davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Few Americans realize how much
their Government does for them.
Readers of The Evening Star can
draw on all Government activities
through our free information service.
The worlds greatest libraries, labora-
tories and experimental stations are ct
their command. Ask any question Of
fact and 1t will be answered. free, by
mail direct to you. Inclose 2-cent
stamp for reply postage and address
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, d. G.
O. How are Jokes classified - 10
kindS?-E. T. s.
A. Some authorities divide Jokes
into the following classes: Society joke
tbYight retort), child joke, bucolic.
suburban. narrative anecdotai, dialect,
political and theatrical.
@. Where is there a reproduction In
this country of room in Pompeii?--
T. B.
A. The Metropolitan Museum Of
Art in New York City mas room from
a house i'll Pompeii which was actually
brought from the ruins of Pompeii and
reconstructed in the gallery.
SSS"
which Mrs Herbert Hoover, together
with her husband. translated?--A. w
A. 1t was de Re Metallica." from the
Latin of Georg AgTicola, 1855.
@ Which weighs more and has q
greater wing spread, the condor or the
albatrosS?-E s.
A. The condor. 1t attains q weight
of from 20 to IS pounds and wing
spread of from ga to IL feet. The al
batross attains a weight Of from Is to
i8 pounds and a wing spread Of from
10 to IL feet.
@. How many Chippewa Indians are
there noW?-P. H.
A. There are 1920 OH the roll, many
of whom are OF mixed blood.
@. What is the spingarn Medal for?
L. K.
A. It was instituted by j. E. Spingarn,
director of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People,
for the Negro making the highest or
noblest achievement during the pre-
ceding year. 1t was inaugurated in
1914.
@. Why are 50 many houses In
Charleston, S. c., built with a porch at
the side with an outside door to the
porch?-M. B.
A. This Is done for both comfort and
privacy. In practically all cases the
poTches are built on the side Of the
house and face either south or west in
order to take advantage Of the prevail
ing southwest winds in Summer. The
houses of this type are usually only
one room wide and are large, with high
ceilings, allowing ample ventilation.
The porches usually overlook a side
garden and there are two front doors.
one placed in the porch Enclosure on
the street and the other in the center
Of the house, entering into a hallway.
@. Is 1t true that thousands Of SOL
diers deserted from the American Army
while in Frsnce?-J. H. s.
A. Among more than 1000, 900 men
who went overseas there were but ap-
proximately 1900 deserters.
@. How long has the Federal Peni-
tertiary been in Atlanta. v.
A. 1t began operation in 1902.
q. What formalities must O captain
of q vessel observe upon entering q
harbor?-F. L. H.
A. He must first obtain q harbor
pilot, then pass quarantine inspection,
and then enter at the customs house
and present his certificate of registry
If a foreign vessel the captain presents
his certificate to the consul Of his coun-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

entertainments and instruction which
this publication can bring them.
II this has been q fine Spring for tai
Inns what ere the conditions which &C
count for this perfection Of growth ana
bloom?
not know, that the drought was good
for them.
Surely thev suffered none from the
fne summer bake which they received.
It il said that the German iris are
fond Of q good dry spell, after their
blooming season, but we have never
been able to see that this Is so.
Iris do well in almost any Spring, Wet
or dry, following any sort OF summer,
Fall and Winter.
Most Of the tulips which we grow to-
day in America had their ancestry m
tile small land Of Holland. below sea
level where there Is more than plenty
of moisture.
II we can say anything about them, it.
is that they liked their long baking
process OF 1880, and especially liked
their rains of the month OF March.
4
1t must have been those rains which
did it,
We are coming more and more to the
conclusion that plenty Of water, and
not warmth, is what turns the very
trick Of Spring itself,
The warmth is the meteorological
factor which attracts the attention of
mankind, next to the greening earth it
SELF
And man, with his liking for the
ready and the easy explanation, said
the green is due TO the warmth, when
all these centuries the rains have hHd
more to do with it. -
That at least, is our idea, and II
anybody else has an idea, we shall be
glad to hear 1t.
y ~
Tastes in tulips differ as widely as
preferences in other things, particularly
other flowers.
Just as one man likes best the more
delicate tints Of the gladiolus, such as
the lilac and pink, and another will pre-
fer the dark red and the puppies which
are almost black, so the tulip fanciers
range from those who plant only the
white varieties to the devoteeS OF the
so-called black tulip of song and story
There is mass of shTubbery, fo,ln-
dalton planting against which several
dozen of these black tulips are growing
The dark blossoms seem almost like
shadows against the green Of jumpers
1t Is only when one stands few feet
nom them and really looks polnteoly ct
them that their beauty is appreciated.
Most people will prefer the lighter col
oFs, the pinks, the REDS, the two-toned.
y
1t Is always q question with tulip
lovers whether they look best in one
color In q bed or mixed. There Is much
to be said for one color, OF variety and
this is the usual planting, whether in
an old-fashioned round bed or the long
border.
Tulips, like most flowers, gain from
mass planting, but 1t is not always
realized that the effect of mass may be
gained in q long row, II ones point Of
view Is normally at the end Of q row.
II the row is slightly staggered, as it
we're, the tulips not being In line and
seldom coming up SO, st any rate, the
effect Of each Is heightened by those be-
hind.
Perspective does the trick and enables
few score tulips to make as brave
show as q hundred would do under
ordinary conditions. Often there is
some favorite window probably living
OF dining room, from which such q view
may be obtained.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

not be opposed During that period he
has done much to help build up the
American merchant marine, which had
a renaissance at the time OF the World
War when Senator Fletcher was chair
man of the Senate Committee on Com
merce.
In some quarters there has been talk
OF the possibility of Mrs. Ruth Bryan
Owen, now q member Of the House,
seeking the senatorial nomination
against Senator Fletcher. But it is
insisted that this is not likely to hap
pen. MRS. Ovens father, the late Col.
William Jennings Bryan, was suggested
prominently eight years ago as pos
Sible contender for the Senate nomina-
ton against Senator Fletcher. Col.
Bryan died, however, before the cam
paign time rolled round. Mrs. Owen
has completed her first term In the
House and has been reelected.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

The old joke in which the man lug
ging q gTsndfstheT's clock IL asked II
ne would not find it more convenient
b carry q watch must be revised since
sone berculesn msrauder pincbed q
four hundred pound sun-disl from a
local stoneysrd.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

A Harvard professor has complained
to the Boston police of poison pen
letters. However. the fact that they
were grammatical made them a little
easier to bear.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

Marshal Pilsudski, who Is rated as
dictator Of Poland, shows that he
knows his political onions when he per-
sonally intervenes In a budget economy
move by ordering that the pay Of the
army shall not be cut.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

The two young Spanish exiled prin-
cesses are studying shorthand. 1t prob
sbIy runs in the blood; their parents
took plenty of dictstion from Primo
De Rivera and others.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

Maj. Gen. Smedley Buffers physician
has ordered him to rest bit. II the
doctor at some future time wants q
favor from the Department Of State,
he might get it, at that.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

A former president Of the Interna-
tional Chamber Of Commerce makes q
stirring defense of the American tariff.
Any fence always looks best from our"
side.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
And Bonus Discounts.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
About all the profits have now been
squeezed out of the late war except
royalties and movie rights.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
Search Without End.

From the Fort Worth Stsr-TeIegrsm.
That was good advice, to learn the
Einstein theory by looking up the words
in the dictionary. But the trouble
comes from having TO look up the words
In the definitions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

Charlie. Chaplin declines q royal
command" invitation to appear on the
English vaudeville stage. Can II be
that George Bernard Shaw has gone
to his head?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
Dehaiera Weigh In.

From the Seattle Daily Times.
Seventy five-ponnd boy is this conn-
try's best eIocutionist, according TO o
headline. They must be deciding tnAs
contest by weight this season.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
improvements.

No place that Nature builds Ii quite
complete.
Man has to Ak 1t up and make it neat.
No spot so restful ever yet was found
That some one did not bring hammer
round.
No sylvan haunt with perfumes sweetly
quaint
Escapes the annual odor of fresh paint.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

From the Cincinnati Times
Whether to celebrate the fall OF the
Bastille or TO welcome d deposed KING,
the Partisan public loves to cheer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
White House Farley!

From the Louisville CourieT-Journal
It's always Child Health day for the
tariff boosting infant industries.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
Slogan for Candidate.

From the RaleiGh News and Observer
Every candidate for q municipal Of
nee ought to follow the lead of one
who says; '1IfNelcctsd will cican Up
or clean out
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

Brief history Of DO-X to date: She's
of !-shucks, here she comes back.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
Einstein Check-IJp Slow.

Y r NJNOWs
From the Hamilton (ohio) Evening Journal.
1t will take Mr. Einstein long time
to educate world that must wait for
q solar eclipse to check up on each
lesson.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

when . man keeps complainin' dat
he ain had no opportunity in life" said
Uncle Eben, you kind o wonder
whether he ain too busy kickin' to no.
tice an opportunity II 1t comes along"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

A Study In Birds.
The parrot Ia a gentle bird
Whose life Is free from care.
The language which from him Is heard
He picks up here and there.
AS he sends forth on every hand
His gems OF vocal art,
His auditors sdmiring stand
And say: rs he not smart?"
The Dove Of Peace, that noble bird,
Her duty will pursue.
Her thoughts are worthy to be heard,
But she can only COO,
And all uncertain is the way
She travels unprepared.
The parrots life Is smooth and gay:
The Dove Is always scared.
A Moment Of CandOr.
DO you believe everything you see
in print?"
NO" replied Sensto Sorgham.
Not even your own speeches."
well, speeches don't always repre-
sent what q man believes himself as
much as what he wants the other fell
lows to believe"
Jud TunkinS says some men are so
confident in discussing other people S
chances Of Joining the heavenly choir
that YOU might think they were on the
,,oernheVShin committee
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
The UpIift.

The uplift will be fraught with doubt
Until men learn with tactful care
To uplift fellow men without
Assuming q superior air.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

Many man has vastly improved his
character by trying to live up to what
his Ircss agent says about him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
Conscientious Effort.

whats that book you're studying SO
faitnfu::y?"
Collection of rube stories" replied
Farmer Corntossel. Mother thinks
ought to talk a little dialect to smuse
the Summer bosrders who will soon be
on their way"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

w. MOVES. !. Editor
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

ator Borah OF Idaho who ranks second
in length of service. was reelected last
year. Senator Reed Smoot OF Utah
who stands ut the top VI the list for
service, entering the Senate March T.
1908; Senator Duncan u. Fletcher OF
Florida, the third in rank Of service
Senator Wesley l.. Jones VI WaShingto ton
fourth, and Senator Ellison D. Smith
OF South Carolina, fifth, are all ex-
pected TO seek denomination and re-
election. Smoot and Jones are Re
publicanS. Fletcher and Smith, Demo-
Gratis. The two Democrats have merely
TO win nominations i'll their States.
Once they have been nominated, their
election is assured. In Utah and WASH
ington the Democrats will make des-
perate Efforts to unhorse Senators
Sn1oot and Jones. Both are seasoned
campaigners and both stand high with
their constituencies. Notwithstanding
the depression and Notwithstanding
the attacks upon the "Smoot- Hawley"
tariff act, of which Senator Smoot is
co-author, 1t does not appear that the
Democrats have bright prospects Of
defeating Smoot.
Senator Jones is an ardent dry. He
makes no Zones about the matter In
his State last year the vets got the
upper hand at least temporarily in the
Republican State Convention and they
also dominated the Democratic State
Convention. But Senator Jones has
fought the wet and dry battle in his
State successfully before and is likely to
do 50 again. He Is chairman of the
important Committee on Appropria-
tons, while Senator Smoot Is head of
the Committee on Finance. which deals
with all revenue legislation. Together
haN q
great deal to do with the governmental
expenditures.
Senator Fletcher came 10 the Senate
from Florida March 4, 1909, and will
have served a. years In the Senate at
the expira ton of his present term. He
Is to be q candidate for reelection.
His friends insist that because of his
long record OF admirable service to his
State in the Senate he not only should
not be opposed, but also that he viii
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

wAsHING TON, d. c.
Nay II, 1891
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

@. How many Chippewa Indians are
there now?-P. H.
A. There are 1920 OH the roll, many
of whom are Of mixed blood.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11

One OF the important vacant chairs
ct the International Chamber OF Com
The Washington times., 1931-10-31
Docile About Delay

The Russians take much worse
travelling inconvenience as a part
Of a hard life. They stand in line
for hours for tickets and when
the ticket window is closed before
they are served they retire to their
family possessions piled up in a
corner. Those fortunate enough
to get tickets fight their way
through the station doors and
fight again for seats. They are
glad enough to be able to travel
hard"
The hard" traveller brings his
own bedding or Steps In mis- ordi.
nary clothes on the unadorned
boards forming the seat, the mid.
die deck and upper deck of the
compartment. A thin mattress
and pillow can be hired from the
conductor but the price is too
high for most Russians.
The Russian traveller usually
carries his own food and certainly
a teapot to get boiling water at
the station kipyatoks. If food is
available at the larger station buf.
fetS he must show his railroad
ticket before he is allowed to buy.
This is to prevent non-travelers
from overcrowding the buffetS,
where prices are comparatively
low.
The Washington times., 1931-10-31
A Guide Is Helpful

On many Of the short lines
only hard" accommodations are
available. When the writer was
forced to make the trips the rail.
road Gay-Pay-Oo were extremely
helpful. through their AID the
guide was allowed to go at the
head of the ticket queque, and we
were permitted to board the train
before the other passengers. BY
buying four tickets for two per
sons we were assured enough
space for sleeping. Despite the
rule that the coaches must be
swept twice daily they are pretty
filthy at the end Of a journey.
Travelling soft" is not so
inconvenient, and the Russian
proletariat would be satisfied with
such accommodations for a .ong
time. Unfortunately for the prole-
tariat the prices are high and
the places are taken by party
members, foreign tourists and gov
ernment officials, including army
officers, engineers, university pro
feSSors and trade union officials.
The seats can be changed into
berths. upper and lower. and bed
The Washington times., 1931-10-31

his ability in handling men, and
hi agreeable Southern person
ality local leaders willingly turn
arrangements for the Presidents
reception over to him.
Startling is a Kentuckian, of
,mountaineer stock. His family'S
history in the State dates back
to early pioneer days there. His
plantation lies in the bluegrass
lands and is managed by his
brother.
Each spring Startling goes home
during plOwing time and lends a
hand in sowing crops. In the fall,
after the harvest, he distributes
among his friends h0me-cured
hams and home grown tobacco.
His title of colonel, by which
he is widely known, is an honor
ary one. He served in the army
during the Spanish-American
War, but not as an officer. Sew
eral years ago in recognition of
his popularity a Kentucky COVER
nor made him a member of his
staff, and Startling became one
of that legion of worthy men
known as Kentucky Colonels."
Before joining the Secret Ser
vice Startling was a sheriff in
Kentucky and State police officer.
He has been a member Of the
White House Secret Service staff
for is years. He is bachelor and
insists that he will continue in
that state.
The Washington times., 1931-10-31
Boat Accommodations

The Volga boats have four
classes and the Black Sea vessels
have six. First and second classes
on the Volga boats are soft"
and third and fourth are very
hard"
The third-cIass passengers were
crowded in an ilI-smelIing room
and slept on plain wooden hunks.
The fOurth-class passengers could
sleep ON the lower decks where
there were fresh air. A hard
deck would be preferable to q
closed room filled with OdOrs Of
human flesh, dried fish, boiled
cabbage and onions.
The difference in prices for the
various classes is quite wide.
Second-clasS tickets cost 80 rou-
bles, $19 for one stretch of the
trip. First-class tickets probably
were more than so roubles, $25.
The Washington times., 1931-10-31
Homeland Comparisons

Many Americans have criticized
the Russian transportation sys-
tenn, forgetting that the Russians
are Decades behind the United
States and that the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad is more than a
hundred years old. In Moscow
tourists like to regale each other
with tales of their experiences
with late trains or how the en-
CINE broke down or how slow
their journey was.
The writer can recall that on
the Warsaw MOI branch out Of
Sedalia not more than 20 years
ago the train was stopped to al
low the crew to lay in a supply
of roasting ears" from q nearby
corn field and there were reports,
undoubtedly untrue, that Occa-
siOnally the crew took time out
to go fishing.
The writer can tell some stories
of his own along these lines
how the average Of the Russian
crack trains is about 80 miles
an hour and on the branch lines,
13 miles; how the Chelyabinsk
train was laid up for three hours
for no known reason: how he
had to call on the Gay-Pay-Oo
for help in getting tickets; how
he rode in the porter'S compart-
ment from Tiflis to Batum and
how the Samara train was seven
hours late.
These experiences merely
proved that the Russian transpor.
tation system has a long haul
ahead before it can stand favor
able comparison with the Ameri-
can system, which now would
like nothing better than a car
shortage or a Russian rush for
passenger tickets.
The Washington times., 1931-10-31
The Best Not So Good

The Russians are very proud
of the sleep wagons" insisting
they are the best in the world.
This is a bit far-fetched, for, al
though they are bigger than the
European wagon-lits compartments
and have more baggage space,
they are inferior to the Interna'
tionals on the German Nord Elk
press or the French Blue Train,
to the Riviera and are not as
convenient as the Stateroom
trains out Of New York and Wash
ington.
My guide, who had not seen a
foreign de luxe train for Is years,
would not admit that any foreign
trains could be as good as the
Russians. His faith was an ex.
ample Of the effectiveness Of Rus.
sian propaganda.
On their crack train, the Trans
Siberian, the Russians are slowly
strangling a golden-egg goose by
giving bad service. In Moscow
and Berlin are large posters an
nouncing that one can travel
across Russia first-claSs on the
Trans-Siberian for $3.50. This
year the writer talked to many
who made the trip-mostly Brit
iSh and Scandinavians-and all
swore they would not make the
trip again, although they could
save four weeks on the trip from
China. Their principal objections
were on the score of dirt and
the lack Of food.
The less the Russians say about
dining-car service the better.
Even ON the crack train the
choice is greatly limited and the
prices extremely hien.
The Washington times., 1931-10-31

legged. But the Raymond +. BrnndC
supply is inadequate, and the
best goes to whoever has the
power or can pay the price.
In general the classes on trains
and boats are soft" and hard"
accommodations. I don't know
the connotations Of these words
in Russian, but they are made
quate in English. Hard" accom-
modations are very hard, indeed;
soft" compares with day coaches
in the States or third class in
England. On the railroads there
are also occasionally "interna-
tional sleep wagons" which COM
pare favorably with the interna-
tional wagon-lits or American
Pullman cars. On boats there
are really four t, six classes, de-
pending upon the size Of the
vessel.
The Washington times., 1931-10-31
Look For Improvement

Just as the Russians travel
from one part of the country to
another hoping for better living
conditions they are hoping that
the transportation system will be
improved.
The government realizes that
without transportation the Soviet
Union must continue to lag be-
hind other countries and is
promising the people that some
time there will be enough pas
senger trains for all and that
freight trains and river vessels
will solve the food and goods
shortage.
monday: Food for FOreigners.l
The Washington times., 1931-10-31
Going Around i'm Washington
The Man Who Taught car to Play

When the President of the
United States travels there are
two big attractions in his party.
The Chief Executive, of course,
comes first. But second only to
him in the public eye is Col.
Edward w. Startling, presidential
Secret Service guard.
Majestic in appearance, tall
and straight as an arrow, the
embodiment Of competence and
courage, Startling counts his
friends and acquaintance in the
thousands. All over the land
he is known to the prominent
and the lowly and esteemed by
everyone.
In 1927, after a summer as
the boon companion and per-
SOnal guard Of President Cool
idge in the Black Hills, enthu-
siaStic South Dakota named a
peak after him, Mount Star
ling. Only the former Presi-
dent received a higher honor
an entire range Of hills being
named after him.