davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEwELL.

that the great American fowl shows It's
utter lack Of brains.
One of the most outstanding demon.
stratfons 1t gives Is to drown to death
In rainStorm.
Often chickens viii run to the one
spot in yard where they will get the
wettest and there stay until completely
overcome.
A fence corner is a good place.
Often they can be saved, II taken
within doors and bundled UP well, care
being taken to keep them warm.
Truly, they haven't got enough sense
to come in out of the rain. CThiS ap-
plies peculiarly to the subfrying age.)
X * *
Yet there are those well acquainted
with these birds who swear that they
| not only are capable of affection, but
are able to discriminate between diff
ferent members of the household, and
to show an unmiStakable preference.
The domestic fowl ordinarily is
handled without much sentiment, but
many families can recall favorite old
hens whose final destruction Saddened
the household.
Perhaps 1t Is the truth that the aver
age human being cannot work up much
affection for birds of any kind, al
least in any degree akin to the affec-
ton which he often lavisheS on horse
dog, cat.
The sheer physical construction Of
the fowl is against 1t in this respect
Its queer head, its ungainly proportions
| prevent 1t from receiving real affection
from its owner.
X $50
The baby of the tribe, commonly
called q baby chick" Is by far the
handsomest bird In the life OF the do
nestle fowl.
Who is there who has not been
pleased at the sight of bevy Of baby
chicks, or chiX, as some say, running
hither and thither (as others say),
setting up such a cheeping and piping?
A huge business has been built up In
these little fellows by parcel post, with
the result that millions of them are
shipped every year about this time with
very little loss. The chicken is perhaps
the only breathing thing that takes q
| hundred or thousand or maybe two
thousand, mile railroad journey on his
first day in the large world.
Baby chicks also have distinguished
themselves by rising to the heights OF
Easter decorations. After that there Ia
not much left for them except to
grow up.
A long time ago down at Ocean City,
Md, there was an old grocery man who
invariably sent in his bill as follows:
"One choking" etc.
No doubt "chicking' is as good as
Chicken" In the long run. The white
meat of chicken is esteemed by con-
! noiSSeurS and doctors.
Fried chicken long has been the
favorite dish of the United States.
Fried chicken dinners still hold first
place in the hearts of rural America.
Few church "socials" are gotten up
without the very necessary aid Of the
domestic fowl.
These are few of the utilitarian
aspects Of the great American bird.
And we have said nothing about the
eggs, either.
But still there are some who hold q
gentle memory Of some old hen which
would begin 70 cluck loudly when she
saw members of the household and
would run UP to have her feathers pet
ted, and in her queer way undoubtedly
enjoyed the process.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
denies Irredentist
Move in SlOvakia
80 &c Editor of The etar:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Dear Sir: read with great interest
Mr.. Emil Lengyel's article in your issue
Of February % dealing with the political
situation In Slovakia. The article treated
the subject very exhaustively and
analysed 1t with visible care, leaving
scarcely any argument or alternative
open. It was rather richly documented
and would seem altogether a serious at
tempt at critical study open to discus
sion II the author had not designated
Slovakia in one Of his passing remarks
as q new Alsace-Lorraine Of Eastern
Europe.
Now, by the terms Of Alsace-L Lorraine
in the current political vocabulary, We
all are used to understand an ire
dentist territory striving to be reunited
with its mother country. I concede
that in the whole article Of Mr.. Lengyel
there is nothing at all to justify such a
tendency. On the contrary, Mr.. Leng-
vel himself very emphatically affirms
that even the Magyar minority OF
CZechoslovakia would be deferred by the
prospect of coming under the rule of
their co-nationals in the neighboring
state, much less the Slovaks, who are
equal partners" in the Czechoslovak
Republic. Mr.. Lengyel also says that II
the prevailing conditions In Slovakia
"the fault of the Czechs, who are doing
their best to remedy them. They are
the outcome of centuries Of oppression,
to which the Slovaks had been subjected
by their Hungarian taskmasters" Can
any one seriously entertain the belief
that Slovakia would desire to return
under the same allegiance which has,
as Mr.. Jengyel so convincingly shows,
retarded in such manner her cultural
and economic development and under
which the Slovaks, as Mr.. Lengyel
quotes, were not even considered as
human beings?
The term of Alsace-Lorraine IS, there
fore, very probably used as an in
dication of possible danger of friction in
some parts of Eastern Europe and not
as an indication of irredentist tendencies
in Slovakia. OF course, for superficial
reader, it could prove exceedingly mis-
leading.
Very truly yours,
DIR. FERDINAND VEVERKA,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

for his post. there was futile fight by
the politicians to induce President
Hoover to send lame duck member Of
the late House of Representatives to st.
Thomas. It Is Herbert D. Brown, chief
Of the United States Bureau Of Eff
cheney, who kiboshed the plan. Brown
investigated conditions in the Virgin
Islands after 1t was decided to take
them out Of the hands of the Navy.
When he was asked his opinion of the
lame duck in question, he said, in effect,
that the ex-Representative was exactly
the kind Of man the islands didn't
need and couldn't use. Mr.. Brown ac-
companied Gov. Pearson and his stan
to st. Thomas this week. The staff
includes q director of musical activi-
ties" Watch for an increased export Of
Negro spirituals from the Virgin Is
landsl
Twelve years ago-in October, 1915
q Washington boy named Jimmie"
Reilly was appointed page In the Su-
preme Court of the United States by
Chief Justice Edward Douglass White.
Next Monday, March Is, the same boy,
now q member of the District of CO.
lumbia bar, viii make his maiden ap-
pearance before the court as a full
fledged lawyer. Leaving his pages Job
in 1922, Mr.. Reilly was graduated from
Georgetown Law School and admitted
to practice in Washington four years
later. He Is now an associate of VIII
liam z. Leahy, one of the Capitals fore
most attorneys. Jimmie" Is appearing
in the Supreme Court to argue, under
writ Of certiorari granted last month,
on behalf Of Negro, Alfred Scott Al
bridge, who Is under conviction for
murder of a white policeman in WASH
ington in July, 1929. Mr.. Reilly took
Aldridge's case to the District Court of
Appeals on the point that the trial
court had refused to permit the Negroes
counsel to question prospective jurors
as to whether they were prejudiced
against the colored race. The Court of
Appeals affirmed the decision of the
trial Judge. The first jury which sat
on Aldridge'S case disagreed. He was
retired, found guilty and sentenced to
death.
Mr.. Hoover has made organized labor
gift Of third grudge against him by
vetoing the Wagner bill providing for
State employment agencies. Labor's
other grouches include the Parker Su-
preme Court appointment and the Sc
lection, over its protest, Of William N.
Doak as Secretary OF Labor. Sub rosa,
labor Is also a bit peeved over the ad-
ministration's failure to put its influ-
ence behind the anti-injunction bill,
which fell by the waySide in the late
congressional jam.
y
Charles Francis Byrne, an actor who
witnessed the assassination of Abraham
Lincoln from the stage of Fords Thea
ter, Washington, Sc years ago. has just
died at Philadelphia, aged &c. Byrne
was playing Capt. De Boots in "Our
American Cousin" on the fateful night.
81 was in the wing just opposite the
Presidents box and getting ready TO
walk onto the stage when heard the
shot and saw Mr.. Lincoln falling for
ward In his chair" the old actor once
wrote. He quit the stage Immediately
after the historical tragedy.
(Copyright, lesl.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
The Mayors Smile.

One Of the big questions confronting
the people Of the city of New York is
whether Mayor James j. Walker can
"wisecrack" his way out of the trouble
now bounding his holiday-bound trail.
The mayor is on his way 10 the Pacific
Coast, and at each stop en- route he
has been pleased to fling back over
his shoulder a characteristic jest de-
signed TO throw his enemies into
Mysteries Of laughter From Dallas,
Tex, the mayor has thrown parting
shot: IF laughing is a crime, then ]
am q criminal, and I shall keep on
being one"
Who knows but what the mayors
ability TO keep on laughing may symbol
ize the success or failure of one of
New York's periodic upheavals-brought
about now, as before, by q realization
Of the inane helplessness Of the decent
but unorganized majority to rid itself
Of the muck with which a highly pro-
hcient and well organized minority has
covered it7
There Is such thing as laughing at
the wrong time. And Mayor Jimmy
Walker, combination Of human ele-
ments dear to the heart of the "typi-
CAL New Yorker, may not have the last
laugh. Laughing is not a crime, and
the mayor is not criminal for laugh
ing. But an absurd and silly tolerance
in the face of intolerable conditions
bears a close resemblance to a form Of
crime to which the good mayor by his
actions has already pleaded guilty. One
may hope for New York that it will be
able to persuade its mayor from laugh
Ter. His smile denotes a good many
things that are wrong with New York,
chief among them being the citys
chronic complacency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13

Some one has called chickens Gods
comedians.
This is an interesting but scarcely
apt description, for a comedian must
realize he is funny and be convinced in
his own mind that he is.
Chickens are far too dumb for that.
mot enough sense to cross the road"
was the old countryside way Of speak
ing of chickens and certain human
beings.
No doubt it was deserved. Chickens
are silly enough, but amusing enough to
merit the esteem in which they are held
by mankind.
We were reminded of chickens, as O
tribe, by the sight of bantam rooster
in a neat cage, sitting solemnly in the
center of the side yard of a great
| house.
1t was the sort of home In which the
passerby knew tnstinctively that no one
would keep chickens. Ordinarily, that
pastime is associated with q type.
This house did not belong to that
type. Here was wealth-money on pa
rade, as 1t were, although not ostenta-
tiously.
No, this small rooster was a pet, and
an esteemed one, too, else 1t would have
been permitted to roam at large.
There it stood in its neat cage, per-
haps by feet in size and as much
| high, every now and then Tapping its
wings and Growing loudly.
Its high note, especially, was perfec-
| ton. It is seldom that one Is privileged
to hear such q citif1ed crow, at once
loud yet well bred.
We were fascinated.
An irresistible temptation overcame US
We, too, would crow, in imita ton of
the fellow in the cage. From past ex-
perimentS with animal limitations, we
! felt sure that with the requisite amount
of abandon almost any one with normal
vocal chords would be able to duplicate
the bantam's cry.
1t is necessary at this point to say
that this fowl emphatically did not
make noise in any way resembling the
orthodox "cock-a-doodle-
We do not know whether his call was
characteristic of his breed, but at any
rate he used but three notes-a prelim-
mary one as a sort of springing board
from which to launch himself skyward,
high note Of vast intrigue and per-
feet landing.
After a few trials, we were able TO
duplicate the triolet so well that we
stood there for several minutes, alter
nately wing with the rooster, which
seemed to,enjoy the performance, too.
X \ X X
It is needless to state that the human
call was done soto voce and was only
heard by the rooster. At least, we may
hope so.
Several times since we have attempted
to resound that clarion call again, only
to fail dismally, since our tutor was not
present.
He gave the key, and without him it
Is almost impossible to achieve it. And
without the proper note on which to be-
gin, the high one becomes utterly i'm
possible.
Some day we hope to roam that way
again and to find the little rooster in
his cage and to sing a duet with him.
y \
Chickens at large, however, offer more
amusement to the discerning mind,
1t is only when it gets on its own
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13

reason persons afiicted should have a
measure Of ancestral PRIDE" member
Of the staff is quoted as declaring.
Perhaps most sufferers from this pc
culiar form Of headache would be only
too willing to pass up any chance Of
pride If they could get rid Of their
malady. OF all the forms of headache
it is the least understood, and the most
persistent, and the one most likely to
subject the victim to the misunde.-
standing of the members of his own
family as well as Of acquaintance.
The study which the University Of
Illinois is making of this headache is
therefore very necessary, although
there may be some question as to the
ACCESSIBILITY of combining their expert
mental subjects" to one person. The
work so far tends to show, speaking
largely, that "fast living" and irregular
habits are contributory factors. Yet
there are many fast livers who never
have migraine, and thousands Of human
beings whose habits can be called very
irregular who never suffer from it.
The university needs no subject to
know that the disease is of an hereditary
nature. What almost any medical prac-
titioner can tell them is that few
remedies are of any real merit in ending
the disease, and that practically all
cases tsnd to be vastly bettered, If not
entirely eliminated, when the patient
passes the age of IS years or Whereabouts
Those aniicted with migraine know
that the periodicity of the disease is
its characteristic symptom, and the one
which renders it least understood by
others. Whether migraine is a sign of
peculiar intellectual ability may be
questioned. 1t usually is associated
with what is generally called a "high-
strung" nature, but whether this in
itself denotes one is a member Of the
intelligentsia also may be questioned.
The truth seems to be that no disease
has a monopoly on brains, and that
intellectual ability is no respecter of
persons. One does not have to suffer
from headaches to be able to think.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13

councils are learning, after many years
to leave the administration OF the
schools In the hands of those profes-
sionally equipped for the job. Con-
gress has not learned that lesson, the
editorial points out, and 1t is high time
it should.
The great difference between the city
councils of other municipalities and the
city council" of Washington is that in
the case Of the former the city council
represents the taxpayers who support
the schools. Here in the Capital the
congressional "city council" represents
every community in the United States
except that one from which the taxes
are drawn, and for which the schools
are maintained. Other city councils,
representing the taxpayers, may dis
agree with the school policies and seek
to make them conform to the wishes of
the taxpayers. Here in Washington the
city council" or a few of its members,
may disagree with administrative pol
icies in the school system, but the dis
agreement has nothing to do with the
wishes or desires Of the taxpayers. A
single member of Congress, equipped
with the influence Of strategically i'm
portant committee Craftsmanship, may
change school policies by exercising his
personal whims. He may be no better
equipped to exercise this power than a
milk wagon driver, but that makes no
difference. The complaint of school
teacher, who happens to be a constit-
uent from back home, may bear more
weight than the opinion of the superin-
tendent. And anything is justified If
juggling Of figures can be made to spell
economy without the necessity of de-
filming the sort of economy it happens
to be.
The result may be deplorabIe, in that
well conceived policies may be over
turned without proper examination of
their merits. Another more unfortunate
result is that unless the Board of Edu-
cation and the school officials fight
against great odds to retain their in
dependence of opinion and action, the
tendency will be to run the schools to
satisfy the vain opinions of few mem
bers of Congress. instead Of maintain
ing the system in the interest Of the
tax paying, but politically impotent,
members of the community.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
Pedestrians Urged
To Obey Traffic Law
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Having just read your article again
the Leader" on the editorial page of
The Star, in which you cite the
fatalities due to reckless driving in
our Capital City as having q decrease
OF % per cent over the previous year
and yet showing death toll of SO in
the District last year, and urging in.
creased effort to curb reckless driving,
would like to ask II pedestrians should
not also be urged to pay more heed to
our trafflc signals. Many times recently
have seen persons deliberately cross.
or attempt to cross, the street on the
red light. In view of the fact that
Washington has its share of law yio-
lators, including drunken and reckless
hit-and-run drivers, does 1t not behoove
those of us who are sane and sober to
cooperate with those whose duty it is
to see that all laws are obeyed and In so
doing make Washington, our beautiful
Capital City, again the leaders,
MRS. e. A. EDGAR.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
"MeddIing,, in School Affairs.

An editorial in the American School
Board Journal, an organ devoted to
school system affairs, deplores the
tendency of Congress to NEEDLE with
administrative problems in the Capitals
public schools and the humiliating
process Of picayune catechizing Of school
onicials which accompanies the med
ding.
The Journal is to be commended for
calling to the attention Of its readers
q condition that is VIGOROUSLY tradi-
tionai in Washington. But the Journal
does not know the half Of it. II makes
the comparison between the NEEDING
In educational policies by the city coun-
ellis Of other municipalities and the
''meddling' by members Of Congress
who take over some Of the duties Of city
eevncilmen for Washington. Other city
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
France and National Defense.

Now that the official figures of the
Franco Italian naval truce, which is
In reality an Anglo Franco Italian pact,
are out, 1t is possible to observe that
Partisan diplomacy has given an ex-
tremely satisfactory account Of itself.
For the country which was already the
worlds first land and air power to
emerge as also the first submarine
power, is an achievement which must
bring pride and qualification to peo-
pie consistently conscious that national
defense is a governments primary and
supreme obligation. There is a les
son for all countries, and, not the least,
for the United States, in this sane real
1zation of a country's first line of duty.
There seems to be a general i'm
preston in Europe that the new naval
pact was sealed by the high contract
ing parties on the definite under
standing that 1t should serve as cur
tain raiser for the greater drama Of
general disarmament to be staged at
Geneva in February, 1882. France has
now made sure that she will enter that
parley well armed with negotiatory ma
terial NJ Brands delegation will be
able to talk in something more than
the sentimental terms Of beatific peace
platitudes. He win SAY it" with
divisions, hotillas and escadrilles. At
disarmament conferences no less than
In war, Providence. to paraphrase an
historic epigram' fights on the side Of
the strongest battalions.
The United States viii participate In
the Geneva general disarmament con-
ference, although, as IN insignificant
military power, our interest In it is Sec
ondary. The American Army is already
on something hardly approximately ade-
uuate domestic police power. But in 1895
we are to attend another five-power naval
conference. as provided in the London
treaty Of 1880. The present outlook is
slender in the extreme that Uncle Sam
will be able five years hence to "say it,
with the substantial arguments which
win bolster the French at Geneva next
year.
Congress by its insensate failure TO
make possible the commencement Of the
treaty navy has definitely crippled the
prospect that the United States by 1885
wiz possess the kind Of q feet which
win enable US to bargain effectively for
further limitation. If pacifiSt-cheese-
pairing influence this Winter was able
TO thwart an initial treaty-navy sppro-
priation Of $74,OO0,0oO. what chance is
there that the next Congress can be
induced to appropriate $15o.00o, 900 for
new construction, which its predecessor,
by letting this years segment OF the
building program go by default, now
makes necessary during the years
1928?
They do these things better in France
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
Italy and France Give Hope
To World of Better Feeling

completion Of the work begun at Lon
dom" though pointing out that before
it could be achieved the idea Of parity,
on which the London parley was
launched, had to be abandoned" The
Detroit Free Press predicts early re-
suits Of "a better feeling between the
French and Italian nations"
Premier Mussolini's presence In the
family circle will be acclaimed" in the
Judgment of the Ann Arbor Daily News,
which also concludes as to definite re-
suits: "Over the peaks of the Alps
hung cloud Of suspicion. 1t Is doubt
ful If this suspicion would have even
tuated in armed hostilities, but it con-
stituted anything but a conSoling out
look. The parity controversy has not
been brought TO an end by the italian
acceptance Of the London accord, but
1t has been postponed for five years.
And after that period the entire naval
treaty comes up for review"
Foreign Secretary Henderson, en-
bodying and representing the policy of
the Macdonald government" according
to the worcester Evening Gazette, did
not make the mistake of underestimate
ing the tenSeneSS with which the ma.
tional leaders chung to their demands,
but brought to bear a cool disinter-
eStedneSs that so impressed Italy and
\ AoJSC az AdSb b1ldb compromise DIOuRlC
solution, The Chicago Daily News
Is convinced that the agreement can
not fail to aid materially in the restora-
ton OF world prosperity"
The weight of international inter-
est, says the Atlanta Journal, lies in
the amity thus arrived at between
France and Italy, with Great Britain's
participation, in sense, incidental.
France and Italy, in the phrase of one
foreign correspondent. have liquidated
one OF their major quarrels.' The Euro
pean political atmosphere, charged
lately with divers factors of unrest, has
perceptibly cleared. Tension is relaxed
and the way is open for France and
Italy to arbitrate effectively a number of
pending controversies"
Mr.. Henderson considers" records
the San Antonio Express, that the
understanding has brought France,
Italy and Great Britain closer, and that
It viii help forward preparations for
the international conference ON disar-
mament, which probably will meet at
Geneva next February. That gathering
should benefit Europe particularly. Sew
eral nations on that continent still
maintain large armies, ready for field
service. Some such forces could be re-
duced heavily by regional agreements,
as the United States repeatedly has
suggested at armament conferences"