davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-10-22
Good Advice.

Although young Eric Palmer of
Brooklyn, N. Y, has lost his amateur
radio license for period of ninety
days, he is richer by some sound
advice, which should aid him IN future
experiments. Eric is one of the most
intense of intense radio fanatics. Be-
cause he sat up all night with his set,
refusing even to spare the time for
dinner and breakfast, his family be
came worried about his health They
protested to Eric, but their protests
went unheeded. The straw that broke
the camers back, however. was when
Eric was dropped from his second
school because of his lack of attention
to studies. Then Mr.. Palmer, senior,
wrote to the Federal Radio Commits
sion asking that Eric's license be sus-
pended. Admiral Bullard, chairman
Of the commission, in writing 10 Eric
about the suspension, gave him advice
on his future activities. He said:
Resume your work with moderation.
America is looking to it's sixteen
thousand amateur radio operators, in
which group you stand out, to keep it
in the foreground of development
Much of the progress of radio mas
been accomplished by amateurs. and
we expect still greater things. This is
marvellous field for the American
boy and such enthusiasm as you have
displayed should, as q rule, be com
mended rather than discouraged, but
in order to develop into big, strong
healthy boy you must have regular
meals and a full quota of SLEEP. Those
of us who were pioneers will soon be
forced to turn the reins Of radio over
to you boys, and we want you to be
strong and healthy, as the burden will
undoubtedly Increase as new avenues
are opened up by you and your col.
leagues.
Eric should ponder we'll these words
The future of radio, in some respects.
is even now in the hands of the young
sters who work assiduously to solve
the mysteries of the air. The Govern
ment is encouraging in every way The
efforts of the amateur radio station
operators throughout the country, and
has set aside a special wave band for
their use. Three months of rest with
a redevelopment of a normal boys '.p.
petite will send Eric back to his sta.
ton with a new keenness and :tst,
and 1t Is not at all impossible that Eric
Palmer will add materially to human
knowledge Of sound through the dir.
Evening star., 1927-10-22
UNITED STATES
in WORLD WAR
Ten Yen Ago Today

Thirty-eight million men are now
bearing arms in the World War, ac-
cording to figures published by the
War Department. Secretary
Baker issues formal statement which
Is interpreted as meaning that the
bulk of the American expeditionary
force now in France will soon go into
action in the trenches. He says that
the allies will continue their drive and
will not go into Winter quarters this
year. Goodness and quick ma
neuvering save the American Destroy
err Cassin from destruction in encoun.
ter with German submarine. Veering
missile hits destroyer after command
err alters course. Sugar profit
GERS face curb by Hoover for demand
ing exorbitant prices. Big
Caproni airplane, carrying pilot and
eight passengers. sets air record in
fight from Langley Field. near Nor
folk, to Mineola, a distance Of $50
miles, in hours 25 minutes. Scouting
machine covers distance in hours So
minutes. Alien property GUS
todian to seize property and money
amounting to $500, 900, 900 or more be-
longing to German1 1eubjects and pro-
ceeds used to buy Liberty bonds with
which to finance war against Ger.
many. - .. y :. = . sss :. e
Evening star., 1927-10-22

! names and pictures Of average men do
not appear in the magazines. He
ceased to be an average man when an
enterprising Chicago newspaper took
| him to Chicago on a sightseeing trip
| in order to portray the actions of an
average man on a trip to Chicago, for
average men are not selected by news
papers to pose as average men, nor
are the wives of average men inter
viewed for articles which will en-
tighten the world on what the wife Of
an average man thinks of her average
husband. A few months ago Mr.. Gray
may have been an average man, but
no longer can he claim the title. When
man attains notoriety he ceases to
be average and has accomplished
something above the average. But
Mr.. Gray holds out glowing promise
and hope to millions of average men.
Simply by being average" Mr.. Gray
has ceased to be average and will hand
down a fine heritage to his average
children. Many years hence some
young man will point to a portrait on
the wall and explain with pride:
That's my grandfather. In 1927 he
was chosen as the average man. He
always took two Jumps or sugar in his
coffee, he bet on Jack Dempsey to win
and he could always tell whether Babe
Ruth was behind or ahead of his
home-run record. Grandmother always
used to say she thought he was above
the average, though. Goodlooking
old fellow, wasn't he?"
Evening star., 1927-10-22
Substituting Books for Bars.

Turning an unused police station
into a branch OF the Public Library i:
not unlike beating a sword into
plowshare, and the Commissioner:
are TO be congratulated upon making
such good use of the old Substation I
OF the seventh precinct, located or
Wisconsin avenue. Though the build
ing is small and was neither planned
nor built for a branch of the Public
Library, 1t provides immediate hous
ing for a school branch Of the library
and will take the place Of the present
close and crowded quarters Of the
branch in the Janney School nearby
When the old substation, already un
dergoing a metamorphosis from a place
of cells and iron bars to one of shelves
filled with books, has outgrown its
usefulness in this new field a larger
building may be erected commensurate
with its needs.
The problem confronting the Public
Library now is so to distribute its
facilities throughout the city by means
Of branch libraries that they will be-
come available to all Washingtonians
This problem was long ago recognized
in the legislation which brought the
Public Library into being as a Supple
ment Of the public educational sys.
tenn" Of the District. which should con.
sist Of "a central library and such
number Of branch libraries so located
and so supported as to furnish books
and other printed matter convenient
to the homes and Offices OF all resi-
dents of the District" So that N
expanding, the Public Library is only
living up to the wording and the
intent of the law.
The five-year Public Libary build
ing program, already contained in
legislation introduced in the last ses
sion of Congress and which will be re-
introduced at the coming session, con
templates the purchase Of sites and
erection Of buildings for thirteen major
branch libraries, comparable TO those
now located in Mount Pleasant, Ia
koma Park and Southeast Washing
ton. The old Sub-T station, now tc
bs used as a branch library, must not
be confused with one Of these major
projects. but is to be considered as one
Of the twenty-five branches planned
for the public schools. the two of
which now existing are housed In
school buildings. Providing the Sub
T station for use of the Public Library
is only another indication Of the sym
pathetic interest to be expected from
the District Commissioners in this
highly important Washington insti'
tuition.
Evening star., 1927-10-22
Baumes Laws for Washington

Evidence of the reaction in public
opinion against the trend of lighter
penalties for crime during recent years
is afforded by the recommendations OF
a special subcommittee Of the Wash
ington Board of Trade committee or
public order, just submitted to and
taken under consideration by the
latter. The subcommittee proposes
for Washington a modified version OF
the Baumes laws now in operation in
New York, with an increase in the
maximum and minimum penalties for
felonies. Final action was held over
until the meeting in this city Of the
National Crime Commission a few
days hence, when 1t is expected the
author of the New York laws will be
present and available for the giving
of more detailed information.
1t is now generally recognized that
the lessening Of penalties has actually
encouraged crime. The records OF
courts in the States, as in the District
show that with the minimizing Of pun
ishments has come a decided preva
lence Of second-offense crime. In
short, the lessening Of the punishment
has tended to develop habitual crimi
mails. With prison terms shortened
and with liberal allowances for good
behavior" with generous pardoning
and admittance to parole. the average
term Of Imprisonment has been re-
duced far below the point of a few
decades ago. In New York State the
reaction against lighter punishments
has resulted in the adoption of a sys
tenn Of drastic penalties, which include
life terms for "repeaters," those who
have previously been convicted OF
crime and persist in their lawlessness
Already marked diminution in crime
has been noted. Encouraged by this
record, other States are now consider
ing similar enactments, and the pro
posal at present under consideration
for the District Is inspired by the
success of the New York experiment
in preventive severity. -
Society is chiefly menaced by the
professional or habitua1 criminal, who
adopts the career of lawbreaking as a
definite means of livelihood. 1t is not
the casual, occasional offender who
under the pressure Of some emergency
or sporadic temptation, steps across the
line Of legality for a single offense. who
threatens the public peace. For such
as he the comparatively light penalty
now in most jurisdictions imposed
upon first offenders usually sufflces to
prevent repetition. But there is dan
ger that this experience may encour
age him in continuing a criminal
course. The possibility of long term
for a second offense or life term fol
"a third is strong deterrent.
In connection with the considera
ton Of the proposed new "Baumes
law" for the District attention Is giver
to the matter of a new and more effec
tive vagrancy law for the District, g
bill for which will be introduced al
the coming session of Congress. 1t Is
now difficult in the local jurisdiction te
handle the cases Of floaters and was
trels who drift into Washington
loungers on the border line between
law and crime. The projected enact
ment is designed to meet this condi
ton and to increase the power of the
police to check up on those who con
sdtute the main body Of potentia
criminals.
Evening star., 1927-10-22
Demands of Western C.. O. p.
Stirs Varied Press Comment

The public is naturally inclined
Of the former bloc" declares the
indianapolis Star independent Re-
publican), although recognizing it's
right to discuss legislative programs
OF particular interest to the group of
western States. The extent of it's
plans probably will be disclosed
When Congress assemblies" The
MANCHESTER Union Independent Re-
publicaD remarks that "perhaps as
good guess as any is that the group
IS actually far from being of one
mind, and would promptly divide If,
70 IT'S amazement, it found itself in
position to put somebody wholly of
the ticket"
"The only way this Western bloc
can accomplish anything ia to 60
along with the party" in the iudg-
ment of the Waterloo Tribune Gnde-
pendent Progressively and the Rock
Island Argus independently takes the
stand: Better a third party, frankly
advocating its principles, however
radical, than powerful bloc en-.
trenched in position where it can
dictate, to whatever party is in
power"
"A resulting general situation is
described by the Dayton Daily News
independent Democratic): "The two
established major parties become thus
common carriers of politics, each one
the scene Of internal struggles of
contending elements such as one now
sees as between the Eastern and
western Republicans, and such as
pretty regularly make the Democratic
party more interesting than effective.
And out of such struggles comes such
health as the parties have" The CO.
lumb1a Record Oemocratic) finds the
condition comforting, because It in
dlcates that not all the off the-reser-
vation squads are in the Democratic
party"
THE economic basis for political
division Is here" asserts the Hous-
ton Chronicle Democratic) "It is
pound to come. The natural align
ment would seem to be the linking
of the agricultural interests of the
South and West to balance the power
of the industrial centers. That does
not mean that, harmful internecine
warfare would follow, or that there
would be any damper for the pros
perity that industralism has brought
us. 1t means rather that basic eco.
nomic interests would be given in
telligible modes of expression; that
political parties would be squaEed to
economic realities"
Evening star., 1927-10-22
These Autumn DAYS.

Genuine Fall days bring delight to
thousands of persons who appreciate
the keen bite Of the wind, the fresh
ness of Autumn air and the pleasant
sight of changing leaves and vegeta-
ton.
The "mournful days Of October" rep
resent only q poets mood. To the
mass Of the people there is something
at once inspiring and beautiful in the
keen rush of the north winds over
the Maryland and Virginia farmlands
as they rush into Washington as II
bent on seeing the sights"
These winds, from the negth and
west, not only revive the spirits OF
summer.fagged residents, but actually
sweep the National Capital clean, es
pecially its air, so that few cities in
the United States can boast a fresher
atmosphere, literally and fguratively
than Washington. D. c.
Visitors to the National Capital,
standing in front Of the Union Sta.
ton, often sniff the air with appre-
citation, and speak of the unusually
fresh quality Of the atmosphere, as
II discoursing on the bouquet Of some
rare vintage.
The nearness Of this city, compare
lively speaking. to the great sea to
the east and its location in respect to
its historic river, the Potomac, partly
account for its justly. famous air
Another factor is that of civic clean
illness, brought about through the CO
operation of national and municipal
governments with the citizenry al
large.
Washington is a clean city, In every
respect. and perhaps no season OF
the year makes this more noticeable
than the Autumn, with its crisp quail
ity, It's browning leaves, its tangS
air. There is, too, no better time foi
the sightseer than this. Come one
come all, and see the National Capt.
tal-your city--at its best,
Evening star., 1927-10-22
Usurping a Title.

Roy L. Gray Of Fort Madison, Iowa
chosen with infinite pains by a maga
zine writer as the personiflcation OF
the average man of America" has al
ready lost his right to occupy that
role. He becomes an interloper in the
crowded ranks Of average men" and
should be thrown out, for he is no
longer representative. He ceased to
be an average man when he was sin
gled out as an average man. for aver
age men are not chosen as subjects
for articles about average mem He
ceased to be an average man when his
name and his picture appeared in q
Evening star., 1927-10-22
Mussolini's Latest Reform,

Benito Mussolini, premier and vir-
tual ruler Of Italy, assuredly is on the
job. He wants Italy to work, to work
hard, to make the most of its time, to
devote itself to business. To this end
he has just proclaimed that after the
sixth of November and until further
notice all ceremonies, manifestations,
celebrations, inaugurations, anniver.
saries and centenaries will be pro-
hibited. There must be no speeches
OF whatever caliber, because the au.
thorities must not be distracted from
their duties: economies must be prac.
ticed, particularly economy in time.
and, says the premier, I'VE must avoid
satiating the public on celebrations. /"
As a prelude to the new order Of
| things in Italy the premier DEGREES the
readjustment of the calendar OF cele-
brations prior to November 6. The
fifth anniversary OF the Fascist march
on Rome. October 2S, will fall on Fri
day. But the commemoration of that
event will be held on the following
Sunday in order not to lose a work.
ing day. Likewise. the celebration of
the Italian armistice day. November
4, will be held on Sunday. the 9Th, for
the same reason.
! No speeches, no celebrations! This
is indeed reform. Whether 1t will go
well with the Italian population re
mains to be seen. The people Of Italy
love nothing quite so dearly as festal
occasion, a holiday. a centenary. ar
anniversary, an opportunity to quit
work and gather in multitudes and
rejoice. They love to make and tc
listen TO speeches. Prohibition Of ora
l. 1llaaa.xlk
Evening star., 1927-10-22

The chief sources of fires in the
District of Columbia during the fiscal
year ended June 80. last, as enumerat-
ed i'm the report of the fire marshal,
with the number of cases, were as fol-
lows:
1. Automobiles, 473 cases.
9. Careless smoking, 351 cases.
3. Chimneys, 270 cases.
4. Brush, grass, leaves and trash,
224 eases.
t. Matches. 1919 cases.
6. Electrical wiring and appliances,
III cases.
z. Sparks, ia cases.
s. Stoves, including heating plants,
IS cases.
This Is an interesting tabulation to
all householders who believe in fire
prevention. and who feel that by con-
sidering beforehand the chief sources
Of fire hazard in the home, the like
lihood of unwanted Conflagrations
may be largely mitigated.
Before securing the above list from
the annual report of the fire marshal.
we had drawn up in our own mind
list of what we considered the seven
chief fire hazards in the average
home. 1t is interesting to compare this
enumeration with the above.
l. Matches.
.. Smoking.
3. Accumulation of trash.
4. Gas.
5. Electricity.
6. Furnace.
Z. Combustible materials.
xxx
Counting out the automobile fires,
which probably in the great major
ity of cases did not endanger home
properties, it is seen that careless
smoking. with 351 fires, and matches,
under which category the report in
cludes careless handling and children
playing, with a total Of 1879 cases, cas-
lily lead the list.
Matches, then. as carelessly handled,
or allowed in the hands Of children.
or as previously applied to pipe, cigar
or cigarette, were either directly or
indirectly responsible during the fiscal
year of 1927 for no less than $50
fires in Washington.
Matches may thus be rightly re-
garded by the average home-owner as
the chief fire hazard, along with the
sin of carelessness in handling smok-
ing materials.
AicoO uSuISS SHOulu point surely
to the necessity for the greatest Wig
lance in handling matches in the
home. Perhaps one central supply,
kept in fireproof vessel, would make
for greater safety, and this to apply
to all sorts of matches. Keeping of
so-called safety matches" in coats
hung in closets is not safe prac-
tice. Careless disposal Of cigarette
and cigar butts and the thoughtless
knocking out Of pipe "heels" are ac-
tions which evidently account for
many fires.
Matches, too, played their part in
the 224 cases of fire resulting from
brush, grass, leaves and trash ac.
cumulations. Those who harbor large
accumulations Of old boxes or paper
in Easements, or under wooden back
porches. are simply inviting fire.
There is perhaps no more dangerous
home condition than such untidiness,
yet it may be found in countless
otherwise well ordered homes.
Too many persons regard the cellar
or basement as a sort of dumping
ground for all the unwanted furni-
ture, boxes, old wood and so on that
is not wanted above stairs. so that
such Easements come to take on the
Evening star., 1927-10-22

ment in the peninsular kingdom as
that of the eighteenth amendment
has proved in America. But Mussolini
has accomplished so much along re-
formatory lines and has speeded up the
industrial machine in Italy SO sue
cessfully that 1t may be believed that
he will accomplish this greatest of all
his endeavors to keep the people busy.
If so, his prestige, which has been
one of the wonders of the time. will
rise to greater heights than ever.
Evening star., 1927-10-22

Q. Has there ever been bad
tornado in st. Louis before the recent
ones. A.
A. In 1896 a tornado wrecked a
large number of buildings in St.
Louis. causing $10.00O.000 worth OF
damage and killing 1873 persons.
Q. Where is Oberammergau? In
what language Is the Passion Play
given?-L. G..
a. Oberammergau is on the right
hank OF the ANNA in Upper Bavaria,
forty-four miles southwest OF Munich.
The Passion Play is given in German.
Q. Has the entire population OF tho
earth ever been determiued?-A.N n.
a. About Ala per cent Of the
earth's population is still unenumer-
ated. The regions for which no COM
| plete statistics are available are Al
! ghanistan, China, Indo-Chinese Pen!n-
sula, Central Africa and Polar Amer
! lea.
| @. Are the sparrows that are now
seen in such numbers in Washington
| damaging the grass and shrubbery?-
| Fl. ].
| A. The Department of Agriculture
| saws that these birds are floCking to-
gethar in search of food and that they
/ find the grass seed that is now plentis
/ full about the public buildings attrac-
/ tive. Coarse grass that goes to seed
rapidly has been used. The birds are
| not protected by Federal or District
| law, and could be poisoned or trapped
| il police authorities will permit. They
cause no serious damage, however,
and will scatter later.
| Q. What is metheglin?-D. p.
| A. 1t is an old Saxon fermented
drink made from honey.
| @. How much lace was used in the
wedding dress worn by Janet Gaynor
in Seventh Heaven"?-T. P. d.
(. 1t is reported that % yards Of
| four-inch lace was used in this dainty
! frock.
/ o. What Is the story of the Winged
/ Nirtory"?-F W. r.
A. The original Winged Victory oe
Samothrace was found in 1853 on the
original Island of Samothrace. The
statue belongs to the Hellenistio
period of Greek art. There is a legend
to the effect that the figure resembles
a figurehead from a vessel. Winged
Victory" is in the Louvre Gallery,
Paris.
The resources of our free Intormn.
ton Bureau are at Bour SerUice. You
are inUited to call upon 1t as often as
you please 1t is being maintained bU
The Euening Star solely to SerUe you.
| What question can ace dnStCer for
you? There is no charge at all, except
2 cents in stamps for return postage.
Address your letter to The EUenino
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Hdskin, director, Washington, ID. @.
Evening star., 1927-10-22
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Q. What Is the bridge being built
in Washington across the Potomac
between Potomac Park and Arlington
called?-S. r. s.
A. At the present time the new
bridge comes under the Arlington
Memorial Bridge Commission and is
known as the Arlington Memorial
Bridge.
@. What is a tail spin?-L. r. McC.
A. A tail spin is an airplane ma
neuver in which the plane descends
spinning on its longitudinal axis, nose
first, tail spinning.
Q. How were Cicero's oratlons re-
coTded?-H. G..
A. In Cicero's day shorthand re-
porters were frequently present when
Cicero delivered an Grafton, as in the
case of the delivery of his speech for
Milo. Ciceros method was to con-
struct n commentaries or skeleton of
his speech which he used when speak
ing. IL he was pleased with a speech
he then wrote it out for publication.
Sometimes he omitted in the written
speech a subject on which he had
spoken.
q. What are CetaceanS?-A. G. A,
A. They are mammals whose struc-
ture is so modified as to render them
fit for aquatic life-for instance,
whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Q. What percentage of the total
area Of cotton land was flooded this
year?-W. H. L.
A. The total area of land in the
United States devoted to the raising
of cotton in 1926 was estimated to be
47,653 900 acres. While the Bureau
Of Agricultural Economics does not
have figures on the number of acres
of cotton destroyed by the flood, it
does have a report on the number of
acres planted to cotton last year that
were flooded this year. In Arkansas
there were 1,111,9 900 acres of such
land in Louisiana. 57S,700 acres; in
Mississippi, 550,000 acres.
Q. How can raw foods such ms
fruits, lettuce, celery, etc. be disn'
fected before being put into a re-
frigerator?-R. +.
A. The Home Refrigeration Service
says that raw foods should be washed
thoroughly, then immersed for five
minutes in stone jar filled with a
fresh chloride of lime solution, half
an ounce Of lime to two gallons of
water. Food flavor or quality will
not be harmed, and the germs will be
destroyed
@. Did the Incas build stairways?
". f V.
A. The Bureau Of American Ethno1-
ogy says that the Inca Indians had
steps or stairs to many Of their build
ings. The greater part of their
dwelling houses were constructed
with only one story, with steps lead
ing to the roof. They also had steps
leading to the tops Of towers.