davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-10-06

brought an age into existence. BY 1897
Guglielmo Marconi had expanded 1t by
wireless, and the radio aspect Of the
epoch had begun. The hour, 1t seemed,
had struck for the contraction of uni
versal society which such inventions in
evitably connotated. Earth grew smaller
under the wizards touch.
But other influences also were at work.
In 1914 they eliminated in the most cruel
and costly war mankind had ever known.
followed quarter century later by .
depression unparalleled in human ex-
perience since the Napoleonic era. The
effects Of the cataclysm still affiict both
sides Of the planet. Yet there is hope.
The explanation lies in 4 curious bal
ance, q strange relation between plus
and minus. Philosophers speak of it
as compensation. 1t is q law which
millions gradually grow to understand.
Translated into terms of ethics 1t repre-
sents the principle of justification. The
race will deserve better fortune when
1t has learned how to deserve 1t. And,
in sober and glorious truth, it is, indeed,
constantly and consistently learning.
Evening star., 1936-10-06
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,

knowing how the big-brained Aleut stood
in these respects. but he probably did
not differ from other men. In fact, the
frontal part of his skull was exception
ally well developed.
The enormous normal variation in the
human brain presumably affords the
avenue for the evolution of man in the
future. A big Drained human strain may
become fixed, just as in the distant past
q big-brained ape strain became fixed
and developed into man. In a sense
the old Aleut might be considered a
long sortie of nature in this direction.
The fact that his contemporaries had
only q primitive culture by no means
indicates that they were unintelligent.
DR.. Hrdlicka found evidences quite to
the contrary. But they were intelligent
within the frame Of their traditional cul-
ture. They held, for example, the world
wide primitive concept of contagious
magic. They were impressed with the
seals acuity Of hearing. Hence, they
believed. the possession of the ear bones
Of seal would confer some of this audi
tory sensitiveness on their owner. When
ever seal was killed the bone casing
Of its inner ear was removed and pre-
served as q magical object. DR.. Hrdlicka
found scores of them.
But the Aleuts went q step further
driven by a curiosity associated with
their fine intelligence. They wanted to
find out just what 1t was that enabled
the seal to hear so well. So they broke
open the ear castings and examined the
mechanisms in their interiors. This was
the method Of science. Perhaps the
owner OF this big skull was q notable
post mortem dissector in his day.
He may have been an eminent sha-
man. He may have been q famous
hunter. He may have been-as has hap
pened 30 often to his kind the world
over in all sorts Of societies-persecuted
to his grave by . proletariat jealous of
genius In fact, one argument advanced
against the possible emergence of the
superman Is that the great mass of hu-
manity never would allow the strain to
get started. 1t would kill of the big
brain genetic strains so that exceptional
cranial development would operate as a
lethal factor.
Evening star., 1936-10-06

examples are reported to survive-one
at Twelfth and M streets northwest,
drilled in 1897; another at Fifteenth
street and Maryland avenue northeast.
drilled in 1893. Public fountains, nat
urally enough, also were popular in an
era when drug stores had not invaded
the beverage business. The soft drink
habit, practically a contemporary phe-
nomenon of the present moment, has
abolished the majority Of the oases Of
the type currently memorialized in
Tenth street near D street.
Some relics, however, should be pre-
served-if merely to prove that the
accelerated pace Of progress is novelty
and that the tempo Of life formerly was
less feverish. There is lesson in things
of that kind for folk who are dominated
by fixation for speed without consid-
Grafton for consequences.
Evening star., 1936-10-06
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

An Old Bit Of Money.
Money is = mystery. our greatest minds
declare.
1t has been made of beads and shells,
rs all are now aware.
There was a bill that traders used, of
primitive design,
Which might be copied and employed
in your affairs and mine.
1t shows a smiling sun on high, . dial
just below.
A word was printed there, II n.y." in
Latin, "Fugio!"
And then, in characters more large, q
warning to express,
The motto printed sharp and clear was
Mind Your Business"
This ancient scrip was left for years to
the collectors care;
And yet its simple sentiment is honored
everywhere.
The pictures of the patriots old are
shown on many . bill,
Each tells US how . loyal heart keeps
beating with . will.
In sunshine and in shadow, Is the hours
60 fieeting by.
You've got to meet your promises; at
least you've got to try.
And the basic rule of living needs no
wizardry to guess.
Today, as in the years gone by, it's Mind
Your Business"
Evening star., 1936-10-06
Relics of the Past.

In Athens and in Rome antiquity Is
represented by truly ancient ruins. The
Parthenon and the Coliseum testify for
the venerable maturity of those cap
!tals, incontrovertibly old before London,
Paris and Berlin began. It follows that
modern Greeks and Italians constantly
are reminded of the remote origins from
which their respective civilizations
descend.
But in Washington no such instructive
relics Of the past are to be found. One
hundred and thirty-six years young, the
city possesses little, if anything, of earlier
date than its topographic design. In
effect, its oldest monuments are only
few scattered souvenirs of the relatively
recent "horse and buggy age"
For instance, there is hitching post
in the front yard of the Treasury. No
body knows when 1t was erected there,
and yet men still are living who probably
can remember back to the period when
It was . useful ornament. Occasional
equine patrons, it also may be men
toned. continue to make use of q drink
ing trough thoughtfully maintained at
Chevy Chase Circle. for their conven-
ience. Only a few decades ago similar
watering accommodations were provided
within sight Of the White House. They
were Just as necessary then as gas sta
tons are now.
And q like observation may be made
with regard to the once ubiquitous but
requisite public pump,
Of which municipal Institution several
Evening star., 1936-10-06
William B. Wilson Was
First Secretary of Labor
To the Editor Of The Star:

Az sHs 1uitOI oI Inc STAR
In the last paragraph Of an article
oy VIII p. Kennedy appearing on page
D-2, editorial page, Of last Sundays Star
and captioned Washington Sidelights," ;"
md an error that does injustice to the
memory Of . great statesman who was
also great humanitarian.
Mr.. Kennedy writes in his article: "The
nrst Secretary of Labor was Charles
Nagel Of Missouri" I am sure If Mr..
Kennedy had taken the pains and the
time to look up his facts and Capital his
tory he would not have fallen into this
error, for the fact is that william B.
Wilson Of BloSsburg, Pa, not Mr.. Charles
Nagel Of Missouri, was the first Secretary
Of Labor. The organic law creating the
Department Of Labor became effective
March 4, 1918, and on that date, i'm
mediately following the Inauguration Of
President woodrow Wilson, who named
him to the position, Mr.. William B. VIII
son assumed the office and took over
the duties of administering the new de-
partment.
The writer and ! can assure you
legion of other friends Of former Secre-
tary Of Labor Wilson will appreciate q
correction Of Mr.. Kennedy's error by
giving space to this letter Ia an early
issue Of The Star.
JkAGEs j. FORESTER.
Evening star., 1936-10-06
How the Age of Machines
Has Affected Prosperity
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Let us look at the United States for an
example as to what the machine age Is
doing for all nations. Let us first look
at the plight of the farmers since the
passing Of the horse and buggy days.
With the advent of the machine age,
the farmers practically lost their market
for the raising of horses and mules, also
the market for forage. These. animals
were in common use some 40 or so years
ago by the populace Of the Nation. The
coming of the automobile, trucks and
tractors practically cleaned out the
market for the use of horses, mules and
forage. With the loss of this market the
farmer also lost his. free fertilizer, for
he used to come into the city and get
the manure from the livery stables and
homes that were glad to have him take it
away. But all that is thing of the past.
Now his fertilizer bill is a big item and
the populace must pay the difference.
The farmer has always been considered
the backbone Of the Nation, but today he
is about as helpless as q social outcast by
age limits.
I have seen thousands Of harvest hands
at work at harvest time, which lasted
from two to four weeks. These men were
shipped from the East and all over the
country to the Middle West, but that
market for crops and men has been lost
to the railroads Of the country. These
men were well paid, from g to IS per
day, transportation, board and lodging.
That was good pay In those days, for
living conditions were good and things
were reasonable.
Go out into the great BLUE Earth VAL
ley" at harvest time today and you will
see few moving and reaping machines
that NOW, bind and stack in one opera
ton and the harvest is practically at an
end in a week or 10 days. You see only
few men where thousands used to work
But this is only small part Of the
loss to the farmer. 1t is typical of the
farmers plight at present The machine
age has brought social paradox that is
almost unbelievable.
The new factories created by our inven-
tive geniuses have failed to take up the
surplus men that were thrown out of
work. Our stupidity outweighs our
genius when 1t comes to developing ways
to perpetuate the welfare of our race.
Until we create means by which men
can earn an honest living and lift the
purchasing power back to where it was
years ago, and improve living conditions
that will keep us out Of depressions. we
are going to continue to suffer.
Let the country adopt sane, common
sense business methods and we will avoid
strife that is disrupting other countries.
w. H. JEFFERY.
Evening star., 1936-10-06
One-Man Operation of
Large Street Cars Unsafe

To the Editor Of The star:
It does not seem right to permit the
operation Of the new streamlined street
cars with only one man. These cars are
too big and powerful for such kind Of
economy. One-man cars should be re-
stricted to- the smaller, lighter type and
Of limited capacity.
What with taking fares, making
change, giving out transfers, answering
questions, having q care for the aged
and infirm and getting the blame when
things 60 wrong, the operator has to
make his schedule time (or-O, watch
the signals, all switches and curves, look
out for speeding and reckless trafi1c and
hurrying pedestrians. Many, especially
the elderly, will miss the helping hand
of the conductor, and there will be more
liability Of accident.
To sum up the whole matter: On one
hand, . much overworked operator. more
delay and poorer service for the public;
on the other some (whatO increased
profit for the company. Now, honest
Injun," Is this right and fair-or just
fare? r. 8. WHITE.
Evening star., 1936-10-06
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

toast, even straw, serve him well. He
Is not particular, as some birds are. He
needs, as they all do, plenty Of food in
his little insides to keep him warm in
the snow and cold.
His feathers, while contributing to his
state OF inner comfort, by keeping of
rains and some Of the cold, can only
operate when the bird has full stomach.
1t Is food which keeps his blood stream
In good shape and thus keeps him warm.
1t Is always q pleasure to write In
favor of this scrappy little fellow, be-
cause others are so persistently ham,
mering away at him.
After all, the city is large. There are
not so many hundreds of sparrows, after
all, in comparison with the territory of
the United States.
Since he is an eager, bright-eyed bird,
he misses few insects in his way. Science
Is coming more and more to believe that
the English sparrow is not as bad as
he has been painted. that he may do a
great deal more good than he is cred
tied with, and that there are other birds
which really deserve universal condem-
nation more.
AS 40 OoAo dSaLlot uLiI tlldJ llC uIltcS
away other birds, but the same charge
may be leveled against the mockingbird
with even more justice.
The truth Is that many birds, Just as
many humans, are quarrelsome and
Scrappy, and often seem to be jealous and
envious Of others Just out of sheer mean
ness.
This bird now has an around the
world range.
Our own Department of Agriculture
once estimated that the progeny of
single pair might amount to more than
275000, 900 900 in 10 years.
This estimate, of course, is entirely
theoretical, and would no more come
true under actual conditions than the
similar estimate that a single pair of
guppies might produce more than 2,OOO,-
600 guppies in a year.
The many enemies Of both Sparrows
and guppies would see to that. Such
estlmations are gross exaggerations in
the interest OF making point. There
is little likelihood that English Sparrows,
under any actual conditions, will popu-
late the world to overflowing. The same
ferred to the startling. also an importa-
ton, but in the long run it is coming
to be seen that while these birds have
their drawback, taking them all in all
they probably do q great deal more
good than harm.
Certainly the English sparrow is the
one and only type of true city bird He
delights in the ways and presence of
man, and likes nothing better than
crowded streets.
Men may grumble about trafdc. but
not this sparrow. He accepts conditions
and makes the best of them. He is ready
at all times to find shelter under a ledge.
His food he gets from the nearest gutter
or tree box.
He is the city bird par excellence, the
one living thing which never wastes time
growing over the things of the city he
does not like. He enjoys it all, even the
ice cream cones.
Evening star., 1936-10-06
History Shows Great Men
Do Not Quit High Places

To the Editor Of The Star:
Adolf Hitler, according to rumor and
noted in The Star, may resign in the near
future. II he does then he would be the
first important ruler who retires at the
height Of his power.
Napoleon and William II abdicated
under pressure and borne down by de-
feat. Others were aSSasSinated, driven
out by their subjects or even sent to the
scaf1old. But looking down the whole
stretch of Western history can only
recall two monarchs of the first order
who-already aged-turned the govern
ment over to their successors.
Diocletian (245-3l3 ADJ, one of the
ablest OF the Roman emperors, ruled with
vigor for 81 years. Like Hitler. he was
. most cantankerous enemy of the
Christian religion. He considered the
Christians disloyal to the state. During
his reign one Of the three great persecu-
tions" took place. But he did not get
excited over the Jews. He retired at the
age Of so to his native Dalmatia. There,
50 1t Is said, he farmed and took great
pride in the large cabbages that he
raised for the wholesale market. He de-
rived more contentment from these cab
pages than from any victory That ne hao
ever won. "The simple life"
Then there was the great Charles v
(1500-1558 ADJ Of Germany and Spain.
The whole Of Central Europe obeyed him
land sometimes diSobeyed him). He was
King Of Spain, lord Of the Netherlands
and parts Of Italy. The Spanish de-
pendencies in the West Indies and all
through South America recognized his
authority. Il was he who halted Luther
before the Diet of Worms Q52D. Ruling
nightly for 81 years he spent himself in
statecraft and wars. And 50, sated with
life's successes and hfe's failures and sick
in body. he abdicated at the age of 81.
The "chiefest of men" retired to the
monastery at st. Yuste in Spain. He
lived but one more year, mending clocks
and preparing his soul for the next world.
'"The paths Of glory lead but to the
grave"
And by the way, no Pope as far rs
can remember. has ever resigned. Nor
has any American President. Lesser men
often resign. They are asked to. This
Is called getting separated from the
pay roll" FRED VETTER.
Evening star., 1936-10-06
what was it the band of English spar

What was it the band Of English SPAR
rows was eating on the driveway?
AS far rs we could see there was
nothing there but gravel.
When the car drove up, the birds
new into the air and scattered to the
nearby shrubs.
The Ice cream girl. in resplendent uni
form, dashed forward.
"Four Ice cream cones" came the order.
Shortly she returned, her fingers grasp
ing papers placed around the narrow
end of the cones.
An ice cream cone, widely called just
cone, Is no easy thing to consume.
The cream has habit OF meiting
and dripping down over ones fingers.
To watch some persons attempt to get
that last portion of cream Is more fun
than seeing them attempt to handle corn
on the cob.
Crunching Of the cake part Of the
affair Is highly Objectionable to some
natures, resembling the feel OF fuzz on
q peach, or the sound Of . squeaky slate
pencil on an old-fashioned slate.
Some one in the car threw the end Of
. cone away.
It fell on the driveway, just in front
of q wheel.
The car went over it, fiattening it to
small pieces.
And down new the band Of sparrows,
out of the shrubs, to the driveway, where
they fell to work on their new supply.
1t was crushed cone they were eating,
then?
~ co,IrcaI
Nothing else, as the saying is.
These clever birds may be called Eng
lish, but they are real Americans now
They are "go-getters" OF the very FIRST
order.
Nothing in the way Of provender
escapes their notice.
Ice cream cones, crushed beyond rec
ognition, lying hid in gravel and bits of
slate, are still big enough for these birds
to spot them.
No doubt so to q hundred birds fnd
q living at each such ice cream stand,
of which there are many In the suburban
sections.
Automobiles are turning in, wheeling
out, all day long.
Most persons, interested only in feed
ing the inner man, think little of the
outer sparrows, birds so widely known
that, like so many common things, they
tend to be disregarded, even despised.
Il 4 y
Every friend Of birds knows how these
feathered street gamins got their living
years ago.
1t is interesting to see now how they
make the automobile contribute to their
larder now.
There is little question that they are
among the real scavengers of the city.
Those who insist on rapping, panning
and otherwise knocking" the English
sparrow upon all occasions, ought to
stop and keep this fact in mind.
This sparrow is q true scavenger. We
ordinarily think disrespectfully of scav-
engers, but after all they perform q very
necessary function.
The English sparrow does not let q
scrap Of edible material get away from
him. Old banana skins, bits of buns,
Evening star., 1936-10-06
Omens i'm France.

1t would be rash to conclude from the
ease and completeness with which Fascist
riots were suppressed in Paris on Sunday
that Premier Blum is definitely rid Of
the pitfalls that beset him. Nor is it
any more certain that his recent "vic-
tory" in securing parliamentary sanction
of the Stabilization program has given
the government a durable lease Of life.
1t is generally agreed, on the contrary,
that the Popular Front emergeS from
the recent storm in Chamber and Senate
and on the boulevards perilously shat
tered in prestige and staying power.
The week end melee staged by Colonel
de la ROGUE and his Fascist Croix de
Feu cohortS-now known as the French
Social party-must therefore be regarded
as symbol and an ominouS one, rather
than sporadic demonstration. All ele-
mentS in France have come fairly well
to agree that devaluation of the franc
was inevitable. Opposition to that re-
course was directed mainly at the So
cialistic character of the measures which
the government attached to the currency
bill and which it was finally compelled
to abandon. 1t was the conservative
forces in both houses, increasingly
hostile to semi -Communistic trends in
the Blum government, which stood the
premier back on his heels and required
him to compromise as . hfe-saving
maneuver.
Despite its adroitneSS in steering safe
passage among the parliamentary rocks
thus far, the Popular Front craft is
clearly headed for stormy weather. Even
M. Blums Communist supporters are in
resentful and rebellious mood. They
backed his devaluation program but
purely as q political manifestation
against fascism. The Communists still
smart over the premiers refusal to aid
the Leftist government in Spain. On
the opposite side of the political fence.
French Rightists are subjecting the
cabinet to heavy pressure to declare the
extent Of Frances military commitments
to Russia, a question on which Great
Britain, too, is querulous. M. Blum is
shrewd and resourceful politician. If for
any reason he finds it useful to throw OF
Communist ballast in the Chamber, he
might be more than compensated by
gaining Center and Rightist support.
Government leaders are keenly con-
scious not only that they are living atop
q powder barrel as far as their oficial
existence Is concerned, but that all
France is saturated with explosive dis
sensions. rivalries and suspicious, along
with disquieting dislocation in finance,
industry and agriculture. Fascism is
rampant both openly and covertly. The
governments late action in reducing
tariffs and abolishing import quotas is
q move to protect French consumers
from drastic increases in living costs, and
thus mobilize the proletarian masses be-
hind the governments shaky cause. In
addition to its poignant domestic tribula-
tions, the Blum regime must contemplate
events across the Pyrenees with dread.
inevitably fire anti government forces in
France with renewed zest to overthrow
the Partisan counterpart OF the Spanish
Popular Front.