davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

papers all day long. or the use of the
eyesight continuously.
As relief a man returns home de-
string relaxation in some other way.
He likes better to take the car out for
an evenings ride, or to go to a movie.
or just to dig in the garden. Perhaps
O game of poker offers itself.
The greatest danger, however, comes
in a kind of mental tiredneSs, which
creeps over human being after the
age Of 80 years.
Against 1t, there Is only one sort of
remedy, and that is a determination OF
the mind itself to resist such thing.
Perhaps some one, or something
serve as the spark to put the mind on
guard against itself.
X X
Just as a writer often finds the most
dificult part Of his task the beginning,
so a reader may discover that resistance
comes largely in the first 20 pages Of
any book.
Once he is over them, the chances
are that real interest will abide with
him for the remainder of the work.
The power of will, therefore, may be
necessary in overcoming the strange
dissemination which will prevent even
DOOhy PCOPAC AAOAiA AS"Nbh6 - eAANJ o@'~
way to it.
To give in TO this is somewhat on a
par with those other hostile dislikes
which prevent human beings from
doing what they know is right.
Most good things take effort. Just
why the divine dispensation did not
make all good things easy may be
solved in another world, but scarcely
in this.
In the matter Of books 1t is an I'M
doubted fact that often the great work
is slightly dull, in comparison with
some easily moving modern bit, built
up for the express purpose of appealing
to those suffering from reader ennui.
Perhaps the civilized world reads
too much. Maybe we have taken a de-
lightful thing too avidly for its good
and especially for our own good. Per-
haps we are in danger of running music
into the ground in the same way, by
too much use.
Good books, however, will stand
more abuse than almost any other sort
of pleasure. They wait on their shelves
for us, and we are fools II we do not
avail ourselves of them.
The critical taste of the ages has
been very good. Books which survive
so. 100 years, several centuries. 20 cen
turtles in the very great majority OF
instances these are good books.
Thousands and hundreds OF thou
sands of their printed and lettered
companions have gone the way to
oblivion.
These remain.
Therefore they merit our attention,
in a way that cannot as yet adhere
to the new books, no matter how fine
they may be.
The stamp Of the approval of time
Is not yet on them. whereas it Is there
solidly on those works which the world
has agreed to call great or good.
Good books deserve to be read. not
only by those who have never lost their
taste for them. but by those who once
had 1t but let it get away from them.
Reclaim 1t! Take an automobile
trip into historic Virginia or up through
Frederick or in Pennsylvania or the
New England States, and happily bring
back with you not only memories. but
a renewal OF one of LIES choicest pleas
ures, a love for good books.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
More Witches.

For the past six months there has
been spreading epidemic of witch"
murders In the United States.
The latest incident Of this nature is
reported from Kalamazoo, Mich, where
taxi driver killed an elderly lady, his
next door neighbor, because "she had
cast an evil eye on his family" At the
police station the man stubbornly de-
Tended his act. 1t was, he maintained,
justified as a measure of self-defense
against the powers of darkness which,
operating through the slain woman,
were killing his daughter.
A few weeks ago there was a notably
brutal witch killing" in Detroit. The
headless body of the Messiah" Of an
exotic religious cult was found in front
Of his own weirdly decorated altar and
in adjoining rooms were the mutilated
corpses of his wife and children, all
murdered by the fear-driven fanatics.
1t is strange to find such a revival Of
primitive superstition In this day Of
public schools, telephones,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
Hoover Is Commended
As an Administrator
From the New Castle News.

From the New Castle News.
Herbert Hoover is shrewd politician,
but he is a still better administrator
whether Of public or private business
So he is an administrator first and poll
tician afterward.
How long should one have been well
acquainted with the President to dis
cover that he preferred Government eff
ficiency to politics? DR.. Hubert Work
was close to him for years. but he
learned to know the real Hoover only
after the latter's Inauguration.
AS chairman of the Republican ma
uonal committee DR.. Work expected TO
be chief dispenser Of patronage In
the Hoover administration. When he
awakened to the fact that the jobs by
his chiefs orders were to 60 to capable
and efficient applicants and not to poll
ticians, he retired from the chairman
ship and public life.
Early in his administration the Presi-
dent demonstrated his ability to produce
efficiency where it was never produced
there has been no let-up. While they
hardly boost his stock with politicians
of the old school, these little miracles Of
Government increase his prestige with
John Smith, taxpayer.
Farm relief, flood control and the
other costly Federal undertakings i'm
posed upon the Hoover administration
create more jobs and devour more tax
dollars. but Hoover efficiency will make
the pill easier to swallow.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22

lions and to devise system and to study
causes and effects and write their cpl
taphs in the dingy pages of annual re-
ports. Some of them are always behind
the scenes pulling the strings, while
others draw the applause and make the
bows. and some of them 60 through a
long life with faithfulness and depend
ability their only bids for fame-bids
that are cheap, for fame.
Many of them, it might be argued,
make no sacrifice, for sacrifice involves
the spirit of giving up one thing for
another, and they have nothing to give
but their services for what they are
worth. But. according to this logic, no
soldier killed In action sacrifices him
self for his country, as he had no al
Tentative. Sacrifice or no sacrifice, "Old
Patriots" must have their praise with
the new, though it lacks, perhaps, the
sparkle and sh ne Of new things.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
A Potential Death Curve"

Park read has become an important
cast and west traffic artery between
Connecticut avenue and Sixteenth
street in addition to being a favored
route for entering and leaving Rock
Greek Park. All day long and far into
the night the cars pass up and down
the hill, and as they make the sharp
turn onto the bridge across Piney
Branch there Is a shrek of skidding
tires, often Squeal of brakes
and now and then a hair's-breadth es-
cape from plunge into the wooded
ravine that lies on the right Of the
bridge entrance to the park. The au-
thorities have erected barrier OF stout
timbers to stop the car that is headed
for the edge of the ravine and a tumble,
and in the past there have been several
instances of where the timbers have had
to be replaced and the owners of auto
mobiles confronted with a large repair
bill and possibly the attentions of the
family physician.
For motorists entering the park the
turn is one of the most dangerous in
Washington. The road is rather narrow
and the curve is not properly banked
The surface, in wet weather, becomes
very slippery. One out of every three
or four cars skids, and unless the road
Is widened and banked there will be a
tragedy there some day as disastrous as
it is spectacular. Removing this hazard
by proper treatment should be placed
on the program of street work and I'M
dertaken at the first opportunity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
Mining Million Tons
OF Air Gas Each Year
By f. E. FREE, PHI. d.

No matter how much of the air
farmers may use up for fertilizer. there
will be plenty of it left. Speaking at
a recent meeting of the British Science
Guild. in London, Sir Frederick Keeble.
prominent British chemical manufac-
turer, stated that factories now work.
ing in Europe for the extraction of air
nitrogen to make fertilizers were con-
Stunning this gas at the rate OF over
million tons a year. Nevertheless,
so vast is the amount OF nitrogen gas
in the air that use could continue at
this rate, Sir Frederick said. for four
billion years without eXhausting the
supply. The atmosphere contains viz
tually all the nitrogen that exists on
sea, small deposits of its compound are
known here and there over the earth's
surface and considerable amount OF
the element is contained in coal. There
must be a little nitrogen inside the
earth also. for the gases from volca-
noes often contain some of its chemical
compounds. Nitrogen in food is as es-
sential to animals as to plants. Were
all the nitrogen locked up somewhere
life on earth would cease. But no
one need be alarmed by the activities
of the chemists in consuming it. Not
only are Sir Frederick's calculations re-
assuring, but it Is probable that even
the million tons of nitrogen which the
chemists do make into fertilizers each
year gets back into the air after
few years, when the plants or animals
whose bodies have used 1t die and
decay.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
Saving Lives of Babies.

During the fiscal year ended June 80
last there were s,94l babies born in the
District of Columbia and only fifty
deaths of babies under one year of age
from diarrheal or gastro-intestinal COM
plants which might be traced to i'm
proper feeding and diet. The Bureau
of Health Education, maintained as a
private philanthropy in Washington
by Emile Berliner, uses these Health
Department statistics to emphasize the
downward rate of death among infants,
contrasting the figures with those of a
relatively few years ago when one
fourth of the babies born alive died
within a year. and of the deaths about
81 per cent we're due to the causes
outlined above. Mr.. Berliner believes
that the education of mothers, as car
ried out by his organization, is great
factor in bringing about the decrease
in infant mortality.
There exists a difference of opinion
between Mr.. Berliner and some of the
medical authorities, including our To-
cal Health Department, regarding the
facts and the information on diet end
food to be given mothers Of young
babies. But it is common opinion now
that education in infant care is an all
important factor. Public and private
agencies devoted to child welfare have
seized upon it as an effective lnstru-
ment and tons of literature are avail
able to every young mother about to
undertake the absorbing task Of caring
for a baby. Some of the information
may appear contradictory and possibly
confusing. but the average mother of
today can discuss formulas and proper
gains in weight with the facility of an
expert. fact due to the plentitude of
material that can be had from many
sources.
Education, however. is not the only
factor. Purity Of milk supply, purity
Of water. enforcement Of sanitary reg
ulations. the maintenance Of prenatal
and infant care clinics and greater
knowledge and skill on the part of the
medical profession have contributed
their part to lowering infant mortality
rates.
In the last ten years the deaths of
babies under one year from what might
be generally classed as feeding trou-
bles" have shown a marked decline,
although there are years when the
curve shows a discouraging tendency to
rise. The level has been lowered from
17S deaths in the calendar year 1918
to 81 deaths in the last calendar year.
There was a steady drop from 1918 to
1921, when the deaths were 81. Then
an increase began which brought the
number to lis in 1928. In 1924 there
was temporary drop, but in 1925 there
were 142 deaths, followed in 1926 by
ia and in 1927 by So. the lowest yet
recorded in a calendar year. Progress
in the next ten years should bring us
nearer the goal Of an irreducible mini
mum of preventable deaths among chill
dren.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
Oil Industry Needs
Straight Drill Genius

To the Editor of The Star:
The governors of oil-producing States
recently got together i'll an effort to
solve the economic problem of over
production. After much debating
nothing much was accomplished.
Clarence E. Reed. 81 engineer, and
the writer were dis 49, sing the confer
ence recently and during this CONVEX
Satlon Mr.. Reed said:
The oil industry must overcome the
tremendous losses due to the inability of
present equipment to insure the drilling
OF q straight hole.
Here Is sound wisdom from a man
who has devoted many years to the
production Of oil and is known through
out the n1idcontinent and California oil
fields. Fundamental changes are need
ed to obtain bits which will insure
straighter oil-hole drilling and last
longer. Here is opportunity staring
some genius in the face, for the man
who invents such equipment will surely
be hailed as the savior of the oil in
dustry.
Many of this country's best inventive
minds have been at work on this prob
lem and the oil producers in general
are looking forward to the oil indus
try exposition at Tulsa in October for
the fruits of their labors.
LEONARD STEWART SMITH.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
Is there any connection between AZ
automobile tour and the reading of

Is there any connection between al
automobile tour and the reading OF
good books?
Ohhand there might appear to be
none, but q young man convinced us
the other day that there Is o great deal.
He took trip, and as the result OF
1t came home to the reading OF good
books, whereas before the tour he had
read mostly trash.
The sincerity of his opinions con-
vinced us that his reading reform, II
one might so call 1t, was permanent,
not just the thing Of a moment.
This young fellow knew good books.
He simply was going back to old times
when he returned to them. Time, cir
cumstances, events had managed to
take him away from them for awhile.
\
IT got in the habit Of reading light
stuff" he said. Gradually the great
books of the world became only names
to me.
and. Of course, the good books do take
some effort. You only get out of a
thing what you put into 1t, and If you
put nothing in you get little out.
II would come home, after hard
day at the office, and pick up some
standard work, only to find that it
bored me.
Then I would select a magazine,
look at the pictures, and maybe read a
fiashy story or two, and call 1t q night.
Now these things have their place,
but their place Is not to the exclusion
Of the great books OF past ages.
when one finds that detective fic-
ton, for instance, Is taking all Of ones
reading attention, he may know that
he is in danger"
But how" we asked him, did your
automobile trip bring you back to good
books?"
by the history route" he smiled.
"You see, 1t was this way: decided to
spend few days of my vacation tour
ing Virginia.
Il visited historic towns. battlefields.
became interested in reading about
them, and this took me over a wide
field of historical reading.
I'm reading the books I discovered
that nv old-time Zest for the best writ
ings was returning. OF course, during
the trip I had the stimulus OF new
places and scenes, but the happy thing.
I found, was that after / returned
home my whole outlook had changed.
IT saw that 1 had been unfaithful
to myself. in sliding into the easiest
course OF feaQlHB. mao OIlCc lihcO Vic
best things. there was no reason why
1 still should not, once put my mind
to it.
When I got home, the first evening
I went to the bookcase. and my eye
CHANGED to fall on Dickens Little Dor
rit'
II found. after 20 pages, that I was
enjoying 1t! It came as a surprise to
me- and 1 must confess. as a delight
and a relief. I was afraid had for
gotten"
Yes. books may be forgotten as well
as faces. Every one knows that there
comes a period in every mans life. no
matter how much of reader he may
have been in his youth. when actual
events tend to take the place held by
the great masters in the field Of world
literature.
Often sheer physical ennui is respon-
sible In many lines Of work close
application necessitates the handling OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
Moral Turpitude.

The United States Court of Appeals
In New York has ruled in a deporta-
ton case that violation Of the prohibit
ton law does not constitute necessarily
moral turpitude."
Most persons will find themselves in
hearty agreement with this decision.
"Turpitude" hardly can be defined by
law. The only standard is the pub
lie concience. The nlegality of an act
is no measure of the evil of it. We
easily can imagine cases where violation
of a traffic regulation would constitute
moral turpitude and other cases where
manslaughter might not.
1t is beyond the power of legislators
to create evil and good. These, in the
final analysis, are the products of the
concience Of the individual squared, as
it must be, with the conscience Of the
community. True enough, statutes gen.
orally express this community con-
science, but not necessarily.
After all, it probably is unwise to go
very far beyond the Ten Command
ments In seeking a workable standard
for the definition of moral turpitude."
These are fundamental in the structure
Of the human conscience. They do not
change with acts of legislators. with
passing fancies or with national boun-
daries. They antedate considerably the
eighteenth amendment. the Volstead
act and the immigration statutes of the
United States.
1t is well for courts to be very con-
sentative in declaring legal wrongs to
constitute moral turpitude per Sc. In
order to retain any significance at all
the term must be restricted sharply in
meaning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
Bryan's Recognition
For Treaties Asked
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
In the interest of history, truth and
justice, as well as posterity, protest
against the proposed formal celebration
at the White House on July ~ Of the
kellogg" peace treaties. Back in 1913
when william Jennings Bryan was
Secretary of State he initiated and ne
gotiated twenty-nine peace treaties with
foreign nations and he told the writer
that Germany had accepted the prin-
ciple and was about to formally sign
when the World War broke out. Had
Germany signed 1t might have pre-
vented the United States from enter
ing it. I recall at that time that the
newspapers of the country poked fun
at the author and the treaties as an
other of his dreams. There is little or
no difference, since the principle is the
same, Of the Bryan and Kellogg treaties.
The object of both was the outlawing
Of war and the future peace Of the
world. AS memento OF the success OF
the movement Bryan presented his col
leagues in the State Department. as
well as other friends, with a plowshare
beaten from a naval gun, which adorned
the desks of many of his friends. There
is a movement afoot TO celebrate the
worlds greatest achievement-worid
peace-by the printing Of postage
bCdLIlB VIC HAioSN5Au PAA "a ava .
Kellogg. I know of no better way to
celebrate that great achievement and
suggest that since Mr.. Bryan initiated
and negotiated twenty-nine of these
treaties, long before Mr.. Kellogg was
ever dreamed of as Secretary of State,
and since the latter negotiated eleven
more during his incumbency Of that
office, that the proposed stamp contain
the composite features of Bryan and
Kellogg. 1t might be added too. that
during the last presidential campaign
when the Republicans wanted to make
these treaties an issue, Mr.. Kellogg, to
his credit, demurred and said the credit
belonged to a Democratic Secretary of
State, Bryan.
Since war has been outlawed by the
nations OF the earth and the two Eng
disappearing nations, Great Britain
and the United States, possess the only
navies of the world that amount to
anything. together with Japan. which
has agreed to naval disarmament. all
that remains for Ramsay Macdonald.
the British premier recently elected on
q naval disarmament platform by the
English people. is to agree to strip
these death dealing battleships of their
guns. If there is anything more use
less than battleship without guns my
mind fails TO grasp 1t, and suggest
that they be beaten Into plowshares"
or sunk. Then the peace OF the world
will have been achieved for posterity.
w. j. DWYER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
The "0ld Patriots"

The title of New Patriots" bestowed
upon the distinguished gentlemen who
have left lucrative and relatively peace
full pursuits In private life to serve the
Nation under President Hoover, calls
for some equally distinct and worthy
recognition of host Of faithful public
servants who labor year in and year
out. whose public never hangs upon
their words, because they have no public
and fewer words; whose deeds are not
written In the headlines. because often
they are never known. When they en-
cts are blown and no drums are beat,
and when they leave the Government
service some of them obtain a COM
mandatory letter from the Secretary
possibly a clock or an easy chair and
a reading lamp from their co-laborers;
perhaps a short obituary notice in the
press, which, in the light of things in
general, is considered wholly suitable
and entirely adequate. They might be
called the "Old Patriots"
There is some difference of opinion
as to the actual amount Of sacrifice"
that Is made by some Of the New Pa
triots" who, with records Of fine
achievement behind them In private
life, have, in effect, volunteered their
services to Uncle Sam and have swap
ped the tangible rewards Of industry
for the light of fame and the oppor-
tunity to serve their countrymen in
the solution of great problems. But
there is little question Of the actual
amount of sacrifice among the army Of
"Old Patriots" who do the heavy work
and keep the wheels Of Government
turning over and over again.. Some
of them scientists - sacrifice them
selves in practice. as well as in theory,
as witness men and women In the Pub
lie Health Service who have made
themselves living laboratories for the
study of the effect of disease, to And
a way to protect their fellow citizens
against its ravages. Some Of them give
years Of their lives to perfect inven-