davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-09-07

The joke of the matter comes in
when one stops to read
Suppose you do read, what can you
make of 1t?
1t takes a trained lawyer to grasp
every phrase in any sort of legal docu-
ment. The lawyers see to that.
Insult your friend. Insist on read
ing the thing over carefully.
What good does it do?
OF a truth, one might as we'll sign
instantly-except not to sign at all.
Il don't sign papers" is the best
answer, let the friends fall where they
may.
A man who is so touchy as all this
never will be one.
Perhaps it is better to find this out
soon than later.
x X
What did the late Elbert II. Gary
advise his heirs in his will?
Il earnestly request my wife and
my children and descendants" he
wrote, that they steadfastly decline
to sign any bonds or obligations of
any kind as surety for any other per-
son or persons.
Surely, il such sound business man
as Gary could feel that way, the rest
of us ought to profit by his advice.
1t is true that his words apply par
ticularly to obligations in which one
involves himself as a result of becom-
ing surety for some one else; but they
may well be applied by the average
person to every sort of legal docu-
ment whatsoever that one is called
upon to sign. when the paper is
executed for the benefit of some one
else.
In other words, this is being selfish
to a good purpose.
Promiscuous signing of papers arises
mainly through the claim of omnis-
cience which the average man sets up,
either consciously or unconsciousiy.
for himself.
We hate to admit that we are igno-
rant of anything.
Just how, in the course of education,
this feeling that one should not con-
fess TO ignorance arose to annoy NOR
tails is difficult to tell, but it probably
came about as a result of mental
snobbery.
To study meant to know, hence to
confess ignorance allowed the ignorant
to poke fun at the student.
SO today very few persons will say
II don't know" A plain, honest ex-
preston of not knowing is as rare as
sunshine in the night. We sidestep,
hem and haw, and in other ways try
to lead the questioner to believe that
we know but somehow are not able to
answer at the time. Il forget" is the
last refuge of mental scoundrels.
X x X
When paper" is placed before you
for your signature, if you honestly
don't want to sign it-dont do it!
Why should you?
There is every reason why you
should not.
IL you can't get out of it any other
way, say, "Why sure. III be glad to
sign-but l have to go in conference
with A. 3. first. He just called for
me. I'll be right back"
Then forget to return.
Evening star., 1927-09-07

the habit of going armed. Possibly
he armed himself for the occasion.
That may be elucidated. It is of little
moment The fact stands that he car.
ried a deadly weapon ut conference
which involved only comparatively
trifiing sum of money. The story of
the happening is somewhat confused,
but enough is clear to show that the
drawing of the gun was unprovoked
and needless. A sudden flare of anger,
a swift movement of the hand. a spas
modic pressing of the trigger and four
lives were taken.
Here is an especially shocking in
stance of the waste of life incident to
the easy procurement of pistols. The
slayer in this case had in the course
of his business, which is that of mer-
chandising wearing apparel, no occa.
sion whatever for a deadly weapon.
Yet he evidently thought to prepare
himself for attack, or for defense. He
had no difficulty in getting a gun.
Any one can get a gun in almost any
city in the country, without the least
difficulty and at slight cost. The pro-
fessional criminal can arm himself,
and the supposedly peaceable citizen
can do so as WELL if he harbors a
grievance and determines to take the
law in his own hands," as the phrase
runs.
Too many guns. too easily obtained!
That is the main cause of the homi-
cides that make such a shameful rec
ord in America. Cut Off the supply of
the weapons of crime and the list of
killings will diminish. That is the
problem the lawmakers of the States
and of the Federal Government have
to solve.
Evening star., 1927-09-07
A Road Patrol.

The Lanham Citizens Associa ton
has indorsed a plan to provide for
road patrol on that section of the
Defense Highway with view of pre-.
venting accidents on the narrow
artery between Annapolis and Wash.
ington. The associations stand is
laudable and should be needed by the
county commissioners. 1t will un-
doubtedly curb some reckless driving
on short stretch of the road. But
there is only one remedy for the
prevalence of accidents on the Defense
Highway and thet is the widening Of
the road.
Maryland can point to this popular
thoroughfare as her great mistake.
At least that is the Characterization
by those who have driven over it. A
road fifteen feet wide, such as the De-
fense Highway, is entirely inadequate
to meet modern traffic conditions, and
especially the particularly heavy
travel that this road carries daily.
1t is a shame that those who wish
to drive from that section of Mary
land into the District should be com
PEELED to risk their lives to reach this
city. And it is virtually true that this
is the case. Barely wide enough for
two large cars to pass, the Defense
Highway is a striking example of a
gross mistake in road engineering.
Maryland should hasten to correct
this condition, which is arousing re-
sentiment on all sides. With the large
number of fatal accidents since the
road was opened and with minor
mishaps occurring almost every day
it should not take much more evidence
to convince the State that remedial
measures are imperative.
Evening star., 1927-09-07

in London, left the Army a year or
two ago, he went to work for George
Eastman, the camera king, at
Rochester, n. Y. Solbert's first job
was to rig up, from among the official
war films of the Army. and Navy, a
composite picture summarizing Ameri.
can doings over there"-the reels
with which American Legionnaires en-
route to France are being entertained
aboard ship. Now Col. Solbert is de-
voting himself to one of Eastman S
hobbies-calendar reform. The Kodak
magnate would like to see the wear
increased to 13 months and the months
shortened to 2S days. Solbert, one of
the Adonises of the Army in his ,lay.
was recalled to service last year to
act as military aide to the Crown
Prince and Princess of Sweden. He
Is himself of Swedish ancestry.
X X y
John V. A. MacMurray, American
Minister to China. is now in Washing
ton. He has made his report to Sec.
retary Kellogg and awaits the return
of President Coolidge next week. IN
order to acquaint the Chief Executive
with the crazy quilt situation at
Peking and points north and south.
t7usScsllOIlS lIdI NdcM uffay s 0aNS
in China are numbered, because of
disagreement with the administra-
tons policy. should be taken with
grain of salt. One of the reasons for
keeping the brilliant young diplo-
matist at Peking is that his removal
at this time would lose face" for the
United States in China-traditionaI
a costly experience for foreign pow
er out there. Another of our canable
career diplomats now home on leave
is Norman Armour. until recently
counselor of the American embassy
in Japan. He is slated for an i'm.
portant promotion in the State De.
partment.
The latest convention rumor is that
the Democrats will go South for their
1928 national confusion. Miami, Fla,
is said to be making a drive to get it,
It's said the East Coast resort is
ready to guarantee delegates and visi-
tors-free, gratis and for nothing
individual electric fans and unlimited
supplies of palm beach clothing. In
cldentally. some Smith boosters think
IL might be strategic move to take
the convention to Dixie.
Copyright 1927
Evening star., 1927-09-07
Our Cultural Export.
From the New York Tribune

luuI tHe new OfK tribune.
Last season the London paragraph
ers were calling Shaftesbury avenue
mere extension of Broadway, i'm com
pllment to the American plays flower
ing in its theaters. Crowds iammed lis
Eat SOP. because the language was go
quaint and Lady Be Good because it
contained the Astaires. and true born
Brltons cast glances toward the safe
guarding g-of-industries act as they
watched an invasion" by lesser mus-
cal comedies. This year the invasion
IS taking on more serious tone.
broadway has been running away
alike with British audiences and Brit
ish criticism: Mr.. O'NeilI continues to
agitate the loftier brows, and an on
coming flood of no fewer than IS
American plays and musical comedies
is booked for the Fall. OF importa-
tons from France there are only 3.
The cultural balance of trade seems
swinging in our favor, and New York
audiences, which have sat endlessly
through the Russians. the Czechs, the
Hungarians. the French. the British.
the Italians, the Scandinavians and
every one else while awaiting the ar
rival of the American drama, can look
up to find us culturally an exporting
power.
Nor is the export wholly in the baser
staples of quantity production. The
girl.and-music tonnage from our ma
chine factories is balanced by such
items as 'The Silver Cord" from the
art shops of the Theater Guild In
the meantime visiting English actor,
Mr.. Fred Wright, assures us that there
is sound reason, 'for the Americans
excel in teamwork. in coordination of
effort and in working together for the
good of all" These are the qualities
which innumerable tourists in the past
have admired in the British theater,
! returning TO curse our own tstar sys.
tenn" And now behold, we are told
! that we can give lessons to the Brit
| ish i'm the escape from stars.
Evening star., 1927-09-07
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

OF course, the best way to insult 4
friend is to refuse to sign paper
for him.
Papers range all the way from wills
to documents involving the purchase
of expensive articles.
Signing ones signature, they say
doesn't "mean anything"
One wonders why one is called upon
to sign. If it doesn't mean anything
why not just leave it off?
"Oh. just sign your name here. will
you?" commands the bland friend. III
doesn't mean anything"
To state the plain truth, that one
does not wish to sign is to insult the
gentleman.
Compared to this, the refusal to loan
ones pet fountain pen is as nothing
as grave a social error as such re
fusal may be.
A pain statement of fact. II never
sign anything" for instance. is met
by a flushed face and very hurt ex
preston.
II would rather not" another sim
pie statement of fact. without detri
ment to the acquaintance. similarly
is held to be intensely inimical.
Honesty, evidently. is not the best
policy. Not when it comes to the
aforementioned papers" anyway.
X X *
If a man has something to be signed
in connection with his worthless oil
stocks, he comes to his nearest friend
and asks him to become involved in it.
Is that the way for a friend to act
Because you were bamboozled, some
years ago, into purchasing, at so
much n share, a certain number of
shares in copper mine, for instance,
that has never paid cent. and prob
ably never will, is that any good and
sufficient reason why YOU should in
volve the signature of your innocent
friend
There is every reason, of course.
why no one should ask friend to
sign paper for him.
Ask an enemy, perhaps-but never
friend.
The plain truth is that this situa-
ton is one of the unpleasant dilem-
mas of everyday life in which one
hardly knows what to do, unless he
be willing to do a thing blindly.
A lengthy document in fine type is
poked unexpectedly at one. Here,
sign this for me, will you?" asks the
friend. in commanding tone, which
says as plainly as words. You have
no alternative-sign or hurt my feel
ings."
The mean part of it comes in ex-
actly here: That one, upon pain of
further hurting the dear friend, must
not stop to minutely scrutinize the
paper.
This. too, is an insult to friendship.
Does the boZo think | would ask
him to sign anything that would in
volve him in any way? The poor
sap, lie must blindly put down his
good name, in a signature that can
never be washed out.
He must do this, too, despite the
plain injunction of the ages, stop,
look and listenr'
He must sign instantly. in the face
Of the maxim of today, Read before
you sign"
Evening star., 1927-09-07

Mlchlgan has taken the lead in sup
port of the modern theory of traffic
that controlled speed does not breed
: accidents, but on the contrary re.
heVes congestion and makes for
s smooth-running travel. Today Michi.
gan has abolished all speed limits on
country roads and replaced the dis.
carded limits with the following reg.
ulation: mo person shall drive any
vehicle upon any highway at a speed
greater than will permit him to bring
It to a stop within the assured clear
distance ahead"
That is a logical. sane and reason.
able step and will probably be fol-
lowed by other States. Nowadays
with the roads teeming with all man.
,ner of automobiles it is not the speed
that makes for accidents, but the con.
gestion. The slow.moving Sunday
driver is the menace to traffic, not
the controlled forty-mile-an-hour mo.
: torist. The driver holding up a line
CT fifty cars back of him on the
crowded road Is responsible for mis-
haps because impatience gets the bet
ter of prudence and those being de
layed try all kinds of maneuvers tc
get past. If the leading motorisi
would be considerate enough to set hi:
speed higher he would at one stroke
relieve the accident breeding condition
Maryland has seen the light. Forty
miles an hour is now allowed on IL:
country roads and so it is with many
other States. Rhode Island goes ever
further. 1t demands that speed O.
thirty-five miles an hour be main
tainsd on its highways. Other State
Evening star., 1927-09-07
The Presidents Cup Races.

The second annual Presidents Cup
motor boat race, an event of interna.
tional importance in the speed craft
| world, is to be held on the Potomac
River off Hains Point on the sixteenth
and seventeenth of September. Presi-
dent Coolidge, from whose office the
race gets it's name, will view the
events from his yacht, the Mayflower,
and will present the five-thousand-
dollar gold cup to the driver of the
fastest boat.
Last year the first Presidents Cup
competition was staged in Washing
ton. More than one hundred thousand
persons were in the audience which
thrilled as the tiny craft sped through
the water at fifty. sixty and seventy
miles an hour. 1t was a gala occa-
sion which drew Nationwide interest
In view of the importance of the
event and the number of spectators
who enjoyed it no difficulty was ex-
pected in raising the small sum of
ten thousand dollars to pay necessary
expenses. But there was a slip-up
some place and as a result the first
motor boat races ever held in Wash
ington were virtually a present to the
city from the members of the Corin-
THAN Yacht Club, who, it may Incl
dentally be stated, are still paying the
bill.
This year, for the second of the an
nual races, there is now a deficit of
more than three thousand dollars
Every effort has been made to interest
the business men of the city and
others who would normally attend to
wipe out this amount. But so far
no success has marked the efforts.
The public of Washington, the same
public which will flock to every van
tage point when the fastest boats in
the world thunder through the water,
certainly does not care to be known
as a charity guest" The amount
to be raised is so small that it is in
conceivable that prompt response
should not send it over the top in
short order.
If every person who views the races
would contribute ten cents to the fund
the desired result would be speedily
attained. The money does not go to the
men and women who bring their ex-
pensive and frail craft to Washington
at heavy cost. 1t is used for radioing
the results to the spectators, for
freight charges on some of the boats,
for the purchase of minor prizes and
club expenses in connection with the
event.
1t probably costs some of the sports
men who bring their craft here in the
neighborhood of five to ten thousand
dollars. Special gasoline is used, en-
gine replacement is frequently neces-
sary, and the upkeep is tremendous.
The public which enjoys this most ex-
citing sport should be willing to con.
tribute as whole what it costs one
man to participate. 1t is not proper
that a few members of the Corinthian
Club should bear the burden. 1t is
distinctly up 10 the Washington pub
lie to make amends for last years
failure by subscribing promptly in
sufficient amount to clear up the
three -thousa nd dollar deficit.
Evening star., 1927-09-07
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Q. What was the quickest nine-in-
ming game ever played in major
league base ball?-A. n.
A. The shortest game on record
was played in New York by National
League teams on September 90. 1919.
The game lasted ii minutes. and the
score was, New York, s; Philadel-
ph.a, /.
Q. What building is on the site of
the old Iroqouis Theater, which was
destroyed by fire?-N. j. K.
a. About two years ago the Ma
sonic bodies of Chicago co-operated in
building Il magnificent office building.
for occupancy by Masonic lodges. and
this new building, called the Masonic
Temple, occupies the site of the old
Iroquois Theater.
Q. What has been the increase in
use per capita of pla htAtion rubber IN
the last 20 years?-G. A. +.
y. The world production of planta
ton rubber in 1905 amounted to ia
long tons and in 1925 it totaIed 475,-
440 long tons, an increase of about
2.700 per cent. During the 20-year
period, i905-1925, world population in
creased considerably; therefore the
per capita consumption was relatively
affected, showing an increase of 1000
per cent for the period.
@. What is the area of Liberia?-
l.. 5.
A. The republic covers $4,000
square miles.
@. How does the life span of the
elephant compare with that of the
hippopotamus?-F. +.
A. The elephant attains an age OF
150 to 200, and the life of the hippo
potamus is estimated at 40 years.
O. In the absence of pistachio flavor
ing, how can it be imitated?-C. y. l..
a. Vanilla and almond give pis-
tachio flavor.
@. Is the Indian really 'the vanish.
ing American"?-J. 5.
\. Since 1900 the number of Indians
in the United States has increased
In 1900 there were 1916; in 1910
265,6SS; in 1920, 1886 1887.
@. How much does a cubic yard OF
sand and gravel weigh?-N. n.
A. 1t varies. Sand weighs from
$500 to 1900 pounds per cubic yard
and gravel from 2,7OO to 5000 pounds
yard of sand and gravel would de
pend upon the proportion of each.
q. What is the difference between
the bull bat and whipporwill?-D. o. NJ
A. The Biological Survey says that
bull bat is a common name for the
night hawk. The whippOrwill belongs
to the same family, but is found only
in and around dense timber, while the
night hawk is a bird of the open
ordinarily seen flying over cities. The
night hawk is conspicuous in having
wide white patch on its lower wing .
while the wings of the whipporwil
are much shorter and have a light
buffy patch.
Q. What became of the man who
advocated Fletcherizing?-J. +. V.
A. Horace Fletcher died in 1919 al
the age of 20. He was a food expert
and believed in thorough masticatiOn
of food.
Q. What is Alaskas best crop?-
c. r.
A. Perhaps no crop is more gen
orally cultivated than the potato. II
is important commercially.
@. Have the Canadians special coins
to mark their jubilee year?-C. F.
4. 1t is reported that new Cana
dian 3, 10 and 25 cent pieces will be
struck.
@. Fifty years ago how many chill.
dren attended public Schools. d.
A. John Elmer Morgan saws that
Evening star., 1927-09-07

traveller during the present recess of
Congress, journeying as far as the
Philippine Islands. He made study
of conditions there and reported to
the President, along with the late
Gen. Wood. on his return. Some of
his friends on the Pacific Coast have
urged that Mr.. Tilson be appointed
governor general of the islands, now
that Gen. Wood is dead. 1t is not
believed, however. that Mr.. Tilson's
ambitions lie in that direction.
The drys are working like beavers
to prevent the nomination of Gov. Al
Smith of New York by the Democrats
next year. If they cannot halt him
in the convention, then they will
throw their full strength against him
in the general election. DIR. Samuel
f. Nicholson. associate superintend-
ent of the Anti-Saloon League of New
York, Is authority for the statement
that the drys in the Southern and
Western States are unaltera bly, op-
posed to Smiths nomination and will
see he gets no delegates from those
sections of the country. DR.. Nichol-
son was one of the managers of the
campaign of State Senator Franklin
w. Christman. who ran as dry and
independent Republican against fo1-
mer Senator Wadsworth of New York
last year and took enough votes from
Wadsworth to swing the election to
Senator Wagner, Democrat.
Evening star., 1927-09-07

Four men met yesterday in mid
town Office building in New York City
to discuss a certain real estate trans
action. A quarrel developed and one
of the four, drawing pistol, began
firing. When the affair ended three
were dead and a fourth man, struck
hurtled out of a ninth-story window,
was dying. The slayer, after escap-
ing in the excitement, later surren-
dered to the police and is now held on
a charge of murder.
This man went to the meeting pre-
pared to shoot. Perhaps he was in
Evening star., 1927-09-07
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Summer Day.

Summer Day.
Summer day! Summer day!
Lettering along the way.
Though we're waiting to behold
Autumn's purple and her gold.
Still you flaunt the weed and thorn
In the garden all forlorn.
Like maid who rules the scene
In the absence of the queen.
Summer dayi Summer day!
Why not end the tickle sway
We have borne in spirit meek
While you played at hide and seek.
See the goldenrod appear
Like a scepter drawing near!
Autumn soon must hold her sway.
Wherefore linger, Summer day?