davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.

From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat'
MANY years ago teachers wasted or at
least spent much time in efforts TO make
left-handed youngsters right. named, OF
at least in an effort to bend the tWlg SUI
ficently to make left-handed pupils Wrlte
right-handed. First results and then
science proved that their efforts were
wasted, or even worse; that IN some
cases harmful effects followed this IN
reference with natural tendencies. SO
now if left-handed children do not re-
spond to certain undercover suggestions
they are permitted to continue along
the lines laid out by nature.
Still we can't leave them entirely
alone, even in their maturity. They
appear to be willing to read right
handed, but now it is suggested that they
be made-maybe the word Is permitted
to read left-handed.
Influenced, it is believed, by left
handed official, the French minister OF
public instruction Is advising publish
ers that "left-handed edition" be IS
sued of all important books-tnat Is 70
say. that these books Of special prepa-
ration be so designed that they may
be read from the back backward, start
ing at the last page and so through the
book to the ending on the first page,
making the first last and the last first.
It is all the result of a study which
has been made by the left-handed off,
cial of mention. This man, who is a
heavy reader, says left-handed persons
read approximately one-third slower
than right-handers. This, he believes,
Is because of an, inherent difficulty In
turning the pages Of book with the
right hand. Such device may be all
right for the left-handers, If reversal
Of the order Of pages really would help
them, but It viii be hard on the right
handlers who want to borrow their
books. Maybe that iAkwhat the left
handed French ofdcial IS aiming at.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
Industry's Job.
From the Cincinnati ENQUIRER.

Unemployment insurance, old-age
pensions, benefits of this, that and the
other kind have been chewed over this
year in the Legislatures of nearly all the
States, The Governors of the Eastern
industrial States met to discuss the
problem Of unemployment insurance.
and in Ohio the General Assembly has
resolved to form q committee to study
that problem. Nationally, the Congress
fumbied tentatively with forms of
drought relief that were different only
in name from Britain's disastrous dole.
From everywhere, during this period Of
depression, the cry has come for Gov
eminent pap to sustain the people.
Unfortunately, as declared by G. L..
Parry to National Metal Trades Secre-
taries in Cincinnati unless industry
awakens to threatening possibility and
organizes itself to solve the problems
of unemployment, of old-age depend
ency, the job will be done by the poll
ticians. And 1t will be done politically,
with the shedding Of oratorical tears
Senator Watson declared that no pen
sion bill ever failed to pass the National
Congress: II the Federal Government,
or smaller units, go into the wholesale
pension business the result may be fore
seen.
Industry can forestall this undesirable
development of paternaliSm, which al
ready is bad enough. Industry can make
sure that these various forms Of relief,
which the current business crisis has
made inevitable, are built up and adj
ministered by people who know the
needs OF industry and not by State and
National spellbinders, professional job
holders and costly bureaus.
American industry has a stewardship
that it must fulfill. II it fails to do so
in the next few years the cry for gov
ernmental aid to all and sundry will
overcome the resistance Of good sense.
and We may repeat on larger scale the
industrial bankruptcy Of other nations
that have become too free with the
money of their working subjects.
Industrial leaders should listen to Mr..
Parry when he says they must choose a
relief system built by themselves and
efiiciently administered, or they will
have forced upon them q State pater-
nalism that Is simply subsidy for In
ertia"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| If happily there ever is a solution to
| anything.
The family whose garden Is blessed
with one or two humming birds need
not bother their fortunate heads about
migration or any other matter. =:
They can be thankful that the small
creatures have singled them out Of SO
many millions Of people. 1t will not
do to look into this too closely.
Those without humming birds will
not readily agree that human beings
have anything to do with it at all, and
no doubt they are correct.
Chance, no doubt, plays the greatest
part in the annual visits Of humming
birds. Pure fortune makes them drop
down, after their long trip, into
certain yard.
If they like what they find there,
they stay, and maybe they will come
back another year. We do not know
how long humming birds live, nor even
whether they can come back another
year, but each one Is SO like every other
one of its variety that the gardener
has the happy idea that 1t is the
same bird year after year.
X X X
Even If chance plays the largest part
in the visits of these poems Of the air,
there yet remains something for the
gardener to do, and that is to provide
them with flowers which they like.
All plants bearing trumpet-shaped
flowers are much liked by humming
birds. especially If the blossoms be
bright colored.
At the head of the list must stand
the gladioluS, not the least of whose
charms is its great attraction for these
miniature birds.
Our researches among archaeological
books and ncoks has not made clear to
us just exactly what humming birds
eat. Some authorities continue to
speak of nectar" or the sweet strip
in some blossoms.
Others insist that the hummers are
carnivorous, and feed upon the minia-
ture insects to be found in the bell
shaped flowers. The insects, of course,
are eating nectar. And the humming
birds eat the insects. This is the sys-
TEN that Nature, after creating living
things, evolved to give food to the
things created. 1t is as nice bit Of
selfishness as any one could think up,
but it Is the method used, and human
beings can do little but wonder at it.
They cannot say much, after all.
X X X
Almost any bell-shaped flower of
sufficient size will attract humming
birds. There are several vines which
bear trumpetlike blooms, and these
do their share in Turing the little birds
to ones garden.
Even petunias, with their smaller
blossoms, not exactly bell-shaped, but
only somewhat so, attract humming
birds. The feathered atoms may be
seen at window boxes full of them,
usually at dusk.
The cleaning, by the way, IS a
favorite humming bird time, and they
may be found almost any evening, just
at dark, standing mctionless in the air
| in front of q flower. Their rapid darts
across the garden are easily followed
owing to the scarcity of other birds at
| the time.
The humming bird seems TO put its
head beneath its wing as late as pos
sible, flying around in search of food
as long as there is the least bit of
| light. Thus he convicts himself of be-
ing somewhat greedy, taste he shares
| with many other dainty creatures in
this curious world in which we all live
| together for a time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
Artificial Hardship.
From the Atlanta Journo,

CEoiH inc Atlanta journal,
In most sensible analysis of the
problem Of motherhood in this complex
time, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt sug-
gestS that parents seek to reproduce
artificially the character-creating at
mosphere which an earlier civilization
contributed toward the rearing of men
ana women OF resource and integrity.
she had in mind, of course, the ext
gencies OF periods of American history
When children had to bear their share
OF the family burden, had to walk MANY
miles through all sorts of weather to
get to Little Red Schoolhouse," and
mad to do many things which the PAM
pered scions of today never think of,
except with retrospective shudder.
AS parents" says the wife of New
York'S distinguished Governor in an
article in the Parents Magazine, Eve
must realize that modern life tends to
make us soft, and we must let our chill.
dren meet their own problems and
gain experience for themselves. It NAV
seem hard, but what a sense of salts
faction there is when one feels sure OF
the ability in ones self to meet a difi-
culty!' Mrs Roosevelt recognizes the
difficulty of creating artificially a stu
alton which will provide an incentive
for struggle in juveniles. There can be
no general formula. Parents must de-
wise ways to meet the individual needs
of their children, but it is patiently true
that youngsters need something to
stimulate their interest and industry,
stone on which to sharpen their latent
powers.
Mrs. Roosevelt wisely warns against
bored child. who not only is Of no
use to himself or his FAMILY, but who
is in danger of attempting harmful di-
versions simply because there Is no nor
NAL outlet for his spirit OF creative
work
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05

An exhibition Of academic littleness"
Is seen by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
while the Springfield (Mass) Repub-
ncan suggests 1.-The peculiar difficulty Of
maintaining the principle of academic
freedom in an institution controlled by
q State Legislature. The Memphis
Commercial Appeal, referring to the Of
f1c1al statements on the effect of "at-
tacks on university policies" and the in
nuence "of writers who see little good
IN our present-day civilization" con-
cludes: This brings llp the question
why have colleges and universities If
the students are to be really educated
outside OF them and by persons other
than their teachers? Why not lust
teach the young boys and girls to read
and let them educate themselyes?"
Protests from more than so members
OF the faculty against this action of the
trustees are recalled by the Akron
Beacon Journal, with the comment:
The controversy is bringing into the
open the system by which a board of
trustees usurps the right to reduce the
teaching staff to the plane of yes men,
VINO shan teach only what they are told,
ana nave no opinions and do no re.
search upon their own account The
mlllons OF taxpayers whose funds sup
port the school may make their own
inquiry whether they want it to be a
sort OF intellectual foundry, run strictly
upon specifications laid down by fos-
Sll1zed supervision, or a university that
Will reflect the true mental stature of
Ohio, and its ardent sympathy for free
dom and progress in instruction"
If Prof. Miller has been doing any,
thing as Subversive as to encourage the
undergraduates to think and to speak.
let's steel ourselves for the worst and
join the grand chorus, Away with
him!" advises the Baltimore sun.
The st. Louis Post-Dispatch, reviewing
the restrictions imposed, declares:
Such is educational policy at Ohio
State. 1t will not be long until its
consequences are felt. Eminent and
able teachers will leave the university
at their first opportunity. Capable men
VIII refuse to take their places. Col
lege teaching will, in time, be left in
the hands Of academic runts and culls.
the citizens Of Ohio, who support the
State University with their taxes. will
shortly find that their money is buyinr
inferior instruction. The university has
already lost its good name. Unless the
people of Ohio take speedy and effectiye
action other losses, even more serious.
will follow"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
Cleveland Opens War
On Concealed Weapons
From the Portland oregon Journal.

From the Portland Oregon Journal.
The people Of Cleveland, Ohio, are
getting tired of crime They are be-
ginning o drive to rid their city Of
criminals.
Possession Of a pistol, carried either
on the person or in an automobile, Is
the line along which the new attack is
TO be directed.
The prosecuting attorneys Office in
SiStS that any person carrying con-
cealed weapon is a potential murderer.
1t Is on that basis that the authorities
have set out to rid the city of gangsters
and gangland. All armed persons are
to be given prison sentences, particu-
larry those caught in criminal acts.
An aroused Cleveland is a good omen.
The spectacle of the city's striking back
at gangland increases faith in the
American people. The perpetuity Of the
Republic and of self-government depends
on whether or not the country presently
puts the Capones where they belong.
The freedom with which the Capone
kind have been allowed to carry on in
Chicago and some other American cities
has been a discouraging phase of ma
tional life. 1t has led many to wonder
as to what is to be next and what the
future is to be.
Cleveland's attitude toward the loaded
revolver is one practical way to strike
back at the murderous gangs. Pistols
are made for the sole purpose Of provid-
ing a handy method by which one
human being can kill another. A lot Of
very good people regard the pistol as a
weapon of defense. But not once in a
hundred times is it defense against
the gangster, for he always takes care
to have the drop on his intended VIC
tim.
The familiar old adage that "a pistol
makes all men the same size Is bunk.
1t is utterly fallacious. The pistol
makes the gangster bigger man than
his victim.
Sam Prescott, the Ashland policeman,
was armed as he attempted to arrest
Kingsley But Kingsley not only killed
Sam Prescott, shooting him even after
he was down, but he is to have a new
trial after being found guilty and SEN
fenced.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
No More "Carelessness" in Russia.

No More "Carelessness" in Russia.
J. Soviet Russia is bent upon making
men perfect, even at the cost of the
severest punishment for failure to con-
form to standard. An order has Just
been issued by the supreme court to
the officials Of all district courts
throughout the union that henceforth
"careleSSness" will be considered
crime and that all offenders must be
tried under the criminal statutes, with
the penalty Of imprisonment or exile
upon conviction. This means that any
workman in state factory who breaks
or spoils any bit of work, or any farmer
who causes a loss Of material or the
disablement Of a machine may be sent
to jail or to prison camp. Heretofore
when offenders have been tried by the
factory courts such offenders have uSu-
ally been acquitted on the plea Of 'ac-
cident," whereas now 1t will not be
necessary to prove the intention Of
workers who have damaged machinery
or have set fires, but only that they were
careless.
The issuance Of this edict suggests
that there must have been q good deal
of sabotage in the shops and on the
collective farms on the part Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05

The humming bird Is missing from
the garden this year.
he is a city bird and does not like
the country.
This Is our loss.
We have 20 times rs many birds
now as before, but no hummng bird,
and this is q lack, indeed, from the
gardening standpoint.
ruby-throat for flocks of thrushes, blue
jays, even cardinals, as fine as these
are.
The humming bird has q distinct
place in the bird population and II he
appeals to you-well, he appeals to you,
that Is all.
1t is with birds as with dogs, no
doubt
The bulldog fancier admits the
beauty of other breeds, but always finds
his interest centering In the bulls.
Something there Is about the Eng
liSh, the BoStons, the pit terriers,
which Captivates his heart and mind.
II you were to point out to him the
superior qualities Of some other dogs
he would be the first to agree with
you, but his admissions would change
In no way his love for the bulldogs.
How a man arrives at his fancy
among dogs, horses, cats, birds, and
maybe motor cars, is an inexplicable
question.
It is all very well to talk Of points"
and to make a brave show of under
standing, the, fact remains that the
why Of any love or fancy is COM
plete mystery
Vr1.. I..,~...i-,- Ltd ~ Kboea xryH1o ha yo
come under its sway, Is to be replaced
by no other bird whatsoever.
This vest-pocket-size bird Is not as
tame as the thrush, which seems to
lack ordinary bird sense. The hummer
will give his human friends plenty OF
leeway, unless the flowers he fancies
are close to a habitation.
Then he will dart down even TO q
window box, within touch, and proceed
to balance himself In the air, held mo-
tionlesS by the rapid motion OF his
wings.
There is no other bird which is able
to achieve this and 1t Is one Of the
reasons why the humming birds many
admirers put it on a plane all its own.
y II n n
Other birds seem gross to you, once
you fall in love with this one.
dcTe Is h HllCc Vi I1lAl6, AIO bA6SSL
than a moth, yet a full-fledged bird
In every respect, one with captivating
ways, able to hold his own with the
bigger fellows Of the air and yet retain
certain dainty quality which sets
He has been called the jewel Of the
air, but that misses the mark. He Is
| rather its poetry its essence, reduced
to the smallest visible portion.
, Aviators might well accept the hum
ming bird as an emblem, as maybe they
have for 1t is a fearless navigator OF
continents, thinking even less OF the
miles than one Of our human birds OF
! today.
This bit of feathers, scarcely larger
than a thumb. manages to travel thou
sands of miles each year In answer 70
one of the strangest calls in Nature.
Surely there Is nothing more mys-
| terious in life than bird migration
Why they do 1t Is easy enough, but
what makes them do 1t, snd how they
do it, are distinctly other matters.
Instinct Is a word which explains
precisely nothing; bird migration re-
mains something which awaits solution,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
Street Car Clangor Is
Cause of Keen Distress
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Please accept my congratulations on
your splendid and timely editorial en-
titled "Washington's Needless Noises. !"
was especially interested in your
remarks regarding the terrific, nerve
destroying noise Of street cars. live
within one-half block Of the Georgia
avenue street car line and can appre-
ciate the nerve wrecking noise Of the
street cars especially.
We have been all too slow in realiz-
ing that it is these noises which are
making nervous and mental ills in
crease. 1t seems that in this day Of
great inventions there should be way
of making silent street cars. I hope
your editorial may be a start in a
drastic campaign to eliminate these
noises and thereby improve the health
of our people. j. F. BRADY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05

cording TO the inheritance laws Of tbs
individuals State.
@. What Is the derivation Of the
name Mennonite?-A. z. s..
A. This evangelical Protestant de.
nomination took its name from one
Memo Sfmons, who was the leader Of
the sect in Holland.
@. How do wages compare with the
wage level 10 years ago and before the
| World War?-A. L. d.
A. Taking the pre-war year 1914 as
| representing basis of 100, wages 10
years ago were 1905 per cent Of that
figure and this year are approximately
1852 per cent of that figure. The wage
scale, therefore, is nearly two and a half
times what 1t was before the World
War. Because of unemployment, how
ever, actual earnings are only 2l3 per
cent above pre-war.
@. Do foreign vessels carry most of
our cargoes abroad?-N. D.
A. For the fiscal year 1880 104 ,67o, AIT
tons OF cargo was carried to and from
our ports. About 40 per cent was car
rled In American bottoms.
@. What is the oldest clock company
in the United States?-H A.
A. The Seth Thomas Clock Co. be-
gan business in 1913 and is still in ex-
istence. 1t is probably the oldest in
this country.
Q. What is the origin Of the standard
railroad gage Of 4 feet 81a inches and
Is 1t universally employed?-N. B.
A. Stephenson, inventor Of the steam
locomotive, Is said to have adopted the
gage Of his engine from that of his
farm wagon wheels. Horse-draVn
wheeled vehicles had been of approx
mately that gage since the days of Ro-
man chariots Various cages, ranging
from 8 feet in the East to 5 feet In
California, were employed In the United
States for so years, but now all save
industrial short lines are feet 811
inches. This Is standard over most Of
the world, but India has a gage of 51k
feet, Russia S feet and japan feet.
Q. Are there more blind people In
the United States than there are deaf
mutes?-R. IT.
A Figures for 1880 for comparison
are not yet available, but 1t is probable
that there are more blind In 1920 the
blind population was 52,567 and deaf
mutes 1895.
@. What kind Of prints were the Cur
rier and Ives?-W. B.
A. They were chrome ithography.
q. what Is palimino horSe?-M z.
A. The word is used to describe spe-
clal shade Of buckskin horse. It is o
Spanish term meaning cream color.
Q: When, was the Air Forest Patrol
established in the United States?-J. A.
A. 1t was established in 1920.
@. With what play did Maude Adams
play OPP o. Me Thumb"?-D. E. S,
A. With The Little Minister" In
1905.
Q. know Of clever device that has
never been patented Can I take out
patent on it?-C. B.
A. 1t Is impossible to obtain patent
on anything that has been in public use
for two years.
Q. When was Georgetown, District of
columbia, included in the City of
Washington?-A. D.
"A. Washington was made co-extensive
with the District of Columbia, February
H. 1895. Since that time, Georgetown
has been part of the city.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The answers to questions printed
here each day are specimens picked
from the mass Of inquiries handled
by our great Information Bureau
maintained In Washington, D. G. This
valuable service is for the free use OF
the public. Ask any question Of fact
you may want TO know and you will
get an immediate reply. Write plainly,
inclose 2 cents in coin or stamps for
ming Star Information Bureau, Frederic
j. Haskin, director, Washington, D. c.
@. How tall is Cary Cooper?-M. B.
A. He Is 6 feet az inches tall.
@. How many cigars and cigarettes
may a person take into Canada, duty
free?-M. M.
A. Forty cigars or less and 100
cigarettes or less in open package may
be taken In for personal use.
@. When does the bicycle race
around France begin?-B. A. L.
late In June and takes 20 days. About
200 competitors are expected to enter
this year.
Q. When was bread first called the
staff Of life?-G. H.
A. The expression is found in the
104th Psalm.
Q. Who composed the air for Taps?
IN. A. L.
A. It was composed by Gen. Daniel
Butterfield. One day In July of 1862,
when the Army Of the Potomac was
in camp at Harrison'S Landing on the
James River, Virginia, Gen. Butter
field summoned his bugler and after
whistling some new tune asked the
bugler to sound it for him. This was
done, not quite to his satisfaction at
first, but after repeated trials, changing
the time of some of the notes which
were scrubbed on the back Of an
envelope, the call was finally arranged
to suit the general. He then ordered
that 1t should be substituted in his
brigade for the regulation Taps" eek
tinguish lights"), which was printed in
the Tactics and used by the whole Army.
This was done for the first time that
night. Some time later permission was
given to substitute it throughout the
Army of the Potomac for the time
honored call which came down from
West Point. In the Western Armies the
regulation call was used until the Au-
tumn of 1868. One of Gen. Butterfeld's
reasons for changing the call was
that he considered the old "Extinguish
hghts!" non-musical and not suggestive
of rest and sleep.
@. How large are the petrihed forests
Of Arizona?-C. P.
A. They extend over an area Of more
than 100 square miles. About 40 square
miles of this region has been set aside
by the Government as q national mon
ument.
@. How does a man manage to get
parachute open before he leaves an air
plane?-H. E. M.
A. He can stand on the lower wing Of
a plane, holding on to the struts. The
parachute may then be opened and the
velocity of the wind will carry the man
of backward. This is called a pull
off,"
@. II the beneficiary Of a life insur-
ance policy dies before the person who
is insured, who gets the money?-H
M. v.
A. If an alternate beneficiary was not
named on the insurance policy the pro-
ceeds of the policy would be paid to
the estate of the individual insured, ac-