davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-12-29

tax the proceedings Of whom we
please, without any danger or offense.
There are extant numberless books,
wherein the wisest and most ingeni-
GUS of men have laid open their
hearts, and exposed their most secret
cogitations unto us; in pursuing them,
we may sufficiently busy ourselves, and
let our idle hours pass gratefully; we
may NEEDLE with ourselves, studying
our own dispositions, examining our
own principles and purposes, reflect
ing on our thoughts, words and ac-
tions, striving thoroughly to under
stand ourselves; to do this we have
an unquestionable right. and by 1t we
shall obtain vast benefit.
Modern Americans have been ac-
cused of trying to escape from reality,
but their affection for history, as
viewed by those who agree with Bar
row. seems to indicate that the COM
plant is unjust. There must be some
thing commendable In a popular
psychology which results in the dis
play and profitable sale Of volumes
of chronicles, biography and memoirs
in the merest corner drug store.
Evening star., 1934-12-29
Press Comments Approvingly
On Plan to Finance Research

erected against committing the Fed
eral Treasury to wholesale subsidy of
science after the six years have passed.
At any rate, the boards suggestion
isn't sone to be waved nonchalantly
aside"
Industry has set up its own labora-
tories" states the Monroe (Mich)
Evening News. and put scientists to
work finding out the things industry
needs to know to improve its prog
ress. Something of the same sort Of
co-ordlnated endeavor, but based on
the needs of the Nation rather than
any single industry, is contemplated
by the Presidents board" That paper
is convinced that "the results should
make themselves felt Immediately and
also over long period of time"
There can be no possible obiec-
tion,' in the Judgment of the New
York Herald Tribune, ito increased
study Of how to dispose of sewage and
other wastes, perhaps the most press
ing single prob lem of technology faced
by city communities. 1t is only too
true that architects and engineers are
Woefully ignorant of the safe loads
which can be carried by different
kinds Of soils or by foundations placed
on them and it is quite correct that
tnese much-needed facts probably can
oe obtained better by some country
VIDE inquiry with governmental sup
port than in any other way. 1t Is
true, too, that increased knowledge of
now chemical reactions work at yerv
nigh or very low temperatures, out
side the ordinary range of laboratory
experiments, might be of inestimable
service to future industry. And there
PROBABLY is no problem more allurine
10 electrical engineers than that of
improved high-voltage transmission of
electricity, project also on the scien-
tlstS LIST and which is understood to
be already under active investigation
in Russia"
Inc Herald Tribune. however. Is not
so certain that the way to get these
thlngs done is to spend more money.
and concludes: Without able direc.
ton, expenditures for research become
mere organized mediocrity, as they too
often have been under the egis of
existing funds. A little more money.
to aid our handful of truly able re-,
search men when they need it, would
be highly desirable. We take the lib
erty of doubling whether this would
be anything like sixteen millions
Evening star., 1934-12-29

The report Of the Science Advisory
Beard. which was appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt last July, is cordially
received by the press. 1t recommends
grant Of Sl6000000 to finance a
six-year program of research in such
subjects as public works, new indus
tries. public health and the more
economical and efficient use of land.
The board is headed by DR.. Karl T.
Compton of the Massachusetts, 1nstl-
tute of Technology.
There Is wealth Of untold value
waiting to be tapped by human
thought" says the Philadelphia Eve
ming Bulletin, land the Science Ad-
visory Board would help harness
mental energies for a six-year period.
" q" The group headed by DR.. Comp
ton suggests several projects such as
long distance electrical transmission
by new processes, study OF air masses
to further weather forecasting, search
for opportunities for new industries,
study of possibility of fog dissipation
and other studies Of possible indus
trial value. Individual genius and
private dIlu SOl pm dSS AoHOA 'OA@SS
plus much human labor have created
most of the great industries char
acteristic of the modern era, though
many valuable contributions to ap-
piled science have originated in COL
lege and university laboratories.
Directing attention to the fact that
I'VE now spend only ope-half Of one
per cent of the Federal budget on
scientific research" the Denver Rocky
Mountain News declares that in an
age of science, this is an indictment
of our intelligence" The News COM
ments further: "A few millions spent
on science can bring back billions in
wealth and well-being. Inventions,
like the automobile, and new proc
esses in manufacture have changed
and vitalized our whole industrial sys-
tenn. Behind these is the patient and
underpaid toll of nameless men OF
science. This report shows the dam
age done to research by short-sighted
economy. The plight of scientists
who are essential to the future life
of the country is pathetic we learn.
Unless this class of Americans Is en-
couraged, unhappy results will follow"
ut seems as though no harm can
be done and profit may result from
the PLAN" according to the Worcester
Evening Gazette, which suggests that
the boards proposal may hold con-
vincing answer to those who have
been crying against science and engi-
neering as the creators of labor-sav-
ing devices and causes of unemploy-
ment." The Gazette concludes: "As
Or. Compton has pointed out, the
financial resources of scientific re-
search have been heavily depleted |
since 1929. The Government might |
remedy this deficiency in part, for
time. especially If safeguards were |
Evening star., 1934-12-29
A Summary of Reasons Why Crime
In the United States Is Unchecked

ritted and a score Of witnesses to
swear they heard the man say he was
going to kill his victim. 1t is then
necessary to have dozen alienists de-
clare the murderer is sane Even then
a clever criminal lawyer may get him
off with verdict of manslaughter.
Our police force here in Washington
has from time to time come in for
some violent criticism from both the
public and the press. AS one who has
several times had the unpleasant ex-
perience of jury duty, want to say
that if the citizens who serve on GRIM
inal court juries would do their duty
half as well as the police do theirs,
there would be small cause for COM
plant. And brutality of the police!
Brutality my sacred aunt's one-eyed
cat! The police have been abused
from one end of the city to the other
for brutality. This is no brief for
uncalled-for and unnecessary bru-
tality toward prisoner, but we have
reached pass, with our dozen or so
nightly armed stick-ups, where we
either are going to run these crooks
out of Washington or they are going
to run us out. I suppose these "bru-
tality' howlers. with an intestinal
fortitude of zero. would have an officer
say to prisoner he knew was high
wayman:
Nov, dear friend, please do not at
tempt to conceal your guilt from me
Or shall be compelled. much as I
dislike to do so. to speak Grossly to
you. 1t was naughty of you to take
the lady's pocketbook! At any rate, I
hardly think you we're justified in
knocking her down with brick. You
should have used your fist, don't you
think? If I find you are prevaricating
1t will be necessary for me to speak to
the jailer and request him to withhold
the cranberry sauce from your turkey
dinner on Thanksgiving day"
How the crooks must laugh at us!
S. H. MUMFORD,
Evening star., 1934-12-29
History and Fiction.

The study of history might be de-
Tended from the angle of its power
to amuse. Nothing else in the world
is more truly entertaining than the
annals of a nation. Fiction, even
at its best. is an imitation of life,
and the greatest work of human
imagination therefore lacks the VI
tality which distinguishes the least
notable of actual happenings. Indeed,
the cleverest of novelists have been
conscious of the superiority of the
real to the unreal, and they conse-
quently have employed an armature
of recorded fact in the making of
their masterpieces. The use to which
Scott put the story Of the reign of
Louis XI In Quentin Durward" is
an example, and Dickens did as much
with the French Revolution in his
Tale of Two Cities"
But Charles I is a more authentic
figure than Sidney Carton, and a
plain and unadorned recital of the
defeat, trial and execution of an
anointed king constitutes more
compelling narrative than the ideal
ICED account of the deliberate sacrifice
of a character which never had any
existence except such as was invented
in the mind Of the author who also
sponsored Mr.. Pickwick. The reader
appreciates the difference. Sheer art
may prompt him to weep over the
puppet that goes ito do nobler
thing" but he closes the book with
the knowledge that the drama has
been entirely vicarious, utterly sup
positions. When, on the other hand,
he accompanies the fallen Stuart
through the window of the banqueting
hall to the block in the pages of
Gardiner or Trevelyan, he has no
such handicap Of disbelief-instead,
he realizes that the tragedy is
bona hde.
william Barrow comprehended the
distinction when he wrote:
The histories of ages past, or re-
lations concerning foreign countries,
wherein the manners Of men are de-
scribed, and their actions reported,
afford US useful pleasure and pastime;
thereby we may learn as much, and
understand the world as well, as by
the most curious inquiry into the
present actions Of men; there we
may observe. we may scan, I'VE may
Evening star., 1934-12-29
TO the Editor Of The Star:

TO the Editor OF The Star:
Your recent editorial on the Haupt-
mann case was excellent, as have been
your other numerous comments on the
crime situation in general.
Too many people have fallen into
the error of blaming the miscarriage
OF justice on the courts. 1t is unfor-
tunately true there are judges serving
on the bench in some of our cities who
should be serving on chain gangs.
The principal offenders. however, in
the deplorable spectacle of the cruci-
f1xion Of justice are the citizens them
selves. refer to the juries.
A crook is arrested and the officers
of the law present enough evidence to
convict him ten times over. Is he
worried? Not so you could notice it,
He gets himself clever, unscrupulous,
scavenglng criminal lawyer and sits
back and awaits the outcome with
complacency. He nearly always asks
he and his "mouthpiece" know that
in all probability one or more of the
following type Of juror will be drawn
on the panel in his case: A soft
hearted milksop on whose feelings a
clever lawyer can play, an empty
headed sap who will believe black is
white when told so in a plausible way
by one of those clever vultures who
disgrace the name Of lawyer, a mar
row-minded, prejudiced, ignorant juror
who is so constituted that he would
vote to acquit proven murderer if
the prosecuting attorney was afflicted
with some little mannerism of speech
or wore a tie the juror did not like;
the juror who. while never having
been convicted of a crime, is at heart
a criminal and in sympathy with
criminals.
1t has gotten so 1t is almost impos-
sible to convict a person Of first-degree
murder unless the prosecution can call
six people who saw the crime COM
Evening star., 1934-12-29
narvels at the skill of this prestidigi-

marvels at the skill of this prestidigi-
tator.
In answer to q question at the lee
ture, DR.. Einstein, it is reported, re-
vealed that the universe, which his
earlier definition Of relativity origi-
nally held to be finite and curved,
might, in the light Of recent astro-
nomical discoveries, turn out after all
to be infinite and open" Which is
to say that Or. Einstein now comedies
that there may be no boundaries to
space" That at least is understand
able. And yet the finite mind, espe-
cially of the layman, can no more
grasp the idea OF limitlessness than it
can of a limited universe. When Dr.
Einstein first announced his conclu-
sion-not to say discovery-that the
universe is curved and finite, there
was nothing left but the concept of an
infinite number of other universes
than this, Of which the earth is an
infinitesimal component. For even as
nature abhors a vacuum, so the
human mind rejects the hypothesis of
an absolute nothingness. 1t is, of
course, of great astronomical interest
to compute the possibilities of an end
less extension of planetary systems,
and with the successive development
of more and more powerful lenses for
research these possibilities may be-
come actualities. There is always,
however, the knowledge that, no mat
ter how far the vision may be carried
by mechanical aid, it can never be
carried to the end of things, for there
Is no. end
Evening star., 1934-12-29
Test the New Frontiers.
Sioux City Qowa) Tribune.

From Sioux City Uowa) Tribune.
The more one observes the results Of
the futile efforts to negotiate accept
able trade treaties with other nations,
the more one is disposed to conviction
that lot of energy is being wasted.
The Tribune's one great interest is
the welfare Of agriculture. We have
seen our foreign markets for agricul-
tural products all but vanish within
the space Of q decade. We have seen
vast surpluses of grain, meat and other
products backed up on the farms and
in elevators and storage places until
we had to apply drastic curtailment
measures on productive effort to strike
a new balance.
Months of effort have yielded one
measly reciprocal agreement. the one
with Cuba. and there are no more in
sight. It is all very discouraging.
Common sense tells us, however,
there are other things to do. We can
produce farm products for use III in
dustry. The sooner we start doing
that the better OF our agricultural in
dustry will be. The Congress which
meets next month should lose no time
in enacting the laws needed to stimu-
late this sort of enterprise.
The Tribune has in mind certain
specific things which Congress can do
and should do. Congress can impose
a prohibitive tariff on the importation
of black-strap molasses and turn the
commercial alcohol business back to
the American corn growers. Congress
can further curtail the importation OF
foreign vegetable oils and fats to
create bigger domestic market for
American animal fats.
No time should be lost in subsidiz-
ing the planting Of large area of land
to slash pine from which q domestic
supply of wood pulp can be produced.
We need wood pulp. now being de-
pendent upon imports, and millions OF
acres Of Southern lands are adaptable
Evening star., 1934-12-29
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The Treadle Club has come into
existence.
It is one of Washington's most ex-
elusive clubs, for the present, having
but two members.
Templeton Jones is president and
Jack Yearley the secretary.
Initiation comes only through these
gentlemen.
The ceremonies, instead of being Sc
cret, as Is customary, are held in
public
Very public, in fact-aboard one of
these fancy new streamlined buses
with two doors.
Once aboard the bus is the only
place you can be initiated into the
Treadle Club, and only then If the
president and the secretary choose to
elect you.
No amount Of wishing or importun-
ing, or pulling wires, can gain ad-
nittance to this exclusive organiza-
ton.
President Jones is very positive
about that. Having been head of the
Anti-Sneezing Association for many
years, he knows few things about
societies.
One thing he has learned over the
years Is that the president ought to
be able to do as he pleases.
Once man is made president, he
runs the works-or ought to.
r r y
Initiation into the Treadle Club Is a
simple, two-part ceremony.
so simple, in fact, that you might
see 1t in full swing without once real
izing what was going on.
You might see Treadler created
before your very eyes and still be to-
tally in the dark.
The great feature about this club is
that nobody can ne initiated except
by President Jones and Secretary
Yearley.
That simplifies matters greatly.
The club is based upon the rubber
treadle upon which passengers must
stand to open the rear or middle door.
Sometimes this door is at the center,
sometimes at the rear of these new
aluminium buSseS.
Many residents Of this old but very
modern city have not yet found out
how to work these doors.
Therefore, they invariably leave by
the front door, which is not worked
by a treadle.
Being able to work the treadle.
knowing what the treadle is for and
how to operate it, is the outward sign
Of Treadler. The inner signs shall
be told later.
Not all those who tread the rubber
way to freedom enjoy the exalted title.
Not unless they meet the approval
OF President Templeton Jones and
Secretary Jack Yearley.
Then very simple ceremony makes
them a member of the elect, whose
duties thereafter are to exalt four
things:
Books. plays, tropical fishes and
stamps.
Or, in more dignified phrasing:
Literature, the drama, nature study
and philately.
Only those who have some interest
In one or more of these things can be
admitted
The President and Secretary see to
that.
The ceremony is. as stated, quite
simple, and absolutely public.
1t Is based upon the statement Of
one of the drivers, made several days
Evening star., 1934-12-29
Einstein the Magician.

Prof. Albert Einstein yesterday ad-
dressed a meeting of scientists at
Pittsburgh on the subject of his re-
searches into the mysteries of space
He presented a bewildering array of
formulas and he discussed in amazing
terms the possibilities of the produc-
tion of power by transmutation Of
matter into pure energy. For ex-
ample, if and when science ever finds
way to annihilate matter and utilize
the Subatomic energy which would
b. released in the process breath of
air would operate powerful airplane
continuously for year, a handful
of snow would heat large apartment
house for the same period, the paste
board in small railroad ticket would
run heavy passenger train several
times around the globe, a teacup of
water would supply the power Of a
great generating station of 100000
klloWatts capacity for year. But,
DIR. Einstein made short work of these
possibilities, saying: 'I feel absolutely
sure that it will not be possible to
convert matter into energy for practi-
cal purposes" Which Is to say in
plain terms that If the impossible
were possible the now impossible
would be achieved.
Mathematicians and physicists were
plainly thrilled by DR.. Einstein's
marvellous mastery of figures. They
doubtless see in his researches an ad-
vance in human knowledge of the uni
verse. 1t may be that some practical
use will be made of them. Assuredly
there is no ground for question in
view of the extraordinary advances in
science which have been achieved in
the past few decades of the value of
Immediately abstract but potentially
practical reduction of the cosmic
forces to formulas. So, while Dr.. Elm
stein holds his hearers spellbound with
his mathematical magic, the layman
Evening star., 1934-12-29

but has a friendly smile for Com
muniSrn.
BEHIND THE FRONT PAGE. Stories
of Newspaper Stories in the Max
ing. BY Wilbur Forrest. New
York: D. Appleton Century Co.
The author, now on a New York
paper, who has covered many assign
ments of sensational interest in this
country, Europe and Mexico. tells the
inside history Of some of them. He
was at Queenstown when the Lusi-
tania survivors were landed there. had
some experiences with the allied
censors during the World War. in
terviewed Gen. Pershing and other
war notables when they did not ex-
pect all their language to be quoted,
solved the mystery of the jenkins
case in Mexico and discovered that
France can cook"
Evening star., 1934-12-29
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

A reader can get the 1nswer to
any question OF fact by writtng The
Washington Epentng Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Hasktn, Director.
Washington, D. c. Please inclose
stamp for reply.
Q. How Is the name of the game
Towie pronounced?-K. P. s.
A. The name came from the ex-
preston, Down 1000, and has the
same low" sound. Towie is built on
the base @: contract bridge, but has
many distinctive features.
@. A book usually has a fy-leaf
which contains nothing except the
name Of the book. What Is this page
called?-H. S.
A. 1t is called the half-title page.
@. How long were the people in
the Trentino under Austrian ruler
j. A.
A.. After the war of 1866, some
100000 Italians in Trentino were
placed under Austrian rule The ter
ritory was reunited with italy in 1919.
@. How many basic odors are
there?-F. c.
A. Four fundamental odors are
recognized: Fragrant, burnt, acid and
caprylic. The last is the odor of Ger
tain evil-smelling chemicals.
Q. What protection did De Soto
afv,et
the Indians?-F. B. F.
A. De Soto's soldiers, when they
started on their expedition wore
leather doublets over coats of mail.
Since the Indian arrows pierced the
coats of mail, the soldiers discarded
these and wore instead wadded vests
and skirts wide enough to cover the
breast and launches Of the horses,
@. What is the origin of the word,
Yule, as pertaining to Christmas?-
w. D.
A 1t came to England from Scan
dinavia. where Christmas is called
julie.
@. Who was the first actress to play
the part of Juliet?-K L. B.
A. In the first Shakespearean pro-
ductions it was the custom to use boy
actors for feminine roles. The part
of Romeo was played by Burbage and
an unidentified boy played Juliet in
the. earliest performances. Between
the time Of Burbage's death and the
Restoration there are no records of
Romeo and Juliet on the stage. From
l642 to 1860 Parliament prohibited
public stage plays. After the lifting
Of this prohibition, Sir William Dave
nant received from the King exclusive
stage rights for the play. His origi-
nal Juliet was Mary Saunderson,
afterward Mrs. Thomas Beterton, who
is apparently the first woman ever to
have played the part of Juliet.
@. Is rice showered on a newly !
married couple as token of good
luck?-W. c. c.
A. Rice Is an emblem Of fecundity. |
The custom comes from India.
O. What was the first church at
jamestown. VAR. A J.
A. The first church consisted Of an
awning made of old sailcloth, walls
which were rails Of wood. seats OF un-
hewed trees, the pulpit bars of wood
nailed to two trees. Capt. Smith says
Of this: "Yet we had daily common
prayer, every Sunday two services anG
every three months the holy COM |
runion until our minister died"
The tower Of the jamestown Church |
which was afterward built is still |
standing.