davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-11-24

Glover's biography contains an account
Of what was perhaps the first direct ap-
propriation for agricultural relief made
in the United States. 1t was in 1856.
The Louisiana sugar cane planters were
at the end Of their resources Their
closely inbred stock had run out. To
save the industry Congress, not with
out considerable grumbling, made an
appropriation of $4,000 to restock the
plantations with healthy cane from
British Guiana and Venezuela A ship
was chartered with q competent crew
once. Glover was placed in charge Of
the expedition and carried it out sue
ceSsfully, but 1t nearly cost him his life
from disease contracted in the tropics.
His job covered the whole field Of
biology. His memorandums contain OBJ
servations and recommendations on cot
ton and cotton diseases, vegetation, birds,
animals, soils and Indian mounds. His
great difficulty was that he couldn't get
along with his chief-a certain D. j.
Browne of New Hampshire, whose humble
position in the Patent once was anal
ogous to the present position Of the
Secretary Of Agriculture. After the un-
fortunate alligator blood experiment he
quit in disgust but remained in WASH
ington to carry on q one-man campaign
for Brownies dismissal. Glover, by the
way, was q relatively wealthy man who
didn't need to squirt orange trees with
alligator blood in order to eat. To oc-
cupy his spare time he accepted the job
of professor >of natural sciences at the
University Of Maryland. This continued
until 1862, when the Bureau Of Agri-
culture of the Patent ONCE was dis
continued and Abraham Lincoln estab-
lished the Federal Department of Agri-
culture with Isaac Newton as the first
Secretary In few months Glover was
appointed the departments entomologist
and continued to fill the position almost
to the end Of his life. He combined
with the duties of this job those of
establishing an agricultural museum and
eventually the work grew so heavy that
he was allowed two assistants.
Glover was an extremely able en-
tomologist and in his later years de-
voted most of his attention to that
science. He was q cartoonist Of con-
siderable ability and added greatly to
the merriment of the Washington Of
his day by his drawings in which he
ridiculed his superiors. At that time 1t
was almost impossible to obtain Govern.
ment funds for the publication of q
scientific work, and Federal scientists
who grumble over the slowness Of publi-
cation today may at least be comforted
by the reflection that their lot is in
finitely better than that Of the one-man
predecessor Of 20 many Of the bureaus.
He set I'D letter press In the back room
of Seventh street book store, made his
own plates and printed his own editions.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Notification of Citizens
Rights a Step Backward

To the Editor OF The Star:
I think it was Clarence Darrow who
took the pessimistic view that people
were kidding themselves when they
spoke of their rights" He maintained
that people who thought such existed
were laboring under a delusion.
should like TO explain why I am in
clined to be in agreement with this
philosophy.
The Declaration of Independence men
tions, of course, certain ''inalienable
rights" In every civilized country citi-
zens are granted, and indeed guaranteed.
certain protection and privileges, and
these, in common parlance, are known
as the citizens rights. The normal
citizen Is happy always to lead tran
quill life, and it is a great solace to him
to know that these rights" exist. OF
course, the ordinary citizens, the man
who goes around minding his own busi-
ness, never has to invoke these rights"
because he knows how to stay out OF
trouble. He goes the even tenor Of his
way, satisfied that should the occasion
arise he shall be adequately protected.
But comes a time Of turmoil and strife
and trouble. War or confusion sweeps
the land. Now, for the first time in his
lie, the ClClZen neeQS LlleSc pEOIcCIlOIlS,
needs to invoke these rights" That is
the very time he discovers he hasn't got
them. They have been suspended dur
ing the emergency, which is, incidentally,
about the only time he ever needs them.
Fortunately, in this country, premise
of this nature is merely academic. But
there are examples of 1t woefully ap-
parent in other quarters Of the world.
All the progress the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries have witnessed in
science and invention are worthless when
human rights are nullified.
A true democracy is the farthest step
forward in the progress Of civilized man.
It's success depends upon the informa-
ton and intelligence of the people who
compose it. The world will progress as
and II the people of the world learn to
reason and to think for themselves and
permit their own inherently fine in
stincts to govern their behavior, both as
individuals and as members Of society.
r. G. O'BRIEN.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY

The Department Of Agriculture" had
three employees in 1864 clerk and two
girl assistants who helped him mail free
seeds. They had one corner of a room
in the old Patent ONCE all to them
selves.
In that year q momentous step was
taken. The problems of the American
farmer were growing more complex and
he was turning to Washington for help.
Some sort of bug was eating up the
orange trees in Florida. The native
sugar cane in Louisiana had 50 de-
teriorated that the crop was no longer
profitable.
To solve these problems the Patent
once hired q cantankerous Englishman
named Townend Glover, who Immediately
became the Bureau Of Entomology, the
Biological Survey, the Bureau of Plant
Industry, the Bureau Of Chemistry and
Soils and the Bureau of Animal In
dustry-or at least the grandfather Of
these now flourishing Federal activities.
His job has expanded somewhat in SO
years.
Glover was appointed to the Bureau
of Agriculture" of the United States
Patent once. He was one of the most
extraordinary characters in the scientific
history of Washington, one would Judge
from curious old biography in the
library Of the National Museum. Pri-
marily he was an entomologist and one
of his first jobs was to investigate the
orange problem in Florida. He found
and identified the bugs that were eating
the trees. but he had only vague ideas
of what to do about it.
His chief, however. was somewhat more
specific. He wrote to Glover in the
field: "An effectual remedy would seem
to consist in covering the entire tree
with some glutinous fluid which would
close up the apertures Of the shells and
prevent escape Of the perfect insects.
Blood has been suggested as being both
feasible and economical, preserved by
sailing and made sufiiciently dilute with
water to be readily applied with q
syringe. Near the regions where the
orange tree hourishes in Florida the alli-
gator is found in great numbers. It is
well known that this reptile abounds in
blood which could be readily taken in the
Winter when 1t is In an inactive state.
This blood could be preserved In casks. !"
The one-man Federal Bureau of En-
tomology lost no time before putting the
idea to q practical test. He records in
his journal: KILLED alligator. After stab
bing him in the neck and dividing
vertebrae he still lived several hours.
Not one pint of blood in its whole car
cass, nearly five feet long. One quart
to 10 feet. One hundred alligators to
Is gallons. Absurd"
Later he commented on the expert
ment: 1.-TWO hundred Negroes might
possibly capture 100 alligators in day,
one being necessary to hold the head
and another the tail whilst q surgical
operator undertakes the pleasing task
of relieving him Of his claret. Estimating
then the hire at each man ut 81 day,
making $200 for 20 gallons Of sanguinary
fluid which might effectually syringe
20 trees In grove, you have one OF
the most astounding examples Of econ-
omy In labor that has ever soothed and
dsttsred, q labor-saving and labce-
shifking world
Evening star., 1936-11-24
An Old Prophecy and the
Modern Automobile Age
To the Editor of The star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Gazing upon the parade Of antique
automobiles that took place several days
ago, this auto driver. Of over 80 years in
the District Of Columbia, was filled with
memories of his Joy and pride in owning
and driving a one-cylinder horseless
carriage in the old days. Not even an
up-to-date car with all the fash and
fixings of today could raise In the heart
the Joy that came with possession Of
car in those early days.
Shortly after viewing the parade OF
antiques drove down r street northwest
from Ninth to Fifteenth streets and
the jammed trafilc at the crossings dur
ing the period between to pm.
brought to mind prophecy given me
back in about 1898.
At that time was stopping for some
months at a hotel in q small mining
town in the mountains of California, and
being a stranger in the community, I
formed an acquaintance with a lovely
old lady from San Francisco who was
stopping in the resort for her health.
She was q cultivated and wellSread
woman and 1t was a great privilege and
pleasure for me to dine at the same
table with her, and as time drifted on we
became very good friends. After few
days visit to San Francisco she re-
turned to the mountain town, and her
telling of her trip and experience In the
city was very interesting and amusing.
But one thing she seemed to take very
much to heart, and her telling OF it was
q very serious tale.
She told Of a marvellous development
in the street cars of the big city. Up to
that time we were used to the old horse
cars, but what she saw was something
vastly different and wonderful. Pred" I"
she said to me, "I saw the most won-
derful thing. 1t was the new trolley
cars speeding through the streets. They
travel so fast it is a wonder that many
people are not run over and killed. And,
Fred" she went on in a most serious
and impressive manner, 81 feel that
the end of the world Is near, for the
good book says: When the word Of the
Lord is known to all ends Of the earth
and the chariots shall rage through the
street, then shall the end come"
have often thought Of this prophecy
and I wonder what the dear old lady
would say II she could see the traffic
jams, with pedestrians dodging between
the walk signs, on our overcrowded
street crossings of today, where our
chariots rage through the streets. Most
truly this prophecy can be taken as a
warning that something must be done
to lessen the awful toll of thousands of
lives taken each year by our chariots
that rage through our streets.
A. r. ENQUIST.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Nationwide Insurance Law
Would Reduce Casualties
To the Editor Of The Star:


There ought to be q law making it
compulsory for drivers Of motor vehicles
to carry insurance against injuring
pedestrians. If this were done, automo-
bile accidents throughout the Nation
would be greatly reduced. Accidents are
caused by the driver, not by the auto
mobile.
Here in the District Of Columbia there
are any number OF automobile drivers
who have not been insured against street
accidents. Proof of this Is seen in the
inability of some victims to collect dam
ages from uninsured car drivers. One
case comes to mind. 1t concerns an
independent cab driver whose car moved
down a Government employe here re-
Gently. The worker spent some time
In hospital as a result of the accident.
When he came out he sought restitution,
based on medical and surgical bills in
CURED. The cab driver admitted he did
not carry insurance either on himself
or on the taxicab. So the injured person
had no redress, except to start civil
suit for damages. But this, too, was
out of the question, because 1t was
already proven the cab driver had moth
ing, and being one whose income Is
not stable over long period, 1t would
be impossible to gain anything by at
taching his income. The only thing TO
do was for the victim to forget about it
and pay the bills out OF his own pocket.
Now, If there was law, Nationwide
compulsory motor vehicle drivers act
on the statute books at the time of the
accident, the Government employe would
have been recompensed for the time he
spent in the hospital and for the amount
Of bills outstanding against him. In
other words, the insurance company
holding the policy on the car driver
would have been able to settle the case
amicably to both sides.
If such a law is enacted and enforced
to the letter, am certain that automo-
bile accidents will be greatly reduced
throughout the country.
FREDERIC G. FROST.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES 3. TRACEWELL.

Increased evidence that the same birds
come back to the same feeding stations
each season Is piling up In one home
yard.
Not only has the semi-albino English
sparrow, called Whitley, appeared at the
old stand, but cardinals are following In
the same order as last year, In turn fol,
lowed by nuthatches.
Last year, the first in which feeding
was carried on in this particular garden,
the order Of appearance was as follows:
/. English sparrows.
2. Cardinals.
8. Nuthatches.
4. Hairy woodpecker.
These have appeared again this year
In exactly the same order during the
first week of feeding.
Not only this, but these species have
made their entrance in exactly the same
way, giving the observers the assurance
that they must be the same birds.
This year, as last year, one female
cardinal was seen on the ground beneath
the feeder In the perennial flower border.
This year, as last, she was followed
the next day by her mate.
Again this year, as last, came second
female, followed the next day by her
mate.
And there the cardinal procession has
stopped, just as it did last season at this
point.
In the meantime, the nuthatches did
not arrive until several days after the
sparrows. This, too, was precisely the
formula of last year.
Nuthatches are gems Of the bird feed
ing stations. The white upon them, in
bold patches, makes them easily identi-
fed, but they are even more easily spot
ted by their constant habit of walking
up and down tree trunks, head in the
direction they are going.
This makes them unique and affords
the main reason why at least one feeder
in yard should be upon tree, If pos
sible.
The nuthatch is tree bird. Nothing
delights him so much as to walk up
and down trees.
When q feeder is afixed about breast
high on the trunk, the nuthatch finds 1t
ideal for his purposes.
Walking head down, he approaches
the feeder from the side, gingerly hops
in the tray. seizes a seed, then walks
up the trunk with it.
Often there is flash of gray blue and
white as he flies away across the yard
to another tree to devour his find in
peace.
At the end Of the first week-and this,
too, was exactly as last year-appeared
the hairy woodpecker.
These SUGGESTIONS seemed significant,
not only as to the appearance of the
different species, but also of the very
same birds
If they had been spread over longer
time they might not have been the same,
but coming so close together, and In
exactly the same ways, to the very same
spots, for the same purpose, they i'm
pressed their observers as familiar to a
feather.
Only by bird banding, as it is called,
could any one be positive of such facts.
Banding calls for trapping the birds and
afixing bands around their legs, then
trapping the next year to see If they
are the banded songSters.
This scientific procedure is not needed,
in the average home garden, since feed
ing the birds is not done there for scien-
tific purposes, but for pleasure and in
terest to humans and good to the birds.
1t will be sufhcient for the average
home owner to feel pretty sure in his own
mind that the birds in his yard this year
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Sound Advice.

Speaking last night in The Star radio
forum, Jesse H. Jones. chairman Of the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation,
conveyed q gentle warning to the in
vesting public against enthusiastic
Interpretation Of the extraordinary now
Of dividends. He gives sound counsel.
There is no way of knowing now the pro-
portion of dividend payments attribut-
able to the tax on undistributed earnings.
But, as Mr.. Jones makes plain, dividend
payments are, of course, being stimu-
lated by this tax. And he explains that
failure by q corporation to declare divi-
dends equal to its taxable net income
would require the corporation to pay q
graduated surtax on such Of its net
taxable earnings for the year - are not
distributed in dividends. If . corpora
ton distributes all its taxable net in
come, it viii have an irregular dividend
rate because its earnings will vary from
year to year"
Without attempting to draw conclu-
sions as to the good or the bad effect Of
forcing into extra dividends money that
conservative business policy might treat
AZ surplus. for later plant enlargement.
ETC., Mr.. Jones does counsel the investor
against misconstruction of the sound
value" of stocks; misconstruction apt
to arise from these dividend pay
msnts, plus the present psychology Of
recovery.
The fictitious value Of stocks, leading
to over-investnent and q harmful degree
Of speculation on the stock market, pro-
ducsd one r the distressing and d.
Evening star., 1936-11-24

With characteristic insight, Chairman
Farley, in surveying the general situa-
ton, selects for his viewpoint Ireland az
at the moment one of the peacefulest
little spots in the wide world.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
The Broom.

ne broom.
When streets are cluttered with dead
leaves
We sweep them out.
Though for past verdure the heart srieves
Beyond q doubt.
Leakage that had its verdant day
Far better had be swept away
Than left to shrivel and decay:
So sweep it out.
When dead joys clutter up the heart
Just sweep them out.
The thoughts that cause hot tears to
start
Tenderly rout.
Nature in good time will employ
Bright suns to bring forth leaves and
JOY; -.
Dead foliage can only eloy:
\ % swsep u cut.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Merriment.

"Bliggins always laughs heartily when
he tries to tell funny story"
HE is quite right" declared Miss
Cayenne. when he tells funny story
it's a great practical joke on the person
who has to listen"
Evening star., 1936-11-24
A Soviet-Cerman Incident.

Under ordinary circumstances the ex-
ecution in the Soviet Union of German
citizen convicted of industrial sabotage
or even political plotting might be passed
over without danger of international
complications. In light Of the rising
bitter tension between Germany and
Russia, current happenings assume
gravity far beyond their intrinsic I'M
portance. A German engineer named
Sticking. after open trial in military
court, was found guilty Of sabotage in
the coal mines of Novosibirsk in Western
Siberia, along with seven Soviet en-
gineers, and with them has been SEN
fenced to death. Execution is expected
to take place almost Immediately. in
vigorous remonstrance submitted at
Moscow by the German government re-
suits in stay and review Of the case.
Stockings fate is an i'll omen for three
dozen other foreigners under arrest In
Moscow. Leningrad and elsewhere on
similar charges. Included among them
are twenty seven Germans accused of
espionage and conspiracy to wreck Soviet
industrial enterprises. The indictment
which led to the conviction of Sticking
and his alleged accomplices at Novosi-
birsk charged them with having been
connected with Fascist Trotzkyists" and
indirectly linked their activities with the
zinovief f-Kameneff terrorist group put
to death two months ago. The Siberian
sabotage cost the lives of fourteen miners
and caused considerable property dam
age. Stockings offense was the more
heinous in Soviet eyes because on the
witness stand he Is said to have con-
fessed that he operated in concert with
an official Of a certain foreign govern
ment, declared by the Russians to have
been the former German Consul at
Novosibirsk, whereupon the state prose-
cutor branded the engineer as an agent
Of the German secret police.
Coincident with official protests against
the death sentence imposed upon Stick
ling, the German press is belaboring the
Soviet in violent terms. The charges
against him are pilloried as "monstrous,"
incredible" and as an intolerable ex-
hibition of "high-handed Communist
juridical procedure" Moscow is accused
of deliberately confusing the European
situation" and of providing fresh evi-
dence Of chow essential it is for all
cultured nations to join the anti
Bolshevist bloc for defense Of peace"
The U. s. S. r. is finally assailed as a
murder den at the gates Of Europe"
The Sticking incident Is disquieting
because it synchronizes with one of the
acutest German-Soviet crises of recent
times. Germany has just allied itself
with Italy to combat communism in
general and in particular to frustrate red
radicalism in the Spanish civil war. On
its part, Russia's hostility to Germany
has been famed anew by the Japanese
German alliance, regarding which the
Soviet is now demanding clarifying de-
tails from Toxic before consummating
the lately negotiated Russo-Japanese
fisheries and oil pact. Thus fresh fuel is
piled upon the flames which threaten to
plunge Europe into confagration which
by no stretch Of the imagination could
be confined to the eastern portion of
the continent.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Reduced Dietary.

From the Albuquerque Journal.
scientist says the elephant digests
only about A per cent Of the hay it eats.
The way to cure that situation, 1t would
seem, would be to feed the elephant 56
per cent less hay.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Therapeutic Literature.
ON the worcester Gazette.

from the worcester Gazette.
Prominent doctors are saying that
reading q book Is often . remedy for
certain physical ills. The preference Is
for those new l2-pound novels, which
can<be tossed around like medicine balls
bstWssa ehaptees.
Evening star., 1936-11-24

When authentic news is repressed the
rumors become more numerous and in
teresting than ever. Sometimes 1t is
better to tell the truth, even II it hurts.
Evening star., 1936-11-24

Ben Franklin was good old printer
who knew his ps and as and who was
fortunate in pursuing his trade single
handed without studying labor afili-
ationS.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
lncorrigibility.

do you intend to lead different life?"
II do," declared Bill the Burg. whats
the use o. goin' on bein' wicked safe
blower when there are so many ways Of
breakin' the law that's less risky and
more prontable?"
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Mental Immunity.

Before that colleague Of yours gets
through he'll say something he'll be
sorry for"
II have my doubts" said Senator Sor-
ghum. 1T takes . considerable degree
of intellectual perception to enable a
man to know when it's time to be sorry"
Evening star., 1936-11-24

Purchasers Of bootleg bombing planes
will at least be deprived of the privilege
of boasting Of acquiring the latest
models fob. U. 8. A.
Evening star., 1936-11-24

One of the interesting pastimes is
guessing how many fish the President
will catch when Prof. Tugwell's fish pond
at Greenbelt is completed
Evening star., 1936-11-24

A tragic situation is feared because of
housing shortage. 1t may after all be a
matter Of readjustment. There will
always be tents and trailers.
Evening star., 1936-11-24

A general tearing-up Of treaties Is
feared in preparation of confetti to cele-
brate the approach of the next war;"
Evening star., 1936-11-24
On the Waiting List.

From the chicago Daily News.
Papa du Pont has not yet proposed
his prospective son-in-law. young Frank.
Liberty League.
Evening star., 1936-11-24

Labor organizations are venturing into
theorizing on q large scale Is If they
also had their brain trust.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
Efficiency.

Efficiency consists in avoiding the
loss of time and energy on things that
have no practical importance"
And yet" said Farmer Corntossel,
IT can't notice that the man who lets
his whiskers grow to save fussin' with
a collar and necktie does any more
work than the rest of U.s."
Evening star., 1936-11-24

Lengthy Complications.
Debates may bring confusion
That will leave US sad Of heart:
When you get to the conclusion
You can't quite recall the start.
Evening star., 1936-11-24
LOST

From the Omaha world-Herald.
Also lost In the events Of the last few
weeks u Mr.. Mencksn's famous China
man.
Evening star., 1936-11-24

"An opportunity" said Uncle Eben,
'is like bee. One man kin foller 1t up
an find honey where another viii only
jes' git stung."