davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
RY THOUAS HENRY
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

that any one caught in the act of put
ting death curse on his neighbor or
making waxen image Of him should
be put to death unless he could prove
that the intended victim was guilty Of
the acts of which he was accused. The
exorcism Of the demons invoked BY
the cursers was one Of the chief EN-.
Payments of the Babylonian priests.
X
The ancient Hebrews, DR.. Duncan
said, followed the example of their
neighborS. and some of the most hor-
rible curses in literature are contained
In the Bible. He has counted 1876 Of
them, all calling for the torture and
death Of enemies. Perhaps the most
blood-curdling curse of all time, he
points out, Is the 109th Psalm.
But as the Hebrew tribes advanced
in culture. DR.. Duncan points out, the
curses become less and less realistic
and are condemned by the prophets
and writer's of the later books of the
Old Testament. This is so much the
case that sorcerers are condemned to
death-a biblical sanction that re-
suited In the execution of thousands
OF supposed witches in later times.
Also, he says. in the later books and
in the New Testament it is evident
that the mild curses used are largely
matters Of rhetoric. The writer's were
racking their brains for vivid express
sions without having any real belief
that the curses would be effective.
The curse is common to primitive
peoples the world over, it was pointed
out by members of the Anthropological
Society Of Washington. before whom
DR.. Duncan presented his choice COL
lection of Egyptian and Hebrew i'm
precautions.
Even without moon and stars the
night sky would not be entirely dark
Part Of its light originates within
the atmosphere of the earth. The
luminosity of the night sky is being
made the subject of cooperative re-
search project of the University of
Chicago and the University of Texas
in an effort to determine the causes
Of its curious fluctuations in intensity.
This luminosity Is made up approx
imately as follows: Direct starlight,
IS per cent; starlight scattered by the
earth's atmosphere. per cent: 20
diacal light, 43 per cent; surora, IS
per cent, and scattered earthlight, 10
per cent.
The variations sometimes are fairly
rapid, amounting to as much as %
per cent in two hours. Equipped with
extremely sensitive recording instru-
ments the astronomers are devoting
especial attention to the zodiacal light,
the cone Of light which can be seen
rising from the horizon after sunset
and just before sunrise. Contrary to
general belief, they have found that
the exis of this cone does not coincide
with the plane of the orbit Of the
earth-the ecliptic. Observations
show the morning zodiacal light Is dis
| placed to the north of the ecliptic by
as much as five degrees.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

Puerto Ricos plea for statehood is
regarded with sympathy by many
American newspapers, which feel that
at least the islanders are entitled to
know what the United States intends
to do with them ultimately.
1t is recalled by the Nashville
Tennesseean that the 1923 Demo-
cratic platform recommended terri
torial status for Puerto Rico with the
view of ultimate statehood accorded
to all Territories of the United States
since the beginning of our Govern
ment and the 1882 platform advo-
Gated, along with independence of the
Philippines. ultimate statehood for
Puerto Rico" The Tennesseean, OBJ
serving that q statehood bill is now
in Congress, and that committee
representing the majority of the in
sular Legislature is carrying the petit
ton to our Government, observes that
many problems are involved, includ-
ing the degree Of sentiment in Puerto
Rico in favor of independence"
unless the people of this country
intend to repudiate the principles upon
which it was founded. ignore traditions
which promoted growth" says the New
Haven Comm Journal-Courier, "they
must look gently on this petition
Perhaps Democrats should be re-
minded of their 1882 platform The
New Haven paper goes into American
history with the further statement
ut is a curious quirk of history that
Puerto Rico, which was populous
and prosperous outpost in the New
World before jamestown and Plymouth
were first settled, should now be petit
tioning to attach itself to the young
colossus on the continent. The time
was when Puerto Ricans thought
what is now the United States a wild
land hardly worth exploring. Now
many Americans think Puerto Rico a
strange place, far off and hardly worth
serious consideration as a State
Advocates of statehood" comments
the Fort Worth (Tex) Star-Telegram,
SAY that it would allay the consider
able sentiment in the islands for COM
plete independence. In recent years
sugar imports, duty free, from Puerto
Rico have been almost as large as
from the Philippines, and duty-free
sugar imports were among the major
considerations which prompted Con-
gress to grant ultimate independence
to the Philippines
IF Puerto Rico should become the
forty-ninth State of the Union" the
savannah (GaD Morning News OBJ
serves. at would be the first State
to be organized outside Of continental
united States. Also, it would be the
first admitted since 1912, when New
Mexico and Arizona became States.
Puerto Rico is not q territory, like
Alaska and Hawaii, but, like the
philippines, Is technically possession.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
Facts on Rental Conditions.

Representative Ellenbogen Of Penn
sylvania, author of the bill to revive
the wartime Rent Commission, is wise
in deciding to hold hearing on that
measure, despite the fact that the
bill has already been favorably re-
ported from the House District Com
mittee without the usual hearing.
For the bill is based on the assump-
ton of an existing emergency In
rental conditions in Washington
which would justify the practical
seizure of private rental property for
purposes of strict regulation by the
Government. The validity Of the
measure, Judging from the history of
litigation involving the former Ball
rent law Of war times, depends largely
upon the actual existence Of an emer-
gency. There has been no effort to
investigate rental conditions in Wash
ington to determine whether such an
emergency exists. The hearing
should at least produce information
in the form of evidence relating to
this emergency.
The Ball rent law, on which the FL
lenbogen bill is patterned, was held
invalid by the District Court Of APP
peals. But the United States Supreme
Court, in a five-to-four decision, re-
versed the lower court. Three years
later another case involving the valid
ity of the Ball act reached the Su-
preme Court, and this time the court
sent the case back to the District Su-
preme Court for trial on its merits,
holding that it was necessary to de-
velop the facts as to the emergency
existing before the court could decide
on the question Of constitutionality.
The court said: eff the question were
only whether the statute is in force
today upon the facts that We judicially
know, we should be compelled to say
that the law has ceased to operate.
Here, however. It u material to know
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Pride in running the home aquarium
without changing the water should
not prevent the owner from adding
water whenever necessary.
This Is prime warning, which
many should heed, both for the fishes
sakes and their own regulations. for
nothing Is more inimical to both than
tank in which the water has begun
to 60 bad.
Subtle chemical changes may crop
out, manifested by a certain diminu-
ton In the activities of the fishes, and
then the only thing to do is to break
up these activities by diluting the old
water.
But every newcomer to the fish hob
by, especially that portion of it which
has to do with the keeping of exotic,
tropical fishes. has heard tall tales
about tanks which have been run for
from 9 to 80 years without changing
the water"
1t has become the sign of good man.
agement, in tropical fish keeping, to be
able to get along without changing the
water at stated periods, as people used
to do when keeping too many goldfish
In too small . container.
X II
Proper management of the tank
containing exotic fishes of various sorts
demands that the water be left more
or less unchanged.
There will come time, however, in
the life OF every aquarium, no matter
how well managed, when fresh water,
Of the same temperature as the old,
must be added.
To know the signs of this necessity
is also part Of good management.
No matter how skillfully one feeds,
or how well he attends to other points
essential to the health of his charges,
ne will fail miSerably if he becomes so
obsesSed with the idea of never chang
ing the water that he hesitates to add
new when genuine necessity arises.
This Is particularly true with the s.
gallon and l0-gallon tanks, which are
the mainStay Of the amateur fish
keeper.
An aquarium of the latter capacity
Is adequate for any type fish ordi-
narily kept, provided only few of
the larger ones are maintained
Tanks of these sizes most often are
overcrowded, however, despite the best
intentions OF the owner.
Hence, particularly keen watching
must be kept in order to discern the
first sign of Whitewater not exactly
which fishes are not doing as well as
they should do.
One OF the first signs Is inactivity
Of the animals.
Usually this is coupled with q
slightly yellowish cast to the medium
in which the fishes have their life
and being.
We have seen tanks a year old as
clear as crystal to which water has
been added only to replace that lost
by evaporation.
Such water usually has a slight
camphorish smell, which is no wonder,
seeing the amount of life processes
which have taken place in it.
If such tank has Snails, the
water will be found to be quite acid
in character, as manifested by a
white deposit on their shells.
While the fishes may be doing well,
often they will be far less lively than
usual, even when artificial aeration is
used.
Il y y
This slight slowing down ought to
be a warning to add more water, but
this must be done gradually, of course,
not all at once.
The main thing to watch out for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
the conditions In Washington at Diff
ferent dates in the past"

the conditions In Washington at dif-
ferent dates in the past"
Congress in the meantime had ex-
tended the life of the Rent Commits
sion and the District Court of Appeals
subsequently found that the emer-
gency on which the original act had
been based had ceased to exist, thus
killing the rent act.
It would thus seem that the va
lidity of the procedure outlined in the
Ellenbogen bill depends altogether
upon the demonstrable existence Of
an emergency, and the facts and fig-
ures which bear upon the determine
ton of such an emergency surely have
a place In the consideration of drastic
legislation designed to treat conditions
arising from that emergency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
A Mandate for Germany?

Germany'S clamor for restoration
of some of her lost colonies has led
to a strange proposal in London,
looking to the handing over of the
Negro Republic of Liberia to the Reich
as mandate under guardianship of
the League of Nations. The sugges-
ton emanates from Gen. Hertzog,
premier of the Union of South Africa,
who is in England with other domin-
ion prime ministers for King Georges
silver jubilee.
The scheme is motivated not only
by a desire to propitiate Germany,
but to divert her attention from
Southwest Africa, her former colony
now under mandate to the South
African Union. Neither do the South
Africans fancy the idea of having the
Germans as neighbors in Tanganyika.
through restoration of that region to
Berlin's authority.
Many bridges would have to be
crossed before Liberia could be trans
ferred to the tender mercies of the
Nazis. 1t is an independent country
and it is a grave question whether
Geneva has the power to impose a
mandate upon a sovereign people. The
United States has a direct interest in
Liberia, dating from its foundation
in 1922 by Negro freedmen from this
country with the assistance of Amer
lean colonization societies. The Amer
lean stake in Liberia now includes
the lease of a tract of one million
acres of its soil, which the government
in 1925 gave to an American industrial
corporation for exploitation of rubber
resources.
Existence of slavery or semi slavery
conditions in Liberia have for years
made that country an object of inter-
national interest. A League Of Nations
investigation in 1880 produced re-
port later characterized at Washing
ton by Secretary of State Stimson as
"a shocking indictment" The result
was a declaration to the League by
the Liberian government that all
slaves had been emancipated and
forced labor abolished. A new presi-
dent assumed office alongside League
supervisory commission on which the
United States is represented.
Whether the South African pro-
posal will ever get anywhere depends
on many things not yet revealed.
Primarily to be determined is the
Leagues authority to convert Liberia
into inundated yassal of Germany.
The Liberians would want something
to say about that Then there is the
question whether such q transaction
would appease Nazi demands for re-
vived colonial glory. And finally, is
the League likely to 60 bearing gifts
to the Reich that contemptuously re-
jects all suggestions Of return to
the Geneva fold?
About a year ago Capt. Anthony
Eden of Great Britain hi1lted broadly
that the United States should be
invited to accept a mandate for Libe-
ria. As Uncle Sam did not react to
the proposal, the South Africans now
argue, why not invite Germany to
undertake the task of cleaning up
conditions in the Negro republic on
behalf of all the nations Of the world?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

Curses Of dead kings don't worry
DR.. George s. Duncan, professor Of
Egyptology at American University.
Egyptologists, DR.. Duncan says,
popularity are supposed to be short
lived because of the horrible incanta-
lions to which the pharaohs and
mobiles resorted for the protection Of
their tombs. He has just made a
survey of the foremost English and
American followers of this profess
sion and finds that the ma iority Of
them are elderly men in excellent
health. Either the curses have lost
their potency or they never had any.
The idea Of the pharaohis curse,
DR.. Duncan says, received its great
est publicity after the opening Of
the tomb Of Tutankhamen IN 1922.
But of the five who actually opened
the vault, only one has died. OF the
% present at the opening six have
died. OF the 20 present at the open
ing of the sarcophagus, all but two
still are alive. OF the 10 who actually
examined the sarcophagus. none are
dead. Howard Carter, the chief Of
fender, Is SO contemptuous of the
curse that he has started a hunt for
the tomb of Tutankhamen's queen.
Himself one of the foremost Amer
lean Psychologists, DR.. Duncan is de-
flying the supposed jinx still further
by making collection Of Egyptian
curses. He has found some horrible
ones. They often were engraved on
tombs as a protection against grave
robbers. The Egyptians themselves
believed implicitly in the potency of
these curses The oldest of all, DR..
Duncan finds, was one engraved on
the tomb Of an Egyptian noble about
2700 B. C. Translated it reads: May
the great god Of all judgments punish
all who injure this tomb" After
this they become more and more
numerous.
The curse, DR.. Duncan finds, was
an important factor in Egyptian
statecraft. He has found the oldest
peace treaty in the world. made in
1872 B. c., between Rameses the
Second, one of the most progressive
of the pharaohs, and the king of
the Hittites. 1t was engraved on two
tablets of silver and provided for
perpetual peace between the two ma
tons.
The concluding provision Is: "And
may the thousand gods Of the
Egyptians and the thousand gods Of
the Hittites destroy the violator Of
this treaty, his family, his house and
his servants" so far as I can find, Z"
says DR.. Duncan, this treaty never
was violated. There hardly could
have been greater assurance of
peace. A man might have mad the
courage to defy one or two gods,
such as were invoked for the protec-
ton of tombs, but it would nave re-
quired q foolhardy individual indeed
to have defied the wrath of 1000
gods
DR.. Duncan traces back to Egypt the
pleasant way Of getting rid Of ones
enemy still practiced over most Of the
world and even in the United States
that Is, making a wax or wooden
image Of him, sticking it full Of pins
and trusting to the working Of SYM
pathetic magic that the victim would
waste away and die. Many such
images have been found. The method
often worked. When the intended vic
tim heard about it he sometimes died
Of fright.
One Of the laws of Hammarubai,
DR.. Duncan points out, was intended
to protect persons against this under
handed sort Of homicide. u provided
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

The charming and accomplished
Amelia Earhart receives one of the
highest compliments possible in the
expressed wish of her husband that
she will interrupt a brilliant career
for the purpose of some f1reside chats.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

Big and Little Ideas.
It was just little midget
That magnate CHANGED to see.
She made the whole world fidget
When she bounced upon his knee
We are ponderous or prophetic,
AS in argument we rage
Then some midget theoretic
Grabs the center OF the stage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

It seems possible that the disap-
pointments of Grover Bergdoll are
due to the fact that he did not take
his war seriously and regarded it too
much as a means Of personal oppor-
tunity, to be managed at his own
discretion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

statement. At the same time, it is
charged. he knew the constitutional
requirements that a Senator must be
30 years old and that he was not
eligible to hold office If he we're
elected. Certainly he has not held
of1ice since his election, nor performed
any of the functions of a Senator,
except to draw salary and have office
space in the Senate Office Building
The question is whether he will be
held eligible to be seated after he has
become 30 years old. There are Senate
precedents which indicate that he
may be had ineligible.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

The anniversary of the sinking Of
the Lusitania brought, as usual,
kindly recollection of that eminent
diplomat, Bernstorff, who did all that
was humanity possible to warn Ameri-
cans against sailing on the Inflated
ship.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
An Old Stage Door
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton.

She paused upon the battered, glamor-
Gus sill,
A student of the drama, very grave.
Her limpid eyes were deeper than she
knew
In the entraptured scrutiny she
gave
The playhouse door thru which a
starry throng
OF other years had passed to fame
within.
AS yet but tutored in her art, she
plucked
From her gay feathered hat q
shining pin;
And as she might have carved G lovers
name
Upon the seasoned door that stood
ajar
She etched, with fingers passionate
and fond,
One word symbolic Of her future
star.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

There may be strikes next Summer;
so there will be canoe accidents, air.
plane crashes and railway disasters.
Some lines of prediction are so per-
functory that they seem scarcely
worth undertaking.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

The King of England was reported
10 be looking a little fatigued after
the great jubilee. Perhaps he had
touch of stage fright, but he has
the satisfaction Of knowing that his
appearance was q grand success.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

Billions.
I gaze through the night at the stars
In the sky
There are more which they say we
can't see
To count them I know would be useless
to try,
So a billion means nothing to me.
1t is only a word that is easily said,
While leaving the mind fancy free
With figures of speech I'll not trouble
my head,
So billion means nothing to me.
This vision so fair you may meet any
where.
Help yourself and take one, two or
three,
Or whatever is needed to Danish your
care,
For billion means nothing to me.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

A brilliant record as scientific
conservationist ought to enable Gift
ford Pinchot to give some valuable
advice on soil erosion by wind as
we'll as by water.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

1t is limited that movie incomes
are not always as large as the public
is led to suppose. One thing is GER
tain-whatever picture stars get, they
work hard for it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

The Introduction Of the term Gin
trastate" may give opportunity for
old-time States right orators to re-
furnish some ancient material.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
Seasonal License.

From the Los Angeles Times.
Base Ball at High Pitch"-head-
line. indicating that, with the opening
of the diamond season, even the head
line writer must have his little fltng.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

An appeal to the versatile Prof.
Tugwell may assist the national legis-
lators in discovering some method of
blowing under a veto.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

1t may be that Herbert Hoover is
not again on his way to the White
House, but he has at least gone as
far as the microphone.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
The RIGHT Place.

From the Boston Transcript. .
One of the new rosebushes, we note
is named Better Times" We sup
pose the best place to plant it would
be Just around the corner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

Homes might be more peaceful II
lawyers were called in to supervise
courtships instead of waiting for the
family quarrel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
"Eeelinn,, Sinnora

Feeling" Singers.
From the New Haven Journal-Courier.
A Hollywood director claims Groom
ers sing with feeling. But he doesn't
explain how they feel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
Changed His Trade.

from the ONO State Journal.
Hitler may have been q paperhanger
at one time, but he certainly shows
the tendencies of a first-class butcher
these days.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

Averse to Fray.
do you think munitions makers
want ware"
mo" answered Senator Sorghum,
mot personally. The manufacturer
of bombing planes very seldom rides
in one himself"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
Safety First.

Safety First.
you are a soap box orator!"
II am" said the agitator.
whats the first thing you do when
you decide to arouse the rabble?"
IT try to make friends with the
police"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

Two Reactions.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Some argue that the United States
can do anything. Others fear it will.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09

my ancestors built great wall to
prevent INVASION" said Hi Ho, the
sage Of Chinatown. "As a heritage
it was failure. We do not even own
the wall"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
Condensed Information.

Condensed Information.
The ultimate consumer in his turn
must have his say,
And maybe in a wondrously authorita-
tive way
You may give him many column in
neatly printed book,
You may draw some pictures solemn
and invite him for a look,
But the argument that gets him, for
better or for worse,
Is the figure that is climbing and
won't go into reverse.
The ultimate consumer has a mind
that's not so slow
And the pretty little price tag tells
him all he needs to know.