred to prevent burning. A
little creoSote or carbolic acid will
make ii keep much better.
c. What is the highest temperature
recorded in Virginia in the last 10
years?-E. s.
A. The Weather Bureau saws that
the high mark for that period is 10S
degrees Fahrenheit. 1t reached this
point at West Point. August Is, 1918.
@. How far will a 32-volt electric
current carry without noticeable
loss?-T s.
A. 1t depends entirely on the size
of the wire. An electric current will
carry farther with larger wires.
O. What does Brunswick black
contain?-C. NJ.
a. This varnish. which is used on
| cast iron goods to impart an enamel
| like surface. is composed chiefly of
lampblack and turpentine. Aspha 1t
Evening star., 1926-03-22
Framing a New Organic Act.

Congress is asked to amend the sub
Etantive law. the organic act of 1878
as amended in 1922. by substituting
the lump-sum payment plan for the
definite proportion plan of national
contribution toward Capital mainte-
nance and upbuildng.
In their protests by petition against
this substitution the people of the
Capital community have pointed out
vigorously and vividly the unwisdom
Of this proposed enactment
If the lumpsum payment plan is to
he continued next year either tenn
pOrarily as the result of tentative ap-
propriative legislation or permanently
by amendment Of the substantive law,
Congress in molding the new organic
act into equitable shape will doubt
less give thoughtful consideration to
two suggestions which the Capital
community makes in this connection:
a. The basic lump-sum appropriation
of 100000 ought to he increased
annually in amounts and for rea sons
specified, and t2) if there is max
imum limitation upon national con-
tribution toward Capital upbuilding
through the District bill there should
be also some reasonable limitation
upon the corresponding contribution
exacted without their consent from
the local taxpayers. Without some
such limitation, or some device to ac-
compliSh the same end, as by eXclud-
ing appropriations for great perma.
nent improvements in which the ma
tional interest dominates from con.
sideration in the District bill. injus-
tices will result, like those which have
been conspicuous and fla grant in ap-
preparations so far made for expendi-
lures by the National CAPITAL Park
Commission and in utilization of the
Capitals accumulated heavy tax sur
plus.
These apprOpria tOnS for great pub
lie improvements can he made in some
other supply bill than the District bill
and fina need as between Nation and
Capital taxpayers by specific euui-
table apportionment outside of the
lump-sum $4,000, 600 contribution.
Without some such protective de-
vice the entire expense, for example.
OF construction of the new water sys-
tenn may in effect be thrown upon the
local community either as taxpayers
or as water consumers and rent pay
ers, the United States participating
only as the unlimited user of free
water.
In framing the Districts latest fis.
cal organic act Congress will doubt
less give to this task the same
thoughtful. unhurried consideration of
all the equities involved that marked
the molding of the original organic
act.
The proposition vigorously urged by
Representative Zihlman and Repre-.
sentative Walton Moore that a Joint
committee consider thoroughly the
proposed radical change in the fiscal
relations Of Nation and Capital and
report for the consideration of Con.
Eress a rounded, definite, carefully
constructed, equity-observing fiscal
system clearly promises the wisest
and fairest framing Of our new or.
ganic act.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
Danger of Luggage in
Aisles of Street Cars.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Is 1t possible that something can
be done to prevent passengers in
street cars from placing their lug
gage in the aisles of the street cars
where other passengers are likely to
fall over the luggage to their serious
injury? Such happened to me the other
morning in going to the office, in a
crowded car. You are at the mercy of
any careless person who puts his lug.
gage in the aisle for his convenience.
1t does seem to me that there should
be some protection to the public from
such carelessness.
Is there any law to protect the pub
lie from such carelessness? Is the
street car company liable to me for
any damage that 1 may sustain?
j. w. HUNT.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
No Sweatshop Methods.

Recently Secretary Mellon addressed
| memorandum to the heads of bu-
| reaus of the Treasury Department
| asking them to endeavor to effect
transfers of two hundred employees
who. under the program of curtail-
ments, notably in the Internal Revenue
Bureau, will he dropped at the end of
was. of course, to make shifts from
the shrinking bureaus into others that
are more stable in personnel where va
cancies are naturally occurring from
transfers or by new appointments. The
Secretary's thought simply was to give
preference in the filling of such va
| cancies to the two hundred who are to
Now comes a member of the House
of Representative who recently ac-
qured some notoriety by a wholesale,
indiscriminate attack upon the Gov
Secretary of the Treasury for this
humane endeavor. In a letter to the
Secretary the Representative asks:
Why should you seek to keep two
hundred useless employees on the Fed
eral pay roll when there are already
tens of thousands more Federal en-
ployes than could be justified by the
most liberal Interpretation of the pub
| lie need?'
Congress determines the number of
employees in the Government service.
1t has the last word on appropriations.
1t can cut the Treasury force in two
any year, but it does not do so because
! it we'll understands that the personnel
! is not excessive; that in many bureaus
of the Government there is need of
more rather than fewer clerks of all
grades. Secretary Mellon could not
| himself reduce the personnel without
| violating the law which provides for
"A certain number, and should he do
so he would be subject to the severest
criticism for neglecting his duty.
The bureau of the budget carefully
examines into the needs of every bu-
reau and branch of the Government
service. 1t ascertains the state of the
work. the percentage of currency of
administration, the amount Of work
done by each group of clerks daily,
weekly, monthly, yearly. 1t prunes
the estimates of every department and
bureau chief to the limit of endurance
and submits those estimates to Con-
gress for approval or disapproval. Usu-
ally the estimates are pared in enact
ment with the result that in practi-
cally every office of the Government
there is shortage of force. From
time to time the work of certain Of
fees is diminished through legisla-
tive action, as in the case of the In
ternal Revenue Bureau, the task of
which will be lessened by the newly
enacted amendment of the income tax
law this year But in the other bu-
reaus of the Government the work is
increasing and the clerical force does
not increase in proportion.
Uncle Sam should never be legis-
lated into the role of a slave driver,
| imposing harsh conditions upon his
workers, pushing them to the limit
| of human endurance. adopting sweat
shop methods to extort the maximum
of product for tho minimum of pay,
| which is the standard of Government
compensation. Personal criticisms
such as that just voiced may make
| good campaign material, but they are
| mighty bad legislative advice.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
Maryland and Virginia.
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
tn the use for repuhllcatior of all news dis
patches credited to il or not otherwise cred
ited in this parer and also the local news news
of special dispatches herein are also reserved.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

1t is difficult to see why the world
should not eventually organize on a
peace basis, considering the success
that has attended mergers in big busi
ness.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
SHOOTING STARS,
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON

Faith.
April FOOL" the robin sings,
And the crocus gayly filings
Colors to assure the eye
That the Winter has gone by.
Storms again no doubt will beat
Through the highway and the street:
Yet. beyond are sunny skies
April Folly proves most wise.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

Arts of song exercise peculiar
charms, surprising those of states
manship. 1t may be doubted whether
Mussolini will succeed in establishing
an emotional sway comparable to that
30 easily asserted by Caruso.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

The League of Nations is organized
difficult things in all human history
to attain. A little obstruction and de.
lay should not invite discouragement
Evening star., 1926-03-22

A few more years of study in Balti-
more may enable Prof. Scopes to step
forward and settle once and for all
any controversy on the subject of
evolution.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

Every now and then the stock mar
ket asserts a disposition to be exclu.
sive by shaking out the non.profes.
sional traders.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
In Fashions Discard.

What has become of the old hoop
skirts?'
''The girls are off them forever"
answered the department store sales
man. "a hoop skirt looks too much
like an enlarged mouse trap"
Evening star., 1926-03-22

the Senate denied Senator Bruce's
charge that the Virginan drinks both
wine and beer. What Glass concealed
from the Senate is his real vice
molasses candy. He seldom goes to
the Capitol without a supply and
often offers Il to friends and callers.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

AS professor in a school of journal.
ism Trotsky may hope to establish a
system of expression which will pro-
vide for censorship at the source.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

Jud Tunkins says no man ever gets
to be as smart as he wishes his grow
ing family would think he Is.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

"Bobbed-hair bandits" are no longer
referred to except in connection with
the prices charged for a feminine hair
cut
Evening star., 1926-03-22
Tut's ObSeUuieS.

We give him a funeral splendid, in
deed.
His wealth-we make bold to EN-.
ploy it.
A pity it seems, as we humbly proceed,
That he couldn't have lived to en-
joy it.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

Agitation in favor of light'wines and
beer shows an impartial inclination to-
ward both France and Germany.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

Reduction of taxes makes no differ
ence to the bootlegger. He did not pay
any in the first place.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
A Dry.

A Dry.
Are you a wet or a 'dry?'"
Dry" answered Senator SORGHUM
II so further. When selecting cham.
payne vintages my sentiments are ex.
ira dry"
Evening star., 1926-03-22
Fluctuations in Florida.

Real estate values fluctuate."
Naturally" answered the gentle
realtor. Everything depends on
whether you are showing property at
high tide or low tide"
Evening star., 1926-03-22
Cleaning I'm,

The Coal Strike is over, they say.
But it's sure to be many a day
Till we're all clean and neat and
serene.
And the Charwoman isn't the Queen.
Evening star., 1926-03-22
Crime.

"Bootlegging is crime" remarked
the law-abiding citizen.
Selling wicked whisky" answered
Uncle Bill Bottletep, always was
crime"
Evening star., 1926-03-22

The Evening Star with the Sunday morn
ing edition. is delivered nv carriers wltnin
the city at 80 cents per month: daiiE ON!
45 cents per month: Sunday only. 20 cents
per month Orders may I've sent by mai or
telephone Main 5000. Collection Is mace pS
carrier at the end of each month.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

talk Is cheap" said Uncle Eben
And judgin' by de price of admission
tickets even talk seems liable to git
kind a scarce an ,exnensiYeA
Evening star., 1926-03-22

@. Why is Beethoven's Moonlight
Sonata" so called?-S. A. NJ.
A. 1t is due to the fact that the
critic Rellstab likened the first move
ment to Lake Lucerne by moonlight.
Evening star., 1926-03-22

Senator Carter Glass, Democrat, of
Virginia. -recent on tho -Aoor OF
New Britain herald., 1926-06-10
PONzI IS BEING
 SOUGHT FOR MASS.
Customs Patrols Ordered to Be
 on Watch for Him

Boston, June TO Ps-Massachu- sets authorities today took steps 10 prevent Charles Ponzi, former get rich quick fnancier under sentence here as a common and notorious thief" from leaving the country.
 At the direction Of District At torney Thomas c. O'Brien of Suffolk county, telegram was sent 10 the United States immigration authori- ties at Washington requesting that inspectors on the Canadian and Mexican borders be instructed to watch for Ponzi should he attempt to leave the United States.
 The telegram was sent by Inspec- tor John Mitchell Of the Boston po- lice, attached to the office Of the at torney general.
 Ponzi was to have appeared in su- perior court here early this week for resentencing after his appeal to the supreme court had failed. The court was to have reaffirmed a pris- on sentence Of from to 9 years. When he failed to appear a default warrant was issued and 8 bail bond of s1O,000 was ordered cscheated.
 Steps have been taken to bring about Ponzi's extradition from Florida, where he has been on S1,- 900 pending the result Of an appeal from a jail sentence at Jacksonville.
 Inspector Mitchell said today that he had received no reply 10 a tele- gram sent 10 the Jacksonville police asking them to detain Ponzi until the arrival of an officer with extra dition papers. Unofficial adrices, however. have said that the erst- while financier is not in Jackson vile and that his whereabout is un- known.
 Ponzi's conviction in Massachu- setts was in connection with his op- erations here several years ago when he offered investors fabulous profits in his international postal re- ply coupon scheme.
New Britain herald., 1926-06-10
ON POJJCE BLOTTER

Thomas Cunningham of 74 Church street notified the police last night of the theft of a watch from his room.
 Robert Young of 99S Stanley street complained to the police of the theft of two fshpolcs by a 5-year-old boy living nearby. The boys father agreed to settle for the poles, which were damaged.
 John Eashina of POS Hartford av- enue complained that three windows had been broken by children and the latters' parents agreed to settle.
 Peter Scripa of 1G8 West street complained that his body had been bitten by a dog owned by family living on the second floor of the house at 1S2 West street.
 A bicycle owned by Raymond Melander of 40 Connecticut avenue was reported stolen from the corner of Main and Walnut street last night.
 George Barnes notified Officer Hanford Dart that two gas meters at A Hartford avenue had been broken into
 .Supernumerary Officer John No- Ian found the basement door of the Walnut Hill school open last night, and a light burning in room 2o2. He was unable 10 find anyone in the building. and so far as he could ob- serve, nothing had been disturbed.