davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1929-12-13

wholesale law evasions and the criminal
exposure Of humanity to the peril Of
death in flames for the sake Of economy.
1t is limited that this case will bring to
light the existence of a system of or
ganized law evasion in respect to fire
safeguards, a veritable racket" in the
Chicago sense, which includes members
of the municipal administration. AL
though no definite charge is yet made,
certain facts are known that lead to
the belief that firms Of fire prevention
experts" do large volume of business,
simply In advising the owners of CONNER
cial properties how to evade the laws
and regulations without mourning
penalties. An as yet undetermined con-
nection appears to exist between the
Offices of the municipality and the
experts, who for large fee undertake
to get business proprietors by with
evasions of expensive installation orders.
With the loss of ten lives as stimulus
it may be that New York will pursue
this matter to a conclusion, punish
those who are guilty of contributory
negligence or worse and root out the
racketeerS who are profiting upon the
economies of the trade" and risking
the lives of hundreds of thousands of
people by exposing them to fire perils.
Maybe!
Evening star., 1929-12-13
New York Reminded
Of Its SsLOst'' Tunnel

From the Boston Evening Transcript
New York City has just been remind
ed OF the existence of the tunnel that
was lost. 1t is proposed in New York
to build q subway in order to provide
spur tracks on which cars may be
stored where they will be readily avail
able during the rush hours. Publication
OF the news of this project was fol-
lowed by the finding of the forgotten
tunnel. The discovery was prompted
by a man who remembered having
visited the tunnel while it was under
construction in 1911. 1t was abandoned
partially completed because new ar
rangements were made with the Inter-
borough Co., under which the city au-
thorities decided 1t would not be neces-
Sary.
The tunnel was never lost of course,
as far as the records are concerned. and
In the minds of some members of the
clty's engineering department, but hur-
rying crowds on Lexington avenue be-
tween Twenty-Sixth and Forty-second
streets were ignorant of the fact that
they were travelling above the subway
that was never used. It is said that
1t has been spoken of in the past as
the Lexington Avenue Folly, but here
after 1t may be known as the lucky
blunder. New York may get q useful
tunnel at 1911 construction prices, a
piece of good fortune calculated to
make other great cities envious.
Evening star., 1929-12-13
Hoover Told People
Here E'Only Humans

From the Ann Arbor Daily News.
President Hoover desires Washington
to be a model city. Whether he can ar
range the little matter is somewhat of
question.
washington as a municipality is
unique in the American scheme OF
things. It is a Federal community
governed by the Federal Government by
means of an appointed commission. The
citizens there cannot vote. There are
other unique things about Washington.
But the inhabitants of the place are
human beings, with human weaknesses.
The individuals who comprise the popu-
lace of the unique city are not them
selves unique. They have their virtues
and their vices, collectively, like those
who live remote from the seat of central
Government.
1t has been charged that the prohibi-
tion situation is worse in Washington
than in many other places. That is un-
fortunate. if true, and doubtless REM
edy can be applied. But it is question
able If Washington can rise above the
general level of law observance over the
length and breadth of the country.
The ideal and the effort are worthy.
But President Hoover should beware of
expecting too much from those people
who happen to dwell within the shadows
of the Capitol On the whole they can't
be much different from the folks who
inhabit other cities. A municipality is
what its populace makes it.
Evening star., 1929-12-13
Christianity Is Seen
AS Solvent Of Races
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
This reader has noticed quite a bit
Of discussion lately in the newspapers
relative to the United States mixing
in the so-called European messes. Just
what is interpreted by the term Euro
pean messes," I have not been able
to learn, but I presume it has reference
to the so-called racial prejudice which
Is said to exist there. 1t is the state
ment of the United States that their
object in sponsoring the peace protocol
Is to outlaw war and have questions
arising of that order settled in peaceful
procedure by the court. This is the
only way that these questions can BIT
settled peacefully. The race question
IS an issue that cannot come within
the province of governments and it is
the one great question that confronts
all governments. Mr. Strong, in his
book, "Our Country" recommends that
the greatest solvent of racial preiu-
dices is Christianity" If this is so, I
cannot think of a better and it is
without doubt the main basic thought
underlying the United States action.
At the present time the majority of
the governments of the world are re-
publics, and this problem when pre-
sented to them is directly presented
to their peoples. It is safe to say that
where they have so much involved
their decisions will not be unjust.
PERCY GILLESPIE.
Evening star., 1929-12-13
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Scientific Opinion

Scientific Opinion.
I called upon scientist,
Who dwelt in shadows dim.
OF questions I had made a list.
One that appealed to him
With special interest and bade
His conversation pause
Was the inquiry that I made,
"Is there Santa CLAUSE"
What many men believe" he said,
"A germ of truth contains.
Toward some negation harsh we're leo
BY too relentless brains.
He may be but subtle thought
That through us holds it's course,
Or an exploding atom fraught
With philanthropic force.
HE may denote general will
That makes for that or this;
To which we always should apply
PSychoanalysis.
So, as a student, I should say
Not looking for applause
That in a scientific way
There is a Santa Claus!"
Evening star., 1929-12-13
A Cow in a Zoo.

The 200" at Lincoln Park, Chicago,
has installed a Holstein COW and calf
in the animal exhibit for the benefit
Of city children who have never seen
such creatures.
This would seem to be the high water
marx of the urbanization Of America.
1t is doubtful if future decades can
produce anything to equal it, no matter
what gigantic buildings are erected, or
how complicated become the traffic
problems.
The solemn truth is as suggested, that
thousands Of children in the great Mid
western metropolis have never seen the
producer of the milk which they drink
every day.
A COW behind bars, therefore, ought
to be as interesting as lion or a tiger.
Surely BoSsy is no mean creature, either
in bulk or general makeup" and to
child who had never seen her she
should make instant appeal.
Perhaps the day is not far distant
when all geological parks will house
cows. An extension of the idea to take
in the horse might not be inappropriate,
for with the omnipresence of the auto
mobile there are thousands of children
who know little about the horse.
A mother pig and her litter might
attract almost as much attention as a
bear mother with her cubs. Farm ami
mails are beloved Of children the world
over. Their story books contain pic
lures of them, and they are the inno-
cent heroes and heroines of nursery
rhymes and tales.
The action Of the Chicago Zoo
authorities constitutes an interesting ex-
pertinent which will be watched by
similar officials throughout the country.
A miniature farm, with all the old
time activities, might not only prove
interesting to children, but valuable
aid in the rehabilitation of agriculture.
The step is commended to the Federal
Farm Board for study.
Evening star., 1929-12-13
The Ignored Sprinkler Order.

Two of the officials of the company
operating the sound picture studio in
New York which burned the other day
with the loss of ten lives have been
arrested on q homicide charge based
upon the fact that they had evaded an
Official order that sprinkling system
be installed in the building. The law
requires that such safeguard must be
provided in every case where more than
5000 feet of celluloid film is kept and
stored in the building. In this case the
order for the installation OF the sprin-
klers was ignored on the plea that the
footage of film kept on the premises
was below the legal limit. Examination
Of the premises since the fire has
brought to light that 162 tins of films
containing many thousands of feet be-
yond the limit, were stored in the place
1t is not at all important to determine
whether the fire was due in any respect
or degree to the presence of the film in
the place. Indeed, it is absurd to
imagine business of this kind running
without far larger quantity of the in
flanmable material than the law per-
mits without the installation of sprin-
klers. The facts of real significance are
that the law was evaded, the sprinkler
order was ignored and ten lives were
lost, largely, 1t is believed, because there
was no automatic fire checking means
within the building.
There is another point to this case
which may lead to the revelation Of
Evening star., 1929-12-13
Temporizing With Fire.

"1 have said it many times, and I
cannot say 1t often enough, when there
Is q fire, call hremen Immediately. 1t
is foolish in a situation of that sort to
waste time. Five minutes can make a
lot Of difference, and in this case five
minutes did"
The speaker Is Fire Chief John
Kenlon of New York, and he made the
above remark in connection with the
investigation of the recent fatal fire in
a film studio in that city, wherein en-
ployes first tried to check the flames
with chemical extinguishers and emer-
gency hose.
In so far as Washington is concerned,
however, let it be Fire Chief Watson
speaking TO the inhabitants of the Dis
trict. Words such as these are appl!-
cable to every community that possesses
any sort Of fire-hghting force. It may
not be pleasant TO explain to disheveled
and disgruntled firemen that the blaze
was trifling and is now out, but it is a
lot better than for both parties to wish
that the alarm had been given earlier.
Turn in the alarm, then get busy with
the home apparatus, is a good rule
always.
Evening star., 1929-12-13
Canada and immigration.

From the Charlotte IN. C) Observer.
The United States Government has
been content with its old-time notions
about immigration and in consequence
the waste places of the country are
being filed, when filled at ALL with a
miscellaneous lot of immigrants, such
a thing as selective immigration being
unknown. Meantime, the Canadian
government has been diligent in Secur-
ing population of the most desirable
kind through its selective system long
in operation. The Observer has given
frequent examples of the excellent re-
suits being secured by Canada, and now
comes other evidence from Winnipeg
It is to the effect that the Canada
Colonization Association, concluding its
fifth year of operations as a subsidiary
of the Department of Colonization and
Development. Canadian Pacific Rail-
way. has placed on land in Western
Canada APPS families. The acreage
occupied by these settlers totals 1885,,
100000 at total purchase price of
almost 33,00000O During the present
year the association has placed 1910
families on 1894 acres. Its opera
tions cover British Columbia and On
tario as we'll as the prairie provinces
There are now opportunities present
for 1887 families on 332,596 acres.
If the Southern Railway or the Sea-
board Air Line should set up an immi-
grafton organization such as is operated
by the Canadian Pacific they could fill
North Carolina with a much-needed
new population of the right sort of peo-
pie. And there's the Atlantic Coast
Line that runs through a region of rich
land uncultivated and waiting the COM
ing OF farmers, with homesteads enough
Tor hundred thousand and more.
Evening star., 1929-12-13

EVERY library should try to be COM
plete on something, If it were only the
history of pinheads," said DR.. Holmes,
in his "Poet at the Breakfast Table"
One is put in mind of this by look
at the average home collection. The
chief impression an observer brings
away with him is one of confusion.
The shelves have no reason for being,
but merely hold collection Of volumes
haphazardly. Behind them Is no thought
at all.
Chance has more to do with the Sc
lection than brains. One knows at a
glance that the owner had no real idea
of what he was trying to do; certain
books came into his life and he put
them behind glass.
Now nothing severe ought to be said
against such a home book collector.
Any sort of library is better than none
at all. The man who has ten books,
or a hundred books, or thousand books
is just that much better off than he who
has none.
There is so much more satisfaction
in a collection built on the real likes
and diSlikes of the builder, however,
that it is a shame that any one who
genuinely likes books should construct
his private collection on Tab-bag prtn-
ciples.
The best way to make an approach to
the problem is along the line laid down
by the genial "Autocrat of the Break
fast Table"
In actuality such dictator must have
been something of a bore. To be
preached at every morning would be
terrible. An autocrat at a tea table
would be more acceptable. Any one
who would deliver literary lectures today
while at table would be looked upon with
suspicion.
There is much good sense in that
famous series, however, a sample of
which we have given above. Every Ii
brary should try to be complete on
something, if it were only the history of
pinheads."
It makes no difference what the sub
ject Is, or how the completeness is Sc
cured. an attempt should be made by the
owner Of even the smallest home library.
We do not believe that there are no
more home libraries, or that readers to-
day do not take the same pride that
men have taken for centuries in their
own books.
The great danger today lies in the
collection of ephemeral volumes, here
today and gone tomorrow. Even pro-
feSSfonal critics are not positive in their
AZ LllC 1dOS0G OIASL A44S3o
solely is to run a great danger.
Plan, therefore, is essential. The
reader who has a plan will build his
library on the secure basis of his own
tastes. He can have tastes only if he
is independent in thought The surest
way to follow the crowd Is to permit
some one else to tell you what you
should like and what you should buy.
Book clubs" the modern substitute
for the old-fashioned book agent, pro-
fess to tell a reader what he should
buy, but many find them lacking in
practice because they fail to take into
account that most essential element,
the reader himself.
X X \
A book agent (they are still in the
land) came in the other day to sell us
a set of books that we didn't want.
He never took the trouble to find out
whether we wanted them or not. He
did not care, in fact. All he wanted
to do was to sell. When we informed
him that we never bought from book
agents he replied, with hurt look,
do you call me book agent?" And
Evening star., 1929-12-13
The Dole System.
From the Toledo Blade.

From the Toledo Blade.
More than 100000 able-bodied men
and women in England who cannot
obtain employment receive weekly doles
in amounts barely sufficient for exist
ence. The dole is both political and
an economic problem in England. The
enormous dole fund is made up by con-
tributions by the government, which
gets the money from its taxpayers, by
employers and by working people
fortunate enough to have jobs. Efforts
have been made to dignity the system
by calling it unemployment insurance
but "dole" it remains in street-level
language.
Away back in 1899 the Duchess of
Gloucester directed by will that dole
of E2O sterling be divided among is poor
men, each carrying torch In her
funeral procession and cid in gown
and hood lined with white, breeches OF
blue cloth, shoes and Shirt."
The dole system as 1t now exists is
one of the evils of the World War
fastened upon England. Originally its
beneficiaries were discharged war vet
Grams only. Pressure of poverty upon
other unemployed men and women
forced its extension to INDECENT civilians.
Necessary and humanitarian as the
dole seems to be. it Is heavy tax on
national prosperity. In contrast with
It's shadows, President Hoover's confer
ence plan of expansion of industry,
prudent public improvement under
takings and wage level maintenance is
seen in most favorable light.
Developing resources, improving high
ways, engaged otherwise In productive
employment, men and women in the
United States who might have been idle
but for the Presidents prompt action
work to maintain their own indepen-
dence and self-respect and for the well
fare Of the Nation.
Evening star., 1929-12-13
Davis Wins Wide Response
In Pleading for Housewives

cIeverly expressed. but was deserved
and should have been said by some one
in authority long ago. Coming from
the former Sharon iron puddler, him
self devoted husband and the father
of six children, Mr.. Davis hearers know
that ne spoke with all the weight of
personal experience"
Speaking OF the proposed vacation,
the Flint Daily Journal raises the ques-
ton: What of the husband and chill
dren during those two weeks? Is the
husband to quit his job in order to run
the house during the two weeks his
wife is vacationing? Or is he to take
his own two weeks vacation by staying
home and doing the housework? Well.
the argument goes on and on. One
thing is certain: Where there are chill
dren and a home to maintain there can
be no such Standardization of working
hours. Husbands and wives probably
have their troubles over who works the
harder, but without one or the other
or both being ON the job "a hours
day, it means the home will not be a
home"
Undoubtedly many housewives are
really overburdened," agrees the Grand
Rapids Press, but that paper holds that
"for the majority of the real home
makers. number of these 'jobS'-par-
ticularly those having to do with the
children-are not regarded as work at
all. The problem of America" con-
tinues the Press, lis not SO much with
the woman whose business hours are
so occupied. Her lot is far ahead Of
that of the British woman, for example,
who must get along without modern
kitchen and cleaning equipment. A
IN
States appears to be that of the woln-
an whose weeks activities might be tabu-
lated as follows: Monday, bridge; Tues
day, luncheon and bridge; Wednesday,
bridge and tea; Thursday, bridge and
movie; Friday, Bridge Club; Saturday,
bridge; Sunday, spend the afternoon
with the children"
The Spokane Spokesman-Re is
convinced that "the housewives, if We
may call them that, will laugh at Sec
retary Davis. statement, because they
are thoroughly in agreement with the
old idea that woman's work is never
done" The Spokane paper continues:
IF any masculine critic undertakes to
find flaw in that tradition, he is told
that he has a mean and cynical outlook
on life. If any efficiency expert tries
to point out that a housewife can so
organize her work as to get it done in
less t1ldIl SISIlJ I1Ou4S d Idy, ilS ID S4FGIl
an emphatic lecture on Woman, the
Toiler.' But the Secretary means well.
He wants to help arrange things so
that the eight-hour day, and the Sun
day off, ard the two weeks vacation
in the Summer, will be within the reach
of any housewife who desires them.
How many really desire them cannot
be accurately guessed. They would de-
stroy grand old tradition-that Of the
housewife toiling all day over a hot
stove while her husband is resting"
Evening star., 1929-12-13
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Court, although the United States re-
Gently Signif1ed its willingness to adhere
to the protocol, with certain reserva-
tions, which have been accepted.
@. What is annatto and for what is
it used?-W. B. S.
A. 1t is the pulpy substance sur
same name and imported into this
Gentry in cakes weighing two or more
r ,!nds, to be used IN coloring butter,
-leese and oleomargarin.
Q. How many people listed in who's
Who in America" are scientistS?-T. N.
A. Men Of science comprise 30.4 per
cent of the number listed, lawyers 1872
per cent and physicians and surgeons
73 per cent There is total of 28,605
names listed in the l928-1929 edition.
@. How much did the bridge between
Detroit and Sandwich cost? How long
did it take to build it?-B. A. H.
A. The Ambassador Bridge was con-
structed at total cost of $22, 100000,
Negotiations were started in 1924 and
actual construction on the project be-
gan about the middle of the year 1927.
1t IS now open to traffic. The bridge
is toll bridge, the principal rates being
5 cents per passenger and so cents per
passenger automobile.
@. Is Gregg, the inventor of the
shorthand system of that name, liv-
ing?-H. T. S.
A John Gregg is living and was re-
Gently presented with a golden trophy
enblematic of his life interests by stu
dents and teachers of England. The
history of shorthand from Roman days
up to the present time is depicted in
the gift.
E. N. T.
A. 1t is about $50 miles in length
and is naVigable from Chesapeake Bay
up to Richmond, Va, distance of
about $50 miles.
@. Why are English night watchmen
sometimes called Charlie" E. N.
A. This name was given to night
watchmen in London about 1910 for
King Charles I, who improved the po-
lice system.
@. How many electrons are there in
an atomic. H.
A. Physicists of today state that
there is evidence that all atoms known
have in them a certain definite num-
ber of negative electrons and exactly
the same number of positive electrons.
For instance, the lead atom consists of a
positive nucleus charge of 80 units about
which 80 electrons revolve; zinc, a nu-
cleus charge of 80 units with 80 revolv-
ing electrons; helium, a nucleus charge
of, 2 units with 2 revolving electrons;
sulphur, nucleus charge of Is units
with 16 revolving electrons; platinum,
70; gold, 70; radium, SO; and so forth.
@. Who is the tallest woman in the
world?-P. w. B.
A. Brunhilde van Droysen, who is
feet tall, is thought to be the tallest
woman in the world.
@. Do many high school students
study languages?-R. T.
A. OF all students enrolled in about
1900 high schools in 1928, 93.2 per
cent was studying English; 24.7 per
cent studying Latin; 1873 per cent,
French; 9.4 per cent, Spanish; 2 per
cent. German. In 1922, only 1875 per
cent studied English, while 29.5 per cent
studied Latin; 1853 per cent, French;
11.3 per cent, Spanish; 8 per cent, Ger
man.