davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Writer Explains Error
In Case of Mrs. Keckley
To the Editor Of The Star;

To the Editor Of The Star:
My attention has been directed to the
courteous letter of j. E. Washington in
your columns of the 18th inst, in which
he calls notice to certain statements OF
mine which the Associated Press quoted
and which were published in The Star
on the 18th inst. I must confess that
I was shocked at myself for stating that
there was no such person as Elizabeth
Keckley, when I purposed saying that
no such person as Elizabeth Keckley
wrote the celebrated Lincoln book, Be
hind the Scenes" Mr.. Washington cor
rects me. He says there was such per-
son and that she did write the book.
Scholars, with whom I cannot class
myself, have long been bothered over the
authorship of this book. They have not
yet found in the Lincoln period another
colored woman, reared in slavery, and,
therefore, as they assert, naturally unlet-
tered, who had even knowledge OF the
alphabet, much less the ability to write
as good and vigorous English as was be-
ing written In that day. Therefore, they
have doubted that the Mrs Keckfey, an
ex-slave, whose name is attached to the
book, wrote it. AT the time it was pub
liShed this doubt was expressed over and
over again, in Washington, where Mrs.
Keckley lived; in New York, and else
where; and it was the consensus of the
critics, book reviewers, journalists and
politicians that the name Elizabeth
Keckley was either pseudonym or was
assumed to hide the identity of the real
author.
Behind the Scenes" is one of the most
revealing documents in the Lincoln saga.
If Mrs Keckley wrote it, that fact blasts
one of the very serious indictments ever
leveled against the Old South. I have
long known that some of the foremost
preachers Of that fabulous region were
slaves-men highly endowed with the
spirit of God and of marked eloquence-
whom even the white people were glad
to have as pastors. 1t is of record that
the most noted classical school for boys
in the ante-bellum South was founded
and taught by a slave-the Rev. John
Chavez, a graduate of Princeton "a
school which boarded and educated more
famous men in North Carolina than even
her great State university had done 1t
would now be thrilling discovery If it
could be established beyond peradven-
ture that a slave woman had acquired
sufficient culture in slavery to write one
of the most remarkable books in Ameri-
can literature. sincerely hope this dis
covery will be made.
DAVID RANKIN BARBEE.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Another Public Servant
With a S'Mr. Bundle" Idea

To the Editor of The Star:
On the first page Of section B, in
Fridays Evening Star, find a picture
Of Mrs. Agnes K. Mason of the Alcohol
Beverage Control Board land headlines
announcing that she favors legalizing
gambling in the District. I quote from
Mrs. Mason: II favor legaliZation Of
gambling for the reason that am con-
vinced it will be impossible to stop
gambling in the District"
Now, Mrs. Mason, let us be consistent
1t is not likely that we shall ever be
able to abolish bank robberies or other
hold-ups; therefore, let us license the
hold-up men and women. Nor shall we
be able to rid ourselves of speedsters,
hit-and-run drivers, drunken drivers,
and such; then by all means give them
q license. In fact, if we license all these
public enemies we will render unneces-
Sary police force, and the courts will be
relieved of their congestion.
Consistency, thou art a jewel"
A. M. GARDNER.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

And there Is q certain satisfaction in
being able to detect the good from the
Indifferent and the great from the good.
1t is not impossible.
Many an ordinary man or woman, In
no way exceptional, has been able to
select the really good things on the
reading market from the merely widely
publicized. Often there is world of diff
ference, but the uncritscal know it not.
Those who refuse to be led by the nose
or 1t should be ears, or eyes, in this case
cannot be fooled all the time. Just
some of the timei They will find their
status as amateur literary critic made
increasingly difficult by two things, the
vastly larger number of well written
books being published yearly, and the
increasing vogue for great claims on the
part of the accepted critics. The latter
may be discounted to certain extent,
Just on general principles; the truth is
that this old custom of "you-pat-me-o
the-back- ck-and-Iu-pat-you" is not as ram
pant now as it was just a few years ago.
There Is still enough Of 1t TO be worrying,
at times.
The great number of really well writ
ten books put out yearly in this country,
to say nothing Of the huge number
which comes to it from England and
other countries, makes the work of the
amateur critic-the average reader-ex-
ceptionally difficult
Universal education has done its work,
in this respect, at least. 1t seems that
almost every one can write, and does
write.
The level of this product, from SO
many minds, is surprisingly high
The fact that so much of it is good
makes it increasingly difficult for the
great average reader to keep his mental
balance. The fact that various book
clubs have attained national prominence,
In the book scheme of things, further
complicates matters for him. Now he
must face the mandate Of various Or
ganizations, who claim to select the
best" books for him. The shrewd
reader will notice, however, that the
offerings of the various clubs seldom
coincide, so he must believe that there
are several sets of best" books He
sees, or at least suspects, that nobody's
opinions are of any more validity than
his own.
If he goes into a store with the idea
of buying book, without having made
due preparation, however, he will find
himself amazed and perhaps lost at the
choice.
So many large volumes, so really Won
derful, if he can believe the blurbs on
the jackets, or even the imprint of so
many old publishers, whose names have
been household words all his life. Then
there are new publishers. many of them,
each with a load of books equally as
large in physical size and as amazing"
and colossal" according to the critics.
In this plethora, this literary horn of
plenty, he finds his own ideas, as stub
born as may be, his best salvation. For
then he will be true to himself, and as
likely as any critic to hit the nail on
the head.
If preparation is made in advance
the Christmas book shopper will be in a
position to enjoy his forays into the
literary marts Of trade. He will know
what he wants, and what he does not
want, and which of these two is the
most important let no one say.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Says Labor Reserves Right
To Throw Rocks and Bottles

To the Editor Of The Star:
Anent the recent labor trouble at Bar
berton, Ohio, strikers and sympathizers
served officers of the law with barrage
of rocks and bottles, driving the officers
inside the gates, which the strikers then
proceeded to smash that they might
then give the officers more rocks and
bottles. Which seems to be all right
with labor unions, but when the officers
the meanies-turned hose water and
tear bombs on the rioters, that was all
wrong, and the officers were wrong in
so doing, and labor heads threaten a
general strike if the practice is con-
tinued.
Not so very long ago a sandwich man
promenading back and forth in front
of an establishment here in Washington
remarked: ut is us fellers whose work
keeps the Government goin'," which
brought the quick reply from a by
stander: my friend, you are mistaken.
The man who hires you and pays you
is the man who keeps the country go
ing" The picket resumed his beat with,
as the poets say, a baleful gleam in his
eye and big chew in his mouth.
w. j. DERMOTT.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Protests Against Razing
Part of Old Patent Office
Pa tha Editnr nf Thn star.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Could something be done to check the
insane idea of tearing off part of the old
Government building on the block be-
tween F and G, Seventh and Ninth
streets? To tear down part of that we'll
built iron fence, that has no sag or
lean in it anywhere, looks like lack OF
good common sense, just to save few
seconds time for the traction company.
That building and fence give great
deal of pleasure each time that we pass
it in these times of doing things any
careless way so it is done quickly. Why
not cut out the curve on First street
and Indiana avenue, the curve that
takes twice the length of time to make
than the two curves on F street at Sew
enth and Ninth streets?
M. A. r. STOTTLEMEYER.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
A Rhyme at Twilight
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Fire Hero. .


Red fire trucks at dusk! Crowds. Trail
ing cars.
A halt in city block. The pasSer-by
Brought to stop by sparks like falling
stars.
Gesticulations toward window high
Curtains aflame against the evening
skyl
Helmet and hose on roof. A big curb
crowd
Fire! Ten stories up!-the window
blaze
Extinguished by the play of water loud.
A second thrill in cinders and smoke
haze
To hold spectators on the city ways
High on coping near the blackened
screen
A living object clings and feebly calls.
In the swift silence of the dusk street
scene
A fre-fghter on the stone ledge
crawls-
And rescues the live atom e'er 1t falls.
Not often do the fire trucks trail by
To salvage one singed kitten from on
shigh.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The tremendous number of new books
on the market must at the same time
appall and enhearten all who love to read.
The individual booklover should keep
in mind just one thought:
II don't have to read them ALL"
If he capitulates to the idea that he
Is under some compulsion, he will be in
danger of going completely "Eutty," as
the squirrels say.
There is no subject being considered
by men, no branch of knowledge, no
interest, no hobby, which is not receiving
fresh incrementS of written matter these
days.
No matter what you may be interested
in, there will be not only one fresh new
book about it, but probably several.
Cats?
There are four or five new books about
them this Fall.
Fishes?
Many new volumes devoted to their
care and breeding.
Stamps?
Never before has there been such O
drift of albums.
Economics?
The saviours Of mankind, self pro-
print at a fearful rate.
Novels devoted to the aspirations Of
the proletariat?
They spring smoking from the presses
Of the Nation overnight.
\ X X
Whatever you are interested in you
can find not only one book about 1t, but
several, from as many different view
points. This makes it all every confusing
for the average book lover. The best
he can do is trust himself, not others.
Some amount of critical opinion Is
helpful, but beyond that it clogs.
One wonders who buys all these books
and how. Maybe ones friends are
illiterate, but one never hears them men,
ton one of them. This is not altogether
a sign they do not read them, of course,
although it may be. Life is so complex,
nowadays, with so many interests for all,
that even discussion has faltered
Who remembers the old days, when
there were just few prominent writer's,
each of whom put out just one book
a year?
1t was an easy matter, then, to talk
about the new books and people did. We
do not mean folks who belonged to
literary clubs, but just the average run
of people whe liked to read.
Nowadays If you mention new book
your companion says, Il am going to
read that" or rs it any good?"
Is it any good?
1t is an interesting phrase, one which
means, at bottom, rs it any good for
you?"
Whether book is good" for the other
fellow remains for him to find out.
Literary critics have been SO con-
founded, in recent years, by the disap-
pearance of the regulations of some
authors they have boosted, that they
are beginning at last to be a bit wary.
1t remains up to each reader to find
out what is good for him. In this way
he stands much better chance of hit
ting the good things as they are issued
than if he had run of hotly after every
best seller" on the list.
4
The average reader of some sense and
discrimination has as good a chance as
the bravest critic Of being correct in
his judgment.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Source of the Yukon Is
In Glacial Ice and Snow
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
I wish to call your attention to an
error in your Questions and Answers
regarding the Yukon River rising about
Is miles from Dyea It doesn't rise. 1t
is caused by melting snow and glacier
at Summit Lake, and some of this lake
water runs into the Lynn Canal at
Skagway and the rest helps to make up
the Yukon River. The PeIy River is
the main branch of the Yukon. BY join
ing the Lewis at Selkirk the Pelly is
600 miles long at Selkirk, from Selkirk
to Dawson ITS. and from Dawson to
St Michaels 1924 miles, and about 2,70O
from Skagway by the ocean route
through Dutch Harbor. p. M. FAY.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Wall Of q Widower.

My dear, if q "gridiron widow" you go
Where things are vivaciously said,
I'll remain where the old messy epitaphs
show,
But I'm darned If like to play dead.
I shall love you as Pope loved that lady
so fair
Lady Mary, whose love was hoax.
I shall honor forever your intellect rare,
But I'm darned If I'll laugh at your
jokes.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

Sanctions" will make Italy uncom-
Portable and probably affect large
number of people throughout the world.
1t is word that seems to assume al
most ecclesiastical dignity. As matter
of factual significance it relates to the
sign familiar to all good tourists, "ver-
boten."
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Fatal Lead.

Prom the Hartford Courant.
1t is rare for a gangSter to reach the
age of 40. student of the underworld
reports. Lead poisoning, it appears, is
a serious occupational disease that af-
flicts the profession.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Diagnosis.


We're blaming him and maybe her
When different sorts of fight occur.
A regal fortune seeks more gain
Or maybe an ambitious brain
Is censured for fight that may
Bring terror in single day.
And when this world seems all amiss
We sigh and ask, who started this?"
Perhaps within us there may dwell
Remnants of a primordial cell
Which, under some conditions, may
Return us to the cave mans way.
1t bids us yearn for british power
And turns our dispositions sour.
We chide ourselves, but, just the same,
This little germ should bear the blame
Ancestral protoplasm might
Render our cortex impolite
And turn our minds with cruel Zest
Unto the crude barbarian's quest
OF lands or gold or songs or flowers
Or anything that is not ours.
Wars cause2 Let's candid be and firm,
Is some hereditary germ.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

1t is too much to say that the world
has been turned upside down. But the
significance attached to subterranean oil
deposits suggests the possibility that it
Is being turned inside out.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

Airplane communication has made
the Pacific Ocean rather small so far as
time and space are concerned. It should
be of service in the development among
nations of the good neighbor" idea.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

Athens was in delirium Of joy because
of the return of King George. However
profound political science may become it
can never dismiss the idea of rotation in
Office.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
An Unspoken Word.

From the San Antonio Evenings News.
But did Premier Mackenzie King tell
President Roosevelt that the Canadians
have forgiven their neighbors for repeal
ing the eighteenth arnendment2
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Not Taking Orders.

"Do you take orders from anybody"
my sense of discipline has become so
complete" said Senator Sorghum, that
I do not wait for orders. am obediently
alert to the merest suggestion"
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Some Sharp Curves.

"Is prosperity around the corner?"
"Is is" answered Mr.. Dustin Stax, but
we've got to have control as well as speed
to avoid running past trafic signals"
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Member Of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein are also reserved.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

As Japan asserts interest in China, she
cares not who may write the laws SO long
as she can appoint the policemen.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

Everybody likes the Prince of Wales,
and his cue should come soon to reassert
himself as ambassador of good will.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

Jud Tunkins says he admires colleges
so much that he never misses foot ball
game.
Evening star., 1935-11-26
ImpOlite Parody.

ImpOlite Parody.
If a body kill body
Send for the police.
If with lead you fill body,
Bid the firing cease.
Every gunman has his mollie,
She's the reason why
Some slick Oman, grim or jolly.
Gets him by and by.
Evening star., 1935-11-26

Some of my young gentlemen friends
In de school house." said Uncle Eben,
don't care what dey puts into de lesson
books as long as dey don't tamper wit
de rugged individualism in foot ball
game"
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Rate by MaiI-PayabIe in Advance.

All Other States and Canada.
PsiiiIyy aaa only nly-1 sono@.-1 u $500: ! rs
Evening star., 1935-11-26
Night Final Edition.

Night Final and Sunday Star----70c per month
Collection made at the end Of each month.
Orders may be sent by mail or telephone Ma
Evening star., 1935-10-04

shelter and lodgment along the Ameri-
can shores at various points.
The one pictured here is the one
seen most often on our coast. Many
have been found at Beaufort, S. C.
Collectors have picked up beach-worn
specimens along the coast of Florida,
too. But once you have seen the per-
feet coloring, sculpturing and painting
of the live specimen, you will never be
satisfied until you have one for your
collection.
An authority says that the excite
ment Of adding stamps to your coliec-
ton is a mild affair compared with
that of finding rare shells. You may
try both of them to test the statement.
The inflated helmet reaches a size
of to inches. 1t is a rounded,
globose, ventricose shell, with higher
spire than is usually found in this
genus. The surface Of the shell is
almost smooth and the revolving ribs
are hardly discernible on the body
whorl. The lip is thick and has prom
lnent teeth which continue as internal
ribs.
The color is lovely bluish-glazed
white, with large square brown spots.
At the region of the aperture, it is a
pure exquisite white.
All helmets are carnivorous mol
lusks, and they station themselves in
sandy places where they know food is
Evening star., 1935-10-04
Natures Children
Inflated Helmet Shell (Cassis infata).

to be had for the hunting It is the
black helmet that is used so much for
cameo-cutting. Its "onyx ground" is
dark coat, under pale outer one,
so that the figure stands out clearly.
The inner lip Of large shell will be
large enough to make several brooches.
The background Of the onyx" is
really claret-colored rather than black,
but the name was given this helmet
long ago. and it sticks.
Cameo-cutting is one of the fine
arts of antiquity Shells were first
used in 1920 in Italy. A great many
cameo helmets are sent each year
from Nassau to Italy, where the best
canoes are made.
The inflated helmet does not have
the color contrast that is vivid enough
to make it valuable for this use, but
the lovely beads and trinkets tha. are
cut from it are very dainty. Once you
have seen the lovely shell, you would
scorn to use it for such a purpose, I
assure you.
tcopyrisht 1889
Evening star., 1935-10-04
Carmithtn

THIS Is very ancient family which
for many centuries has been seated
in County Devon, England, from which
various members of the family emf
grated to different parts of the world.
The name has been spelled in many
ways, those of the family locating in
New York State writing it Carwith,
while others have spelled 1t Carwithy
and Cirwithen. Those of the family
spelling the name Carwithen have ad-
hered to the ancient form.
This family is well known in the
United States, particularly in Pennsyl-
vania and neighboring States, where
members have lived for many genera
tions.
The first settler in America was Di-
CORY CarWithen, master of the New
England Merchant. He was one of the
earliest Carwithens to follow the ship
ping trade and operated number of
vessels between the Massachusetts,
Colony and the mother country. He
died in Boston in 1858.
David Carwithen, believed to have
been son of Digory, was living on
Long Island, N. Y, prior to 1865, hav-
ing moved there from Salem, Mass,
where he had been town official.
Caleb Carwithen, the son of David,
established the New Jersey-Delaware
Pennsylvania line of Carwithens in
1865, the year of his fathers death
in New York. He first settled in Eliza
bethtown. N. j., and from there moved
to Sussex County, Del. Descendants
of this family are now living in various
States, particularly along the Atlantic
seaboard.
Copyright. 1881
Evening star., 1935-10-04

discovered that this Hawk she had
despised was not one with whom she
had ever had any experience before.
She had discovered that he was over
taking her despite all she could do
Her one thought now was to reach
that bed of wild rice In which she
might hide. At the speed at which
she was going she could not take to
the water again. She would have TO
check herself before she could touch
the water and dive, and this she did
not dare do.
Down from the sky shot Falco. His
toes, with their long claws. were tightly
closed. like two fists. They were not
opened to clutch, but closed to strike
blow Right opposite where her
brothers and sisters and her parents
were hidden in the wild rice that blow
was struck. Squarely in the middle
Of the back those closed horny feet
struck the young Duck, and she never
knew what hit her. So hard was the
blow from the great speed with which
Falco was travelling that it split that
young Duck right open. The race for
life was ended and life was lost. Falco
swept on a little, checked himSe,,..,
turned, came back and picked up his
victim from the water. He would have
the Duck dinner he had waited so long
for.
tCopyrisht 1880
Evening star., 1935-10-04
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
Life is far too precious to
Risk as some folk often do.
Old Mother Nature.

TALCO THE DUCK HAWK, fly
- ing over the Big River so high
that, looking up, you would not
- have seen him as hardly more
than a speck in the sky, could see
with those wonderful eyes of his long
distances up and down the river.
Falco was over there with grown chill
dren, and Mr.. and Mrs. Wood Duck,
with eight of their grown children,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Quack the Mallard
Ducks, with four of their grown chill
dren, were spending much of their
time on the Big River, where food
was plentiful. They were preparing
for the long journey which they would
soon have to take to the Sunny South.
Falco intended to have one Of those
Ducks, for there is nothing he is more
fond Of than dinner of Duck.
Presently as he watched he saw
lone Duck swim out from among the
rushes along one bank. This lone
Duck swan well out into the river.
Falco's eyes cleaned, but he made no
move to swoop down. for he knew
that that Duck would simply dive
and so. escape. So high up there in
the air he watched and waited. Pres
emily that Duck took to flight. This
was what Falco had been waiting,
watching and hoping for. OF course.
you know who it was. 1t was the
young Wood Duck who was so proud
OF her speed when flying. You know
she could outfly her brothers and
sisters and her parents, and she had
come to think that there was no one
so swift Of wing. Her mother had
warned her that Falco the Duck
Hawk could fly faster than she could,
but this the young Duck had not
believed. She had been chased by
other Hawks and had no trouble in
escaping them.
Falco moved swiftly until he was
lower and directly over the flying Duck.
She saw him. She had seen him al
most from the first. Indeed, she had
taken to her wings largely to dare him
to catch her. She thought it would be
exciting. She knew it would be race
for life, but she had no fear of the
outcome This would make it all the
more exciting. She was flying to Join
her brothers and sisters farther down
the river. They would see her coming
and they would see her beat this Hawk.
Now, this young Duck really was