davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-02-16

came from or how terribly irregular it is2
Civilization has been putting up with confu-
sion in time reckoning for many thousand
years. If you think calendar making is easy.
Just try to satisfy the man who wants his day
to be governed by the sun, the month by the
moon and the year by the seasons! The earth
turns on its axis every twenty-four hours
That makes the day The moon goes about
the earth once every twenty -nine and half
days, so you just cannot make month out
of an even number of days or weeks. Then,
the earth goes around the sun in just bit
short of three hundred and sixty five and one
quarter days. Even the year cannot be made
equal to whole number of days.
In the days of the Roman Empire, when
Julius Caesar was elected PontifiesM sMaximus in
63 BE-, he was charged officially with straight
ening out the calendar, which was then so
badly out that spring was not coming until
the end of May.
The Romans at that time were not very
good scientists. They were putting too many
days into the year. and it was the acc,unu-
lated troubles of all this that Julius Caesar
was asked to straighten out.
Caesar was no astronomer, but he had
weekend attractions down in Alexandria,
Egypt He learned few things down there
aside from what Cleopatra taught him, and
these were some fundamental facts about the
movements of the sun. He found that the
best astronomical estimate of the years
length at that time was three hundred sixty
five and one-quarter days.
Caesar therefore decided that there should
Evening star., 1936-02-16

NATHER TINE has declared an extra
II dividend for February this year.
Leap Year it is - and the Gus
tomary opportunity for aggressive
feminine aspirants to speak for themselves.
Did you know there is possibility that
this may be the last year February will have
just twenty nine days. Not that it is going to
be deprived of its extra day. but rather that
the month may be put on more equitable
basis with the other months of the year.
This is the plan of large groups of people
who are sponsoring revision of the calendar
1t has now been officially supported by resolu-
tions passed by five national scientific bodies,
by the Chamber of Commerce of the State
of New York and by the General Assembly of
the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The change in reckoning will be so slight
when it takes place that you will hardly know
the difference except at the end of the year,
when you will have grand holiday preceding
New Years Eve, called the "Year-End Day"
1t will be neither the last day of December nor
the first of January.
The easiest kind of year to make this change
will be year when January falls on Sunday.
The next opportunity, therefore, will be 1889
A conference is likely to be called by the
League of Nations this year to consider the
matter If the change should be made in 1889.
then never again will February be restricted
to twenty eight or twenty mine days; it will
have thirty days every year. Leap Year will
bring an extra day, but it will be at the end of
June
Do you know where our present calendar
Evening star., 1936-01-31
Correction of Statement in
Letter on Court Decision

To the Editor Of The Star:
have read with keen interest Dean
Kelly Miller'S excellent letter appearing
in The Star of January "a, regarding the
decision of the Maryland Court of APP
pealS in affirming the decision granting
the writ of mandamus to Donald Gaines
Murray, colored student, for admission
to the tax-supported University Of
Maryland Law School.
wish to correct, however, one state
ment made by Dean Miller-that the
National Association for the Advance
ment Of Cclored People has instituted
similar suits in several Southern States
mot with the hope of breaking down
race distinction, but race discrimina-
tion." We fully realize that our struggle
is a long one. But our ultimate goal is
the abolition of jim-crowism. No intel
ligent person believes that separate
but equal accommodations" will ever be
literally or financially possible. Dual
educational or other public tax-support-
ed institutions are economically unsound
and impossible. and intelligent persons
of both races, particularly younger
Southerners, as we have reason to know,
are increasingly coming to realize this.
A quarter of century's experience has
demonstrated to the N. A. A. c. P. that
racial bigotry and prejudice are not
indestructible; that intelligence and en-
lightened self-interest are more rapidly
than most persons think changing con-
ditions which few years ago seemed
unchangeable. WALTER WHITE.
Evening star., 1936-01-31

SO formidable or organized Democratic
revolt as was launched by the grass
roots convention in Geo. this week.
Just how dangerous the Talmadge re-
bellion is going to be should be developed
by the Governors quest for anti-Roose-
velt delegates in the II States repre-
sented at Macon. If, as the Farleyites
expect that treasure hunt proves to be a
flop, not much attention will be paid
to subsequent efforts to mobilize South
ern anti-NeW Deal voting sentiment in
November.
Perhaps one of the reasons why the
banners of victory now float over the
bonus ramparts is that Col. John Thomas
Taylor, commander in chief of American
Legion missionary" forces on Capitol
Hill lea ned about Congress from Boies
Penrose. In the years Immediately pre-
cedlng the World War the chairman of
the Legion's National Legislative Com
mittee was the personal attorney OF the
pennsylvania boss and was intimately
identified with his activities in Wash
ington. Col Taylor's proudest boast is
that from earliest boyhood he enjoyed
the friendship and counsel of the c.
0. P. king maker and imbibed most of
his political knowledge under Penrose S
expert tutelage. After taking his law
degree at the University of Pennsylvania,
Taylor studied at the famed London Inns
of Court. In addition to his laurelS as
the veterans most potent persuader in
the halls and lobbies Of Congress, COL
Taylor is the holder of war decorations
from the United States, France, Italy
nj DClo Nd 10 1oc H.
front of the bonus fight since the OPEN
ing gun in 1919.
One of the prize boondoggling stories
OF the day tells of motorist who was
suddenly tagged on a Midwestern high
way by w. P. A. worker. He was re-
quested> not to honk his horn for the
next mile or two as the men on the ad-
jacent project were accustomed to take
their daily nap about that time!
BY accident or design, the Democratic
National Committee has adopted as the
insignia Of the Philadelphia convention
the Liberty Bell. utterly mindless of the
fact that the American Liberty League
ever since its organization has used the
bell as its official trade mark.
X X
Senator Arthur Capper, Republican, of
Kansas is one member of Congress up
for reelection this year who's in no
hurry to WIND up the session and get
back home for fence repairing purposes.
He thinks the Overwhelmingly most i'm
portant business House and Senate
now have before them is the enacting
and putting into effect of sound farm
policy For my part" says the editor
statesman II am willing to stay here
for that purpose, campaign or no cam
paign, and fight it out on that line, If
it takes all Summer" Because of the
farm vote and the ides of November
there's no probability of undue delay in
the passage of legislation for the benefit
of the bucolic brethren.
Copyright, 1850
Evening star., 1936-01-31
For FASTING i'm Hats.

In the current Atlantic Monthly Mr..
laurence Sullivan, discussing the merit
system under the New Deal, produces
Agwes to show that the percentage Of
classified merit system" jobs in the
executive civil service, which rose from
S1.2 in 1904 to s0.8 in the Hoover ad-
ministration. has declined during this
administration to 81, the level Of the
1906-08 period; that while there has
been an increase in the direct civil
rolls of the. Government service of 234,-
1876 jobs between March 4, 1888, and De-
cember l, 1935-adding $425, ,000, 600 to
the Government pay roll-classified civil
service jobs under the merit system
have actually decreased from 467.l6l on
June 80 1882, to 455,264 on June 80. 1885.
In letter commencing the National
League Of Women Voters for its efforts
Evening star., 1936-01-31
On the Spot?

Philadelphia's cash bid Of 100000 won
its selection as the meeting place for
the Democratic National Convention
next June.
Harry Hopkins, dispenser of non
political w. P. A. funds, has just ap-
proved an allotment of $1,809,000 for
public improvements in Philadelphia, OF
which 100000 will go to renovating and
otherwise improving Philadelphia's con-
vention hall and surrounding streets.
Philadelphia is contributing part of the
money.
It might be argued that the transac-
ton takes money from the w. P. A.
funds and transfers it to the pockets OF
the Democratic National Committee. If
the repairs were necessary they would
be made regardless of the w. P. A. allot-
ment. If unnecessary the allotment for
repairs is wasted. Under any conditions,
the allotment facilitates meeting the
guarantee fund to the Democratic Ma
tional Committee.
But aside from that, the allotment is
going to cost more than 100000. For
Cleveland has to date received paltry
$4,000 for plumbing repairs to its conven-
ton hall, where the Republican National
Convention meets June 9, and that allot-
ment was made before the choice of
Cleveland for the convention. Cleve-
lands cash bid for the convention was
$15O,OOO If hundred thousand dollars
is necessary in Philadelphia, a hundred
thousand dollars is equally necessary in
Cleveland. Cleveland has asked for
$4,000 to repair its hall. And Cleve-
land, it may be assumed, has placed Mr.
Hopkins on the spot. 1t is hard to see
how he can refuse the cash.
Evening star., 1936-01-31
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Dear Sir: Always the first thing I
read on The Stars editorial page is your
column. Especially interested when 1t
concerns birds. books and people.
I'VE have for many years catered to
the birds here in Takoma Park, with
sunfower seeds, suet and dread crumbs.
Here we raise only trees and flowers,
but 4 miles from here we have little
garden; the first thing that see coming
up green in it is row of sunflowerS
about 500 feet long.
every attractive when the flowers come
and attracts much attention from visitors.
Later on appear vegetables for us
humans, but the birds have been attended
to first. Yours. sincerely. M. P. j."
X
The amount of interest in the wild
birds is amazing.
The fine thing about it is that 1t is
not a specialized interest, requiring a
particular amount of training, but is
open to all alike, on the same terms.
The number of 'just folks" who feed
the birds which Winter with us is grow
ing by leaps every year, but the extent
of this interest always surprises the
person who comes into 1t for the first
time.
The Audubon societies have led the
way, but there are thousands of persons
who do not belong to these organizations
who, nevertheless, are keenly interested
in the songsters which stay here all
Winter.
They get a tremendous amount Of
pleasure out of studying their wild
friends, out of feeding them, out of
recognizing them, out of helping them.
4 **
Bird feeding is, above all, honey
occupation, one open to the young and
the old, the vigorous and the not SO
we'll, to men, women and children on
equal terms.
1t is carried on in the home yard or
even on the window sill, the front porch,
or the back porch, or anywhere the
birds can fly.
The kinds of foods which may be used
are varied and the types Of feeders
almost as much SO.
The birds put on no airs, and eat from
box lid as readily as from the most
expensive and elaborate "self-feeder."
AS matter of fact, they really like
to cat from the ground the best, but the
feeding devices have several advantages,
one of which is that they display the
flying ability and antics of the birds
better.
We have carried letters recently in
which bird enthusiasts told of their
homemade feeders.
One of these was a cheese box lid
suspended by three strings from porch.
This was upside down, of course the rim
providing a fine perch for the birds at the
same time it kept them from spilling too
much of the food on the floor.
X X
There are few living creatures which
attract SO much attention from SO many
different types of humans as the birds
In the common bond of feeding the
birds are united thousands of persons.
This is one of the happiest features
of this Winter sport, which harms no
one, but which does good to so many,
not only birds, but also the people en-
gagged in it.
There always are persons to hate cats.
who do not like dogs, who do not "see"
what any one else can find entertaining
in keeping canary birds or tropical fishes.
Evening star., 1936-01-31
Class Is Now Bestowed on
Grand Word BoOndOggle

To the Editor of The STAR
The grand word "boondoggle" has
acquired class. 1t even rates the dignity
of Star editorial. But IF you ask them
where it came from and what be its
degree" why, the authorities seem to
differ.
The term, so it appears to me, applies
to work that is neither necessary nor
even particularly useful-like sweeping
leaves against the wind. Such activities
have always been referred to by the
Maryland farmers as "piddling." To
keep busy on drizZly day the monthly
hands fool around the stables, separating
the horse manure from the COW manure,
or something equally constructive.
This is no reflection on the man who
does the 'piddling" or "boondoggling
He very often puts considerable enthusi-
asm into these misdirected efforts. He
does this because he is a natural worker.
And not being able to secure regular
job, why, he wastes his sweetness on
the desert air" and "boondoggles"
around to his hearts content at some
thing that fate or the Government has
wished on him. He is a square peg in
a round hole because there is no square
hole for him to crawl into. And yet, to
a certain extent, "boondoggling" per-
forms useful function. 1t enables the
man to retain his habits of work. And
retaining them, he'll never become an
"unemployable." He remains an asset
for an eventual industrial boom. Oh,
happy day!
Now, the "loafer," the "shirker," the
fellow who soldiers on the job"-he is
an entirely different proposition. He
is paid to perform necessary task. But
he won't perform it. He merely steals
the boss time. Instead of pitching in
with an "up, boys and at them," why.
he stalls around and looks at his watch.
He ought to be fired. AS rule, he is.
FRED VETTER.
Evening star., 1936-01-31

advent of the motor Car has rendered it
virtually obsolete. and the development
of the suburban area on the Virginia
side of the river has imposed burden
Of travel upon it that 1t is barely capable
Of accommodating. There is no more
urgent item Of public improvement on
the local calendar of unfinished business.
and with this latest development, the
change Of position Of the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission in
respect to plan and position. there should
be chance for early action by Congress
to the end of new construction which
will rid the District of veritable menace.
Evening star., 1936-01-31
Refinancing Legislation
Urged as Sane Farm Aid

To the Editor Of The Star:
The Supreme Court of our country has
seen At to outlaw the agricultural ad-
justment act because of its unconstitu-
tionality.
Some form Of farm relief was very
essential when President Roosevelt re-
placed Mr.. Hoover. No one, however
prejudiced, will deny the need at that
time of prompt action to safeguard the
farmers Of this Nation. This super
human task was accomplished through
the passage of the Frazier-Lehmke
bankruptcy act, which, though uncon-
stitutional, spread fear through the
ranks of the unscrupulous mortgage
holders and checked foreclosures.
Through the A. A. A. the Government
gave money to the distressed farmers.
Through the combination OF drought,
planned reduction of crops and live stock
and the checks from the A. A. A. the
farmers over the entire Nation were
lifted out of the slough of want.
I am one Of the many millions OF
farmers who were aided by both acts.
Though unconstitutional, they served
their purpose well and I am sure that
we are all grateful for the benefits re-
ceived.
Why is it necessary to continue these
payments of the A. A. A. and support
the huge personnel created to administer
its manifold activities?
The only farmers who need aid today
are those not able to refinance their
properties at lower rates of interest be-
cause of topheavy mortgages. Their
need at present interest rates is lower
mortgages. Compulsory scaling down
has been declared unconstitutional. Vol
untary scaling down is unattainable.
Lower interest rates will solve the prob
lem of the farmer who has no chance
to exist under his present mortgage at
the prevailing rates of interest.
Why the politicians want to saddle
upon the people of this Nation the load
that the Supreme Court is making an
effort to lift is beyond the reasoning
power of this humble citizen.
The leaders of this administration
have kept off of the statute books the
only act that would have met the ap-
proval of the Supreme Court and rem
dered real service to the needy farmers,
the Frazier-Lehmke farm reflnance bill,
which provides for the refinancing of
all farm mortgages at liz per cent in
terest and like payment on the prin-
clpal yearly
The enactment of this bill into law
would stabilize our agricultural invest
ments and activities more than any
other act that may be hatched out of
a brain truster's head. or from the
numerous ideas advanced by the heads
of agricultural interests, who need no
real aid and therefore should not merit
public support. NORRIS GUREVICH.
Travilah Md.
Evening star., 1936-01-31

Feeding the wild birds, however, seems
to offer no such obstacles to friendly
interchange Of opinions.
The certain percentage of the popula-
ton which has no interest in this occu-
patton at least has nothing against 1t,
as far as we can discover.
This fact alone is somewha. remark
able, in world in which most human
beings seem to be well able to find
objections to anything in which they
are not interested personally.
~
The pleasures and perplexities of bird
feeding are known only to those who
60 at the matter in businesslike way
however.
1t is true here, as in most other things
you only get out of it what you put
into it.
If you just put few scraps of bread
now and then, all you will get out OF II
is-just few scraps of interest.
If any one wants to know the intellec-
tual side, the keenly aesthetic side, OF
feeding the wild birds which Winter in
this vicinity, he must 60 after the matte,
as If it were eminently worth while
as it is.
The few crumbs, put out now and then
will do few brides some good, but in
continued cold such as we have eX-
perienced for so long this season, it is
the steady feeding which counts with
them
The amount Of food they can consume
is constantly amazing even the expert
enced
Like the monkeys at the Zoo, the wild
birds eat constantly. minute after minute
all day long, from first light to last light
Their motors" are geared to high
speed, when it comes to food consump-
tion.
All one has to do, to realize this, Is
to watch them for time, such tiny
things in such vast cold world.
They are warm enough, if they have
the fuel, but fuel they must have to
keep up the heat.
Those who feed the birds on a gener-
GUS scale get as much genuine excite
ment and interest out of discovering q
new species at their feeders as many
another person has received from spec
tacular achievements.
We assert confidently that this is very
much worthwhile, when there are so
many OF us who cannot take part in
spectacular achievements.
Ours not to discover new worlds, or
even make over the one we have, but
mostly to plod along. doing the best we
can, at the same time trying to get as
much interest out of life as possible
This interest is achieved in many ways,
but those lose most who cannot get it
out of the everyday life they must live,
without resort to the strange, the garish
or the cheaply spectacular.
happy life. for some, is wholesome
life and nothing in it is more honestly
wholesome, it would seem, than this
feeding of the wild birds in Winter.
1t is joy and happiness in an old
fashioned way to watch them eat, flying
around and around. chirping their
amazement at the good fortune which is
theirs
AS you walk along the streets keep
your ears open for this bird music in
Winter, and if you hear it, you can feel
pretty sure that somewhere in the vicin-
ity is person who loves the songsters,
and is doing his simple best to help them.
Evening star., 1936-01-31
Chain Bridg &c.

In modification of its previous position,
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission now indorses the proposal
for the replacement of Chain Bridge
across the Potomac above Georgetown.
Formerly favoring the plan for high
level bridge, at some distance upstream
from the present site, the commission
now accedes to the plan for span
across the river at the lower position.
The high-level bridge was proposed in
connection with projected North-South
highway that would provide a river
crossing for through route for travel
that would not traverse the city. Such
a structure would have more direct
approach on both sides of the river,
avoiding the sharp curve that now exists
on the District side and the steep grade
on the Virginia side. The advantages in
respect to safety of such a plan are
obvious.
The cost OF a hieh-level bridge. in con-
nection with the projected through travel
route, would be much greater than that
of a low-level viaduct at any site. There
is, therefore, a better chance to obtain
the necessary authorization and ap-
preparation for the low-level plan than
for that which the commission has here
tofore favored. Inasmuch as there is
urgent need for the replacement Of the
present bridge, which is inadequate in
width, dangerous in its approaches and
altogether out of harmony with the
Districts bridge facilities as now de-
veloped. there would seem to be good
reason for pressing for action to the end
of construction in accordance with
this now favored plan.
Chain Bridge is relic Of what have
lately been termed "horse and buggy
days." It was designed to accommodate
slow-moving tratdc. Of small volume. Ths
Evening star., 1936-01-31
A Rhyme at Twilight
BY
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton

Strangers in Town.
They come with sense of adventure,
To them it's all so new!
Their steps are light and their faces
bright,
There is vim in all they do.
It's heigh! and ho
Wherever they GO;
Nothing is tame and nothing is slow.
They fit out their lodgings with gusto;
Their days hold not regret.
They sweep thru town as the sun goes
down.
Yet at dusk their eyes are wet
For one fleet sight
Between day and night
OF the nome where they first saw the
light.
Evening star., 1936-01-31
Marine Band Did Not
Walk Out of Meeting

To the Editor Of The Star:
AS chairman of the Musical Committee
for the Womens Patriotic Conference on
National Defense, I wish to defend the
Marine Band from the statement made
by Mr.. Bailey Wednesday evening over
the radio that the Marine Band walked
out and refused to play" and stated as
a "walkout" in The Star. The band was
ordered to leave and asked Mr. Santel-
mann why they were leaving. He said:
"They had just received orders to 60 to
another job and they had to obey orders, !"
as I know, and added he hoped the
ladies would not blame them" I wish
this letter to appear in justice to the
band leader and members.
MARY LOGAN TUCKER.
Evening star., 1936-01-31
In behalf of the merit system, the Presi-
dent writes:

In behalf OF the merit system, the PreSi-
dent writes:
It matters not what political party is
in power by the elective will Of the peo-
ple, the Government functions for all:
snd there can be no question Of greater
moment or broader effect than the
maintenance. strengthening and exten-
sion of the merit system, established in
the competitive principles Of the civil
service act, whose fifty-third birthday
is being celebrated this month.
As the President is the chieftain Of
the party now in power, 1t seems ap-
propriate to suggest that his letter to
the League OF Women Voters be clipped
and pasted in the hats of Chief Patron
age Dispenser james A. Farley and the
members Of the Democratic majority
in House and Senate whose activities
have contributed to the decline Of the
merit system under the New Deal. They
ought to practice what the President
breaches.