davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-05
Musicale Is Planned.

BALLSTON. Va, November tSpe-
ciaD The ladies of Mount Olivet
Methodist Protestant Church will give
a musicale at the church tomorrow eve
ming.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-05

DICKERSoN. ALTON. Departed this life
TTS 0sSStsi NCYs%SNsr 1921 e EmsrsenSy
son Of Richard Dickerson brother Of
Ethel williams, Edward. Richard. ST., and
James Dickerson. He. also leaves a host
of other relatives and friends Remains
resting at Eugene Fords undertaking par
lors. 1900 South Capitol ST. Sc Funeral
Friday, November 9. at IL am. Interment
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
More Byrd Medals.

America rejoices that Rear Admiral
Richard E. Byrd is to be decorated by
King George for his explorations at
both Poles of the world The Patrons ="
medal of the Royal Geographic Society
is to be given for his expedition to the
Antarctic and his flights over both
North and South Poles.
Rewards of this nature are both
pleasing and interesting, and since
Admiral Byrd has received all that can
he conferred upon him by his native
country, it is fitting that the British
Empire present him with one.
Few feats of contemporary history
give more promise of being deathleSs.
Not only was Admiral Byrd the first
explorer to achieve his particular feat
in the way he achieved it, but he was
the first to combine modern efficiency"
with the century-o ld work Of discovery.
great deal has been said about
efficiency in this age, much of 1t in a
slightly contemptuous mood. There can
be little doubt that efficiency. as a
hOIO, has DSSLl AluCA ONSI IASSd. ouI
efficiency, as q thing, has its uses.
Efficiency is a way Of doing some
thing. Usually 1t purportS to be a
better way than other ways, and often
enough, and perhaps strangely enough,
it is better way. Few would dispute
now that q modern, efficient tour Of
exploration. in which the explorers
make every feasible use of modern in
vention, is preferable to one in which
unnecessary chances are taken.
The Byrd explorations were rare
combinations of energy, determination,
science and efficiency. The award of
the English nation to this distinguished
American will not only be fitting in
itself, but will be one more handclasp
of friendship between Great Britain
and the United States.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
Fiction and Fact of Crime.

There is nothing new in the failure
by the police to solve crimes, nor in
the sporadic waves Of criticism that
tradition pictures as causing the "chief'
to summon the aces of the force, point
a trembling finger at the headlines and
deliver some such ultimatum as Now,
fellows, its either you or me. Get busy
or get out. want an arrest in twenty
four hours
But it is interesting to conjecture as
to the proportion OF this criticism re-
sulting from the amazing flood Of de-
tective stories that has come TO repre-
sent distinctive type Of fiction writing
Everybody, more or less, reads detective
stories. or goes to see mystery plays on
the stage or in the movies, and one Of the
most popular Of recently introduced
games in polite society is known as Muir
der" in which the players exercise their
ingenuity and f1ction-bred intuition to
"indict" the murderer
OF the unhappy result Of this popular
interest as far as the police are con-
cerned. there can be no doubt. A large
section of the reading public has become
familiar with an established procedure
first, the crime; second, the fumbling
sergeant Of detectives; finally, the in
PRODUCTION Of the amateur detective who
overcomes tremendous odds and with
the world of organized policemen ar
rayed solidly against him; solves the
over to the doubling detective sergeant
or arrives as the mufled shot 81 re-
voiver proclain1s the criminals Suicide.
That, with variations, is what hap
pens in fiction. The policeman must
be dolt to At into the picture as fur
nishing proper contrast for the con-
noisseur in crime. In fiction the po-
liceman is generously forgiven. Ais
well that ends well. and the reader has
the comforting belief that the police will
do better next time, having profited by
lessons learned from the gentleman. de-
tective.
But In real life the chief sources OF
such comfort are lacking. There is no
gentleman detective to step in and
solve the crime. The criminal too
often goss free. And from the world Of
fiction we can only summon the FUN
bling policeman to enact given role.
Popular anxiety o7er an unsolved
crime, with all it implies, is tinged with
an extraordinary amount Of bitter dis
appointment, naturally reflected in
wholesale condemnation of the police
who have proved themselves guilty OF
the crime of establishment. For such
a crime there is no forgiveness
Such, at least. is nice theory. The
only thing that blasts 1t full Of holes
is the occasional work OF Department
Of Justice agent, or one Of the postal
inspectors. who sometimes makes a
Sherlock Holmes resemble police SER
geant.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
The William Howard Taft Bridge.

Designation by the District Commits
sioners Of the bridge across Rock Greek
at Connecticut avenue as the William
Howard Taft Bridge, in honor of the
late President and Chief Justice, ap-
propriately commentaries an associa-
ton between one of the most beloved
of the Capitals residents and one Of
lures. Judge Taft was a keen admirer
Of the structure. He had been inter
ested in 1t from its inception. He
watched its construction closely, and
when it was completed he used it
frequently. He was often seen crossing
It on foot in the course OF his rambles
about the Rock Creek Valley.
BY some peculiar quirk Of the public
mind the structure was early dubbed
the Million Dollar Bridge" a name
that has always grated harshly on the
ear. To call creation Of this beauty
of design in terms Of sum of money
has been most ncongruous and I'M
pleasant. Such popular. title is hard
to eradicate. Now that the bridge has
been formally and officially designated
in honor OF William Howard Taft, it
is the duty Of all Washingtonians with
regard for the prophecies Of nomen-
clature to hold strictly to that name
In all mention OF it. for there was none
who more strongly disapproyed the
"a ling of the bridge after SIC s1Ipnoaad
cost in dollars than Judge Taft himself
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09

Ricns into a new state. They would call
it the state of New England 1t
would add one more federal unit to the
constellation now forming the Austria
liam commonwealth.
Evidently the SeceSsionists mean
business. Under the leadership Of the
head Of the Federal party, DR.. Earle
Page, they had prepared draft con-
stitution modelled mainly on the fed
eral charters of Canada and the United
States. The commonwealth constitu-
ton legalizes such a movement as the
projectors Of "the State of New Eng
land" have launched. Agitation to
bring it about has long Smoldered. 1t
is the eliminating disgust over the
Lang Socialist governments humiliat-
ing reputation tactics that suddenly
famed secession into life.
AS was to be expected, the common
wealth government lost no time in TAX
ing over the obligations renowned ten
days sgo by the New South Wales au-
thorities. Australian credit in London
and New York thus remains unim-
paired. II the State of New England
comes into existence its founders plan
to assume its proportionate share OF
New South Wales existing public debt.
That the seceSsionists have an eye to
their own financial necessities is indi-
Gated by the choice of title for the
proposed state. Sydney cables point out
that New England" is expected to win
the immediate sympathiss of Britons
and enhance the chances of a loan in
London"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
Managua as Victim of Quake
Ranked With Ancient Cities

human habitation. In view of the pro-
posed billion-dollar canal, and the
greater Importance of the capital in
case it is completed, Managua may be
allowed to lie IN ruins
x X X
The disaster has engendered a feel
ing of solidarity among the American
peoples; national distinctions and no.
htlcal differences are forgotten, and all
efforts are concentrated upon succor."
It Is pointed out by the San Antonio
Express, while the Rockford Morning
star, considering the possible effect of
the canal plans CT this country on the
cholce OF a new capital, says: "In case
the canal is built, the natural CONNER
clal swing of the Nicaraguan republic
viii be toward the south, and Leon is
well toward the north. Granada is on
Lake nicaragua but toward the north
ern tip OF the lake. Leon is a CITY of
about $4,000 the largest city in the
republic, while Granada has about 25,-
0OO. Managua was a city of about 35.-
OOO people. There seems little question
put that the proposed canal would bring
TO Nicaragua vast amount of CONNER
cial prestige, perhaps SURPRISING that of
Panama, and if the new Atlantic-Pa-
cif1c waterway is built the Nicaraguans
would undoubtedly be influenced in
placing their capital near the CONNER
c1al zone Of the republic"
The NEST deplorable aspect Of the
tragedy" in the opinion of the Column
bia IS. CO State, lis the awful slaugh-
ter of hundreds of persons in rotting.
infested prisons or in insane asylums.
helpless victims of this blind fury or
freak of Nature" The Altoona Mirror
declares that "the cruelties of Nature
are oftentimes more terrible than any,
thing cruel men are able to invent"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
The Collier Trophy.

Announcement of the awarding Of the
Collier Trophy, one Of the most coveted
Of aeronautical honors, to Harold F,
Pitcairn and his associates for develop
ment and application of the autogiro,
comes as a recognition of one Of the
worlds most revolutionary aviation de-
velopments.
The autogiro represents a discarding
Of the accepted aviation theories and is
the result of daring and apparently
successful piece Of aeronautical pioneer
ing. The award Is based upon actual
use OF the autogiro during the past year,
several OF these unique craft having
been flown by scores of pilots, and some
without special training have made
notable cross-country flights. Many OF
these pilots never had even seen an
autogiro before they took over the con-
trolls, and yet not one of them received
so much as a scratch because of acct
dents resulting from inexperience. A
woman fier has just made an ascent Of
.19, 600 feet in one of these machines.
Every airplane since the first flights
Of the Wright brothers has depended
upon fixed or stationary wings for sup
port in the air. These are discarded
in the autogiro, which depends for its
lift on four winglike surfaces revolving
horizontally around king post rising
above the body of the machine. Due
to aerodynamical effects, these wings
continue to rotate without engine power
as long as the autogiro is in fight.
One Of the gravest dangers with the
conventional airplane is the loss OF fiy ing
speed through 'stalling" When the
airfiow past the wings falls below a
certain speed, known as the "stalling
speed" they lose their lift and can no
longer support the weight of the plane.
spin usually results, and this, at low
attitudes. often is disastrous.
The autogiro wings always are in mo-
ton and constantly provide their own
lift, regardless Of the forward speed OF
the machine. Therefore the autogiro
may be brought TO q virtual standstill
in the air and may hover" Best OF
all, however. is the fact that the auto
giro. with its engine dead and no hands
on the controls. will descend almost YER
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
Two White Elephants.

The abandoned Sixteenth Street Res
ervoir and the remains of the old Aque-
duct Bridge, in Georgetown, are as
Stunning the characteristics of white ele-
plants. Nobody seems to know what
to do with either one Of these relics
Or the trouble may be that so many
people know exactly what to do with
them that unanimity of opinion is i'm
possible.
In the case Of the Sixteenth Street
Reservoir the weather man dashed the
Park and Planning Commissions plan
for using it as a skating rink last
Winter. Steps were built and enough
watar was turned into the reservoir to
provide an excellent place to skate.
But the weather man declined to CO.
operate, and the water refused to be-
come ice at the right time. So there
was no skating rink. Other plans have
been discussed for developing a play
ground, a swimming pool or sunken
garden. The last proposal is at pres
ent in the ascendency, with the sunken
garden school gaining many converts.
But the Park and Planning Commission
moves slowly, If surely. and the aban-
doned reservoir remains an abandoned
reservoir, only that and nothing more.
There is some deep mystery concern
ing the failure to dispose of the rem
nants Of the Aqueduct Bridge. For the
last three years a bill has been intro
duced in Congress to rae the structure.
sell the material and use the profits to
improve the approaches to Key Bridge.
The passage of the bill has been urged
on the ground that the remains OF the
bridge constitute something Of men
ace to Key Bridge. But the. bill has
never seen the light of day that dawns
with q report and IS yet to emerge
from committee. At one time some OF
the citizens of Georgetown wanted the
District end of the old bridge retained
as q recreation pier. But there are sew
eral disadvantages in this plan. For
one thing, the unsightly structure would
mar the appearance Of Key Bridge. And
it Is q question whether modern ideas
or recreation include sitting. standing
or staring on an old piece Of bridge.
One of the interesting features of the
problems, If they may be called prob
lens, is that the solutions are under
separate Jurisdictions. The municipality
apparently has little to do with either.
The War Department is intrusted with
the fate of the Aqueduct Bridge, the
Park and Planning Commission must
decide what to do with the old res
ervoir. and q busy Congress must
ind time to ratify the final solution in
either case But Rome was not built in
a day, and some of the ruins are still
standing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
Secession in Australia.

From Sydney. capital Ct New South
Wales, the Australian state which has
recently had some unenviable and
worldwide publicity because Of the
debt-repudiation policy OF its govern
ment, comes news CT an interesting Sc
cess.on movement. The northern sec
ton Of the state, with an area larger
than that of New York, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey combined and six times
more than all of New England, is plan
ming 10 separate from the southern half.
The scheme, springing from the ma
tional disgrace and economic disaster"
consequent upon Premier Lang'S refusal
to meet the states observation-disclosures
interest on April /, took formal shape
this week One hundred and nifty dele
gates from the northern districts met
ut Maitland and decided 10 petition the
Commonwealth Parliament at Canberra
20 approve the formation Of these re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
UndernOurHhed Books
Face Initial Handicap

From the Atlanta Journal.
With the somewhat abortive ex-
pertinent of dollar books abandoned, as
a major editorial policy, by most pub
fishers, new experiments calculated to
introduce novelty and popular appeal
INTO literary ventures are making a
tentative Spring appearance. A Brit
ism publisher has announced he will
bid for patronage by printing new
novels of only half the normal thick
ness. This introduces the quaint idea
That size can govern a potential readers
attitude toward a book.
IheSe are unpredtctable times as re-
CARDS public taste, but we trust that
a books thickness will never become
It's salient characteristic. In a poor
book, We can imagine that slenderness
would recommend itself and that a
grateful reader, coming suddenly upon
the final page, would find himself adj
miring the clevernesS of the publisher.
But really good sbook is never long
enough Characters which engage the
fancy then win the affection OF the
reader, are parted with reluctantly
whether this farewell takes place on
page three hundred and fifty or page
one thousand. Mr.. Pickwick never had
half enough pages. Alice left her Won
derland deplorably UNEMPLOYED Fall
stan might have roared his way through
several dozen more volumes without
becoming, at worst, more than a low
able nuisance. Aladdin. Ivanhoe, An
Gent Pistol. Becky Sharp, Tom Sawyer.
Br'er Rabbit, Lemuel CULVER and
Friar Tuck, to mention only a few
regretted celebrities, might have left
us thousand volumes to supplement
the familiar and meager records which
we have.
A good book should be long That truth
is SO patent that we fear the publishers
of undernourished volumes are going
to send them out into the world with
an 1nsuperable initial handicap.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09

tically at a speed less than that Of a
man descending with a parachute,
landing with small risk to its occupants.
The autogiro can take Of from spaces
too small for the average airplane and
can be landed with practically no for
ward motion at all in space no larger
than a city back yard. This makes for
safety of high degree.
Though the autogiro still has draw
backs in some respects. chiefly its lack
of the speed of most OF the modern
planes, its unique advantages in
dictate that it will find useful place in
the scheme Of aerial transportation
The award is thoroughly justified by
the past performances and future
promise of the autogiro, and Mr.. Pit
cairn Is to be congratulated for his de-
velopment OF the new craft.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

This newspaper puts at your disposal
corps OF trained researchers in WASH
| ington who will answer questions for
you. They have access to the Govern
ment departments. the libraries, mu-
seums. galleries and public buildings,
| and to the numerous associations
! which maintain headquarters in the
Nations Capital. II they can be of
assistance to you. write your question
plainly and send with cents in coin
or stamps to The Evening Star Infor-
nation Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin,
director, Washington. D. c.
Q. What is the nationality OF Nor
! ton Downey Who sings over the Column
bia chain at o'clock? How old Is he
N. N.
! A. This popular singer is Irish-Amer-
lean and Is 20 years OF age.
@. What jockey has won the most
moneys. H.
A. Earl Sande holds the record. From
1918 to 1880, inclusive, he won s3,034,
858. He also holds the season record.
In 1880 he won $327,375.
G. How many feet Of lumber does it
take to build five or six room house?
F. T.
A. 1t is estimated at about $4,000
feet.
Q. How is the king of the Mardi
GraS chosen?-N. S.
A. He is selected by a secret COM
mittee from among the dukes of the
Rex organization. His name is not
generally known until Mardi Gras day.
He is chosen on a basis Of personal
popularity and standing In The COM
munity.
Q. How should old-fashioned pewter
ware be cleaned?-R. j. K
A. Pewter Is soft metal and only
very fine scourerS, such as fine whit
ing, rouge or fine rottenstone mixed
with oil, should be used for cleaning it.
@. What percentage of the women
who work are engaged in housework?
w F.
A. The number of women gainfullv
employed in the United States is esti-
mated at 100000. OF these about Is
per cent are engaged in domestic serv-
| ice, % per cent in manufacturing, II
F., per cent in clerical occupations and II
per cent In agriculture Professional
| service, trade, transportation and pub
lie service account for the remainder.
Q. Why was the Capitol built 50 far
| from the White House?-H. w
A. 1t was Washington's personal de-
sire that the congressional buildings
| should be at least a mile from the
Executive Mansion. He felt that the
! legislative and executive branches
! should not encroach upon each others
| time.
@. Is the maternity death rate high
| in the United States?-V. H.
| A. 1t is higher than in any other
| civilized country. Per 1000 live births
6.5 mothers are lost. 1t is believed that
with adequate maternity care two
! thirds OF the lives thus lost might be
| saved.
@. Can the wife OF an enlisted man
| be buried by his side in a national
cemetery?-L. S.
A. 1t is possible to make arrange
ments to be buried in the same grave
| but not side by side. The soldier, sailor
or marine may be buried deeply
enough, so that the grave can be opened
and the additional casket inferred. II
| is also permissible to bury the wife OF
living ex-service man who has
reached the age of 10.
! @. Who awards the Thomas Jeffer-
son medal for distinguished service tc
science?-L. C. H.
| A. A bill was presented to the last
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09

| Congress creating this award, but 1t
did not pass. The proposal is to give
not more than three medals annually
to civilian employees of the Government
for distinguished service to science. An
award of $1,000 would accompany the
medal.
Q. How far can splitting cobra shoot
its venom?-C. II.
! A. About feet. If it reaches the
/ eyes of person. the result would be
4 serious but not otherwise unless 1t en-
| tered the blood stream through an open
wound.
! c. What causes sun dogs and halos
around the moon?-E. r.
! A. Sun dogs are technically known
as parhelia and appear when sunlight
shines through a thin cloud composed
! OF ice crystals floating in the atmos-
phsre. Like numerous other halos, they
are the result of the refraction of the
suns rays by these crystals Rings or
haloS around the moon are caused by
the action Of ice particles or of cloud
or mist on the moons rays.
Q; What does bicamsral mean
A. 1t means two-chambered, espe-
cially consisting of two legislative
branches.
@. Was Lloyd Georges fathers name
also Lloyd Georgia.. H.
A. His fathers name was William
George. His mothers brother, Richard
Lloyd, was the man who helped him
to start in his career as a solicitor. He
| therefore adopted the name Lloyd and
became known as David Lloyd George.
Q. Is Pvt. John Allen Of Mississippi
still living?-M. p
A. Pvt John Allen was a Confed-
crate soldier. After the Civil War he
was a member of Congress from Miss.s-
sippi. He served from March 4, 1885,
to March g. 1901. He died at Tupelo,
Miss, on October 80, 1917.
@. What is process cheese?--H. w
A. EmulSified cheese, process cheese,
! is the modified cheese made by commi-
nuting and mixing one or more lots
of cheese into a homogeneous, plastic
mass with the aid of heat, with or
without the addition of water and with
the incorporation Of not more than
| per cent of suitable emulsifying agent.
The name "emulsified cheese" process
| cheese" unqualified, is understood to
mean emulsif1ed Cheddar cheese, process
! Cheddar cheese, and applies TO a product
which contains not more than 40 per
1 CetlG OF water ana, IN the Water-tree
substance, not less than so per cent Of
milk fat. Emulsifisd cheese, process
! cheese. qualified by varietal name, is
made from cheese of the variety indi-
/ Gated by the name and conforms to
| the limits for fat and moisture for
| cheese Of that variety.
9: Has Dornier new flying boat
E. N.
| A He designed the DOS, which is
! being demonstrated before several Euro
| pean governments. 1t has a cruising
| speed of ITO miles an hour and is of
characteristic Dornier design. It will
seat q passengers and the motive
power is derived from four 600-horse-
p=wer Hspano-Suiza engines arranged
in tandem. The model is much smaller
than the DO-X and is intended for
long-range coastal operations. Tests
have proved it seaworthy and easily
handled in the air.
@. Which cathedral in France resem-
bles architecturally Notre Dame de
Paris?-J. S.
A. The cathedral at Bourges. These
two are the only French cathedrals
plaRned with double aisles to nave
choir and apse