davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Does time make any difference 1r
relation to good books?
This is question one well may ask
ones self after Christmas and its
presentation books.
Probably most of those received by
booklovers were new, published during
1882, but some of them, no doubt, were
older
Age, of course, makes little differ
ence to first-class piece OF writing
It is good whether it was written
yesterday or thousand years ago.
The curious thing is that true
Judgment is SO difficult on contempo-
rary work.
If publishers could unerringly choose
great books, 1t goes without saying that
they would publish no other kind, in
the main.
There would be such a search On
for genius that half-geniuses and no
geniuses would have little show of get
ting into print.
1t is only after book has been
published for half century, or hun
dred years or SO, that mankind finds ii
possible to place definite label upon
piece of writing
Not only does mere survival mean
great deal, but the collected judg-
mentS of millions of people, over the
years, counts for more.
1t gives the booklover an uncarny
feeling, almost, as he looks over some
of his Christmas gifts, to feel that
out of them may emerge some o. the
classics of the future.
Here Is Van Wyck Brooks Life OF
Emerson" that cleverly done mosaic OF
the great sageS own words.
And Matthew Josephson's Jean JAG
qlleS Rousseau y
The Letters Of D. H. Lawrence
Will they be classic, in the years to
come?
Here is Lloyd Lewis Sherman
Fighting Prophet just of the presses
and Grover Cleveland: Man OF Cour-
age" by Allan Nevins.
Phyllis Bentleys inheritance" graced
many Christmas tree, along with Mrs
Bucks Sons" and Ellen Glasgow S
The Sheltered Life
Outstanding among the Christmas
gift books was Charles Morgans The
Fountain"
Some few no doubt got pleasure out
of The Past Recaptured," last volume
of Marcel Proust's gigantic novel series,
Remembrance of Things Past
All the competent critics hailed this
fiction cycle as the greatest literary
achievement of the century.
II yet remains to prove itself over
the passing years however.
On the Christmas tree, or preferably
at its foot. might have been Ludwig
LeWisohns Expression in America" or
T. E. Shaw's translation of nothing less
than the Odyssey of Homer. SHAW Is
really Lawrence of Arabia, picturesque
figure, known to more people as an
adventurer than as a scholar)
At the foot Of the tree might have
been M J. Bonn's The Crisis of Capt.
talism in America" or Stuart Chase S
New Deal" or Coles Guide Through
World Chaos" Or The Revolt of the
Masses" provocative and disconcerting
by Jose Ortega.
Or The March Of Democracy" by
James Truslow Adams. who in discov-
ering the history of his country, has
found out that a great many people
are interested in it. too.
To a certain type Of booklover old
Santa Claus might have brought. and
we hope he did, for it is a good piece
of work, DR.. CannonS Wisdom OF the
Body" which explains the marvellous
chemical and mechanical laboratories
which Nature has set up to keep living
things in health Comply with my
laws. or die the death, says she. But
Evening star., 1932-12-26
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

I'll do the very best can by you to
the end"
On the tree might have been Prof.
Sansom's Japan: A Short Cultural
History" or Mr.. Van Looms Geo
graphy."
These are but a few of the new
books.
The older books on the Christmas
tree presented the real problem, espe-
| cially if one happened to have read
them already.
II book were read 10 years ago,
should it be read NOW, just because one
| happened to receive 1t?
If it CHANGED to be a real classic,
written perhaps 500 years ago. and
read by you at least a quarter of a
century ago, still should it IL read
again?
Does time make any difference in
| this relation?
Here every reader must be his own
judge and jury.
There are certain books so great and
| fine that many reader, having read
them once. forever after fears to risk
reading them again.
What they did to him, they did once
and for all; they made a certain i'm
preston upon mind and heart which
was permanent.
| But, since there is nothing static
| about a good book, although its words
seem fixed for all time, there can be
no diVorcing it from the time and the
mood in which one read.
| The book which strikes home at 16
may not do SO at 40.
| Or then again 1t may!
There is no telling. and hence every
| reader must decide this tiCkliSh matter
for himself.
He, after all, is the reader.
| Every reader is the great reader. the
| real reader for whom the author wrote
and the publisher published
| Let no one who loves books ever
| forget that
| One does not have to be a critic, ~
whatever that is. nor yet Judge, nor
yet the owner of millions of books. to be
able to comprehend with the inward
eye that one is, in spirit and in truth,
the very one for whom all writers write
and publishers publish.
The entire tribe had eyes upon our
! hero since the days OF carving in baked
clay. and inScribing words on scrolls.
| Then later came the art of printing,
until today ambitious men do marvellous
things with presses.
lie OIlt dllIltQ dt III I'LL CelltuIltS, IL
is we'll to keep in mind is simply ones
humble self.
! Many a booklover will believe that it
is his duty to reread. every few years,
| the great books of the ages which have
made an especial appeal to him.
Upon this idea there have been
created various collections of the classic
books, of which perhaps every literate
person has read a large number. The
true booklover will, in many cases. have
read almost every one of the individual
books gathered together in such a COL
lection.
He will have read one volume in
childhood, another in early manhood.
another in adult manhood He will re-
gard them all as friends. comrades. in
many cases heroes of his mind and
heart.
The question remains: Shall he read
them over again?
Time and chance viii decide as well
as mood. A book once read has been
read Ones duty. as it were, is done.
But life and books. happily. are some
thing more than duty, and if the book
lover wants to read the old favorltes
/ over again. there is nothing, thank
J heaven, 10 prevent him.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
The Day After Christmas.

A driver of one Of The Star trucks
delivering Christmas baskets donated
by the merchants of Center Market and
employees Of the United Fruit Growers
Express carried his heavy burden
aome Of the baskets weighed forty
pounds-up three flights of stairs and
knocked at q door. 1t was opened by
q little girl. Her mother, she said, was
confined to bed in the other room.
There were only two rooms. The little
girl was one Of four children, all under
eight years old Mother" - called,
when the basket was deliver q, we are
going to have food!'
Food on Christmas day! 1t meant a
great deal. There were probably few
families In washington that went hun
Rry yesterday. For seldom has there
been such generous and widespread re-
sponse, by individuals and organiza-
tions, to the simple appeal of Christ
mas as there was this year.
But there is day after Christmas.
There Is a Winter of bleak and empty
days ahead. Fortunately our organized
charities, private and public, long since
ceased to place any great emphasis on
Christmas day alone. Their thought
60 into the making of a year. The
stress has been placed on the response
bility of meeting the requirements of
annual, not daily, family budgets. There
are tens Of thousands Of generous citi-
zens who, on Christmas day, would
regard the work of carrying a heavy
basket of food to needy family as
pleasant adventure. amply repaid by
the gratitude they find reflected in the
faces of their benehciaries. But until
these bearers of good cheer are able
and willing to undertake the same mis-
sion 365 days year, they must be
content to set up the machinery and
supply it with the fuel that is their
money, leaving 1t to function for them.
This they have done in the establish
ment of the various welfare and chari-
table organizations united under the
Community Chest.
The presentation of the Twenty Op-
portunities" by The Star this year has
been in the same spirit. The families
represented in those opportunities are
to receive, not the blessings of Christ
mas day alone, but the more tangible
blessing that comes from assured safe
ty from hardship and suffering for the
tomorrows. The response to the op-
portWlity fund has been gratifying
More than half of the opportunities
have been closed by specific donations,
and all Of them will be closed If a
deficit of about $500 can be wiped out
this week. 1t is in the belief that this
balance will be forthcoming that The
Star will continue the daily presenta-
tons Of the remaining opportunities.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
The Pope's Christmas Message.

The Christmas message of Pope Plus
XII to the world deserves thoughtful
reading by Christians in general. In
accordance with custom, the Pontif
listed his joys and sorrows of the past
year. OF the former, he named the
spread Of missions and the success of
the Eucharistic Congress. Among the
latter, he specified "the very sad condi-
tions" in Russia, Mexico and Spain.
OF the state of the world he spoke at
length, deploring $50 many divisions
and conflicts among peoples and states,
not excluding the horrors of war and
civil war and the consequent continu-
ance and worsening of a universal
financial and economic crisis without
precedence in history" He prayed for
peace, tranquility, mutual confidence,
friendly relations, greater assistance
wherever were the greatest needs, in
sufficient remunerative work, and less
unfavorable and uncertain general con-
ditions of life" Ir that petition, surely,
every generous, unselfish heart on earth
may join.
The Pontiff then called attention to
the beginning of "a holy year." April 2,
1888, to commemorate the nineteenth
centenary Of the passion, death and
resurrection of Christ. At such time,
he said, "it will be no light benefit that
| II
conflicts. lack Of confidence, armaments,
disarmament, damages, reparations,
debts payments, moratoriurns, insolven-
cies, economic and financial interests or
OF individual miseries. Let the world
no longer hear only those notes. but
instead those Of high spirituality and
strong appeal to life and the interests
CT the soul. OF all this our days have
Evening star., 1932-12-26
The Speakership.

When on March Speaker John N.
Garner steps across the Capitol and be-
comes the president of the Senate" as
well as Vice President of the United
States, he will leave behind him group
OF ambitious Democratic leaders fight
ing for the speakership. To be Speaker
Of the House Of Representatives Is
high honor. 1t is more; 1t is a posi-
tion of great power, the most powerful
OF any official post in this country, with
the exception of President.
In the next House the Democrats will
be so numerous they will almost be
tripping over each other. There are 3l4
OF them to be exact There will be a
huge number of Democrats in the House
entirely new to the job. And a great
preponderance of these new Democrats
Western and Northern States. 1t be-
tooves the candidates for the speaker
ship, therefore, to make hay while they
can; to obtain the support Of the new
Democratic members as rapidly as pos
sible. That, by the way. is being at
tempted on all sides.
Among the contenderS for the honors
which now belong to Mr.. Garner Of
Texas are the Democratic floor leader,
Representative Henry T. Rainey of ILL
nois; Representative Joseph w. Byrns
Of Tennessee, chairman of the Appro-
priations Committee; Representative
John McDuffie of Alabama, Democratic
whip of the House. Although other
members have put forward claims to
the speakership, the field apparently
has narrowed down to these three lead
ing aspirants. Only deadlock in the
party caucus, which selects the Demo-
cratic nominee for Speaker, could give
another member, as things stand today
any chance whatever. Mr.. Rainey rep
resents the Middle West, and as con-
trasted with the solid South" the West
and the North. His two opponents hail
from Southern States.
There have been only two Democratic
Speakers Of the House since the last
Cleveland administration, which went
out Of ONCE 36 years ago. They were
me late Champ Clark of T1issouri and
the present occupant of the chair, Mr.
Garner of Texas. The late Charles F
Crisp Of Georgia, father Of fc-Eler Rep.
resentative Crisp, who was leading
msmher Of the Eouse in tFa r-.es:at
Evening star., 1932-12-26
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM UILE.

happened Christmas eve. Somebody
wanted to telephone him, dialed what
was supposedly the Navy Yards num-
Der Uincoln 1860 and said, when the
answer came: Il want Admiral But
ler's quarters" The reply was Wait
q minute" and then: We haven't any
Admiral Butler registered here" The
caller. astonished, rejoined: We'll,
who are you. anyhow" Said the other
This is Cedar Hill Cemetery which
has telephone number Lincoln 4360.
Here's another telephone story. A
Mnnesotan reached Washington and
inquired how Senator Henrik Shlpstead
could be reached on the wire. Call up
the Farmer-Labor cloak room of the
Senate" was the information Vouch-
Safed. Although the tall and lone pine
of the Farmer-L Labor party has been in
Congress nearly 10 years his party
individual cloak room. Judged by most
Of his votes in the past, Henrik is more
likely to be PACED in the Republican
cloak room. but things may be different
after March 4.
One of the national clipping agencies
which make living out of furnishing
shrinking violets like politicians with
news cuttings about themselves has a
contract to supply the Philippine inde-
pendence mission at Washington. The
other day Senator Osmena, Speaker
Roxas and their colleagues had dumped
on their decks stack of clippings from
all over the country about a striking
sermon some preacher had delivered on
ST. Paul'S EpiStle to the Ephesians. The
clippers evidently thought Ephesians
and the Philippines somehow were one
and the same
In few days the will litigation re-
volving around the estate of Mrs.
George Dewey will be resumed in the
District of Columbia law courts One
OF the new documents in evidence to be
introduced is a set of diaries kept by
the widow of the hero of Manila Bay.
Some Of them are in her own hand
writing; others consist of material she
dictated. They bristle with racy details
of life and times at Washington during
the latter part of the Mckinley admin
iStration and the early years Of Theo-
dore RooSevelt's regime.
X X X X
Ambassador Debuchi Of Japan and
Nine. Debuchi, who have just returned
to Washington after four months abb
sence in their own country, came back
via Europe. One of their purposes was
to tarry in Rome. in order that they
might pay their respects to Pope Plus
XII at Vatican City. The Ambassador S
wife is an ardent Roman Catholic, and
both she and her astute husband are
frequently the guests of the apostolic
delegate, Archbishop Fumisoni Biondi,
in WaShingtOn The DebuchiS have an
undergraduate son at Princeton, and
Nine. Debuchi heads the list of pa
tronesses for Old Nassau's Triangle
Club" show here on January 4.
Copyright. 1927
Evening star., 1932-12-26

The holiday season is still a happy
old-fashioned affair in which the
choruses introduce sleigh bells in spite
Of the fact that the younger generation
cannot be expected to understand that
they once performed a service similar to
that for which the motor horn is now
relied on.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Shorter working time for congress
sional toilers is not scheduled In the
plans for economic adjustment. They
may drift into the position of group
OF workmen who cause spectators to
block traffic because they have nothing
to do on their own account.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Good Will to Men,

Good Will to Men.
There's just one day on which mankind
Assemblies to agree
And that's the day on which they find
The generous Christmas tree.
Our envies are what make us live
Revenges to contrive
Yet, to a mood Wit bids us give,
The whole world is alive.
So let's be wise and recognize
Although We may depart
From ways of earthly paradise
We're mostly good at heart.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Senator Bingham of New Haven says
that 80 beer will not lack alcoholic
potency. For those who are seriously
anxious about the matter, the word
would be more convincing from St.
Louis or Milwaukee
Evening star., 1932-12-26

One advantage in reducing the VOL
ume of tourist trade might be to make
his constituency less difficult tcr the
French statesman. His public his be-
come accustomed to view the typical
American as one who regarded it as a
pleasure to be relieved of his money.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

A more comprehensive Nationwide
organization is being discussed among
we'll known physicians. If home brew
is allowed to go on Indefinitely, the
stomach specialists may be expected to
assert themselves as the prosperous and
influential members,
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Japanese are said to be planting
oysters along the West Coast of America.
Preserving all rights of ownership may
not be entirely easy. An oyster is pro-
verbally dumb and cannot be expected
always to know its masters voice.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

The benign hope was expressed by
Vice President Curtis that no little boy
or girl would be forgotten on Christmas
day. That no Government official will
be forgotten after the Fourth of March
is too much to ask, even of Santa Claus.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Going Down.

From the Los Angeles Times.
An Olympic champion is to become
crooner. 1t Is unlikely that this will
change the average opinion of a Groom
er, but it may alter the estimate of
Olympic champions.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Chicago Containers -

From the Glendale News-Press.
Three men were sentenced in Chicago
for carrying weapons in their automo-
biles. They should have understood
that in Chicago that's what violin cases
are for.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Sympathetic fears are expressed that
James A. Farley will find the question
Of campaign obligations even more COM
plicated than his chief finds that of
international debts
Evening star., 1932-12-26

There are almost as many different
styles Of prohibition sentiment under
consideration as there are varieties Of
alcohol waiting to be released.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Reservations for New Year eve din
ners cost less than formerly, but the
reduction is not sufficient to make any
appreciable dent in the high cost of
living.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
He Nav Be Soon.

From the Louisville Courier journal.
Life is moving at too fast a pace, says
Einstein. Apparently that gentlemen
was never mixed up in an American
law suit.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

France favors as much discussion as
possible, thus contradicting the popular
maxim to the effect that silence is
golden
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Costly But Profitable.

From the Louisville Courier journal
The fellow who printed lot of aiHu
mail stamps in 1918, with an inset pic
ture of an airplane upside down. lost
his job, but the products Of his mis-.
take are selling today for nearly 5000
apiece. Z,
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Drastic Dentistry.

From the Dayton Daily News.
In Germany they are making teeth
Of iron and steel and it may not be
long until we are having structural
iron men put hr our bridgework.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Debt agreements might be easier if
the world could be persuaded to invest
in cash registers and forget about ma
chine guns.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Meant It After All.

From the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.
The French were serious. back in
1917, when they told the United States,
I'VE never can repay you."
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Lovely Syllables.

From the Toledo Blade.
In Europe cancellation" would poll
q heavy vote Is the most beautiful
word.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
InterIude,

Contentious for a while give way
For kindlier thought delaying,
It's Merry Christmas" for day.
And then-"as We were saying
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
ntber States and Canada,
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
n the use for republication of all news dis
patches credited to it or not otherwise cred
TED II this paper and also the local news
publis I'd herein. All rights OF puollcalion u
spacirl dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1932-12-26

"You got to keep cultivatin' Christ
mas trees" said Uncle Eben. dis years
crop was no failure, but I Is expectin'
next years to be considerable BETTER"
Evening star., 1932-12-26
Again the SPOTLIGHT,

hSdiH tuC SpOtuSHt.
care you sure the country will come
out all right?"
Absolutely" answered Senator Sorg-
hum.
Then why all this argument?"
"As usual in every seeming crisis,
there has to be an argument about
who's going to get the credit for Sav-
ing. it."
Jud Tunkins says he doesn't think
any the less OF Santa Claus for being a
myth. So was many a wartime mil
lionaire.
Heavy Odds.
From joy We are still digressors,
And this may be because
There are thousands of tax assessors
To one small Santa Claus.
do you favor beer?"
"Oh, yes," answered Uncle Bill Bot
tletop.
What percentage?"
II don't care, if they'll only bring
back the old free lunch with it,
Patience makes the OK a better
friend and servant" said Hi Ho, the
sage of Chinatown. However he may
be beaten, he will not hasten at the risk
of stumbling"
InterIude.
Contentious for a while give way
For kindlier thought delaying,
It's Merry Christmas" for day.
And then-"as We were saying"
"You got to keep cultivatin' Christ
mas trees" said Uncle Eben. dis years
crop was no failure, but I Is expectin'
next years to be considerable BETTER"
Evening star., 1932-12-26
The Evening Star Newspaper Company

llth st. and Pennsylvania Ave:
New York Office: lie East And st.
Chicago once: Lake Michigan Building.
European once: IA Regent ST., London
England.
Evening star., 1932-12-26
D.<> hv Corrier within the Citv

The Evening Star Aoc pet mohtn
The Evening and Sunday Star
(when Sunda? 81. ooc Der month
The Evening and Sunday Star
The Sunday yStar,.5c SC per copy
Collection made at the end OF each month
Orders NAV be sent In by mail or telephone
National 5000.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

@. OF what descent are the inhabi-
tantS of the AZores?-M. L. c.
A. They are mostly OF Portuguese orr
gin with a Well-marked strain Of Moor
ish and Flemish blood. Negroes. nulat-
toes. English, Scotch and Irish immi-
grants are present III considerable num-
Evening star., 1932-12-26

@. What does chiffon mean?-B. N.
A. The term chiffon has different
meanings in different countries. In
France it means a rag; in Rumania, a
bleached cotton shirting; in Germany
and Austria, i stout, fine, plain-woven
linen fabric with a smooth finish: In the
United States, a delicate, gauzelike silk
tissue.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

Jud Tunkins says he doesn't think
any the less of Santa Claus for being a
myth. So was many wartime mil
lionaire.
Evening star., 1932-12-26

@. What nickname was given to Gen.
CORVALLIS ?-D. A.
A. Gen. Greene of the American
forces called him The Modern Hanni-
bal"