davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
Revelation of Weakness.

The attempted assassination of Santi-
ago Iglesias, resident commissioner to the
United States from Puerto Rico, in San
Juan recently by a member of the Ma
tionalist party, which is agitating for the
islands independence, following as it does
the murder of Colonel E. Francis Riggs,
insular police chief, last February by the
same group, Is indeed poorly selected
means for impressing the National Legis-
lature with Puerto Rico's capabilities for
independent government. When
disorder is the means chosen despite the
existence Of legal channels for self
expression. 1t Is convincing proof that
the people are not yet ready for it.
The problem should be one Of the first
to face Congress when it convenes. Last
Spring a bill was introduced in the House
by Representative Vito Marcantonio Of
New York calling for outright independ-
ence. while another. in the Senate,
sponsored by Senator Willard e. Tydings
of Maryland. proposed q popular refer
endum, to be followed. If favorable to
liberation. by tsfour-year transitional
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
Ancient Attica Had lis
Rendezvous With Destiny
To the Editor of The Star:

10 the EQlt0T OF he star.
In ancient Athens there lived-and
fiourished for a time-a man named
Alcibiades. Well born and wealthy,
handsome, quick witted, utterly fearless
and unconquerably gay, he embodied the
qualities an Athenian most priced and
early became the idol of the market
place. Amusing stories were told of
him. He smacked the face of the richest
man in all Hellas; then apologized so
charmingly that he was promptly for
given. Socrates loved the boy and
would gladly have made him philoso-
pher. But politics held the stronger
lure and Alcibiades was soon a super
ace at the great game. The word 'okay"
had not yet been coined, but he knew
how to get its Greek equivalent for just
about everything he wanted.
In a year of evil omen he wanted
Athens to embark on a grandiose adj
venture to the west that should make her
mistress of the world. A compliant As
sembly voted unlimited funds, and every
body went deliriously to work on the
greatest armada that ever sailed from
Hellenic shores. The rest of the heart
breaking story may be read in the vivid
pages of "ThucydideS." An outgeneraled
and defeated army persisted miserably in
the salt pits of Syracuse: and the few
who finally wandered home saw their
beloved Attica ravaged to the Pieraean
walls. They had had their rendezvous
with destiny.
And we in our own day and way must
have ours. r. D. MILLER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

commonwealth prior to complete separa-
tion-a plan not unlike the method
chosen for Philippine independence.
Neither measure was reported out of
committee. Shortly afterward, Senator
Tydings, chairman of the Committee on
Territories and Insular Affairs, succeeded
in getting through another resolution
calling for commission to investigate.
after November 20, 1885, general condi-
tons on the island. In the House COM
mittee stage, this bill was amended by
increasing the commission from IS to
Is as well as the appropriations for its
expenses and by extending its lines of
investigation. Before the altered measure
could be acted on by the House as a
whole Congress adjourned.
The fact that the Nationalist are re-
ported to have dangerous designs on Gov
ernor Blanton Winship and United
States District Judge Robert Cooper
makes swift action imperative to de-
termine whether independence is the
remedy for the situation or whether it
is simply a matter for the police.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

as If its genius had taken a full-fedged
engineering course at one Of our best
chronological schools.
The material, too, is so well adapted
to its use that it is impossible to conceive
of lettering it.
The spiders web, like mans violin, is
perfect of its kind.
One has but to look at a man-made
imitation of the web to see how far its
eight-legged creator excells, in this re-
spect, at least.
Even when he used the finest wires or
the thinnest strands of silk, man makes
but a clumsy web, indeed, which would
fool no one, not even spider.
One may feel hesitant about breaking
that long strand which moors the web
top and bottom. or doing away with the
completed structure, no doubt because of
some little realization, at least, of the
true genius which has gone into its
making.
While such webs scarce can be consid-
cred as additions to the well-kept house.
hold, there may occur one, from time to
time, in situation where there will be
opportunity to regard it as an ornament.
Usually such webs are formed by very
small arachnida; the total web is not
more than inches in diameter, and the
supporting strand perhaps only a foot
in length, over all.
Mostly such webs are spun between the
top point of a small picture frame
mounted on an easel and the desk or
table upon which the frame is placed.
We remember one very excellent speci-
men which its ingenious architect had
built between the glass of clipper ship
barometer, so-called, and the supporting
stand
This spider was permitted to enjoy mis-
web fer many weeks.
He was very nice little fellow, abso-
lutely harmless looking; how much of
this was due to his size was problemati-
cal; he seemed very trim and clean. and
undoubtedly that had something to do
with it.
Usually he was to be seen out testing
his lines several times a day. The
morning was a favorite with him.
Although he never caught any flies, he
never stopped trying; hope evidently
springs eternal in the spiders breast as
we'll as in mans both being members of
the animal kingdom, that is quite
natural
X X x
If spiders would stick to their webs.
perhaps more persons would be willing
to tolerate them as indoor guests. but
mostly they insist on roaming around the
house, and have very disagreeable habit
OF ceiling walking at odd hours of the
night, when, if one snaps on the light.
they stare down at you in a most
spiderish manner.
The sensitive person will feel then that
TO 20 to sleep and run the chance of those
eight legs losing their grip is not exactly
conducive to further rest.
There will seem to be need for action
with five fingers and the fiat of the hand
matching themselves against the agility
of all eight legs at once, often with the
latter the winnah.
This spider has worn out his welcome.
Let us crush him, then-if we can-with
that curious lack of realization Of death
which even the kind-hearted human has
for these and similar queer beings of
another world than ours.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
New Deal Propaganda and
The Banking Situation
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
I have received one of the New
Dealer" cards entitled 10000 Banks Had
Failed in Twelve Years." which is being
sent out promiscuously to post office box
holders.
Between fear of the advent of the So
called New Dealers" and the drought
(Which no human being could prevent.
quite a number of these banks closed
their doors.
This was no fault of Republican adj
ministration, but it was fear developed
from desperate politicians to gain con-
troll of the Government and was worked
through legislative channels.
The New Dealer" howl set up about
this panic has not altogether alleviated
1t, and there are number of depositors
who have not received their deposits It
has been observed that a clerical force
has been in evidence, who have observed
the CONSERVATION of those who need
money to meet their obligations, but
apply in vain.
Is this feather in the caps" of the
New Dealers, who have wasted vast
amount in a questionable new policy of
handing out the peoples money?
We think the people are well aware of
the facts, and we can trust to their good
judgment. DANIEL N. PROSSER.
Branchville, Md.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
"Day of the North"

While the rest of Europe seethes with
uncomfortable unrest, suspicious, rival
ries and alarm, the five lands that COM
prise its northernmost area-Denmark,
Iceland Sweden, Norway and Finland
rejoice in the happy satisfaction of peace
and neighborly good will among them
selves. To celebrate the blessings of
tranquility and the spirit of unity and
cooperation whence it springs, the first
Day of the North has just been held,
on which the rulers of the Scandinavian
kingdoms and the President of Finland
exchanged greetings and congratulations.
They preside over countries which in
neither political nor military sense
WELD any dominating power in the Or
dering of European destines, but which
stand forth as shining symbols of what
might be achieved by Old World states
men and peoples devoted to unselfish de-
velopment of common spiritual, cultural
and commercial interests.
Children of Scandinavia opened the
DAY of the North" by singing their re-
spective national anthems, which were
broadcast from country to country to the
accompaniment of cathedral bells IN the
five capitals. In press, pulpit, school
and theater the gospel of the hour was
eloquently spread-namely, that amid
the turmoil rampant elsewhere, it is
supremely important for the free democ-
racies of Northern Europe to stand to-
gether and strengthen the bonds of amity
that unite them. King Haakon of Nor
way, King Gustaf of Sweden, King Chris
tan of Denmark and President SWIM
hufvud of Finland echoed this sentiment
with uniform fervency, emphasizing the
determination of their governments and
nations to concentrate on the works of
peace rather than pursuing the arts of
war.
Because of its geographical situation
the Scandinavian corner of the continent
Is fortunately not foredoomed, like Bel
GUM, to be a cockpit in European war.
although Denmark recovered at YER
sailles slice of Schleswig- Holstein, which
Nazi extremists crave to re-incorporate
in Germany. The great World War naval
battle of Jutland was fought of the
Danish coast, and it is not impossible
that in another conflict British, German,
French, Italian or Russian fleets might
clash in Scandinavian waters. But in
so far as lies in their power, the little
countries of the north intend to remain
inoculated against the pestilence of Eu-
ropean strife. They have consistently
used their authority and influence in the
League of Nations on behalf of neu-
trality and collective security, and
against the bullying of small states by
stronger powers.
Scandinavia prefers to serve the
world through the weight of her brains,
rather than the bulk of her ornaments
Such contributions to international well
fare as Swedens successful cooperative
system is specimen of the boons which
the lands of Ibsen, Nobel, Nansen, Bjorn-
son, Hedin, Amundsen and host OF
other intellectual and humanitarian
luminaries nowadays offer to mankind
in chimes where energy is squandered on
so many unworthy values.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

relations, securities and public utilities
holding company acts. One Of the courts
earliest ma jor DEGREES will determine the
validity of the law barring prison made
goods from interstate transportation and
the amended railway labor act.
y
Andre Geraud, famous French jour-
nalist known to the world as Pertinax
who will open the Washington Town Hall
season on November IS with lecture
entitled Can European Peace Be
Saved?" has just arrived in this coun-
try. He says Europe is approaching a
period in its history more crucial than
any since the World War and that the
crisis will be reached with the peak of
German rearmament, possibly next
Spring or Summer. Pertinax doesn't
believe it's over colonies that Hitler would
go to war, as Der Fuehrer hesitates to
antagonize Great Britain. The Nazis'
paramount interest, the French writer
asserts, lies in the direction of terri
torial expansion in Europe.
President Roosevelt's zero-hour visit
to Delaware today betokens the Demo-
Gratis ardent desire to carry that State,
olily DO llS CICIOOl OIL NOOC VI ASs
They crave to do so because the bantam
Commonwealth is the bailiYick not only
of Senator Hastings, Republican arch foe
of the New Deal in Congress, who is up
for reelection, but of the Du Points,
principal angels of the American Liberty
League. Delaware is one of the six
States carried by Hoover in 1882, Be-
cause of Republican internal strife and
the strong pro-Roosevelt trend in the
ranks of labor. the Democrats hope not
only to retire Hastings, but to carry the
State for the President.
While Mr.. Roosevelt artfully lodges
White House press conference questions
about his intentions to revive N. R. A.,
or otherwise, various recognized New
Deal spokesman are describing in sig
nificant detail the new and broader
types of business control to be imposed
in the event of Democratic victory. They
indicate that the RECOMMENDATION rose will
be scented with the old perfume, though
N. r. A. may not be its name, and will
smell about as sweet. The view per-
sists that the seeds for the new flower
were developed some time ago by
certain landscape gardener named DON
aid r. Richberg and are ready to sprout.
X X
Those Pittsburgh cheers for Gov. Lam
don's slam at the New Deal spells sys-
tenn the other night doomed bit ironical
over the radio, yelling up from the old
home grounds of Matt Quay and Boies
Penrose. In the happier days when life
was abundant for the Republicans and
those two G. o. p. potentates bossed the
Keystone show, the partisan patronage
edifice lowered to skyscraper heights in
Pennsylvania Nobody but an incorri-
gible idealist thinks that job seeking and
job giving will vanish from the Federal
scene should the New Deal be put out
Of business. There1l still be several
hundred thousand places to be filled IN
Washington and elsewhere, and no fear
Is discernible that there will be any lack
of deserving Republican brothers and
sisters willing to sacrifice themselves on
the altar of Government service.
(Copyrisht, 1850
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
A Rhyme at Twilight
BY
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Prenatal Lullaby.

Sunrise brings thoughts of you.
At break of day
With all my sewing things folded away
And in the roseate sky against Heavens
blue
Dream castles sailing by, picture you.
You, still unknown to me,
Though thru the strife
Close to my heart you lie, coming to life.
viii you have eyes more blue than sky
or sea.
Or OF a leaf brown hue, baby p-be9
Will you have radiant hair,
Soft and finespun
AS all those dancing lights cast by the
sun?
While earth abandons sleep, freshened
and fair,
Closer you seem to creep, luminous!
rare!
Love, may you join the race
As shadows die
I'll hold you on my breast as your first
cry
Makes me forget my pain. In the light
place
As thA chill dawn-nnists wane, I'll see
&our face!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

This is the season when spiders and
flies and mice try to come indoors.
The first freeze sends them looking for
warmth, which they will find in COM
parative abundance within the walls Of
dwellings.
Look for the first two on the sidewalks
and the ceiling from now on; for the
third in the attic.
The scamper of tiny feet some night
will apprise the honest householder Of
unasked boarders.
A mouse makes as much noise over
head as rat. This is curious thing,
how so small a creature can make such
a racket.
The domestic mouse, so-called, Is a
great deal more likely to come inside at
the first touch of frost than its gigantic
cousin, the rat.
Even the most timid housekeepers,
therefore, should think mouse. rather
than rat, no matter how loudly the steps
sound from up in the attic.
1t must be kept in mind that most
such places are bare and reverberating,
and magnify the only noise likely to be
heard from them.
Night. too, when mice are abroad, has
a magnifying effect on footsteps.
y
Even if screens are kept up at this
time of year, plenty of flies will get in
through opened screen doors, SO great is
the desire of these insects to find warm
place for the Winter.
Spiders, belonging to the animal king
dom, are especially adroit.
They manage to get in somehow and
hide away behind bookcases and the like.
From these they issue forth, generally
at night. and by morning have spun
themselves neat web, maybe from a
framed picture.
The tidy housewife will resent their
activities. but she should let the web
remain for a time, because these small
spiders are harmless and furnish excel
lent natural history lessons to the willing
observer.
The unwilling observer. of course. gets
little from them; he or she is not to be
blamed for destroying them on sight.
Fear of crawlers is deeply ingrained
in many. 1t would seem mildly absurd
to insist on a psychological explanation.
implying all sorts of dire reasons for a
perfectly natural reaction.
The person who can overcome these
instincts, if so they may be called, will
find a real interest in such unlimited
Fall and Winter guests.
Famous persons have become inter-
ested in spiders.
In the days of old they often intrigued
the fancy of some captured knight or
baron.
Tales are extant of spiders being tanned
and coming to the edge of the web at the
call of the tanner.
The web alone is sufficient to account
for this fascination, for when looked at
fairly and especially without distaste for
its maker, it is one of the worlds premier
dwellings.
Whether the web should be regarded
as home or trap is one thing: as con-
struction there can be little difference Of
opinion
The spiders web is among the world S
most marvellous.
The stresses and strains of this re-
markable dwelling are as finely planned
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
Election Costs.

The actual cost of . national cam
paign probably never can be calculated
accurately. Parties may report truth
fully enough the sums they disburse, and
individual candidates may file faithful
statements of their personal expenses
But the money applied to political uses
in an election year probably reaches q
total approximately double the amount
formally recorded at the end Of the
struggle for votes.
Yet It would be q mistake to suppose
that the investment is wasted. A cam
paisn certainly makes work" for thou.
sands Of people; and, me time when un-
employment is an issaA definite. Il
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
District Has Definite Need
For a Small Claims Court
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
A short time ago I noticed in your
paper an article about Judge Nathan
Cayton's suggestion of small claims
court.
Knowing the interest of the press to
improve conditions as well as seeing that
justice is done, expected that the press
and the public in general would grasp
this opportunity to bring quicker and
less expensive justice to people with
moderate means.
The people OF Washington are deprived
of taking part in elections as well as
having no representation in the law
making branch of the Nation. Why do
they also have to be deprived of having
the proper judicial provisions as other
cities have them? As long as it does
not need congressional action and 1t
Is not an additional expense to the tax.
payer, why delay 1t any longeyR
ANNA LANSBukGH.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Every artist in defamation is likely
to reveal, even though inadvertently, an
interest in the theater. Former Senator
James Reed refers to Government en-
ployment of writers who cannot write
and actors who cannot act. 1t was Bacon
who referred to idols of the theater"
as old PHILOSOPHERS seeking to create
worlds of their own after an unreal and
scenic fashion. These idols in their quest
of drama" at least desisted from de-
mands that anybody be shot at sunrise.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

admittedly temporary, gain may be noted
as an immediate result entirely bene-
fetal In character. For example, the
printing trade surely has enjoyed some
degree of prosperity because of the mil
lions of books, pamphlets, leaflets and
handbills published during the past six
or eight months. The railroads, hotels,
restaurants, telegraph, telephone and
radio networks have profted from the
conventions and meetings of Republic
ans and Democrats alike. Partisanism
has had nothing to do with the services
rendered and the reimbursement re-
ceived. Business, in brief, has doomed in
ratio with the rising temper of the
contest.
But the campaign also has yielded
another variety of gain to the Nation.
1t has had an educational effect. Indeed,
it may be wondered if there is any
better device for the revival of patriotism
than quadrennial political conflict. No
citizen, 1t would seem, can maintain a
position of isolation from interest in his
country at such moment as the present
Perhaps it may not be too much to say
that a man who has neglected to con-
Germ himself with the current crisis is
unworthy to be known as an American
1t is basic element in democracy that
everybody should participate in Govern
ment to the extent of voting intelligently
The only exception to that rule is the
disenfranchised resident of the District
of Columbia. He, alone, is barred from
access to the ballot box.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

After hearing Secretary Wallace ex-
plain the situation he leaves the impress
sion of mental attitude not infrequent
among farmers; feeling that every
thing might have been all right if it had
not been for the weather.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
They're OFF.

They're OFF.
I know that gambling's very wrong
And therefore I am sad;
I grieve to see so great a throng
Thus going to the bad.
A boss race leaves me to complain
OF a repeated loss,
And yet again I strive in vain
To pick winning boss.
Of course, on races I have bet
With very little hope.
The Human Race proves harder yet
To figure in "the DOPE"
Again upon election day
I venture more or less.
This Human Race of ours, III say,
Is mighty hard to guess!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Gas ATTACKS from the air are men,
toned as future possibility. Aviation
should discourage the idea that it can
be linked to demonstrations of more or
less mephitic nature.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Whenever enthusiasm is at its height
telephone books are torn up for con-
fetti and the subscribers have to meet
the expense even though they may de-
eide later on that they had the wrong
number.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Old-age pensions can hardly be made
large enough to enable father dear to
supply movie tickets and night club ex-
penses for the entire family, as he has
done in so many cases In the past.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Radio has something that looks almost
like an unbalanced budget, with three
more days of talking time on its hands
and very little left to be said.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Japan thinks China needs a helping
hand. The political handclasp may de-
velop into the grip of custodian even in
international affairs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Communism has as yet developed no
condition that contradicts an old impress
sion that it is something to be avoided as
far as possible.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

Aviation has been working fast, but 1t
is not yet prepared to take care of a
transportation situation such as might
arise in case Of coastwise shipping
strike.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30
Political Realtors.

The title Landlord" is what brings
Respect from peasants and from kings.
A Royal Champion will cry,
This fair domain Is mine! Stand by!"
As Power calls for loud acclaim
One simple precept rules the game;
Over and underworld declare
Each man must bear Of tax share,
And forth the old demand is sent
II want my rent! want my remit"
"A camp meetin'," said Uncle Eben,
"gives us chance to put old Satan b.
hind us Std o prancin' around and per.
tendin' hS's de leader Of de choir" I