davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
The Report on the Drought.

The Presidents summary of reports
on the drought, assembled by the De-
partment Of Agriculture. emphasizes
one of the peculiar aspects of this
national misfortune that should sim
pity the work of relief. Within the
area most seriously affected there are
approximately a million farm families.
They possess about u per cent of the
country's live stock. But unlike calami-
ties that take form in widespread flood.
fire. cyclone or earthquake the path of
devastation now beaten by blistering
sun and absence of rain does not repre-
sent wholesale destruction and ruin
The condition of the farm families
varies with the crops that have been
planted, with the location of farms, and
with other factors that have distinct
effect in mitigating or accentuating the
results OF the drought. In some parts
OF the drought area failure of home
gardens means failure of a food supply
upon which the people are most de-
pendent. Others, with paSturage gone.
with cattle failing and with no pros
poets for other feed are pushed to the
very brink of financial disaster. Still
others have harvested crops that will
probably bring extraordinarily high
returns because of the shortage else
where. Even within the bIistered areas
OF drought there are GASES of plenty.
The situation" says President Hoo
yer, is one to cause a great deal of
concern" But the background of the
picture of bleak conditions predominant
ing in certain areas is one of a Nation
that overfows in the abundance of its
FOOD supply: adequately equipped with
means of quick transportation; ready
with organizations for relief long since
perfected to deal with emergencies far
more sudden and for which there has
been much less time for preparation.
Individual cases of suffering and ruin
are heartrending. The farmer whose
herds few months ago were sleek and
fat, grazing in well watered pastures,
may have seen the work OF lifetime
slowly crumble before his eyes. Farm
80 A@fS hN" 40 SAolSo sAAoS nave WIOAI-
cred and died. But back of them stand
neighbors who can help out, and
Nation that is putting machinery in
motion to bring more permanent and
adequate relief. There is no effort In
any quarter to minimize the actual
want or the danger Of extreme suffer-
ing. The comfort lies in ability to
realize the tangible proportions of the
disaster, and, knowing it. to proceed
with the available remedies.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09

jected connecting link between Rock
Creek and Potomac Parks he might
probably spend q few hours in study
OF the parks and parkway projects Of
the Capital.
Much Of the work of the Park and
Planning Commission, of which Maj
Gotwals, as Engineer Commissioner
now becomes member, has been and
for years will be devoted to remedying
mistakes of the past. One of the great
mistakes was the desecration of Rock
Greek Valley and other valleys leading
into it. The sewage pollution of Rock
Greek and Of the Potomac Is shame
and q disgrace. Radical measures are
needed to clear these streams OF pollu-
ton. Such remedies are not to be found
in covering Rock Greek over to prevent
the stencil. That would merely invite
more pollution.
The Engineer Commissioner OF the
District who refuses to give up the prob
lem Of purifying these streams as some
thing too difflcult or impractical, who
goes after 1t tooth and nail with the
idea of correcting an evil that can be
corrected and who gives 1t the serious
study that formulation OF an adequate
program demands, will have accom-
pliShed something worth while.
1t Is to be trusted that Maj. Gotwals
first impression of lower Rock Greek as
q sewer that needs inclosing will be
succeeded, after serious study OF the
plans for future Washington, by a
strong determination to eliminate the
sewer and to leave the creek.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
Proof of the Pudding.

There has been some uncommonly
sound talk about war and peace at
Williamstown this week. A distinguished
officer of the United States Navy. Rear
Admiral A. j. Hepburn, an American
naval adviser at the London Confer
ence, and Admiral Sir Herbert Rich
mond. K. C. B.. former president of the
British Royal Navy War College at
Greenwich, initiated q discussion on
the eternal question of ornaments.
They stressed the point that anti-war
arrangements like the Kellogg pact have
viSibly failed 10 damp the worlds de-
termination to keep its powder dry and
its swords sharp. AS evidence OF such 9
policy, Admiral Hepburn instanced the
United States tnsistence upon naval
parity with Great Britain and Britain's
irreducible minimum of a tWo-power
naval standard, viS-a-vis Europe. Ad-
miral Richmond called attention to the
Notifications at Gibraltar and the Pam
anna Canal as steel-and- concrete facts
which do not express q very great de-
gree OF faith on the part of at least
two countries that war is abolished for
all time" The thought, energy and
millions which the two English-speak-
Ing powers are devoting upon outlying
key defenses are individually the
proof of the pudding-the pudding
which finds expression In the familiar
adage that representation is the first
law of Nature or In another equally we'll
known axiom that God helps those who
help themselves.
Admiral Hepburn pleads for the edu-
cation OF an American public opinion
which will not fail to demand the con-
struction of the treaty Navy" Unless
we proceed to build the London feet,
he declares that the United States will
suffer loss Of prestige In the eyes
OF other sea powers. Admiral Hep
burn Is unquestionably right. He Is no
less right when he adds that II Amer
lea does not enter the 1896 Naval Con-
ference with strong Navy In hand
We shall not prove q very potent bar
gamer when We seek further limita-
ton. The United States was able TO
talk turkey at Washington in 1921 -22,
because We had ships to trade with
built or projected.
Americans who think the road to
peace lies down the path leading to
steady reduction. of naval strength will
be well advised not to obstruct the
building of the treaty feet. If they
hamper its construction, it should be
made plain to them that they are
lacking in the wrong direction toward
the goal which they would sail. A
definite American naval building pro-
gram. backed By solid public opinion.
Is the surest guarantee. not only OF
adequate national defense 1T sea, but
OF progressive naval limitation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
This Skeptic World.

Somebody is always wanting to know
things that are really the private BUSH
ness of folks-wanting TO know and ask
ing impertinent questions with unpleas-
ant implications. For example. both the
Federal and the local prosecuting sttor-
neyS for the Greater New York area
are asking some awkward questions
of a group OF people regarding certain
financial transactions Of three years
ago. Such a nuisance! Such impolite
curiosityl
There was . vacancy on one OF the
local New York benches. Mr.. Ewsid
fancied the job and allowed as how he
would be glad TO get the appointment.
Mrs. Ewald had some capital, having
been engaged with her father in the
management of q motion picture thea
ter. Mr.. Healy, Tammany leader OF the
district, ASpired TO buy himself hand
some home on Long Island. Learning
of the aspiration of Mr.. Ewald, he sent
for Mr.. Tommaney, chief clerk in the
Office of the sheriff, and disclosed his
desire for q suburban home and his
hope that perhaps Mrs. Ewald would
loan him the cash for the first pay
ment So Mr.. Tommaney went TO Mrs.
Ewald and asked her for a loan for
Mr.. Healy. II so matters
fall out precisely so fortunately now and
then-that she had just received some
SIS 900 in cash from her father and had
another $1,000 in bank. She really In
tended this money 10 buy herself Q
home big enough for her own
family and her parents, but Mr..
Healy's wish for Long Island
home was Of course, paramount.
So she loaned $4,000, not directly to
Mr.. Healy, but to Mr.. Tommaney. And
Mr.. Tommaney gave her his note to run
for three years, without interest. And
the money passed, and shortly there-
after Mr.. Ewald got his hearts desire
and became a judge, and Mr.. Healy
] bought himself q Long Island house
with the Ewald-by- Tommaney money ne
Q aastAE. Thsn Mn. EwAld WAA tasl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
Covering Up. the Pollution.

One of the purposes of the act Great
ing the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission was to preserve
the flow of water in Rock Creek" Since
its creation the commission has made
extensive purchases in the Piney Branch
and Soapstone Valleys, and in two other
valleys in the northern corner of the
District, and is planning further acqui-
sitions along the streams of y Ach
Drive, through the valley norta of
Georgetown and in the valley to the
south Of the Bureau OF Standards, thus
preserving streams which feed Rock
Greek and which otherwise would be
converted into sewers.
At one time it was planned to turn
lower Rock Greek into a sewer at q cost
of about $4,000 900. This would have
enabled progressive real estate dealers
to MI in parts Of what used TO be
beautiful valley-and still has its pos
sibiities-and sell 1t for lots Instead
of that the Park Commission has
bought or is buying about 159 acres of
land along lower Rock Greek at cost
Of 81 100000. The creek and Its valley
will be preserved to form the long
sought connecting parkway between
Rock Creek Park and Potomac Park.
It comes as a disappointing surprise,
therefore, to hear from the Districts
new Engineer Commissioner, Maj. Got
walls, of plan to put roof over Rock
Greek from a point near the @ Street
Bridge all the way down to the Po-
tomac. Surveying the "chasm between
two ash dumps" that now beautifies this
section, and which will grace a part Of
the connecting parkway, Maj. Gotwals
is quoted as being unable 10 see why
anybody would want TO travel down
there" But eff the demand for this
boulevard" persists, the major believes
that Rock Greek might still be covered
up and a road built along the roof" Of
the creek, possibly to serve the whims
and the fancies of the eccentric motor
lists who will want to drive down there.
II one of the purposes of the Park
and Planning Commission act was to
preserve the flow of water in Rock
Greek" there is not much sense in pre-
serving the flow and then covering ii
up, where nobody will see 1t. II Maj
Cotwals does not understand why any
eae should want 10 drive eser tia pce-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09

Dmitri Merejkowski's Romance of
Leonardo da Vinci' is book which
appeals to more different types Of
readers than almost any we know.
Here Is q novel which Is at once an
unforgettable character study, an in
comparable picture OF the Middle Ages
and a moving narrative.
Its greatest charm Is as study OF
human nature. because 1t Is an honest
attempt to look q man in the face and
understand him.
When one stops to consider the thou
sands Of difficulties which stand III the
way OF character comprehension, even
of those one knows In daily life, 1t Will
be realized that the job Is difficult
when applied to q man gone several
hundre years ago.
It was the poet Browning who called
upon mankind to see life through and
see 1t whole but most men and women,
now as always, prefer to see ID In part,
rather as collection OF wishes than
actualities.
1t is the exceptional man or woman
who Is able TO accept another human
being as she is without fear or favor
and particularly without asking that
he change or be changed, or change 10
suit them.
We are unable to say to those We
meet, Il do not like you. but you
interest me-" Too often the silent
comment OF the ma jority is, II do not
like your nose, therefore ! hate you,
OF II tlnd your views do not agree WIN
mine, SO kindly refrain from speaking.
The special glory Of The Romance
Of Leonardo da Vinci" Is that the Rus
sian novelist has taken man and
III,
most intolerant reader Is willing to
accept him-aS he is.
This seems to me an Incompatible
feat. One will have to pillow through
hundreds of works to find one to equal
it in this respect
Here the reader finds the dual per-
sonality of Leonardo pictured by the
clever devices of giving impressions OF
him. first by one of his disciples who
worshiped him, and, second, by one who
hated him.
An the time the queer warfare which
went on In I,eonardo's own mind and
souls as it must 90 OH in the mind and
soul of every person worth while, Is
pictured In its entirety:
1t is set forth by writer who has
much in common with his subject.
MerejkoWSki has had hard fight in
the literary world, but the increasing
yearly success Oh SUCH WOIks as 1hc
Death Of the Gods" and the one under
consideration shows him to be winning
out.
Yet before this eventuality he must
have known pain and sorrow, disap-
pointment, conflicts OF good and bad In
the inner nature.
OF this every reader may be sure
from the masterful way IN which he
has handled the documents of Leo
nardo, in which that great figure of the
Renaissance left TO posterity his in
most thoughts.
~ y
In the average hands those sentences
taken verbatim from the collected writ
ings OF the poet, inventor, scientist,
writer, artist, builder. who was Leo
nardo, would have amounted TO nothing
more than words.
They may be found, as words, In
many O work on Leonardo.
But the Russian plays such magic
with them that in his book. without
any special effort, they become true
character revealerS.
Now, why Is this?
How Is it possible for written words
to be merely woruS with some. but re-
yealerH OF character with others.
The explanation. one may believe,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09

too unfortunate for words. She lost
Mr.. Tommaney's note-lost It beyond
discovery. And 80 when folks began to
ask annoying questions about the mat
ter she could not produce this COM
pletely generating bit of paper.
Life is like that. often, double cross
ing and distressing. People have such
base thoughts about motives. They get
beset with the notion that somebody Is
trying to get something wrongfully.
They put the meanest possible inter-
pretations upon innocent actions. But
the distress Of the Ewalds and Mr..
Tommaney and Mr.. Healy, due to the
pestiferous tnQuisitiveness Of the dis
trict attorneys. is at least cause Of some
compehsating public amusement, mas
much as for some reason the stories
they have told about the loan and the
innocently coincidentaI judicial ap-
pointment are regarded In q playful
spirit. and there Is much laughter in
even Tammany circles, while the nom
political community Is rocking with
mirth. Human nature can be positively
mean at times.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09

undisturbed." AYERS, eff Director Wood
cock can reverse this abuse of the pro-
hibition laws application he will have
to be something of q miracle man."
After all, he does not ask much"
remarks the New York Times, holding
that "all citizens must approve the fair,
honest. earnest and lawful enforcement
OF the prohibition act" The Baltimore
Sun states, While applauding Mr..
Woodcocks zeal and industry, there will
be those who will remember other new
brooms and stifie a yawn.'
Taking up the proposed research by
which the enforcement bureau will
compile its own data and will draw its
own conclusions the Hartford Courant
comments: Should Mr.. WOodcock sue
coed he would deserve many thanks.
OF tables, compendiumS and figures pre-
pared by partisans and proving irrecon-
cilabla points concerning the effect of
prohibition, the public Is weary. 1t
would welcome impartial data from any
source. but it will remember when Mr..
WoOdcock issues his hrst statement that
the Department of Prohibition may not
be wholly an unprejudiced agency.
With the best Intentions those in charge
may not be wholly immune to the
temptation TO make it appear that
Ao otNSSNuAAAbb bAAtaV tAAGJ
are performing their duties well. Only
the most eulIible will expect that all
agency charged with enforcing law
Will utilize its own resources to demon
Strate that the law Is not being
enforced"
The survey idea Is described by the
LynchbuIg Advance as sane" because
OF the detects in propaganda from both
sides OF the liquor question, and the
Advance voices the thought that half
truths are frequently more misleading
than out-and-out untruths."
The vigorous and relentless drive on
the commercial aspects of the unlawful
traffic" is commended by the Morgan
town Dominion-NewS with the srate-
ment: He is hitting at a phase OF
enforcement that has been largely
ignored III the fight upon petty retail
ing and the intermediate tratfic in dis
triDution as typihed by the organized
liquor rings in the urben centerS. But
sound as rs Mr.. Woodcock's idea of the
proper Federal approach, it is doubtful
whether he can hope TO accomplish
more than temporary improvement.
Inc liquor racket extends from one end
OF this country TO the other. 1t has
come to take Its toll in ruthless gang
murder with striking regularity. 1t Is
the parent racket OF many others that
have sprung up under its laWleSs wings
and are directly or indirectly connected
with It,"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
Higghlights on the Wide World
Excerpts From Newspapers of Other Lands.

debetur!'-'The greatest reverence Is
owed to children and unless we intend
to protect the children of this genera
ton from the demoralizing influences
of the modern picture play, the race
is sure to sustain distressing deterio-
ration both spiritually and physically.
Bad enough that an industry which
could be such power for good prefers
rather to serve mans baser instincts for
little larger gains, but to expose inno-
cent children to these same malign in
fluences, by which, in their inmaturity
and inexperience, they cannot fail to be
unhealthy impressed. is an offense
which long ago should have felt the
heavy hand of the law. Some of these
baneful productions have a debasing
effect even on sophisticated men and
women who can discount the Turing and
melting insinuations of the screen with
the knowledge of the true relations and
values of human life.
Producers deserve no consideration
when they think more of their revenues
than they do of future generations. II
they are not willing to eliminate crime
and salacity from their dramas, at least
they should be forbidden the right to
exhibit these improprieties to children.
Public authority should demand this re-
Striction. In the meantime, parents
should be careful what films their off,
spring are allowed to see.
"a TEACHER"
x X x
Cigarette
Boycott Is Noticed.
La Opinion, Manila-The first effects
of the boycott which the population
seems to have declared against imported
cigarettes are beginning to be noticed.
Local tobacconiStS complain that there
Is no demand for foreign cigarettes,
and that quantities of these products
are being left on their hands. The boy
colt is noticed not only locally but in
the provinces as well. One wholesaler,
whose sales used to average about
5000 pesos worth a week. now says he
Is fortunate If he can get orders for
500 pesos worth. Domestic cigarettes
appear to have taken the place of the
imported article almost exclusively.
This condition is attributed to the
of a certain Communist ele-
ment, which has distributed leaflets
urging all smokers to support local in
dustries and to abstain from the pur-
chase or use of imported goods. These
crusaders insist that powerful foreign
interests are endeavoring to flood the
islands with all sorts OF exotic goods,
and that cigarettes constitute one of the
largest items. The Philippine govern
ment Is looking into the situation to see
II there has been anything improper
or in restraint of trade in connection
with the anti-cigarette activities de-
scribed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHMANDER JOHNSON.

Old Acquaintance.
I wonder II the robin sings up In the
apple tree:
/ wonder II his songs the same as what
1t used to be;
And If. far down the dusty road upon o
Summer day.
There's anybody wishing when he sees
load Of hay.
I wonder il the willow bends above the
swimming pool
The way 1t did one day when forgot
to 20 TO school:
And II the honeysuckle sends abroad its
perfume sweet
Where berry briars Turk to wound some
boy with shoeless feet.
The men know are good and true; the
men that men should be:
And yet there's something lacking in
their worth, it seems to me
For they could never trudge or romp or
climb the whole day through
And Ali the world with joyous shouts
like friends whom once I knew.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09

Our American Minister to Greece de-
clared that golf, far from originating
with the Scots, or in Holland whence
they borrowed 1t. goes back to ancient
Greece. as evidenced by archaic monu-
ments. He is only part way back to
the source 1t undoubtedly began when
couple of prehistoric guys began
knocking around with their war clubs
the skull of some deceased enemy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This is q special department devoted
solely to the handling Of queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the services
OF an extensive organization in Wash
1ngton to serve you in any capacity
that relates to information. This serv-
ice Is free. Your obligation Is only 2
cents III coin or stamps incloSed with
your inquiry for direct reply. Address
The Evening Star Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Haskin. director, Washing
ton, d. c.
Q. Is Milton ]. Cross q musician
A. Both Milton j. Cross and Graham
McNamee were recognized vocal soloists
before entering the radio field Mr..
Cross Is tenor and Mr.. McNamee, a
baritone.
Q. Why was the new Arlington race
track. near Chicago, constructed to
measure l1s miles?-W. H. @.
A. This gives q longer finishing
stretch than a mile track has, and the
consensus of opinion among racing men
is that it is the ideal length for a
track. This flattens the turns out and
gives longer straight-away.
@. have flexible white gold watch
bracelet which needs cleaning. Please
inform me what to DOH. H
A. Fold towel to about the size
of your wrist. Slip the bracelet over
the towel. Dip fine brush in gaso-
line and apply to bracelet.
@. How far from the home plate is
the pitchers box? Second based.
r. r.
A. The distance from the home plate
to the pitchers box is so feet 6 inches
The distance from the home plate to
second base Is 127 feet 32s inches.
@. When did Great Britain begin to
give unemployment insurance?-J. C. C.
A. In 1911 Great Britain passed her
first unemployment insurance act. This
act covered only certain trades, but in
1916, 1918 and 1920 certain changes
were made. Finally in 1921, an unem-
ployment insurance act was passed
which is still in operation.
shipboard?-E. o. w.
A. On a ship, salt water is boiled in
evaporators. The steam rises through
pipes to a distiller which consists OF
coils with cold water running over
them. This condenSeS the steam
forming fresh water
@. What is the National Institute OF
Health?-F. d.
A. 1t is a new Government project
The Ransdell bill creating 1t was signed
by the President on May 26, 1880. The
nucleus of the institute is the Hygienic
Laboratory of the Public Health Serv-
ice, and it will now be known as the
National Institute of Health. The site
now occupied and adjoining land, to-
gether with other sites as needed, will
be used for the erection of suitable
buildings.
@. What is the idea in being present.
ed at the Court of st. James?-A. S. r
A. The greatest social distinction
which q woman can attain, in q day
when there are 50 few Kings occupying
thrones, Is gained through being pre-
scented at the Court of St. James. Lit
orally one makes her low bow before
King George and Queen Mary Of Eng
land.
@. Are conditions good or bad at
Ellis ISland?-E. S. M.
A. Ellis Island is not the uninviting
place 1t is generally thought to be-
Actually, said Mr.. Hull, commissioner
general of immigration, 1t consists OF
three small islands. On these islands
are 81 buildings, including hospitals and
power houses. The quarters occupied