davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-04-26

A reader wants to know "how to
select books" What question: As II
any one could answer 1t.
In the annual welter It Is highly
necessary to keep ones head, that Is
all.
Here Is q volume which has sold
1900 copies In q year, and here an
other which has gone over the 400 900
mark.
Do these figures mean that the lat
ter Is many times as good as the first?
No, they do not. There will remain
many to think that the indications are
Just the other way around, perhaps.
Even figures approaching half MIL
lion are as nothing. In comparison
with the 5000, 900 copies Of I'm His
Steps," which Q recent list shows top
ping the nifty best sellers" Of the past
half century. The List showed many
titles widely known and read in their
decades.
Was q one of them, however, really
greats In the best sense?
Just what the word great" means,
when applied to writing, Is dimcult to
explain.
But it will seem to some that no
book can pretend to true greatness un-
less 1t possesses true originality.
This is where the big split comes be-
tween the really great books OF the
ages and the thousands upon thou
sands of lesser efforts, many Of them
of amazing worth.
Today, more than ever before in his
tory, and especially in the United
States, there are q thousand persons
writing books to one in the old days.
The fruits of universal education are
at hand.
The bulk Of these works which
stream from the presses in such num-
bers as to confuse even ardent book
lovers are well written, the themes
capably handled, the ideas worked out
in a fashion Of which the authors may
feel proud.
Only a few thousand copies must be
sold to put book on a paying basis.
and 1t would seem offhand that al
most any work, properly printed,
would sell ut least 5000 when offered
to . buying public Of some 10000. 900
Of people.
There have been, Of course, many
instances to the contrary. Out Of the
huge number of works written and
published over the years 1t cannot be
wondered that some have been utterly
worthless, and some good ones some
how not sellers.
4 = u
The high level Of merit Of most Of
our modern works Is their distinguish
ing point. It may be that nothing
written today will surpass, In the judg-
ment Of the ages, books printed be-
fore 1900, but is seems true that the
general level Of merit has risen.
One seldom finds a poorly conceived
or written book any more. And this
makes it all the more difncult for the
average booklover to keep UP with the
literary procession.
There are 100 good biographies
printed nowadays to one good one in
past years. Novels pour forth annual
ly, each one Of them well done. There
are more books about hobbies, more in
almost every line, so that the general
reader Is left somewhat bewildered.
Sometimes 1t seems as II the more
one reads about books, the less he is
able to be sure Of the ones which
would appeal to him.
Right there, one may feel, lies the
first rule In book selection.
One must find those works which
will make personal appeal.
Never let anybody else tell you what
to read.
Evening star., 1934-04-26
G. O.P. Roosevelt's Comprehension
OF National Problems Questioned

likes RECOMMENDATION or control any
more than do. But, on the other
hand, I challenge the opposition to
accept the only alternative to regi-
mentation or revoiution-thA un-
lettering Of the spiritual and pro-
ductive forces Of the American people
by the removal Of restrictive trade
barriers. Until the opposition is
willing to assent to the removal
thereof, in part at least. can only
say 1t might as well take It's medi-
cine. and, like good sports, profess
to like 1t. We can't prevent results
from following causes. That our op-
ponents tried for some so years, end
ing finally In Q dismal failure.
JOHN w. HESTER,
Evening star., 1934-04-26

There are many persons who would
favor lotteries II prize winners could
be guaranteed. The possibility Of such
thing is, however, the very thing
that puts lotteries under suspicion
among people who favor q new deal
and q square one.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Beauty contests come and go. but
none Of them disturbs Marie Dressler
as one Of the recognized leaders Of
Hollywood. Marie depends on brains
and never advertises npsticks or facial
creams. Yet she celebrates every
birthday with increasing eclat.
Evening star., 1934-04-26
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRAcEWELL.

Tell yourself what to readi
Never let another persuade you TO
read something which you have no
inner persuasion to read.
You may miss something good?
OF course you will!
Is there . booklover alive who has
not missed many good things?
One may think not. Even the most
conceited person, who prides himself
or herself on book knowledge, has not
read them all.
Here Is . man very proud Of his
reading, fancies himself veritable
bookworm, and the like, but try him
out on . few famous names Of htera-
ture, and you will discover that he has
read in limited paths, indeed.
And that, Of course, is exactly as
1t should be. The pretense to all
reading Is all that Is absurd. No one
can read all, no one ever has, and no
one ever viii. That Is what great
libraries are for, to hold all that no
individual can read.
II no one man can read but . 1.-THE
Of all that is printed. of all that has
been printed, Of all that will be
printed, what must be his system OF
selection?
He must have some system, even II
he has never considered the matter
much. He relies on reviews, or the
recommendation Of friends, or he Joins
q book club, or Just lets books get
waited to his attention In the daily
life.
The latter Is not such q bad system
as 1t might sound at first. The at
tempt to keep up with the new books"
In particular is misleading, to say the
least. Every one who has tried 1t
knows that often 1t leads to the
perusal of many books which are
properly forgotten by the world the
next year.
II one permits the daily life to In
form one Of certain books, he may
feel sure that life will do Just that.
provided he moves in nterate circles,
and Is willing to listen to others.
There is such . thing, too, as play
ing lunches In books.
A title, for instance, may possess .
peculiar appeal
One sees it, forgets 1t, 1t comes back.
1t keeps coming back.
Then read the book, for the chances
are that o mysterious chain has been
set up, with the author at one end
and his ultimate readers at the other.
This Is not mysticism, but common
sense, and one of the very best ways
to select books.
Try 1t and see.
The real effort should be made to
read the best written books.
Suppose we rate the writing ability
Of the undoubted best authors as 90
per cent.
Then the bulk Of modern writer's
will come in somewhere between rs
per cent and 90 per cent, say. That
Is what Is meant by declaring that the
writing Of today Is surprisingly good.
It Is Just that extra 8 per cent.
however, which make the truly great
writer's. and they are the ones every
man should read, in the main.
In that extra per cent are packed
all the surprising virtues Of great
writers. It Is Just q little something.
better felt than understood, perhaps
and do you know what we think it Is?
It Is originality, 1t Is the one precise
expression Of an idea which no one
else could have achieved In exactly
the same way. The other books are
echoes, or echoes Of echoes, but the
indubitably great are "naturals," as
our good slang has 1t.
Evening star., 1934-04-26
Declares Against
All-Night Parking
RI the Editor NJ The Star.

TO the Editor OF The Star:
In q newspaper article TRAFFIC Di-
rector William A. van Duzer is quoted
as saying that the matter Of the
ban on all-night parking Of auto
mobiles on the streets Of Washington
is up to the motorists to decide on.
The article Is headed Parking Ban
at Night Up to Motorists"
I beg permission to call attention
to the fact that the matter Of all
night parking on our streets concerns
everybody In the city, not alone the
motorists.
The American Automobile Associa-
ton recently conducted vote-taking
among its members on this subject,
and while the results were given out
as approximately 60 per cent favoring
all-night parking, I think that Q 10
per cent vote Of motorists against
parking is very significant indeed,
and feel certain indicates that If
the vote was broader and included
non-owners Of cars as well the re-
suit would be unmistakable.
Again, I say why limit the vete to
car owners? The fact that of $50 900
cars in the District, about SO 900 are
left on the streets at night is .
"vote" In itself, and this matter is
Of such vital Importance to the people
generally, to the whole population Of
the city, that its adoption or rejec-
ton should not be left In the hands
Of car owners alone.
May add also that as almost every
city In this country, except Wash
ington, prohibits all-night parking Of
automobiles on the streets, and not
withstanding the arguments which
appear from time to time In the
papers for and against the same,
many Of them very cleverly con-
ceived and forcefully expressed, the
plain, homely fact remains that II
Washington Is right, then all the other
cities are wrong in the stand they
take on this subject.
The trafdc director Is also quoted
as being In favor Of . parking abo-
ition on all arterial highways and
boulevards on which there are street
car lines. This would be . good be-
ginning. No one should expect the
ban against all-night parking to begin
at once, operative all over the city:
it must be gradual, Of course, but It
should be started and started without
delay. D. q. PFEIFFER.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

insult says he hopes he viii get
justice in this country. Perhaps he
will blame grand opera for his finan-
cial misfortunes and try to represent
himself as Just a simple-minded stage
door Johnny.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

The popular intelligence, as 1t grap-
piles courageously with economic ques-
tions, Is now compelled to wonder
whether "fascism" Is another new
word that is going to require q tre-
mendous amount Of explanation.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Human nature is hard to reckon
with. Such Is the indomitable spirit
of competition that there is liable to
be a certain amount Of jostling, even
in the bread line.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Trotsky has gotten to Q point that
leaves him apparently Indifferent as
to his next destination provided he Is
permitted to take his portable type
writer along.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

The cherry blossoms are pleasant
reminders Of many things; among
them the fact that Nature works in
defatigably from year to year to as
sist in tho restoration Of normalcy.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Revival Of interviews with the former
Kaiser may halt ideas Of future war
long enough to permit fighting the
old one all over again.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Efforts of apologists for suspicious
Of Red" propaganda lead to earnest
warnings to look out for pink white
wash brush.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Dillinger is a startling example Of
individualism that enables one lone
person to represent an extensive and
formidable crime wave.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

One of the things that help to de-
stroy confidence In Hitler Is his obvious
belief that he is a smarter man than
EinStein,
Evening star., 1934-04-26

The theory Is gaining ground that
wars might be averted If nations
could perfect an ronclad agreement
to boycott all munitions factories.
Evening star., 1934-04-26
White House Note.
From the South Bend Tribune.

FROM the South Bend Tribune.
The Presidents trip to Southern
waters wasn't o complete success un-
less Mrs. Roosevelt did the house.
cleaning while he was gone.
Evening star., 1934-04-26
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

Another "Idee."
MY Uncle Jim Is busy now.
As busy as can be,
Announcing as he makes q bow
Another Great Idee!"
THE sun has risen in the East
For many and many Q day.
It should for some short time at least
Go round the other way.
I'VE will attempt to be polite
And sing little song,
Declaring what was wrong Is right
And what was right Is wrong.
Wen wear q smile and never frown
However things may 60.
Wen turn this old world upside down
And swear we like It So"
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Mentalities.
Concerning brain throbs now and
then
We grow quite sentimental
And think our ways are mental when
They're Just experimental.
"A man whose opinions are for
sale." said Hi Ho, the sage Of China
town, must talk much and loud in
his efforts to peddle them"
The War Hobby.
Oh. war Is q grind that takes hold Of
the mind
And ruins our best dispositions.
For tombstones some day well declare
we can't pay,
Cause We spent al our coin for
munitiousl
But war, some declare, now and then
we must dare,
Though creditor guarrels with
debtor.
They call US to grope In fantastical
hope
That maybe the next viii be better.
II believes every word In the Bible"
said Uncle Eben, "but I don't believe
everybody dat tries to do Q heap Of
explainin' bout what TO believe. Std
O. lettin' me do my own belieyin,sr
Evening star., 1934-04-26
A Bidder?
From the Roanoke Times.

Secretary Of the Treasury Morgen-
thau says We ought to have cheaper
whisky. = this an announcement Of
his candidacy for pxesident2
Evening star., 1934-04-26
Silence.

From the Boston Transcript.
An old Ozark mormtatneer woman
has Just baked her miIlionth biscuit
She attributes her success to the fact
that dead men tell no taleG
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Rate by Carrier Within the City.
REGULAR Edition.
The EVENING and SUNDAY stsf
(when 4 Sundays) -. :. 60c Der month
The Evening and Sunday Star
(when 3 Sundays). -. csc per month
The Sunday Star :. &c Der COPY
Night Final Edition.
Might Final and Sunday Star. zoe per month
collection made at the end Of each
month Orders may be sent in by mail or
telephone National 5000.
Evening star., 1934-04-26
Rate by Mail-Payable In Advance.

MdryIdnu anu VHgt1Id.
Daily and Sunday. ] VI. $40 90; mo. s5c
Sunday only II ". $500; mo- 4Oc
Evening star., 1934-04-26
W. MOVES. Editor

The Evening Star Newspaper Company
Business once:
11th st, and Pennsylvania Ave.
New York once: 110 East 42ne st.
Chicago ONCE: Lake Michigan Building
European ONCE: IA Regent st.. London.
ENGLAND
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Jud Tunkins says 80 many people
have lost money that he wonders how
Dillinger managed to ind 50 many
chances to collect.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

All Other States and Canada.
Daily and Sunday, VI, S12 90: mo-. 81 90
Daily only. -. yr.. $500: mo-. 75c
Sunday only. :. ", $500; no.. soc
Evening star., 1934-04-26
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press Is exclusively en-
titled to the use for republication Of all
news dispatches credited to 1t or not other
local news published herein All rights Of
publication of special dispatches herein
are also reserved.
Evening star., 1934-04-26

Record.
when we're talking about CONNER
cial aviation" said Senator Sorghum,
II want credit for an altitude record" !"
when die you make it7"
"In my latest speech. I attained
the highest indignation Of anybody" !"
Evening star., 1934-04-26

2u4 t4ACA dPPIOpIldtIOllS 10 IQauCe L1lS
unwarranted intrusion into the field
Of private endeavor."
The trend Of the coming congress
sional campaign and the issues which
the Republicans will seek to make
against the Democrats are not din
cult to foresee. judging from the re-
marks Of Mr.. Smell and Mr.. McGugin.
And every time any one Is prosecuted
for violation Of the N. r. A. or any
OF the other new deal laws, as was the
Jersey City tailor who persisted in
cleaning suits for IS cents, in viola
ton OF the code, which demanded 40
cents, fuel will be added to the flames.
The report Of Secretary Of the
Treasury Morgenthau to the Senate
showing . List Of persons who have
been buying and selling silver, and his
accompanying suggestion that perhaps
the Senate should investigate further,
has been widely interpreted as an at
tempt on the part Of the administra-
ton to break down the silver bloc
which Is seeking silver legislation In
Congress by making It appear that
the supporters Of silver legislation are
merely seeking private personal gain.
Silver has for years been treated rs q
commodity and 1t may be difncuit to
make the people believe that invest
ment In silver Is different from in
vestment IN wheat or real estate,
hoping for rise In the price. The
President, however, seems to have all
the best Of the contest at present over
silver legislation. It does not appear
likely Congress win obtain silver legis-
lation Of which he does not approve,
although any compromise would b Q
Fielding On his part.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-23

Appeal of TUUL oTrade UnioniStS and All Workers
To Vote Communist in the Congressional Elections

strike, picket smash njunctions and yellow dog
contracts against company unions and against the
increasing use of armed forces used against the
strikers-all Of which is part of struggle against
developing fascism in this country.
Only the Communist Party stands for the full
social political and economic equality for the Negro
people, for the smashing Of peonage in the South
and for the right of sef-determination for the
Black Belt against lynching and for death penalty
for lynchers. The capitalist parties deny the Negro
workers their rights. The Socialist Party carries
out the same Jim-Crow policy and thus assists the
bosses in REFRESHING the Negro people
1t is only the Communist Party that fights for
the cancellation of debts of the poor working farm
ers, for immediate drought aid for the farmers,
for resistance to debt sales and foreclosures, and
struggles for passage Of the Farmers Emergency
Relief Bill
1t is only the Communist Party which organizes
the workers against developing fascism and impe-
rialist war and which mobizes the workers for
a militant mass struggle for the workers rights.
Brothersl The TUUL urges you to Vote
Communist. The election of Communist candidates,
a big Communist vote, backed by mass action in
our organizations will be a powerful force in our
fight for our burning needs.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD,
TRADE UNION UNITY LEAGUE,
VIM. 2. FOSTER, General Secretary.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-23
Continued from Page y

sota) have acted in the interests Of the bosses
just two old capitalist parties. This was already
shown in the recent strikes.
What issues face the workers today? With
fifteen million unemployed and denied relief only
the Communist Party raises as the central issue
that of a fight against hunger and increasing
misery, a fight centering around the demand and
struggle for enactment of a system of federal I'M
employment insurance as embodied in HR. 1898
in the last Congress, the only genuine proposal
as a means of partial security Only the c. P.
fights for this, which insures an adequate income
for all workers, without discrimination on the
basis of a fund controlled and administered by
the workers. raised at the expense of the govern
ment and the employers.
1t is only the Communist Party which is waging
a fight for the right to strike, to organize and
picket, for free speech and assemby-rights which
the workers obtained through a generation of
struggle, but which, under cover of the crisis are
being taken away. For exercising the right to
organize and strike, the workers face fascist vigi-
lantes, court injunctions mtas police departments
and groups who forbid strikes and deny picketng
who club and massacre the workers for organizing
and striking. Only the Communist Party and its
candidates pledged to struggle for the workers
rights of joining unions of their own choice, to
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-23
r eief Bureau Spies
Observation-Disclosures

not violated any laws. He assured
me, however, that the place would
be kept under more strict surveil-
lance in the future. He will CO.
operate with you in respect to
names of leaders and activities of
the group in the future +. Lieut..
Donegan took official cognizance of
my information to him that at your
direction we had been covering the
meetings nightly and had obtained
valuable information for our files
One of the policemen told me that
he had visited the place and found
an old man in charge"
Was it hunchbacked old man
with leer? No, it was Just an
ordinary old man. The document
gets dull. The former police re-
porter leans on his elbows and
gazes at his typewriter keys. Eu-
reka, he nispronounces:
"A peculiar circumstance at
tracted my attention while making
this investigation. Immediately
around the corner from the group
l noticed black handbag, tattered
from usage, standing on the side
walk. I dismissed this as being of
any significance until 1 arrived at
the Central Office here and discov-
cred similar ag--identical in size
and badly worn-about 80 yards
from the entrance of our building
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-23
LID. Forces
Release of 2.
In California:
Syndicalism Charge
Beaten; Two .Fisted
Policy Responsible

REDWOOD CITY, Calf, Oct. %.
The two-fisted policy of the In
ternational Labor Defense of mass
pressure plus the best legal defense
scored another victory with the &C
quittal last Friday of Bernardino
Romero and Rafael Gonzales,
charged with criminal syndicalism
for possession of Communist cleo
ton campaign leaflets and the
Communist Party Manifesto en-
titled Against the New Deal Of
Hunger, Fascism." ,.,.
The fight against the frame-up
of the two militant workers was
vigorously supported by many local
labor groups involved in the United
Front Conference for Labors Civil
Rights. Workers packed the court
during the three days of the trial
in militant solidarity with the two
defendants, who were defended by
Leo Gallagher and George Ander-
son, I L. D. attorneys. Hundreds
Of workers, barred from the court
room on the third day, remained
in front of the court house until
the verdict acouitting the defend
ants was rendered.
District Attorney Scott read from
the Communist election campaign
literature and attempted to inter-
pref it as ''inflammatory and advo-
eating the overthrow of government
by violent revolution and terror"
Attorney George Anderson, in
moving for a dismissal or directed
verdict, declared that Scott had
misinterprsted the words used. An
derson's brilliant defense coupled
with his Interpretation of the leaflet
and Manifesto, was the high point
of interest of the day. Judge Nc
Mutt, who had done everything to
hamper the defense, was forced to
direct the jury to acquit. the de-
PENDANTS. Judge McNutt declared
that "a successful revolution is not
a crime" and that the purpose of
the law was to prevent violence,
not revolution"
This victory is expected to have
an important bearing on the Sacra-
mento criminal syndicalist cases set
for hearing on Nov. 9th.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-23
Continued from Page y

peated attempts to get employees of
the Bell Telephone and other large
companies to join their ranks. Sew
eral policemen of the Charles ST..
station have visited the place and
reported that they found about IL
men sitting around
Did the detective find anything?
Well, no, but Charlie seen his duty
and done it.
Another snoop had covered the
same territory before, it develops:
I'm the presence of Lieut.. Donegan,
several detectives and myself one
OF the officers of the Charles st.
station revealed that a Secret Ser
vice man from washington has in
vestigated the activities of the
group several months ago. My
investigation further revealed that
this group is affiliated with the in
ternational organization located in
Chicago"
What, no Moscow?
Mais oui This partly confirms
reports received by you that this
organization is a member of the
parent organization in Chicago, be-
lieved to be linked with Soviet
Russia"
Regrettably, Lieut.. Donegan
stated that the group thus far had