davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
SHALLOW ROOTS
BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES i. FREEMAN, D. D., IL. D.
Bishop Of Washington.

ing to note how little Of reason we can
give for the hope that Is In us. It would
be safe to say, in matters that pertain to
our expressed religious convictions and
faith, we disclose o greater ignorance
than we do In respect to all the other
things in which we are daily engaged.
This is not only true concerning the
great mass of the people, but it is true
concerning those who probably call
themselves the intelligentsia. In exami-
nations held In certain universities, rep
resentative through the student body
of homes of refinement and culture,
where the most elementary questions
pertaining to the Bible and the polity
of outstanding churches were asked, the
percentages We're lower than In any
other branch of learning. A survey OF
these papers betrayed grade Of intelli-
gence hardly worthy of little child. It
is reasonable to assume that in almost
every instance the students were from
church homes and were supposed to
have modicum of instruction in those
things that concern the spiritual life.
Again we have noted in the periodic
efforts made by the church to recruit its
forces that so-called conversions hastily
effected gave no evidence of perma-
nence. AS in the parable, the seed fell
on thin soil, sprang Up quickly, but
lacking depth withered away. A strik-
ing illustration of what we have in
mind came under our observation sew
eral years ago. I was talking to O man
Of rare intelligence, highly gifted along
certain Intellectual lines, who frankly
told me that for n period of thirty-six
years he had neglected all his religious
obligations, and that he traced his de-
lection to one cause only, namely, lack
of proper Instruction and training in
the formative years Of his life. 81 re-
member" he said, 1.-THE days when as
lad was being prepared, and prepared
in a superficial way for affiliation with
the church. While gladly accepted 1t
at its face value, 1t did not stand me in
stead when the testing time came. I re-
greet to say that have lost out OF life
for o period Of So years such spiritual
refreshment and enrichment as the
church affords" It was q tragic state
ment, but unfortunately my friend was
typical Of Q vast number Of people.
Quick receptivity is an evidence Of
mental alertness, but it is no guarantee
Of permanence. It takes something more
than superficial knowledge Of an i'm
pulsive enthusiasm to assure to us the
deep and fine things Of our religious
faith.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
Next Thursdays Meeting Will Be of
Importance to Democratic Party

moderate liberalism" Of Democrats like
Mr.. Raskob and the drastic progress
sivism" Of Democrats like Mr.. Edward
p. Costigan, the newly elected Demo-
cratic United States Senator from Colo
RADIO.
Mr.. Raskob has committed himself to
such projects as the ''five-day week, "
adding that industry should pay the
same wages for q week Of five days as it
now pays for week Of i've and q half
days or six days. He has shown an
open mind toward the improvement Of
the economic condition of the wage
Garner. On the other hand, he has sug-
gested the abolition Of the Federal tax
ON capital gains and he even, as part OF
his scheme for the abolition of prohibi-
ton, has suggested that excise taxes on
legalized liquors would permit the repeal
Of all income taxes, including all sur
taxes on large incomes.
Democrats like Mr.. Costigan are
thought certain never willingly to con-
sent to such taxation proposals. Mr..
Costigan maintains that Western senti-
ment requires the Democratic party TO
adopt and promote, for instance, the
following ideas:
Old-age Insurance, unemployment In
SuTance, SCaDlilZeu prices OF farm prod
ucts, Federal financial assistance to
farm ownership In replacement Of farm
tenantry, postponement of the foreclos-
ures Of mortgages held on farm lands by
the Federal Land Banks, advanced gov
ernmental control of the expansion and
contraction Of credit, increased govern
mental regulation of public utilities,
governmental operation of the Govern
ment-owned investments ct Boulder
Dam and at Muscle Shoals, and the re-
straint OF "inhumane abuses OF in1unc-
tons and of contempt proceedings by
the courts against the workers"
y
The liberalism" Of Mr.. Raskob would
perhaps not stretch so far as to include
all OF the proposals of Democrats like
Mr.. Costigan. It seems likely, never
theleSs, that the general tendency OF
next Thursdays meeting will be toward
causing the Democratic party to differ
entiate itself, slightly at least, from
the Republican party's alleged "reac-
tionaryism." The argument is as to
how large that differentiation must be
in the progressive" direction in order
to evoke success for the Democratic
party among the people at the polls.
Copyright. I9si)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

might well have emulated It's example.
It would appear. There can be little
doubt that the reason the shearwaeer
delves underground to sleep Is to ee-
cape the noise. At night comes its
turn. The clearwater has social habits
and amenities reminiscent of the pleas
ant penguin. In the cleaning this
rare bird and its mate emerge from
their dugouts and gravely bow TO each
other, like dancers in q minuet. Then
they walk of and boy to each other
like two elderly French notaries. Then
they approach and bow 10 each other
like two diplomats-and they keep on
bowling to each other all night long.
But that Is not all. These obeiSance9
are accompanied by the most extranr-
binary sounds IN all the ornithographic
world. 1t Is q complaining sound,
sort OF despairing moan, which sug-
geStS that the birds may be lamenting
over the depression, the corruption OF
the times. or the decay Of manners.
the exploration, like some one dying
all night long"
Seals That SnOre.
The seal Of the Pacific is not trained
to be seen and not heard. He swims
island not being presidential vacation
spot, are abundant. Surfeited, the seal
then heaves ashore and fails to sleep.
Whether there 10 something 1unda-
mentally wrong with the respiratory
apparatus Of the Pacific seal or whether
the creature merely l. perverse In Sleep
it sleeps In such q manner Is to pre-
vent sleep for others. Seals snore-not
like the man in the upper berth or the
next room, but like Niagara Falls. The
earth seems TO tremble. Curiously
enough. seals do not seem to keep each
other awake with their noise. 1t must
be that they all go to sleep at once,
and so never hear each other. one
seals SHORES are enough to keep Q
town awake; multiply this by hundreds
and it sounds like the hour of doom.
Members Of the GaltsoR expedition
ct first attempted to kick the seals
awake and drive them into the sea, but
when a-seal wants to sleep It wants tc
sleep, and sven members Of Q Bureau
Of Fisheries expedition cannot spend
their entire nights kicking seals on an
atoll, what with having TO dive for the
pearls Of great price all the day.
The expedition Just completed en-
gagged In. diving into the sea to gather
specimens, examining the manner IN
which the oysters were distributed, at
tached to the coral, and such uAtural-
istic matters. Both still and motion pic
lures were taken under water. The
reader should not acquire the impress
sion that these pearl oysters are any
thing like Blue Points or Lynn Havena.
They range in weight from to z
pounds apiece.
Strong protection for these pearl nsh.
cries Is recommended to prevent their
depletion by commercial divers. The
oysters must be allowed to propagate
and the take Of shells be regulated IS
In the case Of the Alaska seal.
A picturesque atoll with the blue la
COON Of the South Sea tales, the whole
rising only some six feet above the sea,
the Pearl and Hermes Reefs may sound
like Q pleasant vacation place, but the
vacationist, be he ever so romantic, had
better equip himself with plenty Of cot
ton for his ears.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

and others, should be revocation Of
driving licenses. That = the only eff
fective treatment Obviously, giving
branded drivers the freedom Of the
roads would not in any way promote
the cause of accident prevention and
that Is essentially the object Of trafac
laws. Not only would this punish
ment" not aid the cause Of safety, but
it would not be helpful to the careful
driver, to whom It could hardly make
any difference or bring the slightest
measure Of satisfaction II he were hit
by a branded driver rather than by
one who had so far escaped branding.
SO with the unfairness Of putting all
those charged with reckless driving in
the same class and the ineffectiveness
Of the license plate punishment it is
difficult to see merit in the plan. And
It would have even less merit If APP
piled to those convicted Of grave Of
lenses, for whom the only punishment
should be the revocation of their per-
mits.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
Standing in Line.

Standing in line Is second nature to
soldier. He begins his army life by
standing In line for q physical ex-
animation and he usually ends it by
standing In line to turn in his rifle and
equipment. Yesterday there were thou
sands of them, ex-Soldiers now, stand
ing in line to borrow the money that
a generous Government has agreed to
loan them on their bonus certificates.
In Washington the line began forming
before the doors Of the Veterans Bu-
reau had been opened. Within q few
hours it stretched to Sixteenth street
and the applicants were three abreast.
It would be easy to see in this line
the symbol of improvidence, and Of that
attitude toward life and the battles Of
life that Is reflected by a standing In
line" attitude. And 1t Is natural to
regret the impulse, on the part Of
others, that leads 10 the immediate
forming Of such lines as that which
coiled about the Veterans Bureau yes
terday. But In theory these lines Of
waiting veterans have resulted from
other lines-those that form in front
Of soup kitchens, employment bureaus,
mop" houses. And in theory these
lines are made up Of those to whom the
bonus loan represents the difference
between q full and empty stomach.
For these reasons these first lines may
be deplored, as one deplores the action
Of the farmer who cuts down his apple
tree in Winter to get stove wood. But
there must also be sympathy with the
understanding that lies in knowledge
that the farmer would not cut down the
apple tree unless he were cold.
These first lines Of waiting bonus
applicants are emblems Of much Of the
trouble and sorrow that the world has
always known. And 1t Is more grievous
still to survey them with the thought
that such sorrow and trouble are not
got rid OF by standing in line and wait
ing for q handout. within few days
those who get their money in this first
mad rush will lose it again-to take
their places in other lines.
One may wish for the veterans that
their money viii be well spent, that the
good that has been represented as sure
to result from the loans will materialize,
and that those who have been beaten
down will be able to md in the few
dollars they receive the stimulant en-
abling them to rise again and carry on.
For the great bulk Of the veterans who
have not taken their place in line, one
may wish as sincerely realization Of
responsibility and duty TO country that
did not end when they bore arms IN
France, and will not end by continued
demands for special favors to . NIL
nority.
The veterans as q whole must realize
that the time for standing In line has
passed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

more pregnant of possibilities in reveIa-
ton than the Rosenthal murder, for
the inquiry already under way has
brought to light great deal Of in
formation, and more Is certain to follow.
A court has just denied q writ TO an
attorney for one Of the police witnesses
who has refused to answer questions
relating to bank deposits and with
drawals. The investigator may now
proceed to subpoena the accounts Of
higher police oficials- to ascertain If
money collected from the speakeasies
and other sources Of graft went up the
line Of the organization. Vivian Cor
don's testimony would perhaps only
have corroborated that already given.
She was when alive probably not so
grave q menace to the police raeketeers
as her murder will prove to be.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

production and its raw price today, 11k
cents a pound. Is said to be SO low that
mo manufacturer can begin to re-
gain his costs, If he pays his labor a
living wage"
, This low price has been the moving
factor in the recent tentative agree
ment between the chief sugar-produc-
ing countries of the world which, it is
expected, will be signed in q few days
at Cannes, France.
Chief among the sugar-producing
countries are Cuba and Java, produc-
ing cane, and Germany and Czecho-
slovakia, producing beet sugar. The
Cuban American Sugar Commission
has been working for months on q
plan to stabilize sugar prices and has
at least succeeded in bringing about
an agreement between the principal
producing countries 70 reduce eXporta-
ton. The news dispatches are say
ing that when the pact is signed Soviet
Russia will also enter the cartel.
One OF the essential features of the
plan is an agreement that unsold sur
pluSes are to be carried over by the
exporting countries and financed for
q period of five years. Then they are
to be sold at the rate of one-fifth q
year and such sale made a part of the
total quota Of the countries concerned.
X X \
No understanding has been, or will
be, arrived at, it Is stated, with respect
to the price Of sugar. However, 1t is
assumed that, with supply and demand
equalized, prices will rise automatically
from their present abnormally low
point to a figure which, it is believed,
will repay the cost OF production.
The United States, together with its
possessions (the Philippines, Porto Rico
and Hawaii, produces, roughly speak
ing, about one-half of the sugar 1t
needs. Almost all of the imports come
from Cuba, with which we have spe-
cial tariff arrangement. Generally
speaking, import duties protect our
home beet production and the prices OF
sugar futures" IS yet do not indi-
cate any concern on the part Of Amer
lean sugar producers. because Of this
world agreement.
(copyright. Issi.l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
Another "ROsenthal Case"

AS il there were not enough trouble
for the New York police in the inquiry
now in progress regarding speakeasy
graft and other forms Of quick money
making for patrolmen and for those
higher up, now comes murder that
Is 50 reminiscent Of the Herman Rosen-
thai case Of 1912 that shivers are prob
ably coursing along the spines Of many
of the members Of the finest" Her
man Rosenthal, it will perhaps be re-
membered by some. was a gambler who
had tnrived under police protection,
and then, when double turned
on his prosecutors and was about to go
to the district attorney with his story
when he was killed. He was shot to
death by q band Of gunner who, it was
later proved, were hired by police
lieutenant involved In the Rosenthal
charges. Eventually the lieutenant and
some Of his murder gang were executed
for the crime.
This latest murder Is strikingly sug-
gestive OF the Rosenthal crime. A
woman who had previously been in the
hands Of the law on q charge Of Inn
moral conduct wrote TO the inquisitol
conducting an investigation into
charges Of police collision in the "vict
charge racket" and offered to give
testimony. There was q delay in the
matter, owing to change in the per-
sonnet Of the inquiry. Before she coulc
make her appearance to tell her story
which It is believed would have in
volved some prominent police ofncials
she was "taken for ride" and hel
body was found in one Of the outlying
parks Of Manhattan. She had beer
choked to death with rope and fiunG
| over an embankment. Her slayers, i
would seem, did not think or were un
able TO search her apartment for writ
ten matter that might furnish trouble
some evidence, and now such material
are in the hands OF the district attorney
and an investigation is In progress tina
may reach far and involve some per
sons OF considerable importance. Ar
rests have been made and the case 4
In the way Of solution, even IS tn
Rosenthal case was eventually solved
This case q Vivian Gordon i eYen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
Where Natures Noises Are Loudest
BY FREDERIC J. HASKrN.

Some such center Of the madding
crowds activities as Forty-second street
and Broadway In New York or the Loop
district OF Chicago Is preferable to an
uninhabitsd atoll of the Pacific, IL peace
and quiet are what man Is looking for.
This is the considered opinion Of MEM
bers of the expedition sent on. by the
Bureau Of Fisheries Of the Department
of Commerce to make investigations
into the nature OF pearl oysters OF the
Pacific.
Thousands OF miles from the clatter
Of Industrial life the expedition, headed
by DR.. Paul s. Galtsof, found that Tor
sheer noise q lonely Pacific atoll OUT
abatement commissions Of the WORLDS
great cities have TO contend with.
The most recent investigations have
been made at an atoll which lies 800
miles in northwesterly direction from
Honolulu. It is out Of the pathway Of
everything, apparently. but noise. Al
though there is not even q Robinson
Crusoe on the atoll, which is so small
that 1t does not even appear on the
map, and not q mechanical object Of
any sort, the noises of nature are 50
vociferous that they make the roar Of
an elevated train seem like grooming
lullaby.
Unceasing Din.
There are day noises and night noises
and noises which continue without ceas-
ing through the round Of the hours.
There Is always the sea. The long, deep
swell Of the Pacific never ceases to beat
on the reefs even though the surface
apparently Is calm. That, however, is Q
steady noise to which the ear may be-
come accustomed until it Is unnoticed
save for the increases and decreases in
the tide Of sound in consonance with
the rising and falling of the sea itself.
Uninhaoited by man, the Pearl and
Hermes reefs which comprise the atoll
are literally crawling with noisy life I;
crawling and tapping and generally
sounding en-. Night or day there Is not
an tnstant'g respite. The human voice
has to be lifted to make 1t audible.
The huge crustaceans which inhabit
the atoll have noises which well simu.
late the mechanical noises Of q ma
chine shop. Their brittle claws and
legs clash and clatter constantly. Mon
ster turtles so numbering about like
juggernauts, their hard, ponderous
ging over pebbles. The air Is filled
with birds Of every description, al bent
on outdoing each other in weird
screeching and filling the air with the
beating of wings like the sound Of air.
plane propellerS.
Night Noises Exceed Days.
Busy with its investigations during
the day, the Bureau of Fisheries party
was not so greatly bothered by the up
roar. The night noises were what
chiefly disturbed them. At times, and
especially until members Of the party
had become Injured to the bedlam sleep
was out of the question. A bed in q
boiler works would have seemed like
the tomb, in comparison.
The greatest nuisance at night Is
report. This is rara avis indeedI 1t
follows the absurd custom Of digging
q hole in the sand and spending the
day there In sleep. DR.. Galtsoff's party
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
Evasion of Duty.

GfhelVu Vi Oubys
Reserving to itself the exclusive power
Of legislating for the welfare and pro-
lection Of this community, q failure by
Congress properly to exercise this power
cannot be too strongly condemned or
deplored.
The attitude of the House District
Committee coward the protective legis-
lation dealing with the sale of real
estate aAd securities in the District has
been one of shameful neglect. Instead
Of applying ordinary intelligence and
some effort to report out bills, with
proper amendments, that have already
passed the Senate and to seek their
enactment at this session Of Congress,
q few members of this committee inter-
posed so many technical objections,
serving the purpose Of obstructive
tactics, that the bills have been doomed
to failure. A year Of effort on the part
Of proponents Of such needed legislation
IN the Senate, accompanied by periodic
and sensational explorations into the
general real estate business In the
District, has been wasted.
The prospect thus presented is any
thing but encouraging. The protection
designed by the legislation has been
lost. The District remains one Of the
few unprotected game preserves in the
country for the crook and the swindler.
Driven out of the States, whose people
Have been able to set up their own
safeguards without depending upon the
interest Of alien legislators, the gold
brick artists and ftmfammers are
tacitly invited to the Capital, where
they may continue to engage, as here
tofore, In advancing their various
rackets. When another session of Con-
gress convenes, other committees of in
CURRY will doubtless be organized with
carte blanche authority to 60 on fish,
ing expeditions into any and all busi-
ness transactions; expeditions which
cover decent men with mud that ac-
companies the necessary pursuit Of the
crook. Even now q proposal is made
in the Senate that the Blaine commit
tees life be prolonged throughout the
Summer, in order that by its mere
existence and willingness to conduct
hearings it may in part serve the pur-
pose Of legislation that has been denied.
The prop6sAF Is not bad II the passage
Of necessary legislation must depend
upon the piling of sensation upon SEN
sation, with resultant gossip and
r1mor and injury to good names. It
may be unfortunate, but 1t is none the
less inevitable.
The people Of this city have the right
10 expect that their legislators devote
only the small proportion Of the time
at their disposal necessary for proper
appraisal Of the situation and the
adoption Of remedial measures that
elsewhere have been found effective.
Their expectations have come to moth
ing. The responsible House District
Committee has contented itself with
exchanging wordy posies among its
members, praising each other In terms
that in the light Of developments be-
come sarcastic irony, and adjourning
with vague and empty promises. A duty
and . responsibility have been evaded.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
Cats Not Property.

The measure introduced in the Mary
land House of Delegates to make cats
property, in so far as theft is concerned,
will be looked upon askance by many
of their human friends. The cats, no
doubt, will retain their usual Sagacious
look. Cats are now non-existent so far
as the statutes Of Maryland are con-
cerned, and the bill seeks the right to
have them called property, thus putting
them on q par with dogs, in this re-
spect. The bill provides that q person
convicted of felonious theft Of q cat
would be guilty Of larceny. Cats, unlike
dogs, have never been taxed. and do
not wear either tags or muxzles.
From strictly unitarian standpoint
there is justice in the plea, no doubt,
since many pedigreed cats are very val
liable, from a monetary standpoint
The family which owns q. good domestic
cat often is bereft when 1t strays or
is stolen. Most friends Of cats, down in
their hearts, however, never look upon
their pets as property, and are always
glad that they have lacked that rather
dubious distinction.
A g1eat war was once fought to re-
move the stigma Of being property from
section Of the human race. The house
cat, in Its dignifed way, may take
proper pride in the fact that it has
always been Its own master. Every one
who has attempted to understand this
friend Of the household knows that the
cat is This own man." and does not
even thank the one who feeds it. He
is an independent creature, and values
his liberty. No matter what the Mary
land Legislature does In this matter,
the cat will never consider himself as
anybodys property.