davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Nogales international., 1927-09-16
EAR ENnIIcH

"Do you have to work long
hours?"
mo; only the regulation length;
sixty minutes"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16

punctual, alert and competent. Men
who had served with him held him ~
a iins example OF all that man and a
newspaper man should be. Newer
employees were told about him. He
became an inspiring tradition.
As he lay day after day and year
after year. slowly growing weaker. he
thought seldom OF himself. Always
he was scheming to do something for
some one else, and when. In spite Of
the handicap OF being bedridden. he
he was delighted. When
he had the strength he contributed
special articles TO The Star. often
along the lire Of natural history. for
he loved the out-of.doors deeply.
Probably he never thought so, but 1t
can be said that the last half dozen
years Of his comparatively short life
were as successful as any that had
preceded them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

to be an opinion not universally
shared throughout the land. Men and
women who live out in the enfran-
chised United States are fond of say.
ing that Washington knows less about
what's going on In the country than
any other place in the Union. /
President Coolidge Is called upon to
appoint a Democrat to the place on
the Interstate Commerce Commission
caused by the recent resignation OF
Henry C. Hall. Senator Edward l. Ed
wards, Democrat. of New Jersey, has
submitted the name of George III.
Parker of Wildwood, N. j. Mr.. Parker,
who makes his home in Chevy Chase,
d. c., outside of Washington. has long
practiced before the commission as the
of both carriers and
shippers. He ranks as a specialist in
the law that governs their relations
and their rights as litigants In the
tribunal of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Parker has had expert
ence as o railroader. besides. He once
was an assistant vice president of the
Delaware & Hudson, under l.. f..
Loree. During the war the Jerseyman
served as assistant to Walker ID.
Hines, director general of railroads. In
that capacity Parker formulated the
maintenance limitation" imposed on
railroads during the six months fol.
lowing the end of Federal control,
whereby Uncle Sam was enabled to
deduct many millions of dollars in set
Elements with the carriers.
M. Jan Ciechanowski, the Polish
Minister in Washington, admits he's
no Bobby Jones, but he does claim to
be the possessor of the largest collec.
ton of golf clubs in captivity here.
abouts. They number no fewer than
200. The Minister comedies that he
assemblies them largely as works OF
art. He's fond of exhibiting to his
friends a de luxe set, which he picked
up in London last Summer. The clubs
were on display in Piccadilly shop
window. having just won prize as
the best looking set of the season. SO
M. Ciechanowski proceeded to acquire
Them and they now adorn the sporting
goods department of the Polish lega.
ton.
Father Duffy. fighting chaplain" Of
the Goth New York and Gov. Smiths
religious counselor, told in Washing
ton this week an experience he had at
the recent Army Notre Dame foot ball
game. Duffy wears alternate colors at
that annual gridiron classic In the
Yankee Stadium and this year it was
his turn to sport the West Point en-
blem. An enthusiastic youth, whom
Father Duffy assumed to be Notre
Dame man. upbraided the Irish priest
for his unbecoming disloyalty to the
Rockne team IL SUPPOSE" re-
monstrated Duffy good-naturedly.
that you're a Catholic" Quoth the
irate wearer of the Gold and Blue:
"The hell / am! I'm an Episco.
palian!"
Downright 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
The Tax Bill.

The House Of Representatives has
passed n tax reduction bill providing
for much greater cut In the rev.
enues than that recommended by the
President and the Secretary of the
Treasury as safe and sound. AS 1t
stands. the measure proposes a total
net reduction of appro xinra tely $780,
100000, whereas the administration
proposal was for a reduction of
Se25, 1000, 900. The House ways and
means committee shaped the bill for
reduction of s233,735,000. These
changes were effected by combina-
ton of Republican and Democratic
votes and the margins in favor of
them were heavy.
Usually the Senate's tendency is
to legislate on fiscal matters more
conservatively than the House. It
may therefore be expected that the
bill will be reshaped in that body
with the omission of some of the
amendments that were added after
1t was reported from committee, thus
effecting a reduction of the redxc-
ton. so to speak. A stubborn con-
test in conferences will In that case
result and the outcome will be long
protracted.
1t is the hope of everybody that
the bill may become a law in season
to affect the first quarterly payments
of the new tax year. which begins
January /. Those payments are due
on the 18th of March. II the bill Is
materially amended in the Senate
along the lines Of closer approx
nation to the Administrations pro-
posals and these changes are stoutly
resisted by the House the contest
may continue beyond that period.
But the reductions might be made
retroactive, with provision for cred
its on the second quarter date. This
has happened before.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
Madeira Shows Effect
Of High Birth Rate
To tn. Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
From Madeira, our field correspond.
ent writes interestingly. On the fer.
tile lower slopes of it's extinct volcano,
Pico Ruivo. Antoine Silva, small land
owner thereon, produces some of Ma.
deiras famous wine. His farmlet, ~
acres. adjoins the highway. Over its
smooth cobbles slide the unique bull
lock drawn sledges that delight pass
ing terranean.bound tourists.
Tony, aged 80. has the typically large
To raise these he has the revenue
from this farmlet. 10 cents, American
gold, daily. Tony Is tired of this
crowded-to-suffocatio island. The ex-
travagant stories OF Americas wealth
current In Madeira remind one of the
fables of conquistadore days.
Tony asks why he should be shut
out of America, for he has a cousin
there. He can neither read nor write.
His ability to count Is limited to the
old biblical "score"--10 fingers, 10
barefoot toes. An attempt was made
to sshoW him how his grandchildren
would outnumber the grandbabies of
an American couple. These latter av.
erage 3 children. say q By the third
generation. He grasped "27." for this
was IN HH6CIS piuS ~ loCS Ptuo
fingera on the hands of one of his
sons. But his birth rate, 729 grand
children by the third generation, was
a number quite beyond his comprehen-
sion.
Islands like Madeira show how
quickly even comparatively newly dis.
covered land fills under a high birth
rate. Even with rich soil and an al.
most tropical climate. the baby crop
outdistances food production. A few
centuries ago these islands were un.
known. Yet the point of population
saturation was reached long ago.
Such an example indicates how the
Chinafication of America would be tre-
mendously accelerated were immigra-
ton permitted races that multiply like
rabbits. Such reproduction by types
congenitally impossible Of democratiza-
ton would also mean the engulfment
OF American ideals. The Johnson inn
migration restriction acts came none
too soon.
IMMIGRATION STUDY
COMMISSION.
G.. M. GOETHE, President.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES g. TRACEWELL.

Can YOU tell me IL you have gen.
tleman by the name OF John Mathews
with your firm? No. the secretary
what, Ia his name Louis Manville,
then? oh. see! see!'
He hung up the phone.
Guess what the name really Is.
he called.
"Give Il up" came the chorus.
"Flossie Seely," he chirped, grin
on his face.
All seemed plain sailing then. until
he started to write; then he realized
that he did not know whether Fiossie
was Miss" or Mrs"
Here he faced another epistoiary
difficulty. lie could not call u
dilemma for that involves two lines
OF equal difficulty. and both unsatis'
factory.
Either miss" or Mrs" would do
n he knew which was right.
There was nothing else to do but
to call up again.
Hello. hello" he said, after going
through the customary spreliminaries.
all OF which take time. severally and
collectively. Can you tell me II
Flossie Seely is addressed Miss or
MRS."
He hung up the phone with sigh
of relief.
"Well. boys" he announced, ats
Miss Flossie"
Every one who has occasion to sign
his name-and most persons do, now
and then-ought to detach himself
from himself. as 1t were, and occasion
ally look at his signature as others
must look at 1t.
Robert Burns perhaps would have
done better by the world IL he had
changed his gratuituous advice to
read: "Oh that some one would give
us the gift of seeing our own sigma
ture as strangers see IT,!
A signature is a two-way PROPOSE
ton. Tt involves him who writes 1t
and him who receives It; good sigma
ture is thus twice blessed.
The open-faced signature drops as
the gentle dew from Heaven u''on the
busy man who receives II.
He breathes a sigh of relief at the
plain, honest handwriting that does
not vaunt itself or seem puffed up put
which displays every letter as 'o'
made it.
John Hancock, to such man
seems the presiding deity OF all ietter
writer's who write their names pialniy'
efficiently.
The cuttlefish. which Is reputed to
cloud the waters with ink, Is the pet
of those who, on the other hand. SET
down a series of lines and curlicues,
in the fond belief that 1t is a sigma,
ture.
One prominent man in this towr
uses a parallel aggregation of up.and'
down strokes, and has the sublime
nerve to call it signature.
Any one can forge his name by
turning the paper sideways and com
mencing a rapid series of up-and.
down lines, becoming higher In thu
middle, then dwindling down at the
end.
Common courtesy and business e.
pediency demands that all those who
execute such puzzling signatures type
write their real names below.
The Constitution. of course. guaran
tees man the right to write his
name in his own way, but the Declare.
ton of Independence demands tina
the receiver be considered, too.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16

IN many instances BY means Of public
subscriptions. yielding little more than
the cost OF actual subsistence, and,
save In cases Of concentrated drives"
permitting no margin OF revenue sui.
ficient 70 provide new quarters. when
a fire occurs. or some other disaster
comes, there Is generous giving Of
means for the rebuilding and the
new construction takes substantial
form, with the disaster risk lowered
to the minimum. But this tardy pub.
lie generosity does not bring back TO
life those who were lost.
Habit inurcs to conditions. and
many Of these old institutional xtruc.
lures are regarded by the communi.
ties In which they stand as safe
enough" until blaze develops. per.
haps--as is very often the case--in
the night. when a long casualty list
shocks the public. Then may come
some stirring about in other places
than the scene of the tragedy and
few more old institutional houses are
replaced to prevent repetitions. But
many remain, standing invitations to
horror.
1t would be some solace for the
shocking tragedy at Quebec II 1t were
to cause complete replacement Of all
the institutional fire traps In America
with fire.resisting constructions. The
cost Of the change would mount into
the millions. but the investment In
safety would yield a rich return in
security in the future.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16

A century old structure, used for
many years as hospice, or orphan
age, burned Wednesday morning in
Quebec, with a heavy loss Of life. Els
Inmates of the casualties vary from
thirty.hve to fifty. The fire started
while all the occupants were asleep
and gained Roadway in the ancient
building swiftly. so that scores were
trapped in the dormitories and it was
extraordinary that any were saved.
These holocausts occur with fright.
full frequency and give rise to the
question why such old edifices are
continued IN service. They were built
long before the adoption Of fire.resist-
ing materials. Some of them may have
fire escapes. which are Of use in emer-
gency only to lessen the peril, but do
not prevent deaths. The floors, stairs
and walls are Of wood. dried to finder.
Wiring has been done in most cases
according to old rules. and a high per.
centage of danger prevails In respect
to ignition from accidental short-cir-
cults. Heating apparatus is old and
offers a high risk. Yet these fire.trap
buildings house scores. hundreds and
i'm the aggregate thousands of people,
children and adults - in some cases
persons afflicted with disease. They
are orphanages, houses of mercy,
schools, shelters for the aged and in
firm, and hospitals.
In most cases these aged structures
are kept in service because of lack of
funds for the replacement with mod
ern buildings. They are maintained
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
UNITED STATES
in WORLD WAR
Ten Years Ago To-day.

Gen. Pershing announces details of
plan providing for promotion from
the ranks, so that any private may
win a commission and climb rapidly
up through successive grades.
.. Shake-up in Army fore
seen under new War Council.
War Secretary's action in naming its
membership follows ordnance revela.
tions before Senate committee and
White House conference. Sec
rotary Baker, in weekly war review,
expresses opinion that Germany will
fail in west and doubts If increased
strength of Germans will give them
any permanent advantage. Calls 1t a
'peace" drive and says Berlin Is eager
for this country to believe that Ger.
man victory Is near at hand.
Armistice agreement between Russian
Bolshevist government and central
powers signed today and peace nego'
tiations are to begin at once. Only
transfers of troops already begun can
be carried on. United States
urges a more tolerant attitude toward
Russia May treat with Bolsheviki.
inasmuch as they may retain their
power for long tines
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
John L. Martin.

The great majority Of washingto-
mans never heard of newspaper re-
porter who died this morning at Ashe.
vile, N. C. His name was John L.
Martin and since 1910 he has been a
member of the news staff Of The
Star. Yet great many people in the
Nations Capital, including public
men. have been benefited by the fact
that he lived as long as he did. This
can be said Notwithstanding the fact
that for nearly six years past Martin
was unable to work.
For years Star readers perused with
appreciation the clear, concise. accu-
rate, yet largely anonymous writings
in which Martin dealt with all as
poets of life here, more especially
with civic and municipal affairs. For
months on end Martin worked cheer
fully. uncomplainingly and satisfac-
torily when most men would have
thought themselves unable to leave
their beds. Finally the fact that a
disease from which few recover had
him in it's dread grip was not to be
longer disguised. Reluctantly--for
he loved his work-he went South for
needed treatment and rest. None
thought the malady's hold relentless.
but he never returned, although II
was six years before eternal rest
came.
Although he was almost continu.
ously in bed. Martins value TO The
1 Star did not cease. but was only
changed. His courageous example,
his cheerfulness. his frequent letters.
his keen interest in and devotion to
the newspaper to which he yearned to
return to serve. and to all who also
served 1t. together with the bright
recollection by the latter of his excel
lence as a craftsman. combined to
make his presence felt daily; to give
him an inspirational value as fine az
had been his practical value on the
days when he would report for duty
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
PHILOSO PHIEs
BY
GLENN FRANK

There has lately emerged from the
libraries Of our scholars q new litera-
ture which centers around the as
serted tendency of American democ-
racy to deity the second-rate in Its
selection OF leaders for It's public. life.
Very often, In discussions Of this
new criticism of the American public's
life, we catch In the critics eye a
wistful look of longing toward Eng
land as the home of great statesman.
ship---a land where excellence gets
elected.
They do such things better In
England" Is much heard comment.
1t is interesting to catch a glimpse
of another estimate OF England. not
to comfort US In the cult Of medi.
ocrity. but simply on the basis that
misery loves company.
George Santayana, master OF q
penetrating insight and maker Of ex.
quisite prose. is writing of distinction
In Englishmen. and he finds II in, the
Englishman's private life, but not In
his public life.
England has been rich In poets "
says Santayana, ''in novelists, In In.
ventors. in philosophers making new
beginnings. in intrepid travellers. In
learned men whose researches are a
hobby ana almost a secret.
1.-The land was once rich in saints,
and Is still rich in enthusiasts. But
the official leaders of the English PEG.
pie. the kings, prelates, professors and
politicians, have usually been second.
airy men, and even they have been
far more distinguished In their private
capacity than in their official action
and mind.
English genius is anti-professional:
it's affinities are with amateurs, and
there Is something of the amateur
In the best English artists, actors and
generals.
1.-The truth is the British do not
wish to he we'll led
"They are all individualistic and
aristocratic at heart. and want no
leaders in ultimate things: the in
ner man must be his own guide.
IF they had to live under the
shadow Of splendid monarch, or a
masterful statesman. or an authorize.
tive religion. or a defied state, they
would not feel free.
"They wish to peck at their insti
tutions. and tolerate only such insti
tutions as they can peck at.
"a certain ineptitude thus comes
to be among them an aptitude for of.
fee; it keeps the official from acquir'
ing too great an ascendancy."
Santayana thus asserts that the
private superiority of the English.
man works against great public lead.
ership: the new critics Of America as.
sert that the private mediocrity of
the average American boycotts great
public leadership.
The future challenges us to COM
bine private excellence and public
greatness in our leadership.
Copyright. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
From the Detroit Free Press.

From the Detroit Free Press.
When President Coolidge remark
ed to the Union League Club Of
Philadelphia that history is Uttered
with stories of nations destroyed by
their own wealth." he said something
the people of the United States need
to remember all the time. Very few
peoples have been able to Withstand
the strain of large prosperity with
out deteriorating. And most peoples
who have had luxury at their com.
mand for long periods of time have
ridden for a fall and generally have
ended in the dump heap. Some ma
tions have endured under the burden
and temptation of great wealth longer
than others have endured. and there
Is room for hope that America may
stand up better than most countries
have. Nevertheless its situation as
the great money land Of the world
Is exposing IL to the most subtle and
insidious and therefore the most
threatening peril it ever has faced.
Mr.. Coolidge says the national debt
IL the greatest weakness in our line
of national defense. We think he is
mistaken. There Is distinctly
dangerous tendency toward smugness,
self-satisfaction and self-confidence in
the face of constant evidences OF
need that the republic remain on
guard. which Is a much greater
weakness.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HAsKrr.

@. Which Is the face OF the scent
piece, the Indian side or the buffalo
side?--D. M.
A. The side that bears the date In
the face or diverse of a coin. The
Indian head IL. therefore, the face of
the scent piece.
@. Do South American countries
prefer their goods measured In metric
terms?-S. M. r.
A. The metric system II in general
use. Twenty Southern republics rep.
resented In the Second Pan.American
Standar dization Conference requested
that shipping documents be compiled
in decimal metric terms. For the con.
venience OF Southern buyers. the Pan
American Trade List has been started,
wherein American firms using metric
terms may be registered.
@. How old Is AL Smith,. r. B.
A. Gov. Smith was born In New
York City, December 80, 1873. the son
Of Alfred Emanuel and Catherine
(MulvehilD Smith. He is almost 81
years old.
@. How many occupations are there
p. w.
A. OF the 572 occupations listed In
the last census there are only IS in
which no women were employed.
@. why are members of Congress
spoken of as solons?-W. f. s.
A. The name Scion was borne by
an Athenian, who was noted for his
learning and wisdom in counsel. He
was also known as the law giver Of
Athens and to him was intrusted the
task of revising the Athenian consti-
tuition. This accounts for the name
being applied to the members OF the
United States Congress.
@. What is the average depth of the
Atlantic Ocean?-E. G..
A. The main body Of the Atlantic
varies between 10000 and $4,000 feet
in depth. The average depth may be
considered to be IS 900 feet. The most
marked depression in the floor Of the
Atlantic is the Porto Rico Trough,
north of Porto Rico, with maximum
known depth of nearly $4,000 feet.
Q: Is the bat q symbol of evil?---
s. V. L.
A. Bats are found in all parts of the
world. and, as might be expected from
their powers of fight. inhabit many
remote islands, such as Bermuda and
New Zealand. They are absent, how
ever, from the coolest parts of the
world and are most numerous in East
ern tropics. In Chinese art the bat
signifies happiness; as the Chinese
character Flu, meaning bat, Is identi.
cal in sound with the character Flu
meaning blessing. Among Bicols and
other Malays the bat Is the messen-
ger of Asuang. God of Evil"
@. Can there be more than one tor.
nado at a time in the same storm
]. A. II.
A. A tornado Is a small vortex in
the atmosphere. occurring generally
in the southeastern part of cyclonic
area. where. in some cases, several
separate tornadoes develop at the
same time.
Q. How many hours a day does a
new born baby sleep?-A. r.
A The average newborn baby
sleeps about 20 hours a day for the
first few weeks and as it grows older
it sleeps less and less, until at the
age of year 1t sleeps about 16 hours
out of the "a.
@. How long is a cubit?-J. 8. L.
A. The word cubit originally indi-