davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-05-21

gas and smoke, and the supporting pill
| lars and timbers crashed and blocked
the passageways. Rescue squads were
organized and sent into the shafts and
drifts. but were able only to recover
the charred remains of those who had
been caught in the blast OF fire or the
bodies of those who had been overtaken
by the Suffocsting gas. Back in the
mine the timbers were afire The blaze
may continue for long time. In some
cases these fires have gone on for
years. causing the complete stoppage
of work in the mines.
Coal mining is a hazardous occupa-
ton at best. There is always danger of
the collapse of the shafts and drifts.
Timbers rot and yield to the pressure.
Miners grow careless and ignore the
rules adopted for their safety, They
will strike matches or open their lamps
to ignite their pipes or cigarettes.
Warnings against such practices are
posted everywhere. in the various
languages OF those comprising the
working force. In we'll organized and
managed mines the men are constantly
importuned by supcrintendents and
foremen TO observe the regulations.
And still they forget or deliberately
take chances with not only their own
hives. but those of others.
II is of course not a mitigation of
the sufferings of the victims of these
disasters. those who die and those who
survive, the families of the lost. thus
to attribute the responsibility for the
explosion to some unknown miner
who forgot the rules or took a chance
with the gas. But blame is not to be
placed upon those who own or manage
the mine when such a tragedy occurs
Ignorance or carelesSness must be re-
garded as the cause of the great Sor-
row that befalls when blast occurs.
Evening star., 1928-05-21
Spelling Champions.

Tomorrow afternoon twenty three
young people viii meet at the National
Museum In the finals OF the fourth
annual National Spelling Bee. They
are the survivors Of q field Of several
million children vino have lately been
standing up In line in their respective
elementary schools and meeting a vast
barrage OF words with more or less
success. They represent, as far as can
be determined, the best spelling talent
in the country. and any one of the
twenty~thTee viii probably be able 70
outspeil almost any adult In the city
Of Washington outside Of some special
field Of particular talent These twenty
three represent an intensive, assiduoug
endeav0r 70 scquaint themselves with
the words Of the English language. II
they have gone at their training for
the contest IN the right spirit and 1t
IL probable that most 0f them have -.
they are today the richer In knowledge
0f The meaning and USE VI words. For it
IL impossible " study for IA spelling
match without acquiring deeper sense
0f the significance and the origin 0f
that strange composite 0f words that
makes the language III this country.
These spelling matches arc highly
educational and IL Is gratifying 10 find
III the records ~ thc growth ot THIS
national contest. evidence NJ 81 incress"
Ing interest on The part ot the younger
people In etymology, For some years
past - in fact for several decades ~"
iaxity IN spelling has been evident
Changes ~ educational methods have
brought about this degeneration. Pupils
IN the old time schools we're drilled on
tie spelling book. They i0oked forward
/ ~ their occasional contests with pleas
ure The champion spellef ot the school
/ was as highly regarded AZ the best base
/ baii player.
IL hRs often been said that there arr
some people vino afe chr0nicsliy inca
psble of spelling correctly. That may be-
| true. just ~ there sfe some who would
never make nstbematiciane II they
we're drilled l numekaA all their lives
Evening star., 1928-05-21
Flood Control Legislation
Is Widely Praised in Press

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin (inde-
pendent Republican, appraiSeS the re-
suit: The interests of the flooded area
and of the rest of the United States
have been safeguarded. apparently TO
the maximum possible. by the law which
implements the undertaking.
The Providence Journal tindepend-
entl feels that the bill in its original
form presented ''an instance where
presidential coercion of Congress Is
fully justified. and, moreover. IT Is
situation where the legislative branch
would have failed to discharge its OBJ
legation to the Mississippi Valley resi-
dents in particular and 10 the citizens
of the country generally II it had not
responded favorably To the Presidents
demands"
Conceding that 1.-The law is not salts
factory to everybody" the Chattanooga
Times independent Democratic) saws;
1t is infinitely better than nothing
and accompliShes st least three out
standing things: 1t recognizes Hood
control on navigable streams as q ma
tional obligation under certain circum-
stances: it promises the lower MiSsiSSip-
pi Valley a considerable measure of pro-
lection against floods. and 1t opens the
way for the employment of thousands
of men at a time when there Is more
or less serious problem OF idleneSS IN
some parts of the country"
Yet the Birmingham News Demo
craticl calls 1t "a flood bill-atter
fashion," and adds that lit IS the
homage that compiacency in the execu-
tive department of the Government De-
latedly pays 10 the publicS demand
that at least something be done 70 re
lieve distress in the valley and measur-
ably restore normal conditions there.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (independ-
ent DemoCraticl ayers. Congress III
voting To protect the valley dwellerS
from peru of flood forgot TO protect the
vastly greater number from peril OF
an organized Treasury raid. Log-rou~
ing is responsible for this measure which
the President signs. The rest oi the
bargain will appear In other grabs now
being given their finishing touches be-
fore submission TO the President
1T is the best" in the Judgment OF
the New York sun independently, how
ever. that could be obtained from Con-
greSs in campaign year, with the scent
of pork IN the air and with the tempta-
ton To log-folling almost irresistible.
AS to the cost. the sun states; The
Government Is committed for the pres
ent % aggregate expenditures OF not
more than SS25. 900 900, OF which some
S2S 900 900 will be required immediately,
The whole cost viii probably amount In
the long run 20 at least half billion;
under the original bin billion and
half would not have been an unreaSon-
able estimate OF the final and complete
cost"
The Baltimore Evening sun tlndcpcnd-
cnt DemoCratirl looks upon the legIS~
lation aS probably only the FIRST chap
ter of such history aI boodle aS would
have made Boss Tweed blush Hut what
of that The Middle West has the
votes. concludes the Baltimore paper
Evening star., 1928-05-21

But spelling is much more likely to be
important to the average school grad
uate than knowledge OF the science
of figures. for In their earlier occupa-
tions at least they must deal with words
rather than with numerals. An aman-
uensis who can spell correctly has a
better chance OF success and promotion
than one who persistently misspells.
Many a business man trusts his ETY.
mology entirely to his clerk and II the
latter is incompetent In spelling the
chief is out OF luck
1t will be we'll for Washingtonians
who are not themselves we'll versed In
the formation OF words to attend the
spelling bee tomorrow at the National
Museum. They will perhaps be stim-
ulated by the performance of these
twenty-three young champions to adopt
the dictionary as a text book. They
will find 1t an interesting and instruc-
tive volume
Evening star., 1928-05-21
A Spark, q Blast, a Tragedy!

When q spafk or . flicker Of flame
reaches the gas oi e0ai mine an en-
p3oSDn results and human life is en-
oangeFed usually destroyed. The
disaster nay result from al unavold-
ahls aceiceHt, such a. tAe striking vi
y PICK upon d hard stofle. or the break
u 81 siectric connection. causing Il
snort eirciDt II il ordinarily, how
eYeT. dur ~ hu bct u csreleSsness on
tee part of oue ~ the miners, the
lighting ~ nairh fof q sfD0ke. "
the ezpoauTe " the fame ~ q safety
lamp W the atmosphere BEYOND the
protecting YiFe shield
Just hoY the disaster ct Msther.
pa Has fecsslohed viii pfoosbly never
bs known. u Is almost impossible IN
such css4s " determine the origin 0f
the fatal spark Tbe blast came shsD
there were I'll men underground
~ t9ese only thirteen ebcsDed at the
outset, aogls by climbing long ladders
jn tbe darkness Al tie latest a1D0nDts
1@tAy y~R8h @stE EFt96H " HoFE 1fea'
their bodlss having been recovered
while l32 we're stlIl iu tie workings,
perhapa sil ~ them dead.
II tnis reckoning is coTrec The blast
81 Mstnef is one u he worst this
U0lntFy has eyer experienced Nothing IL
nov known IS ~ The cause Sud
aenly fhe earth tFembled. the workings
Dsfe 1aAed with Eamt and epTescFg
Evening star., 1928-05-21
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

There is no other agency In the world
that can answer as many legitimate
questions of our free Information Bureau
i'm washington, d. c. This highly or
eanized institution has been built up
and is under the personal dir .tion OF
Frederic J. Haskin. BY keeping in con-
slant touch with Federal bureaus and
other educational enterprises 1t is in a
position to pass on TO you authoritative
information of the highest order Sub
nit your queries to the staff OF experts
whose services are put at your Tree dis
posal. There Is no charge except z
cents in stamps for return postage. Ad-
dress The Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin director,
Washington, d. c.
@. How many students are studying
law In the city of New York?-A. d.
A. In New York City alone there are
more than 10000 law students.
@. Is New England good sheep coun-
try?-W. B. K
A. At one time New England raised
about 4, 900, 900 sheep. At present 1t has
less than 10000. Conditions are now
such that many New Englanders are
turning their attention TO sheep raising,
as it has many natural advantages as a
sheep country.
@. How were the old samplers made?
S. c. A.
A. The old-fashioned sampler con-
sisted of square of perforated canvas,
the rows of perforations being equally
spaced. Designs were stamped on the
canvas and filled in with different col
ored worsteds. the stitches forming little
"x's." On the finest canvas this would
almost give the effect of painting.
@. How many writer's submit poetry
manuscripts to American magazineS?-
C. p.
A. William Ellsworth has estimated
that the number may be given as any
where from 10000 to 10000. 1t has
been estimated that "one person in
s. 900 is sending verse to magazines;
one in 25O,00O gets it printed; one in
600 900 issues a book Of poems, and one
in 5000, 900 is real poet"
@. Please give the history Of the
Great Pyramid of Egypt-E. p.
A. 1t is said to have been built by
Cheops more than $4,000 years ago. 1t
measures at the base 755 feet on each
of the four sides. 1t is 45l feet high
and covers 1919 acres Of land. About
6. 600 900 tons of stone were used IN
building 1t. Herodotus states that 1t
occupied 100, 900 men for 20 years. IL
was used as tombs for kings.
@. When was the opera III Trova-
tore" first produced? Where?-G. 5.
A. 1t was first produced in Rome:
1858: Paris, 1854; London, 1855, and
New York, 1855.
@. Can the Great Lakes be correctly
called "seas"?-S. D. w.
A.. These lakes possess every essen
tial characteristic of seas and in a
decision of the United States Supreme
Court, October term. 1893, 1t was held
that the Great Lakes are seas in a
legal sense of the term.
@. What are the origin and meaning
OF tn phrase open sesame"?--B. r. c.
A. It was the password at which the
door of the robbers cave flew open in
the Tale OF the Forty Thieves" cara
bian Nights'): hence a key to myS-
terry or anything that acts like magic
In obtaining a favor, admission or rec
ognition.
Evening star., 1928-05-21
Japan in Manchuria.

The Chinese kaleidoscope has sud-
denly whirled again. and now the world
sees Japan in the center of the picture.
Undoubtedly it is a situation of i'm
measurable gravity that is presented.
In serving both the northern and
southern Chinese military forces with
an ultimatum that they must not carry
their civil war into Manchuria, the
japanese, in effect, earmark that vast
and ancient province as a protectorate
of Nippon. Such, at any rate. is ma
tionalist China's Interpretation of
Tokio's embargo upon any extension
of Chinese hoStilities beyond the Great
Wall. Thus. at Shankaiwan, the
promontory on the Gulf OF Liaotung,
where the Great wall meets the sea
and abuts the southernmost border of
Manchuria. Japan sets up a modern
Thermopylae. To the warning forces
of China. she says, Thou shalt not
pass"
The Toxic governments attitude, OF
course, is based on Japan's decade-old
contention that her special interests"
in Manchuria make 1t incumbent upon
her TO preserve peace there The United
States, it happens, has always stood
unfiinchingly against the principle that
Japan or any other power has special
interests" in the great territory lying
north Of the Peking area. The Lansing
Ishii notes, Of world-war vintage, recog-
nized a certain exclusive influence that
the japanese had in Manchuria, but
during the Washington conference it
was formally agreed that any preten-
sions to special interests" were hence
forward to be regarded as cancelled
by Japan.
AS long ago as 1909, during Secretary
Knox's regime al the State Department.
America attempted-and failed-to
bring about a naturalization OF Man
churia. as far as railway operations
the classic agencies Of pacific penetra-
tion"-are concerned. In 1920. when
under American leadership the inter
national banking consortium in China
was formed, Japan demanded. and re-
ceived. definite Stipulations as to her
particular rights and claims in both
Msnchuria and Mongolia.
The United States recognizes Man
churia as Chinese territory. The Wash
ington treaties OF 1922 obligated all
signatory powers To respect the in
tegrity of that territory. If Japan's
aspirations in Manchuria, as mani
tested by events of the past few days,
connote any violation Of the Washing
ton covenants. it is plain that trans
cendent international developments
may be imminent on the other side Of
the world
Evening star., 1928-05-21

While some observers feel that the
food control law is inadequate and
others view 1t as the beginning OF un-
precedented pork barrel legislation. the
press as a whole acclaimS the compro-
mise between Congress and President
Coolidge which enables the Government
TO begin its work IN the Mississippi
Valley.
President Coolidges signature TO the
measure, declares the Pittsburgh POST
Gazette tRepublican), had historic
Importance. and that paper points out
that IAN idea OF the magnitude of the
undertaking is given by the statement
that the engineering feat involved IS
the largest for this country since the
construction of the Panama Canal. The
South Bend Tribune independent Re-
publican) states that President Cool
idge was keenly sensitive TO the neces-
Sity for food control, but he-and Vir-
tually all taxpayers were behind him
wanted to see it accomplished without
scandal and extravaganza His was
the whip hand and Congress could not
afford TO hold out against him" In
the Tribune'S opinion. He has rem
dered great service to the American
people in the flood control controversy.
IAN the appropriation, OF course.
suggests the New Orleans Item Demo
cratic), cannot be Spent-and the work
cannot be completed--tor several years.
But every week saved i'll beginning the
Job on the broadest possible lines is
that much more promise that We won't
be overtaken by another awful cataS~
trophe like last years. before the Fed
eral Governments authorized protec-
tionS are realized" The st. Louis
Globe Democrat independently also
advises that "the main thing IS TO set
started ON this exceedingly important
work, and the bill will give the needed
start. Moreover. there is not the slight
est reason 10 believe that under It's
provisions the cost will be eNorbitant
or that any one will be permitted To
protit unduly from 1t,
"If future years see repetition OF
the tragedies which have occurred III
the Mississippi Valley In the past OBJ
serves the Lynchburg Advance demo
cratiel, lit will not be because the
American people have failed 10 see their
duty or been niggardly In appropriating
money for carrying 1t out The New
orleans Times -picayune tindepepdent
Democraticl says of the changes made
lat the Presidents request" that Their
acceptance by the Senate and House
eoniereeS argues them reasonable and
not unfair To the valley interests.
THE total expenditures will be enor-
nous. but the results will justify them,
afiirms the Kansas City Journal IRE
publieanl. while the Ann Arbor Daily
News tindependenb records that "PreSi-
dent Coolidge'S approval of the bill viii
cause rejoicing In the South, and at the
same time the North will nod quite
with satisfaction" Aud the
Evening star., 1928-05-21
A Plea in Behalf of
VOtelcss Washington

HabArt hrooks. lu the Windsor. Conn. Herald
Every American has two home towns.
aud Washington Is one OF them
Read that over again and then let 1t
sink in
The idea Is TO bring all Americans
closer To their own, to impress upon
them the fact that this beautiful city on
the banks OF the Potomac Is theirs.
their very own; that they built II and
that they have right 10 be proud of
IL, but that they each and every one of
them. must see to 1t that IL Is kept
clean, politically as well as otherwise,
want them 10 grasp the pride OF own
erShip, to glory in II. but l also want
to impress upon them the fact that with
ownership goes responsibility. MY OBJ
servation Is that the vast majority Of
Americans look upon Washington as
something FAR remoVeda city apart
Washington Is only SiN hours fIom
Windsor. but most readers OF the
Herald. | am confident, think OF IL AZ q
place far, far away. That should moi
be. You built lt, you own IL, aud YOU
boss It, | confess You have made "A
pretty good job IN the bossIng, but II
| can bring you tu II closer and better
understanding ot what In Our very
own. l shall not have labore0Xl vain,
The people ot the District of Colum~
nia have no vote.
They have done their share In war
as well as in peace. aud they pay taxes
tist az YOU do. but they have no voice
IN government, local or national,
II is taxation without representation
an injustice your torefathers, my fore
fathers, fought against Won't YOU do
your part 10 right this monstrous
wr0ngp Just let the men YOU elect 10
public office of any kind know what YOU
think about It, Talk Il. over among
yourselves, and II will he only short
time before the people there have the
right of suffrage. for have every conn
denee In the inherent sense OF right
aI the American people,
Evening star., 1928-05-21

O. Do chimney swallows carry bed
bugs?-C. G. K.
a. The Biological Survey says that
chimney swallows do not carry bedbugs
There is a parasite found in swallows
nests which very much resembles
bedbug. This insect, however, is harm
less.
@. Which is the oldest novel in the
World?-T F.
A. "Genji Monagatari," by the Jap
anese woman writer Murasaki M
Shikibu, is considered the oldest in the
world. 1t was completed in 1904 and
is one of the classics Of Japan.
q. When painting the walls of
house how may mottled effect be pro-
duCed?-L. G..
A. To produce mottIed finish, apply
wall paint over a ground color Of an
other shade. and while it is still vet
touch the surface lightly with crinkled
wrapping paper loosely held.
O. What kind Of food did the Ro-
mans in the time of Commodus cat At
breakfast time?-C. A. G.
A. Among breakfast dishes listed We
find A dish Of marrow bones, dozen
Iarks on a dish q meats tongue, a dish
of fowl, silver grill with hot sausage.
peahens' eggs.
@. Where is Kenilworth Castle?-
H. w.
A. Kenilworth Castle is in Warwick
shire, England II has figured promi-
nently in the history of the country. In
1875 1t was the scene Of 19 days enter
tainment of Queen Elizabeth by the
Earl OF Leicester. The walls originally
inclosed an area of acres. The
principal portions Of the building re-
naming are the gatehouse. now used
as a dwelling house; Caesars tower, the
only portion built by Godfrey dc Clin-
ton now extant. with massive walls Is
feet thick: the Merwyns tower Of SCOTS
"Kenilworth": the great hall built BY
John of Gaunt. with windows Of very
beautiful design and the Leicester build
ines. which are in very ruinous con-
ditiOn.
@. Why are some shoes called
"brogues" "?-H. T.
A. Brogues were originally heavy.
coarse shoes, and took their name from
the Gaelic word "brog," which meant
shoe"
@. In the United States. what is the
population to the square miles. s.
A. 1t is estimated at 37.5 to the
square mile.
@. Is it true that Crissy Field. San
Francisco. has never had a fatal air.
plane accidents. w.
A. Since its establishment in 1919.
no aviator had been killed at Crissy
Field until March 26. 1928.
@. How many Masons are there in
the world?-L. 7. NJ.
A. There are approximately 100000
MaSons in the entire world.
@. When did English sparrows reach
California?-S. II. F.
A. They have been found in the state
of California since 1871. They we're
brought to this country from England
about 1880
@. How many farmers raise cotton?
r. C.
A. The cotton crop of the United
States is grown by some 100000 farm
ers on more than 100000 acres OF
land.
Evening star., 1928-05-21
German Phosgene.

The city of Hamburg. Germany, Is to-
day suffering from disaster that may
be likened to the belated explosion of a
"dud" she'll A quantity of phosgene
accumulated In a laboratory In that
city for export to the United States
escaped from its containers and spread
throughout the city, with the result at
latest accounts Of eleven dead and
ninety others severely affected. 1t was
impossible to cut off the flow of the
deadly gas at the source until gas masks
had been hurried to Hamburg from Ber-
lin. and then the workers were them
selves in the greatest peril.
Phosgene was one of the latest of the
German war gases and one of the most
deadly 1t was used with terrible effect
on all the fronts during the latter part
of the war. This accident at Hamburg
shows that its manufacture is probably
still continued in Germany, but for i'm
mediately legitimate purposes, as this
material is used in the manufacture OF
dyes. and has also certain medicinal
value in the treatment of asthma.
Statement has been made in expla-
nation of the American demand for
phosgene that American manufacturers
have found 1t impossible to produce 1t
profitably, owing to the fact of con-
siderable accumulations in Germany.
which can be marketed here at lower
prices than the American product. 1t
will be important to ascertain whether
the shipments to the United States have
been from leftover wartime stocks or
from current manufacture. II the latter
is the case. Germany may in some quar-
ters be charged with military prepara-
tions under the guise OF trade.
Evening star., 1928-05-21
UNITED STATES
IN WORLD WAR
Ten Years .tgo Teday

French alrmen avense Mai Raenl
tughety'S death by hfingirg down enc
German hattloplane that caused MS
death, The machine Is found to carry
six machine guns, operated by two gun~
neTS, Lufhery was buried to-day
with nln military honorS on a hNlN''te
back oI the American tines Six fellow
flyers sweep low over the field aud dtep
red roses ON his bier - ptreVtor
General al Railroads MeAdeO iN&ues
sweeping order providing fuf the re-
maVal ~ all railroad PRESIDENTS tfNm
active participation IN the candNct ~
their various systems Nrw plan ~
operation announced hltlNa
near Meryille gain gpound and beat oh
4 German counter attack- Germans,
despite artillery aid MAKE no impte>
sion Npon the new british Tines,
French gepulse two raids and drive the
Germans back nOrth og nallleui,
The American SeetagS are quiet to-day
except teE artillery activity en eoAh
Mdea
Evening star., 1928-05-21
SHOOTING STARS.
BY pHLANDER JOHNSON.
Reunion.

Reunion.
TITS never mind the weather"
Said the bird up In the tree.
Though the Winter wind kept wailing
And the storm cloud dark came sailing,
Promptly, friend, you heard from me. "
TITS never mind the weather"
Wrote the blossom In itR cheer,
On the page that lay before us
And the frogs take up the chorus
once again, THE Gang Is Here!"
Evening star., 1928-05-21
Careful ConyersatIon.

The road was once so long and rough,
Unless you find that you must stop
To parley with motor cop.
Though boldly you may speak your
mind
On general things about mankind.
Be careful OF each word you drop
When parleying with a motor cop!