davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-12-04
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

the area comprising the country 10 de.
grees north and south Of the Equator.
| 1t Is found among isolated South
American tribes, in West Equatorial
| and Central Africa, the Malay Archi.
| pelago. certain South Sea islands.
mainly in Melanesia. and In parts OF
Australia. Head hunting tribes are
| found in Madagascar.
@. Who named Christian science,-
d. H.
A. It was named by Mary Baker
Eddy, its founder.
@. What is the average depth of
the ocean?-R. T.
A. The average depth is about 2.2
miles.
Q. What will remove the tarnish
on bronze?-E. A. E.
A. The tarnish on bronze Is copper
carbonate. 1t may be removed by frio-
don or 1t may be dissolved in weak
acids. ROttenstone mixed with oil
to q creamy consistency is the COM
mon frictional agent used on these
metals. Oxalic acid solution. butter.
milk or vinegar, especially when
warmed. quickly dissolves the tarnish
on bronze.
@. How long is a German Presi-
dents term? What kind of courts has
Germany?-G. w.
A. The President is elected for q
period of five years. Germany has q
series of courts similar to those opera
ting in the United States.
@. What rates were charged by no
tells or inns in colonial days?-H. T.
A These early inns were conducted
on the American" plan, and one dol
lar q day was considered a good
price. Liquors and wines were in
cluded.
O. When was THE Hoosier School
master" published2-N. A.
A. 1t was published In 1871 and en-
ijoyed a great popularity. for many
years.
The dnsioers to questions printed
here each day are specimens picked
from the mass of Inquiries handled
by the great nfornlGtfOrp bureau ntGlst-
tdtned by The Epentno Star In Wash
ington. ID. G. This rGludble service Is
for the free use of the public. Ask d7v
question of fact you mag 1odnt to
knoar and you tOtH get an tntntedtcte
reply Write plainly. inclose cents
In stamps for return postage, and i'd
dress The EreninO Star Information
Bureau. Frederic j. HGskifs, Director.
WuShtn UtOn, ID. @.
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Charles Dickens created a world.

! Charles Dickens created a world.
Those who do not care for his
novels do not feel at home In his
world. but their lack of affection can
not uncreate that world. It will dc
them no good to declare that ''un
doubtedly Thackeray is a greater
writer"
There is, indeed. : " much doubt
about it.
If they will take the trouble to in
quire at any book store, they will dis
cover that Dickens sells 10 copies to
every l for Thackeray.
II they will only note the fact
they will see that Dickens charac
ters are mentioned in modern writ
| ings, book, magazine and newspaper
100 times as often as Thackeray men
and women.
If they could look into the minds
and hearts of readers. they would
know that Dickens and his world
live there. whereas Thackeray and
his perhaps better bred world exist
mainly between the covers Of his
books.
There lies the main difference be
tween the two. This Is an old. old
dispute, and no one has ever settled
1t, and the present writer is not SC
foolish as to think that he can dc
so; but he does not hesitate to give
his own opinions frankly, courtesy
which he accords others, especially
if they happily differ with him.
The big difference between Dick.
ems and Thackeray, as we see 1t, Is
that Dickens affected more persons
entered into the everyday life Of more
people, became a real friend in the
hearts of more living men and
women.
A novelist Is a curious creature. 1t
will not do for him to write cloudy
thing to be read only by a few in
every generation. If he is to be a
truly great writer, and join the ranks
Of the real novelists, he must make
his appeal to large numbers. AS
much as a politician, he depends
upon the suffrages Of his peers. The
reading public makes or breaks him.
X X X 4
A didactic writer may rest his case
with a few in every generation, but
the novelist must be read. and widely
read, else he fails in his mission.
Even if he Is a novelist with a pur-
pose (Which, In the last analysis,
every novelist isI he must place his
case before the bar Of public opin-
ion. just the same
Shall it be said. then. that the
novelist with the largest circulation
is the greatest novelist?
acknowledgements!
There are circulations and circu-
lations.
There are novelists who, by some
happy trick of timeliness, appeal to
huge audiences during their own life
time, whom Time will in the end dis.
count heavily.
The history of English literature
is full Of accounts of successful
noveiists, who made a fine living and
enjoyed much popularity, but are to,
day scarcely remembered.
The same thing is going on around
us today. A publisher ventures to
take chance on a story, hoping that
he will hit the popular fancy. If he
can but ring the bell once in 10 or
20 ventures. he is satisfied.
But is any one so foolish as to
think that the ballyhoo stuff put out
on the Jackets of the books is the
gospel truth? Is this, indeed. a
great novel," or will it be forgotten
this time 20 years?
The circulation Of the moment is
interesting. but it does not place, a
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Moving Pictures of Criminals.

A novel scheme for the apprehen-
sion of bank bandits will soon be
given a test in Chicago. It consists
Of a set of motion picture cameras
controlled by radio and operated by
means Of floor pedals in the various
cages. When an attack is made the
cameras will be turned on and will
grind out the scene for the use of
the police in identifying the Grim
inals. Whether he likes it or not,
the bandit will be photographed in
the very act, and. in case Of murder
or shooting, the films will show just
who welded the guns and who was
responsible for death and injury.
An accurate and indisputable pic
ture of every hold-up and bank rob.
berv would be of material aid to the
authorities in the solving of crime
and the conviction of the guilty. The
pictured faces of the robbers could be
compared with rogues' gallery photo
graphs and the bandits identified
When the men were arrested and the
trial was reached, the moving film
could be run Off for the edification Of
the jury, along with explanatory re-
marks by the prosecuting attorney.
Few criminals would escape pun
ishment under this system. And if
every bank was equipped with these
s.
enough to attempt an attack. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether or not the
scheme is practicable. If it is. sci
ence may have rendered another i'm
portant service in the eternal fight
between society and the underworld.
Evening star., 1926-12-04
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
book in its true place. Only the cir.
culation Of the centuries can do that.

book in its true place. Only the cir
| culatton OF the centuries can 90 that
v X y
The true novelist, then, must make
q large appeal over the years. be
cause he aims to delineate human
life and living, and II these are truly
done, they necessarily will appeal te
human beings Of sensibilities.
If they do not, II only a few 1r
every generation are drawn to them
| the very fact shows that the delinea
tions are not successful.
Only those who hold poor opinions
| of mankind in general are willing tc
discount the mass voice Of humanity
| where there Is much smoke there Is
always bound to be some fire.
Sets Of Dickens in every book store
and in thousands upon thousands OF
homes speak volumes for the great
world Of Dickens.
II one does not like Dickens. OF
course. that Is strictly his own bust
ness. The ancient fallacy of setting
up list of authors and threatening
every one with them Is happily a
thing of the past. 1t isn't being
done any more.
The point is, in relation to Dickens
that so many hundreds Of thousands
in every generation. do genuinely love
his stories.
AS Christmas time draws near,
millions will read and reread his
christmas Carol" Sheer at that
wonderful story, IL you will. 1t will
do you little good, Dickens no harm
and certainly will not affect the
world one way or the other.
H>,1 fx, %~
than all the wealth in the world
Hans Christian Andersen's dwarf
said.
1t was because Dickens felt the
same way, because he loved men and
women who tried to be decent, and
cordially hated those who do not, that
he Is today one of the most read
authors.
He had many faults as man,
and his novels have many, as works
of literary art.
Contrasted with tho smooth flow
Of a novel by Jane Austen. Dickens
stories are melodramatic, "theatrical''
in the worse sense Of that word.
Anthony Trollope, generally placed
second, is a great deal more natural
in his Characterization. A reader
feels. in perusing the cathedral
series, that he is getting a much
more genuine picture of English life.
Dickens made his men and women
live as neither the clergyman's daugh-
ter nor the post Office clerk succeeded
in doing.
If one is not too critical-and why
should one be?--he finds in Dickens
a world not equaled by the creation
of any other novelist.
Somehow or other, when one fin
ished reading Dickens novel, he
has mental pictures Of the characters
as real as any of real persons he
knows in daily life.
They are authentic.
The trick. no doubt, lies in the
minute description indulged in by
Dickens. who described the very last
button on his characters coats, and
every particular cobblestone in his
London streets.
Yet there Is undoubtedly-ah, yes,
ubtedly!-something else, too,
and 1t can be nothing more nor less
than genius. Dickens had it, and he
had 1t to greater degree than Thack-
cray, we believe. The latter Is bet
ter written, in a sense. but not so
we'll written, in another and larger
sense, If you get what we mean. We
hope you do.
Evening star., 1926-12-04
An Obnoxious Regulation.

An unprecedented spectacle of ac
tivity is due in Washington as the
clock strikes midnight on the thirty
first of December. It will be strange
sight, not because activity on New
Year Eve Is strange. but because OF
the peculiar actions which most as
suredly will be witnessed and in
dulged in by a large proportion of
the population Of the city. Men-and
women. too-wtll be running here
and there with long fat packages in
one hand and q pair OF pliers lin the
other. Many will be in full evening
dress; II 1t Is cold. that will be just
their hard luck; but that will not
deter the steady procession which
will sweep out of homes and res
taurants.
For the zero hour will strike at
midnight, the hour at which 1926
automobile tags are void and the
hour when the 1927 tags must be
affixed to every District automobile
No leeway is to be given this year;
the new licenses are good at twelve
one and not before, but they must
be on the. automobiles at that time
or trouble will result for the hapless
motorist.
There will be many a frozen finger,
many a scraped hand and many
soiled clothes when the bulk Of
Washington's amateur mechanicians
get to work putting on new tags at
midnight. Many a party will be
interrupted by a polite Excuse me,
please, must walk four blocks down
the street where my car is parked
to put on my new tags. Come on
along and help me, George. The
bolts on my old opes are so rusted
that / am not sure that I can get
them off"
In other years-ah, happy years.
the new tags could be attached in
December. Motorists appreciated
this fact and were anxious to comply
with the reasonable regulation. Most
of Washington's automobiles were
correctly and properly tagged. conse-
Quently. when the new year came.
The reason for the change in GUS
tom cannot be ascertained. 1t, there
fore, must be assumed that there is
no reason, or at least no adequate
reason, for raising such havoc with
-. 1r thon hIIndra6
thousand motorists.
The District has no quarterly
licenses as have some Of the States;
that cannot be the reason. The Dis
trict is not now taking dictation from
Maryland in it's handling Of motor
registrations; so that is not the
cause. District policemen are GER
tainly able to distinguish between
black numbers on the old tags and
yellow numbers on the new; so there
is no point in that argument. The
District is not trying to collect a
dollar from a motorist who buys a
new car at Christmas for a 1925
tag: so that is not it, either. And,
of course, the District is not trying
to harass the great motorist army
OF Washington.
Consequently there must have
beer some mistake when the now
famous order was issued. District
motorists and District people want
reasonable regulations. They do not
want trouble-making, embarrassing
and inconvenient rules plastered on
them without the senblance Of rea-
son. and they are therefore waiting
anxiously for the resembling of an
obnoxious order.
Evening star., 1926-12-04

@. Where was the first country
club in the United States located
s. 8.
A. Roland Park in Baltimore.
@. What makes wood crack?-L. F.
A. It Is the moisture in the wood
that expands and causes the cracking.
@. Who invented the gelatin cap
sule?-V. r. d.
A. 1t was invented by a French
druggist in 1888. whose name was A.
Mothers.
@. What is the size of the Gettys-
burg battlefeld?-D. l.. d.
A. Gettysburg battlefield occupies
25 square miles. There are in it
10000 acres.
@. How many islands are there in
the Philippine group?-J. J. A.
A. There are 1858 islands, of which
only 2,441 are named. Total area of
the archipelago is us ,026-square miles
The Philippines are mountain ranges
rising out Of the sea, and the islands
are connected with each other and
with the East Indies by submerged
mountains. Part of the land is vol
canic in origin and there are a dozen
active volcanoes. The general trend
of the mountain range is from north
to south, but there are innumerable
rugged spurs which cut the larger
islands into many isolated sections.
Coral reefs fringe the shores. of which
there are altogether more than twice
as many miles as on all the coasts
or the United States. In the largest
islands there are a few rivers. but
they have rapid descents and except
near the sea. are navigable only by
RATS.
@. What Is "eavesdrop"?-B. r.
A. This was an ancient custom or
law by which a proprietor was not
permitted 20 build to the edge of his
estate, leaving a space SO as not to
throw the eavesdrop on the land of
his neighbor.
@. Is the National Cathedral higher
than the Washington Monument
NJ. B.
A. The height Of the central tower
Of the Cathedral is 262 feet. The
ground upon which the Cathedral
stands is 400 feet above the Potomac
River. The top of the tower is there
fore farther above the river than the
Monument is.
Q. Are there any cannibals in the
world today?-V. L. s.
A. Cannibalism still exists in some
tropical countries, but is limited to
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Hamlet Sustained.
From the Ptttsburgh Chronicle!T

From the Pittsburgh Chronicle!Telegraph.
The supreme court Of Denmark
holds the game of poker illegal. At
last we see a clear Interpretation Of
Mr.. Hamlet's remark about some.
thing being rotten in the state Of Den.
mark!
Evening star., 1926-12-04

The year now drawing to a close has
been one of extraordinary prosperity
A few crime waves have disturbed the
national sense of moral satisfaction
In times of economical simplicity they
might have passed with far less gen
eral notice. Wealth implies leisure
and leisure must be supplied with
stimulating gossip.
Evening star., 1926-12-04

A saddening remark by Miss Char
lotte Mills is reported to the effect
that she resented having to live with
her father, man who did not know
who Shakespeare was. This trial,
long as it was, would have been inter
minable if the Baconian theory had
been drawn into it.
Evening star., 1926-12-04
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Self.Deception.

Self-Deception.
He had a figure very slight.
His voice was high and rather thin.
Yet he would get up and recite
That rough old rhyming, "Gunga
Dhin!'
Oh, gentle youth. your hopeful boast
BY no means ranks among the first.
The things we long to do the most
Are often those we do the worst.
Evening star., 1926-12-04

The Hall mills case now resolves
itself into the indisputable, though
vague, proposition that a murder was
committed by somebody.
Evening star., 1926-12-04

A screen star, with the assistance of
his publicity staff, sometimes succeeds
in convincing the public that divorce
is some kind of roaring farce.
Evening star., 1926-12-04

The fascination Of pictures has
tended to provoke more popular in
terest in what people look like than
in how they behave.
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Hog Caller and Corn Husk

From the Nashville Banner,
What would happen II the cham.
pion hog caller showed up at a corn.
husking bee and did his stuff?
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Rate by MaiI-Payable IN Advance.
Iarvla nd ard Hviruinin
All Other States and Canada.
Member of tine Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitlet
TO the use for republication OF all news dis
patches credited 20 IL or not otherwise cred
ited i'll this paper and also the local news
published herein All rights OF publication
Of special dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1926-12-04

The "enfant terrible" used to be a
funny figure in literature. Now he
carries a hip flask and a gun.
Evening star., 1926-12-04

There are. beyond question. other
times" Instead of singing Christmas
carols. people say shop early"
Evening star., 1926-12-04
No Trader

No Trader.
"You have had your ups and downs
in politics."
I'm some ways" answered Senator
Sorghum. "In politics ups and downs
is conscientiously trying to be on the
level"
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Binders.

From the DAYTON Daily News
Possibly the reason why more Amer
leans do not see America first 10 the
billboard ms- won't l% .hem.
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Water Ways.

Water Ways.
Books in the running brooks,
Written by pens untaught!
Whichever way one looks
They dam the streams Of though.
Books in the running brooks"
Devoid Of sense or fun
They keep, say we (gadzooks0.
The poor brooks on the run!
Jud Tunkins says one reason why
youth is so overbearing is that no old
man knows how to repair a radio set
Evening star., 1926-12-04

Nah 1ong." said Hi Ho, the sage of
Chinatown. 'is an ancient game tire
somely designed 80 that he who can
remain awake longest deservedly
proves the winner"
Evening star., 1926-12-04

"A boss race" said Uncle Eben. sis
de means OF shown a man he didn'
know as much as he thought he did.
But de very next time de ponies line
ap. ne comes back foh anotheE lesson." !"
Evening star., 1926-12-04
Winter Rainent.

About her beauty / must brag-
And yet I hold my breath.
II she leaves off another rag
She's going to freeze to death.
Evening star., 1926-12-04

Count H erm m a n n keyserling' s
"Travel Diary Of a Philosopher" ac-
complished the feat of becoming
best seller, though non-fiction. 1t is
likely that his new book will be an
even better seller, for its subject is
1.-THE Book Of Marriage" and every
one is interested in marriage. whether
the view be backward or forward.
Count Keyserling is editor rather than
author Of this book. Under his direc-
ton "a more or less famous authors
discuss the various aspects of mar
riage, and he himself has added two
essays. Havelock Ellis, Jacob Was
sermann, Thomas Mann, Ricardo
Huch and Sir Rabindranath Tagore
are among the contributors. The COM
plete list of names shows pre-
ponderance Of Germans. It Is said
that Bernard Shaw was asked to join
this group Of experts. but declined.
Probably he has said all that he has
to say in Getting Married"
HHNH
|. How many in Washington-even
those who are made comfortable daily
by It's operation-know that the sery-
ice of the Capitol power plant is
sufficient to furnish light and heat
for city Of 100000 inhabitants?
This plant consumes in the genera
ton Of heat and current approximately
81, 500 tons Of coal. and II a delivery
of this amount of coal was attempted
at one time it would require 708 coal
cars with a capacity of 60 tons each.
and these cars would constitute a
train Z miles in length.
From the power plant heat. light
and power are furnished to the United
States Capitol. Library Of Congress,
Senate and House ONCE Buildings.
Coast and Geodetic Survey, Public
Health Service Building corner B
street and New Jersey avenue south
east), Botanic Garden, City Post Office,
Government Printing 0l1.e. Ind light
and power only to Govs-Annv..t hotels.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

Nine. Ernestine Schumann Heink,
world renowned contralto. who has
been successful in avoiding the radio
microphone since last January 81, is
kBted as the principal artist on the
Atwater Kent program tonight. which
will be broadcast by WRC IN connec-
ton with II other stations. The fast
closing year marks her golden jubilee
as a singer, her 65th birthday and the
twentieth anniversary as an American
citizen.
Mime. Schumann Heink will be as
sisted by Miss Florence Hardeman,
violinist, and the Atwater Kent Or
chestra, under the direction of Louis
Edlin. Stewart Willie will serve a.
her accompanist. She will sing three
groups composed of nine numbers. in
GLIDING Franz Gruber's "Stille Nacht,
Hedge Nacht," which will give an ap'
propriate atmosphere to her program
WRC's other Sunday night musical
entertainment consists of the regular
program from the Capitol Theater In
New York City and the third of the
series of Peoples Vesper concerts. The
guest soloist will be J. e. S. Kinsella,
baritone.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
cEYLON TOUPHOLD
LIMIT ON RUBBER
Motion to Stand Out From
British Policy Defeated by
Legislative Council.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
COLOMBO, Ceylon, December 10
The Legislative Council rejected
a motion, recently introduced, recon-
mending that Ceylon stand out from
Great Britain's restriction of rubber
output under the Stevenson plan.
Opposition to the Stevenson plan Of
rubber restriction developed in Cey-
lon, which produces about 20 per cent
OF the total British output. on Decem-
her 3, when motion expressing dis
satisfaction was placed under debate.
The motion also declared that fnstruc-
tons issued by the British secretary
of state on October 80 were uneco-
nomic for Ceylon.
Those included a reduction from 100
to so of the standard output Of rubber
which could be exported at a mini
mum rate Of duty for the current
quarter. This reduction was directed
because the average price of rubber
fell below 81 pence for the quarter
ending October 80.
On December 10 Colonial Secretary
Amedy. sent telegram from London
stating that II Ceylon were to aban-
don, rubber restriction 1t would have
a most serious effect on the policy
of other British rubber-producing
areas and that an immediate fall In
price would be likely. 2
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19

ure is second only to that recorded for
October, 1925, which was $81, 1853 high
er. and which made that month the
highest export month In radios brief
history.
The Department of Commerce. which
complies the monthly export statistics,
finds that our radio export trade for
October brings the total for the first
10 months of 1926 to $6.140,543. These
are the latest figures available for the
returns are always nearly two months
late.
During 1925 radio exports were val
ued at $9,903.787. 1t would thus ap-
pear that 1926 foreign sales are lag
ging, but the fact is that November
and December exports may swell the
1925 total beyond that of last year
They represent the large share of
Christmas trade abroad, particularly
that with Canada, and Commerce off,
Gals still feel this years total will
equal, If not exceed, that Of last year.
The export statistics so far reveal
Australia practically doubling the pur.
chase Of radio apparatus In the Amer
lean market. Argentina Is buying
about twice as many American radio
sets and corresponding amounts Of
parts. The takings Of the Netherlands
also have increased. but. on the other
hand. Japan so far has bought only
$500 900 worth OF apparatus as COM
pared to $4,000, 900 worth in 1925. ia.
pans decreased demand Is explained
as due to overstocking last year.