davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
THIS AND THAT.
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Traffic policemen are necessary
| nuisances to facilitate the objective
Of your life, getting from the place
you are to the place you want to
| be.
A building is theater, a hotel, a
club-that and nothing more. Once
you are inside, for your life you could
| not tell whether it is made of white
marble or red brick.
| On the sidewalk the people you meet
ara only some more folks hurrying
from the place they were to the place
they want to be. Life is a scurrying
from one place to another, and no
sooner is one settled than he hops up
and starts off again.
X X \
How is 1t in London?
| Why, in London town you are as
alert as bull pup.
Streets prove tremendously inter
esting This is the Strand! Think
of 1t, Myrtle; you are actually walk
ing along the Strand!
| See the shops, see the vehicles, see
the people. Watch those interesting
bobbies-how much more efficient they
seem than our American police!
Here is our hotel. Why, it is not
| so high. is 1t? But how beautifully
designed!
Note that cornice-see the little
gargoyles peering out the gutters-up
| just underneath the roof there.
| A very unusual combination OF
marble and brick, If you ask me
Why can't we have something like
that in Washington? Our buildings
are so horribly of a sameness.
Have you noticed these fresh Eng
lish types walking along? Their
stride is so free and easy, from the
hip. Not a one Of them looks as if
he were walking on eggs.
Living here in London seems to
mean something to everybody. Why
even that little flower girl there looks
interested. Let's buy some of her.
| What kind of flowers do the flower
girls sell? Gee. that sounds as If 1t
might be the title for a music-hall
tune, what Kind of Flowers Do the
Flower Girls Self" You tell 'em
Daisy. Har! Har! Daisies Won't
Tell"
/ If only we could look at Washington
with the same seeing eyes we use in
London, Cairo, Nice!
Then might we see our streets trans
| figured, our buildings In their true
light, even our tawdriness interesting
and somewhat picturesque.
| In the work-a-day world. the man
who deprives another of advancement
the precious feeling of getting ahead
| in the world, has robbed him of more
than he who steals his purse.
| So, in our normal city life. those
deadening influences that take away
from us our ability to see the familiar
with fresh eyes have deprived us
robbed us.
/ Given the basic groundwork OF
health, which also is the sauce of life
/ one ought to live so as to get the moss
out of every hour and day. And ne
can do this, too, If he will only realize
the necessity, and struggle slightly
against the deadening influences. the
forces that would make the interest
ing commonplace and the common
place boresome.
/ Washington is not a commonplace
city There is more to see here, more
/ to be interested in, than almost any
other place in the United States. II
we will but try to see it with seeing
eyes. Nor ought it be necessary tt
tear down half F street to make us see
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
More Radio.

A progressive step in radio is an
nounced The news win be under
stood by radio fans, but 1t Is little
muddy to persons not afflicted in that
way. 1t seems that the invention
will give the sound Of radio more
application, so that the receiving
set will give out moro sound, that
will travel farther and affect more
neighbors. If the new simplifying
device could be enjoyed only by its
owner there would be no occasion
for comment, but as the sound will
travel farther up and down the street,
cross more backyards and enter more
windows of the neighbors the matter
becomes of wide interest. Perhaps all
that can be said about the neighbors'
radio has been said and one fears
that some of the sayings have lacked
dignity and constraint, though they
have had the merit Of being pithy.
The news is: "a private demonstra-
ton was given in the Aeolian Build.
lllS IOAdy Va ali WHICH
amplif1es radio sound waves through
the piano. Taking advantage of the
experimentation of vibration between
the radio waves and the piano sound.
ing board and strings, the inventor
produced volume several times great.
er than possible through the ordinary
radio amplif1er."t
The meaning of this seems to be
that the radio set will be more force
full. Sets that one hears now will be
heard more effectively, and sets that
one is deprived of hearing now will
add to the harmony, or otherwise
What is really needed is that an in
ventor will bring out a device which
will amplify the sound of passenger
BUSES on residence streets at night
and which will also amplify the tones
OF street cars crossing tracks at juno
ton points.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
Doubts Annuity Cost.
Reader Holds Actuaries' Figures
Err in Figuring Deaths.

To the Editor of The Star:
Again the statement is being made
that the civil service retirement laws,
both the old and the new, are actually
costing the Government $17,000,OO0
per annum-this time by Represent
ative Tilson, Republican leader Of
the House. All the expense that /
can see so far that the retirement has
cost the Government is the actual ad-
ditional clerical cost necessary to its
administration. l can find no appro-
priation of any sum whatever to pay
retired employees since the original
enactment of the law.
Only the actuaries' figures, based on
what I believe to be an unfavorabie
basis, show a possible cost to the Gov
eminent far in the future of large
sums, which they evidently prorate to
the date Of the original law.
The death rate of, annuitants. ex-
tremely high, will knock their expert
calculations sky-high, like the actu-
aries who fixed the insurance company
rates for insurance high in expecta.
ton of the then standard death rate
continuing, and have been astounded
by the reduced death rate.
But that has been effected by low
death rate in the lower ages, raising
the general expectation Of life cohsid-
erably. But our civil service actu-
aries, at this late period, after the
insurance men had published their
mistake, have gone far in the other
direction to err. It is plainly evident
so far that the death rate of civil
service annuitants is very high. The
figures from the beginning of the law
until June 80, 1926. show that about
% per cent are already dead and no
longer drawing annuities.
/ personally, after comparing all
the various methods of computing
annuity costs, fail to see where the
United States Treasury will have to
pay out one red cent of any other tax
money in it's possession, other than
the deduction collected from the pos
sible annuitants themselves.
THOMAS J. MCGOWAN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
New York's Traffic Record.

New York City has just completed
q six-month record of traffic enforce
ment. which officials of other com
munities would do well to study. The
outstanding feature of the New York
report, which has Just been released,
is that ninety-eight per cent Of those
arrested or summoned were convicted.
More than fifty-seven thousand ar
rests were made during the period
and more than two thousand of this
total were sentenced to Jail. This is
an impressive record and bespeaks
the utmost in cooperation between
the various city law enforcement
agencies; an example that the Dis
trict Of Columbia should seek to
emulate.
Among the offenses dealt with In
the report is the apparently insignif1-
cant item Of failing to keep to the
right, two thousand three hundred
and one arrested" But this traffic
violation is far from being insignia.
cant. although in many cities. Wash.
ington particularly, no attention
seems to be paid to it. Activity Of
the New York police in enforcing
this cardinal rule OF the road stamps
the traffic administration in that city
Immediately as progressive.
Failure to- keep to the right is one
OF the greatest breeders Of accidents,
and failure to give way for an over.
taking car or speeding up as the
overtaking car is about to pass falls
in the same category. The first Of
Tense is often committed because of
thoughtlessness, but the second and
third only through sheer stupidity
and "cussedness."
A few policemen on motor cycles
assigned to this city, e few days
conscientious work. and there would
be few Of this type of driver roaming
through the streets Of the National
Capital, potential cause OF serious
motor accidents By all means Wash
ington should follow the example of
New York and take cognizance of
this menacing situation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23

returned to Spain in 1904, dying at
Valladolid two years later. The pa
pers of DIR. Schuler would have to
do with Columbus travels along the
Caribbean coast of the Isthmus of
Darien in seeking to find a passage
to the west, which would lead to the
Spice Islands.
In history of the Isthmus of Da-
! rien, or Panama, 1t is written that
"a notary of Triana named Bastidas
sailed along the Caribbean coast Of
the isthmus in 1901. Balboa being one
OF HIS companions. AT the end of
1902 and beginning OF 1903 Columbus
carefully examined the region im,ne-
diately west of the Gulf of Darien."
In a biography of Columbus not
much is said of his examination of
the coast of the isthmus. Much of
that chapter has to do with shipwreck
and other trouble. Columbus. made
the voyage from Spain in -four slen-
der ships" and, arriving on this side
of the Atlantic and desiring to make
repairs to his ships, he was refused
permission to enter the port of San
Domingo, which he had founded on
the Island of Hispaniola (HaitD, which
he had discovered on his first voyage
of 1892. Keeping on his course after
this ungracious treatment, 1t is told
briefly that two of his ships were lost
In a storm and two wrecked, evidently
meaning that they went ashore.
These disasters must have come upon
the squadron after Columbus had ex-
amined the coast of Darien, for after
the shipwreck one finds him in ia.
maica, whence he dispatched some of
his followers in canoes to San Do.
mingo for help. The report is that
the governor Of that place refused
to help the admiral, but that those
who made the voyage in canoes pro.
cured a ship and relieved Columbus.
In that ship he made his return to
Spain. A full account" of the fourth
voyage would be a valuable addition
to knowledge,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23

airy to the Hungarian government.
says the Canton Daily News, Tex.
presses, first, the confidence which
this great American economist has in
the Hungarian people and the faith
he possesses in their ability to carry
on and to follow the program he has
placed in operation for the league. 1t
expresses beyond that, and more en-
phatically, the belief he has in the
League of Nations, which took Hun
gary. a broken derelict, and restored
1t. Beyond all else. the gracious act
of Jeremiah Smith expresses the
spirit of the league" The Jackson
Citizen Patriot comedies that "un-
doubtedly Mr.. Smith Is a dreamer"
but maintains that che evidently is
dreaming of the time when good Will
and international understanding will
be universal The Seattle Daily
Times emphasizes the outstanding
value of Mr.. Smiths services to
Hungary, as it recalls that recently
at a public meeting at Budapest min
listers of the government praised his
work in extravagant terms" and that
che was hailed as a financial genius
who had pulled Hungary out of an
awkward position"
Hungary was. eight years ago. an
enemy nation" remarks the Lincoln
State Journal, continuing: ut was
one of the Central powers against
whom we were waging war. If we
viii read our histories, we will find
that such graceful acts as this OF
jeremiah Smith are magical sur
gerry for the removal of scars of war
and dissolving dislikes and suspicious
mi ILL
between peoples. The Brooklyn
Daily Eagle adds that "he is identify
ing himself as an individual with the
highest spirit of Americanism," and
that he accepts for himself our Ma
tion's idea of service instead Of ag-
grandizement." The Asheville Times
cites the European view that Amer
leans are dollar chasers." but feels
that sit will be hard to make Hunga-
rianS believe that estimate"
Eve take 1t that there will be
very general disposition to make il a
case of hats off to jeremiah Smith,
declares the Manchester Union of the
American appreciation of his acts,
and the Baltimore Sun offers the COM
ment, in relation to his preference for
"the consciousness of service in De-
half of an unfortunate people rather
than q fee,'' that doubtless MIR.
Smith has taken the reward that
means more to him. But Americans
will be proud that they still breed
men whose self-attention so expresses
itself. They left our heads" The
Cincinnati Times-Star explains that
| Europe has discovered an efficient
American 10 Americans" and the
Louisville Times concludes that
America must put jeremiah Smith
among its exalted"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23

Taxi! Taxi!' called the young man
comfortably seated on the scaffoldine
two stories above the street level. Be
low him whizzed the noonhour traffic
of T. street.
Not more than one driver out Of 10
that passed the corner of Fourteenth
st!eet paused at the commanding
voice of the worker tndulging in his
lunch and a bit of American humol
at one and the same time.
When the tenth driver slowed down
however, In response to the mysteri
GUS call for his services. the young
man was convulsed with laughter
fairly writhing in the sight Of all
Washington.
A whole new aspect has been giver
to Fourteenth and F streets by the
leveling of the old buildings there fol
the construction of a modern one.
Now for the first time. it almost
seems, we actually see II street.
Standing on the car platform, one
suddenly realizes that he is not III
Terre Haute, for instance, but in
Washington, y. G. Let no one sneei
at Terre Haute. There is perhaps no
OIAkCA SAlyp 0HiCSS Dc LCltolLs lila
has a business thoroughfare so re
sembling our own f street.
With the buildings RACED and a
yawning hole taking their place, sur
rounded by wood fences, etc., the
street at this point seems narrowed
Perhaps the effect is brought about
as the result of contrast, the vacant
land stretching back to the buildings
on E street
How susceptible human beings are
to changes! Change half a block anc
you change the appearance Of q
whole street
Inhabitants of a city get so ac-
customed to accepting their streets
buildings and parks as matters OF
fact that 1t takes something out OF
the usual-such as the National
Press Club construction - to make
them actually look.
We rush hither and yon, each one
so intent upon his own precious bust
ness, and fondly expecting that every
one else will be interested in 1t, too
which no one hardly ever is, that he
has Scant time to really see his own
city.
That is why most Of us have to
go to some other city, indulge In
IdSCl, 80 ~ 1%uIOpCs All OkuUA w uoS
our senses. particularly those of sight
as coordinate with the intelligence
When we visit London our eyes
actually become wide OPEN" We
are alert to everything. The
"strangeness" of it all impresses us
and pleases us, giving one of the
most durable satisfactions human
beings are given to know.
Thus has travel always offered g
tremendous lure to all those wht
have the money and leisure to in
dulge in 1t. Even Ralph Waldo
Emerson, who called it a fools
paradise, made more than one trir
across the sea himself. and did more
travelling In America on his lecture
tours than any other man of his
periodi
Travelling allows a man to use his
faculties, always a pleasing thing
Here you are in Washington, going
stale on the job. Life seems a bore
and all you see. from one days enc
to the next, is the instrument board
Of your, car.
Streets are merely ways of getting
from one place to another.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
A High-Pric Lesson.

Although the accounts Of survivors
and witnesses differ as to the cause
of the accident yesterday when a big
sightseeing bus, carrying siXty-sever
merry picnickers, turned over al
Sparkin, N. Y, with loss OF Ire
Of ten and the serious injury Of al
the remaining passengers. it seems
to be generally agreed that pao
brakes on the bus were responsible
for the tragedy. Twenty Of those In
jur-ed are expected to die and those
who are fortunate enough to escape
death will be saved only through the
skill Of surgeons and the prompt at
tention that they received, so serious
were their injuries.
Such a shocking accident as this
stresses again the necessity for peri
odicaI and careful inspection Of equip
ment on buses of this type. Human
freight is a precious cargo and Slip
shod methods cannot be tolerated,
either in equipment itself or in the
driving.
If the brakes on this bus were In
good condition the entire blame must
fall on the driver, inasmuch as II
was on a wide and dry concrete road
that the accident occurred. If the
brakes were bad the blame rests
equally with the company owning the
bus and the driver, who never should
have taken the vehicle out Of the
garage in such condition.
Whatever the cause and wherever
the blame a lesson should be taught
by this accident which should never
be forgotten. Inspection should be
regular and painstaking, and none
but the best of operators should be
put in charge of vehicles OF. this kind.
OF course accidents may happen II
every precaution Is taken. Brakes
and steering wheels have been known
to snap with terrible results This
may have been the cause OF the acct
dent yesterday. but in view OF state
ments by survivors it Is evident that
a curve in the road was being at
tempted at high speed with a result
ant loss Of control Of the huge We
hIcle.
Investigation by proper authorities
win bring out all phases Of this
disaster. Until then conjecture can
only be given as to the cause. The
thing that stands out, however, Is
the lesson Of safety which has been
% trag1cally furnished.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
Documents of Columbus.

A report comes from New Orleans
that a full account of Christopher
Columbus last voyage, roster of his
crews, their wages and all incidents
Of the trip are said by DIR. Rudolph
Schiller, archeologist, to be contained
In manuscripts brought here by him
from Central America. DIR. Schiller
has conducted archaeological and lin.
guistic research in Central America
for twenty-seven years. Many schol-
ars have worked to gather data re-
lating to Columbus and his four
voyages to America, but it need not
be assumed that they have found
all documents bearing on Columbus
work. 1t may be that DIR. Schuler
has made rare find
TAe last voyage Of Columbus to
Amextos waS- made In 15e2, and he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
End of the Subway Strike.

A strike Of motormen and switch.
men on one of the New York subway
lines, which began on the 9Th of this
month, ended yesterday, when the
strikers, their numbers much depleted
by assertions, voted to return to work
II the company would receive them.
They are today applying for their old
positions, and it Is indicated that save
perhaps for a few Of the leaders the
company will restore them to their
jobs as rapidly as places are avail.
able.
This strike was doomed to failure
from the start. Indeed, 1t is doubtful
whether any strike that interrupts q
necessary public service can have a
good chance for success. The public's
sympathy Is almost invariably against
those who seek to deprive the people
OF the facility they require in their
daily movements. In this case the
men who quit work had organized a
new union, seeding from that which
comprised the entire enrolment of
the company. It was a strike against
the union. In such circumstances
there could be no support from the
public, and without that support there
could be no success.
Workers in public utility service
are obligated to give the people the
accommodation that their employ.
ment guarantees, They may, of
course, quit such a service IL they are
not content with the wages and con.
ditions that prevail. But when they
quit collectively, in an effort to coerce
agreement with their terms, they
strike at the people as well as at the
| corporation whose service they are
leaving.
The strike is a poor weapon for the
enforcement Of demands. 1t has sue.
ceeded in some cases. but has failed
in many more. Rarely does an ad.
justment following a strike, especially
in line of public necessity, compen.
safe for the losses suffered by the
workers during their period of mac.
tivity. This New York strike, lasting
only Is days, has not cost the men as
much as some other walkouts, but
whatever the cost it has been abso.
lutte. The men go back to work at
the same pay rate as before and they
lose their priority standings.
In this case, as in others of the
same kind, difficulty may arise re-
garding the retention of the men who
were engaged to replace the strikers
The company naturally wishes to keep
them in reward for their acceptance
| Of service in difficult and even dan.
gerous conditions. They maintained
the service. Now are they to be dis
placed to make room for the men who
deserted their posts? In agreeing to
take the strikers back at all the com
pany is yielding somewhat from its
prior position. 1t is to be hoped that
| in the reception of the strikers the
corporation. with regard for the pub
lie service, will put premium upor
loyalty by imposing a penalty upor
those who quit their posts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHnANDER JOHNSON.
UnappreciatiOn.

Unappreciation.
We have the motor speeding swift
Where highways are alluring.
Unto the airplane we up1ift
Our gaze. with hope enduring;
And yet mankind proceeds to find
A cause for manners scrappy;
We have improvements most refined
And still we are not happy!
A bit Of lightning, well controlled.
Promotes communication;
Wise words and jazzy tunes unfold
With radio elation.
Around the world such words are
hurled
AS "Howdydo, old chappie"'
All sorts of marvels are unfurled
And still we are not happy!