davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-08-16
an. and the Ho,v Child Is shown

her lap, and the Holy Child is shown
in the act Of receiving from st. John
a rustic cross. The theme may lack
scriptural precedent, but its SYM
boliSm is exceedingly moving. De-
signed to hang in a church, the
canvas has power enough to make q
sacred place Of any location. The
rumored price of a million and a half
dollars would not be excessive for such
masterpiece.
And Mr.. Mellon would be a proper
custodian for the picture. No formal
statement in the matter ever has
been authorized, but it is widely be-
ieved that his purpose in assembling
an outstanding collection of paintings
is not unlike that of Henry Clay Fol-
ger in his quest for authentic Shake
speareana. A gift to the Nation is
forecast, and one day may be effected.
If so, the people will not fail to ap-
preciate the presentation. Americans
have their cultural roots in the civili-
zation which produced the Raphaels
and the Shakespeares of the past and
therefore are entitled to their share
of the achievements in art which they
accomplished. Also, it is plain that
if the Western World ever is to breed
Raphaels and Sheakespeares of its
own there must be examples for its
sons and daughters to emulate. Hence
the importation Of another fruit of
Raphael's genius should be welcomed.
If Mr.. Mellon has not bought the Alba
Madonna" it may be hoped that
some other American has.
Evening star., 1934-08-16
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PRILANDER JOHNSON.

Old Story.
Lets keep out O. politics."
Said Adam unto Eve.
Let's avoid the devious tricks
That serve but to deceived"
Along the willy serpent came
To the old apple tree.
Gust let me show you a new game
That will amuse," said he.
And then he squeezed the apple Juice,
Which, when it was fermented,
Promoted by its liberal use
A feeling quite contented.
Said Adam, This is not a Joke!
Plain facts-we can resist 'em.
Let's move on rather than be broke
BY this dispensary system"
Evening star., 1934-08-16

The Importance of air defense was
impressed upon Americans as well as
upon the people of other nations, when
Acting Prime Minister Stanley Bald
win of Great Britain declared: "Since
the day of the air the old frontiers
are gone, and when you think of the
defense of England you no longer
think of the white cliffs of Dover, but
you think of the Rhine" Besides
pointing to a revolution in military
strategy, the statement is also believed
to give q hint of an understanding
between Britain and France.
Baldwin is no jingo alarnist but
he gave the country the grim facts, u
comments the Columbus (Ohio) Eve
ming Dispatch, finding significance in
the fact that "the House of Commons
was so impressed that it promptly
voted him the huge increase in air
defense he declared was necessary for
security" The Springfield CMaSs)
Republican explains that British air
power in war must be prepared to
dominate the whole region northwest
of the Rhine in order to safeguard
London from destructive aerial at
tack" The Brooklyn Times Union.
seeing a common interest with France,
adds that Germany is now so desti-
tute of friends that any fighting she
has to do must be done by herself"
What Mr.. Baldwin meant, OF
course" states the Charleston Is. c.
Evening Post was that command OF
the sea lanes was no longer adequate
protection of Great Britain against a
continental enemy, because the chief
danger impends from the air since
the development of aviation. He put
the military frontier of Britain in
Europe on the Rhine, but he might
as well have put it at the Vistula.
The range Of the most modern air
planes is much greater than the dis
tance from Germany to England.
Actually it is hardly the policy of
Great Britain to ally itself with any
other European power in a definite
objective"
Nevertheless, the Evening Post be-
lieves that Great Britain stands
shoulder to shoulder with France
against Germany"
In the face of British attention to
air defense, the Portland Oregonian
points out that Germany has a wild
plan of building 10000 fighting
craft" and "the attitude of the Euro
pean powers is extremely touchy."
The Kalamazoo Gazette sees in the
British leaders remark "a realistic
facing of the facts" while the Ro-
chester Times Union suggests that
the increase of the German air force
is a threat that cannot be ignored"
The New Castle (Pa) News finds a
great difference between the deStruc-
ton wrought by airplaneS and yep
pelins in the World War, and what
would be done today with the latest
air equipment" The Danville (Ill)
Commercial-News predicts that in
the next conflict the terms Of peace
will be written in the air"
British statesmen" observes the
Albuquerque IN. Mex) Journal, have
worked indefatigably for diSarma-
ment. Failing in that, and especially
in plans for the limitation of air arm
aments, Mr.. Baldwin dramatically
hurtles Belgium and France and sets
the theoretical British frontier down
along the Rhine. With that state
ment he tacitly rules out his two
neighbors as possible enemies. Mr..
Evening star., 1934-08-16

Terminal redundancy is q phase Of
a larger matter. It involves the use of
several words at the end of a sentence
which had just as well be left Of.
Even the most careful writer at
few extra words to an otherwise good
sentence.
Mostly he does this in an attempt.
although unconscious, to be perfectly
fair to all sides of a question, and
especially to his reader.
He wants to make sure that nothing
Is left in doubt. To achieve this end
he sometimes finds himself adding an
explanatory phrase.
Upon rereading what he has writ
ten, and especially If he has permitted
lapse of time to intervene, he may
see that several words could be elm
mated, not only with no loss of mean
ing, but with a strengthening of what
is left.
In the sentence above, the words
"to intervene" for instance, may be
cut out Of the sentence with benefit.
X X X II
1t all goes back to the way one
writes, and how much of the whole is
carried in the head, much as chess
players carry" their own and the
opponents moves.
There are as many ways Of writing
as there are people.
One man will make a careful men,
orandum of what he proposes to say,
even to the extent of writing 1t out in
points. l, 2, 3 and 4, with subheads
a, b, C, etc.
Another will do nothing of the kind.
He cannot work that way, be it letter,
speech, article or book.
He must carry the entire subject "in
his head" letting it out little by little
as he goes along. He rather prides
himself on his ability to think as he
writes.
This will not mean that the man
who writes by outline does not use his
head as he writes, nor that he who
scorns set outline does not use one.
The former thinks as he writes, too,
no matter how elaborate a system of
previous outlining he has. The latter
may make use of few notes, jotted
down before he begins, or even hastily
scribbled as he goes along.
Often the indicting of a thought on
paper brings up related thoughts
which cannot be used at the time.
Writing is a sort of game, with flashes
Of wordy inspiration. The writer
must take advantage of these, either
by remembering them, and bringing
them onto paper at exactly the right
time, or he must stop to jot them
down in the briefest form.
Some find one method the best for
them. others the other. The same
writer will use both. If he finds that
good ideas are liable to get away from
him, in the heat of composition, he
will have recourse to the latter
method, if necessary.
Redundancy, as a grammatical mat
ter, is a curious one.
What is one mans redundancy is
another mans good writing.
So much depends upon the writer,
and what he has to say.
How he says it must be open to
criticism, but the endeavor remains
everything.
If he gets over" what he wants to
say. few extra words may be for
given him.
If he is not clear, verbosity viii not
Evening star., 1934-08-16
Great Britain's New Border
Reminds World of War Peril


Baldwin did not single out Germany
as the probable disturber Of the peace,
but all the world will know what he
meant"
Baldwin has done distinct service
to his nation" remarks the Grand
Rapids Herald, while the Hartford
Times calls his statement @momen-
tous" and concludes: when Mr..
Baldwin declares that the British
frontier now lies on the Rhine he
tacitly rules out France as q possible
enemy. But that does not mean an
Anglo-French military alliance, even
If only defensive. No attempt to make
one, so it is officially stated. has re-
Gently been made. But a natural and
inevitable understanding has plainly
been reached"
Evening star., 1934-08-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEFELL.

help him. II he does not make him.
self plain, brevity is no virtue.
CurtneSs. in writing has been made
much of. in recent years, particularly
in certain walks of life, until in some
quarters it has become positively dis
courteous, and an affectation.
Every one is acquainted with buSi-
ness letters of so compact q compost
ton that the recipient fiushes as
if struck across the face when he
reads them. Such letters are poor
business as well as an affront to
civilization. The writer had much
better taken a little more time.
1t is one of the heartening signs
of the times that such mistaken
brevity, so properly called curt" Is
quietly going out.
Every one sees that words are cheap,
and that one might as well use
plenty of them, II by so doing he ex-
presses himself with grace and suffi-
cheney.
Redundancy, Of course, has to do
With unnecessary words, words which
really add nothing to the thought,
but which merely pad a statement.
The careful user of words will find
that there is nothing like revision
to catch these offending words, good
words, true enough, but not needed
at the point.
The trouble comes in that no two
persons will have the same idea Of
what is redundant. One will say.
But wanted to say it that way!"
And who shall cry him nay?
In the sentence above beginning
with the word redundancy" the word
really" might just as well be left
out, but at the time of putting 1t
down we felt that it really Cd added
something to the thought.
Few persons would laud brevity Just
for its own sake, except in certain
matters with which we are not con-
cerned here. (The entire last phrase,
after the comma, In the foregoing
sentence, might be left out, but the
exception points properly, we feel, to
an entire field in which compactness
Is essentially
Brevity is easily attained, II one
puts his mind to 1t. There is no
novel, for instance, Of which the
essentials Of plot cannot be told in
a few hundred words. But what is
the result? Every one knows. A
skeleton stripped of life, q thing as
hard to read as a legal brief.
If we search the literature Of the
world, we will find that the greatest
writer's were men Of many words
That great library, the Bible, could
be wrecked in no time by a man with
a pair of shears.
We would hate to think what might
be done to Shakespeare along the
same lines. No, the very essence of
the great writers has been their per-
feet unafraidness Of words. They
loved words, and did not hesitate to
use them.
Lesser writer's may, and do, initiate
them. No one who uses q bit of
common sense need fear being re-
dundant in an Objectionable way, Just
so long as he has something to say.
and says 1t. As long as his thought
has a certain flow. true continuity,
he may use words with aplomb, being
sure that he is as right rs Lincoln,
who. In that masterpiece Of brevity,
the Gettysburg address, nevertheless
used the word here" four times in
as many sentences.
Evening star., 1934-08-16
Federal Movie Censorship.

From the Cincinnati Times-star.
In the wake of the public outcry
against indecent films and organized
boycotts against movie palaces comes
demand for Federal censorship of
the industry. As yet no national
movement has been organized toward
this end, but predictions are being
freely made by organizations and In
dividuals supporting boycotts that, in
the absence of drastic reform, q cen
sorship bill win be passed at the next
session of Congress.
Fortunately, there remain o great
many social workers and members of
the clergy who, while wanting better
films, are opposed to national censor
ship or any extension of the State
variety. The very fact that there is
so much agitation today against in
decent pictures indicates that the
State censorship boards have fallen
down on the job. Countless adult
movie-goers can testify from expert
ence how often these boards cut out
sequences which are artistically right
and offend none but the puerile mind,
while leaving In subtler but more Seri-
GUS offenses against morals or good
taste. What ground have we for sup
posing that Federal censorship would
be more effective?
OF one thing we may be sure: If
Federal movie censorship comes, it
will quicken the present alarming
growth Of bureaucracy. That the
screen would in time be used for
political propaganda may be taken for
granted. The movie-goer now has in
his control the most potent weapon
against films which he regards as In
decent: He can stay away from them.
Since the movies are an industry or
ganized for profit, such action viii be
it is, in fact, already proving to1be-
effective.
Evening star., 1934-08-16
Real Work for Gov. Black.

The natural regret that the banking
world may feel over the resignation
of Gov. Eugene R. Black from the
Federal Reserve Board will in large
measure be offset by the nature of
the new duties that the President, in
reluctantly accepting the resignation,
has assigned to him. In the Presi-
dents own words, these new duties,
described as "a new and important
additional task" are outlined as fol-
lows:
You can do much good by present.
Ang the recovery program to the coun-
try's reserve banks, commercial banks
and other financial institutions; by
-. acquainting them with the successive
steps taken by the administration
which have resulted in the present
prosperous condition of these insti-
tutions and which make possible their
cooperation with the administration
in its program of complete business
rehabilitation.
Gov. Black is man who enjoys the
general respect and confidence Of the
banking business. This same business
has been afflicted by spirit Of un-
certainty as to what the future plans
of the administration may hold in
store. Roundly condemned, on the
one. hand, for failure by certain ele-
ments of the banking business to fol-
low the dictates of sound, conservative
or even honest banking during the
lush days of the pre-depression boom,
and as heartily condemned for hesi-
tance in throwing down the bars and
lending money on the theory of
spending our way out of the depres-
sion, the banking business as a whole
may have wondered where its new re-
sponsibilities to depositors end and
where its allegiance to recovery plans
begins-in addition to exhibiting
natural curiosity over what the next
days recovery plans are going to be.
With the Government relying on the
: banks to assist huge Government
financing, the banks, on the other
hand must know definitely whether
the Government intends to pursue
q conservative or an inflationistic
policy in managing" its currency.
Governor Blacks new task, as it is
understood, will, in addition to his
return to the governorship of the Fed
eral Reserve Bank at Atlanta, be that
of liaison officer between the admins
tration and the banking world. He
has in the past expressed the hope
that some such position could be
created, its incumbent interpreting to
the banking world the Governments
plans and moves and, in turn, keep
ing the administration informed of
the sentiment as we'll as actual con-
ditions faced in the banking business.
The position requires a man who
enjoys the respect and confidence of
both the administration and the bank
ing fraternity, and Governor Black
happily meets such requirements. IF
! can make a success of my job of
bringing the banks and the admins
tration to a closer understanding and
greater cooperation it would be
wonderful piece of work" Governor
Black says.
1t is, moreover becoming apparent
that such understanding and CO.
operation between the Government
and the Nations private banking insti-
tutions are essential elements of re-
covery. The banks have a right to
know, and it is important that they
do know where they stand.
Evening star., 1934-08-16
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader can get the anssoer to any
question Of fact by sUriting The Wash
tnoton Evening Star Information BR-
reoI, Frederic J. HaSkin, Director,
Washington, d. c. Please inclose
stamp for reply.
@. How many people belong TO
the Utopian Society?-V. Z. s.
A. Utopia, Inc, was organized
February 20, 1884, and 1t is said to
have a membership Of 20o. 900 people.
It Is an offshoot of technocracy and
operates as q secret order. 1t is said
that more women than men are
members.
@. Who was the Thomas W.
White whose portrait hangs in the
Edgar Allen Poe shrine at Richmond.
Vs.7-D. o. C.
A. He was the Richmond publisher
of the Southern Literary Messenger.
1t appeared in 1884. The following
year J. p. Kennedy Of Baltimore
wrote to Mr.. White calling his atten-
ton to "a remarkable young man by
the name Of Edgar Poe" White in
vited the poet to become assistant
editor Of the magazine. THUS 1t Is
appropriate that his portrait should
hang in the Poe shrine in Richmond,
Va.
O.. How many men were killed dur
ing the construction of the George
Washington Bridget. w. B.
1nA L. N1Ae
course of construction of the George
Washington Bridge, extending over a
period Of four years. This record, al
though the unfortunate and tragic
side in the building OF the structure,
was not considered high for q project
Of such magnitude and involving SO
many unusual hazards.
@. How can the best tone be pro-
| duced on a violin?-E. S.
A. 1t can be produced by first plac-
ing the finger firmly on the string,
then produce a. vibrato, and bow the
string with a fairly firm bow. Lack
Of bow pressure will produce a fiuty
tone, while an excess pressure will
produce rasp and scratching.
@. To what previous year is the
1884 wheat harvest comparable?-
G. s.
A. This years wheat harvest Is the
smallest since 1893.
@. How much income was pro-
duced and paid out in 1929 and how
much in 1932?-S. M.
A. Income produced in 1929 was
$83, ,032, ,000, 900 and income paid out,
| $8l ,136, 100000. Income produced
in 1892 was $39, ,365 ,000, 900 and in
come paid out, $48, 1894, ,oOo,O 900.
@. If Charles Egbert Craddock is a
pseudonym, what is the real name of
the author?-T. G. c.
A. M. N. Murfee.
Q. What is the cost of the White
House?-M. G.
A. When the extensions now under
construction have been completed, the
total cost Of the White House will
have reached $4,000, 900. Most of this
has been for remodeling and replace
ments.
@. Please give some information
about the Isle of Pines.-E. e. B.
A. The Isle of Pines is about 80
miles south of Cuba, of which it forms
dependency. The north of the
island is mountainous. There are
mineral deposits and marble is quar-
ried. The south is fiat and marshy,
forming everglades. Cattle-raising is
the chief occupation, but there is also
trade in tobacco, mahogany. pine and
cedar woods. The isle has an area
of 1900 square miles. The capital is
Nueva Corona. Santa Fe Is the
largest. town. The island was dis
covered by Columbus in 1894. The
population is about $500.
@. When did Lon Chaney die?-
G. D. A.
A. This noted actor died August "a,
1890.
Evening star., 1934-08-16

A New York scientist is exploring
the sea in a bathysphere. He has
found some queer fish. but occasional
reports of sea serpents show it is
possible to do that much while re-
naming on land.
Evening star., 1934-08-16

Russia bargains closely for the
sale to Japan of an interest in the
Chinese Eastern Railway. If the
Soviet has to do much railway dicker-
ing it will find it hard to avoid capt.
taIistic symptoms.
Evening star., 1934-08-16

Gold may not be boarded. Neither
may silver. Metal money may still be
saved up. however, so long as the
baby is permitted to put copperS and
nickels in a little tin bank.
Evening star., 1934-08-16

Arrests for bootlegging continue to
be made with astonishing. frequency.
Repeal of prohibition has preserved
old vices while introducing new ones.
Evening star., 1934-08-16

Secretary Hull denies a report that
this country will have high commits
sioner at Geneva to keep in touch
with the League of Nations. An "un-
oficial observer" will do just as we'll
for collecting the current gossip.
Evening star., 1934-08-16

@. Please give . brief history Of
jacques de Molay.-J. OBJ.
A. The Masonic Encyclopedia says
Jacques de Molay was the twenty
second and last grand master Of the
Templars at the time OF the destruc-
ton Of the order in the fourteenth
century. He was summoned To
France to defend the order against
the charge Of treason and going there
in full faith was treacherously be-
trayed and imprisoned for five and a
half years. During that time he was
subjected to sufferings and indignitics
to extort from him q confession of
the guilt Of the Order OF the Temp
lars. He maintained Its innocence
and was burned alive March IL, 1914.
In front Of the Cathedral OF Eotre
Dame in Paris"
@. What is the saying about the
last laugh is best?-G. X.
A. The proverb runs, He laughs
well Cor besD who laughs last.
@. How do Congressmen know
which seats TO occupy in the halls of
CongreSs?-J. p. X.
A. Senators are assigned certain
seats and desks. Seniority governs
seating and changes are made from
time to time. In the House OF Rep
resentatives no allotment Is made and
the members occupy any seat avail
able. In both the House and Senate
political divisions are made. The
Democrats occupy one side and the
Republicans the other.
| @. What well-known orator raised
the money for the purchase Of Mount
Vernon?-N. e.
A. No single individual. Edward
Everett from 1856-i85e delivered his
famous lecture on Washington l22
occasions and realized nearly Sc, 900,
which he turned over to the Mount
Vernon Association for the purchase
of Mount Vernon by private subscrip-
ton.
@. Who was Herod the 0reat?-
s. w.
A. A King Of Judaea who died four
| years before Christ. He put down
brigandage in Palestine, restored the
temple at Jerusalem and befriended
the Jews. He was politically asso-
ciated with Cleopatra.
@. How much rain and snow falls
on the earth each second? Does the
same amount ascend into the air?-
E. L. &.
A. 1t Is estimated that the amount
Of rain and snow falling on the entire
surface Of the earth averages about
10000, 900 tons a second. The amount
Of water that falls on the earth
and the amount that passes OF into
the air by evaporation are in the
long run exactly equal. For every
ton Of water that falls q ton Is re-
turned In gaseous form to the atmos-
phere, though not as q rule at the
same place where it fell.
@ Where are the planets In the
heavens at present2--H NJ
A. Venus Is in the morning sky,
rising about two hours before the
sun during the early part Of the
month. BY the last Of the month
it will rise about an hour before the
sun and will continue in the morn
ing sky. Mars is in Gemini In the
morning sky. BY the 31st 1t win be
in Cancer. Jupiter is in the western
evening sky. Saturn Is In the eastern
evening sky in Capricornus.
@. Upon what kind of rollers were
the ancient manuscripts rolled?-
j. D. NJ j
A. The ancient scrolls were rolled
either upon wooden roller-inany
times with metal cap-or upon
clay cylinder.
@. Is the prison population incress-
ing rapidly?-P. r.
A. The latest compilation Is for
1882. During that year prison popu-
1ation increased only one-tenth Of
per cent.
Evening star., 1934-08-16
An Evolutionary Shirt.

do you belong to the old school of
craftsmanship"
NO." answered Senator Sorghum.
I'm trying to catch up with the new
university statesmanship-college yell
and everything"
Evening star., 1934-08-16
Advice to Writers.

From the Lowell Evening Leader.
Somebody assures young writer's that
the literary ladder can be climbed.
Which Is another way of saying that
they should not expect to begin at the
top.
Evening star., 1934-08-16
Another Way to Put II.

From the Springfield Cdo) Leader-Press
Hard-boiled criminals who so often
announce that they will never be
taken alive might get at the point
more directly If they would say that
they will be taken dead.
Evening star., 1934-08-16

A strike. is never a conclusive dem
onstration of mutiny. 1t is only a
symptom of an abnormal condition
demanding intelligent correction.