davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12

grace for a Teuton warrior to lay
senseless three or four days. He was
considered somewhat of a sissy" If
he couldn't drink his share. When he
envisioned Valhalla, the paradise of
heroes, he pictured a place Of per-
petual guzzling.
All over the worlds broad drinking
belt, DR.. Cooper finds, drunkenness
was comparable in degree although
produced by beverages which differed
widely in kick" 1t was not until the
introduction of distilled alcohol, some
time in the Middle Ages, that the
potency of the drink made much diff
ference.
Dr. Cooper believes his survey is
proving rather conclusively that
drunkenness is not, as often has been
claimed, a climatic phenomenon which
centers about cold, damp regions
where the need of stimulants might
be considered greatest. Those very
areas. he finds, are among the last
places where it appeared.
\ \ \
1t was probably the terrible Black
DCdbll oCOuI &c VI CllC IIllI UCClltIl CCll-
fury. he finds, that led to the wide
distribution and common use of dis
titled liquors.
Alcohol has come out of some al
chemists laboratory in Italy. The
science Of the age was seeking an
elixir of life. The idea of distillation
from grain fruits probably arose from
the successful Installations from rose
water The effects of the new product
were noted, but for many years it was
used very sparingly and cautiously.
1t was regarded primarily as a medi-
cine. Because of its almost invariable
stimulating effect. it was considered
cure-all. Regardless of the malady.
everybody felt better after gulping
"swig" of it.
Then the horrible black shadow of
the bubonic plague fell over Europe.
Villages, even cities, were depopulated
overnight. Terror gripped the people.
This potent "cure-all' was looked
upon as offering the only chance of
survival. Everybody who could pos
sibly afford any of the precious liquid
used fair means or foul to get it, for
the supply was limited.
The Black Death passed and the
Renaissance dawned. In the desola-
ton the plague had left behind there
was implanted an unconquerable
craving for strong liquors which has
remained ever since.
The new drink was without name.
1t apparently was Paracelcus who first
called it alcohol" from Arabic words
meaning "dry dust" The first alco-
holic beverages probably were BRAN
dies. The origin of whisky is obscure
and 1t often has been attributed to
Ireland or Scotland, where the art
of making it has reached the greatest
progress. But the accommodating evil
dence, DR.. Cooper says, is that it also
originated in Italy in some alchemist's
laboratory, and spread to the western
islands.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
Copy Cat!

Mayor La Guardia of New York
has probably been reading about
Washington's proposed program of
local public works now being prepared
by the Commissioners to await the
eventualities of the Federal Govern
ment's work-relief bill. So the mayor
goes and improves on it, presumably
to make the District Commissioners
feel like pikers.
For instance, it has been suggested
that a vehicular tunnel should be
built under the Mall on the line of e
street. to facilitate movement OF
downtown traffic, end that another
tunnel be built under Dupont Circle
to solve the traffic problem there.
Now comes Mayor La Guardia with
plans for getting Federal aid to build
a whole series of river and cross-town
tunnels in New York, costing more
than 5000, 900 900, with additions to
the subway system costing about
$50, 900, 900.
In Washington the Commissioners
finally succeeded In getting million
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12

and-a-half dollar loan for an adult
tuberculosis hospital. Mayor La
Guardia rubs this in by putting on
his program plans for a 100000
tuberculosis hospital in Queens.
$3,250, 900 for a tuberculosis hospital
in the Bronx and additional hospital
extensions and improvements costing
$2O,OOO,OOO.
The Commissioners some day hope
to begin work on the authorized
100000 sewage treatment plant.
Mayor La Guardia calmly suggests
that New York build thirty-seven
sewage treatment plants for s69,OO0,-
900.
Washington's need for a few addi-
tional elementary and junior high
schools are well known. Mayor La
Guardia proposes 142 new elementary
schools and twenty-three new high
schools.
The Commissioners have been try
ing for years to secure funds for a
new courts building, and to complete
the Municipal Center. Mayor La
Guardia proposed an $18,500,0O0
courts building for Manhattan and a
$12.O00O00 civic center for Queens.
The Commissioners last year sug-
gested list of improvements costing
in the neighborhood of $4,000, 900.
Mayor La Guardia's modest program
would cost 141.481 $40, thereby
accounting for about a fourth of the
Presidents proposed expenditures un-
DEF the work-relief bill.
For a really good lesson in how to
draw up a city's works program, the
attention of the Commissioners is
respectfully drawn to Mayor La
Guardia's plans. When 1t comes to
planning how to spend money. the
mayor does it in a big way.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
Pedestrians of the Highway.
From the columbia as. cd Record.

Prom the Columbia Is. c. Record.
1.-THE pedestrian on the left is al
ways right"
This statement is legally true in at
least 16 States, according to replies
made by AZ of the 48 States queried
by the National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety as to provisions
relating to pedestrians on the high
ways.
Results Of the survey, quoted in the
current issue of Minnesota Munich
palities, magazine of the League OF
Minnesota Municipalities, disclose that
in addition to the 16 States with laws
regulating walking on the highways,
four States have highway department
regulations on the matter. Thirteen
States without such laws recommend
"left-side" walking.
One State, Delaware, requires not
only that the pedestrian walk on the
left. facing traffic, but also that ne
carry lighted lantern, fashlight or
other light at night.
Many of the State highway officials
expressed the opinion that sidewalks
should be constructed along all high
ways in the rural districts where there
Is an appreciate amount of pedes-
TRAN traffic. Delaware has reported
the building of 26 miles of these side
walks during the past year and North
Carolina has built 500 miles with G.
w. A. funds.
TWO things need to be done in order
to promote safety Of pedestrians on
the highways. In the opinion of the
Minnesota League writer: States
should pass laws establishing the re-
sponsibility, so far as possible, of both
the motorist and the pedestrian In
the cause of their highway collisions,
and pedestrians should be educated by
road signs and other means to walk
to the left"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Really, it will be impossible for
many persons today to understand
just what Washington was in those
days.
Imagine, If you can, those wide
streets, uncluttered from curb to curb.
Occasionally q wagon would come
along.
No Notwithstanding it, If you
canl
1t was in those wide streets that
top spinning came into its own, in a
way that 1t has never known since,
simply on account of physical ina
bility.
1t is impossible for the artistic top
spinner-and there Is such, at least
there waste put his muscle, mind
and heart into the job when 5-ton
trucks are bearing down on him.
All these top games-some form of
cord and block of wood-require a
certain concentration.
The familiar tops" of the country
side, or cityside, is never played
To-Day with the old zest.
For one thing, whipping tops has
gone out. In the old days of unclut-
tered thoroughfares there was room
for that highest reach of the art.
Two main sorts of whipping were
In fashion, the overland sling, which
carried the top as high as a house,
sometimes, and half a block away. to
the running whip, which made the
top slide along the asphalt, still spin
ming, but moving forward for almost
an equal distance.
Those who were good at the whip"
most often were not good ring spin
ners. The latter specialized in
knocking their opponents top out Of
the circle, whether it had been drawn
by chalk or nothing more than a stick
through the dirt.
The advantage of the standard
tops" game was that it could be
played anywhere rnediumly smooth
place could be found.
Whipping, however, required just
what the city had to offer at that
time-wide, smooth streets, largely un-
Travelled.
Top artists of yesteryear always had
some favorite store, where just the
sort of top they preferred was on sale.
Each artist was specialist. One
liked a heavy, wide top, the next
fellow preferred a narrow, tall sort.
Often the type desired was to be
had of one seller alone. and to his
mart would stream all those who
preferred it.
There was one old white-haired
man on Fourteenth street who kept
the best of all. small, green fellow
around whose pleasant bulk string or
cord could be wrapped with assurance.
These tops, being smaller. were
harder to hit in the ring. but that
was not their chief merit to their
devotees. The main thing was that
they were the best of all tops for
whipping.
They were so sturdily constructed
that a descent from the top of tree,
with a solid landing on asphalt, could
in no way harm them, but they kept
right on spinning, thing not all tops
would do after such a trip aloft.
The ground whipper found that no
amount of friction would cause the
metal or spinning point to bend or
wobble loose.
Tops no longer seem to make the
same appeal to boys, but no doubt
part of it lies in the plain fact that
there are available today no such
wonderful spinning grounds as in the
old days. The streets are here, Of
course but how changed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12

formidable fleet Of airplanes assem-
bled in Italy's African colonies.
Italy has an ancient grudge to
avenge with Abyssinia. They were
at war in 1895, and at the battle Of
Adowa the Italians suffered a crush
ing defeat. Since then Italy's African
empire, including italian Somaliland
and Eritrea, has come to envelop
Abyssinia, and Emperor Halle Selassie
fears that his Ethiopian domain is
now coveted by Mussolini. It has re-
Gently been reported to contain valu-
able oil deposits and the Abyssinian
uplandS are considered particularly
attractive to 1taly's surplus popula-
ton. In addition to these conditions,
Italians contend that for some time
Abyssinia has adopted aggressive mil
itary policies toward neighboring
Italian Somaliland.
All in all, the circumstances are
ripe for an Italian Abyssinian conflict
of major dimensions. For the moment
Rome claims it is taking purely
precautionary measures" but the
Italian stock market has experienced
one of those sharp plunges which
usually are the precursors Of grave
international crisis, and the whole
country is in a state Of ferment as
mobilization and troop concentrations
proceed.
1t is a grim development Of cur
rent European peace maneuvers that
a leading Western power should be
deliberately preparing for war, and an
even grimmer commentary on the
helplessneSS of the League OF Ma
tons as it watches two of its men,
bers making ready to fly at each
Others Threats. As for Premier Mus
solini, he seems determined to repeat
the tactics he pursued in the Corfu
incident in 1923 and to emulate the
conduct of Japan in the Manchurian
dispute of 1881. Abyssinia is prob
ably poorly equipped to face the
Fascist war machine, but Italy
learned thirty-nine years ago to
respect Ethiopian fighting qualities.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
Italy Prepares for War.

There can no longer be any doubt
that Premier Mussolini means bust
ness in Abyssinia. Frontier clashes
between Ethiopian troops and forces
stationed in Italian Somaliland, which
have been of intermittent occurrence
since last November. have eliminated
In a situation which impels II Duce
to resort to formally warlike measures.
Evidently the League of Nations has
washed its hands of the controversy
and italy seeks to protect its inter-
ests" in its own way.
1t was only few weeks ago, when
the Franco-Italian accord was pro-
claimed, that one of its reported pro-
visions was that the French, in re-
turn for certain notifications of
italian policy in Central Europe, had
given the Italians practically free
hand in Abyssinia. Since then the
Anglo French agreement has been
negotiated, with reputed British ap-
proval of 1taly's arrangements with
France, so the diplomatic stage would
appear to be set for any action in
Abyssinia that Mussolini cares to
undertake.
Between the censorship promptly
clamped down at Rome and conflict
ing reports from other sources, it is
difficult to know just how far Italy
has gone in preparing to make war on
Abyssinia. There are circumstantial
statements that 100000 men have
been called to arms, three classes of
sailors and marines modified, and .
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
Peril in Putting Schools
Under Commissioners

To the Editor OF The Star:
In general way we have sensed
that the management of our public
schools is threatened, and some at
tended the hearing before the Com
missioners to abet the able protests
against placing the public schools
under the Commissioners. One of
these gentlemen said his mind was
made up. We were unenlightened
further. The two others have remained
completely silent. But at a later
private hearing they evidenced ap-
parently no intention of declining
this further power. if granted them.
Our present school management Is
conspicuous for freedom from politics
If We non-voters had any means Of
directing our affairs so that only
home politics would be dealt with. that
could be faced, but if this ruling goes
through. our schools will be run by
every Tom. Dick and Jane in the
Nation. Oh. yes. they will. Listen.
A year ago a Congressman from a
western State, talking to one of his
constituents. said: wait until after
1885. There will be 24oo vacancies
for teachers in the District, and Ill
look after you"
The policy Of procedure Is plain
Qong established. Wait until the
public settles down, then quickly jab
this measure through. There will be
some squirming. but they'll get
nowhere, and another dead function
will be ready for the D. C.. exhibit.
If a present example of the head
lessness of politics is desirable, con-
slider this: Last year the public schools
were granted a three-year period to
develop a character project The
ground was broken and the founda-
ton laid by those of special expert
ence. Now, suddenly, Congress lops
off the two remaining granted years.
Can we serfs do anything? Do we
want to do anything? 1t is not up
to the teachers. 1t is up to the
parents and taxpayers. Would mass
meeting to formulate concerted action
If protests are disregarded and the
Commissioners carry out orders from
the higher-ups help? I think so.
FANNY H. STOCKING.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
Children Should Hear
Music From Early Years
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
The writer desires to discuss the
splendid musical treat that individuals
are privileged to enjoy in Washington.
Washington is rapidly becoming one
Of the foremost musical centers in
the United States. because all the
greatest singers come here sooner or
later and hardly a week passes but
some singer of national and interna-
tional reputation arrives to give US a
feast. People here are indeed most
fortunate. as the music lover can con-
tinually find something to please his
taste. Today in this jazz age the
musical taste of children especially is
apt to be ruined by canned music, and
it is so important that children hear
only the best type of music, so they
will learn to distinguish between good
music and inferior.
Thousands go through life missing
more than they realize because their
parents neglected in their childhood
to cultivate the divine spark, and these
people are poor indeed. regardless Of
their financial status. My father be-
gan to take me to hear all the operas
when I was only three years old, as
his theory was that even tiny children
could learn to love music If they
heard it from almost infancy, which
in my case at least proved to be true.
recall as child my father, a busy
physician and surgeon, often coming
out of the operating room literally
exhausted from contact with patients
suffering from physical and often
mental diseases, and then turning to
music for a relaxation, as he played
the violin as a hobby
We know that in many institutions
for the insane men in charge claim
that music has most quieting and
soothing influence upon even violent
cases. All classes and conditions of
humanity are benefited by music.
No race fully appreciates, in my
estimation. music better than the
Welsh people, and you can 60 in even
the humblest Welsh homes in some Of
the coal mining cities, where the peo-
pie have not had many educational
advantages. and see, as have many
times, piano in the front room and
find that all in the home, regardless
of how poverty-stricken it may be,
have musical talent and can sing and
play beautifully the most intricate Sc
lections. The love of music Is pro-
verbal in the Celtic people.
DOROTHY A. DAVIS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12

Now that all the old games are COM
ing back, including backgammon, ping
pong, croquet and parcheeSi, we ex-
pect to see the diabolo in the streets
shortly.
The latter is something like the
schoolboy's favorite, the yo-yo, but
differs in that the top is not attached
to the cord.
Many an old timer will recall when
diabolo, or diavolO, as 1t was some
times called, was all the rage.
Children threw the thick disks Of
wood high into the air and caught
them again on the cord which sup
piled the momentum.
On the stage-it was in the days of
polite" vaudeville-agile young men
in teams did def tricks with the dab
olos, spinning and throwing them
with uncanny precision.
II n 4 n
As in all pursuits which require
personal skill, the diabolo could be
thrown with far greater dexterity by
some persons than others.
The cord was attached at each end
to a short stick. one end held in each
hand, and the top run backward and
forward on the cord for time.
Then the hands were suddenly
drawn apart, releasing the top, or
whatever one called it: the disk flew
through the air, usually upward, often
as high as a house.
The game had just started, of course.
The real skill came in catching the
grooved disk as it came back to earth.
Those who were skillful at 1t had
no trouble at all. The disk would be
caught precisely on the taut string,
the hands suddenly brought together,
causing the top to spin along it. then
the slight juggling of the cord would
commence. to put another supply of
spin" into the top.
The curious thing about this TOW is
that it could have gone out of circu-
lation so completely.
Not that they cannot be purchased
for they are known to the youngsters,
but that they have attained no vogue
as in the old days.
There even was a song, my Di-
abolo Beau" and pretty good song,
too, as we recall.
What are recollections Of games
and songs. after all. but the men,
cries of unspoiled minds. minds and
hearts, If you will. not crammed and
damned with so many things?
Maybe that is why the old songs. in
recollection. sound so sweet, so filled
with true melodic invention. Perhaps
they are no better. they merely sound
so to those who prefer them.
Yet it is impossible for many to
understand how those of today ever
will be able to look back upon the
iiggity popular songs of the present
as filled with melody.
Will they not sound worse then
than they do now?
X \
The wooden top, in one form or
another, has been known to mankind
for centuries.
The American small boy had been
brought up on tops ever since Amer
lea was America.
No city in the world. perhaps. ever
gave top spinners a better chance
than Washington, D. c., in the old
days when asphalt streets first came
into their own here.
Those acquainted only with modern
traffic will be unable to visualize the
tranquility of street scenes in those
days
Wide, smooth thoroughfares, shaded
by great trees, were left almost en-
tirely to the sparrows and the young
Sters.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
Press Divided on Control
OF WOrks.Relief Billions

template a longtime development of
forestation. erosion control. food con-
troll, water conservation, rural cleo
triflcation and the like"
The Council Bluffs Qowa) Nonpa-
reil, the Minneapolis Tribune and the
Pueblo (Colo.) Star-Journal are con-
cerned over the consttutionaIity of
the measure and point to the "hot Oil"
ruling of the Supreme Court as indi.
cation of the attitude of that body.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-12
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

A reader can get the dnsUer to
any question of fact By tDrittng The
Washington Epent10 Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Hasktn, Director,
Washington, D. C. Please tnclose
stamp for reply.
@. Who decides whether a country
shall go off the gold standard?-S. B.
A. Usually it is not matter Of
choice. A country goes off gold be-
cause 1t lacks sufficient gold to re-
deem its currency. In other cases, as
In the United States, geld Is aban-
doned as matter Of political policy.
Switzerland Is about to try an en-
tirely new method. Shortly it will
conduct plebiscite allowing the peo-
pie to decide whether they want the
gold standard.
@. Has the average freight train in
creased in length In the last 10 or
IL years?-L. G.
A. In 1922 the average freight train
consisted of 38 cars while in 1893 this
figure had been increased to as cars.
O. ID Vic iidH VIII OTlSlIldUtu tIlc
phrase about getting better and better
every day still living?-A. G.
A. The phrase, Every day in every
way am getting better and better"
was devised by Emile Coue. He was
born In France February rs, 1857. and
died July 2, 1926, at the age of SO.
Q. Please give population Of Eng
land, number Of automobiles and mo-
tor fatalities-G. C. S.
A. The population Of England in
1884 totaled 46,189, 206, the number of
automobile registrations was 100000,
and the total number of fatalities was
$500.
Q. How tall was Abraham Lin
cOln?-R. G.
A. In letter to Jesse w. Fell in
1859 Lincoln said: IF any personal
description is thought desirable, I am
in height 6 feet inches, nearly"
@. How many colored regiments are
there in the United States ARMY
w. C.
A. There are four, the 9th and 10th
Cavalry and oath and 25th Infantry.
The 9th Cavalry is stationed at Fort
Riley. Kans.; the 10th at Fort Hua-
chuca, Ariz; the oath Infantry at
Fort Benning, Ga, and the 25th In
fantry at Nogales. Ariz.
@. Was Napier Tandy executed
j. Med.
A. On February u, 1900. Tandy
was brought before court Of the
Kings bench on charge of having
incurred the penalty of high treason
by failing to surrender at the time
appointed by the act of amnesty. BY
a technicality he was acquitted with
the concurrence of Lord Kilwarden
He was rearrested and sent to Lifford
to stand his trial for the part he
played in the invasion of Rittland
Island. Pleading guilty. he was con-
victed and sentenced to be executed
on May following. Eventually he
was Internationally set at liberty.
Tandy died August "a, 1903.
@. Why was Providence, r. l., so
named?-P. D.
A. 1t was the first settlement and
mother town of the State. 1t was
founded in 1886 by Roger Williams,
who ''in gratitude to his Supreme De-
hverer" called the town Providence.
@. When was the first Bible printed
in English?-F. w. G.
A. The first complete English Bible
printed was by Miles Coyerdale, 1885,
dedicated to Henry VIII.