davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-07-07
Reading Thought.

There must be many persons who
have made 1t the amusement OF
hours Of travel to study the faces OF
fellow passengers. In ship, train, bus
or street car people sit quiet and re-
laxed, en- route from one point ON
the map and to another. and the
philoSophic observer finds in each in
dividual so situated a human conun-
drum. The problem is that OF trying
to guess what processes Of thought
are going on behind the placid hu-
man masks, and it is as good a game
as any.
OF course, it is obvious that ideas
on occasion are common. 1t may
happen that every occupant of a
given vehicle will be thinking of ex-
actly the same thing. For example.
there is a point between Niagara and
Lewiston where the railroad runs
very near to the edge Of the river and
O fine view of the falls may be had
As the train proceeds on its way. the
entire company Of passengers stares
out of the windows at the receding
spectacle.
Again, any incident possessed Of
dramatic value will enlist universal
attention. In a Washington bus re-
Gently two portly ladies engaged in
an argument about the use of the
front seat. Neither would have been
comfortable elsewhere in the convey
Evening star., 1934-07-07

ance. and each was willing to fight
for what she wanted. Naturally, the
contretemps enlisted the notice of
everybody within hearing, and at
least q dozen minds momentarily
shared the same thought-the advan-
tage OF being slender.
There are times also, when a pas
senger will be so utterly engrossed in
his own personal thought as to be
oblivious of his immediate environ
ment or situation. A few years ago
an efficiency expert was engaged TO
work out an improved Office system
for Washington Cathedral. Each
morning he rode out to Mount st.
Alban in a Wisconsin avenue street
car, and usually he had as compan-
ions a number of other Cathedral
employees. The group customarily
left the car at Massachusetts, avenue.
Not so the efficiency man. On the
contrary, more than once he was so
deep in cogitation that he stayed on
board, not realizing his error until
he reached the end Of the run. His
less efficient colleagues would be "on
the job an hour before he finally
arrived at his post of duty.
1t happens. however. that one of
the characteristics of the psychology
OF travel is that of a curious kind Of
mental camaraderie. Possibly, it is
that which is the basis Of many q
lasting friendship formed between
erstwhile strangers. To illustrate. a
man once found himself seated in
Boston bound train out of New York
with pair OF foot ball fans in front
of him and a pair Of radio engineers
behind him. For an hour or more his
ears were asSailed by bombardments
of foot ball jargon and radio jargon
hopeleSSiy lntermlXed. Then, the
ordeal absolutely insupportable. he
got to his feet, Strode down the cor
ridor to a vacant place beside another
lone passenger and said: ''For
heavens sake, talk to me. I'm
running away from four fanatics"
The stranger inquired, We'll, what
shall We discuss?" When business
was suggested. they made the most of
it. and by the end of the trip had
agreed on a deal which gave them
each a profit.
One day thought reading will fur
niSh theme for a scientist worthy
Of the task His book should be in
teresting both 10 read and to think
about.
Evening star., 1934-07-07
Public Office Manners.

Secretary Ickes' admOnition to the
four thousand employees Of the In
terror Department and the Public
Works Administration that they must
buckle down to work and waste no
time in unoficial reading, social chat
ting and "beautician" operations dur
ing office hours may have come at
trying time of high temperatures, but
It cannot be regarded as unduly harsh.
The Government is business institu-
ton, and service under it should be
conscientiouSly performed. That there
Is idling on the part OF some OF the
public Office employees has long been
the subject OF complaint and criti-
often give voice to the suggestion that
the regulations of private employment
ignored. 1t is not to be believed that
indifference to the reasonable re-
uuirements of strict attention to duty
Is the rule in the Government Offices,
and 1t would be a great pity and an
injustice to attribute this spirit to the
entire rank and file.
Two particular points were made by
the Secretary in his address to the
employees. One was that a survey of
the Offices under his direction had
revealed large number of feet on
the desks. The other was that re-
Gently at the hour of closing there
was such a rush of unbranded NAV
ericks' for the exits that a woman
worker was knocked down and Seri-
ously injured. The charge that many
of the men adopt the unseemly pos
ture of eleyated feet revives memory
of the war time. when it was alleged
that large number of the newly COM
rlissioned officers who we're detailed
Evening star., 1934-07-07

for ONCE duty In Washington found
their spurs of use in keeping their
feet from slipping of the desks.
The rush for the exits at the hour
of dispersal is not a new phenomenon.
1t is in fact one of the chronic con-
ditions of Government work at the
Capital. 1t is due to the fact that
transportation facilities, however in
creased in the rush hours, are not
adequate for the accommodation OF
the crowds that surge into the streets
when the clocks give the signal for
departure. The race for the street
cars at four -thirty-or at three thirty
in early opening and closing Offices
is one of the chief characteristics of
Washington life. But the exigencies
of transportation do not warrant
stampede The Secretary in pro-
testing the frantic haste of home
bound workers is repeating the ad-
monition of the authorities with re-
spect to the leaving of theaters in
case OF a fire alarm, which is to walk,
not run, to the nearest exit" The
rush of a jamming, pushing, pressing
crowd, each individual intent upon
getting out in the fewest possible
seconds, is always a dangerous per
Torrance.
Good manners, which should be ex-
pected always, alone require obServ-
ance of the rules which Secretary
Ickes indicates, whether as to dill
gence and orderly conduct at the desk
or in the exodus at the close of the
working day. With some $4,000 ap-
plications on file for jobs in the
bureaus which he administers it be-
seems all who are now favored with
to comply with his rea-
sonable requirements.
Evening star., 1934-07-07
The Oasis of Cosmic Life

From the New York Times.
Again word comes from the Lowell
Observatory in Flagstaff that there Is
no possibility of life on other planets
with the exception perhaps OF Mars
at any rate, life in any such form as
We know it. The evidence gathered by
planetary spectrum photographs Is
that the atmospheres OF Saturn and
Jupiter consist so largely OF deadly
gases not found on the earth that
even if an earth-born creature could
take Jules Verne-like journey to
either OF these. the great cold and
deadly gases would snuff out life" II
he carried oxygen for breathing pur-
poses. an explosion would at once dis
pose of it. The Lowell reporters say
that the said atmospheres may be
likened TO the interior OF 3 gaSsy
mine mixed with an exploded ice fac
tory" and all at q temperature that
would make Admiral Byrd's Antarctic
climate seem temperate. One scientist.
letting his imagination play pictured
Jovian oceans Of liquid ammonia roll
ing up their waves ON queer chemicals.
OF Uranus and Neptune the Arizona
astronomers do not speak with the
same certitude. but what light these
two remoter planets shed compels
them to hold that there is no poSSl-
bility of life on these spacious and
distant spheres. And Pluto, the most
distant and most recently discovered,
is Clike Mercury, the suns nearest
neighborl without atmosphere. being
too small and having too little grav-
ity to hold on TO gases Venus. on
the other hand. has much stmos-
phere." but can support only such
life as can exist without water or oxy-
gen and can thrive on the waste prod
uct Of respiration on earth-carbOn
dioxide This narrOwS the possibility
down to Mars-or to use the language
of the scientific report: Mars is the
best bet" for life elsewhere than on
this planet. Mars has clouds and
water. but less than OH earth" And
the wide range of temperature. from
65 to 70 at midday to below zero by
night, suggests an intolerable climate
for such a being as man. even II
lichens or fungi or strange Marian
germs" might find this a habitable
place.
We may thus think of ourselves as
the sole living human inhabitants of
our solar system and wonder the more
that with such a common inheritance
we do not make better use of it.
There may be, as one of our leading
astronomers has said, planets circling
about other suns. inhabited by intel
ligent beings of some sort. having had
longer period of evolution and SO
having advanced mentally and in
other ways far beyond the masters of
the new little tenth-rate. planet
Earth,
this crust whereon we dwell
WhereOn our loves and shames are
begotten and buried,
Our first-slime and our ancestral dust.
Peeled of this rind it would still
keep its motions in Gods orrery" un-
disturbed. but so flayed it would
cease to be the most significant crea-
ton in all our solar system. and for
aught we know the only "oasis Of
life in all the universe of universes.
Evening star., 1934-07-07
Nation Cropes for Solution
OF Unemployment Problem

Yakima Morning Herald. 'relief ex-
penditureS have been made out OF
borrowed money and not as many
persons assume, out or current Fed
eraI revenue. These tremendous tran
STORY outlays must be paid for over
period Of 10 to 50 or ~ years, unless
the Government defaults It's obnga-
tions. When the time of payment
does arrive the people will be paying
not only the bills incident to current
upkeep of Government, but they Will
also be liquidating the debts piled up
by this crazy generation. This means
that they will be infinitely worse on
financially than their fathers and
grandiatherS today
1t seems to the New York Times
that the omlnous feature OF the stu
alton is the steady growth in renef
requirements, in spite OF a gradual.
even though erratic, improvement in
economic conditions" The Times
adds: Nearly five years from the
crash and two years from the bottom
We are apparently still on the down
slope of the curve OF distress"
rolls" says the Newark Evening News,
there are several explanations. End
ing of the C. w. A. program added to
the relief rolls many families that had
not previously sought aid. More re-
cent study of the rolls showed many
married couples, who, having no chill
dren, had managed, somehow, to get
along for long periods, although Job
less. Then, too, the single man and
woman, for whom there was little or
no provision made formerly, are now
receiving more adequate care. 1t Is
also fact to be recognized that the
stigma OF being a public dependent
has softened and people feel less re-
luctant about applying for or con-
tinuing TO receive help" The Hart
ford Times holds that "a contributing
factor OF Importance Is the decreasing
private contributions for cnarlty.
care OF the INDECENT" maintains the
Oshkosh Northwestern, "'ls a State re-
sponsibility before 1t Is a Federal bur-
oent, but State revenues and resources
are limited and in the end the cities
and other local communities Will have
to conf1ne relief to worthy cases and
prevent necessary help to those VINO
really need 1t from becoming a de-
moralizing dole"
Concluding with word OF personal
tribute for Mr.. Hopkins, the Cnar-
lotte Observer declares: Mistakes
have been made. but that might nave
been expected in the whipping into
form OF an organization OF sucn mag
nitude. 1t is the achievements OF Mr..
Hopkins that count, and they have
been many and merltor1ous."
Evening star., 1934-07-07
Lights, Signs and Police
Fail TO Ease Traffic Ills
TO The Editor of The star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Washington'S traffic situation Is
rapidly becoming unendurable. The
rush. hour blockadeS seen daily down
town and in some outlying sections
are taking on gigantic and alarming
proportions. What chance have the
nerves OF a tired business man when
subjected to hopeless masses of noisy,
threatening vehicles, all delaying
progress to a discouragingly few ad-
vances per minute?
The time has come to consider
ways and means of solving this prob
lem with something more than trafflc
lights. No Parking" signs and the
frantic waving of policemen. Unless
definite action is taken. the trouble
will doubtless increase.
But. you say, what is the solution?
SubNayS are out OF the question Tor
financial reasons; the Districts
Swampy land would require ire
mendous amount OF Reinforcement
An elevated system would tend to
injure the city's policy of preserving
beauty The downtown parking ban
HAS dllCddl bNNu ullSuONNooAuh1
tempted.
All of which is unfortunately true.
But there are other. simpler methods
that might prove very effective. These
can be divided into three classes:
l. Clear the street car tracks. Good
mass transportation is the public's
best inducement to leave private cars
at home. The company has done
its best by pressing more cars into
service, but during the rush hour they
pile up" moving or feet at a
jog, and that with firing irregularity.
Why? Because the street car COM
pany cannot claim exclusive use of
its tracks. 1t pays for the section
of street upon which the cars oper-
ate, and to allow other vehicles the
privilege OF promiScuously filling that
much-needed space seems grossly un-
fair. Why not leave the tracks for
street cars at least during the rush
hours. except at crossings?
2. Limit taXicabS 1t is the pub
lies understanding that drivers do
not make a living wage. Let them
try something besides cluttering up
much-needed street space A large
excess of cabs cannot result IN bene-
fit for any community.
3. Give the pedestrian a break
His frantic lodgings often slow down
trafic, and certainly make it more
hazardous. Why not build under
ground passages at the main cross
ings? 1t would be a blessed relief
from the terrors of street crossing. and
the danger created by right-turning
autos.
But, at any rate, let's try something.
Anything would be better than G
street at 4:45 pm! !
ii. p. MURRAY.
Evening star., 1934-07-07
The Good Neighbor.

These early days of President
Roosevelt aboard the Houston in the
Caribbean and Southern Atlantic may
be said to represent the oficial or
They symbolic in very real fashion
that good neighbor" policy which
Mr.. Roosevelt has repeatedly defined
as the basis OF our relations with
Latin America.
The call which the President has
just made in Haiti, and the visits he
is about to pay TO Colombia and
Panama, betoken in vivid form the
anxiety of the Government and peo-
pie of the United States to solidify
and strengthen the bonds of solidar-
ity and common interest which unite
the twenty-one Americas. While
Haiti, Colombia and Panama repre-
sent only a small segment of Latin
America, the sentiments and pur-
poses which inspire President Roose-
velt's brief Sojourns in those coun-
tries apply equally to all of our
sister republics to the south of the
Rio Grande, and are certain to be
interpreted everywhere in that light.
The President of the United States
makes his good neighbor" gestures
in person at the end of a series of
practical demonstrations of this coun-
try's new Latin American policy. De
Velopments in Cuba provided an
ideal opportunity for its exemplifica-
ton. Not only did the United States
resoMtely refrain from exploiting an
opportunity to intervene in Cuba s
troubled affairs during the past year,
but in the course of them took occa-
sion to affirm that we have turned
our back for all time on the program
of armed intervention in Latin
American states. We have abrogated
the Platt amendment. We have un-
dertsken to withdraw the Marines
from Haiti. We have evinced an
earnest desire to improve economic
relations with all the Latin repub-
lies through reciprocal tariff treaties.
We have indicated our willingness to
look upon the Monroe Doctrine as a
multi-lateral understanding in which
all the Americas share a common
responsibility. We have, by imposing
an arms embargo with reference to
the Bolivian n-Paraguayan war and
with respect to rebellious activities in
Cuba, shown a sincere desire to lay
and maintain the foundations OF
peace throughout this hemisphere.
1t is with such a background of
concrete and practical good neighbor-
illness that President Roosevelt is now
greeting Latin American peoples. If
they divine from his presence in their
midst that the United States is COM
ing more and more to look upon init
mate friendship and ever closer ties
with Latin America as the keystone
in the arch of our International rela-
tionS, they will not be far from the
mark. 1t is gratifying to the people
Of the United States to feel that our
good neighbor policy meets with the
sympathetic support of the nations
at which it is aimed.
Evening star., 1934-07-07

What is the very first bird which
sings in the morning?
Two years ago we announced that
il was the woods thrush.
Two days ago W listened again, in
the utter stiffness of the dawn.
Twas the thrush, sure enough, just
as of old
1t may be in other neighborhoods
that other birds proclaim their happi-
ness at the renewal OF light before
the thrush.
In our particular section OF nearby
Maryland the thrush begins the ma
tutinal chorus.
X 4
In modern times, with airplaneS
roaring at all hours OF the day and
night, 1t is difficult to find absolute
silence.
AS near to it as any time is be-
tween 4 and 5 O'Clock in the morning
At some moment during that hour
depending upon precise light condi-
tons, the weather and so on, the birds
begin to tune up.
The common belief is that they all
start at once, but this is not true.
Almost always there is one bird which
starts the rest of.
Claims have been set up for differ
ent SongsterS. but if there is thrush
present at all he is most likely to
begin.
Nor does he leap into song all at
once, full blown, as some feathered
Venus from a musical sea.
He begins gently. with just one or
two notes, part of his normal opening
triolet.
He stops.
He does not start again for perhaps
80 seconds or more, maybe even
longer.
The listener must catch this very
first attempt or he has failed III ap-
pretending the full beauty Of the per-
Torrance.
1t is shy attempt-nOt bold or
clustering, as one might imagine from
the bluejay, but delicate trial, as If
even the bird were still sleepy.
And why should he not be, that
beautiful small form OF brown, with
gray Speckled breast
He, too, has slept well amid all the
fresh air that blows.
Even on the hottest Summer night
the thrush sleeps cool, for Nature in
stalled his air-conditioning system
centuries ago, and it still works per-
fectly.
No doubt he is sleepy, as human
listener may be sleepy, unwilling to
roll out OF bed. glad to snuggle down
for another hour.
The listener is just enough awake to
realize the fact and to say to himself
Now l will listen for the very first
note OF the very FIRST bird"
The very first bird. on his high
bough, might conceivably think to
himself: "Ah. ha Is that light? Is
IL day again? Heigh-o! And cen
cheerio!"
Softly. delicately. as if a flute were
blown with little breath. his opening
triolet watts across the still, almost
dark lawns.
Thousands of sleepers miss it,
They do not hear it. They will say
later there was no such thing.
No doubt mankind is the same in
many more Weighty matters. What
does not interest it. 1t insists does not
exist, or. if such existence cannot be
denied. that it does not amount to
very much after all.
Evening star., 1934-07-07

Discussion Of Federal Relief Ad-
ministrator Hopkins statement that
some basis other than relief must
be found to deal with the national
unemployment problem shows prac-
ticaI unanimity on that point among
the newspapers Of the country.
The Federal relief administrator
may have had on his rose-tinted
glasses" says the Philadelphia Eve
ming Bulletin. But there is real
encouragement in the conviction
that the situation must be handled
on other than q relief basis which
he says, is getting, and the further
conviction with an intimation OF dis
satisfaction. that this is not the
American way OF doing things A
lot of other people have had the
conviction for long time, and have
been fearful that lot of other people
were getting the conviction that
Federal support. III the name OF re-
lief, is permanent thing" The
Manchester Union is convinced that
1t is impossible to interpret the new
plan offered by Harry l.. Hopkins for
the solution of the unemployment
problem otherwise than as a con-
cession OF failure so far to meet
this situation"
There is growing sentiment
throughout the country" states the
Dayton Herald, that a permanent
relief program must be inaugurated
by the next Congress to substitute
for the emergency relief measures
which have tided us over during the
last few strenuous years. There
should be some permanent system
that will furnish honorable employ
ment to every citizen willing to work.
1t is a big contract. but the coming
Congress must face it, and it begins
TO look as If the next SESSION will
have an even bigger job cut out for
it than was undertaken by its prede-
cesSor."
The South Bend News Times.
however, objects to the use Of the
word permanent in connection with
relief, and maintains that Mr.. Hop
kins, If he did use the term 'perma-
nent,' might have made a more
happy choice, for the average Amer
lean cannot envision a situation that
requires permanent plan for aid
ing $4,000, 900 persons" This paper
adds: we need naturally to stab
ilize our national plan for relieving
the needy, scaling it to the current
number which obviously will be
reduced as industry improves and
absorbs the idle"
$50 far, Of course" points out the