davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-04-20
The Spectacle at Smithland.

A hideous spectacle was presented
yesterday at county seat in Ken
lucky, where man was hanged for
a crime against a woman and for
nearly an hour before the execution
the condemned harangued the as
sembled crowd Of several hundred
people, asserting his innocence and
accusing the victim of his outrage,
who was present, and the members of
the jury, some Of whom were also
there, of persecution. Nothing COM
parable to this has ever before oc-
Cured in this country. 1t is to be
hoped that the like will never occur
again.
Under the State law, which pre-
scribes electrocution as the means of
execution for capital offenses, the ex-
ception is made that for this particu-
lar crime the death penalty shall be
inflicted by hanging. in the county
where the crime is committed, this
exception having been for the purpose
Of effecting more deterrent influence
Technically all executions are in pri-
vate save for the presence Of . small
number of official witnesses. The
county Jail at Smithland was. how
ever. too small to permit gallows to
be erected indoors. Consequently the
gruesome apparatus was erected in
the Jail yard and q great crowd gath
cred, and there, under a special dis
pensation, the condemned was per-
mitted to "have his say" before the
trap was sprung.
An execution is a terrible thing,
In any circumstances, whether per-
formed publicly or privately, by what
ever means. 1t should never become
the medium of an arousal of revulsion
against the law which has sent 4
person to death for crime. It should
Evening star., 1935-04-20
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Eden at Evening

Your face at morning brings great
thoughts to me:
High moons. an eagles crest, rush.
ing tide,
Hard granite rock, o storm-tossed
forest tree,
A trail upon some rugged mountain
side,
The taste OF sun and air ct vibrant
morn,
The beat OF eager hoofs. the hunting
horn.
Your face at evening! All my startled
heart
Revolts against those burrows on
your brow,
And summons thoughts where twilight
has q part:
Blue-shadowed pools and moss, .
dusky bough,
Verdure and dew-my fingers to erase
The lines Of conflict from your weary
face.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
A Franco-Russian Hitch.

That ever-changlng mternauonal
moving picture called the European
crisis presents a fresh front today
with news of a serious hitch In the
negotiations for a Franco-Russian
military alliance. 1t was expected
that the pact, euphoniously described
in the lingo of modern diplomacy as
a treaty of mutual assistance. would
be initiated in Paris today with the
arrival Of Maxim Litvinoff, Soviet
commissar for foreign affairs. In
stead Mr.. Litvinoff, in a reported
state of high dudgeon. left Geneva
for Moscow. and Paris rumbles with
rumors that the alliance project Is
now on the rocks. Disagreement
has come over the "automatic" func-
tioning of the proposed accord.
As originally projected, France and
the Soviet Union were to come to each
others aid the moment either country
was the victim of aggression. Now
France has come forward with the
condition that a decision by the
League Council, which requires q
unanimous vote. should precede any
mutual assistance" Whether the
French have proposed any other
reservations is not disclosed. but the
change of front by Paris with respect
to the automatic feature Of the
scheme was sufficient to cause Mr.
Litvinof to reject the whole idea
for the time being at least, as un.
acceptable.
BY pressing for an automatic
clause, the Soviet aroused French
fears of aligning themselves in an
outright military alliance with Rus
sia. It also raised the delicate point
of bringing the pact into collision
with French commitments under the
Locarno treaty. Locarno pledges its
signatories not to resort to war except
for legitimate defense. Therefore,
Paris argues, should France assume
obligations to aid Russia. even if she
herself was not attacked by Germany
the French would risk retaliatory
measures from Great Britain, or at
least Britain's cancellation of the
Locarno guarantees to France. 1t Is
assumed that 1t was this factor which
impelled M. Laval to insist upon keep
ing the Franco-Soviet pact strictly
within League limitations.
French popular desire for treaty
with the Russians has cooled per-
ceptibly on account Of Communist
propaganda in connection with the
approaching French municipal elec-
tions. Poland's new overtures toward
France at Geneva this week also
made the French less enthusiastic
about binding themselves to a mill
tary alliance with Moscow.
Taking all these elements into con-
sideration, the outlook for a Franco
Soviet treaty for solidifying European
security is distinctly less favorable
than 1t was. The pity and misfortune
about these developments is that they
are likely to encourage Nazi Germany
to stiffen its intransigent attitude and
maintain its truculent refusal to par
ticipate in collective action for peace.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
"Newsworthy."

The weekly news magazine Time
has invented the word "newsworthy"
to denote those values in which read
ers are interested, and 1t is a meas
urably good and accurate word. It's
connotation is one of vitality. News
is life, and there would be no news
papers in dead planet like the moon.
But numerous public, as it happens,
sees only portion of the whole scene,
and therefore must wonder on occa-
sion why certain events and certain
personalities are accorded journalistic
notice while other subjects. theoreti-
cally Of equal or superior Importance.
appear to be neglected.
One explanation in the circum-
stances Is the natural desire Of pub
fishers and editors to be comprehen.
sive in their approach to current his
tory. Their wish to practice a liberal
tolerance prompts them to print re-
ports and opinions which more often
than not they consider to be of minor
Importance. They realize that even
the most trivial themes have an at
traction for at least few persons,
and, since their aim is to serve the
entire community, they play fair" by
including the most dirinutive minori-
ties. Also they understand from their
experience that news values sometimes
grow-the ne-paragraph story of to-
day may be column long by tomor-
row.
But the news, it should be remem-
bered, is not amenable to any effective
degree of editorial control, however
well intentioned; it neither can be
made to order nor governed in its
trends. The best that journalists can
do is to reflect with such skill as they
can muster the developments which
are going on within their range Of
vision. They do not create life; their
business is merely that Of rejecting
and interpreting it. And the sole
power of discrimination which they
possess is that Of deciding what b
"newsworthy" In the sense Of being
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Sentence" can be called only light lit
erature, though It is the height Of
tragic melodrama. Eric Lever. world
traveller. has little time for his mother
less daughter and leaves her In the
care Of nurses until she surprises him
by growing UP and falling in love with
. man. he does not approve. So, with
ignorant and unjustifiable self-confi-
dence, he brings about her marriage
to another man. Then he goes away
ON another trip. On his return he dis
covers that the mistake has been his.
% he sets about to correct 1t by . far
more serious piece Of meddling. The
plot b extravagant and Levers proc
esses Of reasoning show far from
we'll balanced mind.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
nk.--l>l ana Nia~;xssa
Member of the Associated Press.
Public Health Purchasable.

During the recent Senate hearings
on the District appropriation bill,
Dr.. P. A. McLendon, representing the
Legislative Committee of the Medical
Society of the District. casually men,
toned that lust at the present mo-
ment, diphtherial immunization can
not be done by the Health Depart
ment, for the reason that all expendi-
lures for that particular item have
been made, and there is not one
penny for the purchase of diphtherial
toxin for immunization of children
in the District Of Columbia today. and
will not be until July" The facts
were stated as one Illustration that
occurred to DR.. McLendon of the in
adequacy of Health Department ap-
preparations.
And this was followed by the fol-
lowing exchange of views between DR..
McLendon and Senator Copeland:
Senator Copeland. What you mean
is that as result of failure to pro-
vide the funds little children will die?
DR.. McLendon. Possibly yes. sir.
Senator Copeland. Public health, to
great degree, Is purchasable, is 1t
not?
DR. McLendon. Absolutely.
Public health in Washington is pur-
chasable. The ability to save lives of
children and adults, not only those
threatened by diptheria. but by tuber-
culosis and host of other menaces in
the form of disease, is purchasable.
And one reason that Washington
suffers from a tuberculosis death rate
that Health Officer Rutland pro-
nounces a national disgrace" is the
failure to pay the necessary purchase
price for adequate prevention and
treatment. The reason that Wash
ington health authorities get along
with some thirty-two public health
nurses when there should be q staff
of at least 300 is that the purchase
price for public health here has been
chiseled away to some eighty cents
per capita, when the inescapable cost
of adequate protection Of the sort
elsewhere is from two to three d. liars
per capita.
The major responsibility for lack
Of funds with which to purchase ade-
ouate public health protection in
Washington probably rests with Con-
gress, which has the exclusive power
of legislation and appropriation over
the District. But even so, the COM
munity cannot be too quick thus to
pass the buck. One of the chief
duties of the local health officer is to
organize and to lead a continuing and
a vigorous campaign to secure for
Washington, by convincing members
Of Congress of the real necessity, ade-
quate funds for a public health pro-
gram in keeping with the needs OF
the Capital
1t is gratifying to find DR.. Rutland
taking such leadership. He will find
ready and enthusiastic support from
the community.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACENELL.

The guppy has taken its place
alongside the dog ana the cat In the
American home.
This IL . considerable conquest for
4 fish.
Despite the fact that It IL confined
to . tank or bowl. Or even q jar, II Il
= pet on . par with the larger an
imals.
It's triumph has been slow. but
steady.
Whereas certain breeds Of dogs
have had their day Of popularity, and
then sunk into q certain stable state
the little fish has gone right ahead
making itself known.
The airdale dog, for instance. is
now under something OF an eclipse,
after driving most Of the other breeds
OH city sidewalks for several years.
The dachshund stayed In compare
tive retirement until the last three
years. since when II has blossomed q
. good dog should.
$3.50
The little fish known A. the guppy.
Ato"cScAs A~0 ooASACN AN soSAA uhs SAAe
downs.
It has gone right ahead conquering
the world.
Today there are more guppies living
indoors than live In all the outdoor
waters. in all likelihood.
Surely this would be q diflicult
thing to prove, but any one acquainted
with the spread Of this animal - 4
pet will believe 1t needs no proof.
And 1t has oil come about solely on
merit.
While the guppy can be said tn
have had It's due share Of publicity.
still It's conquest u its own.
Nobody can boast, Il made the
guppy." No. sir, the guppy makes
itself.
1t is It's own best press agent.
Some months ago this column pre-
sented IS reasons-count 'em-why
Lebistes reticulatus. popularity known
as guppy, is the good fish 1t Is.
Hence our idea today Is not to %
back over that old ground, but to
present q few pointers to those who
may be inclined to sneer at our friend
because he Is little.
It should be significant to beginners
In a pleasant hobby that old timers
almost always speak In highest terms
of the guppy. There are reasons for
this. as We have pointed out, as
aforesaid.
The fact that this fish Il small Il
one of his very best recommendations.
The larger a ish, the more difacult
its everyday handling.
This does not begin to bore itself
home In the consciousness Of the
keeper until ne has mastered aquarium
management well enough to be able
to keep his fishes for some approxi-
nation Of their natural lfetimes.
Then he sees that the smaller the
fish, the less trouble It causes him
in the long run. Many persons do
not know much about this long run. ''
when 1t come to fish keeping. They
never keep them long enough.
They buy big specimens. even dis
play them in exhibitions, taking prizes
perhaps, on some one else's work.
This is all right Of course: 1t Is the
universal custom Of societies In al
"fancies."
As long as one has enough money
to buy good specimens, one has the
right to demand that they be &C
cepted as ones own product. It Il
the same In all sorts of societies, ex-
Evening star., 1935-04-20
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDR JOHNSON.
Undaunted Spiri'

Undaunted Spirit.
A lady fair will oft prepare
To tell Of wars iniquity,
Demanding Peace that brings release
From militant obliquity.
She'll tell a lad 'twould make her sad
If he should 60 a-rioting
Where people rage through history's
page
In manner most disquieting.
But when she speaks for days OF
weeks
OF an ancestral quality
With warrior grit that does not quit
For hours Of gentle jollity.
The lad will say. There's just one
way
I don't see where another is
50 Is for me, I'm going to be
A fighter, just like Mother Is"
Evening star., 1935-04-20

hibiting all types Of things. We have
never heard Of any organization de-
manding that the exhibitor swear that
his exhibit u strictly his own product.
Some day they will come to II, though.
In the long run, fish-keeping Is not
as easy as 1t looks. It makes more
demands on ones time than many q
person would admit.
This Ii where the guppy comes In.
All he asks Ii q reasonable warmth
OF water, enough food to eat, but none
to contaminate the water, and breath.
ing space.
This last means that he must not
be crowded - closely with his friends,
- he Ia al too often.
It means that the suppy, even
though little, ought to be assured
enough oxygen to live nicely.
The fact that ordinarily he can
stand much abuse without dying Is
no reason why he should be forced to
tolerate inimical conditions even the
most careless person would not think
Of infiicting on larger fishes.
Small fishes deserve equally good
treatment. The big point In their
favor Is that, given such . fair deal
they 60 right ahead taking care OF
themselves
Thus their conditions are more nat
ural. In every sense: besides. their
keeper is saved q great deal Of bother
Any one who has kept an interest
Ing but essentially dirty fish. In which
category come many Of the larger
tropical specimens, will realize what
this will mean.
In all fairness to such larger crea.
lures, 1t must be said that In most
Instances the animal Is being kept In
far too small an aquarium. Since he
is usually carniverous and full OF
pep" he manages to keep his tank
stirred up as with q spoon.
The suppy, however. will keep his
tank as clean as pin. II he Is not
grossly overcrowded.
Neither are active scavengers OF
any type necessary. Plants are what
may be called inactive scavengers. 1t
Is not commonly realized that good
plants, in plenty Of light, actually ab-
torb some of the finer particles OF
foods fed to the animals.
They do not do this, Of course. until
the finer food particles are broken
down into forms which plants can
absorb.
The way to get good plant growth,
Of course. Is to put them In good light,
with perhaps as much rs two hours
Of sunshine . day. II possible.
This also is good for the fishes,
particularly guppies.
No fish likes sunshine more.
These little fellows frisk like pup
pies, they are 50 full Of spirit under
good conditions.
Another pointer Is not to worry toe
much about the babies being eaten
by the parents. II all the guppiea
could be 50 conserved the world
would be packed tight with them
With plenty Of plants, far more will
survive than the owner can give away
10 his friends. BY all means let him
keep the older ones, and give away
the youngsters. The guppy Is . pet
that grows on its owner, and none Il
quite so compelling In interest as the
fish which has swam In the SAINT
tank for several years. Because there
will be many guppies. even the most
sensitive keeper will not sorrow over
them as they go the way Of all flesh
as he might do over larger. more In
dividual creatures.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Japan is demonstrating ability to
manufacture at a cost which permits
underselling American workmanship.
The discovery Is one which should In.
terest the Japanese wage Garner
promptly and acutely.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Much detective skill is being direct
ed in the town Of Rockville to the
investigation of q murder mystery
which has at least the palliating
revelation that nobody was actually
killed.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

When public men express such evil
opinions of one another the soap box
orator naturally feels that any little
thing he can say should not make so
much difference to the police.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Einstein is quoted a. having his
doubts about some of his theories.
He inferentially announced such q
possibility when he declared that
nobody except himself could under
stand them.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
Surgical Triumph.

From the Marshalltown Gowa) Times
Republican.
Up at Rochester surgeons took half
a brain from the patient without i'm
pairment of intellectual faculties"
There are. of course. instances like
that everywhere. But it's some
surgeryl
Evening star., 1935-04-20

So many scraps Of paper are men
toned that diplomacy calls for special
provision in the way of that time
honored editorial adjunct, the waste
basket.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Much competent energy has been
employed in beautifying the land
scape. This energy may in the course
of time be applied to elimination of
grade crossings.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

The presidential campaign is said
to have started, although to the
average listener it seems to be a game
which might be called who has the
microphone?"
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Communism does not have to be
taught. 1t Is vague notion which
spontaneously arises In ill-adjusted
mentality and which has to be con-
quered by education.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

College boys will never become
Communists so long As they realize
that there Is no substitute for honest
achievement to be attained by tam
pering with a foot ball score.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Relief funds are abundantly ar
ranged for, but some Of the States re-
fuse to heed the Blue Eagle maxim
I'VE do our part"
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Politeness. 1t has been said. costs
nothing. There seems to be . dispo-
sition among some prominent person.
ages to enhance Its value by making
1t scarce.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Taking the profit out Of war is easy.
Taxpayers in all languages admit that
1t is matter of sheer evolution 80
far as they are concerned.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

The professions are pre-eminent at
present. It is seldom that q patient
Is as famous as his physician or q
client as famous as his attorney.
Evening star., 1935-04-20

Bitter Battling Threatened.
From the Rochester Times-Union.
Provincetown, Mass, thinks that
Plymouth, Mass, gets too much pub
licity in regard to that historic land
ing. 1t is greatly to be hoped that the
dispute will not develop into a rock
hurting contest.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
Convenience.

do you read everything that Il
said about you?"
YES" said Senator Sorghum. 1T
saves me trouble. When I want to use
bad language find it before my eyes.
I don't need to bother with q book
Of synonyms"
Jud Tunkins says there's 50 much
rivalry in his town about who's going
to be queen Of the May that all the
gals are bein' searched for concealed
weapons.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
Ecstasy Of Wrath.

Ecstasy OF WF3tns
Oh, psychoanalist, apply
Your new-found erudition
And undertake to tell US why
We're in q sad position.
Disdaining bliss we thought to win,
We're angry and mismated.
why do we seek to revel in
The Joy of being hated.
Evening star., 1935-04-20
Doctor Of Etiquette.

Doctor Of Etiquette.
II am at work on another book,
said the European savant.
what kind Of . book"
"A book of etiquette. In some
court circles there Is need Of some
writing to define the formalities, "a
that when oficials meet they win
know just who is expected to shoot
first"
Evening star., 1935-04-20
Instrumentation.


Professor, dear, the things you teach
Are oft beyond my mental reach.
Can you be certain Of the truth
OF all your lectures say to youth?"
MY friend" the sad professor said,
II tell the youth to All his head
With theories in hope that he
Some day may make them clear to
me-"
when . man thinks he kin fool
too many people," said Uncle Eben,
che attracts SO much attention dat q
lot O. folks get interested In fooln'
him"
Evening star., 1935-04-20
NOW WE SET OUT. BY Susan Erts.
New York: D. Appleton Century
Co.

Here the husband is the shrew and
II tanned, or defeated. In the first ok
months Of marriage. He is frightfully
jealous and his wife is resourceful and
tactful, to Q degree. but is not an cx-
ample Of the doormat type Of woman.
She can display temper on occasion
and can point out that the same logic
should apply to both sexes. The
trouble Is that both Stephen and Lita
have had what used to be called In
Victorian literature "pasts," and Ste
phen thinks lightly Of his own but
gloomily of Lita's. Susan Ertz always
writes with humor and this novel will
delight her many devoted admirers.
m THEIR OWN IMAGE. BY Ham.
ilton Basso. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons.
The author Of Cinnamon Seed" In
this new novel turns to Aiken during
the season and constructs Z story Of
. group Of the American aristocracy
Of wealth, living In . palstial Aiken
cottage" The lives Of the rich and
bedeviled widow. her uninspiring son
and her daughter, destined for m
Italian prince, and all their cadgine
guests are . round Of cards. polo.
drinking and Amorous intrigue. Mr..
Basso makes = satirical commentary
on : certain small section cf American
life, but he has BY no. means equaled
IN sisni1eance o. interest his earlier
novel
DEATH SENTENCE. BY Alice Dusr
Miller. New York: Dodd, Mead
d %. @
Popular Is . magazine writer. Alice
Duer Miller carries the qualities Of her
shogt steeies inte hee nowels. Death
Evening star., 1935-04-20
The Evening Star Newspaper Company

Nieht Final and Sunday Star zoe per month
Night ol,ection tns1 srar made at the END end of each
month Orders NAV be sent BY mail OF
Telephone National 5000
Evening star., 1935-04-20

still another disturbing factor, Dr..
Heyl pointed out, u the discovery Of
the Yieutrcn, or sub-atomic particle
without any negative charge, positive
or negative. This woul4 be accounted
for by the assumptton. which eensfally
The Washington times., 1935-10-19
The Torture

Out in the Castle" Carston's
fastneSs in a hilly farm region
miles from town, a scene, was
being enacted that would have
made jules blood run icy. Cars
ton was Furnishing a traitor.
Buck" Andrews, the manager
of his gilded dive, the 1872 Club,
who had "sung" to the District
Attorney and signed a confession
whose signed confession had
been stolen from the files and
sold for $4,000 in blood money
to Carston by the officials snaky
Secretary-had been hauled to
the Castle" by the two Carston
mobSters from the thicket on the
golf course where two other Of
his men, one in the guise Of q
caddy, had knocked Andrews
SenseleSS with a mashie, bound
him with piano-wires and sealed
his mouth with adhesive tape.