davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1932-01-22

The gentleman was fuming about the
word contact" used as verb as IN
the current business expression, i con-
tacted 10 men yesterday"
Surely he had a right to fume. The
usage struck him as out of the usual
line-his line, of course. In the circles
in which he moved the word was not
so used. Contact" with him and his
friends was noun.
What he really resented, then, was
strange and unusual usage in so far
as he was concerned. Every one feels
that way. The feeling Is the subject of
Our Language"
American business most properly has
developed lingo" all its own. Why
not? From 1t there comes to mind an
other strictly commercial usage-'to
sell a man"
One will hear salesman say to an
other, "Oh, yes, sold him. all right.
If one is not particularly interested
in the arts and methods Of salesman
ship as such. he will find something
peculiar, perhaps even offensive, In
such usage. But should hep
4 n
These are specialized uses of our
mother tongues, not general uses.
Most OF us would say II made con-
tact with 10 persons yesterday" rather
than Il contacted 10 persons" or i got
in touch with 10 men,"
We would say Il sold 1t to him,
rather than Il sold him" Con certain
proposition).
However such expressions may rub
one the wrong way, it must be remem-
bered that they are definitely in the
living stream of the English language.
In other words, words are for us who
use them, not us for the words. The
"purist," as he Is known. has his place
in 1t all, for without him we might
stray too far afield in our search for
novelty and vigorous expression; but
the men who coin new expressions and
seek out new ways of using old words
have their places, too.
The stream Of English is not damned
1t comes down to us from thousands OF
years, fed by tributaries large and small,
some Of them great nations gone, some
little streams since grown to mighty
oceans themselves.
All nations have contributed to the
English language as 1t flowed land still
f1ows) toward the unknown result of
time. The source is known, the desti-
to stand on the bank and to dip into
this stream to the best OF our ability.
In doing this We must for our own
best interests adopt balanced policy.
We should have proper respect for
the past and yet decent appreciation
of the possibilities of the language.
The former will keep us true in the
main to our grammar, to our heritage of
construction, to the ineXplicable but
nevertheless iron-bound rules of the
language. The latter will enable us to
experiment with the living tongue and
to shape it to new needs and ends.
y
Any one who suspects the unusual
word is unconsciously going on the
theory that the English language is
a dead language, as we say of Latin
and Greek
One has but to think OF words now
becoming, If not quite so, unknown to
Americans, and then to think of the
hundreds which have come in on the
heels OF such inventions as the auto
mobile and the airplane to disabuse
himself of any latent feeling that our
glorious mother tongue Is in any respect
static.
Many children OF today do not know
Evening star., 1932-01-22

TO demand the adoption and execution
Of positive" policy toward the jap
anese. A few weeks ago squads of them
made their way from Peking for that
'ptrpose, virtually communicating trains
and demanding free rides. Some OF
them even went to the extent Of lying
down upon the tracks in order to force
the stopping Of the trains so that they
could board them without payment OF
fare.
The Chinese Nationalist government,
recently reorganized with the Canton
faction in control, is in a serious condi-
ton of ineffectiveness, and overtures
are being made to Chang skai-ShelE,
virtually depoSed from the presidency,
to return to Marking. The weakness of
the central government, while it does
not Of itself heighten the danger at
Shanghai, inasmuch as the interna-
tional settlement has its own means
of protection, tends to develop the riot
Gus spirit of the Chinese, which occa-
sionally flares into disastrous proper
tions, as in the case of the Boxer rebel
lion of over thirty years ago.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
No Tinkering With Salaries.

Republican House Leader Smell talks
honesty and common sense when he
advocates dealing with the matter Of
Federal salary slashing as an important
question of national policy as opposed to
the expedient Of tacking it piecemeal,
without investigation Of the results, to
the appropriation bills. He takes the
only sensible view when he demands
that Congress first concern itself with
the pressing measures now awaiting
disposal, upon which, in large degree,
depend the Nations ability to stem the
tide Of the depression.
The various salary -slashing pro-
posals have been made without even a
preliminary investigation Of the saw
tngs thereby to be effected. Thus far
there have been no reliable figures pre-
sented to allow a careful and states
manlike weighing of the advantages, as
against the many known disadvantages,
OF cutting salaries. There have been
estimates, it is true-ranging from one
hundred to two hundred and twenty-five
million dollars a year. A fat ten per
cent reduction in all governmental
wages and salaries, including the SER
vice pay would realize $l60,000,000 a
year, assuming total personnel service
expenditure in 1881 of 81 600 900 900.
But this saving" on such basis,
would represent only 4 per cent of
total ordinary Federal expenditures in
1881. A 10 per cent cut in salaries above
$2,r0o would realize only $4,000, 900,
and greater reduction in the higher
salaries might stretch this saving" to
o total Of s100.Ooo,0oO.
These are mere estimates. They are
estimates, moreover, of maximum
savings" They cannot be construed
as actual savings to the Government.
or be made to fit the true meaning of
economics without careful consider
alton of the losses in morale and eff
cheney within the service and the loss
of employment outside the Govern
ment service that would result from a
policy of salary slashing. The politi-
clans will make their proposals, but
the economists and the auditors should
be called upon to sift the proposals
free Of such meaningless verbiage as
that employed by one member Of the
House who wants to cut Federal SAL
aries TO the point necessary for living
expenses" After this is done Con-
gress can at least look at the matter
OF reducing Federal pay against a
proper background of fact.
There should be no disposition on the
part Of the wise leaders of Congress to
treat this matter in the cowardly and
unjust fashion that would be represent
ed by riders on the appropriation bills.
II the proposal to cut salaries is worth
any consideration, it is worth careful
consideration on its merits. Any other
sort of consideration will amount to
nothing less than blind tinkering that
IN the end may be suicidal.
Mr.. Smell does not say whether he
Is for or against reducing Federal SAL
aries. That, for the moment, is not
the point. He injects comforting and
intelligent thought when he demands
that the Congress quit fiddling while
Rome burns get down to business with
the appropriation and various recon-
struction bills, and then examine salary
cutting with the aid of facts, not
theories.
Evening star., 1932-01-22

What do you need to know? Is there
some point about your business or per-
sonal life that puzzles you? Is there
something you want to know without
delay? Submit your question TO Fred
eric J. Haskin, director OF our wash
ington Information Bureau. He is EN-
', pioyed to help you. Address your in
quiry to The Evening Star Information
| Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin, Director,
Washington, d. c., and inclose 2 cents
in coin or stamps for return postage.
O. How long has 1t been since both
the Republican and Democratic national
| conventions were held in the same city?
&C. w.
A. Forty-eight years. In 1884 both
/ conventions were held in Chicago, the
Republicans nominating Blaine and the
Democrats naming Cleveland.
@. What was the decoration given to
Mrs. woodrow Wilson by Poland?-
| c. T
A. The Ambassador of Poland, Tytus
| FilipowicZ, decorated Mrs. Woodrow
Wilson with the Grand Gordon OF the
Order Polonia Restituta at ceremony
| held at the embassy of Poland in wash
| ington, D. c. This high decoration was
| bestowed upon Mrs. Wilson as the latest
| mark of gratitude for the influence of
the great war President OF the United
States in the unification of Poland.
O. How much would 1,ooo,ooo 81 bills
weigh?-O. G. B.
A. The Bureau of Engraving and
! Printing says that 100000 81 bills of
proximately 2.o3o pounds,
Q. Who was the youngest king in
| history?-T. G. B.
| A. That distinction is claimed for
Alfonso XIII recently deposed ruler of
Spain. When his father died, Novem-
| ber rs, 1885, he left no male issue, but
the Queen was expecting child and
all Spain awaited the event with breath
| less interest as to whether they were to
have king. Alfonso was born
May IT, 1886, and a government mani
festo was Immediately issued announc-
| ing the birth of Alfonso XIII, by the
grace Of God and the constitution, the
Catholic King of Spain" He was thus
| king from birth, and he has said of
himself that he was the youngest king
! ever known In the civilized world.
O. What American city Is suffering
least from the economic depression?-
T. P. T.
A. On account of the Government
pay roll, other large pay rolls in the
Capital, and the large public building
program, Washington, D. c., is least af-
fected.
@. How much money did julius
RCsenwald distribute in benefactions?-
A. H.
A. The benefactions of Mr.. Rosen-
wald were well in excess Of 100000
@. What kind OF public schools for
children are there in Bombay and CAL
cutta?-G. E P.
A. In Bombay and Calcutta the
schools are conducted in the vernacular
up to the eighth grade. Students can
| then transfer to English schools and
take there the equivalent to high school.
1t has been said that the primary school
curriculum does not come near enough
to the actual village life of India Bonn
| bay and Calcutta have compulsory edu-
cation, but this Is the exception in India.
@. What happens when a stock on
| the New York Stock Exchange reaches
zero?-E. C.
A. 1t automatically goes off the
board.
g. In what language was the Bible
written originally?-J. M.
A. The Old Testament originally. in
great part at least, was written In the
ancient Aramic, the New Testament in
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Drunken Driving Calls
For Harsh Treatment

Prom the Pasadena Star-News.
Los Angeles authorities, taking cognl-
Zance of the startling fact that more
than 500 lives were lost in traffic acci-
dents in Los Angeles during 1881 and
that many thousands were injured, some
Of them seriously, have started grim
movement to curb reckless and drunken
driving. Particular attention Is being
given to the prevention of reckless drlV-
ing by persons in a drunken condition.
1t is found that many traffic deaths are
due to driving by drunken persons: The
Los Angeles authorities are planning to
give Jail sentences to drunken drivers
who run into other cars and injure their
occupants, or who run into and XIII or
injure pedestrians
There is but one view to take OF
drunken driving and but one proper
course to pursue; that Is, to treat the
drunken driver as a public menace and
to proceed with all the authority OF the
law to punish him for menaclng the
public inexcusably while he Is intoxl-
Gated. Not only should the drunken
driver be punished by fine and I'M
prisonment, in fragrant cases, but ne
should be deprived of his license to
drive.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Permanence.

Permanence.
In days gone by! In days gone byl
We sang full many a quaint refrain,
And curious costumes met the eye,
Such as we shall not see again.
For nothing that we now behold
And very little that we hear
Resembles what in days of old
Proved grateful to the eye and ear.
And yet the snowflakes when they fall
Are light and delicate and strange;
The passing birds melodious call
Will sound without discordant change,
And when the blossoms of next May
Reflect the brightness of the sky,
Earth's real life, We'll have to say,
Is fair as in the days gone by.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Pedestrian Safeguards
Near White House Asked
To the Editor of The Star,

10 Vne EDITOR OF The Star:
The streets between. the White House
and the Treasury on one side and the
department. of State on the other and
round the curve at the south of the
Wnlte house offer convenient short
cut east and west and are much used
as such. There are no admonitorv
signs whatever on these roadways and
10 dally observer it is very evident
that the idea prevails that no curtail-
ment of speed is required while driving
on them.
ihese roads are very wide. with con-
1uslng intersections, and there are no
safeguards such as the useful safety
Islands which the unhappy pedestrian
can utilize in his reasonable desire 10
avoid fatal injury.
I am obliged to pass four times daily
across different parts of these streets
and / am certain that the rapid, reck-
less and unnecessarily Indifferent driv-
ing IS inviting accidents and probably
fatalities. Within 10 days a driver in
broad daylight knocked down one of
the lamp posts Any person on the
sidewalk near that post at the time
would probably have been injured. per-
hapS killed. Is it necessary to await
some such fatal occurrence before
something is done to oblige sane and
safe driving on these public roads?
THORVALD SOLBERG.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKlN.

! the more modern Aramic and possibly
in some parts in Greek.
@. Please name some of the well
known lovers of literature, not real peo-
| ple.-M. c.
A. Ben Hur and Esther. Darby and
| Joan, Aucassin and Nicolette, Lancelot
| and Guinevere, Tristram and Iseult,
Basanio and Portia, Hamlet and Ophelia,
Evangeline and Gabriel, Hiawatha and
| Minnehaha, OrpheuS and Eurydice, Paul
and Virginia, and Pyramus and Thisbe.
@. What produced the Grand Cam
! yon of AriZona?-G. S.
| A. 1t was cut down through millions
of years by the Colorado River, which
| stills flows In the bottom of it.
@. Who was the violinist who had a
| valuable violin crushed in an automobile
accident?-P. c.
| A. Harry Braun, a young violinist Of
! lin, given him by August Heckscher,
crushed in such an accident last Oc-
tober.
O. What is the difference between
naphtha and gasoline?-R. E. H.
A. Naphtha and gasoline are both
petroleum products. They are both
| SOLFC4lbo, AGClS dklI lSh JIlOtEd
is intermediate between gasoline and
benzine, and consists largely of hep
tame, called also Danforth's oil.
@, In what country do the people
use the telephone the most?-R. S.
A. In proportion to the number of
telephones, Canadians rank first. They
average 250.5 calls per capita annually.
| The United States has the most tele-
phones, Germany is second Great Brit
ain and Northern ireland third and
Canada fourth.
Q. How heavy do turkeys grow?-I.
A The heaviest standard weights of
turkeys in this country are SO pounds
| for adult cock bronze turkeys and 80
pounds for adult cock Bourbon red
turkeys and Narragansett turkeys. The
standard weights for hens of these three
breeds are 20, 18 and 18 pounds, re-
| spectively.
@. How much type is set in the Gov
ernment Printing Office each day2-
! o. G..
A. The average daily output Is $780,
900 ems Of type set. The yearly output
is some 2,470,o00, 900 ems Of type.
Q. How many graduates has West
| Point Had?-J. D. L. M
| A. Since 1902, when the Military
! Academy was organized, there have been
! 1898 graduates.
! G. Who made the first modern cross
/ word puzzle?-G. w. L.
| A. The first genuine crossword puz-
/ zle OF the modern type was composed
| by Arthur Winn, and appeared In a
supplement of the New York Sunday
! World on December 81, 1918. The out
outbreak of the World War arrested the
| crossword puzzle craze temporarily,
but 1t was revived as a feature in the
World in 1915.
@. What kind of a dance was
passepied?-T. E D.
A. 1t was a lively dance in triple
rhythm which preceded the minuet.
1t Is thought to have originated in
Bwtagne.
Q. Please give the dimensions of some
OF the rooms at Mount Vernon.-O.P.Y.
A. The central hall on the main
floor of Mount Vernon is 10 by 30 feet,
the east parlor II by IL, the west par
lor II by II, the family dining room
II by 10, and the banquet hall 80 by %.
Q, What do the initials "P ". d."
stand for on an old silver tankard?-
M. G.. w.
A. They stand for Peter Van DYKE a
slIVersmith, who was born in New YORK
| In 1884 and died in 1851.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Work on Hoover Dam
Benefits California
From the Pasadena star-News.

From the Pasadena stsr-News. -,
Much of the material for building
the Hoover Dam is being supplied from
Southern California. This section
probably will continue to furnish build
ing supplies in large quantities as con-
struction of the dam proceeds. This
gives stimulus to structural. material
industries in this section, increase,
pay rolls here and puts a great deal
gion which otherwise would not coma
here. Southern California in general
and Los Angeles County In particujar
will derive much material adyantaya
from the sales of structural supplies fer
construction Of this dam. This 'sho,,is
help much to restore prosperity in this
region.
Evening star., 1932-01-22

Rex Bell, held up by thugs just out
side a New Mexico gambling club
saved handsome diamond "by turning
it under his finger" Possibly out in
the modern West they either do no
make them stick up their hands, OF
else are entirely unsuspicious Of a
closed fist They all live in a sort OF
fairyland out there, anyhow.
Evening star., 1932-01-22

Incoming movie actresses from abroad
in addition 20 all the routine pressing
on the average immigrant, must dc
two other absolutely necessary things.
One is to prove before the camera that
her knees are ornamental as we'll as
useful; the other to deny an engage
ment to Charlie Chaplin or some other
unattached male star.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Rate by Mail-Payable I'm Advance.
Maryland and Virginia.
ALI Other States and Canada.
Member Of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
80 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., 1932-01-22

According to Massachusetts State
College authorities, a little more than
two acres of land is required to pro-
duce food for the average American
And If we get too crowded we can omit
spinach.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
MAY Account for Flavor.

"You know" remarked the chemist,
that alcohol can be made of almost
anything, even OF old leather"
THAT fact" rejoined Uncle Bill Bot
tletop, may account for the flavor OF
some of this so-called bootleg liquor" ="
Evening star., 1932-01-22

The Uluwisla- -Kayseri Railway, In
Turkey, is expected to be completed this
year. If these two names are samples
of the various stops, just think of being
a brakeman on that line.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
BreYity.

"Brevity, you know, is the soul Of
wit"
"All right" replied the musical COM
edy manager, well have the costumes
made still scantier"
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Preferable.

Why call on Summer to usurp
The realm where Winter has been
king?
Far better hear the snowbird chirp
Than listen to mosquitoes sing.
Evening star., 1932-01-22

According to still another economist
America should be given the rich
'Kongo Basin" in Africa instead Of
cash. There would probably be a catch
in it.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Demanding His Turn.

You applauded the music wildly"
YES" replied Mr.. Rufnek. Il got
tired of sitting still and listening. l
wanted to make a little noise on my
own account"
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Japan's Open.Door Policy.

From the Toledo Blade.
japan is for the open door, with
reservation permitting her to slam 1t.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Changes of 1882.

From the Oakland Tribune.
Fashions in candies to be changed
In 1882. Possibly they will change the
time limits on all-day suckers.
Evening star., 1932-01-22

At the rate things are going, it will
not be so very long before the Bicen-
money
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Anticipat ton.

I'VE should not anticipate trouble" "
Maybe not. But I'd like to have the
Inauguration blizzard this year instead
of next"
Evening star., 1932-01-22

A st. Louis man stole 25-passengcr
bus and got clean away with it. But
wait till he has to gas her up a
couple of times.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Getting Rid of the Tariff.

From the Ashland Daily Independent
It's all very simple. A tariff viii eno
unemployment in England and unem-
ployment will end the tari1 over here.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
The Evening Star Newspaper Company
Rat. bv Carrier within the CITY.

The Evening Star. .45c per month
The Evening and Sunday Star
Cvhen 1 Sundays ,....... 6oc per month
The Evening and Sunday Star
(when S SundaysD ........ Csc per month
The Sunday Star ..,..........5c Sc per copy
Collection made at the end Of each month
Orders may be sent in by mail or telephone
National 5000.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
In Other Words.

From the Columbus Ohio State Journal.
1t seems that the Land of the Rising
Sun was called down by the land OF
the moonshine.
Evening star., 1932-01-22

There is one thing about hockey
when a player makes terrible shot
he does not smash his club.
Evening star., 1932-01-22

"One difflculty," said Uncle Eben'
"is dat while conscience speaks wifi a
still, small voice, temptation uses
megaphone."
Evening star., 1932-01-22
A Man and a Dollar.

From the Glendale News-Press.
When a man Is spent, he's licked
when dollar is spent, it is just begin
ming a good fight.
Evening star., 1932-01-22
Typical American Defined.

From the Buffalo Evening News.
A typical American is one who hates
the thought of Stain or Mussolinl
unless he could be it,
Evening star., 1932-01-22

@. How much would 100000 81 bills
weigh?-O. G. B.
A. The Bureau of Engraving and
Printing says that 100000 81 bills of
the new size currency would weigh ap-
proximately 2,030 pounds,
Evening star., 1932-03-01
BRIDGE
APPROACH URGED
Officials Testify in Support Of
Measurs to Facilitate
Construction.

The Federal Government made an
other effort today to insure a proper
approach to the Arlington Memorial
Bridge through Virginia. At a hearing
before the House Roads Committee on
the Smith-Swanson measure, designed
to facilitate construction through Fort
Myer. Va, and Arlington National
Cemetery, officials testified on the ne
cessity Of passing the legislation to en-
able the completion of the Lee boule-
ward. This highway would lead to the
new Shenandoah National Park:
Prepared to testify at the hearing
tive officer Of the Arlington Memorial
Bridge Commission; Charles w. Eliot,
I'd, director Of planning Of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission; Capt. e. N. Chisholm, jr., It's
engineer and Thomas S. Settle, its Sec
retary. Samuel M. johnson, director Of
the Lee Highway Association and presi-
dent OF the National Boulevard Asso-
citation. has taken a leading part in
having the question brought to the fore
Col. Grant reiterated his previous
stand in favor of the measure and ex-
planned that on Columbia Island there
would be a plaza as a terminal for the
traffic from Washington not bound for
the cemetery. One arm OF the highway
goes south as the Mount Vernon Me-
mortal Highway, while to the north
there is another arm, connecting with
the Lee Boulevard, by short bridge,
over Boundary Channel. The construc-
ton Of the Lee Boulevard. he said, is
highly desirable both for trafic and to
preserve the quite impressive vista 1t
will afford Of the central park axis Of
the National Capital"
The Smith-Swanson measure Is now
pending before the Senate Public Build
ings and Grounds Committee.