davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
Is Opportunity a Myth ?

AS usual, the answer to the query
whether opportunity Is myth is: 1t all
depends. We call America the land of
opportunity; it is our proudest boast.
We mean that it is easier in our social
system than in any other for a mar to
| find a chance to show what kind of
stuff he is made of. We mean that OPP
portunity is constantly knocking at your
door; the trouble is to tell her knock
from that of any one else, including the
installment-plan agent and the tax COL
lector.
Many a man has mistaken for oppor-
| tunity what proved to be his ruin. The
| right answer seems to be this: That
we are so constantly surrounded by so
many opportunities that the problem
is to decide which is the one most worth
| taking. Naturally, that Is far from
| equally true for all sorts and conditions
of men. Some men are born with OPP
portunities; some men achieve oppor
tunities and some have opportunities
thrust upon them. The backwaters of
| life are not very rich N opportunities
and there are plenty good fish in the
| sea.
The truth is that you can both find
and make opportunities; that it is one
thing to have an opportunity and an
other to recognize it. That's the side
Of circumstance or environment.
On the other side there is the en-
dowment, which means the ability to
make use OF the opportunity. There
is the oft-quoted remark of Whistler
the artist, that If opportunity meant
| anything, then the greatest art critics
| in the world would be the attendants
at the National Gallery in London,
who spend seven hours day in the
company of the great master paintings
OF the world. AS fact, they may know
next to nothing about paintings.
An American version of the same
idea Is that If opportunity meant any
| thing, then our wholesale egg mer-
chants would become our great embry-
ologists. No! It isn't opportunity, but
| interest, that is the important factor.
| Occupation follows the flag of interest
more than that Of opportunity. Yet
most careers, we freely admit, are mix
lures of both.
If you have a strong bent for a GER
tain career you will do a lot to make
the opportunity to follow it. But since
so many haven't strong bents, or about
as strong a bent for one as for any
other, opportunity comes in and gives
the deciding vote. It's pretty hard to
believe that Darwin would have been
anything else than a master biologist,
his bent in that direction was so strong
but his opportunity was the chance to
take that famous voyage on the Beagle.
The stock question to ask a small boy
IS what he is going to be when he grows
up. The reason why most Of the an
swers that you get couldn't be verified
20 years later is not only that tastes
change but that opportunities dominate.
Bent and opportunity are heredity and
environment; and the biological sphinx
alone knows the complete answer to
that enigma.
When SO years ago Cation showed
that many famous jurists had sons
who distinguished themselves in the
same profession, ne wasn't any too sure
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
OUR CHILDREN
BY ANGELO PATRI.
Because You Ought.

ooh, I can't do that. It's too hard. ]
don't want to-
Eyes, you can. You can do it be-
cause you ought to do it."
There lies the highest incentive tt
| righteousness, to decency, to true man.
| hood and womanhood. You do right
because you ought to do it. The ole
of honor is still intact. We still dc
what. we ought to do because it is
our duty.
It is useless to talk to little children
| OF duty and honor. We keep them busy
doing whatever their hands can find tc
do, and We tell them that this course
is right and honorable and that one is
not. We lead them to the right and
guide them upward, but we do not leave
the situation open to them and say
Honor demands that you do this be-
cause you ought to do It," They would
not understand.
1t is to the adolescent boy and girl
we hold that prize. Here is your souls
salvation. This way honor lies. You
do so because for you, full-fledged
human being, a man, a woman grown,
there Is no other way with honor"
They will follow royalty.
Can you, the teacher and the parent.
lead? Is the hem of your own garment
clean? If it is the child will follow
you gladly. If 1t is not he cannot hear
what you say. What you are speaks
too loudly"
A child brought up in an ill-regulated
household where things happen as they
may without order or precedence, where
meals are never served on time, where
no one ever truly serves another, and
each is for himself, cannot understand
an appeal to duty. He never expert
enced 1t.
The child brought up in home
where the talk was all directed to
the business Of getting and keeping
regardless Of honor and duty will not
respond to the challenge when it comes.
Honor will be an empty word and duty
something very old-fashioned and out
Of date.
Yet it is not possible for any one to
live his life out without meeting life's
great challenge. Nor is it possible to
be happy and truly successful if the
high challenge is not accepted and
proven. No amount of money is ever
going to make up for a failure in this
the highest field of human endeavor.
No high position will solace the secret
pain of that failure. Men are so con-
stituted that the material success is not
the fullnesS of life. Unless the spirit
of a man grows strong as he battles his
pleasure in him. In the days when
life seems burden the spirit must
have the strength of ten. 1t is then,
when all the turmoil Is ended and there
is quiet within and without, that the
spirit speaks.
Youth knows nothing Of that time.
nothing OF that day of trial. AS, when
they were very small, such truths were
hidden from them entirely, so when
they are half grown they sense them
but dimly. 1t is for us to point them
to the right way for happiness. 1t is
and it is the wav for you"
And because they will. in ignorance
of the way, look sharply at the road
over which we have come, we will keep
tryst with ourselves and do right be-
cause it is right, for their sakes. So
they will not be strangers on a lonely
way but find companionship with us
there.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
KEEPING MENTALLY FIT
BY JOSEPH JASTROW.

that the sons had inherited the ability
from their fathers, for the reason that
an influential judge can make it rather
easy for his son to find an opportunity
for advancement in the same profession.
There is also the pattern there to be fol-
lowed, the example of his father and
the constant talk about matters OF that
kind
The same holds for doctors or for
musicians. But quite as often the son
is sure of one thing that he doesn't
want to be, and that is what his IA
ther is. In the end. bent, which de-
termineS interest, makes itself felt, and
without that an opportunity isn't really
such. It's a fortunate combination
when the two coincide and what man
becomes is the satisfactory expression
of his bent and his opportunity. Yet
it's worth while in looking back upon
ones career to take an inventory and
decide in each case just how far one
made or found opportunities, and how
many passed you by or you passed by.
Copyright, 1920
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
RAISIN PUDDING,

Six large crackers, split and
well buttered. Place buttered
side up in dish; pour over one
quart of warm milk and let stand
overnight. In the morning take
two eggs well beaten, one half
cup sugar, one-half teaspoon
each Of nutmeg, cinnamon, all
spice, one-fourth teaspoon each
of cloves, mace, salt. Mix sugar
and spice and salt together, then
add the well beaten eggs, then
two-thirds cup seeded rai5ins.
Put layer of crackers in pudding
dish, layer of raisinS, spread over
mixture Of spice, sugar and eggs.
Do this until all ingredients are
used, then add one cup more of
milk. Bake in slow oven two
hours. keep covered first, then
uncover and If not wet enough
add more milk, and when all has
soaked in, add more.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
Special Baked Apples.

Core, pare and cut six apples ir
halves, croSSwise. Boil one cupful OF
sugar with one and one-half cupfuls OF
water for five minutes, adding two ia
blespoonfuls of hard red candies, CHINA
mon hearts or Glove drops. Place the
apples in a covered baking dish and
pour the red sirup over them. Cover
until the apples are tender and pink.
Remove carefully to serving platter
and surround with the strip or with
whipped cream, or serve as a border
around meat or salad,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
LITTLE BENNY
By LEE PARE.

This morning me and Pubs Simkins
and Sid Hunt was wawking to skool and
we was pritty neer late alreddy, and
after we had stopped to watch different
things and have different arguments,
we was all ways late, me saying, Heck,
gosh shang it, now Miss Kitty Is go
ing to keep us all in after skool.
Not if we have a good excuse she
wont, Sid sed, and Pubs sed, Well lets
say we was helping our mothers, she's
ali time saying how wonderful it is
to help your mother.
Sounding like pritty good Of ideer,
and we all Wawked in and sat down
at our desks as If nuthing was happen
ing, and Miss Kitty Sed, Well this is a
pritty how do you do, 3 boys late to
spoil the classes good record. Have any
Of you brawt an excuse note from home,
have you, Benny Potts? she sed.
No mann but was helping my moth
er, Sed.
So was I, Pubs Simkins sed, and Sid
Hunt sed, Me too, SO was I.
Well I must say ] admire boys who
help their mothers, but under the cir
cumStanceS must ask for little more
precise information, Miss Kitty sed. So
kindly be little more explicit, Benny
Potts, she Sed.
Meenlng now did help her, and /
sed, Well remembered about how she
always wunts me to be meet and tidy
around the house, so started to fix my
stamp collection and paist in the loose
stamps that wasent pasted in.
Very poor Miss Kitty sed. How about
you, Sidney Hunt, she sed, and Sid sed,
Well my mother always tells me to be
careful crossing streets and everything.
so wawked to skool exter SLOW
Even verse, Miss Kitty sed. Charles
Simkins is still to be herad from, she
sed, and Pubs sed, My mother was max
ing cake and helped her to stir it.
Do you meen to say your mother
Miss Kitty sed, and Pubs sed, No mann,
that was yestidday afternoon.
You will all remain one hour after
skool. Miss Kitty sed.
WITCH we did.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

Then came the day when his leading
publisher refused one of his numbers
1t lacked the swing and spirit that had
elevated him to the ranks of the chosen
few. Other songs failed to click. He
commenced to count his dimes and
quarters. Then he went broke.
His overnight playmates said it was
Just too bad and deserted him pronto.
His old buddieS stood by him and
continue to do SO.
The other night he accompanied some
friends to moving picture theater.
There was cabaret scene. Gaiety pre-
vailed to the strains of one of his
famous dance pieces. He Strengthened
up in his chair. His friends recognized
the number, too. OF course, none CT
the audience knew that the author was
present. An old thrill shook him to his
heels. In such a situation it is difficult
to refrain from becoming maudlin, but
when, as we left the theater, he turned
and said, briefly, Fellows, I'm going
back and lick the world" we sort of
believed him.
All the world may be stage. but the
reviewers sometimes miss the little
tragedies and comedies witnessed by
few A tall, sturdy doorman, in ali
elaborate uniform. receives arrivals and
SPSSNh VIZ PoA blA4b 6uGSbs nc GOWeTS
over most OF them and in an argument
could, If he would, swing a mean fist,
for he was once pugilist. He still is
young man as years go.
He contrived to acquire a modest for
tune in the ring and through frugal
living retained most of it. Perhaps he
has more than many of those for whom
he opens doors. The work is easy.
though the hours are long. He would
only be sitting around home If he had
no employment.
The real reason that he continues to
work is to help son who Is studying
at one of the greatest American univer-
sites. The boy is more interested in
the intricacies Of law than the proper
way to land left hook. The mother
is a gentlewoman and never saw her
husband in the ring. Neither parent
had ambitions to see the son raised to
be a ring champion. That explains
why the father is opening doors in an
elaborate costume, of which he is not
particularly fond
X X X y
A short time ago an excellent artist
died. Alasi We knew his history too
well. He was man of truly superb
attainmentS. For many years he re-
manned unmarried. He was a lone
hand player. He dined regularly at
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
! listening 10 his
IOWN COMPOSITIONS

Broadway. He spent hours over
couple Of notes. Hard luck assailed him
at intervals. Once, when he was COM
missioned to write several important
numbers for musical show, he frac-
tured his wrist. He was unable to sit
at his piano and pick out his tunes.
He summoned a friend, who performed
the mechanical part while he created.
He was suffering physical pain when
he wrote a song that became a rage
and brought him 10000, none of which
he has now.
Everything pointed to the well known
Tame and fortune until he purchased
hat three sizes too large. A few
f1attertng phrases assured the f1atterer
OF loan or a needed meal. Money
passed through his fingers like water
through a sieve. He began to spend
less time at his piano and more hours
with the gang. He was still a long
step ahead of the sheriff and a new
song would replenish the old bank roll.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
Eggs in Peppers or Tomatoes.

Select green peppers or small toma-
toes of uniform size. Plunge into boil
ing water and remove the outer skin.
Cut around the stem and remove the
seeds and veins. Set the peppers or to-
matoeS in small cake pans, break a
fresh egg into each, add salt and pep
per, then poach in a moderate oven
for about II minutes, or until the egg
is set. Have ready square of hot
buttered toast for each egg. Serve with
tomato sauce poured over or in sepa-
rate dish.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
My Neighbor Says:

Never cover bread Immediately
after it is baked. Allow it to cool
slowly before putting it into. the
bread box.
Before inserting a screw in
hard wood, draw the threaded
part across a cake of white soap.
the screw will then go in much
more readily.
When making bread and butter
pudding. sprinkle each slice of
bread and butter with desiccated
coconut instead of currants, and
strew some on top. This will
make a change from the ordinary
pudding and will be found very
tasty.
Don't pour boiling water over
china packed in a pan. The
dishes will crack because of the
sudden contraction and expan-
sion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
Oyster Canapes.

Drain two dozen large oysters and
ing moisture Mix together thalf cup
full of flour, two tablespoonfuls of but
ter, two eggs, one-fourth teaspoonful
Of salt and a pinch of pepper. Dip
each oyster in this and then in a mix
ture of grated cheese and bread crumbs
in equal parts. Fry in deep fat and
serve in rounds of buttered toast with
tomato catsup. Garnish with chopped
parsley.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
COCOA WITH CREAM.

Mix three-fourths cup cocoa,
one-fourth cup sugar and one
fourth cup flour together, wet
with a little milk or water to a
thin paste. Take one pint milk
and one pint water and let it
boil, then stir in the other in
gradients and let all boil few
minutes. When ready to serve
add a spoonful of whipped cream
to each cup.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

MUSHROOMS CITTERBART.
Fresh mushrooms, one pound.
Raw eggs, two.
Carraway seeds, one teaspoon
full.
Salt, one-quarter teaspoonful.
Butter. two tablespoonfuls.
SERVES FOUR PORTIONS.
Wash tender mushrooms well.
Break stems from caps. If mush-
rooms are tender they do not need
peeling - otherwise If skin is
tough or discolored, peel. Dry
mushrooms on towel. Put butter
in saucepan and when melted put
in mushrooms and cook them
over moderate fire until they are
tender-about IL minutes. Add
slightly beaten. eggs, salt and car
raway seeds and cook quickly I'M
til eggs are done. Serve plain or
on toast.
DIET NOTE.
Recipe furnishes protein, a little
fat. Lime, iron, vitamins A and
B present. Recipe can be eaten
by diabetes. Can be eaten by
normal adults Of average, over or
under weight.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
Delicious With Steak.

Melt one tablespoonful of leaf lard
stove. Mix six tablespoonful of -four
with six teaspoonfuls of brown sugar,
one teaspoonful of salt, and one-fourth
teaSpoonful of pepper Slice six green
tomatoes, dip them in the flour mix
ture, then saute in lard first on one
side, then on the other side. Add more
lard as needed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
The Sidewalks of Washington
BY THORNTON FISHER.

He was a writer of songs. Popular
numbers and ballads were his special
ties. Like many of his clan, most Of
his compensation came to him in the
form of a certain glorification-an
essence of cleverness which found favor
with the public. Other than the price
of three squares day, he has nothing
to testify to his accomplishments.
Impractical and dreamer of dreams,
this man at 43 is facing a critical
period. Melodies still sing in his brain
and there is apparently no reason in
the world why he should not be sitting
on top of the world
We ran into him the other day. Oc-
easionally he visits the city, for he is a
true nomad. Though he has no money,
he has lot of fun. His friends are
eager, to entertain him and spend that
he might enjoy life.
There are moments when he drifts
into the past wistfully and meditates
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

The painters ambition was to found
an asylum for poor artists born in
England. He was able, at his death, to
leave nearly 100000 for this purpose.
He feared sickness and death. Moth
ing could induce him to enter a sick
room, and he would not visit house
where a friend or acquaintance had
died.
This morbidness influenced him, late
in life, to drink heavily. He died at 70.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

he was waited upon
by a young wom-
an not without
charm. A friend
ship bloSSomed and
ripened into af-
lection.
The first evening
he accompanied
the girl home he
was greeted by a
father with a
skittle of beer in
one hand and a
corncob pipe in
the other. The
only pictures on
the wall were two
ancient crayon por-
traits and calen-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

=. Even II you are thoroughly aware Of
the fact that lapin is just the French
way for saying rabbit, you would doubt
less prefer to call your new rabbit coat
1apin. And there are dozens of women
whom you could not convince that the
smart, new coat they are wearing is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

Only too few have
had the privilege
of sitting in a
great theater, sur
rounded by friends,
listening to ones
compositions while
pretty girls and
leading men sing
words pounded out
on the old work
table.
This mans sue
cess, like most
substantial sue
ceSSeS, was not
meteoriC. He de-
veloped slowly be-
fore he burs I
fuII-bl0 wn on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
Peace Whip.

Slice some yellow peaches and sugar
them. To each cupful of fruit add one
beaten egg white. Fold together, and
arrange at once in tall glasses garnished
with quarters of peaches and sprinkled
with piStachio nuts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

dars. His artistic eye received a Sc
we're jolt.
The young woman's acquaintance
with art was restricted to the Sunday
"funnies." But the artist was in love,
and when a man is in that ecstatic
state, illusions blot out realities. And
SO they we're married. To her credit
it must be said that the wife sincerely
strove to appreciate art. Aided by her
brilliant husband, she sought to learn
something of culture and those re-
finementS to which he was accustomed.
For six years she labored asSiduously
to acquire an understanding. Her
sympathetic and kindly spouse was pa
tent as she struggled. One day she
disappeared. Discouraged by her fail
ure, she returned to the home of her
father, where there were calendars and
crayon portraits on the walls. The
husband sent for her to come back to
him. She loved him too much.
The broken hearted artist went t. a
distant city, where he added to his
fame. He never enjoyed it and died
leaving his creations to the woman who
couldn't understand. o. Henry might
have made much of this true story.
A light truck has been invented that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

stitch close to the edge which is to be
rolled, trim this closely and it is ready
to be rolled and whipped. The work
can be done in half the time and is
especially helpful where the edges to be
rolled do not come on the straight edge
of the material.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
CORNED BEEF HASH.

Mix together one and one-half
cups of chopped corn beef, two
cups OF chopped cooked potatoes,
one chopped cooked beet, one
large chopped carrot, one tea
spoon OF grated onion, one tea
spoon of table sauce, one-half
teaspoon of salt and one-fourth
cup of stock or water. Melt two
tablespoons of beef drippings in
a frying pan, add the hash, cook
slowly until a rich brown crust
has formed underneath, then
fold and serve on a heated dish.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
MOTHERS
Making a Dainty Hem.
AND THEIR CHILDREN.

One Mother Says:
Rolling and whipping the hens on
sheer dainty materials for baby's dresses
may be done much quicker if the mate
rial is first stitched around on the ma
chine. 1 use very fine thread and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

made from the pelts of the long-eared
farmyard pet.
It would be absurd to say that rabbit
by any name is a durable fur AS
matter of fact, it is nothing of the Sort
but now that fashions in fur coats
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
RemoVe~FILM daily. Ordinary brushing
methods FAIL Employ this special ovay

TOOTH DECAY is caused by germs Pyor-
= rhea usually results from germs and tar
tar. Virtually every commonly known disease
of teeth and gums is caused by germ infection.
Germs are imprisoned in dingy, glue-like
coating on the teeth called film. There they
breed by millions in contact with the teeth and
tissues. Gern-laden film covers every tiny
crevice of the enamel.
Film clings so stubbornly ordinary ways are
not successful in removing it. You must use the
special tooth paste called Pepsodent. Then what
achange! You instantly notice the difference in
AMOS ,N AMY An.ar;ca,a u-a,..;a. :. IL. f~.a-.,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23
MENU FOR A DAY.
BREAKFAST

Far1na with Cream
Corned Beet Hash
Hot Corn Cakes Coffee
LUNCHEON
Salmon Timbales, Cream Sauce
Crisp Rolls Jelly Roll
Cocoa, Whipped Cream
DINNER
Cream Of Corn Soup
Lamb Chops
French Fried Potatoes
Green Peas
Waldorf Salad
Cracker Raisin Pudding
Coffee
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-23

A light truck has been invented that
enables man to pick up and move oil
drums without splitting their contents
If their upper ends are open.