davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
Congress Furnishes Cord
That Binds Departments
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
/ thank you on behalf of all Govern.
ment clerks for your cartoon and edi.
torfa1 on Congressman Davey's speech.
1t Is a. comfort to know that Con.
gresham Davey is just one of the in.
significant minority who are not in.
telllgent enough to really inform
themselves on a subject before trying
to handle it in public, thus merely adj
Vert1sfng what poor material some
congressional districts have to repre-
sent them. Perhaps Congress could
successfully handle more than three
bills out of more than seventeen hun
dred, If the material were better and
If what it does have were to stay on
the Job, at least during sessions.
AS for Government clerks, the facts
are open to all who really wish to
know them, so I shall not try to
enumerate- them here. Anyhow, it
was good Of Congressman Davey
to except. the postal workers. whose
labors are clearly visible to the public.
Or perhaps the Post Office Depart
ment has been handling Congressman
Davey's enormous franked mail in an
especially efficient manner, earning
praises, If not raises.
The service is "al1 bound round with
a WOODEN string" as nobody knows
better than we who are of 1t, but Con-
Eress furnishes the string, miles and
miles and miles Of T L. AMMoN. I
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

cigarettes. Three cabineteers-
Hoover, Sargent and Dwight +. Da-
vis-divide their smoking time be-
tween pipes and cigars. kellogg and
Jardine are partial to cigars. Among
ca binet smokers, DR.. Work is the most
abstemious
Nal Gen. David c. Shanks. L. s.
A.. retired, who commanded the great
Army base at Hoboken during the
World War. told. at the recent ami
versary dinner Of the War Society of
the Cruiser and Transport Force.
how books and magazines rained in
on him on certain occasion. The
story was widely circulated that
what our men overseas craved was
reading matter. Benevolent souls
were asked to send contributions to
Hoboken. Within a week the Jersey
port was choked to the point of block
ade with the most prodigious collec-
ton of literary junk ever piled up.
Nothing to compare with 1t was ever
seen at Hoboken except a consign-
ment of canned heat. One day there
rolled into Shanks' headquarters a
man who wanted to send some canned
heat to his brotherin-law, the colonel
of a Western National Guard regi-
ment in France. Bring it around, ;"
SAID ShankS- Cant carry it." plead
ed the caller. Shanks asked why.
Because the man explained, Its
stacked on a lighter in the East
River He had assembled enough
canned heat to supply his relative 3
entire regiment. 1t was wanted for
shaving purposes.
The first German sent to restore
diplomatic relations with the United
States after the World War, Baron
Leopold Plessen, is about to he trans
ferred from Washington. after nearly
hve years continuous service here.
Plessen came to pave the way for a
new German Amba ssador A highly
cultured young Prussian nobleman,
oxford man, bachelor and profession.
al diplomat, he enjoys wide popularity
In Washington. When war broke out
In 1914 Baron Plessen was crossing
North America. Taking the first
steamer home for the purpose of join.
Ing his regiment in Germany, he was
nabbed by the British authorities and
spent the entire period Of the war in
an internmert camp. Baron Plessen
expects to be assigned to duty in the
Berlin foreign Office.
Copyright. 1920
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
Obey the Lights!

Instructions issued by Maj. Hesse
to the Police Department on Saturday
| spell complete success for Washing
tons automatic traffic light system.
Taking cognizance OF the fact that
wholesale violation of the regulations
was not only endangering the success
Of the system itself but laying the
groundwork for serious accidents,
Maj. Hesse has announced that the
time for warning is over and that
hereafter all offending motorists will
be taken Immediately to court.
Conscientious motorists. who have
obeyed strictly the edict of the flash
ing lights, have been bewildered by
the apparent ease with which other
motorists. not SO conscientious, have
gotten away with deliberate viola
tons Of the regulations. Turns have
been made against the red signal and.
worst of all. green light traffic has
been crossed by impatient drivers.
sometimes In full view OF policemen.
OF course period must be allowed
with every new regulation. for the
motorist to become familiar with 1t.
This period, unfortunately. is used
by certain class of driver as a
means Of deliberately breaking the
law, because he realizes that he will
receive only warning IL accosted.
Saturday marked the end of this
experimental period and the Police
Department now believes that the
time has arrived when even the most
stupid Washington motorist knows
what il is all about" and. more i'm
portant. the time for applying vigor-
Gus corrective measures to the smart
aleck brand of driver. who has
peen deliberately defying all efforts TO
promote a smooth running system.
With the 'pulsating" timing now in
operation and working satisfactorily
there Is no excuse for violation of
any Of the rules laid down for the au
tomatically controlled streets. The
cross-street waits are of short dura.
ton. while traffic on either sixteenth
street or Massachusetts avenue can
move the entire length of the system
without a stop.
The Police Department Is to be com
mended on it's campaign. The sooner
it is impressed on motorists that the
lights must be obeyed the sooner will
frictionless traffic be an actually in
Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
Eastern Branch Improvement.

Two phases of the Anacostia River
discussion. The work of dredging and
filing from the mouth of the river to
Benning Bridge has been finished, but
the conversion of the reclaimed area
into park has not been begun except
in a small section east of the Anacos
tiaNavy Yard Bridge. The reclama-
ton of the shoals of the river and the
marsh between Renning Bridge and
the District line has not been begun
and the Army engineers have drawn
for this work a plan to which excep-
ton is not likely to he taken. The en-
gfneers are anxious to begin the work
while the dredges and men are at
hand. The dredges and personnel,
having finished the work below or
west of Benning Bridge. are ready to
take up the work between Renning
Bridge and the District line A plan
has been drawn by which the dredges
can pass Bennlng Bridge without re-
modelling that bridge and fitting 1t
with a draw span. With the equip
ment at hand for continuing dredging
and filling and the building of stone
retaining walls an important economy
would result by pressing the work
now. Authorization by Congress and
the required appropriation are being
sought.
The making over of the marsh ter
ritory above Benning Is needed in
making Washington a better city. It
would increase the park space for all
the people Of the city and give large
park With recreation fields and lakes
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
of fried

In made to include both kinds Of fried
cakes
Q. When we're college degrees first
awarded p A.
A. The degree, an academic rank
or title, originated in the medieval
universities. Scholastic distinctions
OF an analogous nature seem To have
existed In ancient times In the lat.
ter part Of the classical Greek period
education was well organized into in.
ierIor ana superior courses and there
evidently existed some recognized
proof that such courses had been
completed. The degree as a. univer.
sity distinction originated at Bologna
and Paris during the twelfth century
and the titles master" and doctor"
| sgnified at first nothing more than 4
license to teach.
q. When was silk culture first In
troduced into this country?-M. h.
A. About 1887. in Connecticut. ths
hrst coat and stockings made from
New England silk being worn nv Gov.
| Law in 1147. and the first silk dress
by his daughter in 1850.
o. Why is il that chopped appl.s
covered with mayonnaise dressing will
not turn black?-W. T. F..
| A. The oil in the mayonnaise forms
coating on the pieces Of apple that
excludes the air. Oxygen in contact
| with apples produces a chemical ef-
| feet that turns the apples brown or
| black.
Q. Why are soap bubbles round
| ]. J.
| A. Because the air inside the bubbles
exerts an equal pressure In all direc-
| tons.
| FIND OFT WHATEVER Y0V
! WA TO KNOW. There is no room
! for ignorance in this bnsv arorld. The
! person ThO loses OHt is the nne ,rho
! Duesses. The person ,rho gets IN Is
| Arrays the one 1rhO acts upon reIinble
| iHformHfion. This paper en- pTo,ls
| Frederic j. HnsbiH to cOnduCt IN in
| formation bureau in WnShinGtOn for
the free use Of the public There "a
no charge eJcept 9 cents in sfnprps
! for return postage. Write to him TO-
| dop for any facts Uon desire Address
! The ErcninO Stor In form ntion R,l-
! renu. Frederic j. H1Sbin director.
| HnShiH OfOn, ~ e.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
German Trade.

German trade is rc-iving and, ac-
cording to recently published figures. is
approaching pre-war level. Imports,
however, are in excess Of exports, so
that the balance of trade Is unfavor-
able. The latest report shows that
the export of manufactured articles
last year reached 20 per cent of the
1913 total In some lines the ex-
ports are only so per cent of the 1913
level. Silks are the only articles that
show a slight increase over the pre-
war figures. But imports are now
within nine-tenths of those Of 1918,
in some cases showing an actual in
crease over pre-war totals. The wheat
imports have nearly quintupled and
meat imports are almost quadrupIed.
There has been a great increase in
rubber and mineral oil purchases.
The fact that Germany is gaining
in imports shows an increasing pur-
cha sing power which reflects a much
sounder economic condition. But, of
course, Germany will not be content
with an unfavorable trade balance.
Before the war the balance was in
her favor. She sold more than she
bought. She Is going after her old
markets. however, vigorously and her
endeavors in that direction are giving
concern to France and England. The
South American markets are espe-
cially attractive to German trade.
Before the war there was a profiLa BILE
field there for German manufacturers,
and there are signs that that field Is
again being Systematically cultivated
The eventual recovery Of the trade
balance by Germany Is to be expected.
Prejudice against German.made goods
will not prevail indefinitely If price
and quality are attractive. 1t b.
hoovea al exporting nations tn nEht
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

replied the large party, Ill concealing n
chlckle at his own wit.
You ought to be ashamed OF your
SELF famed Mary Rogue, speaking
to the fat man after all.
The fellow had the grace to look
half ashamed as he skunk away.
Poor man." said Mary. meaning
him and dropped another quarter into
his tin cup.
Now ! will go hungry" she said.
Mary was healthy young woman,
and had good appetite all the time.
Who would imagine any one would
say a mean thing like that to poor
old blind man." she unused. az she
went up to her office on the nth floor
OF the Essary Building.
Taking off her hat, Mary gave her
bright head a toss, whereat the well
trained water waves rippled into their
accustomed contours
Mary had no need to put "color" on
her cheeks or lips.
Nature did 1t for her.
Thank you, Nature" smiled Mary,
approvingly, into the mirror. She
plunged into her work. which today
demanded much letter writing. so that
II was lunch time before she knew It..
First" she said. Il must go TO the
she sauntered up Thirteenth street. ad-
miring WCAP's big antenna as she
went.
Inside the Office she stopped to get
out her bill
She noticed, in the subcOnscious
way one does notice much that goes
on, an old colored man coming away
from the counter with his hands full
of greenbacks.
He stopped near the door, counting
his change, and, as he did so. dropped
bill, which huttered to the floor I'M
seen of the owner.
Mary. however. kept her eye on the
bill, intending To tap the loser on the
shoulder and call his attention to
his loss.
Before she could do so. however. a
dapper-dressed young white ma n
stopped down with a careless move
ment and swept the bill into his right
hand. where 1t was lost In a number
of bills which he held.
Mary watched to see what the fell
low would do. BY this time the old
colored man was mumbling TO him
self as he counted and recounted his
bills. He had discovered his loss.
The young chap. with an assured
air, FACED the Ol1 Fellow.
What's the matter, uncle" he ask
ed, with a sneer. Did that girl at
the counter short-change you? You
got to watch your step these days"
And he sauntered to the door.
You can't get away with it," snap
ped Mary. stepping square in front of
him. Il saw you pick up that bill
The young man sneered.
"Whadya talking about" he
Srowled.
Give that man back his money and
stop trying To place the blame on
that innocent girl at the counter, you
YOU cad"
The fellow turned red. then re-
torted. You couldn't even say what
the bill was, even il ! did take 1t.
which | didn't"
Mary flashed a police emblem from
her pocketboOk. Buddy" she said
calmly. Fork over here. or you will
do so down at No. L. She examined
the bills in his hand-a ten, five and
several one dollar bills.
We will call it this one she said
significantly. selecting the ten-spot
and handing 1t to the old colored man
who was too amazed TO do anything
but accept 1t. AS for the young fell
low, he vanished. believing discretion
the better part of trickery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

for the use of tens of thousa nds Of
people living in the east part of the
city and In that fast improving sec
ton beyond the Anacostia River. II
would remove a condition which must
ill-affect the health Of large part Of
the population. All the arguments
favor pressing to completion the prof.
ect for dredging and filing the river
and flats between Benning and the
District line and there are many rea-
sons why the work Of parking the re-
claimed area between the mouth Of
the river and Benning should be begun.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

G. How many calls does . fire de
partment get in a day?-O. r. y.
A. The Fire Department Of the Dis
frict Of Columbia says that last month
there were 40 calls. This includes
the total number for % engine com.
panies and 10 trucks.
@. Are the small air bubbles that
form In drinking water. giving 1t a
cloudy appearance. injurious to
health? What causes them?-A. b.
A. These are air or carbon dioxide,
which dissOlves more readily at high
pressure and comes undissolved when
the pressure Is released. The bubbles
are quite harmless.
Q. What were the total foreign obli-
cations received from the Secretary
OF War on account Of sale OF surplus
war supplies?-B. l..
A. The total was $5I5 .6S6.31 90.
This figure does not include interest
accrued and unpaid.
Q. Who wrote under the pseudonym,
Walter r. DunIop-E. 3. J.
A. Sylvanus Cobb used this pen
name.
Q. Please give the mes OF several
Of the finest rubies.-D. A. II.
A. The finest ruby mines are those
of Mogok In Upper Burma. 1t Is from
these mines that the pigeon blood
rubies come. These are considered
very valuable. There are also mines
in the neighboring country of Siam.
These Siamese rubies are of a brown.
ish red. The Burmese rubies bring
from 2 to 10 times as much as the
Siamese rubies. The Burma mines
are now controlled by the Ruby Mines.
Ltd, of London. Among the largest
rubies may be mentioned two belong.
ing to the King Of Bishenpur, in India
which weighed 50& and 17lz carats
respectively. The largest ruby known
Is one from Tibet. weighing 1000
carats. but it is not of first quality.
Q. What Ia the difference betwee
A dOuEhnut and cruller?-G. r. D.
A. The difference was marked years
ago. A doughnut was made of raised
bread dough. to which sugar, spice
and eggs were added, while the crrIIler
was made of a mixture containing
baking powder or cream of tartar and
soda. Nowadays the term doughnut
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRICEWELI..

Mary Rogue realized she was In for
an exciting day of II. This. Of course
In the strictl" modern civilized sense
AN exciting day" no longer means
intrigue. plot counterpart. ASA ssina.
ton. hashing poniards and gIittering
swords.
Adventures today are mental rather
than physical.
The play OF mind against mind has
taken the place of the clash of rapier
on napier. We no longer sally forth
IN top boots. our faces hidden in our
cloaks. to calamity withstand half a
dozen villains AT a time.
yet most or us manage tn have our
little adventures every day. which we
relate with infinite gusto to the family
In the evening. Now and then we
have an experience which we do not
relate.
Mary OF the radiant eyes was sure
she was going to have an adventure.
Had she not participated in one nj.
ready that morning. and do they not
always run in pairs. il not in trios?
Generally they do.
Mary had discovered this in the
course Of her work as Washington's
little Miss I"iXit. Let one interesting
event take place. another was almost
sure To happen.
Other people had noticed this, too.
Some bright person. long ago. had
written. 1t never rains but 1t pours.'
The thing was no secret then.
~
Mary had been slightly Jared when
she got on the bus, in the first place
This. however. was but preliminary.
Tripping daintily. in order to prevent
the snow from spotting her light
stockings: she swung into the bus
"Ten-cent fare" said the driver.
Ten cents?" asked Mary, with an
expression Of scorn, or at least az
near as she could manage such an
expression. Her lovely features most
ly remained lovely.
Yes smiled the bus driver, en-
tranced. Ten cents straight, or 6
paper tickets for 80 cents"
You are ; minutes late. where gen.
orally YOU are only 3 minutes late. and
YOU want more cents for it,
All the passengers. who that morn
ing had surrendered more cents trib
ute for the first time. grinned in
sympathy with the valiant girl
Yes, ma'am" said the plea
driver.
"All right. then" said Mary. drop,
ping In a thin dime. and finding her
self a seat.
This incident made the girl with the
star eyes angry from the beginning.
a CLINT Of ice came into those in
tensely blue eyes. making them an
the more beautiful.
fat gentleman attempted to open
A conversation. on the strength OF
Marys remarks anent the increa sed
fare. His structures on the Public
Utilities Commission, however. got
him nowhere.
Mary refused to listen.
Her bright hair. fiufed out from
beneath her small brown felt hat.
made her look like an angel in dis
guise. One had no doubt in the world
about the sex OF angels when one
looked at Mag Rogue.
When the bus got to her corner.
Mary got out.
An old blind beggar was standing
there.
Poor man" said Mary Rogue.
She slipped him a quarter. TITS
Lent" she told herself. and
shouldn't eat so much for lunch.
will only spend 80 cents today"
The fat man got out Of the bus.
Brother. can't see YOU" quavered
the blind man.
Brother. l can't see you. either"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

A Member of Congress who abuses
the Government clerk must be patient
when his turn comes to listen to
rather disparaging comment on Mem
Osborne, Robert l.. Stevenson did not
write it although it would be worthy
of his gentle genius), but the remind
err persists in wholesome influence:
at i'll becomes any of us to find fault
with the rest of u.s."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

England controls the, rubber mar
ket, but considerably hesitates about
a commercial attitude that would send
all America travelling, on a fiat tire.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

Interest in music ma infested by
Henry Ford should lead to a system
of standardized production enabling
Detroit to turn out in large quantities
brand of fiddle every bit as good for
all practical purposes as the Cremona
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

In days of yore Wilhelm Hohenzol-
1ern rated himself as an accomplished
musician. He would not stand
chance in competition with one of
these ld-time fiiddlers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

In order to evade the immigration
authorities it may be necessary here.
after for people involved in turpitudes
to conduct their affairs with less than
the usual publicity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
A Wish to Be Helpful,

Don't you think something ought
to be done for the farmer?'
Yes" answered Senator Sorghum.
IF l could persuade them to listen
respectfully, 1 think mebbe L could
convince EN- that foolin' with politics
is mighty risky business for farmers,
same as for anybody else"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

Russia has been patiently doing her
best to serve the world as an expert.
mental station in one kind of govern.
ment after another.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

Settlement of the coal strike will go
into effect in time to assure a supply
of fuel just about the time when
everybody is worrying about ice.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

After getting past some very emf.
nent scientific bodies, Darwin found
his hardest hurdle in small-town
board of education.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

1t is asserted by Judge Gary that
the Congress now officiating is the
best ever. AT any rate, it is the best
we are going to get for the present.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

for their markets without reference
to the war.bred feelings that at ono
time. 1t was thought. put Germany
out OF the commercial reckoning for
MANY decades
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

Mussolini is not in health. The pace
that kills may be led by political am
bition as well as by a group Of synco-
pa tors.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
The Perennial Victim.

From the Dayton Daily News.
1t Is wrong to give a man g. bad
name. but the baby is as helpless as
q Pullman car.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

An investiga ton usually results in
leaving the average citizen free to go
on suspecting the worst.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Old-Time FiddlerS.

Old-Time FfddlerS.
Feller was playin' far.off tune
Sounded to me like old Zip Coon-'
1t was mighty sweet as it fIoated by
On the evening breeze meath the
starlit sky.
1t sang of the old-time dancin' DAYS
When folks was respectful to formal
ways;
When. leadin' the step, Zip Coon
would come,
They thought they was cuttin' up
quite some.
A touch of the hand or a fla shing eve
Meant much as the throng sped
gayly by.
Bits of romance, fading all too soon,
Revive as we listen to "Old Zip
Coon"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
The Great HOld.Up.

From the Okmulgee Democrat.
If she monopolizes party line three
hours and ffteeN minutes to describe
= frock, that's q Alfhustef.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22

Nomina tions are in order for Judge
Gary as President of the Don't Worry
Club.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
FoolprOOf.

From the Toledo BLADE.
We like 'Dinah" because 1t can't be
sung except by people who can ystn4.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
Ladies of the Snow

Weary of stockings! Weary Of shoes!
Weary Of ankles and knees!
An Arctic existence is what 1 would
choose,
Where gals have to kivver or freeze.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-22
The New Code.

The New Code.
II can remember when you used to
hang boss thieves in Crimson Gulch. ="
Yep" answered Cactus Joe. But
nobody steals bosses any more. And
purloinin' a hivver don't seem to
arouse much Indignation; the original
possesser in many cases bein' posi-.
lively glad to get rid of it."