davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1931-06-23

The action Of the motion picture
producers. who paid P. G. Wodehouse,
fiction writer, $4,000 week for a
years visit to Hollywood, in the course
of which he touched Up some dialogue
in one or two films and wrote few
lyrics for another which was not pro-
duced, is appreciated by the public for
unusual reasons. Some feel that It
is a sure sign of need for efficiency
experts in the film capital, while others
assert the belief that the Hollywood
producers seem to be able to take care
of themselves. What Wodehouse, &C
cording to his own testimony, failed
to do contributes to the amusement OF
a whole Nation, which IS willing 10
forget the things he might nave done.
HE is dazed by the payment OF
S104, 900 for his years work. He says
it is unbelievable that he could have
received so much for doing so little,
remarks the Yakima Daily Repuonc,
with the comment: Still, if the check
is good. he need not worry TOO much
about those Hollywood producers. Ihey
seem to be able to take care OF them
selves reasonably well" the HocnestSr
Times-Union feels that anybody would
be dazed who found himself all signed
IN and nothing to do" That paper
ADDS: "He quits friends with the movie
people, but believes he has cheated
them. We don't think so. They had
good time while MIR. Wodehouse ana
other authors twiddled their thumbs
and collected their pay, as any one
knows"
''Tne net result of his years labor"
according to the Worcester Telegram,
seems to have been the slight altera-
tion of dialogue in two picture plays
Nf
were never used on the loud speakers.
| Isn't it amazing?' he asks a palpitant
public. Perhaps it is, and then again
perhaps it isn't. Perhaps Mr.. Wode-
house displayed no great aptitude for
the pictures. Perhaps his lyrics are
unfaShionable, like most musical talktes.
Perhaps he was hired during an cpl
demic of hiring-the result OF some
great picture producers Wh1rn. Tnose
of us who neither write nor produce
them have come to feel amaZement at
very few things done in the pictures.
/ It is no longer amazing that hu-
morist got more pay for a years work
| than Herbert Hoover. Compared with
i some of our sweet girl heroines, Mr..
Wodehouse was underpaid, at that.
Perhaps he's only lost his perspective.
Perhaps he's too modest"
X X \
eve do not believe in efficiency ex-
perts, but Hollywood seems to need
one badly" advises the Chattanooga
News. with the further contention that
his particular brand of wit is just
what is needed to brighten up the
| heavy screen" and that freshness OBJ
viously is needed to rescue the cinema
from dependency" The Admission Star
declares: Frankly, We doubt whether
any one knows what it's all about, even
the Hollywood producers. But we DO be-
lieve that there are something over q
hundred million Americans who would
have liked the job, even though it didn't
last but year"
"It was just like an adventure of
Evening star., 1931-06-23
Wodehouse's Pay From Movies
Inspires Facetious Comment

Alice in Wonderland" thinks the
him, and, as he describes it, it must
seem equally astonishing, even to rea-
sonably sophisticated readers who know
that Movieland is indeed a Wonder
land. AS Mr.. Wodehouse looks
back upon his year in the sunny land
Of make-believe, he can only gasp and
remark, It's all simply unbelievable,
isn't it?' We may easily agree with
him that 1t looks and sounds incredible
but the world is slowly becoming con-
vinced that if there is one place in the
world where fact is actually stranger
than fiction it is Hollywood. A full year
of employment at $4,000 a week-a year
in which economic depression and un-
employment ruled the thoughts Of mil
nons-for a total output Of work for
which q single weeks pay would have
been an absurd overpaymert, according
to the amazed recipients personal esti-
mate. Such pictures of Hollywood have
been presented before, but the public
has been inclined to regard them as
fairy tales. Sober evidence of confirma-
tion has been leaking out lately, however,
and now we have Mr.. Wodehouse as a
witness. He would have no reason to
spool us concerning a mere matter OF
dollars and cents. But fundamentally
the regents of Hollywood are business
men, and there must be reason for their
marvellous customs. We can't imagine
why they should hire talent at huge
prices and then deliberately scrap it,
unless it is for the purpose of cornering
the talent and keeping it sequestered
from rapacious rivals"
x X
Before now" records the Fort Wayne
NewS-Sentinel, "there have been glitter
ing stories-and true stories-of authors
hired at princely salaries guiding visitors
around the film lots: writer's who, after
months in Hollywood, had not been able
to locate their offices; other writers
whose Offices had not even been dis
covered by their employers-but who
still continued to draw fancy pay checks
in exchange for the use of their names
as staff men, A New York paper re-
ports one author, indeed, who resigned
outright, but, happening to return to
Hollywood some months later, found his
mail box stuffed with the pay checks
which had been continuing to arrive
during his absence. If this isn't profli-
gate waste, what do you call 1t? Mr..
Wodehouse convincingly confirms all
these earlier stories. He paints an in<
teresting picture of a film capital where
names are bought only to be scrapped.
talents are retained to be left unused.
We cannot agree with Mr.. WodehouSs
that its all so unbelievable but we do
contend that it's all very disgusting"
Evening star., 1931-06-23
No Time for Hagglirg.

Secretary Stimson makes it plain
that the Hoover plan for rehabilitating
world economics, through war-de5t
moratorium of one year, admits OF no
international bargaining. 1t is time
for action, not haggling. If Dement'S
are to ensue from the project, 1t must
be galvanized into actuality with a
minimum of delay. One of the surest
methods of promoting delay and pest
poning action, the Secretary Of State
bluntly points out, would be an in
ternational conference, unofhcial Sug-
gestions of which have emanated from
Paris.
Gel. Stimson does not say SO, but he
permits 1t to be understood that there
would be equal impatience at Wash
ington with counter proposals OF other
sorts, such as acceptance of the Hoover
plan ''in principle" with vital reserVa-
tions such as the non-inclusicn OF "un-
conditional" reparation paymentS-re-
habilitation indemnities due from Ger
many over and above annuities due 10
allied creditors-in any moratorium
scheme. From both France and Italy
have come intimationS that the assent
of those countries might hinge on
abandonment of the Austro-German
customs union. Such ideas have a
transparent purpose-to water down
the value of President Hoover'S pro-
gram, if not altogether wreck 1t.
Before many hours are past the in
terested European powers will have laid
their cards on the table at Washington.
The White House stated in its original
announcement that acceptance must be
universal. If any one government hclds
back, the plan will automatically col
lapse. 1t has to be all or nothing.
Great Britain learned from yesterdays
proceedings in the House OF Commons
that all parties support the Labor gov
ernment's approval Of the Hoover plan.
Definite word has still to come from
France and Italy.
The French, as Germany's largest
reparation creditor, undoubtedly hold
the key to the situation. Presloent
Doumer, Premier Laval, Foreign Min
lister BRAND and Finance Minister
Flandin are thrashing out the situation
in a meeting of the French cabinet to-
day. In no other country in the world
has a government to take public opinion
into, consideration so meticulously as
French cabinets must. The French
popular attitude toward the traditional
enemy is still saturated with memories
of the war and the necessity for Sc
curity.
But the wide-visioned statesmen now
In control at Paris must measure at its
full Importance the peril that a France,
isolated from the rest of the world,
would face if it brought down upon
itself the ignominy Of defeating q
project which the whole world yearns
to see accomplished.
Evening star., 1931-06-23
Sad Fate of a Man Who
Worked Day and Night

To the Editor of The Star:
When person knows his own capac-
ity he should not overtax himself. A
machinist in the navy yard opened an
opticians shop in this city some time
ago. working nights and days. Today
he is dead. I was talking to him few
days ago, and he looked in the best Of
health. but working nights as ma
chiniSt for "Uncle Sam" and running q
place Of business during the day seemed
to be responsible for ending his too
busy career. Evidently he was violating
the Give and let live" rule by holding
down two jobs with unemployment SO
prominent in our community. This
mans experience should be an object
lesson for others who ara engaged In
similar overwork. If Uncle Sam" would
study the health of some Of his own
employees who are holding down couplG
of jobs and let them attend to thei1
outside work altogether by dropping them
from Government pay rolls. he would be
Studying the interests of many prospec-
tive widows and orphans and people
engaged in like outside work. This usec
to be the work of the Civil Service Com.
mission, but pull" eXtirpateS all Of
such impediments of late years anc
causes many to commit actual suicide
by overreaching for the mighty dollar
which is not legal tender" amons
the angels 1t is said.
H. 7. McCoNYEY,
Evening star., 1931-06-23

Templeton Jones was losing his grip.
Long had he heard that expression,
and little had he personal experience
Of It.
Losing ones grip, he thought, If he
ever thought about 1t at all, was .
mental failure.
One made wrong decisions, he
thought. and that sort of thing.
He had yet to learn, what no man
can learn under a certain age, that the
expression, losing ones grip" has a
purely literal Interpretation, too.
X u u
Jones discovered 1t his way:
He was sitting, as his custom was,
with a cup of coffee in his hand.
Perhaps 1t is necessary to go back for
several years, perhaps five years, maybe
ten years, and say that T. Jones, esq,
had held many cups OF coffee in his
right hand.
If this holding had been new to him,
or strange in any way. good excuse
for what happened might have been
found.
One might have said his mind was
distracted, or the shape Of the handle
misled him, or that he simply became
careless.
~ x
Templeton Jones had been drinking
his morning cup of coffee for so many
years, however that afterward he could
plead no particular excuse.
You see, he was holding the cup in
his right hand. without thought one
way or the other.
A perfectly normal person does not
think about such a slight task as hold
ing coffee cup.
The fingers grasp 1t. and hold it
firmly yet easily. Coordination takes
care Of it.
There is certainly no strain. no
stress on the small muscles Of the
fingers.
The mind, above all, plays no con-
Scious part in the act.
This is what it means, Jones realizes
afterward, to have perfect co-ordina-
tion.
Well, here was Jones sitting with his
cup of coffee, looking blandly out the
window at the bower Of green which
surrounded his home.
We cannot imnreSS upon the reader
too much that he had done this for 365
days year for many years, that the
action was normal, and unconscious to
him, that he was not excited, nor did
his mind wander.
While he was Sittin~ there with the
cup held easily in his hand, the handle
turned gently in his fingers, and the
first thing he knew he was deluged
with hot coffee.
His amazement was complete.
Physical surprise, of course, held first
place, but not for long.
Even while he was sopping up the
coffee from his shirt front, his mind
was actively at work, with some of the
thoughts which have been given here
X X X
Losing my grip" he said, and then
grinned, as he realized that the phrase
seemed to have two meanings, one fig
urative, one literal.
Perhaps the mental phase invariably
follows the physical, the flgurative the
literal.
The human hand, he eonfided to us,
has long been associated with the rise
of man to his full mental status, such
as it Is.
The beasts might have become
famous for their intellectual qualities.
too, If they had developed hands The
monkey shows what you can do. If you
have hands, even If you are the proud
Evening star., 1931-06-23
A Friendly Word for
Radio Advertisers
70 the Editor Of The Star:

TO the Editor OF The star:
Dear Sir: 1 have been an ardent
"radio fan" for years, not only as q
listener, but have read the radio news
in papers with interest always. All this
"hue and cry" about the advertising
seems to me rather far-fetched. In
the first place, the sponsored programs
are by far the best. When one con-
siderS the class of music offered, the
artists, that the majority of listeners
would not, could not, hear otherwise,
it shows little appreciation and great
deal of bad taste to object to the small
amount of "crying wares" that actu-
ally appears on the air. read not
only the local papers, but those of
other cities, and always experience q
feeling of disgust when letters appear
objecting to the advertising portion of
q program. If one does not like the
particular program that carries jazz,
why not switch to some other smaller
station where little advertising is done
If one cannot appreciate the quality
given in the sponsored program?
Radio, Is, without doubt, the greatest
discovery in years, and I'm sorry that
my fellow Americans realize this to
such a small extent and register such
SenseleSs complaints anent advertising.
MRS. JAMES ASHLEY COOPER.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

Russia has tried to terminate the an
cient arrangement whereby the captain
of a seagoing ship has not only entire
responsibility, but the utmost in powers,
even to marriage and burial, life and
death. Instead, she tried to establish
a sort of ruing, committee, which
included representatives Of every form
of employment on the vessel. She
knows better now, and has gone back
to the old way. Some day, it is hoped,
she may learn that the ship Of state"
IS like that, too.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

apt to be ornamental as we'll, since
many have pretty fruits, red in color
and often clinging to their branches far
into the Winter, furnishing grateful
additions to the meager fare Of the
hard-weathsr birds. Among the most
frequented trees are the various wild
cherries (Prunus); dogwoods (Cornus);
pepper tree (Schinus); pepperidge
tNyssa); China tree (Melia); pines
(Pinus); oaks (Quercus); hackberries
tCeltis); and thorEs (Crataegus). The
mulberry (Morus) Is the prime favorite
and most used for tolling the birds
away from cultivated fruits. For
strawberries one can plant all the ordi-
nary edible small fruits and berries be-
sides the elders (Sambucus); bayber-
ries (Myrica); and number of others.
@. Please give some facts about
'Vicki Baum, author of the play, Grand
Hotel."-L. L.. NJ.
A. She was born in Vienna in 1888
and had her first verses accepted when
only IL. Later Jakob WaSsermann
sent some of her stories to a Berlin
publisher, who brought them out in
book form. She was % when her first
novel was published. AT present she
is editor of Die Dame. a German wom-
ans magazine. Her novel, "Menschen
i'm Hotel" Grand HoteD, was first
dramatized at the Nollendorf Theater
in Berlin by Max Reinhardt.
O. Has the agricultural engineering
division of the Department of Agricul-
ture been reorganized? II so, who Is
its chief?-O. H.
A The Bureau of Agricultural En-
gineering, authorized by act of the last
Congress, will begin its existence as a
part of the United States Department
of Agriculture on July l. This bureau
takes the place of the Division of Agri-
cultural Engineering of the Bureau Of
Public Roads. Secretary Hyde has Sc
lected S. H. McCrory to head the new
organization. Mr.. McCrory came to the
department "a years ago and for sew
eral years has been chief of the di-
vision that now becomes bureau. He
is past president of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers.
@. What is the purpose of the JUL
lard Musical Foundation? Where Is it
located?-M. r. B.
A. Its object is to promote the in
terestS of music by aiding exceptional
students through the granting of
scholarships and fellowships. as well as
assisting selected musical enterprises OF
national significance by means OF money
grants. The address is 49 East Fifty
second street, New York, n. Y.
@. When did John Davey institute
tree surgery in the United States?-
T. w. S.
A. In 1890 he began the practice Of
tree surgery. and in 1908. organized the
Davey Institute Of Tree Surgery.
@. Why is Lille, France, so called?-
NJ. F.
A. Lille is a corruption of the earlier
L'Isle, The Island" alluding to an is
land in the stream on which the city Is
situated.
@. How large are the grounds Of the
woman's prison at Anderson, w. Va.?-
| D. L.
A. The woman's Federal Industrial
Institution occupies a reservation Of
more than 500 acres.
@. When did the race horse. Flora
| Temple, make world record?-W. j. H.
| A. The trotting mare, Flora Temple,
| took a record of 2:1934 at Kalamazoo,
! Mich, in 1859.
@. How much is paid for blood given
! for transfusions?-E. V.
A. The usual price paid for one gill
to one pint of blood is from SIS to $50.
Evening star., 1931-06-23


comes. It is not desirable to skip any
of this book. If, however, in the press
of time, one interested in education
would take the outlook and policy and
program of Henry Ford in respect to
of the motor in his plant, and If, again,
these would lift over into the school
rooms the purpose Of schooling, and
the means to meet that purpose-well,
in that case, much of the educational
timber reposing in those rooms would
go out of the window and things would
begin to happen. The great thing to
desire to happen Is, by hook or by
crook, to sell these schoolboys, body,
heart and mind, TO the wholly absorb
ing business of learning things
A great story, approached from many
points of view. All meeting to make
the great disclosure OF big business
turned to drama and, better yet, to
amazing realization.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

Cannot something be done to warn
stockholders against cleaning pistols,
changing barrels in Shotguns and rifles,
and similar activities, especially this
particular year? A farm boy can fool
with gun all day and come in hungry
and sound to supper, but with broker
a touch seems almost certain to be
fatal.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

When some Secretary of War wishes
to add a few hundred officers or a few
thousand enlisted men to the Army an
agonized yelp goes up from pacifistS
over the warlike gesture of the Nation.
Pope Plus XII has just decided to add
thirty officers to his military force, a
proportionately enormous increase. Yet
this country has no more evil or ag-
grandizing intentions toward the rest
of mankind than has the Vatican State.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

Kentuckians may be tempted to feel
rather low over the fact that their
beauty contest entrant had to be con-
tent with second place. They should
be consoled, however, by the fact that
she walked of with the Miss America"
award, and, If photographs are to be
believed, lost only to q Superpeach.
Furthermore, in horses and whisky
Kentucky ranks way ahead of Belgium.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

1t is far cry from the days of Zip
pecanoe and Tyler Too" to June, 1881.
Yet at the unveiling of the bust of
John Tyler, tenth President. at Rich
mond, there were present not only his
great-grandchildren, but one of his
sons.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

1t appears that Little America"
possessed one advantage not listed in
previous glowing descriptions. It was
that residence there on the Antarctic
ice, but under the Stars and Stripes,
qualified for citizenship. Rights enjoyed
by participants in the expedition. there
fore, Included the Scandinavian" as
Mr.. Balchen, applicant for naturaliza-
ton, discovers to his pleasure.
Evening star., 1931-06-23
All Manner Of Men.

"some men," remarked the admirer
Of poetry, "go into politics with the
idea of leaving footprints on the sands
of time"
"Some do" replied Senator Sorghum.
"And others are lucky If they get out
without having their nngerprints
taken"
Evening star., 1931-06-23
All Other States and Canada.
Member Of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
TO the use for republication of all news dis
patches credited to it or not otherwise cred
tied in this paper and also the local news
published herein. All rights of publication OF
special dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1931-06-23

Natives of West Africa have raised
the sum of $S.77 to aid starving Amer
leans. Yes, and there are plenty of
New York brokers who would grab 1t
in q minute.
Evening star., 1931-06-23
Footwork.

From the Miami Daily News.
Ambassador Dawes says his Job is
"hell on the feet" and good many
other politicians must have the same
trouble, at least they're always afraid
to take stand.
Evening star., 1931-06-23

If Washington's newest pitcher Just
lives up to his name, using it as verb,
he will make some 100000 people ex-
ceedingly happy.
Evening star., 1931-06-23
A Rebate.

"You have to pay your hired hands q
great deal of money"
"More,n I could AFFORD" said Farm
er Corntossel, eff me and my boy Josh
didn't get some of it back playin'
pinochle every Saturday night"
Evening star., 1931-06-23

Optimist: The man who starts on a
piscatorial vacation equipped with but
one rod and with largs-meshed land
ing net
Evening star., 1931-06-23

Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr., of Reno,
New, seems to be suffering from what
a psychologist might call "delusions of
Nick Carterism."
Evening star., 1931-06-23
Prospective Perfection.

From the indianapolis Star.
The local player who killed q squirrel
with Q golf shot may grow up and hold
q perfect bridge hand.
Evening star., 1931-06-23
Harsh Word.

From the Albany Evening News.
Now that they call them book
sneafs," we suppose all the book bor-
rowers will return the books they boz
rowe@
Evening star., 1931-06-23
Primed.

From the Hamilton (ontario) Spectator.
Fingerprinting is being urged in To-
ronto schools for the identification Of
lost children. It should be simple
procedure, with the ink already on the
youngsters fingers.
Evening star., 1931-06-23
Misjudgment.

management.
Jimmy has a base ball suit,
Complete from head to feet.
Admiring playmates all salute
His uniform so neat.
Johnny's clothes cling to his frame
Without trace of style,
And when he starts to play the game
We greet him with a smile.
Appearances lead to mistakes
In matters great and small;
A handsome picture Jimmy makes
But Johnny hits the ball.
Some folks hab sech q tendency ter
git wrapped UP in DER own sorrors, !"
said Uncle Eben, "dat dey gifts ter
lookin' at de hot wedder as er pus'nal
grievance, an doan sympathise VIII no.
body"
Evening star., 1931-06-23
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Evening star., 1931-06-23

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MARYLAND and Virginia.
Evening star., 1931-06-23
THEODORE w. MOVES, :. Editor
rhe Evening Star Newspaper Company

nth st. and Pennsylvania Ave.
New York Once: ii0 East 42nd St.
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