davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Crop Insurance.

Both the President and Governor Lam
don have talked with Louis j. 'Taber.
Master of the National Grange, and both
tof them have shown interest in the sub
ject of Federal crop insurance. 1t is a
subject that will receive increasing prom
inence as the Department of AgricuI-
lures studies of the subject, under way
for many years. produce more tangible
facts for use in making the actuarial
computations of risks, benefits, costs
and administrative machinery involved.
As Mr.. Taber says, development of crop
insurance will be matter of years, re-
quiring the solution of possible constitu-
tional questions. 1t would necessarily
have to be undertaken by the Federal
Government, possibly in cooperation
with the States, as the undertaking would
be too involved and expensive for pri-
vate capital. He might have added that
crop insurance schemes backed by
private capital have not been wholly
successful. A persistent fate has seen to
1t, in at least four outstanding CONNER
cial experiments with crop insurance on
large scale. that a year of drought or
drastic drop in prices followed the writing
of the insurance, with the underwriters
holding the bag.
The idea of crop insurance, like that
few opponents But the administrative
task, the computation of the actuarial
factors and the amount of governmental
regulation involved present compn-
Gated question, of which too little is
known yet to form the basis of sound
decision. The A. A. A. furnished the
Department of Agriculture with data on
individual farms which, otherwise, would
have been unavailable. These data have
produced tentative insurance schemes for
certain sections of the country on wheat
and cotton and, to lesser extent, corn.
One of the principles now favored is that
crop insurance should be based on in
dividual farms, and not, as in group in
surance, on counties, States or agricul-
tural regions. The risk varies sharply
with the farm and the farmer. Another
Is that insurance should not extend to the
whole crop, but only to that percentage
of the crop which would enable the
farmer, in bad years. to break even.
While tentative schedules Of premiums
have been evolved, they are based on
payments in kind and not on money
value, as the value of crops varies, OF
course, with supply and demand and
other elements.
With Government insurance against
unemployment and Government insur-
ance of bank deposits in actual opera
ton, along with annuities, or old-age
pensions, the idea of crop insurance
seems natural enough. 1t would be the
logical outgrowth of present trends
toward soil conservation and other forms
of crop control. As yet it is too vague,
as far as details are concerned, to be pre-
sented to the farmers or to other tax
payers as definite proposition.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
1t Takes a Good Man to
Be Master of a Good Dog

To the Editor Of The Star:
To Mr.. Aliens very bitter attack on
dogs in your paper Of the 18th. I would
like to make reply. -,-~ ].
Why signal out the dog on the street
as menace to humanity in general?
There is the automobile, for instance.
Do we shoot down the drunken driver on
sight and investigate later as he sug-
geSts we do with the dog? Oh no, not in
this day and age. Now we give the moSG
hardened criminal q chance to defend
himself. You see we are developing q
more kindly nature and this also takes
the form of animal consciousness. We
cannot possibly develop spiritually until
we recognize our obligations to the ami
NAL kingdom.
Mr.. Allen may have a grievance
against some poor neglected creature who
has shown his bad master and poor en-
vironment. 1t takes good man to bring
up q good dog.
i agree fully with Mr.. Allen in saying
that it Is cruel and inhuman to shut up
these creatures and leave town even for
the week end, and they should be
promptly reported. MARY Z. CLARK.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Shenandoah National Park
Seen as a Vacation Land

To the Editor OF The Star:
One wonders that Skyline Drive In
Shenandoah National Park is not made
to serve a more useful purpose than
merely q scenic highway and picnic
ground. One drives through miles OF
woodland and embankments that obscure
valley and mountain before coming upon
an occasional parking overlook" to
enjoy "the wide horizons grander view."
New Hampshire rejected q skyline
drive atop its celebrated White Noun
tainS, perhaps because a mountain fast
ness is enjoyed more afoot or ahorse
than in an automobile. Ascending Sky
line in a fast-driven car along Q paved
highway does not afford the interest
and pleasure of making the ascent on
foot or astride horse, or even in q
creaking ranch wagon, over q narrow,
winding road Of dirt and stones.
The fragrance Of the woods and wild
flowers does not penetrate closed car,
even with the windows open, and an
automobile ride is irksome when the
car is repeatedly slowed up or stopped
to admire ripping brooks and waterfalls,
or to slake ones thirst at some cooling
spring, or rest in shaded glens carpeted
with sweet, soft grass. Charming Wstas
Of valley and mountain unfold naturally
along the old mountain trail and one
is not bored by forced stops at parking
overlookS."
In an automobile the impressiveness
Of mountain fastness and its splendid
isolation Is less apparent The impress
sion Is that Of driving along the boule-
ward Of city park, Pennsylvania avenue
or Broadway. The building Of modern
highway along mountain tops deprives
the region of much Of its glory.
One feels the city close at hand, with
cars, taxis and delivery wagons crowding
one another, and traf1c signs aid the
illusion. The ascent afoot or ahorse,
taking from two to four hours. disclosed
the depths of the mountain fastness and
its inspiring isolation. Here one could
roam or ride for hours in the primitive
fashion that antedated the manning and
killing machine age.
The novelty of Skyline, like most novel;
ties. will have its day. The drive will
eventually be less patronized when the
public has had its fill of mountain
scenery from luxuriouSly upholstered
motor cars. 1t is an out of the way place
and does not serve the purpose Of
travelling from point to point in the least
possible time. Motorists are notoriously
hurried and seek lower levels and shorter
cuts.
Instead Of merely affording a few
hours drive and holiday picnic. Skyline
could be made to serve the more useful
purpose of a vacation land like New
Yorks Bear Mountain State Park, where
platforms for campers tents, quaint log
cabins and rustic bungalows have been
provided. Here the family or association
of juvenile or adult campers may spend
rejuvenating week end or vacation in
the open.
Because of its accessibility and eleva-
ton, one could flee to Skyline as a bird
to his mountain and enjoy the relief
Of its cooling temperature when lower
localities sweltered. 1t is to be hoped
that Skyline will ultimately become
something more useful than a scenic
highway and picnic ground.
JOHN BURROUGHS.
Evening star., 1936-08-22

the role of peacemakers If such a role
is desired.
Great Britain has been cold to sugges-
tions of Intervention, and Uruguay's
suggestion has likewise met with as cool
a declination, not only from the United
States, but from some of the leading
countries of South America. The ap-
plication of the principle Of mediation
is manifestly impracticable now. The
prospect, as Mr.. Phillips says. of an
offer Of mediation "is not such as to war
rant a departure by the Government
from its well-established policy"
Evening star., 1936-08-22

Chronicles of suburban garden show
the temperance Of half q dozen robins.
those fine fat fellows which went to the
woods about q month ago.
Nothing was seen Of them, house
holders wondered where these universal
favorites had been.
Then suddenly they came back, hop
ping around again as II nothing at all
had happened.
Soon they will be gone for good again.
until one fine day next Spring. when
they will be seen once more on the lawn,
hopping as calmly as Of old.
The robin is bird philosopher, no
doubt Of that. It never hurries or seems
to worry about anything. Evidently 1t
has as II motto the title of an old popular
song, favorite of an enminent WASH
ingtonian, "The Smoke Goes Up the
Chimney Just the Same"
Popular birds may be divided into two
classifcations, on the basis Of hopping
and walking.
There are more of the former than
the latter, Of course.
Some day we hope to show here which
birds do which. but in the meantime
let US keep in mind the plain fact that
some wildbirds hop, some actually walk.
The latter--with the exception Of the
robin, which hops sedately-always ap-
pear to be the most leisurely.
This difference in locomotion is q
valuable aid to Identification. All books
ought to give this information about
each bird pictured. so that the watcher
will have just one more ready aid to
identification.
Maybe the return of the robins will
help keep in check the fighting mockins-
birds.
The latter have proved the greatest
bird disappointment Of the season, by
reason Of their totally unnecessary bel
ligerency.
Early and late they are making the
garden clamorous with their squawks.
putting the blue jays to shame, when it
comes to shrieks.
Truly the mockingbird's song is beau
tiful, in the Spring. but by this time Of
year it has lost all of its prettyineSs,
and turns out to be only series OF
scolding sounds.
Nothing can appear in the garden
without these birds moving in the white
in their wings flashing. even If they have
to come half block to do it.
They police an entire neighborhood,
and fight hundred unnecessary battles
a day. in the protection, as they deem it,
of their brood.
Often they just perch on shrub. not
more than five feet off the ground. and
clash their bills and make grating noises
out Of sheer temper.
Where is that delightful bird one
reads about, then?
This bird really comes as near being
a nuisance as we know. The English
sparrow is an old softie, as they say,
compared with this swift flying noise
maker.
Many speak harshly of the mocking-
bird for its night singing, but most of
the birds do not indulge in this nocturnal
music.
They do stay up late, however, and
squall necessarily, seeming over nothing
much, as far as a human observer can
tell.
Many reports came to this desk last
Winter of Knockers at feeding stations,
which they Immediately monopolized, to
the discomfort of all the other songsters
which Wintered In this vicinity.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Comeback of the Piano.

Return Of the piano to the cultural
life of America is hopeful sign. Sales
this year are the greatest since radio
gave this wonderful instrument a solar
plexus blow, and manufacturers are ex-
pecting greater increases next year.
Everything is ready for a real boom in
the piano business, and thousands of
persons will be glad, in addition to all
those engaged in their manufacture, for
the piano Is too good to stay in decline,
even If changes pushed it into one, so
tickle is popular taste.
1t Is held that the very thing which
gave radio its greatest impetus, that the
listener had little, If anything, to do
except turn a knob, is rectifying the
taste Of the people at last, with the
result that the urge in man to do
something" is bringing him back to the
pianoforte. It is not an easy instru-
nlent, although a most satisfying one
It means that the player must put
something into it, and, based on the
old philosophy, that the more one puts
into thing the more he gets out of
it, will give reserves of satisfaction never
possible with the phonograph or the
radio, or even that wonderful offspring
of the pianoforte, the mechanical piano
player.
In the happy days of Victorian ira
dition, which functioned in America
as well as in England, one of the hap
piest sights and sounds was of the
family group Of young people around
the piano In the parlor. There was
always some one, usually girl, in those
days before jazz music and swing bands,
who played well, and could make the
piano talk" as they said. These pianos
mostly were uprights, seldom grands.
It is an interesting commentary on the
return Of the piano that a combination,
in sense, of these two types of instru-
ments has been q factor in interesting
the people once more In what is perhaps
the most wonderful of all musical
contrivances. Some Of the newer forms
Evening star., 1936-08-22

Supposing you were appointed to chart
the course Of mankind for thousand
years, what goals would you set up?
Something like this was the job of DR.
Edward L. Thorndyke, world-famed psy-
chologist of Columbia University, for the
American Council on Education In
Washington.
DR.. Thorndyke Is perhaps the worlds
foremost authority on the original ma
ture of mantle actual capacities of the
human mind. The American Council on
Education is q cooperative organization
of most of the institutions of higher
education in the United States, which
are engaged in directing the footsteps
of the Nations future leaders.
The psychologist has drawn up 26-
point program of objectives. He has not
charted the course toward a perfect
world, but to world which, considering
the capabilities and limitations inherent
in the human structure, seems to offer
the attainable maximum of happiness
for all.
Here is DR.. Thorndyke's bill of speci-
fications of a good life for man:
l. Maintenance of the inner causes Of
the joy of living at or above their pres
ent average.
2. Food when hungry and drink when
thirsty.
3. A diet that is physiologically ade-
quate.
4. Protection against pain-causing ami
mails.
5. Protection against disease-causing
organisms.
6. Protection or insurance against ac-
cidents and disasters. such as floods,
earthquakes or wars, for which the per-
son in question is not responsible.
z. Protection against extreme shocks.
fear and strains.
8. Some place where one can rest un-
disturbed, protected from the elements
and from bad and uncongenial men.
9. Enjoyable bodily activity, especially
when young.
10. Enjoyable mental activity, includ-
ing esthetic pleasures.
IL. Opportunity for human society.
IL. Opportunity for courtship. love and
life with ones mate.
13. Opportunity to care for children
and to be kind to human beings and
animals.
IA. The approval Of ones community.
contempt.
Is. The approval of ones self, self-re-
spect, the absence Of shame and remorse.
16. Opportunity to have friends and
affection, if deserving of them.
II. Opportunity to be a friend and
give affection.
18. Opportunity to exercise power over
some person, animals, things or ideas,
making them do ones will.
10. Membership in organized groups
and the right to participate in activities
or ceremonies which at least are thought
to be important.
20. Opportunity to compete with ones
peers. winning in about so per cent Of
the trials.
81. Opportunity to compete with ones
own past record and, if deserving, to
have the pleasures of achievement and
success.
%. Occasional opportunities for adven-
ture. risk and danger.
. %. Something to be angry at and
attack.
"A. Protection by custom. laws and
government In what u regarded by the
existing moral code as& good Life.
Evening star., 1936-08-22

A superficial glance at conditions in
this city reveals support for liberal and
progressive increase of money for police
and fire departments. A Summer day,
not so many years ago, revealed almost
empty streets where two motorists in the
same block would be nearly panic
stricken in fear of collision.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Might Makes Right.

While international understandings
have aimed at settling in advance, by
carefully drawn definitions, some of the
rules regarding blockades, the circum-
stances are always apt to alter the rules.
1t is possible to find justification under
international law for the action of the
Spanish warship Libertad in overhaul
ing and searching the German mer-
chantman Kamerun outside the. three
mile limit. But, as the German note Of
warning to Spain makes. plain. it Is
equally possible to regard the incident
as in violation of international law. In
ternational law, in this case, is on the
side of the nation with the strongest
.ships-and the Spanish government is
in no position to argue the point.
A recognized and rather long standing
principle in relation to establishment
of blockades is that the blockade, in
order to be binding, must be effective
cient really to prevent access to an
enemy coast" The effectiveness of
blockade is matter of fact, not of
theory. The Spanish government has
formally complied with requirements Of
international law by notifying the powers
of blockade of certain coastal areas IN
control of the insurgents. But proclama-
ton of a blockade, and recognition of the
blockade by other powers, are quite
separate and distinct
Spain, at war with another power,
might proclaim and establish a block
ade of enemy ports. Under international
law she could then visit and search"
ships suspected of "unneutral service"
Neutral ships running the blockade
would do so at their own risk. They
could even be pursued or overhauled In
the open sea, outside territorial limits
And it would be an unfriendly act, lead
ing to war, for a neutral to attempt n
convoy of her merchant ships through
the blockade.
But complications of spain's civil war
extend to Interpretation of the Spanish
governments right to proclaim a block
ade. A blockade denotes state of war
and recognition, by other nations of
belligerency, as distinct from civil in
surrection. De jure recognition of a
state of belligerency by other powers, it
would seem, would be more to the ad-
nf a inc ctc thoy1 fa
the Spanish government. 1t would at
least make more difficult the course of
neutrality. Without such recognition,
either of state of war in Spain or of
the resulting blockade of Spanish ports
Germany and Great Britain are more
Free under international law, to protect
their merchantmen with warships with
out reSorting to what otherwise might
be construed as an unfriendly act against
the Spanish government.
While dispatch of more warships to
the Mediterranean by Germany, the
German ultimatum and Great Britain's
warning all increase the tensity of the
situation, such actions, paradoxically
enough, are more apt to prevent than to
cause any further clashes of force be-.
tween Spanish ships of war and ships
Of other nations. But if Germany is
really shipping munitions to the in
surgents, and protecting her shipments
by conveys, the hope of neutrality is
reduced almost to the vanishing point
Evening star., 1936-08-22

Much stress is laid on the charge that
lady in training for the Olympic
games drank champagne. If she could
have held gossip to the limitations of
the socially supervised cocktail the shock
to world consciousness might not have
been so serious.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Shooting Stars.
BY PHlANDER JOHNSON.
School Bell.

School Bell.
The bell will be ringing
For girls and boys.
The dancing and singing
Are swift passing joys.
The bell has asserted
It's eloquent din.
The Fairgrounds deserted
And lessons begin.
With games we have dallied
And puzzles we've tried.
With cheers we have rallied
In juvenile pride.
The bell will be ringing
For women and men.
Our hopes will be clinging
To wisdom again.
Evening star., 1936-08-22

Campaign caravans are being organ
lied. Political machines are jeopardized
by the fact that almost any day a motor
is liable to appear with a wagon load
of monkey wrenches.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton

Brave Souls.
All day the city sweltered; street and
byway
Seemed to emit hot clouds Of dusty
vapor;
People fed mountainward thru every
highway,
While others melted like a waxen
taper.
But some found respite; sought the COOL
ing river
And watched the red sun set in torrid
beauty;
They faced the sultry night without Q
quiver,
Held to the town by poverty, or duty.
There came for them a patchwork sky
at twilight,
Patches of blue and pink and gold
so pretty
A star -hemmed quilt, exquisite In dusks
shy light,
Thrown by an snzsl over the hot city
Evening star., 1936-08-22

Standardized Facial Expression.
A gas mask will trace
A mechanical way
For a standardized face
Upon public display.
A smile or q Sneer
Many faces may frame.
When the gas masks appear
They will all look the same.
Evening star., 1936-08-22

Criticism Of a party platform loses
some of its force because in frequent
cases things confidently mentioned in
a platform never really happen.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Choice Of Phrase.

THAT campaign speaker talks as If
you were saint"
He is almost too complimentary"
said Senator Sorghum. II wish he'd say
something that sounded more like a
battle cry and less like an epitaph."
Evening star., 1936-08-22

Mob rule cannot long endure. In its
violence it must destroy itself, but the
process is painful.
Evening star., 1936-08-22

The paths of athletic glory have always
had a cheerful tendency to lead to the
billboards.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Social and Financial.

Social and Financial.
Does your wife understand our great
social and financial problems?"
ITO some extent" answered Mr..
Meekton. "She's the only member Of
the family who knows how to score q
bridge game without using q diagram" !"
"Self-esteem Is q great blessing" said
Hi Ho, the sage Of Chinatown. 1T
sometimes implies the only unwavering
devotion of which q mortal may be
certain"
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Sole Winners.

From the Boston Transcript.
If the Spanish furor has done nothing
else, 1t has provided bulls with the new
leisure.
Evening star., 1936-08-22
ContaGiOn,

Contagion.
I did not like the whooping cough.
And measles did not let me on
From painful hours which youth must
meet.
Once cured, we found the cure complete.
We did not like the war we had.
Another would be strangely sad.
The good news should be offered soon
That we to war are now immune.
.De truth" said Uncle Eben, would
be more welcome to everybody II 1t
wasn't so often more or less in de nature
Of bad ,pews."
Evening star., 1936-08-22
Slippery.

Slippery.
From the Hartford Courant
The political party that tries to ren:-
edy the expected hog shortage may find
itself chasing the traditional creased pig.
Evening star., 1936-07-31

on and on and on his thoughts tore.
setting his heart to pounding, making
his cheeks and eyes burn with the de-
licious fever Of hope.
Impulsively, he grabbed his hat,
dashed out Of the room, down the
elevator and out into the sultry July
night. Only when he found himself
on the back seat Of o cab headed for
! Annapolis and Tree Tops did any
doubts Of his action assail him. 1t
was no use. 1t was all beautiful
golden pipe-dream. Kitty would keep
him married to her forever, he'd never
get back in the Navy.
Still, even as he argued with him
self he couldn't tell the driver to turn
back to Baltimore. He wouldn't go to
see Patsy. 1t wouldn't be fair to her
But he would 90 on to Annapolis and
Evening star., 1936-07-31
STAR, D. G., FRIDAY,

thickly carpeted moor. Now that his
determination to hear Patsy's voice
had broken through his better judg-
ment he found all of his defenses
crumbling. II only he could see her
could hold her In his srms-he had
no rightl He knew he had no right!
Kitty would never free him-never!
II only In his teens he hadn't fumbled
life 80!
He remembered, suddenly, Admiral
Benson's words: you know, Lee,
you belong in the Navy. I've been
thinking recently that when I get
back to civilization I'm going TO talk
with Senator Rickster about you.
There are two ways that you could be
reinstated: A bill may be introduced
In Congress either bye a Senator or
a Representative, referred to the Naval
Evening star., 1936-07-31

no right IN the world even to be her
friend.
But now the desire to hear her voice
was SO great he found himself half
running 10 the elevator and down the
corridor to get to the telephone in his
room.
He dialed the long distance operator
and stood waiting, his whole tall frame
trembling. Not once while flying
away from the comparative safety and
comfort Of the expeditions base and
knowing in his heart the dangers that
lay before him In rescuing the Ill ad-
miral had he been rs excited as he was
in this minute. But the line at Tree
Tops was busy and the operator said
she'd ring him back when she could
complete the call.
Lee lit q cigarette and paced the