davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-12-22
Constitution Stamp.

PhilateliStS for several Years have
tribute to the u. S. S. Constitution,
better known, perhaps. as old Iron
by former Postmaster General Walter
Brown and has been brought to the
attention Of his successor, Postmaster
General James A. Farley. But as yet
no final decision has been reached
and it therefore may be proper TO
discuss the subject from non -phila-
telic angle.
The famous frigate, obviously
enough, dramatizes the whole story OF
the United States Navy. She is q
symbol of one of the ma ior branches
OF the national defense. Built in
1894 she was intended for use against
the Algerian pirates and served as
Commodore Edward Preble's flagship
from 1903 10 1905. taking part in
three bombardments OF Ir!poli. But
her celebrity was achieved in her
battle with the British frigate Guer-
riers August 10, 18l2-an incident of
the second struggle with England.
Under command of Commodore Isaac
Hull she was the instrument of q
victory notable in the annals of the
sea. A conservative historian, refer
ying to her captain and his vessel,
says:
Hull sailed into Boston with his
prisoners to such an ovation as few
men have ever earned in 50 short q
time. In less than twenty-five min
uteS Of actual fighting he had lifted
the despised American Navy and Ma
tion to an equality with the proudest
OF the world.
And, with Commodore William
Bainbridge in command, the gallant
little ship repeated her perform
snce December 20, 1912, when she
Evening star., 1934-12-22

deception. After the wedding, 1t is
true, his communications cooled In
tone" but In the midst of the tragic
Russian campaign of 1912 he could
pause to write:
You know how much love you. I
must know that you are well and
happy. Goodbye, my love. A thou
sand kisses.
And when his star had fallen and
he was prisoner at st. Helena, soon
to die. he still could say: Il long to
see you and my SON"
Marie Louise. however. does not sp-
pear TO have responded. The mar
riage, as she saw it, was Just an ordeal
to be tolerated In return for a crown.
When Napoleon needed the help of
Papa Frantz" She refused to intlu-
ence him; and as soon AS she was
Tree she married one OF her servants,
Count Nelpperg. Her boy was the
unhappy KING OF Rome.
But love letters Of any kind are
fascinating. Three that Bonaparte
addressed to Josephine recently sold
for more than seven thousand dollars
each. and doubtless were worth every
penny OF their price. The world how
ever, may question the propriety Of
commodity Perhaps Martha WASH
ington was well advised when, imme-
dlately after the death Of the First
President, she burned every scrap of
their correspondence.
Evening star., 1934-12-22
Visit of Quintuplets' Doctor
Greeted With Press Applause

The Dionne quintupletS, safely past
the SiX-month mark, inspire words of
praise from the American press as
Dr. A. r. Dsfoe, who brought them
into The world. pays q visit to New
York and takes his needed recreation.
His achievement is accorded q high
place in the history of medicine and
is held to reflect credit upon all
country doctors
His resourcefulness and success have
brought new, though vicarious, honors
TO those faithful servants" says the
Kansas City Times. with the tribute:
His record will be imperishable in
medical annals. whatever the future
of the quintuplets may be. Admira-
ton for him is enlarged because of
his simplicity. his common sense, his
resistance Of every effort and every
inducement to exploit the infants or
to deviate from the regime he pre-
Scribed for them. The babies are be-
ginning TO reward him with smiles
and gurgles of recognition. They don't
know it. but they have set up the
most thrilling sister act Of all times,
and DR.. Dafoe is their impresario."
hC NCW Olh
praises his simplicity. competence and
self lfpossesSion. The physicians tale,
says that newspaper. was itself one
Of the most fascinating Of true ro-
mances which could be told; but the
doctors hearers were fascinated as
we'll by the directneSS. pungency and
humor Of the telling. The whole city
was arrested for a moment i'll its
silded or grim routine by this smallish,
capable man. snatched suddenly from
27 Years Of desperately laborious and
unremunerative obScurity among poor
and hard-driven farmers TO be sub
jected to the white lights of massed
publicity. 1t was. perhaps, just lit
tie surprise to find that the white
lights looked. in the encounter, tritie
false and garish."
New Workers probably didn't un-
derStald it," observes the Davenport
Uowa) Daily Times, suggesting that
Ito many of them, any place out
side the precincts of the city is the
sticks and to live there seems to them
the height Of folly" The Times con-
cludes that through the visit of Dr.
Dafoe, New York learns there are
other places that are just as attrac-
tive"
What interests U.S." comments the
Evening star., 1934-12-22
Universal Draft Act.
From the Atlanta Constitution.


President RooSevelts move to TAX
the profit out of war" is in line with
the American Legion sponsored "uni-
versal draft act" which that patriotic
organization has been Offering Con-
greSS for many years.
The universal draft act" would
take the profits out OF war" by plac-
ing heavy taxes on excess profits in
time OF war. by freezing" prices, and
by drafting every industry and every
resource. as well as every citizen,
should war occur.
The Legion has sponsored this
measure as insurance against war
pointing out that the hope of profit
often leads some to actually WOO
war. If there were no profits for
these they would not want war.
The Legion also argues that if ii
is fair to draft men, it is equally fair
to draft industry, and calls attention
TO the $l5-a-day wages paid laborers
in shipyards and munitions plants as
contrasted with the 81 a day paid
soldiers in the camps and SIPS a
day paid them overseas.
Not only would the universal draft
act" make war unpopular in this
country, but it would serve as a warn
ing to other nations that if they
warred against the United States they
would face united nation. the rich
est nation on the globe. that would
have more resources at command
than they could hope for. a
Evening star., 1934-12-22

Lowell Courier Citizen. lis that the
tribute is really being paid to the
Canadian country doctor as a type
and the country doctor in the States
as we'll That paper adds: We
honor this once inconspicuous man as
a representative of the great number
OF such humble physicians who cover
large areas in their professional visits,
who are resourceful in emergencies,
who are at the service of their pa
tlents night and day and who eventu-
ally, only too often. wear themselves
out in work that has little respite"
Quoting the doctors statement that
1T costs $500 a month 10 maintain
the famous babies" the San Francisco
Chronicle points out that "the Cana
dian government and the Red Cross
have been bearing the expense OF
Yvonne. Annette. Cecile, Emele and
Marie The Times Herald of Port
Huron (MichD, citing the wonders
that were viewed by the doctor in the
metropolis. remarks: After all. what
are the miracles which man may per
form compared with those of nature?'
Lie HlIl dCltS OI MdIHdlJdD, COM
mentS the South Bend ews-TimcS.
seem to have left him more or les
cold; he has a miracle of his own to
talk about, infinitely more impressive
And this, after all. is quite natural
Wealth and invention may combine
to rear some surprising wonders but
the miracles Mother Nature can
achieve when she sets her mind to il
makes these look small. What is an
Empire State Building or a Skyscrapey
skyline compared with five babies who
all arrived at Once?"
With the suggestion that the coun-
try doctor has sort of been pushed
into the background in recent years.
yet he is the backbone of America.
the Danville Gll) Commercial-Newr
asserts that "some one should dcdi-
cate statue to the country doctor
he is survivor of early America AM
he belongs to vanishing race"
Evening star., 1934-12-22
DepIores Proposed Plan to Use
Great Falls for Power Production

to the deadly and corrupting inhu-
ence of politics.
Furthermore. II the proponents Of
this scheme are sincere in their
statements that their purpose is
cheaper light and power TO the peo-
pie. this can be accomplished without
destroying existing properties. as all
public utilities are subject TO regu-
latlon. and there is ample law at
present. or. il there is not, Congress
has the power TO enact the necessary
laws under which the charges Of this
concern can he reduced to what may
be considered a reasonable basis.
When complaint is made OF the
charges Of light and power companies
the fact should not be lost sight Of
that they pay an annual tax. Federal,
State and local. estimated at approx
imately 100000 900. Should this tax
be reduced materially or the COM
panies exempt therefrom. and thereby
put upon par with the Government
owned utility, their charges could be
reduced from 40 TO SO per cent. and
they would still be able 10 make y
falr return OH their investment.
There is no more justification for
the Government to single out this in
dustry and 60 into the light and power
business than it would be for the
Government TO parallel all the rail-
roads in the United States (Which are
now subject to regulation and control
by the Interstate Commerce CommiS-
sionD for the purpose Of giving the
people lower passenger and freight
rates.
The impression grows deeper every
day that there is spirit abroad in
our country which is gaining in mo-
mentum to SocialiZe our Government
and SoVieti2e our industries; and it
would appear that such is the motive
behind all the hullabaloo going on
against the public utilities.
ALEXANDER SIDNEY IANIER.
Evening star., 1934-12-22
American Children
Should Be Bi.Lingual

To the Editor of The Star:
Most Europeans can speak more
than one language. but too often we
Americans can speak only English
and even forget how to speak the
tongue OF our ancestors. Until !
was years old l spoke Welsh and
English equally well, as heard Eng
lish spoken from other children, but
Welsh in the home. Today, however,
a grown woman. I can no longer
speak or understand the picturesque
language of my ancestors. I cannot
now understand the Inspiring old
Welsh hymns and beautiful old Celtic
songs I hear at the churches and
by the elee clubs and neither can I
now carry on q simple conversation
with relatives from abroad in their
native tongue, as the barrier Of Ian
guage is between us. An interpreter
is necessary before I can understand
what people OF my own flesh and
Evening star., 1934-12-22
Everyday Law Enforcement.

Everyday Law Enforcement.
Everybody realizes the weakness and
relative futility of sporadic law en-
forcement campaigns. They burn with
cool off. Nothing constructive has
been accomplished.
But is there any reason why the
renewed police activity against trattic
violators and against gamblers and
racketeers should not be made a part
of the permanent program against
violation of law?
The police have announced a deter
mined campaign against careless driv-
ing, speeding, reckless driving and
other forms of traffic violation. They
have followed it up by arresting speed
ing motorists and traffic viOlatorS and
bringing them into the crowded Police
Court. 1t may be unrelated coinct-
dence, but the start OF this campaign
has been accompanied by an immedi-
ate drop in what has been accepted
as the normal number OF daily traffic
accidents. But is it not reasona bic
to believe that If drivers know police
are on the lookout for careless driv-
ing and that careless driving means
quick punishment, they Will drive
carefully? 1t is reasonable. and jealous
enforcement OF the traffic laws should
become police routine.
The police activity which followed
the tearing down OF the fence around
"Jimmy's Place" has already shown
results. Several alleged numbers run
ners, on their way 10 one Of the head
quarters of the numbers racket, have
been arrested. And there must DE
comb the town for the runners and put
the matter of indictment squarely up
to the prosecutors and the grand jury.
If the present laws are weak, as
the lawyers have conteuded, the best
demonstration OF that weakness Is
the reculTent failure 10 obtain indict-
ments and convictions in the courts -
not one or a dozen failures. but re-
peated failure. Continued activity OF
some sort by the police will have an
immediate effect. The numbers game
and other racketeering in Washington
thriyeS because 1t IS profitable and
because there has been a minimum Of
police interference in the past. II the
stigma for failure to enforce the law
does not rest with the police, let the
police prove it-again and again!
The police now enjoy the confidence
and sympathy OF most of the people
The way to hold both is to make this
new campaign against law violation
a continuous battle. The penalty Of
failure, in the case OF traffic, is q
continued and increasing number Of
accidents and deaths on the high
ways. A fraction OF them are intVi-
table. But the prepondtrant majority
is preventable by careful driving.
The penalty for failure to break up
the numbers racket and other under
world rackets is the creation in WASH
ington of a strong undesirable UNDER
world element. Keep after the gamb-
lers! Drive them out! The police can
do it and if they keep up the pace
they have set they will do it.
Evening star., 1934-12-22
To the Editor OF The Star.

To the Editor OF The Star:
The press reports that Senators
Norris and McCarran Will revive III
the next Congress the proposal for
the Federal Government To utilize the
potential power OF Great Falls Tor the
production OF electricity for dlstri-
button.
II seems that there is on foot at
present determination OH the part
OF certain public men TO absolutely
destroy every light and power plant
in the United States, and that. too,
without the slightest moral compunc-
ton for the loss that. would be suf-
fered by the hundreds of thousands
of our people who have invested their
money in them, and the fact that but
for the initiative and enterprise OF pri-
vate business and the capital furnished
by the people We would still be using
oil lamps and doing all our labor by
hand. The motive behind THESE
proposals is hard TO tathom. Are
they inspired by political considera-
tions. or the result OF mere pre- judice
and abysmal ignorance of the sub
ject?
As to this particular proposal. this
area is thoroughly and efficiently
served by the Potomac Electric Power
Company. Millions are invested III
its plant and equipment. Its stock
is owned largely by the people OF
the District and vicinity. 1t pa5s
enormous taxes to the District and
Federal Governments.
The advocates of this proposition
claim as their sole object and justifi-
cation lower light and power rates to
the people. ignorant of or indifferent
to the facts that government owned
and operated utilities pay no taxes,
but are supported by taxation Of the
people for their operation and main-
tenance, and that they are operated
At maximum Of cost and minimum
Of SftriSncV because tleV are subject
Evening star., 1934-12-22

service, though his father did his best
to stop him. Using his fathers files
and his own experiences. Capt. Wilkie
makes some startling disclosures about
what goes on beneath the surface Of
this country of ours and tells how the
secret agents Of the Government de-
velop q sixth sense for crime. Snug
Cling, white slavery, dope traffic,
counterfeiting, racketeering provide
continuous cases for sleuthing, but
some of the most interesting cases de-
scribed by Capt. Wilkie are political.
Spanish spies in the Spanish-Ameri-
can War, the Taft-Diaz conspiracy
and many manifestations of espionage
in the World War all made work for
the Secret Service. The last section
OF the book brings American crime up
to date: Then Came the Gangster."
Chicago, the home Of the Wilkes, is
recognized as the focal point of gang
society, about which Capt. Wilkie
knows considerable. 1T fell to me to
probe the beginnings Of that guerilla
warfare between the gangsters and So
ciety; to know the sinister leaders Of
Chicagos underworld: and to learn
from personal experience how it feels
to be put on the spot"
Evening star., 1934-12-22
Work Sinplifrd.
PandOra's Box.

A ga! named Pandora, in ages gone by.
Came along with a trunk fun OF
sorrows.
And said they would last when she
once let them fly
For all infinite lot Of tomorrows.
Pandora was PACED by a public en-
ragged.
Who found, beyond any mistaking.
As working girl honest she had been
engaged
At a factory, in Ballot Box making.
Don't be too hard on a small boy
foh wantin' his own way said Uncle
Eben. DE chances are dat's what
his father has been downtown huStlin'
for all day"
Evening star., 1934-12-22

blood and our racial stock are say
ing and thinking. The irony OF it!
l am as alien now TO them as though
a being from another planet.
AS a native-born American I think
every citizen should speak English
and defend the institutions of this
land, but one can be loyal to the
land of birth and still feel an interest
and affection for the customs, Ian
guage. etc, of the land across the
sea whence the parents came and
also feel keen regret for inability
to speak the mother tongue of an
cestors as well as the language of
the native land. 1t seems to me it is
an asset for people to be able to speak
more than one language and the abil-
ity to speak two languages is well
worth cultivating, and children need
not forget the language Of their par
ents if only they realize the value Of
keeping 1t alive in their memory by
conversing daily with people from the
country they came from before they
Forget entirely the tongue OF their
ancestors. DOROTHY A. DAVIS.
Evening star., 1934-12-22

A very gracious lady who is en-
ployed all day is having a difficult
time doing her Christmas shopping,
she says.
Curiously enough, her kick is
against other women.
They insist ON standing and talk
ing i'll sisles. she complains, so that
real physical hindrance is offered to
the shopper with but few minutes
to spare.
They just stand and talk, stand
and talk" she declared. They block
the way at the revolving doors, and
get i'll front of the counters.
When one has all day i'll which TO
shop. probably that makes no dif-
ference. but when you are reduced to
just few minutes at lunch, it makes
Il great deal Of difference"
The speaker smiled, for she always
manages TO ind smile IN everything,
II al all possible.
MY daughter says the way TO do 1t
is TO elbow your way through and
get this shopping done
But 1 can't do it. / wasn't brought
up that way"
Many persons were not brought up
that way.
Their desire is to be polite, even
if it is their loss.
AS strange as it may seem, they
often put themselves into positions in
Which they are accused Of impolite-
hess, simply through al excess OF
courtesy 10 strangers
Sometimes II seems as If the mod
ern city too readily breeds dlScourtesy
IN all forms.
Perhaps it Is All overflow from
automobile manners, OF rather lack OF
hem.
Maybe 1t is too much to expect the
person who has just glared horribly at
\ fellow mOtorlst for nothing much
TO step from the car to the sidewalk
II changed human being
The brand OF motor indifference. to
the rights and well being of ones fel-
lows Is upon their brow
1t Is not to be expected that they
can change 50 suddenly.
Indifference to others. however,
cannot be placed solely at the door Uf
the automobile.
1t is. first and foremost, human
trait
All the resources OF religion and hu-
manlty have been needed over the
centuries to beat into most OF us the
little courtesy We possess.
This fund Of politeness is a precious
thing. yet many persons manage TO
permit 1t almost TO get away from
them at times
II seems really too bad that one Of
these times should be the joyous sea-
son Of Christmas.
1t would be- great deal more joy
Gus all around If every one would stop
TO think OF others. not Theoretically
and when al home. but actually. espe-
Cially when on the streets and III
stores.
This good thinking would prevent
any one from asking salesgirl to
display large line. then to walk away
atterWard without buying anything.
sometimes even without q word VI
thanks.
Yes, every one has seen that done,
and 10 doubt 1t perpleXeS the sales
woman at any time of the year, but
it must drive her almost frantic at
This SEASON
Evening star., 1934-12-22

tanks" on the side of the allies and
various poison gases on the part Of
the central powers. Both were known
to the other side before they could
have any decisive effect.
The central powers never did use
tanks, perhaps because their over
taxed factories simply could not find
time to turn them out, but certainly
not because of any secrets about their
construction. The allied powers
promptly learned all the poison-gas
formulas and proceeded to Use or
better them. Special equipment Is
obviously Of little advantage unless at
hand in large quantities. and the
manufacture of large quantities
makes discovery Of the secret inev-
table.
The Army and Navy should stop
leaks where they can, but need not
worry too much about them. The
general public need not worry at all.
Evening star., 1934-12-22
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Standing and talking is combined
action which is very pleasant.
Surely there is no person. man or
woman, who has not at some time or
other during the busy season stopped
in d crowded aisle To talk.
The greeting over. some thought
should be given to others
Yet 1t Is the commonest thing in
the world TO see two or more persons
standing together, taking up a great
deal Of room, utterly obliviOus OF the
/ fact that other persons are on strictly
| business bent
! No doubt it is asking too much of
| people to expect them TO think first
Of others-but might they not think
second OF third?
|
Motorists often accuse pedestrians OF
being dumb, in the sense Of not being
quite bright in tratflc.
Perhaps there is some justice in
| their accusation, at least if one may
Judge from the actions of certain per-
sons seen i'll the course of the day.
| Here comes a bus, quite the largest
vehicle III the street.
| Obviously it is about to turn the
| corner.
Here comes girl across the street
probably thinking about her hoy
! friend"
She does not see, or at least pre-
tends not to see. the largest thing in
| the street.
| When she gets into the center Of
! traffic she glares horribly at the bus
driver. 1t being dangerous business
Tor person afoot 10 dispute the right
| Of way with bus. she turns back to
sidewalk. glarlug more horribly than
ever.
! Many persons simply standing on
sidewalks. or III store aisles. are Just
as thoughtless as this, although there
Is no chance Of danger TO them.
Their thoughtlessnesS simply irks
and harms others.
/ one OF the great failings OF the
average city dWeller is the mistaken
idea that all persons are equal.
All persons are not equal, especially
as TO time
II Is one thing for a person to come
/ down town and spend four or five
hours shopping, and quite another for
an employed woman to give up part of
Atr lunch hour to the task.
IN appearance there is no difference
whatever between the two. but one
mas about five times as much time as
The other for the task.
Very few Of the former. however
! VIII ever give this idea thought as
they stand talking to friends 1t is
all very pleasant to meet. all very
NICE to talk over the hundred and one
AFFAIRS which interest them.
Let them. however, not stand too
close to counters, nor too close to
those revolving doors.
Let them, now and then. be on the
lookout for the lady who simply will
not elbow them. no matter how much
OF hurry she is in
Even the mildest person at times
longs to use the elbows freely. They
seem to have been made for that par
tIcular purpose. do they not? A slight
elevation OF the hands and the ell
BOWS come into action immediately.
Their effect on others most often
Is very rtassuring
They move over.
They move out of the wav.
Let them froWn. 1t has been a
good lesson to them. Maybe in time
they Will learn to think of others
without a physical prodding first.