davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1932-03-14
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E, TRACEWELL.

Unexpected guests arrived at the
feast of crumbs set out on the SNOW in
the Templeton Jones backyard for the
juncos or snowbirds.
Who could they have been but
starlings?
Just how they got wind of the BAN
quet. as early as the second day. is but
another mystery Of bird life, along with
migration.
No one ever has explained why birds
migrate, how they do 1t, and, above all
the instinct behind 1t, beyond a gener-
alization which Is only word-surface
deep.
The underlying mystery remains the
same today that it was in the beginning.
Just so will be the swiftness with
which the gang of starlings. Wintering
over In Rock Greek Park, got scent or
sight or however-it- is-they-do of the
platter of crumbs laid out so temptingly
on the enormous cloth of snow in the
Jones yard.
The feast was intended for the snow
birds, but the starlings got the most of
it, especially the cookies, which made
up the better part of the second days
repast.
Intent readers Of this column will re-
member how some rather hard baking
powder biscuits, permitted to remoin in
the oven too long, constituted the bill
of-fare the first day.
They will wonder now how cookies,
traditional American delicacies, came to
be wasted on birds.
The explanation is a simple one:
The oven was too hot for the cookies,
too.
The result was that within "a hours
they would have dented the side of a
barn, If thrown thereat with sufficient
speed.
Mr.. Jones, being very determined
gentleman, refused to eat the cookies,
even though made expressly for his
benefit, and determined to throw them
to the birds.
II was realized, however, that no
junco could drill a hole into those
cookies without human aid.
Accordingly. each one was deity
broken into bits and the bits spread
with a throwing motion over the sur
face OF the snow.
City readers may express surprise
that there was all this snow SO late
in the week.
Out on the Jones farm there is plenty
of snow. The temperature is lower out
that way, the wind has better chance
to make a sweep of it and the much
smaller number of homes per acre, as
compared with the city, makes for less
radiated heat.
There can be no doubt that the
thousands of chimneys In city, COM
paratively close together. make sort
of heat blanket over the entire COM
munity.
Nothing comparable to this prevails
In the suburban areas. The heat
blanket" is lacking. The result is that
the snow of March remained on the
ground great many days in these
areas. Suburban dwellers. forced to
wear rubbers, found themselves on dry
sidewalks in town.
The snowbirds, smacking their bills
over the diet of baking powder biscuit,
set up a shrill clamor at the sight OF
the sugar cookies.
Perhaps even the birds like their bit
Of sugar.
Scarcely had the juncos begun to
gather than shadow fell across the
banquet table.
1t was made by a very black, very
squat and a very large bird.
This bird had practically no tail.
This gave him a waddling air. which
In a human being would have been
branded staggering.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
End of a Remarkable Career

Ivar Kreuger, the Match King"
who took his own life in Paris on
Saturday, was one Of the most In
teresting personalities in the world
view. Yet he was one Of the
least known. He was rare combina-
tion Of shyness and boldness. He
Stunned pubic attention, gave no in
terviews to the press, forbade all pub
hcity regarding his personal movements,
and still was not in social sense a
recluse. He mixed freely with people
was a charming host at entertainments
and enjoyed the society Of congenial
spirits In business he was direct
dealing and resourceful, gifted with a
broad vision and an extraordinary sense
of values. Nevertheless, he came to the
point of failure through overextension
OF his operations. His suicide was a
confession Of that failure.
Kreuger, born In Sweden fifty-one
years ago. came to this country at the
age Of thirty and made his first money
selling real estate In Chicago. After
various engagements here, in England
and In Canada, he returned to his native
land in 1908 and, taking certain inter-
ests Of his father In a match manufac-
tory as the nucleus, organized the great
match monopoly that spread from
Sweden TO other countries. The hold
ing company expanded to include other
interests until it became one Of the
financial giants Of Europe.
The misfortunes that beset the Kreu-
eer corporation were the result In large
partfbf the disturbed financial condi-
tions In both Europe and America. The
vast concern became w1akl:ng as coon
Evening star., 1932-03-14

The Presidents references to needed
reform in the bankruptcy laws interest
the Baltimore Sun, which SAYS IN a
spirited editorial: Among the reconn-
mendations for legal reform suggested
In President Hoover's message to Con-
gress, by far the most important are
those relating to bankruptcy matters,
In this field, which under the Consti-
tuon Is the peculiar province of the
Federal courts, existing statutes have
led to many abuses" Of these. how
ever, the Pittsburgh Press says: Many.
II not most, OF the existing bankruptcy
abuses could be eliminated If the pres
ent judicial machinery were operated
aggreSsively and intelligently. Any sys-
tenn will depend on the men operating
1t. We need judges who will recognize
their responsibility and who will intel
hgently supervise the selection and
work Of their subordinates, the referees
and the receivers and trustees and their
counsel. In this, as In other admins
trative and judicial matters, reform can
other law"
Overcrowding of the court docket Is
blamed by the Charleston Is. c. Eve
ming Post for some Of the existing evils,
and this paper adds: "If Congress were
to provide a system of subordinate
courts for the trial of miSdemeanors, It
would clear the District Court dockets
Of substantial part of what they con-
tain and leave time for the prompt con-
sideration of more important matters.
II this is not done, there Is little hope
Of giving the Federal Courts any genu-
Inc relief"
while individual reforms may be ex-
pected as result Of the Presidents
message. the whole problem is one that
lends itself to slow and painful proc
eSses of adjustment, requiring continu-
GUS study and repeated reiteration Of
the necessity" says the Springfield
(Mass) Union.
1.-THE course of Justice in our Federal
Courts may seem to the average citizen
quite apart from the affairs of his every
day life" remarks the Appleton Post
Crescent, "but, in fact, 1t is much closer
and more intimately interviewer with
his wellbeing than he imagines. That
is why the Presidents special message
to Congress concerning judicial reform
affecting these courts. the only courts
over which Congress has control, must
be made to assume the significant part
1t deserves In the public consideration"
Discussing the subject from another
angle, the Haverhill Evening Gazette
"Our feeling is that, while it Is
wise to make legal and judicial machin-
cry as efficient as possible, wiser pro-
cedure is to get rid of lot of super
fuous laws; get rid of every bit of pro-
hibitive and restrictive law that we can
get along without; get rid Of statutes
that by their number, their complexity
and their interference with normal Gus
tom and activity inspire disregard
rather than respect for law. Then we
will have more eficient enforcement,
because we viii have more respect for
law"
Evening star., 1932-03-14

the most distinguished, Of any within
his experience. Secretary of Treasury
Mills took the trouble to send the asso-
citation a warmly complimentary letter
bespeaking his own exceeding enjoy
ment.
- x 4
The World Court question, so far as
the United States Senate is concerned,
once again up for consideration, Is once
again entangled in a maze of hair
splitting. The fifth reservation as
originally attached to the Senates reso-
luton Of ratification was not entirely
acceptable to the other powers now
members Of the Court, and so we are
not yet in the Court. Then came the
Root formula for dealing with the fifth
reservation. The Root formula Is ac-
ceptable to the others, and the question
now before the Senate Is whether it is
acceptable to us. The Root formula Is
not complete acceptance of the fifth
reservation. The Root formula is a
compromise. Senator Reed of Penn
Sylvania now proposes, and his proposal
has the backing Of many members of
the Foreign Relations Committee, that
the Senate ratify the Root formula
with the clear understanding that
(then follows the original language of
the fifth reservation" In other words,
under the Reed plan the Senate would
ratify a compromise on the fifth reser-
vation with the understanding that no
compromise was involved. The Senate
in effect would accept the Root formula
with the understanding that the for
mula meant exactly the same thing as
the fifth reservation. This strikes
many observers, friends and foes of the
Court alike, as travelling in a circle and
ending up at the starting point.
CASTOR B. Means, one-time Secret
Service operative and off-time in the
public eye, whose alleged exploits ever
abound in sensation and whose printed
"reminiscences following his release from
the Federal penitentiary in Atlanta have
provoked heated controversies, was en-
countered recently in Washington re-
freshment parlor. Are you doing any
writing these days, Gaston?" a friend
inquired. Nothing to speak Of just
now" replied Means, nothing since I
finish the writing of the Washington
Merry-Go- Round"
DR.. William Irving Sirovich, whose
vocation is medicine. whose avocation
Is play writing and whose New York
City lower East Side constituency sent
him to Congress, has achieved overnight
fame of a sort by engaging in wordy
battle with the New York theatrical
critics through the medium of an in
vestigation by DR.. Sirovich's Committee
on Patents of their "pernicious activ-
tiles" Interrupting the tax bill debate
In the House last Friday. DR.. Sirovich
held the floor for half an hour to ex-
pound his views on the decay of the
theater, the depression and the dra-
matte critics His thesis was Q When
you take away the theater from city
or town you take away its heart, leaving
the inhabitants lifeless and pul~"leSs." :"
CD ITO the vast majority of those who
patrcnize the theater the verdict of the
critic is final. They have the power
to either make or break a play" 90
Dramatic critics should be possessed
Of modicum of basic equipment" (4
'Mountebanks, shysters, quacks and
pretenders are today masquerading as
dramatic critics.
(Copyright, 1920
Evening star., 1932-03-14

1t is more and more fashionable to
quote Shakespeare. Without trying to
revive the old skepticisms professed as
to the authorship, 1t may be mentioned
that the poet was not always completely
accurate when he expressed himself In
terms Of philosophy. Polonius was only
fifty per cent correct when he said.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be-"
The borrower can hope for a morato-
rum.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

Even in a startling 1t was staggering.
Shortly a second arrived.
He completed the scouting expedi-
tion. Starlings always send a couple
on ahead in order to look over situa-
tion. and wig-wag a signal Tor or
against the main BODY coming up I'M
There has been much feeling against
these birds on the part of civic authori-
ties, and no wonder, but still tney re-
main an interesting form OF life.
They belong to thaS comparatively
small class which might be termed bird
clowns Their stubby tails, their
rather fat bodies, and their aggressive
ness. tend to put them in the classifica-
ton of buffoons.
It is, rather, the way they handle
themselves while on the ground, Wn1ch
makes them appear clownllke. Inelr
walk is a waddle, amounting to
swagger.
Their arrival as a group, say about
two dozen, seemed to G1sconcert the
snowbirds. The juncos began to ny
away, one by one, as the starlings came
on the scene.
Shortly the large bircs had full pos
session Of the cookies. They did not
appear TO CHASE LIlc o1lo"DhNo, SNN
rather depended upon their compare
tive bulk to keep the little fellows
away.
This plan worked very we'll for awhile.
Then, when the juncos saw that
shortly there would be no food LETT,
they began to come back, mostly one
at time but not the entire compile
ment at any one time.
There were seldom more than two
or three snowbirds on the ground with
the starlings. The whore proceeding
struck the observer as being adjusted
upon the following basis, mutually
agreed upon by the larger and smaller
birds:
On the part Of the starlings-that
they would pretend to pay no attention
to the juncos, If but two or three of the
latter were present at any one time,
On the part Of the juncos-that they
would give up their rights to the f1eld
If the starlings would permit a few of
them at time to feast unmolested.
Il ~ '@'''.
This. ARRANGEMENT was rather rough
on the snowbirds, for which the entire
feast had been arranged.
1t was rather disconcerting to Tenn
pleton Jones, who had devised such a
brilliant fare for his small friends.
Here were these hogs of starltngs get
ting the so-called lions share of the
meal, although no one, neither Jones
nor the snowbirds, had invited them
nor knew they were in the neighbor-
hood
Jones thought then of the expedient
Of opening the back door.
At the sound of the latch three snow
birds and six starlings flew away
This left 18 starlings on the ground
and no juncos.
Jones shut the door violently.
Six more starlings few away.
Score-Starlings, IL; JuncoS, o.
Jones issued violently onto the back
porch.
I Score-Starlings, 0; Juncos, o.
Thirty seconds after he went back in
the house there full two dozen star
iings eating cookies to one junco.
Here were the big birds demonstrating
one Of their cardinal traits-persever-
ance, as they would call it-stubborn-
ness, as Jones would label It,
They strutted all over the yard,
snatching cookies as they went, while
the pretty little snowbirds hoped tim
idly around, a few at time, taking the
crumbs which the others left for them.
Jones thought 1t all wrong, but what
could he do about 1t? Those cookies
were pretty tough, maybe they would
give the big fellows indigestion.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Take advantage Of this free serv-
ice. II you are one Of the thousands
who have patronized the Bureau, write
us again. If you have never used the
service. begin now. 1t is maintained
for your benefit. Be sure to send your
name and address with your question
and incloSe cents In coin or stamps
for return postage Address The Wash
ington Star Information Bureau. Fred
eric J. Haskin, Director, washington,
D. G.
p B.
A. It is a bid without the values to
justify 1t, made for the purpose of
confusing adversaries in contract
bridge.
@. Do Senators and Representatives
in Congress occupy the same seats?-
C. S. T.
A. Senators are assigned desks when
sworn in, and they may retain these
throughout their terms. Senior Sena-
tors occupy the more desirable seats.
In the House there are no individual
seats or desks. Each Representative
formerly had a seat assigned to him,
but as the membership increased this
became impracticable and the House
Of Commons system was adopted. In
both houses Republicans and Demo-
Gratis sit right and left of the middle
aisle.
O. To what amount are checks used
in the transaction Of business?-
c. F. H.
A. About $4,000, 900 900 worth in the
course Of ordinary business every
week.
@. What vessels were used by Ad-
miral Byrd on his trip to the South
Pole?-J. A. r.
A. They were the C. A. Larsen. a
whaler; the City of New York, which
had been an .ice-breaker, and the
Eleanor Boiling, the supply ship, a
steamer.
@. Please give some information
about "Toyhiko Kagawa. the Foremost
Christian Of Asia. w. A. j.
A. He is a japanese social and re-
hgious worker He Is about 40 years
OF age. In his early youth he attended
q mission church, where he reported
having had vision of the crucffied
Christ He was a member of a wealthy
family Of Kobe, which renounced him
and he was sent to study in America,
returning as social missionary. He
organized labor to fight the extreme
poverty and was fined and imprisoned
by the japanese government.
@, Who said, Every country has the
government it deserves?"-H. s.
A. This Is a translation from the
French and was contained in a letter
written by Joseph de Maistre in 1911.
Q. Has any cne made an extensive
collection Of pictures of railway loco
motives-C. z. p.
A. Collecting engine pictures Is a
hobby among "railroad-minded" people.
One OF the worlds largest collections Is
owned by Joseph Lavelle, who has more
than 10000 photographs of North
American locomotives.
@. How much of the sea area of the
earth is included in the Pacific and At
lantic Oceans?-C. T.
A. The basin Of the Pacific Ocean
comprises about 40 per cent Of the
whole sea area; the Atlantic Ocean
about rs per cent.
Q. In whose handwriting is the en-
crossed copy of the Declaration of In
depeudence?-C. o. s.
A: Timothy Matlack engrossed the
original Declaration of Independence.
@. Why do the windows of a room
sweat il a gas heater Is used?-W n 8
A. The Bureau of Standards saws
that water Is formed during the COM
bustion OF gas and remains In the at
mosphere Of the room when a gas
heater is employed. This water con-
denses on the surface of windows or
Evening star., 1932-03-14

Rum running has been practically
Of conveyances Of all kinds for kid
napers. The underworld would find it
profitable. in the long run, not only to
return q victim as promptly as pos
sible, but to contribute a share of the
ransom money.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

No government can hope to run
without taxes. The people themselves
demand liberal and even extravagant
public expenditures, however much they
may resent the necessity of supplying the
funds. Fortunately, hope springs eter-
nal and there are SO many different
kinds of taxes that a trial and error
system of experimentation may be car
ried on for an indefinite length of time.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

Psychologists interest themselves In
the mental processes of lower animals
though perhaps not to the extent that
they would If chimpanzees were In posi-
ton to offer fees for psychoanalytic
alibiS.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

Messages over diaf telephones are diff
ficult to trace. Great inventions In
serving the law-abiding citizen must
also be reckoned with as affording in
creased facilities to the blackmailer.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

When a man worth an enormous for
tune commits suicide, the old debate on
whether wealth brings happiness is re-
sumed with increasing emphasis in sup
port Of the negative side.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Must Be a Mistake.

From the New York Sun.
The Department Of Commerce has
figured out that the average life Of an
automobile Is seven and half years.
While there are some left, somebody
ought to figure out the average life
Of q pedestrian.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

Gallant fighters under George Wash
ington also realized that there may be
a time In a nations affairs when hoard
ing contradicts both discretion and
propriety.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Many Need Not Worry.

From the Lynchburg News.
Doctor tells us ones mind may cause
indigestion. A lot Of folks needn't
worry.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Shanghai Fuss Explained.

From the New York Sun.
The best way to get notion Of how
the Shanghai fuss got started Is to
watch two ten-year-old boys play slap
jack.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
All Other States and Canada.
Nremher nf the Associated Press.

The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled
TO the use for republication OF all news dis
patches credited to Ii or not otherwise cred
ited in this paper and also the .oeal news
published herein All riEhts of publication OF
special dispatches herein are also reserved.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
World Peace Model.

From the Duluth Herald.
Fortunately, nothing said about the
weather. for or against, creates any
factional strife.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

When debts become large and com
plicated, some form Of mathematics
dealing with a cancellation system is
naturally employed II possible.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Walls for Poor Old Tariff.

From the Keokuk psily Gate City.
Nothing to hurt bombs at In this land
Of the free but the poor old tariff.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Practice Fails to Helm

From the Boston Herald.
Conversation, unlike most cthei
things. does not always improve with
pract1c8s s-,-.s5 A-s-r.4...s-. 10y -
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Moderate Aspiration.

What do you regard as the highest
honor to which statesman can aspire?"
ITO be mentioned kindly by the
friends at home" answered Senator
Sorghum.
Don't you want biographies and
statuary?"
only In moderation. I'll have been
sufficiently involved in controversy
during my lifetime without going off
and getting mixed up with literary and
art critics"
Jud Tunkins says some men would
despise a dole and yet not hesitate to
take money for doin' nothin' so long as
1t was called salary.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Pursuing q Penalty.

do you think people who gamble
in the stock market ought to be
punished?"
II don't know about that" answered
Mr.. Dustin stax. "But they usually
are
Fortunate indeed" said HI Ho, the
sage of Chinatown, "is the man who not
only can boast Of riches, but also Of the
manner In which they were gained"
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Big Enterprise.

Big Enterprise.
We're very rich, this country grand.
But even wealth provokes regrets.
AS larger business we command,
Bookkeeping still more ponderous gets
But If the losses come along
We know the tide will turn some day.
Profits will be both swift and strong
When business goes the other way.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Unwieldy.

Men ask for wars grim recklessness.
And long before they're through with
1t,
They pause and candidly confess
They don't know what to do with it.
sDon,t be too anxious to be boss"
said Uncle Eben. When de final
measurements is took, dkn as give de
orders Is de ones dat has to take do
blame foh de mistakes"
Evening star., 1932-03-14
THEODORE w. MOVES. Editor

The Evening Star Newspaper Company
Business once:
llth st. and Pennsylvania Ave
New York once: ITO East 42nd st.
Chicago once: Lake Michigan Building.
European once. IL Regent H., London,
England.
Evening star., 1932-03-14
Rate hY Carrier Within the City.

Kate by Carrier Within the CITY.
The Evening Star. 45c per month
when 1 Sundays -. soc per month
The Evening and Sunday star
fwhen S Sundaysl ..,..,.. 6Sc per month
The Sunday Star .............5c rtr copy
Orders may be sent In by mail or telephone
National 5000.
Evening star., 1932-03-14

@. Where are there letters of Martha
Washington2-P. N.
A. The Huntington Library at San
Marino has q dozen; the Historical So
ciety of Pennsylvania has at least
Evening star., 1932-03-14

@. What are meant by r,ishes In
motion picture parlance?-L. II.
A. The Film Daily Yearbook says
that rushes are advanced prints. They
are scenes processed Immediately after
taking, for the Assistance Of the direc-
for
Evening star., 1932-03-14

O. OF what American cabinet mem
Der did Dickens say that the cabinet
officer knew more about Dickens
novels than he did himself?-S. N.
A. Secretary Stanton.