davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
YOUR CHILD
in SCHOOL
By DR.. Frank ". BaIIou,
Superintendent of Schools. Washington.
d. c.


To do thing is to learn how to do
1t in the most effective way. This fact
Is recognized as an educational truism
of the very greatest Importance in
teaching boys and girls.
This Ia q fact that not only is &C.
knowledged as an educational princi-
pie of primary significance. but also
Is one that Is readily understood. A
few examples will clearly illustrate
the principle.
No one would expect to learn how
to swim without actually trying to
propel himself through the water. Nor
would one expect to succeed in learn
ing to swim without hard and contin-
ued efforts. Being told accurately how
to swim, no matter how graphically
the instruction may be given, will not
make one a swimmer. instruction
must be accompanied by appropriate
action which puts the instruction into
use. Instruction accompanied by action
is the proper method for learning to
swim.
What is true in a physical way is
equally true in the intellectual field.
If one were merely told about arith-
metic, one would not become prof.
cient in computation. To achieve that
object, a sufficient number of problems
in arithmetic must be solved to famil
iarize the pupil with the mathematical
principles he is taught. BY using
them over and over again, he makes
them his own; their exact meaning Is
clarified and he remembers them far
more effectively than IL he merely had
heard those principles stated.
In recognition of this principle, the
successful teacher requires written
work in the various subjects of the
school curriculum. From the earliest
days in the classroom the child is
expected to summarize the lessons
impaired, and continually must digest
and abstract for himself what is
taught. In this way. the subject mat
ter is given proper emphasis and the
child gradually makes it his own.
Moreover. learning by doing Is pro-
ductive of the most satisfactory re-
suits because 1t apeals to several
senses. The pupil who merely sees the
written page will not master 1t nearly
so well as the one who also writes
down something he has read or spea ks
it in a recitation or does further re-
reading of it. BY employing these sew
eral methods, he combines the use
of number of senses, thereby in
creasing his chances of satisfactory
mastery.
This concept of educational eff
cheney is drawn from the most funda-
mental considerations of what educa-
ton really is. One must remember
that education Is a positive and not
negative process. Education is not
poured into the mind as molten metal
into a mold. In its truest significance
all education implies self-activity. The
educational system must therefore
provide and promote many kinds of
self-activity among pupils.
School children today are being,
taught in accordance with this princi,
pie. For example, when the children
read about Indian life In the elenien-
tary schools, they are encouraged TO
study the costumes Of the Indians IN
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

A Will case has Just been settled
in the Federal court at Cincinnati
which will remind readers of Dickens
of the celebrated Jarndyce case In
BLEAK House." The 5000, 900 estate
Of Gen. Samuel r. Vinton has been
in litigation since 1852, when he died.
For siXty-four years this affair has
been in the hands of the court Two
generations have succeeded since the
testator's death. 1t Is now ordered
that the fund be divided into thir-
teen equal parts, twelve OF which
are to be given to Gen. Vinton's
great grandchildren and one to he
shared by two great eat-grand-
children. 1t is not stated in the dis
patch whether the estate still stands
at the original 100000. 1t may have
been depleted by costs, eaten up by
the charges of courts and the counsel,
as in the Jarndyce case. Or it may
have been held intact. If 1t had been
put at interest at the outset and had
drawn six per cent meanwhile, 1t
would now amount to $96s,0oO with
out compromising, or we'll over mill
lion with compound interest.
This Vinton case has been cele-
Federal courts. 1t is a veritable
grandfather almost the great grand
father of the laws delays. It's rec
ords would constitute library for
an attorney specializing in probate
matters. A roster of the attorneys
engaged would be lengthy one.
Many judges have served on the
bench in the hearings. The Civil
War has been fought to a finish, the
United States has readjusted to
the new conditions following that
struggle and has fought other wars.
Everything has changed. There is
probably not a person living today
who was involved in the case at It's
outset.
1t would be interesting to know
just why the case should ever have
dragged along through. so long a
period, nearly two-thirds of a GEN.
fury; what caused the blockade, what
prevented decision. Just at present
there is movement for speeding
litigation and criminal court pro-
cedure. The Vinton will case comes
to an end OPPORTUNITY to serve as
an example of the worst aspects of
dilatory justice In America.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
This Uneasy Earth.


western coast of the United States is
in an uneasy state. From time to
time II shifts and settles and quakes
result. some of them severe, some of
less violence. When these quakes &C.
cur in the neighborhood of large
cities great damage is done. All of
them infiict some injury In the
latest instance a shift of the crust
caused at least half a hundred quakes
in the Imperial Valley of California.
at the junction between that State
and the Lower California Peninsula
of Mexico. Fortunately no large CEN
tiers of habitation occur in that area
and consequently the damage done
was limited. AT that, however, the
loss of at least two and a half mil
lion dollars is reported and it may
grow to a larger figure as further de-
tails of the disaster are gathered. No
loss of life has thus far been reported.
There can be no protection against
these shakings of the earth's crust.
Man can build dams and bikes to
stem the foods and he can provide
some protection against storms. But
the shaking Of the crust is beyond his
powers of security provision. All he
can do is to insure himself financially
against loss and trust to good fortune
that the unstable earth will not slide
and slip and wreck his home and per-
haps take his life.
California has suffered severely
from these readjustments that are in
progress beneath the surface. Blessed
with a wonderful climate, it has that
single liability which has cost 1t heav-
lily in the past and which may cost it
The Pacific side of the Sierra range
appears to be particularly insecure.
Biologists have figured out the faults
and flaws that are gradually working
down to the point of stability, but all
their knowledge does not suffice to
predict any single happening of this
nature The science of sesmology is
not sufficiently advanced and 1t may
never advance to permit more than
generalization regarding the prospect
of misfortune.
Every time the earth slips a little
and causes q quake 1t is hoped that
the end Of the process has come, that
stability has at last been reached
That hope has been blasted again
and again as one stricken region after
another has counted its losses. There
is no periodicity about these breaches
of the crust. They may come in
series for a number of days, followed
by long stretch of quiet, only to be
broken by other trembles, sometimes
slight and then ceasing, and some.
times merely the forerunners Of VIC.
lent shocks that take heavy toll in
life and property.
1t Is a fact to be noted In this con.
nection that the loss of life occurs
almost entirely through the collapse
of buildings. The gaping of the
earth itself rarely kills. In only the
most extraordinary cases have the
quakes actually taken human victims
directly. In an earthquake region the
people quickly fee from their dwell
ings at the first tremor and seek
the open spaces where falling stones
and timbers will not reach them.
But sometimes fire follows the quake,
as in San Francisco twenty years ago,
when over 100000 900 of loss was
attributable mainly to the flames
which were started by the collapse of
buildings,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
EVERYDAY RELIGION
BY THE RIGHT REV. LANES E. FREEMAN, d. d., LII. d.,
Bishop OF Hnshngfon

well considered philosophy of life, ana
with what kind of assurance do we
front the experiences of new ana
unknown year? Our genial New Eng
land poet, Whittier, expresses his own
sense of assurance lin the words
Before me. even as behind,
God is. and all il we'll.
As the dear old poet ripened and
mellowed with advancing years, he
was able to see how large a + trt his
consciousness of Gods fellowship had
played in the events of his life.
We are frequently confused by CON
flicting opinions and dogmas that
come to us from many seemingly au-
thoritative sources. The jargon or
many voices disturbs our peace and
unsettles our faith in human 1udg'
ments. We are told that in the
height of the Civil War committee
of New York bankers visited the
President for the purpose of advising
him that the money resources or tne
North were greatly impaired. ana
that hope was failing them concern
ing the outcome of the great strug'
gle. Characteristically. the President
told them a familiar story OF his
earlier life. He described a night
wherein the little community IN
which he then lived was stirred to
alarm by an unusual display of flying
meteors. The otherwise placid heav-
ems seemed to be full of confusion
and disorder. He described his own
sense of concern, which was only
arrested when, looking far beyond
into the depths of the great vault or
night, he saw the mighty and fixed
stars shining on serenely and I'M
dimmed. The illustration had more
weight than any argument.
We are living in a world today
that Is witnessing many and far
reaching changes. These changes at
feet for good or Ill, whether we will
it or not, every one of us. In our
confusion we are seeking, in our more
reflective hours, to discover those
things that are immutable and I'M
changing. We are seeking more anx-
iously than ever for those great basic
facts that constitute at once life's
security and peace. In fine, we are
trying to rediscover a philosophy of
life that shall constitute a working
basis in the midst of all the con-
fusion and disorder. No matter how
widely apart we may be In the matter
of creedai expression, or in the devo-
tional habits of life, we are driven,
by the very situation in which we
ma ourselves, 10 look Tor those great
fixed stars of truth that have been
mans comfort and hope through the
long ages. To say that God Is,
and all Is WELL" and to consciously
feel that "the eternal God Is our
refuge, and underneath are the ever.
lasting arms" brings us solace
and peace quite indescribab and
strengthens us to meet the issues of
life that lie ahead.
IA happy New Year to one and
ALA New Year made happy be-
cause of the assurance that. 'if God
be for us who can be against us?'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
This and That
BY Charles E. TracesceH.

Jack Spratt would not eat his
Christmas sardines
Now, there IL nothing that a house
cat does or does not do that offends
his friends. L.
Friends OF cats everywhere respect
the moods Of their furry friends and
get pleasure from their slightest ac.
ton or gesture.
Surely the domestic cat. In a home
where every one Is fond Of cats, holds
the most enviable position. II he
desires to sleep, no one disturbs him.
Ii he wants to rornp. all play with
him.
Choice food Is offered humbiy, n
the hope that it will please; but II
it does not. other food is Immediately
sought.
With acquaintance with a good
cat comes wide tolerance. so that
bites and scratches are no longer
met with the slapping hand.
Every cat friend realizes that all
the animal does Is instructive, so that
there is no use Of reproach or harsh
trea tment.
The cat can do no wrong.
X +
Hc AIflu InCISIOIe, VINO
sent Jack Spratt the box Of choice
sardines-just Jacks favorite brand,
by the way-will not feel hurt at
all by the knowledge carried in our
first sentence.
Here was the way 1t happened:
The can of sardines, neatly done
in Christmas wrapping. arrived sew
eral days before December IS, ad-
dressed to Mr.. Jack Spratt."
the package at the door seemed quite
mystified. especially upon being told
that the addressee was a cat.
Not many eats get mail. of course.
Jack rubbed his white whiskers
against the package, and manifested
so much interest in the wrapping we
were quite sure he smelled the Ash.
What, through tin?
Sure! Cats have X.ray noses. II
Is our positive conviction that Jack
smelled those sardines, though her
metically sealed In tin, and wrapped
in several layers of paper. fancy and
otherwise.
Those In control of the situation
decided that the sardines would make
nice Christmas breakfast.
Yes, that was the very thing. Jack
generally does not get any breakfast.
and the small fish done in olive oil
WOul0 constitute n real lIBdLs
Christmas morning found him up
as early as any one, sitting patiently
in front of the refrigerator.
The can of sardines was brought
forth from the cupboard.
"Old Jack, want a nice breakfast
of sardines?"
Meow" declared he. standing on
his hind legs, his white gloved paws
dangling In air.
Everything seemed set. The can
was opened, whereupon his msows
redoubled. 1t had been a long time
since he had eaten sardines. Evi-
IDENTIFY he was keen for taste.
Jack could scarcely stand still as
the saucer of Ash was placed upon
the floor. His friends stood around
In silent expectation.
Jack Spratt surely would enjoy his
breakfast-
Jack approached his white nose 70
the saucer, gave a sniff, then raised
his head.
With a reproachful look. he walked
away.
Nor could he be induced to look at
the sardines thereafter.
What he wanted was the meat in
the refrigerator!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
MEN AND AFFAIRS
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

Within a few days OF each other,
two famous stalwarts of the old days
in the National House of Representa-
| tives have passed away. following by
| a few weeks one of the modest Ro-
mans of those olden days, Uncle
| Joe" Cannon.
The more recent deaths were those
of former Representative James w
Wadsworth. ST., OF New York, and
former Coy. Alexander NJ Dockery
| of Missouri Both served long terms
I'm the House while Uncle Joe" also
was member of that body. but
neither remained to witness the ele-
walton of Mr.. Cannon to the speaker.
ship.
Dockery and Wadsworth were bitter
political enemies, as We're Dockery and
Cannon, and in those old DAYS there
was constant change in the politi-
, cal complexion of the lower branch
| of Congress.
The trio of stalwarts were first to-
| gether under the Speakership or J..
Warren Kefer of Ohio, who WAS
| succeeded in the Forty eighth Congress
by the distinguished John G. Carlisle
of Kentucky. Then came the single
term of Gear" Thomas r. Reed, who
was ousted in the F'ifty-second Con
gress by Charles r. Crisp of Georgia.
Speaker Crisp gave the gavel back to
Mr.. Reed at the beginning of the
Fffty-fOurth Congress-
. The House in those piping days Of
the Republic was a fighting body, a
| spirit which continued up to and
through 1905. when the famous battle
against Cannonism was waged and
won,
Somehow or other since the House
was rescued" from autocracy and
| czaristic rule, it seems to have slipped
into a sort of innocuous desuetude,
| letting the Senate grasp and hold the
| public eye. Perhaps the House is sat.
| isfied to have 1t SO, for the Senate is
getting its bumps as we'll as it's occa-
sional boost in the public estimation.
In the days of Cannon and Wads-
worth and Dockery, Representatives
expressed their views and their senti-
ments with fearlessness that begot
admiration. They were of the old
should use his own best Judgment in
should use his own best judgement in
Washington and not be ruled by
strings from home. being hauled one
| way one day and pushed in the oppo.
site direction the next.
The present Is a day of ears close
to the ground. The modern system
subject to modification and quick
change. For this reason the House is
not nearly so "talky' as 1t used to be.
1t is easier to change your views when
you have kept them quiet. The
shouters from the housetops are few
and far between.
X
New Year resolutions come 10
many persons In many ways There
is Bob Limbert of Boise, Idaho. for
instance, who is swearing this year
never to kill another bear. A lover of
the great outdoors, an explorer of the
western wilds, who often spends
months in the mountain Businesses.
completely out of touch with so-called
civilization, Mr.. Limbert has in his
day slain many a bruin But lately
he has changed from guns to camera
| and has had so much fun stalking
game and taking flashlights and occa.
sional movies that he vowed never to
shoot bear again except in desper-
ate selfdefense. He has watched the
bears and their cubs at play and has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
The Two-Cent Stamp.

Some figures have been announced
by the Postmaster General with refer
ence to the use of the mails by the
people of this country during the
month of December. which show
wildly how universally they employ
the postal service for their business
and personal communications. Dur
ing the month the sum of S73,500 900
was spent for postage stamps, an in
crease of $3,500000 over the same
period last year. The mails in De
cember required 42,646 railway mail
cars for transportation, an increase of
1,043 cars over the number used in
December, 1925.
A two-cent stamp is trife, a little
rectangle of printed paper, gummed
on one side. 1t is more, however,
than a mere piece of printing. 1t Is
a contract for a service which the
Government alone renders and which
is given at cost. That contract is one
of the achievements of American ad-
ministration. 1t is a guarantee of Sc
curity. 1t Is an assurance against
loss and against disclosure. Letters
are lost, but rarely through the fault
of the postal system. They may be
misdirected or the address so badly
written that delivery is impossible,
and then they go to the postal
morgue, the dead letter Office where
fha1y ira hall u.
struction.
Millions of letters are moved each
year with speed and delivered with
precision. A wonderful system has
been evolved for the discharge of this
duty which the Government under
takes at the behest of the purchaser
of a stamp. A great force of men and
women Is engaged, selected according
to a high standard of efficiency and
trustworthiness.
Now and then the mails are robbed
by bandits seeking valuables. Most
of that loot is recovered. The thieves
are pursued implacably, for these
crimes are committed against the
whole people of the country.
Mention in the Postmaster Generals
statement of the cars used to trans-
port the December post, 42,646 in
number, brings to mind the men who
spend their lives in travel, sorting
the mails in transit. speeding the
work Of delivery. Little thought is
- L,
stamps and post letters. The letter
is dropped into a box at the corner
without heed for the process whereby
1t is swiftly moved from city to city.
Nobody questions the efficiency of the
system or thinks of the details of the
organization. Perhaps there is some
Impotence now and then when a
letter is not delivered quite as quickly
by few minutes as the sender or the
receiver thinks it should have been.
If Il were possible to follow that letter
through its course from box to wagon,
through the Office. where 1t is stamped
1t Is further sorted, to the point of
destination, where 1t passes through
other hands for delivery. and Is finally
dropped through slot in the door or
placed In a box, there would be no
such feeling, but rather q sense of
wonder at the expedition and precision
of the intricate procedure.
The investment by the American
public of s7s,500.ooo in stamps in De-
cember has a special meaning, for it
compasses not only the ordinary bust
ness of the, people but the annual ex-
change Of greetings and gifts. 1t is
an expression of prosperity and OF
good will. 1t is one of the best invest
ments ever made.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHTLANDER JOHNSON.

Turning Back the Clock.
The parting year
In memory dear
Well hold for many a day
And feel 1t strange
This swift exchange
AS pleasures fade away.
The thrill so keen
Through many a scene,
The passing lay so sweet.
The friendships gay
That fade away
As other friends we greet
Try as we will
For mental skill.
Fond memory plays us tricks:
The old.tine pen
Now and again,
Writes 1926"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

order that their conception of Indian
life may be made real. The prepare
ton of those costumes provides man.
ual activities for the pupils. In the
study OF Thanksgiving and it's sig
nificance, children frequently drama
tie the story of the first Thanks
giving, making the necessary furni-
ture, preparing the appropriate cos
tunes and acting the parts in accord
ance with the life of the times. The
subjects of geography, history and
literature provide numberless oppor-
tunities for the skiliful teacher to i'm
press the lessons taught by means of
supplementary action on tbs part Of
the puriie.
9copyyight. 1871
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
Gathering Data.

What have you decided to say
on this important subject?"
II haven't reached a decision"
answered Senator Sorghum. II am
listening TO what everybody else
says, and making up my mind as to
which line of talk Is the most
noplIlar"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

uine package was taken out and the
dummy was substituted
About 10 weeks ago package
which was said to contain 1000 was
receipted for at the Treasurer's ONCE
here. When 1t was opened, II was
found to contain piece ot brown
paper: To this day the Treasury ON.
cars have not discovered WHO ear.
1sttsd the theft, although the bank
made the amount coed"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

The prohibition situation has called
In an enormous aggres ation of doc
tors, lawyers, social scientists, police
experts and morticians to participate
in one of the largest arguments
known to history.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

Physicians and hospital attendants
in various parts of the country are
warranted In wondering whether New
Year eve was a gala occasion or an
epidemic.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

The court record for fs2s was fairly
we'll cleaned up. The Daugherty case
is one of the hold-overs. 1t has it's
sensational features, but they are mild
compared to those Of De Russey's
lane
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

Lawbreakers should not be tempted
while in an irresponsible state of
mind to commit suicide with wood al.
cohol. Suicide itself is distinctly
against the law.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

Many a family wishes that old
Sanity could be re.established and that
the bootlegger could be relegated to
the myth class.